12 October 2023

"Do you have any ratatouille?"

In the shop, Cassie is searching for a tin of ratatouille, but Colin is trying to work something out, which he finds very difficult.   “Does ratatouille have a Welsh name?” she wonders.

"If it's not on the shelf . . ."

He answers rather abruptly, “If it’s not on the shelf, we haven’t got it!”   

"What's upset you, then?"

She detects that something has upset him, and he snarls, “What?   Oh, sorry – these payday loans companies are awful, aren’t they?   

"That's when they get you, isn't it?"

“And if you want the money quickly – that’s how they get you, isn’t it?”

When she enquires why he wants the money, he spins some tale about an old friend from Lampeter;  “Poor dab, he’s struggling a little bit and I said . . .”

Cassie can easily see through this fabrication and asks him what is wrong;  

"I've got myself in bit of a pickle"

“I’ve got myself into a bit of a pickle,” he replies, 

"Come on – tell me, Colin!"

so she demands that he tell her all about it.

"What's with this website?"

At Y Felin, Siôn is looking at his phone and demanding, “What’s with this website?   I’ve tried to buy this book three times now.”   Iolo hopes that it is not one of these scam websites, 

He is after a first edition book

his father stresses that it is a first edition of ‘Un Nos Ola Leuad’, [‘One Moonlit Night’ by Caradog Pritchard], which he would love to have.

Iolo is not very interested, but calls to Greta that it is time for school.   

Siôn receives a call

Then Siôn receives a phone call;  “Right, I see – have you had the meeting?   Right, OK, we’ll discuss it then.”

"Cai can come home soon"

He tells Iolo that it has been decided Cai can come home before long;  

"I assume he'll want to come here"

“I’m assuming he’ll want to come here – 

"We're his family, Iolo"

“we are his family, Iolo – it’s only right that we offer him a welcome.”   

"Can we talk about this later?"

Iolo wants to postpone this discussion until later and, 

"I've brushed my teeth"

very conveniently for him, Greta comes downstairs and informs him that she has brushed her teeth, so she wants a point on the chart.   “That depends on how quickly you get in the van – come on!” says Iolo.

She quickly puts on her coat

She puts on her coat in record time and hurries out of the door, 

"Don't agree to anything until I get home"

but not before Iolo tells his father, “Don’t agree to anything until I get home, all right?”

Siôn tries to contact Ffion . . .

As soon as he is out of the way, Siôn takes his phone and calls Ffion’s number;  

. . . but she is not interested

she is sitting at the bar in the Deri with a cup of coffee and ignores it.

"Someone was 'spiked'?"

“The girls in school were on social media this morning, saying someone was ‘spiked’ at a party and some are suspecting Rhys,” she tells Kath, 

"I heard it was Rhys who was 'spiked'"

who replies that she has heard that Rhys was the one who was ‘spiked’.

“I don’t know if it’s true – I’m just telling you what I heard,” she adds.   

"I'm dreading when Arwen starts going out"

Ffion is dreading the day when Arwen starts going out, which will not be long now.   Kath agrees that they grow up so quickly these days, with these media platforms, and Ffion rushes off to school.

"This isn't an office, Anita"

Nearby, Anita is sitting, looking anxiously at her laptop;  Kath comes across and informs her, “This isn’t an office, Anita.”

"Ieuan has some boring councillors at the house"

“I’m sorry, Kath – I had to rush out of the house this morning – Ieuan has some boring councillors in the house and I’ve got an exam which is about to start.   I’ve applied to become an ambassador for this beauty company.”

"What am I supposed to do?"

Then she notices something on the screen and exclaims, “Oh, it’s going to start – what am I supposed to do?”   Kath advises her to calm down, and that she will be brought a cup of tea.

Cassie looks at Colin's finances

Colin and Cassie have gone round to number 21 (who is looking after the shop?) where she is studying his financial details;  he brings in the teapot, asking if she would like a top-up.

"I'm going to have to sell the car"

“Sit down, Colin,” she instructs him, and he fears that he is going to have to sell the car.

He recalls, “I remember Auntie Bessie Beulah having to do the same thing when I was a boy – she owed the Inland Revenue thousands – 

"She was never the same after that"

“she was never the same after that.”

Cassie declares, “Now, I’ve been doing my sums and you owe Eileen around £700.   

