5 September 2024

Coffee and an almond croissant

Dani walks into Malcolm Edwards’ office, bringing him coffee and an almond croissant;  

"How did I cope before you started?"

“How did I cope before you started?” he wonders.   She warns him not to to get crumbs down his new tie.

"I left  document on your desk"

He agrees that he does not want to look a mess in court this morning and informs Dani he has left a document on her desk;  “Mr Williams’ appeal – do you mind reading it through and checking it’s all there?   Ceri usually does it, but she’s away on holiday.”

"I'm not a paralegal, mind"

Dani points out that she is not a paralegal, so he regards it as a chance for her to learn.

"Ffi!"

Mathew arrives at Deri Fawr, carrying some paint and is accompanied by Rhys;  “Ffi!” Mathew calls.

"You owe me big time, Math"

Rhys complains that he is owed big-time;  “I have a business to run and a lot of work to do.”   Mathew promises to buy every round the next time they are out.

“Right, which rooms are we doing?” Rhys goes on, 

Mathew finds a note

as Mathew finds a sheet of paper which troubles him.   

"Ffion will be home late"

It is from Ffion, informing him that she will be home late, alleging that she has lots to do at work and inviting them to help themselves to anything in the fridge.

"Not avoiding you, is she?"

“She’s not avoiding you, is she?” wonders Rhys, “Have you tried phoning her?”   Mathew has done that but she is not answering.

Rhys queries whether they are all right to be there.   

"She texted last night"

“Yes, she texted last night just to say it’s still OK.”

“There we are, then – she’s busy at school – don’t mess up the painting and she has no reason not to talk to you,” is Rhys’ advice.

"Ready for tonight, then?"

Cai finds Siôn with a lot of sheets of paper and concludes, “Ready for tonight, then?   Is there a sport round?”   

"It's not fair on the other teams"

Siôn is not going to reveal anything, as it is not fair on the other teams.

Then Siôn asks Iolo whether he has arranged a babysitter and Cai wants to know who is in his team.   

"Lleucu has asked"

“Lleucu has asked,” replies Iolo, which comes as a surprise to Cai, 

"Who's going to be in my team, then?"

who now  does not know who will be in his team.

Dani is sorting things out

Dani explains to Malcolm that she is going to create a folder for every year;  “And then put it in alphabetical order like this – because it’s not organised at all at the moment.”

"I haven't had a lot of luck with secretaries"

He says that he has not had a lot of luck with secretaries – “Until you arrived, of course!”   Dani confesses that she has not had such a flexible boss and thanks him for last week.   “How is Gwern?” he enquires 

"Things are getting better, slowly"

and is told that things are getting better, slowly.

"Did you get e change to look at that appeal form?"

He must leave now or he will be late;  “Did you get a chance to look at that appeal form?” he asks.

"It looks like gibberish to me"

She admits, “It looks like gibberish to me and I’m unqualified to check it – sorry.”   Malcolm reassures that she is there to learn, but she protests, “You’ve got more important things to do than teach me the basics.”

"We'll look at it over lunch . . ."

“I’ll bring us back something to eat and we’ll make our way through it over lunch – 

". . . what do you say?"

“what do you say?”

"It looks better already"

After they have done a lot of work, Rhys declares that it looks better already;  “Mind you, a bit of colour wouldn’t kill anyone.”   

He opens the pedal bin

As he opens the pedal bin to deposit some rubbish, he notices something already there.

"Mathew . . ."

He immediately calls to Mathew;  

". . . I think you need to see  this"

“I think you need to see this,” 

"Mathew looks shocked"

and Mathew looks shocked.

Kath tries to get the tablet level

Kath is cleaning one of the outside tables and trying to make it stand firmly on the paving stones 

"The big day has arrived!"

when Siôn approaches with a box, all prepared for his quiz night.   “The big day has arrived – have you got a team name yet?” he asks her.

"I shall be behind the bar, John"

She replies, “No, I shall be behind the bar, John, making sure no-one is cheating.”   

"I've brought the prizes"

When he announces that he has brought the prizes, her attitude changes.   He is sure that people will be delighted;  the winning team will receive the novels which made the Book of the Year shortlist.

"Wow!"

“Wow!” she exclaims with mock enthusiasm 

Kath takes the box into he Deri

and takes the box into the Deri.

"He changed his mind at the last minute"

Back at the solicitor’s office, Malcolm reports, “He changed his mind at the last minute to plead not guilty – so I’m facing a long trial.   

"I understand now why Dad kept whisky in the office"

“On days like this I can understand why Dad kept whisky in the office!   Right, that’s enough complaining – this appeal.”

