GILBERT: Anne, there’s Diana. I’m just going to grab a paper.

ANNE: Diana!

RED CROSS WOMAN 1: Two hundred men just signed up today. Where were you?

GILBERT: I just stepped off the ferry. [she puts a white feather in his button hole]

RED CROSS WOMAN 1: You can step right back on it and defend your country if you’re worth your salt.

GILBERT: Fred. Good to see you.

FRED: I see you were accosted, too. [he takes Gilbert’s white feather] Sign of the coward. Those dames are trying to incite fellas to enlist.

GILBERT: Where are they taking them?

FRED: The old quarantine hospital up the coast has been converted into a convalescence home for boys lucky enough to be sent back.

GILBERT: I should drive up, see if they need a hand.

DIANA: You’re not going anywhere, Gilbert Blythe. You and your bride and I have business to discuss.

FRED: Best to choose your battles with these new-fangled businesswomen, Gil.

DIANA: Well, will you look at that. Mr Harrison’s gone and sold the place.

ANNE: Please go.

DIANA: Aren’t you the least bit curious?

ANNE: No, and it is cruel of you to go on and on about it. What are you smiling at?

DIANA: You, you silly goose!

ANNE: Why?

DIANA: Gilbert’s gone and bought the place for you.

GILBERT: With a little help from Fred and Ben.

ANNE: That is just the most generous thing anyone has ever done for me. It makes up for every unfulfilled dream I ever contemplated. [runs up to the house] Let me go in alone, just for a moment. [she reminisces of old times with Marilla and Matthew]

DIANA: Is everything all right?

ANNE: I’m home now. This is my house.

DIANA: We’ll be back for you in a couple of hours.

ANNE: Diana said I can stay with them until the wedding. And that way you can live here; you won’t have to board in town.

GILBERT: Oh, I get to do all the work, I see.

ANNE: I didn’t mean it like that. We did the right thing, didn’t we?

GILBERT: Sure we did.

ANNE: What is it?

GILBERT: Nothing. I was just thinking about Dr. Powell. My leaving was an awful setback to him. We did the right thing.

ANNE: Well, we can’t always take the most obvious road in life.

SPEAKER: Our gains have been substantial, ladies and gentlemen. For every one hundred men who stood beside our king of Flanders, over two hundred enemy have fallen. And if this trend continues, victory must soon be ours.

JOSIE PYE: Gil.

GILBERT: Moody.

MOODY SPURGEON: Good to see you.

GILBERT: Josie.

JOSIE PYE: We heard you were setting up an office at Green Gables.

MOODY SPURGEON: Yes.

GILBERT: But so far no one has showed up for so much as a toothache.

JOSIE PYE: Well, there are more crucial events abroad that need safekeeping more than Green Gables.

GILBERT: I know that, Josie.

ANNE: Moody. Josie. How lovely.

MOODY SPURGEON: Anne.

ANNE: It’s nice to have a few people our age who have stayed in Avonlea.

MOODY SPURGEON: Yes, everybody seems to have left. Look at it here. Carmody here has become such a big booming city, now. But it’s good to see you’re staying.

JOSIE PYE: Well, congratulations are in order. I hear Diana Barry is having the reception.

ANNE: Yes, I hope you’ll honor us with your presence.

JOSIE PYE: Will you be getting married in uniform, Gil?

ANNE: Gil’s setting up to serve the community here. And the papers say the war is going to be over in a few weeks.

JOSIE PYE: Well, I suppose it’s not your fault if the American papers never report things accurately. It’s nothing less than a disaster. My three brothers have left. I mean, even pa’s gone as a civilian.

GILBERT: All able-bodied men feel a responsibility to protect our empire.

ANNE: Able-bodied men are needed at home, too. Look at Dr. Stuart running the convalescence home for casualties. Gil’s volunteering there.

JOSIE PYE: Dr. Stuart’s near retirement. No one in this town will be seen by a doctor not prepared to serve his country.

ANNE: Josie. Moody. [they leave] Well, I can see her tongue has grown by a yard since we’ve been away. That was practically a threat.

GILBERT: She’s always been jealous of you and me.

ANNE: For heaven’s sake. The only men who can help left are the Dr. Stuarts. This island will need all the help it can muster.

GILBERT: I should pay Dr. Stuart a visit.

GILBERT: Whoa. I want to see how I much assistance I can be here. I won’t be long.

ANNE: I have lots to keep my busy. Gil, do you think it’s as bad as they say overseas?

GILBERT: I’m worried a war of this size isn’t going to be over in weeks or months.

ANNE: What’s at the other end can’t be glorious at all.

GILBERT: I’ll do everything I can… for now.

DR. STUART: We’d be grateful for even a few hours of your time each week.

