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In the fictional small town of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, in the early 20th century, 10-year-old Montreal heiress Sara Stanley is sent by her wealthy father to live with her two maiden aunts, Hetty and Olivia King, to be near her late mother's side of the family.
“Friendship, Mystery and Mischief.”
1990
Sara Stanley is a wealthy child sent to stay with distant relatives on Prince Edward Island, when her father is accused of embezzlement. She finds the life on the small island a challenge, and getting to know her mother's family is not much easier. At first Sara resents being in Avonlea. Her mother's sister, Hetty King, resents Sara's Nanny Louisa and sends her back to Montreal. Sara is left to live with her Aunt's Hetty and Olivia in Rose Cottage. My favourite quote: ""As the eldest in the family, I'm used to making unpopular decisions."" ~ Hetty King.
Content to stay on at Rose Cottage, with her Aunt's Hetty & Olivia, Sara makes friends with Jasper Dale, 'The Awkward Man' of Avonlea. In the meantime, the school board has decided to hold a 'magic lantern' show and use the proceeds for the school library fund. The man they hire to do this show is in actuality a confidence man, who Sara inadvertently helps skip town with the money. Sara wants to put on a show to replace the missing funds and asks the help of the shy Jasper, who is an inventor and owns a 'magic lantern'. Sara gives a heartfelt recitation of ""The Little Match Girl"", and she is forever known as ""The Story Girl"", in Avonlea.
A mischevious Sara and Felix sneak into grumpy old Alexander Abraham's house, on a dare, not knowing that he is ill and about to be quarantined. Avonlea busy-body, Rachel Lynde enters his house looking for his farm boy who has been skipping her Sunday School Class. All are quarantined together. Alexander is a woman hater, Rachel a 'do-gooder', and the house is an unmitigated mess. Rachel nurses Alexander through his illness, Felix too, when he falls ill. Sara helps cleans his house, and learns that there is more to life than just reading books all the time. Through the help of the children and Rachel Lynde, Alexander is no-longer a cranky old man, and somewhat less of a woman-hater. Mrs. Rachel, however, remains a 'do-gooder'.
Everyone in Avonlea knows everything about everyone. Exasperated, Marilla Cuthbert, ""creates"" a beau for the ladies of the sewing circle. To Marilla's distress, a traveling salesman with the same name she 'made up' shows up in town. Marilla faces Duncan McTavish and tells him the truth. Realizing the predicament she is in, Duncan helps Marilla stop all of the wagging tongues in Avonlea.
"Old Lady Lloyd" is believed to be a very wealthy woman, but she is actually living in poverty in her mansion. Sara befriends Miss Lloyd and wants to help her. Sylvia Gray, a friend of Olivia's visiting Avonlea, is the daughter of Miss Lloyd's former beau, who Miss Lloyd has never forgiven. Young Miss Gray has a magnificent singing voice, and Miss Lloyd, after a long conversation with Peg Bowen, walks through a thunder storm to get her cousin, with whom she has not spoken in years, to finance the young woman's career. The lesson is about forgiveness.
Bossy cousin Felicity is left in charge of all the children when Aunt Janet and Uncle Alec go away to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary, and then Aunt Hetty decides she must go to Charlottetown to protect the farms "water rights". Felicity soon antagonizes the other children into misbehaving. Felix eats ""poison berries"", Sara smears Felicity's cherry pie all over Felicity's dress and even cuts off some of her ""perfect"" hair. A visit by the Governor's wife makes for confusion as to her identity. By the story's end, the children have all ""learned lessons"" and Sara become friends with the formerly unfriendly Felix and Felicity. My favourite quote: ""Felicity King is known throughout Avonlea for her cherry pies and sawdust pudding"" ~ Felix King
The children are enthralled went a missionary visits Avonlea. Sara is distressed that Peter, the hired boy, has ""no religion"" and sets about getting him to go to church. Peter comes down with influenza and the children come to realize how precious life is. Hetty and Olivia start to treat him less like hired help and more like family; Peter goes to school with the King children.
Janet King's sister, Abigail (Aunt 'Crabigail') Ward, is a fussy old maid, who lives in a spotlessly clean house. When her old beau, Malcolm McEwan comes back, rich, from the Yukon; he sets about wooing Abigail. At first she accepts, but the big man leaves such a mess, is so demonstrative, and buys her so many gifts that Abigail panics and returns his ring. Sara and Felicity are in raptures over the romance, and when they find out Malcolm is leaving town, they tell Abigail. She covers herself with Malcolm's gifts, and with Sara and Felicity holding on for dear life, races after the stage and begs Malcolm to return. Favourite quote: ""Let Mr. MacEwan drive the buggy home."" ~Sara to Abigail (after a wild buggy ride)
Back from their honeymoon, Malcolm suggests starting a family; Abigail says that she is too old for children, and they fuss quite a bit. Sara and Felicity find a newly orphaned baby and leave him on the McEwan's door step, hoping to smooth rough waters between the couple and give them something that they need. Enemies Rachel Lynde and Aunt Hetty both decide that they have a greater claim to the baby and both want him. In the end it is decided that the baby is better off with Malcolm and Abigail.
