14 August 2024

A package is outside the door of number 7

As Griffiths comes out of the door of number 7, he trips over a package which has been left on the doorstep.   

"How many times do I have to tell them?"

“How many times do I have to tell them?” he growls as Madge passes, “Someone could have stolen this!”   He looks inside the package, 

He stuffs it into his jacket

then stuffs it into his jacket, just as Iolo’s van pulls up outside the Deri.

"It's nice to see you out and about, Megan"

Iolo notices Megan by her shop;  “It’s nice to see you out and about,” he says.   

"Sitting in the house does no good"

She replies that sitting in the house doing nothing does not do anyone any good.   

"Any plans for today?"

“Do you have any plans for today?” he asks and she informs him that she made some Welsh cakes last night, inviting him to come round and try them at lunchtime.

"Sorry, I'm up to my ears today"

Unfortunately, Iolo is ‘up to his ears’ today – and after work, Greta has got gymnastics, so he will be  unable to come round.   

"I've got a committee meeting"

Then Megan says that she has just remembered she has a committee meeting this evening for the ‘Llanarthur Eisteddfod’, as she lets herself into Apêl Maenan.

Mathew has prepared for Ffion's homecoming

Ffion is home from hospital, where Mathew assures her, “There are plenty of snacks in the cupboards.   I’ve tidied up a bit and Arwen is with Siôn until tonight, so you will have some peace.”

"I've brought some boxes for your move"

He has brought some boxes for her move next week and used the APD discount;  “Arwen has promised to help with the packing.”   

"I'll believe that when I see it!"

Ffion groans that she will believe that when she sees it.

"Do you need anything else?"

He wonders if she needs anything else, but she insists that he has done enough.   “Well, phone me if you need anything,” he says.

“You don’t have to do all this, you know,” Ffion tells him, 

"I'll come over after work"

but he wants to;  he will come over after work.

Eleri is ordering Rhys about again

As they come out of Tomos ac Ellis, Eleri issues Rhys with his instructions;  “That bungalow in Llanarthur needs to be valued – remember to chase that bloke who put in an offer on Min yr Allt – and I’ve printed some new listings.   They’re on your desk to put up in the window.”

"Anything else?"

He sarcastically asks if there is anything else;  

"You can leave that attitude at home!"

“Yes, you can leave that attitude at home if you want to work here!   There’s a lot of work with Kelly away, so we all need to pull our weight.”

“Some more than others,” he grumbles, “Where are you going?”   

"There are big plans afoot"

She replies that she has a meeting with a housing development company and that there are big plans afoot.

“Plans that will change this village – plans that would mean a bright future for Tomos ac Ellis.   

"You'd better complain less and work more!"

“Now, if you see yourself as part of that future, you’d better complain less and work more!”

"You're Brynmor's daughter, aren't you?"

As she walks towards her waiting taxi, Megan calls across, “Oh, Eleri,” and introduces herself as Megan Harries.   “You’re Brynmor’s daughter, aren’t you?   Not much happens around here that I don’t know about.”

"Cwmderi's busybody, are you?"

“So you’re Cwmderi’s busybody, are you?” snarls Eleri, contemptuously, and gets into the taxi.   

Megan retreats into the shop

Megan is left feeling very disheartened.

"What sort of job do you call this?"

Matthew arrives at APD, where Howard appears to have done a rather slipshod job of repairing the racking, bearing in mind the heavy weight of certain items placed upon it.   

"I want a decent job!"

“This doesn’t look very safe!” he shouts, “When I ask you to do a job, I want a decent job!   This might be good enough for Eileen Penrhewl or John Deri Fawr – but we’ve got standards here!”

"I'm not listening to this!"

Howard declares that he is not going to listen to this and is about to walk out, but Ieuan urges him to reconsider.   “No!   It’s not fair that he’s taking this out on me!”

"It's your fault – throwing cement bags around!"

He turns to face Mathew;  “It’s your fault that the shelf collapsed – you were here – you were angry – and it was you throwing cement bags around!”

"I heard everything . . ."

When Ieuan intervenes, doubting that was the case, Howard goes on, “I heard everything – all I’ve tried to do is help, Mathew!   

". . . if that's not good enough, stuff it!"

“If that’s not good enough for you, stuff it – I’m going home!”

