31 December 2024

Ieuan comes downstairs

Ieuan comes downstairs and finds Anita in the kitchen;  

"Oh, very smart!"

she remarks, “Oh, very smart – you’ve gone to a lot of trouble.”   

"I'm not often to eat in Anita's kitchen"

He replies that it is not very often that you get an invitation to eat in Anita’s kitchen.   She tells him to just be grateful that Kelly is out.

"And oysters to start"

He asks what is on the menu and she informs him, “Mushroom and garlic risotto, crème brûlée – and I’ve got oysters to start!”   

"Is Mrs Griffiths trying to seduce me?"

Ieuan suspects that Mrs Griffiths is trying to seduce him.

"Who's that?"

However, at that moment there is a knock at the door and they wonder who that could possibly be.   

Hywel wishes then Happy New Year

Ieuan finds that it is his brother, Hywel, who has just called to wish them Happy New Year 

"Just checking everything's all right'

and to check that everything was all right after the Christmas dinner.   Ieuan assures him that was just a blip and all is well now.   “Do you have any plans for tonight?” Hywel asks and Anita informs him that she is cooking a romantic meal for two, in an effort to get rid of him.   

"Extending the honeymoon period"

Ieuan adds that it is to extend the honeymoon period.

"A night in front of the box for me"

Hywel still does not appear to have got the message, but says that Esther is having a sleepover and Cassie is working;  “So it will be a night in front of the box for me.”

"Why don't you join us?"

Anita feels virtually forced to invite him to eat with them, but he insists that he does not want to intrude – and Ieuan is most displeased at this turn of events.   

". . . help yourself to some wine"

Anita invites him to help himself to some wine, as the food will not be long.

Cassie and Mark are preparing

In the Deri, Cassie is putting up some balloons, while Mark is bringing in more drinks.   

"I've had a text from Cheryl"

“Listen, I’ve had a text from Cheryl!” she excitedly tells him and reads it out;  

"I couldn't face going to Wrexham"

“Sorry for leaving – I’ll phone to explain soon, but I just couldn’t face going back to Wrexham.”

Mark comes to the conclusion that Tom must be right, then;  

"She couldn't face anyone"

“She couldn’t face everyone after the truth came out.”   

Cassie’s opinion is rather different;  “If she couldn’t face going to Wrexham, why wouldn’t she go to Spain with you?   That would be the obvious thing to do.”   

"She didn't want to be with me, either"

Mark assumes that she did not want to be with him either, but this does not seem to make sense to Cassie.

'I have something to ask you . . ."

In MFC, Gwern and Dani are having a chat over a milkshake;  she has something in particular to ask him.   

". . . would you be willing to walk me down the aisle?"

“The wedding – would you be willing to walk me down the aisle?”   

"Well, yes"

This comes as rather a surprise to Gwern, but he says that he is willing to do that.

"Are you sure that's what you want to do"

“Well, are you sure that is what you want to do?” he asks in return, “You know, the wedding and stuff?   Are you sure you want to be with Jinx?”   

"I thought you'd sorted things out with Jinx"

Dani had been under the impression that he and Jinx had sorted things out;  she wonders why he is bringing this up again now.

"Come over to our place"

Before he can explain further, Britt comes across to ask how they will be celebrating the New Year.   When Dani replies that they will be having a quiet evening in, they are invited over to Britt’s, where Kylie and Colin will be preparing ‘mocktails’.   

"Yeah, all right"

“They’ll be glad to see you, Gwern,” so he agrees to go over.

When he has gone, Dani confides to Britt, “At least I won’t have to worry about him drinking tonight.”   Britt appreciates that he has been through a lot recently, 

"He's been very quiet"

but Dani says that he has been very quiet.   

"He must be missing Seren"

Britt imagines that he must be missing Seren, just as all of them.

Tom hides Cheryl's phone

Tom comes into Maes-y-Deri and hides Cheryl’s phone in a drawer, then is disturbed by a knock at the door.   He invites Mark into the house;  “Sorry – are you on your way out?” he asks, seeing that Tom has his jacket on.   

