8 April 2025

Iolo doe snot answer the call from Alex

At Y Felin, Iolo is sitting at the bottom of the stairs, looking anxiously at his phone, as a phone call from Alex has just been announced.   

There is a knock at the door

There is a knock at the door, so he abandons the phone and goes to answer it.   

"Anita will have to cancel today"

It is Ieuan, bringing a message that Anita is not feeling too well, so they will have to cancel today. 

Iolo looks blankly at him

Iolo looks blankly at him, 

"You had forgotten the piano lesson"

so Ieuan explains, “The piano lesson – you had forgotten, had you?”   

"I'm so sorry!"

Iolo is in a state of panic and says how sorry he is.   Ieuan can see that there is something wrong;  

"You look as if if someone's stolen your best plunger!"

“You look as if someone’s stolen your best plunger!” he jokes.

“We’d only known each other for a couple of weeks – and the next minute she asked me to save her life!” Iolo blurts out.   Ieuan has no idea who he is talking about,

"Alex. my half-sister!"

 so he replies, “Alex – my sister, Alex – half-sister!”

"Someone's looking very smart"

Hywel is looking intently at his laptop when Cassie comes downstairs and comments, “Someone’s looking very smart this morning – I haven’t seen you wearing that before.   

"It's nice to have an empty house"

“It’s nice to have an empty house, isn’t it?    Perhaps we should make the most of the opportunity.”

He seems to be taking no notice, so she goes on, “I could put feathers in my hair and a tea towel around my waist.”   

He realises what she is saying

He suddenly realises what she is saying and looks up from the laptop.   “Look, I don’t have to go to work right this minute – perhaps we could have an hour of fun, if you like?”

"I've got an important meeting now"

“I’m sorry, Cassie, but I’ve got an important meeting now,” is his reply, 

"Enjoy yourself with your laptop"

so she tells him to enjoy himself with his laptop, picks up her coat and leaves the house.

"I want it tomorrow at the latest!"

Eleri’s face appears upon the screen, but she is speaking to someone on her phone;  “Marcello, I want it tomorrow at the latest!   And that’s non-negotiable” she says sternly, in English, then acknowledges that Hywel is watching.

"How are things going in Italy?"

He asks her, “How’s Brynmor?   How are things going in Italy?”   She points out that this is a business discussion and she has a lot to do today, 

"Let's get straight to the point"

so suggests they get straight to the point of this meeting.   

"Which is?"

He tells her that it would help if he knew what . . .

"I want to offer you a job"

“I want to offer you a job on behalf of Quantum Hydro Works – how does the title ‘Acting Director’ sound to you?”   

Hywel is somewhat taken aback

Hywel is dumbfounded to hear this.

Diane lounges on the sofa

Diane is lying on the sofa in Bryntirion, but gets up when she hears a knock at the door.   

"Anita has sent me to check on you"

 is Ieuan, who says, “Anita has sent me over to check on you.”   Diane assumes that she has been talking to Kelly.

"Kelly did mention something, yes"

She did mention something, yes,” he answers;  Diane points out that he can see that she is fine, but he wonders if she is sure of that.   She would appreciate it if people stopped interfering and instructs him to go.

"Sorry, I can't do that . . ."

“Sorry, I can’t do that, because Anita asked me not to leave you until I’m sure that you’re all right.   

". . . I'll put the kettle on, shall I?"

“I’ll put the kettle on, shall I?”

Alex catches up with Iolo

Madge and her husband are sitting outside The Pizza Place as Iolo walks along the back street;  he is dismayed to hear Alex’s voice calling his name.   

"I can't do this today, all right?"

“Look, I can’t do this today, all right?” he tells her.

"We have to talk, Iolo"

Alex insists that they have to talk;  “I’m sorry for pestering you – I know it’s a lot.”   He repeats that he told her he needs time to think.   

"Time isn't a luxury I have, is it?"

“Yes – but time isn’t a luxury I have, is it?   Is there somewhere we can go?”

"You're using me to get a kidney"

Iolo bursts out, “Why did you come looking for me, Alex?   I feel like you’re using me to get a kidney!   You wanting to find your family was a lie, wasn’t it?”

