Anne Shirley, an eleven-year-old orphan girl with a lively imagination, is mistakenly placed with the siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert on Prince Edward Island, who actually expected a boy to help on their farm "Green Gables." While the shy Matthew is quickly drawn to Anne's open-hearted, poetic nature and her enthusiasm for the countryside (like the "White Way of Delight" or the "Lake of Shining Waters"), the pragmatic Marilla is skeptical. Anne desperately hopes to finally find a home, but Marilla initially plans to send her back to the orphanage or hand her over to the strict Mrs. Blewett. Through Anne's emotional openness – her fears, her dreams, and her childlike gratitude – Marilla begins to have doubts. Ultimately, the Cuthberts decide to spare Anne from Mrs. Blewett and take her in temporarily, with Matthew seeing her presence as an enrichment. Anne prays fervently to be allowed to stay, while Marilla slowly opens up to her unconventional yet fascinating personality.