9 May 2023

Refurbishment is in the air

Jason and Alaz are measuring up outside the bookshop when DJ comes along the street;  

"Eileen's still going ahead with her plans, then?"

“Eileen’s still going ahead with her plans, then?” he comments, and Jason maintains that this is exactly what the village needs.

"Eileen will build her empire"

Alaz adds, “Eileen will build her empire,” and DJ does not doubt that.   Jason enquires whether it is true that DJ and Sioned will be running the shop and it is stressed that they have not agreed to anything yet.

"What happened to the Ireland plans?"

“What happened to the Ireland plans?” asks Jason, and is told that they are still thinking about that.   

"What are you pricing up?"

DJ wonders what they are pricing up.   “Right, well she has asked us for a quote on a complete refurb – some kind of informal lounge,” which DJ thinks sounds strange.   “Comfortable sofas, newspapers, that kind of thing - that’s what Eileen said – oh, and wine tasting!”

"Whisky tasting as well"

Alaz interrupts to remind him that there is to be whisky tasting as well.   DJ remarks that it sounds impressive, 

"Alaz is leaving us today"

and then is informed by Jason that Alaz is leaving them today.   

"I am going to stay with my brother"

“I’m going to London to stay with my brother,” he says, and DJ is very pleased that he has managed to find his brother.   “I’m very good at finding people,” Alaz boasts.

“We’re having a couple of drinks to celebrate in the flat – you and Sioned are welcome to join us,” says Jason, 

"I'll see you later, then"

so DJ will see him later.

Colin finds Britt looking worried

Inside MFC, Britt is looking very worried when Colin comes in to find her;  “We haven’t even unpacked yet,” he says, but she is convinced that someone has been in the shop.   

Stuff has been moved around

Several boxes have been moved and the place is disorganised.

"Must be one of the staff"

“One of the staff was probably looking for something,” Colin imagines, but she is adamant that they would never leave a mess like that.   He does not think that it looks as if anyone has broken in, but Britt points out that they would be too clever for that.

"Come home and we can have a cup of tea"

He suggests that she come home and they can have a cup of tea;  “What if he comes back – the bloke who was watching the place?” she demands,   

"Perhaps they will be coming back!"

“Perhaps they were disturbed and will be coming back.”   Colin tries to convince her that no-one has been there, as there is no damage and no sign of a break-in, but she will not be persuaded.

Britt walks out . . .

Britt walks out of the front door of the shop 

. . . as Colin finds the back door secure

while Colin tries the back door and finds it securely fastened.

"He's just playing with his phone"

As Cassie approaches the shop, Siôn comes out and tells her that Iolo is not great;  “He’s just lounging around the house, playing on his phone.”   

"It's Gwyneth's funeral next week"

She knows that her news will not help, but reveals that Gwyneth’s funeral is next week.

"I'm doing it for Gwern, more than anything"

“I’m doing it for Gwern, more than anything – but I’ve got no-one to conduct the funeral.”   

"I'm not doing it"

Siôn insists that he is not going to do it, which is just what she was expecting, but she asks that he should think about it;   

"Do we have to hate the person?"

“I think it’s important for Gwern to have some sort of ‘closure’ – like Greta did with Tyler last week – and perhaps we all need it.   I know what she did was unforgivable;  we can hate someone’s actions – but do we have to hate the person?”

"All right – I'll think about it"

Siôn agrees that he will think about it.

Mathew has left this until the last minute

In APD, Mathew is writing a card and a present is nearby;  when Jason comes in with Alaz, he remarks, “Oh Mathew, you shouldn’t have!” 

"I said no gifts"

and Alaz reminds Mathew that he said no gifts.

"It's Ken's birthday today . . ."

“This is for Ken,” is the reply, and Jason did not realise that he was still in contact with Ken.   “I’m not, but it’s his birthday today – 

". . . but I haven't got his address"

“but I haven’t got his address.”

“You don’t know where to find him?” asks Alaz, 

"Sorry I can't be of any assistance, Math"

 Jason cannot be of any assistance, adding that a delivery has just arrived out the back.   

