30 January 2025

Tom hears Gaynor arrive home

Tom is sitting glumly at the table in Llwyncelyn when he hears the front door open;  

"You were sleeping like a baby"

Gaynor tells him that he was sleeping like a baby when she left this morning and he agrees that he slept very well.

"Do you want a sandwich?"

“Right, do you want a sandwich with me before I go back to work?” she asks, 

"Can't you take the afternoon off?"

but he would rather that she took the afternoon off to keep him company.   

“I’d love to, but no, it’s impossible,” she replies.

"I'll make us some dinner . . ."

He takes out a loaf of bread and hands it to her;  “Come home as soon as you can, then and I’ll make us some dinner – 

". . . in case Lady Muck gets her hopes up"

“and to make it completely clear, we will be eating here, all right?”   Then he adds, rather vindictively, “In case you, Lady Muck, get your hopes up about going out for dinner somewhere!”   

She did not appreciate that

She tells him, without much enthusiasm, that it will be fine.

Dani opens the door of Maes-y-Deri

Dani opens the front door to find Kath there and wonders how she can help;  

"There'a bit of a crisis at the Deri"

“There’s a bit of a crisis in the Deri – I need someone to clean – immediately, to be honest.”   

"I'll check my calendar"

Dani says that she will check her calendar and get back to Kath.

“I know what Mark did,” she continues and Dani assumes that he has still not gone to the police.   

"I persuaded him not to go to the police"

“Well, that’s my fault – because I persuaded him not to.”

Anita is witnessing . . .

Out round the back of APD, Anita is complaining about Jason and Howard;  

. . . Jason's and Howard's efforts

they are manhandling a bath into the back of the van 

Iolo finds it amusing

and are being watched by Iolo, who seems quite amused by their efforts.   As they struggle with the bath, Jason wonders if Iolo wanted anything in particular, 

"Have you just come for a good laugh?"

or whether he has just come for a good laugh.

In fact he wants some paint, so is told to go and look at the samples;  “By the way, Jase, has your mother sorted it?”Iolo asks.   

"What are you talking about?"

Jason does not know what he is talking about, 

"She said she'd try to overturn the decision"

so it is explained, “About the dam – she said she would find a way to overturn the decision.”

Jason replies that he has not seen or spoken to his mother all week.

Anita has a phone call

Meanwhile, Anita receives a phone call and after looking puzzled at the number, she answers it;  “Yes, this is Anita Pierce – oh, next week – yes, that’s fine,” she says, 

"Do you have at the results already?"

“Do you have the results already?   Of course, I understand.”

Iolo is insistent, “The longer we leave it, right, the more chance they have of getting away with it!”   

"Well, go and find Mam, then!"

Jason tells him to find Diane, in that case, as he is not on the council.

“Yes, but local businesses need to stick together!” rants Iolo;  

"That's right, you know, Jason"

 agrees with him on this and tells Jason to do something, so Jason agrees he will talk to his mother about it, but he is sure that his mother is doing her best, something about which Iolo is doubtful.

"He didn't plan to hurt Jinx like that"

Kath continues to explain to Dani, “Look, we both know that Mark is no angel – but listen, he didn’t plan to hurt Jinx like that.”   Dani stresses that she blamed Gwern for the attack, but again Kath points out that Mark lost his temper at that moment.

"That doesn't make it right"

Dani reminds Kath, “That doesn’t make it right!”   Mark is well aware of that and has been punishing himself every second since it happened, Kath assures her.

"He couldn't stand seeing you going through hell . . ."

“He just couldn’t stand seeing you going through hell like that – that’s what it was and that’s why he did it, OK?   

". . . I don't think you realise what a friend he is"

“I don’t think you realise what a friend you have in Mark.   Perhaps it’s time you showed that you’re as good a friend, as well.”   

Dani ponders her words

This makes Dani think.

"I'm on my way to an interview"

In the pharmacy, Lleucu is just paying for her purchase and Gaynor remarks that she looks very smart;  “I’m on my way to an interview,” she replies, “Well, a chat about work experience.”

"Where are you going?"

Gaynor imagines that it is difficult to find a placement and asks where she is going;  

"M L Edwards Law"

“A legal firm – M L Edwards Law – classy, yeah?”   Mark, who is also in the shop, understands that they are in Carmarthen and this is confirmed.   “I hope I shall be starting on Monday,” Lleucu excitedly tells them and they wish her good luck.

