14 May 2025

Breakfast at Penrhewl 

As they sit round the breakfast table at Penrhewl, Sioned ask Howard, “You’re going to sort out the lambs for the mart tomorrow, are you?”   

"Already done"

He replies that he has already done that, so she suggests, if he has time, he can re-fence the top field, but apparently that has also been done.   “You’ve been busy!” she exclaims.

He tells her that he does not have much choice;  “I’ve got a shift at APD this afternoon.”   

"Fancy a pint after work?"

Mathew wonders if he fancies a pint after work, as he will deserve one after today.   “I can’t go near the Deri, in case someone accuses me of stalking,” Howard groans.

"Dani doesn't think it is you?"

Sioned cannot believe that Dani thinks it is him;  

I confessed everything"

“She’s organised a witch-hunt against me – so I confessed everything!”   

"You what?"

Sioned looks amazed, 

"What do you think I said?   I told her she was wrong!"

so he continues, “What do you think I said?   I told her she was wrong.   You think I’m the stalker, do you?   

"Who needs enemies?"

“Who needs enemies?” he shouts as he walks out of the farmhouse.

"Give him time, Sioned"

Mathew clasps her hand and urges Sioned to give him time.

"You don't have an Aga in Y Felin, do you?"

Eileen is engaged on her latest project;  “You don’t have an Aga in Y Felin, do you?   I miss having an Aga – and perhaps we can get an extension out the back – 

"Perhaps we could talk to a builder"

“build a big kitchen with an Aga in the middle.   You’re free today, aren’t you?   Perhaps we could talk to a builder to find out what’s possible.”

Although he is ostensibly reading a book, Siôn has been listening 

"Firstly, I haven't agreed"

and replies, “Firstly, I haven’t agreed to this yet – secondly, I haven’t discussed it with Iolo.”

"Things are difficult at the moment"

She insists that there is no point wasting time, but he continues to explain, “Things are difficult between us at the moment – your comments last week didn’t help!”   

"I've already explained myself"

Eileen maintains that she has already explained herself, but is told, “I don’t want to make things worse by asking him to leave Y Felin.”

"Who wants to live with their father at his age?"

Eileen is rather scathing of Iolo;  “Who wants to be living with his father at that age?   Come on, Siôn, we’ve worked hard throughout our lives.   

"W deserve to enjoy ourselves"

“We deserve to enjoy ourselves a little bit now – not live on top of each other in this sardine tin.   

"There is another option . . ."

“There is another option of course, but that would be a pity – I don’t think a Bruce dictionary would keep you warm at night, like I do.   

". . . but it's up to you, of course"

“But it’s up to you, of course.”

"Let me talk to Iolo first"

“Let me talk to Iolo first,” he says, and she believes that her persuasion may have worked;  

"Be sure to do it today"

she reminds him to do it today.   Siôn puts down his book and thinks seriously about the matter.

"Are you expecting a call?"

In the Deri, the cleaning is in progress and Dani keeps looking at her phone, so Lleucu suspects that she might be expecting a call.   

"The place is sparkling again"

Dani denies this and comments that the place is sparkling again.   “At least one of my bosses appreciates my work,” says Lleucu.

"Eileen, is it?"

Dani assumes that she is referring to Eileen;  

"More like 'Irate'!"

“More like ‘Irate’!”Lleucu snarls, “She tried to halve both Colin’s and my hours yesterday – I threatened that we’d walk out, the cow!”

Dani cannot believe that she called Eileen that;  “Of course I did!”   

"Watch yourself – she's a dangerous woman!"

She is warned to watch herself, as Eileen is a dangerous woman.   “So am I – so watch yourself!” Lleucu laughingly threatens.

"She shot Cadno"

Dani elaborates, “She’s just come out of jail for possessing a gun – and it wasn’t the first time – she shot Cadno!”   

"She would have reason to shoot a fox"

Lleucu imagines that she would have reason to shoot a fox [‘cadno’ in Welsh] if she is a farmer, but is enlightened that ‘Cadno’ is a woman.

"You should just say sorry"

Dani advises that she should just say sorry;  “You don’t want to be afraid of her at work – I know that.”   

She has got Lleucu worried

Lleucu wonders if she has overstepped the mark.

"I tried to phone lots of times last week"

Siôn returns home to Y Felin and Iolo comes downstairs, looking at his phone.   “I tried to phone lots of times last week,” says his father, “I had a word with Eileen about what she said,” 

"I'm in a hurry, Dad"

but Iolo is in rather a hurry.

“So you’re aware that you’re living with a homophobe?” Iolo replies.   

