1 August 2024

Griffiths approaches Hywel's house

Ieuan walks slowly along the street to the door of number 21;  he tentatively knocks on it and it is opened by Hywel.   

"What's wrong?"

“What’s wrong,” he asks and Ieuan is initially lost for words.

"He's not my father"

Finally he blurts out, “I had a word with Brynmor.”   Hywel demands whether he is Ieuan’s father and is told, “No, he’s not.”

"Unless you've come to tell me I'm your father . . ."

“Right, well, unless you’ve come here to tell me I’m your father, it’s nothing to do with me, is it?” says Hywel, rather irritably.

"We're brothers!"

“Not my father,” gasps Ieuan, “My brother – we’re brothers!”   

That comes as rather a shock

Hywel is lost for words.

"My phone must be on silent"

Megan arrives at Y Felin and Iolo apologises to her, “My phone must be on silent.”   She wants him to come over and take a look at her boiler and he immediately agrees to do so.

"Maya was worried about you"

He asks how she is and she replies that her ankle is mended now.   “Maya was a little worried about you – she hasn’t seen you around the village,” says Iolo.   Megan explains that she has been busy organising the summer fair for the elderly.

“She told me about the headaches, Megan,” he goes on, 

"What's this, then?"

but she quickly changes the subject, remarking on what she can see on his laptop.   

"Drone film of Cwmderi"

He explains that it is a drone film of Cwmderi which he found on Facebook.

"We could go for a walk there"

She finds this very interesting as the camera tracks along a valley and Iolo suggests that they could go for a walk and he will show her those paths.   “It would do you good to be out of the house and see people again.

"Are they aliens?   They're not cows or sheep"

She points out some small dots in the field;  “Are they aliens?   They’re not cows or sheep.”   Iolo proposes that they could go to find out for themselves and Megan agrees she will make them a picnic.

Rhys is giving Howard tips

In the Deri, Rhys is giving Howard tips on how to attract women;  

Mathew's thoughts are far away

Mathew is nearby, deep in thought, and does not know what they are talking about.   

Rhys explains to Mathew 

“Putting Howard on this dating app,” Rhys explains, although Howard is not in favour of this.

"You have to put yourself out there"

“The perfect girl who’s into tractors isn’t going to just land in your lap!” Rhys insists, “You have to put yourself out there – that’s how things work these days.”   

"Look at her, Math!"

He calls up the app on his phone, remarking, “Just look at her!”

Howard can now see what he means, but when Rhys shows the photo to Mathew, 

"What kind of name is Indeg?"

he replies, “What kind of name is Indeg?”   It is pointed out to him that the name does not matter – but surely he would not say no.

When Mathew shows no interest, 

"You've had a frown on your face since yesterday"

Rhys snarls, “Who rained on your parade?   Come on, you’ve had a frown on your face since yesterday.”

Mathew says, “Ffion,” and Rhys gathers that they are serious now.   Mathew insists that it was only meant to be a bit of fun, 

"Ffion's been blanking me"

“But she’s been blanking me since the other night.”

Rhys wonders what he has done now, but he does not know;  

"Impossible to understand women!"

Howard pipes up, “See –  women!   It’s impossible to understand them!”

Mathew argues that he has been trying to give her some space, as he does not want to appear needy.   

"Howard needs a lot more help than me!"

“Look, you concentrate on Howard – he needs a lot more help than me.”

"Where's your phone?"

knows exactly how to help him;  “Where’s your phone?” he demands.

"It took a while to sink in"

Ieuan sits with a cup of tea, telling Hywel to take his time;  he confesses that it took a while for it to sink in for him as well.   After a long pause 

"There is a similarity between us"

Ieuan continues, “There is a similarity between us, when you think about it.”

Hywel obviously does not agree

Hywel looks at him with disdain as Ieuan stresses that Brynmor was pretty certain of his facts;  “He said that Mami and your father were cut from the same cloth – they understand each other’s jokes – 

"I don['t know how much fun she had with Dad!"

a part of me was glad to hear that, because I don’t know how much fun she had with Dad!”

"So you're trying to tell me Dad knew?"

Hywel breaks his silence;  “So you’re trying to tell me that Dad knew you were his son, are you?”   