Felicity's pride is her downfall. She brags that she could make anyone popular, even poor sweet Clemmie Ray. She even makes a bet with snooty Sally Potts and her co-hort Jane Spry that Clemmie will shine at the Harvest Ball.Alec King's principals are put to the test when a visiting politician, whom he supports, tries to ""buy"" his vote by offering to select Felicity's costume as the 'Best' at the Harvest Ball. Clemmie is Clemmie and is not popular at the ball, and Felicity, because of her fathers decision, does not win 'Best Costume' or her bet with Sally Potts. The children, however, learn about the value of friendship and being true to oneself.
With Aunt Hetty as the Avonlea schoolmistress, Felix is feeling like the ""dunce"" that she tells him he is. With the help of Peg Bowen, the Witch of Avonlea and a ""magic stone"" Felix hopes to win the spelling bee, but then he loses the stone. His sister, Felicity sees her dream of becoming the Spelling Champion vanish, when it is Felix who wins. Felix learns that he always had the ability to win and he only needed a bit of self-confidence, just as the wise Peg Bowen wanted him to learn. Favourite quote: ""Cows and sows give birth as well, but to my knowledge, this doesn't qualify them for Teachers' College."" ~ Hetty King
aka ""The Blue Chest of Arabella King"" Arabella King, a distant relative, was jilted at the altar, and left all of her wedding finery in a chest which sits in the King Farm kitchen for years. The curious Sara and her cousins Felix and Felicity try to persuade the adults to open the chest. Upon the notification of Arabella's death, they are free to open the chest.Aunt Olivia has begun working for the newspaper and finds a story in the contents of the chest. With the help of Sara and Jasper Dale, Olivia gets her story and solves an old mystery. Jasper and Olivia also discover they share a mutual interest in one another.
Blair Stanley, Sara's father, has been acquitted of fraud and he wants Sara to come home to Montreal. He returns to the island and comes up against Hetty King, who refuses to let Sara go. Aunt Hetty resents Blair Stanley 'taking' her younger sister Ruth away from the family and then 'letting' her die, because of their fast city life-style. Sara in heartbroken, afraid of losing the family she has grown to love and losing her fathers love, because she wants to stay in Avonlea. Trying to reason with Hetty and Blair leaves her further frustrated, and so Sara runs away and hides, hoping to unite the families. Instead it sparks more antagonism. When she is finally found, Sara defiantly argues with Blair, and not paying attention to where she is walking, loses her footing and falls from the top loft of the barn. Hetty & Blair, frightened of almost losing Sara, decide to talk over their differences and call a truce to their fighting. Sara is allowed to stay on the island.
1990
Sara returns to Montreal, to live with her father, but a tragic accident causes her return to the island. Once only motherless, Sara finds her self suddenly orphaned and searching for answers. A traveling circus is in Avonlea and Peter takes her, hoping to cheer her up. Instead, Sara decides to visit the fortune teller, who claims to communicate with the deceased. Sara's life is placed in danger and it is Uncle Alec who saves the day.
Janet King's Great-Aunt Eliza comes for a visit, and sets the King household on it's ear, as Janet tries to please her guest, while she herself is feeling quite unwell. Alec finds out that playing cricket, is not as easy as it used to be when he was a younger man. Felicity decides that she is now ""grown up"" at age 12 1/2 and develops a crush on a visiting rival cricket player. Mooning over David Hawes, Felicity longs to receive her ""first kiss"". Sara and Felix make a new friend, Gus Pike, a young sailor, recently arrived in Avonlea and looking for work. Alec offers his barn for Gus to stay in, and also some work until the cannery begins hiring. It is wise Great Aunt Eliza who realizes why Janet is feeling unwell, it is announced that the family will soon have a new baby. Felicity finally gets her kiss and the family is never the same after Gus Pike enters their lives.
Muriel Stacey, is returning home to Avonlea to see her old school house and her school chum Hetty King. Feeling threatened by her perceived former-rival, Hetty goes out looking for new students. Gus Pike is now working at the cannery, and wants to learn...reading, writing and how to be a gentleman....Hetty is delighted with his enthusiasm. After an accident at home, Hetty is temporarily replaced at school by Muriel, who not only does not want to replace Hetty, but organizes the children to do a ""tribute"" to her. Gus plays a fiddle solo to express his gratitude to Hetty.
Dora and Davy Keith come to live at Green Gables, with Marilla, a distant relative, after their parents die. Only a temporary arrangement, until a uncle could be located, Marilla is faced with the prospect of turning two children over to an orphanage or losing the friendship of Rachel Lynde, because Davy has proven to be a handful. Rachel makes matters worse beacause she is suffering from a tooth ache, but refuses to go to the doctor...and then there is that naughty pig.
Hetty King runs in to her old beau, Romney Penhallow, at a wedding and refuses to speak to him, because of an age old quarrel between the two. Romney pursues Hetty and makes her speak to him and they enjoy some quiet time together. Romney has a sad secret, which is finally shared with Hetty. Their friendship becomes more important to both of them, and they are able to make peace with each other. Also, because of Romney, Hetty and Rachel Lynde are finally able to bury the hatchet and become friends once again.
