22 May 2025

"Are you on your own?"

Sioned has a visit from Dani in the farmhouse;  “Are you on your own?” Dani asks and is told that Matthew is getting the children ready to go to her mother’s, while Howard is out in the fields somewhere.   

"She can see that Dani is worried"

She can see that Dani is worried about something

“Don’t worry about Howard – and what he said about Malcolm,” says Sioned, and they sit down at the table.   

"Are you sure it's Malcolm"

“Are you sure it’s Malcolm?” Sioned has to ask;  

"Yes, I'm sure it's him!"

Dani is quite convinced, but is reminded that she was equally sure last week that it was Howard.

“Have you reported him?”  Dani shakes her head and comments that phoning, texting and sending a balloon are not illegal.   

"But stalking . . ."

“But stalking . . .” Sioned begins.   

Howard comes in

 is interrupted by the arrival of Howard who heads straight across to the sink.

Sioned continues, “Stalking is illegal – if Malcolm is doing this, you’ll have to go to the police.”   

"Is everything all right?"

Howard enquires if everything is all right, 

"Malcolm knows the system better than anyone"

but Dani groans that she has no chance because Malcolm knows the system better than anyone and there is nothing she can do.

"Where's your fight?"

Howard exclaims, “Where’s your fight?   

"We know that you have to fight!"

“You and I know better than anyone that you have to fight!”

"Have you finished your jobs, Howard?"

Sioned wants to know if he has finished his jobs, because they will be leaving in a bit;  he replies that he has a few loose ends to tie up first 

He walks out of Penrhewl 

and resolutely walks out of the farmhouse.

Iolo comes to collect the prescription

Iolo comes back into the pharmacy to collect Greta’s prescription, 

"My head's all over the place, Iolo!"

but it had completely slipped Maya’s mind, as her head has been all over the place.   He says that he will come back later to collect it 

"Gaynor and Tom, is it?"

and suspects that the problem is Gaynor and Tom.

"He said plenty!"

“I haven’t said anything, but he said plenty,” she begins, but then her phone sounds and she can see that it is Gaynor.   “Are you going to Megan’s party later?” she asks, “Pop in on your way over and I’ll have the prescription ready for you.”

"Is everything OK?"

Then she answers her phone, “Is everything OK?”

Someone else behind the counter

Sioned collects a snack in the deli, then goes to the table where Dani is sitting;  

"Mathew has organised a surprise"

“Mathew has organised a surprise for me and Howard today – we’re going to Ceffyl Du after – 

"You're welcome to join us"

“you’re welcome to join us to take your mind off things.”

Dani does not think that is a good idea 

"I slept with him again"

and explains, “I slept with him again,” 

"You must like him, then"

so Sioned comes to the conclusion that she must like him, but that is not the case.   

"We were drunk, both times"

“Look, we were both drunk both times.”

Sioned had warned her to be careful with him, but Dani says that she does not need a lecture, then changes the subject to Sioned and Mathew;  “You’re getting on well now so . . .”

Sioned insists that there is nothing going on;  

"So he's booked you a surprise because . . ?"

“So he’s just booked a surprise for you because . . ?”   

"Howard's coming as well"

Sioned points out that Howard is coming as well and that they are friends.   

"What's stopping you, then?"

Dani wants to know what is stopping her, so Sioned explains that a lot has happened lately;  

"I don't want to lose him as a friend"

“I do like him, but I just don’t want to lose him as a friend.”   Dani suggest that it might be worth the risk and advises her to ‘go for it’.

"Any idea where Howard has gone?"

At that moment, Mathew comes in, asking them if they have any idea where Howard has gone;  “He just drove off like a madman and he’s supposed to meet us!”   Sioned knows what he is like and imagines that he has probably forgotten.   

Dani has a fair idea

Dani realises with horror where Howard has probably gone.

"I couldn't ask him"

Up in the pharmacy flat, Maya asks what Tom’s response was about the flowers, but Gaynor could not ask.   

"So why did he come to warn me off?"

“So why did he come over yesterday to warn me off?” she continues.   

"What did he say?"

Gaynor wants to know what he said;  “Nothing really, but there’s another side to him, Gaynor.   

