11 June 2020

Diane is doing the washing up

Diane is doing the washing-up when Dai rushes in, exclaiming, “I got the last copy in the shop – they’re selling like hot cakes!”   

"Oh – I'm not on the front page!"

He shows her the Western Post, and she is disappointed that her column does not appear on the front page;  

"Page three – a lot of blokes' favourite page!"

“You’re on Page three – a lot of blokes’ favourite page!” he informs her, “Not me, of course.”

"She is married to the successful businessman . . ."

Apparently there is even a mention of him there as well;  he reads, “She is married to the successful businessman, former captain of the golf club and chairman of Cwmderi RFC – 

"Oh, Crikey Moses!   Dan Ashurst!"

“oh, Crikey Moses!   Dan Ashurst!”   Diane finds this very amusing, and reminds him that it is an article about her.

He goes on to tell her, “It says some very nice things about you – a lady with her feet on the ground, who understands people’s problems.”   She says that Hywel Llywelyn phoned earlier, wanting her to do an interview on CwmFM.   

"You're one of the celebs now, Diane!"

“Hey, you’re one of the celebs now – woman of letters, as they say,” Dai remarks, “If I were you, I’d go upstairs to get that white dressing gown – the Gorsedd awaits, Diane!”

Anita fills Hywel's mug with coffee

As Anita fills Hywel’s mug with in coffee in the café, 

"Making an impression on the protesters?"

she comments, “You bought this mug to make an impression on the protesters, I suppose.”   He points out that it will also save her some washing-up, and regrets that he cannot join the protest, as he will be broadcasting.

"It sends a message to Cardiff and London"

“A protest in a rural area sends a message to Cardiff and London – we need to prick people’s conscience,” he maintains, 

"Shame Rhys doesn't have more conscience!"

and Anita replies that it is a shame Rhys does not have more conscience.

“Iolo hasn’t been able to work for a while now – have a word with Rhys about compensation,” she urges him, 

"I'll see what I can do"

and he agrees to see what he can do.   “Arwen is asking to see Rhys as well,” she goes on, 

"Mind you keep quiet about that!"

but he urges her to keep quiet about that.

They prepare placards for the protest . . .

At number 10, Luned tells Tesni that she has a one-to-one session in the gym after the protest;  

. . . and Guto is eavesdropping

Guto, who, unknown to the girls, is sitting quietly at the bottom of the stairs,  looks concerned about this.

"Have you contacted that supplier?"

When Dylan comes in, asks if Guto has contacted the supplier, 

"Delivery will be on Monday"

and is told that the delivery will be on Monday; thus his cover is blown, 

Luned is disturbed . . .

and it is Luned’s turn to look anxious.   Guto says he has not seen her for ages, 

. . . and is in a hurry to leave the house

and she appears in a great hurry to leave.

"We won't be targeting you, then!"

Dylan stresses that all the meat and veg at Tapas are organic, so Tesni assures him the protest will not be targeting him.   

"I don't think saving the planet is why you want to go"

Guto would like to follow them, and Dylan says he can have the day off to do so;  “But I don’t think saving the planet is why you want to go!”   

"I don't want to look too keen, you know"

Guto does not want to appear too eager, and is advised, “Just ask her straight if she wants to go out with you again – then you’ll know where you stand.   She won’t say no, 

"There's a free meal for you both at Tapas"

“and there’s a free meal for you both at Tapas.”

"Local car, full service history"

Garry is talking to someone about Dylan’s car;  “Local car, full service history, Dylan Ellis, the owner of Tapas – he’s got a number of businesses.   

"Bit shifty, perhaps"

“He’s a bit shifty, perhaps – no, there’s no finance on it, and the car’s spot-on.   Call me back.”

He can hear sounds outside, and discovers that it is the protest;  

"What the hell?"

“What the hell?” he mutters.

The road is full of demonstrators

In the street a crowd of local inhabitants, some of whom have not been seen before, are shouting slogans and holding up their placards.   

"Sorry, mate – I'll sort this out"

This is causing somewhat of a traffic jam, and Colin attempts to get a delivery driver to move from in front of the Deri.   

“You can’t unload here – no way, José!” he shouts, “There’s a protest!” 

"I shall only be five minutes"

but the driver argues that he will only be five minutes

"You must want the support of the local columnist!"