Edwin Clark, an old beau of Olivia's has returned to Avonlea, intent on winning her hand. Hetty had chased him off years before, but as he returns wealthy and successful, Hetty no longer objects. Sara thinks Olivia is better suited to shy and awkward Jasper Dale, and encourages him to pay court to her. Olivia is torn between a former love and a new love, however her decision on who would be the best man to wed becomes quite clear, when she sees how the two men react to the emergency that occurs when a small boy falls down an abandoned well. My favourite quote: ""Ain't that the pistol""~Jasper Dale
Andrew King's father, Roger, returns from the jungles of Brazil and a doting Hetty heaps praise on him. She even plans a reception in his honour, at King Farm and placing Janet in charge. Alec, the elder brother and heir to the family farm, is put in a bad light, when he loans money from the family trust to a neighbor in need. This not only puts a strain on Alec and Roger's relationship, but their sons, Felix and Andrew are also affected, as they argue over Grandfather King's fishing basket. Fists fly, lessons are learned and fences are mended between the siblings.
Gus Pike is working hard at school and taking odd jobs around town when Captain Ezekiel Crane, the reclusive lighthouse keeper, offers him a job and a place to stay. Rachel Lynde is convinced that the island is being over run by bootleggers. The children believe they see a Ghost Ship near the lighthouse. Abe Pike, former first mate for Captain Crane, arrives in Avonlea, having escaped from prison and claims Gus as his son. Abe fights with Ezekiel and falls into the ocean, as the towns people storm the light house looking for bootleggers.
Sara finds an old gold coin while helping Gus and Captain Crane gather fire wood. Captain Crane informs her that the island is a burial ground of pirates treasure and that her coin very likely came from a treasure. Rachel Lynde, Janet King and Aunt Hetty all go looking in different places for treasure. Gus, Sara and Felicity are put in danger when Captain Borden, a former shipmate and friend of Captain Crane's, arrives in Avonlea. Borden believes that Ezekiel has knowledge of the location of a lost Spanish treasure. Captain Crane leaves the Avonlea after tricking Borden and giving Gus the lighthouse, as a home, and a ruby and gold ring.
Bored with everyday life, the King cousins decide to create their own newspaper. This helps to keep them entertained and goes quite well, until the children's ""made up"" advice column (Madame X) gets mixed up with the Avonlea Chronicles real news. Olivia, working as a reporter for the Chronicle, and temporarily acting as editor, is hard put to defend herself for the column mix-up. Then, the Chronicle office is robbed and it is up to Jasper Dale to catch the thief and exonerate Olivia. Favourite quote: ""Snoring is boring."" ~Madame X
Pigeon Plumtree, is a famous actress and Sara's cousin, who has decided to make a stop in Avonlea. Sara has stars in her eyes when Pigeon claims that she has the making of becoming a great actress. Pat Frewen, resident pig farmer is enchanted by Pigeon, much to the distress of Dorathea, who has waited 20 years for Pat to propose to her. Sara sorts out this odd love triangle and decides to stay in Avonlea.
""Rollings Reliable"" is sponsoring an essay contest to honour the mothers of the town. When Sara decides that Aunt Hetty should be her subject for the contest a scornful Sally Potts and Felicity tell her only a ""real"" mother could be entered in the contest. Having found out that Sally and Felicity share a birth date, and were delivered by the same doctor, a mischievious Sara tells them they were switched at birth. Both girls and their mothers agonize over this and learn that it is ""who raises the child, and not who gives birth"" that makes a woman a mother. Felicity enters Sara's discarded essay in the competition and Hetty wins.
Archie Gillis challenges Alec King, by refusing many who want to play ice hockey, a place on the Avonlea team. Alec starts a team of his own with the 'misfits' that Archie refused. With the help of Miss Stacy and Peg Bowen, after Alec sprains his back and can't play, the 'Misfits' show Archie Gillis and his 'Avengers' a thing or two. Back at King Farm, Janet is in need of help when the baby arrives sooner than expected, and Sara is there to help after the capable Felicity passes out.
1993
Olivia is about to deliver her first child, and Jasper's family descends on them intending to aid at the birth. Their Bohemian life style clashes with the traditional life style of the King Family, causing major problems. Montgomery King Dale's entrance to the world, almost didn't happen. Jasper is the one who saves the day!
Aunt Hetty's plans to help Olivia with the new baby change when Olivia challenges Hetty to be creative. Hetty has written a romance novel, and with out her knowledge, Olivia publishes it in the Chronicle, under the nom de plume, H.E. LeRoi. Clive Pettibone, the new school master, also has a creative streak. Hetty and Clive are antagonists, until they share their secrets. (setting us up for a possible romance between the two characters)
For his 14th birthday, Felix wants a rifle, but receives a telescope instead. He borrows his fathers rifle to go hunting, on another one of his 'get rich quick schemes', to provide venison for the White Sands Hotel. Gus hears the shot, and finds Felix bending over a wounded Digger. Arthur Pettibone, is a veterinarian student, the oldest son of Clive, who his eye on Felicity. He treats Digger, knowing he is making an impression. Gus is not pleased at Felicity's reaction to Arthur, and realizes that he has competition for her affections.
When the town decides it needs a Volunteer Fire Department, after a mishap nearly burns down the stable, the choice of chief is between Alec and Clive. It is Hetty who casts the deciding vote, for Clive! The fire department is unruly and disorganized, until Felix's science experiment goes awry, almost burning down the school and they all work together as a team to save it.
