17 February 2026

Gaynor has been shopping . . .

Gaynor comes in through the back door carrying a pack of Andrex toilet tissue, which she puts down on the chair;  the various bags of shopping are laid on the table and she takes off her coat.

. . . but has a great shock

Then she is greatly surprised to hear someone saying, “How are you, Gaynor?”   

Tom is standing there

Tom is standing there, looking at her and she recoils in horror.

"Britt!   Are you here?"

When Colin returns to the MFC flat, he calls for Britt, 

Britt is in tears on the sofa

but then finds her in a very emotional state on the sofa.   “What’s wrong?   What happened?   

"Are you all right?"

“Are you all right?”

She sobs, “He’s dead!” and he wonders who she is talking about;  

"His name was Ollie!"

“His name was Ollie,” and she points at the Western Post she is reading.   

Colin does not know what she is talking about . . .

Colin is extremely puzzled, so looks at the paper, 

. . . but finds the answer in the Western Post  

the front page of which bears a report that a young homeless man has been found dead.

"I had the chance to help him, Col"

“I had the chance to help him, but now . . .”   Colin realises that the sleeping bag was for him.   “I went to give it to him, but he had gone!”

"It's not your fault he's dead"

Colin tells her not to upset herself like this, pointing out that it is not her fault that he is dead.   “Yeah, well, I’m not going to let something like this happen again!” she declares, as she gets up from the sofa 

"I'm going to Bethania to say a little prayer for him"

and says that she is going to Bethania, “To say a little prayer for him.”

"The Bipolar is flaring up again"

Colin is exasperated.

"Sorry if I scared you"

“Sorry if I scared you,” says Tom, “I would have phoned, but . . .”   

"Why are you here?"

Gaynor demands why he is there, so he explains that he has been released on bail.

"The police don't think I'm dangerous"

“The police obviously don’t think I’m dangerous.   I worry about you, Gaynor, and how this case seems to be developing – that’s why I’ve come here – to sort this mess out together.”   Gaynor stares at him without a word.

"I'm risking everything, coming to see you"

“Look,” he continues, “I’m risking everything, coming here to see you – but I couldn’t stay away, knowing you’ve been wrongly accused.   The police want someone to go down for this.”

"You said I killed Cheryl!"

Gaynor snarls, “DS Thomas said you’re claiming that I killed Cheryl!”

"I said no such thing . . ."

In his usual fashion, he denies that he said any such thing;  “I said I was innocent – I didn’t point the finger at you – you know I wouldn’t do that!  

". . . she's turning us against each other"

“She’s lying, stirring – turning us against each other – it’s one of their tactics.   I hate to see anyone taking advantage of you, Gaynor.   It makes my blood boil!”

Gaynor does not believe a word of it

She continues to look disbelievingly at him 

"I want to look after you"

as he goes on, “I want to look after you.   They say, don’t they, that when you’re up against it, you learn who your real friends are.   

"Where is your family when you need them?"

“Where are they, Gaynor?   Where is your family – when you need them more than ever?

"I don't see anyone else supporting you"

“It breaks my heart to say this, but I don’t see anyone else supporting you – 

"Nobody else knows where you keep your foil"

“nobody else knows where you keep your foil.”   He takes out the box of kitchen foil from her shopping and puts it away in the drawer, 

"Coffee?"

then proposes that he should make coffee.

Mark is in the shop, selecting a few items, but Colin jokes, “The Blue rinse shampoo is over there.   

"Mam's sent you out shopping again, has she?"

“Mam’s sent you out shopping again, has she?   Tell me, are you allowed to buy lollipops with the change?”

"I'm not in the mood to laugh, Colin"

Mark does not appreciate this, growling, “Look, I’m not in the mood to laugh, all right, Colin?   Living with Mam again is bad enough, but I just got off the phone with the insurance company.   I have no idea if they’ll pay out for the mess in Maes-y-Deri.”

"You know what these insurance firms are like"

Colin is naïvely confident that things will work out in the end;  “You know what these insurance firms are like – they enjoy watching people sweat, but they always pay out, guaranteed.”

