1 November 2023

"Looking forward to seeing you at school"

As Ffion comes out of the deli, she is leaving a message for Cai;  “Just a call to say I’m looking forward to seeing you at school – there will be one or two governors there later, but we’ll have time to get settled first, OK?”

"Have you seen this, Ffion?"

Meanwhile, Kelly is looking at the poster in the window of the shop about the public meeting this evening in the Deri regarding Eileen’s chicken sheds;  she describes it as ridiculous.   

Ffion reads the notice

Ffion reads it out, “Public meeting – an opportunity for the community to learn about the benefits of the chicken sheds at Penrhewl.”

"Chickens, Community, Cash"

Kelly repeats the slogan across the bottom of the poster, “Chickens, Community, Cash,” and Ffion regards it as very unbiased.   “Why is Hywel Llywelyn chairing the meeting anyway?” Kelly demands, 

"He's supposed to be unbiased"

“He’s supposed to be unbiased, so . . .”

Ffion comments, “Hywel Llywelyn is supposed to be a lot of things!”   Kelly wonders if he is in Eileen’s pocket;  “It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to say that about a school governor, would it?” replies Ffion, 

"Knowing Hywel, definitely!"

but then she adds, before walking away, “Knowing Hywel, definitely!”

"Hywel is chairing the meeting . . ."

“And Hywel Llywelyn is hosting Eileen’s public meeting this week,” says Diane, 

". . . how can he be unbiased?"

as Jason gives her a cup of tea in APD.   “The one to discuss the plans for Penrhewl – now you tell me how he can be unbiased if he’s chairing the night?   He’ll have to to declare an interest!”

"How are you going to vote, Mam?"

Jason speaks up, “Talking of declaring an interest, how are you going to vote?” he asks Diane.   

"Smelly chickens just up the road!"

She replies that she is against it, of course, not wanting a warehouse full of smelly chickens just up the road.

"APD's been offered the contract"

He informs her, “The thing is, Mam, Eileen came in here – she basically offered the contract to build the chicken sheds to APD – if she gets planning permission from the council.   It’s a big contract – exactly what we need – especially after Matthew underquoted for that hotel in Llanelli.

"If we didn't need the money . . ."

“If we didn’t need the money, I wouldn’t even consider it at all.   So – are you still going to vote against the plans?”   

Diane is in an awkward spot here

This leaves Diane in something of a quandary.

"Will you be going, Howard?"

Howard is looking at the poster outside the Deri when Cassie comes out and asks him if he will be going to the meeting;  “Not that I agree with the blinking thing, but I’ll give them a warm welcome in the Deri – the farmers, the hippies, the county councillors – 

"They're welcome – as long as they pay"

“as long as they pay.”

"Siôn, Cai hasn't arrived yet"

In the conference room at the school, Ffion is waiting for Cai to arrive, and contacts Siôn to ask whether he has been delayed, 

"Sorry I'm a bit late"

but at that moment, Cai comes in, apologising that he is a bit late.

Ffion has got them each a coffee and cake on her way in;  “I thought we deserved it as we’re here over half term.”   

She is horrified to see Cai's face

When she turns and looks at him, she is horrified to see a bruise on his face, 

"I can explain, Ffion"

but he says that he can explain.

"What have you said to Eileen?"

“And what have you said to Eileen?” Diane demands;  Jason replies that he has not said anything, 

"I wanted to get someone else's opinion"

but was waiting to get someone else’s opinion first.   

"If it provides work for a local firm"

“Well if it provides work for a local firm, that it does change things a little bit,” she concedes.

Jason goes on;  “Planning permission isn’t the only problem we’ve got – 

"I haven't told Kelly yet!"

“I haven’t told Kelly yet!”

Diane points out that Kelly will just have to accept it – she must put Jason first, for once;  

"You have to tell her not to kick up a fuss!"

“You’ll have to tell her not to kick up a fuss – that’s the least she can do after everything she’s put you through.”   Jason is not looking forward to that task.

Ffion tries to hide the bruise

Ffion is applying concealer to Cai’s face in an attempt to hide the bruise, but he tells her not to fuss.   

