If ever soap opera and real life became as one, surely Hayley’s cancer and planned death, must be the most convincing of all. The beauty of soaps is how often they hold up a mirror to our own lives, allowing audiences to cast judgement on events and behaviour that we see enacted daily.
Interestingly, the major broadsheets have taken on the story of Roy and Hayley - The Times and The Guardian both running features on them. That, to my mind, will do wonders for the snobbish attitudes some people feel are necessary to demonstrate to those within their circle, to convey that they are intellectuals, who would much rather watch Ibsen or Beckett and find the soaps too low-brow for their attention. Shame - they are missing a treat and anyway, there is room for both.
The first transgender person to appear in soap and thus changing attitudes dramatically, also brings the ‘right to die’ debate straight into our living rooms. Of course there will be those for and those against the right to die, but is it not the case that most (everyone?) will at least find Hayley’s bravery and determination to deal with her pancreatic cancer as something powerful and purposeful by removing a sense of victimhood, rather than let it deal with her.
When we first see Hayley she is in bed, not having touched her breakfast. Roy removes the tray and both agree that maybe later she will eat it. Later - they both know that there is hardly any later left.
Hayley wants to sit in the café for a while, on this her last day and talking to Rita is ‘a tonic.’ Captain Cole has been sailing the ship singlehandedly so Rita can afford a little time with Hayley. Rita talks of what she intends to bake tomorrow, and tries to tempt Hayley to try some but as we know, for Hayley there is no tomorrow.
Fiz, Tyrone and the children arrive at the café and understandably, as Ruby has a cold, they don’t want her to get too near Hayley. Hayley, most uncharacteristically, loses her patience and insists Ruby comes close and so Tyrone plonks his daughter on Hayley’s knee ‘for a big snotty snog for Auntie Hayley.’ Discussion of the future becomes too much for Hayley and she goes back upstairs, but not before telling Chesney to sort himself and Sinead out. Chesney is afraid to broach the topic after it seemed as if Sinead wasn’t keen on moving in. ‘You can’t live your life in fear,’ she tells him and that’s a lesson to us all. Acting upon Hayley’s advice he and Sinead agree to live together.
The punt wagon model brings a smile to Hayley’s face, it reminding her of her arrival at her wedding, but her reaction only makes Roy wish to prolong their time together. ‘I said it was today and I meant it,’ she reminds him. We know she will not be swayed from her course.
‘Most people don’t get to glimpse the happiness we have, day after day, after day.’ And we know the truth of that statement.
A very nice touch was including Gloria and Dennis, who, so full of their own importance, behave abominably, embodying conceit and selfishness, in sharp contrast to the beauty and consideration between Roy and Hayley. ‘Roy, a word,’ demands the imperious Gloria. Has she forgotten Roy’s situation or is she too wrapped up in drinking ‘power tea’ to notice? Roy tells her he’s busy, but Gloria persists, ‘It’s a rum do if you’re too busy for your paying public.’ Roy, in the gentlest of tones, turns towards her and says, ‘Alright, Gloria, what seems to be the problem?’ What a man!
Hayley tells Roy that she has kept all the cards he has ever sent her. ‘I know you wouldn’t write a word you didn’t mean.’ We know that too. We see Roy’s desperation, his wish to have Hayley with him for longer, but Hayley cannot do that. 'I won’t pretend that I’m not afraid, but I’m ready.’ She continues, ‘We mustn’t be sad, we should be proud, you and me.’ And who could disagree? Especially pleasing is to be reminded of how they helped people but also saw off the likes of the bigot, Les Battersby and the bully Tracy Barlow.
As his heart breaks, Roy tells Hayley, ‘I don’t know how I’ll go on.’ With a burst of energy Hayley tells him, ‘So long as you’re alive, so am I. You’ll be my eyes, my ears, my heart for years to come. ‘ She continues telling him that she ‘knows what it is to be loved, truly loved. I love you, always have, always will.’
Carla knew something was not right and sure enough, having persuaded Anna to open the door to their flat, her fears are confirmed. There lies Hayley, in Roy’s arms, no longer in pain - now at peace.
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