"You've been through a difficult time"

Ieuan has made the tea and sits opposite Diane;  “You’ve been through a difficult time,” he begins, but she does not want to talk about this now.   “I think that we do, he replies.

"You've got enough on your plate, Ieuan"

“You’ve got enough on my plate without having to worry about me,” she tells him.   Ieuan says that the fact Anita has problems does not mean that he cannot listen.

"I expected better from Jason"

“I expected better from Jason,” she sighs and he reminds her that children can disappoint their parents sometimes;  

"There may come a time when you can forgive him"

there may come a time when she can forgive him.   However, she is not sure about that.   Ieuan continues that no one blames her for what Jason did.

"This valley isn't what it was"

“But not everyone thinks the way you do,” is her response, “This valley isn’t what it was, Ieuan.”   He stresses that she cannot hide in the house for ever;  

"It's better than facing people"

“No – but for now it’s better than facing people who gossip and openly judge me.”

"You're stronger than this"

He urges that she is stronger than this and is the leader of the County Council;  “Yeah, well, that’s another thing  – 

"I want to step down from my rôle"

“I want to step down from my rôle as a councillor,” she informs him.

"You can't do that"

Ieuan cannot believe what he is hearing;  “You can’t do that – the place would be a mess without you.”   

"You're not going to change my mind"

She is adamant that he is not going to change her mind.   “You know what?   I’d prefer something else to this tea – shall we go to the Deri?”   

She definitely does not want to do that today, but he comes up with another of Anita’s instructions;  

"She told me to get you put of the house"

“She told me to get you out of the house!”

“And you do everything Anita tells you, do you?” she demands.  

"There's no point arguing with her"

He says that of course he does, and Diane knows as well as he does, that there is no point arguing with her.   

"I can't say no, can I?"

Diane comes to the conclusion that she cannot say no.

Eleri, in her usual abrasive manner, asks Hywel, “Are there any other questions?”   

"How about yes or no?"

He does not know what to say;  she suggests either yes or no.

He maintains that it would be an honour, so she promises to send the contract by the end of the day.   

"Can I have some time to think about it?"

“Listen, can I have some time to think about it?” he asks, but she cannot understand what there is to think about.

"What people round here are going to think"

“I’d like to weigh up what people around here are going to think,” he says and she can accept that it is a big step, but if it is too much . . .

"We need someone who has the guts to do the job"

“We need someone who has the guts to do the job,” emphasises Eleri, “Who’s willing to get their hands dirty – and play the game if necessary.   If you’re that person, let me know by the end of the day, because I know of several others who would jump at the chance.”

Eleri terminates their meeting 

She terminates the connection, looking quite satisfied with her performance;  Hywel, on the other hand, does not know what to think.

"I forgot my phone"

Cassie comes back with the excuse that she has left her phone;  Hywel tells her to hang on a minute.   

"Got time for me now, have you?"

“Oh, you’ve got time for me now, have you?” she gasps 

"I've just been offered a job"

and he reveals that he has just been offered a job – with Quantum Hydro Works.   

Cassie is not impressed

She does not look very impressed.

"It wasn't an easy decision"

As they continue walking along the street, Alex explains, “It wasn’t an easy decision to come looking for you, you know.   I am not just here looking for a kidney, Iolo – 

"I want to be part of your life"

“I want to be part of your life even if you’re not a match.”

Iolo looks dubious

He looks very dubious about that, as she continues, “I need your help – I can’t deny that, but I want a brother as well.   

"It was as if I'd known you for ever"

“When I met you, it was as if I’d known you for ever.   I know I’ve been selfish – but if being selfish means I can live, then . . . 

"Do you blame me?"

“do you blame me?”

"I really want to help you . . ."

As they lean on the wall by what used to be Gwynfor’s workshop, Iolo whimpers that he is sorry;  “Look, I really want to help . . .”   Alex is very much aware that there is a ‘but’ coming – and there is indeed.

". . . but I don't think I can"

“But I don’t think that I can,” he continues.

"I could do this job well"

Hywel assures Cassie, “I could do this job well,” but she points out that he would be a pariah in this village.

