29 January 2025

"I'm going to see the solicitor"

Eileen announces to Sioned that she is going to see the solicitor to ask him about the sale.   

"You haven't thought this through properly"

“You haven’t thought this through properly,” Sioned insists, 

"I've not thought about anything else"

but her mother replies that she has not thought about anything else for weeks.

Hywel is on the way to get his paper

Hywel is walking towards the shop and Kath is putting a notice outside, reading ‘Happy Hour 4 – 6’;   

Brynmor comes out of number 10 . . .

when Brynmor emerges from number 10 he sees Kath and they both look at each other.

. . . and sees Eleri approaching

Eleri is approaching her father and he would like to apologise for the way he has been with her recently;  she is not at all interested.   He asks whether Jinx  is out of hospital.   

"He's not talking to me, thanks to you!"

“Yes, and he’s not talking to me, thanks to you!”   

Hywel does not sound happy

She walks on towards Tomos ac Ellis as Hywel comes out of the shop with his paper;  “Oi!” he shouts, 

He points out the Western Post headline

“Have you seen this headline – ‘Dam Scandal Deepens’?”   He will not be put off and accuses Brynmor of avoiding him.   

"I'll come over in half an hour"

Brynmor agrees to come over to his house in half an hour and Hywel goes home.

"Everyone thinks inheriting a farm is fantastic"

“Everyone thinks inheriting a farm is fantastic, but it’s not!” Eileen snarls, 

"I've enjoyed working here"

but Sioned says that she has enjoyed working there while her mother has been away.   “That’s just a honeymoon period, Sioned – go through year after year of losses 

"It won't take long to break your heart"

“and it won’t take long to break your heart.

"I've got every reason to fight now!"

Sioned is adamant that is not going to happen and points out, “I have run this place several times without you – and I’ve got every reason to fight now!   Please, I want to keep this place going for Jac and Lili!”

"I'm doing this for you, Sioned"

“I’m doing this for you – to release you,” her mother tells her, so Sioned begs her mother not to give up so easily.

"Lucky you ended things with Eleri"

At Deri Fawr, Ffion is looking at the same newspaper article online;  “Have you seen this?” she asks Jinx, “It’s shameful – it’s lucky you finally saw sense and ended things with Eleri.”   

"She was only carrying out her father\s orders"

He maintains that she was only carrying out her father’s orders;  

"She cannot be trusted"

“Perhaps she was, but she cannot be trusted.”

Again, Jinx says that Eleri is fine when you get to know her.   

"Not thinking of going back to her, are you?"

“You’re not thinking about going back to her, are you?” Ffion acerbically comments.  

"I don't know what I'm thinking, Ffion"

Jinx does not know what he thinks, as he bites into his slice of toast and goes upstairs.

Tom's slumber is disturbed . . .

Tom is asleep on the floor of the site office when he is again woken by knocking at the door.   “Tom, are you in there?” comes Gaynor’s voice, “Can you hear me, Tom?”

. . . and he initially tries to ignore it

At first he pulls the sleeping bag over his head, but the knocking continues and he is told to open the door;  

"Your car's parked out here"

“I know you’re in there, because your car’s parked out here.”

He hides his sleeping bag

Furious, he gets out of the sleeping bag and does his best to hide it, as she goes on, “Have I done something to upset you?”   He replies that he came into work early this morning, so she demands that he opens the door.

Gaynor can see something is wrong

He unlocks it and she can see that there is something wrong;  

"I'm so sorry . . ."

he bursts into tears (whether real or imaginary, it is hard to tell) and wails, “I’m sorry – I’m so sorry!   

  ". . . you lost Cheryl because of me!" — isn't that the truth?

“You lost Cheryl because of me.”

"The whole village turned against me!"

Sioned is attending to one of the twins as her mother moans, “The whole village turned against me – they opposed the chicken shed – they opposed the hunt – 

"No-one knows how hard it is"

“no-one understands how hard it is to run a farm like Penrhewl.”

"I still want to be here"

Sioned reminds her, “I understand – and I still want to be here.   Please don’t do anything rash, Mam.”   

"I haven't made any rash decisions"

Eileen stresses that she has not made any rash decisions, 

"I want the twins to have the same upbringing that I had"

but Sioned continues, “I want the twins to have the same upbringing that I had – there’s nothing to compare to that freedom.”

"You've complained enough over the years"

Eileen laughs that her daughter has complained enough over the years, 

"But now I'm a mother . . ."

but Sioned answers, “Now I am a mother, I realise the value of what I had.”