"What's this you pay out every month?"

“This is your personal bank account – what’s this you pay out every month?”

"That's the special insurance"

He answers that it is what he pays Eileen;  “She had to take out special insurance after I had that funny turn – do you remember my funny turn?”

Colin explains to her

Cassie is surprised that Eileen has insurance and he explains, “I was a bit of a liability for the business and the shop because of my health.   Eileen was worried that she would have to sack me, but fair play, she found a way of keeping me on as a manager and everything – thanks to this insurance.”

When Cassie asks when he had this illness, Colin is rather vague;  

"Oh, it was years ago now"

“Oh, it was years ago now, long before Covid.”

“You need to go and see Eileen and say you’re going to stop paying this now!” he is told.   When he looks puzzled, Cassie decides, “Crikey – I will have to come with you.   

"I'll check Kath has help at the Deri"

“Right, I need my phone, so I can check whether Kath has help in the Deri.”

Siôn notices . . .

Siôn is walking along the street 

. . . Ffion, who is unable to avoid him

when he notices Ffion on the other side and hurries across the road;  she tries, unsuccessfully, to ignore him.   

"Sorry, Siôn  I didn't see you there"

“Sorry, Siôn, I didn’t see you there,” she says and he wonders if her phone is on the blink.   She agrees that it is and she will have to sort it out when she gets the chance;  “It’s been like a circus recently!”

"Cai is coming home in a fortnight"

“The hospital phoned earlier – Cai is coming home in a fortnight and I thought we should talk about it,” he says, 

"We should discuss it"

“He should come to Y Felin, naturally, but we should discuss it, because things are rather complicated.”

Iolo is keeping watch

Iolo is watching this conversation from a distance, as Siôn suggests that he and Ffion should meet on Monday night, 

"I'm not sure I'll be free"

but she is not sure if she will be free.   He wants her to come over for dinner, and she manufactures the excuse that she has a mountain of paperwork as high as Snowdon.

Siôn maintains that she deserves a break and hopes to see her around six; she replies that she will text him, 

"When I've had the phone repaired"

then remembers to add, “When I’ve had the phone repaired.”   

"That's an attractive blouse"

He comments on her attractive blouse, which he describes as very pretty, saying that it suits her.

"Dad's still at it!

Iolo does not look at all happy about this, 

Siôn goes into the deli . . .

 when his father has reached the deli, 

. . . followed by Iolo

follows him across and confronts him.   

"What do you think you're doing?"

“What do you think you’re doing?” Iolo demands, “Are you still chasing Ffion?   I thought you’d stopped that nonsense!”

We're going to talk about Cai leaving hospital"

Siôn insists that they are merely friends and are meeting to discuss Cai  leaving hospital.   

"Wow – new low, Dad!"

“Wow – new low, Dad!” snarls Iolo, “So you're using Cai to talk to Ffion.”

"Do you have to use so many English terms?"

Siôn complains that his son is using so many English terms;  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, anyway.”

"The flirting I saw a few minutes ago!"

Iolo becomes somewhat belligerent;  “What I’m talking about is the flirting I saw a few minutes ago!   Cai has no chance of coming back to Y Felin if you make a fool of him – 

"You know how much Ffion means to Cai"

“you know how much Ffion means to him.”

"You're mistaken, Iolo"

Although Siôn accuses him of being mistaken, 

"You should be ashamed of yourself . . ." 

Iolo continues, “You should be ashamed, Dad – all your excuses – and all your principles – 

". . . is that enough Welsh for you?"

“is that enough Welsh for you?” and with that he marches out of the deli.   

This amuses one customer

The customer sitting near the window smiles sympathetically at Siôn.

"Oh, hello, Cassie"

Eileen welcomes Cassie to the farm and wonders why she has come with Colin;  

"Cassie did the sums"

“Cassie did the sums regarding how much I owe you,” says Colin.

"And how much does it come to?"

Eileen enquires how much that comes to 

"£700.40"

and is told that it is £700.40.   “That’s a lot of money,” Eileen comments, 

"I've betrayed you – the best boss on Cwmderi High Street" 

which Colin appreciates and maintains that he has betrayed her, the best boss on Cwmderi High Street.   “You’re lucky I haven’t been charging interest,” she points out.

"What's this cut you take out of Colin's pay?"

