10 December 2024

Deri reopening is here

There is a sign outside the Deri, reading ‘The Deri Arms reopening TODAY!’   Cheryl comes out, reciting to Cassie, “OK, cleaning, stock bar, make the buffet and . . .”

"And open!"

Cassie finishes her sentence, “And open!”   When Cheryl asks when she will be moving back in, 

"Upstairs won't be ready for quite a while"

Cassie sadly replies, “Who knows?   Upstairs won’t be ready for quite a while.

Eleri receives a text

Eleri emerges from the shop and finds a message on her phone from Jinx;  

Afterwards?   After what?

‘Fancy a bit of lunch afterwards?’ 

This makes her smile

which makes her smile.

Should he not be working at APD – or Fflamingos?

Jason is coming through the alley, carrying a bale of straw and Eleri sneers at him.   

"What are you doing?"

Cassie, on the other hand, wonders what he is doing.   

"More Christmas nonsense"

“More Christmas nonsense!” is Eleri’s evaluation.

"I'm trying to do something nice"

Jason says that he is just trying to do something nice for the village and is told by Cassie that it is very good, an opinion obviously not shared by Eleri.

"You're welcome to come tonight"

“Listen, we’re reopening the Deri tonight – you’re welcome to come,” Cassie invites him and he appears very grateful.

Gaynor reads the instructions 

At Llwyncelyn, Gaynor is looking at the instructions for the DNA test and informs Hywel, “Right, we need at least six strands of hair.”   

"OK, that's what we shall do"

He replies that is what they will do.   “What – rip the hair out of her head?” Gaynor asks and he insists that she needs to know if Cheryl is her sister – she deserves that much.

"How are we going to get this hair?"

“How are we going to get this hair?” Gaynor demands, 

"Do you still have the spare key to Maes-y-Deri?"

and Hywel asks if she still has the spare key to Maes-y-Deri.

"Italian Gorgonzola, please"

Various cheeses are in on display at the deli;  Eleri would like a piece of the Italian Gorgonzola and a bit of chutney.   There is another different assistant working in the shop today;  she will get it for Eleri.

"You'll have nightmares, mind"

Kath comes in, warning that she will have nightmares after eating that cheese, which Eleri doubts.   “Are you coming tonight?” Kath goes on, “To the reopening of the Deri?   It would be nice to have your support.”

"Will Dad be there?"

Eleri enquires whether her father will be there, 

"I don't know at the moment"

but Kath does not know that at the moment.   

Looks like an interesting message

Then her phone sounds and appears that she has an interesting message.

The new-look Deri

We have a first glimpse of the new interior of the Deri (except for those who had a sneak preview at the Anniversary open days and were sworn to secrecy).   Cheryl is hard at work with the final cleaning and Cassie has a gift for Kath to mark the occasion.

"To buy her forgiveness?"

“Or to buy her forgiveness?” cynically suggests Cheryl.   Cassie maintains that it is a big day for them all, after everything they have gone through.

"I've done it, boys!"

Kath comes in and triumphantly announces, “I’ve done it, boys – I’ve organised us the best advertisement!   Guess who’s coming here for the opening?   Heno!” [today]

"Yes – but who's coming?"

Cassie is all too aware that it is today, but wants to know who is coming.  

"Heno – on S4C!"

“Heno – the daily S4C news programme,” is the reply, “Does anyone know anything about the Welsh Whisperer?   He’ll be here, live, for the opening!   We’ve got plenty of time – I’m not going to miss this chance!   Look here, good girl, people round here would do anything to be on the telly box!   It’s looking good in here, isn’t it?”

"I've got a gift for you . . ."

Then Cassie points out the box containing a gift for her;  

". . . something to make the occasion"

“Just something to mark the occasion – you can decide where you want to put it – I thought it would look nice behind the bar.”   

A picture to go behind the bar

Kath takes out a large composite picture of previous landlords and barmen of the Deri, which brings back a lot of memories.

Jason's idea is in operation

Out by the alley, Jason is taking photographs of people peering through the holes in his Christmas scene.   

"That looks good, Jason"

Diane happens to be walking past and comments that it looks good;  she wonders if it was Jason’s idea.

He points out that it is supposed to be an advert for APD, 

He repositions the letters APD

as he repositions the lettering;  “It’s more than that, isn’t it?   

