10 September 2024

Another hectic morning at number 9

Number 9 is in a state of disarray as Dani encourages Seren to get ready to go to school;  Gabriel is playing quietly in the foreground.   “I can’t find my shoe!” exclaims Seren and her mother wonders how she can manage to lose one every day.

“Just keep them together – it’s not difficult!” Dani snaps at her.   

"Chill out, Dani"

Gwern urges her to chill out, 

"You try and get everyone ready in the morning!"

but she simply responds, “Chill out?   You try and get everyone ready in the morning – and we’ll see how chilled you are, OK?”

Then Seren decides that she needs some fruit for school and Dani dashes into the kitchen.   

"Why aren't you going to work today?"

Gwern asks her why she is not going to work today and she replies that she has a day off.   

"You've only just started"

“Again?   You’ve only just started and you haven’t been in for a week.”

"Does it matter?   Mind your own business"

“Does it matter?   Mind your own business – it’s nothing to do with you!” she tells him, 

Gwern storms off – again

so he picks up his bag and storms out of the house, 

Dani's apologies go unheeded

ignoring Dani’s apologies.   

"I've found it!"

Seren announces that now she has found her shoe.

"Where have you been stealing from?"

Howard sits in the deli with some bank notes in his hand;  Rhys creeps up behind him, asking, “Where have you been stealing from?”   

"Don't do that again!"

Howard does not appreciate that and warns him not to do it again.   

"You're the only person who dies 'cash-in-hand' jobs"

“I think you’re the only person who does cash-in-hand jobs.”

“Well, I don’t trust banks,” Howard declares;  Rhys assumes that he prefers to hide it under his mattress.   

"There's nom tax-man there"

“There’s no tax-man there, is there?”

"People will think you stole the cash from APD"

“You want to watch it, or people will think you stole the cash from APD.” warns Rhys.   Howard reiterates that he was not the one who stole the cash, and any suggestions to the contrary are not funny.   He stresses that APD’s financial situation is a sensitive subject at the moment.

"Jason has left things in a real mess"

“Jason has left things in a real mess over there, hasn’t he?” sighs Rhys, “Are you going to this memorial service they’ve organised?”   

"What memorial service"

Howard did not know anything about it and Rhys explains, “For Jason, because there wasn’t a funeral – they’re thinking about holding something in the Deri.   Ask them – and let me know what the plans are, yeah?”   Howard feels rather uneasy at this news, knowing Jason’s actual situation.

Hywel is becoming impatient

Hywel is waiting impatiently outside the garage when Rhys arrives with his coffee;  

"I only popped out for a coffee"

“Where have you been?   It’s almost lunchtime,” his father complains.   Rhys tell him to chill, as he only popped out to get a coffee.

"I made a sample today"

“Things are going well – I’ve made a sample today and I’m waiting for it to brew,” says Rhys.   Hywel asks if he has done his research to see what sells, then realises that Rhys is taking no notice of him, but is engrossed in something on his phone.

"This is much more interesting"

“What this one’s got to say is much more interesting!” he maintains and Hywel realises that it is a girlfriend.   

"To just one person"

“It wouldn’t be fair to commit this body to just one person, would it?” Rhys boasts.

"Right, hot off the press!"

Cassie comes across from the Deri;  “Right, hot off the press – Drag Night in the Deri!   Something different, isn’t it?   As the quiz was a flop . . . where were you?” she asks Hywel.   

"I've been busy, Cassie"

He says that he was busy.

“It sounds like a laugh to me,” is Rhys’ reaction, “I’ll do my best to get the boys to come.”   

Rhys is given some more leaflets

In that case, she gives him a few more leaflets.

Dai looks doleful

Inside the Deri, Dai is looking gloomily at his phone when Hywel comes in;  

"Lasagne, please, Ger"

he asks Geraint for a pint and the lasagne.

"Lasagne?   Haven't you got a kitchen?"

“Lasagne?   You only live next door – haven’t you got a kitchen?” demands Dai.   

"I haven't seen Diane for ages"

Hywel asks how Diane is, as he has not seen her for ages.

“You’re not the only one – I haven’t seen her for ages,” is Dai’s reply, 

"She's gone to stay with `Glenys 'Pop'"

“She’s  gone away for a bit of peace – or so she says – to stay with Glenys ‘Pop’.   Away from everyone who’s trying to sympathise with her.”

