6 December 2023

"Good morning, Cheryl"

Cheryl is looking at her laptop when Gaynor breezes in and wishes her good morning;  she does not reply and is looking worried.   

"It may have had a bigger effect on you"

“Cher, I know you said you’re fine after that Rohypnol business, but perhaps it may have had a bigger effect on you than you think.   And don’t feel ashamed about it – something like that would affect anyone.”

"Mark doesn't want to be with me"

Cheryl then reveals the real reason for her concern;  “Mark doesn’t want to be with me, OK?”   

"Perhaps you didn't understand"

Gaynor maintains that she does not understand and is again told that Mark no longer wants to be with her.

“I put myself on a plate and he wasn’t interested!”   Gaynor knows exactly why this happened, but suggests that perhaps he misunderstood.   

"He doesn't want anything to do with me"

“He hasn’t even contacted me, so it’s pretty clear that he doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

"I have to go to work"

Gaynor’s phone sounds and she gives the excuse that she has to go to work.   As she grabs her coat, she assures her sister that they will talk about this tonight.   

Cheryl closes the laptop

Cheryl closes the laptop with a sigh.

Mark receives a message

Mark receives a message on his phone and at the same moment there was a knock at the door;  he discovers that it is Gaynor, who wants to know if anyone else is there.   “Why are you wearing that hat?” she demands 

"It makes me feel festive"

and he says that it makes him feel festive.

"Cheryl probably thinks I'm ghosting her"

He immediately asks how Cheryl is;  “I’ve been ignoring her texts and calls for days.   She probably thinks I’m ghosting her.”   

"Thanks for not . . . last week"

Gaynor confirms that this is the case, but thanks him for not . . . doing anything the other day.

"Well, I could have done after all!"

He announces, “Well, I could have done after all!” and she is very relieved to hear that he is negative as well.   

"We can draw a line under it, then"

She decides that they can draw a line under the episode and move on;  

"Yes, that's right"

he wholeheartedly agrees with this and she stipulates that she never wants to talk about this again.   With that she walks out of the house.

The flowerbed never used to be there, surely

Anita is sitting on the bench by the flowerbed (which surely never used to be there) at the end of the alley, poring over some paperwork.   

"Not still selling that 'Meddal' rubbish, are you?"

Kath happens to be passing:  “You’re not still selling that ‘Meddal’ rubbish, are you?” she says, but Anita vehemently disagrees with this evaluation.

"It's not rubbish, Kath"

“It’s not rubbish, Kath” she snarls and then has to answer her phone, 

"One of my clients"

maintaining that it is one of her clients calling.

In fact, it is Louise from ‘Meddal’ once again;  “The new order is arriving tomorrow, isn’t it?   

"What?   How much?"

“What?   How much?   By the end of the day?” Anita exclaims.

"The masterpiece is ready!"

As he hurries down the stairs in Y Felin, Siôn shouts, “Out of the way, Saunders Lewis [famous Welsh poet and nationalist] – Siôn White has arrived!   The masterpiece is ready.”   

Iolo prepares to read it

Iolo is eating his breakfast and laughs as he looks at the manuscript.

"What are you doing here?"

Mark comes into Maes-y-Deri as Cheryl wonders what he is doing there;  

"I wanted to say sorry"

“I’ve brought you this parcel and I wanted to say sorry.”

"You've said it now – you can carry on with your round"

“Great – well, you’ve said it now – you can carry on with your round,” she replies.

He begs to be allowed to explain himself;  

"I want to be with you more than anything`"

“Look, I want to be with you more than anything – I just didn’t want to rush things.”   

"That's so personal, Mark"

She congratulates him for the least generic response in the world, and as it is so personal it means a lot.

"I haven't finished yet . . ."

“I haven’t finished yet – you need to understand – I haven’t been with anyone for years, OK?   The last time I dated someone I really hurt her and I lost her – 

". . . the last thing I want is to hurt you"

“that’s the last thing I’d want to do to you.”

She points out that he has hurt her and he is very sorry about that;  “What did you do to her?” Cheryl asks.

"I judged her for something I shouldn't have"

“I judged her for something I shouldn’t have,” he answers, 

"Have you lost your phone, then?"

so she wonders why he has not contacted her until now – has he lost his phone?   

