Cwmderi Diary 2018: 20 July 2018

Eifion seems engrossed . . .

Eifion is looking at the laptop when Cadno returns from taking the boys to school and she asks what he is doing.

. . . and says he is looking for things to do during the holiday

He tells her that he is looking for things to do over the holiday, but she is not allowed to see as he wants to surprise her.

"The kitchen tap is getting worse"

“It won’t be easy, keeping them busy for six weeks,” she remarks, then adds that the kitchen tap is getting worse.

He is looking at some exotic country

Eifion is looking at photographs of exotic locations, and says he will sort out the tap later – something which Cadno has heard many times before.

Debbie is all ready to start work

At Maes-y-Deri, Mark compliments Debbie on her very smart uniform; “There, we’ve both got uniforms now – we’re professionals!” He warns his mother that she will need a carer one day, and it is an important job.

"I shall be shadowing someone else today"

Debbie will be shadowing someone else today to learn what to do, and is anxious to know where Vicky is.

She enlists help to change Vicky's mind

“Can you please try and help me change her mind about going away with Josh?” she asks Mark, “I don’t want her to go,” and he replies that he will do his best.

"Don't want to be late on your first day, do you?"

He reminds her she had better get going – she does not want to be late on her first day.

"Any chance of a cut and blow-dry?"

Vicky walks into the salon, asking if there is any chance of a cut and blowdry, but Sheryl says that she has a group of girls coming in later; “They want a treat before going away to Magaluf – I heard that you’re going away too,” and Vicky says that she cannot to wait.

"There's a lot to be said for leaving it all behind"

“There’s a lot to be said for packing your bags and leaving it all behind,” sighs Sheryl.

"I'm taking Esther for a picnic and to the cinema"

Hywel comes in and says he will pick up Esther from playgroup, but Sheryl replies that there is no need. He informs her that he is taking her for a picnic and then to the cinema.

"You must check with me first!"

“You can’t make arrangements without checking first with me!” Cheryl protests,

"She's looking forward to it now"

but he says that Esther is looking forward to it now.

“What? You’ve already told her? You had no right!” Hywel points out that she will not like it if her mother upsets her, and concludes that it is all sorted out.

"Why did you let him get away with that?"

Vicky asks why she let him get away with that,

"I have to be careful"

and Sheryl explains, “I have to be careful – he’s threatening to take Esther away from me.” Vicky points out that the law would be on her side as the mother, but Sheryl is not so sure; “You don’t know Hywel!” she replies, “He’ll try anything to get his own way.”

Eifion is still looking at the same website when he hears Iolo coming up the stairs to deal with the tap;

"I was just about to do that!"

of course, Eifion says that he was about to do it now, so Cadno asks where are his tools.

"It won't take long"

“I’m here now, and it won’t take long,” says Iolo, and Cadno wants Eifion’s help in the shop.

“Did you have any luck, booking treats for me and the boys?” she enquires, and he tells her that he has not yet,

"We're going to have the best summer ever"

but they are going to have the best summer ever. Cadno stresses that they have a witness now, so he cannot go back on his word.

"Mam has got you two to work on me!"

Vicky arrives home just in time for coffee and biscuits, and has deduced that her mother has enlisted the help of Mark and Kath; “Two against one isn’t fair, is it? I’m going upstairs to do more packing.”

"We're all worried about you"

Mark points out that it is not just her mother – they are worried too that she has not thought through this business.

"We'll be with Grandad and a convoy of friends"

Vicky cannot see any problem; “We’ll be with Grandad and a convoy of friends.” They argue that Nicky will have to keep moving schools, but her mind is made up. Mark cannot understand why she is so unhappy with them,

"After all that's happened, I want a fresh start"

and she assures him, “I love you all loads, but after all that’s happened – Mathew, no job – I just want a fresh start.”

"I only get one chance – and this is it"

Mark wonders if it has to be so drastic, but she maintains that she only gets one chance in life, and this is her chance; “So please, don’t try and stop me. Kath says that it is her life, after all.

Sheryl wants to stay with her mother . . .

Sheryl is speaking on the phone to her mother; “Would you mind if Esther and I came to stay with you? No, I don’t mean for holiday – longer than that – Hywel and I have split up. Oh – how long are you going away for?

