7 May 2025

Ffion is reliving the events . . .

In her mind’s eye, Ffion is running through the woods, 

. . . of the 26th February . . .

then a pain in her leg seizes her 

. . . in her mind . . .

and she looks down at the ground.   

. . . but is recalled to reality by Jinx's voice

Her reverie is interrupted 

. . . but she still cannot work it out

by Jinx’s voice, calling her name.

"Hywel will be calling in later'

She is suddenly brought back to reality and he explains that Hywel will be calling in later.   

"There's no need"

She insists that there is no need, but Jinx is determined that Hywel will drop in.   Ffion insists that she is feeling fine and perfectly capable of looking after herself.

"There's nothing wrong with me – apart from this blinkin' memory!"

Jinx reminds her that she only left hospital a month ago, but she is adamant, “There’s nothing wrong with me – apart from this blinkin’ memory.   

"There's a connection between soil and the attack"

“I know this sounds stupid, but I think there’s a connection between soil and the attack – I can’t explain the feeling – I just know there’s a connection.”

"Phone me if you need anything"

He has to go now, but first warns her that she is still very weak;  she should phone him if she needs anything;  

"All right, all right!"

she angrily agrees that she will and he leaves for The Pizza Place.

As soon as he is out of the door, 

There is still some compost on the floor . . .

she reaches down to where there is still 

. . . but the feel of it brings a feeling . . . 

a small piece of compost on the floor 

. . . which she cannot describe

and tries to remember.

Danio is on the way to the Deri

Dani is walking along the road, with her bag of cleaning materials, on her way to the Deri.   Siôn has just come out of the shop.   

"Whoever this is, just stop it!"

Dani receives another phone call and snarls, “Whoever this is, just stop it, OK?”   

"Are you all right, Dani?"

Jinx meets her on his way to his shop and asks who was calling, but she insists that she is fine and walks away.

He shouts after her, “Is someone hassling you?” 

Siôn looks concerned

while Siôn, across the road, looks concerned.   

She looks across at Howard . . .

The next person Dani encounters is Howard 

. . . who smiles at her

who smiles at her from the other side of the road;  Dani begins to jump to a conclusion, as so often happens in Cwmderi.

"I'll go and help in the bar"

Up in the Deri flat, Cassie offers Kath a cup of tea, which she declines;  she says that instead she will go down to help in the bar.   Cassie points out that it is her shift.   “Yes, I know that, but I’ll do it for you, OK?   Take things slowly now, after what happened yesterday.”   

"I'm fine, Kath"

Cassie protests that she is fine, 

"They'll all be talking about Hywel and Apêl Maenan""

but Kath points out, “Everyone will be talking about Hywel Llywelyn and Apêl Maenan.”

'I'm not going to hide here all day"

“I’m not going to hide up here all day!” exclaims Cassie, so Kath says that she was only trying to help and knows what she is going through.   Cassie is now becoming angry;  “I said I’m fine, OK?”

"Where do you want me to start?"

At that moment, Dani appears, wanting to know where she should start the cleaning.   

"Kath has decided I'm under house arrest"

“Stay up here and you can keep me company, as Kath has decided that I’m under house arrest,” Cassie tells her.   Kath has had enough of this and walks out of the room.

Cassie explains that it is just some silly nonsense and offers Dani a cup of tea;  

"I need help"

“Actually, I’m glad I’ve seen you – I need help,” Dani begins

Eileen and Siôn are in the Deri

Eileen and Hywel are sitting in the Deri, 

"Huwi forgot his bathers"

where Eileen maintains that she has to go and get a few things for Sioned, then take Huwi’s bathers to school, as he forgot them this morning.

"I think I'll go and talk to Iolo"

Siôn reassures her that he will be fine looking after Tamed – he has done it before;  “After you get back, I think I’ll go and talk to Iolo.”

"You'll only argue"

Eileen advises him not to bother;  “You’ll only argue.”   Siôn misses the days when they used to forget their bathers.   Eileen thanks him for helping out and leaves the Deri.

"Have you finished here, John?"

Kath comes across;  “Have you finished here, John?” she asks and collects the empty cups.

"Mark got a new kidney, didn't he?"

Siôn enquires, “Mark got a new kidney, didn’t he?”   Kath replies that it happened twice – the first was from Stacey and then Non.   This jogs Siôn’s memory.

"Our Mark wouldn't be here without them"

“Is Iolo all right?” Kath demands and is told that it is not Iolo, but a friend of his.   “Well, our Mark wouldn’t be here without them.”   

"It must have been a difficult decision"

Siôn imagines that it must have been a difficult decision for Stacey and Non.

