24 August 2022

Jinx and Arwen gyrate wildly

Jinx and Arwen are frivolously dancing around to music at Cysgod y Glyn when Ffion comes in 

"Sounds like you two had a good day"

and remarks, “It sounds like you two have had a good day.”   Jinx informs her that they have been learning a new dance.

"You were rubbish!"

“I have – you were rubbish,” replies Arwen and tells her mother that she can find it on Tik-Tok.   Jinx is now going to the allotment to water the tomatoes, and Arwen adds, “Now that you’re home!”   He could not leave until Ffion returned in case she got up to more mischief.

"You'll enjoy seeing me make a fool of myself"

Her mother proposes that Arwen can come down to the rugby pitch with her;  “You’ll enjoy seeing me make a fool of myself at the first practice.”   

"I'm grounded, remember?"

She is reminded that her daughter is grounded, which Ffion regards as more of a reason to get some fresh air;  

"I want you ready by six, OK?"

“I want you ready by six, OK?”   

What is the little madam planning now?

Arwen appears to be scheming.

Mathew is talking drills

In APD Mathew advises Cai on buying a drill, when Tegwen marches in and asks for five litres of carpet cleaner;  

"I'm all ready for tonight"

she informs Cai that she is all ready for tonight, but he replies that they will be meeting in the Deri.   

"I want to get to know the girls better"

“I want to get to know the girls better,” he says.

"What better way than on the pitch?"

“What better way to get to know them than on the pitch with a ball?” Tegwen enquires.   He maintains that there is a lot of red tape these days;  medical forms and so on, but she is willing to sort that out.

“I think the Deri is a better shout – we need to appoint a team manager and boring things like that,” he goes on, “That’s a lot easier after a couple of pints, trust me.”   

"Tell the others about the change of venue"

Mathew brings the carpet cleaner, and as Tegwen is leaving, Cai tells her to inform the others about the change of venue.

"Looking forward to it, then?"

Mathew asks if he is looking forward to it, and Cai’s typical reply is, 

"Of course – me and a dozen girls!"

“Of course – me and a dozen girls – who will be keeping who in check?”   

Tegwen who has just reached the door, listens to this with disgust, 

Anita hesitates by the door of number 10

and then sees Anita by the door of number 10.   “Would you be interested in managing a women’s rugby team?” Tegwen asks, 

"I don't know anything about rugby"

but Anita does not know anything about rugby.

"You learn quickly"

“You learn quickly and you’re well-organised – and you like a bit of fun!” Tegwen continues, but Anita has too much on her plate at the moment.   

"We're desperate"

“If you think of anyone else, will you give me a ring?   We’re desperate!”   

She finally goes in . . .

Anita finally steels herself, and goes into the house, where that key ornament is still lying on the floor.

. . . and looks cautiously around

She looks cautiously around, 

Tesni follows her in

and Tesni follows her in through the open door, 

"That used to get on Mam's nerves!"

picking up the key from the floor.   “That used to get on Mam’s nerves,” she says, “It fell when next door closed the cupboard under the stairs!”   

"I've been thinking too much about things"

Anita realises that it was merely coincidence, and realises that she has been thinking too much about things.

"I've been trying to get rid of the negative energy"

The reiki accoutrements which Gwyneth brought are still on the table, and Anita explains that she has been trying to get rid of the negative energy in the place.   

"That's a lovely idea"

Tesni thinks that she understands, and that it is a lovely idea.   “Would you like to do it with me?” asks Anita, “To be honest, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do, 

"We might be able to manage between us"

“but we might be able to manage between us.”

"And chips with that, please, Cassie"

In the Deri, Cassie takes Iolo’s meal order, and he asks when Eifion is starting his shift;  

"He's gallivanting for a couple of days"

“He’s not – he’s gallivanting for a couple of days,” is her disapproving answer, “Well, the guilty flee – the stock is low – 

"Things haven't been going through the till"

“things haven’t been going through the till.”

Iolo cannot believe that Eifion would do something like that, and Cai asks for a pint, warning that it is likely to get busy with the women’s rugby team.   

I've picked a good night, then"

Rhys comments that he has picked a good night to be there, 

"If you think you're getting your hands on my girls . . ."

but Cai tells him, “If you think you’re getting your hands on my girls – think again!”

