14 December 2022

Tyler slams the front door . . .

Tyler hurries out of the front door of number 7 and manages to catch his hand in the door as it closes;  

. . . and causes a painful injury

he cries out in pain.   Megan, who happens to be passing, asks if he is all right;  

"Is Greta looking forward to Father Christmas?"

“Is Greta looking forward to a visit from Father Christmas?” 

"Yes she can't wait"

and he says that she cannot wait.

"She's got concussion, apparently"

Ffion is preparing to go to school for the inspection;  Jinx comes in and asks about Arwen.   “She’s still sleeping – she’s got concussion, apparently,” replies Ffion, adding, “We didn’t get back until two in the end, and he presumes that she must be knackered.

"Someone will have to keep an eye on her"

“Concussion can be nasty – someone will have to keep an eye on her today,” Jinx comments, and then her phone sounds.   

"Thanks for your help last night, Cai"

It is a call from Cai, and she thanks him for his help last night;  

"I'll be there in half an hour"

she stresses that she will be at school in half an hour.

"So I shall be looking after her today?"

“So I take it that I will be looking after her today,” Jinx concludes, 

"I have to go to school!"

and she emphasises that she has to go to school.   “She’ll want her mother – the school will understand you should be here,” he protests.

Ffion rages that it is the first day of the inspection and she must go – she has no choice.   

"You put everyone and everything before her"

Jinx points out that Arwen is her daughter, and that Ffion puts everyone and everything before her daughter.   

"Let me know how she is, please"

“Let me know how she is, please,” says Ffion as she leaves the flat.

Tegwen has been working for ages

Cassie arrives at the Deri to find Tegwen already at work, cleaning;  she says she has been there for one and a half hours.   

"You don't have to start so early"

“You don’t have to start so early, you know,” Cassie reminds her, but she maintains that she does if she is going to finish the work before starting her shift behind the bar.   “I don’t know how you do it,” Cassie tells her.

"Neither do I"

Tegwen agrees, “Neither do I,” as she sits down for a moment, and it is obvious that she is not feeling well, although she insists that she is fine.   

She subsides to the floor . . .

However, as she gets up to go to the kitchen, she collapses on to the floor 

. . . and has to be helped up

and is helped back to the seat.

Colin brings a welcome gift for Mark

Mark opens the door of number 7 and Colin arrives, brandishing a toilet roll;  

"I can't get up into the attic"

Mark explains, “Tyler went to work early and I can hardly move.”   Colin notices that they have no decorations, but Mark is unable to get up to the attic, with his foot in that condition.

"I', not going to make a lot of fuss this Christmas"

“I’m not going to make a lot of fuss this Christmas,” says Colin, which Mark thinks is unusual.   “I just want a quiet Christmas with Britt and Aaron – 

"I miss Britt terribly"

“I miss her terribly!”   

"I shall be on my own as well"

Mark also anticipates having a quiet Christmas on his own.

"Come over to ours for a bit of lunch"

“Well, you’re welcome to come over to ours for a bit of lunch,” Colin offers, “Just a small gang of friends, relaxing, a bit of food, a few drinks, and then you can go home.”   

"Shall I sort the turkey?"|

Mark would enjoy that and volunteers to sort the turkey.   “Oh, now you’re talking – make sure it’s not too small!” Colin laughs.

"Hello, beautiful!"

As Mark goes awkwardly up the stairs, Colin receives a phone call;  “Hello, beautiful – how are things in Geordie land?   

"I always like to hear good news"

“Yes, I always like to hear good news,” 

What he hears does not sound like 'good' news

but what he hears from Britt removes the smile from his face.

When Tyler arrives at APD . . .

When Tyler comes through the door of APD, 

. . . he is told he is late

Jason complains, “You’re late – you know we’re on our own today!”   

Tyler indicates the reason for this

Tyler reports that he has had an accident and shows his bandaged fingers.   

"You'll be no use to me today, then"

“Oh great – you’ll be no use to me today, then.”

"Mathew, Rhys and Tesni building a snowman"

Then he receives a message and comments, “That’s nice – a photo of Mathew, Rhys and Tesni building a snowman.”   

"I can work behind the counter"

Tyler protests that he can work behind the counter or something, 

"You can't do maths, remember?"

but Jason angrily replies, “Doing what, Tyler?   You can’t do maths, remember?   Just go home.”

"Will I get paid?"

Tyler demands if he will get paid, and is told, “What do you think?   You’ve caused enough trouble with those videos – stop pushing your luck!”