“I’m not sure you can think of it as a decision,” Kath replies, 

"It's not much of a choice, is it?"

“If you have the chance to save someone’s life, it’s not much of a choice, is it?   Do you know what I mean?”   

Siôn makes a phone call

This causes Siôn to think and he dials a number on his phone.

Cassie is told of Dani's experience 

“What?   You’ve had several?” exclaims Cassie;  Dani tells her that they do not say anything – it is just breathing and stuff, which Cassie regards as horrible.   She suspects that it is kids and she should block it.

"Off someone hates me, I want to know who it is"

“It’s not that easy,” Dani answers, “If someone hates me, I want to know who it is.   It’s more than just phone calls as well.   Someone left a balloon on the doorstep yesterday – in the shape of a star.”   

"You need to go straight to the police"

Cassie cannot imagine who would do such a thing and advises her to go straight to the police, confident that they will sort it out in a jiffy.   (Rather optimistic, considering their performance with Ffion’s attack)

"The thing is, I know who it is"

“The thing is, I know who it is ” says Dani, “I did suspect Cai, but he can’t do much from a psychiatric hospital, can he?   So that just leaves Howard.”

Cassie is amazed, demanding why he would do such a thing;  

"He might be a lot of things, but he's not cruel"

“Listen, people are willing to point the finger at him – and he might be a lot of things, but he’s not cruel.   And why would he do that to a mother who is grieving?”

"I slept with him at Sioned's party"

Dani provides the answer;  “Because I slept with him at Sioned’s party – it was a mistake, OK?   I tried to say sorry because it was my fault.   I used him, so . . .”

"Are you sure it's not your guilty conscience?"

“So you think he wants revenge – are you sure it’s not your guilty conscience playing tricks on you?” Cassie enquires, 

Dani does not reply

but Dani says nothing.

"I was going to come and find you"

Iolo comes into the deli and finds that his father is there;  “I was going to come and find you – sit down for a second,” says Siôn.   Iolo reluctantly does so.

“I’ve been thinking,” Siôn begins.

"Put the flags out!"

“Put out the flags!” comments Iolo.

'I've rearranged the appointment"

“Reconsidering, processing things – and I’ve rearranged the appointment with the doctor for next week.   I phoned and got an appointment for Monday.   You’re welcome to come.”

Eileen does not miss a trick

Eileen, behind the counter, is taking notice of this, as Iolo says that he will be working.   

"I thought you'd be pleased"

“Oh, I thought you would be pleased,” his father goes on.

"I'll be pleased after you go"

“I’ll be pleased after you go to the appointment!” Iolo answers.

Eileen has to 'stick her oar in'

Of course, Eileen cannot resist interrupting the conversation, demanding, “Is that all you have to say?   You’ve gone on and on about your father changing his mind, knowing that he’s not as healthy as he was!   

"You should be thanking him!"

“And now you’ve had your way – you talk to your father like that!   You should be thanking him for the sacrifice he’s making!”

"Keep your nose out, Eileen!"

Iolo simply tells her, “Keep your nose out, Eileen!   Do you know what?   

"You wouldn't think twice about letting your child die!"

“We all know that if you were in the same position as him, you wouldn’t think twice about letting your child Dai.   

"And that says it all about you!"

“And that says it all about you, Eileen!”

"Are you completely sure?"

Diane is looking at her laptop and speaking on the phone;  “And you are completely sure that Hywel Llywelyn was in the meeting?   And that he spoke in favour of the application?  

"Thank you"

“Thank you.”   

She contemplates what to do next

She resolutely closes the laptop and works out what she is going to do next.

Ffion must have left the door unlocked

There is a knock at the door of Deri Fawr, when Hywel arrives as planned, but he finds out the place is empty, checking everywhere, 

There is no sign of Ffion upstairs, either . . .

including upstairs, but there is no sign of Ffion.   

. . . so he contacts Jinx

He immediately takes out his phone and calls Jinx.

Ffion is out in the woods . . .

Meanwhile, Ffion is back out in the woods trying to look for inspiration, 

. . . but has lost her way . . .

but she appears to have lost her bearings, 

. . . and is disorientated

looking around and seeing nothing familiar.   

She is becoming tired

Now she is becoming tired.

"Where is he?"

Diane comes into the Deri and angrily asks Cassie, “Where is he?   Upstairs?   I can’t find him anywhere!   Hywel – who else?   

"He got the planning application through!"

“He was in the meeting, Cassie – the planning committee – he didn’t resign until afterwards.   He got the application through – Apêl Maenan.   