With the 'romance' of Felicity and Gus progressing, Sara is feeling left out. Then Zak Morgan, and his ""Wild West Show"" come to town and Sara loses her heart. Hetty and Olivia are very concerned that Sara is getting into a dangerous situation. Sara rodeo rides to impress Zak, and asks if she can join his show. Zak agrees, but when the time comes and the show leaves town Sara is left behind.
Alec's childhood friend, Emmett, returns to Avonlea with a new young bride and an infant. He asks Alec for help, as his farm has done poorly and he needs to fish for food for the winter. On a shipping expedition, their ship sinks and Emmett dies. Alec feeling responsible, tries to run Emmett's farm and his own. Evelyn, the clinging widow, causes problems between Janet and Alec and sets the whole town gossiping.
Now 16, Felicity, decides that a romantic evening with Gus is what their relationship needs. She schemes to empty the house so she and Gus can dine alone. Gus has no idea that they are to dine alone. Alec and Janet return home, from dinner at the White Sands, and although the situation that the two young lovebirds are caught in is totally innocent, Gus is banished. Sara tries to help, but it only makes matters worse. Gus faces Alec, man to man, and asks for permission to ""See, Felicity, in the open, and with your blessin'"". Alec agrees.
Gus gets Felix a job at the White Sands Hotel, as Simon Tremayne's assistant. The job goes to Felix's head, and causes a riff with Gus. He reveals that the new owner once worked for royalty; the same Duke who just happens to be visiting Carmody. Hetty is determined to get the Duke to come to the Founders Day Banquet and to have the King Family honoured as Avonlea's 'Founding Family'---of course, it isn't quite the Kings---
To make ends meet, Simon Tremayne takes Hetty as his ""silent"" partner in the hotel. Hetty thinks she can make money by holding a Valentine dance; but a health inspector almost closes the hotel down when he finds a 100 year old bird, dead, in the ice house. Arthur wants to dance with Felicity, who has agreed to go to the dance with Gus, who is being pursued by Chef Pierre's French niece, Suzette.
This synopsis is from the back of the video case cover of Sullivan Entertainment - Road To Avonlea - Felicity's Perfect Beau: ""With the attentions of both Gus Pike and Arthur Pettibone, Felicity becomes confused as one proposes marriage and the other courts her. Seeking avice on matters of the heart she returns first to Sara, then Hetty and eveutally her family. In the end she determines that she alone must decide her future.""
The son of a wealthy businesswoman pays a visit to the White Sands hotel without informing his mother. At the same time an antiques dealer charms the Avonlea townspeople into letting him ""appraise"" their valuables. When he makes off with them, the wealthy scion is nowhere to be found, so it is believed that he has been kidnapped. Soon, a detective turns up to find out the whereabouts of both men, though at first only Sara knows the twisted truth about what really has happened.
A wealthy American developer tries to modernize Avonlea and reinvent it in the style of a town he built in Pennsylvania. Opinions in the town are mixed; Clara Potts and Olivia take up the case for modernization but Hetty is firmly against it. Meanwhile, Sarah convinces her trust fund (by impersonating Hetty over the telephone) to buy an Edison motion picture camera and send it to Jasper Dale, under the impression that he is to do experiments in frame rate with it for the Edison company. Eventually, Hetty decides to use footage Jasper filmed with his camera to show a visual record of Avonlea, as part of an emotional appeal against the radical rebuilding of the town.
Sara and Felix are desperate for a science project for school, when they find perfect one in Jasper's work room. Aunt Eliza surprises everyone with a visit. Since it is cold, and lambing time, the visit is not welcome. Janet and Alec, tired and worn out, make some unkind remarks about Eliza and she runs away. The science project warms up a frozen Eliza, a cold barn and keeps the new born lambs warm, as well. [I guess this disproves my favourite quote of the episode, eh Felix?]
1992
aka ""The Ties That Bind"" Hetty takes over the plans for Olivia and Jasper's wedding, changing the small intimate ceremony they planned into a three-ring-circus. Jasper & Olivia want to elope; Janet is forced to do all of the work; the wedding ring is lost; the wedding gown arrives three times too big; and Hetty and Olivia are not speaking to each other. Here comes the bride...
Alec wants to sell Blackie, an aging farm horse and somewhat of a pet of Felix, after he purchases a new horse. Felix won't hear of it and decides to start a delivery business, with Sara's help, to pay for Blackie's feed. Felix is teased by the local business men and makes a foolish wager. This causes heartbreak for young Felix, and then a new beginning.
aka ""Another Point of View"" Alec is elected to the school board, and Hetty feels that she is being unfairly criticized so she quits her job as schoolmistress in Avonlea. Her replacement is Alistair Dimple, an impoverished actor, pretending to be a teacher. Alistair inspires the students to learn by doing role-playing and, in turn, inspires Hefty to write a book about the island. Alec finds out Dimples ""identity"", but keeps quiet as Avonlea school battles it out for the History Championship competition against rival Carmody.
Sara is suffering growing pains, and Hetty refuses to recognize that the 'Story Girl' is growing up. Gus has news of Captain Crane in Halifax, and plans to travel there to meet him. Sara meets a look alike named, Jo Pitts. When Sara finds living with Hetty unbearable, she forces Gus to take her to Halifax with him. Jo Pitts pretends to be Sara, with the help of Felix. Gus has been tricked by Abe Pike, not Captain Crane who sent the message and Abe wants Gus to take him to Captain Crane & the treasure, so he holds his captive until Gus captiulates, and in the meantime, nasty thieves believe that Sara is Jo Pitts, who is one of their own, and take her captive....
