4 July 2023

They look at their acquisition

Kath and Cassie emerge triumphantly from the office of Tomos ac Ellis with the key to their newly purchased property;  they look across at the Deri, and Cassie invites Kath to open up.   “Here we go!” she says.

Cassie is ready to record the momentous occasion . . .

As the key is inserted into the door, Cassie records the occasion on her phone, 

. . . but the door will not open

but there is a problem – the key will not work, no matter how much Kath struggles with it.

"Send my love to Twm and Lleucu"

Siôn is on the phone as he comes downstairs, carrying a box;  “Thanks, Nesta, send my love to Twm and Lleucu.”   

"Was that Nesta?"

Iolo is surprised that he was talking to Nesta, and his father continues, “I don’t know what Cai was worried about – 

"She's happy for him to see the kids"

“she’s happy for him to see the kids.”   He assumes that it must have been a misunderstanding, and he regrets not phoning sooner, commenting that she was very pleasant.

Iolo looks at the box contents

Then Iolo takes the box from him and looks at its contents;  

"I had to do something"

I had to do something,” Siôn insists, but Iolo points out that if Cai wants to harm himself, 

"Hiding his razors won't stop him"

hiding his razors will not stop him.

Siôn is merely trying to reduce the temptation;  “But the problem will still be there – it will be worse if anything,” Iolo argues.   Siôn maintains that if it can stop him once it will be worth it, 

"Cai needs support, not tricks like this"

but is told, “Cai needs support, not tricks like this.”

"I can understand drugs or alcohol"

Siôn can understand people getting addicted to drugs or alcohol – but not what Cai is doing.   Iolo explains that is why he thinks Cai should see experts, who have the tools to help.   

"We should persuade him to see a counsellor"

“Perhaps we should persuade him to see a counsellor,” but he is reminded that they are talking about Cai.   “What other option is there?   Let him carry on?”

"I don't know how to help him!"

“I don’t know!” shouts Siôn, “That’s why I’m hiding his shaving stuff in a box!   I don’t know how to help him!”

Now Cassie has a try

is now attempting to open the door of the Deri, again with no success, when Mark approaches on his round.   

"Technical hitch, ladies?"

“Technical hitch, ladies?” he enquires, but his mother insists that they can sort it out.   “Give it to me – it probably requires some strength,” he says.

"Aren't we lucky to have a man to save the day?"

“Oh, aren’t we lucky to have a man to save the day?” groans Cassie and Mark walks away.   “Right, I’ve had enough!”   

"Where are you going?"

She turns and heads angrily back towards Tomos ac Ellis.

"DJ – are you in there?"

Meanwhile Cai is hammering on the door of the deli and calling DJ’s name;  

"What has that door done to you?"

Ffion happens to be passing and asks him, “What has that door done to you?   

"He's probably more worried about his wife than your cappuccino"

“Perhaps DJ is more worried about his wife than your cappuccino.   Can you supervise the geography fieldwork this morning, please?   Miss Mason is sick – thanks.”

"I'm taking the assessment course"

He protests that he cannot do that as he is taking the assessment course, 

"Well, get someone else to do that"

and she wants him to get someone else to do that, 

"Sorry – I have to take this call"

but his phone is sounding and he says he has to take the call.

"I'll sort it out – just like everything else"

“Yes, fine – I’ll sort it out – just like everything else,” grumbles Ffion and continues along the street.   

"Yes, I'd love to see then children"

Cai finds that it is Nesta calling him, and says that he would love to see the children – he is never too busy to see them.

“Which weekend suits you?” he asks, 

"In the week?  I'm at work"

then gasps,  “In the week?   I’m at work – I want to see them – that’s not what I’m saying.”

"Griffiths gave us the wrong key!"

Cassie returns, explaining that Griffiths gave them the wrong key;  

"I hope you gave him a mouthful!"

“That’s sabotage!   I hope you gave him a mouthful,” growls Kath, but Cassie was not going to waste her breath.

“This is our moment – I don’t care about him.   Now, where were we?”   Kath inserts the key into the lock – 

This time the door opens . . . 

and this time the door opens.   As they go inside, Cassie exclaims, “Hallelujah!”

. . . and they enter their domain 

They step into the deserted Deri with Kath laughing, “Look at us!” but then she starts remembering.   

"We'll have fun – and work hard"

There appears to be the sound of a dripping tap somewhere as Cassie predicts that they will have fun there – and of course they will work hard.   Kath suggests that the Deri does not seem like work, 

Kath finds the light switch

then goes behind the bar, remarking on how dark it is in there, so she finds the light switch.

"Like putting on a pair of old slippers"

“It’s a nice feeling – like putting on a pair of old slippers,” Cassie suggests, 

Kathnis going back a good few years

but Kath appears to be having memories of long ago.

Siôn finds Arwen in the shop

Siôn comes into the shop, where Llinos is at work, and is surprised to see Arwen there.   

"Geography fieldwork"

She explains, “Geography fieldwork – a survey of local shopping habits,” so he asks what she wants to know.

Her answer comes as a complete surprise;  

"Can I have Dad's phone number?"

