15 August 2024

Hywel looks at the DNA test . . .

Hywel sits on the sofa looking at what Ieuan has left;  he tosses it down on the table, 

. . . leave the room . . .

puts on his coat and is about to leave the house, 

. . . but has second thoughts . . .

when he has second thoughts and goes to pick up the DNA test, 

. . . and takes it with him

which he puts in his pocket.

"Come and see if this skirt still fits"

At number 9, Dani calls to Seren, “Come and see if this skirt still fits you,” but there is loud music playing upstairs, 

"She's playing with her iPad`'

and when Gwern comes down, he tells her that Seren is playing on her iPad.

“Those iPads turn you into zombies – I’m hiding them after the holidays!” Dani complains and informs him that she is sorting the school uniforms.   “I’m not running round the shops like a headless chicken again!”

Gwern gets a can of drink . . .

He gets himself a can of drink from the fridge and she continues, “You’ll need a uniform as well – I know it’s hard to go back, but year 11 is important with GCSEs and stuff.   We don’t want the authorities coming here, asking why you’re not at school, do we?”

. . . but is then put off drinking it . . .

This has put Gwern off his drink 

. . . and walks out

and he quickly walks out of the house, 

He nearly barges into Cai and Lleucu

almost colliding with Cai and Lleucu in his haste.   

"Gwern!"

Dani comes out and shouts after him;  Lleucu wants to know who he is.

"How is he, Dani?"

Dani reports that Gwern is up and down, but Cai predicts that he will be fine when he gets back to school.   

"If he goes back!"

“If he goes back! ” Dani replies.

"I'm just worried he'll go off the rails"

“I’m just worried that he’ll go off the rails, like his father,” Dani groans.   

Lleucu is watching where Gwern goes

Cai maintains that there is plenty in his head, but she wonders whether he will use it and sadly goes back into the house.

"I want to have a quick FaceTime"

Lleucu has been looking very concerned about Gwern and when her father suggests they had cup of tea in the Deri, she says she wants to have a quick FaceTime with one of the girls back home;  she will join him later.

"What are you doing?"

However, she has actually been looking where Gwern went when he stormed off and discovers him sitting in the garage office.   She introduces herself and asks what he is doing;  

"Looking for some peace"

“Looking for some peace,” he replies.

"I've never been in here before"

She has never been in the garage before;  “It’s out of bounds – that’s why.   You could get done for trespassing!” he tells her.   

"Why haven't I seen you around"

She wants to know why she has not seen him around, and he answers that he has been away – 

"I've been somewhere not very nice"

somewhere not very nice.

Gaynor is confused

Gaynor is looking very undecided when Hywel walks in through the open door;  she is surprised to see him and says that he cannot just walk in.   

Hywel wants to discuss a delicate matter

“Have you got a second?” he asks, “There’s a delicate matter I’d like to discuss with you.”

She says that she is busy at the moment and then footsteps can be heard on the stairs 

He comes across a Quantum Hydro Works jacket . . .

as Hywel discovers a hi-viz jacket with ‘Quantum Hydro Works’ printed on the back.   

. . . deducing that Tom/Dave . . .

Tom/Dave comes into the room;  

. . . and the jacket are connected

Hywel looks at him and then the jacket.

“You haven’t read it?” exclaims Lleucu, 

"What have you been doing during Welsh lessons?"

“What have you been doing during Welsh lessons?   Sleeping?”   She is told that she is probably right and she goes on, “You’ve literally been named after the myth – Gwern, the son of Branwen and Matholwch – Siôn would be ashamed of you!”

"I'm not a Welshie, like you and Siôn"

He protests, “I’m not a Welshie, like you and Siôn,” so she demands what he does like at school;  and simply shrugs his shoulders.   

"Year 11 is an important year"

She echoes what Dani said, that year 11 is an important year.   

"Dad had no qualifications"

“Oh, don’t you start – Dad left school without any qualifications – and he owns this place.   He used to own the Deri and MFC.”

"What are you going to do?   Sit here on your backside?"

Lleucu stops him there;  “Yes, but you have to be 16 to leave school – what else are you going to do?   Sit here on your backside?”

"It's a bit quiet in here"

Cai is sitting with his cup of tea in the rather deserted Deri;  Cassie is surprised that he has nothing better to do.   “Leucu’s on her way and Siôn’s got his head stuck in a book of Eisteddfod compositions!   It’s a bit quiet in here.”

"It is the middle of the week"

Cassie agrees that it is, but it is the middle of the week;  “If you have a brainwave about how to attract people, let me know.”   

"You could hold another event"

He suggests that they could hold another event, but she is adamant that she does not want another ‘comedy night’.

“You’ve tried a gig – what about a quiz night?”   

"We've tried that before"

She points out that has been tried before, but Cai continues that they need the right person to run it.   “Someone who knows their stuff – 

"I know someone who could do it"

I know someone who could do it.”   Eventually another customer arrives.

"How long have you been working for them?"

Hywel is keen to find out how long Tom/Dave has been working for Quantum Hydro Works;  

"Not very long"

“Not very long – we’re working on something local, but we’ve only just started.”   

