24 April 2025

"The last few weeks have been a nightmare"

“Before you say anything,” Jinx begins, the next day, “The last few weeks have been a nightmare for us all.   I know I haven’t dealt with things in the best way, but . . .”

"You were supposed to stay with me"

Ffion demands, “Where have you been?   You were supposed to stay with me – that’s what the doctor said.”   He reminds her that Arwen was there with her, also that she sent him away yesterday – about Mark and the police, but she seems unable to remember that.

"Why am I like this?"

“Why am I like this?” she wails and he replies that she has had a serious injury and will not get better overnight.   

"It's going to take time, Ffion"

She has only just got home and it is going to take time.   Ffion wonders how long that will be.

"I've arranged for someone to sit with you"

Jinx has arranged for someone to come and sit with her today;  

"You make me sound like a dog!"

“Sit with me?” she says with distaste, “You make me sound like a dog!”   At that moment there is a knock at the door and the person in question arrives – 

"Not her!"

in the form of the 80-year-old Megan;  the first time we have seen her since her birthday in October..

Ffion is far from pleased

Ffion is absolutely horrified, but Jinx thanks her for coming.   

"I've come to spend the afternoon with you"

“How are you, Ffion?” she asks, “I’ve come to spend the afternoon with you.”   

Ffion glowers at Jinx

Ffion looks disparagingly at Jinx.

"Americano with no milk, please"

Hywel comes into the deli where he asks Eileen for an Americano with no milk and she wonders if that is all he wants;  

"Isn't Cassie joining you today?"

“Isn’t Cassie joining you today?” she asks 

"She's gone away with Kath"

and is told that she has gone away with Kath.   

"Oh, that's a shame"

“Oh, that’s a shame,” Eileen commiserates.

"Do you have time for a chat?"

Then Malcolm Edwards comes in;  he says that he was passing and wonders if Eileen has time for a chat.   

"I'm sure I can work and talk"

She is sure that she can work and talk at the same time.   He announces that he has some good news for her;  

"Quantum Hydro Works are keen to proceed"

“Quantum Hydro Works are very keen to proceed with buying Penrhewl.”

"Half of Penrhewl!"

She points out to him, “Half of Penrhewl!”   He continues that they are so keen that they want to offer her an exclusivity agreement – an understanding that guarantees them the right to buy..

"I've already agreed to sell"

Eileen reminds him that she has already agreed to sell to them, 

"A little more money in your pocket"

but he maintains that this way she will get a little bit more money in her pocket while she is waiting for the full contract.   Of course, the prospect of more money is very attractive to Eileen and she enquires how much this would be.

"It's a generous offer – £5,000"

“It’s a generous offer – £5,000 – when the official contract arrives, you’ll still be getting a very good deal;  a fair price — and access to the Deri Lakes leisure facilities for life.   Obviously, Hywel has had a hand in all this as he is listening carefully, as Malcolm goes on, “Little Stewie will love it.”

She corrects him, “Huwi, not Stewie!” but he continues that all she – and Sioned – have to do is to sign the exclusivity agreement.

"Perhaps I should ask for more than £5,000"

Eileen can see another opportunity here and suggests, “If things are that easy, perhaps I should ask for more than £5,000.”   Malcolm would not advise that, but she snarls, “Why not?   They are obviously desperate for that land.”

"They might build on someone else's land"

He advises her that if she pushes them too far, they might withdraw the offer and build the visitor centre on someone else’s land, 

He exchanges glances . . .

then turns to glance 

. . . with Hywel 

at Hywel for his approval.

Dani leaves a message for Sioned;  “I’m in the Deri – I’ll see you in a bit.”   

Dani takes her orange juice . . .

She picks up her glass of orange juice from the bar and takes it to a table, 

. . . and considers topping it up . . .

then surreptitiously takes out a vodka bottle from her bag, debating with herself whether to add some to the orange juice.   

. . . but decides against it

Her decision is not to do so.

Megan has dropped off . . .

At Deri Fawr, Megan has fallen asleep in the armchair and Ffion is looking even more depressed;  

. . . but all too soon awakens

suddenly Megan wakes up apologises for dropping off.   “Did you know that Brynmor has left?   He and Kath have separated – and Eleri has followed him as well – but there we are – no great loss.   She was a strange woman.   

"Why don't we read 'How to Tame a Spider?"

“Right, then, why don’t we read ‘Sut I Ddofi Corryn’ [‘How To Tame A Spider’, the title of a book by Mari George, a novel in the Welsh language] together?”