"You can think of other people sometimes"

“It goes to show you can think of other people sometimes,” his mother comments, which he does not take as a compliment.

Kath hangs the picture

Kath puts up the picture in pride of place behind the bar, 

"What's he doing here?"

then Tom comes in;  

"It looks good in here"

“It looks good here,” he remarks and Kath says that it will look even better when they have finished, ready for the Welsh Whisperer.

"Welsh Whisperer?"

Tom whispers to Cheryl, “The Welsh Whisperer?” and she tells him not to ask.   Then he asks her if she would like a cup of coffee, as she has been there since first thing.   Cassie points out that Cheryl is working – they are reopening tonight and it has to be perfect.   Cheryl says that she will see him later.

He makes a point of kissing Cheryl . . .

However, Tom is determined to cause trouble, so deliberately kisses Cheryl, 

. . . which does not go down well

which causes some consternation to Cassie and Kath, before leaving.

"Is there something you want to tell us?"

“Is there something you want to tell us?” asks Cassie, but Cheryl does not reply.

They creep in the back of Maes-y-Deri 

Gaynor and Hywel creep in through the back door of Maes-y-Deri;  

Hywel will go and look for something suitable

Gaynor assumes that Cheryl is busy with the Deri’s reopening.   Hywel will go in search of some hair and Gaynor notices a hair bobble, but this does not contain enough, so she suggests that there may be be a hairbrush in the bathroom or bedroom – and she is unable to go upstairs.

Their plan is thwarted

Just then the front door opens and Tom walks in;  he was not expecting to see them there 

"What are you doing?"

and asks what they think they are doing.   

"Gaynor left a book here"

Hywel thinks up an unlikely excuse – that they were looking for a book which Gaynor had left behind there.

"And you had to sneak in to get it?"

Tom wonders why they had to sneak in to get it, 

"What are you doing here?"

so Gaynor enquires what he is doing there and he answers that he is staying there.   

"You waited a whole week!"

“Oh, fair play to you both for waiting a whole week!” snarls Gaynor.

"You still haven't answered me"

Tom appreciates that they did not deal with it in the best way, but reminds them that they still have not answered him about what they are doing there.

"We're looking for a DNA sample"

Hywel is forced to admit that they are looking for something that will do as a DNA sample, advising Gaynor that that it was Tom’s idea.   

"I did no such thing!"

Of course Tom denies this;  “You mentioned a DNA test, not me.”

Hywel insists that Tom agreed that a DNA test was necessary;  “Gaynor needs proof that Cheryl is not her sister.”   

"Please don't tell Cheryl"

Gaynor herself just needs to know one way or the other, pleading with Tom not to tell Cheryl.   She maintains that he owes her that at least.

"If you're sure this is the only way"

“If you’re sure that is the only way,” Tom sighs, “What do you need?”   He is told that a hair sample is necessary and tells them to wait there for him.

He retrieves Ffion's hairbrush"

He goes to the cupboard under the stairs and retrieves Ffion’s hairbrush which he stole;  “Her hairbrush – will that do?”   Gaynor says that it is perfect, 

"Promise Cheryl won't hear a word"

but before handing it over, Tom is adamant that she has to promise that Cheryl will not hear a word about this.

S4C Heno have arrived

The ‘Heno’ outside broadcast van arrives outside the Deri, which causes some excitement on Kath’s part;  

"Girls, they're here!"

“Girls, they’re here!” she shouts and as they come in, 

The Welsh Whisperer and his crew

she welcomes the Welsh Whisperer, who is accompanied by the camera and sound operators.

“This place looks good after that explosion,” he comments.   

"We can start afresh now"

Cassie says that they are lucky they can start again – start afresh.   

"We'll set up in the corner"

He suggests that they can set up in the corner, if that is all right, then they will be good to go.   “Good grief!” exclaims Kath, 

Cheryl is flustered

while Cheryl is looking rather flustered.

Tom points out that it his her lunchtime

At that moment, Tom walks in again and points out to Cassie that it is lunchtime;  “For some, perhaps, but we’re a bit busy.”   Cheryl is disappointed that she cannot have a lunch break, but Tom is adamant that she deserves a break.

"Leave it, Tom"

She urges him to leave it, but he refuses;  “Cassie, your workers have rights!”   

"She can have her break when she has finished that"

She replies that she also has rights;  they are busy, so she can have her break when she has finished what she is doing.

