27 September 2021

Panic stations at the Deri flat

The scene is all set for the arrival of the baby, with Mark asking what they are supposed to do and whether it is hot towels and warm water.   

"All the details are on the birthing plan"

Aled points out that it is too early for that, and all the details are on the birthing plan, which he has not printed yet.

Cassie is anxious that Dani is right, while Mark thinks he ought to put the kettle on.   

"Not yet, Mark – there's plenty of time"

Dani insists, “Not yet, Mark – keep a cool head – there’s plenty of time.   Al, get the birthing plan, Mark, get snacks from the shop.”   

"I'll go back down to the bar"

When Cassie proposes to go down to the bar she is stopped from doing so by Dani. 

Mathew is feeling 'down'

At the shop flat, Eifion finds Mathew in a depressed state;  he says that the cleaning lady has the day off.   Eifion reminds him he has not left the flat for ages;  

"Don't you think it would be good to see people?"

“Don’t you think it would be good to see people – get some fresh air?”   

"You don't have to do everything at once"

As Mathew lies down on the sofa, he continues, “You don’t have to do everything at once – just small steps.”

Mathew is adamant that he does not want to see people but neither does he want to be on his own.   Eifion suggests that he should go to APD for an hour or so, and see how he feels then.   Mathew might go later;  he is told that it will take his mind off things.   

"We're all here for you"

“You’re not on your own – we’re all here for you.   Think about what I said about APD – 

"An hour with the accounts would make anyone happy!"

“spending an hour looking at the accounts would make anyone happy!” says Eifion, as he leaves.

DJ tries to hide in a doorway . . .

Out in the street, DJ notices Eifion when he leaves the flat and hides in a doorway;  

. . . but then encounters Mark

however he cannot avoid Mark, who has just come out of the shop with miscellaneous snacks, and is very surprised to see DJ.

“Haven’t you heard about diabetes?” DJ asks him, 

"They're for Dani – the baby's on the way"

and it is pointed out that they are for Dani, whose baby is on the way.   She sent him out to get snacks, but he did not know what to get.

"Is Non with you?"

“How’s Non?” he enquires, “Is she with you?”   DJ replies that they are no longer together – 

DJ explains that is all over

because she was not honest – again.   Mark is sorry that things did not work out, and comments that DJ deserves better.   “I have to go now, Dani’s expecting me – 

"'Expecting' – get it?"

“‘expecting’ – get it?”

"Poor Sioned"

At Penrhewl, Jaclyn has been told the news about DJ, and feels very sorry for Sioned;  

"She's worse than after the wedding day"

“She’s worse now than she was after the wedding day,” groans Eileen, “She was in her pyjamas the last time I saw her.   

"I don't know why I helped DJ"

“I don’t know why I helped DJ – I’m so angry with myself!”

"You were trying to do the right thing"

Jaclyn is of the opinion that she was trying to do the right thing;  “Try being angry with Hywel Llywelyn instead,” she suggests.   

"I'm not giving in to blackmail"

Eileen appreciates that Gaynor is having a hard time, but is not giving in to blackmail;  “That’s why I phoned the council to make a complaint – I asked to speak to the leader of the council, but he was in a meeting, and will phone me back.  I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing.” 

"Perhaps the leader is friends with Hywel"

Jaclyn is quite clear that Hywel cannot be allowed to get away with such behaviour, but Eileen fears that the leader may also be friends with Hywel.

Mark cannot find the playlist

Up in the Deri flat, things are becoming fraught when Mark cannot find Dani’s playlist on the laptop, and Aled insists that music is part of the birthing plan.   Mark is just going to pick any music, 

"She doesn't want 'The Best of Status Quo'!"

but Aled protests, “She doesn’t want ‘The Best of Status Quo’ playing while she’s having the baby!”   

At last Mark manages to find the ‘whale music’, but Dani has already had enough;  

"You're driving me nuts!"

