The women return, just as Alec is heading out. He asks about what was waiting for Olivia at the station; she believes it's Jasper's presents for the children. Then she asks if Alec's leaving. He says he and Janet were supposed to deliver the white pickles...err, I mean gifts, to the needy that day. Yet, Janet's still playing recluse, according to Olivia. (Um, Janet was helping with the white pickle boxes, Olivia. Where were you?) Alec decides he'll tell everyone she wasn't up to it. Felicity believes her mother has to come out sometime and offers to ride with her father instead. Alec tells her to go on with her day. All Olivia can do is sigh. Couldn't she have gone for a crowbar or an axe and gone up to give Janet an ultimatum? Or, better yet, have Felicity go do it! She's got experience with giving ultimatums. It's how she got Gus to come home, y'know.
We're on the road with Alec during the 1914 White Pickle Box Tour. He pulls up to a shack that belongs to yet another Avonlea-er we're supposed to care about but don't: a Mrs. Macguire has emerged to chop up some firewood. Alec offers a hand, and presents her with one of the white pickle boxes, "with compliments of the season". She's grateful...but a little upset. Alec asks what's wrong. Apparently, he'd not heard yet...both her boys--Dalton and Fenn--were killed in the war. Alec expresses condolences; she is resigned to accept their fate and disappears inside again. Alec doesn't know what to do. That's alright; neither do we. Seriously, why are we being subjected to seeing all these new characters and being forced to care about them? I know the point that was trying to be made here, of course--war affects everyone, regardless of their status--but, hello? You all remember Elbert Werts' family wasn't all that well off, right? Couldn't Alec have gone to see the Werts clan? At least there'd be a connection! But no. That's not how Raymond Storey is rolling.
It's time for Felicity's interview at the orphanage. The matron--leaving me pondering whether or not Mrs. Cadbury from the first Anne movie had a heart that grew three sizes after Anne left Hopetown and decided to move to the Island herself--asks what "Miss King" would be able to offer the orphanage. (Methinks Felicity should've updated her cover letter with her married name.) Felicity mentions her career's begun in fits and starts, as per her CV. Matron Lady is impressed with her schooling, mentioning part of it would allow her to teach primary school students; but there are no openings for that. Felicity brings up her incomplete medical studies, and the fact she'd run "my own, admittedly small, Foundling Home". She has to be qualified for something. Matron Lady understands Felicity's heart is in the right place, but wants to know if she's sure she wants to work in Carmody. Felicity says her family is based in Avonlea and wonders if there is anything available. (Even if it means becoming a cleaning lady?) Unfortunately, she's overqualified to be a nurse's aide, but that's the only option for her, given her experience. Methinks Felicity is not happy with that. She thanks the matron, who was happy to meet her, and starts out. But then, she sees a little red-headed girl holding a teddy bear and waving to Felicity. Felicity says hello and asks her name. All the girl can do is stretch her arms out and smile. Aww. (Sap-o-Meter goes up to Level 3.) As it turns out, young Alice--the dear little girl--is deaf, due to a recent flu epidemic; yet, she's happy, thanks to the fact she's still got her siblings (how many, we have no idea). Unfortunately, according to the matron, dear Alice will have to be sent away to the mainland to an institution before long. Felicity doesn't understand why she'd be sent away. Sadly, there are no schools on the Island that offer instruction to the deaf. The sound you're hearing now is Felicity's brain at work...and you know what happens when a King brain goes to work, especially hers.
