16 November 2022

"There's probably no signal"

Dani has gone to see Colin next door, and he reassures her that perhaps Gwern has no signal;  

"We're going to get kicked out of this practice"

“We’re going to get kicked out of this practice – NHS dentists are like gold dust!” she moans.

“Heavens – I don’t know why you’re taking it out on me!” snarls Colin, irritably, throwing down his birdwatching magazine, 

"Britt was supposed to bring him back ages ago!"

and she calmly explains that Britt was supposed to be bringing him back ages ago.   

“She’s shopping in Swansea,” he replies, and Dani continues that Gwern went with her, as he wanted a lift.

"She didn't say anything about Gwern"

Colin is puzzled by this, as Britt was running late and did not say anything about Gwern.   “Gwern wouldn’t lie to me,” stresses Dani, and continues to ring his number.

Brynmor is carrying a large box

Brynmor is carrying a large box along the High Street when Kath comes out of the shop, followed by Mark;  

"From the house clearance, is it?"

“What have you got there?” she demands, and he says that there are a few small things.  “From the house clearance, is it?” she continues, “You promised you wouldn’t buy any more.”

His excuse is that he just popped in, 

"Let's see what rubbish you've bought this time"

and Mark laughs, “You can’t just pop in, can you?   Come on, let’s see what rubbish you’ve bought this time.”   

"This stuff will sell easily"

Brynmor maintains that he will sell the items easily, but Kath has other ideas, expecting that when the garage gets full, they will start being stored at Maes-y-Deri again.

As soon as Mark sees a skateboard . . .

He shows them the contents of the box, a skateboard and accessories;  

. . . he is very excited

Mark immediately expresses interest;  “You’re over 50 years old – what’s wrong with you?” his mother asks, 

"I used to be good at that!"

and he answers that he used to be good at it.   “That was years ago,” she reminds him, and Brynmor says that his legs cannot be as flexible as they were.

"You want to be sure it works before you sell it"

“You want to be sure that it works before you sell it,” Mark tells him, and is instructed by his mother to put on the pads and helmet.

"You can go if you want"

At Penrhewl, Eileen informs Kelly that she can go if she wants;  “I’m going to check on Huwi-John.”   

"I'll finish what I'm doing, Eileen"

Kelly is happy to finish what she is doing, and confirms that she knows exactly what to do.

"I do really find it fascinating"

Then Howard comes in, and Kelly begins, “I really do find it fascinating, you know – what happens behind the scenes.”   He regards it as boring, 

"You like to get your hands dirty"

and she goes on, “I expect you’re the type who likes to get his hands dirty – all manly, like.”   

"My hands are too big to fiddle with stickers"

He points out that his hands are too big to fiddle with stickers, so she wants to see them.   

"I like a man who does a proper day's work"

“Yeah, I like a man who does a proper day’s work,” she says, 

"I think my readers would really like you"

“And I think my readers would really like you, too.”   

"No, thanks"

Now he is becoming suspicious, and refuses to be involved.

"A week to change your mind"

Kelly summarises, “So, what?   I’ve got a week for you to change your mind,” but he makes it clear that he is not interested, 

"I have to go and sort a sheep out"

and has to go to sort a sheep out.   She comments, admiringly, “Caring, too – lush!”   He cannot get out of the farmhouse quickly enough.

Anita is not eating

At Bryntirion, Anita is not eating her meal;  

"Aren't you hungry today?"

Ieuan asks whether she is not hungry today, 

"All this business with APD's Instagram"

and she says, “All this business with APD’s Instagram is going round and round in my head, you know.   

"I didn't think I was having a meal with APD"

He grumbles that he did not think he was going to have a meal with APD.

"I want to prove can do these things"

“It’s just that I want to prove a point – that I can do these things,” and he wonders to whom she wants to prove a point.   “Well, Kelly, Jason, Mathew, Tyler, you know,” and Ieuan does not consider that to be important.   “Perhaps not – but to prove a point to myself, then,” she says.   