“Thank you for your help – but you’re driving me nuts, so go downstairs and wait for the midwife, please!”   Aled and Mark follow her instructions;  

Cassie is about to do the same

Cassie intends to do the same, but is ordered by Dani to stay with her until the midwife arrives.   Cassie replies that she does not know what to do, but Dani points out, “You’ve had a baby, 

"You know more than Bill and Ben down there!"

“and you know more than Bill and Ben down there!”   Then she is seized by another pain.

"I was sorry to hear about Izzy"

DJ has gone to see Mathew;  “Listen, I was sorry to hear about Izzy – I came back as soon as I heard.”   He explains that things did not work out with Non, adding, “I would have come over sooner, but I’ve been trying to avoid Sioned.   I know you tried to warn me, 

Sioned does not want to know DJ, either

“and if it makes you feel any better, Sioned doesn’t want to know me, either.   But I have realised that she’s the only one I want.”

"You're lucky – at least she's still here!"

Mathew angrily replies, “You’re lucky – at least she’s still here!   You wasted what you and Sioned had – I almost lost two friends when you left – Sioned was so angry with me!”

"You've been a good friend, Mathew"

DJ concedes that he has been a good friend and Mathew is glad that he is there now, although he does not know how he feels.   

"Eifion said I should go back to work"

“Eifion was saying earlier that I should go back to work, but I don’t feel ready.   Then again, I can’t hide here for ever.”

"You go over to APD, and I'll cook something for us"

DJ enquires if he has eaten today;  “Right, you go over to APD, and I’ll cook us something to eat by the time you come back.   

"You don't want to give Megan a heart attack!"

“I’d suggest that you change out of those pyjamas as well – you don’t want to give Megan a heart attack!”   Mathew will do as DJ says.

"I thought you'd be delighted"

In the Deri, Ffion is surprised that Jinx is not delighted to get the commission;  

"I think something dodgy is going on"

“I can’t help but think that something dodgy is going on,” he replies, and she agrees that with Ieuan Griffiths involved it is always going to be a possibility.

"No interview – nothing!"

“I didn’t try for the commission, I haven’t had an interview, I haven’t shared plans, discussed funding – nothing!” he goes on.   Just at that opportune moment Griffiths comes in, which she maintains is Jinx’s chance to ask about it.

"Have you started the designs?"

“Have you started the designs?” Griffiths wants to know, 

"No – not yet"

“Chop chop!   We want this statue up some time this century!   It’s going through the legal department – everyone is delighted you’re doing the job – do you want it or not?”   Jinx agrees that he does, as long as everything is legit;  

"Plough on – or horse and plough!"

“That’s it, then – plough on – or horse and plough!” Griffiths jokes.   

They both have obvious reservations

Both Jinx and Ffion are still looking somewhat doubtful.

Eifion and Lois are chatting

Eifion is talking to Lois out by the alley, remembering one occasion when he and Izzy were in a restaurant;  “She gave the manager a mouthful because the food took so long – 

"She had never had such terrible service"

“she said she had never had such terrible service and that they should be ashamed, but all with a smile on her face – the guy did not know what to do.”

"It sounds just like Izzy"

Lois says that it sounds just like Izzy, and he apologises that she does not want to hear stories from her ex.   “Of course I do – there are parts of her life I know nothing about – things you don’t bother texting about,” she replies, 

Mathew is on his way to APD

just as Mathew comes out of the flat.

“It’s a pity they’re not having a funeral – everybody would have been there,” says Eifion, and Lois would also have appreciated it, as it would be a chance to say goodbye.   She wishes that Izzy had discussed it with, but her sister always knew her own mind.

He approaches Eifion and Lois

As Mathew approaches them, Lois says that Eifion was telling her things about Izzy;  

"You could have asked me"

“You could have asked me if you wanted to know anything about Izzy,” he grumbles, but she wants to hear about every story and every argument.

"It makes me feel closer to her"

“I don’t know, listening to what people have to say about her makes me feel closer to her,” she adds, and he assures her that she was close to Izzy, 

"Jet-setting around the world"

although she was jet-setting around the world.

