20 September 2022

Apparently, Eunice Griffiths is dead

It appears that Eunice Griffiths has recently died, as we see a coffin with her photograph on top in the Griffiths house.   Hywel and Brynmor are sitting on the sofa in front of the piano, 

"It's typical of Karl to be late"

and Hywel remarks, “It’s typical of Karl to be late, isn’t it?”   Brynmor says that he has never been on time in his life, so why change now.

"He was late to every council meeting"

“I remember Dad saying he was late to every council meeting,” Hywel continues, 

"Probably in some pub, or with some woman"

and Brynmor suspects that he was in some pub or other – or with some woman who was not his wife.   “There were rumours about Karl and Eunice, weren’t there?” Hywel adds.

“It wouldn’t surprise me – I know I shouldn’t speak ill of the dead, but she was a hell of a woman!   

"She pinched my backside"

“I remember the first time I met her – she pinched my backside – I couldn’t believe it!   I think ‘handsy’ is the term they use these days.”

"It's odd only three of us have been invited"

Hywel considers that it is rather odd that only the three of them have been invited to the funeral, but Brynmor replies that, after seeing the number of cards, he does not think that she was very popular, and at that moment Ieuan Griffiths comes into the room.

"Hasn't Karl arrived yet?"

“Hasn’t Karl arrived yet?” he demands, anxiously, and in the silence that follows, 

"I was just saying how popular your mother was"

Brynmor says that he was just remarking on how popular Griffiths’ mother was.   

"She only wanted the three of you at the funeral"

“She only wanted the three of you at the funeral – she was always . . . a man’s woman, as they say.”   Hywel says that his father thought the world of her – and that she was very sharp, tactically.

“She was very good with her hands, too,” Griffiths adds, 

Brynmor can confirm that

and Brynmor raises his eyebrows;  “She wanted you to have this,” 

Some item of pottery

and he hands a piece of pottery (which might resemble a lion?) to Hywel, who does not know quite what to say.

"I can't wait to see what she's left me!"

They both look at the item, and Brynmor groans, “I can’t wait to see what she’s left me!”

"She's not moving in here, is she?"

In the shop flat, Rhys is worried;  “She’s not moving in here, is she?” and Mathew replies that they are going to find somewhere for the three of them to live.   “You’re going to be a Dad now, aren’t you?” Rhys adds.

Mathew says that Ken is a great boy and he is looking forward to it.   

"Taking on someone else's child is a big thing"

“Taking on someone else’s child is a big thing,” Rhys goes on, but is reminded that things worked out for him and Arwen.   “Things have been a bit awkward since Ffion and I separated.   What about Ken’s father?   He’s not around, is he?”

"Tegwen doesn't like talking about him"

“And Tegwen doesn’t like talking about it,” Mathew comments.   

"Doesn't that worry you?"

Rhys wonders if that worries him, as when he was with Ffion, he got very close to Arwen, and after they separated he did not have any kind of rights to see her – which was not easy.   

"It would be worth knowing what the situation is"

He advises that as it is still early days for Mathew, it would be worth knowing exactly what the situation is, before he gets in too deep.   

Mathew thinks he may be right

This causes Matthew to think.

Brynmor is given a stuffed ferret

Griffiths presents Brynmor with a stuffed animal;  “Like a ferret –that’s what she said about you after every meeting – that’s why she wanted you to have it.   His name is Andy.   That’s what I called it when I was a child, after Andy Pandy.”

"I don't know what to say – yet!"

Brynmor looks at the creature and is lost for words.   

Hywel is handed an historic map . . .

Then Ieuan presents Hywel with a framed map of Tregaron;  

. . . over 200 years old . . .

“It’s an original map – over 200 years old.”

. . . with a rather disturbing note note on the back

Hywel looks on the back, and sees what he recognises as his father’s writing;  “To Eunice – defeating Tregaron 1983 – unforgettable.  XXX”   As he looks at the map, the undertaker can be heard arriving outside.

"You don't think Dad had an affair with . . ?"

“You don’t think Dad had an affair with . . .” he gasps, and it appears that Karl has at last turned up.

Sioned is working hard, down on the farm

At Deri Fawr, Sioned is engaged in some manual work, sanding down a gate, and remarks to DJ that it has come up lovely;  “A coat of paint and it will be great.”

