10 July 2024

Lleucu come out of the deli . . .

Lleucu and Iolo come out of the deli and cross the road to the pharmacy;  

. . . and are in high spirits 

they appear to be high spirits.   Maya is very pleased to see Iolo;  

"At last, Iolo!"

“At last!” she exclaims and hugs him, “I’ve missed you!   

"I want to hear everything about Ecuador"

“I want to hear everything about Ecuador.”   

"I have a favour to ask, Maya"

Iolo observes that her Welsh has improved, but has a favour to ask her.

Eileen is stirring her chutney

Eileen is stirring a saucepan in the kitchen of Penrhewl when Sioned comes in and comments, “I don’t remember it smelling this strong!”

"I couldn't be in the same room as a cup of coffee"

Her mother says that she felt the same when she was expecting Sioned and John;  “Everything smelled stronger and I couldn’t be in the same room as a cup of coffee.”

“Coffee’s fine, but I’m in no rush to help you with those chutneys,” says Sioned, 

"I've got a scan"

as she prepares to go out and explains, “I’ve got a scan.”   Eileen thought that the next one was in two weeks’ time.

“I’ve booked a private one, because I can’t bear to wait another four weeks,” Sioned tells her.   When asked if DJ will be going with her, 

"No– I'm fine on my own"

she replies, “No – I’m fine on my own.”

"How much does it cost?"

Eileen is adamant that she is not going on her own and wants to know how much it cost;  when informed that it was about £300, she insists that she will pay, as Sioned needs to save for when they arrive.

"You can use the money you were going to give Maya"

“You can use the money you were going to give to Maya, I suppose,” Sioned growls.   Her mother has already apologised for that, admitting that it was a stupid idea and wonders if Sioned has heard from Maya.

"I don't want anything to do with her!"

“Yes, she’s texted me – but I’m not going to reply.   I don’t want anything to do with her!” is the angry reply.   

"She wasn't going to accept the offer"

Eileen points out that Maya was not going to accept the offer.

“She was considering it, or she would have told me straight what your plans were.   Right, if you’re coming, come on!”   

Eileen remembers to turn off the hob

Eileen takes off her apron and turns off the hob, leaving the chutney to look after itself.

"You're a life-saver – thank you!"

Maya presents Lleucu with a pair of rugby boots;  “You’re a life-saver – thank you!”   Maya stresses that if she wants to play rugby, she needs the right boots.   

"I was worried she'd be 'Troednoeth'!"

Iolo was worried that she would be ‘troednoeth’, 

"What's that"?"

a word which Maya has not come across, 

"It means 'barefoot'"

so he explains that it means ‘barefoot’.

“Are you coming tonight, Iolo?   It’s not just practice, but Lleucu’s first practice – and word on the street is we’re going to Deri afterwards.”   Iolo replies that he has promised to look after her, 

"I ought to keep an eye on her in the Deri"

so ought to keep an eye on her in the Deri as well.   Lleucu assures him that she will be drinking squash.

“The men’s team is practising as well – didn’t you used to play?” Maya goes on and he says that was a long time ago.   

"Cwmderi's answer to Andreas!"

“You could end up meeting Cwmderi’s answer to Andreas.”

Iolo looks disturbed by this, demanding, “How did you know about Andreas?”   She answers that he was tagged in Iolo’s stories.   

"Unlike you and Sioned"

“Well, Andreas was a friend – unlike you and Sioned.   You don’t like it when people ask questions about your life, do you?”

"Sioned and me is a long story"

“Sioned and me is a long story,” says Maya 

"What – you and Sioned?"

and Lleucu immediately takes notice, wanting to know more.   Iolo tries to change the subject, asking if the boots fit, but she appears to be more interested in who Andreas is.   She is told to mind her own business, 

"Thanks again for these boots"

thanks Maya once again and leaves the pharmacy.

"Are you staying off the . . ?"

Before he goes, Maya asks, “Iolo, are you doing OK?   Staying off the . . ?”   He assures her that he is – and is looking a lot happier than when he left.

Sioned arrives at the clinic

Sioned and her mother arrive at the private clinic, where they are asked to take a seat.   

"Would you like a cup of tea?"

Eileen is anxious and asks if her daughter would like a cup of tea;  

"Stop fussing, will you?"

“Stop fussing, will you?   You’re making me nervous,” Sioned answers.

"Everything will be all right"

Eileen is sure that everything will be all right, but now Sioned is wondering whether she should have phoned DJ.   “Perhaps, but the babies are what is important at the moment, not DJ,” she is told.

"But what if there is something wrong?"

