[♪]
Attention!
I have an announcement to make.
The provincial results are in.
I have them here and I'm proud to report that this year
your marks in general are well above average -
with one or two exceptions . .
And I am happy to say that one student in particular
has distinguished herself.
Felicity King has been awarded
one of the highest grades in the province!
Felicity, that's wonderful!
Settle down.
Quiet, please.
There is more good news.
Kingsport Ladies College in Nova Scotia has invited Felicity
to apply for a full scholarship there.
Kingsport. . ?
The finest school in the country!
Only the best girls go there.
[applause]
I can't believe it.
Kingsport Ladies College.
You deserve this scholarship, Felicity.
How soon do you leave?
Felix . . .
Congratulations, Felicity.
Thank you, Gus.
You're so lucky, Felicity.
Imagine - Nova scotia ...
Felicity, you're bound to meet all the best people.
I know. I know.
It's so exciting.
You'll never want to come back here.
You'll be in real society.
A what's the matter Gus?
Nothin' .
Nothin'.
[♪]
I have to know everything there is to know about polite society.
Felicity, it's just a school.
It's just the most prestigious ladies' college
in the Maritimes.
And I have high hopes of your attending one day, Sara.
What are you looking for?
I have to be prepared, don't I?
For what?
For my interview.
Kingsport Ladies College will expect
that I have knowledge of the appropriate skills.
Skills? What skills?
You know perfectly well what I'm talking about Sara Stanley.
You've been schooled privately all your life.
The least you could do, as my cousin and as my friend,
is to tell me the things I'll need to make a good impression.
It's an outrage, that's what!
What's an outrage?
Percy Methley's hired a new chef.
A foreigner!
He's not a foreigner, Rachel.
He's from Quebec.
What did I tell you.
His name's Pierre Jean LaPierre.
Pierre?
I'm moving the Foreign Missions luncheon
to the Carmody Tea Room.
Now Rachel, Percy Methley can hire any fool he chooses.
Though plain good English fare's been the mainstay
of the White Sands Hotel, so he's not likely to change that.
I like to identify what I'm eating, that's what.
Did you hear that Sara - a French chef.
Quelle chance.
What?
How fortunate.
My soufflés.
They need more tea out there.
And the ladies at number nine want more Devon cream.
[scream]
I'm real sorry, Pierre.
I didn't even see ya there.
I'll clean every thin' right up.
I do not tolerate incompetence!
You are here on probation.
Remember, I keep my eye on you!
Oh Sara, I haven't a single thing to wear.
All my clothes are so .. shabby.
It's a little too big.
It's beautiful!
Nanny Louisa sent it.
I've never seen such a perfect dress.
Well you can borrow it, if you like.
I'll look simply ravishing.
The colour suits you wonderfully.
Some day, I'll have my own dresses from Paris.
And a beautiful house, with servants to do my bidding.
Slow down, Felicity.
You haven't even been accepted yet.
I will be.
What do you think of this one?
I've always liked it.
Well, I can't go with just one nice dress.
I'm going to be there for at least four days.
All right then,
We can let the hems down on some of these.
I knew you'd understand.
How else will I make a good impression or make the
acquaintance of the right sort of people.
Very important to a high academic standings.
What ... Sara, you were lucky.
You've had all these sort of advantages.
This is the most important step of my entire life.
You should be helping me.
You're right, Felicity.
I'll give you a few hints.
They never tell you the real qualifications.
What do you mean?
What qualifications?
Well.
Sara, you must tell me!
The other girls will have been born and bred to formal dinners
with French service, they ride and shoot skeet, sing opera,
and travel widely.
You'll have to do a lot of studying
if you want to impress them.
Oh, Sara - quick.
I need a pencil and paper.
We must be logical about this.
Organized.
There's so much to do.
You'll need expert advice.
But this is Avonlea!
I know.
We'll ask the new chef.
He'll be an expert.
He's French.
Cecily, can you help me with these?
What's all this?
I've borrowed some clothes from Sara ... for the interview.
Well, that's very thoughtful of Sara.
What's wrong with your own clothes?
They're hardly suitable for Kingsport, father.
I'm not happy about this, Janet.
Oh, Alec.
She's just excited.
