10 February 2022

Brynmor revs up the motorbike . . .

Outside the garage, Brynmor is revving up the motorbike, and Megan, as she walks past the Deri, 

. . . which meets with Megan's disapproval

cannot resist shouting to him, “Do you have to make such a racket in the street?”   

"Fancy a ride to see the views?"

He asks if she fancies a ride to see the views, but she continues moaning, “You should be spending your time clearing up this mess!”

"Don't you talk to Brynmor like that!"

Kath is approaching, and tells Megan, “Don’t you talk to Brynmor like that!”   Megan insists that the place looks so messy, and is informed, “I thought you’d be used to old things!”   

Megan is offended . . .

With an offended look on her face, Megan complains to Wilko, who is about to go into his house.

. . . and makes a complaint to the police

“Can’t you do something about this?” she demands, “There must be some code of social behaviour that bans a mess like this – never mind that dangerous monster roaring up and down the street!”   

"Brynmor is a good driver"

He points out to her that Brynmor is a good driver, and she does not need to worry;  he suggests that a quiet word might be sufficient to clear up the mess.

"Oh, perhaps you're right"

She acknowledges that he is probably right, and asks if he has just come from the Deri.   She wants a chat with Dani about the christening, which comes as news to the DI.   

"I wanted to go through a few things with Dani"

“Jaclyn’s making all the arrangements, but I wanted to go through a few things with Dani,” she says.   

Wilko is worried . . .

Wilko looks rather anxious 

. . . and immediately consults his laptop . . .

and goes straight into his house, to look at the laptop.   

. . . where he can see what is going on next door

He can see Dani, doing some clearing up, when Megan arrives.

"I wasn't expecting you home this morning!"

At Y Felin, Siôn is back from his conference and is welcomed by Tesni;  “I wasn’t expecting you back this morning!” she exclaims.   There was no session arranged, so he came home early.   

"I've just made a pot of nice coffee"

She has to go for a shower, but has just made a pot of nice coffee;  she invites him to help himself.   

"I'm glad I went"

He says that he is glad he went, as he has a couple of new books for the shop, 

"By the way, Mam's on her way over"

but then Tesni comes back downstairs to inform him that that her mother is on the way over, wanting to talk.

"Are things all right between the two of you?"

This worries Siôn, and he asks if things are all right between her and her mother;  Tesni answers, “The last few weeks have made us both consider things – about the baby – 

"It's hard to accept you're in the wrong sometimes"

“it’s hard to accept sometimes that you’re in the wrong, isn’t it?   I’ll explain after I’ve had a shower.”   

Siôn is not looking forward to it

Siôn is expecting a rough time.

Megan is droning on

Up in the Deri flat, Megan is going through the christening details;  “What about this arch of balloons?” she wonders, 

"Oh no – balloon artist!"

“Oh, no – balloon artist!”

Dani angrily replies that she has not spoken to Jaclyn about about an artist;  

"All this has been a bit of a surprise!"

“All this has been a bit of a surprise!”   

"How about the godparents?"

Megan raises one important issue that has to be discussed, that of the godparents, 

"I haven't given it any thought at all"

and Dani has not given that any thought at all.   “Otherwise you’ll be standing there on your own, won’t you?   

"Gabriel's father won't be there"

“What I mean it is, Gabriel's father won’t be there,” Megan comments.

"I don't have much choice in the matter"

“Well, I don’t have much choice in the matter, do I?” snarls Dani, and it is suggested that the little boy needs a father figure.   Megan points out that godparents can be very supportive, and stresses that they are not a gimmick for the christening service.

"Gabriel's going to wake up for a feed"

“OK, great – I think I understand everything.   Now, if you don’t mind, Gabriel’s going to wake up for a feed!” Dani announces, and Megan realises she is being asked to leave.   

"Just leave the paperwork!"

“Just leave that paperwork!” Dani snaps, 

Megan takes her leave

and Megan makes her exit.

"What's this circus you've organised?"

Dani picks up her phone and leaves a terse message for Jaclyn;  “What’s this circus you’ve organised for the christening?   Phone me back!”

