13 January 2020

Brenda asks Tesni to lay the table for their meal, 

Guto advises more salt be added

and Guto tastes the soup, declaring that it needs more salt.   

Then Gerwyn arrives home . . .

Then the door opens, and they turn expectantly, 

. . . and all eyes turn in his direction

to see what news Gerwyn brings.

"The sepsis isn't improving!"

“The sepsis isn’t improving!” he announces, 

"Jac is tough!"

but his mother maintains that it is just a matter of time, as Jac is tough.   

"I'm going to the hospital later"

Guto does not want any food, and says that he will go to the hospital later, but his father replies, “There’s no point – your mother won’t know you’re there.”

Tesni decides that she is going for a run, so Brenda concludes that there will be more food for them.

"I hope you've chosen a special card for me"

In the shop, Britt hopes that Colin has chosen a special card for her, 

"The shelf's not big enough for it!"

and he says that the shelf is not big enough to hold her card.   

"You're a 'bouquet of flowers' man, are you?"

Mathew comes in for a magazine, and informs Colin that cards are a bit dated;  “You’re more of a ‘bouquet of flowers’ man, are you?” Colin asks him, but 

"No – and not chocolates, either"

Mathew denies this – nor does he give chocolates.

"Are you back with Tesni?"

Izzy has a box of home-made candles, and wonders if Mathew and Tesni are back together, 

"I'm just trying to be a good friend"

but he explains that he is just trying to be a good friend to her.

"Right – how much commission do I get?"

Colin gets down to business and enquires, “How much commission do I get for selling these candles?”   

The candles are £6 apiece . . . 

Izzy says that she will make a special one for him and Britt;  they are £6 each, and she will bring over some more later.   

. . . and they leave Colin to it

Britt thinks they are gorgeous, and wonders whether Izzy needs a little helper.   They hand over the box of candles to Colin, and leave for Llwyncelyn.

"Gaynor – come and see the St Dwynwen's cards"

Then Colin notices Gaynor passing the shop, and calls to her to come and see the St Dwynwen’s cards;  

"One for Hywel – with a gorilla on the front!"

“I’ve got one that will suit Hywel perfectly – the card’s got a gorilla on the front!”   

Gaynor is obviously not in a joking mood

She does not seem to share his amusement, as he tells her that St Dwynwen’s Day is a moneyspinner.

“Izzy and Britt have just gone to Llwyncelyn to make another batch of candles,” he adds, 

Then she catches sight of . . . 

and as she complains that no-one mentioned it  her, 

. . . Hywel and Angharad going somewhere

she notices Hywel and Angharad across the street and wants to know where they are going.   

Gaynor leaves Ffion to hold the fort

She phones the school to say she has been delayed, and will not be there until mid-afternoon.

Gerwyn is off his food

At number 10, Gerwyn is simply playing with his soup, and Brenda urges him to eat it;  

"Where was I when Dad died?"

he asks her, “Where was I when Dad died?   I don’t understand why I wasn’t at the hospital with you.”   She points out that the children were young then, so he was probably in a swimming lesson, or at football practice.

"Probably with the children somewhere"

She adds, “It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?   He left us nearly 12 years ago – he was such a lovely man.”   

"Urgh – there's too much salt!"

Then she urges Gerwyn to eat, but he finds the soup is much too salty, and she apologises that Guto was in charge of seasoning.

"Having a nice cup of coffee – and dying"

After some thought, Gerwyn asks, “Do you remember Dad saying that Grandad had been lucky?   Just having a nice cup of coffee – and dying.   

"I used to joke that I'd put the kettle on"

“I used to joke with Dad that all he had to do was ask, and I would put the kettle on.   I would like to have been with him then – at the end.”

"Watching someone you love at the end of their days"

Brenda points out that it is not a nice experience;  “Watching someone you love at the end of their days.   Your father couldn’t talk by then – I don’t even know if he understood what I was saying.   It’s better that you remember him as he was.”

"There – you can make a batch now"

At Llwyncelyn, Izzy pours some candle wax into the mould, and invites Britt  to make a batch.   

"It's just like grated cheese!"

Britt thinks the raw materials in the bag resemble grated cheese, but is warned not to put it on a pizza.

Gaynor is in search of Angharad – and Hywel . . .

In the midst of this jollity, Gaynor returns home and asks if Angharad is there;  Izzy replies that she went out with Hywel.   “Did he want her to go out with him?   

. . . but Izzy does not have any answers

“When will they be back?” Gaynor demands, but Izzy does not know the answers.

CwmFM is playing in the background, 

"So that's the answer – she's at CwmFM!"

and suddenly they hear Hywel’s voice announcing, “I’d say that is one of my guest’s favourite songs – am I right, Angharad?”   Gaynor looks outraged as he continues, “The person who’s been with me in the studio today is Angharad Rogers, who spends many hours working with the homeless in Swansea.”

She thanks him for giving her an opportunity to talk about a topic very close to her heart, and he goes on, “You’ve made us all laugh, as well as pricking our conscience – you can come again!”   

