🎄Christmas Day, 25 December 2020 (1st)

 

"You must have been a good girl all year"

As they sit by the Christmas tree, Iolo tells Greta, “You must have been a good girl all year to get so many presents.”   

"Anna!"

Greta says that her doll’s name is, “Anna,” 

"Do you want to open this one?" 

and Iolo finds another present, which he notes, with some disdain, is from Dadi and Aled;  he asks if she wants to open it.   

"Yeah!"

“Yeah!” says Greta, enthusiastically.

"The new Newcastle kit!"

In the Deri flat, Gwern is very excited by the new Newcastle kit he has been given, and Dani wonders how Siôn Corn knew.   

"Seren's been going on and on about that doll"

“Seren’s been going on and on about that doll,” Gwern tells her, 

"Well, it couldn't have been that amazing"

but Dani says it could not be that amazing, because Seren has gone straight back to sleep.

“How did Cassie know?” asks Gwern, and his mother suspects that she must be psychic;  then he finds a new game, and assures Dani that he is old enough to play it.   

"It's a football game"

“It’s a football game – can I phone her to say thanks?”   His mother tells him to leave it until later, 

"Have you heard from your Dad?"

and asks if he has heard from his father;  

"I'm going to try and phone him now"

“I’m going to try and phone him now, to say Merry Christmas,” Gwern replies, 

"Thanks for the presents, Dani"

and as he leaves the room, thanks Dani for the presents.

Dylan still has Garry's phone

Dylan finds that Garry’s phone is vibrating in his pocket, and finds that it is a call from Gwern;  he quickly hides the phone when Sara comes downstairs.   

"We should wait till Ifan arrives"

He has a present which he puts down on the table, maintaining that they should not open presents before Ifan arrives;  

"If I don't finish wrapping it"

“And you won’t have anything to open, if I don’t finish wrapping it.”

She will go and make coffee, but he suggests there is champagne in the fridge;  

He sees the voicemail message . . .

he finds that there is a voicemail message on the phone, and surreptitiously listens to it.

. . . and listens to Gwern's voice

Gwern’s voice can be heard, “Hiya, Dad, I hope you’re all right.   We’ve had amazing presents – Dani’s bought us loads, but we still miss you.   Phone me back, please.   Merry Christmas.”   

Suddenly he goes out — conscience troubling him?

Dylan replaces the phone in his pocket and announces to Sara that he has to go, as he rushes from the house, 

This (like so many things) does not please Sara

which Sara finds rather disturbing.

Dylan heads towards Bethania . . . 

Dylan walks along the street towards Bethania, from which we can hear the sounds of a carol;  

. . . and goes inside

he goes into the chapel.

"I fell asleep after putting the turkey in"

Siôn has prepared breakfast at Y Felin for Anita;  “I think I fell asleep again after putting that turkey in,” she admits.   

"Oh, another scarf – lovely"

She picks up her present from Siôn, and, rather disappointedly, comments, “Oh, another scarf – lovely.   I’m not sure the colour suits me.”   

"It matches your eyes"

He says that it matches her eyes, 

"Do you have the receipt?"

but she enquires, “Do you have the receipt?”   Siôn is annoyed, pointing out that he got it at a Fair Trade market;  “It was made by girls in Palestine.”   

"Oh, French lessons"

She indicates her present for him, which he discovers is DVDs of French lessons.

Mark appears to have cremated the bacon

At number 9, Mark is having problems cooking bacon, which has set off the smoke alarm;  

"You woke me and half the street!"

Cassie comes down to see what all the fuss is about, and he asks whether the noise has woken her.   “Me and half the street!” she shouts, and he explains that he had a disaster with the bacon.

"I hope you like it crispy!"

“I hope you like it crispy,” he jokes, but she cannot face anything, after those cocktails last night.   He recommends, “A Bloody Mary and you’ll be fine.”   

"All I want is to be left alone"

She complains that all she wants is a box of chocolates in bed and to be left alone on Christmas morning.

"But you have company this year!"

He stresses, “That is what you do when you’re on your own – but you have company this year!   How do you want your egg?”   

She cannot stomach the idea of an egg

Unfortunately the mere mention of an egg makes her feel queasy.

Eileen prepares the veg

At the farm, Eileen is preparing the vegetables, and Sioned comes in to report that Huwi is doing well with his new scooter.   

"Try and forget about it for today"

“I assume that you haven’t heard anything from Colin,” she adds, “Try and forget about it for today –you don’t want that to spoil our Christmas, do you?”

"You're used to carrying on as if nothing's happened"

Eileen grumbles, “That’s easy for you to say – you’re used to making mistakes and carrying on as if nothing’s happened.”   

"At least they have some Christmas spirit!"

Sioned thinks it might be advisable for her to go back out to Huwi and DJ, remarking that at least they have some Christmas spirit.

"Do we really need crackers this year?"

Siôn is dancing round the room with a glass in his hand to some Christmas music;  Anita looks askance at him.   “Do we really need crackers this year?” he asks, “There’s so much waste and they’re not good for the environment.”   

"Greta will love them"

She points out that she has already bought them, and, in any case, Greta will love them.   

