24 September 2024

"They need to be brought to justice!"

Hywel is telling a police officer at his front door, “Whoever is responsible needs to be brought to justice!   If you have any more questions, just ask.”

"Perhaps you should ask him – Cai Rossiter"

Then he notices Cai coming round the corner by the surgery;  “Perhaps you should ask him – Cai Rossiter – I heard his daughter was tormenting my little girl!”

"She was peacefully protesting"

Cai calmly explains that Lleucu was peacefully protesting, “And I didn’t even know she was here.”   Hywel maintains that any responsible parent would know what their child was doing.   “Don’t be angry with me!” says Cai, 

"I wasn't anywhere near the place"

then addresses the constable, “You’re welcome to question me, but I wasn’t anywhere near this place.”

"Esther has been avoiding sleeping here"

Hywel is still furious;  “Esther has been avoiding sleeping here since last week!” 

"It's nothing to do with me"

but is again told that it is nothing to do with Cai.

'Reservoir Thugs!'

Mark is looking at the Western Post online, with the headline ‘Reservoir Thugs!’.   

"I've been temporarily suspended"

Cheryl is surprised that he is still there, so he tells are that he has been temporarily suspended, pending an internal enquiry, “Because I told everybody about the letters.   

"We shouldn't have got carried away"

“We shouldn’t have got angry and panicked – and got so carried away with everything.”

"All we did was stand up for ourselves"

“All we did was stand up for ourselves and demand answers,” replies Cheryl, but he tells her to look at how things have turned out now.   

"That wasn't our fault, was it?"

“That wasn’t our fault, was it?   We fully co-operated with the cops when questioned,” she insists.

"We could have been charged"

Mark points out that they could have been charged, then goes to make a cup of tea, 

Cheryl looks at the headline

while Cheryl notices the headline on the iPad.   She immediately turns and leaves the house, 

"Where are you going, Cher?"

telling Mark that she is going out.

Eileen pays an early visit to the Deri

In the Deri, Cassie is looking very worried when Eileen comes in, and tells her they are not yet open.   “I’m sorry to interrupt – I wanted to ask how you are – and Dan.”

"He's in a coma"

Cassie unconvincingly says that she is fine, but she does not know about Dan;  “I’ve just come back from the hospital and he’s in a coma – I can’t believe it.”   

"I had no idea he was Jean's son"

Eileen had no idea that he was Jean’s son and wonders if there is anything she can do.

"I can't understand how he ended up there . . ."

“The doctor said he’s stable,” says Cassie, which Eileen regards as a good thing.   “I can’t understand how he ended up in the middle of that protest – 

". . . or what he was doing in Cwmderi"

“or what he was doing in Cwmderi, anyway.”

"Well, that's why I'm here"

“Well, that’s why I’m here, “says Eileen and sits down to explain that he was here to see Cassie.

"I'm sorry that things got out of hand . . ."

Ffion has gone to number 21;  “I’m so sorry to hear things got out of hand the other night,” she tells Hywel, 

". . . I'm glad I left the Deri when I did"

“I’m glad I left the Deri when I did.”

"Pity you didn't talk some sense into them"

Hywel says it is a pity that she did not stay to talk some sense into them, but she protests, “I was in the dark as much as everyone else!   I asked and asked you what was going on and you wouldn’t give me a sensible answer.   You knew about this dam before everyone else, didn’t you?”

"Are you taking their side now?"

Far from answering her question, he accuses her of taking their side now;  “The ones who threw a brick through my window!”

She makes it very clear that she asked him about the land at Deri Fawr a long time ago;  

"You didn't mention those plans"

“You didn’t mention these plans!”   He maintains that he did not know the time.

“If we knew someone was going to build a dam, perhaps I wouldn’t have bought the place!” Ffion sighs.   

"If I knew anything, I would have told you"

He argues that if he knew anything he would have told her, but she is very dubious about that.   

"I need you to sort this out!"

“What are you going to do about it, Hywel?   I need you to sort this out!” she demands.

"I've been lying low for a couple of days"

Cheryl has gone to Llwyncelyn and apologises for not coming over during the weekend;  “I’ve been lying low for a couple of days.”

"It doesn't look good . . ."

Her sister considers that to be very wise after what happened;  “Because it doesn’t look good, does it?   What was it again?”   

". . . Cheryl Thomas led angry protesters"

She picks up the phone and reads, “Cheryl Thomas led angry protesters to the local councillor’s doorstep.”   Cheryl can see that she is not going to get much support.

"What came over you?"

“What did you expect?   What came over you?”   

"I had just had enough"

Cheryl replies that she had enough – and not just her, all of them.   

