Of all the deadly beasts and deepest darkest Africa none is more dangerous nor unpredictable than the dreaded black rhino
The mighty hunter aims at his target
Days of tracking and marching through the hot steamy jungle I've led to this moment
Truth
Izzy Pettibone you did that on purpose I saw him first you're not even supposed to be hunting you're the gun carrier
How are we supposed to have a proper safari if you won't play by the rules? Felix King?
This is pretend safari. It means we play by pretend safari rules! Well, after tonight. I won't have to pretend
I'll be the proud owner of 32 caliber Steven's Crackshot rifle. How come you're so sure you're getting this rifle on your birthday?
I saw it all wrapped up and stuff behind the canned peaches in the root cellar
Come on
If that was a real gun you'd have shot 'em clean!
Felicity isn't that your new bonnet? Yes, isn't it elegant? Oh, yes, it's lovely
Why are you all dressed up? I'm just going for a stroll. a lady should never venture out of doors without making the effort to look
Finest! oh no, no, no, no, she shouldn't
Now it's a stroll you're setting upon wouldn't happen to be taking you anywhere near the lighthouse not necessarily mother. Good day, father
Good day my lady
Where's she off to to call on Gus Pike?
Isn't she?
What? you know..
What?
Seeing a lot of that boy. Oh, it's harmless enough
I think it's quite romantic actually
Yeah, that's what I'm worried about
Alex it's got to grow up sometime. But does it have to be so fast? I mean here's Felix 13 years old Felicity spending all her free time
Socializing with friends before you know it's Cecily be wearing high-button boots and corsets
Come on inside old man. I'll fix you a nice pot of tea. Come on digger
Got about ten minutes to get these tables set up or I'm gonna be late meeting Felicity, but I've got a terrific plan
Don't want to hear about a Felix your plans have a way of landing people and beg trouble
I'm getting my 32 caliber Steven's Crackshot rifle for my birthday see so I figured I'd do some big game hunting for the hotel
Oh, like what shooting elephants or something. No, of course not!
I'm trying to hunt a deer!
Mr Methley could hang the head up in the library and the meat would go right down to the kitchen
Hey, you know
That's not such a bad idea! here, paid mr. Stokes from up Watervale way 12 cents a pound for venison
12 cents a pound. Yep. There's got to be worth a hundred pounds
Wait till I get my Steven's
Gus pike! oh, not the good China!
We'll clean up this mess and put out the regular China
You mean I have to start all over again?
Precisely! and you'd best snap to it and you had better clear out, and let him get at it
Well, best be on my merry way!
Sure
Do me a favor, meet Felicity at the lighthouse
Tell her, I'm stuck here. Sure!
Sorry!
Felix
Happy birthday!
I
Gus Pike you really know how to test a lady's patience
So look what we found
Yes
Huh, I thought it was a crab
It is a crab. That's a Latin name for it show off!
Let's put IT back where you found it. No, let's bring it home to show to father
Felicity! look at our calisthenics. What's it?
Morgan where your manners? aren't you going to make the proper introductions? Oh, right!
Felicity King, meet Arthur Pettibone. He's our big brother. I gathered as much
It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance
The children didn't mention that they had such a mature brother
Yeah, yes. Well, I'm only visiting from Toronto for a short while
Actually, we'd best be getting home. father's expecting us. I see, it was a pleasure to meet you mr. Pettibone
And you too miss King, but please call me Arthur. My father's name is mr. Pettibone
I'm supposed to give you a message. Gus can't make it
Thanks for the front page news. I had that much figured out for myself
What happened to him anyway, he had some extra cleaning up to do or something
Did you know that Izzy and Morgan have an older brother? Sure, Arthur. just got here from Toronto
He studies in a school there. He intends to be a vegetarian. A what?
You know, an animal doctor
A veterinarian, you ninny!
How old is he? a hundred and two. how should I know? What do you care? I'm just curious. And nosy!
Keep up that attitude Felix King and you won't get a crumb of the birthday cake I made for you
You'll like this new house a lot better than the old Tom Gawn place there. Father! Father! Look!
Very nice Iz!
