27 August 2024

Mark packs away his duvet

Mark is folding up the duvet after his night on the sofa;  Cheryl goes downstairs, looking intently at her phone.   

"This sofa is killing my back!"

“This sofa is killing my back,” Mark complains, “I could clear the spare room and sleep there – unless you want me to come back in with you.”

There is no reply

There is no reply, so he goes on, “Listen, I thought we could go out for a walk later – get a bit of fresh air.   

"What have you got there?"

“You haven’t been out of the house for ages.   What have you got there?   Anything interesting?”

"I'm checking the front door footage"

At last Cheryl speaks, “I’m checking last night’s footage of the front door.”

“Look, Cher, I know you don’t like the bloke – 

"He's here to work"

“I don’t like him either, but he’s here to work, no other reason.”

She warns him, “It’s a front, Mark – and you’re falling for it.”   

"Why don't you think about getting dressed?"

He tells her to think about getting dressed, as it might make her feel better, 

Mark gets off to work

then picks up his keys and leaves the house.

Jinx brings a bacon roll

There is a knock at the front door of number 9 and Dani discovers that it is Jinx;  “Bacon roll – don’t say I never give you anything,” he says, 

"I don't want to get grease on my clothes"

but she refuses it, giving the excuse that she does not want to get grease on her clothes.

Jinx compliments her on her appearance;  “Very smart,” but she cannot decide between big earrings, small earrings, or none.   He decides that she looks lovely with large earrings 

"Where are you going?"

and wants to know where she is going.

“I’m starting a new job today,” she informs him, “Things happened so quickly – you know, I needed to sort out childcare.”   

"With that solicitor?"

Jinx congratulates her and asks if it is with that solicitor.

Gwern comes downstairs

Gwern comes downstairs,  

"Good luck, Dani"

wishes Dani, “Good luck,” and gives her a hug;  she asks him the same question about earrings 

"The small ones?"

and he prefers the small ones, so she puts them on, much to the annoyance of Jinx.   “You’ll be great,” adds Gwern.

"Do you want a bacon roll?"

Then Dani asks him, “Do you want a bacon roll?   Jinx bought one, but I don’t have time.”   

Gwern snatches it

Gwern is quick to snatch it from Jinx’s hand.

"Let me know how it went"

“Right, OK, let me know how it went,” says Jinx as he leaves the house.   Dani does a final check, then follows him out.

Mark is on his round

Mark walks past the cash machine on his round and meets Dani;  

"Your first day?"

“Your first day?” he comments, “You look very professional – good luck!”   

Then he looks across the road and sees Rhys;  “Where are you going, looking like that?”   

"To Tomos ac Ellis . . ."

Rhys says that he is going to Tomos ac Ellis, but Mark was under the impression that he had been sacked.

". . . to show Eleri she's made a mistake"

“I’m going to show Eleri that she’s made a mistake,” Rhys declares, while Mark takes from his bag the post for Tomos ac Ellis.   Rhys walks into the deli.

Gwern notices that the garage is to let . . .

When Gwern approaches the garage, he is surprised to see a ‘To Let’ sign being fixed to the wall.   He walks round the corner, eating his bacon roll, liberally doused in ketchup, 

. . . then barges into Rhys

and collides with Rhys, as neither of them was looking where they were going.

"This is the only clean shirt I've got!"

“This is the only clean shirt I’ve got!” exclaims Rhys, but Gwern continues on his way.   

"I'll try and sort something out"

Inside Tomos ac Ellis, Eleri is apologising to a client on the phone that she is short-staffed;  “I’ll try and sort something out and I’ll get back to you.”

"What happened to you?"

Rhys walks in and she asks what happened to him;  

"Look, erm . . ."

“Look, erm . . .” he begins, 

She thrusts a file at him

but she immediately thrusts a file at him.   “About the other day . . .”

Before he can say more, she instructs him, “Go and see this – a potential buyer wants to see it today – and change your shirt before you go.   I don’t want people to think I employ men who can’t eat tidily.”

"You do remember you sacked me last week?"

“You do remember you sacked me last week, don’t you?” asks Rhys.  

"And you've come to get your job back"

She replies, “And today you’ve come to get your job back, haven’t you – with your tail between your legs?   Mind you, you’ve got a cheek, after sending those embarrassing texts!   I was quite flattered that you were thinking of me at one in the morning.”

"I'm glad I sent  them!"