"And I passed English and Business"

Then she remembers something else;  “I told you I was resitting English and Business – I passed and got the results this morning.”   Gaynor is pleased to hear that.

"That enthusiasm won't last long"

When she leaves the pharmacy, Gaynor comments to Mark, “That enthusiasm for a day’s work won’t last very long, will it?”   

"A postman has plenty to complain about"

He is of like mind, grumbling that a postman has plenty to complain about.   

Gaynor has not seen him out and about for a while and assumes that he is still thinking about Cheryl;  “We all have to try and forget about her, don’t we?”   

"That's not easy, is it""

Mark is not finding that easy, so she reminds him that if he wants to talk about it, she is available;  “She left her mark, didn’t she?”

He insists that Gaynor does not have to feel sorry for him, 

"I just understand"

but she confirms that she just understands.

Dani arrives with the tools of her trade

Dani comes into the Deri, carrying her cleaning materials, and asks where they want her to start.   

"There's a rumour of a kitchen inspection"

Kath tells her, “There’s a rumour that we’re going to get a kitchen inspection before the end of the week, so start there.   

"Under the cupboards and in the corners"

“Give the place a good scrub – under the cupboard and in the corners.”   

Dani will get on with it, but is first asked if she is willing to take on the job full-time.   Dani wonders about Karen, the normal cleaner;  

"I need someone we can rely on"

“Don’t talk to me about Karen!” snarls Kath, “She phones in sick all the time – we need someone we can rely on!”

Dani hopes that Kath is not trying to bribe her, but is only joking;  she will be able to fit in the Deri with her other jobs.

Mark comes in . . .

Then Mark comes in, looking rather awkwardly at Dani, 

. . . and they are told to have a good chat

so Kath informs the pair of them, “Whoa – you two need to have a good chat.   Do I have to take both of you by the ears?   

"I've got to do the kitchen"

“Upstairs now – you’ll get some peace up there – the kitchen can wait!   Sort yourselves out, please.”   

They have no choice but to comply with this instruction.

They follow Kath's orders

Up in the still unfinished flat, Mark begins, “Look, I heard you, Dan, crying yourself to sleep when you thought  everyone else was in bed.”

"What you did was wrong"

“Do you think I do that because of Jinx?   Look, Mark, what you did was wrong – perhaps he deserved it – but it was wrong.   

"Just come home, Mark"

“I don’t want you to go to prison – Gwern doesn’t want you to go to prison, so just come home.   We can sort it out between us – 

"I can't afford to pay the rent on my own"

“and I can’t afford to pay the rent on my own!”

Harmony haas been restored

She gives him a hug and he is glad that they understand each other, because he would never have been able to afford a solicitor if he had gone to the police.   

"Solicitors are not cheap"

Dani knows from experience that they are not cheap.

"Lleucu's doing work experience with that Malcolm"

“Talking of solicitors, did you know that Lleucu is going to do work experience with that bloke you used to work with?   Malcolm, that’s him.”

Dani is concerned about that

Dani is very concerned to hear that.

Iolo complains to Jason that the colours on the card do not match 

"Well, that's the nearest we've got"

and is told, “Well, that’s the nearest we’ve got, sorry.”   Jason is curious as to why Iolo is buying paint for one of his customers, suspecting that he has caused some damage.

"What the hell?"

Anita is looking through a box, presumably of items for laundering, and exclaims, “What the hell?   What pig is responsible for this?   

"Have you brought a girl back here?"

“Have you brought a girl back here?   Don’t try and deny it – there’s a bra in this box!” 

"Must have fallen out of someone's washing"

Jason points out that if there is a bra in the box, it has obviously fallen out of someone’s washing and he shouts for Howard.   

"Are you responsible, Howard?"

Anita assumes that he is responsible, 

"What have I done now?"

but he demands, “What have I done now?”

“Have you been using APD as your personal Love Shack?” asks Jason, 

"There is a bra which is not mine . . ."

with Anita continuing to allege that there is a bra in the box which is not hers.

". . . I saw it just now!"

She delves into the box, declaring, “It’s here – I saw it just now!”   

"Let's see it, then"

They are eagerly awaiting revelation of this garment, but now Anita is becoming flustered because she cannot find it.  

"It's Sam's – after the Drag Night"

Iolo comes to the rescue, maintaining that it is his, “Or rather, not mine, but Sam’s – do you remember Sam?   We came back here after the drag night in the Deri – Mathew gave us a key because we didn’t want to go back to Y Felin – so it’s mine.”   

