Cwmderi Diary 2017: 22 November 2017

Kath plays with Nicky

Kath asks Non how Ricky is getting on with his lessons,

Non does not reply

but she makes no reply; Kath stops her game with Nicky to go and talk to Non. “Is there a problem?” she asks,

"I'm not sure I can cope with being a teacher"

and Non confesses that she is not sure she can cope with being a teacher.

"Of course you can!"

“Well, of course you can – you’re the brains of this house!” Kath tells her, but Non points out it is no use if she cannot deal with the children. “Did Vicky have a pep talk with you about this last week” Kath goes on,

"I can't change who I am"

and Non agrees that she did feel better at the time, but she cannot change who she is.

Kath tells her a thing or two

Kath pontificates, “Listen, thousands of people work in jobs they hate every day, but they do it, because they know that’s the way the world works!

"So get a grip!"

“Life is tough, Non – so get a grip!”

Mark has just come in, and heard this; Non picks up her bag and leaves;

Mark is disappointed by her attitude

Kath wonders what is wrong with everyone today.

"Do you think she'll get off?"

Elgan is sitting in the café, and when Debbie brings his drink, she asks, “Do you think she’ll get off?” He looks at her, puzzled,

"Everyone's talking about it – except you"

and she adds, “Her upstairs! Everyone’s talking about it – everyone except you, obviously – the trial is tomorrow.”

"I heard about that business with Britt"

Colin comes in for a coffee, and Debbie says that she heard about the business with Britt.

"I don't want to talk about it"

He replies that he does not want to talk about that, then notices Elgan, who is still staring into space, and goes to sit by him.

"Have you heard?"

“Have you heard?” Colin excitedly asks him,

"Gaynor – she's woken up!"

“Gaynor – she’s woken up!” Elgan is surprised,

Elgan leaves in a great hurry

gets up from his seat and hurries out of the café.

Non sits on the bench . . .

Non is sitting disconsolately on the bench by the salon;

. . . looking at a very old birthday card . . .

she takes from her bag an old birthday card

. . . which clearly shows the ravages of time

from her mother, and remembers.

Elgan visits the hospital

Elgan arrives at Gaynor’s bedside,

"What exactly happened?"

and she is very glad to see him; he welcomes her back, and she asks exactly what happened.
“The last thing I remember is Colin asking Britt to marry him.”

"You took the brunt of it"

Elgan explains, “There was a problem with the electrics in the roof. It wasn’t safe – it all came down, and you bore the brunt of it.” She is very pleased that there was a doctor there to help her.

Colin interrupts proceedings

He is about to ask her something when Colin arrives, so he beats a hasty retreat, although Gaynor does not want him to go.

"Are you angry with me?"

Colin assumes that she is angry with him, for scaring away the doctor, but she assures him that she appreciates his presence.

"What was Britt's answer?"

“Well, what was Britt’s answer?” Gaynor enquires,

Colin does no want to answer that

but Colin is reluctant to reply.

"It's too late to start now"

By the time Non returns to Maes-y-Deri, it is rather late for her tutorial session with Ricky. She drops her file, spilling out various papers, including the old birthday card,

"This is very old"

which Ricky picks up and remarks upon.

"There's no-one to send me a card now"

“There’s no one to send me a card now, is there?” Non says, and Ricky realises that it is her birthday today.

"Don't you dare tell anyone!"

“Don’t you dare tell anyone!” she orders him, and is eager to get the tutorial started.

Elgan does not even notice Garry

As Elgan walks downheartedly towards Megan’s shop he meets Garry, and tries to give the impression that he is fine.

"I want to smash someone on that squash court!"

“I want to smash someone on that squash court!” Garry announces,

"You've got no chance, mate!"

but the doctor does not think there is much chance of that happening.

"Have you seen 'Madam' today?"

In the café, Vicky asks her mother if she has seen ‘Madam’ today; “Not a peep – they’re keeping their heads down,” is the reply. Mathew is of the opinion that she will get off,

"I hope she goes to prison!"

but Vicky very much hopes that she will go to prison.

"That's not something to joke about"

Then Ricky joins them, and points out that the court case is not funny;

"Did you know it's Non's birthday?"

“Anyway, did you know it’s Non’s birthday today? I found out by accident, and I’m not really supposed tell anyone.”

Vicky wants a party . . .

Vicky says they should throw a party for her, fancy dress to lift the mood. Mathew is working tonight, but he is told he will still have to wear fancy dress. Vicky decides upon a Disney theme,

. . . and Debbie can get hold of some costumes

and Debbie very conveniently knows someone with loads of costumes.

"Non's not going to like it!"

Ricky does not think this is a good idea, as Non is not going to like it; “Tough – it’s too late to worry about that now!” Vicky tells him.

"You won't be so lucky next time"

When they return from their squash game, Garry, as usual, tells Elgan, “You won’t be so lucky next time,”

"I've heard that before!"

adding, “That game seemed to do you good – exercise is important, you see.” The doctor is grateful to Garry for looking after him; “I let you win at squash!” Garry insists,

"You let me win? Rubbish!"

but Elgan calls that ‘rubbish’.