Alaz looks at the name on the envelope

Alaz is left on his own in the shop and takes a look at the name on the envelope.

Cassie looks around the Deri flat . . .

Up in the unoccupied Deri flat, Cassie looks around 

. . . and knows what she intends to do

and appears to have come to a decision.   

"Forgot she promised to leave the farm to Sioned?"

Downstairs in the bar, Dai is exhibiting some amusement, although DJ says that it is not funny.   “Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh – but you’re telling me that Eileen has forgotten that she promised to leave the farm to Sioned?   

"Perhaps a tea set or a toaster – but . . ."

“I could understand if she’d forgotten to leave a tea set or a toaster or something – but forgetting about leaving a farm?”

"Sioned wants to leave the country because of this!"

DJ is angry that his father is not taking this seriously;  “Do you realise that Sioned wants to leave the country because of this?”   Dai points out that if the shoe were on the other foot, Sioned would want exactly the same thing.

"And what do you want to do?"

“I don’t know what you want me to say – what do you want to do?” Dai demands, and DJ thinks that he wants to stay in Cwmderi.

"Eileen has some exciting plans for Y Winllan . . ."

“Eileen has exciting plans for Y Winllan,” he begins, and his father can see that he does not want to go to Ireland.   “There’s no comparison, is there?   Working for someone else, or running my own restaurant – that dream’s been in the back of my mind for a long time.   

. . . but how am I going to persuade Sioned?"

“But how am I going to persuade Sioned?”

"You don't have jobs to go to in Ireland"

Dai reminds him that they do not have jobs in Ireland to go to;  “There we are, then – no-brainer!   You can’t afford to turn down an offer like this – it’s too good an opportunity.   Why move out to Dublin to live in some expensive flat with no money coming in – you have to persuade her!”

"But Sioned is so stubborn"

DJ’s reply is that Sioned is so stubborn, 

"Don't be such a wimp!"

but his father insists, “Don’t be such a wimp!   I’m not being nasty, but this is nothing new, is it?   You always let her walk all over you – stand up for yourself!”

"I'll have a word with Sioned"

DJ agrees that he will speak to Sioned;  

"Forgetting to leave a farm – good grief!"

“Good – that’s settled, then but forgetting to leave a farm – good grief!” Dai laughs.

"How was old Londinium?"

Britt and Colin come into the Deri, and are asked by Cassie, “How was the old Londinium?”   Britt is more interested in finding out whether everything has been all right at home.

"Britt's worried someone's watching MFC"

“Britt’s been worried that someone is watching MFC – something to do with Garry,” explains Colin.   Cassie has not seen anyone, 

"I did go over last night for a till roll"

but did go over there last night to get a receipt roll for the till – she did have to go through a few boxes to find the right one.

“We were just a bit worried when we found that things had been moved,” Colin goes on, and Cassie is sorry if she worried them;  she will bring them a drink on the house.   

"If it's still for sale, I'd like to make an offer"

“Britt, about the Deri,” says Cassie, “If it’s still for sale, I’d like to make an offer.   Would that be a problem?”   In fact it is a great weight off Britt’s mind, but she is cautioned not to mention it to anyone, as she has not yet been to the bank.

"I can't think of anyone better to take it on"

“I can’t think of anyone better to take it on,” Britt tells her.

Iolo is studying his phone

At Y Felin, Iolo is engrossed in his phone, as usual, when Cai comes downstairs 

"Greta is watching 'Cruella'

and announces that Greta is watching ‘Cruella’, 

"That's not suitable"

which Siôn considers is not suitable for her.   “She says she’s seen it before,” says Cai, “Iolo – is it OK if she watches it?”

Iolo casually replies that she likes films like that, but Siôn is determined to put something else on for her;  

"She'd be happier to see you, Iolo"

“I’m not happy for her to watch that before going to bed.   Or why don’t you go up, Iolo?   I’m sure she’d be happier to see you.”

Iolo seems disinterested

Iolo does not appear at all concerned and his father asks if there is something interesting on the phone.   

