Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story Page #2

have insignificance

ingrained into

your very soul.

No... Mr. Winfield,

he's likely

to reject

my manuscript

like every

other publisher

I've been to

this week.

This is a much smaller company,

and I doubt that he'd have

brought you in for a meeting

just to say no... 'morning, sir.

I've made up my mind to go

to my grave unwept,

unhonored and unsung.

But not

unpublished.

I'd like you

to meet

my fiancee

Anne Shirley.

This is

Dr. Powell.

An honor,

miss Shirley.

I very much appreciate

the opportunity here, sir.

Your book

is marvelous.

I've just seen old Winfield.

He assures me he'll consider it.

It's the least I can do

for the fiancee of our most

important young surgeon, uh?

Don't settle for

anything less than

10% royalty from the old tyrant.

Excuse me.

I have an appointment

to see a Mr. Palmer Winfield.

Name?

Miss Anne Shirley.

There's a miss Shirley

to see Mr. Winfield.

THOSE STAIRS TO THE 6th.

Thank you.

Ah, miss Shirley.

Hello.

Sit down...

If you will.

It's a lot of stairs.

How do you do, sir?

Oh, miserably.

Book sales are in

a detestable slump.

The overhead of this

organization is a can of worms.

This is Mr. Owen...

in charge of our

fiction

department.

Well, thank you both

so much for taking the time

to meet

with me...

thank Dr. Powell.

He cut a tumor out of me once,

thereby prolonging

my unfortunate existence.

Perhaps we should get down to

the short strokes,

hmm, miss Shirley?

We read the manuscript

Dr. Powell submitted.

Lively and engaging, I suppose.

Yes, uh, you have some

promise as a writer...

But not here.

I run a business, not a charity.

We've never published

stories for young women.

Our specialty is adventure,

detective novels and all manner,

of books for

a man's man.

However, since men

are not buying

so many books now

with the war on,

we really would like to

develop women's adventures...

wanted to for years...

we need someone

to apprehend

writers and stories

that will

appeal to women.

I can guarantee your

I can smell a good book

before I even open the cover.

Yes, well now,

Mr. Owen is prepared

to train you

in the position

of a junior editor.

The process of finding material,

however, is very subjective.

Oh, I can find writers that

women will want to read,

as long as it doesn't

preclude me

from submitting my own

manuscripts amongst them.

Well, miss Shirley, they would

have to meet our criteria.

And what is that?

I've never published

anything I didn't like.

That's served me well

for 40 years.

Oh, you'll like

what I find, sir,

as much as you'll grow

to have faith in me.

I'll find a small corner for

miss Shirley to work in, sir.

Come along, miss Shirley.

There ought to be a desk,

underneath all

of that somewhere.

Our research department

will find you lists.

Do what you can.

My office is right there.

Miss Shirley... Please.

Oh, I'm sorry, I was

just taking it all in.

Well, that is a portrait

of Jack Garrison Jr., America's

top mystery raconteur.

A half million copies of his

espionage novels guaranteed

before he puts pen to paper.

Now, you'll have to find men

who can write that way for women

or you'll be wasting your time.

Mr. Owen, I rarely

waste my time.

Besides, if I thought only men

could write for women,

I might not find

anything interesting.

Hmm, yes, well,

I should mention to you

that we have never

published a female author...

Ever.

Oh, blast.

Allow me, doctor.

Ah, all right.

Finish up, Gil.

I want you in the board meeting

in half an hour.

Certainly, I no longer have the

fortitude to continue to serve

this institution, in light

of my deteriorating eyesight.

Ah.

This young fellow is the

foremost surgeon in his class,

and I might add,

in the entire institution.

He's been asked to stay on

till the end of the year,

but he has the talent and the

stamina to assume my duties

as a permanent member

of the administration...

Within the month.

Sir, I am very flattered.

I just wish you hadn't

launched this,

without discussing it

with me first.

I needed to know

where the board stood.

I can't operate any more,

you know, lad.

The prognosis

for glaucoma is abysmal.

You'll want to rise

to the occasion

and follow in my footsteps.

Dr. Blythe,

Dr. Blythe.

I don't know if you

remember my wife.

We've been waiting

eight hours

for anyone

to see us.

The admitting nurse

should assist you.

Mrs. Tweed, has your

baby not turned?

I feel something's not right.

Ok, come on, let's sit down.

Mom, maybe

you should walk.

Are you having

rapid contractions?

Are you ok?

Mrs. Cunningham,

this woman is in labour.

See that she be admitted

immediately.

She may require surgery.

You needn't

concern yourself

with indigent

cases... let me

speak to Dr. Moore

in obstetrics.

Oh, I can speak to Moore.

But, sir, I am obligated

to this patient

by virtue of having examined her

in the clinic a week ago,

at which time I requested that

she be admitted

into the hospital.

The delivery may be

a footling breach.

If she continues in labour any

longer, she may lose the child.

Choose where you

use your scalpel.

Remember, we've scheduled

Mrs. Hamilton this afternoon.

You just met her husband,

on the board.

I can't let her condition

go unsupervised.

We can reschedule

Mrs. Hamilton's

gall bladder operation.

Excuse me.

Dr. Blythe?

Oh, he can't be disturbed.

Please take a seat

in the waiting area, ma'am.

Mr. Tweed...

Your wife is in

stable condition,

but there was a problem

with the baby's cord.

We did everything we could,

but I'm afraid it was too late.

Too late...

we waited and waited.

I'm so sorry.

You heedless...

Take this man out

onto the street.

Come, come you three.

You call yourself doctors!

What happened, Gil?

Lost the baby.

A word

with you, lad.

Get used to this, if you're

to spend your lives together.

The woman came to us too late.

She should have

been hospitalized

a week ago.

Excuse us.

This is part of

your lot as a surgeon.

There's some you can afford

to save and some who...

This is a large institution.

You're what I was

30 years ago, Gil.

Think...

Think of the potential you have,

the lives you should save.

Huh?

Oh, take him home, woman.

Give him a good

stiff drink of whiskey.

I feel like

we've been walking in circles.

You can't expect life

to be normal here, Anne.

I knew that when

I agreed to come.

That's why I wanted

you to promise me

that someday

we'd go home

to raise

our family.

I don't think

I can walk any more

without something to eat, Gil.

I'm sorry.

How be

I take you

for a fine meal

somewhere?

A wiener in a bun would be fine.

You know, I forgot

to ask you how

things went for

you this morning.

Two, please.

Mm-hmm.

They... They offered me

an important editorial position.

Doc. Powell assured me that they

were interested in publishing...

there you

go, sir.

Could I have two for me?

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