7 November 2023

Something is delivered at Llwyncelyn 

Something comes through the letterbox at Llwyncelyn;  Hywel picks it up and finds it is addressed to him.   

It is a warning to Hywel . . . 

When he opens it, he finds the message in crudely printed capitals, ‘You’re going to pay for what you did,’ 

. . . which unsettles him

and looks very concerned.

"A letter – and one for you"

In the kitchen at Bryntirion, two similar envelopes have been delivered;  “A letter – and one for you,” Jason tells Kelly 

Jason reads it

and looks at his.   

"Can you face what you did?"

He is puzzled by its contents as he reads, “Can you face what you did?   What?”

"Aren't you working today?"

Mathew brings the post into the shop flat and enquires whether Rhys is working today.   He replies that he has phoned in sick;  “No-one wants to buy houses at the moment.”

Mathew advises that he has to put behind him what happeed at the party  – I’m just not in the mood to work today,” Rhys goes on, 

Rhys reads what it says . . .

then looks with some confusion at his letter.

. . . then Mathew has a look

Mathew snatches it 

"We know you're guilty!"

and is similarly perplexed to read, “We know you’re guilty – look, I’ve had one as well.”

"There's no stamp on it"

Rhys can see that there is no stamp on it, so someone must have posted it themselves.   

"Is it anything to do with the 'spiking'?"

Mathew wonders if it is anything to do the ‘spiking’ and then they notice that on the back are the words ‘Come to the Deri.’   

"Right, we're going to the Deri"

They leave the flat to investigate.

"A Murder Mystery"

Meanwhile, Jason is speaking to Cassie outside the Deri and she enlightens him;  “Murder Mystery – what do you think of the invite?”   

"It would have been easier to use Facebook"

He replies that it would have been easier to use Facebook.   In the background we can see that someone is actually waiting for a bus.

“This is more classy,” Cassie informs him, “We organised these in the hotel in Blackpool – we had a lot of fun!   I’ve got the costumes ready – all you and Kelly have to do is turn up, ready to have fun.”

"Why aren't you at APD?"

At that moment Rhys and Mathew arrive;  “Why aren’t you at APD?” Mathew demands of Jason, who says he is on his way there now.   

"Are you responsible for this?"

“Are you responsible for this?” he asks Cassie.

“Yes, a murder mystery evening tonight,” she answers and Rhys complains that he nearly had a heart attack.   

"Got a guilty conscience, have you?"

“Have you got a guilty conscience?   Are you the villain of Plas y Deri?” she wonders.

"Is there a prize?"

Mathew wants to know whether there is a prize and she regards the game itself as the prize.   

"I've had one as well . . ."

Then Hywel approaches, maintaining that he has  had one of them as well;  Rhys simply replies that Cassie is organising a silly game.

". . . but it's a bit extreme!"

Hywel protests that it is a bit extreme;  “You’re going to pay for what you did.”   

"They're completely different"

Cassie points out that it is not from her, as that is completely different.

"A select group — and you're not one of them"

“I’ve only invited a select group to the Deri,” she explains, so he wonders who sent his letter and she asks, “Have you got enemies?”

Of course, Hywel suspects that it was Rhys, but he flatly denies it, 

"You're good at making enemies!"

suggesting that his father is good at making enemies.   Hywel dismisses it as just some kids messing around.

"If it's that bad, Mark . . ."

Inside the Deri, Kath is on the phone to Mark;  “Yes, I understand – if it’s that bad, stay where you are.”   Cassie proudly announces that everyone has received their invitation and they have all accepted.   

"Lucky I kept the costumes"

She regards it as lucky that she kept the costumes, but Kath tells her that Mark cannot make it.

"He's been stuck to the pan since six this morning!"

“He’s been stuck to the pan since six this morning!”   Cassie does not know who will play Cecil the squire.   Kath is about to say that Brynmor would have been ideal 

Then Howard appears

when Howard comes in for a pint of beer.   Kath asks if he is busy tonight;  

"Would you like to take part . . ."

“Would you like to take part in a murder mystery night?”   

"No chance!"

He immediately turns down the offer.

“You don’t have to do anything – you don’t have to prepare – everything is free, just turn up,” Cassie tempts him.   

"We're holding it in a pub . . . so . . ."