"Sometimes it's better to say nothing"

Hywel acknowledges that people try to say the right thing, but sometimes it is better if they say nothing.   

Dai agrees, “Well, I try to be supportive, but . . .”

Hywel wonders who is supporting him, and buys him another pint;  “Look, it won’t be long before Diane is back to her old self – there must be so many things in this village that keep reminding her.”

"Yes – including muggins here!

“Yes, including me!” snarls Dai.

Dani is lounging

Dani is wrapped up in a blanket on the sofa, watching daytime TV, when there is a knock at the door, which she initially ignores.   It is repeated, together with a voice informing Dani, “I know you’re in there – I’m not going anywhere until you open the door.”

Eleri is admitted

As Dani has little alternative, she lets Eleri in;  

"You've moved on to self-pity, then"

“I see you’ve moved on from being angry and upset to self-pity – you look terrible!”

“I was stupid to think I was good enough that job!” Dani growls 

"He is the problem, Dani"

and is told that this is becoming boring for her to say now, but he is the problem.

"Do you know what's really pathetic?"

“Do you know what’s really pathetic?   I believed what he was saying – that I could work my way up.”   

"There's nothing stopping you"

Eleri points out that there is nothing stopping her from doing that.   “Yes, there is – I’m Dani Thomas – and nobody takes me seriously.”

"I don't want to talk to anyone"

As she crunches on another crisp, she continues, “Now, if you don’t mind, I don’t want to talk to anyone.”   Taking absolutely no notice of this, Eleri instructs her to shift up on the sofa;  

"You haven't done anything wrong"

she will just sit there and help Danny with the crisps, because a bowl this size will only make her feel worse.

“You haven’t done anything wrong,” Eleri begins, 

"I said no talking!"

but is reminded there is to be no talking and that Dani just wants to forget about it.

"Have you heard anything about a memorial service?"

Howard comes into the Deri, looking puzzled;  “Cassie, have you heard anything about a memorial service for Jason?”   

"Nothing's been organised"

She tells him that they have been discussing it, but nothing has been organised.   “Oh, thank heavens,” he comments;  

"Didn't you like the idea?"

Hywel assumes that he does not like the idea, but he explains, “No – I was just worried I’d missed it,” and Cassie realises that they were good mates.

"He's a strange bloke, isn't he?"

When he has left again, Hywel remarks, “He’s a strange bloke, isn’t he?”   

"Sorry, Dai – work calls"

Dai returns from the toilet and offers to buy Hywel a pint, but this is declined;  “Work calls – sorry, Dai.”

Dai tells him that Diane said she had left a lot on his plate at the council and thanks him for dealing with it.   

A text message arrives

Hywel’s phone sounds and he moves away to make a phone call.   

"I've taken the posters from the Gent's"

Meanwhile, Dai has removed the missing person posters from the Gent’s and asks Cassie if she will do the same in the Ladies’, as they are of no further use.

"I think the company is going to present its application today"

Hywel is outside, answering the call, with Gwern kicking a ball in the background;  “Yes, I wanted to let you know as you’re on the planning committee as well, I think the company is going to present its application today – and it’s likely to be a controversial one.   I wouldn’t have raised it with you unless I thought it had potential – you know.   

"I hope I can depend on your support"

“I hope I can depend on your support?   We need all the support we can get to move things forward.   Phone me back when you get the chance.”

"You're going to have to stay in school!"

Rhys comes out of the garage office, moaning at Gwern for kicking his football against the doors;  “You’re going to have to start staying in school!”   

"It's so boring!"

Gwern describes it as being very boring and is advised, “If you want to get away with dodging, you can’t do it every day!”

“I stayed until lunchtime – that’s better than last week,” he replies, 

"It's more like work experience"

“I thought I could help you again – so it’s not really dodging – it’s more like work experience.   Please, just for this afternoon!”

"Not a word about me – right?"

Rhys agrees, but with one condition;  “If Dani finds out – not a word about me.”   

"Are you afraid of Dani?"

Gwern gets the impression that Rhys is afraid of Dani.   “Yes, of course I am – as well as the rest of the village!”

Cassie puts up a poster

Cassie is putting up another of the Drag Night posters when Gaynor comes in;  “Have you got a minute?   I wanted a chat about Cheryl,” says Cassie.   

Cassie is worried about Cheryl

They sit down in a corner.   “Look, I’ve been thinking about whether I should tell you or not – I don’t want Cheryl to think I’m gossiping, but I’m worried about her.