Back in Avonlea, Jo Pitts is wreaking havoc with Hetty, who believes that ""Sara"" has become deranged. When Jo decides she has had enough of Hetty, she decides to drown her. Sara and Gus escape the gang of theives, who are run by Abe Pike, and sail back to Avonlea just in time to stop Jo from robbing the town blind. Gus offers the King women some advice on how to handle Jo, and she is offered a home with Sara and Hetty at Rose Cottage. However, Jo decides to take her fate into her own hands and leaves town.
The Womens Suffrage Movement comes to Avonlea, and after hearing a suffragette speak, Janet decides to get a petition signed asking for women to have the right to vote. Her zeal causes problems at home and problems at the McCorkindale cannery when she tries to get them better wages. When her efforts finally land her in jail, Alec regrets not helping Janet with her petition and gets Hetty and many others in town to sign. The cannery workers are then given a pay raise, because of Janet's efforts and Mrs. McCorkindale's practicality.
It is a dark and stormy night when Gus falls under the spell of beautiful Amanda Stone, much to Felicity's chagrin. Robert Rutherford arrives in Avonlea, on Amanda's very heels, and claims the gems Amanda left in safe keeping with Gus are stolen. Gus, smitten with Amanda, refuses to believe Rutherford's claims, however Felicity smells a rat in fine french perfume. The town's people hear about Gus's gems and begin to treat him differently. Then a series of events causes Gus and Felix to be thrown in jail and Gus sets out to find the truth.
Sisters Janet and Abilgail, and Olivia and Hetty, spend the day at an auction, and the men, Jasper, Alec and Felix, all go ice fishing. Before the afternoon is over the women are not on speaking terms. Alec, Gus and Jasper try to deal with questions from Felix on ""life"" and ""women and men, together"". Gus talks to Jasper about what it feels like to be in love. The day ends with the women out looking for Abigail's son Lucky, whom they believe is out lost in a snow storm and the men go looking for the women. A joyous reunion takes place in the woods, before they all retire to the King Farm for warmth and renewed feeling for each other, and Jasper makes a toast, to friends...and relations.
aka ""Vows of Silence"" The new minister in town, gives a 'hell-fire-and-brimstone' sermon which convinces the children that the world is coming to an end. The adults have no idea that the children have taken the sermon so seriously. The children go to the lighthouse, prepared to confess their sins, and hope this will save the world. A lunar eclipse convinces them the end is nigh...and Felix's confession almost makes Felicity put an end to him.
Jasper Dale is studying bats, and Olivia feels inadequate by not being able to help with his work. A woman scientist comes to help and is smitten with Jasper. Hetty tutors Olivia in science, but it seems that Jasper loves her for her special skills, and not for the scientific knowledge she gains. Sydney Carver, the scientist leaves after ""making a fool of herself"" over Jasper.
Felicity is invited to Kingsport Ladies College, because of her academic excellence. Once there,she is intimidated by the other girl's worldliness, so she lies and pretends that she is Sara's rich sister, using the story's of Sara's life. Gus, worries that he is losing Felicity, and decides that if ""good manners and breeding "" are important, he is going to get them. Sara and Pierre further Gus's education. Felicity has to face her parents with her lies, and learns a lesson in humility.
Wally Higgins, an ice skate salesman visiting Avonlea decides that Hetty is the perfect woman for him, she has the perfect sized feet. Wellington Campbell decides that part of the King property is his. Now Hetty works to keep both her freedom and her land. Felicity expects Gus to take her to the skating party and he has yet to ask her to go with him, but he is too proud to admit that he has no skates. When he confides this to Sara, she gives him a pair, but Gus doesn't know how to skate!
It is heartbreak at Green Gables when Marilla Cuthbert dies suddenly, and leaves no will. The assumption is that Anne would always inherit Green Gables from the Cuthberts. When Gilbert Blythe arrives in Avonlea and tries to buy Green Gables it is too late, one of the neighbors has bought it. Rachel Lynde and the children are now homeless, unless Rachel can make friends with the new owner. A man who ""hates"" Rachel. Rachel has to learn to ""mind her tongue"" if she wants a to continue to live at Green Gables.
1994
Felix must decide where his future lies; the farm or the hotel. The choice is too difficult and Felix rebels. He is too tired to work well at either the farm or hotel; and gives up his job. Alec, seeing how unhappy Felix is, urges him to resume working at the hotel. Felix befriends a millionaire, who teaches him the importance of Fathers and Sons and how to ""talk"" to his father.
The family is planning a 50th birthday party for Hetty. Her publisher, no longer wants ""Romance"" novels from her. Muriel Stacey returns to town and takes over the general store. When Hetty succumbs to appendicitis, her out look on life changes. She decides to write about what she knows; her childhood and the beauty of the island. This episode is Heather Conkie's shining moment as a writer for 'Avonlea', as we are given insight to the young Hetty King
Plans are on the way for the American millionaire (see Home Movie) to turn the old cannery into a distillery. An outraged Hetty persuades H.B. Dunn sells the cannery to her, but she doesn't know how to run it. Jasper and Olivia take over the day-to-day running of the cannery, and use Gus Pike's expertise in operations. Problems arise that must be solved. Gus and the King family pitch in, even Felicity, and all the lobsters are canned; so Hetty decides The Dales must buy the cannery from her.
