Cwmderi Diary 2015: 17 November 2015

Preparing for the funeral

Hywel and Julie prepare the room at Llwyncelyn, while Anita helps with the flowers; there is a wreath from Darren and Wil, and flowers from Rhys.

The coffin is brought in

Julie answers the door to the undertakers, who carry in the tiny white coffin,

Sheryl grasps Julie's hand

as Sheryl tightly grasps her mother’s hand.

Dol is doing another bit of pilfering

At Maes-y-Deri, Mark comes in just as Dol is rifling through Vicky’s handbag; he says, disgusted, “Stealing from your grand-daughter!”

"Only borrowing to tide me over"

but she regards it as borrowing to tide her over. He demands the money back, and comments, “You took the money from the scratchcard pot! It’s about time you went back to Pontypridd!”

"I won't – if you go back to Ponty!"

He replaces the cash in Vicky’s purse.

She protests that he cannot make her leave, as it is none of his business, but he is having none of that; “Would you prefer me to tell Debbie you’ve been stealing? I won’t – if you go back to Ponty.”

"Dol is leaving us!"

Vicky comes downstairs, looking for baby wipes, and Mark announces that Dol is leaving.
“I’ve got things to do, and Taylor next door has had the goldfish for weeks.”

Dol is shocked to hear she is going – today!

Mark adds that she is going today.

Gethin tells Siôn of Ffion's improvement

Gethin meets Siôn, who is on his way to officiate at Llwyncelyn, and tells him, “I think the time apart has done Ffion and me a world of good. She’s like a new person – it’s early days, but I think she’s turned the corner.” He also reports that Daniel is growing up so quickly, and regrets that he missed so much of his son’s childhood.

Gaynor goes with him to Llwyncelyn

Gaynor arrives and asks to walk to Llwyncelyn with Siôn; he remarks that he is not looking forward to this encounter.

Gethin gets a "welcome back" breakfast

Gethin is greeted by Ffion with freshly-squeezed orange juice and a cooked breakfast.

"How do you want your eggs?"

“This is our chance to start again – how do you want your eggs?” she asks.

"It's impossible to fathom your suffering"

Siôn addresses the five mourners; “It’s impossible to fathom the suffering you’ve experienced, losing Meilyr. No words can make sense of it. But in the midst of all this sadness, I hope you, as a family, feel the power of support and love from all the members of this community. Let us pray.”

The assembled mourners

Sheryl clings to her mother’s arm, as he continues, “O Lord, be there for Meilyr’s family, during such a dark and helpless time in their lives.

"Be there for Sheryl"

Be there for Sheryl,

"Be there for Hywel"

be there for Hywel – give them strength in their darkest hour, and help them to support each other.”

"We have to give you a send-off"

Vicky says they should have a family meal to give Mam-gu a good send-off, and Debbie maintains there is not enough room in the flat. “I’ve got to go the the flat to pack,” complains Dol.

Mark thinks packing is a good idea

Mark replies, “Yes, that’s a good idea!”

"She'll never change!"

When she has gone, Debbie regrets that her mother will never change, but every time it hurts.

"Mami loves you, Meilyr"

Sheryl cannot accompany them to the cemetery, but stands by the coffin, says, “Mami loves you, Meilyr, and she’ll love you for ever!”

She places a single rose on the coffin

then places a single rose on it. The undertakers gently lift the coffin

Hywel faces carrying Meilyr on his last journey

and hand it to Hywel; as he leaves the house, Sheryl dissolves into floods of tears. “I want to go to the chapel and see the grave,” she wails,

"I should be there – I'm his mother!"

“I should be there – I’m his mother,” but Julie tells her she is not strong enough.

"Do you want fruit – or more coffee?"

Ffion offers Gethin raspberries or strawberries, but he protests that he is full and urges her to sit down and talk; “You’ve gone to too much trouble,” he says.

"You've spoiled it!"

“I wanted this to be perfect, but you’ve spoiled it!” she replies, grabbing her coat and going out.

Ffion stops when she sees . . .