"Stuff your novel!"

This is the last straw for Ffion;  “Stuff your novel!” she snaps, “And stuff your company!   I’d be better off alone!”   

"That's the illness talking"

Megan maintains that it is the illness talking, but Ffion insists, “I’m not ill – I just don’t want you here – 

"You can leave – you and your novel!"

“so you can leave – you and your novel.”   

Megan feels rejected

Megan has choice but to pick up her bag and leave without another word.

"Everything appears to be in order"

Back at the farmhouse, Sioned has looked through this agreement and everything appears to be in order.   

"Why don't you take Mr Edwards' word for it?"

“I don’t understand why you won’t take Mr Edwards’ word for it,” says her mother.

"Well, he said you wouldn't go to prison"

“Well, he said you wouldn’t go to prison – and look what happened,” is Sioned’s reply, but Eileen maintains that Mr Edwards was not to blame;  perhaps she did not listen.

Sioned is adamant that she is not signing anything which she has not read 

"I like a thorough woman"

and Malcolm describes her as a thorough woman, which he likes.   

"When can we expect this £5,000?"

“When can we expect this extra £5,000?” Sioned enquires and is told that it should be in the bank account by next weekend.   He is anxious that she should sign;  she agrees, so he hands her his pen, 

Is he not unnecessarily close?

and cosies up unnaturally close to her.

However, at that moment Dani comes in, complaining, “I thought we were having lunch,” then sees Malcolm.   

"Leave her alone!"

“Leave her alone!” she orders.

Eleri phones from Italy

As Hywel comes out of the shop, he is speaking on the phone, “There was me thinking you were phoning to thank me for rescuing the Penrhewl sale.   I haven’t started officially yet, Eleri, don’t worry about that, but while I’m speaking to you, 

"Can you tell me where my office will be?"

“can you tell me where my office will be?”   It appears to be not exactly what he was hoping for 

"Where?   But that place is . . ."

and he exclaims, “Where?   But that place is . . .”   She has already abruptly ended the call.

He turns and sees Jinx approaching, asking how Ffion is doing;  

"You don't want to know"

“You don’t want to know,” Jinx groans 

"I don't expect she's the best patient in the world"

and Hywel can imagine that she is not the best patient in the world.

“She’s got an awful temper – long story,” Jinx says, but Hywel wants to know.   

Then his phone rings again

Just then his phone sounds again and he says that they will have to chat another time.  “Hello, have you forgotten something?” Hywel asks

Megan in upset

Megan emerges from the alley, apparently in tears, 

"What's wrong, Megan?"

so Jinx asks what is wrong;  

She does not immediately answer

she is reluctant to tell him.

"He was touching you!"

There are fireworks at Penrhewl;  “I know what I saw – he was touching you!” shrieks Dani, “Please don’t defend him.”   Sioned explains that he was just showing her where to sign the document, 

"It's an excuse to get his hands on you!"

but Dani is convinced, “It’s an excuse to get his hands on you!”

"You've misunderstood, Dani!"

Eileen says that she has misunderstood, 

"You don't like the truth, do you?"

so Dani goes on, “Oh, yeah, I forgot – you don’t like the truth, do you?”

Malcolm starts throwing his weight about

Malcolm pipes up, “Don’t forget I’m a solicitor and there’s a law against slander!”   Dani walks straight out again, 

"She's been though a lot recently"

with Eileen apologising for her, as she has been through a lot recently.

“I know from experience what effect that can have on someone,” Eileen adds.   

"I'm going to make sure Dani's all right"

Sioned asks her mother to look after the children while she goes after Dani, to make sure she is all right.

Eileen maintains that her head is all over the place, so Sioned will not get any sense out of her.   

Now Malcolm is worried

Malcolm Edwards looks rather disconcerted.

Dani goes straight back to Maes-y-Deri . . .

Dani arrives back at Maes-y-Deri in a very flustered state;  she does not know what to do 

. . . where she again turns to the vodka

so gets out her bottle of vodka and pours some into a glass.   

There is the sound to Sioned's voice

As she takes her first sip, there is a knock at the door and the sound of Sioned’s voice;  “Dani, it’s me – I just want to check you’re OK.”

She wonders whether to answer the door

Dani decides that she will open the door;  

"What happened?"

“Are you all right?   What happened?”   

"Why are you drinking?"

Then Sioned notices the bottle on the table and wants to know why Dani is drinking.

"It helps – do you want some?"