Davey Keith is already in trouble after the first day of school. After getting caught fighting in the playground, Clive Pettibone assigns him one hundred lines to write as punishment. While this might be difficult enough under any circumstances, for Davey it is doubly severe because he cannot read or write. After he inadvertently lands Sarah in trouble she learns his awful secret. With her help, however, he begins to learn how to read.
Avonlea is hosting the annual drama competition and Hetty plans to win.She makes a wager with Eleanor McHugh,betting a secret family recipe.Asking Janet to play the lead role,She callously recasts the role when the opportunity arises,giving the part to Isabelle Carrington,famous stage actress.However it turns out that Isabelle's refusal to play the part as originally written (by Hetty of course)forces Hetty to fire her only one day before the competition is set to begin. So Hetty must beg Janet to retake the lead role in time to save the play.
Felix wants to enter the steeplechase; but Janet is afraid he'll get hurt. He trains for the race without her knowledge and is injured. Janet and Felix, face their fears; and he enters the race. Clive Pettibone wants to prove to his son that he is still as good a rider as he used to be and also enters the race. Who will win???
The Kings find a man in thier barn and give him work, but is he all that he seems?
John Hodgeson, a candidate for Prime Minister, stays at the White Sands with his daughter. Adeline takes a liking to Felix. Alec considers a life in politics after John's encouragement.
The King family finds out that Cecily has TB and the townsfolk try to avoid contact with the King family.
As penance for a careless accident he caused, Hetty orders Davey (he and Dora who Hetty is looking after for the afternoon) to perform three good deeds. The first is directed toward Jasper. Davey is the cause of yet another accident in Jasper's laboratory, but one that helps Jasper create a new unbreakable ceramic-like material. Olivia thinks that Jasper should patent it and use it for widespread purposes. The only person who Jasper believes could assist financially and with business expertise is his black-sheep cousin Jeremiah Dale - he being the black sheep because he went into business. However Jasper does not want to ask as he has not spoken to Jeremiah in over twenty years since Jeremiah made his life miserable when they were growing up. Looking remarkably similar to each other, Jeremiah used to pretend to be Jasper while wreaking havoc. Without telling Jasper, Olivia decides to ask Jeremiah on Jasper's behalf, a move which doesn't sit well with Jasper. Olivia, Jasper and Jeremiah have to reconcile their feelings if there is any chance of Jasper's invention making a mark in the world. Jeremiah's plans are to seek investments of $8,000 to make the business fly. But Jasper and Olivia have no idea what Jeremiah's exploits have been in the past twenty years. Those exploits ultimately direct the success or failure for Jasper, Olivia and the investors of what Jeremiah has coined "Jasperon Incorporated".
Certain people in Avonlea are hoping for a progression in romance. Ever since Morgan went away to military school, Izzy has been Clive's singular focus. She feels he needs a wife, and searches through the list of spinster women in Avonlea for a suitable candidate. Izzy sets her sights on either Hetty or Muriel. With an established relationship, Gus and Felicity each have news which could affect their future. Gus has been promoted to Assistant Manager at the White Sands Hotel, meaning that he now has the financial means to ask Felicity to marry him, which meets with Alec's approval. Felicity however has just been accepted into Dalhousie University's medical school in a fast tracked process. Because Gus wants to get married now, whereas Felicity wants to wait until she finishes school - which could be upwards of seven years - Gus and Felicity have to decide what to do about the possibility of a future together. Gus' thoughts are affected by Matt O'Donnell, an old sailor colleague who is passing through Prince Edward Island, while Felicity's are directed by Dr. Jones' practice as well as the financial ability of the Kings to send her to school for seven years.
A new minister comes to Avonlea; Rev. Elliott. However, many of the townspeople are put off by his use of humor during sermons. Hetty, in particular, is put off by his son Booth's forwardness in asking Sara to dance a new dance, the Ragtime, with him. Janet is the only one who makes friends with the minister's eccentric wife Viola.
When Janet and Viola go for a joy ride in Miss Stacey's new automobile, it raises rumors that Mrs. Elliott has a drinking problem.
1995
Felicity is at medical school, and Felix is visiting,when they spot Gus in the market place with a strange woman. Felicity mistakengly thinks he is engaged to this woman,Charlotte Ames, and returns Gus's ring. Gus finds Felicity at school and they decide they 'need to talk'. As Gus walks Felicity back to her rooming house they encounter a flower lady, wandering the streets, who thinks that Gus is Captain Crane. Together, Gus and Felicity decide to bring her back to Avonlea to solve a mystery. Gus thinks the flower lady may be Eliza Pike, his 'deceased' mother. A photograph of Eliza and Abe Pike together, makes Gus realize that she is indeed his mother. Hidden behind this wedding photo of Eliza and Abe is a photo of Captain Crane, whom Gus begins to believe is his real father. He and Eliza go to Jamaica to find the captain. Before he leaves, Gus implores Felicity ""...say you'll be mine."" ""I've always been yours, I'll be yours forever"", she assures him. Gus gives her his ring again
The White Sands Hotel is the setting for a Bachelor Auction. Each bachelor makes up a picnic basket and a lady bids on it; the bachelor then shares the basket with the lady. Felix and Izzy's romance begins to blossom; Becky Lester has her eye on Davy; Hetty looses Clive Pettibone to Muriel Stacy; Simon Tremayne has his eye on Hetty but fears he has no hope; but the dance at the hotel, to end the day, finds Hetty is Simon's arms.
