2 May 2023

Cassie is on her way to work . . .

Cassie walks along the street towards the Deri 

. . . when she discovers . . .

and then notices 

. . . the Deri is up for sale

the ‘For Sale’ sign on the front of the pub.

"How many magazines do you want?"

In the shop, Kath is looking at some magazines and Colin remarks, “Good grief – how many magazines do you want?”   

She replies that they keep her out of trouble, and he assumes that she wants to keep up with the Kardashian’s latest gossip.

“Haven’t you got anything better to do?” he asks, 

"You must be missing Brynmor"

“You must be missing Brynmor.”   She agrees that the day does get a bit long, and Colin wants to know when he will be back from his travels.

"We're not sure when he'll be back"

“We’re not sure,” says Kath, and Colin has evidently been told the tale that he is in Pennsylvania on an antiques course.   He comments that it must be a course and a half, and that Brynmor will be quite an expert.

"Letting him go off on a jolly"

“You deserve a medal, letting him go off on such a jolly – 

"You need to find something to keep you busy"

“what you need to do is find yourself something to keep yourself busy until he comes home – like me and the golf,” Colin continues, 

"I didn't know you played golf"

but she did not know that he played golf.

“I’ve only just started – oh, Kath, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.   Seriously, you’re out in the fresh air, walking, having fun, a bit of putting – 

"And it benefits up here as well"

“and it benefits up here as well,” he explains, pointing to his head.

Kath remarks that Brynmor likes golf, too;  

"I wouldn't mind having another go"

“I had a go a few years ago and I wouldn’t mind having another one – why not?   Brynmor and I will be able to play golf together then – well, once he comes back.   I could get tips from you – when are you playing next?”

"I'm going up to Breeze Hill this afternoon"

Colin tells her he is going up to Breeze Hill this afternoon;  “Right then – see you up there,” she decides, and leaves the shop, with the magazines still on the counter.

"It's called respect!"

Cassie is in a very bad mood as she goes into number 21;  “It’s called respect!” she snarls.   Britt maintains that she was going to tell her, and Cassie continues, “I’ve worked there for years – what’s going to happen to my job?”   

"I didn't have any choice, Cass"

Britt replies that she will be fine until they sell, and then she does not know, but she argues that she did not have any choice.

“The bills have gone up, and Dani’s moved out of the flat – I’m doing this for Garry – 

"Do you have any idea?"

“do you have any idea how expensive his solicitor is?” she demands.

"Jobs don't grow on trees at my age"

Cassie points out that jobs do not grow on trees at her age, so she is advised to retire.   “I don’t want to – I’m happy in the Deri!” she growls.   

"Why don't you buy the Deri, then?"

Britt challenges her to buy the Deri in that case, and is in a hurry as she should have been at the Cash and Carry half an hour ago.

Eileen is reading the paper . . .

Eileen is sitting on a bench outside Penrhewl, looking at the Western Post, 

. . . and sees, on the property pages . . .

and when she turns to the property section she notices that 

. . . the 'charming' Deri . . .

there is a ‘charming village pub’ for sale in Cwmderi.   

. . . and also the bookshop are up for sale

Then on the other side of the page there is a retail property also in Cwmderi, 

She gives Hywel his instructions . . .

so she picks up her phone and sends a message to Hywel, ‘Go for it now!’   

. . . and is planning something

She looks quietly pleased with herself.

"There's something wrong with this club" 

On the golf course, Kath reckons that there is something wrong with her club, although Colin stresses that she cannot be an expert straightaway;  

"It will click in the end – guaranteed"

“It will click in the end, guaranteed – it took me twelve strokes to get the ball in the hole first time – you did it in nine!   It took Verity eight.”

"She's the ladies' captain"

Kath has no idea who Verity is, so it is explained that she is the ladies’ Captain, 

Colin has not 'got the hang of it' yet

as Colin tries to put his club into the bag in the wrong way round.   “Brynmor would be impressed with that – carry on like this and you’ll be an honourable member of the club by the time he comes back.”   

That is better, Colin

Kath rather likes the sound of that.