He starts explaining the procedure

He sits down close to Dani and explains that the details of the person appealing have to be put down.   “Yes, I understand all that,” she says, seven goes on to the next page, explaining the decision that they are appealing against.

"You just need confidence"

“See – you understand more than you think – you just need confidence – there’s plenty in your head.”   

Things start getting embarrassing

He wipes some food from her face, which she finds rather offputting.

"You can learn a lot from me"

“You can learn a lot from me – if you’re willing to listen,” he continues,  somewhat ominously, then, 

He puts his hand on Dani's knee . . .

as he puts his hand on her knee, “You’ll go far – who knows, this might be your office one day, with your name on the door.”

. . .then it gradually progresses

His hand migrates from her knee further up her leg, 

Dani objects to this 

so she immediately repels him;   “Don’t be such a tease,” he reprimands, “You’ve been flirting since you started here.”

Dani insists that she is there to work, but he reminds her, “I’m the one who says what work.   

"You don't think you got the job because of your CV?"

“You don’t really think you got the job because of your CV, do you?”   

Dani is unable to move

Dani appears to be rooted to the spot, unable to move.

"I assume you're coming to the quiz"

Siôn encounters Eleri looking at the window of Tomos ac Ellis;  “Revising, I hope,” he says, “I assume you’re coming to the quiz.”   

"Give me some answers and I'll be there"

She enquires whether the questions are in that file;  “Give me some clues, or answers, and I’ll be there.”   

"That's cheating!"

He describes that as cheating, 

"I call it making a deal"

but she regarded as making a deal.

“If you want to win, go home and learn about our nation’s history;  she gathers from this that it is a quiz about Wales.

Dani dashes past, dropping her cardigan . . .

Dani hurries past with a face like thunder, dropping her cardigan on the way, 

. . . which Eleri picks up

so Eleri picks it up 

Dani runs to number 9

and watches her running all the way to number 9.

Mathew is horrified to see the test

Mathew looks horrified at the pregnancy test 

"Is it positive?"

and Rhys asks if it is positive;  

"I don't know"

“I don’t know,” is the answer, but assumes she must at least suspect it.

"Is that why she's avoiding you?"

“Do you think that’s why she’s avoiding you?” Rhys continues, 

"We haven't spoken since the doctor's"

and Mathew replies that she has not spoken to him since she saw the doctor the other day.   

"What are you going to do?"

“There we are, then – she thinks she’s pregnant.   What are you going to do?”

“I shouldn’t do anything – after the last time,” says Mathew, but Rhys is of the opinion he has a right to know and to discuss it.   

"I don't want to upset her"

“I don’t want to upset her – and in any case, she might not be pregnant anyway.”

“But what if she gets rid of the baby behind your back?” demands Rhys, 

"She's done it once – she could do it again"

“She’s done it once – she could do it again.”

Dani is still in a state of shock

Dani stands motionless when she has reached the safety of number 9.   There is a knock at the door;  “How many times?   Just remember your key!” she snarls, assuming that it is Gwern, 

"Are you all right?"

but in fact it is Eleri, bringing back the cardigan which she dropped on the ground.

“Are you all right?” asks Eleri 

"I just have a lot to do"

and Dani mutters that she just has a lot to do.

"Do you think it's OK to reject someone . . ?"

As Eleri is about to leave, Dani enquires, “Do you think it’s OK to reject someone, even if he thinks you’ve been flirting with him?”

"Has someone done something to you?"

Eleri makes it quite clear that she does think it is OK;  “Has someone done something to you?”   

"I've been so stupid!"

Dani sighs that she has been so stupid.

"Can you her me, Kath?"

Siôn is testing the microphone in preparation for his quiz night;  “Can you hear me, Kath?”

"For the hundredth time, yes!"

“For the hundredth time, yes!” she growls, “Where is everyone?”   He replies that it is early yet.   

Sam arrives

Sam comes in and alleges that he has been swotting all day;  he is told that Iolo is on his way.   

"I don't want to look thick"

He asks Kath for a G&T and hopes that the quiz is not going to be too difficult, as he does not want to look thick.

"The Eisteddfodau of 1936, I think"

“Well, that depends on how much you know about the Eisteddfodau of 1936, I think,” Kath jokes.   

"Sam – what are you doing here?"

Iolo arrives, and is surprised to see Sam;  he is told that Lleucu could not come and did not want to let him down, so Sam has taken her place.

"Is it OK that I'm here?"

