It is not, however, silent at Green Gables where Rachel, long past her child rearing years, is completely overwhelmed. Mrs. Potts, dropping by uninvited for a "visit" gleefully reports back to her cronies that Rachel's hair was in curl papers, the baby was screaming, and there were nappies hanging up all over the kitchen. Hearing this, Hetty goes to Green Gables full of righteous indignation. She and Rachel get into it again and manage, in the course of their argument, to lock themselves out of the house, leaving the baby inside alone. They are forced to work together to get a ladder up to a second storey window and climb in, during which they bury the hatchet, mending their old quarrel (which had started over a boy in school). Soon after this, Malcolm arrives at Green Gables bringing supplies that he's picked up for the baby. Hearing Lucky's wails, he ducks past a protesting Rachel and picks up the baby who quickly settles down in his arms. He starts explaining to Rachel what the baby likes and how he likes to be held, and it becomes obvious to both her and Hetty that the child belongs with Malcolm and Abigail, who genuinely care about him. Malcolm triumphantly carries Lucky home to an equally delighted Abigail, and they happily start proceedings to legally adopt their new son.
Last night we watched the Road To Avonlea episode Malcolm and The Baby. In it, Malcolm and Abigail have returned from their honeymoon and are settling into life together in Avonlea. Malcolm comes home from an auction with a baby bassinette, which upsets Abigail because she's told him that she's too old to think about having a baby and besides, she's not the motherly type. Malcolm however, lives in hope that she will change her mind because he loves the thought of having a child with her. Abigail is having none of it and orders him to put the bassinette out in the shed. Meanwhile, word has reached Avonlea that a former student teacher of Hetty's has died of scarlet fever, as has her husband, leaving their baby son orphaned. Since they seem to have no immediate family, the baby is being sent to an orphanage on another part of the Island. Scandalized at the very idea, Hetty tells the estate lawyer that she will find a home for the baby. At this, Rachel Lynde steps forward; she and Hetty have been at daggers drawn ever since their school days, and she opposes Hetty having any say over the child, declaring that the baby is a distant relation by marriage to her late husband Thomas. She says that she will take the baby to live at Green Gables (Marilla is currently away visiting Anne so can't object). Infuriated, Hetty says that Rachel isn't fit to have a child in her care, and that she will adopt the baby. It's obvious that both are more interested in keeping the other from having the baby than in the baby himself. A very public squabble breaks out between them, to the delight of the town gossips, chiefly Mrs. Potts. Sarah is upset at thought of the baby being sent to an orphanage or ending up with either Hetty or Mrs. Lynde. She talks Felicity into stealing the baby with her, the two of them hiding out in the King's barn with him. Sarah says that the clear place for the baby is with the newlyweds, Abigail and Malcolm. Felicity points out that Aunt Abigail said that she didn't want a baby, but Sarah says that what Abigail actually said that she didn't want to have a baby, not that she wouldn't take one that was already born. They wait until dark and then leave the baby in a basket on their doorstep with a letter saying that he is an orphan in need of a home. Malcolm finds the baby and immediately carries him into the house, showing Abigail who is horrified. She says that Malcolm will have to go and tell Abner Jeffries (the local constable) because obviously the child must belong to someone. Malcolm says, of course, but it's too late to go that night (it's really not that late). He disappears into the shed and triumphantly brings out the bassinette, leading Abigail to remark that if she didn't know he was such a truthful man, she'd suspect that he'd planned this whole thing. They put in a rough night at first, with the baby crying inconsolably, but he eventually settles down and Abigail finds that, darn it, the cute little guy is sneaking into her heart. Malcolm is, of course, pleased as punch to have the baby there, calling him "Lucky" after a dog he had up north, and discovering to his delight that the boy likes to be rocked in the same motion as he had used panning for gold. Malcolm reluctantly goes to tell Abner Jeffries about Lucky the following day and the whole of the matter comes out. The lawyer declares that Rachel Lynde, as the only living relative- however distant- has claim to the child who will stay with her until the legal matters are all settled. He and Constable Jeffries take the baby from a quietly devastated Abigail and give him to outwardly satisfied but inwardly terrified Rachel. Afterwards, the normally ebullient Malcolm sits quietly in the parlour, poking half-heartedly at the fire while Abigail looks hurt and purposeless, tidying away all signs of the baby. Malcolm goes to her, saying tenderly that she seems very sad for a woman who thought that she wasn't the "motherly type". Abigail lays her head on his shoulder and says quietly that he knows her better than she knows herself. They sit holding each other in the now silent house. It is not, however, silent at Green Gables where Rachel, long past her child rearing years, is completely overwhelmed. Mrs. Potts, dropping by uninvited for a "visit" gleefully reports back to her cronies that Rachel's hair was in curl papers, the baby was screaming, and there were nappies hanging up all over the kitchen. Hearing this, Hetty goes to Green Gables full of righteous indignation. She and Rachel get into it again and manage, in the course of their argument, to lock themselves out of the house, leaving the baby inside alone. They are forced to work together to get a ladder up to a second storey window and climb in, during which they bury the hatchet, mending their old quarrel (which had started over a boy in school). Soon after this, Malcolm arrives at Green Gables bringing supplies that he's picked up for the baby. Hearing Lucky's wails, he ducks past a protesting Rachel and picks up the baby who quickly settles down in his arms. He starts explaining to Rachel what the baby likes and how he likes to be held, and it becomes obvious to both her and Hetty that the child belongs with Malcolm and Abigail, who genuinely care about him. Malcolm triumphantly carries Lucky home to an equally delighted Abigail, and they happily start proceedings to legally adopt their new son. This is an excellent episode of Road To Avonlea, which is by this point in its first season really finding its footing. Malcolm and The Baby displays the skillful balance between broad humour and genuine, heartfelt emotion that is Avonlea at its best.
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