14 February 2024

Siôn is shouting the odds again

Cai is eating at Cysgod y Glyn when Siôn bursts, in waving his phone and demanding, “Why aren’t you answering?   

"I've been phoning and phoning!"

“I’ve been phoning and phoning!”

"Is there a problem, Siôn?"

Cai explains that his phone is dead and he does not have a charger there;  “Is there a problem?”   

"Iolo has told the police everything"

Siôn informs him that Iolo has gone to the police and told them everything;  they have kept him in overnight and they will not disclose any information.

Siôn insists that Cai should talk to them, 

"It's a bit late for that"

but Ffion considers that it is a bit late for that.   “Just tell them Iolo misunderstood or misremembered – anything – I beg you!” snarls Siôn.

Ffion asks why Cai should lie about it;  

"For Iolo – for Greta!"

“For Iolo – for Greta!” is the angry reply.   She reminds him that it was Iolo who chose to do this, not Cai.

"If Iolo wants to do the right thing . . ."

“If Iolo wants to do the right thing, then . . .” Cai begins and Siôn accuses him of wanting this from the start.   

"Stop it, Siôn – this is not Cai's fault!"

Ffion tells Siôn to stop this onslaught, as it is not Cai’s fault.

"Keep your nose out!"

“Keep your nose out!” he growls at her, but is warned by Cai not to speak to her like that, so Siôn maintains, rather unconvincingly, that he is sorry, but is just very worried.   Ffion can see that he has not slept a wink, so instructs him to sit down and she will make him a coffee.

"I have to go to the police station"

He refuses to do this, insisting that he has to go to the police station to see Iolo, but finally succumbs to her order, 

Siôn is given his orders

“Sit down – coffee!”

Mark looks across the road

Mark is standing around outside the deli when Ieuan and Anita pass;  

"Cheer up – it may never happen"

then he goes across to where Gaynor is rather half-heartedly cleaning the windows of the pharmacy.   “Cheer up – it may never happen,” he says, “That dejected look on your face.”

"I'm tired, that's all"

She replies that she does not feel great;  “I’m tired, that’s all.”   

"Had a big night, did you?"

She is asked whether she had a big night last night and once again she maintains that she is just tired;  

She retreats into the pharmacy

she will finish the windows later and goes back into the shop.

"Gwilym Daniels has died"

Meanwhile Ieuan Griffiths is getting money from the cash machine and Anita has just found out via her phone that Gwilym Daniels has died.   

"At blinking' last!"

“At blinking last!” comments Ieuan, “He’s survived two heart attacks already – things always come in threes – 

"What killed him in the end?"

“what killed him in the end?”   She answers that it was a heart attack.

"I hope I'm not the next skittle"

“Amos Gough last year, Gwilym Daniels this year – the grim reaper is playing skittles with the council – I hope I’m not the next skittle!” he continues, “There will be an election now.”

"Of course I'm not standing . . ."

Anita is adamant, “Well, you’re not standing for council leader!”   He agrees that of course he is not and she jokes, “You’re not popular enough!”

". . . I pull the strings of the leader!"

He argues that it is a terrible job that is not paid well enough;  he prefers being backstage, pulling the strings of the leader.   “Can’t you just pretend to be nice?” she wonders.

"It's my killer instinct you find sexy!"

He says that it is his killer instinct that she finds sexiest about him 

"Well, it's not your looks!"

and she scathingly answers, “Well, it must be, because it’s not your looks!”   He comments that he loves it when she flirts with him like that, then goes into Tomos ac Ellis.

"Iolo is an adult, you know"

Cai tells Siôn, “I know this is difficult for you, but Iolo is an adult – he has a right to do this.”   

"Why does everyone else have to suffer?"

Siôn wonders why everyone else has to suffer.   

"Worrying about yourself again"

“Worrying about yourself again,” Cai sneers, but Siôn insists he is worried about Greta.

"She'll have no-one – is that what you want?"

“One parent dead and the other in prison – she’ll have no-one – is that what you want?” Siôn demands, 

Siôn receives a phone call

then his phone sounds.   He is given the news that Greta has earache and says that she complained of it last night, 

"I can't take her to the police station"

but he cannot take her to the police station.