Eileen says that things are changing too much and the place has no chance of succeeding now;  Sioned urges her not to say that, 

"It's hard work and I'm worried"

but she emphasises, “It’s hard work and I’m worried – I don’t want you to have to carry that burden.”

"I can handle it, Mam"

Sioned is adamant that she can handle it;  she can adapt their way of farming.   “No, it would be irresponsible of me to tie you and Huwi to this place,” Eileen declares, “I really am doing what is best for you here.”

"At least give me one chance to try"

Sioned is undeterred and pleads with her mother, “Please don’t do this – at least give me one chance to try.”   

Eileen recalls that it is the one thing she and Sioned’s father wanted to give her, but now she wants to release Sioned from it all;  

"And your father would agree with me"

“And your father would agree with me, too!”   

Sioned says that Eileen cannot speak for her father and insists that she deserves one chance, because she has fought for Penrhewl as well;  

"I'll do everything I can"

“I’ll do everything I can to make sure this place succeeds – and if I fail, Penrhewl will still be here for you to sell.”

This appears to have changed Eileen’s mind;  

"Right, I'll give you a chance"

“Right, she says, “I’ll give you a chance.   I’ll take Tamed off your hands and live in the flat above the shop – because I want to be free of this place.   There you go – this is your chance.”   Sioned looks as if this has come as a shock.

"You can't blame yourself, Tom"

In the site office, Gaynor stresses, “It was Cheryl’s decision to leave – you can’t blame yourself,” but Tom replies that she does not understand.

“You said before that she had a history of running away,” Gaynor continues, 

"I must have done something to upset her . . ."

but he says that he possibly did something to upset her.   “I don’t think either of us could have stopped her from going,” is Gaynor’s response to this.

". . . I should have treated her better"

“I should have treated her better,” he whines.”

"No-one knows about your part in it"

At number 21, Brynmor assures Hywel, “Don’t worry – no-one knows about your part in it.”   Hywel protests that he is not part of this, but was expecting jobs for local people.   

"Not because you wanted to make money?"

“And that’s why you supported the scheme, was it?   Not because you wanted to make money?   You were in favour of this long before there was talk of jobs for local people – so don’t change your tune now!”

"I took that for granted"

Hywel had taken it for granted and that is why the vote went through.   

"We'll all benefit from this"

Brynmor points out, “And now you should be thanking me, because we’ll all benefit from this development.”

"It all feels wrong to me!"

Hywel now seems to be regretting the whole thing;  “It all feels wrong to me!”   He is told that he is panicking because of the Western Post article and that no-one will care tomorrow.   

"If you want me to have a word with the board . . ."

“If you want me to have a word with the board, to see if there’s any work available . . .”

Hywel does not want to have any part in that;  

"I'm going to sell my shares"

“I’m going to sell my shares and cut all ties with you!” he proposes, but is reminded that his shares are in Rhys’ name – and in any case, it is a bit late now, because if people found out he had them in the first place . . .

"Are you threatening me?"

It sounds to Hywel as if Brynmor is threatening him;  

"I'm giving you a word of advice . . ."

“I’m giving you a word of advice – 

". . . don't be so paranoid!"

“don’t be so paranoid!” growls Brynmor, before walking out of the house.   

Now Hywel is really worried

Hywel is very concerned now

"Do you know of any labouring jobs?"

In the shop flat, Howard, who is eating his lunch, asks Mathew, “Do you know of any labouring jobs?   Now that Eileen’s back at Penrhewl, I don’t think I’ll be there long.”

Eileen marches in

Suddenly, Eileen appears in the doorway, 

"Come in, Eileen!"

informing them, “I don’t need permission to come into my own property!”   

Mathew welcomes her back and asks if she is all right.   

"I'm here to give you notice"

“There’s no point wasting time – I’m here to give you notice,” she snaps.

"We pay the rent on time"

Mathew cannot understand why this is, as they pay the rent on time and keep the place tidy, 

"I'm moving in with Huwi-John"

so it is explained, “Huwi-John and I are coming to live here.”

“So you’re kicking us out on the street?” Mathew gasps 

"I'm giving you a week's notice"

and she goes on that she is giving them a week’s notice, then turns and walks out of the flat.   

Howard smiles wryly

Howard has a wry smile.

Thanks for coming

Eleri visits Jinx at Deri Fawr;  “Thanks for coming,” he says, 

"You have a long way to go . . ."

and she warns him that he has a long way to go before she forgives him.

Brynmor arrives with flowers

Kath is in the kitchen of the Deri flat when Brynmor comes in, carrying some flowers.   “Kath, are you all right?” he begins;  

"Don't come crawling back here"

she warns him not to come crawling back there.