"There's another box upstairs"

Gaynor says that there is another box upstairs which she will go and fetch.

"Where exactly will this dam be, then?"

Hywel continues his questioning, “I heard you had big plans – where exactly will this dam be, then?” 

"How did you hear about that?"

This takes Tom/Dave by surprise;  “How did you hear about that?” 

"So it's true, then"

so Hywel realises that it is true – they are going to drown the valley.

"I can't discuss the plans with the public"

“I cannot discuss the company’s plans with the public until the general meeting,” he says.

"I'm chair of the planning committee"

Hywel stresses, “I'm a county councillor and chair of the planning committee – so I’m not a normal member of the public.”   Tom/Dave promises that he will be a VIP at the meeting, in that case.

"I'm only the head of security"

He does not know when the meeting will be, as he is only head of security;  he suggests, “You should talk to the executives if you want more information.”

“I don’t want to get you in trouble – you’re Gaynor’s partner . . .” Hywel begins, 

"No, Hywel – ex-partner"

but she returns with another box and informs him that the correct term is ‘ex-partner’.

"Which is a shame"

“Which is a shame because I was looking forward to having her company while I was working here,” adds Tom/Dave, 

"I'll take this box to the car"

“I’ll take this box to the car.”

"Are you all right, Gaynor?"

When he has gone, Hywel asks if Gaynor is all right 

"No, I'm not"

and she replies that she is not.

"I might go for a walk up the Wenallt"

When they come out of the garage, Gwern proposes that he might go for a walk up the Wenallt 

"Fancy some company?"

and Lleucu wonders if he fancies some company.   

"I'm about to order some lunch, Lleucu"

Cai comes out of the Deri at that moment and tells her that he is about to order some lunch, stressing that Cassie needs some company.   “Come on – my treat!”   

"I'll see you around"

Gwern takes the hint and goes off alone.

"He's still loading the car"

Hywel reports to Gaynor that Tom/Dave is still loading the car and she comments that he is taking his time.   

"Do you honestly believe Cheryl?"

“Do you honestly believe Cheryl?” he asks, “She hasn’t got the best track record when it comes to telling the truth.”

"She seems completely genuine"

Gaynor replies that she seems completely genuine 

"Have you listened to Tom's side of the story?"

and he enquires whether she has listened to Tom’s side of the story.  

"he hasn't denied the part he played"

“Yes, and he hasn’t denied the part he played.”

Hywel is concerned whether he has shown that side of himself to her;  she answers that he has not.   

"They're as bad as each other"

Hywel comes to the conclusion that they are as bad as each other;  “And Cheryl isn’t completely blameless, if she hit him with a wine bottle.”

"He did say it was a toxic relationship"

“He did say it was very toxic relationship,” Gaynor replies.   

"Are you going to turn your back on Cheryl?"

Hywel asks if she is going to turn her back on Cheryl because of what she did to Tom?   “So why are you doing that to Tom?”

Dani has an unexpected visitor

Dani is in the middle of sorting out school uniforms, which are strewn all over the place;  there is a knock at the door and she is very surprised to see, “Mr Edwards – sorry about the mess!”   

"Don't go to any trouble on my account"

He tells her not to go to any trouble on his account.

"I had to come and see you"

“Sorry to turn up without any morning, but I had to come and see you,” he says.   She assumes that he did not get her message to say she cannot accept the job.   “Yes, I did – that’s why I’m here,” he goes on.

"Why were you acting weird, Dad?"

As they eat their lunch in the Deri, Lleucu wants to know why her father was acting weird earlier.   

"I don't think it's a good idea to spend time with Gwern"

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to spend time with Gwern.   Where do I start?”

“He might not be the most chatty person – but I didn’t give him much of a chance to speak,” Lleucu replies.   

"He went to jail, didn't he?"

He points out that it is not that and she continues, “He went to jail, didn’t he?   He obviously didn’t want to talk about it – 

"Is he a member of some Mafia?"

“don’t say he is a member of some Mafia or something.”

"He set a house on fire with someone in it"

“You’re pretty close,” says her father, “He set a house on fire when someone was in it.”   

"Did he kill someone?"

She is worried that he killed someone;  “No – but he could have –I’d prefer it if you stayed well away from him.”

"Cheryl would never forgive me!"

“Cheryl would never forgive me,” sighs Gaynor, 

"She's moved on and found happiness with Mark"

but Hywel emphasises that it is all right for her – she has moved on and found happiness with Mark.   She has no right to prevent her sister from having that, too.

"Why are you doing this, Hywel?"

“Why are you doing this, Hywel?” she demands and he maintains that he wants her to be happy, arguing that if Tom does that for her, then his past does not matter.   Now that he has had his say he will leave.

"It was more trouble than it was worth"

“I spent all that time searching for my biological family – I’m starting to think that it was more trouble than it was worth,” she sighs.