"Eileen didn't mean it"

Siôn insists that Eileen will change her attitude and did not mean it.   “Oh, that makes everything all right, then,” snaps Iolo.

"Everyone deserves a second chance"

As he picks up his jacket and prepares to go out, Siôn goes on, “We can’t turn our backs on people who offend us – everyone deserves a second chance, don’t you think?   She has apologised.”

“No-one’s said a word to me,” Iolo points out, 

"She controls everything you do!"

“She sent her lapdog to do her work – she controls everything you do!”   

Siôn is adamant that they should sit down and talk, but, as Iolo already said, he is in a hurry;  

"Alex is having a new kidney . . ."

“I had a call from the hospital to say Alex is having a new kidney – 

". . . and you're glad you don't have to help!"

“she’s under the knife while you’re glad that you don’t have to help.”   

He walks out of the house

With that, he walks out of the house.

'Everything must go'

At Apêl Maenan, Megan is selling everything off at £1 and a notice proclaims that everything must go, including a wrought iron gate.   

"I'd be quicker walking up Snowdon"

Diane approaches and Megan sighs, “I think I’d be quicker walking up Yr Wyddfa [the Welsh name for Snowdon] than I will be getting rid of this stuff.”   

"There's no need to get rid of it"

Diane insists that there is no need to get rid of it 

"It could go to the charity shop in Llandudno"

and Megan supposes that it could go to the charity shop in Llandudno.

Diane, however, maintains that there is no need as they are going to save Apêl Maenan;  

"We're going to gazump Quantum Hydro Works!"

“We’re going to gazump Quantum Hydro Works!”   Megan does not consider that to be wise, but Diane’s mind is made up, “We’re going to buy them out, Megan!   

"Play the game at their level!"

“Play the game at their level – this place has a long life ahead of it.”

Megan shakes her head as she has to disagree;  “It’s time for me to retire,” and she retreats back into the shop.   Diane wonders where the fire in her belly has gone 

"I'd like to retire quietly"

and is told, “I’d like to retire quietly, because I’m ready to go.”

Diane is still adamant that the place does not have to

"You could pass the baton to someone else"

close;  Megan could pass the baton to someone else, but neither of them can imagine to whom.   

"Apêl Maenan's journey has come to an end"

“Apêl Maenan’s journey has come to an end – I’d like you to let me go at the same time – and with dignity,” is Megan’s final word.

Siôn approaches

In the kitchen of the deli, Siôn approaches Eileen 

"Where's your backbone, Siôn?"

and she immediately comments, “I’ll book the removals company tomorrow morning, shall I?   Where’s your backbone?”

"Iolo was on his way to the hospital"

He reports that Iolo was on his way to the hospital to see Alex;  Eileen has been in touch with the builder and he is free this afternoon.   

"We can go while Iolo is at the hospital"

“We’re lucky he’s free – he’s so busy – we can go to Y Felin while Iolo is at the hospital.”

"I'm not going behind Iolo's back"

Siôn refuses to go behind his son’s back, so she points out that he will not know about it – and in any case they are only discussing ideas.   

"It's a delicate situation, Eileen"

Siôn regards it as a delicate situation – 

"I'm delicate, too!"  — oh yeah?

so she points out that she is also delicate and cannot understand why Iolo has such a say in where his father lives.

Lleucu is doing a spot of eavesdropping

Unknown to both of them, Lleucu has just arrived outside the door, intending to apologise to Eileen.   She listens to what is going on in the kitchen.

"Iolo is angry already"

Siôn protests that it involves Iolo;  “And he is angry already!”   

"Well, you persuade Iolo, then"

Eileen instructs him to persuade Iolo that this will benefit him – he would love the bustle of the village.

“What about Greta?   And Lleucu – and Cai when he comes home?” Siôn  demands.

"You don't run a B&B, Siôn"

Eileen callously points out that he does not run a B&B;  “Cai is a deputy head – he has enough money to buy his own place.   Y Felin would be a perfect home for us in the years to come – 

"You wouldn't disappoint me, would you?"

“you wouldn’t disappoint me, would you?”

Lleucu has heard quite enough

Lleucu has heard enough and angrily turns away, as Eileen continues, “Because I mean it, Siôn – this is the only way – if we have a future.”   He looks as if he may be succumbing to her manipulation.

She dials a number on her phone

Lleucu walks out of the deli straight across the road and into the alley while dialling a number on her phone.   

"You need to come home now, Iolo!"

“You need to come home now, Iolo,” she says, “This is huge!”