"I've just got back from work"

He replies that he has just returned from a shift at work.

“Sorry to disturb you, I just wanted to check if you’ve heard from Cheryl,” says Mark and is told that Tom has not.   

"Cassie got a text"

“Cassie got a text,” he goes on and Tom feigns surprise.   “She didn’t say much.”

"At least someone has heard something"

“That doesn’t surprise me!” Tom growls, “At least someone has heard something – and that she’s safe.   

"Cheryl wasn't who you thought she was"

“This isn’t the first time she’s left me without saying a word.   Listen, Mark, Cheryl wasn’t who you thought she was – she was full of lies – you heard about the DNA test, did you?   

Mark listens to him 'slagging off' Cheryl

“I think she’s been playing everyone, especially poor Gaynor.   And she’s stolen money from people in the past.   

"I was just jealous and I'm sorry"

“Look, I want to apologise as well – for the way I was with you before – I was just jealous and I’m  sorry.”

Mark does not say a word

Mark leaves without a further word 

"This deception lark is child's play"

and Tom thinks that he has been convinced.

"I had to give them some antivirus software"

At number 7, Hywel tells Ieuan he had to give one of their customers some antivirus software to make up for the mess.   Ieuan is pleased that they made a tidy profit on the laptops.   Anita announces that the food is ready, 

"Something smells lovely!"

with Hywel commenting that it smells lovely, which she puts down to the garlic.

"Anita used to be quite the chef years ago"

“Anita used to be quite the chef years ago,” says Ieuan, 

"I can still cook, thank you very much!"

but she objects to the ‘years ago’ part, insisting that she can still cook.

"We had a lovely Christmas"

At Fflamingos, Jason is informing DJ, “We had a lovely Christmas, fair play – Ifan was spoiled rotten – I’ve never seen him so happy.   Sara was great – just like she used to be – and I have to admit I get on better than expected with her husband as well.”   

"I was hoping for more customers"

DJ had been anticipating having more customers, as their last delivery cost a fortune.

Eleri comes complaining

Eleri arrives and announces, “I’ll be better when I’ve been paid.”   

"It is the season of goodwill"

Jason wonders if they might skip this month, as it is the season of goodwill and all that.   

"When people spend money and eat like pigs!"

“A season when people spend money and eat like pigs!” is Eleri’s response, “I’ve sure you’ve taken advantage of that.”

"How about some churros on the house?"

“How about some Churros on the house and we’ll pay you next month?” is Jason’s next suggestion.   

"You've got until the end of the day!"

She warns that they have got until the end of the day.

"That was very nice, Cassie"

Jinx and Dani have finished their meal in the Deri when Iolo comes across to ask what they are doing tonight;  

"We need to celebrate!"

he insists that they need to celebrate.   

"Go on – I'll look after Gabriel"

Jinx tells her to go out with Iolo and he will look after Gabriel;  “Gwern will be with Britt and Colin.”

She agrees to go, then Iolo asks Eleri the same thing, suggesting that she could join them;  “We’re going to celebrate the New Year and the engagement.”   She enquires if they are going anywhere nice and when told it will be there in the Deri, 

"New Year parties are always so tacky"

she groans that new Year parties are always so tacky, but finally decides that she will join them.   

Jinx looks disappointed 

Jinx seems disappointed by this.

"I've come to see how you are"

Tom goes to visit Gaynor;  “I’ve just come to see how you are,” he begins and she says is unable to sleep as things keep going round in her head.   “Yes, I’m the same,” he alleges.

"I was totally sure we were sisters'

Gaynor has so many questions;  “This DNA business – I was totally sure that we were sisters and I can’t get rid of this feeling that there has been some kind of mistake.”

"Deception – yes, I know"

“Deception – yes, I know,” Tom replies, “It’s hard to accept someone could tell so many lies.”   Gaynor is still worried about her, despite all that;  

"I want to know if she's all right"

she wants to know if Cheryl is all right, whether they are sisters or not.

"You know Cassie got a text from her?"

