Monday 7th June --- BILLY'S FUNERAL
Todd and Sarah are preparing to bury their baby son. Estranged and distraught, the two young parents are coping with the situation in very different ways.
Maria looks at the sympathy cards and, finding one from Eileen, she tells Nick she didn't know she had sent one. Nick snaps that they got one off all the neighbours but Maria points out: “She's more than just a neighbour in this Nick.” Nick obviously doesn't seem to care. Gail comes downstairs and tells them that Sarah is refusing to get out of bed. “She says she's not going to the funeral and we can all go without her.” David says that he was going to ask his sister if he could carry the coffin but Martin tells him that, even though it's a really nice offer, he doesn't think it would be wise. He explains: “Your emotions are going to be all over the place and, well, I'm not sure even I could manage it.” Nick steps in and says that he will carry the coffin as he will regard it as an honour. Maria asks: “Isn't it usually the father who carries the coffin?” Nick growls at her: “Todd gave up any right to that baby when he dropped Sarah for another man. He'd turn the funeral into a laughing stock.”
Eileen finds Todd ironing his shirt and asks: “You've decided you're going then?” He replies: “What sort of father would I be if I didn't? I never even saw him. I never even held him. Never got to even say hello, let alone goodbye. I never even told him I loved him.” Eileen tells him that she's worried the Platts will kick off if he turns up. She explains: “You know what they are like. They could turn the whole thing into a bun fight and funerals are supposed to be dignified. I know Billy was your son love, but you're mine and I don't want to see you any more upset than you already are.”
Sally takes a Black Forest Roulade round to Gail's to add to the spread for the wake. At that moment, Sarah comes down the stairs and asks what it is. Sally gushes: “Oh Sarah, I can't even begin to imagine what you are going through at the moment.” Sarah snaps: “'So you brought me a cake? Well, why didn't you bring some balloons and party poppers while you were at it?” Then Sarah walks out of the front door and Nick tells Gail he'll go after her. Out on the street, Sarah walks slap bang into Tracy Barlow, who gripes at her: “Cheer up love, it might never happen.” A distraught and disorientated Sarah turns round and heads in the other direction. Nick catches up with her and tells her: “If you don't go today Sarah, you will end up regretting it.” Sarah rips into him: “You're really getting off on this aren't you? You're such a drama queen! Now leave me alone!” Sarah is adamant that she won't attend baby Billy's funeral and goes AWOL while the rest of the Platts try to think of a way to persuade her to change her mind.
Sarah goes into the cafe where Hayley Cropper finds her in a dreadful state and sits down to talk to her. She launches into a moving speech about when Princess Diana died and how she went down to London to say goodbye. Sarah taps the side of her head and says: “I can say goodbye ... up here.” Hayley perseveres but Sarah tells her: “'I just don't have any fight left Hayley. I just can't face it.” Hayley tells her: “Who knows, if Billy had lived for thirty something years, he might have really made an impact, touched everybody's lives, been celebrated, thousands of people might have lines the streets of Weatherfield to say goodbye but ... he didn't. Only a handful ever met him, but, even though he wasn't here very long ... well, I think his life is still worth celebrating, don't you?” Sarah cries: “I'm so scared though Hayley. I feel like I'm a little kid but today I have to be grown up, I have to be someone's mum and all I want is for someone to put their arms round 'me' and tell me it's going to be okay.” Gail arrives in the cafe and Hayley tells her that Sarah is a bit upset. Sarah tells her mum that she would like to have a hot bath. It appears that Sarah might have changed her mind and a grateful Gail leads her out of the cafe, thanking Hayley on her way for looking after her.
Todd tells Eileen that there are so many things he wants to say to Sarah. Eileen suggests that he might be better putting them down in a letter so that she can read it carefully and understand more. Jason butts in: “If you want to go to the funeral mate, you go. Just 'cos you're a fruit doesn't make you any less of a father does it?” Todd shows Eileen the teddy he wanted to give to the baby and she tells him: “You can give it to him anytime. We'll all go, all three of us, but later, when the Platts aren't around.” Jason heads off to the corner shop but as he opens the front door he sees the funeral procession arriving in the street and he calls into the house for Todd to come to the door. All the residents of the street look on in silence, even the factory girls watch from the doors of Underworld. Sarah stares out from behind the bedroom curtain before emerging from the house with her family who help her to the car. Todd is forced to be an outcast and a mere bystander as the hearse, complete with tiny, white coffin, and its entourage pull away from the street, leaving him empty, bereft and isolated. He is devastated that he isn't welcome at the funeral service of his baby son.
