11 March 2025

More vodka first thing in the morning . . .

Dani is in her dressing gown as she opens her bottle of vodka 

. . . but then there is someone at the door

and takes a swig;  then there is a knock at the door, so she carefully replaces the bottle in her bag and puts it out of sight.

"Why haven't you brought Gabs back?"

The caller is Colin, who has come to check that she is all right;  she simply wants to know why he has not brought Gabriel back.   “He’s fine, great – he’s having pancakes with Britt.   I’ve never seen a boy enjoy chocolate sauce so much in my life.   

"How are you feeling today?"

“I just wanted to check on you first – see how you’re feeling today.”

"We agreed on one night, Colin"

Dani mutters that she wants her children, reminding him that they agreed on one night.

"We can have a special breakfast"

At Y Felin, Iolo tells Greta, “Right, if you go upstairs to get changed now, we can have a special breakfast – what do you say?   Coco pops?”   Greta seems very unenthusiastic.   

"How is Greta this morning?"

Lleucu comes in as Greta goes upstairs to get dressed and Lleucu asks how she is this morning.

"I don't think she should go to school"

“Still not right – it took her a while to settle last night,” Iolo replies, “I still don’t think she should go to school – I don’t want to leave her.”   

"Haven't you got some jobs booked?"

Lleucu is aware that he has jobs booked today.   “Yes, this afternoon, so I shall have to cancel them,” he decides.

"I can come home at lunchtime"

Lleucu has only a couple of lessons today;  she can come home at lunchtime.   “She loves me – and she’ll be fine by tonight, you’ll see.”   Iolo is very grateful to her and she leaves for school.

"I wanted some fresh air anyway"

Sioned has taken his lunch to Mathew at APD, explaining that she wanted some fresh air anyway 

"Quantum want to come over next week"

and adds, “Quantum Hydro Works’ surveyor phoned this morning – they want to come over next week.”   Mathew is surprised that it is happening so soon 

Mathew holds her hand

and he knows how difficult this is for her, as he reassuringly grasps her hand.

"Mam wants me at Tamed"

She says that she had better go as her mother wants her to call in at Tamed;  she hopes that there will be no more surprises.   

Howard looks admiringly at Sioned

Howard looks admiringly at her as she goes, then Mathew asks him why he ordered so much wood.

"A project – a present"

“Like I said, I’m doing a project . . . a present,” is the reply.   Mathew then is eager to find out who this present is for and whether he knows her.   

"She's just been in here"

“She’s just been in here,” Howard rather reluctantly reveals.  

"You fancy Sioned?"

This comes as quite a shock to Mathew;  “You fancy Sioned?”   

"I know I haven't got a chance"

Howard knows very well that he does not have a chance, so tells Matthew to leave it.   “I didn’t say that – it’s just – wow!”

"What do you mean?"

Howard demands what he means;  “Have you told her how you feel?”   

"I'm going to show her instead"

Howard smiles as he says that he is going to show her instead, which Mathew find rather enigmatic.

"Dani – are you OK?"

As Dani walks along the street, Lleucu calls to her, “Are you OK?   I’ve messaged you.   I just want to see how you are.”

"How is Greta?"

Dani asks how Greta is and is told that Iolo has taken her out for some fresh air;  Lleucu will be babysitting her later.   “Isn’t she in school?” enquires Dani.

"I know you didn't mean to upset her"

Lleucu knows that she did not mean to upset Greta, but then Dani asks, “What about Iolo and your father?”   

"At least, he didn't call the cops"

Lleucu explains that at least he did not call the cops;  “He was going to call the cops?   

"Perhaps he should – and social services!"

“Well, perhaps he should – and social services – I’m a terrible mother!” groans Dani and immediately walks away.

"Don't take it personally – she's all right"

Colin has come out of the shop and tries to console Lleucu, “Don’t take it personally – she’s all right.”   

"Of course she's not all right!"

Lleucu loudly protests that of course she is not 

Colin is very concerned

and also walks away.

Sioned is back at APD

Sioned is back at APD again, this time bringing Mathew a cake of some sort;  “I know chocolate is your favourite, but they only had jam.”   

