Season Two.
1. How Kissing Was Discovered.
2. Aunt Hetty's Ordeal.
3. Sea Ghost.
4. All That Glitters.
Season Three.
5. When She was Bad... (Part One).
6. ...She Was Horrid. (Part Two)
7. A Dark and Stormy Night. *
8. Facts and Fictions.
9. Friends and Neighbors.
10. High Society.
11. The Calamitous Courtship of Hetty King.
Season Four.
12. The Lady and the Blade.
13. Incident at Vernon River.
14. Sara and the Marshall.
15 .Boys Will Be Boys.
16. Evelyn.
17. Felicity's Grand Design (or The Dinner).
18. Heirs and Graces.
19. Hearts and Flowers.( or Servant of Two Masters)
20. Felicity's Perfect Beau.
21. The Disappearance.
Season Five.
22. Modern Times.
23. Fathers and Sons.
24. Otherwise Engaged.
Season Six.
25. The Return of Gus Pike. *
Season Seven.
26. Return to Me. *
27. So Dear to My Heart.
The * indicated episodes for which Michael was nominated
for a Gemini Award.
For the six years Michael played
Gus, we saw many changes in Gus's life.
(1). When he arrived, he "had nothin'
and no one...all I wanted was a full belly and a warm place to sleep...".
This was before that fate filled day that he met Sara and Felix at the
fishing hole. Felix brought Gus home; Alec gave him work to do and a place
in the barn to sleep. Felicity had a crush on David Hause, but it was
our Gus who gave her her first kiss. When Felix asked him what it
was like to be on his own, Gus thought for a minute and replied softly
"...lonely...". (From this point on, Gus had a very special place
in my heart). At the end, when Gus was leaving to work at the cannery,
he asked Felicity " ...did yer ever get that kiss yer
were lookin' fer?" When she confessed, that she had not; he leaned over
and kissed her. She was outraged, but pleased." Gus Pike... how dare you?"
Gus tossed his bag of possessions out the barn door and replied;
"...better'n kissin' m'dog...", laughs and swings out of the
barn's second story trap door, on a rope. Leaving, but not gone.
(2). Aunt Hetty is worried about Muriel Stacy
finding fault with the way she runs the school, and the fact that she has
so few "new " students. Hetty convinced Gus to come to school. It
is very difficult for Gus to adjust to the refined ways of Hetty King,
after the rough and tumble life he has lead. But, at the mention of the
word "gentleman", Gus's life is forever changed. Hetty takes him in hand
and teaches him what he needs to know. When she writes his name on the
board and has his practice writing it; he is delighted! On the way home
from school, the King cousins ask Gus what he wants out of life. He tells
them that he wants what they have. "...yer got lots...yer got people.."
"A family? You want a family?" Sara asks him. Yes, Gus did and the shy
glances he casts at Felicity, let us know where his thoughts are headed.
(3) Captain Ezekiel Crane runs the lighthouse
and has Gus come to work for him. Abraham Pike is an escaped prisoner seeking
the Captains help, and wants to find his son, Gus. But a strong bond
grows between the Captain and Gus; so, when Abe Pike wants him to leave,
Gus refuses to go. ( After finding out that Abe is a liar and a
thief; not to mention a murderer.) A fight between Abe and the Captain,
results with Abe being washed out to sea. Rachel Lynde thinks that Captain
Crane is a rum runner and that Gus is helping him. , but after
a confrontation between Crane and the towns people and finding out about
Abe Pike she realizes that they are not.
(4). Gus and Captain Crane look for
buried treasure. Sara, Hetty, Rachel and Janet are caught up in the treasure
hunt excitement,too. Captain Borden, enemy of Captain Crane , is looking
for the same treasure.; years earlier he stold half of Crane's treasure
map. Following Gus and the girls, to the cave whene the treasure
is hidden, Borden steals the "treasure" and Gus is forced to protect Sarah
and Felicity. Ezekiel has tricked everyone, he found and kept the
real treasure. As a parting gift, he makes Gus the owner of the light house
(. Gus said,"..I just want some place, no one can kick me out of..") and
a gold and ruby ring.
