26 February 2020 (1st)

Eileen is back in the shop . . .

Colin finds Eileen in the shop checking on the accounts;  

. . . and Colin thinks he has done something wrong

he worries, “Is everything all right?   I haven’t made a mistake, have I?”   She replies that she did not realise she was doing it, and he offers to get this week’s receipts, so they can go through them together, 

"No, everything's fine, Colin"

but she protests that is unnecessary, and everything looks fine.

"You're doing a great job!"

“You’re doing a great job,” she tells him, 

Cassie pays Colin

as Cassie pays for the milk she has selected.   

Jim looks suspicious

Jim comes in, looking suspicious, and is asked by Eileen, “Did you take the food box over to Christine’s house?”

"Yes, of course I have"

He grumpily confirms that he has, and is asked whether he spoke to her, 

"I left it on the doorstep"

but says that she was not there, so he left it on the doorstep.   

"She said she would be at home"

Eileen is surprised, as she said that she would be at home.   

“Well, there was nobody there, right?   Don’t you trust me or something?” he demands, 

"If you're not happy, ask Colin to do it!"

“If you’re not happy, ask Colin to do it – you ask him to do everything else!”   

"Oh, not this again!"

Colin looks concerned as Eileen follows Jim out of the shop. 

"There's a bag outside Apêl Maenan with nice things in it"

Izzy meets Eifion outside the shop and tells him that she has a few more things for the auction;  “There’s a bag outside Apêl Maenan with some nice things in it.”   

"That's for people in need"

He reminds her that stuff is for people in need;  “And I need a new pair of shoes!” is her reply.

“Please don’t say you’ve taken something from the bag!” Eifion says, 

She says she is joking . . . but is she?

and she maintains that she was only joking, and that she is not a crook.

Eileen notices the veg box . . .

As they come out of the shop, Eileen tells Jim he can take the order over to Tapas this afternoon;  then she notices the box of Cae Glas produce on a doorstep, 

. . . but on the wrong doorstep

but it is not Christine’s doorstep.   

"What does it matter?   It's just a box of food!"

He dismisses this with, “Why does it matter?   It’s just a box of food!” so Eileen has to take it to the right house herself.

Brenda prepares a strange concoction

In the shop flat, Brenda is breaking an egg into a glass of red liquid;  

Mathew is suffering from a hangover

Mathew is just waking up from an uncomfortable night on the sofa.   “How are you feeling this morning?” she asks him, and he says that it feels like someone has had a stag do between his ears.   

"What did you put in those drinks?"

He wonders what Brenda put into those drinks, but she points out he was the one drinking until the early hours.   He moans that he had no choice, as someone was having a party on his bed, 

"If you can't handle the hangover, don't drink!"

and Brenda explains, “It’s simple enough – if you can’t handle the hangover, don’t drink!” then gives him the glass of unappetising liquid.

Mathew takes one sip . . .

Apparently it is known as ‘Red Eye’ and contains tomato juice, Tabasco, lager and a raw egg.   

. . . and finds out it tastes abominable

From Mathew’s reaction, it tastes even worse than it sounds.   Tesni comes up the stairs and asks if he is all right;  

"I don't know how much more of this I can take!"

“Yes – no thanks to your grandmother!” he snarls, “I don’t know how much more of this I can take!   I need my bed back,” 

"How are we going to do that?"

but Tesni does not know how they will accomplish that.

"What about that weekend she promised us?"

“What about that weekend she promised us?   We could have a few days away from her, then – go and ask her – you’re family – please!”

"Mam-gu – about that weekend . . ."

Tesni addresses her grandmother, “Mam-gu – we’ve been thinking about the weekend you promised us in return for being able to stay here.   

". . . Math and I are not busy this weekend"

“Math and I are not busy this weekend.”

Brenda alleges that she has arranged something;  “But I wanted to make sure it was something really special – 

She is told there is a waiting list

“the only problem is, there’s a waiting list, so you’ll have to wait for a few weeks – but I will keep you in the loop.”

Then, to avoid any further awkward questions, she says that she promised to meet Kath for a coffee, and hurries out of the flat.   

"Brilliant!"

