19 June 2024

"Can you put them over there, DJ?"

In the deli, Sioned is looking at her phone when DJ brings in another tray of cakes;  

Beetroot cakes

her mother has made some beetroot cakes.   Sioned points out that everything is supposed to be about a healthy heart.

"It's been a year since the cardiac arrest"

“It’s hard to believe it’s a year since the cardiac arrest,” DJ comments, “So much has changed,” but Sioned is engrossed in typing something on her phone.

"Everything has changed"

Then she replies, “Everything has changed – I’ve recovered, I’m healthy, I run a successful business,” she says and is reminded by her mother that she is also expecting twins, 

They are raising money for a defibrillator

so they can raise money for a defib, to help someone else;  she encourages DJ to buy a beetroot cake and enjoy it.

"You should have been at the gig, Dad"

At Y Felin, Cai is drinking his morning coffee and must now get on with the year 10 reports.  “You should have been at the gig, Dad – it was amazing,” Lleucu tell him, 

"I managed to talk to Dafydd Iwan!"

“Everyone was singing and I managed to talk to Dafydd Iwan!   Megan had a photo with him.”

Siôn is in an advanced stage of exhaustion

The door opens and Siôn staggers in, totally exhausted;  he gasps, “I ran down to the village, a couple of laps and back.”   

"I haven't missed Dafydd Iwan?"

When he hears from Lleucu about yesterday’s visitor, he is jealous.

Lleucu asks if he wants a glass of water and as he stumbles to a chair, 

"You should build up to it first"

Cai warns, “You can’t just run that far without building up to it first,” but Siôn is more concerned that he did not see Dafydd, stressing that they are old friends.

He is advised that he should walk and run alternately for half an hour to begin with, 

"Then Property Act protests"

but Siôn continues, “I saw him a lot during the 90s – the Property Act protests.”

Cai insists that he has to look after himself;  

"So you can escape from the police"

Lleucu adds, “So you can escape from the police after all this protesting.”   

"You're going to hurt yourself, Siôn!"

Cai is concerned that he is going to hurt himself if he is not careful.

"Diane, have you got a second?"

As Diane emerges from the deli, she is dismayed to see Sara, who pleads to be given a second;  

"You had your chance!"

Diane snarls, “You had your chance – Ifan has been waiting for years for you to come home – we’ve all moved on!”   

Diane goes into number 7

She goes into number 7 and slams the door.

That cow doesn't deserve to see her son!"

“That cow doesn’t deserve to see her son!” she rages to Kelly, 

"I don't actually think we can do anything about it"

who replies that she does not actually think they can do anything about it.   

"Where has she been all these years?"

“Where has she been all these years?   When did she last speak to him?” Diane goes on.

"All Sara is to Ifan is a picture in a frame"

“I know!” Kelly agrees, “All Sara is to Ifan is a picture in a frame in his bedroom.   

"She didn't have much choice when she left"

“But, do you know what?   She didn’t have much choice when she left!”   

"She decided not to phone"

Diane stresses that she decided not to phone or to carry on with the FaceTimes.

“Right, Griffiths thinks we should let Sara see him, OK?” says Kelly, “Keep her sweet in case she does something drastic.”   

"What does Ieuan Griffiths know?"

Diane wonders what Ieuan Griffiths knows, and is told, “A lot about family law, apparently – Hazel stopped him seeing the girls for ages.”

Diane maintains that their situation is completely different, 

"The court always favours the mother"

 Kelly suggests, “The same rules apply and the court always favours the mother.”   

Diane snarls that is what Kelly is;  she even doubts that Ifan remembers who Sara is.   Kelly remarks that they are going round and round in circles now.

"Until she packs her bags and moves back to Australia!"

“And we will, until she packs her bags and moves back to Australia!” growls Diane.   Kelly then demands what Jason would do, which tends to quieten Diane.

"Nothing that puts too much strain on the heart"

In the deli, Lleucu asks Sioned whether she will be able to play in the future;  “Not rugby, but I can do some exercise – just nothing that puts too much strain on the heart,” is the reply.   