This is the last straw for Rhys;  “Do you know what?   I was going to say sorry – but, to be honest, I’m glad I sent them, because you can’t run this place and it’s about time someone told you!”

"Think you could do a better job?"

Eleri sneers, “And you think you could do a better job of running a business?   Doing what, exactly?”   

Rhys picks up his personal belongings and puts them in his briefcase, as he informs her that he has plans.

“Yeah, OK, Rhys – not every manager would take you back – you’re lucky I’m willing to forgive you,” she tells him.

"Stuff your forgiveness – and stuff your job!"

Rhys makes it crystal clear;  “Stuff your forgiveness and stuff your job!”   He throws down the post on her desk turns and storms out.

Dani has her initial briefing

In another office, that of Malcolm Edwards, he is informing Dani, “I think I’ve covered everything – including the sink and the kettle – not that they are part of the job.”   

"I don't want the shadow of my past to hang over me"

She says that she has been completely honest with him about what has happened and she does not want the shadow of her past to hang over her.   

"Your experience is an asset, Dani"

He insists that her experience is an asset;  “And you’re in the right job now to make the most of it – 

"How do you take your coffee?"

“right, how do you take your coffee?”

Tom arrives in the Deri

Hywel is having a pint in the Deri when Tom and a couple of his team from Quantum Hydro Works come in.   Tom is looking around;  

"Is Cheryl here – or Cassie?"

“I don’t want to upset the staff – is Cheryl here – or Cassie?”   

"I haven't seen them today"

Hywel has not seen them today 

"Cheryl kicked me out last week"

and is told, “Cheryl kicked me out last week.”

"She had no right to do that"

Hywel maintains that she had no right to do that because of unfounded allegations.   “The situation with Cheryl is difficult, to say the least,” says Tom.

"She made things difficult for Gaynor and me"

Hywel also dislikes her as she made things very difficult for him and Gaynor;  “Perhaps the relationship wouldn’t have ended if she had not shown up – don’t misunderstand me – things weren’t great between Gaynor and me, but Cheryl didn’t help the situation.”

"It's good to know I'm not alone"

Tom says that it is good to know that he is not alone in seeing that side of her;  “I appreciate you being honest – not everyone is willing to be.   Look, I’m sorry about the other week – it’s early days with the plans for this dam.   

"I'll tell you everything I know"

“Do you want to meet later on?   I’ll tell you everything I know about the dam – but, believe me, it’s not much.”

"I only live next door"

“Call in whenever you want – I only live next door,” says Hywel, who thinks that he might get some inside information.

"It's only natural that you're worried about your son"

Dani is speaking on the phone to one of the solicitor’s clients;  “No, I understand – it’s only natural that you’re worried about your son – I’ve been in the same situation myself.   It doesn’t matter what they do, we still love them.   

"Mr Edwards is free on Thursday at 2:00pm"

Mr Edwards is free on Thursday at 2:00pm – is that all right?   OK, we’ll see you then.”

"You don't have to work in your lunch hour"

Malcolm Edwards is impressed and reminds her that she does not have to work during her lunch hour.   

"I just want to find my feet"

She replies that she just wants to find her feet and he predicts, “You’ll be great, Dani – 

"You'v got empathy"

“you’ve got empathy – that’s rare in this profession.   We deal with vulnerable people, so it is important.   With time, perhaps you could go on to do a legal secretary course – why not?”

"You're welcome to join us"

He adds that they have a company tradition of going for a drink once a month, which just happens to be today;  she is welcome to join them.   

"I'm not sure of the situation with the children"

Dani is not sure of the situation with the children, but thanks him for the offer.

Jinx invites her for a drink . . . 

At that moment she receives a message from Jinx, suggesting, “Drink tonight?” 

. . . and she seriously considers it

which she seriously considers.

Tom comes out of the Deri

Mark continues on his post round and happens to notice Tom and his colleagues coming out of the Deri.   

He's next door, in the pub, mate!

Rhys is knocking urgently on the door of number 21, but receives no reply, 

Something catches his eye . . . 

so he walks away.   

. . . the sign on the garage

He notices the sign by the garage, which gives him cause to think

"Is there anything else I need to do"

Dani asks if there is anything else that Malcolm wants her to do before she leaves;  he anxiously asks, “You are coming back tomorrow, then?”   

"I've enjoyed myself"

She says that she has enjoyed herself and, in respect of those drinks, it would be great getting to know everyone, but she cannot tonight.