When he asks if he can drink, Kath points out that they are holding it in a pub, so it would seem logical that he can.

He is bribed with a free beer

When Cassie bribes him with a free bottle of beer, he agrees, but she is still rather dubious;  

"It's either him or the diarrhoea kid!"

Kath points out, “It’s either him or the diarrhoea kid – which do you prefer?”

Kelly arrives at APD

Jason is reading the Western Post in APD when Kelly walks in;  

"Have you seen this?"

“Have you seen this?   Members of dogfighting ring released from jail – within a year – the people Howard was messing with.”   Kelly was already aware of this, explaining that she read it while he was asleep.

He had expected her to be more angry 

"I didn't want to say anything about it"

and she replies, “I’m horrified, but I didn’t want to say anything.   Jason, please, don’t go on about it!   Just thinking about that time is really difficult for me.   Sometimes Karma isn’t enough – and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

"It's a good job we're going out tonight, then"

In that case he thinks that it is a good job they are going out tonight, but she does not want to go.   

"After your stunt last week?"

Jason suggests, “Don’t you think we should work on our relationship?   Shouldn’t we do something nice after your stunt last week?”

"Well, don't go on about that!"

She finally agrees that they will go out, but she does not want to hear him going on about the newspaper article.   He accepts this, 

She agrees not to do it again

but also stipulates, “As long as you promise never to do something like that again.”

Another message for Hywel . . .

Hywel returns home and as soon as he has taken off his coat notices another letter on the Mathew.   

. . . with an instruction

This time it reads, ‘Archway by the shop tonight 8.30.’

Llinos and, presumably, her husband

The murder mystery evening is beginning at the Deri, with the people in their costumes, including Llinos and Madge.   

Jason and Kelly arrive

Jason and Kelly are welcomed by Countess Cassie, who announces that the year is 1927.   

Kath the cook curtsies

Kath the cook curtsies to them.   

They are handed their costumes

“Everything you need for your stay is in these bags – the costumes and information about your character are in there.

"This had better be over quickly, Jase!"

Kelly is manifestly not in the mood for this and grumbles, “This had better be over quickly, because, seriously, Jase, I’ve got things to do!”

The Rev Prys ap Rhys

As Cassie invites them to talk among themselves about their characters, we see that Rhys is the local vicar, the reverend Prys ap Rhys.   

Miss Demeanour, the young widow

Behind the bar is Cheryl, in the guise of Miss Demeanour, the young widow and Mathew is playing the part of Owen Bowen, the farm hand.

Kelly objects to being Morwenna the maid

Kelly complains, “Seriously, Cass, do I have to wear this?” but is told that she is Morwenna the maid.   Jason discovers that he is Billy the butler 

"You can change in the East Wing"

and they go upstairs to the flat to change – or rather in the boudoir in the East Wing.

"Don't forget your feather duster, Morwenna!"

Jason reminds Kelly not to forget her feather duster, but she is in no mood for such frivolity.

Then comes Cecil the squire

Cecil the squire arrives, in the form of Howard, and is handed his bag of costume;  

"Why is Howard here?"

Jason, who is about to go upstairs, asks why Howard is there.   “This is Cecil,” he is told.

“Do you really expect me to play fancy dress Cluedo with him?” Jason demands and it is explained that Mark is ill.   Jason is determined to go home in that case, 

"No, Jason  – we're staying!"

but is persuaded to stay by Kelly.   

"Is Mark not well?"

Cheryl is concerned to hear that Mark is ill, and Kath informs her that he just has a case of ‘the squits’.

"I'm glad you're here, actually . . ."

Kelly comes across to Howard and tells him, “I’m glad you’re here, actually – now that your mates are out of jail, 

". . . someone needs to keep you out of trouble"

“someone needs to keep an eye on you – you know, keep you out of trouble.”   

"I'm looking forward to seeing you in your costume!"

He sneers that is looking forward to seeing Kelly in her costume and when Jason angrily intervenes, 

"Jason – you're so embarrassing!"

she snarls at him to go upstairs;  “You’re so embarrassing!” she says.

Hywel investigates the knock at the window

Hywel is sitting at home, pondering over this latest note, when he hears a knock on the window;  he quickly goes to look, but can see no-one there.   Then the front door opens and he is becoming very nervous, 

It is only Gaynor

but finds that it is only Gaynor.   She assumes that he was expecting someone else.