Ieuan is still trying to calm matters, but Howard will have none of it, “Why?   All he’s going to do is get me to redo my work, anyway – ta-ra!”

"Don't listen to him, Mathew"

Ieuan advises Mathew not to listen to Howard, 

"He's right – I was angry"

but Mathew confesses, “He’s right – I was angry – I did shout.”   Ieuan still maintains that it was an accident.

"How are you feeling?"

Kelly has gone to Cysgod y Glyn to see Ffion and asks how she is feeling;  Ffion is noncommittal.   “At least you don’t have to face all those kids in school, eh?” says Kelly.

"A long summer holiday and I'm stuck here"

“Typical, isn’t it?   A long summer holiday and I’m stuck here,” Ffion groans, but Kelly points out that it is not for all of the summer, then gets the impression that it is more serious.

“Not the accident,” Ffion is quick to point out, “They checked everything to do with that in the hospital – 

"I haven't been feeling right for a while"

“but I haven’t been feeling right for a while now.”

"You weren't 100% the last time I saw you"

Kelly recalls, “You weren’t 100% the last time I saw you.”   

"I thought I was pregnant"

Ffion reveals that she thought she was pregnant.

"There's no permanent damage"

Ieuan reminds Mathew that there is no permanent damage, 

"I could have hurt Ffion!"

but Mathew stresses, “I could have hurt Ffion!”   He is told that she is safely home now and he has nothing to worry about;  

"As you said, there was no baby"

as he said, there was no baby.   It is obvious from Mathew’s expression that this is the problem.

"It's all right, Mathew"

Ieuan turns all fatherly;  “Mathew – it’s all right,” 

Mathew is fighting back the tears

as Mathew tries to stop himself from crying.

“They want me to have a thorough checkup with the doctor,” Ffion continues;  

"Have you made an appointment?"

she is asked if she has made an appointment.   

"I'm frightened, Kelly"

“I’m frightened, Kelly.   With my history with alcohol and my liver . . . what if there’s something seriously wrong?”

Iolo looks across to Apêl Maenan

Iolo comes out of the Deri, but before getting into his van, he walks across to Megan’s shop, 

Through the window . . .

where he can see through the window 

. . . he sees her drop the Welsh cakes

 as she has just dropped her box of Welsh cakes on the floor.   He looks concerned.

"Tomos ac Ellis would fall to pieces if it wasn't for me"

Inside the Deri, Rhys is complaining to his father, “Tomos ac Ellis would fall to pieces if it wasn’t for me – the place is a shambles!”   

"I thought that Eleri was hard-working"

Hywel thought that Eleri was hard-working;  “Yes, when she’s hobnobbing with important people.   

"She said there were big plans afoot

“She had the cheek earlier to say there are some big plans afoot, but she wouldn’t say any more about it.   It’s as if she enjoys getting me to do all the dirty work.”

"What big plans?"

The mention of plans immediately attracts Hywel’s attention;  “What big plans?”   

"I think it's bigger than that"

Rhys does not know the answer, imagining that it is some housing development or something;  however he suspects that it is part of something bigger than that;  “She said it would change the village, whatever that’s supposed to mean, but that’s not the point . . .”

In she comes . . .

This conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Eleri;  

. . . surprising Hywel and Rhys

“Rhys – I thought I asked you to put up the new listings in the window.   

"I don't pay you to stand here talking"!

“I don’t pay you to stand here talking!”   

"Better do as the boss says"

Hywel encourages him to listen to his boss and Rhys storms out while Eleri orders a lime and soda.

"Quantum Hydro Works – does that name ring a bell?"

“Quantum Hydro Works – does that name ring a bell?” Hywel enquires, “They own a lot of land in the area – and Rhys was just saying that Tomos ac Ellis are involved in some plans that will change the village.   

"I put two and two together"

“I put two and two together – am I on the right track?”

"What do you want to know?"

Eleri looks at him and asks what he wants to know;  

"Aha – I am on to something!"

Hywel realises that he is on to something here.

Megan has been cooking at Y Felin 

Iolo has invited Megan round to Y Felin and, in her apron, having presumably made a replacement batch of Welsh cakes, she thanks him for his invitation;  “You know it gave Mam such pleasure to cook for people as well.”

"There was no committee meeting, was there?"

