Cwmderi Diary 2017: 15 December 2017

Ffion is feeling shattered . . .

Ffion is at Arwen’s bedside, almost asleep, when Gethin returns to the hospital; she reports that everything is all right.

. . . but Arwen is still asleep

Arwen has not woken since he left the hospital, and Ffion has been unable to sleep because of the noise; “Voices and something beeping somewhere.”

"I've brought you some decent coffee"

He has brought her some more sandwiches and a flask of decent coffee;

"Did Macs come back?"

he asks if Macs came back. “No,” she reports, “I’m so disappointed in Siôn.” Gethin wonders if Macs was telling the truth about the therapy. He encourages her to come home for a shower and change of clothes, but Ffion is adamant that she is staying here with Arwen.

"Phone me if you need anything"

“Phone me if you need anything,” he tells her “Or if Macs comes back!”, but she insists that she is well able to handle Macs.

Dai apologises to the cat . . .

At the back door of Bryntirion, Dai is calling, “Puss, puss, puss, where are you? I know I’m a bit late this morning, but that’s no excuse, is it?”

. . . and is caught in the act by DJ

He is unaware of DJ, standing behind him. “I knew you had something going on! You’re calling that cat – I heard you!” he says,

"I can't see any cat – can you?"

but Dai denies any knowledge of a cat, protesting that there is no cat here.

A loud wailing comes from outside the door

Then the unmistakable sound of a cat can be heard outside the door; DJ smiles.

"I warned Elinor about Esther"

Sheryl looks rather pleased with her hairstyle when Hywel returns from taking Esther to Elinor’s, and says that he warned her that all Esther would do is talk about Arwen.

"Esther wanted to go on holiday to hospital"

Sheryl informs him that Esther said that she wanted to go on holiday to hospital as well.

As Hywel has not looked at her, Sheryl asks him if she looks all right;

"Do you fancy coming upstairs?"

“I haven’t got any appointments this morning,” she says, sitting by him, “Do you fancy coming upstairs? The work can wait for half an hour.”

"I've got a lot of work to do"

“Stop it – I’ve got a lot of work to do,” Hywel replies, and she walks away, disappointed.

"No wonder Chester has been sneezing all week"

As Dai and DJ have a cup of tea, the cat is still wailing outside; “No wonder Chester has been sneezing all week – you let that tomcat into the house,” DJ reprimands him,

"You know I hate cats"

but Dai insists that he hates cats.

"I shall tell Diane"

Only when DJ threatens to tell Diane, he admits that maybe he has been giving the cat a bit of food.

“Fair play, he’s outside there in all kinds of weathers, day and night,” Dai insists, but DJ points out he does not know where the cat has been; he might have all kinds of disease, or he could carry fleas into the house.

Dai welcomes his little friend

Dai becomes quite angry, and goes to open the door. “Come in, out of the cold!” he says.

DJ is very uncomplimentary about the cat;

"I've never seen such an ugly cat!"

“Good grief – I’ve never seen such an ugly cat! You’re off your head! Right, it’s your funeral – I’m off!”

"Well, I rather like the company"

Dai, on the other hand, rather likes the company.

"I'm off to the hospital, Dad"

At Y Felin, Macs tells his father that he is off to the hospital; Siôn asks him, “Don’t you remember what I said last night?

"You can't behave like this!"

“You can’t behave like this.”

"You said Arwen needed me!"

Macs protests that his father said Arwen needed him; “But I didn’t mean land in the hospital and give everyone a shock!

"There's a way of doing things"

“You need to be patient – remember what the therapist said – there’s a way of doing things, steps to follow. Don’t spoil things before you even start – we’ve both got too much to lose.

Macs relents and sits down on the sofa,

"Now I'm going to apologise to Ffion"

while Siôn will phone Ffion and apologise on his behalf; “We’ve both got a bit of making up to do, I think.”

Kelly practises her speech

Kelly is practising her speech; “After the Father Christmas float goes around the village, everyone will go to the Deri for snacks, drinks and carol singing, for good causes.”

Sheryl and Hywel see Gethin by the garage

Sheryl and Hywel go across to tell Gethin they are pleased that Arwen is all right. Gethin immediately notices her hair,

"I'm glad someone noticed!"

and she snaps, “I’m glad someone noticed!” Peering at her, Hywel says that he can see it now, and leaves her.

"I'm just glad it's over, Sher"

Sheryl remarks that Gethin looks tired, but he is just glad that everything is over; then he returns to the garage.

Eifion has bottled his home brew

At Penrhewl, Eifion is attaching labels to bottles of his home brew;

Bobi takes a keen interest

Bobi is watching him, as he samples one of the bottles.

