Anne Shirley arrives in Avonlea

This is a stunning and beautifully-written dialogue and makes the perfect introduction to the loquacious and imaginative phenomenon known as Anne AND establishes Matthew as a kind and patient gentleman - and most importantly a good listener!

It is doubly impressive as being simultaneously moving to see the hope, joy and anticipation on Anne's face and in her speech, but also hilarious in the latter's torrent of imaginative and erudite verbiage - which leaves Matthew nonplussed ...... Come to pick up a probably scruffy and resentful orphan boy how could he have anticipated this extraordinary ray of sunshine capable of such language and indeed perceptiveness? Anne's whole transfer from station to Green Gables is indeed a masterpiece of dialogue, acting and direction.

Matthew arrives at the station to pick up the expected boy from the asylum/orphanage:

Matthew: "I was wondering if you could help me. Is there um ...."

Stationmaster:: "A little girl? You didn't see her? She's just outside. Wouldn't come in - darndest thing. Said she preferred to sit outside because there was .... What was it now? 'More scope for the imagination.' That was it. She's a case, I should say. I heard her talking to herself out there. She's got a tongue of her own, that's for certain."

Matthew: "I'm not expecting a girl. It's a boy that I have come for. Mrs Spenser was to bring him over from the asylum."

Stationmaster: "Well, Mrs Spenser got off the train with that strange snippet - gave her into my charge; said you'd be along for her presently. Well that's all I know about it. I haven't got any more orphans concealed hereabouts."

Matthew: "I don't understand ...."

Stationmaster: "Well, I'm sure the girl will be only too happy to tell you every little detail of what happened. She's got a tongue of her own, that's for certain! Good day to you."

Matthew goes out onto the platform to find Anne sitting on a bench.

Anne: "I suppose you are Matthew Cuthbert of Green Gables? I'm very glad to see you. I was beginning to be afraid that you weren't coming and I was imagining all the things that might have happened to prevent you. I'd made up my mind that if you didn't come for me I'd go down the track to that big, wild cherry tree and climb up into it and stay all night. I wouldn't be a bit afraid and it would be lovely to sleep in a tree all white with bloom in the moonshine, don't you think?"

"I can also imagine that I'm already a disappointment to you. I'm aware that I'm not much to look at, but even though I'm thin I'm very strong. I want you to know that I'm forever grateful that you're adopting me. You're a sight for sore eyes, Mr Cuthbert."

Matthew: "You best come along. Uh ... I'll take your bag."

Anne: "Oh, I can carry it. It isn't heavy. I've got all my worldly goods in it but it isn't heavy. And if it isn't carried in a certain way it falls right open, so I'd better keep it. I've come to know the exact knack of it."

"I am ecstatic beyond measure that I'm going to belong to you and your sister. Ecstatic. I've never belonged to anybody before. I mean, you and your sister are practically the stuff of fiction: two hard-working decent people, lonely all their lives in their silent house longing for the love of a child, and I will strive to be just the best daughter that anybody could ever have. I'm sure that I could do it. To be honest, I haven't had much experience at it; I'm not usually brought into the house to be a daughter, so you can well imagine what a blessing this is, and how much my heart is lifted. And I've given it a lot of thought and I am determined that I shall be obedient and dutiful, and yet, yet lively enough so as to lighten up the place after you've lived for so many years without the delights of a happy child and the scope of her imagination."

"Have you always wanted a daughter? Always in your heart of hearts? I read once that a daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend. And it, it gives my heart a thrill to even say it aloud."

They arrive at the cart and Anne meets 'Mare': "Oh, isn't she lovely! What's her name?"

Matthew: "That's errm .... Mare."

Anne: "She doesn't have a name? But the right name is so important. She looks to me like her name is Belle. Hello Belle, you are a beauty and I am sure we'll be great friends."

They climb into the cart.

Matthew (flicking the reins to move off): "Mare ...."

Anne (waving): "Bye tree ...."