27 March 2025

"Cone in, Siôn"

Gaynor opens the door of Llwyncelyn to admit Siôn;  

"Cai is finding it difficult"

“Sorry to disturb you,” he says and she asks how Cai is settling in at the hospital.   “He’s finding it difficult, but it is still early days.”

"I imagine the school is in chaos"

She imagines that the school is in chaos without Cai and Ffion;  

"I know a safe pair of hands"

he replies that he knows a safe pair of hands who could steer the ship through this storm.   Gaynor cannot believe that he is serious, but he maintains that it is not a crazy idea;  

"I don't think Tom would be very happy"

“No, I don’t think Tom would be very happy,” she answers, but he insists that it is nothing to do with Tom.

"I'd never see him"

“Well, no – but he works a lot of nights, so I’d never see him,” she argues.   

"Did he pass on my message?"

Siôn enquires whether Tom passed the message on that he wanted a word with her;  it transpires that he did not and Gaynor thinks that he must have forgotten.   

"The answer is no, when it comes to school"

“Sorry, but the answer is no when it comes to the school,” she informs Siôn.

Now he says that he did not want to talk about school, anyway;  

"I need your help to stop the dam"

“I need your help, Gaynor, to stop the plans for the dam.”

They are still 'at it' . . .

Mathew and Sioned are still sitting on the swing, kissing, when Howard appears in the background and, as might be expected, is not particularly pleased.   

. . . when Howard passes

“You were supposed to help me with that swing, not help yourself!” he shouts.

"I saw the swing by accident"

Sioned says that she saw the swing by accident, 

"Did you fall into his arms by accident?"

so Howard continues, “Did you fall into his arms by accident?” and she wonders why he is shouting.   He looks at Mathew and snarls, “You’ve been laughing at me!”

"I didn't want you to find out like this"

Mathew did not want him to find out like this, but Howard rages, “The whole time, you and her have been carrying on behind my back!”   Mathew protests that is not true, but, 

"Traitor!"

snarling the single word, “Traitor!” Howard turns and walks away.

"I just want to know if you hear anything"

Siôn explains, “I’m not asking you to do anything illegal – I just want you to let me know if you hear about any developments.”   Gaynor replies that she cannot do that, so he goes on, “Surely you’re not in favour of these plans?”

"No, but Tom works there"

“No, but Tom works there,” she says;  Siôn maintains that does not matter, 

Tom is eavesdropping

but what they do not know is that Tom is listening to this conversation from just inside the back door.

“He’s just a sub-contractor,” Siôn goes on, 

"Quantum Hydro Works are the enemy!"

“Quantum Hydro Works are the enemy!   I’m just trying to protect the community – I know you – you would never agree with something so immoral – 

"Please, Gaynor"

“please, Gaynor.”

"Siôn, how are you?"

Tom considers that now is the moment to make his entrance;  “Siôn, how are you?” he says, “Don’t tell me the readers of Cwm Ni have demanded another interview!”   

"I was just leaving"

Siôn replies that he was just leaving, 

"I only came home for lunch"

but Tom comments that he only came home for lunch;  

"Well, I hope you enjoy it"

Siôn hopes that they enjoy it.

Gaynor is anxious

Gaynor looks anxious 

"What did he want?"

as he asks what Siôn wanted;  “He was just asking if I was interested in being a temporary headteacher at the school – 

"Don't worry, I said no"

“don’t worry, I said no.”

He is pleased to hear it, wondering, “What has he got to do with the school?”   She says that it was just an idea, nothing more;  now she must get back to work at the pharmacy.

"There are some big machines arriving"

Tom announces that he might be late tonight;  “There are some big machines arriving at the site – things are moving forward at last.   

Just the information Siôn was to know

“There will be no turning back after that.   

"I'd better get back"

“In fact, I’d better get back – they will be arriving soon.”

Eileen wants to talk to Siôn about something

Eileen comes out of the door of the shop flat and is greeted by Siôn who says he has just visited Gaynor.   

"Iolo's agreed to meet that Alex again!"

“Can you believe that Iolo’s agreed to meet that Alex again?   After everything – and he’s taking Greta with him.”

"Siôn, I wanted to discuss . . ."

Eileen also has something she wants to discuss with him, 

He has an interesting message

but he appears to have just received a message on his phone.   “I’ve had a letter from the company about Penrhewl,” she says, but he is far more interested in the message he has read.   

"Gaynor – you're a star!?

“Gaynor – you’re a star!   

"I have to go – to fight for the valley's future!"

