How Green Was My Valley Page #2

I will not be the excuse for any strike.

But if they do that to the spokesman,

what will they try and do to the men?

We will see.

Be silent now. Finish your supper.

- Father...

- Enough now.

- But...

- On with your work.

- It is not enough.

- Wait until you have permission to speak.

I will speak against injustice anywhere,

with permission or without it.

- Not in this house.

- In this house and outside, sir.

- Leave the table.

- I will leave the house.

- Tell your father you're sorry.

- I'm not sorry.

I'm with you. We can find

lodgings in the village.

Gwilym.

All of you, then?

For the last time, sit down,

finish your supper. I will say no more.

We are not questioning your authority, sir.

But if manners prevent our speaking

the truth, we will be without manners.

Get your clothes and go.

- I'm going with them to look after them.

- Hold your tongue. Get on with your dishes.

Yes, my son, I know you are there.

The men have struck.

What does it mean, Mr Gruffydd?

It means that...

something has gone out of this valley

that may never be replaced.

Home to your father and mother, boy.

They'll need you today.

Twenty-two weeks the men were out

as the strike moved into winter.

It was strange to go out into the street

and find the men there in the daytime.

It had a feeling of fright in it.

And always the mood of the men grew uglier,

as empty bellies and desperation

began to conquer reason.

Any man who was not their friend

became their enemy.

They knew that my father

had opposed the strike,

and now it was they who opposed him.

Huw, there's a meeting of the men

in the hills tonight, is it?

- Yes, Momma.

- You will take me.

No, Momma. It is no place for women.

There is a place for this woman

there tonight... upon my soul.

Wait. Wait till you hear me.

I am Beth Morgan, as you damn well know.

I have come to tell you what I think of you,

because you are talking against my husband.

You're a lot of cowards to go against him.

He would do nothing against you

and he never has, and you know him well.

How you smug-faced hypocrites can sit

in the same chapel with him, I cannot tell.

To say he is with the owners is not

only nonsense, but downright wickedness.

There's one thing more

I've got to say, and it is this.

If harm comes to my Gwilym,

I'll find out the men

and I will kill them with my two hands.

And this I will swear by God Almighty.

Lanto! Help!

Hold on, Momma.

They've heard us. They're coming.

He was awake just now.

He'll do, then. But it's beyond me to say why.

You're breeding horses

in this family, Mr Morgan.

This boy should be in his coffin, for my part.

He's a Morgan then, is it, sir?

He should be fed now, Mrs lvor.

A little soup...

and some warm smiles.

Horse.

- Good day. Wait, wait, wait.

- Huw was awake just now. He spoke to Bron.

- How long then for the little one?

- It's hard to tell.

His legs were frozen to the bone.

A year, two years, quiet like that.

But I can't promise that he'll ever walk again.

Nature must take her course. Gee up.

Mind your tongue. I think he heard you.

Where is the light

I thought to see in your eye?

Are you afraid, boy?

- You heard what the doctor said?

- Yes, sir.

And you believed it?

Yes, sir.

You want to walk again, don't you?

Yes, sir.

Then you must have faith.

And if you have, you will walk again,

no matter what all the doctors say.

But he said nature must take her course.

Nature is the handmaiden of the Lord.

I remember one or two occasions when

she was given orders to change her course.

- You know your scriptures, boy.

- Yes, sir.

Then you know that what's been

done before can be done again, for you.

Do you believe me, Huw?

- Yes, sir.

- Good.

You will see the first daffodil,

out on the mountain.

- Will you?

- Indeed I will, sir.

Then you will.

I could almost wish

that I were lying there in your place

if it meant reading

this book again for the first time.

Treasure Island.

Mr Gruffydd?

- I couldn't let you go without thanking you.

- It was only my duty, girl.

No. It was more than duty.

Yes. Huw's a fine boy.

And you're a fine family.

You'd better be going in now.

You'll catch your death.

Will you be coming to supper soon?

Yes. Later, when you're finished

with doctors and such.

- I will hurry them away, then.

- Good.

"Squire Trelawney, Dr Livesey,

and the rest of these gentlemen

having asked me to write down the

whole particulars about Treasure Island

from the beginning to the end, keeping

nothing back but the bearings of the island,

and only because there is

still treasure not yet lifted,

I take up my pen in the year of grace 1785,

and go back to the time when

my father kept the 'Admiral Benbow' inn."

All the noble books which have

lived in my mind ever since,

and always I hoped, and kept my faith.

For the first months

my mother was still upstairs,

and we could talk to each other with tappings.

Spring?

There you are, girl.

Easy.

There.

Wait.

It's the old snow got into it.

Gwilym.

There is a wife you have, resting in her bed

and letting strangers care for her family.

There is a wife I have, then.

Go along with you, boy.

Will you say something, Mother?

Go on, say something.

What can I say?

You found plenty to say last time you spoke.

It should be easier now, with friends.

Well...

Well... Come and eat, everyone.

More, is it, boys?

Lanto.

I haven't seen you in chapel lately.

- I have been too busy.

- What business, may I ask?

- Mine.

- Only asking a civil question, I was.

And having a civil answer.

I have been busy with the union.

Unions are the work of the Devil.

You will come to no good end.

At least I am not sitting on it,

talking rubbish in chapel.

- Look here...

- Leave it, or I'll say something to be sorry.

This is a matter that requires airing.

Lanto, why do you think

we at the chapel talk rubbish?

My remark was not aimed at you.

Then aim it.

Very well.

Because you make yourselves out

to be shepherds of the flock,

and yet you allow your sheep

to live in filth and poverty.

And if they try and raise

their voices against it,

you calm them by telling them

their suffering is the will of God.

Sheep, indeed. Are we sheep to be herded

and sheared by a handful of owners?

I was taught man was made

in the image of God, not a sheep.

- Lanto.

- I haven't expressed my views

because I haven't had any wish

to interfere in a family disagreement.

You have my permission to speak.

Very well, then. Here is what I think.

First, have your union.

You need it. Alone, you are weak.

Together, you are strong.

But remember that with strength goes

responsibility, to others and yourselves.

For you cannot conquer injustice

with more injustice,

only with justice, and the help of God.

Are you coming outside

your position in life, Mr Gruffydd?

Your business is spiritual.

My business is anything

between man and the spirit of God.

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