GILBERT: My practice isn’t very busy yet.

DR. STUART: Morning, Jim. Good lad.

GILBERT: Jim. Your brother Harry used to play hockey with me on the Avonlea Avengers. I lost track of him…

DR. STUART: Uh, Dr. Blythe, I don’t think Harry made it. Three weeks on a ship coming home with no care whatsoever. This one’s lucky to be alive, if the gangrene doesn’t get him. Now, let’s get a look at those dressings.

GILBERT: There’s shrapnel in there that won’t let it heal. We could operate right away if you have anything to knock him out with.

DR. STUART: [calling to a nurse] May, let’s take Jim inside. There’s not much morphine. Any supplies that you can track down would be appreciated. They don’t even patch them up before they ship them home.

GILBERT: They’d have a better chance if someone took the time on the battlefield.

DR. STUART: Yeah.

DIANA: Oh, there’s a ballroom in white satin.

ANNE: Well, actually, we had something a little different in mind.

DIANA: Why, it’s perfect. Well, what if we set up a beautiful white silk tent in the garden for the reception?

ANNE: We were thinking a simple ceremony on the lawn or in the orchard at Green Gables.

DIANA: Anne, there’s so much more room here for all the guests.

MRS. BARRY: Diana, there’s nothing wrong with a quiet home ceremony. It was just good enough for you and Fred before you started putting on airs.

DIANA: I do not put on airs, Mother.

MRS. BARRY: Yes, you do.

DIANA: Ah, Fred, you’re finally home. Dinner wouldn’t keep. I let Agnes leave.

FRED: Diana, may I speak with you for a moment?

DIANA: I’m in the middle of planning.

FRED: It can’t wait. We need to speak privately.

DIANA: What is so blessed important that you could be so rude?

FRED: The money market has been in shambles these past few months because of the war, and the bank’s having to consolidate. They decided to close my branch today.

DIANA: Well, I’m sure they’ll transfer you somewhere nearby.

FRED: I’m not taking another position.

DIANA: We’re well off. Perhaps you won’t even have to return to work. Now, Anne, Gil. I want to compare lists to yours.

FRED: I’m not going back to work, Diana. I’m enlisting.

DIANA: Your family comes before your country.

GILBERT: Fred. What the devil are you doing here so early in the morning?

FRED: We need to speak. Can you give me a lift in before Anne comes over? I worked out a budget to manage the monthly expenses. All our investments are secure.

GILBERT: Fred, I don’t think Diana is going to react the way you imagine. Can’t you at least tell her-

FRED: Gil, Diana can’t face the reality of being of service to one’s country. This has been going on for months.

GILBERT: I understand. I really do. Okay.

FRED: Give Diana and the kids a kiss for me. Tell them I’ll be back in a month, once we’ve cleaned up kaiser’s clock, aye.

GILBERT: Godspeed.

FRED: Thanks.

MAN 1: Hey, back of the line. We’re the first to sign up today.

RED CROSS WOMAN 1: This is for those of you who lag behind. You don’t want you’re kids asking you, "So, what did you do in the war, Daddy?"

MAN 2: Are you a pacifist or are you just jellow?

MAN 3: You can recruit a man, not a jellyfish.

DIANA: Anne, what’s taking so darn long?

ANNE: Don’t get your knickers in a knot.

DIANA: Oh, Anne, you’re ravishing.

MRS. BARRY: Who ever would have thought store-bought dress would satisfy, Diana? But you were right. Oh, Diana’s veil looks perfect for something borrowed. How’s the dress for length? I might have to take it up a little, but it’s a perfect fit otherwise. [Gilbert knocks at the door]

DIANA: Gilbert Blythe what are you doing?

MRS. BARRY: It is very bad luck to see your prospective bride in her wedding dress.

ANNE: Gil, just wait on the porch, and I’ll change.

MRS. BARRY: Into the kitchen, then.

GILBERT: I just dropped Fred off.

MRS. BARRY: He’s spoiled it, that’s all that’s to it. We’re going to have to change the entire design of the dress to disguise it.

ANNE: Dear, Mrs. Barry, I’ve weathered lots of bad luck in my day.

DIANA: I have to stop him!

GILBERT: Come on, Diana, he’ll be on the ferry to mainland by now.

DIANA: What possessed you to help him?

GILBERT: I’m not condoning my involvement. Diana! Diana! He needed somebody to see him off. He couldn’t confront you for fear that you wouldn’t understand his reasons. He told me to say goodbye to you and the kids. The past year in New York, this war was just a headline in the paper. Here, it’s our duty.

DIANA: You’re getting married in a week, but what’s the point if you’re just going to desert your family?