Cecily is in a sanitarium in New York, where she meets Louie, a street smart boy. Bored with their treatments the two get in to so much mischief, Cecily is in danger of being sent home. Janet and Alec arrive and try to smooth things over. Cecily tells them of Louie's sad life, and they plans a Christmas celebration for a poor boy who has never had one. Louie dies shortly thereafter; but Cecily settles down determined to get well.
Janet has time on her hands for the first time in her life. Felicity, Daniel and Cecily are all away from home. Felix is busy at the hotel, Alec's time is taken up by the farm and his lodge. When she sees a chance to earn ""extra"" money, Janet jumps at the chance; but all of the money makers end up costing Janet more than she makes. Janet must find a way out of her problem without telling Alec; the owner of the company she is dealing with makes threats, and Alec comes to her rescue.
Sara returns to Avonlea with Nanny Louisa ready to announce plans to go to Paris to study. Nanny and Aunt Hetty begin to squabble over Sara's future; they both have made plans for her with out consulting her. Sara loves them both, but is determined to go to France. Felix and Izzy are having romance problems and Sara nudges them in the right direction.
Rose Cottage is ""empty"" now, so when Rachel has a stroke Hetty agrees to take in Dora and Davy until she fully recovers. Rachel goes out west to live with her son. Once again, Dora and Davy have made a major change in their lives. Davy feels responsible for Rachel's stroke, and causes an unbelievable amount of trouble. Hetty finally gets to the root of Davy's guilt and she, Dora ,and Davy settle down to a new life at Rose Cottage.
Davy finds that school is not to his liking, and decides not to go. Hetty thinks making him get a job will teach him to appreciate school. Jasper teaches Davy all about running the cannery. He and Jasper bond, and become friends. Hetty is worried that Davy will never return to school, until Jasper shows Davy how education will improve his life and his job. Davy goes back to school with a new attitude.
Felix goes into the fox raising business with Izzy; but when he needs to get a bank loan he trades Izzy for Nat Lester as his partner. Nat spends most of the money trying to impress people, Felix is in danger of loosing Izzy as his friend, and Felicity needs to learn to see life from other peoples perceptive. The foxes escape and Felix must find a way to repay the loan. Izzy accepts Felix's apology and they resume their friendship.
Clive and Muriel decide to be married, until Izzy's hostile behavior convinces Muriel to cancel the wedding plans. Davy is tricked out of the money his classmates saved to buy their teacher a wedding gift. Dora and Wiley Lester help him get the money back. Arthur convinces Izzy that having Muriel in their lives will make things better. Hetty has taken over Clive and Muriel's wedding plans; but they surprise all by taking the Pettibone children with them and having a quick ceremony in Carmody.
After recovering from her stroke, Rachel Lynde embarks on a return trip from her son's home out west to Avonlea. On the way, she suffers a second stroke that leaves her unable to talk. Hetty King takes her in to nurse her back to health but Rachel's son wanting to take her back to BC with him. Hetty, Davey, Dora and Olivia all aid in getting Rachel talking again, with help from the most unlikely source - Pierre (the chef at the White Sands).
An impoverished Polish countess visits the White Sands for her son's wedding, as does Pierre's mother, whose daughter is the bride. However, there's a twist when it is revealed that Pierre has been telling his mother he owns the White Sands.
Felicity has completed her first year of medical school, and passes with flying colors. Dr. Snow offers her a job for the summer, and Felicity learns the ""human side"" of medicine rather than the "" text book"" side of it, and it is a real eye opener! When Dr. Snow and Felicity are unable to save Felicity's friend, Colleen Pritcharts, life during child birth Felicity re-examines her plans to become a doctor and awaits the return of Gus.
Cecily comes home from the sanitarium with such high hopes, but Janet and Alec are afraid that she might have a relapse and treat her as if she is still ill. The towns people are worried and refuse to let Cecily return to school. Aunt Eliza convinces Alec and Janet that treating Cecily as if she is well, is they only way that everyone's life can get back to normal. Felicity is dealing with her choice to leave medical school, and eagerly awaiting Gus's return; with plans to go ahead with their marriage. Felicity is devastated when she learns that Gus's ship has gone down, with all hands lost at sea. Gus is presumed dead.
1996
Felicity continues to mourn a year after she learns that Gus' ship was lost at sea. While attending a town meeting, she is maneuvered into excepting a position on a committee to assess the old Lloyd mansion. Upon examining the house, the committee discovers four orphans living there. Stuart McRae, a new banker, supports Felicity's idea that the house should be converted into a fondling home. The project, along with Stuart's affections, promises to help Felicity get over her loss of Gus.
The Dominion Day picnic finds Felix in jeopardy of losing Izzy's friendship and Jasper trying to tell Olivia he has been offered a teaching position in England. The boys in town are all making eyes at Hannah Hubble while the girls look on with growing irritaion.
