21 August 2025

Mathew has a text from Rhys

In the kitchen at Penrhewl, Mathew has just received a text from Rhys;  ‘Haven’t seen you in ages.   Pint tonight?’   

"Coffee?"

Sioned comes into the room and finds he has made her a cup of coffee;  

"What have I done to deserve this?"

she wonders what she has done to deserve this.

"I'm just having a good day"

He replies that he is just having a good day, that is all.   

"I'm glad you're feeling better"

Sioned is very glad that he is feeling better 

"I'm going to make a romantic meal"

and, to prove it, he intends to prepare a romantic meal for them.   “I appreciate how patient you’ve been with me these last few weeks – you deserve so much better – and I want to show you that this relationship means as much to me as it does to you.”

"I've got something to look forward to"

Sioned is very pleased to hear this and says that she has something to look forward to;  

They kiss

they kiss.

Yom is not at works as usual

Tom is hanging around outside the shop, waiting for Ffion to come out;  “Cwmderi’s prettiest bridesmaid!” he gushes, 

"That's not funny"

but she does not regard it as funny.   “We’ll have more time to see each other now,” Tom proposes, but she just wants to walk away.

"Anything exciting on?"

However, he follows her and asks whether she has anything exciting on;  

"Yes – doctor's appointment"

“Yes, very exciting – a doctor’s appointment to check the cirrhosis score – and they want to discuss some old blood tests.   The surgery’s phoned before about it, but . . .”

Tom stops her there;  “Do you really have to go?” 

"Oh, you're worried about me – sweet"

so she can see that he is worried about her, which she describes as ‘sweet’, then walks away.   

Something is troubling Tom

He is indeed looking particularly worried.

Mathew is at the pharmacy

Mathew is at the pharmacy and asks Gaynor if she has tablets to help someone relax;  “You know, to settle nerves, help with stress, something like that.”

"We sell CBD Oil . . ."

She advises that they do sell CBD oil, [Cannabidiol oil, derived from cannabis] which helps with low level anxiety;  

". . . or herbal tablets"

“Or we have herbal tablets, which help you sleep.”   He regards them as just what he needs, 

"Which one do you want?"

so she asks which one he wants 

"I'll have both"

and he opts for both of them.

"Talk to the people closest to you"

“Is everything all right?” Gaynor asks, “Listen, Mathew, if there’s something worrying you, best advice I can give you is to talk to the people closest to you – Sioned, perhaps.”

"I'm fine"

Mathew insists that he is fine, 

He walks out of the pharmacy

then turns and walks out of the shop without buying anything.   

"Things all right with Sioned?"

As he walks along the street, he sees Eleri, out on her morning run, who asks if he is all right.   “Things OK with Sioned?”   

"Pity!"

When he answers that they are, she sighs, “Pity!”

"Why do you do that?"

“Why do you do that?” he snarls, “Flirt like that?   It’s as easy as breathing to you, isn’t it?”   

"I didn't do it to upset you"

She maintains that she did not do it to upset him and he continues, “I’m not in the mood today – all right?”

He looks across at Bethania . . .

When he reaches the end of the street, he looks across at Bethania Chapel, 

. . . where Megan is just entering

where Megan is just going in through the door.

"Sometimes it's just too much, like"

Jinx is at number 7 for the initial ‘sitting’ and Kelly apologises that she did not tell him about Auntie Neet;  “Sometimes when I talk about it, it’s just too much, like.”   He assures her that if she ever needs to talk, he is always there.

"You sit there, Anita"

Then he asks Anita if she will sit in the chair.   

"Is this the best way of going about it?"

Kelly wonders if this is the best way of going about it, but Jinx reminds her who the artist is.   

"Kelly over there"

He wants Ieuan on one side of Anita, with Kelly on the other;  

"It's like being in primary school"

she comments, “It’s like being in primary school, seriously!”

Jinx takes a photo

Jinx will take a photo first, and then there is a knock at the door, so Anita gets up to answer it and finds that it is Hywel; she wonders what he is doing there.

"I'm not sure why I'm here"

“I’m not really sure myself, to be honest,” he replies, but Ieuan insists that there is no point having a family portrait without his brother in it.

"This is nothing like I expected"

“This picture is nothing like what I expected it to be,” complains Anita and Hywel offers to go, but is told by his brother that he is not going anywhere.   

"We could ask Rhys and Esther"

Then Hywel suggests that they could ask Rhys and Esther.

Kelly is getting tired of this and suggests that perhaps they should sit down and make a list.   

"What about Amanda?"

Anita agrees with this proposal, pointing out that they are only going to be doing it once.   “What about Amanda?”  

"And there's Darren as well"

Kelly reminds her that there is Darren as well, but Hywel stresses that he is in Canada.   

"Stop, all of you!"

Ieuan calls a halt to all this argument;  “This is how I’ve imagined this picture, right?   And I’m paying for it – so, Hywel, stand here, please.”   

Hywel objects to Ieuan's hand in his shoulder

He puts his hand on Hywel’s shoulder, which does not meet with approval.

Now Sioned is at the pharmacy

Sioned is in the pharmacy and asks Gaynor if they have any over-the-counter medication for anxiety;  “Oh, for Mathew, is it?” which surprises Sioned.   

"I'm not sure I should say any more"

“He was in here earlier, but I’m not sure that I should say any more.”

“Of course you can say – you work in a chemist’s, not a doctor’s surgery,” urges Sioned;  she is told that he asked about the same thing as her 

"He left with nothing"

and she offered him some CBD oil, but he left with nothing.   

This worries Sioned 

Sioned is concerned as she leaves the shop.

Mathew is at Bethania 

Mathew is now inside Bethania.   

. . . where Megan brings water for the flowers

Megan comes in with some fresh water for the flowers 

"Are you admiring APD's paint work?"

and asks him, “Are you admiring APD’s paint work?   Thanks for doing the painting and not charging a fortune.”   

"You're welcome"

He replies that she is welcome and asks if she wants any help with the flowers – or whether she wants him to leave.   

"I'm glad of the company"

“No, I’m glad of the company,” she says.

"Taid was a deacon in the chapel"

“Taid [grandfather] was a deacon in the chapel – he was very well respected in his community on Anglesey.”   

"He was from Anglesey?"

Megan is surprised to hear that his grandfather was from Anglesey, 

"You wouldn't know him"

but he says that she would not know him.

"I just don't think it's a very good idea"

“I just don't think it’s a very good idea,” Gaynor tells Tom, but he points out that she wanted him to make more of an effort with Colin.   She should not worry because he will do all the food, but she insists that is not the point.

"That conversation with Colin"

“That conversation with Colin – it’s going to be so awkward, isn’t it?”   

"It may be difficult at the beginning . . ."

He simply turns up the radio louder and agrees that perhaps it may be awkward at the beginning. 

". . . but it's best to clear the air"

“But looking at the big picture, it’s better that the two of us discuss it now and clear the air, before things get unpleasant – 

"Everything will be all right"

“everything will be all right.”   

Gaynor is doubtful

Gaynor is obviously not so sure about that.

This sitting is taking its toll

Jinx is working at his easel with three of the subjects standing stiffly and one having fallen asleep.   

"I really need to check my phone"

Kelly would like to have a break now, as she really needs to check her phone.   

"That's not important"

Jinx does not consider that important, so she informs him, “It’s the 21st century, Jinx – I need to stay connected.”

He tells them that they must not move an inch, 

"Look at Auntie Neet"

but she continues moaning, “Come on – everyone’s flaked – look at Auntie Neet!”

"I've found it quite 'Zen'"

Ieuan maintains that he is not tired at all and Hywel has found it quite ‘Zen’.   “What the hell do you know about ‘Zen’?” his brother demands.

"What's 'Zen'?"

Anita is not as deeply asleep as suspected;  she demands, “What’s ‘Zen’?”

"Yeah, right, Yoda Llywelyn"

Kelly caustically comments, “Yeah, right, Yoda Llywelyn – don’t make me laugh!”   Ieuan cannot see him as Cwmderi’s ‘Zen’ master somehow.   

Anita is still demanding to know what ‘Zen’ is 

"I can't work in these conditions"

and Jinx protests that he cannot work in these conditions – he will have to see all of them individually.

"I told you that's a better idea, yeah?"

“I told you that’s a better idea,” explains Kelly, “We’ll all send you individual photos, yeah?”   However, Ieuan is convinced that this is the best way and it is more real when they are all here, live.

"The only things  want now is a cup of tea"

“The only thing I want now is a cup of tea,” Anita groans and Hywel is coming round to the idea of supplying individual photos.

"I remember when I was about 20 – and naked"

He remembers sitting for some class in Llanelli when he was about 20 – and was naked.   

Anita looks disapproving

Anita looks extremely askance at him, 

"I don't draw pictures of naked people!"

with Jinx once again emphasising that he does not draw pictures of naked people.   

He storms off

He has had enough by this time, picks up his canvas in disgust and marches out of the house, leaving the easel behind.   Anita appears to be glad that this ordeal is over.

Colin and Britt arrive at Llwyncelyn 

Colin and Britt arrive at Llwyncelyn and it is explained that Colin finished everything early in the shop so they thought they might as well make a head start on the night.   Tom invites them through to the kitchen, 

"We can leave earlier"

while Britt mutters to Colin that they can also leave earlier.

"I didn't have a chance to whip something up

She thanks them for the invitation, but is sorry that she has not had a chance to whip something up.   Tom says that he needs to have a word with Colin later;  

"Comedy double acts"

“About comedy double-acts – I understand it’s an interest that we have in common.”   

This is a shock to Colin

Colin is surprised by this, but not to be outdone, Britt suggest that after that she and Gaynor have a chat about 

"Cooking oils for chips"

the strengths and weaknesses of different cooking oils for chips.

"One of my first jobs was in a chippy . . ."

Tom informs them that one of his first jobs was in a chippy in Wrexham;  

". . . the foundation of our society"

he agrees that they are the foundation of their society.   They present him with the bottle which they have brought 

Gaynor does not like the look the wine

and which Gaynor looks at with some disdain;  she asks Tom, “Why don’t you make one of those Brazilian things you like to make?”

Matt is still sitting in Bethania

As he sits quietly in the chapel, Mathew is told by Megan, “You’ve got so much to offer Bethania – 

"Continuing the good work your grandfather did"

“and you could be proud of the fact that you’d be continuing the good work your grandfather did.”

Mathew does not agree

He, however, has a diametrically opposite view of the matter;  

"And have the perfect cover"

“And I’d have the perfect cover to do all kinds of terrible things.”   

"What do you mean?"

Megan wonders what he is talking about, 

"They're just used to hide secrets"

so he explains, “Religion – authority – they’re used to justify and hide secrets, aren’t they?”

Megan supposes that there may be some truth in what he says, 

"These people are good, on the whole"

but these people are good people on the whole.   

"I can't wait for them to die!"

He shakes his head and snarls, “I can’t wait, Megan, for those people who protect the chapels to die!   You think you know what’s going on – but you have no idea what’s going on!   

"The bad ruin the lives of the good"

“You allow the bad people to ruin the lives of good people, right?”

He walks out of the chapel

She does not know who are these bad people he is talking about, but Mathew is already storming out of the chapel.

"Half naked, drinking cider"

Colin is recalling some incident from his student days;  “And there I was, half naked in a student hall, drinking cider, with a crew of bikers from Birmingham.”  Britt mentions that is the hundredth time she has heard that story.

"And I was there!"

Gaynor groans, “And how many times do you think I’ve heard it?   And I was there!”   Tom maintains that if it’s a good story it is worth telling again and Gaynor concedes that they were good days.   

"We'll leave the men to clear up"

She thinks that it is time they left the men to clear up.

"I love Gaynor and she loves me"

This gives Tom the chance he wanted to thank Colin for coming tonight –  to give him a chance;  “I understand you and Lois have your doubts, but I love Gaynor and she loves me.”   

"Yes, I can see that"

Colin can see that.   “That’s why, to prove I don’t have any suspicious motives, 

"I'm willing  to sign a 'prenup'"

“I’m willing to sign a ‘prenup’ before we get married, so that Gaynor’s money is completely safe.”

This catches Colin off-guard

Colin had not been expecting that 

"I'd do anything for Gaynor"

 Tom argues that he would do anything for Gaynor.

"Do you intend to jump on me again?"

Jinx opens the door of number 9 and Eleri comes in;  “Do you intend to jump on me again tonight or what?” Jinx enquires.   She asks how the sketching session went 

"I've never had to suffer to much"

and he replies that he has never had to suffer so much for £500 before, but he cannot be bothered to explain, other than saying, “You know who was there, so do the maths.”   

She dismisses a message from her father

Eleri’s phone sounds with a message alert, presumably from her father;  after quickly looking at it she replaces the phone in her pocket.

Ffion wants to see Tom

A message has just arrived on Tom’s phone as well;  ‘Are you still free?   Need to discuss something,’ Ffion has written.

"Patience and a sensible name"

Eleri continues that every artist needs two things;  “Patience and a sensible name – you haven’t got either.   The name Jinx has always . . . 

"What bloke your age still has a nickname?"

“what bloke your age still has a nickname?”

He had never thought about it, but is advised that he should;  

"What is your name, anyway?"

“What is your name anyway?   I’ve never asked.”

He announces that it is ‘Huw’, “But enough about me – how are you?   You’re obviously not yourself – 

"Why don't you want to talk to your father?"

“why didn’t you want to talk to your father?”

"I just don't want to"

She enigmatic replies that she just did not want to, so he imagines that they have fallen out;  “It’s fine if you don’t want to talk about it.”

"I'm just never good enough for him"

She sits down on the sofa and grumbles, “I’m just never good enough for him – it’s just a bit of a rough patch.   

"It's not a nice feeling to be second-best"

Dad thinks Hywel Llywelyn is worth more than his own daughter, so it’s not a nice feeling to be second-best.”

He is about to put an arm round her

Jinx is about to put a comforting arm around her, 

"I don't want pity!"

but she protests, “What are you doing?   I don’t want pity – but, if Rembrandt has some spare time later, 

"Would you like to come over to Cysgod y Glyn?"

“would you like to come over to Cysgod y Glyn?”

"Does this mean we're 'seeing' each other?"

He asks if this means that they are ‘seeing’ each other, 

"Don't push your luck, Huw!"

but she cautions, “Don’t push your luck – Huw!”

"Of course we knew she would leave"

“And of course we knew the day would come when she would leave, but it doesn’t matter how many times you tell yourself that, you’re not ready for it when it happens, are you, Col?”

"Colin and I have talked about the right thing to do

Tom would like to discuss something to do with the wedding;  “Col and I have been talking about the right thing to do and we’ve agreed that I should sign a ‘prenup’ before we get married.”

"What right does Colin have?"

Gaynor is not sure that she is happy with this;  “What right does Colin have to set conditions on our marriage?”   

"It's sensible and responsible"

Tom regards it as a sensible and responsible decision;  

Tom trusts Britt and Colin 

as two business people who understand money, Tom trusts the advice of Colin and Britt.

"Will you be Gaynor's bridesman?"

He adds, “And I want to ask you a question, Col – will you be Gaynor’s ‘bridesman’?”   Gaynor cannot believe this, but Britt regards it as ‘cool’;  

"I was Garry's best man"

she points out that she was Garry’s best man, which was a lot of fun.   When Gaynor objects that she has already got a bridesmaid, Britt maintains that it is the more the merrier.

"Colin, do you want to be a 'bridesman'?"

Gaynor simply wonders what is going on;  “Colin, do you want to be a ‘bridesman’?”   

"I would love to!"

He answers that he would love to, 

Gaynor wonders what is going on

but by the look of her, Gaynor is now having regrets about the whole thing.

Sioned is alone at Penrhewl

Sioned is sitting anxiously at the kitchen table in Penrhewl 

A drunken Mathew staggers in

when Matthew returns home in what appears to be a rather drunken state.   He drops part of the takeaway on the floor 

"Is this the 'romantic dinner'?"

and Sioned asks, “Is this the 'romantic dinner'?”

"Come on – before it gets cold"

“The shops were closed – come on, before it gets cold,” he says, collapsing on the sofa.

"Math, just let me help you!"

“Look at the state of you!   Math, just let me help you!”   

"I don't need any help"

He insists that he does not need any help, 

"Why were you at the pharmacy earlier?"

so she demands why he was at the pharmacy earlier.

"Keeping tabs on me, are you?"

“Keeping tabs on me, are you?” he sneers.

“You don’t fool me at all with this act that everything’s all right.   I know something's wrong.”   

"Yes, he's here"

The phone rings and Sioned answers it.   “Yes, he’s here – what was he doing at Bethania?   

"What sort of things was he saying?"

“What sort of things was he saying?   Right – no, I’m sure you didn’t upset him, not at all.   

"Everything's fine here, Megan"

“Everything’s fine here, honestly, thanks, Megan.”

Mathew is now in a drunken stupor

By this time, Mathew is fast asleep on the sofa.

Britt and Colin leave Llwyncelyn 

Britt and Colin leave Llwyncelyn 

"It was a good night – in the end"

and Tom describes it as a good night, in the end, although Gaynor was getting fed up with Colin’s stories.

Now Ffion arrives

Then there is a tap at the door and Tom finds that it is Ffion on the doorstep;  

"I discussed the blood tests with the doctor . . ."

“Sorry, I didn’t know where else to turn,” she says.   Gaynor has joined them as Ffion explains, “I discussed the blood tests with the doctor earlier – 

"There was arsenic trioxide in my blood!"

“they’ve found low levels of arsenic trioxide in my blood.”   

Now Tom is really worried

Tom looks rather concerned about this;  is he going to be found out, this time?