6 March 2017 (2nd)

"I shall have to tell your mother"

Colin tells Chester that his mother will have to be told, although it is the last thing he wants to do.   

"She won't believe me!"

“But she will not believe me, either!” whines Chester.   Colin urges that he should tell the police about Tom, 

"It's not right for you to take the blame"

and that it is not right that he should take the blame;  he must not give up.

“You don’t understand,” laments Chester, 

"I'm going back to prison!"

“Who are the cops going to believe – a respectable pupil with straight ‘A’s, or me, with a criminal record?   I’m going back to prison – and there’s nothing you or I can do about it!”

Sheryl is out of breath

Sheryl comes in, apparently from a morning run;  “I went straight out, and I’m starving now!” she says, 

"I'm going to make you a special breakfast"

so Hywel determines to make her a special breakfast.   She will go and take a shower before he changes his mind;  she almost takes off her hat, but then decides against it.

The law visits Chester

DS Davies pays a visit to Chester;  “I understand that you’re in trouble again – drugs this time!” she tells him, “Where did you get them”   You might as well tell me, as I have all day.”   When Colin points out that Chester is afraid he will not be believed, 

"You must talk to me"

the DS insists that she cannot help him if he will not talk to her.   “You’re facing a serious charge, and everything you tell me is in confidence.”

"They were Tom Leonard's drugs"

Chester replies, “OK – Tom Leonard – they’re his drugs  – but you don’t believe me!   None of this would have happened if I had managed to get rid of them!”   

"Right, we shall be talking to Tom"

The DS advises that she will be having a word with Tom, and Chester adds, “You’d better talk to Ricky Jones too – he bought some from Tom at a party here last week.   He’ll back me up!”

Encouragement from Ffion 

As Sheryl comes downstairs after her shower, she receives a text from Ffion;  “It will be worth it – good luck!”   

"Breakfast, madam!"

Hywel brings her breakfast, which pleases her, and she remarks that some more hair came out in the shower, and when she brushed her hair..

"Do you want to see it?"

Taking a deep breath, she asks Hywel, “Do you want to see it?”   

"You don't have to"

He replies that she does not have to do this if she does not want to , but she is insistent;  “You were right, I can never move on, if I can’t show it you you!”

When he sees the seriousness of the alopecia . . .

She tentatively removes the towel, and reveals large bald patches on her head.   

. . . Hywel is horrified

Hywel looks horrified, then tells her, unconvincingly, that it does not look that bad.   

"Be honest with me, Hywel"

“Be honest with me – it looks terrible, doesn’t it?” she demands, and he suddenly decides that he has to go back to work immediately, 

He cannot get out of that door fast enough

and rushes off, leaving Sheryl dismayed.

"Who's been a naughty boy, then?"

Hannah enters the café and sees Chester there;  “Well, who’s been a naughty boy, then?” she asks, “I heard you were caught with drugs!”   He points out that she has not heard the truth.

"Do you know a Mark Jones?"

A stranger turns up in the café, a young woman with glasses, who asks Ffion if she knows a Mark Jones.   

"Everyone knows him"

She is told that everyone knows Mark, and that he is the village postman.   The stranger says that she is a friend of the family and is here to catch up.   Ffion informs her that he lives at Maes-y-Deri .

Ricky is questioned, but denies it all

When questioned by the police, Ricky denies any knowledge of the drugs.  

"We have reason to believe you bought some"

DS Davies tells him, We have reason to believe you bought some at Chester Monk’s home.”   He replies that his drink was spiked, but the DS continues, “Who do you think spiked your drink?”

"He doesn't know anything"

Mark interrupts, “He doesn’t know anything – he’s a good boy, and can’t help you.   Now he’s got a lot of school work to do!”   The DS leaves her card, in case Ricky remembers anything else.

"I've messed up at home!"

Hywel has gone to Cysgod y Glyn, but Ffion is not there;  he admits to Gethin, “I’ve messed up at home!   I’m sure Ffion has told you about Sheryl’s hair – 

"I panicked!"

“she showed me earlier, and I panicked and didn’t know what to say – I just left.   She must be in bits!”

"Go home and apologise"

Gethin’s advice is that he goes home and apologises, but Hywel laments, “She refused every time I asked her – and then when she finds the strength to do it – I do this to her!”

"Tell her you still feel the same about her"

Gethin insists that he should go and tell Sheryl he still feels the same about her, 

"I'm not sure that I do!"

but Hywel answers, “That’s the point – I’m not sure that I do!”

Chester's hopes now hinge on Ricky

Chester is convinced that Tom will deny everything, and he will just have to hope that Ricky will tell the truth to the police.   

"I was at the party too"

Hannah volunteers to tell them, as she was at the party too.