"She likes to talk, but she works hard"

Dani and Sioned are also emerging from the deli;  Dani remarks about Lleucu, “She likes to talk, but she works hard – the Deri was sparkling this morning.   How does Eileen find her?”

"I heard that you accused Howard"

Sioned simply looks at Dani, but does not answer.   “I heard that you accused Howard,” she says.

"It must be him!"

“I haven’t heard a word since I called him out – no texts, no phone calls, nothing – it must be him,” answers Dani.

Sioned warns her that she is making a mistake;  “Howard can be rash and he can make silly decisions – 

"No way is he a stalker!"

“but no way is he a stalker.”   Dani is convinced that he is, but Sioned reminds her that everyone pointed the finger at him during the spiking.   “Don’t destroy his life without an ounce of evidence.”

"I do have the evidence!"

Dani is insistent that she has the evidence – the phone calls and texts, but is asked if they are from his number.   “No caller ID, but, you know,” replies Dani.

"He can only just about send a text"

“With all due respect to Howard, he can only just about send a text – let alone an anonymous one.   He’s not the person you think he is,” Sioned assures her, “Honestly, I don’t know where I’d be without him, especially over the last few months – he’s supported me.   

"Honestly, Dan, he's not the stalker"

Honestly, Dan, he’s not the stalker.”

"Well, who is it, then?"

If it is not him, Dani wants to know who it is.

"He's considering throwing us out of Y Felin?"

Lleucu has been telling Iolo what she heard;  “So he is considering throwing us out of Y Felin?” he asks and she confirms that it is true.

"She's git Siôn wrapped around her little finger!"

“Eileen threatened to dump him if he didn’t agree!   Dad is in no state to look for a new home – seriously, Iol, she’s got Siôn wrapped round her little finger!”   

"We'll see about that!"

Iolo is determined that he will see about that and immediately leaves the house, 

"Wait for me, Iol!"

with Lleucu chasing behind him.

"The builder wants to see us in 20 minutes"

“Come on, Siôn – the builder wants to see us in 20 minutes,” Eileen urges, but at that moment they hear footsteps on the stairs and Iolo bursts in.

"Getting your claws on Dad's money?"

“So this was your plan from the start, was it?   To get your claws on Dad’s money?” he begins.

"You have no right!"

Eileen demands what right he has to make such accusations 

"I have more of a right than you!"

and he snarls, “I have more of a right than you to steal Greta’s inheritance!”   Despite his father’s attempts to stop him, 

Iolo continues, “You haven’t even apologised for what you said to me last week.”

"Can't we discuss this sensibly?"

Siôn wants them to discuss this sensibly, 

"Alex is fighting for her life . . ."

but Iolo shouts, “You have no shame – today, of all days!   Alex is fighting for her life!”   

"How is she?"

Siôn asks how she is and is told, “Does it matter?   

"A cosy life with your latest 'squeeze'!"

“The only thing that’s important to you is starting a cosy new life with your latest ‘squeeze’!”

Eileen objects to that description

Eileen objects strongly to be described in this way and Iolo goes on, “Fair play to both of you – you suit each other – well done!” and with that, he storms out of the flat.   

Lleucu give them a withering glare

Lleucu looks disparagingly at the two of them before she follows him.   Eileen and Siôn are speechless.

"I want those in one piece!"

In APD, Howard is moving bags and is told by Mathew, “I want those in one piece!”   

"Sioned's going to have a word with Dani"

Then he assures Howard, “Sioned is going to have a word with Dani,” 

"To stick the knife in!"

which Howard suspects is to ‘put the knife in’.

"They'll always think the worst of me!"

“They’ll always think the worst of me – some people don’t give you a second chance, especially women.   You wouldn’t know because you never have any trouble.”

"I'm a disaster, Howard"

Mathew insists that is not true;  “I’ve had more failed relationships than the tractors you’ve driven – I’m a disaster, Howard.   

"I always go after women who are just out of my reach"

“I always go after the women who are just out of my reach.”   

"You have Sioned"

Howard points out that he has Sioned;  Mathew is sorry about that – and sorry that it came between the two of them.

“I just like Dani – what’s so wrong about that?” Howard wants to know;  he is told that women are complicated – Dani in particular.

"Don't say you've been with Dani as well?"

“Don’t say you’ve been with Dani as well?”   Mathew confesses that it was complicated, but . . .   “Is there a single woman in Cwmderi you haven’t had your hands on?” Howard incredulously demands,

He walks out

 takes his wheelbarrow and walks out of APD.

Back at Y Felin, Siôn shouts, “I wasn’t going to throw you out.”