“I need the money – I’ll do anything,” Tyler whines, 

"I could see what Mathew has to say"

but Jason suggests that he could phone Mathew now to see what he has to say.   

Tyler slinks away

Tyler reluctantly leaves the shop.

"Go to class, girls"

At the school, Cai instructs a couple of girls to go to class and then sees Ffion approaching;  

Cai wants a meeting with Ffion 

he would like a meeting before they go to brief the staff.   He asks if Arwen is all right and is told that she is at home with Jinx.

"It's Jinx's fault for making me feel guilty"

She begins to break down in tears, and explains, “It’s Jinx’s fault for making me feel guilty.”   Cai insists that Jinx has no idea how much pressure she is under.   

"I should be at home with Arwen"

She goes on, “I should be at home with Arwen – but I can’t – not today.”

"Arwen is going to be fine – and so are you"

Cai reassures her that Arwen is going to be fine, and so is she;  she says that she has not had any breakfast, so Cai proposes that they get something from the canteen.

"I can't go in!"

Now she is in full panic mode, and wails, “I can’t go in!”   

"You come with me"

Cai tells her to come with him.

"You're doing too much, Tegwen"

In the Deri, Cassie points out to Tegwen that she is doing too much;  

"I don't have much choice, do I?"

“I don’t have much choice, do I?” she replies.   Cassie has noticed that she is also pale, and enquires if she is eating properly.   

"I don't eat much, anyway"

“I don’t eat much, anyway,” is the reply.

“When was the last time you had a proper meal?” Cassie asks, and she says that she cannot remember.   

"Is Ken getting enough food?"

“What about Ken?   Is he getting enough food?”

"I make sure of that, Cassie"

Tegwen points out that she makes sure of that and that she pays all the bills on time to keep a roof over their heads – but everything has gone up, a lot;  “Plus, it’s Christmas, so . . .”

"You'll get through it, with help"

Cassie knows, as she has been there;  she points out that Tegwen will get through it, with help.   

"I don't want charity"

However she is adamant that she does not want charity.   “It’s not charity – we’re all here to help each other,” says Cassie, “I’ll see if I can get you more shifts behind the bar.   Did you know there’s a group of people giving away free hampers in Yr Antur – to help people over Christmas?”

Tegwen is adamant that she is not going begging to anyone;  

"If you get ill, what's going to happen to Ken?"

“If you get ill, what’s going to happen to Ken?” Cassie demands, “People like Megan love to help people – 

"You're not going to deny Megan that pleasure, are you?"

“you’re not going to deny her that pleasure, are you?”

Ffion goes into the school

Cai has obviously managed to at least partially calm Ffion and they go into the school, but she is still on edge;  

"We might be put under special measures!"

“We might be put under special measures, and have to have another inspection next year!”

He assures her that everything will be great;  “You don’t know that, do you?” she snarls, 

"You've worked so hard, Ffion"

and he points out that she has worked so hard that there is nothing more they can do.

“Right, listen to me,” he instructs her, “You’re an excellent headteacher, you’re a strong leader, you’ve worked miracles at the school, and you put the kids first – and that’s what’s important!”   She is sure that Jinx would not agree with him, 

"I don't give a damn about Jinx"

but he growls, “I don’t give a damn about Jinx!   Don’t let him spoil the hard work you’ve done for this inspection.   Forget about this morning – show these inspectors who’s boss!”

"I've worked too hard to throw all this away"

His peptalk seems to have worked, and she agrees that she has worked too hard to throw all this away.   As the school bell rings, 

"I'll get you some breakfast"

he tells her to go to the office and he will get some breakfast.   She thanks him for his encouragement;  “You’re one in a million!”

"Iol has got a point"

Tyler has gone to speak to Dani;  “I don’t want Iol to think he’s won, but he has got a point.”   

"That homophobes will come and beat you up?"

Dani thinks it unlikely that homophobic people will come looking for him and beat him up.   

"Well, it has happened before"

“Well, it has happened before, and I am putting myself out there,” he continues.

“Tyler, you can’t let these people stop you doing what you want to do,” she insists, but he still worries whether Iolo is right.   “It’s up to you,” she answers, 

"I'm not going to let anyone stop me"

“But I’m not going to let anyone, whether I know them or not, stop me doing what I’m going to do – you can’t live your life in fear.”

He thanks her for her advice and leaves the flat, 

"We're going to the park for a walk"

while Dani announces to Gabriel, who is unseen in his buggy, “We’re going for a walk, to the park.”