Iolo confirms that his mother was exactly the same, then he asks, “There was no committee meeting tonight, was there?   And what about the summer fair you were organising?   What happened in the hospital makes sense now, doesn’t it?”

"I feel ashamed"

Megan feels ashamed, but Iolo insists that it is other people who should be ashamed for letting her suffer on her own.   

"Silence and I are old friends now"

She admits, “You know, silence and I are old friends now,” and Iolo asks why she did not say something.

"You're always welcome here – honestly"

“You’re always welcome here, you know – honestly.”   

"I've had more fun than for a long time"

She says that she has had more fun today than she has for a long time.

"So they intend to build houses?"

Hywel continues his interrogation, “So all you know is that they intend to build houses?   Where?”   

She maintains that she is not sure.   “Is it something to do with this dam?” is the next question, “Are they going to relocate people?”

"You ask a lot of questions"

“You ask a lot of questions,” she observes, and he continues by asking whether they discuss anything important in the meetings.   

"I'm forming relationships"

She replies, “I’ve been forming relationships – an important part of my job – like we’re forming a relationship as I discuss a very confidential matter with you.   If I ever need a favour from the council, I hope I can rely on you.”

Ieuan is suspicious

Ieuan Griffiths has just come in and looks suspiciously at the two of them, as Hywel informs Eleri that she has not told him anything that he did not already know.

"Are you in favour of this dam?"

He asks if she is in favour of this dam, and, as Mathew is standing in the background, looking thoughtful, 

"It would mean a significant contract for Tomos ac Ellis"

she replies, “Yes – it would mean a significant contract for Tomos ac Ellis – 

"Which side of the fence are you on?"

“which side of the fence are you on?   The company bought the land back in the 70s – its been in the pipeline for decades.”

This is definitely fishy

We can see that Ieuan is taking notice, although whether he can hear everything it is debatable.

"Perhaps they do intend to drown the village, then"

“Perhaps they do intend to drown the village, then,” Hywel concludes.   

"It could bring in a lot of money"

Eleri is not sure that he understands the scale of this plan;  she alleges that it could bring a lot of money into the area.   

Ieuan does not like the sound of this

Ieuan is quite aware that something is going on over there.

"The company would love the local councillor on their side"

“I’m sure the company would love to have the local councillor on their side,” Eleri stresses, “Think about it.”

"Sorry about earlier"

Mathew brings over two pints to where Ieuan is sitting;  “Look, sorry about earlier,” he says, and Ieuan comments that men are usually good at hiding their feelings.

"We need to talk more – that's what they say"

“We need to talk more, don’t we?   That’s what they say.   How are you, then?   You’ve been through a lot this week, haven’t you?”

"That's nothing new"

Mathew says that is nothing new;  

"What – shelves of cement falling on your girlfriend?"

“What – shelves of cement falling on your girlfriend?” jokes Ieuan, 

"She's not my girlfriend"

but Matthew points out that Ffion is not his girlfriend.

“It’s just that every time I reach a point in my life where I really, really like someone and we talk about children – 

"It's as if the whole thing is taken away from me"

“it’s as if the whole thing is taken away from me.   I’d love children – but Ffion doesn’t – and anyway, we’re not serious.”

"It's not always what you expect"

“It’s not always what you expect,” sighs Ieuan, “Hazel and I had Melanie when we were very young – she was the apple of my eye, but we had a lot of trouble with her – 

"I was a grandfather before I knew it"

“I was a grandfather before I knew it.”

Mathew says that it sounds as if he was a good father and he agrees that he tried to be.   

"A chance to give my child everything I didn't have"

“That’s all I want – a chance to try and give my child everything I didn’t have.”

Ieuan is surprised to hear that his childhood was not a happy one.   “Dad tried – like you did, but Mam left when we were young – it’s complicated.”

"I've learned more about her since her death"

Ieuan can sympathise with that, as his relationship with Mami was complicated as well;  “I feel like I’ve learned more about her since her death than when she was alive.   I regret not talking to her earlier now – when I had the chance.”

"How long have you been feeling ill?"

Kelly asks how long Ffion has been feeling ill;  “Weeks – even longer,” is the answer.   Kelly would never have guessed;  

"I'm good at hiding things"

“That’s because I’m good at hiding things – years of water bottles full of vodka – turning up at school with a hangover.   I can pull the wool over anyone’s eyes if I have to.”

