15 February 2024

Gaynor has overslept again

Gaynor is asleep on the sofa once again when she is woken by the sound of her phone;  she blearily looks at it and staggers upright, 

She hurries to the door

rushing towards the front door.   She finds Cheryl outside, who wants to say sorry;  

"I didn't mean to upset you yesterday"

“I didn’t mean to upset you yesterday.”

Gaynor insists that she is not upset, 

Cheryl notices the bottle

then Cheryl notices the bottle left on the table;  

"I haven't been drinking"

“I haven’t been drinking,” Gaynor points out, “I did think about it – but I didn’t.”

"It's none of my business"

Her sister replies, “It’s none of my business,” 

"I really am late for work"

but Gaynor insists that she is desperately late for work.   

"She's doing it again"

“She’s doing it again,” sighs Cheryl, “Saying you’re busy – pushing me away.   You should be making an effort with me, Gaynor.”

“Yes, I’m sorry – but I’m late for work – 

"We'll get a chance to talk, I promise"

“look, we’ll get a chance to talk, I promise.”   

Cheryl leaves

Cheryl leaves the house.

"Sorry, Anita – there's so much to do"

At Bryntirion, Diane is packing some books into an Amazon box and informs Anita that she cannot, as she has so much to do.   Anita volunteers to help her for a couple of hours, 

"After a couple of hours we can go and celebrate"

“And then we can go to the Glyndwr to celebrate finishing the work.”

Dai hasn't thrown out a Western Post for ten years!"

Diane points out that it will take more than a couple of hours;  “I don’t think Dai has thrown out a single copy of the Western Post in almost ten years!   

"Why don't you ask Kath?"

“Don’t cancel the Glyndwr – ask Kath – she might be free.”

Anita is not keen on that

Anita does not fancy this, and will cancel, instead she will help Diane, 

"What's wrong, Anita?"

who detects that there is something wrong.   

"I'm fed up with 'Meddal' — and so say all of us

“I’m fed up with ‘Meddal’ and I thought it would be nice, for one day, to forget about everything.   After the year we’ve had as a family I just think it would do us good to treat ourselves – and it would be my treat!”

"Well – it would be nice"

Diane concedes that it would be nice 

"Everyone has to eat, Diane"

and Anita reminds her that everyone has to eat.

"Will there be enough room at the Deri?"

Colin is at MFC, debating whether there will be enough room for everyone at the Deri;  “Yvonne had so many friends – she loved the place.    

"I remember having gammon and chips with her"

“I remember having gammon and chips with her – two fried eggs, big chunks of pineapple – she loved it.”

"Hang on – wasn't she a vegetarian?"

Britt demands, “Wasn’t she a vegetarian?”   

"No, I was the one who had gammon"

He replies that he had gammon, while she always had a vegetable lasagne.

“And then to sing in the service – it might be ambitious, but I was thinking James Dean – the Manics.”   

"But they're world-famous, Col"

Britt cannot envisage anyone from the Manics coming, as they are world-famous, but they will need photographs.   

"There will be photographs everywhere"

“Oh, there will be photographs of her everywhere,” he confirms.

"You do think this is a good idea, don't you?"

“Britt, you do think this memorial service is a good idea, don’t you?”   She answers that she thinks it is a brilliant idea – well, not brilliant – sad, but touching.”   

She does not share his enthusiasm

He gets the impression that she is really not very keen.

"She's the last person I want to see!"

At the Gyndwr, Anita and Diane walk into the dining room where they see Eileen sitting alone.   “Oh, no!   She’s the last person I want to see,”snarls Diane.

Anita is surprised to see that she is on her own 

"Perhaps her date saw sense and didn't turn up!"

and Diane comments, “Perhaps her date saw sense and didn’t turn up!”   

Eileen is wished Happy Birthday

The waiter comes in and wishes Eileen, “Happy Birthday,” bringing her a small cake with a candle.   

Anita feels sorry for her

Anita feels sorry for her, as she blows out her candle.

Colin shows Gaynor some photos

Colin is in the pharmacy, discussing some photographs with Gaynor;  

"She was so photogenic"

“She was so photogenic,” he sighs, 

"Miss Lampeter, 1993"

“Miss Lampeter, 1993 – the premier category – 

"The camera has always loved both of us"

“the camera has always loved both of us.”

Delyth is standing nearby

Delyth is standing nearby, as Gaynor suggests he brings the photographs to Llwyncelyn tonight so they can go through them properly.   

"Sorry, I can't do it tonight"

He regrets that he cannot do that tonight, but she would like to do some reminiscing.  “We had so much fun over the years,” Gaynor recalls.

"She was so pretty, Colin"

Maya comes in and remarks that Yvonne was very pretty and that she is so sorry for his loss.   

"How about coffee and a panini?"

Meanwhile, Delyth has been standing there, saying nothing, but then tells Maya that she will go and get them some coffees and a panini.

"Do you want me to digitise some of these for you?"

“I’ll tell you what – do you want me to digitise some of these for you?” says Maya, “I’ve got a new printer with a flatbed scanner.”   