"You made a big impression on us, Dani"

Mr Edwards explains, “I’m not the only one disappointed that you rejected the job – you made a big impression on the entire interview panel.   We’re very eager for you to join us, Dani – I didn’t want to miss the chance to try and get you to reconsider, 

"I believe you have a lot of potential"

“because I believe you have a lot of potential.”

"Family comes first at the moment"

She points out that it was not easy to turn the job down but family has to come first at the moment.   

"Think about it and get back to me"

He urges her to think about it and to get back to her next week, handing her his card before he leaves.   

Dani does not know what to do

Now Dani is in somewhat of a quandary.

"Do you know someone called Gwern?"

Lleucu is waiting for Cassie to come back to the bar and asks her, “Do you know someone called Gwern?   Do you know him well?”   

"I used to lodge with his mother"

Cassie answers that she used to lodge with his mother.   “Dani?” Lleucu assumes, but is informed that his mother, Gwyneth, died.   

"And what about his father?"

“And what about his father?”

Cassie wonders why there are all these questions, and Lleucu she says that she is just curious.   

"Did he really try to kill someone?"

“Did he really tried to kill someone?   That’s what Dad says – he doesn’t want me to go anywhere near Gwern.”

"He's been through the mill, several times"

“Look – he’s been through the mill, several times,” says Cassie, “His mother was a murderer – and his father wasn’t much better.   

"But he's a nice boy"

“He hasn’t had the best start in life, but he’s a nice boy, no matter what he did.”

"You've created a monster, Cassie"

Then Cai returns from the toilet and tells Cassie that she has created a monster;  “Siôn – he’s already started thinking about questions for this quiz night.”   

"It was your idea"

He is told not to blame Cassie, as it was his idea.

"I'm going to walk home, Dad"

Lleucu is now going home, but refuses a lift from her father, as she wants some fresh air.   Cassie asks if it is a good idea to have Siôn as the quizmaster.   

"I'm sure we'll learn a lot"

Cai is sure that they will learn a lot from the questions in the ‘origin and meaning of place names’ round.   

Cassie is not looking forward to it

Cassie is definitely not looking forward to it.

Lleucu quickly locates Gwern

Gwern is now sitting at the foot of the fire escape, looking at his phone when Lleucu comes out of the Deri and spots him;  “Don’t you ever go home?” she asks, 

"You're a bit of an enigma"

“You’re a bit of an enigma – I can’t find you on any socials, even TikTok.”

"You're not like everyone else"

She sits down beside him and continues, “You’re not like everyone else – you’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?   I don’t come from stable family either – but your family’s something else!   

"What do you want to do after leaving school"

“What do you want to do after leaving school?   I want to go travelling and then study anthropology – do you want to go to college?”

"Waste of money!"

He regards it as simply a waste of money;  “I might start my own business or something.”   

"You'd better finish school"

Lleucu recommends that he had better finish school, so he can learn how to write a business plan – and pass maths so no-one will be able to con him.

"Perhaps, one day, you'll own the Deri"

“And then, perhaps, some day you’ll own this place and the Deri – and every other business on this street.   

He appears to be paying attention

“And you can prove all your doubters wrong – and show that you’re worth something – 

"Because you are worth something"

because you are.”

Hywel comes round the corner . . .

Hywel comes around the corner by the bus shelter;  

. . . checks that there is no-one around . . .

he looks around furtively to make sure no one is watching, 

. . . and we all know what happens when something goes in the bin

then slips the test kit from his pocket and deposits it in the litter bin.

Gaynor is depressed

Gaynor is looking depressed when Tom/Dave comes back into the house;  

"I think I've got everything"

“That’s it,” he says, “I think I’ve got everything.”   

"I don't want to like you, Tom – but . . ."

Gaynor gets up, but does not know what to say;  she does not want to like him, but . . .

“I don’t want to put you in a difficult position – I think too much of you to do that,” he says, 

"I'll be out of your life for ever"

“And if this is too much, you only have to say and I’ll be out of your life for ever.”

Dani looks at the card

Dani looks at the card left by Malcolm Edwards, 

Gwern comes back into the house

but quickly slips it into a pocket when the door opens and Gwern returns.   She tells him she got sidetracked while sorting the uniforms.

"I'm not wearing those hard, black shoes . . ."

After a few moments’ silence, he begins, “I’m not wearing those hard, black shoes, all right?  Just trainers, OK?   To school – 

". . . or the scratchy trousers"

“and I don’t want those scratchy trousers either.”   

"We'd better go shopping, then"

Dani seems quite encouraged by this and suggests that they had better go shopping. 

"What we had was good, wasn't it?"

By the front door of Llwyncelyn, Tom/Dave comments, “What we had was good, wasn’t it?”   

"Please stay"

Gaynor agrees that it was and as he is to leave the house, she urges him to stay.   

He kisses her . . .

However, when he kisses her, 

. . . but she is hesitant

she does not reciprocate.

"What do you want, Gaynor?"

“What do you want, Gaynor?” he demands and then she does kiss him.   

"Let me know when you have decided"

“Let me know when you have decided,” he says as he opens the door and leaves.   

Gaynor stares into space

Gaynor stands there, confused.