Gaynor sneers

Gaynor grimaces, then grimly instructs Izzy, “Clear up this mess – you’re not ten years old!”   

Britt and Izzy look at each other

Izzy and Britt look at each other.

"I don't know if you can hear me, Jac . . ."

By Jaclyn’s bedside, Gerwyn says, “I don’t know if you can hear me, but if you can, I want you to listen, OK?”   

"I'd do anything to have you at home with me"

In the background, Guto can be seen approaching, as his father continues, “You know I’d do anything to have you home with me now – 

"I love you – I always have"

“there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you – you see, I love you – I always have.”

There is no response

There is no sign of any response from Jaclyn;  “From the first moment I saw you in school – I can’t remember what life was like without you by my side.   You’ve always been with me through everything – I miss you!”

The indistinct shape of Guto can be seen watching them through the glass, 

Guto approaches

and as he approaches the door of the room, Gerwyn says, “I love you more than anything in the world, and that will never change – 

"If you want to go – don't hold on!"

“but if you’re suffering, love, if it hurts, if you want to go – don’t hold on, OK, it’s all right.”

"What's wrong with you, Dad?"

Guto snarls, “What’s wrong with you?”   Gerwyn points out that he told his son not to come, as he does not want him to see his mother like this, but he is instructed, “Don’t talk like that in front of Mam – she can hear you!”

"I wanted to say goodbye – just in case"

“I wanted to say goodbye – just in case!” protests Gerwyn, but Guto tells him to stop it, as he does not know what is going to happen.   

"Seeing something like that will stay with you"

“Seeing something like that will stay with you . . .” Gerwyn begins, but is ordered to go home, and described as pathetic.

A nurse has been attracted by the altercation . . .

A nurse comes in, responding to the raised voices, and Guto insists, “Just go – I don’t want you here – and if Mam was awake, she wouldn’t want you here either!”

. . . and Gerwyn is shown the door . . .

Gerwyn apologises to the nurse and leaves, 

. . . while Guto sits with his mother

while Guto sits beside his mother.

"How are things, Tesni?"

In the café, Tesni sits alone while Colin collects two coffees from Gwen;  he asks Tesni how things are, 

"There's not much change"

and is told there is not much change.   Both he and Britt are very sympathetic about Jaclyn and Britt remarks, 

"I don't know why Gaynor is so hard on Izzy"

“I don’t know why Gaynor is so hard on Izzy either.”

"She was in a weird mood this morning"

He confirms that she was in a weird mood this morning, and Britt now feels guilty because it was her idea to make the candles;  “It’s nothing compared to poor Jaclyn,” Colin reminds her, 

"Having to fight for her life!"

“Having to fight for her life!”

"Are you OK, Tes?"

Mathew comes in and asks Tesni if she is OK, but she does not answer.

They hear raised voices

When Hywel and Angharad return to Llwyncelyn they hear Gaynor shouting at Izzy, “What’s wrong with you – leaving hot water out like that when Esther is here?”   Izzy explains that they nearly had an accident with the hot water.

Angharad looks at Gaynor's bank statement . . .

Meanwhile. Angharad is snooping around, and finds a bank statement in the name of Gaynor Llywelyn;  

. . . which she peruses carefully

she takes a careful look at it, as Gaynor hands Esther back to her father and he takes her upstairs.

"She could have hurt herself!"

“You have to take more care – she could have hurt herself!” Gaynor rants, 

"OK, Mam – you've made your point!"

and Izzy says that she has made her point, and that Esther is fine.   

"Do you think you can do just as you want?"

“Do you think you can do just as you want?   Never mind about anyone else?” her mother goes on.

"Has something happened at school?"

Izzy assumes that something has happened at school to put her into this mood, 

"It's your mess – I've had enough of it!"

but Gaynor rages, “My problem is your mess – I’ve had enough of it!”   

Izzy barges past Angharad on her way to pack

If that is how she feels, Izzy says that she will move out, and her mother shouts after her, “Good idea – at least it will be safe for Esther then!”

"I'll make us a nice cup of tea, Gaynor"

Rather too late, she insists that she did not mean it, and Angharad will make them a cup of tea;  Gaynor looks with hatred at her.

Mathew and Tesni sit in silence

In the café, Mathew and Tesni sit silently;  

Gwen has some much-needed help at last

as an unfamiliar waitress brings a sandwich, Tesni admits she did not go for a run, and she does not want the sandwich.   He encourages her to eat something, 

"Why does everyone think food's the answer?"

but she groans, “Why does everyone think food’s the answer in a crisis?

She has not been to the hospital, and is not going today;  “I’ve been there every day for two weeks, 

"Missing one day won't make any difference"

“so missing one day won’t make a difference.   Dad said she wouldn’t be any the wiser anyway.   

"Why don't we go out – to Swansea perhaps?"

“Do you want to go out – now?   We could go to Swansea.”    

