13 October 2014

A glimpse of the rugby club

At Cwmderi RFC, Dai is unloading his van when he spies a Rolls Royce approaching.   

Highflying businesswoman, Stacey Jones arrives

The uniformed chauffeur walks round to open the passenger door, Dai comments, “Lady Penelope in there?” and Stacey Jones, Mark’s sister, alights.   She says that she is visiting places associated with Mark, and remembers when he tried to play rugby there – and was hopeless.

"Nice motor," thinks Dai

Dai is more interested in her transport, which she uses to travel between the hotels she owns.   Then she leaves for Pwll Bach, where Mark had his first job, filling sacks of coal.

Kath Jones is back in Cwmderi

In contrast, her mother, Kath, arrives in the village pulling her case on wheels;  she is greeted by Diane, and tells her she flew into Cardiff from her home in Spain.   

She is greeted by Diane

“We’ll be at Maes-y-Deri,” she tells Diane, “We want to be at home.”   She sees an advertisement for the Western Post – “Local Postie killed in Bristol” – and rips it down.   “He wasn’t a postie – he was our Mark!”

"Time to get up," shouts Liam

Meanwhile in Bristol, Liam has been out for a run, then wakes Mark, telling him he will miss breakfast and lunch.   “I think Bristol can put up with us for a few more days,” he says, adding that Mark could do with some exercise.

Megan, outside Bethania, sees Kath, and tells her that prayer can be a great comfort;  Kath responds, “Tell that God of yours I think he’s very cruel, taking a lovely bloke like Mark!”   

Kath puts Megan firmly in her place

She leaves Megan in no doubt;  “There won’t be a circus at Bethania – you understand?   Don’t tell me what to do!”

Siôn hears the news about Mark's death

As Siôn arrives home from his holiday, he hears a message from Megan about Mark’s death, and how Debbie wants the funeral on Wednesday.   

Britt is disgusted by Siôn's priorities

He tells Britt that they cannot have it then, as that is the day of the Deri auction.   Britt simply says that people can choose to attend which they want.

Kath and Stacey back home at Maes-y-Deri

Kath and Stacey stand outside the front door at Maes-y-Deri as the chauffeur unloads the cases.   Kath finds the key in the usual place, but is surprised to find Gemma there alone.   

Gemma begins her fantasy tale . . .

Gemma embarks on her sob story about how her mother died when she was young, and how Mark was everything to her.   

. . . which becomes increasingly imaginative

Life was perfect, and he was her best friend – “In fact, he asked me to marry him, that was the surprise in Bristol he had planned.   He got down on one knee and all that – it was so romantic!   We should be arranging a wedding, not a funeral!”

"She's trying too hard!"

Later, Kath remarks to Stacey, “Don’t you think she’s trying too hard to prove how close they were?”

"Look, someone must have died there!"

Mark and Liam emerge once more from Small Street on to the Centre, noticing the blue and yellow sign;  “Someone must have died there,” remarks Mark, and as they walk away, the camera reveals the card on the floral tribute.   

What they narrowly missed seeing

“Love you forever, Mark — Gems. x x”

Dai's mind is elsewhere, thinking about the Deri

In the café, Debbie is telling Dai and Diane about the service she is planning, but Dai dismisses it as, “A couple of hymns and a eulogy, down to the cemetery, then back for sandwiches in the vestry.”

He seems more interested in ringing Meic to find out how many co-operative shares he has managed to sell;  “Oh – that many?” he says.   Debbie asks him to be a bearer at the funeral.

Western Post online version of the story

Siôn reads on the Western Post website about Mark’s death, and tells Britt that Wednesday is very short notice.   Britt responds;  “You’re so insensitive, wanting to postpone it because of the auction.   

Debbie with her list of requirements for the funeral

Debbie calls to talk about the arrangements, including organ music being “too morbid”, Siôn lies that he has another funeral on that same day, so it will have to be Thursday.

Britt objects to his blatant lies, and he tries to justify himself

When Britt expresses her disgust at his lying, he says that the auction is important for the future of the village;  they had seen some co-operatives in Brittany which had failed, and the last thing he wants is to break the spirit of the community.

At Maes-y-Deri, Kath reveals to Stacey that Johnny Mac has dumped her, but she has a new partner, a painter and decorator from Wrexham.   When Gemma comes downstairs, Kath says Debbie should not have left her alone in the house;  Gemma replies that Debbie is making all the arrangements.   “Is she really?” is Kath’s caustic comment.

Mark, playing like a pool professional

Mark and Liam play pool in a Bristol pub;  Mark thinks he should turn professional, and Liam would like a Harley Davidson and to forget Afghanistan.   Mark muses, “I’d like to live in Spain – it would be better than delivering post in the rain.”

Debbie tells of her funeral plans . . .

Siôn and Debbie go to confer with Kath;  Debbie says she has planned a “jolly” funeral for Mark, just what he would have wanted, and has booked the crematorium for 3:00pm on Thursday.

. . . and is comprehensively overruled by Kath

Kath is insistent;  “Well you can cancel it!   We will be having a private funeral, by invitation only from the Joneses.   A private service here, then we walk to the cemetery and bury him with Dyff.   He was my son!”

“He never stopped loving me!” interrupts Debbie;  “He was going to marry me!” adds Gemma;  I gave him a kidney!” says Stacey.   

Poor old Siôn is left confused

Siôn simply looks confused.

Kath, Stacey, Dyff and Mark Jones

Stacey runs upstairs in tears, and her mother follows.   As they sit on the bed, they look at a photo of the family;  “They both went before their time,” says Kath, then she looks up, toward the bedroom window.   

They look more like rather unkempt tomato plants!

“Crikey, Stace!” she exclaims, “Mark’s been growing drugs, look!”