( 5&6). Gus gets a message that Captain
Crane needs him in Halifax, and Sara is finding life with Aunt Hetty unbearable.
Felix and Sara meet a girl who could be Sara's double. After Sara has a
fight with Hetty, Jo Pitts makes a suggestion, that they "swap lives"
for a while. Sara runs away going to Halifax with Gus ( against his
wishes). Here Sara is pursued by pick pockets who think she is Jo. Gus
is captured by Abe Pike, it was a plot to find Captain Crane and take his
treasure. Gus and Sara escape back to the island, where Gus captures Jo
after she robs Hetty's house. The King women confront Sara and Jo about
them changing places, and try to figure out what to do with Jo; but Jo
vanishes from their lives.
* (7). Robert Rutherford is pursuing Amanda Stone
for a treasure in gems, which she gives to Gus for safe keeping. Felicity
is beginning to have feeling for Gus, and is furious when Amanda kisses
Gus and he is smitten with Amanda. When the gems disappear, Gus and Felix
are thrown into jail...much to Felix's delight. Hetty bails them out.
When Gus finds the light house in shambles, he realizes that Amanda may
not be "the kind and virtuous woman" he thought her to be. Amanda
recovers the gems and leaves the island with Rutherford in quick pursuit.
(This is a show Christopher Reeves did before his riding accident)
(8). Hetty quits as Avonlea's school teacher
after a dispute with the school board. Alistair Dimple, an out of work
actor comes and teaches everyone lessons in life. School is no longer
a "dull routine" when history is reenacted in the school room or out in
the school yard. Gus and all his classmates, except Felicity, embraces
the new ideas ; especially when everyone gets to fight with swords
. Avonlea is entered in a History Bee and Gus is instrumental in helping
the school to win.
(9). The King women and Janet's sister go
to an auction, the King men and Jasper go ice fishing. The day is a disaster
for all. Felix wants to learn about "life", Gus wants to know about "bein'
in love", the womenget on each other's nerves and finally all are
lost, then found in a snow storm. Felicity hugs Gus when he finds her,
later, at King Farm ...their glances let us know how "aware" of each other
they are.
(10). Felicity has a chance to go to Kingsport
Ladies College. Gus sees this as a possibility of loosing Felicity to a
life he could never fit into. With Sara and Pierre's help, Gus sets
about learning how to be a gentleman. "...if good breedin' and manners
are important...I'm gonna get some...". Felicity is over her head
at school, makes some bad choices and has to face the consequences. Returning
to Avonlea, Felicity snubs Gus and hurts her parents feelings. She
must learn to accept herself for what she is; not what she'd like to be.
In the end, Felicity realizes her place is in Avonlea, with Gus.
(11). Aunt Hetty has her hands full with skate
salesman Wally Higgins, who decides that she is his dream girl. Gus is
faced with a problem ; Felicity wants to go to the skating party with him...he
has no skates until Sara loans him a pair. Hetty and Gus, neither
of whom can skate, make fools of themselves at the skating party.
Gus is humiliated and wants to give back the skates. Wally leaves
after Hetty convinces him that she'll never marry. Felicity teaches Gus
to skate.
(12). Clive Pettibone comes to take Hetty's
place at the school house. Hetty has become a writer, and all of her time
is filled with creating romance novels. Gus and Felicity's romance is growing
"...slowly and sweetly..." at this point.
(13). Felix expects a rifle for his birthday,
but gets a telescope in stead. He "borrows" Alec's rifle and shoots Digger
by mistake. Gus brings Digger and Felix back to the farm. It is at this
time that Gus realizes that the school teachers oldest son, Arthur,
has his eye on Felicity. Gus begins to feel some sense of insecurity where
Felicity is concerned. Arthur operates on Digger , saving the dog's
life and Felicity is impressed, but Gus is not. Gus sees that he does have
a serious contender for Felicity's affections. Arthur Pettibone is "...
a professional man. He has an education..."
(14). Sara fall in love, for the first time,
with a cowboy, in a wild west show. Felicity offers her some " advice of
the heart..." Gus and Felicity are spending time together, and Sara looses
her heart to Marshal Zak Morgan . Gus and Felicity watch Sara in the barrel
race, and cheer her on . She wins the race, but looses the Marshall; when
he and his troop leave Avonlea in the middle of the night.
