Cwmderi Diary 2017: 4 July 2017 (1st)

More flowers at Courtney's grave

Courtney’s grave is visited by a grey-haired man, who brings flowers,

"Oh, Courtney, love"

and whispers, “Oh, Courtney, love.”

An appetising fry-up for breakfast

Eileen is cooking sausage and bacon for breakfast;

"Scrambled, fried or poached, Jim?"

she asks Jim how he wants his eggs – scrambled, fried or poached.

"Stop being so nice to me"

“Please stop being so nice to me,” he says, “I hate myself as it is – you’re better off without me!”

"Sioned's pregnant – and Ed's the father"

She replies that she needs him, telling him that Sioned is pregnant, and that it is complicated; “Ed’s the father – things aren’t going to be easy for her. The baby will need a grandfather.”

"You're the strongest person I know"

Jim tells her that she is the strongest person he knows, and will be more than enough for both of them.

"The angry woman downstairs told me to come up"

Then the grey-haired man suddenly arrives in the flat, remarking that the angry woman downstairs told him to come up. He is Adrian, Jim’s brother, who explains that, after Eileen phoned, assuming Jim was with him,

"I was worried after Eileen phoned"

he was a bit worried. The two brothers embrace;

"You're putting on weight!"

“You’re putting on weight – this special woman you’ve got is giving you too much cake!” jokes Adrian.

"Ideally served with a sausage sandwich"

When Eileen offers him a cup of tea, he answers, “Ideally served with a sausage sandwich.” Jim comments that he does not think he has ever been so glad to see his brother.

"Good morning, ladies"

On the campsite, Colin makes his way to see Chester; he has something important to say in private, so it is fortunate that Hannah has gone for a walk.

"I'd like to pay for your plane ticket"

“I’d like to pay for your plane ticket to Australia,” Colin says,

"But Mam said . . ."

“Forget about your mother – she doesn’t know yet –

"I know how to handle your mother"

“but don’t worry, I know how to handle her.”

After thanking him for this generous gesture, Chester asks where his phone has been hidden, as he wants to look at flights.

"They're in Britt's car – but don't tell the others"

Colin reveals that the phones are in Britt’s car, but he should not tell anyone else.

Adrian fills in Jim with the family news

Adrian tells Jim that Emilia is starting secondary school in September, and that she will drive the new teachers round the bend. He says that his wife only puts up with him because of the expensive handbags, diamonds and earplugs.

"You've got another woman – a bit on the side!"

“Are you going to tell me why you told Eileen you were staying with me? You’ve got another woman – a bit on the side!”

"We can go out for a walk . . ."

Eileen comes into the room and tells him he is welcome to stay as long as he wants. Adrian suggests that he and Jim could go out for a walk, as they have a lot of catching up to do,

". . . and you're not going out like that!"

and tells Jim to get dressed.

"Things have been difficult recently"

Adrian can see that Eileen looks tired, and she explains that things have been difficult recently; Jim has not been himself since the accident.

"He doesn't know if he wants to be with me"

“He doesn’t know if he wants to be with me any more,” she says, and Adrian agrees to have a talk with him.

"There's a sauna at the pool"

Hannah returns to the tent with their breakfast, announcing that the pool looks lovely and that there is a sauna.

"I need to get used to hot temperatures"

“I will need the sauna to get used to hot temperatures,” Chester tells her, “I’m coming to Australia – Colin offered me the money.”

"But I want to see my friends"

She looks disappointed and explains that she wanted to see her friends; “I can’t wait to meet them and hear embarrassing stories about you!” he laughs,

"This is going to be a lot better than Anglesey!"

“This is going to be a lot better than Anglesey.”

Hannah does not share his enthusiasm

Again she looks rather downhearted.

"I know she didn't sleep with Sam"

As they walk along the back street, Jim admits that Eileen did not sleep with Sam, so Adrian wonders what is the problem. “I saw you in the flat – she was trying her best, but you couldn’t stand her touching you.”

"Something is missing"

Jim admits that he does not know if he loves her any more. He wants to love her, and wants things to go back to how they were, but he says that something is missing.

“Courtney is missing – and that part of you is always going to be missing,” advises Adrian,

"Give Eileen a chance!"

“It’s not Eileen’s fault – give her a chance!”

Colin relaxes in the sunshine

Colin is reclining outside the chalet,

"I didn't realise the bins were so far away"

and Britt complains about the long trek to the recycling bins. He invites her to sit down for a moment, as there is something he wants to tell her.

"Don't be annoyed – stay calm"

“Don’t be annoyed – stay calm –

"I offered to pay for Chester's flight"

“I’ve offered to pay for Chester’s flight out to Australia – he deserves the chance to see the world. I didn’t want a small problem like money to hold him back.”

Britt definitely is annoyed and certainly not calm;

"Who do you think you are?"

“Who on earth do you think you are with this money?” He remembers that it was awful having to say goodbye to Izzy, and she snarls, “When was the last time you saw her? That’s not good enough for me –

"Chester's staying here with me!"