She wants to make a good impression.
That's impossible.
Felix.
I don't know.
Maybe this private school's the wrong idea.
Oh well.
I think we should let Felicity decide that, Alec.
It's a wonderful opportunity and it's important to her.
Now, I have a list of things I must find out about before
I leave for Kingsport tomorrow.
So, I would like to be excused from my chores this afternoon.
If that's all right with you, mother.
Certainly dear.
What sort of things?
Posture.
Etiquette...formal dining . . .
Italian opera . . .
Felicity, I'm sure they'll be happy with you
just the way you are.
I want to be the best possible me.
That's why I've made up my little list.
I have noted my accomplishments on one side,
and the areas in which I need improvement on the other.
Better let me see it just in case you've left something out.
There are children in my kitchen.
Get them out! !
Shoo! Shoo!
Mr. LaPierre - I am Felicity King.
And I am desperate for information
that only you can give me.
Really?
Yes but, you see, the trouble is I haven't much time.
And haute cuisine is so very important
to a thorough education.
Oh - you are interested in fine foods . . .
Yes.
And since it's your specialty, I thought you
might like to help me.
I only need to know enough to get through my interview.
And I leave tomorrow . . .
What?
What? !
You expect to learn in one afternoon what it takes
for the greatest of chefs to discover over a lifetime?
Well it can't be that hard.
After all, it's only food.
Qu'est ce que vous avez dit?
Is there a problem?
Come on Felix, let's go.
What are you doing?
Felix!
I'm sorry.
I ... it smelled so good and I was sort of hungry -
so I just thought I'd sort of sample it ... ?
It's good.
What is it?
Rognons de veau.
You like it?
Oh yes.
What is it?
Kidneys.
And this?
This is great.
Hey Sara - try this.
No thanks.
I've never much cared for cow's brains.
Langue en gelee.
Delicious!
Maybe I overreacted to your friend.
I am very sorry.
Gus.
That crazy Frenchman tried to kill me.
And Felix and Sara are still inside.
Well, he ain't too friendly.
But I'll warrant he aint' exactly a killer.
Now I'll be the only girl at Kingsport
with no knowledge of haute cuisine.
Well, I figure that Kingsport ain't as far as Paris.
prob'ly eat same as we do.
Being a real lady - it's important to you ain't it?
Good breeding and polite manners are very important.
How else can one improve one's position in life?
When you goin'?
I leave tomorrow.
Felicity, I'll be pullin' fer ya.
Thank you, Gus.
Bye Felicity.
Goodbye, Gus.
What was that again?
Eggs benedict.
Pierre, Pierre, these are the best darn eggs
I've ever tasted in my life.
Emotional, isn't he?
Felix, you are the only civilized person
in all of Avonlea - all of Prince Edward Island.
Venez ici.
He wants you to go over there.
Sara - I need to talk to you.
What is it, Gus?
Some of us are trying to create magic ici, Monsieur Pike.
I need to learn manners.
Quick.
Quelle idee.
The wrist, Felix.
Manners?
I need the best there is.
What for?
If good breedin' and manners are important,
then I'm gonna get 'em.
Manners are for the guests, Monsieur,
who are awaiting your services.
Allez-y.
More wrist, Felix.
More wrist.
You're going to have to take something out.
I can't Sara.
Everything is essential.
How many dresses do you have in there?
six.
You're only going away for four days.
Four and a half.
Besides, I can't wear the same thing everyday.
What would they think?
Felicity dear, hurry up.
Your father's waiting.
Felix - Come on.
We've tried that already.
Felix and Sara, come on.
There.
It's almost got it.
There we go.
There's no need to be nervous.
I'm not.
Well I do want you be careful in Nova Scotia.
It's not like Avonlea.
Yes, father.
Someone is meeting you in Kingsport.
Yes.
But I'm going to give you a few dollars - just in case.
I'll be fine, father.
I've been on a boat before.
I know. I know.
Father.
You and mother really want me to go, don't you?
We want what's best for you.
I know.
I'll make you very proud of me.
[♪]
I'm sure you'll adore KLC, Miss King.
Yes. I'm sure.
May I call you Felicity?
Of course.
And you must call me Agnes.