"I can't afford to pay"

Mark snaps that they better had;  “If they don’t, I can’t afford to pay to repair it – and there definitely won’t be a funeral for Cheryl!   Do you know how much funerals cost?”

"There's a lot of responsibility on your shoulders"

Colin appreciates that there is a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, 

"I don't know where to start"

but he does not know where to start.   “Did she want to be buried or cremated?   What type of flowers?   What sort of music she would like?   Do you know what?   I’ve even looked up alternative funerals online – 

"Cheryl wouldn't want to grow into a tree"

“but I don’t think Cheryl would want to grow into a tree.   I feel I’ve let her down so much – and this is the last time to get things right for her.”

"You knew Cheryl better than anyone"

Colin points out that he knew Cheryl better than anyone in the village;  “There’s no doubt that you’ll know what’s best for her – 

"Whoever's responsible will have to fork out"

“and if the insurance won’t pay out, whoever is responsible will have to fork out the cash.   Plan B – that’s what you need.”

"You never learned to do this properly"

As he makes the coffee, Tom comments, “You never learned to do this properly.”   

"Just leave, will you?"

Gaynor tells him to leave but he takes no notice.   “There we are – success – that’s why you need me around.”

She gets up from her chair, as she needs to put the shopping away, 

"No – I'll do that"

but he insists that he will do that, but first they will have a proper chat over a proper coffee.   

She is made to sit down

He tells her to sit down and when she does not do so, pushes her down.

He likes having that control back again

He is wearing his usual controlling look.

Ieuan has dozed off . . .

Ieuan is having a doze 

. . . when he is rudely awakened

when there is a knock on the door of number 7;  

"Anita could not sleep last night"

he finds that it is Mark, who is sorry to disturb him and comments that he looks tired.   Ieuan replies that Anita could not sleep last night so he was up late;  “But an early night tonight and I shall be fine.”

"If the insurance doesn't pay out . . ."

Mark gets to the point of his visit;  “Listen, the last thing I want to do is put you under more pressure, but the thing is – I’m worried.   If this insurance company doesn’t pay out, I don’t think it’s fair that I have to pay for the repairs.   It’s only fair to warn you I’ll be asking you for the money.”

"It could cost thousands"

Ieuan gasps that it could cost thousands, 

"Yes, exactly"

which is confirmed by Mark;  “Well, I hope that the claim is successful,” says Ieuan, 

"Was there anything else?"

“Was there anything else?   Right, I’ll grab forty winks, then.”   

"Thanks for calling"

He opens the door 

Mark leaves

and thanks Mark for calling, 

Ieuan does not know what to do

but looks extremely worried.

Tom has made the coffee

Tom pours out the coffee and begins to savour his;  

"The first proper coffee I've had in weeks"

“That’s the first proper coffee I’ve had in weeks.”   Gaynor merely sits opposite him and says nothing.

"Ffion was worried about me"

“Ffion came to see me in prison – did you know that?   She was worried about me – if I’m honest, I was pleased to see her.   

"I would have preferred to have seen you"

“I would have preferred to have seen you – I missed you.   Your conversation, the smell of your hair, 

"Warming up your feet in bed"

“warming your feet up in bed.”   

He picks up Gaynor's phone 

She still does not speak, so he picks up her phone from the table;  “I do intend to look for a permanent place, but for now, this is where I’m staying – 

"My new mobile number is there, too"

“and my new mobile number is there, too.”   He hands the phone back to her 

She does not seem to relish that

and she looks at it with considerable distaste.

"Come and see me tonight"

“Come and see me tonight,” he urges, then picks up his coat and leaves by the back door,

Diane is doing some washing-up

As Diane is doing some washing-up at number 7, Ieuan reports that Anita has checked all the taps and now she is asleep.   Diane says that it is the least that she can do, as she does not know how he is coping day-to-day.

"Do you remember I mentioned extra care?"

“Do you remember when I mentioned extra care?” she goes on, 

"I'm fine, Diane"

but he insists that he is fine.   “Lack of sleep doesn’t benefit anyone – and with Kelly away, you can’t do everything yourself, as well as working.   Sit down for a second.

"Anita has the right to a care package . . ." 

