3 May 2022

"Sorry I didn't clear up last night"

At Y Felin, Siôn appears to have a hangover after last night, and apologises to Iolo for not clearing up.   “Who was here last night, then?”  Iolo asks, and is informed that it was Eifion.   

"Since when have you two been such good friends?"

“Since when have you two been such good friends?” is the next question.

"I wanted to talk to you about that"

“I wanted to talk to you about that,” says his father, “How would you feel if I offered Eifion the spare room – temporarily?   He and Mathew have fallen out.”

"You do know why, don't you?"

“You do know why, don’t you?” snaps Iolo, but is urged to keep his voice down, and at that moment they hear Eifion’s voice from upstairs, wondering where the towels are kept.   Iolo looks disapproving.

"What's wrong with Gwern, letting that Arwen influence him?"

Britt shouts to Dani, who is walking along the street with the pram;  “I heard from Kath about this door knocking business.   What’s wrong with Gwern, letting that Arwen influence him?”   

"Ffion thinks Gwern is the problem"

Dani replies that Ffion is under the impression that Gwern is the problem.

“Is she?   Wait until I see her!” Britt snarls, and Dani insists that she is sorting the matter out.   

"That girl is trouble!"

“The children of head teachers are the worst – that girl is trouble!” Britt points out and walks away.

"You helped them create the stories?"

“You helped them create the stories?” asks Eifion, and Siôn is pleased that he did.   “Colin is the squire, and he’s having an affair with maid, Britt?”   Siôn confirms that, according to the story, he was.   

"That would be enough to scare anyone!"

“I hope they don’t act it out – that would be enough to scare anyone!” says Eifion.

"We could go on the tour tonight"

Siôn suggests that they could go on the tour tonight, and Eifion will pay for the tickets to thank him for the room.   When Siôn has left for the bookshop, 

"How can you afford the tickets?"

Iolo enquires, “How can you afford the tickets after being sacked?”

"I do have money, you know"

He is told that Eifion does have money;  “You can buy me a ticket, then – I’d love to come, thank you.”

Britt's eagle eye detects Ffion . . . 

Britt is cleaning the windows of the chippy 

. . . who is walking past

when she notices Ffion approaching, and at the same time Siôn walks round the corner.   

"I'm surprised she's showing her face"

“I’m surprised she’s showing her face,” Britt growls to Siôn, “After the accusation she’s been throwing around!”   

"Could you elaborate, Britt?"

He asks her to elaborate and she is eager to do so;  “Accusing Gwern of being a bad influence on her little angel!   Sorry, I know she’s your granddaughter, but you lot need to know the truth.”   Siôn wants to know in what way Arwen is a bad influence.   “Knocking doors and running away,” is her answer, and he considers it nothing serious.

"Gwern would never do that, unless he was pushed!"

“It depends whose door you’re knocking on, Siôn!” she reprimands him, “Vulnerable people like Kath Jones, for example – Gwern would never do that, unless he was pushed.”

"There are two sides to every story"

Siôn points out that there are two sides to every story, and the truth is usually in the middle, so there is no point in falling out over this nonsense.   Britt will not leave it there, 

"Ffion needs to open her eyes"

but insists, “Ffion needs to open her eyes, because that girl’s behaviour gets worse every day – amd Ffion can’t see it!”

"An e-mail here for you from the council"

At APD, Mathew is looking at the laptop when he reports, “Anita, there’s an e-mail here for you from the council.”   She imagines that it will be about their new contract and asks him to read it out.   “Anita,” he begins, 

"That's a bit informal"

and she thinks that is rather informal.   

"I have to bring our relationship to an end"

“Unfortunately, and due to circumstances beyond my control, I have to bring our relationship to an end.”

“I thought that the council and APD had a good relationship,” she protests,  

Jason looks disapproving

and Jason, who has been listening, looks disapprovingly at him.   

Mathew is forced to admit that it is not from the council, but from Griffiths, 

Anita realises the gravity of this . . .

and she realises what this means.   

. . . and walks out of APD

She picks up her bag and storms out of the shop.

"What's wrong with you, Mathew?"

“What’s wrong with you, Mathew?” Jason shouts.

"That school is like a circus!"

