Mini-doc transcript - Cecily's story

12 months later

Scene shows Laura's farewell at Hope Rd, with neighbours and friends singing 'Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye'.

Cecily: I think she was talented. I was very fond of her. She used to get on my nerves often, but I loved her.

[Photo from school magazine displayed.]

Cecily: Laura showed me a picture from the Highlands Boys High School magazine that the police [or] somebody had given her and she was asked to identify and she identified what looked like one young man and of course it’s somebody that I happen to know.

[Pan of photo]

Cecily: He was such a nice boy. Such a nice boy. Nice boys don’t do that.

12 months later

Cathy [off screen]: Can you tell me what you think, having seen the film, and what you think of the journey that we’ve been on?

Cecily: I think the film was really inspiring. I don’t know if you noticed when you first started the film, I was sitting croqueting, and that blanket went down on the floor and I sat watching it. First of all, the film made something that was so ugly into something beautiful.

Cecily cont: I was reminded when I saw the film that I spoke about Laura’s soul and of her face. I connected the two at the beginning of the film. And at the end of the film when I saw Laura having her rant and I saw the life and animation in her face, I saw that soul come to life again, and it didn’t matter about her face. And so I think that the film not only artistically has merit, but I think that the film has done something much more than just an art form. I think it has brought a woman back to life.

Cecily cont: And I told you once, that I hope my daughter one day can do for me what you’ve done as a daughter for Laura. And I’ll say it again now – that you’ve been a wonderful, wonderful daughter to your mother.

Cecily cont: Under the circumstances, it is her story and that is her story and that’s the way the story went and I accept it fully. And my not believing her must have robbed her of self belief and just added to her lack of faith in people, and it must have been a terrible thing for her. But I hope I played a better part in her life than I did in her film [laughs].

Cathy [off screen]: For sure.

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