MRS. BARRY: Anne, are you going back home already?

GILBERT: Anne? Anne? You don’t need to do this now. We need to talk. Anne, please. I have to do this. [a fire starts] Help me move this! Anne, I got it. Call for help.

ANNE: Emily. Emily, Green Gables is on fire. Send the blessed fire wagon!

GILBERT: Anne, Anne, you can’t handle it.

ANNE: No, no.

GILBERT: I guess Providence was looking out for the old place. We’re grateful, fellas. Old Jerry says that he can replace the windows, do the repairs right away. We can finish restoring when I return. Marry me now. Let me go.

ANNE: Everything I’ve ever loved gets taken away.

REVEREND MORGAN: By the power invested in me, I declare you Officer and Mrs. Blythe.

ANNE: Thank you. That was sweet of you. Thank you.

JOSIE PYE: Forgive me for what I said that day. You’ve done us all very proud, Gil.

ANNE: Thank you. Shall we be friends now?

REVEREND MORGAN: Your attention, please, ladies and gentlemen. A toast, to the happy couple, who are about to sacrifice some of the happiest days of their lives to defend God and the empire.

GUESTS: Hear, hear.

REVEREND MORGAN: To the happy couple.

DIANA: Well, somebody’s got to avert the gloom of Reverend Morgan. Let’s get the bride and groom dancing.

GILBERT: Diana, we’ve waited five years for this. Don’t rush.

REVEREND MORGAN: Yes, and another toast to Officer Blythe and all the God-fearing men who are off to destroy the Hun. Oh, sorry. Don’t step on my notes, they’re part of my sermon. Oh, dear. Oh, my. [he knocks the tent over] Oh! I’m sorry. I’ve ruined the tent…

ANNE: Goodbye. Goodbye.

GINNY ANDREWS: The postman dropped this notice off, Miss Shirley. There’s a registered package for you at the Charlottetown post office.

ANNE: Ah.

GINNY ANDREWS: Do you make lots of money writing magazine articles?

ANNE: No, not a lot, but with tutoring, it’s enough to get by. Ginny, you have five weeks before the exams for Redmond.

GINNY ANDREWS: I’m terrified to the point of dyspepsia.

ANNE: Promise me you’ll brush up over the holidays. I haven’t had a student of mine pass with less than flying colors yet.

GINNY ANDREWS: Won’t you be there, Miss Shirley?

ANNE: You don’t need me to hold your hand, Ginny. Your Latin and Greek may be at the mercy of Providence, but you shall excel in all the other arts. That, I have every faith in.

ANNE: Hello. You have something for me. Thank you.

RACHEL LYNDE: Oh, as I live and breathe! The world thinks you’re hibernating at the bottom of a well, Anne, dear. I haven’t seen you all winter.

ANNE: Rachel.

RACHEL LYNDE: Have you heard the news?

ANNE: No.

RACHEL LYNDE: Davy Keith’s signed up.

ANNE: Has he?

RACHEL LYNDE: Trust that bright little devil to come home driving the tank. But that’s not the worst, or the latest. The Wright’s got word.

ANNE: No.

RACHEL LYNDE: Fred’s gone missing at Vimy Ridge.

ANNE: Oh, my God.

RACHEL LYNDE: They think they found six other boys from Carmody, to

MR. OWEN: Charlie Sloan, Moody Spurgeon. Apparently, several of their tags got sent to government house into Charlottetown. As it happens, Fred’s wasn’t among them. He’s been listed, just the same.

ANNE: Oh, I’ll call on Diana.

REVEREND MORGAN: To the most faithful, to our glorious dea

DIANA: Charles Sloan, Wilfred Bell, Moody Spurgeon. And to those missing in action: Fred Wright, and Alistair Covey. May their weary souls rest in God should Providence call them, too. Would you all please turn with me to hymn number 550, Abide with me, Fast falls the eventide.

DIANA: Anne? Anne.

ANNE: I can’t. I can’t sit in there and listen helplessly. [they hug] Come here.

DIANA: What do you hear from Gil?

ANNE: All of his letters were sent back. I’m afraid something’s happened. I need to know what.

DIANA: What can you possibly do?

ANNE: Go to the last field hospital I have record of. Search from there.

DIANA: Through all of France? They won’t let civilians to the front.

ANNE: I won’t stay here and wait for my husband’s funeral.

DIANA: No.

ANNE: I have to go.

DIANA: You can do what the rest of us only dream of doing, Anne.

ANNE: Will you be all right?

DIANA: We’re moving in with mum next week.

ANNE: The house’s sold then?

DIANA: It’s all right. We were never happy there anyway.

ANNE: Come and live at Green Gables until I come back. I’d feel better knowing you were there.