“Brilliant!” growls Mathew.

"Look at Jim"

In the café, Izzy draws Eifion’s attention to the fact that 

Jim is tucking into cake for breakfast

Jim is eating cake at breakfast time;  

"He's enjoying himself – what's the problem?"

“As long as he’s enjoying himself, what’s the problem?” is his reply.

"Same again, please, Gwen"

Brenda comes in and joins Jim;  he calls to Gwen, “Same again, please!” and she will bring it over.   Brenda will not say no, as he is paying, and wonders if he is all right.   

"I'm driving Eileen mad!"

He says that he is, apart from the fact that he is driving Eileen mad, but she informs him that is what husbands are supposed to do.   “I get confused more often these days – it’s one mistake after another – no wonder she gets angry with me,” he groans.   

Gwen brings Brenda's cake

Brenda reminds him that Eileen understands, but he goes on, “Everyone else thinks I’m just an old fool.”

"What are you still doing here?"

Sioned, in her purple dressing gown, has just got up, and is surprised to see Mathew there;  

"Brenda tried to kill me with those drinks!"

he complains that Brenda tried to kill him with those drinks, and she describes him as a ‘wimp’.

“You don’t look too fresh yourself – she has to go!” he concludes, but Sioned instructs him to tell his girlfriend that.   He protests that he has already tried, 

"You want me to do your dirty work for you?"

so Sioned accuses him of wanting her to do his dirty work for him.   He argues that she owns the place – well, sort of – 

"I've got a bad back"

and pleads, “I’ve got a bad back – I can’t sleep on the sofa again!”

"You obviously have no backbone!"

She replies, “I’m not surprised, because you obviously have no backbone!”

Eileen is packing vegetable boxes

At Penrhewl, Eileen is packing more Cae Glas vegetable boxes when Jim comes in, 

"Are you still angry?"

asking if she is still angry.   

"We are running a business here"

She assures him, “I’m not angry, but we’re running a business here, and it’s important things go to the right people and places – otherwise they’ll stop ordering from us.”

"You clearing up my mistakes?"

“So this is how things are going to be from now on, is it?   You clearing up all my mistakes?” he sighs, and she points out there was a mistake, but it was sorted, and no-one noticed.   “But it’s not right, is it?” he continues, “You’ve got enough on your plate as it is.”

"Forget about it now, Jim"

Eileen is of the opinion that they could do anything together, and urges him to forget about it, as she pours out a cup of tea.   

"Perhaps I should tell people"

“You think I should tell people about it, don’t you?” says Jim, “Perhaps I should – people have started to notice there’s something wrong – I can tell from their faces.”

"Now is not the right time to tell them"

Eileen insists that people do not know anything, and now is not the right time to tell them, 

"When will it be the right time?"

so he wonders when it will be the right time.   “When I do something unforgivable – and you’re not there to pick up the pieces?”   She points out that it is not long since he had the diagnosis, 

"Why don't you want to tell people"

but he wonders why she does not want to tell people.

"People will treat you – us – differently"

“Because I’m worried that if people know, they’ll treat you – treat us –  differently,” she answers, “Every conversation will be about dementia, and that’s not how I want people to see you.”   

"It's part of me now – I can't get rid of it"

He reminds her that the illness is part of him now, and he cannot get rid of it;  things are not going back to the way they were, 

"I want to hold on to the old Jim for just a little while longer"

but she wants to hold on to the old Jim for just a little while longer.

"But that Jim doesn't exist any more"

“So do I,” he says, “But that Jim doesn’t exist any more.”   Eileen bursts into tears, 

"We'll tell people, but not just now"

and agrees that they will tell people, but not just now;  they will come up with a plan to tell people, and he agrees with this.

"Look, shall we go out for a drink tonight?"

“Shall we go out for a drink tonight?   Put today behind us – what do you say?” he suggests, and looks as if a weight has been lifted from his mind.

Mathew arrives, with crisps

Mathew comes into the flat with a packet of crisps, and notices that his washing has been left in the basket by the machine;  

Brenda takes over the crisp packet

when Brenda comes in, she seizes the crisps, 

"Why didn't you hang up the washing?"

and he asks why she did not hang up the washing.