"It changes your life, just like that"

Lleucu says that these things are  crazy – changing your life just like that.

“Yes, but I’m lucky and I had fantastic care,” Sioned relies.   Lleucu praises the ‘lush’ cakes and Sioned goes to fetch more from the kitchen.

"Doesn't a man deserve a lunch hour?"

Ffion comes in and Cai demands, “Doesn’t a man deserve a lunch hour?”   She agrees that it is important to support the community.   Lleucu has selected a courgette cake for Siôn.

"Lleucu would like to join the rugby team"

“Lleucs mentioned over the weekend that she’d like to join the rugby team,” Cai tells Ffion, who replies that they are always looking for new players.   Lleucu presumes that she is too young;  

"You can train with us, no problem"

“Too young to play in the games, yes – tackling – but you can train with us, no problem at all.”

"She'll get a lot out of rugby"

Cai predicts that she will get a lot out of rugby, as he has;  “I know from experience how much it helped my mental health.”   Ffion will be there to look after her.

Eileen sends cakes to Siôn 

Eileen brings in courgette and beetroot cakes for Siôn;  “Tell him that I said hello!” she adds and will accept no payment, stressing that it is a gift to Siôn from her.   

"Hello – something going on there!"

They suspect that something may be going on there.

"I'll be out now"

Sioned receives a phone call;  “You’ve arrived, have you?   OK, I’ll be out now.”

Maya arrives back in the village . . .

Outside, where the gulls are calling loudly, she meets the taxi as it arrives and welcomes Maya back to the village, 

. . . and is welcomed by Sioned

giving her a hug.

"How did it go with Dafydd Iwan last night?"

In the Deri, Siôn asks Geraint how it went with Dafydd Iwan last night and he replies, “Great!”   

"Sara – good to see you back"

Then Siôn is surprised to see Sara;  he asks how long she has been away.   

"It's been a long time"

She merely describes it as a long time.

"I've started to run again"

When he says that he is fine, she looks at his bag from the pharmacy on the bar and he explains that he has started to run again and his legs are aching, so he picked up a few things.   

"Now I cycle – it suits me better"

She says that is why she stopped running;  “I used to push myself, suffer, ache – now I cycle – it suits me better.”   He comments that the weather in Australia is better for that sort of thing, and wonders is if is there is room in her suitcase to take him back with her.

“I’m very glad you found happiness after everything,” he adds.   

She looks quite pleased with herself 

As she goes to sit down, she seems to be pleased with the way the first stage of her plan is it working.

"I like your hair, Sioned"

When Maya comes out of the back door of the pharmacy flat, she compliments Sioned on her hair.   “I fancied a change – how are things in Liverpool?”   

"I missed my best friend"

Maya replies that she missed her best friend 

"Come on, then"

and Sioned decides that it is time the pair of them headed to the deli, although Maya is rather hesitant.

They enter the deli

They walk in and Sioned welcomes Steffan;  

Sioned welcomes Stefan Howells

she is very grateful to him for coming today.   The journalist has arrived, so Sioned stands on the stairs and calls for everyone’s attention.   

"I'd like you to meet Steffan Howells"

“I’d like you to meet Steffan Howells – a similar thing happened to him that happened to me last year, on the field in Cardiff.   Steffan is here today to support the course – so thank you very much.  And while I have your attention, I’d like to introduce the person who saved my life – Maya Cooper.”   

DJ disapproves

In the background, DJ looks very disapproving of this, 

"I dread to think where I would be without you, Maya"

as Sioned continues, “I dread to think where I would be without you, Maya – and it’s only right that you celebrate with us – so, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

"Thank you for inviting me"

Maya has obviously been practising her Welsh since she left, and replies, “It means a lot to be here – thank you for inviting me.”   

The photographer wants . . .

The photographer wants 

. . .a photo of the pair of them

a photo of Sioned and Steffan together.