“Is it OK that I’m here?” Sam anxiously asks, “Because I wanted to make sure you were still alive after disappearing from the show the other night.”

"Greta was ill"

Iolo makes up some ridiculous excuse about Greta being ill.   “I hope she hasn’t been ill ever since – you’re not contagious, then.   I was starting to think you were ghosting me.   Anyway, I don’t know much about the Eisteddfod, 

"Full house on the round about drag queens!"

“but we’ll get a full house on the round about drag queens.”

"I don't think there will be a round like that"

Iolo does not envisage that they will be a round on that subject, but Sam points out that he was joking and encourages Iolo to lighten up.

"Want to check the rooms before we go?"

“Right, do you want to check the rooms before we go?” Rhys asks;  Mathew will do it and tells Rhys he might as well go now.

"I'm going to wait for Ffion to come home"

“I’m not going to the quiz – I’m going to wait for Ffion to come home.   I have to know one way or the other.”   

"Don't get your hopes up, Math"

He is advised not to get his hopes up, if she is pregnant, 

"Things are different now"

but Mathew maintains things are different now.

“I’m just saying, even if you are a couple, 

"That doesn't mean she's changed her mind"

“that doesn’t mean she’s changed her mind about having children.   

"I'll take everything back to APD"

“I’ll take everything back to APD, all right?   Phone me.”

"What's the capital of Norway?"

“I don’t think he’s going to ask that,” says Iolo, so Sam asks him what is the capital of Norway.   “Oslo,” Iolo immediately replies.   

"I'd better start, Kath"

By the bar, Siôn thinks that they had better start and cannot understand where everyone is.

Kath has another idea;  “We could cancel and reorganise it,” 

"I've worked too hard on it to do that!"

but he protests that he has worked too hard on it and there are a few people there.   He requests that she could take round the sheets to the participants.

"Where is everyone?"

Cai comes in and wonders where everyone is, also whether Cassie is working;  

"There's no point having both of us behind the bar"

“There’s no point having both of us behind the bar on a quiet night like this,” Kath replies, which he finds disappointing.

“Do you perform a lot, then?” Iolo asks Sam, 

"There's a lot more demand"

and he says he has been doing more lately as there is a lot more demand for drag shows now.   

“Why didn’t you say you did drag before last week?” Iolo goes on.

"Although I'm really proud of it . . ."

“Although I’m really proud of it and it’s something to celebrate, not everyone wants to go out with someone who does drag.”

"I'd love to see a drag show"

Kath has just reached them, handing out the quiz sheets, and comments, “I’d love to go and see a drag show,” so is invited to see Sam’s.   

"You're not a drag queen, are you?"

“You’re not a drag queen, are you?” she says, disbelievingly and he promises to come to the Deri in full drag next time.

"I sing, dance – the whole lot"

“I sing, dance – the whole lot,” he tells her and she immediately wants him to come and do a show there.   

"People around here are more traditional"

Iolo finds this rather disturbing, pointing out that people around there are more traditional.

"We need more fun in the village"

Undeterred, Kath is determined to organise things that are a lot more fun in the village;  

"Number two is Conwy Castle"

as she hands out their sheet, she advises, “Number two is Conwy Castle.”

"The first round – Welsh history"

Siôn calls for attention;  “The first round – Welsh history.”

Eleri is doing the washing up

Eleri is doing the washing up in Dani’s kitchen.   Dani protests, “There’s no need to do that,” but Eleri insists that it is only fair, as Dani has fed her.

"What – waffles and fish fingers?"

“What – waffles and fish fingers?” sneers Dani and is asked whether she has ever tasted Kath’s food.

"This Malcolm tried to take advantage of you"

“You know you haven’t done anything wrong, don’t you?” demands Eleri, “This Malcolm tried to take advantage of his power,” but Dani suspects  that perhaps she did send the wrong signals – buying him nice cakes and coffee – perhaps he thought she was flirting – she is not sure.

"I want to make an impression"

“He’s my boss – I want to make an impression.”

There's a big difference between flirting and him trying to . . ."

Eleri forcibly tells her, “Even if you had, there’s a big difference between innocent flirting and him trying to . . .”   Dani stresses that she did not stop him, but just froze.

"Mam, cam you put this ribbon in?"

Seren comes into the room, asking if Dani can put a ribbon in her doll’s hair;  

"She's called Dani now . . ."

“She’s called Dani now, because she’s got an important job like you.”

"I'll make you some pudding"

Eleri intervenes to suggest that Seren goes back to play, “And I’ll make some pudding.”   

"Ice cream?"