Diane would like to say a few words at the start, but Britt is reluctant to let her do this, as she organised the protest;  “You must want the support of the local columnist!” insists Diane, “I’m doing an interview on CwmFM later!”   

"Hope you'll mention Britt Monk"

Britt hopes that she will mention Britt Monk doing something worthwhile for a change, but is told in no uncertain terms, “I’ll be discussing my new column in the Western Post.”   

"Her picture was on page three, you know!"

Dai emphasises that her picture was on page 3.

"I told him he only has a couple of minutes"

Colin advises Britt that he told the van driver he only has a couple of minutes, and they are pleased with the turnout.   

"Put a stop to this now, Col!"

Garry comes across and stresses that Britt has not had permission for this nonsense;  “Put a stop to it!” he orders.

"Where am  going to get my fish and chips now?"

Dai considers that Garry has a point;  “Where am I going to get my fish and chips now?   Goodness me – fish is fish at the end of the day!”

Coincidentally, Guto is also going to the gym

Tesni is surprised to see that Guto has joined the protest, and he says that he is going to the gym afterwards;  

"Good – another recruit"

Rhys is pleased to have another recruit, 

Rhys can see he has something to work on

but Guto maintains that he is pretty fit already, and Luned can see that he is trying to impress her.

"North Sea cod stocks have fallen by 31%"

He has also prepared a list of facts about global warming;  “For example, North Sea Cod stocks have fallen by about 31% in five years,” he begins, 

"Everyone will fall asleep if you read that!"

and Luned predicts that everyone will fall asleep if he reads all that out.

"Listen up, everyone!"

Garry takes advantage of the situation, and calls for attention, “Listen up!   Now that the chip shop is closed, the Deri will be serving traditional fish and chips today!   

"Free drink for the first twenty customers!"

“And there’s a free drink for the first twenty customers to order.   

The protesters like the sound of that

This seems to be a popular offer with the crowd, 

"More customers for me"

and Rhys thinks that it will mean more customers for him, who want to lose a few pounds.

"I've got a document to translate"

At Y Felin, Siôn admits that he does feel bad for missing the protest but has a document to translate.   Hywel asks him about Arwen, 

"We're trying to give her a settled home"

and Siôn replies, “We’re trying to give her a settled home – but we don’t want to take Ffion’s place, obviously.”

"She's the key to getting Ffion through this"

Hywel appreciates that Arwen is the key to getting Ffion through this, and advises, “She has finished with Rhys,” which disappoints Siôn, who stresses that Ffion needs stability.   “Well, Rhys is pretty vulnerable,” says Hywel, 

"Sorry Anita's been putting pressure on you"

and Siôn apologises for Anita putting pressure on him about Iolo’s accident.

"£1,000 compensation for Iolo . . ."

“That’s why I’m here,” Hywel goes on, and presents Siôn with an envelope;  “Compensation for Iolo – a thousand pounds.”   Siôn is reluctant to accept it, arguing that it was simply an accident in the gym, but is then told there is a condition attached.   

". . . on condition you keep Arwen away from Rhys"

“That you keep Arwen away from Rhys.”   Siôn does not look particularly happy about this.

Guto is still trying to impress Luned

In the gym, Luned is pedalling vigorously, while Guto is using the equipment next to her;  hearing the music which is playing, she asks Rhys, “Have you been to one of their gigs?” but he is not interested.   “They’re playing in Cardiff this summer – you’d love them!” she continues;  

"I've got better things to do with my money"

he says he has better things to do with his money.   Undeterred, she adds that she has found a brilliant website for getting cheap tickets;  

Guto looks as if he is in difficulties

“Give me your phone and I’ll send you the details.”

Guto appears to be in difficulty with some weights, 

"I'm supposed to be having a one-to-one!"

and is rescued by Rhys, but Luned protests that she is supposed to be having a one-to-one session.

Rhys ensures that Guto has no ill effects, 

"Ooh – I think I've pulled a hamstring!"

so Luned feigns an injury;  “I think I’ve pulled a hamstring.”   

"You should have warmed up properly"

She is irritated when Rhys merely scolds her for not warming up properly, and will take a look when he has sorted out Guto.

"The Western Post's new agony aunt"

Hywel welcomes Anita to CwmFM, introducing her as, “The Western Post’s new agony aunt, Diane Ashurst.   Tell us, what persuaded you to take this job?   Did you wake up one morning and think, ‘I want to be an agony aunt’?”

