19 December 2023

Iolo is becoming worried

Iolo is looking at the small supply of tablets he has left, 

Cai comes downstairs, fancying a cup of tea

when Cai comes downstairs and asks Iolo if there is any chance of a  cup of tea;  “We’re out of milk, thanks to you!” he snarls, “Which other adult eats cereal before going to bed?”

"OK, I'll get some later"

Cai promises to get some later and then Siôn comes downstairs;  

"The Milk Tray man has arrived in Cwmderi!"

“Good grief – the Milk Tray man has arrived in Cwmderi!” Cai exclaims.   Casually throwing his scarf over his shoulder, 

"Where's my script?"

Siôn does not find this funny and wants to know where his script has gone – he had it last night.   

"You should have kept it safe, Siôn"

Then he discovers it, where Greta appears to have been drawing on it.

“If it was so important, you should have kept it safe,” Cai reprimands him.   Siôn angrily describes them as Philistines and hurries out of the house.   

"Is everything all right with you?"

Cai asks Iolo if everything is all right with him;  “Are sure?”   

"I just couldn't sleep last night"

Iolo maintains that he just could not sleep last night.   Cai appreciates that it is not easy coming off the tablets and it says that he is doing brilliantly.

"We'll have a proper chat later, OK?"

Now Cai is off to school to teach a few lessons before he goes back full-time;  he proposes that they can have a proper chat later.   Iolo does not appear to be relishing the prospect.

"Has Siôn arrived yet?"

In the Deri, Mark asks Cassie if Siôn has arrived yet;  “Oh yes, I forgot – you’re rehearsing today, aren’t you?” she says.   He complains that it is supposed to be a bit of fun, 

Mark has had a nightmare

but he had a dream when he was getting into trouble with Siôn for saying the wrong lines.

In comes then great man

She reminds him that Siôn Blewyn Coch is a bigger man than Siôn White – and at that moment he walks in, apologising for his lateness;  

"I had to print out another copy of the script"

“I had to print out another copy of the script.”   Cassie says that she likes his outfit.

“What, these old things?   I wear them all the time,” he replies, “Is Cheryl here?”   

"Sheryl won't be coming"

Mark breaks the news to him that Cheryl will not be coming, as Siôn was horrible to her.

“At yesterday’s rehearsal – you said a stone had more emotion!”   Siôn argues that a bit of constructive criticism never hurt anyone.   Then Mark goes on, “And you told her she was the worst actor you’ve ever seen!”

"Who's going to play Siân Slei Bach?"

Siôn does not know why he bothers, demanding who is going to play Siân Slei Bach now.   “You should have thought of that before being so horrible,” Mark replies.

"I could stand in for now"

Cassie volunteers to stand in for now;  “I used to do some am dram – 

"I was the best Virgin Mary at Sunday school"

“they said I was the best Virgin Mary in Sunday school.”   

"I don't have a lot of choice!"

Siôn does not have a lot of choice, and Mark asks if she is sure about this, 

Cassie winks at Mark

but she simply winks at him.

Britt poses for her proof of delivery

As a parcel is being delivered to Britt at MFC, 

. . . and over the road, Iolo has problems . . .

Iolo appears to be having problems with his van;  

. . . with his van

he is looking under the bonnet with a puzzled expression.   Britt calls across to him, “You’ll never guess what I bought.”

Iolo is not interested

“Unless there’s a mechanic in the box, I don’t want to know!” he answers, “My van’s broken down and I’ve got a job in Cwrtmynach.   

"This village needs a garage"

“This village needs a garage – my job depends on that van!”   

"I don't know anything about cars, Iolo"

She points out that the garage is Garry’s and she does not know anything at all about cars.

Mata investigates

Maya comes out of the pharmacy next door to see what the commotion is about;  “But now he’s in jail, you need to make sure that the garage is open!   Sort it out, Britt!” he shouts.

She suggests that they should go somewhere more private to talk and wonders if he has a recovery service for the van;  “They will be here soon – come in and have a cup of tea.   Maya suspects she may know the reason for this outburst.

Siôn instructs Cassie . . .

The great impresario is advising Cassie on her performance;  “Remember, at the beginning of the scene, Siân is in anguish – she feels like her life’s been turned upside down.   The farmer has caught Siôn and she is worried she has to raise the cubs herself without her life partner.”