“Can I have Dad’s phone number?” but before he can answer, Ffion comes in out of the rain and wonders where Arwen’s partner is.   “At APD,” is the reply, so her mother sends her there as well.

"What am I going to do with these kids?"

“What am I going to do with these kids?” she demands and Siôn is left musing about Arwen’s request.

Kath is remembering

In the Deri, Kath is sitting quietly, and Cassie imagines that it is all coming back to her.   

"We could rent out the flat upstairs"

“I was thinking if we rented out the flat upstairs it would bring in extra income, but in the meantime we can use it as somewhere to have a cup of tea.   And how about a new menu?”

Kath is reminiscing;  

"Everybody knew not to steal Dyff's stool"

“That’s where he would be – everybody knew not to steal Dyff’s stool.   I half expect him to come up from the cellar,” 

"That's where he was most happy"

and Cassie agrees that was where he was most happy.

“Mind you, this place has had a few facelifts since then,” she goes on, 

"The Deri is still the same place"

but Kath still regards the Deri as the same place.   A lick of paint and a new carpet will not change that.

“He’d have his newspaper, checking the horses, and a pint – 

"And an argument with Meic Pierce"

“and an argument with Meic Peirce,” says Kath.

Cassie remembers him arguing with Teg as well, but it is different for her as she has worked there;  

"They'd both be happy that we're here"

“But they’d both be happy that we’re here,” she adds, “It’s our chance to make new memories – come behind the bar so I can take a picture.”

Kath complains, “All these bloomin’ pictures – we’ve got work to do,” 

A commemorative selfie

and the selfie is taken.

Cai discovers the box . . .

Cai returns to Y Felin unexpectedly 

. . . containing his razors

and notices the box containing his shaving materials on the table.   

He is concerned

He looks concerned about this and when Siôn comes back into the room he is surprised to find Cai there.

"What are you doing home?"

“What are you doing home?” he asks, and we learn that the course has been cancelled.   “And the deputy can leave school just like that?” remarks Siôn.

"The question is, what have you been doing?"

“Never mind about me, Siôn – the question is, what have you been doing?” Cai snarls.

Siôn is momentarily lost for words, but would like the chance to explain;  

"I know it's stupid, but I had to do something"

“I know it’s stupid, but I had to do something.”   

Cai, contrary to his expectations, is not angry;  

"You're trying to help me – in your own way"

“You’re trying to help me – in your own way, and I can’t be fussy – no-one else is trying,” groans Cai.   

The door opens and Iolo comes in.   

"I'm going to stop – today"

Cai sits down at the table, explaining, “Perhaps getting caught was the push that I needed – I’m going to stop, today.”

Iolo is sceptical about that

Iolo looks across at his father with a sceptical expression, 

"If my children could see what their father has been doing . . ."

while Cai continues, “If my children could see what their father has been doing . . .”

Siôn assures him that they will support him in any way.   

"I wouldn't want to live with me"

“Cai is almost in tears as he tells them, “I can see the children – Nesta phoned today.   I know I’m not the easiest person to live with – I wouldn’t want to live with me.”

"I'm glad you want to get better"

Siôn says how glad he is that Cai wants to get better;  

"Now I have a reason to try"

“And now I know I can spend time with Lleucu and Twm, I have a reason to try, don’t I?” he tells them, before going upstairs.   

Iolo has his reservations

Iolo is looking dubious about this.

"The first customer will get a free drink"

has put a sign outside to say their first customer will get a free drink, 

Kath is rather dubious

but Kath appears rather doubtful about the economic sense of that.   Cassie apologises that she is used to running the place on her own, and is told that it is a good idea.   

"We'll discuss the menu later"

They will discuss changing the menu later.

Thier first customer arrives . . .

Then they hear the door open as their first customer arrives, 

. . . but they do not look pleased to see him

but are disappointed to see it is Mark, who is eager to claim his free drink.   

'Welcome!   Free pint for the first customer'

He is not impressed with the welcome he receives and wants his free pint.   “That’s not for you – you’re Mark – there’ll be no favouritism,” his mother warns him.

"Pulling a pint is like riding a bike"

“It’s nice to know the power hasn’t gone to your head, Mam,” he sneers, so she agrees to give the pint to him, commenting that pulling a pint is like riding a bike.   

"Looks as if you need stabilisers, then"

He concludes that she probably needs stabilisers, in that case, but she insists that there is something wrong with the pump.   

"Or something wrong with the barmaid"

“Or the barmaid,” he mutters.

"Grandad"

As Siôn is walking along the street, he hears a voice calling, “Grandad – can I have Dad’s phone number?”   

"Why this sudden interest?"

He asks why she wants it and she initially does not answer;  he wonders where this sudden interest has come from.

"Gwern's lost his whole family"

“Gwern,” she informs him, “He’s lost his whole family.”   

"He has Dani"

Siôn points out that he has Dani.   “I know, but I don’t know my own father – and Mam’s . . . busy.   I just want an opportunity to get to know him again.”

"Your father wasn't . . . a conventional parent"

“It’s only natural that you want to know – but your father wasn’t . . . a conventional parent, shall we say?”   

