- The brooch of doom
- “You were right, mum”
- David’s beyond maudlin
- Kenton’s worried about being disrespectful
- Shula and Joni Mitchell
- Those we didn’t hear from
- “They think daddy’s helping God with his allotments now”
The brooch of doom
Turns out it was a lasting memory, rather than a curse from Julia Pargetter.
Ah well. I think a lot of us would have preferred a cursed Nigel and Elizabeth to a dead Nigel …
“You were right, mum”
I’ve said it before, but Jill is just always right!
Seemingly the kids told Elizabeth that they had wanted to go to the funeral, but did think Elizabeth wanted them there.
David’s beyond maudlin
David was never going to have an easy time at the funeral (which is why he didn’t want to speak at it), but he seems to be diving into the ‘dark pool’ after Elizabeth.
Before the service, he was depressed that Jill had never before spoken of her grief and anger at not being allowed to be at her mother’s funeral:
[David] “So much goes on in this family Ruth, so much that the family doesn’t talk about”
Later, as he’s at the funeral tea, he seems to be getting even more depressed at the sight of the sheer number of people who come to bid Nigel farewell.
[David] “It’s such a waste … if ever anyone made the world a better place … it’s so wrong he’s gone”
Oh dear.
Now, David has some guilt to carry for being up on the roof in the first place, but it would seem he’s comparing himself with Nigel.
Apples and kumquats, I think.
Is David heading for depression? Does he think he should have died in place of Nigel (as the lesser man)?
Will we ever see our usual confident (and a tad self-righteous) David return?
Kenton’s worried about being disrespectful
Which is a first.
But I think his speech at the funeral was perfect.
[Kenton]And Kenton's speech even managed to comfort Elizabeth.
“I suppose we should have guessed Nigel might become someone special in Elizabeth’s life when he helped her scape from boarding school …
“ …there was a bit of a wobble in their relationship when they become rivals in what became known as the ice cream wars … yes, they each had their own van, and Nigel’s jingle was, of course, the Teddy Bear’s Picnic in honour of his own beloved teddy bear Tiddles.
“But, they got together in their own good time, and for Nigel and Elizabeth, the romance never died”
“He told me his music master used to say, ‘spare us the caterwauling Pargetter, just mouth it silently”
So, as we sing, let’s imagine Nigel beside us, miming”
[Elizabeth] “You brought Nigel to life … gave me back some happy memories”
Nice one Kenton.
Shula and Joni Mitchell
While I still feel very odd about actually liking Shula at the moment, it was Shula’s speech at the funeral which finally brought my tears:
[Shula]
“Nigel was green long before it became fashionable. But he combined this with a great love of tradition, which we saw beautifully expressed in the way he made his last journey here
“On a wicker coffee, in a waggon, pulled by his beloved shire horse
“He was very conscious when he inherited Lower Loxley that he was a custodian for future generations. Handing down what was best of the past, but taking great care to safeguard this for the future
"Nigel was my very dear friend for so many years … if ever anyone was a child of the universe, it was Nigel Pargetter.
“To quote one of his favourite songs:
‘We are stardust, we are golden, and we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden’
“Well, he’s back there now”
*sniff a lot*
Those we didn’t hear from
Debbie was back – as she’s Lily’s godmother
Alistair – who’s Freddie’s godfather
Jolene (bless)
Lewis, and his daughter Felicity
Camilla (Nigel’s sister), her husband and his aunt,
I still think there might be an inheritance issue, by the way …
“They think daddy’s helping God with his allotments now”
So what now?
Freddie and Lily have had a chance to say goodbye to Nigel, and
[Elizabeth] “Tomorrow’s the first day of the rest of our lives”
Although Elizabeth is keeping them off of school tomorrow, there’s still the ever looming entrance exams.
So what will Elizabeth do?
Let Freddie escape the hell that is public school academia (after his success as a rat, maybe an early entry to stage school would be more apt) – or stay true to Nigel’s firm wish?
As Jill said:
[Jill] “And now the hard part starts, doesn’t it”
4 comments:
I think you've made a small but significant error in your transcription of the David / Ruth scene before the funeral:
“So much goes on in this family Ruth, so much that the family doesn’t talk about”
I've checked back, and what he actually says is:
"So much goes on in families, Ruth. So much that isn't spoken about."
I think that changes the sense, subtly... it's less of a condemnation of the way HIS family behaves. Though I do wonder if that's a hint about some other unexploded bombs like Jill's revelations which persuaded Lizzie to bring the twins to Nigel's funeral.
What a lovely service & a fitting tribute to such a special character. I'm so glad that Kenton had the chance to speak & that in the end the children were included.
I agree with you that David's state of mind is becoming something of a worry - wondering how this will pan out in the coming weeks.
I did manage to get through the episode without crying - but this could be due to the fact that my other half decided to listen in. & year old daughter did have some tissues ready for me though!!!
Cheers for the correction Sad Merrill.
Think you're right that there may be more revelations to come.
I know what you mean, fleurblanc.
I've had to do my Archers eavesdropping in private recently for that exact same reason ...
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