"That's very kind"

Colin is very touched that she would do that for him.  “I’m scanning my photos anyway – leave them with me.”   He says that is very kind (caredig) – 

"I know that word – caredig"

one of the words that Maya knows.   She is proud that she knows quite a bit of Welsh now.

"Come over around six, Colin"

Gaynor invites Colin, “Come over around six and we’ll have a vegetarian lasagne,” which he thinks sounds perfect.

Anita still worries about Eileen 

At the Glyndwr Anita and Diane make their selection from the menu, and Anita is looking very sympathetic towards Eileen’s plight;  

"She's better off than her dogs!"

Diane simply replies, “She’s better off than her dogs – a woman like that doesn’t deserve company on her birthday!”

Anita points out that she does not mean that;  

"You believe in justice for all"

“You believe in justice for all!”

Diane is willing to make an exception in Eileen’s case;  “Come on, Anita – she hasn’t got a heart!”   Anita’s reaction is to get up from her seat, remarking that she does have a heart, 

"Well, I'm going to invite her to sit with us"

and is going to invite Eileen to sit with them, much to Diane’s disgust.

"A little bird tells me . . ."

“Eileen, a little bird tells me it’s a special day for someone – happy birthday.”   

"I'm not one to make a fuss"

Eileen replies that she is not one to make a fuss, but has come out for a meal, then will have a cake with Huwi-John later.

"I want to buy you a birthday cocktail . . ."

Anita points out that she is with Diane and invites Eileen to join them;  “I want to buy you a birthday cocktail – 

". . . isn't that right, Diane?"

“isn’t that right, Diane?”   

Diane's expression says it all

Diane does not say anything.

Britt has Colin's prescription

Britt comes into the pharmacy, where Delyth and Maya are having their lunch, with Colin’s prescription.   Maya will go and get it, while Britt tries to keep her distance from the police officer.   

"Shampoo is expensive these days, isn't it?"

“Shampoo is expensive these days isn’t it?” she remarks, 

"Any chance it wasn't Yvonne?"

then goes across to ask Delyth, “Listen, is there any chance that it wasn’t Yvonne’s body under the patio?   

"Colin's going to so much trouble"

“Because Colin is going to so much trouble with this memorial service – I was just thinking what if it’s not Yvonne?”

"We're 99% sure it is"

She is told that the police are still waiting for the test results to arrive, but they are 99% sure that it is her.   “It adds up, doesn’t it?   The necklace in the ground – sorry I don’t have any more positive news.”

"We'll have to have this blinking' service, then!"

“We’ll have to have this blinkin’ service, then!” Britt groans, then gives her address to Maya for the prescription, “21 Heol Llanarthur, Cwmderi,” 

Maya waits for the full address

and is prompted for the postcode.   

"SA18 1GG!"

She angrily responds, “SA28 1GG!” 

"What is wrong with people in this village?"

and Maya wonders what is wrong with people in this village.

The atmosphere is not cordial

As they sit together around the table, Diane looks far from happy, so Anita tries to strike up a conversation with Eileen.   

"What did you have?"

“What did you have?   Was it nice?”   

"The lamb with rosemary"

Eileen had lamb with Rosemary, which was what Diane had, 

Diane remains silent

but she refuses to speak.   

"How's your new venture going?"

“I went for the chicken with tarragon,” Anita continues, “How’s your new venture going – the hunt?” and Diane looks even more disgusted.

"The dogs love the kennels Jason designed"

Eileen reports that it is going very well, and the dogs love the kennels which Jason designed.   

"He had to take the job to sustain his family!"

Diane breaks her silence and snarls, “Jason had to take the job, for your information, to sustain his family – but you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?   

"Your family don't even want to celebrate with you"

“Your family don’t even want to celebrate your birthday with you – well, it’s true, isn’t it?”

"It's my children's inheritance"

Eileen stresses that she is holding these hunts for her family’s sake – it is her children’s inheritance.   “Stop lying, Eileen!” snaps Diane, 

"You just enjoy cruelty – you and Howard are just the same!"

“You’re holding the hunts because you enjoy cruelty – you and Howard are just the same!”

"I'm nothing like him!"

Eileen vehemently objects to being likened to him;  she picks up her bag, 

"Thanks for the cocktail, Anita"

thanks Anita for the cocktail and storms off.   

"Well, that told her!"

Diane seems to have quite enjoyed that.

Colin has an order of service

Now Colin has a proof copy of the order of the memorial service, 

"I see Y Cloriau are making a comeback"

which Britt describes as, “Beautiful – and Y Cloriau [The Covers - a singing group formed by Gaynor, Colin and Yvonne at University in Aberystwyth] are making a comeback, I see.”

"But without Yvonne . . ."

Colin confirms, “Yes, for one memorial service only – but without Yvonne.”   

". . . I want you to take her place"

He wants Britt to take her place, singing with him and Gaynor.   “I’ve told Monty ‘Guitar’ that you’re going to join us, because Y Cloriau have always sung as a trio – and you could take Yvonne’s place – but only if you want to – I understand if you’ll be too emotional.”