"Thank goodness Tom was there"

“What you did was unforgivable,” Gaynor insists, “Terrorising an innocent little girl – thank goodness Tom was there – no-one else seem to be worried about her.”

"Typical – Dave comes out looking like a hero!"

Cheryl smiles wryly;  “Typical – you put all the blame on me, while Dave comes out looking like a hero!”   Gaynor points out that this is not about her, “Esther is the victim here – but you were to busy haranguing Tom to worry – you haven’t even asked how she is.”

"That was why I came"

Cheryl says that is the purpose of the visit, as she heard that Esther was staying with Gaynor.   

"Come to ease your conscience, have you?"

“So you’ve come here to ease your conscience, have you?” she snarls, “She’s not well – she’s barely left her room for days – I'd are you surprised?   

"That's what trauma does to a child"

“That’s what trauma does to a child – I’m taking this food up to her.”

"If only I'd waited for a few months"

As they have a cup of tea, Ffion tells Hywel, “I regret buying Deri Fawr  when I did – if only I had waited a few months.”   

He appreciates that she was not to know, as no one knew at the time;  

"This is far above our heads"

“This is so far above our heads – the council as well – there’s a lot of political will behind it.” he stresses.

"Som what are people like me supposed to do?"

“So what are people like me supposed to do?” demands Ffion, “Just keep our mouth shut and hope for the best?”   

"You're facing an uphill struggle"

Hywel assures her that if people want to stop these plans, they are facing an uphill struggle.

"I feel awful about what happened . . ."

Gaynor comes back downstairs, with Esther not having eaten anything.   “Listen, I feel awful about what happened,” says Cheryl, 

". . . but it was the way Hywel stone-walled us"

“But it was the way Hywel stone-walled us – 

"It was so infuriating!"

“you can’t imagine how infuriating that was.”

"But violence isn't the answer"

“Yes, but violence isn’t the answer, is it?   You must understand that.”   

"Of course I do"

Of course Cheryl understands that, 

"You're letting it ruin your life"

but Gaynor goes on, “I’m just worried that you’re letting what happened with Tom ruin your life.   You could go to jail for this.”

"He was so self-righteous!"

“If you’d seen Dave standing on that doorstep, so self-righteous, trying to charm people he and his company want to evict from their homes, you would have lost it as well!” Cheryl snarls.

“Please tell me you didn’t throw the brick,” says Gaynor and Cheryl cannot believe her sister has asked that.  

 

"You whipped them up"

“So you blame me?   You led the people from the Deri to Hywel’s house and you whipped them up to such a degree that things were bound to turn violent!”

"I don't have to listen to this!"

Cheryl has had enough and picks up her coat;  “I don't have to listen to this!” she shouts as she storms out.

"How is Lleucu now?"

Cai comes downstairs in Y Felin and Siôn asks how Lleucu is now;  

"She won't leave her room"

“Still sulking and will not leave her room,” is the answer.

“Well, I’m not surprised after the scolding you gave her,” says Siôn, but Cai maintains that she deserved it.

“No-one could have predicted that things would turn violent.   

"If you hadn't stopped her going . . ."

“If you hadn’t stopped her going in the first place . . .” Siôn begins, and Cai realises that he took her;  

"It was all a lie"

he had no intention of taking her to see Arwen at Deri Fawr – it was all a lie.

"I could see a fire in her"

“Look, Cai, I could see a fire in her;  I encouraged her because that passion is rare among young people these days.   It’s our place to nurture it, not to pour cold water over it.”

"My place if to protect her!"

Cai strongly disagrees;  “My place is to protect my daughter!” but is told he cannot protect her from what is around us.

"You should be proud of her"

“Not every parent has a child as special as Lleucu, with a backbone and a social conscience – you should be proud of her!”

"What if she was the one lying in hospital?"

“What if she was the one lying in hospital, with tubes sticking out of her?” Cai demands, 

"What use would your social conscience be then?"

“What use would your social conscience be then?”

"It's a long time since I've been in contact 

As they continue their chat in the Deri, Cassie confesses, “It’s a long time since I’ve been in contact with him.   I knew he was working in Wales but I didn’t know where.   

"He wasn't the same person"

“Things weren’t the same after Jean’s death – after losing his mother, he wasn’t the same person.   He distanced himself from everyone and everything – look how distant he is now.   

“I can’t help thinking I’ve let Jean down”

"You shouldn't blame yourself"

Eileen says that she should not blame herself, as it was an accident;  “I know, but I should have kept in touch and been more supportive.”   Eileen wonders if he has any family who should know what has happened.   

"I'd better open the Deri"

Cassie rather abruptly says that there is no-one and now wants to open the Deri.