There is a knock at Ffion's door

There is a knock the door of Ffion’s office at school and Eileen comes in;  

"It's a bit awkward, to be honest"

“It’s a bit awkward, to be honest,” she begins, as Ffion drops something on the floor, commenting that she does not know what is wrong with her today.

"Are you drinking again?"

“I’ve heard something recently – and I’m not sure how to proceed,” Eileen goes on, “Are you drinking again?”

"You think I'm drunk at school?"

“Just because I knocked that over, you think I’m drunk at school?” Ffion protests, and Eileen continues that she heard something, and has a responsibility as a governor, to investigate that information.

"If you're drinking again, perhaps you shouldn't be here"

“If you’re drinking again . . . if you’re going through a difficult time, perhaps you shouldn’t be here.”

"I haven't touched a drop!"

Ffion is infuriated;  “Don’t be silly – I’m not drinking!   I haven’t touched a drop – and you’ll need definite proof, not rumours, if you think you can make me leave!”

"I can offer some support"

Eileen does not want things to turn sour between them, and can offer some support, 

"Get out, now!"

but Ffion orders her, “Get out!   Come back with a breathalyser, if you really think I'm drinking!”   

Eileen follows her instruction

Eileen meekly leaves the office, 

Ffion is in an awkward position

and Ffion realises she has got herself into rather a sticky situation.

As Kelly leaves the shop . . .

Kelly is coming out of the shop 

. . . a motorcycle roars past

when a motorcycle roars past, sounding its horn;  

"Be careful – rebels!"

she shouts after it, “Be careful – rebels!”

"Don't draw more attention to them"

Mark, who is approaching, warns her not to draw more attention to them, 

"Come on, lighten up, Mark"

but she tells him to lighten up, describing his mother as really sexy in those leathers.   “More like ‘Syr Wynff and Plwmsan’!” he sneers.   [The Adventures of Sir Wynff and Plwmsan was a Welsh comedy television series in the 80s.]

"I need something light-hearted for the paper"

“It’s exciting to do something different at their age,” Kelly insists, “I need something light-hearted for the paper – their antics would be brill!   I need a headline.”

"Old and Stupid!"

Mark suggests that it should be headed, “Old and Stupid,” then walks away, leaving Kelly with a smile.

Siôn goes on about his conference

Jaclyn has arrived at Y Felin, and Siôn tells her that it was a good conference;  “Memoirs say so much about us as a nation – do you read Welsh autobiographies?”   Jaclyn is disinterested, but wants to talk with him, as Tesni not there at the moment.

"Do you actually want to have a baby?"

“She mentioned last week that you actually want to have a baby,” she says, 

"I've always respected your opinion, Jaclyn"

and he is glad that they have spoken;  he has always respected her opinion.   She maintains that she has been a bit rash, and that is why she is there.  

"Tes knows what she wants"

“You’re obviously happy, and Tes knows what she wants.” 

"You said she needs to reconsider"

“But you said she needs to reconsider,” Siôn comments;  he is very concerned when Jaclyn answers that she is the one who needs to reconsider.

"I think she's ready!"

“Her head is a lot clearer than mine when I had the kids – I think she’s ready!”   This is not what he expected to hear, and she goes on, “You’re in agreement on this, aren’t you?   Do you want more children?”

"I'd love to have more children"

He tries to look sincere as he says he would love to have more children, and he knows how much it means to Tesni;  “We’re really happy,” he adds, though with little enthusiasm, “She’s a very special young woman.”

Jaclyn can see that he is the one who makes her happy;  

"I'm getting used to the idea of being a grandmother"

“And I am getting used to the idea of being a grandmother.”   

Tesni comes downstairs

Tesni comes downstairs, and her mother repeats she is looking forward to being a grandmother.

"Honestly?   No more lectures?"

“Honestly?   No more lectures?” wonders Tesni, and Jaclyn answers that she is old and wise enough to know what she wants.   “You’re old enough, Siôn – I don’t know about wise,” remarks Tesni, 

"Five missed calls from Dani"

as her mother receives a phone message, and admits that she has five missed calls from Dani.

Tesni will go with her to the village;  “I need more ovulation sticks,” she says.   

He is really worried now

Siôn is now looking very upset.