Gaynor and her 'sister' are chatting

In the Deri, Gaynor and her sister are talking;  “Sorry we didn’t have much time to talk last night – my fault,” says Cheryl, 

"You must have been tired"

and Gaynor can understand that she must have been tired after the journey from Wrexham.

"Your house is like a five-star hotel"

“Thank you for letting me spend the night,” she goes on, “Your house is like a five-star hotel.”   

"I can't believe I have a sister"

Gaynor cannot believe that she has a sister and it is anticipated that she must have loads of questions.

"Mam was so agitated"

“The first I heard of you was when your letter arrived – Mam was so agitated – it was horrendous.   That letter which you received was written by me – well, Mam dictated it to me.”

"But it was a solicitor's letter"

Gaynor was under the impression that it was a solicitor’s letter, but is informed that it was just a mock-up;  “Mam thought you would back off if it looked official.”

Gaynor asks why her mother and Charlie put her up for adoption, 

"Mam was 15 – the shame was too much"

and it is explained that her grandfather insisted that his little girl was not going to be an unmarried mother.   “Mam was 15 – the shame was too much.”

"Mam said she did love you"

However they kept Cheryl, but that was ten years later;  “They did love you, Mam said, but Dad didn’t get a chance –he’d died by the time I was 17.   Mam was scared when I wrote that letter for her – losing you had been so traumatic, she couldn’t face going back there.”

"Losing someone is a huge thing"

Gaynor can appreciate that losing someone is a huge thing and remarks that Cheryl is doing all right, despite having just lost her mother.   

"I have to try to be positive"

“It might look that way, but inside . . . I have to try to be positive – I’m concentrating on what I’ve gained instead of what I’ve lost.

"Any news yet?"

Britt hurries into Tomos ac Ellis and Griffiths irritably informs her that no-one has phoned yet;  

"The second there is, I'll let you know"

the second there is any news he will let her know.   At that moment, Hywel comes in, and she wonders if he wants to buy the pub.

Hywel is not going to buy the Deri

“No – I want to enjoy myself in a pub, not slave away,” he replies, and she leaves.   

Ieuan wonders, “To what do I owe this pleasure?” 

Hywel ominously sits down

as Hywel pulls up a chair and sits down.

"A friend wants to buy Y Winllan"

“I want to talk about Y Winllan – I don’ t want to buy it, but a friend does.   They want to offer £245,000 for it.”

"That's less than the asking price"

Griffiths reminds him that is less than the asking price, 

"But it's a good offer"

but Hywel considers it a good offer.   

"I've had two better offers"

“I’ve had two better offers,” is Griffiths’ dismissive reply, “Your friend will have to do better if they want to stay in the race.”

"245 and not a penny more!"

“245 and not a penny more – that’s the offer,” Hywel stipulates;  

"That's a non-starter"

he is told that this is a nonstarter and Siôn will not accept it.   

“I’m sure he will, because you’re going to persuade him,” Hywel warns, “If you don’t, I’ll have a word in a few ears and tell them about your dubious activities.”

"What would people say about your bribery?"

Griffiths cautions him to watch what he is saying, but Hywel continues, “What would people say about you bribing the History Society to keep quiet about MFC’s planning approval?”   Griffiths does not make any reply.

"I regret not pushing her more"

Gaynor regrets not pushing her mother more to meet her, especially if her mother loved her.   “You know you said that she was scared – 

"Do you think she changed her mind?"

“do you think she changed her mind in the end about getting in touch?   Elsie was dying – do you think that change things.”   

"You got phone calls from her"

Cheryl smiles, “You got phone calls from her, didn’t you?   I didn’t know until after she died.   The home’s manager said she asked to borrow a mobile, and she sent messages – I still can’t believe it – 

"She couldn't even use a microwave"

“she couldn’t even use a microwave.   

"But that's Mam"

“But that’s Mam – no stopping her when she was on a mission.   Contacting you was obviously important to her.”

Gaynor says she did ask who was there but did not receive a reply.   

"She went downhill the night she sent the last one"

“She went downhill the night she sent you the last one,” Cheryl says, “and I didn’t find out until after the funeral.   I didn’t think you would want to be there – not after that letter.”