"What's this, Sioned?"

He has found a box and asks her what it is;  

"An ovulation kit – can't you read?"

“An ovulation kit – can’t you read?” she sneers, but he remarks that she is on the pill.   

"I've told you – I want a baby!"

“No, I’m not – I’ve told you, I want a baby!”

"We need to discuss it"

His insistence that they need to discuss the matter because they have only just got this place, and have huge costs, are dismissed with, 

"Imagine how much fun we'll have trying!"

“And that’s why it’s the perfect time – a new start all round!   Anyway, imagine how much fun we’ll have trying!”

DJ is obviously not in agreement

He puts down the box and walks away.

A slate from Bethania's roof

Jinx comes into the bookshop carrying a slate, which he puts down on the counter;  

"Luckily it didn't hit me!"

“From Bethania’s roof – luckily it hit the pavement and not me!” he tells Siôn, who knew something like that was going to happen.

"I knew the roof needed work"

“I knew the roof needed work – well, the whole chapel,” he says and is advised by Jinx to sort it out before someone is killed, or someone sues him.   

"Do you promise not to repeat this?"

“Bethania doesn’t have that kind of money,” Siôn groans, “The thing is, we should have sold to those developers.   If I tell you something, do you promise not to repeat it?”

"Yes, all right"

Jinx reluctantly promises, and is told, “We got an offer, but we rejected it – well, Megan rejected it, and I agreed – but we didn’t tell the members.”   

"Don't they have to have an official vote?"

Jinx recalls that this has to go through some official vote, 

"You know what Megan's like"

and Siôn points out, “Megan wouldn’t budge – you know what she’s like.”

"Megan and Siôn, the wrongdoers!"

Jinx laughs, “Well, well – Megan and Siôn, the wrongdoers!”   Siôn concedes that they will have to reconsider the offer, but he cannot see Megan agreeing.   Jinx offers to talk to her, but this is forbidden by Siôn, and he does not want her to know he has spoken about it.

"There's more than one way to skin a cat!"

“I get on pretty well with Megan – and there’s more than one way to skin a cat!” says Jinx, enigmatically, as he leaves the shop.

"I feel bad that you're doing the cooking again"

In the Deri, Tegwen feels bad that Mathew is doing the cooking again, but he says he quite enjoys it.   “Ken’s with my sister tonight, so I’m OK to stay over,” she tells him.

"I've been thinking about what you asked"

“I’ve been thinking about what you asked – about moving in together.   What does Ken think about the idea?”   She says that as long as he gets his own room, he is happy.   “It’s a huge step for you, isn’t it?   You know, bringing a new man into your son’s life.”   

"I know in my heart it's the right thing to do"

She stresses that it is not just any man, and she knows in her heart that it is the right thing to do – if Mathew wants to, of course.

"I don't want there to be any secrets"

He confirms that of course he does want to do so;  “But I don’t want there to be any secrets between us.”   

"Why – what have you done?"

She wonders what he has done;  

"Not me – you"

“Not me – you.”

She says that she has no secrets;  

"What you see is what you get"

“What you see is what you get.”   Mathew replies that it does not include who Ken’s father is, 

Jinx is seeking Megan

and at that moment Jinx comes in, looking for Megan.

"I know you don't want to discuss it"

“I know you don’t want to discuss it,” Mathew goes on, and she dismisses that as not important.   What is important now is the two of them and Ken – and the future.

“We’re going to be really happy together – I know that, OK?” she tells him, and he reluctantly accept it for now.

"Siôn – traitor!"

Jinx has located Megan, who groans, “Siôn – traitor!”  

"I'm just trying to help"

Jinx says that Siôn is worried Megan will get into trouble, and he is just trying to help.   “Help?   By closing the chapel?” she snarls, 

"It will have to close if it's falling apart"

and he reminds her that the place will have to be closed if it is falling apart.

"Bethania has been going for over a century"

“Bethania has held weddings, funerals, baptisms and Sunday school for more than a century – and you, an outsider whose family has never set foot in the chapel think you will have the right to talk about the future of the place!”

"Check your privilege – you don't have any!"

She gets up and is about to leave, when she turns and asks, “What’s that saying they use on Instagram?   Check your privilege!   Well, in this case, you don’t have any!”