Later that night...holy cow, Janet escaped! She's at Rose Cottage with the other members of the Avonlea chapter of the Red Cross--including Master Drill Sargeant Hetty, natch--gathered to make goods for the boys at war. First, a prayer, read by Janet in a bit of a gruff manner. Afterwards, Hetty nods and women sit down. Clara Potts notes that said prayer--printed in the Halifax Herald, no less--was a bit dreary in regards to boosting the war spirit. Janet reminds everyone, with a slight bite, that "Christmas is the season of peace on earth". Mabel Sloane counters that they've got to rally behind the boys and do their bit. Hetty agrees and thanks Janet for reading the prayer, then asks The Potts if she has the list. Indeed, Mrs. Potts does have the list...and more. As we know, Clara loves to play one-up-woman-ship with Hetty (or any other King woman, for that matter); so, of course, she must deliver a ferverous speech. She begins by reminding the women that the best way they can support the war effort is to sew. Sew, sew, sew, until their fingers bleed and any sewing machines they may own don't work; and even then, keep sewing, darn it! And be enthusiastic about it; it's winter, after all, and fighting is in-TENSE, yo. Throw some patriotism on it, while you're at it. (Since, of course, Canada doesn't have their own flag yet, use the Union Jack.) In the middle of this ferverous pep talk, Hetty interrupts and asks Clara to hand out the bloody list already...which she does. Janet's not in the mood for this crap, so to soothe her soul, she goes off to pour a cup of tea. Hetty reminds the women that there is a lot of sewing to be done at every level. Then, of course, since it's another round of one-up-woman-ship, Clara snatches the list and begins to rattle off whatall needs to be made--pillowcases, sheets, socks, hot water bottle covers, "and who can't tear a bandage, eh?" Hetty mentions she will demonstrate the Correct Way To Roll a Bandage. Meanwhile, Janet's in her own little world. While Clara is rattling off more things to be done, Janet looks to a picture of Felix in uniform on Hetty's mantlepiece. In her mind, she's at war, too. All of a sudden...crash! Janet's dropped her teacup, every other woman is staring at her, like they've never seen Janet break a teacup before. Janet apologizes multiple times as Hetty picks up the pieces and offers the upstairs in case she wasn't feeling well. Janet declines the offer and insists she's fine...which is all a bold-faced lie, of course. She's not fine. Her son is over there...missing...thousands of miles away. The woman whom she blames for this is Madame Avonlea Red Cross President Hetty King. Every other female in there thinks this war is just something happening; and they have to help the men in uniform get through this by working their fingers down to the bone and don't offer any consolation to Janet. They. Don't. Get. It.
The women have gone home, except for Janet. She's stayed behind to help Hetty clean up. Or mess with the broken teacup. Whatever works. Hetty doesn't bring up what happened; instead, she foreshadows to Christmas dinner, offering that there would be a good number of people to serve, with Olivia and her kids home now. Janet suggests that if Hetty wanted to skip having the big to-do, no one would mind a bit. After all, they don't have a lot to celebrate at the moment--Felicity is unemployed (again), Felix is missing somewhere in Europe, Cecily has to deliver bad news all day every day (but we'd never know what it was doing to her, of course), Olivia can't figure out what she thinks about Jasper's mental state anymore, and Janet is not happy about most of that herself. Hetty is surprised. Janet thinks it'd be too much work for her. The Grand Dame of the King Family will have none of it, thanks. It's yet another duty she sees that must be taken on. Janet believes the term "duty" is a bit strong here. I'd have to agree with her. Of course, Hetty doesn't. What else is new? Hetty thinks the word "duty" is befitting and notes she's going to observe Christmas 1914 as she's done every year, and as did the last two generations of King women, using various family bits of dinnerware and flatware, not to mention she's nearly finished baking everything; and lord knows that's probably taken forever. Janet returns that she doesn't know how festive it's going to be. Time for Hetty to sit down and give her a heart-to-heart. The jist of Hetty's advice is: Yes, Felix is missing; but everyone's watching, and we Kings have to set an example as Avonlea's First Family. Get over it, stop acting like a grieving mother, and start acting like me, Janet! Forget you have a heart, forget Felix is MIA in wartime, and turn into an ice princess. Wow. That is just...a very low blow. I mean, Hetty's been known to be mean before, particularly to Janet; but she never, ever, ever, turned into an ice queen. I suppose Hetty was also visited by the personality transplant aliens. But Janet is being selfless, she contends; her thoughts are on every other boy that's been shipped off to war to experience lord-knows-what, like those Macguire boys we're supposed to care about, but don't! Hetty's form of reassurance is that if more boys are killed at the front, more can come home safe. Holy crap, she's really on ice queen overdrive. Even Janet's wondering what the eff has happened to her sister-in-law. How can she be so cold-hearted? Where's the emotion?! Then Hetty starts on with her duty rhetoric; and Janet has had enough. You go, Janet. Tell the ice queen what-for! Janet says Hetty can hang on to her "moldy traditions, and her trumped-up sense of duty and pride", because that's all she will have when all is said and done. The stoic Hetty says nothing. Now, Janet goes for the throat: "And I will not set a FOOT in this house on Christmas Eve, or any other day of the year!". Unfortunately for Janet, Hetty has ignored the tirade, and stuffily continues on with cleaning the dishes. There ya go. Act like a cold, heartless, snob. Meanwhile, if anyone's seen Hetty's heart, please make sure it gets sent to Rose Cottage, post-haste! Oh, and why is there still no concern for Ruth's daughter's well-being?
