15 January 2018

"You want to be back with your friends, don't you?"

Ffion is getting Arwen ready for school;  “You want to be back with your friends, don’t you?   Do you want your new scarf as well?” Ffion asks.   

"Back to normal today"

Gethin says that it is back to normal from today.   She continues, “I’ve been thinking – as we couldn’t go away last weekend, why don’t we book a hotel in Cardiff this weekend?   

"We could ask Hywel, Sheryl and Esther"

“We could ask Hywel, Sheryl and Esther to come with us – it would be nice for the girls to have company.”

"I will ask them later"

Ffion says she will ask them later, and leaves to take Arwen to school;  

Gethin likes the sound of this

Gethin looks as if he favours the weekend in Cardiff idea.

"Losing two of the locals doesn't help"

In the Deri, Britt is busy cleaning, and remarks to Mathew that it was a rather quiet weekend;  he replies that losing two of the locals, thanks to Dry January, doesn’t help matters.”   

She comments, sarcastically, that DJ and Dai are heroes, 

"After DJ got that brewing kit for Christmas"

and he points out, “It’s bad timing for DJ – he got that brewing kit for Christmas – the kit I had in Penrhewl is now in the garage at Bryntirion.   Dai bought it as a present for DJ, and I had to take all the bottles over.   There are loads that haven’t been opened.”   

Britt puts two and two together

Britt finds this information very interesting.

"Has the post arrived yet?"

Dani comes in, looking worried;  she asks if the post has arrived, and Mathew enquires if she is expecting anything important.   Britt tells her that it came earlier and Garry took it upstairs about 20 minutes ago.   

"Look what I've got for Carol"

Britt also has a hat for Carol, but Dani seems to be in a terrible hurry to go upstairs.

She tries to ask, as nonchalantly as she can, if there is any post for her, 

"This one's for you"

and Garry passes her a small brown envelope.   She needs some privacy to look at what is inside, so asks him to check the radiators in the bar, 

"Radiators?"

as she maintains that some did not feel hot, and the customers will soon be arriving.   

"I've got Mathew a Cash and Carry card"

On his way he tells her that he has a cash-and-carry card for Mathew, so that he can go if Garry is away.

Dani summons up her courage

With a degree of trepidation, Dani prepares to open the letter.

Britt reports her new-found information

Britt excitedly reports to Colin about the homebrew kit at Bryntirion;  “It’s Mathew’s old kit – in the garage.   

"They had been drinking something the other day!"

“We know they’re not drinking in the Deri, and that you said they don’t buy beer from the shop, but I’m telling you, they had been drinking something the other day!   

"It's false pretences!"

“They’re taking people’s money under false pretences – and I’m sure Diane is in on it!”

"Diane wouldn't do something like that"

Colin doubts that Diane would be party to such a thing, but Britt is quite convinced;  

"They've had all this publicity . . ."

“They have had all this publicity by claiming to support a charity, 

". . . but if my theory is right . . ."

“but if my theory is right – look out!”   She knows that they need proof, and also that Dai and DJ are meeting Hywel in the Deri later.   

She sets Colin's mission

“I want you to go over there and find a way into that garage – you said that you did some home brewing when you were young.”   

He replies that it was a long time ago and he does not remember much about it, 

"You're good at waffling, Colin"

but she emphasises that he is good at waffling.   Colin insists that DJ and Dai will see straight through him.   Britt is eager to point out that this is nothing to do with Chester, although he spends a lot of time at Bryntirion, 

"I'm just trying to do the right thing"

and she is simply trying to do the right thing.

"Pedicure or highlights?"

Yet again, Gethin arrives at the salon;  Sheryl asks him, “What can I do for you – pedicure or highlights?”   

"Ffion will be contacting you"

He advises that Ffion will be contacting her, 

Sheryl is not keen on this

as she wants the six of them to go away for the weekend.   

