31 January 2024

The 'jodhpur brigade' are in evidence

As Diane emerges from the alley, three young ladies in riding gear are passing;  

Diane looks disapproving

she looks at them with considerable distaste.   

DJ puts up a notice in the window . . .

Across the road DJ is putting up a notice in the window of the deli, 

. . . and here is a larger version

inviting people to ‘Chat and Shandy’ in the Deri tomorrow.

"Did you see that?"

Diane remarks, “Did you see that?” and he replies that there is another hunt at Penrhewl today.   

"You have the evidence!"

“The police haven’t done anything to stop Eileen!” she snarls, “But you have a photo of a fox ripped apart – that’s evidence!”

"Er . . . I lost the photo, Diane"

He confesses that he did not go to the police last week, maintaining that he lost the photo, but he does not know how;  “I must have deleted it accidentally.”   

"Another hunt at Penrhewl, then"

Hywel joins them, commenting that there is evidently another hunt at Penrhewl.

"We should go up there and check"

Diane proposes that they should go up there to check exactly what is going on;  

"When was the last time you rode a horse, Diane?"

Hywel smiles, “When was the last time you rode a horse, Diane?”   She assures him that she will be going to find evidence that foxes are being killed there and informs him that DJ has seen one there.

“Well, are you coming with us?” she demands, 

"I'm too busy"

but he maintains he is too busy.   “And if everyone is busy?   How many foxes will be killed then?” Diane wants to know, 

"We'll sort out Eileen on our own!"

“Don’t worry – we’ll sort out Eileen on our own!”

This is not what postmen should be doing on duty

In the Deri, the barmaid is kissing the postman and he wonders what he has done to deserve it;  

"Do I need an excuse to kiss you"

“Do I need an excuse to kiss you?” asks Cheryl 

They resume

and he invites her to carry on.

"You're back together, then?"

At that moment Gaynor walks in;  “You’re back together, then?” she observes, “I just called in to have a coffee – can I buy you both one?”

Cheryl coldly answers, “No – Cassie will serve you,” 

"Cassie's not here"

and when Gaynor notices that Cassie is not there, she adds, “You’ll have to wait, then.”   

Gaynor departs

Gaynor looks at them for a moment and then leaves the pub.

"Why are you so offish with her?"

“Why are you so offish with her?” demands Mark, “You’ve forgiven me – I thought you’d forgiven her, too.”

"No chance!"

“No chance!” snaps Cheryl, “Listen, you were really thoughtful and actually did something for me – what has she done?   Moped around, feeling sorry for herself – get a grip!”

APD's (expensive) little carpentry job

Outside APD, we find out what the carpentry job, commissioned by Griffiths, looks like;  a market-type stall for Anita’s ‘Meddal’.   

"What's all this?"

“What’s all this?” she gasps, as she approaches.

"All in one prime position"

“For you to get rid of that  ‘Meddal’ stuff once and for all,” Mathew tells her, “All in one prime location.”   

"I thought you weren't going to help me"

She was under the impression that they were not going to help her.   

"Ieuan offered to pay"

“We weren’t, but Ieuan offered to pay,” he goes on.

"Are you going to help?"

She anticipates that they are also going to help her 

"No chance!"

but Rhys makes it quite clear, “No chance!”

It is time for a 'stirrup cup'. . .

At Penrhewl, the hunting fraternity are enjoying a drink before they get down to business 

. . . and Howard is doing a bit of 'chatting up'

and Howard appears to be chatting up a blonde, 

"Go and clean the Portaloos"

so Eileen instructs him to go and clean the Portaloos.   

"That's not my job!"

When he protests that it is not his job, 

"Your job is to do what I tell you!"

she replies, “Your job is to do what I tell you to do!”

"I want a word with you, Eileen"

Ieuan comes into the room and wants a word with Eileen;  

Eileen is not happy at what he has to say

“I think you’ll want to hear what I’ve got to say.”

Mark delivers a large parcel

Mark delivers a large parcel to Gaynor at Llwyncelyn and requires a signature.   

"How long have you been back together?"

“Mark, can I ask you something before you go?   How long have you and Cheryl been back together?”   

"Since the end of last week"

He says it was the end of last week, 

"Why is she all right with you and not me?"

so Gaynor continues, “Why is she all right with you and not with me?”

“That’s why I wanted the key the other day – 

"I put Post-its on things that freaked her out"

“I put Post-its on the things that freaked her out, explaining why they made noises.”   