Right, I have to go,” he tells Eileen, “To fight for the valley’s future!   There are big plans today.”

"But . . ."

She would like to talk about her letter before she picks up Lili, but he simply kisses her and hurries away, assuring her that he will phone when he is free, 

"To battle!"

then heads off, declaring, “To battle!”

"Sorry I'm late, Elinor"

Meanwhile Eileen walks along the back street, phoning Elinor to apologise for her lateness;  “I’ll be over now – 

"What – DJ?"

“What – DJ?”

"There's no ned to lie"

“You’re too important to me!” stresses Sioned, but Howard tells her that there is no need for her to lie.   “I’m not – 

"I wouldn't have coped without you"

“I wouldn’t have coped without you these last few months,” she insists, “Both of you – we’re a team.”

"You two are, perhaps!"

“You two are, perhaps!” Howard sneers, but she is adamant that he is included.

"And I love the swing – honestly"

“And I love the swing – honestly – especially the names that have been carved on it.   Jac and Lili will love it, too.”   Howard is angry that he should have been the one who showed it to her, emphasising that Mathew knew that, but did not care.

"We're friends . . ."

Sioned points out that Mathew did not do anything wrong;  “Howard, I think the world of you – but we’re friends – 

". . . and I hope we'll always be friends"

“and I hope we’ll always be friends.”   

He glares at Mathew 

He looks angrily at Mathew.

"I haven't seen him for some days"

Eileen rushes out of the alley and along the street;  at the door of the pharmacy, she asks Gaynor, “Have you seen DJ?” and hears that Gaynor has not seen him for some days.   

"He's taken Lili!"

“He’s taken Lili!” Eileen exclaims, “Elinor was babysitting and he took her before I got there.   “I was hoping somebody had seen him.”

Gaynor asks whether Sioned knows, but apparently she is not answering her phone.

Mark is roused from his after-lunch nap

Siôn’s next call is at Maes-y-Deri, where Mark is having a nap, but is woken by the loud banging on the door.

When he opens the door, Siôn demands, “Why did it take you so long?” 

"I was having a siesta"

and is told that Mark was having a siesta.

"Get your coat and come with me!"

“You’re not in Tenerife now – get your coat and come with me!” orders Siôn, “The machines are arriving to start work on the dam!”   Mark was under the impression that everything was on hold.   “I’ve received some information,” Siôn reveals, “It doesn’t matter from whom – 

Mark follows instructions

“just get your coat!”

"Do you want a cup of tea?"

“Do you want a cup of tea?   Or a glass of water?” asks Sioned, but Howard says nothing, simply glaring at Mathew.   

Eileen arrives

Suddenly the door opens and Eileen appears;  “Jac’s here?” she demands and Sioned confirms that of course he is, then realises that Lili is not with her mother.

"DJ has taken Lili!"

“DJ has taken her!   He picked her up from Elinor’s house – I was hoping she would be back with you!”   

    Sioned is heartbroken

Sioned’s heart sinks at this news.

"I need to get your brother . . ."

Meanwhile, DJ is in the van with Lili, outside the farmhouse;  “Dadi will only be two minutes – I need to get your brother, you see,” he says, with the rain pouring on the roof.   

". . . we're going away to start a new life together"

“We’re going away to start a new life together – what do you think about that?”

He looks around for any sign of movement, 

He gets out of the van

then leaves the van, while inside the farmhouse, 

"The police are with Elinor"

Mathew is demanding, “Has anyone phoned the police?”   He is told that they are with Elinor.

“When did this happen?” he shouts and Eileen is forced to admit that she was rather late picking her up.

"She could be anywhere by now!"

Sioned jumps up and screams that she could be anywhere by now, but she is told not to leave the house in case DJ comes back.   

"You go, then – we have to find her!"

“You have to go, then – to the village, to Dai and Diane’s house – anywhere!   We have to find her!” shouts Sioned.

"I'm fed up with being here!"

Howard will go with Eileen;  “I’m fed up with being here, anyway!” he snarls.   

"Just find Lili!"

Sioned yells at her mother to just find Lili and flings something across the room in her frustration.

They hurry from the farm . . . 

Outside, in the rain, Eileen and Howard set out on the search, 

. . . not noticing DJ or the APD van

but do not notice the hooded figure peering out from behind one of the barns.

"I don't think this is a good idea, Siôn!"

As Mark gets out of Siôn’s car, he is protesting that this is not a good idea;   Siôn is quite sure that the vehicles will come through the village and that they need to be seen.   “This is how we draw attention to the cause!” he points out.