"I'm making sure they aren't taking advantage of you"

Tom thinks otherwise, arguing, “I’m making sure they’re not taking advantage of you.   You’ve been working your socks off and now you can’t have a break!”   Cassie maintains that she did not say that;   

"I don't think Cher should work tonight either . . . "

“It sounded like it to me – I don’t think Cher should work tonight either – 

". . . find someone else to be your servant!"

“find someone else to be your servant!   Cher needs to look after her health, all right?”   

Cheryl meekly follows him

Cheryl meekly goes along with this and leaves the Deri with him.   Kath and Cassie are in somewhat of a predicament now

"What are you doing?"

“What are you doing?” asks Cheryl outside, “There was no need for that – I can defend myself.”

"Well, did you want to stay there?"

He demands whether she wanted to stay there;  

"I could tell from your face"

“I could tell from your face – if I hadn’t pulled you out of there, you would have slapped her!”   

"I don't want you to speak for me"

She insists that she would not have done that and does not want him to speak for her.   He says that he understands that, which was not what he was trying to do.   

"I don't like people having a go st you"

He just does not like people having a go at her.

Cheryl believes all this, just as she did back in Wrexham, 

"How about going out tonight?"

and he proposes going out tonight as a surprise, 

"Wear something nice"

telling her to wear something nice.

Kath tells the Welsh whisperer to do whatever he needs to do.   

"After everything she says he did to her"

Cassie cannot understand why Cheryl would go back to him, “After everything she said he has done to her.”   

Kath suggests that perhaps he did not, but Cassie continues that there is something about him that makes her skin crawl.

"She knows too much – I'm telling you"

“Listen, Cassie, we have to be careful here – she knows too much, I’m telling you,” Kath warns.

Diane takes some photos

Diane is taking a photo of Jason’s construction and thinks that she will share some pictures through the council;  “Draw some attention to it.”

"Even though I did it?"

“Even though I did it?” Jason asks, and his mother did not want to upset him;  she just had rather a shock, that is all – she had forgotten just how sweet he can be.   He hopes that there is a compliment in there somewhere.

"Ifan would love this"

They sit down on the bench and Diane predicts, “Ifan would love this.”   Jason recalls the one in the dinosaur park near Tenby, which Ifan loved.   

"He would have loved that shepherd"

“He would have loved that shepherd,” says Diane.

"Unless he's changed since I saw him"

“Unless the boy has changed too much since I last saw him,” groans Jason.   

His mother assumed that he would be seeing Ifan on Christmas Day, but Jason has no idea.   She is sure that he will want to see his father, but again, Jason stresses that he does not know;  he thinks that he will be staying at home this year.   

"You can't be alone on Christmas Day"

She maintains that he cannot be alone on Christmas Day.

"DJ won't be allowed to see his children, either"

“I won’t be – DJ will more than likely be with me on Christmas Day – he won’t be allowed to see his children, either, guaranteed!   We have a lot in common these days.”

"You'll have to come to us"

Diane points out that the two of them will have to come to her and Dai, but he did not think she would want to do that this time, after everything that has happened.   “Of course I do – you’re still my son, despite everything!” she points out.

Tom does some clearing up

Tom is clearing up the empty cans at Maes-y-Deri 

Cheryl is transformed

when Cheryl appears, suitably smartened up;  

"Perhaps we should stay in!"

“Wow – lovely!” he exclaims, “Your make-up’s different – perhaps we should stay in!”

"Where are we going?"

She wants to know where they are going 

"To the Deri"

and he reveals that they are going to the Deri, which is not at all what she was expecting;  

"No –no way!"

“You’re not serious?   No – no way!”

“Come on, you’ve been working so hard, you deserve to celebrate it!” He tells her, but she is supposed to be working and would not be able to relax.   He points out that he will be there with her, but she would prefer to go anywhere other than the Deri.

"What better way to get back at that witch Cassie?"

“What better way to get back at that witch Cassie than by enjoying yourself in front of her?” he demands, “Imagine her face!   

"Come on – we'll have a laugh!"

“Come on – we’ll have a laugh, I promise,” and he hands her a glass of wine.   

She still does not look enthusiastic, but concedes, “One drink, but then we’re leaving, OK?”

“Whatever you want,” Tom replies.

