3 November 2021

Kelly has written an article

Kelly is looking at the Western Post online in the kitchen at Bryntirion in the early hours of the morning, in particular at her article entitled, “I was conceived through rape.”   

"What are you doing, Kelly?"

Jason, in his pyjamas, comes downstairs to see where she is and asks what she is doing.

"The blog's already live online"

“The blog’s already live online, and the article will be in the Western Post today,” she replies, and he hopes that she does not regret it.   

"Publish and be damned!"

“Not at all – publish and be damned, I say!” she tells him.   He invites her to come back to bed for a cwtch, and she says she will be there in a second.

Kelly's voice can be heard

We hear her voice, reading the article, “Everyone knows someone who’s been raped,” 

It is being read by Jaclyn . . .

and the scene changes to number 9, where Jaclyn is reading the same thing on her phone.   “I’m sharing my story, not in the hope that my father is prosecuted, but in the hope that this will make people discuss and review their behaviour.   

. . . on her phone

“The truth is that rapists look like normal men.”

Eileen is reading the newspaper version . . .

Eileen is sitting in the farmhouse, reading the paper, 

. . . of Kelly's article

as Kelly continues, “They are nice – they’re our friends, our partners, our husbands, our sons – our fathers.”

Siôn, in his dressing gown . . .

Then we see Siôn, looking at the story on his laptop;  “They excuse their behaviour by saying they were drunk, or that it was a different time, 

. . . reads it on the laptop

“but until the excuses stop, people will continue to suffer.”

The paper has been delivered to Gaynor . . .

Gaynor has just had the paper delivered and also looks at the article;  

. . . and it makes her think

“I was conceived through rape – but that’s not my shame, it’s society’s shame.   Society needs to stop blaming the victims, and focus on justice, to respect and support them.”

"Those magazines are everywhere"

At Maes-y-Deri, Kath complains that the magazines are everywhere, and informs Mark that Brynmor is in the shower.   

"Will you ask him to move some of his stuff?"

“Will you are ask him to move some of his mess?   His stuff’s everywhere.”   

"You make enough mess, Mark"

She points out that Mark makes enough mess himself, but he moans, “He’s on another level, Mam – and someone has put a box of his things in my room now!”

Kath explains, “They’re on their way up to the penthouse.”   

"And look at this table, Mam!"

Then Mark turns and finds the table covered with Brynmor’s post, which Kath tells him was going to Bryn Awelon, (the old people’s home) and most of it is rubbish.   He clears himself a space to put down his plate as Brynmor comes downstairs.

"My storage unit needs emptying"

“I’ve been thinking – I’m renting a storage unit near Swansea and it needs to be emptied,” says Brynmor.   

"Is that where you keep the bodies?"

Mark imagines that is where he keeps the bodies, but is told, “No, that’s where I keep bits and pieces and bric-a-brac that I’ve collected – I didn’t have much room at Bryn Awelon, you see.   Can I bring them here?   I won’t bring everything – I have to downsize.”

"You're welcome to bring everything here, love"

Mark’s objections are overruled by his mother;  “You’re welcome to bring everything here, love – this is your home.”   Brynmor was going to enquire about hiring a van as well.

"How much stuff's he got?"

“How much stuff’s he got, Mam?” Mark demands, but she assures him that Brynmor will get rid of most of it.   “Yeah – says the guy who can’t even throw an envelope away!” growls Mark.   She urges him to take that box up to the penthouse, then takes the magazines she has found, 

The sideboard is full . . .

but when she gets to the sideboard she finds it already packed full of magazines, 

. . . and the drawers

even in the drawers.

Gaynor comes out of the shop

Gaynor comes out of the shop and encounters Kelly, walking through the alley;  “I’ve just read your article,” she says, 

"How many marks out of ten?"

and is asked how many marks out of ten she would give it.   

Kelly knows what headteachers are like, then she apologises for that remark;  “I’m still a bit nervous about people’s reactions – I don’t know if I’ve done the right thing.”

"Izzy was raped – and I let her down"

Gaynor points out that Izzy was raped;  “She was a schoolgirl at the time and I let her down.”   

"I'm sure you did your best"

Kelly is sure that she did her best, adding that it is the problem that it is not easy to get justice when the girls are blamed for what happened to them.