“Chester is not going anywhere near Australia! He’s staying here with me – you’ll have to take back your offer, won’t you?

"You're not his father!"

“You have no right – you’re not his father – Teg’s his father –

"That went slightly less well than anticipated"

“you need to remember that sometimes!”

"We went through a rough patch"

As they walk over a river bridge, Adrian recalls that he and Claire went through a rough patch, which was not easy, but Jim wants to talk about something else.

"The business is on the lookout for new investors"

“The business is better than ever, but we’re always on the lookout for new investors, if you’re interested,” Adrian tells him, “I guess the money you got for APD is burning a hole in your pocket.”

"I was wondering what to do with the APD money"

Jim admits that he has been wondering what to do with it,

"The money would come rolling in"

and his brother paints a glowing picture of the profit he would make, but Jim wants a more active role.

"There's nothing to keep me here"

“How about working there?” Jim asks, “There’s nothing to keep me here.”

Adrian advises him not to run away because it has been a bit tough. “This place hasn’t given me any reason to smile for ages,” Jim sighs.

Adrian points out that he has a good woman in Eileen, and he should not lose her or he would regret it.

"Ideal opportunity for a fresh start"

Jim decides, “I don’t want to waste the rest of my life being unhappy – maybe this is the ideal opportunity for a fresh start.”

Colin is overruled by Britt

Colin tells Britt he is going out for a ride on his bike, but she instructs him to tell Chester he is withdrawing the offer, adding, “Sort it out now!” as she sees him and Hannah approaching.

"The point is, I can't give you the money"

Colin begins, “Listen, Chester, the point is, I can’t give you the money for you to go to Australia – it’s far away, isn’t it?

"Too far for you to go without your mother"

“Too far for you to go without your mother. It is important to go travelling, but maybe you’re a touch too young.”

"You told him to change his mind, didn't you?"

Chester glowers at his mother; “You told him to change his mind, didn’t you?

"You've always got to spoil things!"

“You’ve always got to spoil things for me! You can’t control me any more, Mam. I don’t want you – and I don’t need you!” Britt rushes back into the chalet,

He purloins his mother's car keys

and Chester takes the opportunity to surreptitiously remove her car keys from her bag, then stalks off round the side of the chalet.

"Welcome to the Monk family!"

Colin welcomes Hannah to the Monk family.

Adrian tries to persuade Jim

Back in the shop flat, Adrian thinks that Jim is being rather hasty; he could invest and see how it goes, then move in a few months if he is still unhappy in Cwmderi. Jim insists that if Adrian wants his money, he comes as well – that is the deal.

"Right, I'll let you talk"

When Eileen comes in, Adrian leaves them to talk; Jim tells her that Adrian will not be staying very long.

"I don't intend to come back"

“I’m leaving with him, and I don’t intend to come back.

"You don't know anyone up there"

She cannot believe that he is moving to Scotland, as he does not know anyone,

"We both need a new start"

but he argues that they both need a new start.

"I don't – I want to be with you!"

Eileen replies that she does not want a new start – she wants to be with him.

"I'm doing this for your own good!"

“I’m doing this for your own good too,” he stresses,

He leaves Eileen in tears

“It’s the only way forward for us.”

Chester goes to the car . . .

Chester approaches his mother’s car,

. . . locates the stash of phones . . .

and soon finds the mobile phones; he takes Britt’s,

. . . and logs into Britt's bank account

and quickly goes online to her bank account.

"Big mistake, letting me set up your online banking!"

“Big mistake, letting me set up your online banking, Mam!” he gloats.

Adrian opens a jewellery box . . .

Adrian sits in the bedroom and looks in a jewellery box, where he finds a gold locket;

. . . inside which is a locket with his mother's photo

he looks at the picture inside, and remarks, “Ah – Mam!” He receives a phone call,

It appears he is in financial trouble . . .

and says, in English, “I told you, you’ll get your money by the end of the week. Leave the kids out of this – it’s got nothing to do with them.

. . . so he helps himself to the locket

In a panic, he takes the locket and puts it in his pocket.

"Is Chester not back yet?"

At the chalet, they are surprised that Chester has not returned; “He’s probably upset because someone promised him the world!” Britt moans.

"She keeps treating him like a child!"

Colin tells Hannah that Britt insists on treating Chester like a child.

"I think I'd better go"

As the argument escalates, Hannah thinks she ought to go, but Colin forbids her to do so.

Colin insists he is the one who will go

Grabbing his bike, he tells them that he is going; “I haven’t done anything but love those children like they are my own,” he rages, “I just want the best for them!” and he storms off.

"Aren't you going after him?"

Britt is determined not to go after him.

"Sorry, Eileen – I tried"

Eileen is sobbing, and Adrian admits that he failed to change Jim’s mind. “I can’t let him go,” she says. Adrian will go out and give them some peace; he wants to borrow the car.