6 January 2026

Ieuan is reading the paper

Ieuan is reading the Western Post when Kelly comes downstairs, clad in a long blue dress which accentuates her slim figure.   

Kelly is ready for her date

She twirls in front of him, 

"Good enough for your nephew?"

asking, “Good enough for your nephew?”   He replies that she is much too good for him;  we can see that the leading article in the paper is about the discovery of Cheryl’s body.

When he enquires where Rhys is taking her 

"To the Deri"

and learns that it is the Deri, he is disapproving, but all of a sudden there is a cry from the kitchen, “Where is it, then?”   

"Where's the turkey?"

They both go to investigate, as Anita demands, “Where’s the turkey?   You were supposed to get the turkey, but it’s not here – 

"What are we going to do?"

 “what are we going to do?”   Ieuan attempts to point out that there is no need to worry, 

"It's not Christmas Day, Anita"

as it is not Christmas Day, but Anita will not accept that.

"Yes, it is today!"

Yes, Ieuan, it is today!” she shouts;  he tries to convince her that it is the New Year now, but with no success.   

"How could you be so stupid?"

“How could you be so stupid as to forget the turkey?”

"Do you know what?   We'll have sausages"

Kelly has to step in to rescue the situation;  “Do you know what?   We’ll have sausages,” as she picks up a pack from the table.   

"A turkey – or the lack of"

“There’s no point letting a turkey – or the lack of – spoil Christmas Day, is there?”   

"All right, then"

Anita reluctantly agrees.

Cheryl is front page news

As another copy of the Western Post is on the table in the Deri flat, Cassie remarks that at least Tom has not been granted bail.   

"The pigs should throw away the key!"

Kath is of the opinion that, “The pigs should throw away the key, if you ask me.”

Cassie realises that Gaynor must be breaking her heart now, but is told, “Why are you worrying about Gaynor?   She made her feelings very clear the other night.”

"The police have contacted me . . ."

Mark comes in and announces that he has just been contacted by the police who have finished at Maes-y-Deri, 

". . . so I can go back there"

so he can go back there, but his mother thinks that it is rather early to do that.

"Did they say anything about what happened?"

Cassie asks if they said any more about what happened to Cheryl, but he is simply eager to get back there;  

"I'm coming with you"

when his mother wants to accompany him, he says that he would rather be on his own.   She realises that he is in shock and it does not like to think about him going back there on his own.

"I have to go back at some point"

“I have to go back at some point – it may as well be today,” he tells her and leaves;  

Kath is very worried

Kath is very concerned.

Rhys is ready for his date . . .

Rhys is preparing for his date, 

. . . and looks confident

about which he looks very confident;  Meanwhile, Kelly is looking at her phone.  

"Why don't you go and see Rhys now?"

Ieuan encourages her to go to see Rhys now, but she replies, “I can’t go to him on ‘Christmas Day’ or Auntie Neet will know that something’s up,” as she is composing a text to Rhys.

"What are you two whispering about?"

Anita comes in, asking, “What are you two whispering about now?”   She grabs the phone from Kelly’s hands, 

"You don't have time to text"

instructing her, “You don’t have time to text if we want to eat before mid-afternoon!   

"Where's my iPad?"

“Where’s my iPad?   We can’t have Christmas Day without a bit of Christmas music, can we?”

She gets off to find it

Kelly thinks that it is still charging upstairs, so Anita goes in search of it.

"It's rather quiet in here"

By now, Rhys is at the Deri for his much anticipated date;  he comments to Cassie that it is rather quiet in there, which he suspects may be down to ‘Dry January’.   “It’s the same problem with us at Ceffyl Du.”

"And I'm trying to keep busy"

Cassie remarks that it is difficult when they are trying to keep busy.   

"Have you thought about doing 'mocktails'?"

Rhys has heard about Cheryl, which he describes as terrible and wonders if Cassie has thought about doing a ‘mocktails’ night for the ‘Dry January’ people.

"I can't be bothered with that sort of thing"

She cannot be bothered with that sort of thing, maintaining that people around there are not the type to drink ‘mocktails’, 

"How about Veganuary?"

so he raises the subject,  of ‘Veganuary’.   “A lots of people try to be vegans for a month in January, so perhaps combining those two things would attract people.”

