7 July 2022

"Not a hen party, but a 'pearl party'"

Kath has gone to see Cassie to talk about her hen party;  “I want you to have something more classy than that – so not a hen party, but a ‘pearl party’,” says Cassie.   Kath does not want to sound ungrateful, but she points out that Cassie is Brynmor’s ‘Best Woman’.

"Brynmor doesn't want a stag do"

“Yes, but he doesn’t want a stag do,” Cassie complains, “He would prefer if tonight was for you.”   

"I might not want a hen do"

This meets the objection that Kath might not want a hen do, 

"Tough luck – it's organised"

but is informed, “Tough luck – it’s organised – cocktails and a buffet at Maes-y-Deri.”

Kath would prefer it to be in the Deri, 

"That's for your chief bridesmaid to organise"

and is told that is something else for her chief bridesmaid to organise, meaning Mark.   “As he is not coming, I can do both – I can be Brynmor’s ‘Best Woman’ and your chief bridesmaid.

"He wants to know where his fishing rod is"

Kath receives a text from Mark, wanting to know where his fishing rod is;  “He hasn’t been fishing for years,” she grumbles, 

"It's an excuse to talk to his mother"

and Cassie deduces that this is simply an excuse to talk to his mother, and he might be softening.

Kath is not going to hold her breath on that account, “And in any case I’m sure Brynmor cleared out the shed the other day – the fishing rod is probably in the garage, 

"I'll send him down there to look for it"

“so I’ll send him down there to look for it.”   When Cassie wonders if that is wise, Kath just does not care, and she is determined to stay out of things.

"Are you still here?"

DJ comes into Penrhewl and is surprised that Eileen is still there;  “I can’t leave until Britt gets here, 

"Britt's 20 minutes late already"

“and she’s 20 minutes late already,” Eileen moans.   She has some items which she is taking to Alaz, and DJ has come to pick up the keys for the quad bike.

"Sp you won't be working at Deri Fawr this afternoon?"

“So you won’t be working at Deri Fawr this afternoon?” asks Eileen;  

"I'll do the hay for you, Eileen"

he does not know what he will tell Sioned, but is willing to do the hay for Eileen.   

"I'm glad you've made the right decision"

“Thank you – I’m glad you’ve made the right decision,” she smirks, 

"I'm trying to protect Sioned"

but he stresses that he is doing what is best to protect Sioned.

Anita is being interviewed for the Western Post 

Outside Bethania, Kelly is interviewing Anita, 

"This is one of the hubs of our community"

who says, “What we want to show is that there’s more to Bethania than just a building.   This is one of the hubs of our community – 

"All races, sexes and faiths . . ."

“a community space that allows people of all races, sexes and faiths to gather together.”

Megan is pleased to see Anita campaigning

Megan is approaching and is pleased to see that Anita is campaigning;  “An interview for the Western Post, and there will be a photo as well,” Kelly informs her, but when Megan wants to join her in the photo, 

"This is an article about me"

Anita objects that this is an article about her, and she does not have time to discuss the matter now.

She displays her campaign placard

She poses with her placard, reading, ‘Company and Community, not Big Companies and Profit!” and Megan walks disconsolately away.

"Where's my fishing rod, then?"

Mark finds Brynmor sitting in the garage, reading a magazine;  “Where’s  my fishing rod, then?” he demands, “Mam said it’s here!   You have no right to move my stuff!” and he starts searching amidst all the boxes.

"Be careful in there!"

Brynmor warns him to be careful and that he has not seen a fishing rod;  

"Why are you storing so many broken things?"

Mark wonders why he is storing so many broken things.   “It’s just weird, Brynmor – why are you keeping all this stuff?   

"They should be in the recycling bin!"

“They should be in the recycling bin!”

Brynmor is becoming angry and tells him to stop;  Mark cannot understand why his mother would want to marry a hoarder like him.   

"Why can't you support your mother?"

“What’s your problem Mark?   Forget about this mess for a while – why can’t you support your mother?”

"Because you're not good enough for her!"

Mark comes up with his usual answer, “Because you’re not good enough for her – it’s nothing personal – no-one is good enough for her!”   

Brynmor retires to the office

Brynmor simply turns and walks back into the office.

Megan passes the bookshop . . .

Megan trudges gloomily along the street, where she encounters Siôn at the door of the bookshop;  

. . . where Siôn remake on her demeanour

he asks if everything is all right, 

She does not feel appreciated

and she replies, “Have you ever had the feeling that you’re not appreciated?”   

"As a parent I felt like that"

He says that as he is a parent he has indeed felt like that.   

"I just saw Kelly and Anita outside Bethania"

“I just saw Kelly and Anita outside Bethania, conducting some sort of interview,” she continues, and Siôn assumes that it is publicity for the cause in the newspaper.   “I’m happy to get any publicity to help Bethania, 

"All the work I've done has been forgotten"

“but I can’t help but think that all the work I've done over the years for Bethania has been forgotten.”