"Is he trying to control you?"

“Are you scared of him?   Is he trying to control you?”

Gaynor denies this, then adds that she does not know, 

"But he does have a temper"

“But he does have a temper – and I never know what he’s going to do next.”

"He did throw a saucepan"

In answer to Maya’s next question, Gaynor confirms that he has never hurt her, “But he did get angry once and threw a saucepan – at the wall, not at me – and he was so sorry afterwards.   

"He can be so sweet sometimes"

“No, we shouldn’t discuss this, because he’s not here to defend himself – and he can be so sweet sometimes.”

"So was Delyth"

Maya remarks, “So was Delyth – but that doesn’t mean you have to put up with the bad.   When I was with Dee, she would make these big public gestures, 

"It was just a way of controlling me"

“but it was just a way of controlling me – we just couldn’t go on.   

"Do you want to leave him?"

“Do you want to leave him?   Look, I’m not trying to put pressure on you, 

"You're welcome to stay here tonight"

“but you’re welcome to stay here tonight.”   

Gaynor does not reply

Gaynor does not say a word.

Malcolm come home . . .

Malcolm Edwards arrives home 

. . . and is surprised to see Howard

and is very surprised to see that he has a visitor sitting in the kitchen, 

He is rather perturbed

in the form of Howard, who is carrying a vicious-looking wrecking bar.   

"Hello, Malcolm!"

“Hello, Malcolm!” he says.

Iolo is given the prescription 

Maya hands the prescription to Iolo, apologising for the delay 

"I have to close now"

and advising that she has to close the shop as she said that she would see Gaynor at the Deri.   Iolo wonders whether she has heard anything from Gaynor.   

"She'll be OK now, hopefully"

“She’ll be OK now, hopefully – now that I know what’s going on,” Maya answers.

Then her phone sounds and she finds that it is a call from her mother;  

"You all right, Mum?"

“You all right, Mum?” but it appears to be bad news.

Megan arrives at the Deri . . .

The Deri is comparatively crowded when Megan is welcome to the celebration;  

. . . and receives a round of applause

Kath announces, “Happy retirement, Megan!” and she receives a round of applause.   

Someone is there from the Western Post 

There is even someone from the Western Post equipped with a camera.

"Megan Harries OBE"

Diane begins her speech;  “Welcome to the Deri and thank you for coming to pay tribute to Megan on her retirement.   Megan Harries OBE has given years of her life to Apêl Maenan and, 

"We're supporting this special charity"

“as well as celebrating the fact that she is retiring, we’re also going to raise money to support this special charity as it closes its doors for the last time in Cwmderi.   It will be a huge loss to the community to see the shop close, but at the same time . . .”

"There's time for long speeches later . . ."

Kath has had quite enough of this;  “Thank you, Diane – there is plenty of time for long speeches later – 

". . . come and eat, boys!" 

come and eat, boys – help yourselves!”   Megan gives Diane a hug.

"How is Gaynor?"

Tom goes to the bar for another couple of bottles and is asked about Gaynor;  Kath reckons that she looks pale.   

"She feels like a fool"

“She feels like a fool,” he replies and Kath wonders what came over her, poor thing.

“I’ll make sure she apologises to you and Cassie – it’s not a good look for the Deri!”   

"She hadn't been drinking in here"

Kath makes it quite clear that she had not been drinking in there and it is nothing to do with them, so he returns to Gaynor, 

"What did Kath have to say?"

who  enquires what Kath had to say.

"She's not very happy with you"

“She’s not very happy with you – it’s not a good look for the Deri, is it?”   Gaynor suggests that she could apologise to Kath, 

"No – just drink your orange juice"

but he advises against this;  she should just drink her orange juice;  

"I'll support you, no matter what you do"

“I’m here for you – I’ll support you no matter what you do,” he assures her.

"Who sent you to do their dirty work?"

“Who sent you to do their dirty work?” demands Malcolm, as Howard, menacingly nurses the wrecking bar.

"You think you can do whatever you like to women!"

“You think you can do whatever you want to women!” snarls Howard, but Malcolm is of thew opinion that he is a fine one to talk, 

"I know a lot about a lot of people"

maintaining that he knows a lot about a lot of people.