"So you're putting my well-being first, are you?"

“So you’re putting my well-being first, are you?” Iolo sneers and his father points out that he could have some independence and his own place.   He recalls that Greta loved living in the village.

"Greta's happy where she is!"

“Greta is happy where she is,” stresses Iolo, “She’s been through so much, what she needs is stability!   

"Where does Lleucu fit into all this?"

“What about Lleucu?   Where does she fit into all this?   You gave Cai your word that you would look after her.   When he comes home, are you going to throw us all out on the street?   

"Whatever Eileen wants, she gets!"

“Dad, she’s using you – whatever Eileen wants, she gets!   

"Put your family first for once!"

“Put your family first for once, for goodness’ sake!”

There is a knock at the door

There is a knock at the door of Maes-y-Deri and Dani discovers that it is Howard;  

"I wasn't stalking you!"

“Whatever Sioned said, I wasn’t stalking you – I’m no angel and I’ve done things I regret – but I’d never do anything to make you feel awful!”

"OK, Howard, I believe you"

Dani has been trying to interrupt him during this tirade, finally exclaiming, “OK, Howard, I believe you.   I wanted to say sorry, but I just didn’t know how, so, I’m sorry.”

"Will you tell everyone who was in the Deri?"

“Will you tell everyone who was in the Deri?” he demands 

Dani agrees

and she says that she will.   

"Right, that's that, then"

“Right, that’s that, then,” 

"Would you like drink?"

and he turns to go, but she asks if he would like a drink.

"Are you serious?"

“You’ve got some catching up to do,” she adds, as she gets stuck into another glass.   He cannot believe that she is serious.

"Today has made everything a hundred times worse"

Siôn’s evaluation is that today has made things a hundred times worse.   Eileen maintains that Lleucu is to blame;  

"If you'd spoken to Iolo on his own . . ."

“If you’d spoken to Iolo on his own and explained things, perhaps . . .  Anyway the builder’s not happy that we cancelled at the last minute!”

"It might be easier if I found somewhere to rent"

Siôn groans that he upsets someone whatever he does;  “It might be easier for you if I found somewhere to rent on my own,” 

"It wouldn't be easier for me"

but she emphasises that it would not be easier for her, so he comes to the conclusion that they are stuck there.

"We'll have to find somewhere else"

Scheming Eileen continues, “Not necessarily – if we don’t move to Y Felin, perhaps we’ll have to find somewhere else.”   

Is Siôn actually starting to see the light?

He does not look as if he is relishing the prospect.

"You're a star, Mathew"

Mathew is folding baby garments when Sioned comes into the room and describes him as a star.   He is afraid that he made things worse with Howard;  “The more I tried to help him, the more I pushed him away.”

"Sometimes it's easier on your own"

Sioned says that sometimes it is just easier to deal with things on your own, 

"Dani will never take him seriously"

but Mathew wonders how to tell him that he is looking in the wrong places.   “Dani will never take him seriously.”

"It's difficult to realise you're wrong"

Sioned tells him, “When you get an idea in your head, it can be difficult to realise that you’re wrong – and even more difficult to admit it.   We’re all just doing our best with what life throws at us.”

"I wish Howard would realise"

Mathew wishes that Howard would realise that they only want the best for him;  

"I'm sure he does"

Sioned is sure that he does 

We all know whee that look is going to lead . . .

and the two of them look at each other with obvious mutual attraction, 

. . . but the baby cries at the opportune moment

but just at that second, one of the twins can be heard crying on the monitor – and the moment is gone.

Dani is complaining

As they enjoy their vodka on the sofa at Maes-y-Deri, Dani complains that Howard can do what he wants;  “I can’t walk into a bar in Swansea on my own!   

"Going to the Deri is different"

“Going to the Deri  is different – I know the people.”

“Some better than others, I understand,” remarks Howard, 

"Mathew said you'd been in a relationship"

“Mathew said you’d been in a relationship.”   

"It was more of a fling"

She would describe it as more of a fling – and admits that he was not the only one, either.

"Men are 'studs' and women, well . . ."

“That’s another example of how men and women are treated differently – men are ‘studs’ and women, well . . .”

"How about men who are not 'studs'?"

Howard enquires about men who are not studs and she describes them as, “Sensible.   There’s nothing wrong with waiting until you’re a bit older.”  

"You're gorgeous!"

“I’m glad that you were the first – because you’re gorgeous,” he tells her.   Dani thinks it is a shame that she cannot remember much.   

Howard kisses her

Then Howard kisses her.