“I needed time to work out what the best thing to do was.”

“What, in terms of us?   Whether you wanted to see me again?” she asks, and he denies this;  rather he was working out how to make it up to her, 

"I realised I have tell you the truth"

but realised that he had to simply tell her the truth.   

He again insists that he is really, really sorry and Cheryl also feels sorry;  “That you’ve been such an idiot!”

"People will talk about this for years to come"

Iolo is reading the manuscript;  “Thank you so much for this, Dad.”   Siôn is glad that he can make use of his talent again – and is convinced that people will talk about this for years to come.   

"This area needs to be shaken up!"

“I hope so, because of this area needs to be shaken up,” says Iolo.

"This is going to give Cwmderi a shake and a half!"

“Well, I can tell you now this is going to give Cwmderi a shake and a half!” his father confidently predicts.

"Oi – Auntie Neet, man!"

Anita is heading across the road towards the Deri when Kelly comes out of Tomos ac Ellis.   “Oi – Auntie Neet, man!” she shouts, but Anita replies that she does not have time now.   

"I need to sell these 'Meddal' items"

“You don’t have time to talk to your niece?  Charming!” says Kelly, but is told that she needs to sell these ‘Meddal’ items.

"Can you have a chat with Cheryl?"

“By any chance, can you have a chat with Cheryl?” Kelly goes on, “Just, like, pretend to ask for a few sales tips, perhaps?   I spoke to Gaynor this morning, OK?   She said that Cheryl is down in the dumps after this Rohypnol business.   I thought you could help her build her confidence.”

"I'm not going to help the enemy!"

Anita flatly refuses to help;  “No, I’m not going to help the enemy!”   

"You need to chill, Auntie Neet"

Kelly can see that she seriously needs to ‘chill’, because ‘Meddal’ is not everything.   Kelly instructs Anita to sit down, but she insists that she still has to sell this stuff by the end of the day.

"No, Kelly, there's nothing wrong . . ."

When asked why the urgency, initially Anita maintains that nothing is wrong;  

". . . `I just want too get rid of the stock"

she just wants to get rid of the stock because there is another order arriving tomorrow.

“So you don’t actually need to get rid of it?” Kelly laughs, “Honestly – you need a distraction, because it’s taking over your life – you’re obsessed, man!”

Anita is still adamant that she is not going to talk to Cheryl;  

"I'm the last person she wants to see"

“I’m the last person she wants to see on her doorstep!”   

Kelly acknowledges that she has made her point, but still insists that she needs a break;  “Who knows, if you have a break, you might be more efficient at selling that stuff.   

"You've never been to a meeting – like, ever"

“Anyway, Kath said Merched y Wawr, Llanarthur, are meeting in the Deri tonight.   I know you’ve never been to a meeting – like, ever, but it would be good for you – meeting new people – a distraction.”

"That's exactly what I need, Kelly"

Anita suddenly agrees with her;  “That’s exactly what I need.”   

"Glad I could help"

Kelly is glad that she has been able to help – 

Anita sees a sales opportunity

and Anita is looking forward eagerly to the prospect.

"You need to be honest about everything"

Mark has explained to Cheryl and she advises him, “You need to be honest with me about everything from now on – OK?   Or this won’t work.”

“I don’t fancy making another speech like that for a while,” he confesses, 

"That was a speech and a half"

but she regards it as a speech and a half.   

"Thanks for forgiving me"

“Thank you for letting me explain myself and for forgiving me,” he adds.

"Who said I've forgiven you?"

“Who said I’ve forgiven you?” she demands and they kiss.   “Do you need to go back to work?” Cheryl wonders;  

"Eileen can wait for her hate mail"

he replies that Eileen can wait for her hate mail.   

They kiss . . .

They kiss again, Cheryl removes his Santa Claus hat 

. . . and Cheryl leads him away

and leads him towards the stairs.

"What do you think, Iolo?"

Iolo is still avidly reading when his father brings a cup of tea and asks what he thinks of it.  

"There are some good bits"

“There are some good bits,” Iolo replies, “It’s interesting – I thought perhaps we could get someone else to look at it – someone with literary experience.   