"That's not true, Megan"

Siôn is horrified that she should think that, 

"And Anita is the most determined"

as Megan goes on, “And the one who seems most determined to stop me contributing to this campaign is Anita.”   Siôn emphasises that no-one in Cwmderi is more central to the village and the chapel than Megan.

"But not everyone feels the same"

“But not everyone feels the same – and people will see a photo of Anita in the newspaper.   Anyway, thank you for your kind words,” says Megan and continues along the street.

Mark continues his search

Mark is still searching in Brynmor’s garage, and is asked if he has looked under that bench;  “Yes – it’s not there.   Having all this stuff is ridiculous!” Mark tells him, 

"We enjoyed going fishing"

and Brynmor recalls how he and his brother, Berwyn enjoyed going fishing.   

"Mam said something about him"

“Yeah, Mam said something about him,” replies Mark.

"It would have been nice to have him there"

“I've been thinking a lot about him with the wedding approaching,” says Brynmor, “It would have been nice to have him there.   I don’t talk much about this, 

"I couldn't let things go"

“but I started to keep everything after he died – I couldn’t let things go.”   As Mark looks at him, he continues, “I know it’s not normal, this hoarding.   I’ve done some terrible things in my life, 

"If Berwyn were here now . . ."

“and if Berwyn were here now he could tell you.   I treated him badly – 

"I didn't get a chance to put things right"

“and I didn’t get a chance to apologise or put things right with him.”

Mark listens sympathetically

Mark is beginning to show signs of sympathy, as Brynmor continues that he spent years after his brother died feeling that he did not deserve to be happy.   

"I know I'm not good enough for your mother . . ."

“And I know I’m not good enough for your mother, but I couldn’t help falling for her – 

". . . but I do really love her"

“and I really do love her!   I can't imagine life without her.”

"She's a lot more vulnerable than people think"

Mark is feeling very awkward, and as he sits down, tells Brynmor, “But Mam is a lot more vulnerable than people think.” 

"You have to let things go, Mark . . ."

Brynmor is well aware of that, but points out that Mark cannot shield her for ever, and he has to let things go.

". . . we're going to get married, no matter what"

“We’re going to get married, no matter what,” Brynmor insists, “But it would mean a lot to us to have your support.   

Mark looks very sheepish, and nods his assent to this, 

"Perhaps you should let things go as well"

adding, “And perhaps you should let things go as well.”   

"Deal!"

After some thought, Brynmor says that they have a deal.

Britt is looking for something

Britt comes in through the back door of Hywel’s house and is looking for something;  

Would Aaron really leave his laptop behind?

she finds Aaron’s laptop.   

She looks at his history . . .

She sits down and looks at the history, 

. . . and is surprised at what it contains

many items of which involve bipolar disorder.   She is surprised by this.

"All this talking is thirsty work"

Mark and Brynmor arrive at Maes-y-Deri together, and Mark asks if it is all right for him to have one of his mother’s lagers;  “All this talking is thirsty work.”   Then there is a knock at the door, 

"Yes – can I help you?"

and Brynmor is somewhat puzzled to see who it is.

"I'll be smashed by nine!"

In the Deri, Kath discovers that the cocktails are very potent;  “I’ll be smashed by nine!” she exclaims, 

"I thought that was the whole idea"

and Anita thought that was the whole idea.   “Thanks, Cass, you’ve done a good job here,” Kath tells her   .

Cassie wants to know if Kath intends to answer Anita’s question about how was her first night with Brynmor, 

"It was very nice"

and the verdict is, “Very nice.”   They are eager to know more details, so Kath goes on, “Well, if you must know, that’s the night 

"He insisted he call me 'Mistress'!"

“he insisted that he call me ‘Mistress’!”   

This causes some mirth

They dissolve into laughter.

Eifion is back from his holiday

Eifion walks in, and assumes that it is a welcome home party for him;  Cassie instructs him to go and make some cocktails for them, 

"Oh, I'm not here to work"

but he is adamant that he is not there to work.   

"Three Mojitos, pronto, please!"

“Three Mojitos, pronto, please!” Cassie orders so he goes behind the bar, just as her phone rings.

"Hiya – is everything OK?"

“Hiya – is everything OK?”   

"You didn't tell everyone the change of venue"

On the other end of the phone Mark points out that she did not tell everyone the change of party venue, as he looks at the male stripper who arrived at Maes-y-Deri.

Britt is looking rather subdued when Colin returns home;  

"Is that Aaron's laptop?"

“I thought you were going to Kath’s hen do tonight,” he says, but she is not in a party mood.   “Is that Aaron’s laptop?” he asks, 

"I've been checking his history, Col"

and Britt reports that she has been checking his history.   

“Have you found anything?   Whatever it is, it’s important that we keep our cool, OK?   