(15). Avonlea needs a fire department. Both
Alec and Clive Pettibone are nominated for Fire Chief, but Clive wins and
he and Alec have problems. Alec appoints Gus a "fire scout" and Felicity
is very impressed."...I'm sure you are the right man for the job". Gus
looks embarrassed at the praise, Alec looks amused. Felix sets the
school on fire, and Gus has to push Felicity out the school window to keep
her safe. Several fires later, Alec and Clive become friends.
(16). Alec's best friend is killed in a boating
accident, and Alec takes on the responsibility of the widow and baby. This
causes a great many problems in Alec's home life. When Gus realizes that
Alec has given him a pair of shoes, he offers to work on the farm to pay
for them. Alec doesn't want this, but Gus says"...if I'm gonna be
proud of anything, it is takin' care of me. Yer give me the shoes, so I'll
help on King Farm..." . The bond of respect seems to be growing between
Alec and Gus......
(17).... until the night Felicity convinces
everyone to leave the house so she can invite Gus to dinner. (This is my
favorite show, but, I'll try to be brief). When Janet and Alec find out
what has happened, Gus is banished from King Farm and Felicity flees to
her room in tears. Alec forbids Felicity to have anything to do with
Gus; and Gus is trying to respect Alec's wishes. Sara tries
to help by writing two letters ( one for Felicity, and one for Gus) both
letters cause more problems than they solve. Felicity runs away to the
light house, to Gus. His dilemma. ..what to do? He gives Felicity
her first "real" kiss and takes her home, confronts her father; and is
given permission "...to see, Felicity, in the open and with your blessin'..."
(18). Simon Tremayne is the new owner of the
hotel, where Gus is working. Felix gets a job at the hotel and realizes
that Simon has connections to the Duke of Aranach ,who is coming to visit.
Felix's job goes to his head and this causes Gus problems, Felicity
copies a gown worn by one of the guests, and Simon is revealed as the real
Duke. Felix gives up his job because Gus"...is sort of my hero, and no
job is worth loosing him as a friend...". Gus overhears him and their friendship
is mended.
(19). A Valentine's dance at the hotel lets
Gus know for certain that Arthur is in pursuit of Felicity. "I'd like to
dance with her" says Arthur, " And I'd like to spit diamonds and
fly.." replies Gus "...if yer dance with her, it will be with my fist in
your eye...". To complicate matters, Pierre's French niece, Suzette, arrives
and sets her cap for Gus. Gus falls into a bath tub, Felicity slams the
door in Gus's face, the hotel is almost shut down by a health inspector,
Gus locks Suzette in the closet then has to explain to Pierre why. The
evening ends happily...but it takes a long time to get to "happy..."
(20). Felicity's delight at "having
two men interested in her "changes to dismay when Gus and Arthur
have a fist fight in the barn. Then Gus declares his feelings."...I
love you..." and Felicity is at a loss of what to say. Clive insists that
Arthur "pay court" to Felicity as a gentleman should, but Arthur has other
ideas. Felicity is agonizing what to do, when Gus makes matters worse by
proposing marriage. Gus spends a sleepless night waiting for an answer.
Only to have Felicity ask Gus, to ask her again in two years."...two years?
Anything could happen in two years. But, nothin' could change the way I
feel about you..." He hugs her, close to tears.
(21). Sara is looking for purpose
in her life, when an antique dealer comes to town. He is really the heir
, Jonathan Ravenshurst Blackwell, to a vast fortune. Gus helps him in his
guise as an antique dealer, but when he disappears and antiques are
found broken, Gus winds up in jail . Sara sets out to clear Gus and to
get to the bottom of the mystery; she finally gets Jonathan to explain
everything that is happening and writes a story for the Chronicle. Gus
is released from jail.
