The Summit of My Desires

***The Summit of My Desires*** is the sixth episode of the third season of *Anne.* It premiered on Netflix on January 3, 2020.

## Synopsis

The Cuthberts gain a new perspective on Prince Edward Island, Anne gets an heartbreak and Josie gets assaulted.

## Plot

Anne and Marilla bake for the fair competition. Anne is sick but says that even pneumonia won't stop her from baking her "Mary cake", a Mary's receipe. While Marilla worries about missing her plum puffs, Anne reassures her by telling her that she wins the competition every year because of them. Matthew digs up a huge radish and screams, causing Marilla and Anne to run to see what's going on. But Anne, in her haste, knocks over the pot of vanilla she needs to make the cake. So she goes to get another one, and finds a pot untitled “best vanilla”.

Gilbert hesitates about the outfit he is going to wear for his meeting with Winnifred and her parents. While he thinks it's just a courtesy meeting with no wedding intention, Bash tells him that when a girl introduces you to her parents, it's because she wants to get married. Gilbert says he hasn't had any cufflinks since Elisah stole them from him.

Josie's mother forces her to wear a nice outfit to get noticed by potential suitors at the fair.

Anne takes her cake out of the oven and Marilla tells her it looks very good. Anne gets emotional because she says she has never done anything perfect and she wishes Mary were there to see it. Marilla assures him that she would be very proud. Gilbert arrives to ask Matthew for cufflinks, and surprises Anne crying, she runs away.

Anne is with Diana, who is choosing the dress she will wear at the fair. Anne recounts the humiliating experience she has just had and talks about Gilbert, and more particularly their dance. Diana asks Anne if she has feelings for Gilbert. Minnie May makes fun of her sister and finds the book Jerry lent her, which freaks Diana out.

As he loads Delphine's belongings into the cart, Gilbert questions his legitimacy as the son-in-law of Winnifred's parents, as he's orphan and has no great career prospects.

The Shirley-Cuthberts have set up their elements for the competition. Anne walks through the fair in wonder. She decides to consult a fortune teller about her heart affairs, who tells her that the love of her life is a man who knows how to dance, which Anne associates as being a sign that Gilbert is her true love. Meanwhile, the Barrys assure Bash of their support, Mrs. Lynde defends Miss Stacy, and Josie and Billie's fathers consider their marriage. Anne sees Gilbert and Winnifred on a date. Jerry gives Diana a prize he won, and as he leans in to kiss her hand, Diana kisses him. Gilbert talks about his future plans to Winnifred's father who offers to recommend him to his colleagues. Gilbert introduces Bash and Delphine to Winnifred's parents. Anne goes to confront the fortune teller and asks for a refund because, since she saw the “man of her life” on a date with another girl, the predictions were wrong.The woman replies that this boy is not the man of her life.

It’s Anne’s cake’s turn to be tasted for the competition. But to her great surprise, the judges found it disgusting and tasting like ointment. The bottle of vanilla she used was actually filled with ointment that Marilla had put on. She runs away in shame and when Gilbert catches up with her to confort her, she instinctively wishes him well with Winnifred. He replies that he only wanted to tell her that Mary would have found the situation very amusing.

Matthew realizes that his radish was not classified in the" largest vegetable" category but in the "most unusual vegetable" category, which he won. Marilla also won the prize for her plum puffs. While Anne is lamenting about herself, Marilla suggests that she go for a hot air balloon ride, although she is terrified. The Shirley-Cuthberts do so and end up amazed by the view and the act of flying.

The fair ball is in full swing, inside a barn. The students start dancing and Moody is one of the musicians. Gilbert finds himself in a three-way round with Winnifred and Anne, which makes Anne uncomfortable. At the end of the dance, Billy whispers something in Josie's ear, who accepts and makes an excuse to meet him outside. He tells her that he will marry her even if she has little money, and they kiss. Josie wants to go back inside, but he stops her. She refuses to go any further with him, but he ignores her and begins to sexually assault her. She struggles and manages to free herself, then rushes back inside. She lies to the girls about what she was doing inside, but Billy spreads rumors about what they did to the boys, which spread among all the young people, then to the adults. Anne hears this and goes to warn Josie. Then, when she realizes what really happened seeing Josie's state, she goes to confront Billy, but he defends himself by saying loud that if Josie is unwell, it's because that she is ashamed of having a small virtue.

Later, while editing the school newspaper, Anne takes offense that Josie's reputation is ruined while she is the victim, while Billy's is not. His comrades decide to write articles on mundane events at the fair. But Anne goes to school at night to print something else...

## Cast

### Main Cast

* Amybeth McNulty as Anne Shirley Cuthbert
* Geraldine James as Marilla Cuthbert
* R.H. Thomson as Matthew Cuthbert
* Dalila Bela as Diana Barry
* Corrine Koslo as Rachel Lynde
* Aymeric Jett Montaz as Jerry Baynard
* Dalmar Abuzeid as Sebastian Lacroix

## Trigger and content warnings

* Bullying
* Mention of adoption
* Mention of arranged marriage
* Misogyny
* Physical abuse
* Sexual assault
* Victim blaming