Siôn takes a box of books to Cysgod y Glyn, and Ffion complains that the school is like a circus;  he also wanted a word with her.   

"I saw Britt earlier"

“It’s a bit awkward – I saw Britt earlier.”

"Let me guess – Arwen is a bad influence on Gwern?"

“And what did she have to say?   No – let me guess – she said that Arwen is a bad influence on Gwern,” 

"Her behaviour has been a bit challenging"

and Siôn says that her behaviour has been a bit challenging.   

"She was upset he was lying about her"

“I’ve spoken to Arwen and she was upset that he was lying about her – knocking on doors was Gwern’s idea, not Arwen’s!” Ffion insists.

"There are two sides to every story"

Again Siôn suggests that there are two sides to every story, but she stops him there, 

"Arwen  doesn't lie!"

adamant that Arwen does not lie;  “Gwern’s had a tough upbringing, but that’s no reason to stick up for him.   Thanks for the books – send me an invoice and I’ll pay you online.”   Siôn leaves the flat, 

"Is there any truth in what he said?"

but she wonders if there is any truth in his allegation.

"Kelly, have you seen Anita?"

Kelly is working on the laptop at Bryntirion when Jason comes home, asking if she has seen Anita.   

"Griffiths dumped her by e-mail"

He is reluctant to reveal, “Griffiths dumped her by e-mail this morning – nobody’s seen her since.”

"What sort of a loser dumps a woman by e-mail?"

“You are joking?” she growls, and he adds that she was pretty upset.   “I mean, what sort of loser dumps a woman by e-mail anyway?” she demands, 

"I'll phone her now!"

“I’ll phone her now!”   Jason points out that she left her phone at APD.

“Where would she have gone?” says Kelly, 

"I'll go and search the village"

and she is told to stay there while Jason goes to search the village.   Kelly is infuriated.

They look at the route they will be covering"

Later, that evening, The participants in the next tour have assembled in the street, 

"Right, I'll do the welcome"

while Britt, Colin and the replacement for Lois, in the form of Mark, checking that they know their lines.   Britt will do the welcome and the health and safety announcement, 

Colin looks somewhat uneasy

but Colin looks increasingly apprehensive about the whole thing.

Mark has a couple of ideas to scare them all;  he has downloaded a couple of sound effects on his phone 

Mathew proposes a couple of alterations

and takes from the pocket of his dress some ‘Fun Snaps’.   

"It could give that couple a heart attack"

Colin is not sure about that, pointing out that he could give that couple a heart attack.

Mark encourages him to chill out;  “You’re so jumpy – it’s just a bit of fun!”   Siôn is getting impatient and demands when they are going to start.

"Welcome to the Cwmderi Ghost Tours"

Britt welcomes the participants to the Cwmderi Ghost Tours;  “Tonight, we’ll share historic stories about local people from the past.   We’ll take you to the manor on the outskirts of the village.”

"Colin looks very nervous"

Eifion can see that Colin is extremely nervous, 

"Have you all remembered your torches?"

as she continues, “Down to the river and back to the village through Coed y Mynach.   Have you all remembered your torches?   Make sure that they are working.”   

Colin shones his torch . . . 

Colin points his torch in the direction of the garage, 

. . . illuminating the enigmatic man in black

where he is horrified to see once again the mystery figure in front of the wooden doors.

Colin is terrified

He shouts in terror, and Britt wonders what is the matter;  he points towards the garage and gasps, “The figure in black!”   Mark reminds him that they have not started yet, 

"He was there – a tall man in a blck coat!"

but he insists, “He was there, Mark, a tall man in a black coat!”   

However, there is no sign of him

However it is quite obvious to everyone that there is no-one there, 

This is too much for Colin – and he escapes

and Colin decides that he cannot cope with this and flees from the scene.   

"Follow us for a night of fear and terror!"

Britt and Mark will have to improvise with the loss of one third of the cast.   “OK, if you’re ready, follow us for a night of fear and terror!” Mark announces, 

Iolo follows the others

and they set off.

"This is excellent, Dani"

At Llwyncelyn, Gaynor is reading Dani’s statement and describes it as a excellent;  “One or two spelling and grammatical errors, but the content is gripping.”   