"The funeral was at Wrexham crematorium"

The funeral was at Wrexham crematorium and then afterwards at MaesGwyn Hall.   Cheryl maintains that she was trying to do the right thing;  

“The minute I found out Mam had tried to contact you, it changed everything – I packed a bag and here I am.   I couldn’t contact you before, because I didn’t want to go against Mam’s wishes.”

Gaynor agrees that she was in a very difficult position, “But it is just so sad that I came so close to meeting her – but there we go.   Was it a nice funeral?”

'Mam hated weak tea"

“Look, I know it’s not much, but how about we raise a cup to Mam with proper builder’s tea?   She hated weak tea – 

"That's cat's pee!"

“‘That’s cat’s pee!’ she would say.”   

Gaynor is well and truly convinced

They drink a toast ‘to Mam’.

"If you're in a hole, stop digging"

Hywel continues to explain, “You’re never going to learn, Ieuan – if you’re in a hole, stop digging.”   

"To encourage their brilliant cultural work"

However, Griffiths insists that the money was a gift to encourage the brilliant cultural work the History Society does.

"And this isn't the first back-hander"

“And this isn’t the first back-hander, is it?” Hywel sneers, 

"Prove it!"

so he is invited to prove it.   

"Just a word in a few ears"

“I don’t have to – like I said, I’ll have a word in a few ears and there will be a black cloud over you – and that’s not great, is it?   

"From my experience, mud sticks"

“From my experience, mud sticks.   So do we have a deal?”

"Who is this friend?"

Ieuan reluctantly agrees that they do, if Hywel will reveal who this friend is;  “I’m going to find out in the end, anyway.”   

"It's Eileen"

Hywel reveals that it is Eileen, 

"So why are you making the offer?"

so Griffiths wonders why he is making the offer on her behalf, 

"None of your business"

and is curtly told that it is none of his business.

“It’s a question I have to ask with your track record!” he insists, and is assured that nothing is going on between them.   

"So do we have a deal?"

Hywel is anxious to know whether they have a deal;  Griffiths nods his head.

"Phone me when you've sorted things out"

“Phone me when you’ve sorted things out,” Hywel instructs and is smiling as he leaves the office.   Griffiths is puzzled as to what is going on here.

"You're supposed to hit the ball, Kath"|

On the golf course, Kath takes a swing at the ball and misses;  “Tip for you, Kath – you’re supposed to hit the ball, not fresh air!” laughs Colin, “It happens to the best of us.”   

"You're just tired"

Then she makes another attempt with a similar result, and he diagnoses that she is just tired.   

"Do we have to use these little plastic things?"

“Do we have to use these little plastic things?” she demands, 

The tee supports the ball"

and he explains that the tee supports the ball.

After another unsuccessful try 

Kath is really becoming angry

she thumps the ground with her club in frustration, 

"Don't damage the sacred links"

and he warns her not to not to damage the sacred links, but she just wants to hit the ball.   

He demonstrates to her . . .

Colin demonstrates the correct stance; “Tilt the shoulders back a bit, swing the club and look at your leg.”

. . .and this time the ball sails through the air

When she follows this procedure, she is highly delighted that she hits the ball, 

They are both highly delighted . . .

and Colin is full of praise for her shot – 

. . .until they hear breaking glass

until there is the sound of breaking glass and angry shouts.

Sioned is studying the laptop

Sioned is working on the laptop at Penrhewl when her mother comes in, so she quickly closes it.   “I’m just about to load up the car with Cae Glas hampers.   

"Do you want me to make you something?"

“Do you want me to make you something before I go?”   

Sioned was looking at home care

Eileen declines the offer, but as soon as Sioned is out of the room, she opens the laptop and finds to her displeasure that her daughter has been looking at ‘24-hour affordable home care’.

Cheryl rejects a phone call

As Cheryl emerges from the Deri, her phone rings, but after looking at it she does not answer, remarking that it is not important, and that she had better start her journey home.   

"I don't want you to leave"

Gaynor does not want her to leave, now that they have just started getting to know each other.

Cheryl insists that she does not want to take advantage, but Gaynor assures her that she can stay as long as she wants;  

"You're my sister"

“You’re my sister!” 

"Off they go along the street"

and they walk off together along the street.

The stranger, opposite MFC

As they pass MFC, a stranger is sitting in his car opposite, looking across at the shop.

