29 June 2022

Britt tries to get a signal

Britt is standing outside the door of Hywel’s house, trying to get a phone signal, when Dani comes out of the Deri;  Britt runs after her and demands, “Do you know where Aaron is?”   

"He's at school, isn't he?"

Dani assumes that he is at school, but is told, “No-one has seen him since yesterday – if you hear anything, tell me straightaway.”

"Hello – Garry?"

As Britt is returning to the house, she receives a phone call;  Garry has some news for her.

Eileen has been summoned to number 10

Jaclyn has asked Eileen to come to number 10;  

"I'm handing in my notice"

“I’m handing in my notice – I’m leaving Cwmderi,” Jaclyn announces.   Eileen wonders whatever she is supposed to do without her, and it is suggested, “Find someone else!”

"Your timing's terrible!"

“Your timing’s terrible!” Eileen exclaims, but Jaclyn does not intend to put her life on hold.   “Off you go – I don’t need staff!   I can do everything myself!” Eileen exclaims.   

"I thought we were friends, Eileen"

Jaclyn was under the impression that they were friends, and is told, “Friends don’t let each other down!”

Jaclyn thanks her for her best wishes, 

"The grass won't be any greener!"

and is warned that the grass will not be any greener.   Eileen turns to leave the house, 

"Your onion chutney – overrated!"

and is informed, “You know your onion chutney?   Overrated!”

Britt is very upset

Britt is worried sick by what Garry has told her;  Colin comes in, having contacted Aaron’s friends and put an appeal on Facebook, 

"I think we should contact the police"

and recommends that they should contact the police.

"No – he's safe – with Garry"

“No – he’s safe – with Garry,” she replies, “He turned up in Newcastle this morning,” and she bursts into tears.   

"He's not coming home!"

“It’s not all right, Col, because he’s not coming home!”   Colin reassures her that he will come back for his exams.   “No, he won’t – he says that exams are a way of controlling us – whatever that means, “ she sobs, 

"I want our Aaron back, Col!"

“I just want our Aaron back, Col!” and she hugs him.

Rather a sparsely attended meeting

In the Deri, the first meeting of the ‘Committee for the Protection of Bethania’ is being held, consisting solely of Anita and Megan.   Cassie tells them that they look very official, 

"We want to draw attention to the chapel"

and is told, “We want to draw attention to the chapel, to make sure no-one even thinks about turning the place into flats.”

Cassie finds it rather strange that there are only two of them, but Anita protests, “Nobody wants to lose Bethania, but nobody wants to help us either.”

"Wouldn't it be better to meet in the chapel?"

Cassie suggests that it might be better to meet in the chapel, to show that it is being used, 

"That vestry is freezing!"

but Megan points out that the vestry is freezing, and the chapel is worse.   “And you wonder why people don’t go?   

"The cemetery is more inviting"

“The cemetery is more inviting,” is Cassie’s comment.

"That's the answer, Megan!"

“That’s the answer, Megan – the cemetery!” realises Anita, “If people found out the developers want to move the graves and turn it into a car park, we’d get a lot more support!”   

"I don't like to take advantage of the dead"

Megan does not like to take advantage of the dead, but Anita insists, “We’re not taking advantage – we’re protecting them.”   She gets out of her chair, 

"I'm going out to recruit!"

exclaiming, “I’m going out to recruit – we need to change gear!”

"I need someone to work in the shop"

Eileen goes to see Colin and comes straight to the point;  “I need someone to work in the shop.”   

"Britt needs me here"

He replies that Britt needs him there, and she goes on, “The chip shop will be closed for ages, and you wouldn’t be far away –  please, Col, I don’t have any staff!”

He regrets that he cannot help and is unable to leave Britt on her own;  

"I thought you'd need the money . . ."

Eileen goes on, “Oh, I thought you’d need the money under the circumstances – and I was going to offer you a pay rise – 

". . . but if you're sure you can do without"

“but if you’re sure you can do without it . . .”