"I'm not your maid!"

Brenda laughs, and informs him, “Why would I do that?   I’m not your maid!”   

"You're impossible to argue with, Brenda!"

He declares that she is impossible to argue with, and attempts to retrieve his crisps, but without success.

"Jim wants to start telling people"

Jim, Eileen and Sioned arrive at the Deri, and Eileen looks worried, informing Sioned that Jim wants to start telling people.   

"He's not that bad yet, is he?"

Sioned wonders if that is a good idea, as he is not that bad yet, but her mother says that it is his decision.   

“You know the symptoms – ‘lack of inhibition’ – what if that’s making him think this is a good idea?” Sioned goes on, 

"I can't see the difference between Jim and the illness"

and Eileen confesses that she cannot see the difference between Jim and the illness any more.   She is told that they have to discuss things before making any decision;  “We have a responsibility to protect him, Mam.”

Mathew is still looking under the weather

Mathew has also arrived, and sits down with Eifion and Izzy;  they ask him what is wrong, 

"Hair of the dog, is it?"

but at that moment Brenda also appears, 

"I'd say she has a bit of a crush on you!"

and Eifion suggests, “I’d say she has bit bit of a crush on you!” which makes Mathew feel even worse.

"Have you thought of how to tell people?"

Sioned asks if her mother has thought of how they are going to tell people, and is told they could get them together;  

"Surprise – I've got dementia!"

“What – like a party?   Surprise – I’ve got dementia!” says Sioned, but Eileen does not know – 

"I've never done this before"

she has never done this before.   

Sioned still does not regard this as a good idea;  

"And how would this affect the business?"

“Have you thought about how it would affect the business – you know how people can be.   I’m worried about Penrhewl’s future.   I don’t like the idea of everyone knowing our business.”

Champagne is being bought round

Cassie brings over glasses of champagne, commenting that Jim has bought them for everyone;  “Are you celebrating something?” and they look suspicious.

"Can I have your attention, please?"

Jim makes an announcement;  “Can I have your attention, please?”   

"Oh no, Jim!"

Sioned and her mother look at each other.   Jim is about to continue, 

"This is not the time to do it"

although Eileen tries to persuade him that this is not the time to do it;  he replies that it feels right to him.   

"I've got a bit of news for you"

“I’ve got a bit of news for you,” he says, 

"Eileen's not pregant again?"

and Colin makes a light-hearted quip about Eileen being pregnant again.   

"There isn't a right way – so here goes"

“I’ve been thinking about the right way of telling you this – but – well, there isn’t a right way of doing it, so here goes.   Some of you may have noticed that I’ve changed recently – that I’ve been more short-tempered than usual.   

"A lot of you think that's how I've always been"

“I know a lot of you think that’s how I’ve always been, but, well, there is a reason for it – and, well, I’d like you to hear it from me, before the rumours start going round the village. 

Sioned is uncomfortable

Eileen and Sioned are looking increasingly uncomfortable, 

"Frontal lobe dementia"

as he goes on, “Yeah, I’ve been diagnosed with dementia – frontal lobe dementia, to be honest – not that it matters much – 

"Dementia is dementia in the end, isn't it?"

“dementia is dementia in the end, isn’t it?

Eileen realises that the truth is now out

“I’m still in the early stages at the moment, but, of course, things will get worse and, well, I am very aware of this diagnosis – but I don’t want it to define me – and I don’t want you to treat me differently in any way – apart from perhaps showing a bit more patience, and understanding.

The staff and customers listen sympathetically

“I don’t want you to be afraid to talk to me about it, either, because, well, if you want to ask me something, ask me.   Well, that’s it – 

"I've never done this before"

“I’m not quite sure what to do next, because I’ve never done this before.   I’d like to propose a toast – I’m not sure whether ‘iechyd da’ [good health] is very appropriate, 

"What about 'To Arms'?"

but what about ‘To Arms’?”

All the customers raise their glasses, but Eileen is overcome with emotion and rushes out of the Deri.   

Cassie begins the applause . . .

Cassie begins to applaud, 

. . . and the villagers join in

and the rest of the customers follow suit.

