Episode 2.4: Of Corsets, Secrets and True True Love
Director: Rene Bonniere
Special Guests: Patricia Hamilton as Rachel Lynde and Colleen Dewhurst as Marilla Cuthbert
Original CBC Airdate: December 30, 1990
Original Disney Airdate: April 22, 1991
Run Time: 50 minutes
Time Frame: Fall 1904
Synopsis: Marilla cares for two siblings, Davey and Dora Keith, after their mother passes away. Davey's troublesome behavior, along with a nagging toothache, becomes too much for Rachel Lynde to bare.
Highlights/Analysis: Marilla and Rachel attend the funeral of Marilla's blood relative, Mary Keith. They learn that Mary's two children, Davey and Dora Keith are homeless. Racked with guilt, Marilla decides to take responsibility of the children after Mrs. Wiggins fails to accept Davey at the orphanage. When Marilla checks on Davey during his first night at Green Gables, the sleepy boy replies, "shh, can't you see I'm sleeping?" Davey's mischievous nature gets him into trouble however, as he begins to wreak terror at Green Gables. His terrible deeds include tying Mrs. Lynde's shoe laces together, breaking a mirror, and putting Rachel's corset on a pig. If Davey weren't enough, Rachel is troubled by a toothache and is certain that her death is inevitable. Faced with the possibility of losing her life-long friend and eleviated by having her tooth pulled, Rachel softens and decides to accept Davey at Green Gables. Davey's deeds are viewed as misunderstandings, rather than intentionally planned evil schemes. Rachel's one liners and interactions with Marilla and the Keith twins are hilarious. Marilla plays the straight person to Rachel's constant criticism and observations.
Criticism: In the scene after Davey breaks the mirror, a boom mike can be seen hovering in the left hand corner of the screen. This occurs after Rachel says "seven years bad luck" and Marilla replies "Now don't stuff his head..."
Rhetorical Questions:
Wasn't Rachel's aching tooth similiar to the fable of the lion with the thorn in his side?
Memorable Quotes:
"I wouldn't be surprised to see that boy barking at the moon!" -Rachel Lynde
"I'll be so good, you're not even going to know it's me." -Davey Keith
"Plain pine caskets are a disgrace, that's what. A body would get slivers just laying in it. If you ask my opinion, it's a shameful way to meet your maker." -Rachel Lynde
"Shhh, can't you see I'm sleeping." -Davey Keith
Notes: (1) The arrival of the Keith twins at Green Gables is featured in Anne of Avonlea Chapter VIII, 'Marilla adopts twins.' The infamous pig is alluded to in this chapter with Dora on the receiving end of one of Davey's mischevous stints: "Davy made me walk the pigpen fence," wailed Dora. "I didn't want to but he called me a fraid-cat. And I fell off into the pigpen and my dress got all dirty and the pig runned right over me. My dress was just awful but Davy said if I'd stand under the pump he'd wash it clean, and I did and he pumped water all over me but my dress ain't a bit cleaner and my pretty sash and shoes is all spoiled." (2) Colleen Dewhurst was nominated for an Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series' and was nominated for a Cable Ace Award for 'Best Actress in a Dramatic Series' for her portrayal of Marilla Cuthbert.
Grade: A Rachel Lynde steals the show again, while Davey and Dora bring some youth back to Green Gables.
