8 March 2021

Who is this, snooping around the shop flat?

A stranger walks into the shop flat and has a look around, 

He sits down on the sofa

then sits on the sofa;  when Mathew comes in, engrossed in his phone, he has a considerable shock when he sees who it is.   

"Dad!"

“Dad!” he exclaims.

Gaynor is sitting in the Deri, and Cassie enquires whether there is any school today;  

"My head is all over the place"

“I’m taking a few days off – my head is all over the place!” Gaynor replies, and Cassie regards that as only natural.

“Is it?   I’m not sure Hywel understands why I’m acting like this,” she continues.   

"You thought she was your friend"

Cassie points out that she has been deceived by someone she thought was a friend, so it is bound to take a toll.   She hopes that the police catch Angharad, 

"She's in hospital, in a coma"

but is informed that she is in hospital, in a coma.   Cassie offers her a gin, after her coffee.

Sara is moaning about Jason

Sara comes downstairs, moaning as usual;  “Jason says he can’t have Ifan again this afternoon!   Says he’s not feeling 100%.”   Rhys is not at all interested, 

"I'm sure he's deliberately making my life difficult!"

but she continues to rant, “I’m sure he’s deliberately making my life difficult – he knows I’m seeing a solicitor!   

She tried to get Rhys to do her dirty work . . .

“Rhys, do you fancy popping over to the café to see if he’s there and if he really is ill?”

. . . but he wants no part of it

Rhys makes it quite plain that he is busy, and in any case, he is staying well out of their arguments.

Mathew is subjected to questioning

Mathew is being interrogated by his father;  “Did he say anything when he threw the acid?   You must have some idea who it was – you must have upset somebody.”   

"I've not upset anyone"

Mathew answers that he has not.

“No-one just throws acid,” his father goes on, but Mathew simply puts it down to a random attack, says he does not have much scarring, and does not want to discuss the matter.

"I haven't seen you since – I don't know when!"

“Why are you here?   I haven’t seen you since – I don’t know when?” he asks, and it is revealed that Eifion contacted him, maintaining that he needed his father.

"Eifion said you took time off work"

“He was worried about you – said you took time off work, and when he mentioned the acid attack . . .”   

"Why the sudden interest?"

Mathew stops him there, explaining that he was shattered, and recalls that his father has never really been a ‘father’ to him.   He wonders why the sudden interest.

"You're a bit sensitive, Math"

“You’re not the easiest child to be a father to – you’re a bit sensitive, Math,” his father tells him, “It sounds to me like you haven’t changed.   

"He thinks there's something seriously wrong with you"

“One accident at work and you sulk and take time off.   Eifion didn’t say that – he thinks there’s something seriously wrong with you – that you’re depressed.   But its attention you want, isn’t it?”

"You're just as selfish as you always were"

After listening to this, Mathew turns and snarls, “You haven’t changed a bit – you’re still the same selfish bloke you’ve always been!   You’d better go!”   

"I'm not going anywhere"

His father is insistent he is not going anywhere.

"I didn't realise it was an obsession"

In the Deri, Gaynor continues her explanation to Cassie, “I always knew she was jealous of me, but I didn’t realise it was an obsession – she wanted to ruin my life.”   

"She didn't succeed, did she?"

Cassie reminds Gaynor that she did not succeed in her aim.

"But she almost ruined Izzy's life!"

“No, but she almost ruined Izzy’s life, didn’t she?   Angharad made everyone think that she was behind the identity fraud.   I even started to question her.   And then things soured at Yr Antur, people gossiping about her – I’m worried about Izzy – no job, bills to pay, and I’m not in a financial position to help her at the moment.”

Cassie is waiting for the next question

Cassie is afraid of where this is leading;  “Jobs don’t grow on trees – is there anything going here?   Just a few shifts or something?”   Cassie points out that no more staff are needed, 

"It would do her good, rather than sitting around"

but Gaynor goes on that it would do her good, rather than sitting around.

“She doesn’t have any bar experience,” says Cassie, but is told that Izzy worked in a lot of bars in Thailand.   