. . . but is unable to do so

“I will see you when you get back, and I will sort something out.”

"I've done the waste pipe as well"

Iolo has found that the waste pipe was leaking too, and has repaired that;

"What did Alun say when he came to see you?"

Eifion asks, “What did Alun say when he came to see you and Tyler?” Iolo replies that he asked them to keep an eye on him, to check that he is coping.

"Shame we cannot turn off our feelings like a tap"

“It’s a shame that we cannot turn off our feelings like we turn off a tap,” Iolo comments.

"How was his wife when she found out?"

Eifion wonders, “How was Alun’s wife after he told her about you and him?” and is told that Alun could not tell her, but when she did find out, she fell to pieces. Iolo does not want to interfere, but he knows from experience that a person cannot live a lie for ever.

"I'm happy with Cadno and the boys"

Eifion insists that he is happy with things as they are, with Cadno and the boys, but Iolo points out that if he is not, things will get too stressful.

Sheryl wants to discuss things now . . .

Sheryl finds Hywel sitting alone in the Deri, and says that she has been thinking; “I’m willing to discuss Esther’s care with you.”

. . . and Hywel is surprised

He is surprised by her change of tune. “I don’t want us quarrelling and upsetting her,” she continues, but he maintains that it is a bit too late, as he has had a word with his solicitor, who is sure that he will get full custody.

"You're trying to frighten me!"

“No, you’re telling lies – you’re trying to frighten me,” she protests, “Please, can we talk about it?” but he reminds her that it is out of their hands now, and in the hands of the law,

"I wouldn't be too optimistic, if I were you"

adding that he would not be too optimistic if he was her.

"Can I come to have my hair coloured?"

As Sheryl is about to leave, Vicky rushes across, wanting to have her hair coloured, but Sheryl says she has to go.

Very close to where Hywel is still sitting . . .

Then we discover that just the other side of the partition from where they were talking,

. . . Gethin has been eavesdropping

Gethin has been listening.

the

Eifion pays the plumbing bill . . .

Eifion goes round to number 7, ostensibly to pay the bill,

. . . and wants Alun's phone number

but asks Iolo if he will write down Alun’s phone number for him, as he deleted it by mistake.

Iolo wonders why

He replies, “Look, Eifion, I’ve stayed out of this for a reason – and now you’re asking me for Alun’s phone number – why?”

"I want to apologise to him"

Eifion admits that he told him a few things that he now regrets, and wants to apologise to him.

"It's not like you to apologise"

Iolo remarks that it is not like him to apologise, and wonders what has changed; he does not want to be dragged into this. “All right, forget it – I’ll ask someone else for it!” snarls Eifion,

But Iolo does hand over the information

but he is nevertheless given a small slip of paper.

Debbie has had an exhausting day's work

Debbie returns from work, exhausted; “I haven’t sat down all day!” she complains, “They’ve got their money’s worth out of me, I’m telling you! We get 20 minutes in each house, then off we go to the next.

"Did you talk to Vicky?"

“Did you talk to Vicky?”

"She's old enough to make her own decisions"

Kath replies that she is old enough to make her own decisions, and asks Mark if he took any notice of what she said to him when he was young. “The more you push her to change her mind, the more determined she will be to leave.”

"She might get fed up in a few months"

Mark suggests that Vicky just needs to get this out of her system – she might get fed up in a few months and come home.

“But what if she doesn’t? What if she and Nicky never come back?” wails Debbie, “I might not see him grow up.”

"Perhaps travelling is in Vick'ys blood"

Kath points out that she might have to accept that travelling is in Vicky’s blood.

"Ring Stacey to see if she can help"

Debbie’s next idea is for Mark to contact his sister, Stacey, to see if she can find a job for Vicky, and give her a reason not to go.

Mark is sure she is not going to help; recalling that she did not even come home when he was ill, but agrees to call her, in order to keep the peace. He is faced with an answerphone.

Eifion leaves a message for Alun

Eifion dials the number he has been given and leaves a message;

"I'm sorry for the way I treated you . . ."

on the brink of tears, he says, “Hi, Alun, I got hold of your number. Listen, I’m sorry for the way I treated you – it doesn’t change anything, mind!

". . . but please stay away!"