"Tom found a piece of glass in his food"

“Tom came to the Deri for dinner last week and she was working.   He found a piece of glass in his food.”   

"And you think Cheryl is resposible"

Gaynor is astonished that she thinks Cheryl is responsible.

“I don’t want to point the finger, but, luckily, I don’t think Tom wants to take it any further.   I know it’s a very sensitive situation – and I don’t want her to think I’m against her – I sympathise with her – 

"She can't do things like that!"

“but she can’t do things like that!   She could have closed this place down.   

"She denies doing anything"

“I’ve tried to talk to her, but she denies doing anything.”

"You don't believe Cheryl, then"

Gaynor can see that Cassie does not believe Cheryl;  

"I feel guilty for doubting her"

“It’s such a complicated situation – I feel guilty for doubting her, but hearing this on top of the other things I’ve heard makes me wonder whether I know Cheryl at all.”

"I'm dating three different girls"

In the garage office, Rhys says that he is trying to arrange a date with three different girls, and they all want to see the same film.   “I haven’t got three girlfriends – one would be too many – no, I’m on this dating app.”

Gwern wonders if they know that he is talking to other girls and Rhys replies that he does not tell them.   “How do you know you’re using the right photo?   

"What if they're all 'catfishing' you?"

“What if they’re all ‘catfishing’ you?”asks Gwern.   

He is told that is the risk you have to take;  “But you don’t have much of a choice, when you live somewhere like Cwmderi – 

"Unless you want to go out with Megan!"

“unless you want to go out with Megan!   They’re all flings – a bit of fun – why would I want a girlfriend?   

"Why buy a book when you have a local library?"

“Why buy a book, when you have a local library?

“Right, remember when I told you that choosing my hours was the best thing about working for myself?   

"The best bit is being able to drink on the job"

“Well, I was lying – the best bit is being able to drink on the job.   There’s no-one here to stop me and, in any case, it’s research.   It’s important to know what’s on the market – who my competition is.”

As he pours some into a glass, Gwern would like to try some, 

"I've done it loads of times"

boasting that he has done it loads of times.   He is told to take just one sip, 

"Is that how it's supposed to taste?"

and after doing so, says, “Urgh – is that how it’s supposed to taste?”   Rhys agrees that it is rather bitter, 

"It's not so bad the second time"

but Gwern tries some more, reporting, “It’s not so bad the second time.”

"It's time you sent home now"

Rhys decides that it is time he went home, as school is now finished, 

"Lowri, 27, from Carnarthen"

“And I’ve got a date – Lowri, 27, from Carmarthen – likes walking, going to the gym and having fun!   Remember to buy some chewing gum on the way home, to mask the smell.”

Gwern leaves the garage . . .

Outside, Gwern takes out his phone and leaves a voicemail for Lleucu;  

. . . and invites Lleucu to the cinema

“I was wondering if you wanted to go to the cinema next week?   As friends, obviously – just a bit of fun, really.”

"Secrets keep coming out"

Gaynor continues, “She’s been here for just over a year now and I feel that another secret comes out all the time, you know?”   

"She hasn't been herself since Tom arrived"

Cassie confirms that Cheryl has not been herself since Tom arrived.   

"Things just don't make sense"

“I hate questioning my sister, but things just don’t make sense!”

Dani is waiting

Dani is standing in the kitchen of number 9, waiting for Gwern to return;  

"It was all right"

when he does, she asks, “How was school?” and he says that it was all right.

"The school phoned again"

“Do you know what?   Lying comes much too easily to you – the school phoned again, Gwern – you promised!”   

"I was there all morning"

He points out that he was there all morning.   

"Do I have to walk you to school?"

“And what about this afternoon?   What do I have to do – walk you to school and make sure you stay there?” Dani rages.

He protests that he is not a child;  

"You're acting like a child"

“No?   Because you’re acting like one with all these lies!”

"You didn't go to work this morning"

Gwern turns the tables with, “You didn’t go to work this morning!” but she maintains this is not about her.   “No wonder I dodge school, if this is the example you set.   Why aren’t you going, then?”

"Right, I'll ask Malcolm, then"

Dani walks away without replying and he comments, “Right, I’ll ask Malcolm, then – I’ll go to his office.”

"You're not going anywhere near him!"

