News has reached the general store. The Potts says Hetty is on death's doorstep. Eunice proclaims it awful and too much. Mabel Sloane hates that it's Hetty "of all people". Gourney's not liking it, either. An oblivious Ada Hubble enters; Clara asks if she's heard. Nope. (I suppose Libby was going to break it to her over dinner, but that's not gonna happen!) Our rogue Scotsman brings Ada up to speed. She's now in disbelief. Mabel says Hetty is "Hanging on by a thread over an open grave". Now Ada joins in the sadness. Clara queries that with everything going on--including the war news--why does this seem so unbearable? Gourney has an answer: It's Hetty! If she's fallible, so is everyone. Mmmkay. Hetty has to have surgery again (only in a proper hospital this time and not on her kitchen table), and everyone thinks it's the Apocalypse. But her nephew is missing in Europe during World War I; and everyone acts as if it's nothing, and Janet's expected to get over it. Am I missing something here? Are the priorities of Avonlea's denizens really that twisted? Gawd, those personality-altering aliens are terrible!
That night--the eve of Hetty's surgery--Hannah is washing her ex-teacher's back. Wow. She's really come a long way. Hannah asks her to smell her arm to see if she recongizes the scent. First, Hetty thinks it's disinfectant. Try again, Hetty. No answer this time. It's perfume...or, rather, eau de toilette. According to Hannah, Hetty gave all the final year school girls a penny bottle of it. Now Hetty remembers. Hannah recalls Hetty's instructions on how to use it--just a dab will do, but wash first. Hannah heard everything that was said, even if she wasn't always a good listener. Hetty wants to know why. Hannah thought a lot was expected of her, not just from Hetty, but also from her aunt Ada. She thought them so perfect, and a lot to live up to. But...Ada wasn't perfect--far from it! No one is perfect. To Hannah, it doesn't matter anymore; Ada wants nothing to do with her. Meanwhile, it's time for Hetty to go to bed; she has to have surgery in the morning, after all. Off goes the light. Out goes Hannah to do whatever she's got to do.
At King Farm, Janet's closing up shop for the night, too, before heading up to bed; but then Alec appears out of nowhere. She asks if he's coming up to bed. Before answering, he has other stuff to say...like that she's not the only one who is suffering in regards to the missing Felix. Janet didn't suppose so. Alec reminds her that bitterness is the hardest on the person carrying it, and that he doesn't want it to consume her. He wants his wife back! They finally share an embrace. (NOW the Sap-o-Meter goes to Level 6.)
Surgery day, and Hetty's being prepped by Hannah. She dabs some eau de toilette on Hetty's neck. It can't hurt; it's mostly alcohol, after all! Then it's Hannah's turn to recite the mantra to the nervous Hetty: "Head high, shoulders back, purpose firm, and never slack." Two things remembered from her school days. Hetty acknowledges this. Hannah goes out to get a stretcher; Olivia comes in to wish her sister luck, and asks if the rest of the family has been in. Alec came in, as did Felicity and Cecily, but not Janet. Of course not. She's not quite ready to speak to the ice queen. Olivia reassures her that Janet will rebuild her bridge "a bit at a time". Before Hetty faces the knife, Hetty has one more thing to say about Jasper. Olivia doesn't want to hear it. The little voice in her head that doesn't know its head from its backside has reminded her of that whole "Jasper is irresponsible" thing. Yet, Hetty acknowledges that her sister loves Jasper, and he her; and that's all that really matters. Hannah's back with the gourney and some assistance. Surgery time!
On Charlottetown's streets, Janet's taken Daniel for a walk. Hey, someone's got to keep the boy amused and keep him mischief-free. (Boo!) Suddenly, Daniel sees the picture of "Aunt Hetty's angel!", aka Wifred Ainsley. Crap; just when I was starting to forget about the fella. Daniel asks his mom if he can watch him perform. Janet agrees. After all, it's a hell of a lot better than sitting in a boring waiting room; and goodness knows what would happen if another parade were to take place!
Hetty's in the operating theatre now, prostrate before her surgeons and their assistants. Arthur bends down to let her know that he's only going to be assisting the newsman-doctor--aka Dr. Paige. Arthur won't be performing the actual surgery. Hetty says that a familiar face is a comfort, "Dr. Pettibone". On goes the surgeon's mask.
