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SCENE: Green Gables, morning
Anne Shirley: [yawns] I dare say, this may be the most beautiful sunrise I’ve ever seen.
Matthew Cuthbert: [off-screen] You say that every morning.
Anne: Matthew, when I’m dragged from the thrilling dreams I have, I need the promise of a spectacular sunrise to help get out of bed in the morning. [yawns] The russet hues, the ochre, reds.
Matthew: Red’s pretty.
Anne: Thy sky and certain berries are the only place such a colour belongs. Certainly not in a poor girl’s hair.
Matthew: Only thing prettier than your hair is the harvest moon coming up in a few nights.
Anne: Just think of it, our teacher says we are going to witness a lunar eclipse in a couple of nights. Now that will be a sight to behold.
Marilla Cuthbert: [off-screen] Anne Shirley, haven’t you fetched those eggs yet? Breakfast is ready. The farm doesn’t wait for slowpokes.
Matthew: Quite right.
Anne: Marilla, may I have some friends over to watch the lunar eclipse? The moon is going to be hidden in the Earth’s shadow.
Marilla: We don’t have time to host a social every time the moon moves.
Anne: But that’s just it, Marilla. This phenomenon is as rare as hen’s teeth.
Marilla: Speaking of hens, we don’t want those eggs sitting in the heat.
Anne: [sighs]
Matthew: Nothing wrong with a bit of fun.
Marilla: My dear brother, after such a late night who will do chores next morning?
Matthew: [off-screen] A little party would do her good.
Marilla: Well, I suppose we could manage a few friends.
Anne: Yay! [giggles] A party at Green Gables! Yippie!
Marilla: Why do I have the feeling I’m going to regret this?
SCENE: Green Gables, later
Marilla: For goodness sake child, don’t wolf down your breakfast. You’ll give yourself indigestion.
Anne: Oh Marilla, I can hardly wait to invite everybody! Green Gables will be host to the most marvellous soiree this town has ever seen.
Marilla: Merely a few friends over for lemonade.
Anne: I wonder if it wouldn’t be too much bother for you to make your angel food cake. It’s surely the most decadent confection in all Avonlea.
Marilla: Mmm. We’ll see. I’m busy enough this time of year. Dishes, Anne.
Anne: In a minute. First, I have some things to do before school.
Marilla: Oh. [clicks tongue]
SCENE: Anne’s room, later
Anne: That’s enough invitations for everybody at school. Think of it, the whole class at Green Gables.
SCENE: Anne’s imagination, Anne’s room, later
Katie Maurice: But if everyone’s coming, what’s the point of invitations?
Anne: Frankly, I’m not sure. All I know is, invitations are of the utmost importance for this kind of event.
Katie: But Anne, do you think they’ll come?
Anne: Of course, they will. With such celestial entertainment in the night sky, I’ll finally be a success in Avonlea.
SCENE: Anne’s imagination, ballroom
Children: Wow!
Anne: My dear Gilbert, how wonderful to see you.
Gilbert Blythe: I wouldn’t have missed so momentous a gathering or your splendid buffet. In fact, I don’t mind if I do.
Felicity King: I must say, Anne, you’ll be known far and wide as a truly stellar hostess. [chuckles]
Anne: All in the service of my guests, Felicity.
Felix King: My dear Anne, I’m quite speechless. You’ve outdone yourself. I say, we really must have you up to the villa this summer.
Diana Barry: [off-screen] Oh, the eclipse is here! It’s finally happening! Anne, look!
SCENE: Anne’s room, present day
Imaginary Diana: [off-screen] Anne! Anne!
Marilla: [off-screen] Anne! Anne!
Anne: Oh. [groans]
Marilla: Why gulp down your porridge only to dally in your bedroom? You’re going to be late for school.
Anne: Oh Marilla, forgive me. I was merely lost in reflection thinking about the party.
Marilla: Here. You also forgot to do the breakfast dishes.
Anne: My dear Marilla, I’ll get to them when I return from school. Ta-ta.
Marilla: [hums]
SCENE: Avonlea school, later
Anne: This is for you, and this is for you. Please come, it will be a wonderful party.
Reese Breen: I sure will. Thanks!
Anne: Diana!
As my bosom friend, would you do me the honour of accepting an invitation to my eclipse party?
Diana: A party? Anne, how wonderful!
Anne: Ha!
Felix, this is for you. I hope you can make it, accompanied by your telescope, of course.
Felix: I’ll bring all my equipment. [gasps]
Felicity: You’re hosting a party?
Anne: It’s to celebrate the eclipse. You’re invited, same as everybody.
Felicity: A party at Green Gables? How quaint.