"Come on, Howard – back to work"

Jason is glad that little problem has been solved and encourages Howard to get back to work.

"I'm sure that I saw it"

"“It’s here – I’m sure that I saw it,” mutters Anita.   

"You can buy me a pint in the Deri"

Iolo suggests that they could meet in the Deri later;  she can buy him a pint.

"Did you have a good journey back?"

Dani goes to see Lleucu at Y Felin;  “Did you have a good journey back from Carmarthen?” she asks, revealing that she was told about it by Mark.   

"I used to work for that company"

“I used to work for that company.”

"The boss was lovely"

Lleucu enthusiastically relates that everyone was lovely there, especially the boss;  “He gave me a lift home.   He’s a really nice bloke and he’s very keen to have me there.”

How will she break the news?

Dani wonders how she is going to reveal the truth about Malcolm Edwards;  “Are you OK?” she asks, 

"Why are you being weird?"

and Lleucu cannot understand why Dani is being weird with her.

"Somewhere more hands-on . . ."

“I’m not – I just think it might be better for you if you found it somewhere else to do work experience – somewhere more hands-on, where you actually do something.   

". . . you'll just be making coffee there"

“You’ll just be making coffee there.”

"I'm going to court with him!"

“No, I’m going to shadow Mr Edwards – I’m going to court in Cardiff with him, just him and me – cool, eh?”   Dani does not agree.

"I just see odd things, Iolo . . ."

In the Deri, Anita admits, “I just see odd things, you know, Iolo?   

". . . I'm not quite sure what's happening"

“I’m not quite sure what’s happening.”   

"You had to embarrass yourself"

When Iolo sympathises with her, she reminds him that he had to embarrass himself in front of the boys, but he dismisses it as nothing.

"It was that phone call, wasn't it?"

“That phone call this morning,” he goes on.   She believes that is what threw her;  

"The consultant wants to see me next week"

the consultant wants to see her next week and it is thought that it may be with a diagnosis, which is a good thing.

“That’s what I thought – but now it’s here . . .” she groans.   

"You need answers, Anita"

Iolo regards it as important that she should have answers, 

"Hope its doesn't speed up the deterioration . . ."

but she is hoping that it does not speed up the deterioration.   

". . . `I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to the old Anita"

“I don’t think I’m quite ready to say goodbye to the old Anita yet.”

The meal is almost ready

When Gaynor returns from work that evening, Tom is preparing the meal for her;  

"Something smells nice"

“Something smells nice,” she immediately tells him, but as she is about to sit down at the table, there is a knock at the back door and Mark comes in.

Mark comes to see Gaynor

“Look, I’m sorry to disturb you – I just wanted to say thank you for what you said earlier.”   Gaynor assures him that there is no need, 

"I'm not the only one going through this"

but he continues, “Sometimes I forget I’m not the only one going through this – I’m questioning everything since she left.”

"No, you're not interrupting"

He can see that Tom has started to put items on the table;  “No, you’re not interrupting,” Tom replies and Mark tells them to enjoy their dinner.

"Do you want to stay, Mark?"

“Do you want to stay?   There’s plenty of food here,” Gaynor insists;  Mark needs no second bidding, 

"It's no problem, Mark"

but Tom is not looking happy about it, although he maintains that it is no problem and takes Mark’s coat.

Gaynor can see that Mark is now much happier, and he realises that she was right about what she said earlier;  “We need to forget about the past and move on, don’t we?”   

"I'll bring you a beer"

Gaynor tells him to go and sit on the sofa and she will bring him a beer.

Tom comes back into the room and has a quiet word with Gaynor;  

"Why did you invite him to stay?"

“Why did you invite him to stay?”   She admits that she feels sorry for him, as he is lonely.   

“It’s as if you’re determined to spoil every romantic night I try and create for us!” he scolds her, then takes the bottle of beer to Mark.

"You're jealous!"

Lleucu imagines that Dani is jealous, “Because Mr Edwards never offered to take you to Cardiff!”   Dani tells her to grow up, but she continues, “What is it?   Why don’t you want me to go on work experience there?”

"I don't want anything to happen to you"

“I just don’t want anything to happen to you, OK?   

"Trust me, I'm looking out for you here"

“Trust me, I’m looking out for you here,” Dani warns.   

"It's none of your business"

Lleucu still considers this to be none of Dani’s business.

"He 'tried it on' with me!"