Sioned is now applying a coat of paint

Now Sioned is applying paint to the gate when Britt appears;  

"I've been considering your offer"

“Look, I’ve been considering your offer about buying your share of Cae Glas – £10,000.”   Sioned suggests that it was £12,000, 

"I've had a lot of interest"

“and stresses that she has had a lot of interest from other people, now, because of the publicity.

"That's a lot more solid that just 'interest'!"

“You’ll have the money this week – and that’s a lot more solid than just ‘interest’,” Britt stresses, 

"Make sure she doesn't sell to anyone else"

then DJ appears upon the scene, and is told, “Just make sure she doesn’t sell to anyone else, will you?”

DJ wants to know what is being sold;  

"My share of Cae Glas"

“My share of Cae Glas,” Sioned replies, and he hopes that she is joking.   “No, I can’t work with Mam any more!”

"Have you discussed it with your mother?"

He asks if she has discussed this with her mother;  

"I don't want to be in the same room as her!"

“Discuss?   I don’t want to be in the same room as her!” Sioned exclaims, and when he tries to reason with her, she adds, “After trying to steal the bloke I love?”

"You want my child to punish your mother"

“So that’s why you want a baby now, is it?   You want my child to punish your mother.”   

"No – because I love you!"

Sioned angrily argues that she wants his baby because she loves him, and is looking forward to their new life.

"I was hoping you felt the same!"

“I was hoping you felt the same!” she shouts.   

"I do – but for different reasons"

He quite forcibly informs that he does feel the same, but simply for different reasons.   He shakes his head and walks off across the farmyard.

So this is the enigmatic Karl

In the Deri, Geraint, behind the bar, is taking an interest as Griffiths hands over a watch to Karl at the far end of the bar.   

"It's a military one from the Second World War"

“Have you seen that watch she left Karl?” says Brynmor, “It’s a military one from the Second World War – Omega – it’s worth a lot of money.   She must have thought a lot of Karl, that’s all I’ll say.”

"And my father too, apparently"

“And my father too, apparently,” growls Hywel.   Anita comes in, and they are pleased to see her out and about.   

"I owe my life to Tyler"

She says that she owes her life to Tyler, and Hywel appreciates that it must have been a shock, but she is trying not to think about it.   

"Gin and tonic, please, Geraint"

Brynmor offers her a drink.

“You’re smart – have you been to court, or a funeral?” she enquires, 

"Its was the funeral of Eunice Griffiths"

and Brynmor informs her that it was the funeral of Eunice, 

Anita is shocked

which she did not know anything about.

"Are you still angry with me?"

Sioned is marching up the High Street when she notices DJ, sitting sadly on the bench by the alley;  “Are you still angry with me?” she asks, and when she does not get an answer, continues, 

"Don't you think you're overreacting?"

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting a little bit?   OK, perhaps I should have discussed these things with you first, but . . .”

"Having a baby and selling your business?"

“What?   Having a baby and selling your business?” he demands.   

"I thought you wanted children"

She thought that he wanted children, and he points out they have already had this conversation.   “It’s the way you do things – and your reasons,” he sighs.

“I’ve always wanted children – and you know that,” she says, but he stresses that they are going round in circles.   “I know that you’re upset, and I’m sorry, but it doesn’t change anything.   

"Doesn't it make you excited . . ."

“I still want your baby – doesn’t it make you excited?   

". . . to think we're going to create a little new life together?"

“To think we’re going to create a new little life together?   Why don’t we go home?   Today and tomorrow are good days for me.”   

She has again wrapped DJ round her little finger

He has evidently been persuaded, and they leave the village arm in arm

Sunday school is restarting . . .

Jinx has put up a notice on the board outside Bethania;  ‘Sunday school starts on the 25th of September in the vestry;  come along!’

. . . and Jinx has great aspirations

He tells Megan, “I think we should start an appeal to save the chapel – I’ll do an online campaign to raise money to repair the roof, and in the meantime I’ll start with the Sunday school.”

Megan is less optimistic

Megan is not optimistic;  “Do you honestly think people will want to save a chapel they’ve never heard of?”   

"Not just a chapel, we're saving a community"

He insists that they are not just saving a chapel, they are saving a community – an escape – a future for our children – that is what is important.

