Cwmderi Diary 2017: 4 May 2017

A visitor at the door of the Deri . . .

Next morning, in the rain, someone is repeatedly knocking on the door of the Deri;

. . . who is watched by Sioned

Sioned notices from outside the shop.

She says she is from Social Services

Garry answers the door and is told that the caller is Mali Rees, from Social Services, who have received a complaint, and asks to come in.

Sara is surprised to see Josh

In Awyr Iach, Sara, looking very pregnant, is surprised to see Josh, who tells her she should have her feet up somewhere.

He and Kath are after work

He says, “Kath and I were talking yesterday, and, as we have some spare time, we would be more than willing to help out at Awyr Iach. We are hard workers, cheap, and we can start immediately.”

"I'll think about it"

Sara agrees to think about it, but is making no promises; he is of the opinion that she will be needing some help very soon.

"Shouldn't you be at the café?"

Anita asks Kelly if she is supposed to be at the café, but is told her shift does not start till later, and she has important work to do.

Kelly is preparing for the enemy's next step

“You have to be committed, you know, and ready for the enemy’s next step – that’s what Morgan said.” Anita considers it is about time she met this Morgan, and Kelly replies, “I like him – he’s better than the other drips around here! He’s passionate and has morals.”

"Look at this – I'll kill that Gethin!"

Then she sees on her iPad that Gethin has done a newspaper interview about the CDP petition, but there are not many names on it; “I'm going to kill him!” she rages.

"I have to go to APD"

Eifion has to go to the village, so Cadno will come with him, she needs some shopping; he is going to APD, to get more stuff for the bird pens.

"Those pheasants will have a nicer home than us"

“Those pheasants will have a nicer home than us!” she complains, “A lot of people have asked for their deposits back – we shouldn’t spend money if we don’t know we’ll get it back.

Eifion is confident they will double their money, and that this project will put Penrhewl on the map.

Dani and Garry are told of the allegation

Garry wants to know what is going on, and is told that they have received an anonymous phone call, alleging that Gwern might be neglected.

"I just want to ask a few questions"

“At the moment, I just want to ask a few questions to establish the facts,” says Mali Rees, and Dani replies that Garry is a wonderful father.

"It's your relationship with Gwern"

Mali continues, “The call wasn’t about Garry’s and Gwern’s relationship – it’s your relationship with Gwern that’s being investigated.” Both Garry and Dani look very troubled.

Dai is on the phone to someone from the rugby club;

"I don't have time for Facebook!"

“I’m a businessman – I don’t have time to bother with things like Facebook,” he tells them, and then looks worried when they ask if he has seen the petition.

DJ and his mother are back from their short trip . . .

Just and then, DJ and Linda arrive back from their trip to America; DJ says he has never seen anything like the Grand Canyon, and is sure that Dai would have enjoyed Las Vegas.

. . . which has tired Linda

“I shall need another holiday, after unpacking and all that washing,” adds Linda. DJ offers to go home to Crymych with her to help her settle in, but she is not keen.

"The boy will make you a cup of tea!"

Dai tells his son to put the kettle on, and they can have tea and some of Diane’s Welsh cakes.

"You sound as if you can't wait to get rid of her"

In the kitchen, Dai gets the impression DJ cannot wait to get rid of his mother.

"It was tough for her in America"

He replies that he thought she would be more comfortable at home, and explains that the holiday was tough for her; she could not get out of bed some days. That was why he offered to go home with her;

"I don't know how long she will be able to cope on her own"

he does not know how long she will be able to cope on her own.

"I didn't give it to him – it was a mistake!"

Dani is asked, “Are you saying you never gave Gwern any alcohol before?” Dani explains she did not give him any this time, but it was just a mistake and she grabbed the wrong bottle, as the bar was so busy.

Questions continue to be fired at Dani

Further questions follow; “Is Gwern often in the bar without supervision? How often is he in your care Dani, without Garry being there? And what about his mother? Is she around?”

"Gwyneth has left!"

Garry explains that Gwyneth left, but she sometimes phones.

"What was the effect on Gwern?"

“What kind of effect has her departure had on Gwern?” Mali asks, “Is he difficult to handle?” Garry points out it has had no effect on him, but is told that it would be very unusual if his mother leaving had no effect.

Garry has difficulty keeping his temper

Becoming angry, Garry goes on, “Look here – Dani thinks the world of Gwern, and he feels exactly the same about her. Gwyneth leaving hasn’t affected him, because Dani stepped into that role. She helps with his homework, washes his sports kit and irons his school shirts. Gwern is happy – ask anyone!”

Kelly ignores Eifion

Kelly ignores Eifion who is just coming into the shop;

"The rugby club is pulling out!"

“About this syndicate,” Dai tells him, “The rugby club boys have decided to pull out. We have to think of the good name of the club – and APD!

"Feather bags full of fleas"

“I’m not going to risk annoying local people, just to have the pleasure of shooting feather bags full of fleas! Kelly’s petition is important to some people round here!”

"Petition – what petition?"

Eifion knew nothing of such a petition, and looks angry.

Mali will be in touch

As the Social Services officer leaves she says that they will be in touch again once the investigation has been completed.

"I'm sorry, Garry – I feel terrible!"

Dani feels terrible, but Garry says he is going out to clear his head.

She will not listen to Mathew

Seeing Dani in tears, Mathew tries to comfort her, but she rushes upstairs.

Kelly sees Gethin passing the cafe, and calls him in;

"Does it take practice to be a prize idiot?"

“Does it take practice to be a prize idiot – or does it just come naturally to you?” she demands, “An article on a newspaper website about a petition with –

"Wait for it – 32 signatures!"