Very nice specimen indeed. I'm gonna name him Sr. Palinore
Excellent! and you good Sr. Knight. What have you acquired during your quest? It wasn't a quest, father
We just went for a walk on the seashore. life is a quest my boy
What say you Morgan? I found this on the beach. I think it's quartz
Quartzite possibly
Now Morgan is quartzite a metamorphic or a sedimentary formation
Metamorphic! I was asking Morgan. what difference does it make can't you stop being a teacher for one minute?
Why don't the two of you run upstairs and finish unpacking. Race you!
I thank you not to question me in front of the children. Of course, I apologize!
I just think they should be allowed to have a little fun without you grilling them
Aurthur isn't that a bit of an exaggeration? If you say so father
One, two, three..
So what do you wish for Felix? Nothing. I've already got everything I could ever wish for
Now now. This is from all of us. Your aunt Hetty and the Dales chipped in.
But we discussed things and decided you were old enough to have something a little special
Thank you father. Thank you everyone!
It's a telescope. You deserve it Felix! Happy birthday!
Thank you!
No pizza chickens every day and I'll collect all the eggs and I'll shovel on all the stove and I'll even do Felicity's chore too
Now please father! Felix,
I would swear that you've been inoculated with a gramophone needle. But the answer is still no
Rupert Gillis has a gun of his own. Rupert gillis is 16 years old
Which is how old I was when grandfather King gave me my first rifle
That was the olden days father. things are different now. A gun is not a toy. You remember that
What do you want with a rifle anyway? So I can be a hunter like Teddy Roosevelt? I could shoot a deer
Teddy Roosevelt has done some fine things in his time, but shooting animals for sport is not among them
But Gus says the White Sands will pay a king's ransom for the venison and Mr. Methley
will pay a fortune for the head
This old girl is still not well
You better tell your mother that I'm going into town to telephone the veterinarian and Charlotte town. See if you want
anything from Lawson's
Felix
I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I have to stand firm on this
Father's going into town. Do you want anything? Oh, Mrs. Lawson has a whole new shipment of yard goods in
Oh, which might include that new gingham that you wanted for your dress
Go on get your coat and hat
Sorry, you don't like your telescope Felix. We sent all the way to Halifax for it.
I love my telescope mother. It's just I would have liked a 32 caliber Steven's Crackshot rifle even better
Well, life is full of disappointments, you know.. if you got everything you wanted there'd be nothing left to wish for would there?
I suppose
You sit down feed your baby brother. I'll get a list together for your father
I'm gonna talk to Morgan and Izzy father, is that right?
Fine, but don't you stray too far, eh?
Hi, Arthur.
Good day Felix.
I'll be right back.
So where's your Steven's Crackshot?
He's not gonna lug it all around town.
Did you get any bullets for it yet?
Can we come over and see it?
I didn't get it.
I got a telescope instead.
How come?
What are we supposed to hunt deer with now, pea shooters?
I've been thinking about that.
I've come up with a plan.
Mrs. Lawson.
What do you think of this color?
Oh, it's very nice, Felicity.
Hello.
Excuse me.
Hello.
It's Arthur, isn't it?
That's right. And you're Felicity.
Felicity King.
Coming to a humble village like Avonlea
must be quite difficult for you
after the Savoir fair of Toronto.
On the contrary, I find it has some
charming features.
Hello, fellas.
Wouldn't you know it?
The vet's off at some farm in the West End.
It'll take me hours to get there.
Perhaps Arthur can help us.
Arthur?
Arthur Pettibone, sir.
I'm the new schoolmaster's son.
Of course. Welcome to Avonlea.
Arthur's a veterinarian.
Just a student, actually.
I'm in my second year at veterinary college.
But if I could be of some assistance..
Well, maybe you could be.
So, how are you gonna get a gun?
Simple. Will borrow my father's.
Hold your horses, Felix.
If your father didn't want to buy you a gun,
why the heck would he loan you his?
He doesn't need to know I borrowed it.
But once we bag the deer and sell it to White Sands,
he'll see why he should've given me one in the first place.
How are you, Gus Pike?
Fair to middling
So, I guess Felicity
was powerful vexed with me about yesterday, huh?