"I don't want to order yet"

He will delay ordering anything until his date arrives, 

"Do I know the lucky lady?"

so she wonders if she knows the lucky lady, but he is reluctant to answer, 

"Cwmderi isn't that big a place, is it?"

simply saying, “Cwmderi isn’t that big a place is it?”

"If she turns up"

She realises that it is only a matter of time before she sees his date with her own eyes, “If she turns up,” 

"She'll be here"

but Rhys is overwhelmingly confident that she will.

Mark arrives at Maes-y-Deri . . .

The door of Maes-y-Deri opens and Mark steps gingerly inside;  

. . . looks along the hall . . .

he looks along the hall to the cupboard where Cheryl’s body was initially stowed;  the forensic tests must have proved that fact.   

. . . and collapses inn tears

He is devastated and sinks to the floor as he weeps copiously.

"I didn't realise it was so popular"

In the Deri, Cassie had no idea that this ‘Veganuary’ was so popular;  she looks on her phone and reads, “It says here that 400,000 people in Britain tried it in 2020 – perhaps it’s not such a silly idea after all.”

"How long are you going to sit there?"

Then she turns to his situation, demanding, “How long are you going to sit there?   Are you sure this date is today?   Text her – perhaps she’s misunderstood.”

"Kelly texted this morning . . ."

Rhys lets his guard drop for a moment and tells her, “Kelly texted this morning . . .” 

". . . Oh!"

which rather lets the cat out of the bag.

“Oh, Kelly – you’d make a nice little couple,” is Cassie’s evaluation.

"I'll try her again"

Rhys is now less optimistic as he advises, “We’re not a couple – and we might never be if she doesn’t turn up to the first date – I’ll try her again.”

"She only lives over there . . ."

Cassie shakes her head;  “What’s wrong with young people and your phones?   Go and talk to her – she only lives over there – 

". . . and take this with you"

“and take this with you,” she tells him, as she fetches a bottle from the fridge.   

Rhys thanks her for that, 

However, she is not giving the stuff away . . .

but Cassie makes it very clear that she expects to be paid for it 

. . . and is duly paid

and presents him with the contactless terminal.

"I'm sure I charged it!"

At number 7, Ieuan find that Anita’s iPad seems to be dead, but Kelly is adamant that she charged it.   She is becoming very fraught, 

"This is ridiculous, Ieuan!"

snarling, “This is ridiculous – I’m supposed to be in the Deri right now.   Christmas Day has been – and I made loads of effort, but obviously Auntie Neet has forgotten about it.   

"This isn't sustainable"

“This isn’t sustainable, Ieuan – pretending all the time.”

"What else can we do?"

He wonders what else they can do, but then there is a knock at the door;  

Kelly hands over the job to him

Kelly presents him with the carrot and peeler, then goes to answer it.

"I can explain, Rhys"

She discovers that it is Rhys, apologises that she can explain, 

"Yo look as if you could do with this"

but he says that she looks as if she could do with the drink.   

"It's chaotic here"

“I’m so sorry – are you free some other time?  Cos it's chaotic here,” she groans.

"How are your Yorkshire puddings, Rhys?"

Ieuan appears, commenting, “Ah, here he is – the ‘sous chef’, as the French say – how are your Yorkshire puddings, Rhys?”   

They look at each other

Rhys looks incredulously at Kelly.

Mark is still there when a visitor arrives . . .

As Mark is still sitting on the floor at Maes-y-Deri, staring at the door of the cupboard under the stairs, someone else arrives at the house;  

. . . Garry Monk

it is Garry, who looks upset at seeing Mark in that condition.   

"I understand,  all right"

“I understand, all right,” he tells Mark.

"How did you get those potatoes so crisp?"

As they finish their ‘Christmas’ dinner, Ieuan comments that it was lovely;  he wonders how Kelly got those roast potatoes so crispy and is told, “That’s a trick Auntie Anita taught me.”

Rhys asks, “What about my Yorkshire puddings, then?” and no-one knows quite what to say, although Ieuan is laughing.

