Anne, an orphan reluctantly adopted by Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, befriends Diana as they walk to school together.

(Warning: Using this scene without permission is illegal, as is reproducing it on a website or in print in any way.)

ANNE: I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!

DIANA: It's just school.

ANNE: My other fosters were homeschoolers, which meant I did the schooling. I've never been to a real school and I imagine it's all kinds of fun.

DIANA: It's math and spelling and regular boring school stuff. But this year's teacher is nice.

ANNE: I'd love to be a teacher, even if one person can never teach everything there is to know.

DIANA: You can get a head start at Queens School. If you get good grades and pass the test, you go there for senior year.

ANNE: If I'm still here.

DIANA: What do you mean?

ANNE: Foster situations are temporary. They worry about kids getting attached.

DIANA: So how long are you staying?

ANNE: I don't know.

DIANA: You've been here for two months already. Maybe they'll adopt you.

ANNE: People don't adopt big kids, just babies.

DIANA: Not always. My sister Minnie May is my cousin. My parents adopted her when my aunt and uncle died.

ANNE: I'm older than Minnie May and I'm not family.

        (Diana shrugs.)

If I got high enough grades for Queens School, Matthew and Marilla would be so proud, they'd have to keep me.

DIANA: We need to turn here.

(The final Ensemble member presents Anne with a wreath "made" from the flowers she picked. Anne puts it on her head.)

ANNE: I hate to leave the flower path. I'm going to name it Violet Vale.

DIANA: It's called—

ANNE: It doesn't matter. Violet Vale is what it is to me. I love making up names. Lake of Shining Waters. Whispering Woods.

DIANA: Ooh, what's that?

ANNE: The haunted trees between our houses.

DIANA: Those trees are haunted?

ANNE: You ever been in there?

DIANA: No.

ANNE: Good thing. Don't you hear the whispers when you pass? That's the ghosts and creatures making grisly plans for evil trespassers.

DIANA: I'll listen closer.

ANNE: Not too close! When we visit each other, promise you'll take the long way around. Always.

DIANA: I promise.

ANNE: We'll call this one Willowmere, because that sounds like something out of an old novel.

DIANA: Willowmere.

ANNE: Do you want to do one?

(Diana is elated.)

They can be our secret names because best friends have secret names.

DIANA: The path between our houses has birch trees on it. How about...um...Birch Path?

ANNE: Birch Path... Well, yes. That's a great name.

DIANA: Really?

ANNE: Oh yes! Wonderfully serviceable.

DIANA: Yay! Did your parents really die, Anne?

ANNE: Yes, and it was perfectly tragical. Are we almost there?

DIANA: Almost.

ANNE: Then I have to know: Will you swear to be my friend forever and ever?

DIANA: I'm not allowed to swear! My mother would send me to my room for a year!

ANNE: Not that kind of swear. The kind that means a solemn promise.

DIANA: Well, I feel like I already know you better than any of the girls at school, even the ones who aren't mean like Josie Pye.

ANNE: Kindred spirits! The chocolate Matthew bought me for my first day of school will be our bond. Even when we're old, we'll remember the day we swore on chocolate because promising on chocolate is forever.

(Anne removes chocolates from her bag.)

Do you swear to be my best friend and most kindred spirit forever and ever?

DIANA: I do, Anne!

ANNE: Now you.

DIANA: Do you swear to be my best friend and most kindred spirit forever and ever?

ANNE: I swear!

(Anne and Diana eat the chocolate; the Ensemble looks on with envy.)

DIANA: Mmmm. Can I tell you a best friend secret?

ANNE: That is the most solemn thing a best friend can do.

DIANA: Gilbert Blythe is the cutest boy at school!