. . . much to her annoyance

“You do remember that I’ve read this play?” she enquires, but he still goes on that is is a whirlwind of emotion.   

"These make me look stupid!"

Mark has donned a fox’s ears and brush, and moans they make him look stupid.   Cassie would prefer to use the term ‘foxy’, 

"I'm going to change"

but he is adamant that he is going to change.

"It will help you get into character"

Siôn, on the other hand, argues that it will help him get into character as Siôn Blewyn Coch.   

"Cassie should dress up too"

“If I have to dress up, so should Cassie!” he protests, 

"Not a chance, Siôn!"

but she is adamant that she will not that, and Siôn refuses to argue with her.

"Got to serve these customers"

As they are about to continue with the rehearsal, a couple of customers arrive, so Cassie goes off to serve them.   Siôn throws down his script 

"I'm going to look for a new Siân"

and declares that he is going to look for a new Siân, but forbids Mark to take off the tail and ears, 

Sitting down is rather uncomfortable

so he sits down, uncomfortably, on a chair.

"They'll be here in an hour"

Iolo has had a call from the recovery people, who will be there in an hour and meanwhile Britt brings them each a cup of tea.   

"Enough time to tell me what's going on"

“That’s enough time for you to tell me what’s going on with you,” she says, “Come on, Iolo, I know you well enough to know this isn’t down to the fact that the garage is closed.”

"Things are difficult at the moment"

He answers that he is finding things rather hard at the moment and she assumes that this is connected with Tyler;  “And other things,” he adds.   

"Grief is a strange thing"

She appreciates that grief is a strange thing – what he needs is time.

"What was in that box, then?"

He tries to change the subject by asking what she had in the box which was delivered;  

"I've been waiting weeks for it!"

“I’ve been waiting weeks for it – Colin hasn’t heard me talk about anything else!”   

"I'll be there now!"

Iolo’s phone sounds again and when he answers it, he looks very concerned;  “When?” he asks, “Yes, of course, I’ll be there now!”   

"Greta's had an accident at school!"

He tells Britt that Greta has had an accident at school and rushes off.

"About time, too!"

Mark has been waiting for some time and is becoming impatient when Siôn returns;  “I can’t stay here all day, you know” he protests.

"I've found a new Siân Slei Bach"

Siôn has managed to find a new Siân Slei Bach, in the form of Diane;  

"I hope you've learned all your lines, Mark Jones"

“I hope you’ve learned all your lines, Mark Jones,” she says, and he remains speechless.

"You're being childish now!"

As they continue with the rehearsal, Mark is not at all happy with it;  “You didn’t mind when it was Cheryl or Cassie,” complains Siôn, “You’re being childish now!”

Neither is Diane happy about kissing her best friend’s son, 

"If the script says we have to kiss . . ."

“But we’re not Mark Jones and Diane Ashurst – we’re Siôn Blewyn Coch and Siân Slei Bach.   If the script says we have to kiss, that’s what we have to do – for the sake of the community.   Isn’t that right, Siôn?”

Mark exhibits some 'passion'

Mark reluctantly agrees that she is right and they start again from the top, “With passion!” urges Siôn.

“Siân, what are you doing here?” says Mark, 

Diane is not happy about this

but there is no reply as Diane is leafing through the many pages of script.   

"You said it was only a small part"

She objects to this, pointing out that she was told that it was only a small part, but she finds that she is in almost every scene.

Siôn insists that it does not matter, but he wants her to start from the top.   “Siôn, I’ve come here to rescue you,” she says and he replies that he does not need rescuing, as he is Siôn Blewyn Coch , the world’s craftiest fox.

“The second craftiest fox,” she corrects him, “The number one is the one who married Siôn Blewyn Coch of course.”   Then they come to the part where he professes his love for her 

"Go for it, Mark!"

and is encouraged to ‘go for it’ by Siôn.

"Mark, you sly fox!"

This is interrupted by Maya who has just arrived and comments, “Mark, you sly fox!”   When he replies that he is acting, 

"That's what they all say!"

her response is, “That’s what they all say!”   When she finds out that this is a rehearsal for the drama, 

"Oh, I love Pantos . . ."

she continues, “Oh, I love pantos!   I used to go to one in the Liverpool Empire nearly every year.”

Diane recommends that Siôn should offer Maya a part, as it would be a great way for her to learn more Welsh.   