"I've always been interested in people"

She replies that she has always been interested in people and is good at listening, and at giving sensible advice, she hopes.   Hywel goes on, “They say it helps if you’ve had the same experiences as the contributors – 

"Have you and your husband had any marital problems?"

“have you and your husband had any marital problems?   People like to gossip.”

Diane objects to this

Diane is offended by this line of questioning, so is then asked if the column has a catchy title;  “Yes, ‘A Word of Advice’,” she coldly replies, 

"Is that 'catchy' enough for you, Hywel?"

“Is that ‘catchy’ enough for you, Hywel?”   He invites the listeners to suggest a better title, and then plays some music.

"You've got a cheek!"

“You’ve got a cheek, suggesting Dai and I have marital problems,” she snarls, 

"I was only joking, Diane"

but he gives the excuse that he was only joking.   

"Remember I'm doing you a favour here!"

“I’m doing you a favour – trying to fill your little programme!” she adds, and he tells her to make the most of the publicity.

Anita brings Dai's order

Anita is busy in the café, and brings Dai a cheese roll.   He explains that he asked for one containing ham;  

"Do I look like a vegetarian to you?"

“Do I look like a vegetarian to you?”   She has been rushed off her feet, and he remarks that she looks shattered.

"Arwen will want attention when I get home"

“I am – and Arwen will want attention when I get home as well,” she groans.   

"Everyone takes grandparents for granted"

Dai says that everyone takes grandparents for granted these days, with Jason using Bryntirion as a crèche.

"I don't think Diane was wise to go on that programme"

“I don’t think Diane was wise to go on Hywel’s programme,” considers Anita, “He’s taking her very lightly, isn’t he?” 

Dai suggests that she could support Diane, by writing her a letter, about anything that is bothering her these days;  

"I mean, are things working with Siôn?"

“I mean, are things working with Siôn?” he enquires, 

Anita is disgruntled

and she is shocked that he would suggest such a thing.   She stalks off to the kitchen.

"Cwmderi's Marjorie Proops"

Back at CwmFM, Hywel continues to interview ‘Cwmderi’s Marjorie Proops’;  Diane is becoming increasingly impatient 

"I think I have a more modern attitude"

as she explains, “I think I have a more modern attitude than Marjorie Proops!” 

"You'll have to be a lot of things . . ."

He comments that she will have to be a lot of things;  a doctor, social worker, minister, marriage counsellor, lawyer.   

"I'll take people's problems seriously"

She counters with, “And I’ll take people’s problems seriously.”

"Their partner had a hairy back?"

Hywel enquires, “Even someone who came to you and said their partner had . . . I don’t know . . . a hairy back?   

"Your husband, Dan Ashurst"

“I’m not saying for a second that your husband, ‘Dan’ Ashurst, has that problem.”   

"I'm going to walk out if you carry on like this!"

She covers the microphone and warns him that she is going to walk out if he continues like this, but he regards it as just a bit of teasing.

She declares, “Remember, life is not a joke – marriages fail and people have affairs – 

"You've got plenty of experience in that area, haven't you, Hywel?"

“you’ve got plenty of experience in that area, haven’t you, Hywel?”   

This seems to shut Hywel up

He is rather more subdued after this, and plays some more music;  Diane looks quite pleased with herself.

Perhaps Ed's number should be removed from this list

Garry is looking intently at the list of contacts on his phone (which strangely still includes Ed’s name).   

Britt is very pleased with today

Britt comes upstairs and finds him on his own;  “I’m so glad I organised today – it was a big success,” she boasts.   

"We sold a mountain of fish and chips downstairs"

Garry is glad that the Deri sold a mountain of fish and chips downstairs, but she insists there are more important things in life than money.

"You need common sense, Britt"

“I’m surprised at you, with two young children,” she goes on, but he maintains that common sense is needed, pointing out that if every chippy closed, fishermen would be out of work and their families would suffer;  it is not black and white.   

"The whole point was to start a discussion"

She says that the whole point of today was to start a discussion.

"Some people have no choice"

“It’s fine for people who can afford to be green – some have no choice,” Garry points out, 

"Not angry with me, are you?"

and Britt wants to know what is wrong, and whether he is angry with her. 

