15 February 2022

Britt and Colin have just returned from their stay in Portugal, and Colin is manhandling the luggage from the back of the taxi;

"Obrigado!"

  “Obrigado!” he says to the driver. [‘thanks’ in Portuguese]   

"It all seems to be in one piece"

Everything seems to be in one piece as Britt looks at the shop, but is surprised to see that Y Sosban Chips has closed early.

A newspaper article is in the window

Then she sees in the window of the shop a Western Post newspaper article entitled, ‘Starting again from the very bottom,’ which goes on to say that Garry Monk has overcome financial ruin and come out on top, which he maintains is all from being humble.   “What has he done now?” she snarls.

Jaclyn has something to show Dani

Dani has been asked to go to number 10, where Jaclyn has something to show her;  

"Gabriel will look gorgeous in this"

it is a christening robe.   “Gabriel will look gorgeous in this,” Jaclyn tells her.

"That's horrible!"

Dani vemently disagrees with this;  “You’re joking, right?   That’s horrible!”   

"All our family have been christened in it"

She is told that everyone in their family has been christened in it, 

"Didn't do Dylan much good, did it?"

but she growls, “It didn’t do Dylan much good, did it?   I would have burned it!”

Jaclyn begins that, in her position as godmother, but is stopped by Dani;  

"Godparents are an insurance policy"

“No, hold on – godparents are an insurance policy – it doesn’t give you licence to do what you like with my son.   

"Mami will decide what he wears!"

“You can look after his interests when you’re looking after him – but on the day of his christening, Mami will decide what he wears!”   

Jaclyn is offended by this

With that, she stalks out of the house.

"I'm expecting a visitor"

In the chip shop flat, as Britt is looking at the post, Garry grumbles, “Couldn’t you have phoned?   You’ll have to go out because I’m expecting a visitor.”   

"We've only just got back from holiday"

Colin protests that they have only just got back from holiday, and Garry emphasises that he has made all the arrangements.

"I forgot – your'e starting from the bottom up!" 

“Oh yeah, I forgot that you’re starting from the bottom up!” sneers his sister, but he insists that Kelly misunderstood him.   “Did Kelly put the article up in the window, too?” she goes on.

"It's my girlfriend"

Then the buzzer sounds and Garry tells Britt that it is his girlfriend;  “Since when?’ she demands, “Where is she in the rankings?   

"Is she starting from the bottom up?"

“Is she starting from the bottom up?”   He pleads with Britt to keep out of the way and then tells Andrea to come up, warning her to ignore the company, as there has been a mix-up.

"I'll go down to the chip shop"

Colin will go down to the chip shop, but Britt decides that she will go to her bedroom to hide like a good little girl.   

Colin find out the identity of the visitor

As Colin puts on his jacket, he turns to see that the visitor is Andrea, and asks how she is.   “You’re an item, are you?” he assumes, 

"I always knew you were out of Mark Jones' league"

“I always knew you were out of Mark Jones’ league.”

"You were just leaving, weren't you, Col?"

Garry reminds Colin, “You were just leaving – weren’t you, Col?” and informs Andrea that he was not expecting them back.  

"At least we'll get some peace now"

“Well at least we’ll get some peace now,” 

"Have you seen my bag?"

but at that moment Britt reappears, looking for her bag.

“Oh, hello – I’m Britt, Garry’s sister,” she says, 

"I don't want to be rude in front of a visitor"

“I can stay – I don’t want to be rude in front of a visitor.”   

Garry does not look pleased about making tea

She instructs Garry to make a cup of tea.

Jaclyn has been making elaborate biscuits

At number 10, Jaclyn has been doing some baking when Tesni comes in, remarking on the elaborate biscuits that she has made.   “At least someone appreciates what I’m doing for this christening!” her mother complains, 

"She didn't like the robe, then?"

and Tesni realises that Dani would not accept the robe.

"She doesn't respect tradition"

“She doesn’t respect tradition,” Jaclyn goes on, 

"Dani likes sparkly things"

and Tesni explains that Dani likes sparkly things.   “She didn’t have to be so rude – that boy is going to be a big part of our lives, and I have a responsibility as an aunt and a godparent – I want to do things right.   I don’t want him to hate us because of his Dad.”

