12 September 2024

Iolo loos at the poster

Iolo is looking critically at the Drag Night poster at the Deri;  when Cassie and Kath come out with some bunting to be put up, they ask if he will be there.   

"Yes, probably"

“Yes, probably,” he rather half-heartedly replies.

"We expect you to look the part"

“We expect you to look part, you know,” adds Kath.   

Iolo slinks away

As it is pointed out to Cassie that the step-ladder is behind her, Iolo walks away.

"Come on – you can do better than this!"

At number 21, Hywel is tasting the latest batch of Rhys’ beer production;  “Come on – you can do better than this!” he complains, “Perhaps it needs to be brewed longer.”   

Rhys is studying his phone

Then he notices that Rhys is paying a lot of  attention to the app on his phone again.

"You're jealous because I've got a date"

“You’re just jealous because I’ve got a date!” boasts Rhys, “If these apps  had been around when you were young, you would have been all over them!   The girl I’m going on a date with today – 

"Guess who her grandfather is?   Griffiths!"

“guess who her grandfather is?   Griffiths!”

"Indeg?"

“Indeg?” demands Hywel, with horror;  Rhys hopes that his father does not know her, 

Hywel can see a problem here

but Hywel is extremely shocked.

Sam unloads his gear . . .

Sam is unloading his gear at the Deri 

. . . as Iolo comes round the corner

when Iolo comes round the corner on his way to a plumbing job at the shop;  he hesitates when he sees Sam, who drops something on the ground, 

"I can't stop – Colin's waiting for me"

so Iolo picks it up for him.

“I can’t stop – Colin’s waiting for me,” he says and is asked whether he will be coming tonight.   Iolo appears rather lost for words, 

"I'm looking forward to it"

but unconvincingly maintains that he is looking forward to it and will be there.   Sam does not believe him.

"Everything's fine – except the pipes out the back"

Colin is outside the shop when Iolo reaches there, apologising for being late and is directed to the pipes out the back which are leaking.   Iolo is about to have a look when Colin asks, “Are you going tonight?”

"Why is everyone asking me about tonight?"

“Why is everyone asking me about tonight?” Iolo demands, and Colin just thought that he would be there.   

"Maya said you were seeing each other"

Maya mentioned something about the two of them seeing each other.

Iolo makes it very clear, “We’re not seeing each other, Col!”

"Can you look after Esther tonight?"

Hywel asks Rhys if he can look after Esther tonight;  he is sorry that it is such short notice.   

"I can't – I'm meeting Indeg"

“I can’t – I’m meeting Indeg – remember?” is the reply.

"It's an important meeting!"

He is told that something has come up with the council – an important meeting, but Rhys does not intend to cancel the date now.   “Get someone to cover you,” he suggests.   His father maintains that it is too important to do that.

“Can’t Gaynor look after Esther?” Rhys continues, but Hywel says that she is unable to do so.  

"I'll agree, on one condition!"

“Right, I’ll agree, on one condition – that Indeg is free tomorrow!   If she’s not, I’m not cancelling!”

Now Hywel has a range to do something

This provides Hywel with a little breathing space;  he immediately gets out his phone.   

"Ieuan, – we've got a big problem!"

“Ieuan, listen – we’ve got a problem – a big problem!”

"Are you still avoiding me?"

Cheryl visits Llwyncelyn and demands, “Are you still avoiding me or something?”   

"I've been busy"

Of course Gaynor denies this, alleging that she has been busy.   

"Too busy to have lunch with your sister?"

“Too busy to have lunch with your sister?   We are OK, aren’t we?”

"I heard what happened in the Deri"

“I heard what happened in the Deri,” Gaynor tells her, “With the glass.   How I heard doesn’t matter – is it important?”

"You don't believe him?"

“You don’t believe him?” Cheryl gasps, but her sister does not think that it was an accident.   

"He put it there!"

“Nor do I – he put it there!” Cheryl shouts, “OK, what did he tell you?   That I tried to kill him?   

"This is what he does"

“This is what he does – he gets everyone to think whatever he wants – you don’t know him like I do, Gaynor.”

"I'm not too sure that I know you, either"

“Well, perhaps I don’t – but I’m not too sure that I know you, either,” exclaims Gaynor.