“What if there is something wrong?” Sioned asks;  her mother is confident that everything will be fine and that she needs a cup of tea, 

Eileen goes in search of cups of tea

so she goes to get one.

"He's getting stronger every day"

Mark is at the pharmacy, collecting his prescription;  “I’m glad Brynmor’s on the mend,” says Maya.   Mark has been told by his mother that he is getting stronger every day.   

"Have you seen Megan today?"

“Mark, before you go, have you seen Megan today?”

"I didn't see her at the house today"

He took the post to her house a few hours ago and did not see her;  “She usually pops out to say hello.”   Maya says that she usually picks up her prescription first thing on a Wednesday.

"Can you giver her the prescription?"

“Can you check to see if she’s in Apêl Maenan and give her the prescription?   With Gaynor off on her jollies, I can’t leave here.”   

"I have to go to the shop first"

Mark has to go to the shop first, and then will go to find Megan.

Eileen is wittering on

Eileen comes back with Sioned’s tea, complaining about Colin;  she told him to keep some boxes in the back but he would not listen.   

"I know you're trying to help – but, please . . ."

“Mam, I know you’re trying to help – but please, I just want to sit in silence,” Sioned reprimands her.

"Sioned Rees"

Just then her name is called;  “Sorry to keep you, but it’s been like a circus.”   

Sioned looks up . . .

She looks up to see the doctor, her expression changes to one of horror 

. . . then immediately flees . . .

and she dashes out of the room, followed by her mother.

. . . much to his surprise

The doctor looks rather surprised.

Sioned hurtles down the stairs . . .

She runs down the stairs 

. . . followed by her mother

with Eileen in hot pursuit;  

"I just need to go home now!"

“I just need to go home now!” Sioned insists.   

"Is there something wrong?"

Her mother maintains that they are in the right place if there is something wrong, 

"I just need to go!"

but she is adamant, “I just need to go!”   Eileen cannot understand what is going on.

Mark is heading towards Megan's shop

Mark, complete with his bag of shopping, approaches Apêl Maenan 

He finds it closed . . .

which is showing the ‘closed’ sign, 

. . . but glances inside . . .

so he peers in through the window.   “Megan!” he calls 

. . . and taps on the window . . .

and raps on the window.   

. . . when he sees Megan on the floor

Megan is lying motionless on the floor, so he quickly enters the shop, 

"Can you hear me, Megan?"

where she recognises him.   He tells her that help is on the way, 

"Ambulance, please"

gets out his phone and calls for an ambulance.

"You 'Gogs' are so old-fashioned"

As they come out of the shop Lleucu tells Iolo that she is so excited;  “Only the boys played at school!” and he remarks that ‘Gogs’ [North Walians] are so old-fashioned.   

"It's nice to have such an enthusiastic new player"

Ffion comes out of the alley, asking if she is ready for her first practice;  “It’s nice to have such an enthusiastic new player.”   Lleucu says that she has brought her own number one fan.   Meanwhile Arwen is engrossed in her phone.

"I've been thinking about organising a gig"

Lleucu would you like to ask Ffion a favour;  “I’ve been thinking about organising a gig.”

"Is Mrs O'Heer anything to do with it?"

“Oh – another one – is Mrs O’Heed anything to do with it?” wonders Ffion, but is assured that this is a real one, as it is the end of term next week.   

"I thought I could use the hall"

She thought that she could use the hall, but is informed that the year 7 musical will be rehearsing that week.

"You could hold it in the Deri or Yr Antur"

Ffion regards it as great idea and suggests they could possibly hold it in the Deri or Yr Antur.   Lleucu will have a word with Cassie.   

"Arwen could help you organise it"

“Perhaps Arwen could help you organise,” Ffion suggests, but Arwen is too interested in her phone to be taking any notice.

When it is explained, she is not interested at all, 

"It's a bit cringe – no thanks"

describing the idea as, “A bit cringe!   No, thanks.”   Her mother complains that she is too busy looking at that phone.

"I have some contacts"

Lleucu says that she has some contacts, so finding bands to play should not be a problem;  Iolo has every confidence in Lleucu, maintaining that if anyone can do it, she can.

"What happened, Megan?"

Mark has helped Megan into a chair and enquires about what happened;  

"I was preparing to open the shop this morning"

“I fell and turned my ankle as I was preparing to open the shop this morning,” she replies.   

"Oh, it's Maya"

He realises that she has been lying there all day and then receives a phone call from Maya.

"OI don't want anyone to know about this"

“I don’t want anyone to know about this!” insists Megan, but Mark points out that if it were not for Maya he would not have come past the shop.