He does not think that is a good idea, so she suggests that they could go to the flat;  

"Come on, Mathew!"

she whispers in his ear, “Come on, Mathew!”

"Mam's driving me bonkers!"

Izzy is round at the chip shop flat, moaning to Britt, “She’s driving me bonkers!” and Colin is surprised that she has been thrown out of Llwyncelyn.   

"I know you two can hit the roof sometimes"

He appreciates that the two of them can hit the roof sometimes, and she wails that she has nowhere to stay;  “It would help if Eifion had his own place.”

"You must stay here – in Catrin's room"

Britt immediately volunteers Catrin’s room, and will not take no for an answer;  she tells Colin to make the tea, and she will take Izzy’s bag to the room.   Izzy can see that her father is not happy, 

"You're always welcome to stay here . . ."

but he assures her that she is always welcome to stay there;  “I’m always ready to help my little girl – 

". . . but I'm worried about Britt"

“it’s just that I’m worried about Britt – she’s got a routine, and I don’t want anything to interrupt that.”

Britt has been eavesdropping

Britt has been listening, and now returns, telling Izzy not to listen to her father;  

"I can't wait to have you here!"

“I can’t wait to have you here – there’s nothing worse than a house with empty rooms – 

"He's just worried he'll have two women telling him what to do!"

“he’s just worried that he’ll have two women telling him what do!”

After their exertion, Mathew fancies a cup of tea . . .

It appears that Mathew and Tesni have been indulging in some sexual activity, and as he is about to make them a cup of tea, he comments, “I wasn’t expecting that today!”  

. . . but Tesni is already putting on her coat

However, she is putting on her coat, and he is surprised that she is going already, suggesting that they could have a chat first;  “About this – about us?   Tes, I’ve really missed you.”

"Is that why you went to Aber over Christmas?"

“Is that why you went to stay in Aber over Christmas? she demands, but he is rather confused;  then she astonishes him by her statement, “It was just a one-off, OK?”   

"So I was a bit of a distraction?"

He is amazed that she could just use him like that;  “You know how much you mean to me! What was I?   A bit of a distraction?”

"Men like it when women just want sex!"

Tesni cannot understand what is the problem;  “Men like it when women just want sex – stop being such a wimp!”   

Mathew seems to have a problem here

She goes downstairs, leaving  Mathew perplexed.

"You can't take your eyes off her for one second!"

Hywel has got Esther off to sleep, and remarks, “You can’t take your eyes off her for one second.”   Gaynor is glad that she was there, but Hywel maintains there was no need to shout at Izzy, and encourages her to go and look for her daughter, as she cannot let this come between them.

"She's had tantrums since she was born"

“She’s had tantrums and sulked since the day she was born – she’ll be back,” Gaynor confidently predicts.

"That's how things should be between mother and daughter"

Angharad points out that it is obvious that they both understand each other, which is how things should be between a mother and daughter;  “Falling out and big hugs afterwards.   

"Is it OK to put the cottage pie in the oven?"

“We haven’t had lunch yet – is it OK to put the cottage pie in the oven?”   

Hywel approves this, 

"She's doing her best to make you feel better!"

and stresses to Gaynor, “Angharad is doing her best to make you feel better.”   

"I don't feel comfortable in her company"

Gaynor replies that she does not feel comfortable in Angharad’s company.

"Another complimentary text . . ."

Hywel receives a text, praising the programme;  “Angharad spoke well about important matters – 

". . . when will she be back on CwmFM?"

“when will she be back on CwmFM?”   He offers her a slot on the radio, 

"We make a good team, Hywel!"

and she maintains that they make a good team.

"First Elgan and now Hywel!"

Gaynor demands, “What are you doing, Angharad?   First Elgan and now Hywel – what is your problem?”   

"I wouldn't come between you, Gaynor!"

Of course, Angharad protests that she would not come between Gaynor and Hywel, and stresses that she is not a threat.

"You're perfect for each other!"

“I could never compete with you – you’re perfect for each other!” Angharad exclaims, 

Not exactly a welcoming expression

but seeing the expression on Gaynor’s face, she adds, “I’ll go and pack my bags.”

Gaynor admits that perhaps she overreacted, 

"There won't be anyone left in the house at this rate!"

and Hywel says, “There won’t be anyone left in the house at this rate!”   

"You can have the place to yourselves"

She tells Angharad that she can stay, but is told that it is best if she leaves, then she and Hywel can have the place back to themselves.   Gaynor wonders what Angharad’s game is this time.

"Mam, please don't give up!"

Guto is at his mothers bedside;  “Mam, please don’t give up – please!   

"Dad's panicking – as usual"

“You’re going to get through this – don’t listen to Dad – he’s panicking and thinking the worst – as usual.   

"I'm going to look after you"

“You’re going to be OK – because I’m here and I’m going to look after you.”

Jaclyn's eyes briefly flicker open 

He sees Jaclyn’s eyes momentarily open, then close again, 

Guto is in tears by her bedside

and Guto sobs by the side of her bed.