Now Cassie intervenes, “Talking of interest, I wanted to raise that with you – what’s this cut you take out of Colin’s pay?”   

"The insurance, because of my condition"

Colin explains that she means the insurance because of his condition.   Cassie would like her to explain.

"That's a private matter between Colin and me"

Eileen is getting worried and insists, “That’s a private matter between Colin and me – it’s nothing to do with you!”

“But it doesn’t make sense – why have you got health insurance for Colin?” Cassie asks.   

"I'm sure Eileen has a good reason"

Colin is naïvely confident that Eileen has a good reason for this;  

"And that's what I'm expecting to hear"

“And that’s what I’m expecting to hear,” says Cassie.

"I'm helping out!"

The best that Eileen can do is, “Well, Colin has agreed to pay and I’m helping out.”

"How is taking £2,000 from him helping out?"

Cassie fails to comprehend how taking £2,000 from him is helping him out.   “No company from here to Timbuktu would take that much – I don’t want to be rude, but what’s your game?”   

Eileen is momentarily speechless

Eileen appears lost for words.

"This would work very well . . ."

Anita looks around the Deri flat;  “Oh yes, this could work very well for one of my sales parties,” she tells Kath, then notices there is dust on the top of the television, 

". . . if you clean it a bit"

and adds, “Well, if you clean a bit.   

"They can all go down to the bar for a drink"

“After the pampering party, everyone can go down to the bar for a drink – that’s a win-win for everyone.”

"Wouldn't it be better to wait until you've got the job?"

Kath suggests that it might be better to wait until she knows she has this job before she starts organising parties.   

"I'm pretty confident"

“Kath, between you and me, I’m pretty confident,” she brags and then her phone rings;  

"It's Louise"

“It’s Louise!” she says.

"That's excellent news!"

“Well, you know what?   That’s excellent news!” she exclaims, “I’m very happy!”   

She seems very elated

She is jigging around in a most undignified manner with her excitement.

Eileen has been working on Colin

Around the kitchen table at Penrhewl, Eileen has been successful in blinding Colin with her persuasive argument;  “So you understand why I had to sort out the insurance for you?”

"I think I understand"

He thinks that he does – in order to cover the business if there was a problem;  “Having said that, it sounds like very expensive insurance,” he goes on, but she assures him that only the best will do for him.

"Eileen, that's a bare-faced lie!"

Cassie, on the other hand, thinks differently;  “Eileen – that’s a barefaced lie!”

"I've explained and Colin understands"

Eileen replies that she has explained the situation to Colin, and he understands.   Cassie knows that he is frightened to say otherwise;  

"Because he's worried you'll sack him!"

“He is acting naïve, because he’s worried you’ll sack him.”

“Don’t talk about one of my workers like that,” complains Eileen, 

"Colin's an honest, intelligent man"

“Colin is an honest, intelligent man – and you’ve already said too much!   

"Colin and I would like you to leave"

Colin and I would like you to leave now.”

"Yes, you go home, Cass"

Colin realises that he is in an awkward position and decides to agree with Eileen;  “Yes, you go home, Cass,” he says, “I’ll have a lift with Eileen into the village later.”

Eileen is glad to see the back of her

Cassie leaves and Eileen is glad to see her go;  “What’s her game?” she demands, 

"Is she trying to poach you for the Deri!?"

“Is she trying to poach you for the Deri or something?”   

"Headhunted?"

Colin thinks there is no possibility of that, although he seems to like the idea of being ‘headhunted’.

"We need to bury this business"

“Listen now, Col, we need to bury this business once and for all,” she suggests, “And I think I know how to do that.   

"If I completely forgot the debt?"

“How would you feel if I completely forgot about the debt you owe me?”   

"You're really kind, Eileen"

He regards her as really kind, but she insists that it is only right.

"I think we can help each other here"

Then she adds, “And I think we can help each other here.”

Colin is 'all ears'

Colin appears interested.

Iolo is sitting pensively

Cassie is back in the village and passing the statue of ‘Fflam’ the mythical horse, when she notices Iolo, sitting, looking rather pensive.   

"I've seen skeletons with more life"

He does not look convincing when he says that he is all right, and she observes, “I’ve seen skeletons with more life.”