[♪]
I can become quite the best of friends.
get on swimmingly.
oh yes, swimmingly.
Where are you from, Felicity?
Avonlea . . .
Prince Edward Island.
I'm afraid I don't know it.
I was born in Tangiers, Father and Mother dragged us
to England early on, and then onto the continent,
before returning to Ottawa.
So you might say, I'm not really from anywhere.
[♪]
Really, Miss King.
The boy will see to your bags.
[singing]
[♪]
Look.
That must be her.
Look at her coat.
Hello.
Emily Everett-Smythe from Charlottetown.
Margaret Fieldcrest from Tavistock.
Felicity King from Avonlea.
We're your roommates.
I guess we're also in competition for the scholarship.
Avonlea ... that's near the north shore isn't it?
Little farms with cows and pigs.
Charming.
Here, let me take your coat.
Thank You.
Your dress!
It's smashing!
Why, thank you.
It's from Paris.
All of my clothes are from Paris.
Come along, girls.
Single file, please.
You girls come with me.
Good afternoon, girls.
For the benefit of the girls who may become one of us one day,
my name is Miss Cavendish,
and I am the Principal of Kingsport Ladies College.
Kingsport Ladies College enjoys a prestigious reputation
that has been well earned.
Preparing young women to take their places in civilized
and polite society, from ballroom to stateroom.
We expect, that our girls will live up to the honour
of being a Kingsport lady.
Lovely evening, isn't it?
No it ain't.
Cold enough to freeze my nose hairs stiff.
Gus - it's an expression, an introduction.
I don't mean it.
Well if ya don't mean it, why'd ya say it?
That's a good question.
I don't know why people say it, they just do.
They always say a lot of things they don't mean.
It's too confusin'.
I'll never git it right.
How could I ever go over to that college
and ask for Felicity unless I was a gentleman?
One more go.
All right.
Let's start with compliments.
You have to compliment everything - what I'm wearing,
my hair, the way I laugh.
Got it.
Compliment everything.
Right.
My goodness Sara Stanley but that's a right pretty dress
you're wearin' and right pretty shoes,
and stockin's, and . . .
and . . .
I guess that's about it.
That's sort of the idea.
That weren't too hard.
What's next?
Table manners.
Right.
No, no Gus.
If it's the best of manners that you want,
they'll have to be French.
You call this gravy?
It's pig slop!
Do you intend to continue working here, Monsieur Pike?
Better get goin' now Sara.
It took Miss King three days to talk Mr. Methley
into giving me back my job.
And I don't intended
on losin' it because O' puffed up galley cook.
Romance - with a capital R - is quite distinguished from romance
- with a small "r" and yet again from the Romantics
with a capital "R" which has nothing whatever to do
with the romantics, lower case.
I miss taking tea at Harrod's. - Tea, Felicity?
Have you been to London, Felicity?
Yes. Yes please.
Black or white?
Oh . . . white, please.
Aren't you afraid for your weight?
Where did you stay while there?
Sugar?
Uh... yes ... please.
Stay?
Uh.
Father always stays at the Grosvenor in Belgra-a-a-via.
Lemon?
Yes, please.
The Grosvenor - yes - Jam or marmela-a-ade?
Jam, please.
No one eats jam anymore.
Oh - your dress!
My father's in shipping.
He spends most of his time in Toronto, New York, and Montreal.
Margaret and I have been going to school together
for the past five years and your father's a senator, isn't he?
So he claims.
Personally, I think he spends most of his time
cherchez la femme.
They're all so beautiful.
So, Parisian!
Yes.
I shop on the rue du Faubourg every year.
You've been to Paris?
Many times.
I used to stroll down the Champs Elysees in the spring,
when all the trees were all in bloom.
I thought farm people planted crops in the spring?
Courtesy of Daddy's humidor.
I wouldn't know.
I'm not really a farm person.
But I heard Miss Cavendish telling Miss Wright
that your parents are country people.
My parents?
Oh, those people in Avonlea aren't really my parents.
What do you mean?
My real parents lived in Montreal.
My mother died when I was just a baby.
That's terrible.
My father used to take me with him on all his trips to Europe.
Until, he died, tragically.
It was at his warehouse.
He was crushed.
Oh my.