He reports that Dani and Seren are out for the day, and his sister wonders why he did not go with them;  “You wouldn’t have to listen to me shouting about saving the planet, then.   

"Go down and fetch a bottle of whisky"

“Garry, put the kettle down and fetch a bottle of whisky.   I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s wrong.”   

He goes down to the bar

He follows her instructions.

"No-one will take me seriously now"

Back at home, Diane apologises to Dai about the ‘waxing his back’ comment, and is adamant that Hywel Llywelyn went too far;  “No-one will take me seriously now,” she moans.   

"Not many people manage to shut him up!"

He reminds her that she shut Hywel Llywelyn up – and not many people manage to do that.   He further predicts that Mark Jones’ sack will be full of letters for her now.

"Siôn, you haven't put the washing on!"

Anita arrives home at Y Felin after her hard day at the café, and finds that Siôn has not done the washing as requested.   

"I've been busy with Arwen"

He has been busy reading to Arwen upstairs.   

"Opening in the evenings isn't paying off"

Anita complains, “Keeping the café open in the evenings isn’t paying off – there was hardly anyone there tonight.”

He informs her that Hywel called, and she describes him as selfish and unscrupulous.   

"£1,000 compensation for Iolo . . ."

“Well, he brought this over,” Siôn continues, “Compensation for Iolo – there’s £1,000 in there,” and she considers it quite justified.   

". . . but there's a condition"

He adds, “But there’s a condition – he doesn’t want us to tell Rhys that Arwen misses him.” 

Anita regards this as bribery and is furious;  

"If he thinks that will keep me quiet . . ."

“If Hywel Llywelyn thinks £1,000 will keep me quiet, he can think again!” she rages, and as she puts on her coat, she growls, “I don’t care about the money – he has no right to stop Arwen seeing Rhys!”   

"Put this washing on, Siôn!"

Siôn thinks that they ought to stay out of it, but she will not listen, merely telling him to put on the washing now.

"I'd like some peanuts"

In the Deri, Luned is going to buy the next round, and Guto would like some peanuts, containing plenty of protein.   

"Right, I'm going, Guto"

While she goes to the bar, Rhys takes the opportunity of leaving, and on his way to the door meets Anita, 

"Arwen would like to see you"

who informs him that Arwen is missing him and would like to see him.

He is of the opinion that it will be easier for her if she does not see him, 

"But Arwen adores you, Rhys"

but is assured that Arwen adores him.   

"It was easier not to see Dad . . ."

He explains, “I learned as a child that it was easier not to see Dad than to miss him after he left – I was heartbroken every time.   

"I don't want Arwen to go through that"

“I don’t want Arwen to go through that,” 

Anita is is shocked

but Anita cannot understand his attitude.

"Where's Rhys?"

Luned returns, disappointed to find that Rhys has gone;   

Dylan receives a phone message

at the bar, Dylan looks at his phone and sees a message, “Enjoy your pint.”   

He looks extremely anxious

He looks around the pub, wondering who sent it, and then there is another one, from the same number, 

A more chilling message this time

this time ominously reading, “Enjoy your final weekend.”   This causes him some anxiety.

Britt pours Garry another whisky

Britt pours Garry another whisky, and he says, “Things haven’t been right since we lost the baby – 

"It's as if she's doing things to make me angry"

“it’s as if Dani’s deliberately doing things to make me angry.   She and Cassie organised to take Gwern to see Gwyneth, behind my back.”

"Is Dani doing what she thinks is right for Gwern?"

Britt asks, “Is Dani doing what she thinks is right for Gwern?   Perhaps Dani puts the children first – something you and I never had – not from a  birth mother anyway.”

"So my parenting isn't good enough?"

He demands if she is saying that his parenting is not good enough, but she urges him to calm down.   

"You're always arguing about the children"

“I’m saying you’re always arguing about the children, who are clearly very important to you both – 

"Don't let them destroy your relationship"

but don’t let them destroy your relationship, because that’s what children need most.”   

"What do you want in life, Gar?"

After a few seconds’ silence, she asks, “What do you want in life, Gar?”   

"I want Gwern and Seren to be happy – and safe"

He replies that he wants Gwern and Seren to be happy – and safe;  “To have the things we never had.   It’s not much to ask, is it?”

"And Dani – do you want to be with her?"

Britt continues, “And Dani – do you want to be with her?”   

Garry does not answer

Garry looks at her, but makes no reply.