Siôn crosses the road

Siôn strides out of the bookshop, 

"Keep an eye on the shop – I'll be at the food bank"

and calls to Colin, “Can you keep an eye on Y Winllan for me, please?   Send any customers over to Yr Antur – I’ll be at the food bank.”

"Are things tight, Siôn?"

Mark, who has just hobbled along the street, enquires, “Are things tight, Siôn?” 

"No – I'm helping out there"

and is informed that he is simply helping out;  they should do good deeds when they can.   Mark philosophically maintains, “They cancel out the bad things – 

"Everyone's done bad things, Siôn"

“everyone’s done bad things, Siôn.”

"Hello, Scrooge – what have you done with Colin?"

Colin is putting Christmas wreaths outside the shop, but is obviously not in the Christmas mood;  “Hello, Scrooge – what have you done with Colin, then?” Mark jokes.

"Britt wants everyone together on Christmas Day"

He is told that Britt phoned, and want to get everyone together on Christmas Day;  “The whole family in that small house – her, me, Chester, Catrin, Aaron, Garry, Gwern, Dani, Seren, Gabriel, Lois.”

"And me, don't forget!"

“And me!” Mark reminds him.   Colin predicts that the children will have to go on a picnic table out the back, and Mark will have to sit on the stairs.

"How much is all this going to cost?"

“How much is all this going to cost?” demands Colin, 

"Perhaps I'd better buy the vegetables instead . . ."

and Mark thinks that he had better buy the vegetables instead, as large turkeys are expensive.   Colin is advised to tell Britt that he wants a quiet Christmas and put his foot down, but Colin nows this approach will do no good.   

". . . how many tonnes of sprouts shall I get?"

Mark wonders how many tonnes of sprouts he will need to buy.

Tyler's next video is about fixing legs to a stool . . .

Tyler is again stripped to the waist, and this time attempting to demonstrate how to fix legs on a stool, which is somewhat difficult as his right hand is out of use.

. . . and he is about to launch into it

He turns on the phone and is about to give his running commentary 

Mark is transfixed by the scene before him

when Mark comes in and looks quite astonished;  

"Do you and that stool want some privacy?"

“Do you and that stool want some privacy, or what?”

One of the locals collects his food

In Yr Antur, Megan is helping a man with his box of provisions from the food bank when Tegwen comes in, 

"Tegwen, thanks for coming to help"

and Megan gets the wrong end of the stick, assuming that she has come to help.   “I’ll put you with Siôn – he can show you what to do.

"You and your son are going on the rugby trip"

“Cai told me that you and your son are going on the rugby trip,” says Siôn, “Are you looking forward to it?   Come round here and I’ll show you what to do.”   

She cannot admit to her real reason for coming

Tegwen is too embarrassed to admit that she has actually come for a box.

"People pay to see you do things?"

Mark incredulously asks Tyler, “What – people pay to see you do things?   What sort of things?”   He is told that it is just DIY, mostly, and Tyler stresses that it is nothing sexual.   

“So why do they pay, then?” is the next question.

"Because I'm a bit muscular"

“Because I’m a bit muscular,” Tyler answers, and Mark is interested to know whether it is men or women who pay.   “I need money for Christmas, to buy things for Greta, you know – and I need it even more now, after doing this.”   He holds up his injured hand, 

"Well, what you do is up to you"

and Mark simply sighs that what he does is up to him.

"I can't do it with one hand"

Tyler goes on, “Listen, I was going to ask you a favour – I need some help – I can’t do it with one hand.”   

"Do what, exactly?"

Mark looks extremely concerned and asks what exactly he cannot do.   He appeared rather relieved to find that it is only doing the filming.

Obviously Cwmderi has many poor people

Two more people leave Yr Antur with their boxes of food and Megan asks where Siôn is;  “In the other room, getting pasta and cereal,” Tegwen replies.   

"I can't believe how many we've given away"

Megan cannot believe how many boxes they have given away – they have almost run out.

"Mrs Harries, could I have a food package?"

Tegwen has no choice but to explain, “Mrs Harries, sorry – could I have a food package, please?”   

"They're for people who are in real need"

Megan answers that they are for people in real need and the volunteers are not supposed to ask for them.   

"I didn't come here to volunteer"

“I didn’t come here to volunteer,” Tegwen confesses, and Megan is very upset.

Megan is mortified

“I thought you’d come here to help, and honestly, you’ve been very big help.”   

"I feel better now that I've asked"

Tegwen says that she feels better now that she has asked, and Megan is sorry that she was questioned like that – she can understand how hard it was for her to ask.   