"Cai is coming home before long"

She sits down beside him and he remarks, “Life can be complicated – Cai is coming home before long and Dad wants him to come to us.   He’s well enough to come out soon.   I’m just worried about Greta – she’s been through so much – losing Tyler, Eifion leaving, Covid – she needs stability at the moment.”

"Children understand more than you think"

“Children understand more than you think,” Cassie tells him, “You’ll have to see how it goes.”   

"I was the cause last time"

Iolo was the cause of Cai leaving last time, and feels so guilty about it that he would not do it again.

"Sometimes you just have to try again"

“Sometimes you just have to try again,” Cassie advises, before heading back to the Deri, 

"It's not even lunchtime yet!"

“It’s been a long day – and it’s not even lunchtime yet!”

Siôn is doing housework

Siôn is doing some vacuuming when his phone sounds;  

He starts a message

as he looks at the message and starts typing, Iolo comes in and takes an interest.   

"Dad, stop chasing Ffion!"

“Dad, stop chasing Ffion – it’s ridiculous!”   

"How do you know I'm texting Ffion?"

Siôn wonders how his son knows that he was texting Ffion.

“It’s not as if she was giving positive signals earlier – 

"Save yourself some heartbreak"

“save yourself some heartbreak and stop, before you even consider having Cai back here,” Iolo continues.

"All right, then"

Siôn says that he will do so;  “You’re willing for Cai to come back, then?”

"As long as you accept I've got my hands full"

“As long as you accept from the start that I’ve got my hands full,” Iolo stipulates, “Cai will need his family around – I understand that, but if he starts to have a bad influence on Greta of any kind, we’re leaving this time.   I can’t do that to Cai again, Dad – all right?”

Siôn puts away the vacuum cleaner

As Siôn puts away the vacuum cleaner, Iolo reminds him, “You do realise how vulnerable Cai will be, don’t you?”   

"We will all have to support him"

Siôn agrees that they will all have to support him.   

"Not we, Dad!'

“But not ‘we’, Dad – you in particular, all right?   Now, just because I’ve suffered with OCD and my mental health . . .”

"You're familiar with his situation"

Siôn points out that is why he is familiar with Cai’s situation.   

"No, I'm not familiar with it"

“No, I’m not.   I’m not familiar with it and I don’t understand what Cai has been through – none of us do.

“Now Cai will need a lot of care, all the time – and that will be your responsibility.”   

Iolo heads upstairs

Iolo goes upstairs, leaving his father to digest what he has said.

"A man who can't take a hint"

In the Deri, Ffion is looking at her phone;  Kath remarks, “Blooming parents complaining again?”   Ffion replies that it is a man who cannot take a hint.

"It's clear that I'm not interested"

“I’m pretty sure it’s clear that I’m not interested,” she says, 

Be straight with him – no!"

so Kath advises that she should be straight with him.   

"What are you doing on Wednesday night?"

Anita comes across and asks what Ffion is doing on Wednesday night, as there is a pampering party upstairs in the flat.

"That's the first I've heard of it!"

Cassie has just walked in and comments that it is the first she has heard of it.   

Anita is now an 'Ambassador'

Anita explains that she is an ambassador for a beauty company called ‘Meddal’.

"A nice moisturiser for you"

When Colin comes in, she tries her selling technique on him;  “Colin, you’ll be able to buy an early Christmas present for Britt – or a nice moisturiser for you.   That’s what all these young men doing now – they moisturise.”

"No, I don't think so, Anita"

Colin does not think that he is interested, then takes Cassie to one side and thanks her for today;  

"Eileen and I understand each other"

“I really appreciate your concern, but Eileen and I understand each other – we go back years – and she’s made an offer that suits me down to the ground.”

Cassie listens to him

Cassie looks sceptical as he continues, 

"She's going to forget about the debt"

“She’s going to forget about the debt I owe her.”

"What about the money she owes you?"

Cassie is glad to hear this, but enquires, “What about the money she owes you?”   He replies that she is going to stop the insurance pronto, 

"A beautifully clean slate"

so they are starting with a ‘beautifully clean slate’.

“So you’ve agreed to that, have you?” she asks, “She owes you money – to be honest, Eileen has stolen from you and taken advantage.   

"If you want to be treated like a doormat"

“But if you want to be treated like a doormat, who am I to say anything?   Do you want a drink?”

"Half of cider, please"

He asks for half of cider and thinks seriously about what she has said.