"People discussing ways of dealing with grief"

“People discussing ways of dealing with grief,” he answers.   Siôn enquires whether they suggest talking about it – with his daughter – who has just lost her father.

Iolo protests that he does talk to her;  

"Why are you being so passive-aggressive?"

“Why are you being so passive-aggressive,” he demands.   His father points out that Greta needs him – not just to dress her in the morning and feed her, but to spend time with her.   

"All right, I'll put on another film for her"

“All right, I’ll put on another film for her,” he concedes.

When he has gone upstairs, 

"And that is all he'll do for her"

Siôn groans, “And that is all he will do for her – then he will be back on the phone.   I just don’t understand the appeal of the support from strangers with something so personal.”

"What would happen if that support stopped?"

Cai wonders what would happen if that support stopped;  “What if we do something to put him off turning to Instagram?   

"You have to be cruel to be kind sometimes"

“I’ll think of something – you have to be cruel to be kind sometimes, Siôn.”   

"Don't do anything nasty"

He is warned not to do anything nasty, as he does not want things to be made worse.

"Where's Alaz?"

Mathew and Jason think that it is a shame Sioned and DJ cannot join them, and they wonder what has become of Alaz.   

"Sorry – I've been very busy"

Just there he arrives, apologising for being late, but he has been very busy;  “You have gone to a lot of trouble.”

"You'll have to find some Welsh lessons"

As Jason takes the meal from the oven, he advises, “You’ll have to find some Welsh lessons while you’re in London,” 

"Yes – I've started – on an app"

and is told that Alaz has already started on an app.   

"Then you can come back to practise"

They encourage him to come back to Cwmderi so that he can practise.

"This place is very special – arbennig!"

“This place is very special to me – arbennig – wonderful friends!” he says, and they get him a drink.   Jason has an envelope for him, 

"We thought cash would be more useful"

as they thought that cash would be more useful in London.   Alaz says that they are very kind 

"Open after I am gone"

and he also has something for both Jason and Mathew, which he wants them to open after he has gone.

Siôn is reading a Welsh book

Siôn is reading a Welsh book when Iolo returns downstairs;  

"I've had messages from some troll"

“I’ve just had messages on Instagram,” he says, “From some troll!”

"You're rubbish in bed!"

Siôn reads the message, “Smile, Iols, and enjoy your life, because the truth is Tyler never loved you.   You’re needy and boring – and you’re rubbish in bed!”   Siôn has a fair idea where that message originated, 

"How many have you received?"

and Cai asks how many messages he has received.

“A couple – it’s from some fake account,” is Iolo’s answer.   

"Why don't you delete the app?"

Siôn regards that as very cruel and recommends that he delete the account, or, better still, the app.

Iolo says that he has already blocked the messages, 

"I'm getting so many nice messages . . ."

but now he is getting so many nice messages;  

". . . look at this one"

“Look at this one – ‘Don’t take any notice, Iolo – it’s obviously a saddo who’s jealous of your love.’   People are so nice sometimes.”   

"I'm going for a pint"

Cai decides that he is going to the Deri for a pint.

Sioned works in the kitchen

Sioned is working in the kitchen at Penrhewl when DJ comes in, 

"You've bought the tickets already?"

demanding, “You’ve bought the tickets already?   I thought we were staying until your mother is better.”   

"Mam will be fine with a carer"

She replies that her mother will be fine with a carer, as she is getting better every day.

"I think we're being a bit hasty"

“Listen, I think we’re being a bit hasty, going to Ireland,” he continues, and she is surprised that he has changed his tune.

"You suggested getting a carer for her"

“You suggested getting carers for her in the first place,” and he advises that he has seen Jason, to whom her mother has been talking.   Her plans for Y Winllan sounded pretty good.   

"Mam's taking it for granted that we're staying here"

“Mam’s taking it for granted that we’re staying here,” Sioned growls, but he points out that she is just getting on with things, as a business woman would.