"You'll be fluent next time we go to Quebec"

“The woman in the shop told me that French course is excellent – you’ll be fluent next time we go to Québec,” she informs him.

"Plenty of others have made the same mistake"

He enlightens her, “The French in France and Québec aren’t quite the same – don’t worry, plenty of others have made the same mistake.”   

"As we are all so stupid!"

She moans, “You can tell the woman in the shop that, when you exchange it – as we are all so stupid!”   He protests that he is not taking it back, as a man can never learn too many languages.

“I will actually start now – merci beaucoup, mon cheri,” he says, and she flounces out of the room;  he throws the DVDs on to the floor.

"You made my Christmas by coming this morning, Dylan"

As they come out of Bethania, Megan comments, “You made my Christmas by coming this morning, Dylan,” and he says that he enjoyed it.   “It’s a shame there aren’t more young people like you,” she goes on, but he warns her that he is no angel.   

"You seemed rather distant"

“Forgive me for asking, but you seemed rather distant this morning,” Megan enquires.

"I don't want to bore you with my problems"

Dylan does not want to bore her with his problems, although she assures him that talking can help.   He wonders if she will be alone at home today, 

"It's going to be a quiet day"

and she predicts that it is going to be a quiet day, as neither Rhian nor she wanted to travel.   

Dylan invites her over to them, emphasising that they have more than enough food, but she does not want to be a burden.   “We would love it, Megan,” he insists, 

"I'm not taking no for an answer, Megan"

“And I’m not taking no for an answer.”   

Sioned snaffles a mince pie

At Penrhewl, Sioned helps herself to a mince pie, telling her mother that supervising the scooter is hard work;  

Eileen regrets what she said

Eileen apologises, explaining that today is difficult.   “I know – but try not to let the business with Colin make you feel bad – you did one stupid thing in the heat of the moment.   People do far worse things, trust me.”

"Are we having Yorkshire Puds with the turkey?"

DJ comes in, declaring, “The question is – are we having Yorkshire puds with the turkey?”   Eileen was not planning to do so, 

"Chef DJ is at your service . . ."

and he announces, “Chef DJ is at your service – 

". . . with the maid's help, of course!"

“with the maid’s help, of course!”   Sioned tells her mother to go and enjoy herself with Huwi, while they get on with the meal.   DJ adds that Eileen is looking lovely today, and it is a shame he does not have any mistletoe.

"Stop grovelling!"

When her mother has gone, Sioned reprimands him, “Stop grovelling – I told you Mam’s happy that we’re together.”   

"Nothing wrong with charming your mother-in-law"

He answers that there is nothing wrong with charming your mother-in-law, and sets Sioned to work, mashing.

Jason ahs been chatting with Dai and Diane 

In the café flat, Jason has been chatting online to Dai and Diane in Australia;  “Dai’s in his trunks on the beach, Mam and Emma are having cocktails.”   

"Not a turkey in sight, then!"

Kelly remarks, “Not a turkey in sight, then!” but apparently Dai has insisted on having a turkey.

"Barbecue on the beach on Christmas Day"

Jason groans, “If there’s one thing I miss about Australia, it’s a barbecue on the beach on Christmas Day.”   She points out that he loves roast potatoes, but he maintains that it is easy on a barbecue.   “And it’s on the beach – do you know why?   Because it’s warm!”

"Why don't we have one?"

“Why don’t we have one?” Kelly asks, “I know we don’t have the sunshine – or shrimps, but we’ve got a barbecue and a freezer full of burgers, so why not?   It’ll be a laugh – come on!”

"Kelly, it's freezing outside"

He protests that it is freezing outside.

"Where's your sense of adventure, Jase?"

but she demands, “Where’s your  sense of adventure, Jase – 

"I think it'll be super romantic!"

“I mean, I think it’ll be super romantic!”

"Where have you been?"

Sara starts moaning as soon as Dylan comes in through the front door;  her mood is not improved when she sees that he is accompanied by Megan.   

"We've got room for one more, haven't we, Sara?"

“Take a seat – we’ve got one room for one more, haven’t we, Sara?” says Dylan, and continues to insist that they have plenty of food.

"I haven't started cooking yet"

Sara has not started cooking yet, 

"I'll make a cup of tea"

and looks furiously towards Dylan, who will make a cup of tea.   “You’re very lucky to have him, Sara,” Megan tells her, 

Sara is not feeling very lucky

but Sara does not look as if she agrees.

Mark has everything organised

At number 9, Mark has moved the table and is preparing the meal.   Cassie demands why he has moved everything, and he says that it would be nice to have the table in the middle.   

"I would be happy with a plate on my lap"

She would have been quite happy with the plate on her lap, and to be honest, is still full after breakfast.

"The whole point is to eat although you're full!"

“The whole point of Christmas is to eat although you’re full!” he maintains, “Sit down and relax – dinner won’t be long – I’m just doing the starter.   

"Honestly, you don't need to thank me"

Honestly, Cas, you don’t need to thank me, all right?   It’s a pleasure.”   

How much more can Cassie take?

She is becoming exasperated.