“I hope you don’t mind, but I had a word with Chloe in Social Services and Anita has the right to a care package – 

". . . which might be for free"

“which might be for free.”   

"Free?"

This does not sound right to Ieuan, so he puts on his glasses to check the document she has given to him.    

"One-to-one care service"

He reads, “One-to-one care service in the home – what about Brynawelon?”

"That would be additional"

It is explained that the home care would be additional, 

"I don't think Anita would want that"

but Ieuan doubts that Anita would want something like that.   

"She didn't want to go to Brynawelon"

Diane reminds him, “She didn’t want to go to Brynawelon to start with – but going there has proved that Anita can adapt to a new routine – as long as he has the chance to get used to it.   It’s important to make these changes now, Ieuan, while Anita still has an understanding of what’s going on.   Do you agree that you want more help?”

"It will be easier when Kelly's home"

He does not know the answer to that, imagining that it will be easier when Kelly is back home, but they have no idea when that will be.   Diane considers that the only other option is to go to Brynawelon more often, 

"We can't afford that"

but he is adamant that they cannot afford that.  

"Well, there you are, then"

“Well, there you are, then – this is where Anita wants to be for as long as possible – with you and Kelly.”

"All these decisions . . ."

“All these decisions,” he sighs, 

". . . I'm just . . ."

“I’m just . . .”   

"Consider it seriously, Ieuan"

Diane will go now but urges him to consider it seriously.   

She leaves the house

She puts an encouraging hand on his shoulder on her way out of the house.

Britt has put up another notice

Britt has now put another notice in the window of MFC, this time reading, ‘Free food for the homeless 24/7’ with the mobile phone number 07700-900142.   

"Good grief – not again!"

As she stands, admiring her handiwork, Colin approaches;  “Oh, good grief!   Not again?   

"At all hours of the day and night!"

Britt, you can’t be offering free food to people at all hours of the day and night!”

"It's only for homeless people"

She stresses that it is only for homeless people;  “The idea came to me when I was praying,” she adds.

“And is it a good idea to tell the whole world your phone number?” he demands, “You need to be careful these days, Britt”

Gaynor is trying to contact him

His own phone sounds just as Diane approaches them;  it is a call from Gaynor, but he rejects it.   

Britt wonders how else people can contact her when MFC is shut, but he points out that MFC is a business, not a charity.

"All I want to do is help people!"

“All I want to do is help people!” she insists and goes back into the shop.   Mark comes round the corner and Diane asks him how things are in Maes-y-Deri.

"I think Griffiths is going to sort it"

“Don’t mention that – a complete mess – but I think Griffiths is going to sort it out.   I’ve told him he’ll have to pay if the insurance doesn’t come through.”

"I don't think he can afford that"

Diane cannot imagine that he will be able to afford that, 

"That's not my problem, Diane"

but Mark’s response is, “That’s not my problem, Diane!   I’m homeless too – where’s my fried chicken?”

"Don't put pressure on Ieuan"

He is about to walk away, but Diane stops him;  “Hang on – I know things are hard for you right now, but please don’t put pressure on Ieuan – he’s got enough on his plate with Anita.”

"We're all struggling!"

Mark replies that they are all struggling, but she angrily continues, 

"What's going on in number 7 with a bit of mess?"

“Are you comparing what’s going on in number 7 with a bit of mess in Maes-y-Deri?” 

This makes him think

then storms off.

Tom is texting Gaynor

Tom is now back at his temporary accommodation, in the process of sending a text to Gaynor;  

She hears her phone sound . . .

she hears her phone sound and picks it up from the table 

. . . and reads his invitation

to read, ‘Hope to see you later.   You’re welcome to stay if you want.’   

Strangely, the says she is own her way

She sends a reply, “On my way,’ 

She hurries out of the house 

quickly picks up her coat and bag and leaves the house.

That is just what he was hoping

Tom is very pleased to see her reply.

"Quiet – Anita is having a nap"

Ieuan hurries downstairs to answer the door and finds that it is Mark again, warning him to be quiet as Anita is having a nap.   

Mark wants to apologise

“I’ve just called in to apologise for earlier.”   