"The Deri's not trendy enough"

Then Cassie is doubtful whether she would want to work there, as it is not trendy enough.   Gaynor, on the other hand, predicts that Izzy would jump at the chance, and maintains  that she is good with people.

"Please, Cassie!"

After some more pleading, Cassie finally looks as if she may be giving in to the onslaught.

"You promised to tell Sioned"

Non is following DJ along the street, reprimanding him, “You promised!”   He replies that when he got back to Penrhewl, Sioned wanted to talk about the wedding.   “When are you going to tell her?” Non demands, “Have you changed your mind?”   

"But I don't want to hurt her"

He denies this, but is clear that he does not want to hurt Sioned.

"Well, you're hurting me!"

“You’re hurting me!” she complains, and he is sorry about that;  “Can you tell her today?” 

"I have to go to a tractor auction"

however he has to attend a tractor auction.   She is becoming increasingly angry;  “How about tomorrow?   When?   We can’t carry on like this!” she shouts, 

"I'll do it when the time is right"

as he walks away, insisting that he will do it when the time is right.

Sara is on the hunt for Jason

Sara, in her customary foul mood, arrives at the café flat, looking for Jason;  Kelly, whose hair appears to have turned a delicate shade of pink, greets her, “Hiya, Kel – Nice to see you!” 

"He's gone for a walk"

and reveals that Jason has gone for a walk.

Sara is whinging again

“Right – because I’ve just had a message to say he’s not well enough to have Ifan, but he can go for a walk!”   

"Don't blow a fuse, Sara – I'm here now"

Footsteps can be heard coming upstairs, and Jason advises her not to blow a fuse, because he is there.   “I just needed some fresh air, that’s all.   I’ve been stuck in here for days now.”

"That's your excuse, now I've caught you out!"

“So that’s your excuse, now I’ve caught you out!” she rages, “Are you trying to make my life difficult because I’m meeting the solicitor?   You’re not taking advantage of me this week, Jason!”   

"I'm not taking advantage, Sara"

All the time her voice has been rising in intensity, but he points out that he is not taking advantage;  “Don’t you think I’d spend all day, every day with Ifan if I could?”   

Kelly is worried about Jason

She reminds him of the many times he has let Ifan down recently, and is keeping count of them.

“I would never let Ifan down deliberately, and you know it!” he stresses, “If I don’t feel right, he shouldn’t be here anyway.”   Sara comments that he looks perfectly fine to her.

"He doesn't feel right, right?"

At this point, Kelly, who has been silent up to now, bursts forth, “If Jason says he doesn’t feel right – he doesn’t feel right, right?”   

"You would stick up for him, wouldn't you?"

Sara expected her to stick up for him, but Kelly is now becoming very angry;  

"He had a massive trauma last week!"

“I haven’t interfered because, quite frankly, it’s none of my business – but you can’t shout at Jason.   He had a massive trauma last week!”

“You didn’t even know that he’d cancelled this afternoon,” Sara sneers, 

"Jase – are you OK?"

then they hear a crash from the direction of the bedroom, and Kelly rushes to investigate.

Kath is studying her phone

In the Deri, Kath is staring at her phone and Cassie wonders what is so important;  “I just wanted to check in case that ‘First Dates’ thing had sent something to me,” she replies.   

"I'm helping Non find a boyfriend"

Cassie was surprised that she wants to go on the telly, but she explains, “I don’t want to go – I’m helping Non find a boyfriend.   She wouldn’t do it herself, so muggins was roped in to hold her hand – I don’t want to date anybody.”

"Older people than you find a partner on Tinder"

Cassie wonders why not, and Kath says that she is fine as she is;  “Older people than you find a partner on Tinder and so on.”   

"That's for sad little men like Brynmor"

Kath is of the opinion that sad little men like Brynmor go on things like that, but Cassie suggest there are some nice guys on there.

Kath is incredulous that she has been on Tinder, but is told, “Of course I have – and a lot of other dating apps.   It’s all the rage, Kath.”

"I'm not going to advertise myself, like a cow at a mart!"