"He did the dirty work for Quantum Hydro Works!"

“He did the dirty work for Quantum Hydro Works before he left.   I’ve never seen anyone so two-faced in my life!   And I don’t mind saying that to your face, either!”

"He's been banned from the Deri"

Cassie confirms that he is not there and not upstairs;  “Just so you know, he’s been banned from the Deri.”   

"You're better off without him"

It is Diane’s opinion that Cassie is better off without him.

Dani has finished her cleaning

Dani has finished her cleaning and Cassie hands over her payment.   

"I'm not trying to get Howard in trouble"

“Cassie, I’m not trying to get Howard in trouble – I just really think he’s the one stalking me.   It’s a bit odd that this started straight after I slept with him and then rejected him.”

"Let me have a word with him first"

Cassie proposes to have a word with Howard before Dani does anything, 

"He won't admit anything"

but Dani is confident that he will not admit anything.   Cassie describes him as, “Pretty much an open book.”

Jinx is shouting for Ffion . . .

Ffion is sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree when Jinx comes into sight, shouting her name;  

. . . and runs towards her

when he sees her, he runs across, asking if she is all right.   

"I got lost"

She admits that she got lost 

You must not leave the house"

and he insists that she must not leave the house without anyone knowing where she is.

"I'm looking for something – but I'm not sure what"

“I’m looking for something,” she tells him, “But I’m not sure what.”   

"Wandering alone won't do you any good"

He insists that wandering around out here on her own will not do her any good, but she instructs him to stop fussing.

“I’m worried – I can’t help it – whoever attacked you is still out there somewhere!” he warns.   

"You're suffocating me, Jinx!"

She accuses him of doing it again – suffocating her.   

"Come on – let's go home"

“Come on – let’s go home,” he says and helps her to her feet.

"DS Thomas should know"

“DS Thomas should know about the picture I have in my mind,” she insists, “There’s something in the soil.”

"You want to tell her you've seen something in the soil?"

“So you want to tell DS Thomas that you’ve seen something in the soil?” he demands.   

"Stop treating me like a fool"

Ffion tells him to stop treating her like a fool, but he recommends that she let the police do their job 

They head homewards

and they make their ponderous progress back to Deri Fawr.

Hywel passes the Deri

Hywel is walking past the Deri;  Cassie has just come out, he begs her, “Please listen to me, will you?   

"I had good reasons for doing what I did"

“I had good reasons for doing what I did.   I was trying to protect you by keeping things from you – to stop people blaming you.”

"That's the excuse of every unscrupulous swine!"

“That’s the excuse of every unscrupulous swine, isn’t it?   You didn’t tell me because you knew I’d be against it.”   

"That's not true"

He denies that is true, but she cautions him, “Don’t try to throw dust in my eyes, Hywel – and Diane knows that you approved the application before you retired from the council – so there’s nothing more to discuss.   

"It's over!"

“We had a good time while it lasted – but it’s over.”

Now Diane has a go at him

As she walks away, Diane approaches, in a furious mood;  “How could you, Hywel?” she demands, but he makes it clear that he is not going to listen to anything she says.

"It's everyone for themselves now!"

He snarls, “It’s about time you realised that there is no such thing as a community any more – it’s everyone for themselves now!”   

He goes into number 21

He goes back into number 21.

Siôn brings flowers

Siôn arrives at the shop flat, carrying some flowers, which he hands to Eileen;  

"Oh, Siôn, you're so romantic"

“Oh, Siôn, you’re so romantic!” she says, “But I know what these are – flowers to apologise for Iolo.”

Siôn agrees that he went too far, 

"It's not your place to apologise for him"

she is adamant, “It’s not your place to apologise for him.”   

"I can't help but feel responsible"

Siôn cannot help but feel responsible.   She reminds him that Iolo is a grown man;  

"I've long given up making excuses for Sioned"

“I’ve long given up making excuses for Sioned.”

"This is more complicated"

Siôn regards this situation as rather more complicated, but Eileen does not agree;  

"Iolo alone is responsible"

“Iolo – and Iolo alone is responsible for what he does and what he says – and I know what to do with these,” she continues, 

The flowers are consigned to the bin

picking up the flowers and depositing them in the bin.

"Only for something you've done wrong"

Turning to face Siôn, she defiantly folds her arms and informs him, “You can buy me flowers to say sorry to me any time – but only for something you’ve done wrong.”

"I'm an idiot!"

Cassie has gone to have a word with Howard at Penrhewl;  “I’m an idiot, thinking that sleeping with a girl would mean anything!” he growls.   

"It does, Howard, but . . ."