"Well, please don't get angry"

“If there are any photos or any fascist stuff, please don’t get angry.”

"This is what he has been looking at . . ."

She shows him everything that Aaron has been looking at;  

". . . all about Bipolar Disorder"

“How to spot bipolar mania – how to help someone with bipolar disorder,” she says,  

"That's very positive"

and Colin regards that as very positive.

"I thought he was communicating with sinister people"

“I thought he was communicating with sinister people, and he was worried about me the whole time,” groans Britt, “What kind of mother does that make me?”

"You're willing to check up on him"

Colin replies that she is the sort of mother who cares so much about her son that she is willing to check up on him, like any other parent would.   

"I want to give him a big cwtch"

“I just miss him so much, you know – I want to give him a big cwtch,” she says, and Colin advises her to give him time.

"It's a message from Aaron . . ."

Her phone sounds, and she finds it is a message from Aaron, which brightens her up considerably;  

". . . he's going to phone me later"

“He says he’s going to phone me later – he’s in the middle of playing darts with Garry!”   

"I knew he'd be out gallivanting"

Colin knew that he would be out gallivanting, enjoying himself.

Eifion brings the drinks

Eifion brings another tray of cocktails, as Cassie is looking at her phone, 

Cassie is expecting a delivery . . .

and says that she is expecting a delivery.   “Who delivers at this time of night?” Kath wonders, as the door of the pub opens.

. . . and here it is, in the form of Brynmor 

Brynmor walks in, wearing the stripper’s uniform;  “Kathleen Pearl, sorry to interrupt, but, 

"Eifion, music, please!"

“Eifion, music, please!” he says, 

He begins the routine

and begins his routine to the tune of, ‘I believe in miracles – where you from, you sexy thing?’ much to the excitement of the ladies.

Colin listens to Britt's conversation

Britt continues her conversation with Aaron, “Yes, I’ve been sticking to the nurse’s timetable – 

"I'll never stop taking the tablets again"

“no, I’ll never stop taking the tablets again, love.   How about two texts a day, then?   

"Give my regards to Uncle Garry"

“Don’t ignore me like you have been doing – give my regards to Uncle Garry.   

"Good night, love"

“Oh, I love you so much – good night, love.”

"Wrong number, was it?"

Colin, who has been looking at their financial position, wonders if that was a wrong number, and she suspects that he had something to do with this.   “No, sometimes children just know when to phone home,” he maintains, 

"They call it the homing instinct"

“They call it the homing instinct.”

"Well, it's exactly what I needed"

“Well, whatever it is, it’s exactly what I needed – but I have to go to bed now,” says Britt 

"Good night, Col"

and kisses Colin.

There is a text from Garry

At that moment Colin’s phone sounds, and he discovers a text from Garry, 

"Happy now?"

enquiring, ‘Happy now?’ and piles up the paperwork to be dealt with tomorrow.

So that house is officially 21 High Street

Then underneath he finds a letter which he opens;  it is from Zeppelin Insurance, 

A rather unfortunate name for an insurance company

reading, ‘We regret to inform you that your claim has been unsuccessful’.   

Colin is very concerned

Colin is very troubled at reading this, 

He unwisely throws it into the bin

and immediately consigns the letter to the bin (which someone is bound to find in due course).

DJ is exhausted

At Penrhewl, DJ comes in, looking exhausted, and Sioned did not realise there was so much to do at Deri Fawr.   

"There's always something to do"

“There’s always something to do,” he replies, and Sioned volunteers that she will help him tomorrow, but he refuses her assistance.

"You need to stay here and recover"

Eileen remarks, “You need to stay here and recover,” but Sioned protests that she is not a patient, 

"You stay and do the paperwork"

so DJ advises her to stay and do the paperwork until she is 100%.

He is going straight to bed

He does not want anything to eat, but will go straight to bed;  

"I have to start again in a couple of hours"

“I have to start again in a couple of hours!” he groans, 

Make the most of it — it won't last

and Eileen smiles.

Kath arrives home

Kath is back home at Maes-y-Deri, where Mark has some more drinks for them, and has been told to keep her eyes closed.   “I’ve had enough blinkin’ surprises for one day!” she exclaims.

When Mark enquires, “Do you fancy a nightcap, or have you had enough?” 

She is surprised to see Mark there

she is amazed to see that he is there.   “You can tell Cassie to stick to her rôle as best man, because I’ll be your chief bridesmaid – on one condition – 

"Change the title to 'Chief Bridesman'!"

“that we change the title to ‘chief bridesman’.”

“OK, boys, I’m not even going to ask what happened here – 

"I'm grateful that you're friends again"

“I’m just going to keep quiet and be grateful that you’re friends again,” she laughs, 

"Yes, I'd like that, Mark!"

and Mark suggests that he and Brynmor could go fishing after buying some new rods

"A clean slate and a wedding to remember!"

Then he proposes a toast;  “To a clean slate and a wedding to remember!”