Mark passes the time with some darts

Mark is idly playing darts at Maes-y-Deri, and appears worried about his mother.   He looks at his watch and leaves her a phone message;  

"When are you getting back, Mam?"

“Mam, I was just checking to see when you were getting back – and whether you want lunch or not.”

Then he hears the door open and the sound of laughter;  

"I was slowing down, mind"

“That was much faster than 50,” Kath maintains, but Brynmor says that he was slowing down.   

"Where have you been?"

Mark demands where they have been;  

"Out for a ride!"

“Out for a ride,” his mother replies, and Brynmor is desperate for a cup of tea.

“You could have phoned to say when you were coming back,” moans Mark, 

"Oh, sorry, mummy!"

and she wonders what is wrong with him.   

"You're making a fool of yourself"

“You’re making a fool of yourself – people have been looking at you.   Kelly is going to do an article on you two now – you’re pensioners – and you’re acting like teenagers!”

"Kelly's coming now to do the interview"

Kath already knows this;  “Kelly’s coming here now to do the interview!”   

"It might inspire people our age"

Brynmor says that it is a good thing and might inspire people their age to go out and do something.   

"Perhaps you should get yourself a hobby"

“Perhaps you should get yourself a hobby, instead of sitting there sulking,” Kath tells Mark, “And you call us teenagers!”   

Mark is busy with his phone

Mark is intently looking at his phone.

"You've gone totally over the top!"

Jaclyn arrives at the Deri flat to face the onslaught;  “Oh, here she is, Auntie of the year!” Dani growls, “You’ve gone totally over the top with everything!   Megan Harries is been here today, talking about this christening – with balloons and a photographer – way over the top, Jaclyn!”

"I just wanted to make it special, Dani"

Her excuse is that she wanted to make it special, 

"I've alreday cancelled the balloon artist!"

but Dani makes it clear that she has already cancelled the balloon artist and is trying to get hold of the photographer they do not want.   “A studio set up for portraits in the vestry,” she reads, and Jaclyn confesses that she may have been just a little silly.

"I didn't need this stress today!"

As Gabriel begins to cry, Dani insists that she did not need this stress today, and as she goes to attend to the child, 

"Look, I'll take him for a walk"

Jaclyn offers to cancel the photographer and will take the baby for a walk, to allow Dani to calm down.

"Why can't you keep things to yourself?"

Ffion rushes into Llwyncelyn, demanding, “What’s wrong with you?   Why can’t you keep things to yourself?   Gossiping with Eileen, of all people – she came to the office to ask if I was drinking!”

"Aren't you, then?"

Hywel’s reply is, “Aren’t you, then?” and she realises that he does not care, 

"You offloaded the problem on to Jinx!"

and that he offloaded the problem on to Jinx anyway.     

"Aren't you an alcoholic any more?"

““Has the problem gone?   Aren’t you an alcoholic any more?” he asks, and she accuses him of ruining everything.

“You know I’ve worked hard to get where I am in that school!” she rages, 

"You've put yourself in that position, Ffion!"

but he reminds her that she has put herself in that situation.   “Who knows what Eileen will do?   

"Another power trip for the respectable governor!"

Another power trip for the respectable governor!” Ffion goes on, “Do you know what?   

"Keep out of my life from now on!"

“Keep your nose out of my life from now on!” and she marches out of the house.

"You need to destress sometimes"

Eileen is drinking a cup of coffee outside the Deri, when Dani comes out;  “You need to destress sometimes,” Eileen groans, and Dani can agree with that sentiment.

"He's screaming all the time and not sleeping"

“Gabriel’s all right – screaming all the time, not sleeping – the norm,” she says, “He’s with Jaclyn today – she’s fine with him – a bit OT sometimes.   She’s arranging this christening – fuss?   

"It's like the Royal Wedding!"

“It’s like the royal wedding – it’s stressing me out – and then Megan’s going on about godparents.”

"That's an easy decision for you"

“That’s an easy decision for you,” comments Eileen, 

Auntie Jacs with the baby

as Jaclyn comes along the road with the pram.

“We saw a cat, didn’t we – meow!” Jaclyn is telling Gabriel, and Dani considers it weird, with everything that has happened.   Eileen emphasises that what is important is that Jaclyn loves him and would do anything for him.

