Saturday 1 September 2012

6 October 2011

It's the day of Brandon's funeral.  Garry and Iolo are getting ready.  Iolo says that Sion is going to stay with Brandon, which Garry is okay with, but when Iolo says that Sion thinks the children should be at the funeral, Garry disagrees, saying that he wants them to remember Brandon laughing and joking.  Garry tells Huw that he can't go the funeral, because he wants them to look after the children.  He then barks at Iolo, telling him to  wear a black tie.  He doesn't have one, so Garry orders him to go and buy one, accusing Iolo of not showing respect.

Macs, Gethin and Dani are talking.  Macs is very smart in a dark suit with a black tie.  When he finds out that Dani can't go because Garry has forbidden it, he is surprised, and says that she, of all people, should be there.  Dani says she doesn't have the strength to fight Garry any longer.

Anita brings Colin and Denil a stiff drink.  They are going to be pall bearers, along with some friends of Garry's from Newcastle.  They reflect on the fragility of life and mortality, then Jinx appears, he is going to be a bearer too.  He admits he is not much help on occasions like this, he is too emotional.

At Sion's house, the mourners are gathering.  Macs jokes gently to Iolo that this is the second time this week his suit has been given an airing, and this is a record.  Macs wonders where Huw is, Iolo says that Huw will be looking after the children.  But before Macs can give his views, Iolo says it might not be wise to argue with Garry today.  The hearse arrives.

At the hospital, Sion is reading a copy of the funeral service to Britt, who remains in a coma.  "In moving memory of Brandon, dear brother of Garry and Britt, and father of the late Chris.  A devoted uncle to Chester, Catrin, Aaron and Gwern."  Sion says that he suggested it should mention being a partner to Dani to, but Garry refused.  Sion adds that he suggested the verse at the bottom, "Blessed are those of a gentle spirit".  This describes Brandon pretty accurately.

Sion reveals that when Sion and Britt first met, Garry tried to break them up, but eventually he accepted that Sion was a good influence, and welcomed him into the family, so to speak.


Gethin says that it's time to go to Y Deri, to check on arrangements for the wake.  Dani is surprised that Gethin would suggest this, saying that Diane is sorting this, but Gethin suggests that Dani would surely want to check that everything was perfect for Brandon.  Dani admits that she's scared, but Gethin says that she'll be fine.

As they walk outside, the see the funeral cortege, and Dani puts a hand to her mouth.  The hearse is flanked by the bearers.  It draws to a halt outside Y Deri, watched by many from Cwmderi, including the lady detective.

Dani and Gethin go into Y Deri, eyed by Garry.  Anita says that she could always go up to the crematorium afterwards, and spend some time in the memorial garden.  She says that Garry doesn't want her at the funeral.  Mark suggests kindly that she shouldn't take any notice of what Garry says, and that she doesn't need an invitation to go to her own partner's funeral.  Diane offers Dani a drink from a tray but Dani refuses, saying that she doesn't want anything that Garry has paid for.  Anita tries to be sympathetic, and Diane says that Brandon would have wanted Dani walking behind his coffin on his "final journey".  Dani agrees, and seems to find some courage.  Gethin runs after her.


Dani and Gethin appear at the church, as the coffin is being unloaded from the hearse.  Garry storms over, and tells Gethin to make "her" leave.  Sheryl tells Garry that he should be ashamed of himself, and that Brandon would never have wanted this hostility.  Garry walks away, saying nothing, and the coffin is carried into the church, with Dani and Gethin bringing up the rear.

Garry stands up to say a few words.  He says that most brothers go their own way, but he and Brandon were different, almost the the same person (this is utter self-delusion, they could barely have been more different).  Garry quickly starts to lose his cool and it's clear he's going to cry.  Dani stands up, and tells Garry softly to sit down, because Brandon wouldn't want to see him like this.


Dani starts to speak.  She says that a lot of people were shocked when she and Brandon started going out, and this hurt him.  She says that he was hard on the outside, but soft on the inside like a baby.  He says he was a partner, family, a best friend, and that everyone is going to miss him because of how kind he was.  "He's gone now, and I'll never forget him."

The coffin descends, and everyone leaves.  Dani looks at the flowers outside, including a bunch of lillies from Garry, saying, "nobody could have had a better brother."  Gethin gently counsels that they leave to prevent Gary causing trouble, but Dani, also gently, says that if he wants to stoop to this level, then that's his problem.  Garry's mind is elsewhere however, and he tells Gwyneth that he wants to be on his own for a while.

In Y Deri, people are telling nice stories of things they remember to do with Brandon.  Anita relates a tale of how Brandon helped to take a garden wall down, only to discover that they were at the wrong house.  Kevin says it's important to tell people what you think of them whilst they are alive.  Diane adds that often people don't realise what they have until it's gone.

Dani and Gethin walk in, and there is a bit of an awkward silence, people don't know what to say for the best.  Anita sits her down, Mark asks if she is glad she went.  She says yes, and that everyone has been very supportive.  Anita adds that Dai phoned earlier, he's very sorry that he couldn't be there, he and Brandon were close.  Colin, Denzil and Jinx all come over to offer their comfort, followed by Gwyneth.  Dani tells Gwyneth that she didn't deliver the eulogy to get one over on Garry, more that it was something she just had to do.


Garry goes to the garage for some peace and quiet.  He pours himself a drink, and looking vaguely upwards, he says sorry to Brandon for everything that he has done.  Neither the drink nor the solitude are any comfort to him however, and he breaks down in tears.

Back in Y Deri, whilst others are swapping stories, Jinx goes over to Dani again and gives her his order of service for the funeral, on the back of which is a simple but elegant pencil drawing of Brandon, based on the large photograph of Brandon placed in the church.  Dani is touched, and says that she'll treasure it.  Whilst everyone is laughing at tales of Brandon's well-meaning ineptitude on the rugby pitch, Garry walks in, still holding his glass.  This clearly spells trouble.

To a silent crowd, Garry says that Dani phoned the solicitor before the funeral, to find out how much she was going to get from Brandon's will.  This isn't true, and she says so.  Anita tries to shut him up, but he calls Dani a slut, very loudly, and says that she is just looking for money.  Dani is upset but controls herself, saying that money won't bring Brandon back.  Anita again intervenes, and Garry says he's already leaving, but not before he spits on Dani.  The stunned silence continues.  Garry walks out.

Dani keeps her cool, and stands up to make a speech.  She thanks everyone for coming, and says that Brandon would have been touched to learn he had so many friends.  She asks people to try and enjoy themselves during the rest of the afternoon, because it's what Brandon would have wanted.  Her cool is rapidly deserting her, and she asks Ows to put the music back on.  Sheryl solemnly leads a toast to Brandon.

No comments:

Post a Comment