Over at the store, the new girl behind the counter--Eunice is her name--recalls to Hetty how much she remembers every student at Christmas time. Hetty sees it as nothing more than "the done thing", that she's gotten her students the same gifts every year for the last 40 years. Hold up. So what was she doing between circa 1897 and 1902, when Mr. Phillips, her arch rival Muriel Stacey, and Anne Shirley were teaching there? And between circa 1907 and 1909/10, I do believe she was a bit preoccupied with writing dime novels and My Home Is the Island, becoming Simon Tremayne's not-so-silent partner at the White Sands, and helping Olivia and Jasper get the cannery running again. I'm thinking the Continuity Department were busy stuffing themselves with Timbits while Raymond Storey ran amok with this script. Anyhoo, back to the present. Clara Potts is in the building, and she has news. She just got off the phone long-distance with her Sally. (I love how Sally Potts is always involved somehow, even when she's not there in the flesh. That is one major superpower.) Hetty doesn't care, though; she wants three hair ribbons for three fifth-form girls, if you please. But wait! Sally's at secretarial school, and she's Miss Popularity! Surely that's bigger news than buying hair ribbons, isn't it? On the other hand, the hair ribbons come in three different colours--yellow, pink, and blue! Sally comes in only one flavour: skim milk. Three blue hair ribbons will work for Hetty; but they can't be invited to a Christmas tea in Charlottetown...hosted by the Lieutenant Governor! Sally Potts can be, though. Hetty's still non-plussed. Said Christmas tea happens every year, and is open to anyone. But you know how cunning and skillful The Potts is at aiming for the jugular as well. She thinks Hetty would be interested this time...especially since Wilfred Ainsley will be there, along with all of Charlottetown society...and, of course, Secretary Sally. A triumphant Clara makes her exit, while Hetty commands Eunice to tally up her bill.
On the street, Hetty's discussing this with her partner-in-crime. Rachel can't believe Hetty would go to Charlottetown to track down Wilfred Ainsley. Hetty would...and she will! After all, she left her card. If he doesn't respond, then duty means nothing and celebrity means everything. Speaking of celebrities--or, rather, celebrity wannabes--here comes Ada "Pageant Queen Mom" Hubble, arm-in-arm with Superintendent BFF Margaret Powell. Ada makes introductions, Hetty refuses to shake Miss Powell's hand. Miss Powell mentions Hetty is still at Avonlea Schoolhouse. But where else would Hetty be? It's been a long time, says Maggie. More than others, according to the Master Drill Sargeant. Superintendent BFF is looking forward to "visiting your little schoolhouse"; teacher and ex-student-turned-overseer agree that next Friday would work. Ada and friend say adieu and move on. Hetty is insulted! "Still" at Avonlea school?! Hetty knows what the ol' chum's "still" means! Rachel thinks it's nothing; but you know Hetty takes anything regarding her teaching career to heart! According to Hetty, that "still" means Margaret Powell is conspiring with her BFF to get her retired. After all, Ada would love it! Not only does she talk smack about her golden (brunette) girl, Libby; but Ada herself was a bit "contentious" as a kidlet, too; and it was no wonder Hannah ran off to Charlottetown. Oh, wait! Charlottetown! Ainsley! If Hetty can take the 10 o'clock train, she can be back in four hours' time to conduct choir practice. Brilliant plan. But Rachel isn't having it; she's got stuff to do, and she's not wasting any more money. But...but...Rachel! You and Hetty are so close! Ainsley's practically in Hetty's pocket; and if he were to perform at the concert, it'd be an immense success, and Hetty's job would be safe until she dropped dead. Rachel says that with Hetty, "it's one misadventure after another"; and that this time, Hetty's on her own. Time to concede, and leave Rachel with all Hetty's goodies. The Master Drill Sargeant is desperate, after all. Hetty gets a local man to drive her to the train station, explaining the situation. I don't think he really cared to hear all her trifle, myself. In fact, I wager he thought it a bunch o' nonsense.