"The physio saved me"

Sioned points out that if Maya had not had CPR training . . . and believes it was Steffan’s physio who gave him similar treatment.   Then the photographer would like a picture of Sioned and Maya together.   

DJ is increasingly angry

Both DJ and Eileen are very aggrieved at this, 

"This is just for show – don't take it to heart"

but Eileen stresses, “This is just for show – don’t take it to heart.”   He does not agree with her and immediately walks out of the shop, with Sioned quickly following.

"It was only to promote the cause"

In the alley, Sioned insists, “It was a photo to promote the cause,” 

"Everyone will see my girlfriend with 'her'!"

but DJ snarls that the photo will be everywhere – in the papers, online – and everyone will see his girlfriend with ‘her’.   

"'Her' saved my life!"

“‘Her’ saved my life!” is Sioned’s response.

"Did you organise for her to come all this way?"

You kissed her – did you organise for her to come all this way?”   Sioned points out that she was coming back anyway;  

"I just wanted to thank Maya"

she just wanted to thank Maya in front of everyone for everything she did.   

"I think you've 'thanked her' enough already!"

“I think that you’ve ‘thanked her’ enough already,” he sneers.

"Are you really going to behave like this?"

“Are you are really going to behave like this?” she demands and he accuses her of making a fool of him.   “Me making a fool of you?   Was it you or me standing outside that chapel on our wedding day?” she rages, but he maintains that was different.

"You had an affair with Non that lasted months!"

“Yes, because you had an affair with Non that lasted for months – and I forgave you!   Why are you finding it so difficult to forgive me?   Because the truth is, my mistakes are no worse than your mistakes!”

"Eileen sends her love!"

Lleucu returns to Y Felin with the cakes from Eileen, who sends her love to Siôn who is surprised that she is back so early.   “Why did Dad stop playing rugby?” she enquires 

"He's a bit old to play now"

and he says that they have not had a men’s team for a long time, plus the fact that her father is a bit old to play now.

"It worked wonders for his mental health"

“But it worked wonders for his mental health,” she goes on;  

"He does other things to cope now"

Siôn answers that he does other things to cope now, like boxing and assures her that she does not have to worry about her father, who is doing very well at the moment.

"That bracelet suits you"

Diane tells Kelly that the bracelet suits her;  

Kelly is very concerned

“I just hate thinking I’m doing something that Ifan will hold against me when he grows up, like,” groans Kelly.   

"What happens if we can't stop her?"

Diane points out that they can say they did what was best;  “Oh, aye, teenagers are famous for listening to reasoning like that,” Kelly sighs, “What happens if we can’t stop her?   Legally – I mean – do you want to spend years and loads of money, dragging this through the courts?”

"What if she disappears again?"

“But what if we let her see him and then she disappears again?   What then?” Diane asks and Kelly does not know the answer, but at least Ifan would not be able to blame them for it.

"We can enforce strict rules"

Neither of them trust Sara;  “But while we have some control, we can enforce strict rules,” Kelly proposes, “When she sees him, where she sees him.   Before a magistrate or judge or social services or whoever enforces the rules for us years down the line.”   

"She won't stick to rules!"

Diane doubts that Sara will stick to the rules, 

"Jason would have given her a chance"

but Kelly considers that Jason would have given her a chance.

"I'm not sure I believe you"

As they continue their argument in the alley, DJ complains, “I’m not sure I believe you when you say there’s nothing between you.”

"How many more times?"

Sioned wonders how many times she has to say it – they are just friends, but he is becoming more angry.   “I asked you for one thing that would save our relationship – and you can’t do it – 

"You can't stay away!"

“you can’t stay away!”

"You make it sound like I'm obsessed!"

“You make it sound like I’m obsessed with her,” counters Sioned, but DJ is indeed under the impression that she is;  she cannot go for a month without seeing Maya – she makes any excuse to bring her back.

"You organised this circus to see her!"

