Candy Candy

At Pony's Home, a church-run orphanage, young Tom notices strange activity outside, leading Miss Pony and Sister Mary to discover two abandoned infants, Annie and Candy White. As the girls grow up together, they form a close bond and begin to resist adoption by interfering with potential parents' visits.

Annie becomes increasingly preoccupied with the idea of having parents, prompting Candy to take her on an impromptu picnic without informing the Pony House of their plans. Candy leaves a note stating they will return before nightfall, but during their outing, they are briefly carried away by a river's current before being safely returned to the Brighton house.

The Brightons attempt to adopt Candy by staging a barbecue at the orphanage, but Candy refuses to leave Annie. To keep Annie, Candy manipulates the situation, causing the Brightons to reconsider and ultimately offer adoption to Annie instead.

Candy becomes obsessed with the mailman, Mr. Mathieu, as she eagerly awaits letters from her friend Annie. When Annie, pressured by her adoptive parents, sends a final letter, Candy is heartbroken and seeks comfort on a hill, where she meets a young man in Scottish attire who becomes her emotional support and is nicknamed "the prince of the hill.

Candy travels to Lakeweod with her raccoon, Klint, and accepts a ride from Tom and his father, Mr. Steave, who gives her advice about staying strong. Upon arrival, she faces harassment and mean-spirited behavior from the Leagan siblings, Neil and Eliza.

Candy gains the support of the servants, while Daniel and Elisa torment her with cruel pranks. After hiding Klint in the stable, she is blackmailed by the siblings, prompting her to flee and encounter a boy who resembles her prince, giving her hope to remain with the Legrands.

Candy once again provokes the Legrands, leading to her punishment, and in response, she attempts to transform herself into a proper lady. However, the Legrands intend to reduce her to servitude, prompting her to flee and encounter the chivalrous Archibald.

Candy is taken to the city by Elisa, who leaves her there to act as a messenger, but Candy meets Alistair, who helps her return home after a series of events. Later, Candy is invited to a party celebrating Aunt Elroy's arrival—where she hopes to meet her prince—primarily because of the new friends she has made.

Elisa mocks Candy's outfit at a party, but her friends wear casual clothes in solidarity. During Aunt Elroy's speech, Archibald causes Candy to laugh, bringing embarrassment. With help from Archibald and Alistair, Candy creates a new dress and dances with Anthony, much to Elisa's dismay.

Candy is moved to the barn by the Legrands due to her unsatisfactory behavior, but she is visited by Sister Maria and John, forcing her to maintain a facade despite Elisa's objections. The visitors uncover the reality of her situation, and Sister Maria offers advice. To make amends, Anthony promises Candy a special rose for her birthday.

The Brightons visit the Legrands, and Annie must conceal her knowledge of Candy's true identity. During a horseback ride, Daniel and Elisa trick the horse into entangling itself, prompting Candy to rescue Annie, who responds with a gesture of friendship by giving her a ribbon.

Candy finds roses in the barn and becomes entangled in a misunderstanding involving Daniel, who tries to provoke Anthony by making her appear dishonest. After being falsely accused of stealing a ribbon, Candy runs to the river and is rescued by a vagrant named Albert before being retrieved by her friends, who have uncovered the truth. Anthony later gifts her a new type of rose named "tender Candy.

Neil tries to poison the horses, but is interrupted by a mysterious figure who attacks him before fleeing. When Candy arrives, Neil has a black eye, which Eliza immediately blames on her. Pressured by family dynamics, Neil sides with Eliza and accuses Candy, though she suspects Albert is the real culprit.

Mr. Leagan returns after a long absence and arranges for Candy to spend a holiday at Pony's Home. There, Candy discovers that the community's cherished Father Tree has been sold to Mr. Flannigan, who plans to cut it down for its supposed business insights. Candy organizes the orphans and animals to resist the tree's removal.

Candy discovers that Dorothy is to be sent to Mexico to assist at the Ardley property, but Mr. Leagan is unavailable to stop it. After Anthony helps Candy round up horses that were intentionally frightened away, the Leagan children use the incident to falsely accuse Candy of theft, leading Mrs. Leagan to decide that Candy should go to Mexico instead of Dorothy.

Candy plans to say goodbye to Anthony before leaving for Mexico but overhears him confronting his great-aunt after she tells her cousins not to associate with her, calling her a thief. Reassured that his family still supports her, Candy decides to go to Mexico and promises to write to Anthony every day.

Candy learns that her pilot, Garcia, has a short temper and encounters a poor family traveling to Mexico in a cart. She briefly leaves to get milk for a baby and later takes the cart to have Garcia treated in town, selling her rosebush to pay the doctor before the family departs.

Candy rescues Garcia from a snake bite and gifts him her medallion, but he betrays her by handing her over to bandits in order to save himself. After feeling remorse, Garcia releases her, only for Candy to be captured by a motorist.

Candy believes she is being taken to Europe and escapes during the journey. She arrives at the Rose Gate to find that George has kidnapped her on behalf of Great Uncle William, who plans to adopt her. The Legrands and Aunt Elroy are unable to intervene, as Uncle William holds ultimate authority over the Ardley family.

Candy resides at the Ardley estate with the Cornwell brothers, Anthony, and a collection of dresses from her great-aunt Elroy. Neil and Eliza continue spreading false accusations, causing tension with the family who defend Candy's rightful place. When Neil is forced to beg for forgiveness, Candy intervenes, acknowledging that their lies led to her adoption by Grandfather William.