She realises that he is serious about this, and he assures her that he will not say a word about ‘the offer that never happened’.   

"To be honest, you're a miracle!"

Megan describes him as, “An inspiration – to be honest, you’re a miracle!”   

"Well, I was born in a manger, Megan!"

He warns her not to say anything, but he was born in a manger.

"I had no idea, Ieuan"

Anita is talking to Griffiths;  “I had no idea at all, Ieuan, or I would have come to the funeral.   How long had she been . . ?”   Griffiths replies that it was not long and she did not want anyone at the funeral, just family, those two and Karl – 

"You know what Mami was like"

she knows what his mother was like.

“I was thinking of you,” she says, “It would have been nice for you to have a few friends there.”   She suggests that he could go home now, but that is the last thing he wants;  

"I can't imagine going back to that house again"

“I can’t imagine going back to that house now,” 

"Come back with me, for tea and a sandwich"

so she invites him back with her, where she can make him a cup of tea and a sandwich.

“Of course I’m sure, or I wouldn’t have offered,” she adds, 

Anita feels much the same as him

and he would really like that.   “Just so you know, I’m staying at Bryntirion . . . because I don’t want to go back to number 10 either – you know, Jaclyn.   

"I just can't sleep at number 10"

“I’ve been sleeping in the van – I just can’t sleep at number 10.”

He is surprised that she has been sleeping in the campervan;  “You probably think I’m stupid.”   

"What happened to Jaclyn was terrible"

He says that what happened to Jaclyn was terrible, 

"The atmosphere of the place has changed"

and Anita is convinced that the atmosphere in the place has changed;  “It’s so cold and dark.”

He knows the circumstances of his mother’s death were very different, 

"I know exactly what you mean, Anita"

but he knows exactly what she means.   They will just finish their drinks and then will go.

Tegwen is chattering . . .

As they eat their meal in the shop flat, Tegwen is chatting on about someone being angry and then realises that Mathew is not listening, and is preoccupied with something.   

. . . but Mathew's mind is elsewhere

He knows that it was about a hairdresser or something, but she refers to ‘the elephant in the room’.

"I don't think it's a good idea"

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to move in together,” he says, but she thought that he was all in favour of the idea this morning.   He argues that it is too early, 

"You're not ready to talk about Ken's father"

“And you’re not ready to talk about Ken’s father.”

"It's not important, Math"

Once again she maintains that it is not important, 

"If it's not important, why are you hiding it?"

and he demands, “If it’s not important, why are you hiding it?   

"I can't jump into something"

“I want to move in with you and Ken, but I can’t jump into something without knowing the situation.”

"And my word's not enough?"

“And my word’s not enough?” Tegwen snarls, “It’s not all about you, you know.”   He is quite aware of that, and is probably going to accept her decision, because she has her reasons.   “So where does that leave us?” she asks. 

"I want to be with you"

As far as he is concerned, they are in exactly the same place;  “I want to be with you – but I have to be honest because this is a huge step, isn’t it?”   Tegwen will think about Ken’s father, 

"Just don't expect too much"

but warns Mathew not to expect too much.

"Mam liked you – a lot"

Back at Bryntirion, Griffiths comments, “Mam liked you, you know – a lot.”   Anita laughs at this suggestion, as he goes on, 

"No woman had a chance"

“But you didn’t have a chance, of course – no woman had a chance.”

“No, because she wanted you to herself, didn’t she?” agrees Anita, 

"I should have had the guts to tell her"

and Ieuan realises that he should have had the guts to tell her.

He apologises to Anita;  “Sometimes I feel really angry with her – the way she manipulated me, you know!”   Anita says that it is all right to be angry;  

"It doesn't mean she was a saint"

just because someone has died, it does not mean that they were a saint.   

"She definitely wasn't!"

“She definitely wasn’t!” he growls, then adds, 

"It's time that I went"

“It’s time that I went – I’m just rambling on here.”

"I enjoy your company, Ieuan"

Anita tells him not to go on her account, as she is enjoying his company, and he repeats that he hates being in the house now that Mam has gone.   “You could stay here with me,” she tells him, “If you don’t want to be on your own.”

"In the spare room?"

“In the spare room?” he enquires; 

"That is up to you, Ieuan"

she replies that is up to him, 

He watches her go upstairs

as she goes upstairs and he watches her.