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Clip description
The Stone family – Jane (Joan Bruce), Alan (Ron Graham) and Damon (Mathew Crosby) – and Dolly Lucas (Queenie Ashton) have realised their dream to move back to the country to live. During the housewarming celebrations, with all members of the family present, Alan decides to announce the imminent marriage of Freda (June Salter) and Barry (Brian Wenzel).
Curator’s notes
This scene, the last ever in the series, is interesting for more than nostalgic reasons. Ending a long-running show always has its problems: there are all kinds of loose strings to tidy up and a certain obligation to leave a loyal audience with a sense of the continuity of life. Many serial dramas simply fade away or become so ridiculous that viewers just stop watching. Having the show’s creator write the final episode of Certain Women ensured that this show went out on a strong and satisfying note.
From the very beginning Barry has been trying to persuade Freda to marry him. By this episode he has, not surprisingly, finally given up and is resigned to being separated from her forever. But the producers wisely decided that they couldn’t let Barry or the audience suffer that disappointment. How could they bring about a change of heart, or rather philosophy, without being unfaithful to the characters? Freda in particular had long been opposed to marriage. In keeping with the show’s dynamic, the family step in to help and it is brother-in-law Alan who announces what everybody, including the couple in question, wants to hear: after 166 episodes, Freda and Barry have decided to tie the knot. The two notorious procrastinators, faced with a fait accompli, have no option but to comply.