"I'm sure we could find time to slip away"

“It could be fun,” he predicts, “I’m sure we’d find time to slip away.”   

"Don't be ridiculous!"

She tells him not to be ridiculous, and that they should be trying to avoid situations like this.   Then Hywel comes in, as he had been looking for Gethin, 

"No money until they finish the challenge!"

checking to make sure he has sponsored Dai and DJ.   Gethin confirms that he has, but they will not be getting any money until they finish the challenge.

"If you're not busy . . ."

Hywel takes a look at the appointment book;  “If you’re not busy we could organise something,” he suggests, 

"I thought you were on your way to the Deri"

then and he hurries off to the Deri.

Dani studies the test results . . .

Dani looks incredulously at the letter;  

. . . which she finds upsetting

she sits down and bursts into tears.   

Colin is detailed to mind the bar

Downstairs, Colin comes in and Mathew asks him to watch the bar for a moment, telling him he can serve himself as well.   

"I should have made a career of this"

“I should have made a career out of working behind the bar,” Colin boasts, “I feel more at home here than behind any shop counter.”

Dai tells him that there is less temptation in a shop, and Colin agrees it must be strange for the two of them, sitting there without a pint in front of them.   

"I heard that you're into home brew"

“I did hear that you are into homebrew these days.”

"Can't taste any of it until next month"

DJ concedes that he has just started, but will not be able to taste any of it until 1 February.   

"We're determined to reach our goal"

Dai emphasises that it is a struggle, but they are determined to reach their goal, and Colin professes great admiration for them.

"The barley will have modified properly by then"

“We shall award ourselves a drink for having a teetotal month,” DJ says, and Colin knowledgeably points out that the barley will have modified properly by then.

Colin has the technical terms 'to hand' . . .

Glancing down at his hand, on which he has written some technical terms, Colin continues, 

. . . and impresses them with his knowledge

“There will be a good growth of acrospire in the beer – then the phenols and polyphenols will have reached the right balance, with a bit of luck.

"I was really into home brew in Lampeter"

“Oh, sorry, boys – I was really into homebrew in Lampeter, you see.   I used to help two brothers over the bridge in Cwmann – they were characters!   I would love to see how you’re getting on, DJ!   I could give you the odd tip, if you want.”

He will give their brew the once over

“How about Wednesday afternoon,” enquires DJ, 

"I can tell from the colour and the smell"

and Colin assures him that he will be able to tell from the colour and the smell if the mix has settled.

They have clearly fallen for Colin's spiel

“It’s important that master brewers share information, isn’t it?” comments Dai, totally convinced of Colin’s expertise.

"Is that it, Dani?"

Mathew arrives in the Deri flat, where Dani is it still looking very emotional;  “Is that it?” he asks, 

"Read it yourself"

and she replies that he had better read it for himself.   Before he has a chance to do so, he hears Garry coming up the stairs, so he hides the letter;  Garry hands him a cash-and-carry card.   

"I'm just a bit emotional, that's all" 

Garry asks if Dani is all right, and she tells him, “I’m just a bit emotional, that’s all.   Listen, I’m thinking of going out for a walk with Carol this afternoon – maybe we’ll go and see Gethin.”   

Mathew calls for Vicky . . .

Mathew goes back to the café flat, and makes sure that Vicky is not there, 

. . . then reads the letter . . . 

then opens the letter, 

. . . which does not fill him with joy

and looks downhearted.

"I'm 100% sure – he's the father!"

Meanwhile, Dani is telling Gethin, “Yes, I’m 100% sure – he’s the father!   Garry must never find out – 

"I don't know what Garry would do if he found out!"

“I love him but I don’t know what he’d do if he found out!”   

Arwen has had a good day at school

Ffion returns home with Arwen, who has had a good day at school, 

Dani wants to get home

but Dani does not want to stay.   

"Have you heard from Sheryl?"

Gethin says that she is just tired, and wonders if Ffion has heard from Sheryl.