"Two heads are better than one"

He proposes that they had better get started with getting some ideas;  “As the saying goes, two heads are better than one,” and he gets out his phone.   Anita is very pleased to have some assistance.

Gwyneth is in the alley . . .

Gwyneth is walking through the alley when her phone sounds with a message from Dani;  

. . . when she receives a message

‘Do you know where Gwern is?’   The sound of a skateboard can be heard, 

Mark performs on the skateboard

and Mark is performing in the High Street, which is fortunately devoid of traffic.

"You'll be in the next Olympics at this rate"

Brynmor predicts that he will be in the next Olympics at this rate, and Mark almost mows down Gwyneth as she emerges from the alley.   

"Grow up, Mark!"

She shouts at him to grow up, and continues towards the Deri.

"You'll give me a heart attack!"

Kath instructs Mark to stop showing off like that;  “You’ll give me a heart attack – leave it now, will you?”   Mark reminds them that he said that his legs were still up to it, 

"How much do you want for it, Brynmor?"

and asks how much Brynmor is charging for it.

"I hope Britt hasn't run out of petrol"

In the Deri, Colin hopes that Britt has not run out of petrol or something, 

Then she appears

but at that moment she returns, carrying some bags and complaining that she forgot her key.   “I can’t walk another step,” she says.

"So where's Gwern, then?"

“Where’s Gwern, then?” demands Dani, “He had the dentist today.”   Britt last saw him this morning, when he said he was going shopping with Twm.   Dani cannot understand why he would lie to her, 

"Perhaps there's a girlfriend involved"

and Colin raises the possibility that there is a girlfriend involved.

Britt asks if Dani has phoned him;  

"If you had a phone . . ."

“Yes – and if you had a phone, I would have known that he was missing!” is the angry reply.   

"We don't know he's missing"

Colin stresses that they do not know if he is missing;  

"So where is he, Col?"

Dani shouts, “So where is he, Colin?”

Gwern approaches some flats . . .

We discover that Gwern is walking towards a block of flats in Newcastle 

. . . and knocks on the door

and knocks on the door;  there is no reply so he makes a phone call, 

Engaged tone . . . 

but only receives an engaged tone.   

. . . so he just has to wait

He has no alternative but to wait outside.

"Where's this leak, then?"

Griffiths has summoned Mathew and Tyler to Bryntirion and presents them each with a can of Carling;  they had been under the impression that there was a problem with water coming through the ceiling.   Griffiths advises that he has fixed it and that they may as well have a drink, seeing that they have dropped everything to come.   

"Are you wearing pyjamas?"

He wonders whether Mathew is wearing pyjamas, but is told that they are ‘chill-out’ clothes.

Mathew is presented with a plastic hammer

Anita comes in with some of Ifan’s toy workman’s tools, and informs them that they are going to have a bit of fun;  “For our Instagram followers – I want them to know we’re not boring!   

"I want them to vote for 'Tool of the Week'!"

“I want them to vote for the ‘Tool of the Week’, Mathew or Tyler.”

Mathew does not agree with this . . .

They are naturally not in favour of this, but Griffiths encourages them, 

. . . but Anita will not be deterred

as it will create more engagement with the followers.   

"I'm the boss – right?"

Mathew is forced to put his foot down, insisting, “I’m the boss and I will vet every photo that goes on the account – is that clear?   Thanks for the drink, but we’re off – see you later.”   

Tyler hands back his plastic drill

It appears that Ieuan’s idea did not work. 

Gwern is still waiting

Gwern is still sitting disconsolately on the wall outside the flats, 

"Gwern, run!"

when he sees Garry approaching at high speed, being pursued by an unsavoury-looking character, 

They go tearing down an alley

so they run down an alley to escape.