"I don't think she ever forgave me"

“Yes, but I was one of those people who made excuses because I just couldn’t deal with it – and I don’t think she ever forgave me,” Gaynor goes on, 

"You've given girls like her a voice"

“But you’ve given girls like her a voice – and I wanted to thank you for that.”   

Kelly tries to compose herself

By this point Kelly is in tears, but tries to compose herself,

Garry is dealing with the potatoes

Eileen is approaching the chip shop, where Garry is manhandling bags of potatoes;  

"No-one to do the dirty work for you?"

she comments, “Someone’s busy – no-one to do the dirty work for you?”   He explains the driver was supposed to take them into the shop, and she recommends that he should find another supplier;  “Penrhewl’s just up the road – and DJ would bring them in for you!”

"Britt will be the owner from now on"

“I’m just helping Britt out today – she’ll be the owner of Y Sosban Chips from now on, so talk to her,” he says, 

"Grafting in work clothes doesn't suit you"

and Eileen remarks that grafting in work clothes does not suit him.   “I just fancy doing something a bit more exciting than catering,” he says, 

"The business took a bit of a hit during lockdown"

“The business took a bit of a hit during lockdown, and more people are wanting to eat healthily, so I’m going to invest somewhere else.”

"Don't want to deprive the Cwm of their chips"

She will leave him to peel his potatoes;  “I don’t want to deprive the Cwm of their chips!” she growls.

Gaynor returns home

At Llwyncelyn, Hywel is reading the paper when Gaynor comes back;  “Where have you been?   

"I was afraid you were buying more handbags"

“I was afraid you were buying more handbags!” he comments, “Or shoes to match.”

"I saw Kelly in the village"

“I saw Kelly in the village – have you read the article?” she says, and he replies that although his heart bleeds for her, she has to be careful.

"It has to be balanced"

“If you write an article, it has to be balanced – if she calls every man a rapist, no-one will listen to her.”   Gaynor insists that she is asking to see a change in people’s attitudes.   

"She says they're everywhere"

He puts down the paper and continues, “She says they’re everywhere – that they are hiding amongst us – that they’re friends or sons or fathers.   That’s how I understood it, anyway.”   

"You haven't understood  it"

She abruptly replies that he has not understood it.

"So that means Anita's boyfriend . . ."

At Penrhewl, as Jaclyn is packing another veg box, Eileen is putting two and two together;  “So that means Anita’s boyfriend raped Kelly’s mother!”

"Well, I think Kelly's very brave"

Jaclyn considers Kelly very brave for writing about it, then Anita arrives for work;  

"Ready to do some cooking and gossiping"

“Ready to do some cooking and gossiping,” she says.   

"Have you read the Western Post?"

Eileen enquires if she has read the Western Post and points out the relevant page;  

Anita is horrified

Anita looks at it with horror.

'When will you be leaving, Siôn?"

In the bookshop, Tesni asks Siôn when he will be leaving for the conference;  “As soon as we’ve sorted these books,” he answers, and she wants to go with him.   

"I'm not going to enjoy myself"

“I’m not going to enjoy myself – I’m going to learn how to improve the business.”

"I've been thinking about diversifying"

She has been thinking of ways to diversify, and is holding a mug with the slogan ‘Remember Dryweryn’.   

"We're one box short!"

He has come to the conclusion that they are one box of books short, and says that it is not to good enough.

"Think of all the trees that have been cut down"

“Are you sure we need to order more books?” she demands, “It’s such a waste!   Think of all the trees that have been cut down to print these.”

"Are you suggesting banning books?"

Siôn is astounded that she is suggesting banning books in order to be ‘greener’ – and she points out the benefits of e-books.   

“They are an option,” he agrees, “But they’re not the same – the smell of the creative process – the author’s labour of love – the ink on the paper!”   

"I love it when you talk dirty, Siôn!"

She smiles and comments that she loves it when he talks dirty.

He tells her that if she can find any way to make this place ‘greener’, she can carry on;  “If I came to the conference with you, they might have some ideas,” she proposes, but he says she will have to do it from the bookshop.   It will be something for her to do while he is away.