"Come to the battle against injustice!"

The car has been left diagonally across the road to be sure of blocking traffic;  Siôn picks up his megaphone and starts shouting, “Come to the battle against injustice!” 

Mark displays 'Save the Valley'

while Mark deploys a placard reading ‘Save the Valley’.

“We’re here today to stop Quantum Hydro Works driving their vehicles through the village to Deri Fawr and starting the work that will destroy the community.   They think they could move their machines without anyone noticing – but that’s not going to happen, is it?”

A few onlookers have gathered . . .

This commotion has attracted some attention, 

. . . but Gaynor ignores them

but Gaynor, with her coffee from the deli, walks back to the pharmacy without taking any notice.   “We have a right to be heard!” 

"Spread the message through the whole of Wales!"

Siôn continues, at high volume, “And we are going to spread the message through the whole of Wales!”   By now at least one car is being held up, and a horn is sounded.

"Where is she, Math?"

At Penrhewl, Sioned sobs, “Where is she, Math?”   

"He won't have taken her far"

He is confident that DJ will not have taken her far.   “What sort of mother am I?   Lili isn’t a year old and this is the second time she’s been taken.”

"She'll be fine, Sioned"

Mathew tries to sound confident as he tells her, “She was fine last time and she’ll be fine this time.”   She replies that he does not know that.   He assures her that DJ will not hurt Lili.

"But she'll want me!"

“But she’ll want me,” Sioned groans, “And she’ll need food – it’s almost time for her next feed.”   Mathew is sure that she will be home by them, as he grasps Sioned’s hands.

"You're not helping, saying stuff like that"

She advises that he is not helping her by saying stuff like, so he does not know what to say;  “I just want her home!” Sioned wails.

A car alarm starts sounding

Then there is a sound of a car alarm going off outside, which startles them;  Sioned immediately suspects that it is DJ, so Mathew will go and confront him.   However, she stops him, insistent that she will go;  

"If it's him, I want to see him"

“If it’s him, I want to see him.”   

Mathew stays inside

Mathew will stay and keep an eye on Jac.

Siôn is still shouting in the middle of the High Street, “Save the valley!”  with several people having joined the protest, 

Tom is held up on his way to Llwyncelyn

when Tom arrives, striding past the Deri.   

"Here's the enemy now!"

“Oh, here’s the enemy now!” Siôn announces.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Tom demands what they think they are doing 

"Stopping the machines coming through the village!"

and is told that they are stopping Quantum Hydro Works’ machines from coming through the village.   

"Well, you look like fools, if you ask me"

“Well, you look like fools, if you ask me,” is Tom’s opinion.

“You’ll look like a fool when the media spread this message,” he is informed by Siôn.   

"When Angharad Mair questions you"

Britt warns that Tom will not be so smug when Angharad Mair questions him on the television, 

"Sian Cothi's from Lampeter, good boy!"

while Colin cautions him against crossing Sian Cothi – as she is from Lampeter.

"There bare no machines"

Tom deflates their arguments by advising there is no story here;  “There are no machines going to the site today.”

Mark shouts back, “You would say that, wouldn’t you?   As soon as we’re out of the way, they’ll move in!”   

"There is the timetable"

Tom takes out his iPad, showing them the timetables for today, tomorrow and next week;  there is no mention of any plans for machines coming to the site.   “Do you expect us to believe that’s the real one?” Mark demands.

“I’ve got better things to do with my time than create fake timetables,” says Tom, 

Now move that wreck of a car!"

“Now, move that wreck of a car that’s stopping me from getting home!   Or do I have to phone the police?”   

The wind has been taken out of Siôn's sails

Siôn has now gone very quiet.

Gaynor watches from a safe distance

As Tom returns to his car, Gaynor is watching covertly from inside the pharmacy.

When Siôn arrives home . . .

When they arrive back at Y Felin, with Mark commenting, “At least we’ll be ready for them next time,” 

. . . he has an unpleasant surprise

Siôn makes the troubling discovery that the house has been trashed, with the table overturned and various furniture scattered haphazardly across the room.

“What the hell?” exclaims Siôn 

"Iolo, Lleucu, are you home?"

and he checks upstairs to make sure that neither Iolo or Lleucu are there.   

"Iolo was meeting Alex"

“Lleucu was supposed to be out and Iolo was meeting Alex.”   

"Who's Alex?"

Mark does not know who Alex is, 

"You phone the police"

but Siôn tells him, “You phone the police and I’ll try Iolo.”