Rhys maintains that women are queueing up to go out with him, “And they don’t smell of ‘Deep Heat’ either!”

Something smouldering

At number 10, the incense, or whatever it is, has been lit with the smoke curling upwards;  

Anita goes through the prescribed ritual

Anita picks up the feather and waves it in the smoke, as she reads the words on the card.   “By eradicating all the fears in our hearts and any feelings of distress, and the darkness in these walls, 

"Rest in peace, Jaclyn"

“rest in peace, Jaclyn.”

"Rest in peace, Mam"

Tesni, who is in tears by this time, whispers, “Rest in peace, Mam.   Thanks, Anita – I hope you’ll be happy here.”   

"You've been very brave, Tesni"

She is told that she has been very brave in coming there;  

"I think  I'll go for a walk now"

Tesni thinks that she will now go for a walk, leaving Anita wondering whether she has made any difference.

Anita makes a phone call

She picks up the card given to her by Tegwen and makes a phone call;  

"Tegwen – are you still desperate?"

“This is Anita – are you still desperate?”

"Mam, where's my case?"

At Cysgod y Glyn, Arwen is busy with her phone, then asks her mother, “Mam, where’s my case?”   

Arwen announces that she is going 'up North'

Ffion, dressed for rugby practice, wonders why she wants the case.   “I’m going up North to stay with Nain,” is the reply, “I’m not spending the summer with you – you said that’s what would happen if I carried on – 

"Cut out the drama!"

“so I might as well pack my bags now – cut out the drama!”

"When was the last time you spoke to Nain?"

“And when was the last time you spoke to Nain,” Ffion demands;  Arwen maintains that she received a text from her ten minutes ago.   She was drinking Sangria by the pool in Tenerife.

Ffion makes a grab for the phone

Ffion grabs her phone and, as planned, finds messages from Arwen;  

"You can't say things like that about me!"

“You can’t say things like that about me!” she rages, but Arwen insists that they are true.   “They’re disgusting!” her mother goes on, “I’m keeping this phone!”

"That's child abuse!"

Arwen protests that she cannot do that;  “That’s child abuse!” 

"What you've written is also abuse"

but Ffion  replies that what she has written about her mother is also abuse.   

"Go and put your shoes on!"

She is ordered to put her shoes on without any fuss, 

Ffion is very troubled

and Ffion is very troubled about what she reads on that phone.

A rugby ball is reinflated

Out on the rugby field, Tegwen is pumping up a ball, while Anita reads a booklet which is supposed to explain everything;  

"I'm going to be busy with this"

she imagines that she is going to be busy.   

"I need you to fill in this medical form"

Sioned, Ffion and Arwen arrive, and are notified that Anita has agreed to be the manager.   “I need you to fill in this medical form,” Anita tells them, “It pays to be organised – 

"I'll organise a group chat"

“and I hope that by next week I will have had time to organise a group chat on WhatsApp – I know how to use that, but not the other ones.”

"Ken's over there if you want company"

Arwen is told that Ken is nearby if she fancies company;  

"It's all right to go for a walk, isn't it, Ffi?"

“It’s all right if I go for a walk, isn’t it, Ffi?”  she says, 

This surprises Ffion

and Tegwen comments that they grow up so quickly.

"Do you have the house keys?"

Arwen asks Ken if he has the house keys, 

"We're going to have some fun"

and predicts that they are going to have some fun;  they go off together.

"Eifion would never do that"

Iolo tells Britt that he has heard about the stock disappearing and insists that Eifion would never do that, but Cassie is saying otherwise, and he does not need the hassle.

"That's why I told him to disappear for a few days"

Britt agrees;  “That’s why I told him to disappear for a few days – when more stock goes missing, it will be obvious that it wasn’t Eifion!   But don’t say a word to anyone.”

"What are you doing here, Cai?"

Mathew comes in and wonders what Cai is doing there at the bar;  “Preparing a speech on punctuality for the girls,” he answers, “They were supposed to be here ten minutes ago.”   

"I just dropped Tegwen off by the field"

Mathew enlightens him that he has just dropped Tegwen off down by the field.   

This angers Cai

Cai angrily gets up and leaves.