Anne: I assure you; it will be a most wondrous event. Join us marvelling under the night sky. Or be left alone in the dark.
Felicity: I’m just surprised that with all your farm chores you even have the time to put a party together.
Anne: I’ll have plenty of time, don’t you worry.
SCENE: Green Gables kitchen, later
Anne: [off-screen] Now, we’ll put Felix next to Gilbert here, and Diana beside me, and Edward beside her.
Marilla: Now what have we here?
Anne: I’ve assembled a stupendous seating arrangement, sure to guarantee the most fascinating dinner conversations. Speaking of our meal, here’s my idea for a menu.
Marilla: [giggles] Anne, you’re only having a few friends over to gawk at the moon, nothing fancy.
Anne: But we could make it so much more than that.
Marilla: We’ll offer a few snacks on the sideboard.
Anne: A few snacks?
Marilla: It’s just before harvest, our busiest time of the year.
Anne: I’ll help you. I promise.
Marilla: Just worry about your chores. I noticed the wood bin is getting low.
Anne: I know.
I’ll get to it after I come up with a new plan.
SCENE: Green Gables kitchen, another day
Anne: [off-screen] Less fancy won’t be so bad after all. I’ve designed a party that’s still worthy of our guests’ once in a lifetime experience. We’ll have blankets on the lawn with lanterns strung through the trees. Then, when the moment comes, poof! We blow them out, lie back, and enjoy nature’s wonders in the sky above.
Matthew: First things first.
Anne: Aw, Matthew, it’s Saturday!
Matthew: The hens don’t take a day off and neither can we.
Anne: You know, Matthew, I dare say, I’ve got too many chores around here.
Marilla: [off-screen] If you don’t do them, who will?
Anne: [sighs]
Matthew: Hmm, looks like a pretty swell affair she’s planning.
Marilla: [sighs] Matthew, don’t you have work to do?
Matthew: [clears throat]
SCENE: Chicken coop, later
Anne: Why oh why must I live on this farm? The work is utterly endless, and the rewards are so meagre. It’s impossible to ever catch up with my chores, so why even bother? Exactly. I’ve got to get the mail every day, and dust, and polish silver, plus bring in firewood for the stove, and clean the butter churn, and feed the cat. Oh, and gather eggs from you every morning. Oh, well, I didn’t mean to insult you. You are my favourite task, of course. Years from now when people ask where were you on the night of the lunar eclipse…
SCENE: Green Gables kitchen, flashforward
Anne: [voice over] …my guests will answer, Anne Shirley’s party at Green Gables.
SCENE: Chicken coop
Anne: People don’t see the significance of a lunar eclipse. It’s more important than boring old chores.
Why look at that. It is brilliant! I’ll make a model of the eclipse! I’ll show them how amazing and worthy it is.
SCENE: Green Gables porch, later
Anne: I’ll get to these later. I have to strike when inspiration calls.
SCENE: Green Gables kitchen, later
Marilla: Oh. [clicks tongue] Oven’s low on wood. [gasps] I don’t believe it! Empty. Anne! Anne! That rapscallion. Well, for crying out loud, I’ll go fetch the wood myself like a daisy called daydreamer. If she shirks her duties, how can I do mine? Never, in all my years at Green Gables has the wood box been… [gasps]
Anne: [off-screen] Eureka! This will work perfectly.
Marilla: [off-screen] Ouch. [yells]
Anne: [gasps] Marilla? Marilla. What– My goodness.
Marilla: What were eggs doing on this shelf?
Anne: Uh, oh. Marilla, I was just on my way to bringing them inside just as soon as I finished this, well, you see…
Marilla: I came for wood!
Anne: Oh, dear. I just plum forgot about the wood bin. Other things go in the way of my chores.
Marilla: Well, other things won’t be distracting you now. Your party is cancelled.
SCENE: Green Gables kitchen, later
Anne: Please, Marilla, I’m begging you! Won’t you reconsider?
Marilla: Why should I permit a party for a girl who has so brazenly ignored her obligations?
Anne: But I come before you on bended knee. I’ve invited all of the kids, they’re all excited about coming–
Marilla: And now, they’ll have to cancel!
Anne: But how can I do that?
Marilla: Tell them the truth. You are unable to manage your party without throwing your chores out the window.
Anne: Except I want to throw my chores out the window. [cries]
Matthew: Seems like there’s some cloud in front of our sunshine today.
Anne: I’m in the depths of despair. Marilla has ruined my life.
Matthew: That’s quite an achievement.
Anne: [cries] She cancelled the party just because I wasn’t doing my chores. It’s not fair.