Elisa takes Anthony into the woods to retaliate against Candy, leading to an accident involving Tom, who is carrying milk. Anthony returns home with an injured Elisa and confronts Tom, who insults him as a coward, resulting in Anthony being punished and locked in a secluded castle to prevent Candy from influencing him.

Anthony and Candy continue to communicate despite a ban on their contact, using a carrier pigeon and later a balloon created by Alistair to send messages. Aunt Elroy initially opposes Anthony's desire to join a rodeo but is eventually convinced otherwise. Anthony goes on to win the event.

Anthony and Candy are surprised to learn the rodeo prize is a calf, which they cannot keep, so they attempt to sell it to Tom's father. When that fails, they decide to spend the money on simple pleasures and consult a fortune teller, who warns Anthony of an ominous future.

Despite growing signs of misfortune, Anthony remains cheerful. A fox hunt is arranged to mark Candy's formal entry into the Ardley family. As Anthony is about to disclose the identity of Candy's romantic interest, he falls from his horse after it triggers a trap, resulting in a fatal injury.

The family grieves the death of Anthony, with Candy excluded from the burial at the church. Tensions rise as Aunt Elroy blames Candy for the tragedy, and Elisa confronts her about Anthony's death. Ultimately, Candy chooses to return to Pony's home.

Candy lingers at Pony's house feeling down, prompting Jimmy, a new member, to question her leadership and treat her poorly. He challenges her to a race and climb, unaware of her strengths in those areas. Candy easily wins, gaining Jimmy's respect.

On Christmas Eve, Miss Pony and Sister Maria face the threat of losing their home as their landlord, Mr. Cartwright, plans to expand his ranch. Candy and Jimmy attempt to convince him otherwise, but failing at first, they enlist the help of the orphans, who dress as angels to deliver a heartfelt plea to the ranch men. Their efforts ultimately save the orphanage.

Mr. Cartwright becomes a close friend to the household and offers his cart to help everyone visit Tom. He also proposes to Candy the idea of adopting him. Meanwhile, Candy takes a walk with Archibald and Alistair, who reveal their plans to leave for England soon.

Candy turns down Mr. Cartwright's job offer, choosing instead to pursue teaching, but George reappears in her life. After running away in the rain with Jimmy, who is seriously ill, Candy realizes she is not yet ready for the responsibilities of teaching. She cares for Jimmy until he recovers and then departs with George.

Candy demonstrates her compassion aboard a ship to England by caring for a seagull and advocating for the captain's decision to rescue shipwrecked individuals, despite resistance from powerful passengers. Her persistence and kindness eventually sway the passengers, leading to a celebration in honor of the captain's courageous choice. While on deck, Candy encounters a young man who resembles Anthony.

A young man experiences an emotional shift when Candy teases him, leading to a tense moment involving Archibald and Alistair, who plan to take him to the zoo instead of college. After he flees and narrowly avoids a deadly encounter with a hunter, Candy arrives at a hotel expecting to meet her uncle but instead encounters Terrence, a member of a large family.

Candy enrolls Klint at the strict St. Paul's College, but her involvement leads to disciplinary trouble. There, she meets Patricia, while Elisa resumes bullying her, manipulating Patricia into compliance. Meanwhile, Terrence causes a disruption during mass, and Candy finds a hill that evokes memories of her own.

Candy is isolated by Elisa, but Patricia's grandmother intervenes, encouraging Patricia to connect with her while also seeking to relive her own middle school experiences in an unconventional manner.

Elisa faces the consequences of mocking Candy's letter when Daniel and his friends are sent to retaliate, but Terrence steps in to stop them. Meanwhile, Alistair and Archibald inform Candy about a conflict between Archibald and Terrence, and the news that Annie is coming to the school.

Candy is left behind when the Ardleys are allowed to visit Aunt Elroy on Sunday, so she goes to the hill with Terrence. Mr. Brighton takes her to the horse races and informs her that Annie is coming.

A mysterious event disrupts the town, prompting the main characters to investigate and uncover secrets that challenge their understanding of reality. As tensions rise, alliances are tested and unexpected truths come to light.

A mysterious event disrupts the town's usual routine, prompting the main characters to investigate and uncover long-buried secrets that challenge their understanding of the past.

Candy discovers her delivery mission in Florida is more complicated than expected when Dr. Kreis and his daughter Karen attempt to keep her there. Karen, resentful of Susanna's casting as Juliet, manipulates Candy's insecurities, suggesting she has already lost to her rival. After an accident during rehearsals leaves Susanna with a life-altering injury, Dr. Kreis finally allows Candy to return home, as Karen has departed for New York to take Susanna's place.

Terry drops Candy off at her hotel before his final rehearsal, hoping to perform well in his role as Romeo for her benefit. After secretly saying goodnight from beneath her window, he returns home to find a reprimanding note from Susanna's mother for not visiting Susanna, who has begun to smile again due to his presence. Meanwhile, Candy tries to attend Terry's performance with flowers, but is turned away at the theater by Neil, who tears her ticket.

Susanna attempts to commit suicide on the roof, but Candy arrives in time to save her after reading Susanna's suicide note. Terry returns and helps Susanna back to bed, while Candy decides to leave for Chicago that night. Despite Terry's emotional plea for her to stay, Candy leaves, promising to try to be happy.

Candy struggles emotionally after boarding the train, overwhelmed by the loss of her hopes for Terry, and opens the train door in a snowstorm, where she falls ill and passes out. She awakens recovered at the Ardley mansion, but soon learns that Alistear has enlisted in the war, leaving her confused and heartbroken. Great-aunt Elroy adds to Candy's distress by blaming her for the family's recent tragedies.