"What's the matter, Math?"

He thanks her, but without any enthusiasm, so she realises that something is amiss.

Then Sioned hears Howard outside, presumably constructing his project during working hours.   

"Why don't you ask him?"

“He’s making a present for someone – why don’t you ask him?”   

"What are you whispering about?"

Very conveniently, Howard is just walking in and demands what they are whispering about.

“Are you making a present?” Sioned wants to know, 

"Is it for this girl you like?"

“Is it for this girl you like?”   

"It's nothing"

Very embarrassed, Howard simply describes it as nothing, but she goes on, “Come on, you can tell us – we’re all friends.”

"When you couldn't see us – how did that make you feel?"

Lleucu arrives home at Y Felin and her father demands why she is not at school;  she sits down and closes his laptop.   “Tell me something – when you couldn’t see me and Twm, how did that make you feel?   Because you weren’t with us?”   

"You know perfectly well I felt terrible"

He replies that she knows perfectly well that he felt terrible.

"You tried to kill yourself, Dad!"

“You tried to kill yourself, Dad!” she exclaims, “How do you think Dani feels?”   

"She threatened a child!"

Cai knows what she is getting at, but points out that she threatened a child.   

"Dani could have lost Gabriel and Gwern"

“But if you had called the police, Dani could have lost Gabriel and Gwern.”

"She's not fit to look after children"

“She’s not fit to look after children,” is Cai’s evaluation 

"And neither are you!"

and his daughter replies that neither is he, as a result of which he storms off upstairs.

"How are things at Penrhewl?"

In the deli, as Greta is absorbed in her computer game, Iolo asks Mathew, “How are things at Penrhewl?   Is the boiler still going?”   Mathew answers that it is – just about.   

"And the 'menage a trois'?"

“And the ‘menage a trois’,” Iolo sarcastically adds, as he studies his phone.

Lleucu arrives

He announces to Greta, as Lleucu comes in, “Right, Grets, Dad’s got a job so Lleucu is going to look after you.”   

"Give mea shout if you need anything"

Then he tells her, “Just give me a shout if you need anything – I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

"That's a cool game"

Lleucu sits down with Greta and admires the game that she is playing;  

"I don't want to spoil your treat"

at that moment, Dani comes in and approaches Greta.   “I’m not staying – I don’t want to spoil your treat.”

"Why don't you join us, Dani"

Lleucu seizes the opportunity for some peacemaking;  “Dani, I was about to order a cake for Greta and me – if you want one, too?”   

"I like cakes!"

Greta confirms that she likes cake and Dani is invited to join them.

"What about Iolo?"

“What about Iolo?” asks Dani, aware that he would not approve, 

"He won't be back for a while"

but is told that he will not be back for a while. 

Sioned is going somewhere

Sioned is ready to go out when Matthew returns to Penrhewl;  

"Where are you off to?"

he wonders where she is going and she enquires where Howard is.   He says that he has no idea and she continues that DJ has the babies, 

"I'm taking Howard out"

so she is taking Howard out for a couple of drinks to give him tips for the girl he likes.   Mathew is understandably rather deflated to hear this.

"Where's this delivery, then?"

Howard comes in, demanding where the delivery is, as there is nothing in the yard.   

"I'm the delivery"

“I’m the delivery – we’re going out for a couple of drinks,” she informs him and he wants to know why.   

"A crash course on asking this girl out"

“A crash course on asking this girl out,” she tells him, “Come on, are we going or what?   You can get changed first.”

"I have a few things to do first"

Then she invites Mathew to join them later, although he maintains that he has a few things to do first.   Sioned suspects that she may well be fed up with Howard’s company by then.   When she leaves the room, Matthew looks rather downcast. 

"I'm sorry for what I did yesterday"

Dani has joined them in the deli and is speaking to Greta;  “Auntie Dani has something to tell you – I’m sorry for what I did to you yesterday.   You were wearing Seren’s coat and I was sad because Seren isn’t here any more, is she?”   