The biscuits are safely in a tim

As Jaclyn carefully places the biscuits into a tin, Tesni reminds her mother, “You can’t make up for Uncle Dyl’s wrongdoings – and you’re going to spoil him rotten.”

“If she’ll let me,” Jaclyn groans, “Do you know what, Tes?   Our family is shrinking quickly – and that’s all that’s important in life, isn’t it – family?”

Ffion arrives home . . .

Ffion returns to Cysgod y Glyn 

. . . where Jinx is looking at her vodka bottle

 find Jinx standing, looking at a vodka bottle;  “Where did you find that?” she demands, and he replies that it does not matter.   

"It's not how it looks, Jinx"

“Honestly now, it’s not how it looks,” she assures him, and he sighs that it never is.

"The clinic is expecting you at six"

“Listen – the clinic is expecting you at six o’clock,” he tells her, and has packed a bag for her.   

"You can't force me to go to rehab!"

She insists that he, of all people, should know that he cannot force someone to go to rehab.   “They know you there – and you’ll get help,” he explains, “Kirsty is keeping your room until seven, before releasing it to someone else.”

Ffion will phone her to cancel, 

"Your liver won't be able to cope!"

but Jinx urgently warns, “Your liver won’t be able to cope with any more drinking!   So do the right thing for Arwen’s sake!”

Ffion shouts, “Arwen’s fine and so am I!”   Jinx is adamant that she is not fine, 

"I'm going to the Deri – for a coffee!"

and she walks out of the flat, snarling, “I’m going to the Deri – for a coffee!”

"What's going on, Jinx?"

As Jinx grabs his coat to follow her, Arwen appears and asks what is going on;  “I’ll be back in a minute, OK,” he says.

"I'm sorry, Ffion!"

follows Ffion along the street and apologises to her, but she does not want to know;  “You have no right to shout at me or to threaten me!”   

"Look, I'm worried about you"

He points out that he is worried about her and pleads with her to come back to the flat.   “What – for more abuse?” she demands, 

"No, I don't think so!"

“No, I don’t think so!” 

She stalks off along the street

and she walks resolutely towards the Deri.

Arwen sniffs at the bottle . . .

Meanwhile, inside the flat, Arwen picks up the vodka bottle, sniffs at it, 

. . . and then takes a gulp

then it takes a swig, at which point Jinx comes back 

"Put that bottle down this minute!"

and exclaims, “Arwen – put down that bottle this minute!” with a furious look on his face.

"Are you grounding me?"

She demands if he is grounding her, but he says that he just wants to talk to her;  

"That stuff makes your mother ill"

“That stuff makes your mother ill!”

"It's just water!"

“That stuff won’t make anyone ill – it’s just water – serious – you taste it!” she replies, so he sniffs at the bottle, and is very puzzled.

"Why would she put water in a vodka bottle?"

“Why would your mother put water in a vodka bottle?” he asks, and Arwen does not know the answer to that, but confidently asserts that her mother has not been drinking.

Arwen has evidence Ffion is not drinking

“She’s been checking my homework – checking that I’ve been reading a chapter of a novel every night – checking what I’m eating for lunch.   

"When she's drinking, she has no interest in me"

“When Mam is drinking, she has no interest in me.”   So saying, she goes back to her room, 

Jinx is confused

and Jinx is confused.

"That's the whole point of a holiday!"

“The whole point of a holiday is to eat and drink, so you can come home to diet before the next one,” Andrea maintains, and Garry remarks that Britt’s clothes are not going to unpack themselves, 

"Right, I'll leave you two alone"

so she takes the hint, leaving them by themselves.

"Britt – lovely?"

Andrea thinks that his sister is lovely, a sentiment not shared by Garry;  “Why did you call me over?” she asks, 

She is eavesdropping, out of sight

and we see that Britt is listening in to this conversation.

"I've booked us an upgrade"

“Oh yes, the Deri profits are improving, so I’ve booked us an upgrade – you know, a nice five star hotel,” he says, and Andrea imagines that the B&B she booked is not good enough for him.

"That's old-fashioned and sexist!"

What he does not like is the woman organising, so she describes it as, “Old-fashioned – sexist?” but he argues that it just goes against the grain.

"What goes against the grain for me . . ."

“Well, what goes against the grain for me is to have a man choose somewhere for me!’ she replies, 

"This sounds interesting!"

and Britt is quite intrigued, but she adds, “I’m willing to make an exception, just this once.”   