“Listen, I’ve been thinking about things,” he continues, 

"I've realised what's gone wrong"

“And I’ve realised what’s gone wrong between us.”

"What's that, then, Einstein?"

“Oh, yeah – and what’s that, Einstein?” she enquires.   

"I put business before you"

He acknowledges that he should not have put business before her.   “Right, so you’re going to turn your back on this dam, and Quantum Hydro Works, are you?”

This is not what he had in mind, but he is sorry for making business decisions that hurt her;  

He promises her another trip

“And as an apology, I’d like to take you on the trip of a lifetime!”

"Are you serious?"

Kath simply bursts out laughing;  “Are you serious?”   He urges her to listen to what he has to offer.   

"The Orient Express . . ."

He has found a trip round Europe, starting on the Orient Express, but she stops him in his tracks.

"Is money your answer to everything?"

“Brynmor, is money your answer to everything?” she demands and he gets the impression that she does not want to come.   “No, thanks – no,” is her reply, “You’d better save your money, because do you know what?   

"I'll want half of everything you've got!"

“I’m serious about this divorce – and I’ll want half of everything you’ve got!”

This comes as rather a shock

Brynmor does not appear to have an immediate answer to that.

"The bathroom could do with a coat of paint"

As Eleri comes downstairs, she remarks to Jinx, “The bathroom could do with a coat of paint – or a complete makeover.”   Jinx explains that Ffion only moved in a few months ago;  

"It's the first thing I would have done"

“It’s the first thing I would have done,” she sneers, 

"Why have you come here, anyway?"

“Why have you come here, anyway?”

“Ffion and I are old friends,” he answers, 

"Just friends, I hope"

but she demands whether they are just friends.   He agrees that now they are, 

"That's good"

which she regards as a good thing.

Just in the nick of time . . .

As he is about to kiss her, 

. . . Ffion arrives

Ffion returns home and on seeing Eleri, 

"Sorry to disturb you"

pointedly remarks, “Sorry to disturb you.”

She is told that there is no need to apologise in her own home;  

"Lovely taste – especially in the bathroom"

“You’ve got a nice house here – lovely taste – especially in the bathroom,” Eleri comments to Jinx.

Ffion informs them, “I’m working from home today but I’m going for a jog first.   

"Dani might come over and see you"

“Dani was asking about you when I saw her in the village – she might come over and see you.”

"I was about to leave, anyway"

“I was about to leave, anyway,” says Eleri, 

"See you again"

“See you again.”   She quickly leaves.

"That was a lie about Dani, wasn't it?"

“Ffion, that was a lie about Dani, wasn’t it?” Jinx realises, “I invited Eleri over to apologise properly for last week.”

"That woman is dangerous!"

Ffion emphatically warns him, “That woman is dangerous!   And let’s get one thing straight – 

"I don't want her anywhere near here!"

“I don’t want her anywhere near this place!”   Jinx gets the message, loud and clear.

"Are you busy?"

As they look at Mathew’s phone in the shop flat, Sioned comes rushing in, asking if they are busy;  “Yes, we have to find somewhere to live, thanks to your mother,” Mathew tells her.

"Its was a shock to me as well"

“She got here before me,” Sioned apologises, “It was just as much of a shock to me.”   

"She won't let me work on the farm|"

Howard is quite sure that she will not let him work on the farm, 

"I'm offering you a job"

but is informed, “It’s up to me what happens at Penrhewl now – and I'm offering you a job.”

He cannot believe his ears and when she asks for an answer, 

"I still need somewhere to live"

he enthusiastically replies, “Yes, of course!   But I still need to find somewhere to live.”

Sioned has an answer to that problem as well;  “You can move in with us – it makes sense if you’re going to be working there.”

"That's one of us sorted"

Mathew groans, “Great – that’s one of us sorted!   I really thought that losing work on the dam was bad enough – and now this!”

"The rent money would be handy"

“You can move in with us as well, until you find somewhere else, if you want,” Sioned suggests, “The rent money would be handy.”   

They reach an agreement

He seems to be in favour of that.

"Divorce brings out the worst in people"

“So it’s true what they say, then, isn’t it?” muses Brynmor, “That divorce brings out the worst in people.”

"No, Brynmor, money does that"

Kath’s opinion differs from this;  “No, you’re wrong, Brynmor, it’s money that brings out the worst in people.”   

"I worked hard to save that"

He protests that he had worked hard over the years to save what he has, but she points out that he inherited half of it.

"Can't we work though this?"

“It’s only right that I can pass that money on to Eleri after my time.   I don’t want this, Kath – the falling out, the divorce – can’t we work through this?  And then it will be our money to pass on to Eleri – and Mark.”