"I'll go and fetch her"

Cai volunteers to go and fetch her and it will also be an opportunity to get some stuff from Y Felin.   He is told that the medicine is in the cupboard above the sink, which Cai already knows.

"It might be an idea to find  good lawyer, too"

He is told, “Go and focus on Iolo – it might be an idea to find him a good lawyer, too.”

Griffiths collects two drinks from Geraint . . .

In the Deri, Geraint serves Griffiths with the drinks and he goes across to where Hywel is reading the paper, 

. . . and gives one to Hywel

giving him one of them.   

"Council leader – you're the man!"

“Council leader,” says Griffiths, “You’re the man!”   

"Have a bit of respect, Ieuan!"

He is told to have some respect, as Gwilym is not in the ground yet.

"It's a no-brainer, isn't it?"

“Come on – a sociable, popular guy like you – the cabinet and every official following your orders – it’s a no-brainer isn’t it?”   

"I've got a lot on my plate"

Hywel points out that he is a single parent with a lot on his plate.

"£50k a year and allowances"

“Think of the money – £50k a year and allowances – but there we are, if you got too much on your plate, fair play.”

"Do you support me, then?"

“Listen – do you support me, then?” Hywel asks.

Griffiths cryptically replies, “Is Dafydd Iwan ‘yma o hyd’?”  [‘still here’ – a protest song written by the Welsh folk singer]

"Would I stand a chance?"

Hywel finds it hard to believe that he would have a chance and is assured that he would be the front runner;  

"The gee-gee to put a flutter on"

“The gee-gee to put a flutter on.”   He is willing to consider it if Griffiths will organise his campaign.   

“I’ve started organising it already – on the to-do list – find someone to stand against you that we can control.   Otherwise Peter Watkin will select some anti-establishment idiot.”   Hywel describes him as Machiavellian, wondering why he has not considered the righteous path.   

"No thanks, Gandhi"

“No thanks, Gandhi,” Griffiths sneers, “The great leaders pick their opponents and keep their jobs.”   Hywel predicts that they will be in front of the International Court before the decade is over.

"Looks like a leopard on the outside . . ."

“We want someone who looks like a leopard on the outside, but is as tame as a pussycat on the inside,” says Griffiths, just as Diane, coincidentally in her leopard-effect coat, walks in.   

"Bingo!"

“Bingo!” he adds, “The stars have aligned!”   

"Why are they looking at me?"

Diane wonders why they are looking at her.

"No, I've just had a coffee"

Cheryl once again has been trying to speak to Gaynor;  “I’ve been on hold with the cash-and-carry for ages – can I get you a coffee?”   Gaynor has just had one at work, 

"Mark was worried you might be drunk"

so Cheryl sits down opposite her.   

“I’m surprised you got in touch, to be honest,” Gaynor tells her and is informed that Mark was worried that she might be drunk.   

Gaynor is offended

“Drunk?   You said that this was a ‘catch-up’ in your text,” Gaynor protests.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist"

“Don’t get your knickers in a twist – we’re just worried,” says Cheryl, but she is told in no uncertain terms there is no need to be worried.

"That's not my style"

“You might have come from a background where everyone drinks all night, but that’s not my style!”   

"All right – you can do what you like!"

Cheryl has tried, but now tells her sister that she can do what she likes.

"Is the Calpol working?"

Greta is doing some drawing at Y Felin and Cai asks her if the Calpol is working;  she nods her head, which is good news for Uncle Cai.   

"A card for Dadi Iolo"

She is making a card for Dadi Iolo 

"Do you want to come for a spin in the car?"

and he tells her that is special.   “Do you fancy going for a spin in the car with Uncle Cai?” he asks;  

She hurries to get her coat

she hurries to put on her coat.

"Well, I wasn't drunk, for your information!"

Gaynor has gone to number 7 to complain, “Well, I wasn’t drunk, for your information!” but Mark also insists that they are just worried about her.   

