The Proud Valley Page #3

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- She'll take care of that, won't you, Mam?

Come on now. Let's celebrate.

- Dilys, you go and get that bottle of rhubarb wine, eh?

- Yes, Dad!

Well now, Son.

You left it later than me and your mother did.

Let me see now, lovely.

We had a baby before I was Emlyn's age, didn't we?

I don't know about you,

but I had one and another coming.

Aye. And a good mother

you've been to them all.

- Here you are, my lovely.

- Ah. Now let us drink...

to the success of the male voice choir

at the Eisteddfod.

- Emlyn and Gwen first, Dad.

- Oh, aye. To be sure. I forgot.

Joy to Emlyn and Gwen.

They're coming up.

- Hey. What's the matter, Seth?

- Where's Dick Parry and that new butty of his?

- Why? What do you want with him?

- You call him, and then you'll see.

Hey, Dick.

- If you don't want us, we'll go down.

- Wait a minute.

- Oh? What for?

- Where is that new butty of yours?

- Well, he'll be along soon.

- Ever heard of the seniority rule, Dick Parry?

Oh, so that's what you're getting at.

Bringing that big stranger

to work in the pit.

Aye. What about that?

- On top of that, you give him Ben's solo part in the choir.

- That's what's stuck in your gizzard, Seth.

Now listen, lads. Am I the first

to break the seniority rule then?

- We've always kept it in Blaendy, Dick.

- No fear, we haven't done it.

- Here, Will. Remember when your brother was conducting the colliery band?

- Yes.

Didn't he bring three fellows from Yorkshire

to work in this pit so they could play for him?

What my brother done

is nothing to do with me.

You, Seth. You know as well as I do

those three tenors that walloped us...

at last year's Eisteddfod were

brought in from outside Darren Valley.

- Isn't that right, man? Answer.

- Ah. Stumped you, has he, Seth?

Anyway, they were white.

- This fellow brought a black man to work down the pit.

- Well?

What about it?

All right, David.

Leave me to deal with him.

Now listen, lads.

Dave here is more than a good singer.

He's as good a butty

as ever worked down a pit with me.

Aye. And he's a decent chap

into the bargain.

Here's Seth talking about him being black.

Damn and blast it, man.

Aren't we all black down that pit?

Aye. Take a look at yourselves.

This fella's as good a pal as any of you.

Well? Anybody else got anything to say

before me and my butty go down the pit?

Haven't you chaps

finished chewing the fat?

What about a bit of work?

Keep the home fires burning.

Aye. Come on, lads.

Another eight hours, savage amusement.

- Don't let that lot worry you, Dave.

- They don't worry me.

Nobody takes any notice of them.

I think it would have been better if you'd

let me go on my way that first night I came.

No fear, it wouldn't, man.

I know what'll drive that out of your head.

Hey, lads. What shall we sing?

- What about the Eisteddfod test piece?

- Fine.

Come on, David, man.

Give 'em a lead.

Back to work with no repining

All through the night

Overhead the stars are shining

All through the night we're singing

dd

Morning sun brings fervent greeting

Sing we then our song of greeting

All through the night

Ooh!

Mam! Mam! Mam! Mam!

The bus for Eisteddfod is outside.

- What? Already?

- If you don't believe me, come and see.

I must get those children ready

before your father comes home.

- Fetch them in from the back.

- Righto, Mam.

- Hello, girl.

- Hello. Come in.

Hurried I have with my breath in my fist,

for they've only just come.

- Let me see them.

- And I wanted the children to go looking tidy tonight.

- Don't you think they're lovely?

- Indeed they are.

- And with a bit of trimming they'll do fine for the wedding.

- Yes. They'll be nice.

But I don't know when

I shall be able to pay you for them.

Have I said anything about payment?

Oh, that is kind of you.

We're as good as one family, my girl.

So you can pay me for these things

a shilling at a time.

- Thank you very much indeed.

- And I won't charge you the credit price either.

Come through quietly

so Mam won't hear you.

Shh!

- Oh! Look at the state of those children!

- Good gracious!

Whatever have you

been doing with yourselves?

They've been playing

"working in the pit," Mam.

Oh, dear.

Come on, for me to wash you.

- Of all the dirty little flamers I've ever seen!

- Dilys, I'll give you swearing in a minute! Stay there.

- Where did you hear that, I'd like to know?

- It was our dad who I heard saying it, and he said it isn't swearing. So there!

Dick does let off steam sometimes.

He forgets there's children present.

- Come on, Johnny.

- Come on.

How's the time, Dave?

I've had about enough for this shift.

- We only got 10 minutes to go.

- Good.

Pass me that drinking jack, will you?

Ah. Thank you.

- The air's thick in here today.

- Yeah, it's hot as hell.

Aye. It's always warmish in Klondyke.

Then send me a roll

of brattice cloth down.

- Right away, you damn fool.

- What's the hurry?

Oh, the air's a bit dirty in Klondyke today.

That chap in the stores

on top's as dull as a sledge.

Hello, Ned.

What are you doing back here?

There's a small pocket of gas

down in Klondyke, sir.

How many times have I told you to keep

brattice cloth on the spot in the workings?

- I thought -

- Go and tell those men to come out at once.

Less than 10 minutes to go anyway.

- I wish your dad would come.

- Will Dad's choir lose marks if he's late, Mam?

No, I don't think so. Will you sit still, Johnny.

What's the matter with you?

- Emlyn, what you looking at?

- You'll see in a minute, my girl.

- Hello, lovely.

- Hello, Em.

- You look great.

- Like it?

- You bet.

- Hello, everybody.

- Hello, Gwen!

- Doesn't she look nice?

Are you entering for the Eisteddfod, Gwen?

Don't be silly.

It isn't a beauty competition.

- Are those sunflowers?

- Yes.

It's very nice, but it's a bit on the short side.

Why, you Little Miss Particular.

Get out of the way, all of you, and let your mam

have a look at her future daughter-in-law.

Indeed, Gwen. It's -

- Pit!

- Dad!

Oh, my God!

- I'm going down with the rescue team.

- Em, be careful.

I'll be all right.

You stay and look after Mam.

Don't worry, Mam.

We'll be back.

Mr. Trevor wants

Number 2 Rescue Team down at once.

Come on, boys. Down below.

Hurry up!

- You'd better get some more help.

- Very good, sir.

If we don't stop this fire spreading,

we shall have the whole pit down on top of us.

Come on. Hurry up now.

Come on!

- Seth. Seen my dad?

- Sorry, Emlyn.

There's no news yet.

Nick, where's my dad?

- You won't get much out of him.

- Do you know?

I don't know who's out or who's in.

Number 2 Rescue Team, sir.

Right. Get your equipment off,

and give me a hand with this wall, quick.

- Where do you think you're going?

- In there, to look for my dad.

- Not if I know it.

- You're not stopping me, Mr. Trevor.

Now listen, son.

There's Sam James and Nat Llewelyn.

- They went in with Number 1 Rescue Team.

- I don't care. I'm going.

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