“Don’t worry – we’ll all go another time,” he tells her.

Eleri closes the garage door

Eleri is just closing the roller shutter of the garage;  

"The perfect place for your new business"

“I think it’s the perfect place for your new business,” she tells the potential client, “Central, large, reasonable,” 

It is Rhys to whom she is speaking

and then we find that she is speaking to Rhys.

"Although you don't have a clue what the business will me!"

She cannot resist adding, “Despite the fact that you haven’t got a clue what the business will be yet!”   

"I don't want to reveal anything"

He contests this claim, but simply does not want to reveal anything until everything is confirmed.

She demands whether he wants it, as she can phone Britt and he will have a contract by the end of the day;  he answers,  “I want to consider my options, first – 

"I've got another viewing – with another agent!"

“I’ve got another viewing – with another agent  tomorrow.”

"So you'll have an answer for me tomorrow?"

She is confident that he will have an answer for her by the end of tomorrow.   

"Are you moving in here?"

While he is looking up at the building, Gwern arrives and asks, “Are you moving in here?”   Rhys is not yet sure, 

"I thought this would be my business one day"

but Gwern remembers, “When I was little, I thought it would be my business one day – that I could run it, well, better than Dad, obviously!”

"Fancy yourself as a businessman, then?"

“You fancy yourself as a businessman then?” says Rhys, “My father started loads of businesses, too – and I haven’t inherited anything either.   Bookies, CwmFM, cyber café.”  

"What's a cyber café?"

Gwern enquires what a cyber café is;  “A café where people used the Internet, because they couldn’t at home,” is Rhys’ reply, “I’m sure he mentioned a brewery as well.”

"You must be gutted he gave that up!"

“Cool,” says Gwern, “You must be gutted he gave that up – you could have gone on benders for free all the time!”

Cheryl hears the front door open

At Maes-y-Deri, Cheryl is sitting in the armchair when Mark returns home 

"You got dressed, then?"

and is surprised to see that she has got dressed.   “Yeah, you were right – I do feel a bit better,” she says, so he once again suggests they go out for a walk.

"Did you see him?"

“Did you see him?” she demands and he answers that Tom was in the village, coming out of the Deri.   “He was looking for me,” she immediately concludes.

"He was there because of work"

“No, he was there because of work – he was with the other workers,” she is told, 

"Very convenient!"

but simply regards that as ‘convenient’.   “They were all wearing high-vis, Cher – I don’t think that’s a set-up, is it?” asks Mark.

"You could talk to someone"

“Do you think it would be a good idea to talk to someone?”   

"I can't go to the cops!"

She insists that she cannot go to the cops, or Dave would tell them about the bottle.   Mark did not mean the cops;  “A doctor, perhaps, or a therapist.”

"You're not sleeping, not going to work"

She takes issue with this;  “Do you think I’m ill?”   He reminds her that she is not sleeping, she cannot go to work.   Perhaps it would help if she talked to someone, because he is scared of saying wrong thing. 

"I need that bloke to leave this place!"

“I don’t need to talk to anyone, Mark – what I need is for that bloke to leave this place and leave me alone!” she snarls.   To show that conversation is over, she turns on the television.

"Something smells nice"

Dani returns home and comments that something smells nice;  

"Bacon, sausage, eggs and beans"

“Yes, bacon, sausage, eggs and beans for everyone!” Gwern announces, “How did it go, then?”

She replies that it was really good;  “Do you mind if Britt and Kylie come over later – 

"I fancy a drink in the Deri to celebrate!"

“I fancy a drink in the Deri to celebrate.”

"Did you know Rhys is going to rent the garage?"

“Did you know that Rhys Llywelyn is going to rent the garage?   I suppose it’s a good thing that someone’s taking over.   I don’t know what he’s going to do with it, but he said something about cyber cafés.”

"I always thought there was something odd about him"

“What – in 2024?” demands Dani, “I always thought there was something odd about that bloke.”

"What do you want?"

Rhys arrives again at number 21 and does not receive a very warm welcome from his father, who was expecting someone else.   “I won’t keep you – I’ve got a favour to ask – 

"Would you mind if I moved in here for a while?"

“would you mind if I moved in here for a while?”

"Fallen out with Mathew, have you?"

Hywel assumes that he has fallen out with Mathew, 

"I've decided to rent the garage"

but Rhys explains, “I’ve decided to rent the garage and I can’t afford to pay for that and the flat.”   

"What are you going to do with the garage?"