"You have nothing to worry about"

“Well, you have nothing to worry about, all right?   And I’ve got better things to do than explain myself to you!” she continues.

"You must think you have a problem"

“You must think you have a problem, or you wouldn’t react like this,” he responds and she points out that she is just trying to protect her good name.   

"I now you called the police on Hywel last week"

“I know you called the police on Hywel last week,” he goes on, but she dismisses that as a misunderstanding.

"That's not what Hywel told Cheryl"

“That’s not what Hywel told Cheryl,” he says and she realises that they have been talking about her;  

"Haven't you got anything better to talk about?"

she is surprised they have nothing better to talk about.

"Elsie was the same , according to Cheryl"

“Elsie was the same, according to Cheryl – never willing to discuss her problem – she drank as well, Gaynor – 

"You need help"

“and I think it’s important you know, because you need help.”

Iolo is sitting at the table

Iolo is sitting at the table in Y Felin when Siôn returns home, 

"I told the police to drop the charge . . . "

he was picked up by Cai, who has told the police to drop the charge.   Siôn is extremely grateful to him.   

". . . I'm surprised you weren't there"

Cai is surprised that Siôn was not at the police station when he went there;  “I was in Llanelli, seeing a lawyer.”

"Don't mention the sweets"

Greta comes downstairs and is now feeling better, but is warned by Cai not to mention the sweets they had in the car.   

Iolo is told to take care

Now he will go, telling Iolo to take care.

"I'm so pleased you're home"

“I’m so pleased you’re home,” says Siôn, then turns to Greta;  

"Spaghetti Bolognese?"

“Do you want something special for lunch, now that Dadi’s home?   Spaghetti Bolognese?   It’s a change from fish fingers.”   All this time Iolo has said nothing.

"So Mam was an alcoholic?"

“So Mam was an alcoholic – is that what you’re saying?” demands Gaynor, 

"You'll have to talk to Cheryl about that"

and is advised to talk to Cheryl about that, as it is not Mark’s place to discuss it.

"That's complete rubbish!"

“Well, you obviously think I am – which is complete rubbish!” she replies.   

"Look, you're not yourself, Gaynor"

He stresses that he does not think that, but is simply worried about her;  “Look, you’re not yourself – you must be able to see that,” but Gaynor simply wants her sister to forgive her.   

"It will only make matters worse"

“Why won’t she?   She’s forgiven you.   There’s nothing to say – there’s no point you having a word with Cheryl – it will only make matters worse.   Sorry, I’d better get back to work.”

"There's more to Mark Jones than a pretty face"

Mark promises he will have a word with Cheryl and sort everything out;  “There’s more to Mark Jones than just a pretty face,” he alleges.

Greiffiths gives Diane the 'big sell'

Now Griffiths is attempting to persuade Diane to stand for Council leader;  

"I'm not even on the cabinet"

“I’m not even on the cabinet,” she protests, but he insists that is even more reason to stand, as it is such an ‘old boys club’ which needs to be shaken up.   He calls upon Anita, who does not seem to be very interested, to support him.

"You don't want Hywel to be elected, do you?"

“Oh yes, you don’t want somebody like Hywel Llywelyn to be elected without opposition, do you?” she emphasises.

"You're a hundred times better than that 'leech'!"

Griffiths describes Diane as a hundred times better than that ‘leech’;  “And we’ll be at your side every step of the way.”   

"But I shall need to be at home more than ever"

She however is concerned about Dai’s condition meaning that she will be needed at home more than ever over the next few years.

“Women always sacrifice themselves for others – while the community loses out on your skills, your wisdom . . .”   

"How long have you been such a feminist!"

Diane demands how long he has been such a feminist and he replies, “I was raised by one – 

"Mami was at Clapham Common"

“Mami was at Clapham Common!”   

"I think you mean Greenham Common, Ieuan"

Anita believes that he means Greenham Common;  “Yeah – there as well!” he adds, “Come on, Diane – you’re the one for the job!”   

She looks very sceptical

She has heard enough from him 

"What do you think, Anita?"

and enquires what Anita thinks about this.

She must have run out of red wine . . .