Dani is adamant that he is not going anywhere near Malcolm, but says no more, so Gwern demands, “What’s happened?”   Dani confesses that she walked out.   

"Did he hurt you?"

“Did he hurt you?” is the next question.

"He was flirting – and then . . ."

She says that he flirting with her – and then . . .   

"I'm going to kill him – that's what Dad would do!"

Gwern snarls, “I’m going to kill him!   That’s what Dad would do!”   

"You're not your Dad, Gwern!"

Dani points out that he is not his Dad.

"At least, Diane won't have to see them"

Dai is going round the village, systematically removing the missing person posters;  in MFC he tells Howard, “I’m just accepting things – at least, Diane won’t have to face these when she gets home.”   

"I've heard there's going to be a memorial service"

Howard has heard that there is going to be a memorial service;  

"It's not up to us to tell people how to grieve"

Dai stresses that they are not too happy about it, “But it’s not up to us to tell people how to grieve.”

"But it's not their grief, is it?"

Howard insists, “It’s not their grief, is it?   If you're ready to move on, everyone else should do the same.”

"Only one thing would make Diane happy . . ."

“Only one thing would make Diane happy – and nobody can give her that,” groans Dai.   

"Dai . . . er . . ."

Howard is about to say something, 

He hurries away

but thinks better of it and walks out of the shop.

"I just want to punch him!"

Gwern is furious;  “I just want to punch him!” he snarls and Dani has similar feelings, but tells him that is not the answer.

"Men like that aren't worth it, Gwern!"

“Listen, men like that aren’t worth it, OK?   I’m just going to forget about it and move on.”

"And let him get away with it"

“And let him get away with it – while you lose your job?” demands Gwern,  “That doesn’t make sense.”   

"Sometimes life doesn't make sense"

Dani simply says that sometimes life does not make sense.   

"That's not the Dani I know!"

“That’s not the Dani I know!” he says.

"Here he is – Cwmderi's Alan Sugar!"

In the Deri, Rhys is handed the darts as Eleri walks in;  “There he is – Cwmderi’s Alan Sugar!   How is the new business going?   

"Are you a millionaire yet?"

“Are you a millionaire yet?”

"It won't be long"

Rhys replies that it will not be long;  he explains that his plan is brewing beer and that he is just fine-tuning the recipé.   “Have you managed to fill my big shoes yet?” he wonders.

"Don't flatter yourself, Rhys"

“Don’t flatter yourself, Rhys – I now have staff who respect the pecking order and don’t complain,” she sneers.

"I would have made a better job of running the place"

He maintains that he kept that place going and did all the hard work for her;  “And I would have made a better job of running the place.”

Eleri heard that he ran his own business before;  “Chwys Rhys, [Rhys’ Sweat] wasn’t it?   

"Went bust, did it?"

“How long did that last?   Went bust, did it?   I just hope that you think of a better name for that beer.”   Eleri orders two G&Ts. 

Gaynor takes out her frustration on the floor 

Gaynor is vigorously scrubbing the kitchen floor when she hears her phone sound;  

She does not answer the call from Cheryl . . .

seeing Cheryl’s name, she rejects the call.   Then, after giving the matter some thought, 

. . . but instead dials Tom's number

she dials Tom’s number 

"I need to see you"

and leaves a message, “Hiya, Tom – I need to see you.”

"Esther – dinner!"

Hywel is cooking dinner and calls Esther;  

"Pasta – again?"

she is unimpressed that it is Dad’s pasta again, but cheers up when told that she can eat it in front of the television.

The planning application has arrived

An e-mail arrives on his laptop;  the application for planning permission from Quantum has arrived.   

"It's important that we move quickly"

He immediately contacts Ieuan;  “It’s arrived – I’ll forward it to you.   It’s important that we move quickly now to approve it internally,”

"Thanks for meeting me"

Dani comes into the Deri;  “Thanks for meeting me,” she tells Eleri, 

"You look better than you did this morning . . ."

who remarks that she looks better than she did this morning and presents her with a G&T.

". . . have we reached drowning your sorrows?"

“What step have we reached now, then?   Drowning your sorrows?”

"I'm going to show him he can't get away with it"

Dani’s mind is made up;  “No, I’m going to show him that he can’t get away with what he did!”   

"Earlier you said . . ."

She is reminded of what she said earlier.

"Are you going to help me?"

“Yeah, I know – but I’ve changed my mind – are you going to help me?”