". . . but I don't want to be an ugly sister"

Maya is not in favour of this idea, stressing that she loves watching them, but has no interest in being an ugly sister.   

"Ham sandwich, please, Cassie"

She orders a ham sandwich from Cassie and settles down to watch the rehearsal.

"Siân, what are you doing here?"

We return to the line, “Siân, what are you doing here?”

Iolo tries to look innocent

Iolo is about to swallow another tablet, but hides them away when he hears Cai coming into the house;  

"Greta's sprained her wrist"

“Greta had an accident in school at break time – she’s sprained her wrist, but she’ll be all right.”

Cai says that his time at school was tiring but good;  

Cai did remember the milk

“I’ll tell you about it now, over a fresh cup of tea – with milk.”   

Iolo snoops in his briefcase . . .

When he goes into the kitchen, Iolo who appears to be getting desperate, has a crafty look in his briefcase, in the hope that there may be some suitable drugs.

. . . but is caught 'red-handed'

Cai catches him in the act;  “Yeah?” he says.   Iolo’s excuse is that he was just . . .   “Looking for something?”

"I'm just having one of those days"

“I’m just having one of those days,” Iolo wails, “I haven’t slept and now this thing with Greta!”

Cai inform him, “Those tablets won’t help you.”   

"Where have you hidden them?"

Iolo is adamant that he wants one and demands where they are hidden.   

"I got rid of them, Iolo"

He is most upset when he hears that Cai has disposed of them.

"Go for a walk, to clear your head"

“Listen – go out for a walk, clear your head – I’ll look after Greta.   It will do you good, unlike those pills – trust me!” Cai advises him.

"Why would she do that?"

Diane is now picking holes in the script;  “Why would she do that?   What’s the point?”   

"Just read the words in the script"

Siôn angrily points out that all she needs to do is say the words in the script, 

"She's right – it doesn't make sense"

but Mark agrees with her that it does not make sense.

"I refuse to accept criticism from Mark Jones!"

Siôn snarls, “I refuse to accept any literary criticism from you, Mark Jones – when was the last time you experienced any art?”   He replies that he watched a Harry Potter film last night.

"Is this part of the play, or are you improvising?"

Maya, sitting nearby with her sandwich, is intrigued;  “Is this part of the play, or are you improvising?”   Siôn suggests that Maya must have some work to do and she tells him, “Time flies when you’re having fun!”

Cassie brings a welcome drink

Cassie brings over drinks for Diane and Mark and Siôn naturally objects to this, maintaining that they have too much to do.   “People are complaining – they can hear you arguing!” she replies.   Siôn insists that there is to be no alcohol until they have finished, 

"We're entitled to a lunch hour"

while Diane protests that they are entitled to a lunch hour.

“This wouldn’t happen to Saunders Lois!” shouts Siôn, just as there is a strange sound, like the clucking of a hen, 

Britt, the MFC chicken, arrives

and Britt appears in her promotional garb as an MFC chicken;  she introduces herself as MFC’s new mascot.   “No-one will forget getting a flyer from me when I’m wearing this!”

"We need a turkey for the Panto"

Mark thinks that it is lucky she is there, as they need a turkey for the Panto, an idea which Britt finds quite exciting

"It is not a Panto!"

It is the last straw for Siôn;  “It is not a Panto!” he exclaims.

"Oh yes, it is!"

The others reply, in Pantomime fashion, “Oh yes, it is!”

"Nobody's taking me seriously!"

“I’m doing my best here!   You have no idea, do you?” Siôn screams, “The things I do for you and the community!   Nobody’s taking me seriously – nobody!   There we go – now you’ll find how hard it is!”   He picks up his coat and briefcase to go home;  “When it all goes wrong, don’t come running to me!”

"What's the matter with him?"

Britt cannot understand what is wrong with Siôn and Diane wonders what they are going to do without a director.   

All eyes turn to Cassie . . .

They all turn to look at Cassie 

. . . and she is handed the script

and Britt hands the script to her.

"Looking at school paperwork"

Cai is looking at his school paperwork when Siôn returns to Y Felin;  

"What's wrong with people?"

“What’s wrong with people?” he snarls, “We’ve been through three Siân Slei Bachs and Siôn Blewyn Coch hasn’t started learning his lines!”

"Don't take it so personally, Siôn"

Cai light-heartedly advises, “Don’t trust foxes – and don’t take it so personally.”

"I've resigned!"

