2 September 2025

Cai finishes his exercise regîme 

Cai is doing his morning exercises on the floor of his hospital room when there is a tap on the door 

"I'll come back later"

and Olivia, the cleaner, tells him that she will come back later.   He invites her to come in, as he has not seen her for a while and was worried that something was wrong.

"I've just had a bit of a bug"

She explains that she has just had a bit of a bug;  “There’s a lot of it going round,” and she definitely looks unwell.   

"I'm going to be sick"

She is afraid that she is going to be sick, 

Cai springs into action

so he immediately finds a waste bin for her.

"Mam, how am I supposed to get to the dentist?"

Sioned is walking along the High Street, complaining to her mother on the phone, “Mam, how am I supposed to get to the dentist in ten minutes’ time?”

She approaches Mathew 

Mathew comes out of APD, so in desperation she asks him, “Listen, I’ve got toothache – I’ve got an appointment but Mam’s let me down – 

"Can I leave them with you for half an hour?"

“can I leave them with you just for half an hour?”

"I've got a lot on"

Mathew does not think that he can do that, arguing that he has got a lot on.   

"I shouldn't have asked, anyway . . ."

Sioned returns to the pram, remarking, “I shouldn’t have asked, anyway – 

". . .come on, you two"

“come on, you two.”

He is 'sniffing around' Ffion again . . .

Tom, as usual not working, comes into the alley 

. . . which she looks pleased about

where he encounters Ffion;  

"Have you checked your e-mails?"

“Have you checked your e-mails,” he enquires, “Remember when we talked about Dylan Thomas last week?”

She assumes that he has bought her a book, 

"I've booked a night for us in Laugharne"

but, looking very pleased with himself, he goes on, “No, better than that – I've booked a night for us in Laugharne next week, so you can have a break from this place.   Just you and me – what do you say?”

"Pity we have so long to wait . . ."

“It’s a pity we have to wait so long,” is her reply, 

". . . butt he house is empty today"

but she adds, “The house is empty today – Arwen’s out with her friends,” as she smiles invitingly at him.

Sioned is becoming increasingly frantic;  as she passes MFC, she notices Iolo inside.   

"Could you look after the children?"

“Iolo, could you look after the children for half an hour?”   He answers that he has to go to Cross Hands to pick up some parts.

“I wouldn’t have asked at the last minute, but I have this toothache and I’ve got an emergency appointment – Mam’s just . . .”   

Iolo takes pity on her

Iolo takes pity on her and agrees to help, 

"Off you go to the dentist"

instructing her to go to the dentist before he books someone else in.   She is extremely grateful and explains that there are snacks, nappies, and wipes in the pram.

“It’s all right – I’ve done this before,” he assures her, and she rushes off.   

"I'm sure we'll be fine"

Then Iolo adds, “It was a while ago, but I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Cai brings a glass of water

Cai brings Olivia a glass of water 

"You're supposed to be the patient"

and she apologises that he is supposed to be the patient;  now she is feeling a bit better, thanks to him.   

"It's not your fault"

He reminds her that it is not her fault, so she should stop apologising.

“Well, actually I think it is – forget about it – you don’t want to hear about your cleaner’s problems,” she continues, 

"To me, you're more than just a cleaner"

 he tells her to sit down pointing out that to him she is more than just a cleaner.

He asks if everything is OK;  

"I'm an addict . . . well, recovering"

“Well, please don’t tell anyone, but I’m an addict . . . well, recovering – heroin.   Heavy – sorry.”   

"When did you stop?"

He asks when she stopped 

"My body is still suffering"

and she replies that it was some time ago, but her body is still suffering.

Cai had no idea, which she supposes is a good thing, because she is really trying to turn her life around.   

"Do you have support from your family?"

He wonders if she has any support from family or someone and she shakes her head;  

"I lost my brother a few years ago"

“Mam has always been useless – I have a sister, but we’ve fallen out – and I lost my brother a few years ago.”   Cai is sorry to hear about that.

“But I’m all right by myself, always have been,” she adds 

"You have me now"

and he says that she has him now.   He understands how difficult recovery is.

She is unsteady on her feet

Olivia stands up, but is still rather unsteady on her feet;  

"Why not lie down and have a nap"

he encourages her to lie down on the bed for a few minutes and have a nap.   “On the job?   I’d get the sack!” she exclaims, but he will watch out for the boss.

She protests that she cannot, as she has not cleaned in there yet, but he is insistent 

"Please wake me if anybody comes by"

and she agrees that she will just have five minutes.   “Please wake me up if anybody comes by – 

". . . thanks for not judging me"

“and thanks for not judging me.”

Mathew is in the Deri

In the Deri, Mathew is sitting miserably, staring at his pint, when Iolo comes in with the twins, 

"I forgot how much work babies are"

commenting, “I forgot how much work babies are – especially two.   Are you all right, Math?   You look like you need a break.   

"Pembrokeshire was exactly what we needed"

“Greta and I went to Pembrokeshire for a few days and it was exactly what we needed.”

"I came here for bit of peace and quiet"

“If you don’t mind, I came here for a bit of peace and quiet, not for a chat,” says Mathew, 

Iolo is concerned 

so Iolo takes the hint, although he does look concerned about Mathew.

He cannot keep away . . .

Ffion arrives home at Deri Fawr, with Tom in tow as usual;  

. . . and she encourages him . . .

she quickly removes her jacket and they get down to some kissing.   

. . . but they have a shock . . .

However, there are footsteps on the stairs 

. . . the reproving stare of Arwen 

and they turn to see a reproachful-looking Arwen glowering at them.

“Arwen!   What are you doing home?” gasps her mother.

"I cancelled Ethan"

“I wasn’t feeling well so I cancelled meeting Ethan,” she says, heading into the kitchen.   Ffion maintains that she and Tom were just talking about the dam and offers to make Arwen some toast, 

Arwen says nothing

but she goes back upstairs without another word.

"Did she see?"

Tom is looking rather worried about this as Ffion demands, “Did she see?” and he maintains that of course she did not.   “What’s wrong with me, bringing you back here in the middle of the day?” she demands.

"Just deny it"

He recommends that if Arwen says anything, she should simply deny it, but Ffion is very well aware that her daughter is not stupid.   “Don’t get yourself into a flap,” Tom urges, but she insists that she is not flapping.

"Just imagine if Gaynor heard!"

“Just imagine if Gaynor heard!”   Tom’s instruction is that she should just wait to see if Arwen says anything, adding that getting worked up is dangerous.

"Having an affair is dangerous!"

“More like having an affair is dangerous!” she insists.   

He tells her to stop it as he does not like seeing her like this.   

"But we're doing something so awful!"

“But we’re doing something so awful!” she wails.

“Are we really?” Tom asks, “Do you regret it?”   She is adamant that from now on they have to be more careful;  he adds that they need to be more cool and deny everything.   

"Right, I'm going now"

He will go now and gives her a kiss.

Sioned is back

Mathew is still sitting by the bar and Iolo, with the pram, is looking at his phone.   Sioned comes in after her appointment, 

"This is your idea of childcare, is it?"

joking, “This is your idea of childcare, is it?”   

"They were flat out"

Iolo advises that they were flat out after a picnic in the park and feeding the ducks.   She comments that he looks flat out as well.

“I’d forgotten how hard they are at that age,” he says;  

"It's worse when you have toothache!"

Sioned maintains that they are worse when you have toothache.   She is all numb, but says that it was an infection.

“It would have been a lot worse if you hadn’t saved the day,” she tells him, 

Mathew walks past

as Mathew stirs himself and passes them as he heads for the toilet.   “It means a lot,” Sioned goes on, 

Sioned goes to order some lunch

“I might as well get us some lunch, seeing as they’re asleep.”

"I'm not hungry!"

Ffion has prepared some toast for Arwen and calls to her, but when she comes back downstairs, she immediately declares, “I’m not hungry!”   When her mother says she has to eat, 

"I don't know if I can ever eat again!"

Arwen snarls, “After what I saw earlier?   Do you know what?   You make me sick – I don’t know if I can ever eat again!”