(22). Jasper and Olivia
modernize and run the cannery for Hetty King, who has just bought it. Since
Gus is really the only one who knows anything about canning fish, Hetty
insists on his help. "...yer know I can never say "no" to yer, Miss
King". Gus and Felicity's romance is in jeopardy, because he is working
so much. Then Gus plans a quiet picnic with Felicity but Hetty
shows up and takes him to the cannery. Jasper and Olivia finally
get all of their lobster canned after all of the King family pitches in
and work hand in hand with the cannery workers. Even Felicity rolls up
her sleeves and works in the cannery; Gus objects; but Felicity reminds
him that it might be the only time they get to spend together that summer.
(23). Felix takes on the responsibility of
caring for a wealthy, elderly business man at the hotel, while neglecting
his work at the farm. Alec gives him an ultimatum ...the farm or the hotel.
Gus fixes him a place to sleep at the hotel when he refuses to go home,
after an argument with Alec. Gus calms Alec down when he wants to bring
him home. Gus feels that Felix needs to spend time alone, so he can "cool
off". In the end, father and son reconcile their differences.
(24). Gus gets a promotion at the hotel and
asks Alec's permission to propose to Felicity; but, when he does ...she
informs him that she wants to go to medical school. They fight. Gus's friend
Matt arrives and offers him a job on his ship. Gus and Felicity make up,
but when Felicity helps to deliver a baby; Gus knows he needs to do some
soul searching. After talking to Hetty, Gus decides to go back to sea and
let Felicity go to medical school. When he leaves, Gus gives Felicity his
ring "...remember, I love you. " and "...you haven't seen the last
of me, Felicity King." Gus kisses Felicity after she finally says "...I
love you...", and then he leaves on the stage coach.
* (25). Felicity is at medical school, and Felix
is helping her settle into her room, when they spot Gus in the market place
with a strange woman. Felicity mistakengly thinks he is engaged to
Charlotte Ames, and breaks off their engagemen by giving Gus back
his ring. Gus finds a flower lady, wandering the streets, who thinks
that he is Captain Crane. Together, Gus and Felicity bring her back to
Avonlea. Why? Because Gus thinks she is his mother. A photograph of Eliza
and Abe Pike together, makes Gus realize that she is indeed his mother.
Also, on the back of the picture frames is a photo of Captain Crane, whom
Gus believes is his real father. He and Eliza go to Jamaica to find the
captain. Before he leaves, Gus implores Felicity "...say you'll be mine."
"I've always been yours, I'll be yours forever", she assures him.
Gus gives her his ring again and sails away.
(26). Felicity learned that Gus's ship was
lost at sea, and all hands lost. For a year she is in limbo, deeply depressed.
A banker, Stuart McCrae, helps her to find a new interest in life
and she opens Avonlea's Foundling Home. At her family's urging, she accepts
Stuart's proposal. Felix is against the match, "...he's no Gus Pike..."
and Felicity is still unsure. Four days before the wedding Felicity receives
a call. Gus may be alive. Hetty and Felicity journey to South Carolina
and after what seems like a fruitless search , do find Gus; but, he is
blind. "...go away, I've grown cold inside, I've no love to give anyone..."
Felicity refuses to leave. Hetty scolds him for being a coward."...yer
don't know what it feels like fer me" he tells her. Finally, he seeks Felicity,
who convinces him of her love."...you don't know what life would be like
with me.." he tells her, "..no, but I know what it is like without you...",
she tells him. The three of them return to Avonlea.
(27). Having arrived back on the island. Every
one is delighted that Gus is back, all accept Stuart McCrae . After Felicity
gives Stuart back his ring; Gus goes to the hospital to have surgery
on his eyes. While in the recovery room, Felicity pours out her heart to
an unconscious Gus; telling him of her love and the fact that "...when
this is all over, whether you can see or not, I will marry you, as I should
have, when you first proposed ..." Then Gus replies softly,
"...if that's a proposal...I accept..." ( This is my favorite scene
in the show. Gus had laid his heart at her feet for years, proposed
so many times and been put off. It was only right that she have to make
this proposal...!!!) Gus asks Felix to be his best man , with the
comment "...Never had a brother before..." The wedding takes place
and Gus makes a speech. "...I'm so happy to be a part of the King family.
Finest people I know. Took me in like a son ; helped me like one of their
own...I'll be forever grateful...", he then leans over and kisses Felicity
on the hand.