"You're an amazing teacher, Gaynor"

Dani is very pleased to hear this, and calls her an amazing teacher, who has really helped her confidence.

"Yes, I've missed that"

“Yes, I’ve missed that – when you’re part of the senior team, or the head teacher, you don’t spend much time teaching.”   

"Do you regret becoming a head teacher?"

Dani wonders if she regrets becoming a head teacher.   

“Yes, perhaps – but in terms of career development – and money – it was the right thing to do at the time,” Gaynor replies.   

"I don't know whether I'd go back to it"

She does not know whether she would go back to teaching.

"I would have enjoyed a teacher like you"

Dani would have enjoyed having a teacher like her at school;  “I’m serious – I hated school – and I was kicked out for stealing in the end.   I don’t talk about it much.   

"I'm not a kleptomaniac"

“Don’t get me wrong – I’m not a kleptomaniac – I was just a teenager.   I wanted what everybody else had, really, not that it’s an excuse, but there we are.   Perhaps I should write about that – it’s weird, isn’t it?   What’s the psychology behind someone who steals just because they have a compulsion to do it?   

"Is it power – or excitement?"

“Is it power, or – I don’t know – excitement?”

"Shall I open another bottle?"

Changing the subject, Gaynor suggests they could open another bottle, but Dani should be going, 

"Thanks again for your help"

and thanks Gaynor once again for her help.   “Let me know if you hear about your application,” says Gaynor, 

Gaynor's conscience is troubling her

and looks rather worried about what has been said.

"Blodwen's and the Squire's passionat affair"

In the cemetery, Mark tells the listeners that after Blodwen’s and the Squire’s passionate affair, 

"I love you, Lewis Hopkin William Thomas. the third!"

the maid said, “I love you, Lewis Hopkin William Thomas, the third,” and found she was pregnant with his baby.

"That's historically inaccurate!"

Siôn raises an objection, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but that’s historically inaccurate, according to the sources.”   

"Dramatic licence, Siôn"

Mark points out that it is dramatic licence.   

"I don't feel too special"

Eifion says that he does not feel too special and is going to sit down.

"You don't believe this act, do you?"

“You don’t believe this act, do you?” comments Iolo, “He was caught stealing – this is all part of his plan to get some sympathy.”

"On a cold, stormy night"

Mark goes on, “And so, on a cold, stormy night, after Bronwen . . .” and is corrected by Britt that is the name is Blodwen.   “After Blodwen gave birth, the squire’s cruel wife stole the baby from her.”   Britt emits suitably wailing noises;  “And on a dark night, like tonight, listen and you’ll hear the baby’s cries, dancing sorrowfully on the breeze,” Mark adds, 

A baby's cries ring through the cemetery

taking the phone from his pocket, and playing appropriate sounds

Siôn strongly objects to this story

Siôn looks affronted by this;  “I’m sorry, Mark, but I don’t like the way you’ve fictionalised our historic stories.”   

"Your stories were boring!"

Mark replies that they were boring, but Siôn cannot agree.

"What about other fake stories – like Fflam?"

“What about other fake stories that has made our local history more interesting – like Fflam?” he demands.   

"You don't have to mislead people"

Siôn argues that they do not have to spout lies and mislead people.   “I don’t see your problem,” says Mark, “If you’re not happy, you can have a refund at the end!”

"Sion . . ."

Eifion is by now sitting on a convenient gravestone, and calls for Siôn;  

". . . I think I'm having a heart attack!"

“I think I’m having a heart attack,” he groans, “My heart is racing.”   Siôn thinks it more likely that it is a panic attack, advising him to relax and take deep breaths.

"Eifion needs some space now!"

Iolo comes over to see what is happening and is told that Eifion needs some space now;  Siôn continues to supervise the deep breathing.

Colin looks very forlorn

Colin is sitting desolately in the Deri, when Kelly comes in, still looking for Auntie Neet;  he says that he has not seen her, 

"What's the matter, Colin?"

and she can see that something is troubling him.   She sits down with him, and he explains, 

"I've been seeing things"

“I’ve . . . well, I’ve been seeing things – I’m not sure what.   People – ghosts perhaps – I know it sounds a bit far-fetched, even for me, but honestly, Kel, I’ve been seeing this man –a man all in black, and one minute he’s there, the next he’s disappeared!   