The solemn funeral procession arrives at St. Christopher's Church. As promised, Nick carefully and gently takes possession of the tiny casket bearing the tiny body. Sarah comes forward and asks Nick to be careful with him and he promises he will. She goes back to join Martin and she almost crumbles as she thinks about what might have been. She says: “I used to dream of you walking me up the aisle. I never dreamed it would be behind my baby's coffin.” She manages to regain her composure and dignity as Martin escorts her into the church.
Emotions are running high at the Grimshaw house and Todd can't come to grips with the fact that his son has died and he can't attend the funeral. Jason reminds him that they'll go later, and points out that if he were to attend, the mourners and the Platts would only accuse him of hijacking the funeral. Eileen tells Jason she's going to have a bath and asks him to keep an eye on his brother. Todd stands at the bottom of the stairs, looking at his suit jacket, trying to make up his mind about what to do. Eileen emerges from her bath to find that Todd has vanished. Jason tries to calm her down: “Mum, he'll do what he has to do.” Eileen orders him to bring Charlie's van round while she gets dressed.
Meanwhile, Todd arrives at St. Christopher's as the burial service is about to begin, determined to attend his son's funeral. He is greeted by Tommy Harris who is uncharacteristically smoking a cigarette. Tommy throws it aside saying: “I don't even smoke!” Todd says: “I had to come.” Tommy jokes: “It's your funeral,” and turns to go into the church. Todd enters the vestry but he can't bring himself to go into the church for the funeral service and he waits outside as the mourners sing a hymn in the background. He waits for the procession to emerge from the service and hides behind a bush to watch from the sidelines as the crowd, led by the reverend Colin Green, leave the church and make their way to the burial plot where his son will be laid to rest. Katy steps forward and insists on speaking with Martin but he dismisses her as it's all he can do to take care of his family. Blanche Hunt remarks to Norris and Emily: “It wouldn't surprise me if she threw herself in after the little mite.” With only the sound of twittering birds and the organ, the tiny casket is placed beside its eternal resting place while Todd watches from afar.
Eileen and Jason turn up by the graveside looking for Todd but they can't see him anywhere around. Hayley kindly makes room for them near the grave. As they move forward, David looks up and asks what they are doing here but Martin shuts him up. Eileen tentatively looks up at Gail to check that it's okay to approach and Gail gives her a slight nod. As the reverend continues the service, the tiny casket slowly begins its descent into the ground. Gail strongly supports Sarah as she watches it sink into the grave, while Todd watches from afar. The reverend hands Sarah a wooden box containing earth from Billy's grave and she sprinkles some over the casket, then hands the box to her mum without a word. Gail scatters some earth and says: “Good night Billy. God bless.” Audrey and Martin come next, each with their own little blessing. At the sight of this, Todd can't contain himself and steps forward to the graveside clutching one of Billy's teddies. David launches himself at the man he sees as responsible for everything that has happened and he shouts: “No way! No way!” Todd looks up at Sarah and says: “I need to say goodbye to my son.” David flies at Todd: “Great dad you turned out to be! You killed him and you bring a teddy!” David grabs the teddy and throws it to the ground and as he is restrained by Martin, Todd goes on: “If it makes you feel any better, no-one can blame me as much as I blame meself, but Billy is my son. I wasn't there for him when he came into the world, and I wasn't there for him when he died, but I have to be here now. You understand that?” Surprisingly, Sarah steps forward and hands the earth box to Todd. He kneels down at the graveside and says: “Billy, it's daddy ...” This is too much for Sarah and sets her off into uncontrollable sobbing, so Audrey leads her away. It also proves to be too much for David to bear as he cries for the first time. He, Martin and the rest of the mourners follow Audrey and Sarah but Gail has a quiet word for Eileen: “We've said our goodbyes. We'll leave you to yours.” Eileen is grateful for Gail's compassion and thanks her.
Jason has found the teddy that Todd brought for Billy, and hands it to him saying it's a bit muddy. Jason and Eileen move off to give Todd some time alone at the grave. He tells his son: “Mad isn't it? Saying goodbye before I've even said hello. I'll think about you every day for the rest of my life and I'm sorry I let you down but it's complicated. I would have been a good dad. Sleep tight Billy Grimshaw. You're the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me.” With that, he tosses the teddy into the grave.
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