"If you give Britt a job at Cae Glas"

Colin says that he will do a deal with her;  “I’ll help you in the shop, if you give Britt a job at Cae Glas.   You just said you’re desperate for staff.”   

Eileen does not like the sound of that

Eileen does not appear very enthusiastic about this.

"She was desperate for something else as well!"

Britt has just come downstairs and sarcastically comments, “She was desperate for something else as well, weren’t you Eileen?”   Colin points out that they do need the money, 

"You two have a lot in common"

and thinks that Eileen and Britt will get on well together, as they have a lot in common.   “Yes – you!” Britt laughs.

"I'm sure Britt can find something that would suit her better"

“I’m sure that Britt can find something that would suit her better,” Eileen growls, but Colin reminds her that she cannot carry on without staff, and they cannot carry on without the chip shop money – so she does not have a lot of choice.

Eileen is forced to reluctantly agree, 

"How can I start a job with Aaron away?"

but Britt demands, “How can I start a new job with Aaron away?”   Eileen suggests that it would be a new challenge, and something to take her mind off it.   

"We need a to find a way of paying the bills"

“It’s enough of a challenge worrying about Aaron, thanks,” Britt answers, but Colin points out that they need to find a way of paying the bills, so she storms back upstairs.

Cai 'eyes up' a passing blonde

Cai is in the Deri, and appears to be pretty well ‘tanked up’ already as he goes the bar for another pint;  

"I have to change the barrel"

Cassie has to go to the cellar to change the barrel, but he maintains, “I’m enjoying the view!”   

"It's enough to put a man off his pint"

DJ is sitting nearby and remarks, “It’s enough to put a man off his pint.”   Cai offers to flirt with him as well if he wants, and is told to behave himself by Cassie.

"Eileen, have you got two minutes?"

When Eileen comes out of Hywel’s house, Anita is standing outside the Deri, trying to drum up support for the Committee.   “Eileen, have you got two minutes?   The ‘Committee for the Protection of Bethania’ is holding a meeting.”

"I haven't got time, Anita"

Eileen has no time for this, but Anita continues, “We don't have any time, either – do you think these developers will wait for us – not even for our departed loved ones?   They’re thinking of moving the graves.”   Eileen is certain that there must be a law preventing that, and is told, “If you were on the committee, you could find out for us.”   

"I've already got enough on my plate"

She has enough on her plate as it is and walks away.

"I'm here to see Cassie"

Then Jaclyn approaches and Anita begins her ‘hard sell’, but this is interrupted by Cassie;  

"I don't want you touting out here!"

“I’ll support you 100%, but I don’t want you touting out here.   Will you go inside, please?”

"I'm handing inn my notice"

Jaclyn says that she is handing in her notice;  “I’ve enjoyed working with you, but the world is calling.”   

"Pop in for a farewell drink"

Cassie quite understands and invites her to pop in for a farewell drink.

She feels a sudden twinge . . .

At that moment Jaclyn feels a sudden twinge of pain and has to support herself on a table;  

. . . and thinks she may know why

she looks as if she might realise the cause of this.

Jinx arrives at Penrhewl 

Jinx arrives at Penrhewl, and suggests to Eileen that they could write to Alaz – unless she is too busy.   

"It's like walking through mud"

She produces the laptop and informs him that she is trying to give the system a ‘kick up the . . .’ but it is like walking through mud.

He advises, “We need to keep putting pressure on them and lift his spirits.”

"Is there any news about Aaron?"

Dani meets Colin outside the shop and asks if there is any news about Aaron;  

“He’s with Uncle Garry,” is the reply.   

"Texts are not the same"

She does not know much about Garry’s situation, and remarks that texts are not the same as talking to him.

“Britt will be on the phone to him every few minutes of every day, now that Aaron is staying there,” Colin continues, and Dani wonders if he will be coming back.

"Every time I open my mouth, I make things worse"

“Britt’s heartbroken, and every time I open my mouth I just make things worse,” he groans, “What’s wrong with that boy – disappearing in the middle of his exams?”   Dani thinks that may be what he needs – time to think.