No, she didn't care.
You mean she didn't get in a tizzy or nothing?
Not even a snit.
Uh-oh.
When Felicity's quiet.
That means there's a major storm brewing.
She may not show it, but she's madder than a hornet.
Well, that's batting down hatches
and lie low for a few days.
Well, you better lie low right now.
Who's that with Felicity?
Arthur Pettibone.
My brother.
So, I'll just follow you in.
Good.
See you then.
And you say she capped recently?
That's right, a few months ago.
But she's, uh,
only been off her feed for, oh, about a week.
Mm-hmm.
Well, then, let's start at this
and maybe it's something as simple as her teeth bothering her.
What are you doing with the chair, Felix?
Who are you, the kitchen constable?
Hey!
Hey, it's for horses.
That's my birthday cake.
That was yesterday.
After one day, all rites of the cake
revert to the baker.
That's the law.
Whose law?
The kitchen constable's law.
Would you care for some cake Aurthur? I made it myself
Uh, perhaps later. Thank you Felicity.
Digger, you horrid creature.
Digger! get out of here!
Go on.
I'm afraid the best thing for this poor beast is the butcher's block.
There's not much we can do for a fractured pelvis.
Arthur!
A broken pelvis, are you sure?
Yeah.
Obviously the birth was very traumatic for her.
Arthur!
Well, I...
Arthur!
Is Morgan and I go for a buggy ride with Felix?
I suppose.
But don't be long.
Thanks.
Arthur!
No, Digger!
Stay home.
You can't come.
It's my turn.
Rucky, shut up.
Better than you, Felix.
I want another turn.
Not right now.
We've got some serious hunting to do.
Come on.
Don't miss this time, Felix.
I don't intend to.
What's wrong?
Shoot!
What's the matter, Felix?
Shoot!
Digger!
No!
Go!
Who wants to go?
Digger!
Hold on!
Move it right there!
Come on!
Run!
Digger!
Where are you?
Come on!
Oh, Digger. What have I done!
He's dead.
you kill him.
He's not dead.
I'll go get the wagon.
Felix King, what have you done?
I...
I didn't...
I didn't mean to shoot him...
All right.
Calm down, Felix.
What's done is done.
Don't just stand there, Morgan.
Go get the wagon!
Mr. King, that cow is in terrible pain.
Prolonging its life will only cause it to suffer unnecessarily.
I don't tell you your business, Arthur,
but often times the, uh,
high in quarters of a cow will swell up after birthing.
It doesn't mean the pelvis is broken.
I'm not one to see an animal suffer,
but, uh,
I'm not anxious to see a good cow
put down for no good reason, either.
Mr. King!
Arthur!
Mr. King!
Arthur!
Come on, come on!
What is it?
What's happened?
Oh, my lord.
Are you all right?
Yes, particularly.
Felix's going to pretty good.
With what?
Right here.
Father, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to...
Let's get him up to the house here.
Father!
Felix, you go to your room now.
Oh, my goodness.
What happened?
It's not digger.
Oh!
Easy, boy, easy.
Let me get in there.
Is he going to be all right?
Same thing, Arthur.
He's lost a good amount of blood and he's in shock.
I need some blankets.
Blankets!
There's no exit wound, which means the bullet's still in there.
So you're going to cut it out?
Well, at this point, surgery's out of the question.
He's, uh, he's too weak and still in shock.
Of course, the longer we leave it, the greater the risk of infection.
There must be something we can do.
Well, uh, just keep him warm and quiet.
Keep the bandages changed.
Um, if he makes it through the night, he may stand a chance.
Felix?
It doesn't look good.
Do you realize what could have happened?
I mean, what if you'd shot one of the children or Gus Pike?
It was an accident.
I didn't mean for it to happen.
But that's how people get killed.
Now, I...
I don't want to see you leave this room.
You just stay in here and think about what you've done.
You take your meals here.
You do your school work here.
You don't step out of here without your mother's or my say so.
So is that clear?
Yes, father.
Felix, I have never...
I've never raised my hand to you.
I don't believe in that kind of punishment.
But I'm telling you, I have never come so close
to taking a belt to you as I am right now.