As she rounds the corner into the High Street,

. . . the funeral cortege approaching

she sees the cortege slowly approaching from the direction of the Deri.

The villagers stand silently . . .

Groups of people are standing silently

. . . as the mourners pass Ffion . . .

as Hywel carries the coffin

. . . on their way to Bethania

towards Bethania.

"It's awful sad that I have to leave"

In the café flat, Dol remarks, “It’s awful sad about that little boy – and it’s awful sad that I have to leave, but I’ll be visiting regularly to see little Nicky.”

"The bailiffs were here last week!"

“Don’t be too sure about that!” snaps Debbie, and when Dol admits making mistakes in the past, she adds, “The bailiffs were here last week! You’ve had enough chances already – you always ruin everything.”

Dol then tries the sob story; “There’s no guarantee how long I’ve got left!”

"Go and pack your things!"

but Debbie is unmoved and orders her to go and pack.

"I'd rather you left me now"

Ffion returns to Cysgod y Glyn, telling Gethin, “This is not going to work, is it? I’d rather you left me now.”

Gethin will give her time to think

He pleads with her, “What about the breakfast to welcome me back? I’m going for a walk – if you still feel the same when I come back, I will leave, and this time I won’t come back!”

Sheryl's inquisition

After the burial, Sheryl quizzes Hywel, “Were there enough flowers on the grave? What did Siôn say at the graveside?” When Hywel replies that he cannot remember what was said, she berates him,

"You should have made an effort!"

“You should have made an effort to remember!”

"I don't understand why people love me!"

Gethin is not out for very long, and on his return Ffion says, “I don’t understand why people love me! I’ve put my nearest and dearest through a nightmare!” Gethin invites her to sit down, and she continues,

"I don't deserve to be happy"

“I saw Hywel earlier – why haven’t I suffered like him? I’ve done terrible things – I’ve put Arwen at risk, I’ve treated you like dirt. I don’t deserve you – I don’t deserve to be happy. Walk away – that’s what I’d do in your shoes.”

"Don't give up on us now – please!"

Gethin answers, “I’m not going to do that because I love you! We’ve got a chance of a fresh start – don’t give up on us now – please!” After she remains silent for a moment, he concludes, Right, I’ll go!”

"You deserve so much better than me!"

“No!” she exclaims, “You know I don’t want that! You deserve so much better than me!”

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me!"

He assures her, “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me! We’ve got every right to try and find happiness, just as much as anyone else.

"Shall we give it a go?"

“What do you say? Shall we give it a go?”

The answer appears to be "Yes"

They hug each other.

A last chance to soften up Debbie

Dol finds an ancient photo in her purse, and speaks about the old days; “It wasn’t easy for me, being an only child and losing my parents. When Steve came along I was glad of the help; he wasn’t all bad, but you always remember the negatives.”

"I remember the real story!"

Debbie’s recollections are different; “I remember the real story – carrying you back from the pub, clearing up after your parties, cigarette butts, empty cans, your awful mood swings! Too much water has gone under the bridge!”

Then Mark, Ricky and Vicky return from the cemetery;

Vicky produces a chocolate cake

Vicky has bought a chocolate cake.

"He's the spitting image of you!"

Sheryl looks at photos of Meilyr, and Julie says, “He’s the spitting image of you.”

Sheryl speaks to Hywel . . .

Sheryl tells Hywel that Meilyr looked like a little angel in those clothes,

. . . but he is not listening

but Hywel is lost in his own thoughts.

“You clearly don’t want to talk about him!” Sheryl cruelly remarks,

"It's Gaynor, offering to help"

then Hywel receives a text from Gaynor, offering any help that she is able to give. Sheryl snaps, “Go to her if you’d rather! You don’t want to be here!”

Time for Dol to catch her service 601 bus

At Maes-y-Deri, they have finished their family dinner, and Dol announces that she must go – she has a bus to catch; “I don’t know when you’ll see me again – I’ve got a lot to do in Ponty.” Ricky volunteers his father to drive her to the station, and Mark seems remarkably eager to do so.