Dani is at the solicitor's office

Dani strides towards Malcolm Edwards’ office, accompanied by Eleri;  

Malcolm is confronted by the two of them

“This is my power suit,” she says and at that moment the door opens.   Malcolm is confronted by the two of them.

"How can I help you both?"

“I wasn’t expecting anyone today – how can I help you both?” he says.   Dani tells him that they want a chat, but he demands to know who is with her.   He makes the excuse that he has a meeting.

"You're free until four"

“We’ve checked your appointments – you’re free until four,” Dani informs him.   He thinks it is wise to agree to the request.

"Good luck with tonight, Kath"

In the shop, Colin wishes Kath good luck with the preparations, just as Iolo has finished the repair.   

"See you later in your sequins, boys!"

“I’ve already told this one I expect him to look the part,” says Kath, “And I expect the same from you as well, Colin.   See you later in your sequins, boys!”

"Sorry for being awkward, Col"

Iolo apologises for being awkward with Colin earlier and he asks, “Iol, if there’s anything worrying you, 

"I've got good ears, you know"

“I’ve got good ears, you know – just between you and me, I promise.”

"There's too much fuss"

“People are behaving strangely about tonight, you know – there’s too much fuss,” Iolo moans.   

"We haven't had anything like that in the village"

Colin points out that they have not had anything in the village like this before.

"It makes me feel a bit weird"

“I know that, but it just makes me feel a bit weird, you know?   Because I haven’t really thrown myself into the ‘scene’.”   

"Scene?"

Colin does not understand where he is going with this, so he explains, “The gay scene – the queer scene – I’ve lived a pretty ‘straight’ life, you know?   I’ve never been to ‘Pride’ – sometimes I feel I’m not part of the community, although I am part of it.   

"I don't think the village is ready for this!"

“I just don’t think the village is ready for this!   And I’m worried about Sam – worried about how people will react to him.”

"Well, I've got news for you, Iol"

“Well, I’ve got news for you, Iol,” says Colin, “Everyone I’ve talked to is really looking forward to tonight.   I haven’t heard one nasty comment or anything negative – honestly – and everyone seems to love Sam.   Even Cai’s looking forward to it.”

"Do you thinks I've been a bit unfair with him?"

Now Iolo appears to have changed his outlook;  “Do you think I’ve been a bit unfair with him?”   

"And a bit unfair with the people of Cwmderi"

Colin suggests that perhaps he has been a bit unfair with some of the people in Cwmderi as well.

"I don't want any ill-feeling"

Back in the solicitors office, Malcolm says, “I’m glad you’re here – I don’t think the way we left things last time is healthy.”   He wonders if Eleri is aware of what happened;  “I don’t want any ill-feeling.”

"I've felt ashamed and frightened all week!"

Dani points out that she has felt ashamed and frightened since last week;  “Since you did what you did!”

"I don't know what you're trying to suggest"

“I don’t know what you’re trying to suggest,” he begins, but Dani is having none of this.

"You know exactly what you did!"

“I’m not playing this game – you know exactly what you did,” she exclaims.   

"Exactly what did I do?"

He demands exactly what he did;  

"You took advantage of her"

Eleri steps in, explaining that he took advantage of her.

"And what evidence do you have?"

“And what evidence do you have?” he demands, “It’s her word against mine – because I did no such thing!”   

He thinks he has won

He sits back in his chair with a smug smile.

“And what would your wife have to say about it?” Eleri enquires.

"I want compensation . . ."

Dani immediately demands compensation, although Eleri does not seem to agree with this approach;  

"£3,000 – today!"

“£3,000 – today!”

"It isn't a funeral we've got on today"

Up in the Deri flat, Kath tries to get Cassie into the party spirit;  “Good heavens, it isn’t a funeral we’ve got on tonight,” she says, “What’s wrong with you?   

"Get into the 'drag' spirit"

“Get into the ‘drag’ spirit.   Right, out with it – what’s going on?”

"I kissed Cai last night"

“I kissed Cai last night,” Cassie confesses, which comes as a surprise to Kath, who was not expecting that so quickly.

"He's a dark horse, isn't he?"

“Hey, he’s a dark horse, isn’t he?   Well, both of you!”   

"I'm worried I misunderstood"

Cassie insists that it is not funny;  she is worried that she misunderstood the situation.

“You know we’ve become friends recently – I enjoy his company and I think he enjoys my company.   And I’ve got close to Lleucu, so it makes the situation . . . odd.   I just hope I haven’t spoilt things.”