“I’m not going to advertise myself on the Internet, like a bloomin’ cow at a mart!” she insists, 

"You should try 'Silver Seniors'!"

but Cassie says that is how most people meet these days, and recommends ‘Silver Seniors’.   

She had a fantastic time with them in Blackpool;  “I had cocktails up the Tower with one, and went car racing with another.”   

You didn't find a partner, did you?"

Kath points out that she did not find a partner, but she argues that she was not looking for one, but rather a bit of fun.   

"It's better than sitting at home"

She is adamant that Kath will have a laugh, and that it is better than sitting at home, staring at four walls.

"I tried my best to be your father"

Mathew’s father maintains, “I tried my best to be your father – well, under the circumstances, I mean.”   

"Just go, will you?"

Mathew does not want to be reminded of this and tells his father to leave;  that would be best, before they fall out even more.   

"Thanks for coming, but everything's great"

He is grateful that his father has come to see if he is OK, but still insists that everything is great.   

His father leaves the flat

His father turns and leaves.

Sara wants to call an ambulance, but Jason will not entertain this proposal and points out that he simply fainted.   

"It might be the shock . . ."

Kelly is anxious, as it has not happened before;  “It might be the shock, 

". . . or you might have an underlying problem"

“or you might have an underlying problem, Jase.”

"And we all know what that is!"

“We all know what that is!” he snarls, and begs Kelly not to call an ambulance, as he is not going anywhere near a hospital.   

"Is there anything I can do, Kelly?"

Sara asks if there is something she can do, 

"Yes!   Do one!"

and Kelly is very pleased to point out, “Yes!   Do one!

"You've made things ten times worse!"

“You come in here, shouting, stressing him out!   He said he didn't feel great – and you made things ten times worse, Sara!   Go on – get out!   You’ve done enough damage already!”

"I'm Colin the doc, no arguments!"

Sara silently makes her exit, and Kelly addresses Jason, “I know you don’t want a fuss, but I’m calling the doc, no arguments!”   He says as long as the shouting stops, he does not care what she does.

Kath is about to take a selfie

At Maes-y-Deri, Kath is applying makeup and is about to take a photo on her phone when Non comes in, 

"Are you going out?"

asking if she is going out.   

She seems confident that her plan is going well

Non maintains that she is all right, and when she has gone upstairs Kath resumes what she was doing.

"A trial run?"

Izzy has been brought to the Deri;  “A trial run?” she asks Cassie, but is dubious about the job.   

"Cassie is being very kind, Izzy"

Her mother emphasises that Cassie has been very kind, showing faith in her, but Izzy is not looking forward to facing everyone, after what has been said about her.

“No-one will say anything – they all know Angharad was responsible for the theft,” Gaynor assures her, and she reluctantly accepts the offer.

"One mistake – and you'll be out on your ear!"

Cassie sternly warns her, “One mistake – and you’ll be out on your ear.”   She does not look very optimistic about this arrangement.

"Did you see Jason?"

At Hywel’s house, Rhys asks if Sara has seen Jason;  “Yes – and I made things worse,” she confesses.   

"I grew up with my grandmother"

He does not know anything about being a parent, as he grew up with his grandmother, so did not have a mother and father fighting over him.

"Arguing shows that you care"

“I’m not guilt-tripping you – but you two arguing shows that you care, doesn’t it?” he comments, “Ifan is very lucky to have both of you.”   This seems to make Sara think.

"I had to pretend I was going out"

Kath comes into the Deri, telling Cassie that she is not going anywhere;  “Non almost caught me taking photos for ‘Silver Seniors’, so I had to pretend I was going out.   I didn’t want her to suspect anything.  No-one’s going to contact me.”   

"They'll be queueing round the block"

Cassie predicts that they will be queueing round the block.

"Watch the till, Cassie!"

Kath is surprised to find Izzy behind the bar, and advises Cassie to watch the till.   

"Izzy has done nothing wrong"

Gaynor intervenes to remind her that Izzy has done nothing wrong.   “That’s not what I heard!” Kath answers.

