28 September 2023

"How's the Welsh learning going?"

Maya visits Sioned again and when she is asked how the Welsh learning is going, replies, “Slow!”   Sioned is sure that Maya is doing better than she would.   “I doubt that somehow,” Maya groans, 

"I'm going away one holiday tonight"

I’ve got someone covering me this weekend and I’m letting them start early – I’m going away on holiday tonight.”

Sioned can see that she does not look very happy about it;  “It’s not my choice,” Maya complains;  

"I'd like it if someone forced me to go on holiday"

Sioned would like it if someone forced her to go on holiday, and will make a drink – black coffee.   Then Maya can tell her what is so awful about the holiday.

"I'm sick of staring at these four walls"

Sioned is very glad to have the company;  “I’m sick of staring at these four walls.”

"Cam you turn that music off, Rhys?"

Mathew is trying to do some paperwork at the table in the shop flat and asks Rhys to turn off the music;  

"You're starting to sound like those two next door"

“You’re starting to sound like those two next door,” Rhys moans.   Mathew has a lot of work to do, having been on-site at that hotel all week, so he is a bit behind;  he needs some peace to get on with it.

"You're in the wrong job!"

“You’re in the wrong job!” declares Rhys, “Look where I’m going today – a hell of a place!”   

"Huge gardens, swimming pool"

He shows Mathew the property details;  “Huge gardens, a swimming pool, all the mod cons.”

"Nicer than this place"

Mathew remarks that it is nicer than the flat and is told, “This guy is viewing the place for the third time – 

"The biggest sale of my career!"

“I think I’m about to make the biggest sale of my career – well, enough to meet Griffiths’ sales targets anyway.   If the guy signs today, I might buy something similar myself – 

"Then you'll need a new flatmate"

“then you’ll need a new flatmate.”

"Good morning, DJ"

Delyth, in uniform this time, enters the deli 

"I hope this is not an official visit"

 DJ hopes that this is not an official visit.   

"Have you seen Maya around?"

She asks if he has seen Maya around;  “She’s not in the pharmacy, or upstairs packing.”   

"Are you going anywhere nice?"

He wonders if they are going anywhere nice and Cheryl, who is sitting nearby, reading a magazine, takes an interest.

"I saw her an hour ago"

She interrupts their conversation, “I saw her walking past MFC earlier an hour ago.   

"You don't want a haircut for the holiday, do you?"

“You don’t want a haircut for the holiday, do you?   I could do with the work.”   

"Perhaps when we get back"

Delyth will see about that when she gets back.

"But to go ahead and arrange this holiday . . ."

Of course Maya is at Penrhewl, telling Sioned about her problems;  “I love that she’s so supportive of learning Welsh, but to go ahead and arrange this holiday and expect me to be grateful – excited, even – 

". . . I'm anxious just thinking about it!"

“I’m anxious just thinking about it!”

"Yes, it's difficult"

Sioned appreciates that it is difficult;  “Especially when someone thinks they’re doing what’s best for you – and you don’t want to say anything in case you break their spirit.”   Maya wants to know what ‘spirit’ is in Welsh and is told that it is ‘ysbryd’.

"It's like he wants to wrap me in cotton wool"

“I mean, look at DJ – he’s doing everything for me – it’s like he wants to wrap me in cotton wool.”   Maya can see that he regards Sioned as like a china doll – 

"And that's not you, Sioned"

“and she knows very well that is not Sioned.   Then they hear DJ’s voice, and Sioned says, “Look out!”

"Lunch from you, and the change from Tamed"

“Lunch for you and the change from Tamed,” he announces, and Sioned replies that he is too good to her;  she will take the money to the safe.   

"Delyth was looking for you"

DJ informs Maya that Delyth was looking for her and seemed quite concerned.   Maya answers that everything is OK, but would like a quick word with DJ in Sioned’s absence.

"Why haven't you followed my advice?"

“Why haven’t you followed my advice from last week?   I know you think you’re doing the best thing for her – and you are in some ways – but you can’t keep her locked up in this routine.”

"I haven't worked out what to do"

He says that he does plan to do something, but has not yet worked out what.   “It doesn’t have to be big – you don’t need to take her on holiday – just make her feel special, make her feel wanted – because I think she’s feeling quite stuck at the moment.   

