2/21/18 6.

ANNE Side 1/1, pg. 1/3

YOU ARE MATTHEW CUTHBERT,
THAT’S YOUR NAME, RIGHT, MATTHEW CUTHBERT?

MATTHEW
Um. Yes?

ANNE
THEN I’M WHO YOU SENT FOR,
I’M THE ORPHAN YOU SENT FOR,
THE ORPHAN GIRL THAT YOU SENT FOR,
AND YOU’VE COME TO TAKE ME HOME TO AVONLEA!

MATTHEW
I’m sorry, but -
Start ANNE
Oh, no! I’m sorry, Mr. Cuthbert! I have to apologize in
advance for my inability to contain my joy and comport
myself in a perfectly respectable manner, but you have to
understand I am positively euphoric.

MATTHEW
Euphoric?

ANNE
Yes! See -
I NEVER RODE A TRAIN BEFORE TODAY
AND, LET ME SAY, BEFORE YOU ASK ME HOW IT WAS -
I KNOW YOU’LL ASK ME THAT BECAUSE -
WHO WOULD EXPECT SOMEONE LIKE ME
TO ARRIVE IN AVONLEA
ON A WEEKEND TRAIN
LOOKING MEEK AND PLAIN?

BUT IT WAS AMAZING, GAZING OUT THE WINDOW

BLAZING THROUGH THE COUNTRY SIDE...
AND IT WAS ASTOUNDING BOUNDING PAST THE SURROUNDING
AND POUNDING OCEAN TIDE...

IT’S WHAT I WISHED FOR,

I’LL NEVER WANT MORE THAN WHAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW,
I’M EXACTLY WHERE AND WHO I WANT TO BE...
ANNE WITH AN ‘E’ IN A LAND CALLED AVONLEA!
Oh, Mr. Cuthbert! Is this your carriage and stallion?

MATTHEW
No, it’s just my wagon and horse.

ANNE
It’s exquisite, isn’t it?

MATTHEW
Exquisite?
2/21/18 ANNE Side 1/1, pg. 2/3 7.

ANNE
Oh, people laugh at me because I use big words. But if you
have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them,
haven't you?

MATTHEW
Well, now, I suppose.
(re: her bag)
Oh, let me help you with that.

ANNE
I can carry it. It isn’t heavy. Besides, I think having
luggage is the most exciting thing ever!
I NEVER PACKED A BAG BEFORE TODAY,
AND LET ME SAY, TO MY DISMAY, IT’S RATHER SMALL,
BUT IT’S GOT EVERYTHING AND ALL I’VE EVER OWNED OR WORN,
BUT SEE THE HANDLE’S TORN UP IN THE CORNER A BIT,
SO I’VE LEARNED TO MANAGE IT...
ANY WAY YOU CONVEY IT MAY FRAY IT.
ON ACCOUNT OF DECAY IT PULLS AWAY IF YOU SWAY IT RIGHT.
BUT, HOLD IT TIGHT AND IT MIGHT JUST PROVIDE
A PLACE FOR YOU TO HIDE
YOUR PAST, AT LAST, HELD FAST INSIDE...
AS YOU RIDE THE TRAIN YOU RIDE...
INTO A FUTURE VAST AND WIDE...

OH, I’VE BEEN WAITING SINCE I DON’T KNOW -

CERTAIN YOU WOULDN'T SHOW,
BUT HERE WE ARE NOW ME AND YOU,
AND AIN’T IT FUNNY HOW DREAMS COME TRUE?

I TOLD THE ORPHANS NOT TO CRY

THIS MORNING WHEN I SAID, “BUH-BYE!”
I WASN’T GONNA HANG ABOUT,
OR LET THE DOOR HIT ME ON MY WAY OUT!

I’M FINALLY WHERE I’M MEANT TO BE...

PINCH ME NOW!
(pinches herself:)
LOOK - OW!
SEE, IT’S NOT A DREAM SOMEHOW!
I’M IN A LAND CALLED AVONLEA!
Oh! Mr. Cuthbert! What is this place?

MATTHEW
Folks call it The Avenue.

ANNE
No, no! A place this divinely beautiful needs a name to
match! We shall call it The White Way of Delight! What do
you think? Pretty good, right?

MATTHEW
Um-
 2/21/18 ANNE Side 1/1, pg. 3/3 8.

ANNE
I know! I know! I’ve always had a talent for naming things -
Oh! And what’s that over there - ?

MATTHEW
Barry’s pond?

ANNE
Ugh! No! All wrong! That glimmering sapphire lagoon shall
from henceforth be known to us as The Lake of Shining
Waters! Ta-da! Oh, Prince Edward Island is just the most
beautiful place in the world, isn’t it? For years I
imagined what it would be like to live here, but I never
really expected I would! It's delightful when your
imaginations come true, isn't it?

MATTHEW
Um, well, yes?
End ANNE
OH, YOU DON’T LIKE TO TALK!
I CAN SEE THAT...
WELL, YOU DON’T HAVE TO TALK...
I CAN TALK ENOUGH FOR TWO...

ANYTHING YOU WANT...

I CAN BE THAT...
ANYTHING YOU ASK ME...
I WILL DO...

BUT, I’LL NEVER BE BEAUTIFUL...

WON’T EVER BE BEAUTIFUL...
NOT EVEN SORT OF BEAUTIFUL - NO, NOT ME!

I COULD BE SMART OR STRONG -

OR STAY SILENT THE WHOLE DAY LONG...
WELL, THAT MIGHT BE HARD, I’LL ADMIT,
BUT I’D DO IT - JUST ASK IT OF ME!
I’LL BE WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE...
WHOEVER YOU WANT ME TO BE!

I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT BEFORE TODAY

THERE WAS A WAY THAT I COULD PLAY THE INGENUE-
I MEAN, BETWEEN ME AND YOU,
I’M A HOMELY ADOLESCENT,
MY HAIR IS PHOSPHORESCENT,
I’M PALLID, PALE, AND THIN,
WITH FRECKLES SPECKLING MY SKIN...
BUT I’M HERE AND I MUST SAY-
IT’S LIKE THE STORIES THAT I’VE READ,
THE HERO WAKES AND SHAKES THE DREAMS OUT OF HER HEAD!
SHE TAKES A CHANCE! SHE MAKES A STANCE!
SHE FAKES THE MOVES TILL SHE LEARNS TO DANCE!
YOU GOTTA FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT!