23 July 2025

Hywel and Eleri are waiting

It is the day of the carnival;  Hywel and Eleri are waiting by the farm gate of Penrhewl.   

"I like this – 'The heart of the Valley'"

She looks at her phone as Hywel says that he likes the wording on the Quantum Hydro Works flag, “The heart of the valley.   The kids will love it – and, as you said, I think balloons would have been a lot more hassle.”

"Where is everyone?"

Eleri is looking anxious and demands, “Where is everyone?

Apparently, 'everyone' is in the Deri . . .

Meanwhile, in the Deri, Ieuan Griffiths announces to the assembled villagers, “Just to remind you, I’m going to be a very strict judge,” as he evaluates two of the fruit and vegetable entries, consisting of cauliflower and pineapple.   

. . . and Ieuan misjudging the vegetable animals

“I’ll be taking marks off for lack of originality and over-use of cocktail sticks.”

"I like your little lamb"

Colin is very admiring of Dani’s little lamb, 

"It's like a 'cauli-oodle'!"

but she enlightens him, “It’s a poodle – you know, like a cauli-oodle.”   Kelly agrees that it is ‘super-obvious’.

No prizes for guessing who Tom is thinking about . . .

Tom is sitting with Gaynor and Esther, 

. . . and likewise for Ffion 

but keeps looking across at Ffion;  

"I think I've overfilled my matchbox"

Gaynor suspects that she has overfilled her matchbox and hopes that she will not get disqualified.   Tom draws her attention to his pineapple owl, but she considered him rather too old to compete.   His excuse is that he was helping Esther, whose father was too busy organising the event.   

"I think ours is the best"

She considers that the entry is the best, while Gaynor is looking adoringly at Tom.

"It's not my fault"

Still waiting outside Penrhewl, Eleri is blaming Hywel, who protests that it clearly said 12 o’clock on the poster and that this is not his fault.   

"No-one's answering their blinkin' phone!"

She is now becoming very angry, snarling, “No-one’s answering their blinkin’ phone!”   Hywel is sure that this must just be a misunderstanding, 

"We're going to the village"

but she is determined to go down to the village.

Iolo and Greta head for the Deri . . . 

Two people are hurrying along the High Street towards the Deri, and as they pass the alley, there is someone else watching; 

. . . and Olivia is watching

it is Olivia, who looks upset at the sight of her daughter, Greta, going into the Deri with Iolo.

"Here she is . . "

Ieuan notices them arriving and announces, “Here she is, coming into the Deri – 

". . . our princess!"

please give a warm welcome to the princess!”   Kath instructs Ieuan to behave himself and put down that microphone.

Iolo apologises that they are late, but is told by Kelly, “That is the prerogative of the carnival queen – 

Greta is shown to her throne

you look amazing – do you want to see your throne?”

Rhys has brewed a special cider

Rhys hands a bottle to Iolo, inviting him, “Try this – Carnafal – the first cider Ceffyl Du has done.   Everyone gets a free bottle and there’s a barrel on the bar – Griffiths has had two already.”

"Has given Quantum Hydro Works a kick . . ."

Iolo comments, after taking a sip, that it has quite a kick;  Kelly remarks, “Do you know what?   Let’s hope today has given Quantum Hydro Works a kick – 

". . . where the sun doesn't shine!"

“especially where the sun doesn’t shine!”

Hywel and Eleri arrive . . . 

Hywel and Eleri have arrived in the High Street, 

. . . and get a great surprise

surprised to find the place is deserted 

🔴  Flashback to 16 October 2014  🔴

(rather reminiscent of the occasion on 16 October 2014 when Mark arrived back from Bristol to find that everyone was attending his supposed funeral).

"This is so weird"

“This is so weird – where are all the stalls and the decorations?   Rhys said they were here this morning.   Where’s the banner?   Somebody has stolen it!”   

"Over there"

Hywel directs her attention to the bench near the alley, 

It is bundled under the bench

where the banner has been stuffed underneath;  she is absolutely furious.

Britt and Colin are cavorting

Inside the Deri, Colin and Britt are dancing in an abandoned fashion, but Anita is sitting quietly.   

"I think now is the time to make your speech"

“So this is where you’re before hiding,” says Kelly, “I think this is now the time to make your speech, the kids have a sugar crash and the adults get too sloshed – what do you think?”

The speech is in the bin"

“But the speech is in the bin,” Anita replies, 

"We rescued it – remember?"

but is reminded that they rescued it and Kelly has it there for Anita, 

"Yes, I'm ready"

 says that she is ready, but is obviously extremely nervous.

"I hope Griffiths goes bananas about it"

Britt shouts to Colin that the banana duck does not look too bad;  “I just hope Griffiths goes bananas about it!”   Colin is sure that he will be ‘quackers’ about it.

"Let's have bit of hush-hush"

Kelly takes the microphone;  “Right, carnival-goers, let’s have a bit of hush-hush, please, so that we can hear from our VIP.”   

Olivia slips in . . .

The door opens and Olivia comes in, 

. . . and sits by Ffion 

sitting down next to Ffion.

"The Honourable Fairy Godmother"

Kelly continues, “The Honourable Fairy Godmother, Auntie Neet!”   

Anita drops her notes 

Everyone cheers and Anita accidentally drops all her notes.   She loses confidence and tells Kelly that she cannot do this, but is assured that she can;  

"You don't need these notes"

“Everyone loves you – and you don’t need these notes.”

"Hello"

Anita begins, “Hello, well, the aim of today, all the preparation work, is to celebrate that we’re all here together.   

"People are the most important thing"

“And here we are – people are the most important thing – it’s people that make a community.   And to be honest with you, that’s all that’s important in the end, isn’t it?   

They all listen to Anita

“No, I know that life can’t always be a bed of roses, but at times like this, when we’re all together, 

"We are reminded of how sweet life can be . . ."

“we are reminded of how sweet life can be.   

". . . and I never want to forget that"

“And I never want to forget that.”

Tom is looking bored

By this point, Tom appears very disinterested and looks at Gaynor, who is next to him.

"I want to thank Kelly and Rhys"

Anita goes on, “Right, you have to forgive me now because I want to thank two people – Kelly and Rhys.   Thank you from the bottom of my heart, because you know how much today means to me.   

"I hope you all have a day to remember"

“So now it’s time for you all to enjoy yourselves and I hope you have a day to remember.”

"Three cheers for Anita!"

Rhys climbs on a chair and orchestrates three cheers for Anita;  as the last of these is ringing out, 

"What do you think you're doing?"

the door opens and in walk Hywel and Eleri, who demands, “What do you think you’re doing?”

Everyone stares at her

All eyes turn in her direction.   

"You think you're so clever, don't you?"

“Oh right, I see!   You think you’re so clever, don’t you, organising your pathetic secret little carnival behind our backs?” 

Rhys agrees that they do, 

"I'd say it's a roaring success!"

with Kelly adding, “I’d say it’s a roaring success – cue music!”   As the participants all cheer, 

"Shame you'll miss out on the special guest"

Eleri is almost drowned out as she reminds them that it is a shame they will miss out on the special guest.

“Rhys Meirion was looking forward to meeting you.”   

"Rhys Meirion in Cwmderi?"

Britt cannot believe that he is in Cwmderi and Colin attempts to calm her enthusiasm.

"Today's about the community"

“I don’t care if you resurrected Pavarotti,” sneers Rhys, “Today is about the community, not a chance to buy people off!”   

"Let's discuss this"

His father wants to discuss this properly outside 

"You two can go"

but Kath wants Hywel and Eleri to leave, so that they can enjoy their carnival.

"Admit that your intention was to take over the carnival

Rhys makes it quite clear that he is not going anywhere, “Until you admit that your intention from the start was to take over the carnival to promote Quantum Hydro Works.”   

"This is ridiculous!"

Eleri sighs that the whole situation is ridiculous, but Rhys maintain that everyone has the right to know;  

"Are you going to tell everyone about the shares?"

“So, Dad, are you going to tell everyone about the shares you’ve had in the company for years?”   

This revelation shocks the local people in the Deri, as his father reminds him that the shares are in fact in his name.   

"You wanted to avoid a conflict of interest"

“Because you wanted to avoid a conflict of interest when you were on the council,” Rhys explains.

"Now listen here, good boy"

“Now, listen here, good boy – you haven’t been an angel in this – you’ve kept quiet about it for weeks.   Where was your loyalty to your community then?” demands Hywel.

"I'll be transferring the shares back to you!"

Rhys confesses that he regrets ever listening to his father and will be transferring those shares back to him, “Because I don’t want anything to do with you or the dam!   You want to buy, steal and control everything, including today.”

"Hywel Llywelyn, you're banned – again!"

Kath picks up the microphone, declaring, “Hywel Llywelyn, you’re banned!   Again!”   This raises a further cheer from the participants.

"What's wrong with you?"

Eleri turns on Kath;  “What’s  wrong with you?   You can’t see how lucky you are.   As a company, we provide work for a lot of you.   I’ve had enough of your attitude – 

"Tell Mathew that APD are sacked!"

“from now on we’ll employ people who appreciate the company.   Tell Mathew that APD are sacked!”

Ieuan protests that she cannot do that, but Eleri informs them that if anyone wants a selfie with Rhys Meirion, they should follow her.   

Britt is a blur as she rushes out

Britt cannot get out of that door fast enough.

Rhys jokingly asks Kelly, “Do you want a selfie?” as his father strides purposefully towards him.

"You've ruined your good name"

He snarls, “I hope you realise that you’ve ruined my good name for ever!   Enjoy your carnival – I hope it was worth it!” before storming out.

"What do you mean – the carnival isn't there?"

Siôn receives a phone call from Eileen;  “Penrhewl?   What do you mean – the carnival isn’t there?   We’re all in the Deri.”

"It's about time we crowned the queen"

Anita tells them, “Listen, there might be a celeb out there, but the Queen of the Cwmderi Carnival is here – now it’s about time we crowned her, don’t you think?”   

Olivia proudly watches

Olivia is watching from near the door, 

Dan is called upon to do the honours

as Anita asks Dani to put the crown on Greta’s head, 

Greta is crowned

which, after a little hesitation, she does.

Olivia captures the moment on her phone

The assembled multitude cheer and Olivia takes out her phone to record the moment;  

Then Iolo catches sight of her

Iolo happens to turn round and see her.   He appears horrified and comes straight across to her;  

"What the hell are you doing here?"

“What the hell are you doing here?”

"I think you're amazing!"

Britt is telling Rhys Meirion that she is one of his biggest fans;  “I think you’re amazing!”   She introduces herself as Britt Evans, “Well, Monk, really.”

"Get out of the way, Britt!"

She is abruptly told by Eleri, “We’re trying to take photos here, Britt – out of the way!” Britt recommends that he should not bother with them, 

"They're trying to drown the valley!"

as they are trying to drown the valley, but this gets Eleri’s back up even more.   

"We're on a tight schedule here!"

“We’re on a tight schedule here!   We need to do the photo shoot.”

"Well, you can do it without me"

“Well, you can do it without me,” he tells her, “I  want nothing to do with your corrupt company!”  

She warns him that he cannot opt out of the photo because it is in the contract.   

"It's lucky I didn't sign anything"

“It’s lucky I didn’t sign anything then,” is his response.

"You talked to his agent, not me"

Eleri and Hywel look at each other;  “You talked to his agent, not me,” Hywel points out.

"What do you want, Liv?"

Outside the Deri, Iolo demands, “What do you want, Liv?”   

"I'm off the drugs"

She replies that she has been working in London and is in a much better place;  she is off the drugs.   “But why are you here?” he wants to know.

“I heard about Seren – I wanted to offer Dani my condolences,” Olivia begins, 

"Seren died months ago"

but Iolo will not listen to this, arguing that Seren died months ago.

Olivia maintains that she only just heard, 

"What about Tyler?"

so he growls, “What about Tyler?   Where were you when I lost him – your own brother?”   

"I'm so sorry for everything, Iolo"

She admits that she was not in a good place back then and is so sorry for everything.

He cannot stay away

Inside the Deri, Tom manages to gravitate towards Ffion, but she does not seem to want anything to do with him, 

"Not here, anyway"

not there, anyway.   

"Welcome to the Deri Arms"

Britt brings in Rhys Meirion, welcoming him into the Deri Arms.   

"Traitor!

Both Kelly and Siôn are enraged to see him;  “Traitor – that’s what he is if he’s being paid by Quantum Hydro Works!” shouts Siôn  

He is reminded by Tom that he is being paid for translation work for the company, 

"I knew nothing about this company's background"

but Rhys Meirion would like a chance to explain.   “Hand on heart, I knew nothing about this company’s background until Britt told me about the plan and the deceit.   The whole thing is terrible.”

"Anita – you don't look a day over 40"

Anita comes forward and greets him;  he tells her that she does not look a day over 40 and asks how she is.   “Listen, I only agreed to come back here today because of the welcome I got at your 60th birthday party.   

"Why don't we all stand together?"

“So, believe me, I’m on your side – so why don’t we all stand together?”

It seems that Siôn has infringed the rules . . .

Jinx announces that one competitor has managed to stuff thousands of grains of spice into a matchbox;  Siôn proudly points out that it was cinnamon and ginger, before being reminded that the rules say that only one of each item can be included in the box.   “So the winner, with 148 things in her box, is Diane,” 

. . . so there is applause for the winner . . .

who receives a round of applause.

. . . who appears to be on the cider

She is sitting next to the table with the special cider – and apparently taking full advantage of it.