Seren fancies ice cream and her mother confirms there is some in the freezer..

“I’ve been so stupid,” Dani continues, but Eleri emphasises once more that this is his fault, not hers.  

"I let it happen, like I always do!"

“But I let it happen, just like I always do!”

At last Ffion is home . . .

Ffion arrives home at Deri Fawr, turns on the light and is shocked 

. . .but seeing Mathew sitting there . . .

to see Mathew sitting there;  

. . . give her quite a shock

“Damn it!   Mathew!   I almost had a heart attack!”

He did not mean to scare, but she wonders why he is still there;  

"I wanted to show you upstairs"

“I wanted to show you upstairs – we finished yours and Arwen’s rooms.”   

"I'll just put this in the fridge"

She will just put something in the fridge and then will come for a look.

"I haven't seen you since . . ."

“How are you?   Because I haven’t seen you since, you know . . .”   

"I don't want to talk about it"

She still does not want to talk about that.

"Look Ffion, can I ask you one thing?"

“Look, Ffion, can I ask you one thing?   

"Are you pregnant?"

“Are you pregnant?   Because I found . . . Rhys found a test in the bin earlier – and I’m driving myself mad, thinking about it – I have to know, right?”   

She cannot believe this

Ffion simply shakes her head in disbelief.

"Im which country is the largest lake in the world?"

The quiz progresses;  “In which country is the largest lake in the world?”   

All the participants seem to be confounded by this, 

"Russia"

except Sam, who mutters to Iolo, “Russia.”   Iolo cannot understand why he knows that.   “What can I say?   I’m a man of mystery – why don’t you want me to do a show here?”

As Siôn asks where Nelson Mandela was born, 

"I didn't say that"

Iolo protests that he did not say that.  “You didn’t have to,” answers Sam.

"People round here are narrow-minded"

“Look, the people round here can be very narrow-minded – Cassie and Kath are fine, but people round here are not used to things that are different.”   It is pointed out to him that drag is not new.

"I think you're the one with the problem"

“I think you’re the one with the problem, not everyone else,” snaps Sam, “I did suspect it when you ghosted me after the show, but I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt tonight.   I thought we had something special!”   He gets up and walks out of the Deri;  

"I've got work in the morning"

“I’ve got work in the morning.”

"You can't walk out in the middle of a round!"

Siôn objects to people walking out in the middle of a round and Cai would like to hear question two again.   Siôn is becoming increasingly flustered and has lost track of his papers.   

"Do you know what?   I've had enough of this . . "

“Do you know what?   I’ve had enough of this!” he declares, 

". . . I'm off!"

“No-one appreciates my hard work – I’m off!”

“Don’t be so dramatic, John!” Kath tells him, 

"Am I too late?"

just as Rhys arrives, finding that he is too late.

"Why were you going through my things?"

At Deri Fawr, Ffion angrily demands, “Why were you going through my things?”   She is told that they found it when they were throwing things away.   Matthew does not want to argue with her again.

"You should have thought about that . . ."

“You should have thought about that before staying to throw this at me,” she snarls.

"I have a right to know if the test is positive"

“I need to know,” he insists, “I have a right to know if the test is positive.”

"Well, it is, OK?"

“Well, it is, OK?   Congratulations!” she shouts, 

"Only it's a menopause test . . ."

“But before you start celebrating, it’s not a pregnancy test!   It’s a menopause test.   

". . . there is no baby, Mathew . . ."

“There is no baby, Mathew – 

". . . and there won't be one now"

“and there won’t be now, even if I wanted one.

“Because you know all these symptoms I’ve been suffering, thinking I was pregnant and thinking I was ill – well, it was the perimenopause!   

"I got a home test from Maya"

“The doctor wants to do a test to make sure, but I got a home test from Maya because it was quicker.”

"Let's talk about it, Ffion"

“Ffi, just sit down – I’ll make us a cup of tea and we can talk about it,” says Mathew.

"I don't want to talk about it!"

“Why do you think I’ve been avoiding you?   I don’t want to talk about it – I’m not ready to talk about it!   And even when I am – if I am – 

"And I don't know if I want to talk to you about it!"

“I don’t know if I want to talk about it with you!”

Mathew thinks it wise to go

Mathew thinks that he had better leave, as she continues ranting, “That’s it, just go – go and have a laugh with Rhys!   

"Say I had a breakdown in front of you!"

“Say I had a breakdown in front of you and that I’m old and . . . just go, Mathew!”

Ffion is an emotional mess

Mathew sadly does so as Ffion dissolves into floods of tears.