He'll be all right, won't he?
I don't know.
How could Felix be so...
so stupid?
I'll never speak to Felix again.
Cecily?
Why don't you go upstairs now, dear?
It's getting late.
Get ready for bed.
Let poor dig a rest.
Disgraceful!
Do you have the slightest inkling of what might have happened?
Playing with weapons is a serious offense!
Yes, Father.
We know, Father.
What do you think should be done with you, then?
I suggest you go to bed.
And write me a full page each on possible punishments.
We'll choose one together in the morning.
Now be off with you.
You might have kept a closer eye on them.
Me?
This is not my fault, Colonel.
I beg your pardon.
I'm not the one responsible for filling their heads
with flights of fancy and battlefield heroics.
It's no wonder they think a rifle's a toy for their amusement.
Puppycock!
How dare you!
What if Izzy or Morgan had been struck by that stray bullet?
Well, I'm not a made-of-ripping tale to tell.
Are you trying to suggest that children cannot discern
my adventure yarns from real life?
I'm not the one who blows everything out of proportion.
So...
if I'm such an old fool, why did you come here?
To see the children.
I'll see them.
Yeah, that's a good boy.
Is he still bleeding, Alec?
Mm-hmm.
It's amazing, isn't it?
How deeply one can feel without a dog.
Oh, well...
Digger is not just a dog.
He's a member of the family.
How could he do it, Janet?
How could Felix just take my gun like that?
I don't know.
Well, it's getting late.
Are you coming to bed.
Mm-hmm.
in a minute.
There we go, fella.
Arthur?
Izzy...
What are you doing up?
I couldn't sleep.
Me neither.
I'm glad that you're home.
That's nice that somebody is.
Why can't you and father get along?
You don't really know him.
Not like Morgan and me.
No.
No, I don't.
He was always overseas.
Mother and I were alone.
Do you remember her, Iz?
Sometimes.
We used to play games,
and she liked animals.
Yeah.
Are you going to save Digger?
I don't think I can.
Father says...
I know very well what Father says.
Father says if you think you can do something,
you usually can.
And you'll never know if you don't try.
We Pettibones are from a good stock,
Norman the Conqueror
That's William the Conqueror,
who was a norman.
I like it when you laugh, Arthur
You used to do it a lot
You're a very clever girl
Izzy Pettibone
Much clever than myself
Now you best be going to bed, huh?
Good night, Arthur.
Good night.
How you doing, boy?
Sorry about what happened.
You know, on my birthday,
when I blew up the candles,
I never made a wish.
Figured I didn't need one.
I hope that means I have a free one coming.
What are you doing up?
I couldn't sleep.
I'm sorry I was so rude to you earlier, Father.
Quite all right.
Heat of the moment.
You've got your mother's temper.
I suppose I do.
Schoolwork?
Of a sort.
Dog anatomy.
Are you planning to perform surgery on the beast?
Me?
Hardly.
It's not as simple as all that.
Of course not.
when it comes down to life or death.
Father,
there's something I have to tell you
about why I'm here.
I'm thinking of quitting school, Father.
Whatever for?
My grades are poor.
The lectures are impenetrable.
The Pettibone never fails.
This one may be the first.
I came here not even sure I'd be going back.
I won't hear of it.
You shall go back and graduate at the head of your class.
Father, you're not listening to me.
Quite right.
I'm not.
You're not a quitter, Arthur.
You're made of sterner stuff than that.
Now you'd get some rest.
You may be performing surgery in the morning.
You're no better, aren't you, boy?
Felix.
It's not getting better.
I'm more worried about you, dear.
How care about me?
I do.
Father doesn't?
Oh, Felix.
Father's angry with you.
And so am I.
What you did was a terrible mistake.
I know.
I can see that.
I wish I could take it back.
I wish it was me instead of Digger.
I-I wish...
Well, can you hug me and be mad at me at the same time?
Because I'm your mother.
Now, hurry up and get upstairs before your father comes back.
Well, won't you believe it?
Good morning, Mr. Kang.
It's no trick to learn on the cattle set.
When cows take sick after they calf.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Lay a lambskin on it.