Then they kiss . . .

As they kiss, 

. . . and Britt sniggers

Britt, who is sniggering quietly, retires to her bedroom.

"Don't try and change my mind"

“Please don’t try and change my mind about that blinkin’ gown,” says Dani. when Tesni visits the Deri flat.   “Look, the christening was your mother’s idea – she’s had her own way – she’s a godparent – she’s organised everything!   The cake, the buffet, the balloons, everything!   

"It's not funny!"

“It’s not funny!   And she’s done it despite the fact that Tyler’s in hospital – despite the fact that she’s Dylan’s sister – despite the fact that I’m really struggling with it!”

"She can be a bit OTT sometimes"

Tesni acknowledges that her mother can be a bit OTT sometimes, but her heart is in the right place;  “She just wants the best for Gabriel and you.”   

"On and on about being a godmother"

Dani knows all that, but stresses that Jaclyn goes on and on about being a godmother, 

"I'm beginning to regret asking her"

“and she beginning to regret asking her.
“She’s just feeling the responsibility – perhaps that’s why people usually have two godparents,” Tesni suggests, “I promise I’ll have a word with Mam, OK?   

"I'll tell her to back off a little bit"

“I’ll tell her to back off a little bit,” and Dani is grateful.

Then she thinks . . .

What she has said makes Dani think, 

. . . and makes a phone call

and then she picks up her phone to make a call.

"I'd do anything to be a long way from here"

Outside the shop, Gaynor welcomes Colin home, and he says it is good to be back;  “Is it?   I’d do anything to be a long way from here,” she grumbles, and Colin would like to ask something important.

"If you knew something about someone's new girlfriend . . ."

“If you knew something about someone’s new girlfriend, would you tell them?”   

"It depends on what it is"

Gaynor replies that it depends on what it is.   “It’s a bit delicate,” he adds, and she wonders if the person really needs to know, or perhaps it is just some silly gossip.

"Oh, no – it's something serious"

“Oh, no – it’s not gossip – it’s something serious,” but he is cut short by the arrival of Britt, who maintains that Andrea seems a nice girl.

"Andrea, Garry's new girlfriend"

“Andrea, Garry’s new girlfriend – she likes to put her foot down.   She wasn’t happy that he’d booked a five-star hotel for them – looks like a feminist to me,” Britt goes on, “She said she was willing to compromise this time, which means we’ll have a night without Garry before long.   See you later, Colin Evans.”

Gaynor asks him how much the apples cost, 

"I don't work in the shop any more, Gaynor"

and he reminds her that he no longer works in the shop, but is in the chippy.   

She surreptitiously slips an apple into her bag

Looking around to make sure no one is nearby, she picks up an apple and puts it in her bag.

"There's water in this bottle!"

Jinx is sitting at the table with the vodka bottle in front of him, and tells Ffion, “There’s water in this bottle!”   

"I told you I wasn't drinking!"

She points out to him that she said she was not drinking;  

"Why didn't you tell me this ws water?"

“Why didn’t you tell me that it was water, then?” he asks, and she does not reply.

"Why do I feel like I'm being deceived here, Ffion?"

“Why do I feel like I’m being deceived here, Ffion?” he goes on, “And Hywel – you led him to believe you’d been drinking again!”   She maintains that is what he wanted to believe.   “Yeah, but you carried on, making him worry – that’s unfair and cruel.   

"You've gone too far this time!"

“What’s wrong with you?” Jinx demands, “You’ve gone too far this time!   Do you know how I found out it was water in the bottle?   I came home and found Arwen drinking from it – your silly little trick could have backfired terribly.   

"I think I deserve an explanation, Ffion!"

“I think I deserve an explanation, Ffion!”

Hearing that Arwen was involved shocks her

Ffion is very shocked by this, and promises that he will get an explanation, but she needs to talk to Arwen first.

"I'm taking Andrea away overnight"

In the Deri, Garry tells Dani that he is taking Andrea away overnight, and hopes that will not affect her too much.   Dani regards it as perfect timing, with all the christening arrangements, 

Dani wishes them well

and hopes that they enjoy themselves.

Colin is anxious to talk to him

Colin is at the other end of the bar, looking very troubled, so Garry asks, “What do you want, Col?   I don’t have time to mess around.”