Greta shakes her head

Greta shakes her head.   Dani continues, “But that’s not your fault – so I’m sorry.”  

Iolo is back unexpectedly

Iolo comes into the deli after completing his job and does not like what he is seeing;  

"I think you should go, Dani"

“I think you should go, Dani,” he snarls.   She points out that she was just saying sorry, but that makes no difference, he still wants her to go, now, 

"Enjoy your cake"

so she tells Greta to enjoy her cake and leaves.

"How could you?"

“How could you?” he demands of Lleucu, 

Lleucu also leaves

so she follows Dani out of the door, 

Greta says that she is OK

while Greta confirms to her father that she is OK.

"Where has Mathew got to?"

In the Deri, Sioned and Howard are making small talk and she advises, “If you do get a date with this girl, don’t talk about manure.   It’s fine with me, we’re friends.”   She wonders where Matthew has got to, as she thought that he was joining them for a drink.

He said he has a lot on

Howard replies that he texted, telling them to enjoy themselves – he has got a lot on.   

"You two look cosy"

 Cai happens to be passing and wonders what is going on there, as they look cosy.   

"What's that to you?"

Sioned demands, “What’s that to you?” and he says that he was just rather surprised, 

"Fair play to you, Howard"

wishing fair play to Howard, who immediately gets up and storms out of the pub, ignoring Sioned’s entreaties to sit down. 

"Did you have to?"

She confronts Cai, snarling, “Did you have to?” and also walks out.   Cai wonders what is wrong with people today, maintaining that it was only a joke.

Iolo is obviously in a bad mood

Lleucu is back at Y Felin, where Iolo is sitting angrily on the sofa;  he reports that Greta is upstairs 

"Sorry about earlier"

and Lleucu apologises about earlier.   

"You had no right!"

“You had no right!” Iolo growls.   Lleucu just thought it would help Greta to see Dani, but Iolo insists that he is Greta’s father, so he decides what is best for her.

"What's wrong now?"

Cai comes in, appearing quite unsteady in his feet, and demands what is wrong now.   

"She let Dani see Greta"

“She let Dani see Greta,” Iolo answers.

'When are you going to learn?"

“When are you going to learn not to interfere in things you don’t understand?” asks Cai. 

Lleucu stresses that she understands very clearly;  

"Dani needs support, not this!"

they do not see how much Dani is struggling – she is drinking during the day and she cannot cope;  “She needs support, not this!”   

"She was drinking yesterday?"

Iolo is outraged that she was drinking yesterday, 

Iolo rushes out of the house

picks up his coat and leaves the house.

"Say something, Howard"

Sioned has followed Howard all the way back to Penrhewl and begs him to say something.   “There’s nothing to say, is there?”   She points out that Cai was out of order and is always like that.   “But he’s right – 

"Who would go on a date with someone like me?"

“who would go on a date with someone like me?”

“Plenty of people!” she furiously replies, “You’ve done nothing but support me lately – you’ve helped me on the farm, helped me with the little ones when I was struggling.   

"You're fab – and I mean that!"

“You’re fab – and I mean that!”

"You bring out the best in me!"

He insists that is because of her;  “You bring out the best in me – you’ve changed me!”   

"I'm glad I've done something right"

She is glad she has done something right, as she grasps his arm, just as Mathew walks in, looking disheartened.

"Howard said you were busy"

“It’s shame you couldn’t meet us in the Deri – Howard said you were busy,” Sioned tells him and he says that he is sorry.   

"How did it go, then?"

When she leaves the room, Mathew asks how it went.

Howard is quick to change the subject

“Give me the keys to APD, will you?   I’ve got things to do,” is the only answer he receives from Howard.   However, Matthew does not have them and must have left them in the van.   Howard is sure that he will find his keys somewhere.

"Gwern is having a nap"

Dani is at the MFC flat and asks Colin where the children are;  “Gwern is out kicking a ball and Gabriel is having a nap,” he replies, then adds, “How much have you had, love?   I can smell it on you now.”   

"You can't keep my children"

She insists that he cannot keep her children and he assures her that they have no intention of doing that.