"Someone like Cassie?"

“Someone like Cassie?”

"Soft porn is her thing!"

Siôn is outraged by the mere suggestion;  “Soft porn is her thing – this is a work of substance!”   

"It's important to include everyone, Dad"

Iolo urges him that it is important to include everyone in this project.

"Our little baby is a masterpiece!"

“All right – but I’m sure she would agree that our little baby is a masterpiece!” Siôn modestly agrees.   Iolo reveals that Kelly is also coming over after work;  

"I'm looking forward to seeing her reaction"

Siôn is looking forward to seeing her reaction in the flesh. 

"Your hair needs brushing"

When they return downstairs, Cheryl maintains that Mark’s hair needs brushing;  

"That's thirsty work!"

he says that he needs a cup of tea after that thirsty work, 

"Perhaps I should finish my round first"

but then reconsiders, suggesting that he should finish his round first.

“I’ll come back later for that cup of tea, if that’s all right?   

"I'll finish this round the fastest ever"

“I’ll finish this round the fastest I’ve ever been, I promise you,” and he kisses her goodbye.   

Cheryl is in a much better humour

Cheryl looks much happier now.

Griffiths and Kelly have closed the shop

When Kelly and Griffiths come out of Tomos ac Ellis, they are concerned to see that Anita has borrowed the APD van to bring her stock round to the Deri.

"I'm going to meet a lot of new people . . ."

“You said I’m going to meet a lot of new people,” she tells Kelly, “You know – people who know nothing about ‘Meddal’.”   Kelly points out that it is a Merched y Wawr [Women’s Institute] meeting.

". . . and you said I needed a distraction"

“Yes – and you said I needed a distraction – so I shall be selling without noticing.   They are the distraction – and the customers!”   

"I didn't tell you to hijack the meeting"

Kelly did not tell her aunt to hijack the meeting, but is told that she had a fantastic idea;  

"I will have sold everything – just like that!"

“I will have sold everything – just like that!”

"Isn't the Deri a 'no go area'?"

Ieuan stresses that he has no interest at all in this drama, but considers that perhaps the Deri is a ‘no go area’ with all this stuff.   

She requires their support

Anita has already thought of that;  “I was hoping you two could come with me, to support me in case Kath and Cassie turn on me.

"I've had a really cryptic text from Iolo"

Kelly suddenly remembers that she had a text earlier;  “A really cryptic text message from Iolo, asking me to help with some masterpiece – I’d better go.   Don’t make a scene!” she warns Anita.

"Then masterpiece is Colin me as well"

Then Ieuan makes the same excuse – that the masterpiece is calling him as well – and quickly escapes.   

"Even listening to Siôn White talking nonsense"

As they walk along the street, he tells Kelly, “Anything is better than a Merched y Wawr meeting!   Even listening to Siôn White talking nonsense.”

Now Siôn has printed another copy for Kelly, 

"You should have sent a PDF"

but Iolo tells him he should have sent it as a PDF.   “That’s not the same,” his father insists and then there is a knock at the door.

"Ah, Kelly . . ."

“Ah , Kelly,” he says, and then is rather dismayed to see that Ieuan Griffiths is with her.   

". . . what's he doing here?"

“What’s he doing here?” Siôn demands, but does not receive any answer.   Kelly is keen to see this masterpiece.

"A political community drama"

After initial hesitation, Siôn explains, “I’ve written a political community drama to tackle the injustice at Penrhewl.”   

"You what?"

Kelly cannot grasp what he is saying, 

He gives her a copy

so he shows her the copy of his manuscript.

Mark is back at Maes-y-Deri and enjoying the cup of tea;  

"The fastest round on record"— even with their earlier dalliance?

“Just the thing after finishing the fastest round on record!” he maintains.   

Gaynor returns home . . .

The back door opens and Gaynor comes in, 

. . . to this idyllic scene

just as they kiss each other.

"Sorry, I'll leave you alone"

“Sorry – I’ll leave you alone,” she says, but her sister tells her not to go.   “So everything is back on track with the ‘Beautiss’ business?” Gaynor enquires, 

"I've decided to give it another go"

and Cheryl confirms that she has decided to give it another go.