"You know where he is  – and he's safe"

“If things come to a head, he will have to resit the exams – you know where he is, he’s safe, that’s all that matters,” concludes Dani.

"Could you have a chat with Britt?"

Colin asks if she will go over to have a chat with Britt, but Dani would prefer to text her, 

Dani is not willing to do that

giving the excuse that Gabriel has not been too special, but she will sort something out.

Cai is still not paying attention to that blonde

In the Deri, Cai is still drinking and staggers off to the toilet, just as Iolo comes in and is summoned by Anita;  

"Bud you take a look at the boiler in Bethania?

“Would you take a look at the boiler in Bethania for us?   

"And would you like the first offer on any work?"

“And would you like the first offer on any work that needs doing?”   He is pleased to agree with that, and she goes on, “It’s the least we can do with you on the committee – it’s nice to welcome younger members.”

Iolo does not quite follow her reasoning

Iolo is looking puzzled by this time, and stresses that he did not agree to that;  “But you want the first offer on any work,” Anita reminds him, “We’ll see you at the next meeting – I’ll send you the details.”

As Iolo walks away in a rather bemused state, 

"That's how it's done, Megan!"

Anita boasts, “That’s how it’s done, Megan – put his name down.”

At Penrhewl, Jinx comes to the end of the message to Alaz, 

and Eileen tells him to sign off with, “Lots of love.”   

"Online translation isn't ideal"

Jinx appreciates that translating online is not ideal, but they do not have much choice.   

As the message is translated into Kurdish, a pop-up appears, advertising ‘Gator’, a children’s electric truck, 

"That's the answer to my problem"

and Eileen maintains that is the answer to her problem;  “An electric truck for Huwi!” 

"It costs £300, mind"

but Jinx points out that it is £300.   “It will be worth every penny, if he can keep up with me,” she continues, “It takes his little legs ages to follow me around the farm,” and Jinx is surprised that she is going to buy it now.   

"If Jaclyn's going away to 'find herself' . . . "

“If Jaclyn’s going away to ‘find herself’, I’ll be busier than ever,” Eileen moans.

"Another one, please, Cassie"

Still drinking in the Deri, Cai asks for another one, 

"It's time you went home"

but Cassie advises him to go home, and he jokes that he might get a better offer.   

Jason is not happy to see Cai

Jason is just coming in and wants a pint.

"Don't blank me – we're family"

“Don’t blank me – we’re family,” argues Cai, 

"You and Emma are separated"

but it is pointed out to him that he and Emma are separated.   “She was really feisty, Cassie – that’s how I like them.   She knew what she wanted, like her mother.”

"You're the joke, Cai – always have been!"

Jason has had enough of this and decides that he will go home instead;  “You’re the joke, Cai – always have been!”   This little exchange has amused DJ, and Cassie asks where Sioned is tonight;  

"Sioned's not well"

DJ replies that she is not well, and is at home with her feet up.   It is thought that she has a bug.

"She'll be gutted to miss out on seeing me!"

“She’ll be gutted to miss out on seeing me,” Cai remarks, but DJ suspects that she is more likely to be glad.   Once again Cassie admonishes him for the way he is talking about DJ’s girlfriend.

"I'm not here to listen to a clown like you"

“Listen, I’m here for quiet pint, not to listen to a clown like you going on,” snarls DJ, and Cai is surprised that Cassie is going to let him be insulted like that.   He says that this place used to be a friendly pub, and DJ adds, “Yes, before you walked in!”

"Come over here and say that!"

Cai turns belligerent, inviting DJ, “Come over here and say that!”   DJ is quite ready to oblige, 

"You, sit down – and you, go home!"

but Cassie instructs him to sit down and Cai to go home.   

"This place is a dump, anyway"

He staggers out, commenting that the place is a dump anyway.

"Eileen complained I was letting her down"

Jinx visits Jaclyn and finds that she is busy packing;  “Eileen complained that I was letting her down,” she grumbles, but Jinx is also not keen on her going, 

"I hope it's not because of me"

hoping that it is not because of him, as he did say some awful things.   He is sorry about that and did not mean it.