"You're doing such a good job with Greta"

Olivia concedes that Iolo is doing such a good job with Greta;  “She’s beautiful.”   He agrees that she is a very special girl and Olivia asks if she can meet her.

"What are you doing here?"

However, at this point, Dani comes out and is not at all happy to see her sister;  “What are you doing here?      Look, if you’re here for money . . .”

"I've changed"

 but Olivia assures her that is not the case, as she has changed.

“Junkies like you never change,” Dani snarls, “We don’t want you here, so go!”   Olivia has little choice but to comply and once again apologises to Iolo.

"You can't trust her"

“Keep an eye on Greta,” Dani warns him, “You can’t trust her,” 

Iolo, however, is in two minds

but Iolo does not know what to think.

"I hope everyone has has a day to remember"

“Have you enjoyed yourself?” Kelly asks Auntie Anita.   She confirms that she has and hopes that everyone has had a day to remember.

"I expect I'll forget everything"

“Mind you, I expect I’ll forget everything about today,” she goes on, 

"I'll never let you forget"

but Kelly promises that she will never let her aunt forget how brave she was today.   

"I'm so proud of you"

She is seriously so proud of Anita – 

They hug

and they hug.

"How could you let this happen?"

As they sit on the bench with the banner underneath, Eleri is blaming Hywel;  “How could you let this happen?”   

"You were the one who made a mess of things"

He, on the other hand, insists that she made a mess of things by telling Kelly the truth.

“You were supposed to sort her and Rhys!”   

The photographer appears . . . 

Then the photographer comes along, 

. . . and is told to clear off

but Eleri snarls at her, “Just leave – we’re done!”

"And pick that banner up!"

“And pick that banner up!” she orders Hywel, before flouncing off along the street.   

He does not intend to do anything of the sort

He deliberately leaves it where it was and walks away in the other direction.

Olivia looks from a  distance . . .

Olivia again emerges from the alley and looks with regret towards the Deri, 

. . . but at least has a photo of Greta

then turns to her phone and where she has the photo of Carnival Queen Greta.

"What did the social worker have to say?"

Colin asks Britt, “What exactly did the social worker have to say, then?”   He is told that it was just a routine catch-up.

Rhys asks if Kelly is happy with how it is going;  

"Happy?   I'm ecstatic!"

“Happy?   I’m ecstatic!   You absolutely demolished Quantum Hydro Works.”   He maintains that it was about time that he did that and she describes him with the words, “Ruthless and spectacular – 

"Seriously, I could snog you!"

“seriously, I could snog you!”

"Well go on, then!"

“Go on, then – I dare you” he invites her;   

And she does – quite emphatically

she wastes no time in doing so.

Gaynor has an announcement to make

Gaynor has now taken the microphone and asks for everyone’s attention as she would like to say a few words.   “Sorry, I don’t know where to start.   

"A few weeks ago, Tom . . ."

“A few weeks ago, Tom, you stood here and asked me a question.”

Ffion is taking notice . . .

Ffion is looking with interest 

. . . while Tom wonders what this is leading up to

and Tom is rather apprehensive about what is coming next.

“I made one of the worst mistakes of my life and said no, so I’d like to take this opportunity to correct that mistake – 

"Will you marry me?"

“and ask you, Tom, my darling, will you marry me?”

Ffion has had a lucky escape – if only she knew

Ffion appears very downhearted by this and Siôn is already congratulating Tom, although it is pointed out the poor man has not had a chance to answer yet.   

Gaynor waits for an answer

Gaynor is full of anticipation.

"What can I say?   I will?"

“Well, erm, what can I say?   I will?” he answers.   Gaynor is overjoyed as she hugs him.

"To Tom and Gaynor!"

Rhys Meirion proposes a toast to Tom and Gaynor and 

"Good luck to you!"

Colin wishes good luck to the pair of them.   “Three attempts for a Welsh woman!” says Gaynor.

Rhys Meirion says that it has been a memorable day here in Cwmderi;  

"It's great to see people like you"

“And it’s great to see people like you – a community coming together to celebrate love, but also to stand together in the face of adversity against Quantum Hydro Works.”

♫ "Together we will stand" ♫

He begins to sing the famous Welsh song – and the people join in ;

♫“Together, we will stand, for our language, 

for our country, for our people.”♫

Ffion has had enough

This is too much for Ffion, who picks up her bag and walks out of the Deri, 

This does not go unnoticed by Tom

looking at Tom 

One final glance as she leaves the Deri

as she reaches the door.

What is that strange noise?

As they reach the end of the song, the sound of snoring can be heard;  they look round

All this excitement is too much for the old folk        

to see Anita and Ieuan fast asleep, which causes some amusement.