Kelly is still at work

When Howard comes back into the farmhouse, Kelly is still there;  he reports that he hopes the sheep is starting to turn the corner, 

"Do you want a cup of tea?"

and asks if she want a cup of tea.   “Aye, go on then, if you’re offering.” she replies. 

He warns her that does not happen often, and goes on, “You treat me normally, and that doesn’t often happen either.”   

He is told to close the shed door

Then Eileen’s voice can be heard, telling him that the shed door is open, and asking him to close it.   

Kelly has a sneaky look at his phone

He rather carelessly puts down his phone on the dresser, so Kelly has a quick look.

Eileen is surprised to find her still there, 

"I want to do this article properly"

and she explains, “If I want to do this article properly, I have to be here, don’t I?   I can’t just flounce in and out – Eileen, you work so hard – you must be exhausted.”   

"Do you want to stay for dinner?"

Eileen asks if she wants to stay for dinner;  

"Griffiths is over with Auntie Anita"

“Yeah, well, Griffiths is over with Auntie Anita, so . . .”   Eileen can understand why she wants to help out at the farm, in that case.

Gwern almost answers his phone

Garry is inside a Newcastle local shop, getting some food for Gwern when the boy’s phone sounds and he finds that it is another call from his mother.   For a moment he toys with the idea of answering it, but decides against.

Garry looks around warily

Garry comes out of Paul’s Chippy and looks anxiously around before handing the food to his son;  “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?’ Garry asks.

"Who was that guy?"

Gwern replies, “Are you?   Who was that guy?   I’m not a baby any more.”   As they pass a local council employee, picking up litter, it is explained that Garry owes the man money, but that it is only temporary.

Just in case you did not believe this is Newcastle

“Things have been a bit tight – but I’ve got quite a big pay-day coming up in the next few days.   Right, your turn – what’s wrong?”   They pass a street name, Tyneside Close, as Gwern replies that he wants to come to live with his father, but is reluctant to disclose the reason.  “Come on, I’ve been honest with you, haven’t I? says Garry.

"Dani's moaning about having to look after me"

“Dani’s moaning about having to look after me,” and Garry reckons that does not sound like Dani.   “I heard her say it, OK?”   Garry reminds him do that has not been there, and does not know how things are.

“I had no choice but to leave – you know that.   You’d better phone Dani to let her know you’re safe.”   Gwern argues that he cannot do that, as he said he had gone shopping with Twm.   

"I must take after you, then!"

It appears to Garry that he has been telling a lot of lies.   “I must take after you, then!” snarls Gwern.

"My calls go straight to answerphone"

In the Deri, Gwyneth is panicking that her phone calls go straight to answerphone.   Britt wonders if anyone would have any reason to take him, reminding them, 

"You have attracted the wrong types over the years"

“Both of you have attracted the wrong types over the years, haven’t you?   We have to consider every possibility – Wilko, Dylan.”

"Right, I'm going to phone the police"

Dani immediately decides she must phone the police, 

"Not until we have tried everything else"

but Gwyneth forbids her to do that until they have tried everything else;  “Have you phoned all his friends?”

“Yes, while you were sitting there, doing nothing!” Dani growls, 

Gwyneth is becoming angry

and Gwyneth glowers threateningly at her.   Britt reminds them that arguing will not sort anything out, but agrees that they should wait a little longer before contacting the police.

"I have to do something!"

Dani has to do something, grabs her jacket and goes out to look for him;  Gwyneth is looking worried.

Gwern wants to see Aaron

As they continue walking, Gwern wants to go and see Aaron now, but that is not possible as he is with Neil and Gloria.   

Garry spots his pursuer

Garry suddenly catches sight of the man who was chasing him earlier.   He stresses that Aaron is safe where he is.

Dani sits on the kerb

Dani is sitting on the kerb outside the Deri when Colin comes out of number 21;  

"Have you heard from Gwern?"

he asks if she has heard from Gwern.   

"I don't know what to do, Col!"

“I don’t know what to do, Col,” she groans, “I’ve been to his friends’ houses, the football pitch, anywhere I could think of – but nothing.   Where is he?”