"It's nice – it tastes like pop!"

“It’s nice – it tastes like pop,” he comments, then goes to answer the door.

Bobi does some investigating

In his absence, Bobi goes to investigate.

Ed is shocked to see Macs

At Y Felin, Ed has a shock when he comes downstairs and finds Macs there; he explains that he arrived late last night. “Dad’s doing his Dr Barnardo’s act, is he?” Macs enquires, but Ed points out that he has been very kind.

"Jail is the best place for her!"

“Yes, I heard about that whole business with Sioned – jail is the best place for her!” Macs says.

The radio is on at Y Felin

Then on the radio, they hear Hywel’s voice announcing exciting news for people in Cwmderi this Christmas; he is joined by Kelly Evans.

Macs is about to turn it off, commenting that he does not know why his father listens to it,

Ed enjoys listening to Kelly's voice . . .

but Ed wants him to leave it; Kelly announces, “We’ll be going round the village on Christmas Day, on Father Christmas’ sleigh, cheering people up.

. . . and looks quite contented . . .

“A lot of people are ill, or can’t go out over Christmas.”

. . . until Siôn turns it off

At this point, Siôn returns, switches off the radio and and advises Macs that Ffion was very abrupt;

Ed considers it advisable to go out

Ed takes this as his cue to go out for breakfast.

"Ffion doesn't want you anywhere near Arwen"

Siôn continues, “Ffion doesn’t want you anywhere near Arwen – and she’s angry with me for telling you!”

"Well, tough!"

“Well, tough!” is Macs’ response, “I had a right to know. Now that I’ve had therapy, like she insisted, I’ve got a right to see Arwen now too!”

"Have you any proof of the therapy?"

Siôn asks if he has proof of the therapy, and points out that Ffion does not believe this, and he is not surprised, after everything that has happened.

"It all stems from Mam's death"

Macs insists that the therapy has helped him to understand himself; “It all stems from Mam’s death, because she left us so suddenly. I don’t want Arwen to feel the same towards me, especially as we started to become close last time.”

Siôn points out, “But then you ruined everything by kidnapping her!” Macs protests that his father has not tried to help at all, but has just let Ffion make up these rules.

"You have a photo of Iolo and Tyler with Greta"

“You’re proud of your family, aren’t you?” Macs demands, picking up the photo of Iolo, Tyler and Greta, “But Greta isn’t related to Iolo by blood – but there she is on Grandad’s shelf. How do you think that makes me feel?

"Where is the photo of Arwen and me?"

“Where is the photo of Arwen and me? Arwen might be the only child I ever have – Mam’s grand-daughter. Mam’s blood flows in her veins! Ffion has no right to keep her from me!”

"I'm going!"

Despite his fathers pleas, he storms off to the hospital.

"See you at lunchtime!"

Dai bids farewell to the cat, saying that he will see him at lunchtime. On the radio, Hywel is saying, “We’ve been hearing about the Christmas parade in Cwmderi,” and Kelly’s voice informs him that there was a ‘Shop Local’ campaign a few weeks ago, which was a big success.

The washing-up is interrupted

Dai is busy, doing the washing-up, but stops when he hears Kelly say, “Because

"The rugby club is skint – that's why!"

“the rugby club isn’t doing a grotto this year, we wanted to raise money for local charities – charities can contact me to put their case forward.”

Dai phones Ed

Dai gives this some thought, then get out his phone and calls Ed.

Bobi fetches the next bottle . . .

At Penrhewl, Eifion is attaching labels to his bottles of home brew, with the help of Bobi, who is just picking up the next bottle

. . . but is caught by his mother

when Cadno comes in and is furious with Eifion. She tells Bobi to go upstairs, but he insists, “I want pop!” Cadno points out that this is not pop – it is dangerous, and he should not touch it again.

"Don't you remember that trouble Garry and Dani had?"

“Don’t you remember that trouble that Garry and Dani had when Gwern drank alcohol?” demands Cadno,

In Bobi's bag she finds this

then she picks up Bobi’s school bag and finds a bottle inside. She is furious, but Eifion describes it as a misunderstanding. “If this stuff wasn’t here, there would be no misunderstanding!” she snarls,

"I don't want alcohol in the house!"

“I don’t want alcohol in the house! I want every drop out, including the homebrew kit!”

Sheryl brings coffee for Gethin

Sheryl arrives at the garage with two coffees, and thought that Gethin would like some company.

"It's nice that someone wants my company"

“It’s nice that someone wants my company,” he comments, “Ffion’s being a bit distant – I know she is under a lot of stress, but that’s no reason to shut me out, is it?