“How does it feel to be back?” he asks, and she replies that the travelling kind of life suits her.   “Being able to escape when you feel like it,” Mathew comments, 

"Fancy meeting in the Deri later"

“Do you fancy meeting in the Deri later for a drink and a proper chat?”

"I could meet more of her friends"

Lois would like that and it would be a chance to meet more of Izzy’s friends, too;  perhaps he could ask a few of them if they want to come.   

He is disappointed by that

He agrees to do that, although not looking particularly keen.   “See you about six?” she suggests.

"Please turn that noise off!"

The whale music is mingled with Dani’s moans, and Cassie is at a loss to know what to do;  “Please turn that noise off!” Dani growls, 

Cassie obliges

which Cassie does.   She tells Dani that she is doing very well, and to keep going, but Dani senses that something is wrong.

"I'll find someone who knows what they're doing"

Cassie maintains that she is not the woman for the job and is going downstairs to find someone who knows what they are doing.   

"You can't leave me, Cassie!"

Dani shrieks, “You can’t leave me, Cassie, please!” but then is left alone.

"I still can't contact Tyler"

In the bar, Mark still cannot contact Tyler, and they ask Cassie if the baby has arrived;  

"The baby hasn't arrived"

“Dani is all right and the baby has not arrived!” she answers, insisting that Dani does not want her there, as she pours herself a stiff drink.   Aled has been studying the birthing plan and cannot find who Dani wants as a birthing partner.

"What she needs now is professional help"

Cassie is of the opinion that what Dani needs now is professional help;  

"I thought you were doing it"

Aled and Mark both thought that the other was contacting the midwife, and Cassie realises that no-one has phoned.   They come to the conclusion that one of them has to go upstairs, 

Vicky happens to be nearby . . .

so Cassie takes the decision to detail Vicky, who happens to be there, to take on that task.   

 . . . and is conscripted to go up with Dani

“Go up to Dani until the midwife gets here, please!”

There is an earsplitting scream

Then they hear Dani scream out in pain, so Vicky, despite her violent dislike of Dani, hurries upstairs;  

Cassie seeks some 'Dutch Courage'

Cassie takes another swig of alcohol, then refills the glass.

Vicky does not get a warm welcome

Dani is not exactly enamoured to see Vicky arrive and orders her out;  “How often are the contractions?” she is asked, but Dani simply wants Cassie and the birthing plan.   

"Cassie's trying not to pass out"

“Cassie’s trying not to pass out – and you’re in no state to read a birthing plan,” Vicky informs her.

"The music is wrong – I'm wearing the wrong clothes!"

“The music is wrong – I’m wearing the wrong clothes,” Dani wails, but Vicky reminds her that she is having a baby, not going to a nightclub, and again asks how often are the contractions.   

"That's a lot quicker than two minutes"

Dani thinks that it may be every two minutes, and Vicky times them on her phone;  “That’s a lot quicker than two minutes,” she concludes.

"It's nice to have some peace"

Mathew returns to the flat where DJ has prepared the meal, but confesses that it came from a jar;  “It was nice to have some peace,” he says, “It’s like Piccadilly Circus at Bryntirion.”

"You can move in here, if you want"

Mathew invites him to move into the flat, insisting that DJ would be doing him a favour;  

"Just tell me when you want some space"

“Just tell me when you want some space,” DJ encourages him.

Sioned suddenly appears

At Penrhewl, Sioned has finally come downstairs in her dressing gown, 

"You've missed a meeting"

and is told by Jaclyn that someone had phoned to say she had missed a meeting with the logo designer for the café.   Sioned had forgotten about it and will have to phone them back.

"Don't let DJ make you feel like this"

“I know you’ve been hurt, but this isn’t the Sioned I know,” begins Jaclyn, “Don’t let DJ make you feel like this.”   

"I can't help it"

Sioned replies that she cannot help it.   Jaclyn continues, “When I was shot, I didn’t want to leave the house either – I couldn’t face people – I felt ashamed.   Your mother persuaded me to come back to work and it’s the best thing I did.   