I was staying with my Aunt and Uncle, grieving,
until I was kidnapped.
Kidnapped!
And held for ransom by a crazy woman from the circus,
named Isis.
My uncle, at risk to his own life, rescued me.
I owe him everything.
You've had such a romantic life ...
I could tell right away that you weren't raised on a farm.
My nanny Louisa always sends me all the latest fashions.
She remains our devoted family retainer
at my estate in Montreal.
It must be terrible for you to be stuck in the country.
Well, they're not very wealthy or sophisticated
but they're very kind to me.
Bonjour Pierre.
What's for breakfast?
Eggs benedict?
Waffles Belgique?
Bonjour, Felix
Hello Sara . .
What's the matter Pierre?
They only eat grease - eggs - fried; bacon -fried;
bread - fried.
It makes my stomach turn.
Vegetables boiled to mush, potatoes like chalk dust,
meat roasted to shoeleather.
Gravy -- wallpaper paste.
It's cruel.
It's inhuman.
It's inedible.
Problem is, that's all they's used to.
But it's impossible to educate their palates.
You won over Felix there.
Absolutely.
Felix is a boy of exceptional taste.
He eats anything.
All's you gotta do is make it seem familiar.
But how?
Gus, that's brilliant.
Him?
Brilliant?
Just give your specials plain English names.
These eggs for example.
My oeufs florentine?
Call them . . .
eggs Avonlea-style.
Well, that's right.
Give it a try, Pierre.
Gus Pike - why didn't you speak up sooner -save me
all this aggravation.
Zut!
I heard a KLC girl has to have a broad cultural background.
That puts you at a disadvantage I should think, Felicity.
Isolated in the country.
No concerts, or plays or culture of any kind.
Oh, but I've been to the Milan opera hundreds of times.
Father had a box there.
Friend of the Italian ambassador.
They're ready for you, Felicity.
[♪]
Good morning, Miss King.
Good morning.
Sit down, we're all very impressed by your academic
standing, Miss King.
Thank you.
A KLC girl will have more than academic excellence.
She is poised, graceful, with well-rounded interests
and accomplishments.
Miss King, are you the sort of young woman
who would blossom under our tutelage?
We want our girls to be la creme de la creme.
I see that you are accomplished in piano.
Oh yes.
I can play nearly every hymn in the book.
Hymns?
Our girls are usually classically trained musicians,
Miss King - Bach, Beethoven, Mozart
Oh ... well, of course.
Bach.
Yes, I play Bach.
Of course.
What about sports?
Kingsport is renowned for its riding academy.
Oh, we have two horses at home.
I've ridden all my life.
I'd like to know more about your family.
I understand that Mr. and Mrs. King
are not your real parents.
I heard the girls talking about it.
They're ... just like real parents!
They're wonderful people!
I owe everything to them ... !
Your gratitude and obvious love for them do you credit.
Yes.
Indeed.
Overcome disadvantages!
I like that!
[♪]
Fish fork, fish knife, salad fork, sorbet spoon, entree fork,
knife, spoon, cake spoon, fruit service, teaspoon . . .
[♪]
This is not a bib.
Gus.
Gus...
[♪]
I want to thank each of you for coming to visit us.
It's clear that each of you have something special to Kingsport
and I expect it's clear how Kingsport could prepare
your foray into the world.
And although only one of you will be selected for this
year's scholarship, I want to assure each of you that that
decision will be very difficult as you all display attributes
of a KLC girl.
We will inform you of our decision as soon as possible.
It's been a pleasure meeting you, Felicity.
You really must come to Charlottetown for a visit.
I wish we could attend KLC together.
We would have fun, wouldn't we?
There she is!
Felicity!
Felicity King!
Glad yer back, Felicity.
How was it?
These yer friends?
Anybody like a lift?
Felicity . . .
Sara ... dear .
Just agree to anything that I say.
Gus, you can get my bag.
Yer father said me and Sara could come and get ya.
Your father ... I thought he was dead...
Uh. . . they like it when I call them that.
Don't they Sara.
This is my sister, Sara.
What?
My new classmates, Emily and Margaret.
Pleased to make your acquaintance.
Gus Pike.
Gus, I asked you to get my bag.
It's pathetic really.