"Perhaps you would like a bit more time"

“But perhaps you would like a bit more time,” he suggests.   

"Gabriel won't sleep tonight"

Dani points out that if Gabriel is sleeping now, he will not sleep tonight.   

"We'll wake him and you can stay for dinner"

Colin’s next proposal is that they should wake him and she can stay for dinner with them before a bath – he advises that it is spag bol tonight.

"I don't want him to see me like this"

“I don’t want him to see me like this,” she wails and Colin tell her that she is doing well.   “I’m not,” she sobs, 

"You just need to keep the faith"

as he maintains that she just needs to keep the faith now.   He says that Gabriel is a real character – she is doing such a good job with him.

"Tell him that Mam loves him"

“Tell him that Mam loves him, OK?   And Gwern, too.”   

"They talk about you all the time"

Colin says that they are told that all the time and they talk about her all the time.   

Colin is even more anxious

She agrees and goes staggering back home, while Colin looks even more anxious.

Howard is working in APD . . .

In the darkness at APD, Howard is chiselling away at a piece of timber 

. . . on a home-made plaque

which he has inscribed with the words ‘🩶 Sioned Jac and Lili 🩶’.

"DJ must have let them have a late nap"

Mathew sits on the sofa at Penrhewl, looking at his phone.   Sioned comes into the room and he asks if the twins have settled.   She is convinced that DJ let them have a late nap;  

"How many times do I her to tell him?"

“I don’t know how many times I have to tell him!   I’m going to make a toastie – do you want one?” 

"Howard was too stingy to buy in the Deri, was he?"

He turns down the offer, commenting, “Howard was too stingy to buy in the Deri, was he?”   

"I had things to do"

She asks why he was so busy and he says that he had things to do, sorting the paperwork for APD, payments and things.

"I didn't want to crèche your date with Howard"

He adds, “It’s lucky I wasn’t there – I didn’t want to crash your date with Howard.”   

"It wasn't a date . . ."

Sioned insists that it was not a date;  she thinks the world of Howard and does not know how she would have coped without him – he is great with Jac and Lili, so natural 

". . . so no!"

and she is very lucky to have him – but no.

"So it wasn't a date?"

This causes Mathew’s hopes to be raised;  “So no, it wasn’t a date?”   

"Would it matter if it was?"

She confirms that it was not, “But if it was a date, would it matter?”

"Yes!"

“Yes,” he says and walks towards her;  

He kisses Sioned 

they inevitably kiss.

Dani is drinking again

Dani is drinking again at Maes-y-Deri and there is another knock at the door;  she wonders whether to answer it this time, 

The knocking continues

but the knocking continues and Iolo is calling her name.   She lets him in and apologises to him.   

"You need  help, Dan!"

“No, you need help, Dan.   Lleucu said you’re drinking during the day – and you were drinking yesterday, weren’t you?”

"I'm an awful mother!"

Dani whines that she cannot cope, she is exhausted and she is an awful mother.   

"No, you're not, Dani . . ."

Iolo tries to convince her otherwise;  

". . . tha Dani I know would never do that

“The Dani I know would never scare a child like that – no, she wouldn’t, OK?   I know that – but it’s happened.”

"I'm going to lose Gabs, aren't I?"

“I’m going to lose Gabs, aren’t I?” she wails;  Iolo is adamant that she will not – 

"You can't drown your problems like this!"

but she cannot drown her problems like this.   

"Her you got Diazepam instead?"

She drunkenly demands, “Have you got diazepam instead?” and laughs, which shocks him.

Iolo gets up

He gets up, as she tells him, 

"You're just like Cai!"

“You say you’re not, but you’re just like Cai.”

"Sober up, Dani!"

He tells her to sober up;  “I can’t imagine what you’re going through at the moment.”   

"I want you to leave now'

She agrees that he cannot and wants him to leave now, 

"I'm not going anywhere"

but he does not want to do that.   

She pushes him toward the door . . .

She staggers to her feet, wanting to get rid of him and pushes him towards the door, 

. . . and slams it behind him

slamming it behind him.