"Thanks for babysitting"

He thanks for agreeing to babysit, advising that Esther is upstairs, doing her homework.   “What are you doing tonight, then?” she asks and he answers that it is another meeting.   

He shows her this morning's letter

She can see that he looks rather worried about something and he shows her the letter came through the door this morning.

Morwenna is now ready

Up in the Deri flat, Kelly is now wearing her maid’s uniform and Jason, who has become Billy the butler, says that she looks . . .

“Ridiculous!” Kelly snaps, 

"I look like an undertaker!"  (as in the 'Parch' series on S4C)

but he points out that at least she does not look like an undertaker.   He stresses that they do not have to do this – they could just go home, 

"We're staying, Jase"

but Kelly tells him, with determination, “We’re staying.”

"Howard is downstairs"

Jason points out that Howard is downstairs, so they cannot enjoy themselves, as he pours himself a glass of Cassie’s wine.

"I'm not scared of him!"

“The point is, Jase, I’m showing him that I’m not scared of him – he  hasn’t got any power over me.”

"He won't try anything while I'm here" 

Jason is sure, “He won’t try anything while I’m here,” but she protests that she is not some damsel in distress — she can stand up for herself.   She demands whether he is coming or not.

"It's someone playing a trick"

At Llwyncelyn, Gaynor is convinced that someone is playing a silly trick, but Hywel is not so sure about that.   

"Remember to ask if you need anything"

She wonders how he and Esther are getting on and he says that he has a lot on his plate.   “Remember to ask if you need any help,” she tells him.

He says that he had better go to meet Griffiths to sort out the matter in hand.   

"You're not going to pay attention?"

She hopes that he is not going to pay attention to those letters and he replies that of course he is not.

The mobile phones are being collected

Kath is collecting all the mobile phones from the participants, but Rhys objects to this.   

"There were no mobiles in 1920-whenever"

“There were no mobiles in 1920-whenever it was,” she replies.

Cassie checks that Cheryl knows what she has to do and, 

"Slow and painful death"

as she picks up a bottle from the bar, ready to drink, she answers, “Slow and painful death – what a way to go – poor Miss Demeanour!”   Cassie is sure that if her acting skills are as good as her pint-pulling skills, they will be fine.

"Welcome to Plas y Deri"

Then Cassie announces that she would like to welcome them all to the drawing room of Plas y Deri.   “The reason you’re here is because every one of you has a big secret – I want you to talk to one another so you know what those secrets are.”

"What's your secret?"

Kelly looks very disenchanted with the whole thing, but nevertheless asks Miss Demeanour what her secret is.   

"These plastic things like diamonds"

“I’ve got £5,000 pounds’ worth of jewels in my bag,” is the reply, “Well, these plastic things that look like diamonds.”   

"It may be a 'red herring'"

Then she informs Mathew that this may be something to do with murder, or on the other hand, it may be a ‘red herring’.

Cassie asks Howard, “What’s your secret, Cecil?” 

Howard has lost his instructions

and he looks blankly at her.   She points out that it is on the paper, but he appears to have lost it;  “It says what you’re supposed to do!” she complains.

"You said turn up and drink!"

He reminds her, “You said all I had to do was turn up and drink – nothing about reading nonsense.   “You wrote this – you tell me what my secret is.”

"Cecil the squire doesn't have a penny"

It is announced to the participants, “Cecil the squire looks very grand, but in truth he does not have a penny to his name.”   Howard remarks that it sounds a bit like him.   

"With the intention of killing one of you!"

“My big secret is that I’ve brought one of you here tonight with the intention of killing you.”   

This causes some commotion, as she goes on, “You’re enjoying yourself now aren’t you, you wasters!”

Hywel arrives in the alley . . .

Out in the alley Hywel is waiting as instructed, hoping to find out who is responsible.   

. . . and is startled by a dog barking

He is startled by a dog barking, 

He is under surveillance 

and it is apparent that someone is watching him.

"Can I have my bag, please?"

Kelly goes over to retrieve her bag from where Howard is now sitting;  he hands it to her, 

"I'm going to take a leak"

but then pulls her closer, much to her surprise, and announces, “I’m going to take a leak,” before pushing past her

Billy will take around the canapés

Cassie concludes that they all know each other and requests that Billy take round the canapés, which he assumes to be the sausage rolls, 

"Silly name for a butler"

and Mathew considers that Billy is not a good name for a butler.  