"We haven't exchanged gifts yet"

Aled complains that they have been so busy with the kids, they have not exchanged gifts yet;  Tyler admit that he has not even wrapped his gift for Aled yet, but is urged to go and get his gift from under the tree.

"You've spent a small fortune!"

He finds a small box, and gasps, “You’ve spent a small fortune – of course I like them – I’ve wanted some for ages.   You didn’t have to!”

"I don't have to listen to that 'Serial Killer' podcast"

“Oh yes I did,” is the reply, “So I don’t have to listen to that podcast about serial killers any more!   

"I wanted to show you how much you mean to me"

“And I wanted to show you how much you mean to me.   I’ve been looking forward to today so much, thanks to Dani, you and the kids.”   Tyler wants to make sure they have a special dinner as well.

Siôn practises his French

As he wears his headphones, Siôn is reciting, “Le chien est blanc, la vache est blanche.”   Anita tells Iolo that he is trying to prove a point – that he likes his present.

"He's already told me I got the wrong ones"

“He has already told me I got the wrong one,” she moans, then orders Siôn, 

"Turn it off – the food's ready!"

“Turn it off – the food’s ready!”   Iolo says that Greta was fast asleep earlier, 

"It's better not to wake her, Anita"

and Siôn thinks it is better not to wake her, as she is shattered.   

"She was up at four this morning"

Iolo tells them that she was up at 4:00am.

Anita insists that they cannot eat without her;  “Go and wake her up.”   Siôn advises her that it is better not to, as she can be very fussy with food.   “With your food,” Anita snarls, 

"No child likes roasted aubergine with fennel!"

“Because no child likes roasted aubergine with fennel!”   He points out that Arwen loves it, and she protests, “I don’t like eating without her!”

As his father predicts that Greta will not be happy if she is woken now, 

"Here they go again!"

Iolo sits on the stairs and listens to this bickering.   

"Fine – if you insist, Siôn"

“Fine – if you insist, Siôn,” Anita exclaims, “Sit down – I’m going to get the turkey.”   

Jason struggles with the barbecue . . .

Outside the back of APD, Jason is attempting to light the barbecue, apparently with limited success;  

. . . and is ridiculed by Kelly

Kelly reminds him that he said he was an expert in Australia.   “You can have a shot if you think you can do better,” he challenges her, 

"We're freezing in here, you know"

but she complains that both she and Ifan are freezing.

Jason needs more firelighters, and she laughs at him, “You still love me, don’t you, although my ideas are weird?”   He replies that life would be a lot easier if he did not – and he would have eaten his dinner by now.   

"You can have the strawberry one"

Kelly offers him a chocolate, but stipulates he cannot have the toffee one, but must have the strawberry.

"I'd rather eat a raw sausage"

“I’d rather eat a raw sausage,” he answers;  she dares him to do so.   “Not only do you want me to get pneumonia over Christmas, but you’re happy for me to have salmonella, too,” he whinges, “And I thought you loved me.”

"You're really dramatic, Jase!"

“I do love you, but you’re really dramatic, though,” she tells him.

Aled does a bit of snooping . . .

Alone in the kitchen, Aled looks in a few drawers, 

. . . and finds a present he assumes is for him

and finds a present hidden in one of them;  he quickly closes the drawer when he hears Tyler coming.

Dani has given instructions to take a cheesecake out of the freezer, 

"Everything's under control"

but Aled has already done so, assuring Tyler that everything is under control.

At Y Felin they have eaten their fill

After dinner at Y Felin, both Siôn and Iolo compliment Anita on the food;  “Well I think there’s enough left for another few days,” she says, and Iolo comments that there are not many roast potatoes left.   

"Meic's secret ingredient – Marmite!"

“Perhaps I should give you the recipe for them,” she tells him, “It’s Meic’s old one – there’s a special ingredient – Marmite!”   Siôn grimaces at the sound of that, so she growls at him, “You ate your fair share of them!”

"I'm taking Greta to see Tyler"

Now Iolo is going to take Greta to see Tyler, 

"You're welcome to come over tomorrow"

and tells them that they are welcome to come over tomorrow.   

"Couldn't you have made a bit more effort?"

He goes upstairs to fetch Greta, and Siôn asks Anita whether she could not have made more effort today;  “All you’ve done today is complain.   You’re not the only one under strain – since the start of lockdown, you haven’t been yourself.”

"Perhaps I still don't feel like myself"

Anita is becoming angry;  “And perhaps I still don’t feel like myself – I was just hoping that today would be . . . 

"It doesn't matter!"

“do you know what?   It doesn’t matter!”

"We're too old to argue all the time"

After some prompting from Siôn, she goes on, “I was hoping we could have some fun today – it’s Christmas day – we’re too old to argue all the time.”   

"We wouldn't, if you would compromise sometimes"

He points out that it would not be arguing if she would compromise sometimes.

“I bite my tongue more often than you think!” she rages, 

"If it's that bad, why are you still here?"

and he wonders, if it is that bad, why she is still there.   “Good question!   I’m certainly not happy – are you?” is her reply, 

"What's the point of carrying on?"

“There we are then – what’s the point of carrying on?”   Siôn similarly wonders what is the point, and with that she storms out of the room.