"Look, take this one"

“Look, take this one,” she insists, for which Tegwen is very grateful and appreciative.

Tegwen is on her way home

She is about to leave when Siôn returns to the room;  

"Where are you taking that box, then?"

“Where are you taking that box then?” he asks;  

"She really needs it, Siôn"

Megan replies that she is supposed to have one and really needs it.

"You must regret paying for that rugby trip"

“You must regret paying for that rugby trip now,” Siôn callously comments, and Tegwen says that she does not;  “Well, if buying food is so difficult for you,” he goes on.

"He never asks for much"

“Ken has asked to go and see the rugby as a Christmas present,” she informs him, “He never asks for much and I wanted to give him a treat.   

"I didn't realise I had to justify myself"

“I didn’t realise I had to justify myself to ask for help.”   

Tegwen puts down the food box . . .

She puts down the food box 

. . . and walks out

and walks out, 

"Tegwen, don't go!"

despite Megan’s entreaties not to do so.   

Megan is disgusted with Siôn . . .

Megan turns and glowers furiously 

. . . who is speechless

at Siôn.

Mark looks at his handiwork

At number 7, they are reviewing the results of Mark’s filming, 

"Nice and tight!"

where Tyler is ensuring that the screw is fastened nice and tight.   

"See you soon"

“Let me know what you would like to see next – see you soon.   Until next time, goodbye.”

Tyler is pleased with the result

Tyler seems quite pleased with the result and compliments Mark on having a steady hand.   As soon as he puts down the phone on the table, a text message arrives;  

"Iolo wants you over there"

“It’s Iolo – can you come over and get G immediately?” Mark reads, “Boiler in Brynawelon [the local old people’s home, where Brynmor was formerly a resident] has broken.”

"Load that video to my account"

Tyler will have to go over there straightaway, and asks Mark to reply to the text that he is on the way;  “And can you load that video to my account?” he adds.   

"OK, I'm doing it now"

Mark sets about carrying out his instructions.

"Did you go to the food bank?"

In the Deri, Cassie asks if Tegwen went to the food bank;  

"Yes, and I got humiliated!"

“Yes, and I got humiliated!   Thanks for sending me over there!   It doesn’t matter what happened – I’m never going to ask for help again!   I have no choice now –

"I'll have to tell Ken the rugby trip is off"

“I’ll have to tell Ken the rugby trip is off.”

"Arwen is watching Friends"

At Cysgod y Glyn, Ffion advises Jinx that Arwen is in her room watching Friends, and he wants to know how things went today.

"You don't have to ignore me"

The buzzer sounds and Cai comes upstairs;  Jinx remarks to Ffion, “You don’t have to ignore me – we’re not children.”   

"I've come for a bit of a debrief"

Cai says he has come over for a bit of a debrief and to sort out a couple of things before tomorrow.

“You were fantastic today – things seem to be going well so far,” he goes on;  she does not know what she would have done without him today, 

Ffion kisses Cai

and kisses him, much to Jinx’s disgust.

Ffion has left a file in the bedroom, 

"You could have spoiled everything for Ffion today"

and while she is fetching it, Cai snarls, “You could have spoiled everything for Ffion today.”   

"By putting Arwen's well-being first?"

“By putting Arwen’s well-being first?” asks Jinx, and is reminded about Ffion’s well-being.

"You didn't show an ounce of support"

“You didn’t show an ounce of support for her this morning,” Cai continues, 

"I've been looking after Arwen, like every day"

and Jinx informs him that he has looked after Arwen all day today, like he does every day, and wonders what else he is expected to do

“She turned up at school in tears because of you – 

"Upset her again and you'll regret it!"

“upset her again and you’ll regret it!” Cai threatens.

Ffion comes back into the room and invites him to stay for dinner;  

"I don't know if you want to go for a pint?"

“I’ll buy you a takeaway to say thank you.”   Jinx does not get an opportunity to apologise for this morning, as she tells him, “We shall be discussing work until late – so I don’t know if you want to go for a pint?”

Jinx meekly heads for the Deri

As Jinx follows instructions, 

"Tyler half-naked doing DIY"

Cai discovers on his phone, “Tyler half-naked doing DIY – which makes me feel inadequate.”   

"You've got 20 years on Tyler"

Ffion points out that he has 20 years on Tyler.   

Someone else is watching the video

They are not the only ones watching the video, 

"Tyler!"

as Jason is looking extremely angry, and exclaims, “Tyler !”