"How about a small pasty?"

“Canapes, anyone?” Billy asks, “How about a small pasty?”   Then he checks to make sure that Kelly is all right.

"Jase, please, stop – I've got this!"

“Jase, please – stop, OK?   I appreciate that you’re worried, but I’ve got this!”

"I hope the electricity doesn't fail"

Cassie’s narration continues, “Oh, it’s a stormy night – I hope the electricity doesn’t fail,” 

Kath is otherwise occupied

but Kath the cook is too busy having a drink to hear her cue.   “I hope the electricity doesn’t fail, cook!” Cassie shouts, and Kath duly turns off the lights.

Prys ap Rhys appears to be no more

When they come back on, the reverend Prys ap Rhys is slumped in his chair, and Mathew is upset that he was not told that Rhys was the one that dies.   “The paper told me not to!” responds the late vicar.

Cassie points out that the vicar has been killed by one of them;  

"Do I have to be dead for the rest of the evening?"

Rhys objects to being dead for the rest of the evening.

Hywel anxiously looks at his watch . . .

In the alley, Hywel looks at his watch and takes a few steps towards the back street;  he suddenly hears the bins rattle 

. . . then some projectile hits him

and something hits him on the back of the neck.  

"Who's there?   What do you want?"

“Who’s there?” he demands, “What do you want?” but the assailant has gone.

Cheryl is not feeling herself

Inside the Deri, Cheryl is feeling uncomfortably hot and then the lights go out again.   

The trip switch has 'tripped' this time . . .

Some of the participants wonder if this is part of the game, but in actual fact this time the trip switch has gone.   “Whose hand is on my backside?” demands Mathew.

. . . and Kath goes to reset it

Kath is having difficulties locating the fuse box and is told that it is under the stairs;  Cassie advises everyone, “Keep your clothes on and don’t panic!”

Gaynor makes a drink

In the kitchen at Llwyncelyn, Gaynor is making herself a drink when Hywel returns;  she wonders what has happened to him, but he does not want to discuss it.

“I’m fine, yes,” he maintains, and she can see that he did not go to meet Griffiths.   

"I wanted to know who sent those letters . . ."

“I wanted to know who sent those letters – and I don’t know who it was – it was dark and then 

". . . and someone threw a food bag at me!"

someone threw a food bag at me!”   

"The children have had their fun now"

Gaynor is quite convinced that it was immature children, and now they have had their fun, he should forget about it.

There is a hammering on the door;  

Gaynor is determined she will sort this out

“I’m going to sort this out once and for all!” declares Gaynor, 

There is no-one to be seen

but when she opens the door, there is no-one to be seen.   

"What the hell?"

Then they notice something has been left on the doorstep.   “What the hell?” exclaims Hywel.

"Wow, this is boring now!"

The Deri is still in darkness, except for a few fairy lights behind the bar;  “Wow – this is boring now!” moans Kelly and Jason agrees that they could sit in the dark at home.

Kath is complaining that she is a cook, not an electrician, but the lights are restored.   Cassie says that now the lights are back, they have to find out who killed Prys ap Rhys;  

"And Miss Demeanour"

“And Miss Demeanour,” adds Howard.   

"It appears she has been poisoned"

They find that she is slumped on a seat, and Cassie points out that it appears she has been poisoned.

"There's a crimewave!"

Mathew is afraid that there has been a crimewave, and Cassie congratulates Cheryl on her performance.   

"I reckon it was Owen Bowen!"

They argue about who would murder her, 

Kath is becoming anxious

but Kath is becoming worried, maintaining that she has not had much to drink, 

"Cheryl – can you hear me?"

but they cannot seem to rouse her.

The assembled multitude are now becoming worried and Kath does not believe that Cheryl is acting.   

"This is not part of the game, is it?"

Mathew is becoming concerned that this is not part of the game.

Cheryl seems to be 'out of it'

Kelly comes over and calls Cheryl’s name;  she opens her eyes but does not seem to be aware of what is going on.   

"Has she been 'spiked'?"

“Has she been ‘spiked’?” asks Mathew.