1 "Ye who believe in affection that hopes, and endures, and is patient, Ye who believe in the beauty and strength of woman’s devotion, List to the mournful tradition, still sung by the pines of the forest; List to a Tale of Love in Acadie, home of the happy." 2 "This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks ..." 3 Loud from its rocky caverns, the deep-voiced neighboring ocean answered the wail of the forest. 4 In the land of Acadie, on the shores of the Basin of Minas, nestled the little village of Grand-Pré 5 At peace with God and man dwelt these simple Acadians, with neither locks to their doors nor bars to their windows. 6 Father Felician ... The good priest of the parish. 7 Basil ... the blacksmith. "A mighty man in the village and honored of all men." 8 Michael ... the fiddler. "His jolly face glowed like a living coal when the ashes are blown from the embers." 9 Rene Leblanc ... the notary. "Bent like a laboring oar that toils in the surf of the ocean." 10 On a hillside overlooking the sea, lived Benedict Bellefontaine, the wealth- iest farmer of Grand-Pré. 11 Benedict Bellefontaine ... "Hearty and hale was he, an oak covered with snowflakes." 12 Evangeline ... "Black were her eyes as the berry that grows on the thorn by the wayside, Black, yet how softly they gleamed beneath the brown shade of her tresses." 13 Baptiste ... son of the notary. "He knew not which beat the louder, his heart or the knocker of iron." 14 "I have always loved you, Evangeline .... ever since we were children." 15 "There is room in my heart for only one love, Baptiste ...." 16 "....and that love is for another." 17 "I wish you happiness, Evangeline .... always." 18 Gabriel ... son of the blacksmith. "A valiant youth with a face like the face of the morning." 19 "Bless me, Father .... quick!" 20 "Do you love me very much, Gabriel?" 21 "Would you love me if I looked like this?" 22 "Silently one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven, Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels." 23 "Why are you sad, my child? You should be happy, for tonight Rene Leblanc is coming with your marriage contract." 24 "You will not love me less, father, because I shall soon leave you for Gabriel?" 25 "Every day I shall see you, and I shall share in your happiness." 26 "Long life and happiness to Gabriel and Evangeline!" 27 "Over running water, my life I pledge to thee ...." 28 "My love shall never forsake thee ... as long as water runs." 29 "... as long as water runs." 30 "Please sing the song I love." 31 "This proclamation is a violation of our rights ... our liberty!" 32 "Let us go to Halifax and petition the Governor General!" 33 "It may mean war, Gabriel ....our separation....your death!" 34 At Halifax... Headquarters of the British Governor General. 35 "Bring in the petitioners." 36 "We have come to petition your Excellency on behalf of the Acadians." 37 "We are peaceable people, bound to England by oaths of allegiance and to France by sacred ties of blood." 38 "In the impending war between England and France for possession of the American colonies, we refuse to take up arms!" 39 "You are British subjects. You will sign new oaths pledging yourselves to fight against France!" 40 "Always we have reserved the right not to fight against our own flesh and blood!" 41 "And we will not fight against them now!" 42 "Go back and tell your people I will take their petition under advisement." 43 "I warn your Excellency that we Acadians will never fight against France!" 44 "Colonel Winslow, I am trusting you with the command of this secret expedition." 45 "Are you not taking a drastic step, your Excellency, without the knowledge or consent of the Crown?" 46 "It is my policy to act first and to advise my government afterward!" 47 "Would not consideration for the rights of the Acadians be more humane and tactful?" 48 "I am a soldier....not a diplomat. You will carry out my orders!" 49 Under the open sky was spread the betrothal feast of Evangeline and Gabriel. 50 "Long life and happiness to Gabriel and Evangeline!" 51 "Let us sing the song of our homeland!" 52 "Men of Grand-Pré, you are commanded to assemble in the village church!" 53 "The Governor General's orders must be obeyed!" 54 "Let us obey. We have nothing to fear in the house of God." 55 "You are convened this day to hear the Governor General's answer to your petition." 56 "For your refusal to take up arms against France, all your lands and cattle are forfeited to the Crown!" 57 "Your homes shall be burned, and you and your families shall be deported to other lands!" 58 "I now declare you prisoners in the name of the Crown!" 