“So you’re just going to disappear without saying anything?” he asks;  

"I'm going to see some of the world"

she says she has a lot to sort out, and will be going to London to see Tes and Aled, then to see some of the world before she gets too old.   

"Will you be back at some point?"

Jinx hopes that she will come back at some point, 

"No"

but she discounts this.   “I shall miss you,” he tells her as he leaves the house.   

She looks in her bag for something 

She looks into her handbag for something.

A charred photo of Brandon

Britt is looking at the burnt remains of a photograph of Brandon;  Colin says that Dani sends her regards.   

"Dani doesn't remember I exist"

“Dani doesn’t remember I exist!” she snarls, and he says she is extremely busy.   “She’s no better than Garry – 

"A proper brother would have come to see me"

“a proper brother would have come to see me after the fire!”   

"Aaron will be safe with him"

Colin reminds her that Aaron will be safe with him.

“But he’s such a clever kid, Col, he should be here doing his exams,” she whines;  

"He'll come back when he's ready"

Colin replies that he can sit them another time, and he will come back when he is ready.   What is important is that he knows the door is always open.

“He will be fine, Britt – it’s just that he’s taken a slightly different path, that’s all,” he assures her.   

"I've been thinking, Col . . ."

She says that she has been thinking, and wonders when Colin wants her to start at Cae Glas, 

" . . . even if it means I have to work with her!"

as it will do her good to get out, “Even if it means I have to work with her!”   

Colin is very pleased to hear this, and she laughs, “It will be strange, though – I haven’t done anything except serve pints and chips for years – I’m nervous already.”   

"I'm sure you'll enjoy it"

He is sure that she will be fine, and will enjoy it, too.

Ffion is working

Ffion is at home, working on her laptop, when the buzzer sounds and she discovers that Cai is outside;  she is reluctant to let him in although he says, in a very slurred voice, that it is important.   

"Make an appointment at school"

“Well, make an appointment to see me at school!” she snaps, but he insists that he will only be a minute, 

Not a good idea to let him in

so she, rather unwisely, succumbs.

“I don’t usually discuss the school matters at home, so don’t be long!” she instructs him, 

"We're more than colleagues, aren't we?"

but he maintains that they are more than colleagues.   “Look at the state of you!” she goes on, and he wants a drink, 

"Where do you hide it?"

wondering where she hides it.   

"Go home, Cai!"

She tells him to go home.

"You can't avoid me for ever"

“No, I want to have a chat – you can’t avoid me for ever,” he answers.   

"I can avoid you now!"

Ffion makes it quite clear that she can avoid him now, so he is told to go immediately, but he is adamant that he wants to clear the air.

"You want more than to just talk"

“Don’t come any closer!” she warns him, and he drunkenly imagines that she wants more than to just talk.   

"What's going on?"

Fortunately Jinx comes in at this point, 

"Jinx, the great hero!"

and he is hailed as a great hero by Cai.

"Go, before I throw you out!"

“Out, now!” Jinx orders him, “She obviously doesn’t want to see you – so go, before I throw you out!”   

"See you very soon, Mrs Llywelyn!"

Cai says that he will see Ffion very soon and lurches out of the flat, 

She is glad to be rid of him

with Ffion breathing a sigh of relief.

"You can't have him as your deputy!"

“You can’t have him as your deputy – look how he treats you!” Jinx insists, but she maintains that she has no choice;  

"I'm stuck with him"

she is stuck with him, a situation which she does not seem to relish.

Jaclyn waits for the alarm to sound . . .

At number 10, Jaclyn is sitting, looking anxiously at her phone, which is counting down to an alarm;  

. . . then picks up the pregnancy test . . .

when it sounds, she picks up the pregnancy test next to it and is somewhat troubled 

. . . which show an unequivocal result

to see the clear message ‘pregnant’.   

She is very concerned

She does not know what she is going to do