Filles de Caleb Premiere Partie

The following episode guides are translations of the text on the back of the Les Filles de Caleb video cassettes.

	Episode 1 At the beginning of the 20th century, life is following its normal course at the home of the Bordeleaus, a large family living in the country... until the day that Emily, the eldest daughter, revolts against the fate reserved for Bordeleau women, constantly obliged to look after the men of the house. Losing his patience Caleb slaps her. That night Caleb discusses Emily with his wife Celine. Having just put down his favourite horse, Caleb admits that the slap was a release of his anger. As far as their daughter’s future is concerned, the two parents disagree. Caleb wants her to leave school and help her mother, but Celine opposes this as Emily loves to study. Four years elapse. Emily, now aged 17, teaches in a little village. Confronted by pupils only a little younger than herself, she has to impose her authority... Episode 2 To win the respect of the villagers, Emily visits the parish priest of Saint-Tite on the advice of Dosithée Pronovost, one of the governors of the school where she teaches. After the meeting she organises a big party to be held at the school just before Christmas. After a moment of doubt about the success of the venture Emily rolls up her sleeves. The event is a success - everyone attends the festivities except Emily’s father, who is coming to take his daughter back to spend Christmas with her family. Eventually Dosithée Pronovost drives her home. On the way they meet Emily’s father who has had problems with his carriage.
	Episode 3 At the school Emily has to face all sorts of situations. Lazarus Pronovost, one of Dosithée Pronovost’s sons, creates a disturbance when he has an epileptic fit in class. Fortunately Emily quickly takes things in hand. A new friendship develops between the young teacher and Charlotte, a pupil with severe health problems. In the playground Mary creates tension with stories of the devil. Annoyed, Emily lectures her, which upsets the parents who come to the school. The father, M. Lebrun sees red. He insults Emily and threatens her. A violent row ensues.... Emily visits the Pronovosts to bring Lazarus his homework. A fire is smouldering between Ovid and Ovila, both contestants for Emily. A quarrel soon blows up between the two rival brothers. Episode 4 Inspector Henry Douville makes his annual visit to Emily’s school. His manner and slight squint amuse the children. Full of flattery for Emily, he treats Ovila like a child, which the latter takes badly, especially in Emily’s presence. After the pupils have left, the inspector congratulates Emily on her excellent work, and expresses a personal interest. During the summer holidays Ovid and Ovila continue to compete for Emily’s attentions. On her advice Ovila returns to school in September. At Emily’s request the governors agree to build a toilet adjoining the school, a great benefit to young Charlotte who suffers from serious kidney problems.
	Episode 5 In the Pronovost home a drama unfolds. Ovid has got tuberculosis, and must renounce Emily. While his mother, Felicity, takes care of him, his father is dismayed by the condition of his son, inasmuch as he can no longer count on him to take care of the land. He wants Ovila to take his place, but the latter doesn’t want to work on the farm. Ovila expresses his feelings to Emily as he prepares to leave to work in a logging camp. At the end of the same day Emily confides in her friend Bertha and reveals the confusion of her feelings. Eventually convinced of her love for Ovila, Emily introduces him to her parents before he departs. Episode 6 Caleb Bordeleau would like to see the Pronovost stallion sire the mare he has bought from Elzéar Veillette. A little later the two animals mate in the enclosure behind the school, watched by Caleb, Emily, Ovila and their friend Bertha. After the coupling Emily, Ovila and Bertha go for a walk in the woods. Pretending to sprain her ankle, Bertha allows the young lovers to be alone. On their return Emily exchanges confidences with Bertha. Bertha announces her intention to enter the Carmelite order. At the annual mart, Caleb and Elzéar argue once more about horses. Ovila leaves for Shawinigan and Bertha takes the train to the join the nuns. Emily feels all alone at the end of the summer. Episode 7 Ovila is back home. It’s a time for joining in with the family. Felicity, his mother, is about to go into labour. Dosithée, his father, is busy enlarging the house to accommodate the growing family. But things don’t happen as expected. The labour is accompanied by great pain, and the baby is stillborn. Unable to bear to see his mother suffer, Ovila seeks refuge with Emily who doesn’t sympathise as much as he would like. Finding her cold and heartless he leaves for the camp without saying goodbye.
	Episode 8 Ovila hasn’t returned for Christmas to the great displeasure of his father who can’t count on Ovid and Lazarus, both invalids, to help to work on the land. Emily writes to Bertha expressing her concerns about Ovila’s silence. Inspector Henry Douville is on his next visit to Emily’s school. He declares his passion for the young woman and showers presents on her parents at New Year. Emily learns that Ovila is not going to return next summer. Her parents are concerned: what happened between Emily and Ovila? Emily finally gets news of Ovila through an acquaintance of her parents who has come to visit. Hope is reborn in Emily’s heart. Episode 9 Dosithée Pronovost confides his feelings to Emily’s father. A new drama occurs : the convent is burned down and Emily takes in Antoinette and Alma. An argument between Emily and Antoinette reveals Antoinette’s internal conflict, as her limitless admiration for Emily turns little by little into a jealous tantrum.Emily writes a letter to her friend Bertha. On Christmas Eve there is an engagement party for Emily and Henry. Caleb tries again to discover Emily’s true feelings for the inspector, and what happened with Ovila. Tearfully, Emily rants and cries during the midnight supper. The next day, Christmas day, the engaged couple argues. Henry gives in to reason; Emily’s heart will never be his. That evening he tells her that he is breaking off the engagement which is a great relief to her. Episode 10 Ovila eventually comes home. While the Pronovosts are immersed in their celebrations Emily is emotional and anxious. After the reunion with his family Ovila hurries off to see the teacher to propose marriage. Emily spends the summer with her parents considering Ovila’s proposal. It’s her father’s wise words that help her to make up her mind. Caleb gives Emily the gift of a carriage. Returning to Saint-Tite she gives Ovila her answer. Emily’s parents are overjoyed - this time it will be all right. Another Christmas eve, another engagement party, but this time things are very different. The two families meet to celebrate the happy event. Emily is filled with happiness.