"They were 'minging'!"

“Not being funny, Rhys, but the Yorkshire puddings were ‘minging’,” says Kelly, 

"More like scones, to be honest"

while Ieuan describes them as being more like scones, to be honest.

Kelly adds, “They were so salty, like – but thank you, Rhys, for making the effort.”

"The most random first date I've ever had!'

Rhys declares, “Hands down, the most random first date I’ve ever had!”   

"And me!"

Kelly can agree with that.   

Anita retires to the sofa

Anita and Ieuan leave the table, while Rhys volunteers to do the washing up.

"I've never made Yorkshire puddings before"

He confesses to Kelly, “You know what?   I’ve never made Yorkshire puddings before.”   She pretends that she cannot believe that, 

"Things have been all over the place today"

then tells him that she is sorry things have been all over the place today.

He insists that she does not need to say sorry, 

"She's getting worse, like"

but Kelly adds,  “I don’t know – she’s getting worse, like.”    Rhys appreciates that Anita has had a bad day today, 

"We'll still have time for a drink"

but proposes that if they deal with these dishes quickly, they will still have time to go out for a drink.

Anita puts a stop to that idea

However, this idea comes to nothing when Anita appears in the doorway having found a game of Monopoly;  “Do you want a game?” she asks excitedly, 

"It's Christmas Day after all"

“Come on – it is Christmas Day after all!”   

They can but laugh

Kelly and Rhys both laugh.

"I don't know where to start with Cher"

Garry has made Mark a cup of tea;  ‘I know I’ve mourned people before, but I don’t know how or where to start with Cher,” sighs Mark.

"It doesn't feel real that Seren's not here"

Garry comments that it still does not feel real that Seren is not there, 

"It won't hit me until I see Gwern and Dani"

“And I don’t think it will really hit me properly until I see Gwern and Dani – and she’s not with them.”

"That was a bit difficult with me stuck in prison"

Mark apologises for not even giving Garry his condolences;  “That was a bit difficult with me stuck in prison,” he replies, 

"I couldn't think about her while I was in there"

“You know, I couldn’t think about her when I was in there.”

"I've never had a backbone"

Mark does not know how Garry can be so strong;  “There’s no hiding how weak I am, is there?   “I’ve never had a backbone – and Cheryl’s suffered because of that.   She said what kind of bloke that Tom, that Dave was right from the start – and I failed to protect her.”

"I've felt that guilt"

Garry tells him, “I’ve felt that guilt and blamed myself.”

"I let him into the house in the first place"

Mark continues that it was he who let Tom into the house in the first place, “After promising that she would be safe.”

"Tom's not going to have an easy time in prison"

Garry predicts that Tom is not going to have an easy time in prison;  “I’ve seen what happens to men like him with my own eyes – but a man like you, Mark?       

"You're a good bloke, Mark"

“You’re a good bloke – you were there for my family when I couldn’t be – you put a roof over their heads.   I’ll never forget that.”

"I won't be able to do that much longer"

Mark explains that he will not be able to put a roof over their heads for much longer;  “Maes-y-Deri is under a compulsory purchase order – 

"They'll lose their home as well"

“so they’ll lose their home now as well, on top of everything else.

"You have to be quick, that's what Dwayne says"

The game of Monopoly is in progress, with Anita just purchased a street;  “You have to be quick, that’s what Dwayne says,” she comments.   

Rhys brings in drinks

Rhys comes in with drinks, but is reminded that Anita is not allowed alcohol.

"No, it's not your turn!"

Then Anita objects to Ieuan taking his turn, being supported by Rhys, 

"You're supposed to be in jail, Uncle Ieu"

who points out that Uncle Ieu is supposed to be in jail.   

"We're lucky Rhys is here"

Anita says that they are lucky Rhys is there to keep an eye on them.

"Really lucky!"

Kelly agrees, “Really lucky!”

"There's no way of rejecting this?"

After looking at the document, Garry demands, “And there’s no way of rejecting this CPO?   There must be.”   

"I haven't got that kind of money"

Mark says that there might be a chance of appealing with legal help, but he has not got that kind of money.