“But you know Cassie got a text from her, don’t you?” he says, “She’s completely fine, but it didn’t say much – don’t you worry about Cheryl – she knows exactly how to look after herself!”   

"Are you hiding something?"

Gaynor gets the impression that he may be hiding something.

"Well, she stole my bank card"

“Well, she stole my bank card – perhaps it would be worth you checking, too, just in case,” he suggests.   

"It's gone!"

Of course, as he already knows, she finds that the card is missing and immediately picks up her phone.

"She's been spending on my card!"

“She’s been spending on my card!” she exclaims;  

"Does it say where it was?"

Tom wonders if it says where that was and she announces, “Yes, Stoke!   The cow!”   

"That's convinced another one of them"

She has been comprehensively deceived by Tom.

Iolo is in the party spirit

Iolo takes a tray of glasses to Dani, 

Eleri is using her phone

while Eleri is busy on her phone, probably involving Jinx.   

"I hate that cheap, tacky stuff!"

Iolo offers her one of the shots, but she declines, commenting, “No thanks, I hate that cheap sticky stuff!”

"All the more for us, then!"

“All the more for us, then!” says Dani.

"Gaynor has had a shock"

Gaynor and Tom come in and inform Cassie that Gaynor has had a shock;  “Cheryl has been stealing from her bank account.”   Gaynor had not noticed that the card was missing, 

"I pay for everything with my phone"

because she pays for everything with her phone.

She tells Mark that £300 has gone;  “I feel such a fool for worrying about her, when she’s in Stoke, using my card.”   

Cassie is very sceptical

Cassie is not being taken in by this, as Tom adds that he believes that Cheryl has a friend living there.   

"Two glasses of red wine, please"

He will get Gaynor a drink, asking Cassie for two large glasses of red wine, plus whatever Mark is drinking.

"Mark mentioned you had a text"

“Mark mentioned that you had a text,” he goes on, asking to know what it said, 

"But you're still at Maes-y-Deri"

but she finds it very odd that he is still in Maes-y-Deri when Cheryl has left.   

"I've paid a month's rent to Kath"

“I’ve paid a month’s rent to Kath, so it makes perfect sense for me to stay,” is his answer, “I’m happy to discuss any concerns you have.”   Cassie laughs that would take all night;  he would like to start again, 

"I'm keeping my eye on you!"

but she warns, “I’m keeping my eye on you.”

"I suspect she's been doing a lot of stealing"

“It’s not my place to say, but I suspect that Cher has been stealing from a lot of people, so be careful!” he advises.

"Come on – you're overreacting"

At number 7, Ieuan insists that Anita is overreacting;  

"I'd better be getting home"

Hywel thinks that he had better return home now and thanks them for the food.   “See you next year,” says Ieuan.

"I'm getting worse, aren't I?"

Anita is convinced that she is getting worse, but is reassured, “Anyone could have left the hob on.   

"What's ahead of us next year"

“What’s ahead of us next year?” she wails.  

"If it's as good as this year . . ."

He maintains that if it is as good as this year, it will be a very special year.

"This year has been terrible"

“This year has been terrible,” Anita reminds him, “The accident, me getting scammed by ‘Meddal’, then going away for months.”   

"We got engaged and then married"

He points out that she came home, they got engaged and then married, but she does not look any happier.

“Look, in every darkness there are special moments of light – and that’s what will keep us going in the New Year, all right?   No matter what happens.”   He hands her a glass of wine and proposes a toast, “To 2025!”

"And those special moments of light"

She adds, “And those special moments of light!”

Jinx sits alone at home

Jinx is sitting alone at number 9 when there is a knock at the door;  he turns off the television and discovers that it is Eleri.   

Eleri comes visiting

He reminds her that Gabriel is upstairs.   

"You've been ghosting me"

“You’ve been ghosting me,” she complains, “You stopped answering my texts.   

"Do you want to stop"

“Do you want to just stop whatever’s going on between us?”

"Where do we stand, then?"

Jinx confirms that he does not want them to finish.   “Where do we stand, then?” she demands.   He admits that he has been keeping his distance recently;  he is sorry about that, but it is difficult with things as they are.

