So Who Thinks Katherine Kelly Ran With This?
Piven was losing out early to virtually every performer who interacted with him, and I really think his going off with Mae like that was to try to make him look classy or something. They certainly didn't make an ideal couple. She buries him.
I think I would have much rather preferred something a bit more accurate, giving way to the dreadful Dolly sisters, or his daughter who took care of him in his final years, or a strange bit of contrast and giving Tilly the summary with him, as he'd have no idea who she was.