This country boy has a mad crush on me.
It's very irritating.
Come on, Felicity. Let's go.
[♪]
All right then, don't speak!
But you're being very childish!
We're being childish!
We're not the ones made up stories.
Stupid lies to impress people!
I had to.
I will never win the scholarship coming
from such a common family!
Ain't nothin' wrong with common people.
You're just jealous.
Jealous.
Of who?
I know those sort of girls.
They're cultured, sophisticated young women, and when I attend
Kingsport, I intend to become just like them!
Then, for your own sake, Felicity King,
I hope you don't get in.
I'll remember that Sara!
I can manage it myself.
You needn't trouble yourself with me any longer.
I'm sorry Gus. I know she'll regret it.
If that's what manners does to a person, I don't want them.
Felicity, I'm absolutely dying to hear all about Kingsport.
Oh, Aunt Olivia, it was wonderful!
I trust you conducted yourself with all the dignity
and decorum that befits a King.
Did you?
Of course, Aunt Hetty.
I would never do anything to tarnish our family name.
You should have seen the grounds.
They were magnificent.
They have a stable full of horses -
they teach equestrian riding, and dressage.
Oh, and they have an enormous greenhouse filled
with exotic flowers in bloom all year round.
Exotic flowers - whatever for?
Botany class.
All the girls were ever so friendly.
They come from some of the wealthiest and best families
in the country.
I'm going to meet some important and useful liaisons
that will serve me the rest of my life.
Why, they embraced me as one of their own.
Voila.
My masterpiece.
Ah yes!
Everyone, Felix made this himself.
Now, Felicity dear, tell us all about the interview.
Oh ... it went.... swimmingly.
Did I tell you I met a senator's daughter.
Agnes Forbes.
And Emily Everett-Smythe -her father's in shipping
and they spend much of their time in New York.
They are very wealthy.
Well, we can certainly see what impresses you.
You promised me, Sara.
Oh my, my Felix.
This looks ... interesting.
Looks like one of Jasper's experiments.
Oh Alec . . .
What ... what is it, Felix?
I call it Escargots Felix.
Really.
And what exactly is Escargots Felix?
It's aw ... snails - in a garlic and butter sauce.
Good.
[piano playing]
Oh, Felicity!
I took the liberty ... it's from Kingsport.
Kingsport Ladies College is pleased to inform you
that you have passed the initial interview.
You and your parents are scheduled for...
Well . . .
Felicity . . .
She's overly excited.
Here it says that you and Alec are to accompany Felicity
to Kingsport this Saturday.
The committee wishes to speak to the parents as well
as the candidates.
Oh my goodness.
An interview.
what'll I do?
What'll I say?
Oh, Hetty, What'll I wear?
I suggest you say very little.
You don't want to spoil Felicity's greatest opportunity.
Felicity, are you all right?
I'm fine ...
It's just nerves.
I'm a little nervous myself.
I want so much for you to be happy . . .
Your father and I are so proud of you.
Well, we've always known you were clever and special ...
You have?
Oh Felicity, dear, no one could have asked for a smarter,
lovelier daughter.
Oh Sara, what am I going to do!
They want to talk to my parents!
Your parents love you and care for you.
How could you do this to them?
It just happened.
It wasn't my fault.
What am I going to say now?
I think you've said enough.
You just had to impress everyone, didn't you.
Sara, you have to help me.
You started it.
You loaned me your dresses.
I'm not getting you out of this one, Felicity King.
There's only one thing to do.
And you know what that is.
Oh Alec, all my clothing is so inappropriate!
Whatever you wear, it'll be fine.
Well, I can't help thinking
what those other girls' mothers will be wearing . . .
I suppose I'll need my white shirt ... ?
Oh, what's the use.
We look like a pair of farmers!
We are farmers.
The vegetables are mush, the roast is like
a piece of leather, and the gravy is like
the consistency of wallpaper paste!
This is cruel.
This is inhuman.
This is inedible.
Felicity - what is it?
Dear, you look unwell.
Come here.
I do feel sick.
It's all this scholarship business.
You'll be fine.
No, I won't.
Oh Felicity .
Mother.
Father.
I have decided that I don't want to go to Kingsport.
Oh what?