She dials a number

As soon as Eileen has gone, Cassie picks up her phone and dials a number.

"Will Esther be coming home?"

Ffion asks if Esther is coming home tonight as they leave number 21, and he hopes that she will;  

"I don't want her getting too comfortable at Llwyncelyn"

“I don’t want her getting too comfortable at Llwyncelyn,” he says.   Ffion will keep an eye on her at school.

"Are you going to sell Deri Fawr to Quantum?"

“Can I ask you what your plans are now that you’ve seen the scheme?” he asks, “Are you going to sell Deri Fawr to Quantum?”   She is firmly against the scheme in principle, 

"I'd like to know how much they're offering" 

but would like to know how much they are offering.  “You could make a big profit,” he suggests.

“But if I reject, they might do the work around me, anyway.   I moved there to get some peace, not to have a building site on my doorstep for two years.”

Hywel begins his sales pitch

Hywel begins his spiel, “It could benefit the community – but there is a lot to consider.”   

"Have you had one of these letters?"

As Ffion walks away, she sees Eileen outside the shop:  “Have you had one of these letters?” she asks;  

"It doesn't affect Penrhewl"

she is told that it does not affect Penrhewl.   

"It must have some effect on you"

“But your land borders the company’s fields” Ffion points out, “It must have some effect on you.”

“I have no reason to oppose the scheme, if that’s what you mean,” replies Eileen, 

"You managed well before"

“And all agricultural land needs a reliable water source.”   Ffion reminds her that she has managed perfectly well without a reservoir, 

"Times are changing, Ffion"

 is informed, “Times are changing, Ffion”. 

"The house is safe, OK?"

Hywel has gone to Llwyncelyn to collect Esther;  “I want to you know that everything is fine now – the house is safe, OK?” he tells her, “More than that, you can have whatever you want from MFC for dinner.”

"Thanks, Gaynor"

They thank Gaynor for her hospitality and Hywel takes the bag to the car while Gaynor hugs Esther;  

"It's been lovely to have you here"        

“It’s been lovely to have you here.”

"Thank you for looking after me"

“Thank you looking after me,” says Esther and is about to add something else, 

"Gaynor . . . er . . . nothing"

but thinks better of it, which confuses Gaynor.

"I've been for a walk"

Cheryl is back at Maes-y-Deri and tells Mark that she has been for a walk;  “Listen, I’ve been thinking – 

"Perhaps we should apologise"

“perhaps it’s time to go over and see Hywel to apologise – what do you think?”

"It wasn't my fault"

He reminds her that what happened was not his fault, “You insisted we go to Hywel’s house.”   

Cheryl rages, “You organised the blinkin’ meeting in the first place – and you fired up the crowd with your speeches.”   

"Words don't do as much damage as bricks"

Mark comments that words do not do as much damage as bricks.   “You know I didn’t throw the brick!” she protests.

"There's no way I'm saying sorry to Hywel Llywelyn!"

“Look, if you want to apologise, I’ll come with you – but there’s no way I’m saying sorry to Hywel Llywelyn.”

"Pick a film for later"

Esther is sitting on the sofa at number 21 and Hywel invites her to pick something for them to watch later.   

"Do you want to go to MFC to get a takeaway?"

“Listen, Esther, what happened the other night won’t happen again – I’m here to look after you, OK?   Do you want to go to MFC to get a takeaway?”

"I don't want to go outside"

She does not want to go outside, neither does she want him to go, 

"It will have to be Dad's pasta again"

so he suggests that it will have to be Dad’s pasta again and this time she immediately agrees.   He will check to make sure they have some tomatoes.   

She seems concerned about her bag

Esther looks anxiously at the bag she brought home from Llwyncelyn.

"Daniel is in hospital . . ."

Cassie is on the phone;  “Hello, it’s me here – I’ve been trying to phone you.   Daniel is in hospital and I thought you would like to know.”   Cai has just come into the bar, 

". . . ring me back"

so after asking that the call be returned, she deals with him.

"It's nice after the hullabaloo the other night"

He remarks that it is very quiet;  “It’s nice after the hullabaloo the other night,” she replies and he orders another of those ‘zero percent’ things.   “I’m sure Lleucu was frightened after the whole thing,” she comments, 

"She's not talking to me"

but Cai reports that she is not talking to him, as she is grounded.

“I’ve worked so hard to get her back in my life and I’m trying my best to teach her the right values – honesty, respect – 

"She's throwing it back in my face"

but it’s as though she’s throwing it back in my face.”

"That's what teenagers are supposed to do"

Cassie says that is what teenagers are supposed to do – rebel against authority.   