"I'm sure he's told you the good news"

Colin comes in and remarks to Garry, “I’m sure he’s told you the good news.” Garry does not know what he is talking about, so Colin elucidates, “About Gaynor being out of the coma –

"Didn't we, Elgan?"

“we went to see her this afternoon, didn’t we, Elgan?”

"I thought you would have said something"

Garry is surprised that he never said anything; “I thought that you would have, and would be happy.” Elgan protests that he is very happy.

"Pint of cider, please, Dan"

Colin asks Dan for a pint of cider.

Mark does not share his mother's enthusiasm

At Maes-y-Deri, Kath thinks that it is a great idea, but Mark is not so sure,

"You're scared of making a fool of yourself"

and Vicky says that he is scared of making a fool of himself. Kath reassures him, “We’re not going to paint you blue like a genie,”

"It's not right"

but Mark does not consider that it is right.

Vicky moans that she just wants some fun, but Mark points out that Non wanted it kept quiet; “We shouldn’t go against her wishes.”

"She wanted to skip school today"

Kath says that her wishes are not always the right ones, and that today she did not want to go to school.

"What? A teacher skipping school?"

The idea of a teacher not wanting to go to school amuses Vicky, but Mark feels sorry for her.

Kath decides that she is going to have a birthday party whether she wants one or not, and Non, who is on her way downstairs, overhears this.

Non is not happy that they all know

She is not happy when she realises that they know about her birthday.

"I think I've ruined everything"

“The thing is, I know it was Britt’s mistake,” says Colin, “But I just feel I’ve made things a hundred times worse – to be honest, I think I’ve ruined everything! Listen to me – once I get started, I can’t stop.”

The doctor's mind seems to be elsewhere

The doctor has not been listening to a word Colin said,

"You're the complete opposite"

but he continues, “You’re the complete opposite, aren’t you? You keep everything to yourself, and play your cards carefully –

"Too carefully, perhaps"

“too carefully, perhaps.”

"Colin – go away!"

Elgan finally speaks; “Colin – go away!” and Colin takes the hint.

"Are you all right, Mark?"

Mark has agreed to go along with this party idea, and his mother urges him not to spoil it; she senses that he is not well, although Mark protests that he is fine.

Debbie has all the costumes

Ricky comes in with Debbie, who has an enormous bag of costumes. She announces that she is going to be Snow White, and has borrowed a wig from Sheryl; Ricky is not enthusiastic about being Aladdin.

Debbie shouts upstairs for Non.

Another typical Jones argument breaks out

Vicky argues with her mother about the costumes, but Ricky tells them to stop it;

"You're all just taking over!"

“This is Non’s party – you’re all just taking over!

"No wonder she didn't say anything!"

“No wonder she didn’t say anything!”

Mark advises her that she does not have to do this if she does not want to; she sits down, and after a moment’s thought,

"Where's the costume, then?"

tells them, “It would be a pity to pull out after you went to so much trouble – where’s the costume?”

Smiles all round

There is general rejoicing.

"Withholding information is second nature to me"

The doctor goes up to see Garry in the Deri flat; he admits that withholding information is second nature to him,

"Hypocritical oath, is it?"

and Garry comments, “The hypocritical oath, is it?”

"I didn't want to talk to anyone"

Elgan says that he did not want to talk to anyone, and Garry concludes, “That is why you were walking around as if the world was ending.

"You spoke with me honestly last week"

“You spoke with me honestly last week, about your friends, and the accident – I think it did you some good. And now, even though Gaynor is out of the coma, you’re still not happy.

"You need an honest chat with her"

“It doesn’t take a detective to work out that you need an honest chat with her – I don’t know what about. I don’t know what your problems are,

"The answer is lying in that hospital"

“but I think the answer to most of them is lying in that hospital.”

Elgan acknowledges that Garry is right

The doctor nods his head.

The sound of raucous voices singing ‘Happy Birthday’ approaches the Deri,

The Jones clan arrive at the Deri . . .

and they all arrive, suitably attired. Vicky orders a round of slammers from Mathew the barman,

. . . with Non still having second thoughts

but Non is not sure that this was a good idea. Mark assures her that they just want her to have a good night,

"I have got a bit of pain, Ricky"

but admits to Ricky that he is in a bit of pain.

Kath tells Non that she may have been a bit sharp this morning,

"We'll show you how the Joneses enjoy themselves"

but will make it up to her by showing how the Joneses enjoy themselves. At the count of three, they all down their drinks,

Non does not like that at all

except Non, who does not like the taste of it at all.

Elgan returns to the hospital and apologises for leaving earlier;

"Is anything worrying you?"

Gaynor asks if anything is worrying him.

"I want us to be a couple again"

He sits on the bed and answers, “Yes – I want us to be a couple again.”

Gaynor embraces him . . .

She remarks that he picks his moments, then, with a great effort, she sits up and embraces him.

. . . making him look a lot happier

“I never know what you’re going to do next,” she says, and Elgan looks happier than he has done for weeks.

The riotous party continues

The Jones family are by now well-lubricated with alcohol; Vicky asks Non who is the man for her, and she blurts out, “Garry Monk!” which occasions some amazement.