Outside, Eileen is crying

Sioned follows her mother outside, where Eileen is weeping bitterly;  

"There's no turning back now, is there?"

“There’s no turning back now, is there?” she says, “There will be a lot of questions and sympathy.”   

"We're going to get a lot of support as well"

Sioned is of the opinion that they are going to get a lot of support as well.

"I shall have to do this more often!"

Cassie will buy Jim’s drink, and he comments, “I’ll have to do this more often!”   

"You were very brave, Jim!"

She says that he was very brave;  he is inclined to describe it as, “Stupid – but it is a relief to get it off my chest.”

"I should have suspected something when you threw those glasses"

Cassie should have suspected something, after he came in and threw those glasses, as that was not like him at all.   

"I shall have to spend a lot of time apologising"

He predicts that he will have to spend a lot of time apologising to people during the next few days, for all the mistakes he has made.

“I’m sure everyone has told you, but if there’s anything you need, just say,” Cassie advises him, 

Eileen and Sioned return

as Sioned and her mother come back into the bar.   

"I have all the help I need"

Jim puts his arm round Eileen, and comments that he has all the help he needs here.   He is now going to have a chat with some of the boys, and Colin comes across to speak to Eileen.

"Why didn't you say something earlier?"

“Why didn’t you say something earlier?” he asks, “I could have helped,”

"We wanted to keep it within the family" 

but she replies they wanted to keep it within the family.   He says that it is a shock to the system, and wonders if it will affect things at the shop;  

"I promise you I'll do a decent job, Eileen"

“I promise you I’ll do a decent job with the shop – you don’t have to worry.

"I wouldn't have asked you otherwise"

She confirms that she trusts him, otherwise she would not have asked him to run it, and he feels much better after that, assuring Eileen that if she needs anything, she only has to ask. 

"Did you know about that, Eifion?"

When they arrive back at the chippy flat, Izzy discovers that Eifion already knew about Jim’s condition, and demands why he did not tell her.   

"I promised I wouldn't tell anyone"

He explains that he promised Jim and Eileen that he would not tell anyone, but she insists that she is not just anyone.

"How will this affect your livelihood?"

“You should have told me straightaway,” she admonishes him, “Jim’s your boss – what happens to him is going to affect your livelihood!   You need to make sure that Jim and Eileen know just how valuable you are to the place – go back there now and tell them!   

"Someone has to think about our future" — look after number one, Izzy 

“And make it clear that you’re going to be there for them – someone has to think about our future, don’t they?”   He obediently heads back to the Deri.

"At least, everyone knows now"

Brenda finds Sioned sitting solemnly and says, “At least, everyone knows now – and Jim looks happy.”   Sioned thought that the whole thing would be more dignified, 

"Jim – dignified?"

but Brenda does not consider the words ‘Jim’ and ‘dignified’ belong together.

"It all makes sense now"

Mathew joins them, and says that it all make sense now, how he has been behaving recently;  “All the shouting and losing his temper – I know that’s how Jim can be – 

How arev we supposed to know if it is Jim or dementia?"

“but how are we supposed to know if it’s Jim being Jim, or the dementia?”

"If you can't say anything nice, keep your mouth shut!"

Sioned is offended by this, and snarls, “Didn’t anyone teach you – if you haven’t got anything nice to say, keep your mouth shut!”   

"Being stupid comes naturally to you!"

She stalks off, as Brenda points out that he cannot help saying stupid things – it comes naturally to him.

"I couldn't have done it without you, Brenda"

Brenda tells Jim that she is very proud of him, and he says that he could not done it without her;  “That’s what friends are for,” she assures him.

"It's time we went home, Jim"

Eileen thinks that it is time they went home, as Kath will be wondering where they are;  

"Kath will be emptying the fridge!"

“Kath will be having a good time, emptying the fridge!” Jim predicts, and tells Eileen to go.   

"I 'm not sure how much longer you can leave me on my own"

“I won’t be long,” he adds, “I’m not sure how much longer you’ll be able to leave me here on my own.”   

She reluctantly goes home alone

She heads back to Penrhewl.