Classic Corrie episode: November 28, 1984 : Corrieblog

Today is the anniversary of the day of Stan Ogden's funeral. With that in mind, I bring you another classic episode "update". The Ogdens were a favourite in Coronation Street for over 20 years, quite possibly the most favourite Coronation Street iconic couple of all time, though Jack and Vera are probably a close second. The ending of this episode is one of my all time tear-jerker scenes. On with the summary:

It's the day of Stan Ogden's funeral. We open with a shot of the sympathy cards on Hilda's sideboard. Vera and Ivy have brought flowers from the factory workers. Hilda tells them that Stan, contrary to what his reputation would suggest, loved flowers. She offers them tea and refuses any help. While she's in the kitchen, Vera remarks how well Hilda is taking it all.

Across the road, Percy and his niece, Elaine, talk about sudden bereavements but Percy is grumbling about the fact that Elaine has been seeing "that joiner" Bill Webster. For every time she asks him what he wants for his breakfast, he has another negative comment about Bill so Elaine gives up.

In the shop, Billy is surprised that Hilda plans to do all the post-funeral catering herself and tells Alf and Deirdre that he and the Rovers girls will do the work. When Hilda arrives, he tells her too and insists on paying. Hilda is touched that so many people are being so kind. Deirdre says it's because they like her and they liked Stan. Hilda leaves and Billy muses that nobody ever sees your good side until you've "kicked it". Deirdre tosses back "There's hope for you yet then!"

In the pub, all ready for opening, Betty mentions that Bet's newest heart throb, Tony (he's a police constable) is on his way over. Bet is still in her cleaning togs, hair in a kerchief and pink marigolds on and rushes off to make herself beautiful. Tony arrives with Jack shortly after him, wanting to talk to Tony urgently. Seems when he and Fred got nicked (they had a scam going on selling shirts on the market) he gave his name as Stan Ogden. Bad luck there! He wants to come clean so Tony takes him down to the police station and tells Betty to let Bet know he'll be back later. Bet returns all dolled up but her face falls when she sees he's gone. Story of my life she whinges.

At number 13, Hilda is pouring tea for the crowd and acting hostess, making introductions and serving cake. Son Trevor is making small talk and more people and flowers keep arriving. Hilda proudly shows some flowers to Emily, saying they are from Dr. and Mrs. Lowther and more from Annie Walker. She decides she believes in God because there must be some place better than this, and that's where her Stan is now. This makes Emily sad but as Ken points out, Hilda is not bitter and it seems to comfort her.

Later we see the hearse loaded up with all the flowers. Hilda and Trevor and a few others are helped into another car and the procession leaves Coronation Street, with Ken's orange VW bringing up the rear. They are respectfully watched by many a sober face lined up along the Street.

Part two opens at the cemetery. Hilda is still curiously dry eyed as the vicar gives the service and the coffin is carried forward (by pall bearers that I don't recognize. Odd she didn't get any of the neighbours to do the honours.)

Back at the pub, Elaine and Bill are giggling about Uncle Percy's disapproval but Elaine does defend him, knowing he's just protective of her. Tony returns and Bet joins him in the snug. But he's angry because he's found out that Bet warned Rita off him, saying he was *her* man! It seems Tony wanted to keep his options open. They were all free agents and it was just a bit of fun between a copper and a barmaid. He finishes with her and Bet's heart cracks yet again. She pastes her public smile on and goes back to serving.

At the cemetery, Hilda is tight lipped as the coffin is lowered and clumps of dirt are dropped in. Flowers surround the gravesite as everyone murmers the Lord's Prayer.

In the shop, Gail and Deirdre talk about the funeral that neither of them went to as Bet comes in, face down, straight into her flat.

In the Rovers, after the funeral, the pub is now crowded with friends and family. Billy reckons to Betty that Bet has realized she can't pull the fellers anymore. Mike is urging Ivy and Vera back to work (can't be much more left to the working day though!) but Jack arrives in time for Vera to give him an earful before she leaves. Hilda is still making small talk with everyone. Mike confronts Fred Gee about the market scam he had been pulling, where he'd used Mike's name as his own. Fred sputters but Mike continues to wind him up and then sacks him (Fred had been working as a van driver for Mike).

At the Kabin, Tony has been trying to convince Rita that the coast was clear for the two of them to go out but she's turned him down. It's not worth losing a friend over. He's not done yet, he says, he'll be back.

Later in the evening, at Number 13, Trevor grizzles that his sister, Irma, should have been at the funeral too (She's living in Canada now). Hilda defends Irma and finally ushers Trevor out, insisting she'll be fine. She finds a package that Trevor said they'd given him at the hospital. Stan's things. Hilda takes a deep breath.

In the pub, Vera is gossiping about how cool Hilda was, disapproving of Trevor leaving his mother and Hilda not shedding a tear. Though Ivy defends Hilda, Vera thinks Hilda's not right in the head. Where there's no sense, there's no feeling.

But back at Hilda's, she's sat at the table, holding the brown paper-wrapped package in trembling hands. She hesitates, bracing herself, and slowly opens it. His dressing gown, his pajamas, slippers...and then she found his glasses case. It seemed like her heart was in her throat. Slowly she opened the case to see his specs inside. Her chin wobbled, her eyes filled up. She picked the glasses up out of the case and the grief hit her like a ton of bricks. It's the little things, you see. There were Stan's glasses without Stan's eyes behind them. Hilda broke down and sobbed quietly, her head in her hands, Stan's specs against her cheek.