"And she forgave you just for that?"

Gaynor finds it difficult to believe that he was forgiven simply for doing that;  “I paid her rent!”   

"Anyone can wave a cheque-book about"

Mark points out that she just waved a cheque-book around, which anyone can do – if they have the money.

“Sometimes the small things mean more, don’t they?” he adds and then leaves the house.

A brief glimpse of the Penrhewl Hunt . . .

We see the hunt in full cry – 

. . . and another

or rather a couple of horses galloping across a field.  

They are being spied upon

Hidden behind a convenient bush, Diane and DJ are keeping watch;  

"We should send a pack of dogs after them!"

“We should send a pack of dogs after them to see how they like it!” she rages, “If only we could record the pack attacking – the police would have to do something then!”

"I can't shop my own girlfriend's mother"

DJ does not think that they need to go to the police, so she demands what has happened to his backbone.   “Come on, Diane, I can’t shop my own  girlfriend’s mother – Sioned would never forgive me.”   Diane wonders why they are looking for evidence, in that case.

"If we caught something on her land`"

“She’d have a real fright if we filmed ourselves catching something on her land – I think threatening to go to the police would be enough – well, I hope so!”

“Right, we need to find a fox’s carcass, then,” Diane decides.

"How's it going, Anita?"

Anita’s stall is all set up, but she appears to be having difficulty in attracting customers;  when Mathew enquires how things are going, Hywel happens to be passing.   

She tries to flog some hydrating gel

She tries her sales technique on him;  “I’ve got some hydrating gel here,” 

"All I'm buying is milk"

but the only thing he is buying is milk from the shop, and he goes on his way.

"Everyone's the same, Mathew"

“Do you see?   Everyone’s the same,” she groans, but Mathew encourages her to stick with it.

They continue searching for evidence . . .

As they wend their way through the fields, DJ suggests that they should come back after the hunt to see if they have failed to hide everything.   “They’re going to be more careful this time – now’s our chance!” Diane declares, 

. . . even delving into the undergrowth

as he looks into the undergrowth for any sign of a fox.

“When a fox is scared, it runs into the undergrowth to hide its scent,” he informs her, 

"You don't understand much about the countryside, do you?"

“You don’t understand much about the countryside, do you, Diane?”

Then there is a screeching sound . . .

At that moment they hear the sound of a screeching fox, 

. . . which DJ recognises as being a fox

which DJ instantly recognises, 

"Are you sure?"

and they head towards the source of the noise

Cheryl has found a basket outside

Cheryl carries a wicker basket into Maes-y-Deri;  she is looking at the contents, as Mark comes in.   

"You didn't have to treat me"

“You’re gorgeous,” she tells him, “You didn’t have to treat me.”   He replies that it is nothing to do with him.   

"So who left this by the door, then?"

“So who left this by the door, then?” Cheryl asks.

She lists the contents

The basket contains room spray, bath soap, cleanser, shampoo;  Mark reaches the conclusion that it was Gaynor who sent it.   

"I suggested she should make more of an effort"

“She was worried things were still strained between you and I suggested that she should make more of an effort.”

"Throwing money at the problem!"

“So she’s trying to buy my forgiveness again?   Classic Gaynor – throwing money at the problem!”   

"You do use all that stuff, don't you?"

Mark stresses that Cheryl does use all that stuff, which proves that Gaynor has given it more thought.

Then there is a pair of boots . . .

At the bottom of the basket is a pair of boots, which still bear the price tag;  

. . . very expensive boots

Mark finds them to be astonishingly expensive.   Cheryl throws them back down into the basket.

They get nearer to the sound . . .

As they follow the screeching sounds, 

. . . which emanates from Howard's phone 

Howard comes into view, holding a phone, which is the source.   “Hello,” he says, 

"What are you doing on my land?"

then Eileen joins him, demanding what they are doing on her land (although DJ both lives and works at Penrhewl).

"Thought we'd go for a walk"

DJ replies that as it was a nice day, they thought they would go for a walk, but Eileen snarls, “I’m still waiting for an answer – a sensible one, this time!”

"Suspicious activity going on at Penrhewl"

“Look Eileen, as a councillor, I’ve heard of suspicious activity going on at Penrhewl,” says Diane.   Eileen wants to know who told her that;  “Sorry – I can’t reveal my sources.”

"You, trespassing on private land!"