Kath is being interviewed

The Welsh whisperer is broadcasting live, “I’m at the Deri Arms in Cwmderi for pub of the month this time – it’s an important night as they’re reopening.   Keeping me company is the owner, Kath Jones.”

Britt and Colin come in

Britt and Colin have just come in and Colin is told to keep quiet as they are filming.   Cassie explains that it is the pub of the month for the Heno programme 

"They want to speak to a local person"

and they want to speak to a local person, so now is Britt’s chance.

Colin warns her that she cannot just march up to them, but Britt is anxious to get in on the interview;  “I don’t want to miss my chance to plug MFC!”

Gaynor and Hywel arrive

Next to come through the door are Gaynor and Hywel, and Cassie tells them what is happening;   Kath has prepared a little speech;  

"Here is one of them, Britt Monk"

“I’d like to thank the local community . . .”   Hywel can see that Kath is in her element;  she continues, “I’d like to thank the locals, all our regulars here – and here is one of them, Britt Monk.”

Now Eleri comes in . . .

Eleri arrives, 

. . . then Cheryl and Tom . . .

followed by Cheryl and Tom;  

. . . who are not welcome

Cassie does not take kindly to this and Cheryl would rather be somewhere else, but is prevailed upon by Tom to stay for one drink.   She looks rather embarrassed at Cassie.

"And how's Ifan?"

Jason is on the phone at Bryntirion;  “And how’s Ifan?” he asks, “Oh, is he?   Well, I haven’t seen him for a long time now, have I?   

"I didn't say I was blameless"

“No, Sara, I didn’t say that I was blameless – I said I have the right to see him – and Ifan has the right to see his father.   

"Right – yes, I understand"

“Right – yes, I understand – OK, well can you phone me back if you change your mind, please?   

"Give him my love"

“Give him my love.”

The Welsh Whisperer is singing

The Welsh whisperer is singing with his guitar;

♫“When the tank is full, shifting all afternoon, 

You need a little something to keep going;

In every village in the county, by working on the land,

Everybody sings, we’re baling now.”♫

There is no more in the bottle

Cheryl discovers that they have already got through one bottle of wine and wonders what they are going to drink now;  Tom will go to get another one.   

Gaynor goes over

Gaynor has not missed that they are enjoying themselves together and in Tom’s absence, goes across;  

"Why aren't you working tonight?"

“So why aren’t you working tonight?” she asks.

Cheryl replies that there has been a change of plan.   “So have you and Tom gone public now?’   

"Sorry about how things turned out"

Her sister is really sorry about how things have turned out, but Gaynor does not believe a word of it.

"♫Baling now!♫"

Meanwhile, the Welsh whisperer, with all the audience joining in, is still, ♫“Baling now!”♫

Gaynor mutters to Hywel, “The cow!” and he enquires whether she has posted that DNA test.   She proudly tells him she has sent it next day delivery;  

"I will never have to speak to her again!"

“I hope, after next week, I will never have to speak to her again!”

Everyone is enjoying the music, 

Something is pleasing Eleri

except possibly Eleri, who is studying her phone, presumably connected with Jinx.   

Cassie's just been slagging you off"

Tom brings another drink to Cheryl, telling her that he has just heard Cassie ‘slagging her off’.   Cheryl naturally wants to know what this is about.

"She was saying horrible things about you"

“Cassie – she didn’t tell me, I just heard her talking to someone else – she was just saying horrible things about you – that you jump from one bed into another.”

"Cassie!"

This has exactly the desired effect;   Cheryl jumps up from her seat, shouting, “Cassie!” and staggers across the room.   

"Say it to my face!"

“If you’ve got something to say, say it to my face!”

Cassie does not intend to take that, but demands what is wrong with Cheryl.   

The cameraman finds this interesting

The cameraman seems to be taking an interest in this little fracas as Cheryl demands, “Where’s your backbone, Cassie?   Tell everybody here what you just said about me!”

Tom makes a show of trying to calm her

Cheryl barges into a table

down, but she will not be silenced and pulls away from him, in the process falling over on to a seat and demolishing a table at the same time.

While Eleri watches with amusement, 

"Get out, the pair of you!"

Cassie orders them out of the pub;  “You knew how important it was to me!”

Tom grabs Cheryl . . .

Before he goes, Tom has to have the last word;  

. . . and snarls at Cassie

“And you put her under strain!”   She snarls at him to get out of her sight and 

Now they are really worried 

Kath is looking very worried now.