Today's performance excerpt by Wil Ainsley is the Christmas story from Luke 2, which both Daniel and Janet are loving. Of course, being a minister's son, Wilfred would rock a Bible passage the best. Maybe he'll consider the clergy if thespianism ends up being a bust. That's a respectable career; I'm sure Rachel Lynde--when not acting like a backstage doxie--would agree with that. At "Fear not!", Janet checks her watch. Quite possibly at that same precise moment, back at the hospital, in the waiting room, Alec is checking his, too. I wonder if there was telepathy involved.
On to the surgery. Hetty gets a good dose of ether. Good thing she didn't fight it this time. Off to dreamland. Actually, it's more like nightmareland. The kids are singing "Silent Night" at a fast pace. Then Libby Hubble starts screeching. Guess her pageant queen mom couldn't afford a voice coach. Suddenly... Felix! The Mantra! Snow! Marching boys! Then the kids are silent. Hetty doesn't want to be left behind; she wants everyone to come back! As the explosion happens again, Hetty wakes up momentarily, back in the operating theatre, still prostrate before everyone. Arthur puts a hand on her neck and lets her know the growth was benign, and she will recover in full. Dr. Paige gives Arthur a pat on the back. After a stroke on the ear from Arthur, Hetty goes back to sleep. This time, I think, she went to dreamland. Maybe she'll dream this movie right out of our heads. It would be for our own good, really.
Later, Hetty is already up and at it, heading for her wheelchair. Hannah thinks she's overdoing it. How Hetty's hair? Surely Hannah knows how Hetty likes her hair buns: Gibson girl, with as much poofiness as possible. Hetty loves it! (Thank god. I don't want to know what kind of tongue-lashing follows a badly-done one.) She then wants to know if Hannah will call her aunt before the holidays are over. Hannah's not too sure about that. The fall-out must've been quite ugly. Hetty philosophizes that things not done for fear of failure are thing that absolutlely should be done; and since things can't get worse, they might get better. She asks Hannah to try. Hannah informs her ex-teacher she has a visitor. Hurrah! Sara's home safe! Oops...it's Wilfred Ainsley! Drat. He confesses that he feels responsible for not coming to her sooner. Hetty invites him into the room. Ainsley explains her card failed to reach him, that the stage doorman had it in his waistcoat for a whole week. Stupid Stanley. Have him fired! Hetty wants to know how he knew where she was. Janet and Daniel visited him backstage after the show. (Now, how did they know she was looking for them? Oh, whoops. It's Avonlea. The news travels as fast as email.) He also agrees to perform at her Christmas concert the next night, should she still want him. Of course she does! He looks at Hannah, as to give her a secret signal, and informs Hetty her attention is required outside her window. I wonder what's out there? Is he going to show her the Vortex and warn her that if Sara is NOT given her due by the time this movie ends in about seven minutes or so, that he and Hannah are going to toss her in there?
Nah, he's too nice for that. Instead, what's waiting for her is a mini-concert...by her students. They begin singing "O Come All Ye Faithful"; and dang it! They sound fantastic! There's no screeching from Libby Hubble or anything! I suppose Felicity informed them it was their duty to sound good for her aunt Hetty. That had to be it. See? They can't relate to doing duty to the Empire. But if the duty is to their invalid teacher, then it goes through their heads! Janet smiles and salutes her sister-in-law with a blown kiss, which Hetty returns. (Sap-o-Meter has climbed to Level 7.) Must be code for "I'm sorry." / "I forgive you." Even a local cop is impressed.
The following night, the kids still sound wonderful. Janet is touched. So is Olivia. Hey, Ada and Hannah made up. (Is it just me, or does Baby Hubble-Lester bear a slight resemblance to Alice from the orphanage?) Off to the side somewhere, Cecily and Felicity are having a chat. Felicity is having Dr. Snow endorse her application for the deaf school's correspondence course. Cecily is surprised. Felicity isn't moving? (Cess wanted her closet space back, darn it!) Janet would come around, to be sure. Felicity thinks it's better this way. She recalls Cess saying something about life making one grow up. So does Cecily...she guesses. (Why couldn't they have THAT scene in the movie? Is the prospect of a free Cecily really that far over their heads?) Felicity mentions she called Gus that morning. In six months or so...Cess is gonna be an aunt! Squee! (Sap-o-Meter flies up to Level 9. Forget Level 8!) No wonder Felicity was so emotionless earlier when Hetty was first getting on Janet's case! The baby hormones were shutting her up! Applause all around!