"No – don't go"

She acts as if she is about to leave, so of course he stops her 

Here we go again

and they kiss again;  what that will lead to, we shall have to wait and see.

Hywel pours more wine

Hywel is back at home and pours himself another glass of wine 

Who has been left in charge at the Deri?

as Cassie returns from next door.   

"I can't be bothered to explain"

She says that she cannot be bothered to talk about what happened at the Deri, and asks whether ‘Jools’ Hootenanny’ has started yet on the television.

"I almost died tonight!"

“I almost died tonight!” he rather dramatically announces, “I went over to number 7 for dinner and Anita almost burned the place down.”

"I wouldn't have anyone to share this wine with "

“It’s lucky she didn’t succeed – I wouldn’t have anyone to share this wine with,” Cassie remarks.   “Well, no other man is getting the pleasure of my company on the last night of the year.”

"Aren't the boys of Cwmderi enough?"

“Aren’t the boys of Cwmderi enough for Cassie Morris, then?” asks Hywel.

Dani and Iolo are dancing . . .

In the Deri, Dani and Iolo are cavorting around, with Dani wearing a ‘bride to be’ sash;  

. . . and Dani has had enough

the drink appears to be going to her head, so she wants to sit down.   “I’m tired and I want to go home!” she whines, but he points out that it is almost midnight – 

"Stay for another five minutes"

she only needs to stay for another five minutes.

"I want to see Jinx"

“I want to see Jinx and welcome in the New Year with him,” she insists, so Iolo tells her to go, if she wants to make it in time;  

She gives Iolo a hug

she gives him a hug.   

The wine is flowing freely

Tom is plying Gaynor with plenty of drink, as they fill up the glasses for midnight.

"Happy New Year"

Next door at number 21, Hywel and Cassie wish each other a Happy New Year 

Not another woman?

and they rather drunkenly kiss each other.   The sound of fireworks can be heard overhead, 

"Let's go out and watch"

so she wants to go outside and watch.

Eleri and Jinx are 'hard at it' . . .

At number 7, Jinx and Eleri are engaged in their ‘activity’ on the sofa 

. . . but they are interrupted

when the door opens and Dani comes in.   

Dani is initially dumbfounded

She is aghast at what she sees and cannot believe her eyes.   She stands there, speechless, in the doorway, 

Eleri struggles with her attire . . .

while Eleri puts on her shoes, then asks where Gabriel is.

. . . and appears not to have anticipated this

Eleri is devastated at being caught ‘in flagranté’ 

Dani hauls her out of the house, kicking and screaming

and Dani rushes towards her, grabs her and drags her out of the house, with Jinx shouting his protests.

Watching the spectacle overhead . . . 

Outside, people are watching the firework display above Cwmderi 

. . .switches to the spectacle in the street

when their attention is attracted by the screaming.   

. . . involving two screaming women

Dani furiously hurls Eleri out of the house, ignoring Jinx’s shouts to leave her alone.   

The onlookers are horrified

The villagers look on in horror 

. . . as the fisticuffs containue

as the catfight continues in the street.

"Trouble in paradise"

Jason and DJ come to have a look;  “Trouble in paradise,” comments Jason and takes out his phone to record the exhibition.   

Things escalate . . .

The struggle becomes even more intense, 

. . . until Dani throws a tremendous punch

with Dani delivering such a powerful punch that Eleri reels backwards.

"Jinx is the one cheating on you!"

“What are you doing?” shouts Eleri, “Jinx is the one cheating on you!”

Jinx restrains Dani

Dani yells back at her, “You were sleeping with my fiancé – and my baby’s upstairs!”

"Fiancé!"

“Fiancé!” sneers Eleri 

"Come on, Dani!"

and Jinx manages with difficulty to stop Dani from lunging at her again.   

"He feels sorry for you"

“He’s only with you because he feels sorry for you!” screams Eleri, “I’m sorry to have to say that, but it’s true!   I’m sorry you had to find out like this!”

Dani is devastated

Dani storms back into the house in tears and slams the door behind her.