"Don't let him ruin your deeam"

“Don’t let him ruin your dream of opening this café.”

Sioned wants to forget and move on, but does not know how.   

"Fake it until you make it"

“Fake it until you make it! – That’s what they say – act as if you’re all right, and your brain will soon catch up with you.”   

This makes Sioned smile

Sioned turns round and goes back upstairs.

"I bought Izzy these nasal strips . . ."

Mathew relates how he once bought Izzy a packet of nasal strips and put them in the bathroom as a hint;  “Izzy said I didn’t need them because I don’t snore – 

". . . she snored like a warthog!"

“I didn’t have the heart to tell her that she snored like a warthog!   Listen, I’m sure Sioned will realise that she still loves you.”

Mathew will go for a walk, he says

His phone sounds and he finds it is reminder from Lois of his meeting in the Deri;  DJ is quite convinced that Sioned will never trust him again.   “I think I’ll go for a walk,” Mathew says, 

"I'll go to Bryntirion and pack"

and DJ will take the opportunity to go to Bryntirion and pack his stuff.

"Sorry I'm late, Lois"

Lois is waiting for Mathew, and a pint is on the table;  he apologises for being late, 

"Who else is coming?"

and Lois asks who else is coming.   

"They were all busy"

He maintains that he tried a couple of people but they were busy, and she appreciates that it was short notice.

"You could make it, after all, then"

Then Eifion comes in, and she remarks, “Oh, you could make it, after all!”   

Eifion is puzzled

He looks puzzled, 

"I meant to phone Eifion, but . . ."

and Mathew explains that he meant to phone Eifion, adding that Lois wants to meet Izzy’s friends, but as the two of them have caught up already . . .

Eifion thinks that he is not wanted there

Eifion gets the message, although Mathew says that he was going to ask Lois if she wanted to go for a walk to one of Izzy’s favourite places.   Lois thinks this is a good idea.

"Fake it until you make it"

At Penrhewl, Sioned is now dressed and ready to face the world;  “Well, fake it till you make it,” she tells her mother, “DJ has ruined my life once – he’s not doing it again!”

"Now Hywel Llywelyn needs to be put in his place"

Jaclyn informs them that they now need Eileen to put Hywel Llywelyn in his place;  

"I'm going to tell the council leader

Eileen reveals that she is going to tell the council leader that he is blackmailing her.   At that moment the phone rings and Sioned quickly answers it.

"No, the matter has been solved"

“No, we no longer need to discuss it – the matter has been solved.   Thanks for phoning back, anyway,” she says.   

"We're giving in to Hywel?"

Her mother is furious that they are giving in to Hywel, 

"There's more than one way to deal with him!"

but is told, “Of course we’re not, but there’s more than one way to deal with someone like Hywel Llywelyn.   We need to be cleverer than him – he could be useful as a councillor, remember!”

Jaclyn remarks that the old Sioned is back, 

"No-one pushes the Cae Glas girls around!"

and she declares, “Us girls need to stick together – no-one pushes the Cae Glas girls around!”

Mathew opens a can . . .

Back at the shop flat, Mathew opens a can, sits down in the chair 

. . . and looks at photos – of Lois

and looks lineringly at photos on his phone – photos of Lois.

"It wasn't like this with Seren!"

Dani is still in pain and wails, “Something’s wrong – it wasn’t like this with Seren!” but Vicky encourages her that she is doing well and urges her to breathe deeply.  

"It might be a 'breech' baby"

She suspects that it is a ‘breech baby’ that is coming out the wrong way, and is surprised they did not say anything at the scan.

“Everything’s gone wrong!” Dani screams, 

"I had the same thing with Nicky"

and Vicky points out that she had the same thing with Nicky;  with deep breaths, everything will be great.   

Aled brings in some snacks

Aled comes in with some snacks, but is reprimanded by Vicky, 

"We need an ambulance – now!!"

“We don’t need snacks – we need an ambulance now!”   

Dani screams out again

The episode ends with more agonising moans from Dani.