"I worry about what people think of you"

“You might worry about what people think of you, but I do!” she stresses.   he can understand that, but maintains that he would be a fool to turn it down.   “So you’re happy for people like Mark to lose their homes?   

"Kath will blow a fuse!"

“Kath will blow a fuse, I’m telling you.”

"Sacrificing your principles for money"

He informs her that he could earn almost double what he is earning as a councillor.   “Sacrificing your principles for money,” she mutters as she goes to answer the knock at the door.   

"Opportunities like this don't come up often"

He emphasises that opportunities like this do not come up often.

Flowers, apparently from Dan

Cassie comes back with a large bunch of flowers which has been delivered, which she says are from Dan.   

"You're serious about this, are you?"

“Listen, you’re serious about this, are you?”   

"I'm not doing this only for myself"

He says that he is not doing this only for himself, but that it is for Esther, for Cassie and for the future.

"You see a future for us, then?"

She appears quite surprised that he sees a future for the two of them;  he says that he wanted to discuss it with her before deciding, but has not accepted the job yet.   

"I only care about one person's opinion"

“You might be partly right – I don’t give a damn about anyone’s opinion – apart from one person.”   

"And that''s Colin's, is it?"

She lightheartedly suggests that one person might be Colin, then adds, “Look, I can’t say that I’m 100% behind all this, but I can see how much you want it.”   

"I've always wanted to do something like this"

He replies that he has always wanted to do something like this;  “What?   Acting director of a company that’s going to build a dam, 

"Since you were a little boy?"

“since you were a little boy?”

He is sure that she knows what he means, but also knows why she is worried;  “Listen – if you don’t want me to take it . . .” he offers, 

"I'll support you, whatever you decide"

but she will support him whatever he decides to do, simply wanting him to understand the implications of it.

"With you behind me, I can face anything"

“With you behind me, I can face anything!” he tells Cassie 

He kisses her

and kisses her.

"You can see this is a lot, can't you?"

Now Alex and Iolo have wandered through the alley and reached the bench outside the pharmacy.   They sit down and Iolo says how sorry he is;  “You can see this is a lot, can’t you?”

"I'm completely desperate, Iolo"

“Of course I understand – but do you understand why I had to do it?   I’m completely desperate, Iolo.   I’ve tried to be as honest as I can – and perhaps I haven’t behaved the way I should, but what am I supposed to do?   

"You are my only hope"

“You are my only hope – I need your help – please!”

"We should be celebrating"

As they stand on opposite sides of the bar at the Deri, Hywel maintains that they should be celebrating;  Cassie replies that they can do that after her shift.   “Well, I’m not drinking a bottle of fizz on my own,” he complains, but she says he has no choice, because some people have to work.

"Since when do you follow the rules?"

“And since when do you follow the rules?” he enquires;  

Ieuan and Diane come in

as Ieuan and Diane come in, 

"It's time we forgot all this sneaking around"

Hywel suggests that it is time that he and Cassie forgot all this sneaking around.   

"This is more than just some harmless fling"

“You must agree that this is more than just some harmless fling.”

"I was starting to think you were ashamed of me"

Actually, Cassie was starting to think that he was ashamed of her.   

"A gin and a whisky, please, Cassie"

Ieuan comes across to order a gin and a whisky;  

"Can you persuade Diane not to resign?"

he asks Hywel if he can persuade Diane not to resign as leader of the County Council.   

This news comes as a surprise to Hywel, 

"The council will be stronger without me"

but she maintains that the council will be stronger without her.   He warns her not to make a hasty decision, 

"Most people support you, Diane"

while Cassie assures her that most people support her on this Jason business.

"You buying me a drink?"

Hywel uncharacteristically buys the drinks for his brother and Diane, explaining that he is in a good mood.   He goes over to talk to Diane;  

"It would be a loss, you know"

“It would be a loss, you know, to us and the community.”

"What the community are saying worries me"

“It’s what the community is saying about the business with Jason that worries me,” she replies.   Hywel is confident that will soon be forgotten, 

"It's one scandal after another" 

but she continues, “No, it’s been one scandal after another.”