“The bloke is disgusting!   Because he ‘tried it on’ with me – you heard –I wouldn’t lie about something like this!   

Lleucu is horrified

“It was horrible, Lleucu!”

"No bra opens at the front!"

In the Deri, the subject under discussion is still that bra and Jason is adamant that no bra opens at the front, but Howard just looks puzzled.   Iolo insists that of course they do 

"You have no idea, do you?"

and Anita sighs, “You have no idea, do you?   OK, what does the size mean in a bra size, then?”

"The size of the . . . breast in centimetres"

Jason replies that it is the size of the . . . breast in centimetres, which makes Howard laugh.   

"What do you know about bras?"

“I don’t know why you’re laughing – what do you know about bras?” Jason snarls, “I’m going to get another pint.”   Howard will go with him.

"`Go and do a bit of research!"

“Yes, you go and do a bit of research and then you can pull Iolo’s leg when you’ve learned something,” Anita tells them.

"The old Anita isn't going anywhere"

“There we are then – the old Anita isn’t going anywhere if you ask me,” Iolo comments.

"Have we got time for another drink?"

“Have we got time for another drink before dinner?” asks Gaynor and will fetch Mark another one.   

"I wasn't expecting three for dinner . . ."

While she has gone to do this, Tom points out that he was not expecting three for dinner tonight.   

Mark says that he misinterpreted what Gaynor said when she invited him.   

". . . I prepared something special for two"

“I prepared something special for two,” Tom continues, so Mark gets the impression that he had better go now and leave them in peace.

Mark puts on his coat . . . 

When Gaynor returns from the kitchen with Mark’s drink, he is putting on his coat;  

. . . and makes up an excuse

“I have to go now – I want to pack my stuff so I can move back in with Dani.”   She suggests that he can do that after dinner, but he hopes that they enjoy their dinner and leaves the house.

"Well, that was lucky"

“Well, that was lucky – there’s only enough food for two,” Tom tells Gaynor.   

"We should have sorted something"

She replies that they could have sorted something, but he obviously does not agree, 

"You should have asked me first"

reminding her, “You should have asked me first before inviting him.”

"What – in my own house?"

“What – ask if someone can stay for dinner in my own home?” she demands 

"I'm doing the cooking"

and he points out that he is doing the cooking and was not sure whether they would be enough food for them all.

"We could communicate better at times"

“And I do think we could communicate better at times, OK?” he warns;  

Gaynor did not appreciate that

Gaynor looks offended by this.

"That bloke deserves everything he gets!"

At Y Felin, Lleucu ask if Dani reported him to the police;  “The bloke deserves everything he gets!”   

"Things are not always black and white"

Dani says that she had her reasons and things are not always black and white, something Lleucu will come to understand.   

"The boss is a perv?"

What am I supposed to tell the school tomorrow?”  Lleucu wants to know, “That I can’t do work experience because the boss is a perv?”

"I'd never forgive myself"

Dani advises her to just be grateful that she has had a narrow escape;  “I know things are not great between your family and ours, but I’d never forgive myself if something had happened to you.”

Lleucu apologises for having a go at her and is offered some help to look for somewhere else.   

"Have you tried APD?"

“Have you tried APD?   You’d have a laugh with Mathew and Jason.”   Lleucu cannot see herself carrying cement.

“Or you could do translating with Siôn,” but for some reason that does not appeal to Lleucu.

"I'd enjoy having a conducted tour"

She has the idea that she could do work experience with Dani;  “I’d enjoy having a conducted tour of all the posh houses you have on your books.   Please – anything to avoid translating with Siôn!”   

"You'll be expected to do some cleaning as well"

Dani agrees, but she will be expected to do some cleaning as well, not just nosing around in people’s homes.

Dinner is ready

The dinner is now cooked and Tom takes it from the oven;  

"I don't want to argue"

“I don’t want to argue,” says Gaynor, and he replies that they are not arguing.

Looks very much like a pizza

“It’s just that I’ve been looking forward to tonight all afternoon.   

"If I had known Mark was calling . . ."

“If I had known Mark was calling, I would have prepared for it.”   

"Sorry, I didn't think"

Gaynor concedes that she should not have asked Mark to stay without warning, like that.   Her excuse is that she did not think.

"I'm glad we understand each other"

“I appreciate your apology,” he says, “I’m glad we understand each other.”

"Right, that's told her who's boss"

He smiles as he begins eating the meal.