Gaynor goes to the fridge and takes out a bottle of wine, 

. . . but her temptation is interrupted . . .

which she is looking at when the front door opens, 

. . . by Cheryl and Mark

with Cheryl and Mark coming in.   

"How did you get in?"

“What are you doing here?   How did you get in?”   

"I remembered the code to the key safe"

She is informed that Cheryl remembers the code to the key safe, 

"You're supposed to be locked in the bathroom!"

and Cheryl was under the impression that Gaynor was locked in the bathroom.

"What are you talking about?"

This situation has been engineered by Mark, 

"You two need to sort things out"

who informs them, “No-one says this is going to be easy, all right, but you two need to sort things out.”   

Off goes Mark

Having said that, he turns to leave the house 

They stare at each other

and the two sisters are left, staring at each other.

"Mark said you want to know about Mam"

“Mark said you want to know about Mam,”says Cheryl.

"No-one sorts them out like you do"

Anita is still trying to encourage Diane;  “No-one sorts them out like you do,” 

"Did he put you up to this?"

but she is suspected of saying this to keep Ieuan happy.   

"I have more backbone than that!

“No – I have more backbone than that, thanks!”   

"I have to leave now"

Diane agrees to think about it and now has to leave as there is a lot of work to clear the house.   She advises they will be moving into the bungalow as soon as Jason has finished the work on it.

"A new home – a new rôle on the council"

“A new home – a new rôle on the council,” comments Ieuan, “Everything’s happening at the same time for you.”

Diane hesitates for a moment;  “At my side every step of the way, you said – if I stand – 

"You can take some stuff to be recycled"

“well, you can start by helping me take some stuff to be recycled,” 

"Come on, good boy!"

which is not exactly what he had he intended. 

"I didn't think it was a problem"

“I remember you saying that she liked a drink, but I didn’t think it was a problem,” says Gaynor.   

"It was a real problem"

Cheryl confirms that it was — a real problem.

“Every Friday, Saturday – whenever – the pink fizz was opened.   I don’t remember everything – I was young – but by the time I was a teenager, it was a nightmare.   She was the life and soul – 

"Inviting random men back to the house"

“she invited random men from the ‘workies’ back to the house – and copped off with them if she was in the mood.”

"Sounds like a handful"

Gaynor says that she sounds like a handful;  Cheryl agrees, “It was one mistake after another when she was drunk.   So, if knowing that helps you with your problem . . .”

"But I don't have a problem"

Gaynor still will not accept that she has a problem;  “Right, well, thank you for coming over and sharing, 

"I have things to do"

“but I have things to do.”   Cheryl insists that she is only trying to help and does not want her to become like their mother.   “No, honestly, I have to pick Esther up from tennis.”   Cheryl hands back the keys and leaves the house.   

At least Gaynor is now thinking about it 

It appears that Gaynor is thinking seriously about the situation.

Both Siôn and Greta are at work

Siôn is working on the laptop 

She has finished the card

and Greta is colouring her card, which Siôn maintains deserves a place in an exhibition;  they will show it to Dadi later.

Iolo has has some sleep

He comes downstairs after having manage to sleep a little 

"Why did you phone the police?"

and his father begins to interrogate him again;  “Tell me, why did you phone the police?   You don’t need to feel guilty – Cai doesn’t hold a grudge.”

"Why has he moved out, then?"

In that case, Iolo asks why he has moved out and is told that he needed some time;  

"We should draw a line under it"

Siôn wants to draw a line under this, as it is over now.   

"Show the picture to Dadi"

He calls Greta to come and show the picture to Iolo.

“Greta has something special to show you,” he says 

"No, not now"

but Iolo does not want to see it now.   

"But she's put a lot of effort into it"

Undeterred, Siôn goes on, “But she’s put a lot of effort into it and it’s very good,”

“All right – I’ll look at it later,” says Iolo, but his father keeps on and on about it.   

"I said no!   I don't want it!"

In the end, Iolo shouts, “I said no!   I don’t want it!” as he screws up the picture 

He rushes upstairs

and escapes upstairs.