"Something smells nice"

Tom is cooking dinner when Gaynor returns home, remarking that something smells nice.   

"Lobscouse!"

He informs her that it is ‘Lobscouse’ [a classic Welsh stew made with lamb and vegetables] and when she thinks that it is rather early to prepare it, he continues, “We always made ‘Lobscouse’ beforehand, to give it time to absorb all the flavours.   I thought you’d still be at work.”

"DJ's taken one of the twins"

Gaynor explains that Maya came back earlier than expected and adds that DJ has taken one of the twins;   she has not heard whether they have caught him.

"It was busy in Cwmderi today"

“It was busy in Cwmderi today,” he comments and she asked how it went with the big machines, as she thought he would still be at work.   “They didn’t come,” he nonchalantly replies, “Plans change,” so she is about to go and have a bath.

"Did you tell Siôn the machines were coming?"

“Did you tell Siôn that the machines were coming to this site today?” he wants to know and she denies that she did.   

Fortunately the boiling Lobscouse misses Gaynor . . .

He furiously picks up the pan of ‘Lobscouse’ from the hob and hurls it in her direction.   Fortunately for her, his aim is not too good and it hits the bin instead, 

. . . but splatters everywhere else

scattering food up the door and all over the kitchen floor.

"Don't lie!"

“Don’t lie!” he shouts as he walks menacingly towards her;  

"I thought I could trust you!"

“You’ve hurt me, Gaynor.   I thought I could trust you!”   

"Yes, you can"

She rather timidly claims that he can, 

"Can I?"

but now he seriously doubts that.

"It won't happen again"

She promises that it will not happen again.   

Now she has seen the real Dave/Tom

He pushes past her, picks up his jacket and leaves the house.   

There is some cleaning-up to do

Gaynor is looking very frightened.

DJ creeps into the farmhouse

With Sioned outside, investigating the car alarm, the door of Penrhewl opens and DJ walks in.   

He walks towards his little son

He hears the sound of Jac in his cot and goes into the kitchen;  

"It's Dadi here"

“Hello, little Jac – it’s Dadi here.”

"Don't you dare!"

At that moment, Mathew comes into the room;  “Don’t you dare!” he snarls.   

"Jac is my son"

DJ reminds him that Jac is his son and Mathew continues, “Where’s Lili?   You can’t just take them, DJ!”

"You're not fit to be a father!"

“They’re my children, not yours!” is the angry reply, but Mathew tells him he is not fit to be a father.

"I should have reported you!"

“I should have reported you when you stole from APD!”   

DJ maintains that it is because of Matthew he had to start this drugs business – to pay back the debt to him.

“You had everything – they don’t want you now – you’re no better than Ioan!”   

"I'm going to look after them now"

Being compared with Ioan hits a nerve with DJ, but Mathew demands to be told where Lili is.   “I’m going to look after them now, do you understand?” he tells DJ.

DJ describes him as, “Just the lodger,” 

"I'm more than that to Sioned!"

but Mathew takes great delight in informing DJ that he is more than that to Sioned.

"So desperate, you want my kids!"

“That’s typical of you, coming here to get your feet under the table – you’re so desperate to be a father, you want my kids!” DJ sneers.

“I’ll make a better father than you – better than some drug dealer!” snarls Mathew 

DJ shoves him away

and is roughly pushed away by DJ.   

"Get out – no-one wants you here!"

Mathew is enraged and grabs him by the coat, warning him, “Get out – no-one wants you here!   

He is bundled out of the door

“You ruined everything when you stole from APD!   

"Now you're ruining everyone else's lives"

“Now you’re ruining everyone else’s lives by dealing drugs!”

DJ whines that he lost everything when Sioned threw him out of Penrhewl and everything he has done has been for Sioned and the children.   

DJ makes a break for it . . .

He escapes from the house and is hurrying across the farmyard towards the van 

. . . and Sioned catches sight of him

when Sioned spots him and runs after him.

"It's all right, Jac . . ."

Mathew returns to baby Jac, who is by this time crying, 

". . . don't cry"

and tries to comfort him, 

Mathew seems happy with his new rôle 

although he has little experience with babies.  

The van leaves the farmyard

The APD van is driving out of the farmyard

. . . and all Sioned can do is shout after DJ . . .

with Sioned in pursuit, 

. . . as the van disappears along the track . . .

but she is forced to watch the van disappearing along the track.   

. . . with DJ, in tears, at the wheel

DJ is in tears and Lili is crying loudly.   

Sioned is absolutely devastated

Sioned is absolutely devastated.