"The last thing we need is more uncertainty"

“The last thing the council needs now is more uncertainty,” groans Hywel;  

"Why do you want me around?"

she wonders why he of all people wants her around, recalling that they have been fighting like cat and dog over the last few months.

“That’s part of the fun of politics,” he says, 

"You're doing the job too well to do that"

“And you’ve enjoyed it, too – I know you have.   Don’t resign – you’re doing the job too well to do that.   

"I have a meeting"

“Right, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting.”

"There you are – he admires you"

Ieuan resumes his seat opposite Diane;  “There you are – he admires you.”   She find it difficult to believe that he likes working with her so much.

Next door, Hywel is back in touch with Eleri

Back home at number 21, Hywel is soon in touch with Eleri again;  “Well, are you taking the job?” she immediately demands.

"Thank you for your patience"

He thinks her for her patience;  this time to think has been a big help.   

"What's the answer?"

All she is interested in is the answer, so he tells her that it would be atnhonour to accept the job and thanks her.   

"You'll have the contract by the end of the day"

“Congratulations on making the right decision,” she answers, promising that he will have the contract by the end of the day.

"I've 'fallowed' the land a bit"

He goes on to say that he has ‘fallowed’ the land a little bit as well;  

"I think dealing with the council will be much easier . . ."

“I think dealing with the council will be much easier – I’ll have to resign from my post as a councillor, of course – and keep in close contact with those at the top of the chain, 

". . . with Diane as the leader"

“but the council isn’t as strong as it was.   With Diane as the leader, I don’t think we’ll have much trouble getting our own way.”

"There are plans for an office for you"

Eleri announces that there are plans in the pipeline for an office for Hywel;  “We’ve bought a building in the centre of the village – but keep it under your hat for now.”

"Where's that, then?"

He asks where this property is, but she abruptly terminates the session.   

Hywel is thoughtful . . .

As he closes his laptop, appearing very thoughtful, 

. . . while Eleri thinks she has done well

she is looking very pleased with her machinations.

"You're not going to resign, then?"

“Does this mean you’re not going to resign, then?” asks Ieuan;  

"I might as well carry on a little longer"

Diane says she might as well carry on for a little while longer.   

"I'll get us another drink"

He regards this as a reason to celebrate and will get the next one.   She thanks him for getting her out of  the house, but he says there is no need to thank him;  “We’re friends, aren’t we?   And Anita thinks the world of you!”

He notices Iolo

As Ieuan goes over to the bar, he notices Iolo looking very mournful;  “Did you speak to your sister?   

"How did it go?"

“How did it go?”   

Iolo is frightened

Iolo says that he is frightened of going under the knife for someone he hardly knows.   “There’s no telling what might happen during an operation – I wasn’t expecting Mam . . . and I’m the only one Greta has left.”

"Every operation has its risks"

Ieuan appreciates that every operation has its risks, but they do these things every day.   “I can’t tell you what to do, but I will tell you this much.  

"You can't let fear control you"

“You can’t let fear control you, believe me.”

"I'm glad I've met Alex"

“You know, I’m glad I’ve met Alex – it’s just difficult that it’s happened like this,” remarks Iolo.   

"The world can be a cruel place"

Ieuan reminds him that they do not have any control over what happens and that the world can be a very cruel place.

“Very often we can’t stop things from happening, but you have that chance – and one thing is certain – if your sister doesn’t get help . . .”

"I'll lose Alex before getting to know her"

“I’ll lose Alex before getting to know her,” answers Iolo.

"I'm sure you'll make the right decision"

“You know, you’re a good man, Iolo – I’m sure you’ll make the right decision.”   Iolo looks scared of what that decision entails – 

Alex arrives

and at that moment Alex walks into the pub.   

"I'm really sorry, Iolo"

She sits down beside him;  “Hi.   I’ve been thinking and I’m really sorry about the way I talked to you earlier.”

He stops her there;  “No, Alex – it’s me who should say sorry.   

"I'll do the tests as soon as possible"

“Look, I’m not sure if I’m doing the right thing here, but I’m willing to try – I’ll do the tests as soon as possible.”

Alex is overjoyed . . .

She is overjoyed by his change of heart 

. . . and hugs him

and hugs him warmly.