His father wonders what on earth he wants to do with the garage.

"Remember that brewery business you had?"

“You remember that brewery business you had?” says Rhys, “Cic Mul [Mule Kick], that’s it – how did you start it?”

“Are you thinking of leaving Tomos ac Ellis?” demands his father and is told that he has already done so.   “So you haven’t got a job?” Hywel demands.

"Sorry – the door was open"

At that moment Tom walks in, as the door was open, 

Rhys will come back tomorrow

and Rhys says that he will come back tomorrow.   “Do you have children, Tom?” asks Hywel and when learning that he has not, continues, “If you’ve got any sense, you’ll keep it that way.   

"Beer, lager, gin?"

“What do you want – beer, lager, gin?”

"It's really liberating!"

In the Deri, Dani explains to Jinx, “It’s really liberating – and I know I’ve only been there for one day, but already I feel like a different person.   

"I thought I was going to make a mess of everything"

“I thought I was going to make the mess of everything, but I did OK.”

Eleri goes behind the bar

Eleri goes behind the bar, unchallenged by the barman, to help herself to something, as Dani continues, “Malcolm said I could do a course to go further, 

"Malcolm sees potential in me"

“because he sees potential in me – and he has no problem with the fact I’m a single mother.”

"Women do all the hard work"

Eleri interrupts, “He shouldn’t – women do all the hard work – men have no clue!”

Jinx comments that Dani is not actually a single mother;  

"The children are my responsibility"

“No, but you know what I mean – the children are my responsibility.”

"I know that more than anyone"

“Yes, I know that more than anyone,” he responds, rather cynically;  

"Are we going to have a nice night or what?"

she wonders if they are going to have a nice night or what, as she has not seen him for ages.

"That's why I arranged to see you"

“I know – that’s why I came over to see you this morning and why I arranged to see you tonight,” he stresses.   

"Earning money to move out of your house"

She insists that she has been busy trying to earn money in order to move out of his house.

“I’ve told you you don’t have to move out,” he insists, so she decides that she is going, as she has to be up early in the morning.   

Eleri has been enjoying this . . .

Eleri appears to be quite amused by this walk-out, 

. . . in marked contrast to Jinx

but Jinx is definitely not.

"You have an interest in this, don't you?"

“You do have an interest in this project, don’t you?” realises Tom and Hywel points out that he is a county councillor – that is his job.

"Are you someone I can trust?"

However, he adds, “Listen now, Tom, are you someone I can trust?”   

"Cheryl would have different opinion"

He confirms that he is, although Cheryl would have a very different opinion.

“When my father died, I inherited quite a lot in his will – including shares in this Quantum company – he was a county councillor in the 70s when they sold the land – the land that Quantum owns.

"I understand these shares are worth a lot of money"

“The money’s long gone, but I’ve still got the shares and, as I understand it, they would be worth a lot of money, if the plans for the dam go through.”

"You're not wrong there!"

Tom confirms he is not wrong there.   “What I want to know is – if I decide to keep them, how controversial would that be?   And how much land is involved?”

Tom points it out on the map

Tom indicates on the map the extent of the project;  

"Maes-y-Deri?"

“Maes-y-Deri?” gasps Hywel.   He is informed that it would involve the entire estate, 

"Your little patch will be safe"

but the High Street, his little patch, will be safe.

Hywel is concerned

That does not make Hywel feel any better;  Tom goes on, “They don’t tell me a lot – I’m on the outside, but I do hear conversations and so on.   I was offered shares by the company as well as part of my contract – 

"It's the best investment you could make"

“there is no doubt that it’s the best investment you could make.”

"Your name will be mud if the voters find out"

Hywel is astonished by this, as Tom continues, “Yes, your name will probably be mud if the voters find out – it’s public information and they would only have to look for it.”

"Its it likely anyone would look?"

Hywel wonders if it is likely that anyone would look, 

"More a matter of 'when' than 'if'!"

but Tom’s opinion is, “I think it’s more a matter of ‘when’ than ‘if’.   In the end, it depends on what you want, doesn’t it?   Your untarnished good name – or another large sum of money to keep you comfortable in your old age.”

That money is very attractive

Hywel is seriously tempted by the prospect of this money, 

"There is a way around all this"

then is informed, “There is a way around all this – a way you can keep the value of your shares and your job on the council.”

Hywel is eager too find out

Hywel appears to be on the verge of falling for this (apparent) scam.