"What's this?"

Gaynor finds the Santa Claus hat and Cheryl suggests they could put it in the window if one of them has company and wants the house to themselves.

Gaynor does not think she will need that, 

"A catch and a half – isn't she, Mark?"

but Cheryl maintains that Gaynor is, “A catch and a half!   Isn’t she, Mark?”   He simply grunts his agreement.   “You’ll find someone – and when you do, we’ll go on double dates!” Cheryl continues.   

Gaynor will go upstairs

Gaynor disappears upstairs.

"Don't forget the bar's open, ladies"

Merched y Wawr have arrived at the Deri and Kath reminds them that the bar is open, then finds that Anita has a couple of boxes stacked up nearby.   

"What do you think you're doing?"

“What do you think you’re doing?” she demands.

"This is not a chance to sell your silly pyramid scheme!"

Anita replies that she has come to the meeting, and is reprimanded, “This is a Merched y Wawr craft workshop, right – not a chance for you to sell your silly pyramid scheme stuff!”

Anita again insists that she has come for the meeting, but is accused of lying;  “You’ve never been to Merched y Wawr in your life!”

"You don't realise how much pressure I'm under!"

“Kath, you don’t realise how much pressure I’m under to sell!” snaps Anita.   

"Not everyone wants to buy your stuff"

Kath advises her, as a friend, that not everyone wants to buy her stuff every time they see her.   

"This cheap 'Beautiss' stuff isn't doing any good"

“Have you considered that the cheap ‘Beautiss’ stuff you put on your face isn’t doing any good!” Anita snarls angrily.

"Large gin and elderflower tonic . . ."

“All right – as I’m here and I’m not allowed in the meeting, I’ll have a large gin and tonic, please – elderflower tonic – 

". . . with ice and cucumber"

“with ice and cucumber.”

"Why do you want my help with this panto?"

After taking a look at the manuscript, Kelly enquires, “Why do you want my help with this panto?”   She is corrected that this is a community drama, not a panto.

"A commentary on the community"

“Well, it’s more than that – it’s a commentary on the community,” Siôn insists, with Iolo adding that it is a protest against Penrhewl, to make sure Eileen cannot go ahead with this hunt in 2024.   “Oh, like a New Year’s panto?” Kelly realises, 

Ieuan thinks he will have a look

as Ieuan has a crafty look at a manuscript.

"New Year, New Cwmderi"

“You should advertise it properly – as ‘New Year, New Cwmderi’,” she advises, and Siôn points out that it is also a chance to raise money for the food bank.

"I'm sure you've got contacts at the Western Post"

“That’s where we need your help, Kelly, to make sure the right people see it,” Iolo tells her, “I’m sure you’ve got contacts at the Western Post.”

"Cast it properly, you know"

She maintains that they will have to stage it properly;  “Get people who want to see it – know what I mean?   Cast it properly – you know – your main characters.”

Siôn was going total the leading male rôle 

“Well, I was going to offer myself as Siôn Blewyn Coch [Red Hair],” suggests Siôn.   This causes some mirth from Griffiths, while Iolo had been thinking about Colin or Mark, as they have had experience performing.

"Wouldn't it make sense to have a redhead?"

“Doesn’t it makes sense for a redhead to play Siôn Blewyn Coch,” says Griffiths, “Rather than someone with white hair?”   

"Why are you here?"

Siôn angrily wonders why he is there 

"Ffion as the leading lady" — yeah, right!

and that he was thinking of asking Ffion to play the part of Sian Slei Bach [Sneaky Little Sian].   “I think we would both be perfect for the parts.”

Kelly suggests it should be Cheryl

Now Kelly has her say;  “OK, bear with me, right – how about Cheryl for Sian Slei Bach – cos you know what?   She’s been really down in the dumps and I think that this is what she needs to lift her spirits.”   

"Good idea, Kel!"

Iolo agrees with her;  

"We're lucky she came, aren't we, Dad?"

“Yes, that’s a good idea – we are lucky she came over, aren’t we, Dad?”   

"Ta, Iol!"|

Kelly is very encouraged by this, but Siôn feels very differently.