"They may all have known"

Ieuan is not sure of that, but supposes that they all knew.   Hywel shakes his head in disgust.

We have just missed seeing Ifan – again

The scene shifts to Lampeter, where we just miss seeing Ifan, who is told to go upstairs to see his room.   Sara asks Diane and Kelly how was their journey;  

"It was not far to come"

Diane replies that it is not far.

“It means a lot that you have both brought him,” says Sara and will make them coffee.   

Is Kelly regretting this?

Kelly seems to be looking regretful that she actually came;  

She looks down  . . .

she looks down wistfully 

. . . at a photo of Ifan

at a photo of Ifan

Jinx brings Ffion some Lucozade

Jinx comes into Cysgod y Glyn with some things for Ffion;  “Right, green tea, soup and a bottle of Lucozade.   How are you now?”

"Are you all right, Ffion?"

She replies that it is just a bit of tummy-ache and he is concerned whether  she is all right.   

"I haven't been feeling right for weeks"

“No,” she sighs, “I haven’t been feeling right for weeks now, Jinx.”   

"Have you seen a doctor?"

He asks if she has seen a doctor;  “Not yet – but I am worried – 

"It's like when I was expecting Arwen"

“they’re the same symptoms I had when I was expecting Arwen – and I’m late.”   Now Jinx is really worried about her.

"Who's to say Brynmor isn't losing the plot?"

“Who’s to say Brynmor hasn’t started losing the plot?” exclaims Hywel, “No, Ieuan – the whole thing is nonsense, OK?   Mam and Dad were engaged by ’63!”

"He wouldn't be the first to be unfaithful"

Ieuan points out that he would not be the first to be unfaithful;  “You could say that it’s in the blood!”

"Who're you to say such a thing?"

“Who are you to say such a thing?”  Hywel growls, “Dad’s been in his grave for almost 30 years – and you come here, throwing accusations around without any evidence!   

"That doesn't mean he's your father!"

“They might have had an affair, but that doesn’t mean he’s your father!”

"I've got more important things to do"

Hywel grabs his jacket and announces, “I’ve got more important things to do – now, if you don’t mind,” so Ieuan takes the hint and leaves.

As he approaches the door, he begins, “If we are brothers . . .”

"We're not brothers and that's the end of it!"

He is warned by Hywel, “Don’t you say that to anyone!   We’re not brothers and that’s the end of it!   Now, go!”

On the patio in Lampeter

Outside on the patio, Diane and Kelly sit with their coffee, then Sara comes out to join them.   

"Sure you won't stay for dinner?"

“Are you sure that you don’t want to stay for dinner?   It’s just cous cous and salad, but there’s plenty.”

“Cous cous – for Ifan?” says Kelly, dubiously;  she is told that he enjoyed it last time.

"You know you're welcome here any time"

“Listen, Kelly, you know you’re welcome here any time, don’t you?”

"You can't wait to see the back of me"

“You and I both know you can’t wait to see the back of me,” Kelly snarls, 

"This is the last time I'll see Ifan for the foreseeable"

“This is the last time I will see Ifan for the foreseeable – she knows that and I know that.   I’ll be in the car.”

Kelly gets up from her seat, but is urged to wait for a minute by Sara.   

"I'll give you time to talk"

Diane proposes to go up to see Ifan, giving the two of them some time to talk.

"I known this is difficult for you"

“Listen, Kelly, I know this is difficult for you – I understand that better than anyone,” says Sara, 

"You're not moving to the other side of the world"

“I’ve been in your shoes – but the difference between your situation and mine is that you’re not moving to the other side of the world.   

"That would be incredibly cruel to Ifan"

“Yeah, you’re right – my life would be much easier if you walked out that door and never came back.   But that would be an incredibly cruel thing to do to Ifan!   And he is my priority, Kelly.”

Howard practises his smile

Round the back of APD, Rhys is taking photos of Howard, whose facial attempts at smiling are somewhat unconventional.   “Great smile – if you were a monkfish!” Rhys complains.

"Do you have to do that here?"

Mathew demands if they have to do that there and is told that they took some photos in Deri at lunchtime, but variety is needed.   

"Howard, can you load the van?"

“Can you do it when we’re not busy?” says Mathew, “Howard, if I sort this cement, can you load the van?”