"You need to do something fast!"

“You need to do something fast!”

"No sale?"

Mathew is still dealing with his paperwork when Rhys returns, in a much more subdued mood, and realises that there has been no sale.   

"No, he didn't even turn up!"

“No, he didn’t even turn up – I had a message from the office to say he wasn’t coming!” snarls Rhys.   

"Another buyer will come along"

Mathew tries to console him that another buyer will come along;  

"But then I'll have to start over!"

“But then I’ll have to start over and go through the whole process again!” Rhys grumbles, “Please tell me that you have moved today.”

Mathew confirms that he did have some lunch, 

"We're going out tonight"

and Rhys decides that they are going out tonight.   He gets another can of Fosters from the fridge and complains, “You’ve been doing that all day – 

"We were supposed to be on holiday"

“come on – we were supposed to be on holiday now.   Shut the laptop, shower, Deri!   I need this, even if you don’t.”

Mathew agrees that he will finish the current pile of paper and then come out, “But only for a couple, all right?”   

He virtually forces Mathew to drink it

Rhys opens the can and gives it to him.

"After work, perhaps?"

DJ is on the phone, while Sioned is not around;  “After work, perhaps,” her says, “Great, I’ll see you then,” but Sioned comes in through the door, 

"What's the secret, then?"

demanding to know what the secret is, so he describes it as a surprise.

“For me?” she exclaims, “Are we are going out?” 

"I'll text you so you can get ready"

but he refuses to tell her, simply pointing out that he is working at Tamed until four, then will text her so that she can get ready.   

"Ready for what?"

“Ready for what?” she demands, but he will not tell her and spoil the surprise.   

Sioned thinks things are improving

She looks quite optimistic.

"I went to visit Sioned"

Maya is in the Deri when Sergeant Fielding tracks her down;  “I went to visit Sioned – DJ said that you were looking for me.”   

"You should have told me"

Delyth was worried because she was very quiet over breakfast and then she was not at the pharmacy.

“You should have told me if you were heading out,” she continues;  

"I need to check on Douglas"

Maya needs to go and check on Douglas.   “Have you packed yet?   Because we’re leaving after I finish my shift and I don’t want to be waiting on you to decide what you’re taking or leaving behind.”

"Please – no more about the holiday"

“Oh, D, please – no more about the holiday.   Listen – I know you’re doing this out of the goodness of your heart, and I appreciate it.   I love everything you do for me – the way you support me – the way you always have my back.   But this holiday – if you can call it a holiday – 

"I'm not going on holiday!"

“it’s not what I want.   I’m not going on holiday!”   

Delyth does not know what to say

This pronouncement leaves Delyth lost for words.

Sioned is waiting with anticipation . . .

Sioned is all prepared for the surprise when she hears the door open and DJ returns, 

. . . but DJ is accompanied by Cheryl

accompanied by Cheryl, which she finds rather a shock.   “What’s going on?” she asks.

“You’ve met Cheryl, haven’t you?” says DJ, “Cheryl agreed to come over for the night.”   

"Mam is looking after Huwi"

Sioned points out that there was no need, as Huwi is with her mother.

"No – to do your hair, Sioned"

“No, not to babysit – to do your hair,” DJ explains, “I said I had a surprise for you.”

"Do my hair?"

“Do my hair?” Sioned says, incredulously, and is told she can have anything she wants, as DJ is paying.   “You think I need a haircut?” demands Sioned, 

"I have to go to the Cash and Carry"

and DJ points out that he has a big shop to do at the Cash-and-Carry and thought that it would be a little treat for Sioned.

"We can style it afterwards"

“We don’t have to cut it – what if I give you a nice blowdry and style it afterwards?” Cheryl suggests.   Sioned rather unenthusiastically agrees and DJ will help to bring in the stuff from the car.   

Sioned is disappointed

Sioned appears almost in tears.

Where do they get all these barmen?

Mathew and Rhys enter the Deri, where there is yet another barman on duty, but very few customers;  “There’s more life in the flat!” Rhys moans 

"Let's order a takeaway"

so Mathew proposes that they go home and order a takeaway, but this is dismissed.   “A pint each and a couple of tequilas,” says Rhys, 

"Come on, Math"

“What else are we going to do tonight?   Come on!”