"Cai and Cassie – Cassie and Cai"

“Cai and Cassie – Cassie and Cai,” muses Kath 

"I blame the cocktails"

and Cassie blames the cocktails.   

Kath is greatly amused

Kath appears to regard the situation as extremely amusing.

"Will you feel like you've got justice?"

When they are back at number 9, Dani pours out two glasses of wine to celebrate, but Eleri warns, “If he gives you the compensation, do you think it will all be over?   Will you feel like you’ve got justice?”

"£3,000!"

As she hands of a glass to Eleri, Dani says, “£3,000!”   

"There's nothing to stop him doing it again"

She is warned that £3,000 is not going to teach him a lesson;  “If he does give in, the only reason is because it’s a lot cheaper than divorcing his wife.   There’s nothing to stop him doing it again.”

The Deri is full tonight

The Deri has more customers than we have seen for a while;  

"I've got a lager here for you"

Tom comes in and Hywel has a lager waiting for him.   

Then Tom sees Cheryl

He notices Cheryl on the other side of the room and had not realised that she would be there;  he thinks that he had better leave.

"You can't leave me to drink two pints"

Hywel urges him to stay for a while;  “You can’t leave me on my own to drink two pints,” and Tom is persuaded.

Sam applies make-up

Upstairs, Sam is applying his make-up 

Iolo arrives . . .

when Iolo walks in;  

. . . and the other 'drag queen' gives them some privacy

Sam’s fellow ‘performer’ will give them some peace.   

"I've been blaming the whole village"

“I’m sorry,” Iolo begins, “I’ve been so stupid – I’ve been blaming the whole village for my own narrow-mindedness.   The last thing I wanted to do was to hurt you.”

"It would take a lot more than that"

“It will take a lot more than that to hurt me,” replies Sam, “And the same is true if anyone reacts negatively tonight.”

"Aren't you scared?"

Iolo wonders if he is scared;  “Doing a ‘drag’ performance in front of people who may not have seen it before?”

"Drag is a protest, really"

Sam admits that it is a bit scary, but the fear is part of it;  “Drag is a protest really – it’s a chance to stand up to people, a society without shame – 

He maintains that deviants like him are 'important'?

“and show people we exist – that we’re important.”

"How colourful and shiny this protest is"

Iolo likes how colourful and shiny this protest is;  “I could never imagine myself doing something like this.”

Likewise, Sam admits that he would never be able to do what ‘Hannah Call’ can do.   

'Gorgeous'?

“It’s her and this gorgeous make-up that gives me the confidence.”  

Iolo thinks that it must be nice to be someone else sometimes, but Sam does not feel as if he is being someone else;  “Drag brings out the real me.   I guess ‘Hannah Call’s confidence has started to make its way into my real life now as well.   

"I don't care what people think of me"

“I used to worry a lot, but now I don’t care what people think of me.”

Cheryl is not at all happy

Downstairs, Cheryl is not at all happy at the presence of Tom.   

Gaynor arrives  . . .

Gaynor comes in and notices Hywel;  

. . . and sits by Hywel 

she sits down with him.   “I regret coming a little bit, but I’m sure it will be a good night.”   

Then Tom returns

Then Tom returns to where he was sitting;  “I’m sorry – is this your seat?” she asks and he invites her to join them.   

This does not go down well with Cheryl

This does not go unnoticed by Cheryl, behind the bar.

"Will Dani be joining you?"

Jinx is looking intently at his phone as Kath asks him if Dani will be joining him later.   

"I think she's forgotten that I exist"

“I have no idea – I think she’s forgotten that I exist,” he groans.

"Well, go and talk to her, face to face!"

Kath advises him to stop looking at his phone and go over there to talk to her, face to face;  “I’m fed up with people guessing how other people feel – it’s simple.”   

"I've already tried that, Kath"

He replies that he has already tried that, so she tells him, “Try harder, then!”   

Jinx leaves the Deri

He puts down his cocktail and walks out.

"I just want to enjoy myself"

Upstairs, Iolo explains that he just wants to enjoy himself and not worry about what other people think;  

"You're not the problem – it's me"

“But these hang-ups, they weigh me down – I think that’s why I’ve been unfair to you.   And I also worry what other people would think if I had a boyfriend who’s a ‘Drag Queen’.   So you’re not the problem – it’s me.”