“It helps – do you want some?” she replies;  Sioned does not, but does want to know what happened and why she was so upset at seeing Malcolm.   There is no immediate answer.

"I've just seen Megan . . ."

Jinx arrives back at Deri Fawr and declares, “I’ve just seen Megan.”   Ffion wonders whether she was still waffling.   “What did you say to her?   

". . . I've never seen her so upset"

“I’ve never seen her so upset!” Jinx goes on.   Ffion says that she cannot remember, but he tells her, “You’ll have to do better than that.”

"She wouldn't shut up – got on my nerves!"

“She wouldn’t shut up – she kept talking rubbish – got on my nerves!”   

"You can't just fall out with everyone"

Jinx points out that she cannot just fall out with everyone – him last night, Megan today.   

"I wouldn't, if you didn't make stupid decisions"

“I wouldn’t fall out with anyone if you didn’t make stupid decisions,” she tells him.

He reminds her, “You’ve always got on well with Megan – you’re both from North Wales.”   

"And that's where the similarities end"

In Ffion’s opinion, that is where the similarities end;  she insists that she wants someone her own age, someone who understands how she feels.   

"We shall have to make a list, then . . ."

Jinx considers that they will have to make a list in that case, 

". . . unless you have a better idea"

unless she has a better idea.

Dani pours some more

Dani takes another swig of vodka 

"Did you report him?"

and Sioned asks whether she reported Malcolm;  “He was the boss – who was going to believe me?”   

"He gave me money to keep quiet"

Sioned maintains that it is not too late and Dani reveals that he gave her money to keep quiet;  “I know it was a mistake – and I’m kicking myself now, so . . .”

"Drinking isn't going to help you"

Sioned warns her, “Whatever happened, drinking isn’t going to help you.”   

"You think I led him on"

Dani imagines that Sioned does not believe her, thinking that she led him on.   

"That's not what I'm saying"

“That’s not what I’m saying – I want to understand what happened,’ Sioned insists.

"I warned your mother about him . . ."

“If you don’t believe me, ask your mother – I warned her about him before the court case.”   Sioned is amazed that her mother still used him;  

". . . that's why I'm glad she got six months!"

“That’s why I’m glad she got six months!” snarls Dani, 

"It's what she deserved!"

“It’s what she deserved, really, for using that pervert.”   Sioned walks out of the house without another word.

Apparently this is to be his palatial office

Hywel is standing in Megan’s shop, looking around and she wonders whether he is looking for something specific.   

"Just having a look, Megan"

He replies that he is just having a look, as it is important to support a local business, especially when he lives next door.

"You're looking for a special present – for Cassie?"

“I know exactly what you’re doing,” she says, “You’re looking for a special present for someone, aren’t you?   Cassie?”   

"You've heard the gossip, then?"

He realises that Megan, as well as everyone else, has heard the gossip.

"I want a word with you . . ."

Eileen is cleaning the tables in the deli when Sioned comes in, wanting a word with her mother;  

". . . Dani, Malcolm, selling Penrhewl"

“Dani – Malcolm – selling Penrhewl.”   

"I don't care who hears"

Eileen suggests that they go into the kitchen, but Sioned says that she does not care who hears.

"You've obviously got something to hide"

In the kitchen, Sioned can see that her mother obviously has something to hide if she does not want people to hear;  “Is what Dani said true?   You knew that pig Malcolm had touched her.”   

"Dani doesn't have shred of evidence"

Eileen maintains that Dani does not have a shred of evidence;  it is simply her word against his – and she knows who everyone would believe.

"Well, I know who I believe!"

“Well, I know who I believe – right?” snarls Sioned, “Where’s that contract?   I’m going to rip it up and find a new solicitor.”   

"Malcolm has already returned it"

She is told that she is too late, as Malcolm has already returned it.

"I'll go to Quantum Hydro Works, then!"

“I’ll go to Quantum Hydro Works then and explain what’s happened!” Sioned says, 

"Things like this happen every day, Sioned!"

but her mother tells her to stop, as things like this happen every day.   

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Sioned wonders whatever that is supposed to mean.

"Did anyone see you come in?"

Now Malcolm is visiting Hywel;  “I’ve brought the exclusivity agreement for Penrhewl over,” he says.   Hywel is anxious that no one saw him bringing it to the house.   

"I hope you're not ashamed to be seen with me"

“I hope you’re not ashamed to be seen with me,” Malcolm adds, “Because we have an understanding, after all.”

"So that's why you're here"

Hywel realises that is why he is there 

Another brown envelope changes hands

and has the money all ready, handing him another one of those brown envelopes.   