“They said that the ambulance is going to take a while, 

"Maya can come over to help"

“so Maya can come over to help – she’ll know what to do.”   Megan continues to beg Mark not to tell her, because she feels so ashamed.

He says that he has lost count of the number of times he has fallen over on his round;  

"Please, Mark respect my wishes"

“Please, Mark, respect my wishes,” she pleads, but he tells her that he will have to speak to Maya or she will not leave them alone.

"Everything's fine – she was out shopping"

“Hello – yes, everything’s fine,” he tells Maya, “She was out shopping – yes, she’s bound to give you a ring tomorrow.   No problem, bye.”

“Thank you, Mark – I don’t usually encourage lying.   I don’t know what would have happened to me if you hadn’t come past.”   

"Oaty Crumble?"

He tries to cheer her up;  “A strong woman like you will outlast all of us.”   He takes out a packet of biscuits he has just bought;  “Oaty Crumble?” he enquires.

Sioned wakes with a start

Sioned is dozing on the sofa at Penrhewl and suddenly awakens when she hears her mother come in.   Eileen wonders if she is all right.   

"It was him!"

“It was him!” declares Sioned, and her mother dismisses it as a nightmare.

"In the hospital – he was . . ."

“In the hospital – he was . . .”   Eileen assumes that she means the doctor, but Sioned will not say any more, insisting that it is nothing;  

"It's obviously not 'nothing', Sioned"

however her mother can see that it is not, pointing out that she ran away as soon as she saw his face.

"He reminded me of someone, that's all"

“He reminded me of someone, that’s all – I had a shock,” Sioned continues 

"And who was that?"

and is asked who he reminded her of.   “Just someone from years ago – honestly, it’s not important.   

"I don't know where my head's at these days!"

“I don’t know where my head’s at these days!   Sorry about the scan – and the cost.   A good night’s sleep and I’ll be fine.   You go up to Huwi.”

Sioned gets up . . .

When her mother has gone, Sioned gets up from the sofa 

. . . and leaves the house

and quietly slips out of the house.

"How much longer, then?"

At the door of Apêl Maenan, Mark is speaking on the phone to the ambulance service;  “How much longer, then?   No, I understand, OK.”   

"The most important thing os that you're safe"

He tells Megan that the ambulance will be a little longer, but confirms that he is not going anywhere;  “The most important thing is that you’re safe.”

"Everyone's going to find out about this"

Megan grumbles, “Everyone’s going to find out about this.”   

"You'll be getting a lot of free grapes and chocolates!"

He predicts that she will be getting a lot of free grapes and chocolates;  everyone will be worried about her – not gossiping.

"The managers want to get me out of here"

She fears, “They might try to get me out of here sooner, after today – the managers want to get me out of here.”   

"The place couldn't cope without you,`Megan"

Mark is adamant that the place could not cope without her and that she should not worry about that now;  the ambulance should arrive soon.

The training session is over

After the rugby practice, the squad are approaching the Deri, accompanied by Iolo.   “Talent must run in the family, Lleucs,” Ffion praises her, adding, “You’ll be next, Arwen!”

"Than guy who was looking at you, Iolo" 

Lleucu remarks on the guy from the men’s team who was looking at Iolo, which he had not noticed;  “Don’t pretend you didn’t see him – the cute one with brown hair – he might come to the Deri.”   

"Yeah – he couldn't take his eyes off you"

Maya noticed that he could not take his eyes off Iolo.

"Is there anything you can't do?"

Arwen sneers, “A rugby player and a matchmaker – is there anything you can’t do?”

"Your last boyfriend ended up in jail, didn't he?"

Lleucu offers to give her some help as well;  “I hear your last boyfriend before Ethan ended up in jail – Gwern Monk?   He’s coming home tomorrow, isn’t he?”   

"He was just a friend"

Arwen points out that Gwern was simply a friend.   

Sioned comes round the corner

As they go into the Deri, Sioned appears around the corner.

"We have to welcome out new team member"

Inside, Ffion insists that they have to welcome their new team member properly, but Lleucu reminds her that she is not old enough to play in games yet.   

"You'll be straight in the team!"

“Keep on playing like you did today and you’ll be straight in the team!” Ffion promises.

"He's still looking at you"

“Look who it is!” says Lleucu to Iolo, “And he’s still looking at you.”   

"Stop it – I'm not interested"

He orders them to stop this, because he is not interested and the boy in question is pointed out to Ffion, 

"He is handsome"

who agrees that he is handsome.

They appear to be ganging up on him, as Maya instructs Iolo to go and talk to the boy and it is advised that he should not ignore his pharmacist.   