"You've been getting away with this far too long!"

“You’ve been getting away with this for far too long, do you hear?” Howard threatens 

In the nick of time Dani bursts in

and then the door bursts open and Dani rushes in.

"Stop this now, OK?"

“Stop this now, OK?” she orders him and looks at Malcolm.

Iolo helps close the blinds

Maya and Iolo close the blinds in the pharmacy 

"I have to make sure I have everything"

and Maya has to make sure that she has everything before she goes.   “Is your grandmother going to be all right?” asks Iolo, 

"She could take years to recover"

but she does not know, as her gran has had a stroke, which could take years to recover from – if she recovers at all.

"Will you take my keys?"

“I have to go straight away – will you take my keys?   I’ll phone you.   

"Keep an eye on Gaynor for me"

“Keep an eye on Gaynor for me – make sure she’s all right.”   Iolo agrees to do so, 

After a hug . . .

they hug 

. . . Maya heads for Lerpwl [Liverpool]

and she hurries off to Liverpool.

"But I'm doing it for you"

Howard argues with Dani, “But I’m doing it for you after what he did!”   

"What if the cops think I sent you?"

She warns that he will go to jail – and what if the cops think that she sent him?   

"I'm getting justice for you!"

“I thought you’d be happy – I’m getting justice for you!”

As Malcolm stand by, listening to this exchange, Dani insists, “This isn’t the way to get justice – by attacking someone!”   

"She's talking sense"

Malcolm interjects to point out that she is talking sense.

"Shut it – if you want to keep your teeth!"

Howard’s response is to tell him to shut up, “If you want to keep your teeth!”   Then he turns to Dani;  “You won’t get justice by sitting on your hands – this guy has been stalking you!”

"She is stalking me!"

Malcolm protests, but is told not to act innocent;  he insists, “She is stalking me – turning up last week and again today!”   

Howard's weapon is at the ready

Howard brandishes his weapon, 

Dani's phone sounds . . . 

but then Dani’s phone sounds and she hears sounds of a baby crying.

. . . another troubling anonymous call

“It’s not him – come on!” she orders Howard 

They hastily leave the house

and they hastily leave Malcolm’s house.

As they are about to draw the raffle . . .

In the Deri, Diane calls for everyone’s attention;  “It’s time to draw the raffle, but first I’d like to ask Megan to join me here.”

. . . Tom jumps up

However, Tom stands up, apologising for the interruption, 

"I can't hold this in a second longer!"

“But I can’t hold this in for a second longer.   Gaynor, I’m head over heels in love with you.”

Gaynor looks absolutely aghast at this, 

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you . . ."

as he gets down on his knees and continues, “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.   

". . . Gaynor, will you marry me?"

“Gaynor, will you marry me?”   

She looks incredulous

She, as well as many of the others, appears horrified, 

"She's in shock"

so he jokes that Gaynor is in shock.

“I don’t know what to say,” is her response, 

"My knees are starting to hurt!"

so he urges her to say something, as his knees are starting to hurt.

Gaynor barges past him and out of the Deri

“Tom, don’t – I can’t do this!” she snarls, pushes roughly past him and leaves the Deri.   

Bit of a miscalculation there, mate!

Tom is made to feel a ‘proper Charlie’.

"If it's not Malcolm, then who?"

As they leave the house, Howard reasons, “Whoever is doing this has a serious problem – if it’s not Malcolm, then who?”   

She will probably guess right one day

Dani’s third guess is Sioned, 

"That's ridiculous!"

which is described as ridiculous by Howard.

“The stalking started after the party – after Sioned and I fell out – coincidence?” says Dani, but he knows that she would never do something like that.   

"She hates that I slept with you"

“She was upset – she hates that I have slept with you.   Perhaps it was Jac and Lili crying.”

Howard argues that Sioned barely has time for a shower and repeats that Dani is just pointing the finger, 

"Look – it's someone I know . . ."

but Dani is insistent that it is someone she knows – 

". . . and Sioned has a reason!"

and Sioned has a reason – she is quite sure that it is Sioned.

Gaynor has packed her bags . . .