Jaclyn reports that Gabriel has been a very good boy, 

"Sorry I snapped at you earlier"

and Dani  apologises for snapping at her.   

"I was enjoying myself too much"

“I’m the one who should be sorry – I was enjoying myself too much,” Jaclyn replies, and Dani is sure that they can sort something out, 

"Would you like to be his godmother?"

wondering if she would like to be his godmother, 

"But don't go over the top!"

but cautions her not to go over the top.   Dani is arranging things from now on,

"That would be great!"

and Jaclyn is very pleased to be asked.

"You must have had some initial uncertainty"

At Maes-y-Deri, Kelly presumes that Kath had some initial uncertainty and fear;  “When he told me he wanted me to go on the back of the motorbike!” adds Kath.

"The sidecar was more comfortable"

“The sidecar was more appealing – and more comfortable – but that’s what Brynmor is like – 

"He treats me like royalty"

“he treats me like royalty.”   Kelly asks if trying something new gives her more energy, and is told, “Most definitely – life can be boring if you don’t have a hobby.”   This comment is aimed at Mark, who is sitting at the table.

"What about your relationship with Brynmor?"

“And what about your relationship with Brynmor?   Would you say there’s a new ‘spark’ between you?” enquires Kelly.   

"Oh – there are plenty of 'sparks'!"

Kath assures her that there are plenty of ‘sparks’ between her and Brynmor.   

Mark considers that there is no need to mention that;  

"Kelly doesn't want to hear about your 'spark', Mam"

“Kelly doesn’t want to hear about your ‘spark’!”   He is told to ‘chill out’, as his mother and Brynmor will be local legends, 

"I think that's enough for now"

and Kelly thinks that she has enough information for now.   She is meeting Jason in the Deri, and thanks Kath for her time.

"Do you fancy a pint in the Deri?"

“Do you fancy a pint in the Deri?” Kath asks Mark, 

"Yeah, if you're having one"

and he says that he might as well, if she is having one.   

"Brynmor and I want the house to ourselves!"

“No, I don’t want one – Brynmor and I just want the house to ourselves, that’s all!” she answers.

Wilko is here again

Wilko is in the Deri flat once again;  Dani says that she has asked Jaclyn to be a godparent, 

"Sounds like a lot of hassle to me"

but he thinks the whole thing sounds like a lot of hassle.   He would have helped with the arrangements for the christening, but she reminds him, “I was too busy last night – 

"Do you want to stay tonight as well?"

“do you want to stay tonight as well?”

He agrees, and stresses that they will not have to talk about Jaclyn or balloon artists, or anything she does not want to.   

"How did you know about the balloon artist?"

Dani suddenly realises, “How did you know about the balloon artist?   

"Has Megan been telling everyone?"

“Has Megan been telling everyone?   Honestly!”   

"Whoops – shall have to be more careful"

He is worried, as he almost dropped himself in it there.

Ffion seems rather quiet

Jinx comes back to Cysgod y Glyn, where Ffion is rather subdued;  

"Have you been drinking today?"

“Have you been drinking today?” he asks, and she denies it.   “Sorry, I don’t want to be angry with you,” so she tells him to simply believe her.

"I hear the same thing over and over again"

“But I hear the same thing over and over again,” he continues;  

"I promise I'm telling the truth, Jinx"

she promises that she is telling the truth – what else can she do, and he thinks that she should go to rehab.   

He has arranged rehab for her

“I’ve phoned, and they have room – you’re not in a good place – you need help.”

"I thought I'd lost control – but I haven't!"

She protests that is not true;  “I’m not drinking, OK?   I thought I’d lost control – but I haven’t!”   He points out that talking like that is not a good sign, and she exclaims, “It was a bad idea to tell Hywel – I don’t know why I did it!”

"The next step is accepting it"

“The next step is accepting that you have to go to rehab,” he tells her, but she protests that she cannot afford it.   “I can,” Jinx tells her, “I have some of Taid’s money left – I can sort you out before things go too far.   

"You have to go to rehab!"

“That’s how things have to be from now on, all right?   I’ll be here to support you – but you have to go to rehab!”

Ffion is now in rather a fix

She has got herself into an impossible situation here.