"I don't know what you think you saw"

Ffion appears to be rather lost for words;  “Look, I don’t know what you think you saw.”

"You're having an affair, Mam!"

“You’re having an affair, Mam – don’t try gaslighting me – come on, admit it.   You’re so stupid!   

"Do you know how embarrassing this will be?"

“Do you know how embarrassing this will be when it all comes out?”

"It will stop today"

Ffion confesses that she does know and she is sorry, but is adamant that it will not come out.   “It’s not carrying on, it’s stopping.   It will stop today.”

"It's classic you . . ."

Arwen is unconvinced, “And you’re Gaynor’s bridesmaid – it’s classic you, though – 

". . . the most selfish person I know!"

“the most selfish person I know!”   She retires upstairs again, leaving her mother looking very sorry for herself.

Sioned receives the lunches from Simon

Simon the barman brings Sioned two lunches and, as she is about to take them across to the table, 

"How did it go a the dentist's?"

Mathew asks how it went at the dentist’s.   “Fine,” she replies and he apologises about earlier, but she tells him to forget it.   

"Everything is sorted now"

“Everything is sorted now, so just leave it.”

"I was surprised that you asked"

Mathew was just surprised that she asked him after what happened last week.   She tells him that he has misunderstood;  “I didn’t want you to move out,” but he maintains that it is better this way, as he was obviously not making her happy.

"I don't understand what's going on"

She shakes her head in disbelief, assuring him, “I adore you, Math – but I don’t understand what’s going on with you.”   Once again he denies that there is anything going on, wondering how many times he has to tell her that.   However, he cannot talk about it now and he leaves the Deri.

"Is Mathew all right?"

Sioned takes the food over to Iolo, who asks, “Is Mathew all right?   He was a bit short with me earlier.”   

"He has a lot on at the moment"

Sioned answers that he has a lot on at the moment, then wonders how Greta is at the moment.

“Why?   What have you heard?” he anxiously demands, 

"Nothing – I was just asking"

but she says that she was just asking.   Iolo confesses that he is just a bit paranoid;  

"Greta's biological mother turned up"

“Greta’s biological mother turned up without warning – the thing is I don’t know what she wanted.   

"She isn't showing much interest at the moment"

“But it’s forced me to have conversations with Greta that I wasn’t really ready to have.   At the moment, she isn’t showing much interest in it.”

"She has a happy family"

Sioned points out that Greta has a happy and a close-knit family.   “I don’t know what Liv’s plans are, nor when we’ll see her again,” Iolo worries.

"What's that smell?"

Then he can smell something unpleasant 

"They had curry for the first time"

and Sioned admits that they tried curry for the first time last night.   

"Those days are far behind me!"

“Well don’t look at me – those days are far behind me!” Iolo tells her.

Olivia is still asleep

Olivia is fast asleep, when a noise suddenly awakens her;  

"It's been about an hour"

“Oh, my gosh – how long have I been asleep?” she asks, so Cai informs her that it has been about an hour, as he is carrying her container of cleaning materials.   

"Have you been doing the cleaning?"

She realises that while she has been sleeping, Cai has been doing the cleaning.   He is quick to admit that it will not be up to her standards, adding that she needed to rest – 

"I feel much better now"

and she does feel much better now.

"I think I know who you are . . ."

“Listen, while you were asleep, I’ve been thinking.   You know when you said you’d lost your brother and you don’t talk to your mother?   I think I know who you are – 

". . . Olivis Watson"

“I taught you in Ysgol y Mynach – Olivia Watson.”

"No – my surname is Jones"

She hastily replies that her surname is Jones, but he could have sworn that was who she is;  “I heard she’d lost her brother.   It just rang a bell.”

"I must get on now"

Now Olivia is in a hurry to get away;  

"Poor thing, whoever she is"

“Well, poor thing, whoever she is – we share the same name and bad luck in life.”   

"Thanks for everything, Cai"

She must get on with her work now and thanks him for everything.

"If there's anything I can do to help . . ."

“As I said, I understand how difficult it is to get your life back on track,” Cai goes on, “If there’s anything I can do to help, you only have to ask.   