"I need to find that out for myself"

Arwen is of the opinion that she needs to find that out for herself, 

The the head teacher calls for her

but then her mother urges her to go back to school, as everyone else has already gone.

She issues one further plea to Siôn, and he does not reply, but Ffion is again shouting to her, so she has to go, 

"Thanks, Grandad"

 she does say, “Thanks,” in anticipation.

"Like riding a bike"

Kath presents Mark with his free pint, repeating, “Like riding a bike,” 

"After I'd changed the barrel for you"

but he reminds her that only after he had to change the barrel for her.   Cassie is sitting at one of the tables and asks how to spell the Welsh word meaning ‘reliable’.

Kath wonders what she is doing, and Mark comments, “Well, she’s not describing you!”   Cassie is writing an advert for someone to work behind the bar, 

"There's no rush for that"

but Kath does not consider that there is any rush for that.

"The hospitality industry"

“Good staff are like gold dust – listen – ‘the successful candidate will have extensive experience of working in the hospitality industry’.” and Kath is quite impressed by that.

"But you were running it"

Cai comes to visit Ffion at Cysgod y Glyn, who is surprised to hear that the course was cancelled;  “But you were running it,” she points out and he explains that too many people could not make it.

"I need to take some time off"

“And any case, I’m not here to discuss the course,” he tells her, “I need to take some time off – next week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.”   

"Is it a hospital appointment?"

She assumes that he has a hospital appointment or something.

"I'm going to see Lleucu and Twm"

“No, I’m going up to see Lleucu and Twm,” he replies and Ffion wonders what happened to weekends.   “They don’t have any free time – at least I could see them after school and take them for a meal.   Please, Ffion, I haven’t seen them for ages.”

"I can't give you any time off, sorry"

“I know it’s hard to live so far away from your children, Cai, but I can’t give you any time off – sorry,” she tells him,” and he demands why not, as Carys Mason is off today.   “Because she’s sick – this is a holiday – well, on paper it is – I’m sorry, Cai.”

"What will I tell Nesta?"

“I can’t let them down – and what will I tell Nesta?” he begs.   She suggests that he tells them he is a deputy head and has a duty to be at school – she will understand that.

"Don't believe everything Cai says"

As they sit in the Deri, Iolo advises his father not to believe everything that Cai says.   

"It's nice to see local people giving it a go"

Kath comes to collect their empty glasses and is congratulated on becoming the owners;  “It’s nice to see local people giving it a go,” says Siôn.

“Cai is trying too hard, if you ask me,” Iolo goes on, 

"He may have turned a corner"

but Siôn suspects that he may have turned a corner.   “Just like that, out of nowhere?” Iolo demands, and Siôn says that he has arranged to to see the kids and that has cheered him up.

"Nobody recovers overnight, trust me"

“Look, Dad, I know better than anyone how easy it is to hide things – nobody recovers overnight, trust me.”

Kath has cleared the tables

Mark is still drinking at the bar and his mother has now cleared up all the glasses from the tables;  Cassie has refilled the fridge with mixers, as they were running low, 

"We're a dream team!"

and describes them as, “A dream team.”

Then Kath’s phone rings and she walks away to take the phone call;  Mark can see that she is enjoying herself, 

"It's nice to see her happy"

and Cassie says that it is nice to see her happy.   He was worrying that she would struggle;  

"She should be pulling her pension, not pints!"

“She should be pulling her pension, not pints – and you’re not far off, either!”

"We still have plenty of petrol in the tank"

Cassie is adamant that she and his mother have plenty of petrol in the tank.   

"You two ganging up on me?"

“This is how it’s going to be – you two ganging up on me,” he smiles, 

"Nobody had better cross us!"

and she warns that nobody had better cross them.

"Brynmor's coming home!"

Kath returns with a smile on her face;  “You’re not going to believe this – Brynmor’s coming home!” she announces.

Cai is writing reports . . .

Cai is at Y Felin, writing reports, 

. . . but he is not giving them his full attention

but his mind appears to be elsewhere;  

He takes a box from his rucksack

he picks up a rucksack and takes the small box from it.   

"I just wanted to say I'm proud of you"

Siôn arrives home and Cai remarks that he is early.   “Listen, I’m not going to go on and on about it,” Siôn begins, “But I just wanted to say I’m proud of the way you’re dealing with this.”

"We all know that you don't always get it right, but thanks"

Cai is appreciative of the way that Siôn is helping him;  “We all know that you don’t always get it right, but thanks.   I’m going up to see the children next week, during term time.”

"I'll go and make tea"

“Well, fair play to Ffion,” says Siôn and he will go and make a cup of tea.   

Cai looks at the box . . .

Cai looks again at the box in his hand, and replaces it in the rucksack, which he puts back on the floor.   

. . . puts it away, but then gets it out again

Then, having second thoughts, he retrieves it;  

Siôn sees him in the mirror . . . 

Siôn, who is hanging up his coat, 

. . . with this box . . .

notices in the mirror what Cai is doing 

. . . and is very concerned

and looks concerned.