That night at King Farm, Olivia and the young Dales are opening Christmas gifts. Alicia got herself a dolly! "It's a girl!" you can kind of hear her blurt out. Monty decides to flash that hideous English accent again, this time to ask his mother if she wants to open a Christmas gift. She would rather wait till tomorrow. "Doctor" Monty then prescribes Olivia a box--about the size of a shoebox--to open. She decides she will. Inside she reveals...a music box. See, Olivia? Jasper is NOT irresponsible, and you know it, so tell those stupid voices to get the blank out of your head right now! Perhaps the soothing music box music will do the trick. (Is it me, or do the dancing figures in the music box bear a slight resemblance to Jollie?)
It's Christmas Eve, and it's time to get to Hetty's! Janet is rushing everyone out with whatever they can carry. According to Aunt Eliza, Janet's a "whirling dirvish"! Alec wonders if it would've been easier to have the dinner at King Farm. Break tradition? Never! Janet starts rushing everyone out again. Before she herself goes out, she has to do one last thing: retrieve Felix's snowflake ornament. She hears the door, and barks that whoever it is better get out to the sleigh so they can get to Aunt Hetty's. But wait! There's a shadow of a soldier in the foyer removing their hat. It looks like Felix...but his right arm's in a sling this time. Janet must've been thinking, "Okay, I've been foiled by two Fake Felixes; I don't want to be conned by a third." She's motionless. But then he comes into the light. It still looks like Felix! This time, Janet needs to be certain she's not dreaming. She comes closer and reaches up to touch his face. "Mother." He speaks! He's real! He's home! Felix is home! Home where he should be! All Janet can do is give him a big bear hug and cry. (Sap-o-Meter: 10!) Felix assures her it's okay. Behind them, Alec re-enters the house. Seeing Felix in his mother's arms makes his jaw drop. Only one thing: How in the blank did he not see his own son enter the house? And what about the others? Surely they must've seen him! Bah.
One more bit o' business before dinner: Olivia has a telegram to send...and it's a happy one! Yes! Cess doesn't have to send out doom and gloom! Olivia's message is simple: She wishes Jasper a Merry Christmas, lets him know she misses him and loves him...and that she'll be coming home. Cess had to smile at that bit, too. (Sap-o-Meter holds at 10.)
Now we're at our truly final destination: Rose Cottage's kitchen/dining room. Felix is escorting his aunt to her place at the head of the table. Rachel happily notes Felix is okay. (Yeah, we'll let her ignore the sling this time.) Alec also helps Hetty to her seat. We must also note that the Vortex has claimed another victim. Poor Aunt Eliza, although she was helping pack all the food on to the sleigh, is now nowhere to be seen. Couldn't it have taken Christmas Eve off? Arrrrgh! After Hetty is seated, she turns to wish her nephew Montgomery a "Merry Christmas". What? The fake Briton boy believes the correct terminology is "Happy Christmas". All are amused by the bad accent still. Regardless, Hetty supposes she does mean "Happy Christmas" and not "Merry Christmas". All are seated now, and Hetty must make a heartfelt toast, for the script demands it. She notes that they're all blessed. The toast is "to the joys of the season, to this family, to those gathered here, and those in our hearts". (Does Sara count in the last part? There's only a few seconds left, y'know! Regardless, the Sap-o-Meter is busted now.) Lastly, the toast is "to being loved". Happy Christmas, everyone! And don't drink too much port. Lastly, a bah-humbug to the Vortex; forgetting Sara Stanley; too little Felix and Cecily; no Gus and Jasper; too many characters we're supposed to care about but don't; the Continuity Department's lack of caring; bad fake British accents; and to Raymond Storey's script which was too damned depressing. No wonder he got hired to write for Wind at My Back!