Cassie is using the laptop . . .

In the Deri, Cassie is busily making notes, and looking at the laptop;  it appears that she has reached a decision as she taps on her calculator.

. . . to arrange a mortgage . . .

The laptop screen shows details of a £200,000 mortgage, repayable over 20 years, 

. . . and is getting quite excited 

and she seems to be quite excited about this.

"Griffiths is going to persuade Siôn"

Eileen comes into the farmhouse, followed by Hywel;  “Well, Griffiths is going to persuade Siôn to accept your offer,” he tells her, 

"What are the chances of success?"

but she wants to know how much chance there is of that succeeding.

"Whatever Griffiths wants, he usually gets"

“Whatever Griffiths wants, he usually gets – so yes, buy the champagne,” says Hywel, “Why do you want it?   What are you going to do there?”   

"Do you want sugar in your tea?"

She is not answering, but simply asks whether he takes sugar in his tea.

"Accidents happen, Col . . ."

As they come back into the village, Kath is pointing out that accidents happen, 

". . . but there was no need for him to go over the top"

and that there was no need for him to go over the top.   

Colin waves, presumably to Llinos

“You smashed the clubhouse window!’ he reminds her.

"Like some blooming' Sergeant Major!"

“He didn’t have to blow a gasket” she complains, “He deserve everything he got, shouting at me like some bloomin’ Sergeant Major!   I’m not going near that place ever again!”

"You need a new hobby to alleviate the loneliness"

He tells her to find a new hobby to alleviate the loneliness, but she contests the allegation that she is lonely;  

"Since when has the Deri been on sale"

“Just because the days are long doesn’t mean I'm lonely,” she says, and then she notices the sign on the Deri.   “Since when has the Deri been on sale?” she demands, “How much do they want for it?” but Colin is off for a pint.

The man gets out of the car . . .

The car is still parked opposite MFC and the man gets out, 

. . .and goes into MFC

going into the shop where Britt is working;  she says she will be with him in a minute, 

"I don't speak Welsh"

but the man tells her, in a Geordie accent, that he does not speak Welsh.

"Lucky for you I speak English, then"

“Lucky for you that I speak English, then,” she replies, “What do you want, love?”   

"One of your chicken slices"

He asks for one of her chicken slices and she detects that he is from Newcastle;   

"Me and my brothers were there over 20 years"

“I’d know that accent anywhere – I used to live there.   Heaton – do you know it?   Me and my brothers were there over 20 years.”

He asks what the ‘M’ on the sign stands for;  

"Monk – it's my brother's business"

“Monk – it’s my brother’s business, Garry.   Do you know what?   You’re about the same age as him – he went to Grey Temple comprehensive – do you know him?”

"No, I don't know a Garry Monk"

“Garry Monk?   No, I don’t know a Garry Monk,” says the stranger, picking up his chicken slice and leaving the shop.   

There is something strange about him

Britt thinks there is something strange about him.

"You should have told me about Cheryl"

When Hywel arrives home he maintains that Gaynor should have told him about Cheryl, but she cannot see what the problem is. 

“You don’t know her,” he moans, and is told that is why she is staying, so Gaynor can get to know her.

“Is it wise to have a stranger around?” Hywel asks, 

"She's not a stranger – she's my sister"

 is told that she is not a stranger, but rather Gaynor’s sister, who can be trusted.   “Right – so why didn’t she tell you about the funeral?” he wonders.

“She was being thoughtful and protecting her sister,” is Gaynor’s answer, “Please stop being paranoid and be happy for me.”

"You've been paranoid about those phone calls"

“Says she, who’s been paranoid about those phone calls for weeks!” he snarls.   Gaynor argues that she knows who it was and has discovered that Elsie loved her.

Cheryl appears

Then Cheryl comes in, wondering if Hywel has been told he has a lodger again tonight, 

"If that's all right with you, Hywel"

if that is all right with him.   Gaynor assures her that she is welcome there.   

"Hywel's going to make use a cup of tea"

“Hywel is going to make us a cup of tea,” she adds, “Put your feet up, Cher.”

He imagines that she is not what she seems

Hywel has serious suspicions.