Siôn insists that they are determined to ruin his play, “But it’s up to them now  I’ve resigned!”

"I went into school for a few hours"

Cai says that he went into school for a few hours today and is looking forward to going back full time next term.   “Well if you want to practise, 

"A couple of actors behaving like children!"

“I know a couple of actors who are behaving like children,” Siôn sneers.

“Do you know what I do when I have a difficult class?” Cai asks, 

"Losing your temper won't help anyone"

“Nothing – losing your temper won’t help anyone.   

Siôn weighs up his words

“The less you react, the better they respond to you.”

Iolo comes round the corner . . .

Iolo comes round the corner by MFC 

. . . and a giant chicken accosts him

and Britt, in her chicken outfit, jumps out in front of him.   

"What's the matter with you, Britt?"

“What’s the matter with you, Britt – scaring people in the street?” he yells and continues next door to the pharmacy.

Maya invites  a customer into the consultation room

Maya is speaking to a customer, who she invites to come into the consultation room, leaving the shop effectively unmanned.   

Iolo knows exactly what he wants . . .

Carefully making sure that she is out of sight, Iolo proceeds to the shelf where he can see what he wants, 

. . . and helps himself

and after checking that no-one is about to come in, he helps himself to a couple of packets of Diazepam, in the process knocking down some others.

He tries to look nonchalant

He then returns to the other side of the counter;  

"Come back next week"

Maya advises the other customer to take something three times today with food and then come back next week.   

"Greta's sprained her wrist"

Iolo explains that Greta has sprained her wrist and he needs something to reduce the swelling.   She points him towards the Ibuprofen adding that there is a spray next to it as well, 

She recommends two items

so he picks up both of them.

Maya is concerned;  “I just wanted to check that you were OK – you seemed a bit stressed this morning,” and he says that it was problems with the van.   “I saw your Dad earlier – he’s quite the director, isn’t he?”

He cannot take his eyes off that Diazepam

As she charges him £8.20, he is looking across at the packets of tablets, 

"Do you want the receipt?"

but he does not stay for a receipt, 

"No – I'm in a hurry"

maintaining that he is in a hurry.   

In the store-room . . .

Then she turns her attention to the store-room 

. . . she finds someone has been tampering with the stock . . .

and immediately notices the tablets which have fallen on to the sink.   

. . . and she has a good idea who it was

As one of them is Diazepam, she is immediately suspicious.

Mark's fearsome roar

It appears that Mark is really getting ‘into character’ and roars ferociously.   He is praised by Cassie, who encourages him to do what comes naturally to him;  “After all, it’s just a bit of fun.”

"The local Saunders Lewis"

Then Siôn appears again, this time in a much more conciliatory mood;  “The local Saunders Lewis, with cap in hand, hopefully,” comments Cassie.   He agrees that she is right and he wanted to apologise for his behaviour.

“I should think so, too,” Diane mutters.

"I made it all about me . . ."

He goes on that the whole point of the play was to bring the community together, “But I made it all about me – I’m sorry about that – 

". . . and I promise it won't happen again"

“and I promise it won’t happen again.”

"I shall be director from now on"

Cassie assures him there is no need to worry about it, as they have now agreed that she will be the director from now on;  “As you said, this is something for the community;  you’ve been working so hard on the script – and fair play to you – 

"You need to hand over the reins to us"

“but you need to hand over the reins to us now.”

This is not what he had been planning, but she goes on, “You trust us, don’t you?   There we go, then.”

"Well, if you need any help . . ."

Siôn tells them that if they need any help, he is always ready, but Cassie replies, “No – we are champion!” 

He gets the message that he is no longer required

so, without another word, he again collects his coat and briefcase, quickly leaving the Deri.

"We haven't been too hard on him, have we"

“You don’t think we’ve been too hard on him?” wonders Diane, 

"He's getting a taste of his own medicine"

but Cassie points out that he is only getting a taste of his own medicine.   Mark is in agreement after the way Siôn has been acting.

Cassie proposes that they start again, “As they say in the business, ‘from the top’!”   

"Grrrr!"

Mark again adopts his ferocious stance.

When Maya checks the CCTV . . . 

Maya is reviewing the CCTV footage, 

. . . Iolo is unmistakably to blame . . .

where she can clearly see Iolo helping himself to the tablets and putting them in the pocket of his trousers.   

. . . and she is very upset

She is very upset.