19 June 2025

"They all seem to want to help"

Next morning, Hywel is chatting to Rhys;  “There were more than you expected, then?”   Rhys is surprised that they all seem to want to help, but he does not think they realise how much work it will be.

"They're obsessed with making animals out of vegetables"

“Kath didn’t even think we would need insurance or health and safety – they are more obsessed with things like bunting and making animals out of vegetables!”   

"We used to make local people from vegetables"

His father recalls that they used to make people from the village out of vegetables.

"Kelly and I will have to do all the work"

Rhys is convinced that he and Kelly will have to do all the work, “But I’m not sure if I’ve got the time – but I don’t want to let Kelly down – she’s doing it for Anita.   And, on top of everything, we haven’t got any money – we have to ask local businesses to contribute, but it won’t be enough.”

"I could look for grants for you"

His father offers to look for grants for him;  

"The lats thing I want to do is let people down . . ."

Rhys says that would be great, as the last thing he wants to do is let people down – 

". . . but I might have no choice"

but he fears that he may not have any choice.

"Can you pick Greta up from school?"

Lleucu comes downstairs in Y Felin as Iolo is preparing to go out;  he asks her if she is available this afternoon.   “Can you pick Greta up from school, please?   

"I'm going to see Alex"

“I’m going to see Alex – I had a text, inviting me over – I know, perhaps I was a bit dramatic last week.”

"You were convinced you would never see her again"

“Dramatic?” says Lleucu, “You were convinced you would never see her again!”

"Everyone wants me in their lives"

Iolo laughs that he should know better;  “Everyone wants me in their lives!”   

"Greta will be fine with me"

She tells him to enjoy himself and not to rush home, as Greta will be fine with her.

The post drops on to the doormat . . .

Just then, the post comes through the door 

. . . but there is no letter for Lleucu 

and Lleucu anxiously asks if there is anything from her father, but, disappointingly, there is not.

"A carnival?"

Hywel has gone to see Eleri, who is dismissive of the idea of a carnival, 

"This may be exactly what we need"

but he protest that this may be exactly what they need to change people’s minds about Quantum Hydro Works.

"I'm not sure who's the biggest fool here"

“I’m not sure who is the biggest fool here,” she sneers, “You for thinking that I would be interested, or me for thinking you have ambitious ideas.”

"You have to think like them"

He maintains that if she wants to influence these people, she will have to think like them, but she would prefer not to sink to that level.   “They like simple things like this – and Quantum Hydro Works could be involved in organising it.

"If we give them a few hundred pounds"

“They haven’t got any money – if we give them a few hundred pounds, perhaps we can change a pathetic little day into an event everyone will remember.”

"And it would be thanks to us!"

It appears that he is getting through to Eleri;  “And it would be thanks to us!   How do we persuade them to take the money?” she asks.   He repeats that they have not got a penny, 

"They haven't got m much sense, either"

but she reminds him, “They haven’t got much sense, either.   People like Siôn White and Mark Jones will make a scene.”

"W have a committee member on our side"

“Well, that’s where we’re lucky,” Hywel goes on, “Because we have a committee member who’s on our side – someone with a financial interest,” which she assumes to be Rhys.

"Did you visit Dad yesterday?"

In the deli, Colin encounters Lleucu, who immediately asks him if he visited her father yesterday;  Colin reports that he was well and in a good mood.   

"He dd get your letter"

“He asked about you – it’s always his first question – and he did get your letter, for which he was very grateful.   

"He's been very busy with he counselling"

“He’s been very busy with the counselling, you know.”

When Colin reaches the counter, he is disappointed to learn that there are no custard slices left.   

"You haven't sold out already?"

He is astonished that they have sold out already, 

"I'm very sorry"

and the assistant says that she is sorry.   

"I've been looking forward to it!"

“But I want one!” he insists, “I’ve been looking forward to it!”

Gaynor has just come in and points out to him that there are other things he could have, 

"I don't want anything else!"

but he angrily protests, “I don’t want anything else – I want a custard slice.”   She urges him to come and sit down, 

"I've got too much to do"

but he maintains that there is no point, as he has so much to do.