“Neither do I – I’ve got to wash clothes, sort the chip fryer – 

"Come and sit down for a minute, Garry"

“look, come and sit down for a minute, Garry,” he answers, “It’s a bit delicate.   You know I’m not one to interfere in people’s personal lives – I like a chat now and again of course, but this is different.   It’s important – about Andrea.   How long have you known her?”

"In days, hours or minutes?"

Garry wonders if he wants the answer in days, hours or minutes;  “Just say what you have to say.”   Colin very hesitantly assures Garry that she does not want to come between them, but has heard from Britt that they are going away for a night in a hotel.

"It's important for you to know that . . ."

“I thought it was important for you to know that . . . er,”   

"That she is HIV positive"

Garry finishes his sentence for him, “That she is HIV positive – that’s what you were going to say.   

That takes the wind out of Colin's sails

“Andrea told me so – she’s a sensible woman, isn’t she?   Why wouldn’t I be cool about it, Col?   But just keep it from Britt and Dani –

"They're not quite as forward-thinking as us"

“they’re not quite as forward-thinking as us.”

When Colin enquires whether she is going to get the five-star treatment, 

"Now you are interfering, Col!"

Garry points out that now he is interfering.

"She's always been mature for her age"

Ffion returns from her chat with Arwen and Jinx asks if she was OK about it;  “She’s always been mature for her age – she had to be, I suppose,” is Ffion’s reply.   Jinx wants to know exactly what is going on with her.

“It’s so stupid, Jinx,” she says, but he maintains that it is better than hearing she had been drinking again.   

"I was feeling really sorry for myself"

She sits down on the sofa to explain, “I was feeling sorry for myself – things were difficult in the north with Mam and Nesta – really difficult – I could easily have started drinking again.   I worked so hard not to – but when you’re healthy, no-one want to know, do they?   It’s boring, isn’t it?   No-one’s going to say, ‘Well done you for working hard and being sober’.”

"So you wanted attention?"

“So you wanted attention?” realises Jinx, but she denies this, and remembers when she got the job as head teacher, 

"I felt so lonely"

she had no-one to celebrate with – and felt so lonely.

"So it was easier having us shouting at you?"

“So it was easier to have Hywel and me shouting at you?” he concludes, and she felt as if someone cared.   “What about Arwen?   Doesn’t she count in all of this?” he demands.

"When I came back, she preferred you to me"

“She’s the one who does count!” Ffion stresses, “But when I came back, she preferred you to me,”   

"She was asking about you every night"

Jinx points out that Arwen was asking every night when her mother would be coming home, as she wanted them to go shopping together, wanted to share a story, have a coffee together.

“I didn’t tell you because I knew you would feel guilty for being away – and I had no idea you would feel like this.”   

"I'm such an idiot, Jinx!"

She is so sorry and calls herself an idiot;  

"Yes, you are – but you're you!"

he agrees with this, but adds, “You’re you!   Perhaps the three of us are not quite normal, but we are a family, aren’t we?   So next time you feel you want to celebrate, or complain about something, come to me, will you?”   

Ffion nods her head

Ffion meekly nods her head.

"You obviously want something"

Wilko has been summoned to the Deri flat, and imagines that Dani wants something;  “I want to do something special for you,” she tells him, “To show how much your support means to me.”   

After a kiss . . . 

They kiss, and then he sits down at the table, where some cakes are on display.

. . . he is offered cakes

“You know, I don’t just appreciate what you do for me – I really enjoy your company,” she continues, “You make me feel safe – 

"I've got a favour to ask you"

“and that’s why I’ve got a favour to ask you – more than a favour, actually.

"Will you agree to be Gabriel's godfather?"

“Will you agree to be Gabriel’s godfather?   I’d ask Gwern, but Megan said he’s too young, and I want him to have someone.”   

He does not reply

Wilko remains silent, and she goes on, “I know I’m asking a lot – and I don’t know you very well, 

"My instinct tell me you're a good man"

but my instinct tells me that you’re a good man.   Perhaps you and Gabriel will turn out to be good mates.”

"I'd like to think about it, Dani"

Wilko is not keen on this;  he says he is honoured that she has asked him, but would like to think about it.   

"You're one in a million"

She calls him, “One in a million,” and kisses him, but he does not look at all happy at the prospect, 

He stares at the cakes

as he stares at the plate of cakes.