"I don't want to be married to you any more"

As far as Kath is concerned, it is too late;  she does not want to be married to him any more.   

"I gave you everything, Kath"

“I gave you everything, Kath – security, happiness, love – but there we are – if you want my money, too . . .”

"I only want one thing . . .`"

As he is about to walk out of the door, she calls him back;  “Keep your money – I only want one thing out of this divorce – the Deri – 

". . . your share of the Deri"

“I want your share of the Deri.”   

Brynmor remains silent

Brynmor does not reply.

"Sorry for then way I've been behaving recently"

At Llwyncelyn, Gaynor asks if Tom feels any better now;  “Have you warmed up a bit?”   He is sorry about the way he has been behaving recently, 

"You haven't dome anything wrong

but she insists that he has done nothing wrong – it has been a difficult time.

"I want to live here and run this place"

“All I want,” Kath goes on, “Is to continue living here and to be able to run the place.”

"With Cassie"

“With Cassie,” Brynmor adds and she tells him not to worry about her and Cassie.   She just wants to carry on with her simple life, that is all.   He asks if that is what she really wants.

"Are we going to be able to do this amicably?"

“Are we going to be able to do this amicably, then?” she wants to know, “No solicitors?”   

"Yes, OK"

Brynmor agrees and then leaves the flat.

"Can I have a word?"

Downstairs at the bar, Hywel is drinking his pint when Brynmor comes past;  “Can I have a word?”   

"Not now, Hywel"

Brynmor is not in the mood for talking at the moment, but Hywel is insistent.

"You'd better talk to the board . . ."

“Listen, if this is about the dam, you’d better talk to the board,” says Brynmor, 

"I'm taking a sabbatical"

“Because I’m taking a sabbatical – a holiday –while things settle down.”

Hywel accuses him of running away;  “Who am I supposed to talk to now?”   

"I've got some packing to do"

Brynmor will find someone else to take his place – someone local – someone he can trust, so he should be happy.   “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got some packing to do.”

"This is going to work out great . .."

Sioned and Howard arrive at the farm, with him commenting, “This is going to work out great – 

". . . out of bed and straight to work!"

"I can get out of bed and get straight to work!”   Mathew reminds him that he could do that in the flat.

“I shall expect you to help with the twins, remember,” Sioned reminds them, 

"Changing nappies and things"

“Changing nappies and things,” then, more seriously, continues, “Howard, I’m so grateful to you – I don’t know what I would have done without your help.”

Eileen comes downstairs, reporting, “They’re both sound asleep,” 

"What's going on?"

but then she notices Howard there and her attitude completely changes;  “What’s going on?” she growls.

"Howard and Mathew are moving in"

Sioned announces that Howard and Matthew are moving in;  “They have a busy week at APD next week, so they’re moving in some stuff today.”  Of course this does not go down well with Eileen, so Sioned adds, “You said I could do what I want here.”

"He's the last person you need in your life!"

“Well, a word of advice!” Eileen snarls viciously, “He’s the last person you need in your life!   Good luck with that!”   

Howard exchanges glances with . . .

Howard 

. . . Sioned 

and Sioned look at each other.

Brynmor leaves number 10

Brynmor closes the door of number 10 just as Eleri is coming round the corner by Bethania;  “You’re not running away, are you?” she asks.   

"I'm going away for a little while"

He reports that he is going away for a little while;  

"So you are running away"

“So you are running away,” she concludes.

He does not want to leave on bad terms, but she regards it as a little late for that;  “I’ve lost Kath, but I don’t want to lose you as well – that is why I want to make it up to you, so as a way of apologising, 

"I want to give you an opportunity"

“I want to give you an opportunity to prove your potential.”

She does not know what he is talking about, he explains further, “I’d like you to take my place on the company’s board – temporarily.”

"You're worried it[s going to 'kick off'!"

She smiles;  “You’re worried it’s all going to ‘kick off’,” but he denies that is the case, maintaining that he is completely sure that nothing is going to ‘kick off’.

"You expect me to take the flak"

She is knows very well that, “You’re running away and you want me to stay and take the flak,” but he insists this is an opportunity to fulfil her potential, to show people how skilful she is as a businesswoman.   She enquires whether she will have responsibility for everything and he quickly agrees, as he hands his bag to the taxi driver.

"Keep Hywel  Llywelyn close"

“I’ll e-mail you the details – and keep Hywel Llywelyn close – you’ll need him on your side.   I’ll see you.”

Kath watches from outside the Deri . . . 

Watched by Kath from outside the Deri at the other end of the street, 

. . . as Brynmor leaves Cwmderi

he gets into the taxi and it drives away.