In answer to Gaynor’s question, he says that he has not heard any more from Britt, 

"Come over to Llwyncelyn for a cup of tea"

so she invites him over to Llwyncelyn for a cup of tea.

Iolo arrives at Alex's house

Iolo arrives at Alex’s mother’s house;  she tells him that her mother apologises for not being there.   

"Mam wanted us to have some peace"

“She thought it would be nice for us to have some peace.”

"This is a lovely house"

Iolo is rather overcome by the size of the house and is told that Alex’s mother loves doing places up;  

"She should have been an interior designer"

“She should have been an interior designer, really.”

"I do feel a lot stronger"

She says she feels a lot stronger than she did and thanks him for the flowers he sent.   

"I've been worried about you"

He has been worried about her.   “Sorry – since the operation I haven’t seen anyone except Mam – I’ve been paranoid about getting an infection.   “We’ve been waiting for this for so long – and at one point, I didn’t think it was going to happen.”

"It must be a huge weight off your shoulders"

Iolo appreciates that it must be a huge weight off her shoulders, but she  sounds rather disappointed as she says, “Yeah, that’s what I was hoping – but it feels like there’s a different weight now.   

"The illness has taken over everything for years"

“The illness has taken over everything for years – and now I don’t have to worry about it, it’s as if I’ve got too much time to think about other things, like what I’m going to do next.”

"You thought long and hard before seeing Cai"

At Llwyncelyn, Gaynor says, “Col, I know you well enough to know that you thought long and hard before going to see Cai.”

"I couldn't not go to see him"

He replies, “I couldn’t not go to see him, you know – despite the fact I knew how Britt would react.   All I kept thinking about was, ‘what if he had died?’”

"If anything, I admire you"

Gaynor stresses that he has not done anything wrong and, if anything, she admires him.   “You knew what the reaction would be, but you went ahead – to help someone who was suffering.   

"It shows you've got a big heart"

“It shows you’ve got a big heart and how much empathy you have.”   

He does not feel any better

This does little to make Colin feel better.

"The place has so much potential"

In the brewery, Eleri, accompanied by Hywel, approaches Rhys;  “This place has so much potential,” she tells him.

"Nice to have you back, Eleri"

Rhys sarcastically says, “Nice to have you back, Eleri.   I take it you’re not here for a drink?”

"We want to help you with the carnival"

“No, but I’ll have a coffee, if you’re making one,” she replies.   His father announces that they want to help him with the carnival, 

"Are you any good at making bunting?"

and Rhys wonders if they are any good at making bunting.   

"Everyone is obsessed with bunting!"

Eleri sneers that everyone is obsessed with bunting and Hywel can offer his son something much better than bunting.

“£500!” says Eleri 

"This is not an offer from Tomos ac Ellis, is it?"

and Rhys assumes that it is not an offer from Tomos ac Ellis.   She points out that people do not have a problem with buying as selling houses, just projects that will bring money and work into the place.

"You think that £500 will make them agree?"

“So you think £500 will make them agree to the dam?” Rhys enquires;  she replies that it is worth a try, 

"They're stupid enough!"

adding that the people are stupid enough.

"This is an opportunity to reconcile"

Hywel intervenes to point out that this is an opportunity to reconcile;  “To mend the rift that has happened.”

"Someone had to do something"

Gaynor continues to explain to Colin, “Things had gone too far between the two families – you weren’t comfortable with the situation, were you?   Someone had to do something.”

"Now I've pushed Britt away"

Colin is concerned that now he has pushed Britt away by helping Cai;  

"She'll come to understand"

Gaynor emphasises that Britt is disappointed, but will come to understand.   

Colin doubts that will happen

He thinks unlikely that will happen;  “I haven’t heard a word from her since she left for Newcastle.   She’s not answering her phone or anything.   

"What if I've lost her for ever?"

“I miss her so much, Gaynor, and so does Kylie.   I don’t know if she’ll come home – what if I’ve lost her for ever?   

"I don't think I can live without her"

“I don’t think I can live without her.”

"We want to invest in the community"

Hywel continues to sell the idea, “Quantum Hydro Works is looking to invest in the community – and what better place to start?   