"This is her way of controlling us"

“Don’t you see that this is her way of controlling us?” Sioned snarls, 

"She has some exciting plans"

“She has some exciting plans,” he begins, but Sioned emphasises that they would be selling her produce – and she describes the whole thing as an insult.   “But we could run our own restaurant,” he goes on, “It’s a lot better than what was on offer in Ireland.”

"No!   I'm not giving her another chance to feed us more lies"

“No!   I’m not giving Mam another chance to feed us more lies, right?” she shouts, so he asks how this will affect Huwi-John, as the carer cannot look after him, too.

"We're going, DJ!"

“Mam can’t be that bad if she’s discussing plans with Jason,” Sioned maintains, “I’m not putting the brakes on my life to keep her happy!   We’re going, DJ!”   

DJ is not making any headway here

He realises that he is not getting anywhere.

"It's a shame he has gone"

As they return to the flat after the departure of Alaz, Mathew that says that it is a shame he has gone as he is a nice lad.   “It’s incredible what he had to go through,” agrees Jason, “Just to have a life we all take for granted.”

Mathew opens the envelope . . .

“It really is a lottery, the country you’re born in,” Mathew muses, then opens the envelope left by Alaz, 

. . . and is astonished by its contents

which he is astonished to find contains Tegwen’s address.   They wonder how he found that out.

"Has Iolo gone to bed?"

Cai returns from the Deri to Y Felin, where Iolo has already gone to bed;  “Yes – and he’s even more glued to that phone now, thanks to you,” Siôn scolds him.

"It wasn't me, Siôn"

“It wasn’t me – I would never send such a nasty message,” insists Cai, 

Siôn does not believe him

but Siôn is reluctant to believe him.   

"You don't think much of me, do you?"

“You don’t think much of me, do you?   

"Well, who did send it, then?"

“I don’t know who sent it, 

"I'm telling you, it wasn't me!"

“but I’m telling you, it wasn’t me!”

Rather a conspicuous place to keep the keys

Britt appears ready to close MFC when her gaze lights upon the rather obvious hooks on the wall where the keys are kept.   

"Have you got the spare keys for the Deri?"

She phones Colin and asks, “Have you taken the spare keys for the Deri?   No, they’re not here – Cassie would have said if she’d taken them.”

Cassie is getting ready to leave . . .

Meanwhile in the Deri, Cassie is just putting her coat on, ready to leave, 

. . . when she hears a noise . . .

when she hears the sound of a door and shouts to ask if anyone is there.   

. . . and a masked intruder demands money

A masked figure appears, demanding in a Geordie accent, “Where’s the money?” and tells his accomplice to look in the till.   

"We want the cash and then we'll be on our way"

When this is found to be empty, he continues, “Listen, love – we just want the cash and then we’ll be on our way.   Where is it?”   

"Upstairs in the safe"

Cassie replies that it is upstairs in the safe.   “What are you waiting for?   Come on!” he shouts.

Britt is worried . . .

Britt is walking anxiously around MFC 

. . . as she looks across to the Deri

and looks across the road to the Deri;  

A shock awaits when she turns round

when she turns, another masked intruder is right behind her and she screams.

"Go and get it, then"

Cassie goes to the back room of the Deri flat to get the money, accompanied by the second man, 

He checks outside

while the boss looks out of the window to check that the coast is clear.   “Come on – we haven’t got all night!” he yells 

Case gives him the bag of cash

and Cassie thrusts the money bag into his hand.

"You've got what you came for, so get out!"

“I’ve always liked redheads,” he continues, but she tells him that he has got what he came for, so he should get out.   

Cassie's rather ineffectual weapon . . .

When he takes no notice but comes towards her, she reaches for some sort of weapon and grabs a rather small hammer, which she threatens to use.

. . . causes some amusement

He simply laughs and the two of them walk away, leaving Cassie in a very shocked state.

The door of MFC is open . . .

Out in the village street where all is quiet, we see that MFC’s door has been left open 

. . . and inside MFC, inert on the floor . . .

and inside, lying on the floor, 

. . . Britt has blood coming from her head

with blood coming from her head, is the inert figure of Britt.