Not the way to speak to customers

Izzy pipes up, “If I were you, I’d watch what I say – especially if you want me to serve you a pint!”   Cassie does not seem to appreciate this abrasive attitude, but Gaynor congratulates Izzy for standing up for herself.

"Do you want another hot chocolate?"

Jason is reclining on the sofa, and Kelly asks if he would like another hot chocolate.   

"I shall have to pass out more often"

“I shall have to pass out more often, if this is the attention I get,” he says, 

"You're not to move off the sofa for two days"

and she instructs him that he is not to move off the sofa for at least a couple of days.

"It's not convenient"

Then footsteps can be heard on the stairs, and Sara comes into view;  “It’s not convenient!” growls Kelly, 

This time Sara is in a more peaceful mood

but she has brought a magazine for him as a peace offering.   Kelly is still keen for her to leave, but Jason insists that it is all right.

"Did you go to the hospital?"

Sara asks if he went to the hospital, and he replies that he went to see a doctor;  

"I've been trying to do too much"

“I’ve been trying to do too much, too soon, that’s all,” he tells her.

"Sorry that I made things worse"

Sara apologises for making things worse earlier;  

"Too right!"

“Too right!” remarks Kelly.   Sara wonders what has happened to them, stressing that Ifan does not deserve to have parents who argue all the time.   

Jason would like a quieter life

Jason agrees with this.

“Why don’t we try to be nicer to each other?” Sara suggests, “Be less angry – for his sake.   I don’t know what I’d do if he lost his father.”   

"Ifan needs both of us"

Jason says  that Ifan needs both of them, and she asks him to phone when he feels better, and she will bring Ifan over.   

Kelly is keeping a careful eye on him

Kelly has been carefully watching this exchange.

"I wouldn't have phoned if I wasn't worried"

Mathew’s father is hanging around by the flat door and Eifion informs him, “I wouldn’t have phoned if I wasn’t worried, uncle Ray.”   

"He doesn't want anyone's help"

“He doesn’t want my help – I don’t think he wants anybody’s help,” is the reply, “He says he’s OK.”   Eifion points out that Mathew will not admit that he is depressed, and is definitely not himself.   

"He looks all right"

His father maintains that he does look all right.

“You haven’t seen him for a long time,” Eifion reminds him, but is told it was a mistake to involve his father.   Too much has happened between them to start a relationship now.   

They go towards the Deri

Eifion asks if he has time for a pint, and they head towards the Deri.

"I'm just on trial, Math"

Izzy explains to Mathew that she has not got the job yet, but is on trial;  he regards it as a good thing, and she thinks it is weird that his father has just turned up.   “Disaster – but he’s gone now, thank goodness!” is Mathew’s reply.

"I didn't know you worked here"

Eifion comes in, unaware that Izzy worked in the pub;  when he offers Mathew a lager, it is refused.   

"You're not really angry I told Uncle Ray?"

“You’re not really angry that I told Uncle Ray, are you?” Eifion  demands, “I was worried about you – just admit that you’re struggling.”

"What game are you playing?"

As Ray also comes in, Mathew emphasises, “I’m not!   I don’t want to have a drink with you – you only care about yourself!   What game are you playing here?   

"Do you want to steal APD – or Izzy?"

“Do you want to steal APD?   Do you want Izzy?”   

"Are you part of this?"

Then he turns to his father and demands, “Are you part of this?”

Ray does not know what is going on;  “What’s happened to you, Mathew?   

"You're a big baby – when will you grow up?"

“You’re a big baby – when will you grow up into a real man?”

"What's going on here?"

Izzy intervenes in this shouting match;  “What’s going on here?   Who are you?   I’m his girlfriend.”

"I'm his father – unfortunately!"

Ray answers that he is Mathew’s father;  “Unfortunately, eh, Mathew?” and Mathew walks straight out of the pub, with Izzy chasing after him and Ray shouting, “That’s it – run away, like you always do!”

"Go back to Aber, and I'll help Mathew!"

Eifion demands if that was necessary;  “If you don’t think there’s anything wrong with him, go back to Aber now, and I’ll help Mathew myself!”