“The only suspicious thing going on here is you trespassing on private land – perhaps as a councillor, you should listen to farmers who are trying to make a living!” shouts Eileen.

"I represent everyone, Eileen"

Diane argues that she represents everyone, but is told that she is not doing a very good job.   Then Eileen turns her anger on DJ;  “I expected better from you!”

"I don't want Penrhewl getting into trouble"

DJ replies that he is trying to help her;  “I don’t want Penrhewl getting into trouble with this hunt nonsense.”   

"You're as pathetic as each other"

Eileen describes them as being as pathetic as each other and orders them to get off her land before she calls the police.

They have little choice but to comply"

As they turn to go, Howard turns on his phone to give them another blast of screeching;  

"It's on Youtube!"

“It’s on Youtube if you want to listen to it again!”

More locals walk past without stopping

Sales at Anita’s stall have not improved and she is becoming disenchanted with the whole business;  

Mathew bring a cup of tea

Mathew brings her a cup of tea and she complains that it is freezing out there.

"I think it's time to pack it in!"

“Don’t ask – I think it’s time for me to pack it in!” she growls, but he suggests that it might be better if she were in a market or a fair.   “No, I’m going to stop the whole thing – 

"I want to feel like that, too"

“the trouble is, I like to see Ieuan being busy.   I know he gets so much pleasure from being successful – I wanted to feel like that, too – but there we are, this is another failure.”

"You should be proud of yourself`'

He insists that there is no shame in trying something;  “You should be proud of yourself for taking a risk – and realising when things get too much.   There is strength in that.”

"I know what I need to do"

Anita says she needed to hear that and now knows what she needs to do;  she dials a number on her phone 

"Louise, listen, – I've had enough"

and says, “Hiya, Louise – listen, I’ve had enough.   I want you to buy all the stock back, because I can’t do it any more.   I’ve got so much stuff left . . . 

"What did you say?"

“sorry, what did you say?   I don’t understand . . . more?”

A 'Meddal' van appears . . .

At that moment a van, with ‘Meddal’ branding, pulls up nearby 

. . . and Anita looks with horror

and she is lost for words.

Diane is furious

Back in the Deri, Diane is furious;  “I can’t believe she went to such trouble to set us up!”   DJ cannot understand how she knew that they were there.   “Did you see that smug smile?” demands Diane.

"She enjoyed making a fool of us"

DJ can see that Eileen enjoyed herself, making a fool of them.   “She’s going to regret it – because we’re definitely going to get her now!   I don’t know how – 

"No-one makes a fool of Diane Ashurst!"

“but nobody makes a fool of Diane Ashurst and gets away with it, good boy – nobody!”   DJ will get her a large gin.

"Stop – take it back!"

Anita’s pleas to take it all back fall on deaf ears as the van driver unloads the boxes;  

"Sorry"

he simply tells her, “Sorry.”

"I haven't ordered more!"

“It’s the truth Mathew – I haven’t ordered more – this is a mistake!” she squeals, “That blinkin’ Louise told me to check the small print!”   

"Better check the contract"

In that case, Mathew advises her to check the contract which she has.

She flings one of the boxes across the road

Rhys is approaching and Anita is so frustrated that she throws one of the boxes to the ground, 

"Everything will be all right, Anita"

but is restrained by Mathew.   “Stop, Anita – everything will be all right.   

"Go inside and finish your cup of tea"

“Go inside, finish your cup of tea and we’ll sort everything out.”   Anita is incandescent with rage 

"Sorry – sorry!"

and apologises repeatedly for dragging them both into this.   

They look at each other

Rhys and Mathew look at each other.

The councillors have a forthcoming meeting

Elsewhere, Griffiths is telling Hywel, “It’s a good chance to express an opinion.”   Hywel agrees that there will be a lot to discuss at the next meeting.

"I have something for you"

Then Griffiths remembers that he has something for Hywel;  the archetypal brown envelope, and he instinctively looks around to make sure no-one is watching.   

"Diane's and DJ's faces were a picture"

“Eileen wanted to give you this, to say thanks for the heads-up – she said Diane’s and DJ’s faces were a picture.”

"I don't want this"

When Hywel discovers the cash inside the envelope he argues that he does not want money, 

Griffiths will not take it back

but Griffiths is insistent, as, in the background, we see some of the hunters are going into the Deri.