How are you – really?"

“Don’t do that to me now, right?” demands Kelly, “How are you – really?”

"Terrible!"

Ffion’s eyes fill with tears as she answers, “Terrible!   Everything has become an effort.   I’m off my food, I’m tired, I can’t think straight – and I’ve been Googling – the symptoms are all consistent with serious liver problems.”

"Why haven['t you told anyone?"

“Why haven’t you told anyone that you’re worried?” asks Kelly and she says that she was trying to push through it and hoping it would disappear. 

"I don't have time to be ill"

“It’s not just the worry, Kelly, I don’t have time to be ill.   I’ve got so much to sort out before the A-level results – and I’m supposed to be moving house next week!”

"You've got loads of friends who want to help"

She is instructed that is why she should be reaching out to her friends;  “You’ve got loads of people who want to help, Ffion – me, Jinx, Iolo, Mathew.”   

"He's only a friend"

When Ffion insists that Mathew is only a friend, 

"Yes – a friend who wants to help"

she is reminded, “A friend who wants to help – he asked me to check up on you, by the way.”

"The little devil!"

Ffion describes him as, “The little devil!” but Kelly maintains that he is good, and instructs Ffion to phone the doctor, to make an appointment.

"I'll go with you, any time"

“And if you want someone to go with you, I’ll be there – any time, but do me a favour – stop Googling until you find out if there’s actually something wrong!   

"Perhaps everything's all right"

“Because perhaps everything’s all right.”

"Is Hywel not here?"

Ieuan Griffiths is back at number 21, carrying the parcel delivered this morning, but finds that Hywel is not there;  “He’s gone to get a takeaway – 

"He's got some making up to do"

“he’s got some making up to do, after throwing me under the bus earlier,” says Rhys, “Do you know what?   I never thought I’d miss you as a boss!”

Ieuan insists that they had a lot of fun and banter, and a lot of laughs;  “I thought I did an all right job.”   

"You made yourself bankrupt, Ieuan!"

He is reminded that he made himself bankrupt, 

"Well, apart from that, then?"

but continues, “Well, apart from that, I wasn’t bad, was I?   We got on pretty well – 

"Some kind of innate connection between us"

“as if there were some kind of innate connection between us.”

"What are you on about?"

Rhys wonders what he is going on about, just as Hywel returns with the takeaway;  

"What are you doing here, Ieuan?"

he is not pleased to see Ieuan there, but Ieuan insists that he is not leaving until he has a word with Hywel.   Rhys thinks that he had better make himself scarce 

Rhys is handed the takeaway from MFC

and his father hands over the MFC bag.

Arwen is getting stuck into the packing . . .

When Ffion returns with Mathew to Cysgod y Glyn she finds Arwen dutifully packing boxes.   “You’re doing a good job, aren’t you?”

. . .but has an ulterior motive

“Glad to help,” smiles Arwen, “And I’m getting extra pocket money for doing it!”   

"I want a private word with Mathew"

Ffion would like to speak with Matthew in private, so Arwen obediently goes to her room, shutting the door behind her.

"Thanks for sending Kelly over"

“Thank you for sending Kelly over,” Ffion begins, “I needed a friend today – and I’ve arranged to go and see the doctor next week.”   

"Do you want me to go with you?"

When Mathew asks if she wants him to go with her, she replies, “Kelly’s going to – 

"That doesn't mean I don't want you here"

“but that doesn’t mean I don’t need you here to support me, too.”   

She embraces Mathew

She embraces Mathew.

"I want to know if we're brothers!"

“I don’t care what you think my intentions are,” snarls Ieuan, “I want to know if we’re brothers!”   He is told to keep his voice down because Esther is upstairs.

"And to have Rhys call me an uncle"

“Unlike you, I wouldn’t be ashamed to have you as my brother – actually it would be an honour – and to have Rhys call me an uncle.”   

"Don't you dare tell Rhys about this"

Hywel sternly warns him not to tell Rhys about this.

"I won't – if you do this test!"

“I won’t – if you do this test!” declares Ieuan, putting down the parcel;  he is about to leave the house.   Hywel wants to know if this is blackmail, 

Ieuan leaves the house

but Ieuan walks out without another word.