"I'll pay – it's worth trying, isn't it?"

Garry immediately decides, I’ll pay – it’s worth trying, isn’t it?   Mark, this is your home – it’s my son’s home, Dani’s home – and I want to help!”

"I can't be here after what happened"

Mark is adamant that he cannot be there after what happened;  “How can I, knowing that he killed Cheryl here?   I can’t stop thinking about her, on her own – she must have been so scared.   

"He just stuffed her into the cupboard!"

“And he just stuffed her in the cupboard under the stairs as if she was nothing.   They might as well tear down this place – 

"I don't want anything to do with it!"

“I don’t want anything to do with it!”

"Mark's still not answering"

In the Deri flat, Kath is trying to contact Mark, but he is not answering;  “He said he wanted to be on his own,” Cassie reminds her, as she has gathered together some books.

"Vegan cookery books"

“Vegan cookery books – I’m looking for something to bring customers in this month – and I think we should try it as well.”   

"You're not serious?"

Kath cannot believe that she is serious, but is told, “We can’t expect the customers to be vegan for a month if we won’t do it.”

"It will stop us thinking too much about things"

Kath does not like the sound of that, while Cassie insists that it will be fun to try out new recipés;  “It will keep us busy and stop us thinking too much about things.

"I can't be there, Mam!"

Mark has just come back and tells his mother, “I can’t be there, Mam, I can’t!”   

Kath hugs him

Kath hugs him.

"Thanks for today"

“Thanks for today,” says Kelly, “And sorry it’s been so . . .”   

"I've really enjoyed it"

Rhys stops her there, pointing out that he has really enjoyed it.

“I know you can handle all this yourself, but I want you to know that you don’t have to – if you ever need anything, just text, phone, 

"Use a carrier pigeon, even"

“use a carrier pigeon. even!”   She gets the idea.

"I haven't asked how your holiday went"

He has something for her and she suddenly realises that she has not even asked him how his holiday went.   

"Esther loved Disneyland"

“Brilliant,” he replies, “Esther loved Disneyland.”

"Thanks for these, Rhys"

Kelly, thanks him for his gifts 

She kisses him

and kisses him;  “I’d better . . .” she begins.

"Until next time, is it?"

“Until next time, is it?” he asks, hopefully, 

"Until next time"

and she agrees.   Rhys leaves the house.

Garry is studying the laptop

In the Deri, Garry is studying the laptop when Cassie approaches;  

"So the rumours are true, then"

“So the rumours are true, then,” she says and wishes her a happy New Year, adding that it is nice to see her.

"Hope it's a better year for us all"

Cassie hopes that it is a better year for all of them, 

"I've just sent an e-mail to my solicitor"

so he answers, “That’s why I’ve just sent an e-mail to my solicitor.   I want us to appeal this CPO that’s on Maes-y-Deri.”

"They're a difficult company to deal with"

Cassie points out that they have tried to fight Quantum Hydro Works  several times, but they are a very difficult company to deal with.   

"Male sure you landlady doesn't hear you"

“And make sure your landlady doesn’t hear you talking about this.”

"Eleri's nothing to do with the company now"

Garry maintains that Eleri has nothing to do with the company now, but Cassie does not believe that.   

"She and her father are central"

“She and her father are central to the company – especially Brynmor – he’s been the one driving everything forward.   He’s determined to see that this reservoir happens – he’s destroyed his marriage to Kath to see the enterprise through.”

"Where is he, then?"

wants to know where he is now, but is told that no-one knows – 

"He doesn't have many friends in the village"

and he does not have many friends left in the village.   

"I hope he's ready . . ."

“Well, wherever he is, I hope he’s ready – 

". . . because I'm going to save Maes-y-Deri!"

because I’m going to save Maes-y-Deri!” is Garry’s stated aim.

At number 7, Ieuan appears exhausted and Anita’s iPad has been restored to working order.   

It is all too much for Ieuan

As Kelly sits down, 

"That's the best Christmas Day I've had for ages"

Anita declares, “That’s the best Christmas Day I’ve had for ages.”

"Me, too"

Kelly smiles, “Me, too.”