Sioned makes the tea

Sioned has made a couple of mugs of tea and is asked what sort of thing she wants after that blowdry.   “How about take it all to one side, backcomb it, so it’s big – 

"Colour it pink and yellow!"

“and colour it pink and yellow?”   Sioned looks quite horrified at this suggestion, 

"Joke!"

until Cheryl reveals that she is joking.

“I haven’t left my sense of style in the 80s,” she assures Sioned, 

"I know you don't want me here"

“Look, I know you don’t really want me here – I know this isn’t what you expected – you hoped  that he was taking you out.”

"That's why I got dressed up"

“That’s why I got dressed up and put on make-up,” replies Sioned, 

"Think of the hair as the cherry on the top"

and she is encouraged to think of her hair as the cherry on the top.

“I’ll finish you off – you’ll look amazing – and he’ll have no choice but to take you out!”   

"No-one has touched my hair for months"

Sioned wishes her good luck, as no-one has touched her hair for months.   

"Let these hands work their magic"

“Sit here and we’ll let these hands work their magic,” says Cheryl.

"I'm sorry for going behind your back"

Delyth prepares their meal at the pharmacy flat and tells Maya, “I’m sorry for going behind your back.”   

Maya says she is the one who should be sorry for ruining the plans.

"If you don't want to go, you don't want to go"

“Listen, I respect whatever you decide – if you don’t want to go then you don't want to go.   It’s just that earlier in the week you looked so frustrated, so down with your learning, but then Gaynor got you to see the fun in it.   

"You came out of your shell"

“You came out of your shell – your ‘cragen’ – but when I arrange something that’s fun and you get to learn at the same time . . .”

"It's not the same, D!"

Maya stops her there, stressing that it is not the same;  “A Learning Village is completely different – everything there will be focused on learning – that’s not a holiday for me!”

"The learning is just one part of it"

She is told that the learning is just one part of it;  

"In a glorified classroom"

“But I don’t want to spend my holiday in a glorified classroom – you don’t know how self-conscious it makes me feel.   At least here it’s just me – here I don’t have anyone to compare myself to.   

"Everyone will be judging me"

“But there, everyone will be judging me.”

Delyth insists no-one will be judging her, 

"Everyone there will be in the same boat"

“because everyone there will be in the same boat – ‘cwch’ – and they will all be supportive of each other, just like Maya will be supportive of them.

"I did it to boost your confidence"

“That’s why I booked this break away for you – to boost your confidence – thinking that when you got there, you’d realise just how far you’ve come.   You’re incredible, Maya – and I love the effort you put into learning.”   

Delyth hugs Maya

She hugs Maya.

"I think we should go home"

In the Deri, both Mathew and Rhys are sitting, looking at their phones;  “As much as I enjoy your company, I think we should go home,” says Mathew, 

"We can't do that, Math"

and when Rhys objects to this, he continues, “We’re just sat here on our phones.”   

"All right – what do you want to talk about?"

Rhys puts down his phone and wonders what Mathew wants to talk about;  “Nothing – but if there’s no reason to stay out, there’s no point, is there?   

"We might as well watch a film"

“We might as well go home, watch a film and have an early night.   So I wake with a clear head before going to Llanelli.”

Rhys notices something 

As they get up from their chairs to leave, 

A couple of girls have just arrived

Rhys notice a couple of girls arriving, and immediately changes his mind, telling Mathew to sit down again.   Mathew was under the impression they were going.

"We were going – until those two walked in!"

“We were, until those two walked in!” Rhys tells him, and they do indeed sit down 

They order tequilas at the bar

as the girls are ordering tequilas.   

"Another pint?"

“Another pint?” suggests Rhys and goes to chat to the girls.

"I used to go out all the time"

As Cheryl is working on Sioned’s hair, she is told, “I haven’t always been like this – staying home all day – I used to go out all the time.   Swansea, Cardiff – London sometimes.”

"I thought a couple pints around Wrexham was a night out"

Cheryl replies, “I used to think a few dirty pints around Wrexham was a night out!”   