Davy sees a 'mermaid' in a traveling show and is smitten. He has his head full of dreams and fantasies. Rachel is improving since her stroke and is learning to enjoy the ""little things"" in life. The traveling show tries to swindle the town out of it's share of profits; but Davy discovers what is going on and puts a stop to it.
Izzy is at loose ends. Felix has betrayed her, and her father is involved with his new bride. After writing to her mother's sister, Izzy is surprised when her aunt arrives in Avonlea. The woman dazzles Izzy with tales of her glamourous life, and Izzy decides to return to Boston with her Aunt Lillian. Lillian is exposed as a woman in financial ruin, and Felix makes a heartfelt plea to Izzy to stay in Avonlea with him. As home and love are strong ties, Izzy decides to stay in Avonlea.
Janet King's sister, Abigail, and Great Aunt Eliza return to Avonlea, turning Janet's world upside down. Janet hints to Abigail, that there may be a wedding in the spring and shows her a dress pattern she wants to make. After several remarks Abigail made to Cecily are told to Alec, he thinks Janet is pining for the engagement ring he was never able to afford. Alec is determined to get Janet a ring and takes her wedding band to ""size"" the new ring; Janet thinks she lost her band and tries to get a replacement
Just as Simon Tremayne receives an offer to buy out the White Sands hotel by a buyer who wants to modernize it, Hetty learns that the school is to be closed down and its students sent to school in Carmody. Her devastation is tempered by her blossoming romance with Simon; she soon accepts his proposal of marriage. However, pressure on both of them to fight off the idea of losing their respective jobs (Hetty calls for a comparative test between the students of Avonlea Public School and those of the Carmody School) makes them realize that, though they may love each other, they are too career-oriented to be married to one another.
When a famous song writing team come to the White Sands hotel; Hetty wants no part of them until she learns that they are ""intimates of the King o England"". They are to be the stars of her musical at the hotel. When Felix tries to interest them in Uncle Jaspers ""recording device"" they are more impressed with Alec's singing than they are the electronics. Alec has a chance to go to sing on Broadway or remain in Avlonlea.
The adults are away from King Farm when a solar eclipse is to take place. Cecily accidentally destroys money meant for charity and must replace it. Felix comes up with the scheme of renting out the farm house as a hotel; to replace the money and to show Simon Tremayne that he would make a good assistant manager at the hotel. Jasper's cousin Selina becomes infatuated with one of the guests, an Italian professor. When Janet arrives home, the place is in chaos.
Two orphaned brothers arrive at the Avonlea Foundling Home and bring trouble and strife with them. They are looking for their big brother,Jim, who arrived in Canada before they did. They steal money from Hetty, cause mischief in town and make trouble for Davy. Davy ""borrows"" money from Hetty and takes the boys on a train ride to Halifax to find their brother. Hetty takes Davy to task for his actions; but he has learned a valuable lesson. and we see that Davy is finally growing up.
Great Aunt Eliza is about to turn 90 years old and Janet and Abigail plan a party to celebrate. Cousin Winifred, arrives and stirs up old sorrows for Eliza. They once both loved the same young man. Winifred finally reveals to Eliza the true state of the young man's heart. Eliza and Winifred make their peace with each other.
A mysterious telephone call to the King Farm leads Felicity King, mere days before her wedding to Stuart McCrae, and Hetty King in search of Gus Pike, who had been reported drowned at sea. After a long trip to South Carolina and running into several dead end leads, Felicity and Hetty find Gus had survived the ship wreck...however, Gus has lost his sight in the accident! Now it is up to Felicity and Hetty to convince Gus to return home to Avonlea...and Felicity has some hard choices herself to make. Will she honour her engagement to Stuart, a kind and gentle man, whom she does not love...or will she return to the arms of the boy, now man, that has always held her heart, Gus Pike?
Jasper returns from England to find that Olivia has taken in Lottie, a young woman recently fired from the Carmody cannery, and her baby. Meanwhile, Eulalie Bugle and Archie Gillis are campaigning for Avonlea to amalgamate with Carmody, a situation that Alec, Bert Potts, and Stuart fight vigorously with a counter-campaign. An emotional address by Jasper seals a victory for the anti-amalgamation activists, but their luck soon changes when the Dale Cannery is struck by lightning and burns to the ground. Faced with no job, Lottie leaves her baby with the Dales and disappears.
Gus' return to Avonlea stuns the King Family and forces Felicity to make a decision between her childhood sweetheart, Gus and the kindly banker, Stuart. In the meantime, Jasper and Olivia have decided to leave Avonlea, after the disastrous Dale Cannery fire and Hetty is furious. Felix makes a decision that stuns his family, especially his mother Janet, and a certain familiar character makes her prodigal return to Avonlea for Felicity's wedding day.
Sarah Polley
Sara Stanley
Jackie Burroughs
Hetty King
Mag Ruffman
Olivia King/Olivia Dale
Lally Cadeau
Janet King
Gema Zamprogna
Felicty King
Cedric Smith
Alec King
Zachary Bennett
Felix King
Patricia Hamilton
Rachel Lynde
Heather Brown
Izzy Pettibone
Kyle Labine
Davey Keith