"Things are going well, then"

“Things are going well, then,” remarks Rhys, sarcastically.

Ffion puts her teaching skills into action

Out on the field, Ffion, who we must remember is a PE teacher, is instructing the squad on passing the ball;  

"Find a partner and pass the ball"

“Right, find a partner and pass the ball,” she says.

"I thought we agreed to meet at the Deri!"

Cai is approaching across the field and shouts, “Oi!   I thought we agreed to meet at the Deri!”   Tegwen points out that he said they would meet at the Deri, 

"You owe 50p for lateness!"

and Anita takes over, explaining that she has the ‘Stupid Bucket’ and that he owes 50p as punishment for his lateness.

“It’s £1 if you appeal,” she continues, 

"No-one carries cash these days"

and he points out that no-one carries cash these days.   In that case, she puts down his name as owing the money, 

"You have 48 hours to pay up!"

and reminds him that after 48 hours the debt will go up.   “Remember to bring cash next time!”

"Blinkin' women!"

He mutters, “Blinkin’ women!” as he walks away, then orders them to stop warming up, 

What is Arwen hiding under her jacket?

just as Ffion notices Arwen and Ken who are passing.   

"We'll play Crash Ball"

“Sioned, grab the pad and we’ll play Crash Ball,” Cai instructs them.

"Don't use all of it"

Meanwhile we asee that Arwen has acquired a bottle of vodka and is pouring it into her mother’s water bottle;  Ken urges her not to use all of it.

Iolo is missing Eifion 

At the bar of the Deri, Iolo sends a text to Eifion, “Zoom chat tonight?”   

Rhys makes a wager

At the other end of the bar, Rhys bets Mathew £10 that Cai will land himself with one of the rugby girls by the end of the month.   

"Oi!   One of them is my girlfriend!"

Mathew protests, “Oi!   One of them is my girlfriend!”   

"Are you accepting the bet, then?"

Rhys wants to know if he is accepting the bet.

"Try and get past me, ladies"

On the rugby pitch, Cai takes charge;  “Right, come on, ladies,” and tells them to try and get past him.   

"Shouldn't we do some pad work first?"

Ffion suggests that they should do some pad work first, so that those who have not done it before know what they are doing.   Of course, Cai maintains they need to keep moving, not hang around, but Ffion proposes that they have a drinks break first, 

He suddenly loses his audience

and they walk away, en masse.

Arwen waits for the inevitable to happen

Arwen is watching intently as her mother picks up the water bottle and takes a swig, before spitting it out again, and Arwen smiles wryly.   

"I remembered I left the oven on"

Tegwen asks if she is OK, and Ffion makes the unconvincing excuse, “I’ve just remembered I left the oven on, and Jinx isn’t home – so I have to go.”

"You're coming with me – now!"

She orders Arwen to come with her;  “You’re coming with me – now!”

"Now that Mrs Health and Safety is out of the way!"

Cai addresses the ladies, “Come on, let’s hit the pads – now that Mrs Health and Safety is out of the way!”

Jinx hears Ffion's shouts

When they arrive back at Cysgod y Glyn, Jinx is surprised to hear Ffion shouting, “Arwen, you can’t ignore me!   Come back!” and then a door slams.

"She put vodka in my water bottle!"

“She put vodka in my water bottle,” Ffion continues, “Of course I’m sure – she was smiling while I took a big mouthful of it!   

"Would you talk to her?"

“I feel a bit ill.   I don’t know where she got it – she was with Tegwen’s son – but she won’t talk to me now, will she?   Would you talk to her?   She trusts you – you were having a laugh earlier.”

"Sorting this out is your job, Ffion"

He is more of the opinion that sorting this out is Ffion’s job, as her mother;  

"It would help to have a united front"

“But you live here as well – it would help to have united front,” Ffion whines.   He stresses that he will support her in whatever way she decides to deal with this, 

"Really, you should talk to her"

but really she should talk to her daughter.   He does not want to be in the way, so is about to leave the flat.

"You're never here!"

“How can you be in the way?” Ffion snarls, “You’re never here!   Every time I come in, you leave.”   He points out that he has been there with Arwen all day, 

"You might be the problem, then!"

and she concludes, “You might be the problem, then!”   