"That's a relief"

Ieuan is very relieved to hear that and Mark continues, “I understand how hard things are at the moment – 

"We're both trying to do our best"

“we’re both just trying to do our best for the people we love.”

"I don't know where I was going to get the money"

Ieuan confesses that he does not know where he was going to get the money to pay for the repair work, but apparently he has misunderstood the reason for Mark’s visit.

"I still want you to pay"

“No, sorry – I’m not here to say you don’t have to pay – just that I sympathise with you.”

"What help is sympathy?"

“What help is sympathy when I have to pay for Anita’s care – and now this refurb?” Ieuan shouts.   

"It's only fair that you pay"

Mark considers it only fair that he pays if needed, 

"You can't blame Anita"

but Ieuan continues, “You can’t blame Anita for her condition!”

Mark emphasises that he is not blaming her, 

"That doesn't mean I don't need the money!"

“But that doesn’t mean I don’t need the money – this is your fault.   You should have had proper care, not just get anyone to look after Anita – if you’d done that, none of this would have happened.”

"Indeg was with her that day"

Ieuan angrily points out that Indeg was with her that day 

"What does Indeg know about being a carer?"

and Mark scoffs, “What does Indeg know about being a carer?   Anita isn’t a toddler.   She shouldn’t even have been at Maes-y-Deri.”

"How can you be such a prat?"

“How can you be such a prat?” yells Ieuan, so Mark turns and leaves the house, 

"You'll hear when I do"

warning that Ieuan will hear something when he does.

"Thomas Humphries . . ."

Tom appears to be ‘setting up’ Gaynor;  he phones the police, apparently in a state of panic.   “Thomas Humphries, 

". . . she's here – Gaynor is here!"

“she’s here – Gaynor is here – 

"I don't know what she's going to do with me!"

“and I don’t know what she’s going to do to me!”   Send someone over, please, 14 Erw Las, [Green Acre] Llannon – now!   And hurry up, please!”

A knock on the door – just as planned . . .

Just as he has planned, there is a knock at the door, so he is confident that his plan is working perfectly.   

. . . however, there is just one flaw . . .

As he opens it, he greets Gaynor with, “Hey!” 

. . . it is the police

only to find DS Thomas smiling at him.

He is handcuffed . . .

“David Thomas Humphries, I’m arresting you for breaking your bail conditions.   

. . . while the DS gleefully recites the caution

“You do not have to say anything – anything you do say can be used as evidence.”

"This is ridiculous"

At the same time, while he is being handcuffed, he is protesting, “This is ridiculous!   I’ve been phoning you.”   His attempt to ‘set up’ Gaynor appears to have backfired in a spectacular fashion.

"I'm not stopping, Diane . . ."

At Bryntirion, Diane opens the door to Ieuan, who she was not expecting to see so soon;  she offers him a cup of tea or some brandy, but he replies that he is not stopping.   

". . . I've made a decision"

“I wanted to tell you that I’ve made a decision.   I think the best thing would be to arrange a home care package for Anita.   If that goes well, perhaps we can take her out of Brynawelon, in order to save money for a permanent place if need be, when the time comes.”

"You should discuss it with Kelly first"

Diane considers that they ought to discuss it with Kelly first, but he maintains that it is best not to say anything for now, 

"She has enough on her plate"

as Kelly has enough on her plate at the moment as it is.   

Diane looks worried

Then he leaves the house, with Diane looking worried.

A taxi arrives . . .

A Deri Deithio taxi arrives near Tom’s address, 

. . . as Tom is being led out of the hosue

as he is being led, protesting, out of the house.   “She phoned you, didn’t she?   Gaynor’s lying as always!   

"Call yourself a detective?"

“Call yourself a detective?   She killed Cheryl and set this up.   Don’t you understand?”   

Sometimes, she quite enjoys the job

The DS appears to be enjoying this encounter.

Gaynor is watching the proceedings

As Gaynor watches from the window of the taxi, she hears Tom once again accusing her of killing Cheryl, 

Tom is loaded into the police car . . .

as he is manhandled into the police car.   

. . . so Gaynor can go home . . .

She tells the driver that he can go now 

. . . but she is in tears as she goes

and as the taxi speeds away, she is in tears.