We're back in Charlottetown again, only this time, it's Parliament House (or whatever)! There's a bit of a party going on; "The First Noel" is playing in the background, but no one seems to be paying attention. Hetty is scouting the premises looking for Ainsley; and she's found him meeting and greeting various guests, along with an old guy whom I assume is the aforementioned Lieutenant Governor. Hetty decides to set her handbag down on the food table and go over; but whoops. She's knocked over the napkins. As she kneels down to pick them up (with much pain), a dark-haired gentleman comes to her aide. Hey, that dark-haired one is Arthur Pettibone! At long last, a character we actually know and, at least, sort of care about! And he doesn't look like an undertaker anymore. (On the other hand, the undertaker look went out of fashion a while ago.) Hetty doesn't realize she's in familiar company; she's too concerned about that darn back. At first, Arthur didn't know, either...until he saw her face. "My word, is that you, Miss King?" he quips, then reintroduces himself. She knows it's him now. And we finally learn the fate of the rest of the Pettibone clan...well, some of them. Clive and Muriel have moved to Halifax. As for Morgan and Izzy, I hear the Vortex is having a two-for-one special. Bugger. Hetty asks what Arthur is doing there, using the word "veterinarian" as if the profession was tantamount to being a custodian. "Is there a horse in need?" she asks. There isn't one that he knows of; Arthur's a private citizen...who has traded in animal doctoring for people doctoring! Arthur is doing his internship at hospital in Charlottetown. Hetty snarks that Charlottetown's residents will be in a good hands, should there be a bovine contagen outbreak. Fortunately for us, Arthur finds it amusing. Meanwhile, the Lieutenant Governor is grateful to Wil Ainsley for gracing them with his presence. Ainsley appreciates it too, adding he was happy to be back on the Island. But that's not important! Arthur wants to know how the Kings are doing. Everyone's fine. Yeah, everyone's fine...if you don't count that Felicity is jobless and may be entering student life again, Cecily has to bear bad news all the time, Olivia is home minus a husband, no one knows where Felix is (or Sara), Janet isn't on speaking terms with Hetty, and Hetty herself has an aching back but is too freakin' proud to get it looked at. Hey, there's some Celtic music going. The Lieutenant Governor's daughter wants to dance with Ainsley; he obliges and they enjoy themselves. Does Hetty want to dance? Arthur wants to know. No? Yes? Yes! Dance her toward Mr. Ainsley, if you please, Arthur! They start off, but then someone bumps into Hetty and sends her straight down to the floor...on her back. Clumsy man. Everyone stops to see if she's alright. Arthur asks the $1 million question. It's bad. Very bad. Hetty can't move her lower limbs--or, in English, her legs. Arthur asks for a stretcher. Later, Hetty is wheeled into the hospital accompanied by Arthur and a nurse. Arthur's prepared to admit her. Hetty will have none of it; she's got things to do, a Wilfred Ainsley to see! But Arthur's just as stubborn. In pain, Hetty declares she has no intention of being examined by him--a "horse doctor". Oh shut up, Hetty. Arthur says he would get a surgeon to check her out; yet, if she's insistent on moving, he can get her restrained so she doesn't hurt herself more. Then he asks the nurse at the reception desk to admit Hetty.