She assures him that it does, but it means something different to some people sometimes.   

"It's too complicated for me"

“Well, it’s much too complicated for me!” he snarls and Cassie says that it is complicated for everyone.  “I should have known that Dani is way out of my league,” he goes on, but Cassie is doubtful that it works like that.   “I would never do anything to hurt her – why would I?   

"I like her – I don't hate her!"

“I like her – I don’t hate her – it doesn’t make sense!   You have to believe me, Cassie!”

"I do believe you"

She replies that she does believe him;  “But you did doubt me, didn’t you?   I don’t know why I’m surprised – 

"Everyone thinks the worst of me"

“everyone thinks the worst of me.”   She assures him that this time she does not think the worst of him, 

"You leave Dani to me"

telling him to leave Dani to her.

Dani's phone rings again

Dani is clearing the table after her solo meal when she hears her phone sound again; 

There is of course no caller ID

there is no caller ID, so she immediately rejects the call, but as soon as she puts down the phone, 

"It rings again 

it rings again.   She demands, “Who is this?” and hears the heavy breathing once more.   

"What have I done to deserve this?"

“What have I done to deserve this?   Just leave me alone!”   She puts down the phone and 

She puts some rubbish in the bin . . .

 she is about to put some rubbish in the bin, 

. . . sees the vodka bottle . . .

notices the empty vodka bottle already in there.   

. . . and gets out a can of lager

There is a can of lager in the cupboard, 

She has a drink

which she quickly opens and takes a swig.   When the phone rings again, she shouts upstairs to Gwern, “I’m going out!”

"So this is where you are!"

Iolo is in APD when Eileen marches in;  “So this is where you are,” she snarls.   Iolo says that he is in a hurry and has to pick up Greta.   

"I hope little Greta appreciates it more than you!"

“Well I hope little Greta appreciates her grandfather’s sacrifice more than you do!”

“Sacrifice?” mutters Iolo.

"You should be ashamed of yourself!"

“You should be ashamed of yourself, treating him the way you do!   He gives you love and a home – and look how you pay him back!”   Diane has just come in, carrying some posters, and listens to this altercation.

“You force him to go through something that’s against his wishes!” Eileen rants on;  

"It's none of your business, Eileen!'

she is told that this is none of her business, but she will not stop.

"He supported you when you 'came out'!"

“He supported you when you ‘came out’ or whatever term they use these days!”   He assumes that she has a problem with his being gay, but she denies that she said any such thing.   

Diane is taking note of all this

Diane is showing considerable interest in this.

“You and your type always feel hard done by!” Eileen moans, 

"A proper man . . ."

“A proper man wouldn’t have made a public drama like you did earlier!”

“So now you don’t think I’m a ‘proper man’, do you?” says Iolo, but she accuses him of putting words into her mouth, 

"If the cap fits, Iolo . . ."

adding that if the cap fits, he should wear it, then storms out.

"Did you hear that?"

Iolo asks Diane, “Did you hear that?”   

"Yes – every word!"

She replies that she did, every word.

"I know you're trying to support, Kath"

Behind the bar in the Deri, Kath enquires if Cassie wants to be there tonight.   “Sorry, I know you’re trying to be supportive, but I think all this has affected me more than I thought,” Cassie replies.

Kath appreciates, “Nothing hurts more than someone lying to you,” 

"What can I get you, Jinx?"

then notices that Jinx is waiting to be served;  he asks for a pint.   “You are coming to this tomorrow night, are you?” she says, 

A protest meeting, tomorrow night

referring to the notice on the bar, indicating a protest meeting at the closure of Apêl Maenan, but he is not sure.

Arwen will be playing netball

“Arwen’s playing netball, but I’ll do my best,” he says;  Kath appreciates that it is rather short notice.

Dani comes in for a vodka and lemonade . . . 

Danny comes in and asks for a vodka and lemonade, 

. . . but then launches into accusations against Howard

then suddenly bursts out, “Does everyone know what he’s been doing to me?” as she points directly at Howard, 

"Phoning me, stalking me!"

“Phoning me, stalking me, frightening me!   You think you know him, but you don’t, Cassie!   He sent me a star shaped balloon – that how sick he is.”

"I did nothing of the sort!"

Howard protest that he did no such thing 

"It's not me, Dani!"

and demands that Dani confirm that it is not him.   

"I know it's you – and now everyone else does, too!"

She simply exclaims, “I know it’s you – and now everyone else does, too!   You can’t do this any more – do you understand?”

She charges out of the pub . . .

She marches out of the Deri, 

. . . while Howard is left stunned

leaving Howard and Jinx staring at each other.