"It's up to you how you spend it"

“It’s a gift – it’s up to you how you spend it – you said you hadn’t any money.”

Rhys points out that they have £100 from the Deri;  

"£100 will go a long way!"

“That will go a long way!” scathingly comments Eleri, “You could turn this carnival from being a miserable day into something much more professional – you could forget about bunting and buy flags.   You could even get a celeb to do the official opening.”

"We've already got someone – Anita"

Rhys proudly informs her that they have already got someone – Anita.   

"She's not going to attract anyone!"

“She’s not going to attract anyone!” Eleri protests.

"That proves you're missing the whole point"

“Everything you say proves you’re missing the whole point – people want to do things themselves – it’s supposed to bring people back together,” exclaims Rhys.   

"How long have you been concerned about the community?"

She wonders how long he has been concerned about the community, so he points out that, unlike her, he is part of the community – 

"And people like me!|

and people like him.

"They would like you even more if you had a wad of cash!"

She is sure that they would like him even more if he went to his next meeting with a wad of cash.   

"So you want me to do your dirty work?"

“So you want me to do your dirty work,” he laughs, but she maintains that giving someone money is not dirty work.

“It depends where it comes from, doesn’t it?” he remarks 

"We're not putting pressure on you"

and his father interrupts to point out that it would be better if it came from him, as he is organising it.   He stresses that they are not putting any pressure on Rhys at all and encourages him to think about it, as everyone could benefit from it

"You didn't make that cake just for me?"

Colin hopes that Gaynor had not made that cake especially for him;  she admits that she has not made a cake for a while, but she heard that there was a carnival approaching, 

"I thought I would practise"

she thought she would practise in case there is a competition.

He had forgotten how competitive she is, but she says that she is just trying to hold on to what is left of her reputation.   

Colin thanks her for listening

He thanks her for listening;  “This whole situation is affecting so many people and I’m worried about the effect it has had on the children, especially Gwern.”   

"How did Gwern get on in the exams?"

Gaynor enquires how he got on in his exams and Colin realises that he has not even asked.   She thinks that they finish today, 

"I might even get him a present"

so Colin will go over and congratulate him, possibly even getting him a present, after everything he has been through.

"Colin, you're so thoughtful"

“Oh, Colin, you’re so thoughtful – Britt will come to see that, too,” Gaynor tells him;  

"I'll leave you to practise your baking . . ."

he hopes so and will now leave her to practise her baking, 

". . . a tiny bit less lemon"

but leaves her with one tip, “A little bit less lemon.”

"It took you three slices to realise that?"

“And it took you three slices to realise that?” she demands.

It is rather an imposing house 

Alex brings out two cups of tea to Iolo, 

"Is this Japan?"

who is looking at some photographs;  “Is this Japan?” he asks 

"We went there when I was about thirteen"

and she replies that they went there for five weeks when she was about thirteen and appreciates that she has been so lucky.

“Mam wanted me to see the world,” she says, 

"I've been to Brittany and the Eisteddfod!"

while Iolo has just been to Brittany and the Eisteddfod.   He comments that they have been brought up in completely different ways.

“Do you have any plans?” he wonders.   

"We'd like to travel round Japan again"

When she has got stronger, Alex and her mother have decided that they are going to travel around Japan again, but is not sure for how long.   

"You nee to concentrate on yourself"

She maintains that she needs time to process things and he agrees that she needs to concentrate on herself. 

"Things are too complicated"

She stresses that she has enjoyed getting to know him, but feels that things are too complicated.   “I know how selfish that sounds,” 

"You have a perfect right to be"

but Iolo appreciates that she has a perfect right to be.   

"I hope we shall keep in touch"

He hopes that they will still keep in touch 

She does not seem too keen on that

and, after a few seconds’ thought, she agrees, rather half-heartedly.

Colin writes in a card . . .

Colin is writing in a card, ‘Dear Gwern, so proud of you, Colin,’ 

. . . and alert bit of thought . . .

then after thinking about it, 

. . . adds Britt's name

adds, ‘and Britt’.

Lleucu is reminiscing

Lleucu is looking at the photograph of herself and her father when Iolo returns to the house.   She asks how it went and he says that he was not being dramatic;  

"She wants time to process things"

“She wants time to process things.”   