The boxes are going into the van

Around the back of APD, Anita’s latest batch of boxes is being loaded into the van;  Rhys does not mind helping, as he says that it is a quiet week.   Mathew suggests that perhaps he could try to sell some of the items, 

"I thought we'd stopped doing this"

but is warned not to start;  “I thought we’d stopped this – it’s absolutely tragic we haven’t got anything better to do.   

"I haven't seen Anita like that before"

“I haven’t seen Anita like that before.”

"This is really stressing her out"

Mathew explains that the business is really stressing her out;  Rhys adds, “And everyone else!   Where’s this going, then?”   Mathew advises that it is going to Griffiths’ place – 

"Griffiths doesn't know about it yet"

but he does not know about it yet.

"It was thoughtful . . ."

Cheryl has gone to Llwyncelyn to thank Gaynor for the basket;  “It was thoughtful – 

". . . but I don't want these"

“but I don’t want these,” she says as she hands back the boots. 

"Don't you like them?"

“Don’t you like them?” asks Gaynor and is told that is not the point.

“You left the price on them – but you did go to an effort with the rest of the stuff, so thank you.”   

"You should take them, Cheryl . . ."

Gaynor  is still insistent that her sister should take the boots, maintaining that they will be handy when she is out with her clients in all weathers.  “They cost a bomb,” says Cheryl. 

". . . they're better than the old ones you're wearing"

“But you need new shoes – they’re better than the old ones you’re wearing!”   

Cheryl makes it clear that these old things are all that she can afford, 

"You're just throwing money at me again!"

adding, “You’re doing it again – just throwing money at me!”   Gaynor argues that she is trying to make bit of an effort here.

"Why are you all right with Mark and not with me?"

She is becoming rather angry as she demands, “Why are you all right with Mark, but not with me?   Why is the woman to blame when things like this happen?”   

"You're both to blame"

Cheryl replies that both of them are to blame, so she shouts, “Why are you punishing me more than Mark?   It’s not fair!

"Someone like Mark Jones!"

“Look, I’ve said that I’m sorry – I still can’t believe we’re arguing over someone like Mark Jones!” Gaynor sneers.

"You still don't think he's good enough, do you?"

“You still don’t think he’s good enough, do you?   Mark is kind and sweet – he wouldn’t hurt a fly.   Do you know what?   

"Why did I bother?"

“I came here to try and patch things up with you – instead I just end up being insulted – why did I bother?”

They have an eavesdropper 

Hywel has just come back and is listening to this altercation;  

"I've said Mark was a mistake!"

“I’ve said Mark was a mistake!” Gaynor exclaims.

Cheryl counters with, “Finding you was obviously a mistake, too!   

"No wonder everyone leaves you – you're toxic!"

“No wonder everyone leaves you, Gaynor – you’re toxic!”   

Cheryl storms out

She walks past Hywel and out of the house.

"What are these boxes doing here?"

Anita is looking through her paperwork when Ieuan returns from his hunting experience and demands what all the boxes are doing in his house.   

"The woman sent me more stock!"

“The woman sent me more stock without asking!” growls Anita, “I’m looking for the e-mail with the ‘Meddal’ contract for the London trip.”

Ieuan looks at the contract

When she locates it, Ieuan has a look at it;  

"It's in the small print"

“It’s in the small print – you have to buy more stock if you accept the trip to London.”   She protests that this is twice the amount she usually gets, and tries to put the blame on him, 

"You wanted the trip to London in the first place!"

insisting that it was he who wanted the trip to London in the first place.

"Is there enough for two?"

In the darkness at Llwyncelyn, Gaynor pours herself a glass of red wine;  Hywel asks if there is enough for two.   

"You're not still upset about Cheryl?"

“You’re not still upset about Cheryl, are you?”

"I do push everyone away"

“What she said is true,” Gaynor groans, “I do push everyone away – I’ll be rattling around this place by myself.”   He was under the impression that she wanted him to go and she agrees that would be for the best, but she has not lived alone for years.

"Don't worry about it"

“Cheryl lost her temper when she said that – don’t worry about it,” he says.

"I am toxic, aren't I?"

“Yes, but she’s right – I am toxic aren’t I?   Why would I sleep with someone I don’t like?”   He points out that they all make mistakes;  

"Perhaps I deserve to be alone"

“But I’ve made one after another!” she whines, “Perhaps I deserve to be alone.”

"You'e a good person, Gaynor"

Hywel insists that she is a good person;  

"I still think the world of you"

“Honestly – despite everything we’ve been through, I still think the world of you.”   

Is this the third time around with Gaynor?

They kiss.