Brynmor watches Siôn.s book-sniffing

As he opens one of the books and deeply inhales its aroma, Brynmor comes in and looks puzzled, much to Tesni’s amusement.

"It will be the same home we already have"

“I’m so excited we have our own home!” enthuses Britt to Colin in the shop, but he points out that it will be the same home that they already have.   

"I fancy this wallpaper"

“I fancy this wallpaper – what do you think?”

"I like the flat exactly as it is"

He does definitely not favour that;  “I’m getting instant flashbacks of late nights in the Star of India when I lived in Aber – and I like the flat exactly as it is.”

"We have to put our own stamp on it"

She is adamant that they have to put their own stamp on it, suggesting that they get new kitchen units;  

"We need to focus on paying the mortgage"

“Whoa now, we need to focus on paying the mortgage every month first, then do things slowly,” he advises.

"Not much work going on here"

Eileen comes in, carrying a box of Cae Glas produce;  “There’s not much work going on here,” she comments, 

"We're buying the flat and chip shop"

and Britt is eager to point out that they are buying the flat and the chip shop – extending their little empire.

"Garry says that things are looking a bit bleak!"

Eileen  is quick to put a spanner in the works;  “Garry says that things are looking a bit bleak for Y Sosban Chips – the profits fell during lockdown – that’s why he’s getting rid of it!”   

"The chippy fed half the village!"

Britt points out that the chippy fed half the village during the lockdown.

“Well, pie and chips fills a hole, I suppose,” Eileen concedes, 

"I've brought a couple of things to trial"

“Anyway, I’ve brought a couple of things to trial in the shop – I’m sure customers will appreciate food that’s tasty, healthy and of a high standard!”

Siôn is now leaving the shop

Siôn is now leaving for his conference and reminds Tesni to put the deadlock on;  “The other box will be coming tomorrow.”   She groans that she is going to miss him, but he is sure she will not notice he has gone.

"Who's going to keep me warm in bed tonight?"

“Of course I will – who’s going to keep me warm in bed tonight?” she enquires,” and she gazes longingly at him as he walks away, 

"Oh – can I help you?"

then realises that Brynmor is still in the shop.

"Do you sell secondhand books or magazines"

He asks if they sell secondhand books or magazines, but she does not think anyone would be interested in them.   He says that he is interested in vintage motorcycles, 

"You a Hell's Angel?"

and she would never have guessed that he is a Hells Angel.   “You should never judge a book by its cover!” he replies.   

She does not have any books on old motorbikes, but points him towards the delivery of mugs, cards and lovespoons which has just arrived, 

Brynmor takes an interest 

and he takes an interest.

"I should have known it would upset you"

Hywel apologises to Gaynor;  “I should have known that article would upset you,” 

"No, it opened my eyes, Hywel"

but she insists that rather it opened her eyes and she admires Kelly so much for writing it.

“I suppressed my emotions – I put my job before my own child,” she admits, 

"All your hard work was for the girls"

but he points out all her hard work was for the girls.   “At least, I’m free of that job now – I just want to live!”

"You need to think about your future"

He reminds her that she needs to think about the future and invest her money, but she is of the opinion, “Today is my future, Hywel!”   

He says that after all she has been through, she ought to take it easy.

"I'm spending my own money"

“I’m spending my own money, so I can do what I want with it,” is her reply.

Kath looks at the sideboard . . .

Kath looks anxiously at the sideboard, with its full complement of magazines, 

. . . and is concerned

and sits down on the sofa;  Mark wants to know if Brynmor has come back yet.  

"Knocking that wall down isn't such a bad idea"

“Buying next door and knocking that wall down isn’t such a bad idea!” he growls, but his mother tells him to shut up;  “Yes, I know – it’s your house!” he says.

"Afternoon tea, like we had on the Adriana"

Brynmor comes in with some boxes;  “Just in time for afternoon tea, like we had on the Adriana,” he comments, “Mark, put the kettle on!   I’ve got cakes and new mugs.”   

"There's nothing wrong with the old mugs"

Mark points out there is nothing wrong with the old mugs.   When she hears these boxes are all that he has, Kath is slightly encouraged.

"Put it on yourself, Mam"

Mark tells her to put the kettle on herself, as he is going to move that box out of his room.   