Cow stands up to shake it off.
Pretty soon.
She forgets why she laid down in the first place.
Well, thanks, Gus.
So, how's Digger?
Grim.
Planned on putting him out of his misery?
I don't have much choice.
I thought I'd take him up to the woods where he liked to run.
Away from the children.
What about the young veterinary?
Arthur, he's...
he's just studying to be a vet.
I mean, he tried.
Well, there's no one in Charlottetown.
Digger wouldn't make it.
Don't you think it's worth giving him a chance?
Maybe you're right.
Yeah.
Help me get him on the wagon, will ya?
Sure thing.
Izzy, your number three here is very inventive.
Do you really think making you go to school
with your face painted green is practical?
And Morgan,
you don't honestly believe I'm going to hang you
from the church tower by your suspenders?
What we did was pretty awful.
Yes, it was.
It was indeed.
So what are you going to do?
Right now, I want to tell you a story.
A true story.
There was a man in Sweden named Alfred Nobel.
You've heard of dynamite, of course.
Well, dynamite was invented by Alfred Nobel.
He had intended it to be used in mining, road clearing,
that sort of thing.
But to his eternal dismay,
it was also used to kill and destroy.
Mr. Nobel felt so dreadful
about his invention being used to kill.
He left his entire fortune
to be distributed as a prize every year
for those whose efforts benefit mankind.
It's called the Nobel Prize.
You see, he learned the hard way
how something made to be useful
can be deadly in the wrong hands.
And so did you.
Yes, Father.
Good morning, all.
I'm off to the Kings to check on Digger.
Can we come?
I should say not.
There's still the matter of your punishments
to be sorted out.
Right.
I forgot.
Father wasn't actually going to put Digger out of
his misery, was he?
Well, it didn't seem like he had any choice.
Come on, sweetheart.
See, the sooner that we get Digger to Charlottetown,
the sooner he'll be back.
Atta girl.
All right, fella.
We'll get you up to the wagon, shall we?
I'll get it.
Oh.
Good morning.
Um...
Hello, Arthur.
Hello.
I've just come to check on Digger.
Do come in.
Father was just about to take him to Charlottetown.
He's in a real bad way.
How are you doing, boy?
Anything you can do, Arthur?
I'd like to remove the bullet.
Have you ever done something like that?
No.
Well, I suppose, now's as good a time to learn as any.
Right.
Uh, Mrs. King, I'll need some towels or blankets.
Come right back.
Uh, Cecily, I'll need some clean bandages.
Shall we get him up on the table?
I'd prefer not to move him.
Felicity?
Can you thread that?
Stay with us, boys.
Stay with us.
Mr. King,
can you hold that over his nose?
Uh-huh.
And I'll need your help, too, Gus Pike.
Sure thing.
Hold that right there.
There you are.
What can I do to help?
Just place those around the wound.
Arthur,
you just take your time.
Needle and thread?
Now, what do you think?
He's made it this far.
Just have to wait and see.
Your mother tells me
you haven't eaten anything since yesterday.
Not hungry.
Don't you deserve tea, anyway.
No, that's just foolishness.
But I guess you've been, uh,
lying here thinking about digger, huh?
Well, sometimes things just happen, Felix.
But I've got the feeling that
everything's for a reason
if we can learn something from our mistakes.
Who has ever made as big a mistake as I have?
You figure?
Yes.
Well, I'm not so sure of that.
Come on down the stairs.
Your mother's made a sandwich for you.
Father?
Come here.
Hello, Felix.
Digger.
Here you go dear.
Izzy.
Don't you look lovely.
Thank you.
Father's making me dress like this as a punishment.
He's, uh, he's a good lad.
Takes after his mother.
Well, we're lucky he was here.
We'd have lost digger without him.
You should be proud.
I am.
So,
are you going back to Toronto soon?
Yeah, I have to be back for school.
I've realized how much I truly want to be a veterinarian.
You'll be back, won't you?
Yes.
I like it here.
Everyone, dinner is served.
Arthur.
Perhaps, uh,
in all the fuss I haven't taken the time to tell you how proud I am of you.
Well done, my boy.
Thank you, Father.