“You organised this circus to see her!”   She wonders if it would make him feel better if she said that she did.   

"You love being in her arms!"

“You love being in her arms – you won’t even let me touch you!   You wince every time I try to kiss or hug you!   And you’re always asleep when I get home!”

"Sorry if my sex drive isn't high enough"

“Sorry if my sex drive isn’t high enough for you while I feel sick!” she shouts, but she maintains that is not what he means.   “What do you mean, then?” Sioned shouts

"For the children's sake, you can't see her again!"

“We’ve got two babies on the way and we need to be solid – for the children’s sake, you can’t see her again!” he dictates.

"You're using the twins to get what you want!"

“You think our relationship would be stronger if I stay away from Maya?” Sioned demands, “You’re using the twins to get what you want!”   

"You can't raise them on your own"

He argues that she cannot raise them on her own.

"You were raised by a single mother"

Sioned reminds him that he was raised by a single mother, “And Mam is raising Huwi – why is that different?   

"Because it doesn't suit your argument"

“Because it doesn’t suit your argument?”

"I'm the twins' father!"

DJ viciously snarls, “Because I’m the twins’ father!”

"Are the tablets enough to make him better?"

Lleucu come downstairs;  “You know the tablets Dad takes – are they enough to make him better.   Are the tablets enough or do I need to do something.   Should I avoid upsetting him or cause him to worry?”

"He'll always worry about you"

Siôn replies that Cai will always worry about her – he is her father, but she knows that what happened was serious;  

"I don't want him to get worse"

“If he still has to rely on tablets, I don’t want him to get worse.”

Siôn points out that he is doing all the right things to get better – tablets and therapy;  

"We can't put our lives on hold"

“We can’t put our lives on hold in case – he just wants a normal life.”   Then his laptop makes a sound and he announces that he has news for her;  

"I've bought a bike!"

he has bought himself a bike, which he describes as a lot safer than running.   

Siôn is excited

He looks enthusiastic.

"I'll see you at home"

In the Deri, Sara is speaking to someone on the phone;  “They won’t even talk to me – yes, I know – there’s no point staying here and dragging my feet – I’ll see you at home.”

Diane approaches

Diane walks towards her and announces, “You can see him tomorrow after school.   

"I'll be there to keep an eye on you"

“I’ll be there to keep an eye on you – and if Ifan is uncomfortable with anything that’s going on, I shall ask you to leave immediately.”

"Thanks, Diane"

Sara cannot believe that she is serious and does not know what to say, apart from, “Thanks, Diane.”

"I don't trust you for a second"

“You should thank Kelly – I don’t trust you for a second!” says Diane, “That’s why I’ll be there tomorrow – to keep a close eye on you.   

"I'll make damn sure you never see your son again!"

“One step out of place and I’ll make damn sure you’ll never see your son again!   Do you understand?”   

Another step forward in her plan

After Diane marches out, Sara is looking cautiously optimistic.

"We're supposed to be celebrating"

The slanging match in the alley is still ongoing;  “We were supposed to be celebrating today – celebrating the happy events of our lives,” says DJ.

"You'r never going to forgive me . . ."

Sioned asks, “And you think our relationship is one of those things?   I don’t – how can it be?   Look at us – you’re never going to forgive me – 

". . . and I'm not going to let you control me!"

“and I’m never going to let you control who I’m friends with.   You were right about one thing – I have to do what’s best for the twins and what’s best for me.”

"A strong family unit – that's what they need"

“A strong family unit – that’s what they need,” he insists, 

"What they need is a happy mother"

but Sioned maintains that they need a happy mother and that she is not happy.  

"Neither are you, if you're honest"

Neither is he, if he is honest.

"Is 'she' worth all this?"

After a few moments’ thought DJ demands, “Is she worth all this?”   

Sioned walks back to the deli . . .

Sioned simply walks away as he shouts, “Sioned!” but she ignores him and goes back into the deli.

. . . and DJ thumps the wall

He thumps the wall with his fist in frustration.