Howard will do that with pleasure and asks where the keys are;  

"I gave the keys to you on Tuesday"

“I gave them back to you on Tuesday.”   Mathew realises that he put them in his coat pocket – and that is in Ffion’s flat.   Rhys laughs that he will have to go and see her now.

"I'll check our flat first"

“I’ll check our flat first – there must be a spare set there,” says Mathew;  

"No, Howard – natural, I said!"

Rhys wants to capture a more natural pose before he gets back.

"I used to know who I was, see?"

Kelly sighs, “I used to know who I was, see?   Jason’s wife, Ifan’s step-mother – and now I don’t really know what my surname is.   

"Francis – Evans – who knows?"

“Francis – Evans – who knows?”

"You were like a breath of fresh air"

Sara moves to sit by her;  “When you ran that café, you were like a breath of fresh air – your personality was as colourful as your clothes – if that’s even possible!   

"I was jealous of you"

“You lit up a lot of people’s lives, Kelly – including mine.   I was jealous of you.”

"Ah – shut up"

Kelly looks rather dubiously at her and tells her to shut up, but she continues, “Honestly now – Jase always accused me of being a lot too serious, but you – you’re the exact opposite of that 

"You made Jason happier that I ever did"

“and that’s why you made it Jason happier than I ever did.”

Kelly is on the verge of tears

By now Kelly is feeling rather emotional, 

"You'll find that fire again, Kel"

as Sara assures her, “You’ll find that fire again, Kel – just give yourself time.”

Diane is pleased that her ruse has worked

Diane returns and is pleased to see that they are getting on much better;  she comments that the playroom is lovely and asks if Kelly wants to go and see it.

"Next time, perhaps, yeah?"

“Next time, perhaps, yeah?” is the reply and now it is time that they returned to Cwmderi.

"Terrence the Tedi is with his pyjamas"

“Terrence the Tedi is with his pyjamas,” Kelly informs Sara as they leave.

Iolo reminisces about Tyler 

Iolo and Megan are preparing to eat their picnic, out in a field;  “Tyler used to run out this way – I can’t believe it’s been over a year since I lost him,” says Iolo.

"Loneliness can be a very cruel thing"

Megan appreciates that loneliness can be a very cruel thing;  he asks whether she is sure that she is all right.   

Megan deploys her binoculars . . .

She stands up and raises her binoculars, 

. . . and can see the aliens

then exclaims, “There they are!   The aliens!”   

She invites Iolo to take a look

Iolo takes a look.

Ieuan has turned to alcohol

In the Deri, Ieuan is trying to drown his sorrows and asks Geraint for another one.   

"Dai wanted me to let you know about some company . . ."

Diane goes over to where Hywel is sitting;  “Dai wanted me to let you know about some company that’s subleasing the rugby club’s land.”   She consults her phone 

"Quantum Hydro Works"

and then continues, “Quantum Hydro Works – they own the land, according to Dai – they changed their name a while ago now, from . . .”

"Formerly AC Valley Solutions"

Hywel already knows what she is going to say;  “AC Valley Solutions!” and she agrees that he is right.   

He gets up . . . 

Without another word he immediately gets up 

. . . and ruches out of the Deri

and rushes out of the Deri, much to her surprise.

"What was that all about?"

She goes across to the bar by Ieuan, wondering what that was all about.

A Quantum Hydro Works van . . .

A white van, bearing the name of Quantum Hydro Works is at present parked in a lane 

. . . and two surveyors

with men in yellow jackets nearby using surveying equipment.   

"Just men is high-vis gear"

Iolo explains to Megan that it is just men in high-vis gear.   She wants to know what they are doing there, but he dismisses it as nothing interesting.

Megan suggests that they go over to ask them what they are doing, 

"Let's get your boiler fixed, Megan"

but Iolo is more interested in fixing Megan’s boiler, so that she can have a shower that works, and she agrees.   “At least, there are no aliens in Cwmderi,” he laughs.

Hywel looks at some paperwork . . .

Back at number 21, Hywel has fetched some paperwork from upstairs, which he sorts through 

. . . and comes across this . . .

and finds a letter from Quantum Hydro Works which accompanied their annual report.   

. . . which he finds very concerning

He looks extremely stunned by this discovery.