"I'd like us still to be friends"

“Even when I leave this place, I’d like us still to be friends.”

"Take off your coat, Ffion"

Ffion has gone to Y Felin, where Tom tells her to slow down and take off her coat.   

"What if Gaynor came back?"

“I’m not staying – what if Gaynor came back?”   

"What does it matter?"

He does not consider that it matters.

“This is what matters, Tom – and it has to stop!” she exclaims, 

"It's unforgivable"

“What we’ve been doing, it’s unforgivable – I don’t want to carry on!”

"Arwen – is it?"

Tom comes to the conclusion that this has been precipitated by Arwen;  

"There was no point denying it"

Ffion reports that she saw everything and there was no point in denying it.   He simply repeats that she should stay cool.

“How was I supposed to convince her?” she sighs 

"Will she tell anyone?"

and Tom wonders if she will tell anyone.   “No – she’s too embarrassed, poor thing.   

"This has got to stop – today!"

“This has got to stop, today!”

He begs her not to do this, but Ffion is adamant that they have no choice;  

"You're getting married to Gaynor in February"

“The reality is you’re getting married to Gaynor in February.”

"I don't want this to end"

He insists that he does not want this to end and she agrees that neither does she, but they have no choice;  

"We draw a line under it today!"

“We draw a line under it today, before everyone loses everything.”   She will not listen to any protests from Tom, but orders him, “Cancel the hotel and forget about me!”   

Ffion leaves the house

With that she walks out of the house.

He plans his next move

Tom does not look at all happy and is working out his next move.

Mathew is reminiscing . . .

Mathew is looking at photographs of himself with Sioned in happier times on his phone 

. . . as he sits on the floor in APD

as he sits on the floor of APD in his sleeping bag, surrounded by boxes of safety footwear.

He rejects the pot noodle

He looks critically at his pot noodle and then puts it down again.

Arwen has lost her appetite

In the Deri, Ffion and Arwen are having a meal, although Arwen is not eating any of hers.   

"Do you want some ketchup on that?"

Ffion asks, “Do you want any ketchup on that?” 

"Can we have some ketchup, please?"

then asks Simon for some.

“And some orange juice would do you good, some vitamin C,” she goes on, but Arwen says nothing.   

"Arwen, please . . ."

“Arwen, please . . .” Ffion begins.

"I don't want to be here"

She is told in no uncertain terms, that her daughter does not want to be there.

"Can't we talk about it like adults?"

Ffion appreciates that, as they have had a difficult day and she would like to talk about it like adults.   

"Don't patronise me!"

“Don’t patronise me!” Arwen sneers.

Ffion agrees that it was not fair that she had to see what she saw today;  she promises that it will not happen again.   

"He's creepy, too, a walking 'ick"!" – she has him 'sussed', then

“He’s creepy, too – a walking ‘ick’!” is how Arwen describes Tom, 

"At least choose someone hot!"

“If you’re going to steal a friend’s boyfriend, at least choose someone hot!”

"That looks nice"

Now their meal is interrupted by the arrival of Tom;  “That looks nice,” he remarks.   

"Arwen is feeling better"

Ffion says that Arwen was feeling better, so she is being treated to some dinner.

"Glad you're feeling better, Arwen"

He very pointedly comments, “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Arwen,” then tells them that he is also there for dinner.   

"I'm sure you'd like to be left alone"

“I’m sure you'd like to be left alone, under the circumstances.

"Ketchup, Ffion"

Simon calls to Ffion that he has the ketchup for her, 

Ffion goes to fetch it

and when she goes to collect it, Tom takes the opportunity to have a private word with Arwen.   

"Thank you for keeping quiet"

“I’d like to thank you as well for keeping quiet,” 

He pilfers one of her chips

then he snaffles one of her chips.

All this time, she has not said a word, then her mother returns with the ketchup 

"Enjoy your evening"

and Tom will leave them to it, hoping that they enjoy their evening.   “I hope to see you soon,” are his parting words, 

Arwen utters not a word

but Arwen remains silent.