"Are you sure this was an accident?"

“You can’t meet the governors with your face black and blue!” she scolds him, “Of course they’ll notice – are you sure this was an accident in the gym?”

He replies that he was ‘benching’ and it came down on his head.   

"You're not self-harming again?"

“You’re not self-harming again?” she wonders.

"By giving myself black eyes?"

“What – by giving myself black eyes?” he jokes, “No – honest!”   Ffion demands what she is going to do with him 

"How do you feel, being back"

and asks how he feels being back at school.   

“If I knew you were going to bring cakes, I would have come sooner,” is his answer, 

"I'm looking forward to coming back"

“Look, it was always going to be strange to come back after what happened, but I’ve spent many happy years teaching here.   I’m looking forward to coming back.”

"I'll go and look in the drama cupboard"

She decides that he needs some more concealer before the governors arrive and is sure that she can get some from the drama cupboard.

"Have you put up the poster yet?"

As Eileen walks across the farmyard carrying a bucket, she is speaking to Sioned on the phone;  “Have you put up the poster advertising the public meeting tonight in the deli yet?   

"Do it now, before you forget"

“Put it up now, before you forget – yes, I know there’s one in the shop – I want one in the deli as well!”

Eileen has a shock

Then she hears footsteps behind her and turns to see Howard, carrying a gun;  “What the hell are you doing here?” she snarls, and he apologises for scaring her.

"I'm not here to shoot you!"

“I’m not here to shoot you, if that’s what you’re worried about – I’ve just shot a fox.”   

"You shouldn't be on my land!"

She points out that he should not be on her land, and he explains that he shot it at Deri Fawr;  

"I have to finish it off"

“It ran away injured so I have to finish it off – or you can keep it, in case you want a fur scarf or something.

"I heard you want to build a chicken shed"

“I heard you want to build a chicken shed,” he continues, and she points out that depends on whether she gets planning permission.   “You might want someone to help look after the chickens – there isn’t much work at Deri Fawr, to be honest.”

"I'm going to get my gun . . ."

Eileen threatens, “I’m going into the house now to get my gun – 

". . . I advise that you shouldn't be here!"

“when I come out, I strongly advise that you shouldn’t be here – 

Howard knows what she is getting at

“do you understand?”

"You look nice, Kelly" — she always looks nice!

Kelly is preparing lunch at Bryntirion when Jason comes home, but he does not want a sandwich.   He comments that she looks nice;  

"That's not suspicious at all"

“That’s not suspicious at all,” she responds, “What have you done?”   He maintains that he has not done anything.

“You’ve either done something or you want something – spit it out!” she orders him.

"Are you going to the meeting in the Deri?"

“All right – are you going to the meeting Eileen has organised in the Deri?” he begins.   

"Someone has to put the other side of the argument"

She is adamant that someone has to put the other side of the argument.   

"Eileen offered the job to APD"

“OK – I should tell you that Eileen has been to talk to me – and she offered the job of building the sheds to APD.”

"Are you going to accept?"

“Oh – are you going to accept?” she asks him and he says that he needs to talk to Kelly first.   “You know where I stand,” she tells him, 

"Chicken farms are immoral and cruel"

“I think that chicken farms are immoral and cruel – and I think whoever supports them is basically happy to see animals suffer.”

"But everyone has to live, Kelly"

Jason anticipated that she would say that, and, indeed, does not disagree with her, but points out that everyone has to live.   

"Yes, including chickens!"

“Yes, including chickens!” is her reply.

"And you and me and Ifan"

“And you and me and Ifan,” he adds, as she tucks into her sandwich, “OK, listen, APD is not in a very healthy position financially at the moment and a contract like this would really help.”

"Why wasn't I told earlier?"

Kelly wonders why she has not been told this earlier;  “Because I don’t like to bring work home to stress you out,” he says, “What I do know is knowing we had a job like this would make a world of difference.   So do you think this time, for once, you could perhaps . . ?”

"Shut my chops?"

“Shut my chops?” she suggests 

She is enjoying that sandwich

and resumes eating her sandwich.