"You and Mathew?"

At Cysgod y Glyn, Jinx asks, incredulously, “You and Mathew?   Since when?”   

"It's just a bit of fun"

Ffion is at pains to point out that they are not together, but it is just a bit of fun.   “You kept that quiet,” he comments, “What does Arwen think about all this?”

"She thinks that we're friends"

“She thinks we are friends,” says Ffion;  

"And what if you're pregnant?"

Jinx asks what happens if she is pregnant and she responds, “Mathew wants children.”

“And do you?” Jinx enquires.   

"I'm almost 50!"  — and still gorgeous

She stresses that she is almost 50 (she is looking very good for her age).   “A lot of older people have children these days – look at Eileen.”

"He's obsessed with having a family" 

“He’ll just persuade me to keep it – I know he will – he is obsessed with having a family.   It would be much easier to say nothing and just sort it myself.”

Then they hear a voice

Then they are shocked to hear a voice behind them;  

"Like you did with Rhys?"

“Like you did with Rhys?”   

He picks up his coat and leaves

Mathew had come back to get his coat and as soon as he has picked it up, he leaves again.

"I'll use a photo of a tractor, then"

Round the back of APD, Rhys and Howard are looking at the photos;  “I’m not using any of them – I look like a hyena,” but he is told that he has to use a photo to set up the account.   “I’ll use a photo of a tractor, then.”

"Haven't you got some work to do?"

Mathew walks out f the shop, now complete with his keys, and takes no notice of Rhys, demanding whether he has some work to do.   

"Howard, load the van now!"

“Howard, load the van now!”

Mathew picks up a bag of cement

Mathew seizes one of the bags of cement and carries it inside.

"It['s a scandal!"

Hywel is now on the phone;  “Oswyn, this is serious – why didn’t you tell me earlier?   It’s more than significant plans – it’s a scandal!   All right – I won’t say a word to anyone.”

There is a knock at the door

As soon as he has ended the call there is a knock at the door.

"Mathew, listen!"

Ffion runs into APD;  “Mathew, listen!” she shouts.

"How could you?"

However, he demands, “How could you?”   

"I don't even know if I'm pregnant"

She argues that she does not even know if she is pregnant.   “But if you are, you’re going to get rid of it!” he screams, “That’s what you just said!”

"What do you want now, Ieuan?"

Hywel’s visitor is Griffiths;  “What do you want now, Ieuan?” Hywel snarls.

"We're both in the same boat"

Ieuan points out, “Isn’t it strange how ‘only child’ translates to ‘lonely child’ in Welsh?   We’re both in the same boat – can’t you see that?   I started this week thinking I’d found my father – 

"I've gained a brother!"

“but this prize is so much better, because I’ve gained a brother!”

"I don't want any more children"

“I don’t want any more children,” insists Ffion.

"And I do, because I'm obsessed!"

“And I do, because I’m obsessed with the idea!” shouts Mathew, “That’s what you told Jinx – 

"But it's easier not to tell me!"

“but it’s easier not to tell me!”

"That doesn't mean I wouldn't have told you"

She argues that it does not mean that she would not have told him.

Back to number 21;  “We’ve lost so much time!” says Ieuan.   

"I can't discuss this now"

Hywel is adamant that he cannot to discuss this now.   Ieuan cannot understand what the problem is.

"I know what this company wants . . ."

“The problem is I know what this company that owns the land wants!   What you’re talking about is insignificant, compared to that.   If this company gets its way, Cwmderi as we know it will cease to exist!   

". . . they want to flood the valley!"

“They want to drown the valley!”

"You were going to have an abortion without telling me!"

Mathew goes to fetch the next bag of cement, he shouts, “You were going to have an abortion without telling me!”   

"I might not be pregnant!"

She once again screams that she might not be pregnant.   “If you do anything without telling me, I’ll never forgive you!”

He flings the cement on the racking . . .

He flings the bag of cement on to the substandard, rickety racking, 

. . . which needs to be brought to the attention of Health and Safety

which collapses.   

Howard hears Ffion's screams

Ffion’s screams attract the attention of Howard, who dashes in.   

Ffion lies, pinned under the wreckage

Ffion lies motionless under the debris and does not reply to Mathew’s entreaties.