Gaynor comes downstairs in Llwyncelyn with a bag of belongings, 

. . . makes sure Tom is not around . . .

checks to make sure that Tom is not around, 

. . . and leaves Llwyncelyn 

then leaves the house.

"Cassie always says that Tom is a strange one"

In the Deri after the party, Kath comments to Diane, “Cassie has always said that Tom is a strange one.   

"Taking the attention away from Megan"

“What was wrong with him, taking the attention away from Megan?”

"What have I missed?"

Iolo comes in and wonders what he has missed;  

"We've had plenty of drama in here today"

he is informed, “We’ve had plenty of drama in here today.”   Diane cannot believe that Tom spoiled Megan’s big moment – and there was even someone from the Western Post to write a story about Quantum Hydro Works bullying the community.

“And now that blinkin’ Tom will probably be the story!” she rages.

"I've enjoyed the day immensely"

Megan says that she has enjoyed the day immensely and is happy that the community will be in safe hands when she has retired;  

"It's never too late to change the narrative, is it?"

“It’s never too late to change the narrative, is it?”

"The way Quantum Hydro Works have treated me is unforgivable!"

She walks across to the Western Post reporter, telling him, “The way Quantum Hydro Works have treated me is unforgivable!”

Tom cannot find Gaynor . . . 

Tom slams the door when he arrives home and shouts for Gaynor, but with no success, 

. . . despite searching the house

becoming increasingly angry and knocking over a candlestick on his way through the room.   Then he shouts upstairs.

Gaynor is taking up Maya's offer

Meanwhile, Gaynor is arriving at the pharmacy, where Maya has promised her sanctuary, but finds the door locked.   

Madge and her husband are going home 

Madge and her husband are on the way home from the Deri.

"Maya's gone back to Liverpool . . ."

Iolo comes along the road and advises Gaynor that Maya had to go back to Liverpool;  

". . . I think she'll be away for a while"

“Her grandmother is ill and appears to have had a stroke – I think she’ll be away for a while.”   

"Are you going away as well?"

Seeing the bag, he asks if Gaynor is going away as well.

"I don't think I am now"

“Well, I was hoping to, but I don’t think I am, now.”   

"Are you all right, Gaynor?"

Iolo can see that there is something troubling her, but she insists that she is fine, so Iolo goes on his way.   

She resigns herself to going home

Gaynor now has little alternative, other than to go back to Llwyncelyn.

"I never thought Escape Rooms would be so much fun!"

In Ceffyl Du, Sioned says, “I never thought Escape Rooms would be so much fun!”   

"We make a good team"

Mathew maintains that they make a good team and that Howard would only have slowed them down.   

"You flapping about running out of time!"

“Howard would not have coped with you flapping about running out of time,” Sioned corrects him.

"To be honest, I'm glad he's not here"

“To be honest, I’m glad he’s not here – it’s nice to have time to ourselves,” she goes on and Mathew agrees with her.   He has missed being with her.

"I don't want to put pressure on you"

He confesses, “Look, Sioned, I don’t want to put pressure on you – I know the children come first – they should come first, of course.   I also know that things are complicated between us, 

"There's something between us"

“but you can’t deny there is something between us, Sioned – and there always has been.   

"All I want to do is make you happy"

“All I want to do is to make you happy and look after you, Jac and Lili.”

We have seen that look before

This could only end up in one way – 

That was inevitable

and it does – she kisses him.   He asks if she is sure 

"Totally sure!"

and she replies, “Totally sure!   I know things have been complicated – and not just recently – but you’ve supported me for years.   

"I don't have to cheese between you and the children . . ."

“I can see now that I don’t have to choose between you and the children – 

". . . we can be a family!"

“we can be a family”

"That's what I want, more than anything!"

He stresses that is all that he wants, more than anything

They kiss again

and they kiss again.

Gaynor is back at Llwyncelyn 

Gaynor arrives back at Llwyncelyn after her abortive escape attempt;  

She does not notice the welcoming committee

Tom is waiting on the sofa, with a face like thunder 

Then she suddenly sees him . . .

and she suddenly sees him there.   

. . . with his evil stare

He looks malevolently at her.