Then Sioned explains that her life changed, and her health;  

"I've had a terrible year, to be honest"

“I’ve had a terrible year, to be honest,” and Cheryl can understand why DJ insists on keeping her at home.   “But he’s not doing it to be nasty – he’s not keeping me under lock and key or anything – 

"He's just so protective of me"

“he’s just so protective of me.”

"Everything worth doing is a little bit dangerous"

Cheryl has always thought that everything worth doing was a little bit dangerous;  

"The same things, day after day"

“I don’t see any of that – I just do the same things day after day,” Sioned sighs, “That’s not much of a life, is it?”

Cheryl does not know everything about her situation, but offers Sioned some words of advice;  

"No man should keep a woman down"

“No man should keep a woman down.   DJ might be coming from the right place, but it’s your life, Sioned.   No man has the right to tell you what you can and can’t do.”

"Yes, you're right!"

It appears to Sioned that she is speaking from experience and she agrees that Cheryl is right;  

"I'd just climb out of the window!"

“You’re absolutely right – I’ve never been like this before – if Mam and Dad told me to stay at home, I’d just climb out the window!   And I’m getting better, so why aren’t I out there, enjoying myself?   

"Why am I drinking tea?"

“And why am I drinking tea?   

"Do you want a glass of wine?"

“Do you want a glass of wine?”

"There's no reason you can't have one"

Cheryl points out that she is driving, but there is no reason why Sioned cannot have a drink if she wants to.

"The place looks lovely"

Maya comments that the place looks lovely as she looks at the brochure;  

"One or two lessons a day"

“One or two lessons a day – and the rest is spare time,” replies Delyth.

Maya looks at the perfect little cottages, and is told that they will have one of their own;  “No language police allowed anywhere near.   And imagine the silence – 

"No threat of wild parties next door"

“no threat of wild parties next door every night.”

"What if I can't keep up with the Welsh?"

“But what if I can’t keep up with the Welsh?” says Maya, so she is told they can go for a walk or a swim.

"If you hate it, we'll come straight home"

“Or if you hate it, we’ll just come straight home,” Delyth promises.   “Imagine being on that beach every night, paddling in the sea, watching the sunset.”

It appears that Maya has been persuaded;  

"OK – we're going"

“OK – we’re going,” she says, without much enthusiasm.   Delyth predicts that she is going to love it.   “I just need to pack,” but it transpires that Delyth has already done it.

"You knew I was going to give in?"

“You knew I was going to give in?” demands Maya, 

"I know you too well"

and she is reminded that Delyth knows her too well.

Rhys is getting the girls drunk

Rhys has joined the two girls and they are downing tequilas while Mathew is looking fed up with the whole procedure.   

"I've invited them back to the flat"

“Look, Math, those two are a good laugh!” he says, “So I’ve invited them back to the flat – come on – this is just what we need!   It will stop are sitting in front of the telly like two old ladies.”

"What about Delyth and Maya?"

“That’s not a good idea – what about Delyth and Maya?” warns Mathew, 

"Just a couple of killjoys!"

but Rhys regards them as killjoys;  he is anticipating some fun, 

"I've got another idea . . ."

but then has another idea.

". . . just don't let those two leave before I get back"

“Just don’t let those two leave before I get back,” he says.

"You've done a fab job!"

Cheryl asks for Sioned’s verdict on her handiwork;  “You’ve done a fab job!” she says, “I haven’t had a chance to dress up in ages.”   

"It makes you feel better straightaway"

Cheryl appreciates that it makes her feel better straightaway.

"Can you give me a lift to the Deri"

“Are you going to the village?” Sioned asks, “Can you give me a lift to the Deri, please?”   Cheryl is happy to oblige.   “I’ll text DJ now and tell him to meet me there,” Sioned adds, enthusiastically.   

"You might get a date night after all"

She is told that she might get a date night after all.

Rhys conducts some transaction . . .

Rhys has just been talking to someone in a car 

. . . involving some tablets

and is now holding a small bag containing some tablets;  when he sees two people emerging from the Deri, he makes sure they do not notice as he puts the tablets into his wallet.  

He considers that house – with the swimming pool . . .

Then he looks at the photo of the house he was at earlier, 

. . . and goes into T&E

chuckles and lets himself into the Tomos ac Ellis office.