"It might be a message . . ."

“I don’t understand – it might not be a ghost but a message – you know – a sign.   

". . . a sign from Izzy"

“It might be a sign to me from Izzy!”

"It's hard when someone dies, isn't it?"

Kelly appreciates, “It’s hard when someone dies, isn’t it?   Just imagining them disappearing altogether – 

"She must be here somewhere"

“she must be here somewhere,” as she brings the conversation back to Anita.   “I’ll get us a drink, shall I?”

"I don't know what came over me"

Out in the cemetery, where it is now raining, Eifion says he is feeling better;  “I don’t know what came over me – I’ve got a lot going on at the moment.   

"Thanks for now judging me, like everyone else"

“Thanks for not judging me, like everyone else – I am innocent, you know.”   

"Innocent until proven guilty"

Siôn quotes the old saying, ‘innocent until proven guilty’.   Iolo has become tired of waiting for them, and goes off with the rest of the party.

"I'd better go home to wait for Britt"

In the Deri, Colin downs another drink and realises that the tour is almost over;  he had better go home to wait for Britt.   Kelly advises, “Remember, Col, you’re still in the early stages of your grief.   

"Ghost Tours might not be the best thing for you at the moment"

“Ghost tours might not be the best thing for you at the moment.   Promise me you’ll talk to Britt?”

"Where have you been?"

As he leaves, Kelly becomes aware that Anita has just walked in;  “Excuse me!” she shouts, “Where have you been?   I’ve been worried sick!”   

"I wanted to be on my own"

Anita has just been for a walk, explaining she wanted to be on her own.

"You wait until I talk to Griffiths!"

“You wait until I talk to Griffiths!” Kelly snarls, but Anita tells her not to, maintaining that she is OK.   “Are you?   You don’t have to put on a brave face in front of me,” Kelly reminds her.

“Honestly, I’m fine – I was going to leave him anyway!” Anita says, “I’ve come for a drink – do you want the same again?”   Kelly would like a double G&T.

The tour reaches its conclusion . . .

The ghost tour arrives back in the village;  “Snacks and refreshments on the right in Y Sosban Chips,” Britt announces, “And they’re lovely!   

. . . and Britt takes a bow

“But for now, friends, thank you all for coming tonight, and if you enjoyed yourselves, remember to tell your family and friends – and give us a shout out on social media.”

"I had a bit of a funny turn"

Siôn and Eifion have now caught up with Iolo, and Eifion explains, “I had a bit of a funny turn, but I’m all right now.”   Siôn has the idea of inviting everyone back to Y Felin for a drink, but Iolo is not in the mood for that.

Instead, Siôn will go and get a bottle of wine from the Deri for them, and as soon as has gone, 

"I know what your game is!"

Iolo growls, “I know what your game is!   You fancy Dad – I’m not stupid – the flirting, the attention – it’s obvious.   You won’t turn him, you know – Dad’s straight – always has been!   I’d forget about it before you make a fool of yourself!”

"That's the most homophobic thing I've heard from a gay man" 

“That’s the most homophobic thing I’ve ever heard from a gay man,” says Eifion, “When was the last time you went for a straight man?   Don’t you see that accusing me of that stereotypes every gay or bi man of being some sort of sexual predator?   

"Educate yourself, will you?"

“Educate yourself, will you?   And stop trying to spoil my friendship with Siôn.”

Colin arrives back at the flat

Colin arrives back in the chip shop flat, but Britt is not there;  “I’m sorry for running away, 

"I've got us a sausage roll each"

“but I’ve got us a sausage roll each – I thought I’d treat us,” he says,

When he looks up . . .

However, when he turns, he sees the familiar figure in black standing there, 

. . . he screams with terror

and lets out a cry of horror.   

"Good evening, Colin"

“Good evening, Colin,” says the man.

"Who are you?   Why are you here?"

Colin demands who he is and why is he there;  

"Are you feeling better, Col?"

Britt comes in at that moment, asking if he feels better.   The man apologises for not introducing himself;  

"I'm Tom"

“I’m Tom – I’ve been looking forward to meeting you for a while.”   Colin still looks terrified.