"Pleasure doing business with you"

Malcolm comments that it is a pleasure doing business with him, 

"Thanks for getting then signed so quickly"

and Hywel is grateful to him for getting the documents signed so quickly.

Malcolm smiles, “You’ll get a gold star from the new boss now – and a nice little bonus.   “If you ever want another favour . . .”   Hywel maintains that this is just one small job.   

"Business is always more than just one job"

“Business is always more than just one job – you’ll learn that,” Malcolm cautions him.   Hywel considers that it is time he left and warns him not to tell anyone about this.

Malcolm boasts that he is like the bank – that is why he has had such a successful career.   “Up until now, perhaps,” Hywel casually mentions, 

"Listen – if you cross me . . ."

“But, listen – if you cross me, you’ll find how quickly that can change.   Bye.”

Sioned comes into the shop . . .

Sioned comes into the shop, 

. . . where Dani is waiting for some service

where she finds Dani already there and no-one behind the counter;  “Does anyone work here or what?” says Dani and it is imagined that Llinos should be around somewhere.

"Are you all right, Dani?"

“Are you all right, after earlier?” Sioned asks.   

"I heard that Mathew is back"

Dani has heard that Matthew is back living with her, after things were on the rocks – a little bird told her.   

"Friends and nothing more"

Sioned confirms that they are just friends and nothing more.

“Does this shop want my money or what?” Dani demands, 

"I don't think that's a good idea"

so Sioned goes behind the counter to serve her.   “A bottle of white wine – any one,” but Sioned does not think that is a good idea.

"To have with my dinner"

“To have with my dinner – what’s the problem?” Dani demands.   As a friend, Sioned advises that this is not the way to cope with things.   “You don’t know anything, Sioned!” Dani replies

"It was drugs with me"

“I do – it was drugs with me – I thought it would make things better, but it made everything worse.”   Dani protests that she wants wine, not counselling.   

"I'll find it somewhere else, then"

If she is not going to be served, she will find it somewhere else.

Jinx brings Ffion a cup of tea

Jinx brings Ffion a cup of tea and suggests Sioned;  “She’s too busy with the children.”   

"How about Eileen?"

When he suggests Eileen, 

"She's worse than Megan!"

Ffion regards her as even worse than Megan, although Jinx points out that she makes good food.

“I’d rather starve!” declares Ffion.   

"You've had a few of them"

The next suggestion, Rhys, is dismissed as he is an ex;  Jinx remarks that she has a few of those, then reels off Kath, Cassie and Diane.   He can see that Ffion is becoming upset and asks what is wrong.

"Will you please come back here to live?"

“I’m not forgiving you, but will you please come back here to live?   I need you here at the moment.”   

"I can't be here round the clock"

He agrees to this, but stresses that they will have to ask people to come over, as she cannot be there around the clock.

"I'm never going to be able to remember everything, am I?"

“I don’t want people who think of me as someone who is ill – someone who’s not fit to be on her own.   I’m never going to remember everything, am I?   I don’t remember the argument you said we had yesterday – 

"And that's what frightens me, Jinx"

“and that frightens me, Jinx, more than anything

"Are Jac and Lili all right?"

Sioned goes to the shop flat, where her mother is seasoning the meal;  “What do you want?   Are Jac and Lili all right?” asks Eileen.   Sioned reports that Diane is babysitting.

"What I want is a few answers"

“What I want is a few answers,” says Sioned, but her mother has nothing else to say about Malcolm.   “Did he attack you as well?” Sioned demands, “And you’re still using him because you’re scared of him?”

"Where is all this coming from?"

Eileen wants to know where all of this is coming from;  “You said what happened to Dani happens every day,” Sioned exclaims and Eileen stresses that it does – but Malcolm has not laid a finger on her.

Sioned can see that someone has, but she is told to go home;   when Sioned continues to demand who it was, 

"It was John Deri Fawr – years ago now!"

Eileen shouts, “John Deri Fawr!   It was years ago now.”

"And you didn't do anything about it?"

Sioned realises that her mother did not do anything about it, despite everything she had taught her daughter.   

"It was complicated . . ."

Eileen maintains that it was a complicated situation and sometimes you have to do what is best at the time.   

". . . and I don't want to discuss it"

She does not want to discuss it any further, 

"You can't ignore something like that"

but is told that she cannot ignore something like that.

"Just go home, Sioned, please"

“Just go home, Sioned, please!” 

Sioned follows her instruction

and Sioned does so.