"And now that Macs is back on the scene . . ."

“And now that Macs is back on the scene . . .”

"Macs?"

This surprises Sheryl, and Gethin, continues, “With the way Ffion has been, and now Macs turning up,

"To remind me I'm not Arwen's father"

“there is nothing better to remind a man he’s not the father!” Sheryl assures him that as far as Arwen is concerned, he is her father, and he admits that he has been very worried.

"You were good on the radio!"

In the Deri, Ed is having a pint when Kelly walks in; he tells her she was good on the radio. Then Dai arrives, and asks Ed why he has not been answering his phone.

"What do you know about this parade?"

“What do you know about this parade?” Dai asks, “They’re raising money for local charities – the rugby club needs every penny they can get.” Ed points out that the rugby club is not a charity,

"Well, not an official charity, but . . ."

but Dai argues that it may not be an official charity, but no-one does more for the youth of the area than the rugby club.

Ed does not share Dai's attitude

“Where would the youngsters be without us? I think we should make a case for the money. Go over there now and tell her that we are offering APD’s pickup as Santa’s float – as a little sweetener.”

"Sorry to disturb you, Kelly"

Ed follows instructions and goes across to Kelly; “Sorry to disturb you, but Dai is offering APD’s pick-up for the parade,” he says.

"What's the catch?"

She immediately asks what is the catch, and Ed assures her that there is none. Kelly agrees to take the pick-up, but everything else is in hand.

Her phone goes dead . . .

She takes another phone call, but the battery on her phone expires,

. . . but Ed is at hand to lend her his phone

so Ed lends her his, and asks, “Are you sure you don’t want help – it’s a lot of work for one person.”

She replies that he could take some flyers round Maes-y-Deri, and Maes Glas –

He is detailed to deliver flyers . . .

“And you may as well do the High Street as well.” He asks her to bring the phone back when she has finished,

. . . and is more than pleased to assist

and smiles as he walks away.

"You must think I'm pathetic"

Back in the garage, Gethin says, “You must think I’m pathetic,” but Sheryl points out that it is only natural for him to be worried, and there is nothing wrong with getting upset.

"There is no telling what might happen"

“Life is so unexpected sometimes – there is no telling what might happen,” he muses, and she tells him that they have to make the most of it, but he does not relish the thought; “Stuck in the garage, fixing cars.”

"I'm stuck in the salon, cutting hair all day"

Sheryl maintains that she could say the same; “Stuck in the salon cutting hair every day – but there’s no point thinking like that, is there? We have to make the most of what we have, and where we are.

"Think about what we went through with Moc"

“Just think about what we went through with Moc – and we’re still here – we should be grateful for that. Why don’t we come to an understanding? At least once a day, we’ll live for the moment –

"Just go for it!"

“stop saying no, and just go for it!”

Hywel visits Ffion

Meanwhile, Hywel is paying a visit to Cysgod y Glyn, and is surprised that Ffion is at home; she reports that Siôn is sitting with Arwen, who is still half asleep.

"Siôn phones Macs!"

“Mind you, he doesn’t deserve to see her – he phoned Macs! He was at the hospital last night.”

Hywel describes Macs as a cheeky swine; “I don’t know who Siôn thinks he is, making decisions about Arwen’s life,” Ffion rages, “But at least he knows the score now.”

"I desperately need a shower"

She desperately wants to have a shower, and he agrees to make a cup of tea for her. When the buzzer sounds, he tells her he will get rid of whoever it is.

Hywel finds Macs is outside

However, when Hywel hears Macs’ voice, he lets him in;

"Is Ffion around?"

Macs asks if Ffion is around. “What’s your game?” Hywel demands,

"Ffion doesn't want to see you!"

“Ffion doesn’t want a word with you – she doesn’t want to see you either! Why did you go to the hospital yesterday?”

"I have a right to see my daughter!"

Macs insists he has a right to see his daughter; “Do you?” roars Hywel, “Where were you when your daughter needed a new liver? I had to give her a piece of my liver!

Macs gets a mouthful from Hywel

“I’m more of a father to her than you’ll ever be!”

"What's going on?"

At this point, Ffion comes in, wearing her dressing gown, and demands what is going on. Macs replies that he could ask her the same thing;

"Are you sleeping with him again?"

“Are you sleeping with him again now? Does Gethin know? If you’re having an affair, it will affect Arwen.”

"What Arwen and I do is nothing to do with you!"

Ffion replies that what she and Arwen do is none of his business, but Macs says, “We’ll see about that!” Ffion reminds him that she can still report him for kidnapping Arwen,