59 "Defiance to the Governor General!" 60 "We will fight for our rights and for our liberty!" 61 "Vive la liberté!" 62 "Vive la liberté!" 63 "What madness has seized you that you would profane this house of God with violence?" 64 "Forty years I have labored among you. Have you so soon forgotten my lessons of brotherly love and forgiveness?" 65 "In this hour when the wicked assail us, let us repeat the Master's prayer." 66 "O, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" 67 "O, Father, forgive them!" 68 "Your father is a prisoner in the church. I am one of twenty allowed to visit our loved ones." 69 "Our lands - our cattle - our homes - everything has been taken from us!" 70 "We are to be driven into exile! Scattered from Boston to New Orleans!" 71 "No matter what happens, dear, we have each other and nothing shall ever separate us!" 72 "Somewhere in a new land, we shall build our home of love and happiness." 73 "Always remember, dear, my love shall never forsake thee....as long as water runs!" 74 Down to the sea, in the fog of early dawn, there poured a human herd. 75 "The soldiers have brought many prisoners, father, but Gabriel is not among them." 76 In the confusion of embarking, wives were torn apart from their husbands, mothers and fathers separated from their children. 77 "My baby! Don't take me away without my baby!" 78 "We shall never see our homes again, my child ....nor our beautiful land of Acadie." 79 "O, Father in Heaven, guide my people in their hour of sorrow." 80 "I will get father. We must sail on the same boat!" 81 "Gabriel! Gabriel!" 82 "Evangeline!" 83 "Gabriel! Gabriel!" 84 When news of the expulsion of the Acadians reached England, public opinion was inflamed, and the voice of William Pitt thundered in the House of Commons. 85 "The forcible deportation of these simple people was a violation of human rights and a betrayal of liberty!" 86 Far to the South, at many ports along the Atlantic Coast, the exiled Acadians were landed ... [dissolve to:] 87 From city to city Evangeline wandered, ever searching for Gabriel...down the Ohio... down the mighty Mississippi... 88 ... Into the bayous of Louisiana. 89 Celebrating five years of prosperity and happiness in a new land. 90 "It is the song of our homeland! Some of our people are near!" 91 "Perhaps I shall find Gabriel!" 92 "Gabriel! Where is he?" 93 "Gabriel...he...is here?" 94 "We have not seen him for three years." 95 "Someone saw him two years ago in St. Louis." 96 "I followed him there, but he was gone!" 97 "A year ago he was seen in New Orleans." 98 "I was there, but he was gone!" 99 For many days Evangeline lingered at the house of Baptiste, her troubled heart lightened by the warmth of his welcome. 100 "It is wonderful here, Baptiste....so restful and peaceful." 101 "Why not remain with us....always?" 102 "I have prospered, Evangeline. Let me try to make you happy." 103 "I have never loved any one but you, and I have never ceased to hope." 104 "I thank you, Baptiste, but I must go on searching for Gabriel until I find him." 105 Urged by restless longing, Gabriel had wandered through the empty years in search of Evangeline. 106 "I can sing no longer, Father. My hope of finding Gabriel here was only a foolish dream." 107 Basil ... the herdsman. No longer the blacksmith, but the owner of vast herds and numberless acres. 108 "Gabriel .... he is here?" 109 "Only yesterday he left in search of you." 110 "Be of good cheer, for tomorrow we will follow and overtake him." 111 "Where is Gabriel's room?" 112 "Soon we shall return with Gabriel, and you will marry us." 113 Swiftly they followed in pursuit of Gabriel ... but after many days found they no trace of his course. [dissolve to:] 114 Hope guided her on...into the Indian camps of the West... into the logging camps of the North...down the turbulent waters of the Ozarks. 115 "BASIL! BASIL! BASIL!" 116 "My soul is sad and afflicted, Father...help me to find peace." 117 The long, sad years glided on, and in many places was seen Evangeline, the Wanderer ... Like a phantom she came, and passed ... unremembered. [dissolve to:] 118 Then, in the city of Philadelphia, a pestilence fell upon the people; and the poor and the friendless crept away to die. 119 "It's the little sister of mercy. She's here .... there .... everywhere .... tending the poor and the sick and the dying." 120 "Many times I have seen her pale face in the cold, gray dawn." 121 "Evangeline!" 122 "Who calls Evangeline?" 123 "Gabriel! Oh, my beloved!" 124 "God has been kind to let me find you at last." 125 "Please sing the song I used to sing to you." The EndHome