The governors file out

At the end of the meeting, the governors file out of the room and Cai closes the door behind them.   

"Think they noticed my make-up?"

“Do you think they noticed my make-up?” he asks Ffion, and she regards her skills as too good for that.   He is glad that Ffion kept it informal and she assures him that the governors will support him when he is ready to come back.

He says that it is a relief that the meeting is over, and she remarks that he did great;  

"Do you want to go and see your office?"

“I was thinking, do you want to go see your office?” she enquires, 

He thinks that is a step too far

but he is rather doubtful about that.   

"We can find you another office"

“We can find you another office by the time you come back,” she offers.   

"That might be wise"

He thinks that might be wise, as he is not ready for that.

Now he is anxious to go as he is visiting the gym again this afternoon;  

"Take care, then!"

“Take care, then – I don’t want to have to hide more bruises,” Ffion tells him.   

Off he goes

As he leaves the room, 

Ffion has a phone message

Ffion’s phone sounds and she finds a message from Siôn;  

'Have you seen this?'

‘Have you seen this?’

She finds this disturbing

She clicks on the link and is very concerned at what she sees.

"So what's the plan, Kelly?"

Jason stirs his cup of tea and asks, “So what’s the plan, Kelly?   What are we going to do?”   

"You should have told me you were worried"

She maintains that, first of all, he should have told her that he was worried about APD.   

"Will you be OK if I accept it?"

“Fair enough – and what about accepting a contract from Eileen?”   She says that is up to him;  “Will you be OK I accept it?”

"APD is nothing to do with me"

“APD is nothing to do with me,” she replies.   

"Eileen won't be happy . . ."

Jason points out that Eileen is not going to be happy if Kelly opposes her plans publicly – and that will make things . . . 

"Awkward?"

“Awkward?” she suggests, and he begs her to just drop this one small thing.

"Choose your battles, I guess"

“I’m not happy about it – but I’m not happy about a lot of things, so ‘choose your battles’ I guess!” she groans.   

"Thanks, Kelly"

He is very pleased to hear this and gives her a kiss.   

"I'll keep schtum from now on"

“I’ll keep schtum from now on, OK?”

"About the chickens – or . . ?"

“About the chickens – or . . ?” he jokingly enquires, and she tells him to watch it.

"A couple of chickens – in really horrible conditions . . ."

She appreciates that Eileen is not exactly a Bond villain, but just wants to keep a couple of chickens;  “In really horrible conditions – and compromise their quality of life – 

". . . sorry – schtum from now on – I promise"

“sorry!   Schtum from now on – I promise!”

Ffion enters the gym . . .

Ffion walks into the gym, 

. . . and spots Cai . . .

where she finds various pugilists, 

. . . over there with punchbag

including Cai, who is violently pummelling a punch bag;  she walks up to him 

He is not pleased to see her . . .

and he suddenly notices her.   

. . . and she is not too happy, either

She looks very disapproving.

"Hard day, Kelly?"

Kelly sits by the bar and Cassie asks if she has had a hard day;  “Aye, something like that,” is the gloomy reply, “Jason’s at work.”   

"Will you be at the public meeting?"

Cassie wonders if she will be at the public meeting tomorrow night.

"Night in front of the telly for me"

“I think I’ll give it a miss,” says Kelly, but Cassie imagines she would like to have her say.   “Nope, night in front of the telly for me,” Kelly adds.

"I thought you'd be opposed to it"

When told that Cassie thought she would be opposed to the plans, 

"Choose your battles"

she merely responds, “Well, choose your battles.   When you’re young, you’re passionate about a lot of things – when you get my age – and yours – you’ll do anything for a quiet life, won’t you, Cas?”

"I like a bit of drama"

Cassie cannot think of anything more boring;  “I like a bit of drama – that’s why I work here.”

Kelly declares that there will not be any drama from her tomorrow night;  

"Not my monkey, not my circus"

“Not my monkey, not my circus.” 

"You're all over Facebook!"