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

Colin answers that he will come back in his own time;  “You know what kids are like.”   She protests that this is not like Gwern and that he has never done anything like this before.   

"Lois ran away – she was gone for days"

Colin sits beside her, and recalls that Lois ran away;  “She was gone for days – I was going out of my mind, but she came back – not that I think Gwern has run away – 

"I just don't want you to worry"

“I just don’t want you to worry when there’s no need.

"I'm the only person he can depend on"

Dani laments, “I’m the only person he can depend on, and I’ve let him down.”   Colin insists that she, of all people, has not let him down, and enquires whether she thinks that sitting there will help.

"You've been more of a parent than Gwyneth and Garry"

“You’ve been more of a parent to Gwern over the last few years than Gwyneth and Garry combined – if anyone is going to find him, it’s you.   Right, come on – Gwern needs you.”

"I won't say it again – move it – chop chop!"

As Dani does not move, he adds, “I won’t say it again – move it – chop chop!”   She agrees that he is right, gets up and goes back into the Deri.   

"Let me know when you find him"

“Let me know when you find him,” says Colin.

Inside, she reports that there is no sign of him;  

"We have to phone the police"

“We have to phone the police.”   Once again Gwyneth insists that they must give him a chance to come back, but Dani points out that he has been gone for hours and they have to phone the police.

"I think we should wait"

“I just think we should wait before doing anything extreme,” Gwyneth warns, but Dani stresses that she has been looking for him – no-one has seen him – he could be anywhere.

"Why don't you want to phone the police?"

“Why don’t you want to phone the police?   He’s your son!” Dani yells, 

Rhys arrives

as Rhys comes in and is told that Gwern has been missing since this morning.

"He had a lift to Swansea with me first thing"

“He had a lift to Swansea with me first thing,” Rhys replies, “He’d missed the bus – he said he was meeting friends.”   They demand who these friends were and when he would be coming back – or anything that would help them find him, but Rhys cannot help.   “He was very quiet – I thought you knew.”

"He's too young to go wandering off on his own!"

“He’s only a boy – he’s too young to go wandering off on his own!” exclaims Gwyneth, 

"Hang on – he asked for a lift"

and it is pointed out that he asked for a lift.   

"This is not Rhys' fault"

Dani stresses that this is not Rhys’ fault, 

"Are you saying it's my fault?"

and Gwyneth growls, “Are you saying it’s my fault?”

"The important thing is to find out where he is"

Britt once again reminds them that the important thing is to find out where he is and why he has not phoned anybody;  

Gwyneth looks pretty rattled

there is a wild, panic-stricken look in Gwyneth’s eyes.

"You could always come back to Cwmderi with me"

As they walk round the corner in that rather rundown part of Newcastle, Gwern asks if he is staying with Garry tonight;  “Or you could always come back to Cwmderi with me.”

"You've got Dani and Gwyneth to look after you"

He is reminded that he has Dani and Gwyneth to look after him;  “The last thing you want is someone else nagging you, isn’t it?”

"Mam's spoiled everything!"

Gwern tells him, “Mam’s spoiled everything – everyone picks on me because of her – Arwen, everyone at school – but it doesn’t matter.”

"What do they do to you?"

Garry is determined to get to the bottom of this;  “What do they do to you?”   

Gwern tells his father

He is told that they call Gwern names and stuff;  they stick things on his back, write on his shirt.

"Bullying?   Right, that's settled, then!"

“Bullying, you mean?” Garry says, “Right – that’s settled, then!”   

"What are you going to do?"

Gwern wants to know what he is going to do.   

“Sort things out – nobody bullies the Monks!”   He is reminded of the pay-day he was talking about.

“You’re the most important thing in my life,” Garry declares, 

"It's time for me to come back!"

“The answer is simple – it’s time for me to come back!” 

Gwern is very pleased about that

and he hugs his son.