DS Davies wants to take Chester to the station

The door of the café opens;  it is DS Davies, who  wants to take Chester to the station for further questioning.   Hannah informs her, “I was at the party, and saw Tom carrying drugs – everyone knows that Tom deals.”   She is told that Tom will also be questioned

"Mark – did Ricky tell the truth?"

As Chester is about to enter the poilice car, he sees Mark coming out of the chippy;  he shouts, “Did Ricky tell the truth?” 

Mark walks away

but Mark hurries away without a word.

He goes to the Deri for a drink,

Now she says she is a student from Swansea University . . .

and the bespectacled stranger accosts him;  she gives a story about being a student from Swansea University who is researching people with the surname Jones.   

. . . and writes down his address

She asks if he would fill in a questionnaire for her, beginning with his address.   Mark is reluctant, as he is simply there for a quiet drink;  

Mark will complete this at his leisure

“Why don’t I take it and complete it in my own time?” he asks.   She hands it over, and hurriedly leaves

Sheryl is scathing about Ffion's advice

When Ffion goes to visit Sheryl, she is told, “I showed Hywel my hair – I regret listening to you – and he just left!   

"It's true, I look awful!"

“He could hardly bear to look at me – it’s true, I look awful, and I’ve spoilt everything now!   You didn’t see his face!”

"Hywel will pull himself together"

Ffion is sure that he will pull himself together, but Sheryl is resolute, 

"What hope do I have?"

“I feel like staying in here for ever, and never seeing anyone again – if Hywel can’t look at me, what hope do I have?”

"I don't think the spark is still there"

Meanwhile Hywel confesses, “I know it sounds awful, but I don’t think the spark is still there – we haven’t slept together for a long time.   

"She was attractive"

“She was attractive – that’s how we ended up together in the first place.”

"I've seen Ffion in some terrible states"

Gethin recalls that he has seen Ffion in some terrible states, but it has not changed the way he feels about her – he still loves her.   

"Yes, but she doesn't look different!"

“She has not lost half her hair – she doesn’t look different!” exclaims Hywel.

"Do you want to throw it all away?"

Gethin challenges him, “Do you want to throw it all away?   Supporting her is now more important than ever – she needs you!   Go home, apologise from the bottom of your heart, and get on with your life!   She’s relying on you – don’t let her down!”

"I want to talk to Ricky"

When Mark reaches home, he meets Hannah, who wants to talk to Ricky;  

Someone is watching them

across the road, behind a parked car, that stranger is lurking.

"What did you tell them?"

Inside, Hannah confronts Ricky;  “Chester has been picked up by the cops – did they talk to you?   What did you tell them?”   

"I didn't say anything"

Ricky answers that he told them nothing.   

"Why didn't you tell them it's not Chester's fault?"

“Why didn’t you tell them it’s not Chester’s fault?   You’re thinking of no-one but yourself –you’re part of this!”

Mark considers that she has now had her say, but she goes on, 

"Mates stick up for each other!"

“You have to do the right thing!   Call the cops – mates stick up for each other!   You’re happy for him to be locked up and that Tom to go free?   Don’t you remember what happened to you?   

"You could have died!"

“You could have died – and it could happen again!”

"Why didn't you tell the truth, Ricky?"

Chester then arrives, demanding why Ricky did not tell the truth, but Mark ejects him and Hannah, telling them that this is intimidation.   

Ricky is about to phone the police 

Ricky picks up the phone, but Mark forbids him to make the call;  “Give it to me!   

"Stick to the story!"

“Stick to the story and keep your mouth shut – you’ll thank me one day!”

Now she has turned up on the doorstep

Then there is another knock at the door – this time it is the enigmatic stranger, asking if her has completed the questionnaire.   “I have a lot on at the moment,” 

"How do I get it back to you?"

he replies brusquely, “How do I get it back to you – I don’t even know your name?”   She then tells him to forget the whole thing, 

She walks away from Maes-y-Deri  

and he shuts the door.

"I don't know what came over me"

Hywel returns home and confesses to Sheryl, “I don’t know what came over me.”   

"Am I really that ugly?"

She wonders if she is really that ugly, 

"It was just the shock"

and he explains that it was just the shock, as he had not known what to expect.

“What – after my hair has been falling out for weeks?” she squeals, “If you think it’s hard, imagine what it’s like for me, looking in the mirror and not recognising that person!   

"There's worse to come!"

“There’s worse to come – I might have to shave my head!   What will you do then?   I never thought you’d be so selfish – you have to ask yourself if you still want to be with me.   If not, I’d rather know now.”

"This won't get any easier!"

After a pause, Hywel assures her that of course he wants to be with her;  “Are you sure?” she demands, “This won’t get any easier!”