Cai cannot believe that Ffion followed him there, but she answers, “I didn’t need to follow you – your pictures are all over the Facebook page – and pupils have seen videos of you fighting!   They’re calling you Caison Fury!   Look at you – 

Is this the best way to deal with your feelings?"

“and what is this place?   Do you think this is the best way to deal with your feelings?   Is this the example you want to set to your pupils?”

"You say that physical exercise is good"

“You always preach that physical exercise is good for your mind,” he snarls, but she regards this more as self-harming.   

"There are far easier ways"

“Trust me, if I wanted to self-harm there are far easier ways than this.   Now excuse me – Steve is waiting for me to get the punch bag a whack!”   

Now she is more disapproving

Ffion looks even more disapproving.

"Gin and tonic, please"

Kelly is still by the bar when Eileen comes in, wanting some leaflets to be left in the Deri.   She asks for a gin and tonic and addresses Kelly, “I assume you won’t be at meeting.”   

"Why would you assume that?"

Kelly wonders why she would assume that.   

“Because Jason has been in touch to say that APD would be very happy to build the sheds – and you’d be a fool to undermine your husband’s business – 

"Everything you've put him through"

“especially after everything you’ve put him through recently.”

"Did you hear that, Cassie?"

Kelly asks if Cassie heard that; 

"She can have a sharp tongue at times"

“She can have a sharp tongue at times,” is the reply.

"It's to shut me up – it makes sense!"

“Silly cow!” growls Kelly, “She’s given the job of building the sheds to Jason and APD to shut me up.   100% – it makes sense!”   

"She's been taking advantage of Colin"

Cassie agrees that it would not be the first time she has done something so underhanded;  “Between you and me, she’s been taking advantage of Colin.”   

"None of my business, Cas"

Kelly tries to temporarily curb her inquisitiveness, maintaining that it is none of her business.

"This is easier on my knees"

Cai has now finished his gym session and sits down by Ffion;  “Right, look – I could have far worse injuries playing rugby, and this is easier on my knees.”   

"The effect this could have on pupils"

She accepts that if he is determined to continue with this, it is his business, but she is concerned about the effect on his mental health;  “And the effect it could have on pupils,” she goes on, 

"It's different in your case, Cai"

but he insists it has been proven that boxing helps with stress and anxiety.

She understands that, but maintains that it is different in his case.   He disputes that;  “It gives me a focus, it helps and my therapist knows – I know what works for me.”

"Not just as your boss, but a friend as well"

“You’ve just come out of hospital,” she says and he has had enough of this.    Ffion continues, “I want you to stop – and I’m asking, not just as your boss, but as a friend as well.”

"I'm telling both of them to mind their own business!"

“Well, I’m telling both of them to mind their own business!” snarls Cai.   

"I don't think you should come back to school"

In that case she advises she will have no alternative but to tell the governors that she does not consider he should come back to school.

"You're not serious?"

He cannot believe this, 

"That's my decision!"

but she assures him, “That is my decision – for the school’s sake and yours as well.”   She leaves the gym without another word.

"When are you going to start building, then?"

Howard comes into the Deri and apologises to Eileen;  he caught the fox in the end.   “When are you going to start building the sheds, then?” he wants to know.   

"We need planning permission first"

She points out that they need planning permission first, and that is the reason for the meeting tomorrow.   

"Looking after those sheds will be a lot of work"

He offers to help in any way he can;  “If you get permission, looking after those sheds will be a lot of work.”

"Why's Eileen talking to him?"

At the bar, Kelly asks why Eileen is talking to him 

"He used to work at Penrhewl"

and Cassie advises that they are neighbours and he used to work at Penrhewl.   

"What has she done to Colin?"

Now Kelly’s investigative instincts have become irresistible;  “What has she done to Colin?”

"Taking money out of his pay – for years"

Cassie discovered recently that Eileen has been taking money out of his pay every month to pay the shop’s tax – for years.   

"She's done what?"

Kelly is incensed to hear that;  

"And Colin's so useless"

“And Colin is so useless, he hasn’t mentioned it.”   

Is Kelly embarking on another campaign?

They look across at Eileen, who is nonchalantly drinking her wine.