Sam objects to the term ‘boyfriend, insisting that they are partners.   

"One step at a time"

“Well, one step at a time, perhaps,” says Iolo and Sam is not in any hurry.   He just wants them to enjoy things as they are. 

Cheryl; keeps an eye on them . . .

In the bar Cheryl is keeping a close watch 

. . . so Gaynor comes across

on her sister and Tom;  Gaynor comes across and is told, “You’re looking very cosy over there.”

"Look, I know this isn't easy for you"

“Look, I know this isn’t easy for you – and I am sorry,” says Gaynor.

"For not believing your actual sister?"

“Sorry?   Sorry for believing for sister’s ex-boyfriend instead of your actual sister?” snarls Cheryl.

"I'm getting tired of this"

Gaynor is becoming tired of this;  “Tired of hearing about who did what to whom and when.   Only you two know exactly what happened between you.   I don’t want to fall out with you – 

"I have nothing more to say on the matter"

“on the contrary, I have nothing more to say on the matter.”   

"Are you going back to him?"

Cheryl asks if she is going back to him, and she replies, “No,” promptly walking out of the Deri.

"But you're not getting another penny"

Malcolm Edwards arrives at number 9, with a brown envelope;  “It’s all there, don’t worry – but you’re not getting another penny.   

"If you showed the boss a bit more respect"

“It’s a pity – you could have been a successful secretary, Dani, if you had just shown the boss a bit more respect.

Dani snatches the envelope

Dani hears the door opening and quickly snatches the envelope, trying to hide it;  “Jinx, Malcolm was just leaving,” she says 

Malcolm leaves

and he does so.

The evening's entertainment gets under way

Sam’s ‘colleague’ in his ‘Drag Queen’ get-up, is cavorting around 

Cheryl makes cocktails . . .

and Cheryl is taking no notice, but making more cocktails.   

. . . and gives one to Colin

Colin takes one of them, then Cassie comes back to the bar, asking, 

"What do you think of my lipstick?"

“What do you think about my lipstick – one of the ‘Drag Queens’ put it on.”

Cai and Lleucu arrive

Cai and Lleucu arrive and thread their way through the party-goers;  

"I hope you didn't think I was trying to take advantage"

“I enjoyed last night – but I hope you don’t think I was trying to take advantage,” he says.

"I think I misunderstood"

“You don’t need to apologise – I think I misunderstood things,” Cassie answers.   

"I don't think you misunderstood anything"

He does not believe that she misunderstood anything and picks up two of the mocktails.   

Kath is watching

Kath has been carefully watching this conversation.

"I'm all right now, Col"

Iolo sits down next to Colin, whom asks how he is feeling now;  “I’m all right now, thanks, Col,”

Sam appears . . .

“And now it’s time to stomp your feet and welcome the Queen of the Cwm – no, not Kath or Cassie – but Hannah Call!” is the announcement.   Sam appears, grotesquely dressed as a ridiculous, demeaning caricature of a woman, 

. . . and the audience seem enraptured

but to great applause.   

He performs various contortions . . .

He gyrates in what is intended to be a sexually provocative manner, 

. . . and kisses Iolo

then sits on Iolo’s knee and kisses him, which everyone seems to find quite hilarious.

"What was he doing here?"

At number 9, Jinx demands who that man was, “And what was he doing here?”   

"Can we talk about this tomorrow?"

Dani would prefer to talk about this tomorrow, and Eleri points out that Dani has had a long day.

"Dani, you don't tell me anything"

“Dani, you don’t tell me anything – what’s in that envelope?” he continues, but she is not going to ask him again, 

"You don't live here any more, remember?"

reminding him that he does not live there any more.

When is he going to call a halt to this?"

He cannot believe it, but sadly turns and leaves the house.   

"You'r going to have to tell him, Dani"

“Dani, you’re going to have to tell him,” insists Eleri, but she is determined that she is not saying anything.   “He’ll keep asking,” Eleri reminds her.

"Can I trust you to keep your mouth shut?"

“Nobody else is going to find out about this – OK?   Can I trust you to keep your mouth shut?”   Dani reaches into the envelope, 

"I don't want any of your money"

but Eleri is adamant that she does not want any of Dani’s money.   She confirms she will not say a word.

"But he's still won"

As she is about to open the door, she adds, “But whichever way you look at it, he’s still won!”