Matthew: Well, chores are important on a farm, Anne, and your chores are just as important as anyone’s.
Anne: I know that, and a day’s worth of eggs isn’t an easy thing to lose.
Matthew: Oh dear, what happened?
Anne: Oh, please, Matthew, don’t make me repeat the whole tragedy.
Matthew: Suit yourself. Now before the Sorrel Mare eats your pillow, why not go, and catch up on your duties? Nothing like busy hands to lighten the heavy heart.
Anne: It’s like I’m sentenced to a lifetime of hard labour.
Matthew: Golly, all I was thinking was you could go get yesterday’s mail.
SCENE: Mailbox, later
Anne: Ridiculous chores. Why do I have to do everything around here?
Felicity! Good afternoon!
Felicity: How’s tomorrow’s party coming along?
Anne: Not the way I planned it.
Felicity: I expect a farm girl like you’s got no time for such luxuries.
Anne: Truth is, I don’t.
Felicity: Well, good thing there’s a lunar eclipse for entertainment. With an event like that, even you couldn’t mess up this party.
Anne: Oh, I don’t know about that.
SCENE: Green Gables porch, later
Diana: [off-screen] Psst! Anne!
Anne: [gasps]
Anne: I can’t talk. Marilla will have my head.
Diana: What’s wrong?
Anne: A day’s eggs broken thanks to me.
Diana: Oh, how terrible! But couldn’t you coax the chicken to lay more?
Anne: Wouldn’t hurt to try? Diana, you may have saved the day.
Diana: But– [gasps, sighs]
SCENE: Green Gables henhouse, later
Anne: It’s me again, chickens. [laughs nervously] With a special request for extra eggs. Just today, please?
Oh, listen to me, I’m as bad as Marilla, wanting you to do more than your fair share of chores. That’s all she and Matthew care about. Wouldn’t it be nice if they just relaxed for once? [off-screen] Imagine if we didn’t have to do chores. [sighs]
SCENE: Anne’s imagination, Green Gables porch
Anne: Oh, what a lovely relaxing day. Hello, Marilla.
Marilla: Hello, Anne. What lovely flowers you’ve got there. [off-screen] I hope it wasn’t too much of a strain to pick them.
Anne: [off-screen] Not at all.
Matthew: [off-screen] Marilla, wouldn’t it be much trouble to accept a cordial?
Marilla: Why, Matthew, I think it’s all I can manage. [sighs]
Matthew: Ah, what a view. It’s all I can do just to sit and admire it all day.
Marilla: Yes, it’s been days since I’ve done a lick of work and I must day, it’s wonderful.
Anne: I’m so glad you’ve discovered the benefits of rest and relaxation. Now, may I have a sandwich?
Marilla: So long as you make it yourself. Don’t forget to cut off the crusts so it’s not too much work to chew.
Anne: [growls]
Matthew: I suppose I’ll have to fix that door one of these days.
Marilla: No rush.
Anne: I don’t believe it! I’ve never seen this place so messy. No bread? What about butter? Nothing.
That’s it? Marilla, come quick!
Marilla: What is it, dear?
Anne: Well, look!
Marilla: I don’t see anything.
Anne: There’s no food! The place is a pigsty!
Marilla: Well, since I’ve discovered the art of relaxation, I haven’t made it to market. [chuckles] I haven’t gone to the trouble of baking bread either. [chuckles]
Matthew: As for butter, it’s been a week since I’ve churned any. Truth be told, I’ve enjoyed the break.
Sorrel Mare: [off-screen] Well, we in the barn sure haven’t, and I myself could certainly do with some oats and a brush.
Anne: How on Earth could anyone let their home get to such a state?
Sorrel Mare: Much obliged.
Matthew: We’ve been relaxing so much. [off-screen] Maybe you could do the chores.
Anne: [off-screen] I can’t do everything.
Matthew: Well, I’m too tired.
Marilla: Me too. Besides, I’d rather go visit Rachel.
Matthew: Yup. Maybe later.
Marilla: [sighs] Yes, maybe.
Anne: How did this get so bad?
SCENE: Green Gables henhouse, present day
Anne: Hmm. Life without chores really means a life of misery and squalor. [gasps]
Well, what do you know? Thanks, ladies.
SCENE: Green Gables barn, later
Anne: Found one!
Matthew: That’ll save us from wreck and ruin.
Anne: The Sorrel Mare looks beautiful.
Matthew: Thanks to daily brushing. Takes a lot of work, but she’s worth it.
Anne: Matthew, I do see the importance of chores after all. Your hard work means an orphan like me can have a good life. [off-screen] I’ve been horribly ungrateful, and I’d understand if you saw fit never to forgive me, but even so, I do hope you will.