"I'm not going to get any peace, am I?"

“I’m not going to get any peace until I go, am I?” realises Iolo.

"Can I talk to you, Maya?"

At this point Sioned comes in and would like to talk to Maya.

At last, the ambulance has arrived

Outside, the ambulance has at last arrived and Megan is being wheeled towards it.   Mark advises that they are going to keep her in overnight, to make sure that everything is all right;  

"The paramedics will look after you now"

“The paramedics will look after you now.”

"You're going come with me, aren't you?"

“Mark, you’re going to come with me, aren’t you?” she begs, and he says that of course he is.   You’re worth your weight in gold, Mark Jones!”   

He makes sure the shop is secure

As she is pulled up the ramp into the ambulance, Mark makes sure that the shop door is locked.

"A life drawing of Siôn – naked!"

Lleucu is spreading the latest gossip;  “Iolo arrived to find a woman about to do a life drawing of Siôn – naked!”   Ffion looks very surprised, 

Arwen's disgusted expression

but Arwen seems rather repulsed by the idea.   

"I'm going somewhere else with the boys"

Iolo comes to inform them that he and the boys are going somewhere else, and Lleucu encourages him to go.

"I must have left it in the changing room"

She is about to phone her father to tell him when she discovers that her phone is no longer in her bag.   “I must have left it in the changing room,” she concludes;  

"I'll text Cai to come and pick you up"

Ffion says that she can look for it tomorrow;  she will text Cai to come and pick up Lleucu.

Maya and Sioned are in a secluded corner

In a secluded corner 

"I wasn't expecting to see you"

Maya tells Sioned;  “I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight – I wasn’t sure if you wanted to talk to me after last week.   I wasn’t going to take the cash.”

"I didn't know where else to turn"  

That is not what Sioned wants to discuss now;  “Something has happened and I didn’t know where else to turn.”   

"Are the babies all right?"

Maya is afraid that there is some problem with the babies, but Sioned believes that everything is all right.

"I saw John, my brother . . ."

“I went for a scan in the hospital today and I saw John – my brother 

". . . my twin!"

– my twin.”

"Did you enjoy tonight?"

Back home at Cysgod y Glyn, Ffion asks Arwen if she enjoyed tonight.   

“I don’t know why you’re making such a fuss of Lleucu – it was only practice,” she replies.   

"You';ll be training with us when you're in year 11"

Ffion anticipates that she will be training with them when she is in year 11, 

"How many more times?"

but is told, “How many more times?   I don’t want to play!”

"It's only natural to worry about Gwern"

“I know that Gwern is coming home tomorrow – it’s only natural to worry after not seeing him for so long,” appreciates Ffion, 

"I'm not worried about him"

but Arwen maintains that she is not worried about Gwern.   Her mother would like her to make more of an effort with Lleucu, recalling that they use to be such good friends.

Checking to make sure she has gone . . .

When her mother has left the room, 

. . . Arwen gets out a phone . . .

Arwen looks in her rucksack and extricates a mobile phone, which she studies.   

. . . obviously Lleucu's phone

The time is 20:42 and to dispel any confusion, the photo on the screen is of Lleucu.

"I had a vision of John as an adult"

In the Deri, Sioned explains, “I was in a bad place a few years ago and I had a bad trip on drugs.   I had this vision of John as an adult – as clearly as I can see you now.   

"I looked at the doctor's face – and it was him!"

“When I went to the hospital today for the scan, the doctor called my name, I looked at his face – and it was him!   The doctor was John!   I know how this sounds, but you have to believe me.”

"You've had quite a shock"

Maya can see that she has had quite a shock, 

"It's a sign, isn't?"

but Sioned regards it as a sign;   

"Shouldn't you be telling this to your mother?"

“Don’t you think you should be telling this to your mother?” Maya suggests.

"Will you come with me?"

Sioned flatly refuses to do so, but is determined, “I have to go back there – I have to – to see him again – will you come with me?”   Maya is not sure what she should do.  

"You said you'd do anything to help me"

“You said you’d do anything to help me,” Sioned reminds her.

"The mind can play tricks, Sioned"

Maya says that the mind can play tricks and pregnancy is really stressful.   

"I thought you, of all people, would understand!"

Sioned awkwardly gets up from the sofa and before she walks out of the Deri, tells Maya, “I thought you of all people would understand!”

"It's not possible"

“I want to help you – but it wasn’t your brother you saw – it’s not possible.”

"You're wrong!"

Sioned will not accept that;  “You’re wrong!” she snarls, 

"I know exactly who I saw today!"

“I know exactly who I saw today!”