"I shall ruin the performance"

She thinks that an ideal excuse would be that she does not know the songs, and predicts that she will ruin the performance.   Colin thinks otherwise;  

"You've got a voice like a nightingale . . . "

“You’ve got a voice like a nightingale,” he says, 

". . . will you do it – for Yvonne?"

“Will you do it – for Yvonne?”

"I don't know why you're standing up for Eileen"

At the hotel, Anita suggests that they have a cocktail but Diane does not agree.   “I don’t know why you’re so moody, Diane.”

Her reply is, “I don’t know why you’re standing up for someone like Eileen.”   

"I just felt sorry for her"

Anita maintains that she just felt sorry for her, then receives a message on her phone from Ieuan, 

"Oh, Winston Richards is standing"

informing her that Winston Richards is standing for the leadership of the council.

"He's about 85!"

“Winston Richards?   He’s about 85!” gasps Diane;  she is told that it does not matter, because she is not going to stand.

"Diane this and Diane that"

“Do know what?   All Ieuan did last night was talk about you – Diane this and Diane that – and what a loss it was for the county that you’re not standing.”

"He might have a point if Winston Richards is going to get it!"

“He might have a point if Winston Richards is going to get it!” growls Diane, and Anita really thinks that she ought to stand.   

"Why don't we have just one cocktail?"

She suggests that they have one cocktail to discuss it properly 

"Just one"

and Diane agrees to just one.

Gaynor brings a takeaway

Gaynor arrives at Maes-y-Deri, carrying two bags containing a Chinese meal.   “Chow Mein is your favourite,” she tells Cheryl, 

"Look, I know I can be difficult . . ."

“Look, I know I can be difficult . . .”

"If you know, what are you being difficult?"

“Well, if you know that, why are you being so difficult?” asks Cheryl.   Gaynor maintains that she is trying not to be now.   “You don’t have to talk to me, Gaynor – what you do need is to talk to someone.   I know it takes ages on the NHS, 

"You've got enough money to go private"

“but you’ve got enough money to go private, haven’t you?”

"I'm not as bad as you think"

“I’m not in as bad a place as you think, honestly,” Gaynor explains, 

"Just promise you'll talk to someone"

but her sister simply wants her to promise she will consider talking to someone;  Cheryl is anxious that she is OK.

"Yes, OK – I promise"

Gaynor does indeed promise and they prepare to eat their meal together.

"Winston can't even spell . . ."

“And Winston can’t even spell!” exclaims Diane, 

"Diane Asshurt it said!"

“Diane Asshurt is what he wrote on my badge when I started on the council.”   

"Even more reason for you to go for it"

Anita regards that as even more of a reason for her to try for the position.

After a moment’s thought, Diane agrees, 

"Diane Asshurt is going to be pain in the backside!"

“Tell Ieuan that Diane Asshurt is going to be a pain in the backside for anyone who stands against her!   Right, now I have to go home and sober up – and tidy up before everyone else gets home.”

"No, Diane, it's my treat . . . "

When Diane gets out her purse, she is told that it is Anita’s treat;  

". . . well – Ieuan's"

“Well – Ieuan’s.”

Now it becomes clear to Diane

Diane comes to the realisation that there is an ulterior motive here;  “Ieuan’s?   

"Were you trying to get me drunk?"

“Were you trying to get me drunk to get me to stand?”   

"It never crossed my mind, Diane"

Anita insists that no such thought crossed her mind.   

"Using excuses to get me here"

“Using ‘Meddal’ and Jason and Kelly as an excuse to get me here.”

"Here you go – that's my share!"

She hands over some notes;  “Here you go – that’s my share!   You can pay the tip!”

Gaynor is reading . . .

Gaynor is idly looking at a book, but then considers what her sister had said;  

. . . then picks up her phone

she picks up her phone and scrolls through the numbers.   She dials one of them 

"Hiya, how are you?"

and says, “Hiya, how are you?   

"Do you still offer counselling sessions?"

“Listen, do you still offer counselling sessions?”

"I'm sorry I listened to Ieuan"

Back at Bryntirion, Anita is still apologising for listening to Ieuan, but is told that there is no point making a fuss.   

"It's made me more determined!"

“It’s made me more determined than ever, anyway – I’m definitely going to stand for the leadership.   

"Too much wining and dining!"

“The council does too much wining and dining – and people get away with it.   People like Eileen benefit.   

"Its time for someone honest!"

“Now it’s time for someone honest – someone who’s going to stand up to that nonsense – 

"And don't you try to curry favour!"

“but don’t you try to curry favour!”

"I don't know what I can do or say"

Anita tenders her apology, “I don’t know what I can say or do to prove that I am sorry.”   

"You can start by packing this"

Diane considers that, for a start, she can start packing some boxes.

Maya is scanning photos

Maya is in the process of scanning photos;  

This is one of Delyth with a stranger

she opens an album and selects a photo of a younger Delyth with someone else.   

Looking in Colin's album . . .

Then she consults another album, from Colin, 

. . . she finds that the stranger is Yvonne . . .

and compares it with another photo of Colin, Yvonne and Gaynor.   

. . . so Delyth has some serious explaining to do

She realises the identity of the person with Delyth.