She wonders what to do

He walks out, leaving Ffion wondering what to do.

Cai has claimed his first casualty

We find Sioned writhing on the ground in pain, but Cai insists that she is all right;  Sioned says that she hurt her shoulder, 

Sioned is helped to her feet

and is helped to her feet.   

"That's enough for the first session"

Anita decides that is enough for the first session, but Cai reminds them that he is the coach, and he says when the training ends.

"Or you won't have anyone left to train!"

“You need to listen to these ladies – or you won’t have anyone left to train!” Anita warns him, and Tegwen stresses that women are different to men.

"You have to be treated the same"

He of course maintains, “Rugby is rugby – and if you want equality, you have to be treated the same – the same as all rugby players.”

"So there's no other way?"

“Because it’s always been played that way, there’s no other way?   Is that what you’re saying?” demands Tegwen, and he jokes that it is a contact sport, not tiddlywinks.   Anita does not consider that he is the right coach for this team.

"I know my stuff!"

“And you’re an expert now you’ve swallowed that text book!” he sneers, “I’ve played this game for almost 40 years – I know my stuff!”

"How about a quiz, then?"

Tegwen challenges him to a quiz;  “If you answer more than me, you can coach the team the way you see fit – if I win, you can stay in the Deri with the boys.”

"Are you scared of losing?"

Sioned asks if he is scared of losing, but he does stipulate one condition; 

"When – when I win, you do what I say"

“When – when I win, no more complaining – you do what I say,” and they consider that is fair enough.   “Let me know when the showdown is,” he tells them.

Cassie asks Iolo if he wants another pint, 

Message from Eifion, by the look of it

but after looking at a message which has just arrived on his phone, he decides he will go home.

Cai returns to the Deri and is asked how it went;  “Is the whole posse coming over?”   

"They're so soft!"

He scathingly replies that they will all be at home, having a bath of Epsom salts, as they are so soft.

"Looks like you'll lose your bet . . ."

Cassie imagines that Rhys will be losing his bet;  

". . . that Cai will pull one of the rugby team"

“Rhys has bet that you will pull one of the rugby team by the end of the month.”   

Cai explains that he is their coach now, and has a bit more respect for those women.

“Come on – we all know that’s the reason you volunteered for the job in  the first place,” laughs Rhys, 

"I already have a woman on the go"

but he insists that he does not need to go looking – he already has a woman on the go.   

"Tell us more!"

Mathew is interested to know more, but Rhys is quite sure that he is making it up.

“I have – and you know her quite well,” says Cai.   Rhys wonders if she has a name – or perhaps he does not remember it.   

"How do you greet your step-mother?"

“She’s got lots of names, but how do you greet your stepmother?” Cai enquires.

"Gaynor?"

They are astonished that it is Gaynor, and Mathew laughs uproariously.

Arwen was going to get a pizza

Arwen finally reappears from her room, just as her mother was about to call her for dinner;  “Your favourite – fish finger wrap.”   Arwen says that she is going out for a pizza, but her mother instructs her to sit down.   “I promise I won’t raise my voice or threaten to send you to Nain,” Ffion goes on,

"I know how much you've suffered because of it"

“You know a lot about my drinking problem, and I know how much you’ve suffered because of it.   

"Things would be a lot more serious"

“But you need to understand, if I started drinking again, things would be a lot more serious than just going to rehab for a while.   With the cirrhosis, it could kill me.

"Yeah, I know"

Arwen nonchalently confirms that she is aware of that, but her mother doubts that she is;  “When the condition reaches the final stages, it’s horrendous.   

"The stomach can swell up"

“The body itches until it bleeds, the stomach can swell up, and the brain does not work properly.   

"I could die, Arwen!"

“I could die, Arwen!”

"Yes, I know – I've read about it"

“Yes, I know – I’ve read about it,” Arwen answers, 

"And you still put my life in danger"

and Ffion points out that she still did what she did – deliberately put her mother’s life in danger.

"Yes – because I hate you!"

“Yes,” says Arwen, “Because I hate you!” 

 Is that a glimmer of remorse?

and she marches back to her room, 

Ffion is overwhelmed

leaving Ffion in floods of tears.