“I want to focus on the family, so please stay away!” He picks up the photo of Cadno and the boys.

Sheryl appears to be 'doing a runner' . . .

Sheryl leaves the back entrance of the salon, carrying Esther and telling her that it will not be long now and they will be safe.

. . . but Gethin is soon on the scene

Gethin is in the High Street and notices her pass the other end of the alley. She is about to get into a taxi, and he asks where she is going, with those bags.

"It's none of your business, Gethin!"

She abruptly tells him that it is none of his business; “I’m just taking Esther away for the weekend, that’s all!”

"I'm not letting you go until you explain"

He does not believe her, and insists he is not letting her go until she explains.

But then Hywel intervenes

Little does he know that Hywel is approaching down the alley; “I was supposed to be picking up Esther,” he snarls at Sheryl, “That was the arrangement.” She replies that it was so quiet at work, she decided to take Esther for a walk.

"You and this lout taking my daughter away!"

“Let’s see what my solicitor says about you and this lout taking my daughter away without telling me!” he rages, but she tells him he has misunderstood, and Gethin is not coming with them;

He takes Esther from Sheryl

however, he will not listen and takes Esther from her.

She claims that she is only going away for a few hours, but he is determined to take the child back home.

"I have something to tell you"

Cadno is working in the shop when Eifion tells her to to close, as he has prepared some lunch for her, and he wants to tell her something; she protests that they never close at lunchtime.

Iolo comes into the shop . . .

Then Iolo comes in, but Eifion is still eager for her to come upstairs,

. . . but is hustled out again, and the shop is closed

and shows Iolo out, saying that they are closed.

"I know this will come as a shock"

Upstairs, Cadno wants to know what the surprise is; “I know this will come as a shock, but I’ve given it serious thought,” Eifion begins,

"I just can't settle here"

“I miss the farm terribly.” She agrees that she does too, but there is no point looking back and having regrets.

“The fact is, I haven’t settled here – I just can’t do it! The boys miss the farm as well,” he continues, but Cadno tells him they do not have any choice.

"We could emigrate to New Zealand"

“There is another option,” he maintains, “We could emigrate to New Zealand – I have done some research – there’s nothing holding us back.

“I know we’ve discussed this, years ago, but we didn’t have enough guts to do it then. Now is the time to do it, before the boys get too old.

"Look at what it says here"

“Look at what it says here – it’s such a beautiful country,

"There are so many opportunities"

“and there are so many opportunities there.”

"There is nothing Stacey can do"

Mark is on the phone; he sadly says, “OK look after yourself,” then tells Debbie that Stacey sends her regards, but there is nothing she can do, as she is away on holiday. “There aren’t any jobs!”

"I don't want to lose them!"

Debbie despairs that she can do nothing – she does not want to lose them, and rushes upstairs in tears.

Then Mark makes another call – in English, this time

Mark closes the door and makes another phone call; he says, in English, “Hi, it’s Mark Jones here – I know, long time, no see. Listen, I’ve got a massive favour to ask you – it’s about Vicky.”

"But it's such a big step!"

Cadno agrees that New Zealand looks fantastic, but it is such a big step; “The boys would miss all their friends.”

"We could go during the summer!"

“They can make new friends – and so can we! We could go during the summer!” Eifion says, but she asks about the visas, and wonders what he has done.

"I want is to have a fresh start, as a family"

“I want us to have a fresh start, as a family – working on the land, where we belong.”

"At least, consider it"

Cadno is not happy about the idea, but she agrees to consider it.

Here comes Gethin again

Sheryl is alone in the salon flat when Gethin arrives; “Where were you planning to go?” he asks, and she does not know,

"I wanted to be safe somewhere with Esther!"

wanting to be safe somewhere with Esther, just the two of them together.

"Now I can't – because of you!"

“But now I can’t, because of you!” she roars, “What if he doesn’t bring her back?”

"Hywel would not risk that!"

Gethin insists that he would not risk that, if he is going to fight through the courts. “I don’t want to lose her,” Sheryl sobs.

"I'll take care of both of you"

Gethin reassures her, “I’m going to help you – I’ll take care of both of you. Sher, you’re not in any state to do this on your own – you need someone strong to be with you, and I’m here for you. No-one’s going to hurt you ever again – we’ll get Esther back!”