"I will only push her away"

He regrets that if he is more strict, he will only push her away – and he has only just got her back.   Cassie reassures him that he is a fantastic father and Lleucu realises that.

"Bring that drink up to the flat"

“Bring that drink up to the flat,” she tells him, “We’ll have some peace to talk up there I’ll call Kath to take over the bar.

"I'm getting a choc ice"

Esther comes downstairs with her bag, telling Hywel, “I’m going to see if there’s a choc ice in the freezer,” but actually she is loading the washing machine with her bedding.

She actually loads the washing machine

When Hywel come to see what she is doing. Esther maintains that she is washing her clothes, but he can see they are her bed sheets from Llwyncelyn;  he asks what is wrong.

"I had an accident in the night"

“I had an accident in the night,” she admits 

"It doesn't matter, Esther"

and he reassures her that it does not matter, as she has had a nasty experience.   

"Only babies and toddlers wee in bed"

She, however, insists, “Only babies and  toddlers wee in bed.”

Hywel is concerned

Then there is a knock at the door and Esther escapes upstairs;  he finds that it is Mark and Cheryl.   “What a surprise!’ he sneers.

"I just wanted to say how sorry I am"

“I just wanted to say how sorry I am about everything that happened the other night,” Cheryl begins;  

She has brought chocolate 

she has brought some chocolate.   

"Things got out of control"

Mark adds that things got out of control and they had not intended to scare Esther – no-one had any evil intentions.

"We only felt hatred the other night!"

“It’s strange you say that, Mark, because we only felt hatred the other night.   And a bar of chocolate isn’t going to make up for her trauma,” growls Hywel.

"We didn't throw the brick"

“We’re truly sorry for what happened – but we didn’t throw the brick,” Cheryl insists.   

Hywel would not put it past her, but Mark confirms that she was out the front with him.

"Terrorising a little girl in her own home!"

“You two should be in jail for inciting violence and worse!   Aren’t you ashamed of terrorising a little girl in her own home?   And you’re too cowardly to admit it!’

"You're the coward, hiding from us!"

This sets Cheryl off again;  “You’re the coward – if you hadn’t hidden because you don’t have the backbone to face everyone, no-one would have come here in the first place.   What happened is your fault and no one else’s!”

"I've been waiting for some peace and quiet"

Up in the Deri flat, Cassie tells Cai that he can relax now;  “I’ve been waiting for some peace and quiet all day – going from school to Y Felin is difficult sometimes.”

Cassie points out that he is always welcome there and he remarks that she is everything to everyone, but she denies that;  

"Only the special ones"

“Only the special ones.”

She sits on the sofa with him and he asks if there is any change with Dan;  

"I want to do my best for him . . ."

“No, nothing – I jump every time the phone rings – I want to do my best for him.   

". . . I feel responsible for him"

“I feel responsible for him and I want to be there for Jean’s sake.”

"Dan will be fine"

Cai tells her that Dan will be fine, 

Another kiss . . .

and again they kiss – 

. . . which Cassie immediately regrets

but Cassie quickly apologises.   He reminds her that this is not the first time they have kissed, 

"I don't want to make a habit of it"

but she says she does not want to make a habit of it.

"I think you should answer that"

Her phone rings and Cai thinks it is time to leave;  

"Where the hell have you been?"

Cassie demands on the phone, “Where the hell have you been?”

"Talk to Quantum Hydro Works" 

The atmosphere is becoming even more heated at number 21;  “Talk to Quantum Hydro Works – you’ll get a chance before long!” Hywel shouts and Cheryl regards that as typical councillor talk.

"I'm calling the police!"

“I’ve had enough – I’m calling the police! he decides, but Mark tells him to stop.

"Cheryl came here to apologise"

“Cheryl came here to apologise – we both regret it, but we can’t turn the clock back, can we?   I just hope we can all sit down to discuss the plans properly when the dust has settled.”

"The time to talk is long gone"

Hywel has a different opinion;  “The time to talk is long gone.   When I saw those plans for the first time, I was worried about the impact on the people of Maes-y-Deri.   

"I wouldn't mind seeing the reservoir drown the lot of you!"

“But do you know what?   You’ve just proved to me that you’re the lowest of the low!   I wouldn’t mind seeing that reservoir drown the lot of you!”

"Do you want say that on the record, Hywel Llywelyn?"

“OK, right,” says Mark, getting out his phone, “Do you want to say that on the record, Hywel Llywelyn?   

"You won't get away with talking to us like that!"

“You listen to me – you won’t get away with talking to us like that!”

"This isn't over, mate!"

As they turn to leave the house, Cheryl promises Hywel, “This isn’t over, mate!”