What brought this about?
I don't blame you if you hate me for the rest of your lives
or you banish me forever.
Will you just tell us what's happened?
I am the worst daughter in the world.
I felt so inferior to all those other girls.
And there I was in all of Sara's dresses
and they thought I was one of them.
.. and.
.. and so I said I was...
I pretended to be Sara, and I told them I told them
that you weren't my parents.
You what?
Felicity!
I know that you'll never forgive me and I don't blame you.
I'll take any punishment.
I deserve the worst!
I ... I ... I'm so sorry.
Here.
Use this.
[♪]
Oh Alec!
Are we really so dreadful that she had
to pretend we weren't her parents?
It isn't about you.
You know Felicity.
She always has to be the best!
The other girls intimidated her . . .
My own daughter, disowning me.
We'd better write to Miss Cavendish
and withdraw her name.
We'll do nothing of the sort.
Felicity's ... well she's created this disaster.
She's going to have to pay the piper.
Felicity . . .
Oh, father!
Mother will never speak to me again!
Well, I can't condone what you did.
I just don't understand how the bright, pretty, self-assured
girl I know, could ever feel that intimidated
or that inferior.
They all knew so much more than me.
They'd been to so many places.
As your Aunt Hetty likes to say, talk is cheap.
Well education makes the man, or woman.
And your whole life is an education in who you are
and who you will become.
And for you to be ashamed of us is really
to be ashamed of yourself.
And I don't want you to ever feel like that.
Father.
I am truly sorry.
I know dear.
I think you should make amends.
How do you mean?
Well we'll go to Kingsport, to the interview.
And they will meet the real Felicity King.
I want to begin by telling
you what a genuine pleasure it is to meet you.
Felicity has told us how kind you've been to her.
We heard that there's a great deal Felicity has told you.
Yes.
I disgraced myself before the committee and do not deserve
the scholarship to Kingsport Ladies College.
Whatever are you talking about!
Felicity?
The dresses I wore to the school belong to my cousin Sara.
I've never been to Paris.
I've lived in Avonlea all my life!
On the King Farm, with my parents.
Miss King ... I never heard the like ...
Why Felicity?
I wanted the scholarship.
I thought I had to be as good as all the other girls.
They all came from wealthy families, private schools.
All those questions about piano lessons and figure skating.
English riding schools, orchids from South America.
I see.
I would like to withdraw my application.
I'm not worthy to be a KLC girl.
Miss King.
What you did was very wrong.
But, I see we owe you an apology as well.
Whatever for?
As you were speaking, I realized that our criteria
have become too narrow, beyond the grasp of most girls.
We may have lost our true aim - academic excellence.
I had never heard of dressage or orchids until I came here.
You're obviously a very fine girl, Felicity.
We accept your withdrawal from next year's class.
But please, when you are ready to leave Avonlea,
we would be happy to consider your application.
Yes, Miss Cavendish.
What happened to you?
None of those clothes were mine.
And I've never been to Paris or anywhere else for that matter.
I live on a farm and I attend a one-room schoolhouse
taught by my Aunt Hetty but I still beat
both of you in academic standing.
Felicity.
Are you ready?
Ready, father.
Good day, ladies.
Well, I never ...
Are her marks really better than yours, Emily?
Look. There she is.
What a snob!
She disowned her own parents.
I'd like to do that sometimes.
Hello Felicity.
How was Kingsport?
I hear things went ... swimmingly.
It was an education.
Going to Paris any time soon?
Talk is cheap, Sally Potts and so are you.
That's my girl.
I don't want to talk to that chef Pierre.
He's from Trois Rivieres.
Come on.
He's a chef extraordinaire.
Come on, Felicity.
He's really very nice.
Three orders of Flank steak, Pierre.
Ah, Bavette Farcie - right away.
Bienvenue, mes amis!
Miss King
- I don't blame you for being angry with me, Gus.
...may I show you to your table?
[♪]
Gus ... I behaved so badly.
Gus, I know what you tried to do.
I'm sorry about the scholarship, Felicity.
I know it meant a lot to you.
I discovered it didn't mean as much as I thought.
[♪]
Pierre, too much dijon in the vinaigrette.
Oh, Felix, what would I do without you.