"I couldn't hire a van today"

Then comes the news that Brynmor could not get a van today, so he brought everything he could carry in the car.

Garry irritatingly taps with his pen

Garry is at the chip shop flat, impatiently waiting for Britt to sign the documents, but now she is reluctant to do so.   He exclaims that he had no choice but to sell, after what Dani did.   

"It won't be a problem when I get the money"

“It won’t be a problem once I get the money from the chip shop.”

"Perhaps we should review the price"

Britt has been thinking about that;  “Perhaps we should review the price – according to what you told Eileen, Y Sosban Chips is ‘bombing’.   

"We won't buy a failing business"

“We won’t buy a failing business, will we, Col?”

Garry emphasises that they have worked there long enough to know it makes money;  “You’re my sister – you know me better than anyone!   

"I shouldn't have said what I said to Eileen"

“Listen, I’m sorry, OK?   I shouldn’t have said what I said to Eileen – she was so smug about Penrhewl!   

"I didn't want to admit I was skint!"

“I didn’t want to admit that I was skint and had to sell.”

"Since when do you care what Eileen thinks?"

“Since when do you care about people like Eileen and what they think?” she demands, and he replies that it is since he lost everything.   

"I've been walking around like a tramp!"

He has been walking around like a tramp for weeks – he is embarrassed.

"Please, Britt, just sign it"

“Please– just sign it,” he begs, and she does so.

Jason comes home to Kelly

Kelly is looking in a better humour now as she prepares the table for a meal;  Jason comes in through the back door.   

"I've been a domestic goddess today . . ."

She informs him, “I’ve been a domestic goddess today – I’ve cleaned the fridge, Ifan’s fed and watered – he’s had a bath, jim-jams on and he’s waiting for a kiss from you.   

". . . and there's lasagne in the oven"

“And there’s lasagne in the oven!”

"What reaction did you get?"

He wants to know what sort of reaction she got to the article, and she advises, “The editor loved it, Gaynor congratulated me – loads of comments online – 

"Mostly positive"

“mostly positive.   One guy said Mam was asking for it, and another one said that I’m a man-hating so-and-so 

No way does Kelly look like the back of a bus!

“who looks like the back of a bus – idiot!”

Jason confirms that she looks nothing like the back of a bus, and overall, she is chuffed with the comments.   

"Have you lost it?"

Then the door opens and Anita comes in, with a face like thunder.   “Have you lost it?” she shouts.

"I don't think so – no"

“Do you know what?   I’ve often asked myself that question – but I don’t think so – no,” Kelly answers.   

"Publishing that article to the whole world!"

Anita rants in her customary fashion, “Publishing that article to the whole world!”   

"I don't think we have a global readership"

Kelly doubts that the Western Post has a global readership.   

"You and you family will suffer in the end"

“This might be your way of getting revenge against Mickey, but you and your family will suffer in the end, not him!” Anita continues.

"It's my way of telling men that rape is wrong!" 

“It’s my way of telling men that rape is wrong!” yells Kelly, “And telling the victims that they are not alone.”   Anita wonders what her encore will be – whether she will say what Rhodri did to her.  

"That's enough, Anita!"

Jason urges her to stop, but she does not;  “You can’t see the Western Post as 

"The skeletons in your private life!"

“a stage for the skeletons in your private life!”

"I'm going to start a support group"

“I’m not!” screams Kelly, “I’m going to start a support group to help rape victims.”   

"What does your mother think of this?"

Anita calms down slightly and wonders what her mother thinks of all this – if indeed she knows about it.

"I didn't name her"

“I didn’t name her in the article,” Kelly points out, but is told that her name is at the bottom.   

"That's nothing to be ashamed of"

“That’s nothing to be ashamed of!” 

"She didn't want anyone to know"

but Anita says that her mother did not want anyone to know, and did not want to be reminded of it.

“She did not want to have people point the finger and say nasty things about her – that’s what will happen, believe me!”   Kelly maintains, without conviction, that her mother will understand.   “You two have always clashed,” says Anita, 

"This time you could lose her for ever!"

“But do you know what?   I think this time you could lose her for ever – 

"But hey, Kelly, you got your scoop!"

“but, hey, Kelly – you got your scoop!”   

Anita storms off upstairs

Kelly and Jason both look concerned.