“wait for it – 32 signatures on it! Do you understand anything about press embargos? We were supposed to break the story when the petition was on a roll!”

"Look what they're saying about us!"

She shows him the derogatory comments, including, “Liberal lefties, knit your own yoghurt-bleeding hearts. Go back to the city and leave the countryside to country people.”

"In future, don't try to help!"

She tells him that more than fifty people have agreed with that comment, and warns him that in future, he should not try to help.

DJ walks into the Deri . . .

When DJ comes into the Deri, Sara is very pleased to see him;

. . . and is warmly welcomed by Sara

Jason is out buying stock, and there is so much to do. She asks if he can come over to Awyr Iach later, as she is desperate.

Someone listens into their conversation

Meanwhile, Josh is eavesdropping from nearby.

DJ says he wants a chat with Anita about Meic,

DJ's request puzzles Anita

which makes Anita rather puzzled.

Garry seizes Sioned and drags her into the alley

As Mathew watches from the door of the Deri, Sioned comes out of the shop and is dragged into the alley by Garry.

"Are you just missing me?"

“Do you want something specific, or are you are just missing me?” she asks.

"I know you did it!"

“You phoned social services, didn’t you?” he demands, “Just tell the truth! I know you did it!”

"What reason would I have for making trouble?"

She invites Garry, “Tell Dani why you think I’d want to hurt you. What reason would I have for making trouble for you and your family? I’m not that desperate and pathetic now, am I? That’s what you called me yesterday!”

"You'd better be careful!"

He knows she made the phone call, and that he cannot prove it, but he warns her to be careful;

"You're playing games with the wrong man!"

“You’re playing games with the wrong man!”

"You ought to know by now I never play games"

She smiles, thinking that he would know by now that she never plays games; he hurries away.

Mathew watches Garry angrily stride past

When Garry marches through the Deri, Mathew looks concerned.

"What was it like, nursing Meic?"

DJ wants to know what nursing Meic at the end it was like;

"It wasn't easy"

Anita warns that even before the end it was not easy. While they were away, he realised that Mam was more ill than he thought, and he worries about her going home to an empty house.

"She doesn't want to face the facts!"

His mother does not want to face the facts.

Anita suggests adapting the house, bringing the bed downstairs, but he doubts whether his mother would agree to that.

Amita will assist him

Anita offers to have a look and see if it is practical.

"I'm going to dig you out of a hole"

At the bar, Josh has an offer for DJ, who says he is not buying or selling anything; Josh says he is going to dig DJ out of a hole, with Sara about to give birth, and Awyr Iach busier than ever,

"Give us a trial run"

he will never cope on his own. “You’ll have to find someone – there is no need to advertise – just give us a trial run.”

"All right, then"

DJ agrees, much to Josh’s delight

The anti-shooting petition . . .

Eifion is outraged as he looks at the website which proclaims, “Say no to Cwmderi shooting syndicate. Sign the petition.”

. . . angers Eifion

He wonders what is wrong with people, not wanting rural businesses to succeed. He insists that there is something wrong with that Kelly,

"Well, you've been winding her up!"

and Cadno suggests that it might help if he stopped winding her up.

“My only crime is trying to improve people’s lives,” he goes on, but Cadno reminds him that people are pulling out of the syndicate. He argues that a few crackpots will not change his mind, and that local people are behind him, but she asks what would happen if everyone pulled out.

Now Eifion is even more determined

“This petition is only making me more determined to succeed,” he growls.

"I'll make you a cup of tea"

DJ arrives back at Bryntirion and offers to make his mother a cup of tea, as he wants one himself. “I could do with a plateful of those pancakes we had in Las Vegas,” she tells him,

"You have responsibilities here"

“I was thinking while you were out, you’ve got a lot on at the moment, with Sara about to have a baby. You’ve got responsibilities here –

DJ realises she does not want him at Crymych

“I don’t want you to come back to Crymych.”

Gethin has attempted to make amends

At number 10, Gethin tells Kelly that he has contacted the paper and asked them to take down the article from the website; he apologises for not checking with her first.

"Morgan says – co-ordinated strategy!"

She insists, “We need to make sure we have a co-ordinated strategy – Morgan says that is why a lot of campaigns fail, as they are amateurish.”

Gethin would like to have a word with Morgan,

"I'll speak to Morgan"

but she appears to want to keep him to herself; he concludes that she obviously likes him, although she has not met him yet.

"Old, toothless and smells of cabbage!"

He warns, “Maybe he’s old, toothless and smells of cabbage,” but she replies that it is what is on the inside that counts.

"You're an hour late, DJ!"

DJ reports for work, and Sara moans that he is an hour late; she hands him a list of things that have to be done before she finishes.

"Kath and Josh will be helping out"

He advises her that he will not be on his own as Kath and Josh will be helping out.

"You're undermining me!"

She moans about this as well, accusing him of undermining her,

"Right – stuff you, then!"

so he leaves again.

She is gripped by excruciating pain

As she stoops down to pick up a box, she is seized by a sudden pain.

Dani certainly does not look 'all right'

Dani returns to the Deri and Mathew asks if she is all right.

"I saw him arguing with Sioned"

He demands why she lets Garry talk to her like that, and tells her he saw Garry outside earlier with Sioned; “It looked like they were arguing.”

At that moment, Garry walks in,

"Er . . . about Deri Deithio"

and Dani asks him why he was arguing with Sioned. He improvises, “Er . . . about Deri Deithio – she wanted more money, you know what she’s like.”

"You're the best step-mother in the world!"

Then he apologises for this morning when he walked out; “We’re going to show social services – and everyone else – that you’re the best stepmother in the world! I’ve booked a table for the three of us tonight – pizza and then the cinema – all the family together.”