"Everyone seems to want that"

Lleucu complains that everyone seems to want that.

“She said that she wants to keep in touch,

"I think she was just being kind"

“but I think she was just being kind – mind you, I don’t blame her,” but Lleucu knows that it still hurts.   “I just like the fact that I’ve got a sister – 

"I sound pathetic now, don't I?"

“I sound pathetic now, don’t I?   

"It feels like Greta and I don't have much family left"

“I’m hardly in contact with Macs and Huw – and since losing Tyler, it feels like Greta and I haven’t got much family left.”

"I'm still here"

Lleucu reminds him that she is still there and he is very grateful for that, 

"I don't know what I'd do without you"

“Because I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

She looks across towards the photograph on the bookcase 

"Why do you think Dad doesn't want to see me?"

and asks, “Why do you think Dad doesn’t want to see me?”   

Iolo suspects that it may be for similar reasons to Alex – he has been through so much recently.   He needs time to process things too.

"I think there's tub of rice cream in the freezer"

“Do you fancy a takeaway and watching trash on the telly tonight?” she enquires;  he believes that there is a tub of ice cream in the freezer as well.   

She will go to the Chinese

She will go to the Chinese and Iolo gives her the money, assuring her that Cai will be back soon – 

"None of it is your fault, Lleucu"

and insists that none of it is her fault.

"I want you to stop phoning me"

Rhys comes to Cysgod y Glyn to speak to Eleri;  “I want you to stop phoning me!” he tells her.   

"Do you want a bank transfer or cash?"

She answers that she was with her accountant who wanted to know whether he wanted a bank transfer or cash for this gift.

“I haven’t agreed to this – and I don’t intend to, either,” he declares.   

"You're not serious?"

Eleri cannot believe that he is serious.   “Yes – that’s what I was trying to tell you earlier.   We are organising a day for the community – 

"Half the community hate Quantum Hydro Works!"

“and half the community hate Quantum Hydro Works!   “You can think I’m sad and naff if you want to – I don’t care!”

"Don't you have a share in this terrible company?"

This is obviously not what Eleri wanted;  “I’m just disappointed – I thought you were more of a businessman.   Don’t you have a share in this terrible company?”

"They're Dad's shares"

He is surprised that she knows about this and explains that they are his father’s shares, but she is quite aware that they are in his name.   

"What would your friends on the committee think about that?"

“What would your friends on the committee think about that?   Would they still want you to be part of their big day?   

"Perhaps the wouldn't let you be in their gang"

“Perhaps they wouldn’t let you be in their gang.   

"You've got a choice"

“You’ve got a choice – either I tell them there’s a traitor among them – and break Kelly’s and Anita’s hearts – 

"And persuade them to take it"

“or you accept the £1,000 and persuade them to take it.”

"You said £500 earlier"

He does not like the sound of this and points out that she said £500 earlier.   

"I'm feeling generous"

“What can I say?   I’m feeling generous.”   

She indicates the door . . .

She points towards the door 

. . . and Rhys makes his exit

and Rhys takes the hint, 

Eleri has a look of achievement

while Eleri looks pleased with herself.

"But it's not fair, Cai . . ."

Iolo is on the phone, evidently talking to Cai;  “But it’s not fair if I see you before your own daughter,” he protests, “Yes, I understand that, Cai, 

". . . it will break her heart"

“but please – it will break her heart.”   

"Right, I have to go"

Then Lleucu comes back, so he has to hastily terminate the call.

Iolo goes to get some plates and she gets her phone . . . 

Iolo goes to fetch some plates, but Lleucu takes out her phone, scrolling to her photo of Dani coming out of the shop with a bottle of vodka and prepares to send it as a message, 

. . . adding a caption to her photo

adding the caption ‘Alci’ [which hardly needs any translation].

She hides the phone away

Then she quickly puts away the phone as Iolo comes back 

"We have prawn crackers as well!"

and is delighted to find that they have prawn crackers as well.   

"Everyone gets what they deserve . . ."

She comments, “Everyone gets what they deserve, don’t they?   

". . . like Dad always says"

“Like Dad always says.”