“No, but I’ll call over there later – I’ve seen a good deal in a nice hotel,” she answers.

The committee meeting is in session

In the Deri, the rugby club committee meets to discuss what they should do with the sponsorship money.   

"It's strange, me drinking wine . . ."

Cadno is intrigued that she is drinking wine, and two of the biggest drinkers around here are on the lemonade.   

"I don't see anyone else doing what we're doing"

“Perhaps you should appreciate the sacrifice a bit more,” comments Dai, “I don’t see anyone else doing what we’re doing!”

DJ warns them to watch out at the end of the month;  

"We shall be tanking for real!"

“We shall be tanking for real!”   Hywel reports that there has been a very good response, and at this rate they will fly past £1,000.   

Hywel suggests what the club needs

They could get new balls, tackle bags, and the youth team needs new kit as well.   

"How about a plaque on the wall there?"

DJ suggests they could have a plaque put up on the wall there in the Deri.

Hywel has another idea;  “This Dry January was your idea, Dai, and you’ve given the club years of service – 

"We could call it Parc Ashurst"

“we still need a name for the pitch, so I thought perhaps we could call it ‘Parc Ashurst’.”

This appeals to Dai’s vanity, and he lists, “Parc y Scarlets, The Arms Park, 

"Yes – that sounds good, doesn't it?"

“Parc Ashurst – it sounds good, doesn’t it?”

"Glad to see you out and about, Dani"

At the door of the chip shop, Britt is glad to see Dani out and about;  “I know it hasn’t been easy for you, but many new mothers go through it.”   

She certainly looks happier than of late

Dani insists that she is fine, and when Colin joins them, 

"It's getting cold – we should go home"

she says that it is getting cold so she had better get back.   

Carol is wearing Britt's hat

Britt is very pleased when she sees that Carol is wearing the hat she gave.

"I can't wait to see Dai's face!"

Colin announces that he is going up to the garage at Bryntirion on Wednesday;  “I can’t wait to see Dai’s face when we catch him out!” gloats Britt.

Ffion is very keen on this hotel

Ffion is showing Sheryl details of the hotel, and telling her, 

"We can go to the spa"

“The men can take the girls swimming, while we go to the spa.”   

"Saturday isn't great for me . . ."

Hywel returns home just as Sheryl is saying that Saturday is not great for her.   He is in favour of the hotel in Cardiff, but is overruled by Sheryl, 

". . . I've got too much to do"

who maintains that she will have too much to do.

"What was that all about?"

When Ffion has gone, Sheryl explains to Hywel 

"I want to spend the afternoon with you and Esther"

that she would prefer to spend the afternoon with him and Esther, rather than Ffion and Gethin.

"I went to see Gethin"

Garry was not sure where Dani had gone;  she reminds him, “I went to see Gethin, I told you – Arwen has been allowed back to school for another trial, 

"Britt is happier now"

“and she was all smiles when she came home.   I passed Britt, and she was pleased to see Carol in her hat – I think she’s happier now.”

"And you're happier, too!"

Garry remarks that Dani now appears to be happier, too, 

"I've realised how lucky I am"

and she replies that she has just realised how lucky she is.   

"It's like I've turned a corner"

“I really am happy today, Gar – like I’ve turned a corner.   I’m happy, and Carol is happy.”   

Now she is keen for Garry to hold her . . .

She picks up the baby and hands her to Garry;  “Show Dadi how happy you are.”   

. . . although Carol appears less keen

Carol does not seem to be very sure of this.

Mathew drains his can . . .

Mathew is sitting quietly with a can and looking very mournful;  

. . . rereads the test result . . .

he picks up the letter and looks at it again, then drops it on the sofa beside him.   

. . . and leaves it on the sofa for us to see

We see that Mathew Price’s probability of paternity is 0%.

His dreams have turned to dust

He crushes the can in his hand, and angrily flings it at the wall;  he is devastated.