Matthew: Just watch yourself around Marilla with that egg.
Anne: I’ll do more than that. In exchange for my blissful existence at Green Gables, the least I can do is a few chores.
Matthew: It’s all in the way you look at them.
Anne: Exactly. Now if you’ll excuse me Matthew, I have some work to do.
SCENE: A montage of Anne doing chores around Green Gables
SCENE: Green Gables porch, later
Matthew: Fresh peas, my favourite.
Marilla: I’m glad somebody appreciates my work around here.
Matthew: You and I, we sure work hard here at Green Gables.
Marilla: We certainly have, Matthew.
Matthew: What’s the use of all our work if there’s no chance to play? Think of Anne. You were a young girl yourself once.
Marilla: [hums]
SCENE: Green Gables porch, evening
Marilla: Dining table looks lovely.
Anne: Just doing my chores. Marilla, would you and Matthew at least watch the eclipse with me?
Marilla: I’m afraid not.
Anne: Marilla, I assure you, I repent of my devastatingly thoughtless behaviour. I promise never again to take my creature comforts for granted.
Marilla: [off-screen] Anne, I’d rather not watch the eclipse with you.
Anne: Why not?
Marilla: Because I’d rather you spend the evening watching the eclipse with your friends.
Anne: With my… my friends!? Oh, Marilla, thank you! You have no idea how happy this makes me.
Marilla: Child, I think I do.
SCENE: Green Gables, night
Felix: See, the candle’s the Sun, and this ball here’s the Earth, and the small one orbiting us is the Moon.
Anne: Then when they all line up like this…
Felix: The Earth’s shadow is cast upon the Moon.
Gilbert: It’s that simple?
Anne: But think of it, what are the chances of all three being in a row like that?
Diana: Guess what everyone, I think it’s starting!
Children: Oh, my! [gasp]
Felix: [off-screen] Well, I’ll be.
Felicity: [off-screen] Look at that!
Anne: [blows the candle]
Gilbert: There’s the Earth’s shadow.
Anne: Matthew, Marilla, thank you for all your help today. I couldn’t gave done it without you.
Matthew: We wouldn’t be here without you, Anne.
Anne: This is possibly the most wonderful night of my life.
Marilla: Oh, Anne, you always say that.
Anne: Well, maybe it’s always true.
Marilla: [off-screen] It really is a sight to behold.
Matthew: She is a rare one, isn’t she?
Marilla: Worth all the work, I’d say.
SCENE: A WORD FROM THE KIDS
Haleigh Sheehan: Does everyone in your family have to do chores?
Boy with Fade Haircut: Everyone in my family does chores, except for my little brother ‘cause he’s only three years old.
Girl in Blue Sweater: Everybody in my family does chores, except for my grandmother ‘cause she’s really old.
Haleigh: [off-screen] What kind of chores do they have to do?
Girl with Red Scrunchie: Like… clean the house and stuff mostly.
Haleigh: What do you think would happen if your mom or dad didn’t do their chores? Okay, go ahead.
Boy with Bangs: I think if my mom and dad didn’t do their chores, I would move to my aunt’s house.
Boy in Blue Sweater: My house would be very disorganized, and everything would be scattered around the place and none of us would want to do it.
Boy with Ivy League Haircut: And it will be all messy and we’re gonna be lazy when we’re older.
Girl with a Bun: If my parents didn’t do their chores, they would forget to do the groceries and we’d all be hungry.
Haleigh: What kind of chores do you do?
Boy with Bangs: I vacuum the house.
Boy with Fade Haircut: Vacuum the house, babysit my brother, and do my homework.
Girl in Blue Sweater: Take out the garbage.
Girl with Mikado: Sweep the house, wash the dishes.
Girl with Red Scrunchie: Clean my room, clean the house.
Girl with a Bun: Clean the house and take care of my little sister.
Haleigh: [off-screen] In your house, what would happen if you didn’t do your chores?
Boy with Fade Haircut: If I didn’t do my chores, my mom would send me to my room and ground me for three weeks.
Girl in Blue Sweater: My mom, she would yell at me and tell me that she wouldn’t do anything for me until I learned how to do my chores again.
Girl with a Bun: My mom would tell me to go to my room, and tell me later that I wasn’t responsible.
Boy with Ivy League Haircut: I’ll get in trouble and I’ll be grounded, and I wouldn’t get my allowance for a few days.
Girl with Red Scrunchie: If I didn’t do my chores, I’ll then get in trouble. but my mom taught me that I should do my chores to help out my family.
Final Boy: If I didn’t do my chores, I would be grounded and I would not have my allowance.