Cwmderi Diary 2018: 25 July 2018

"I have a lot of work to do, Jason"

Sara is talking to Jason on the phone, and says she has to go, as she has a lot of work to do;

This is the scene that greets her . . .

when she walks into Awyr Iach she finds it in disarray, with everything strewn all over the place.

. . . and she knows who is responsible

She quickly realises what has happened and sighs.

"You don't want to be late for work"

In the chippy flat, Colin tells Chester he will have to get a move on, or Sara will dock his pay.

"I've got a day off"

He replies that he has a day off,

"I shall go and see Hywel later"

and Britt says she intends to go and see Hywel later, but what wonders what she is going to say to him.

Chester does not seem keen to see Sara

Then they have a visitor – Sara, and Chester is in a hurry to go and have a shower, but is prevented by his mother, who says she probably wants to debrief her favourite employee.

"Chester's been very busy, haven't you?"

“As it happens, I do,” Sara says, “Chester’s been very busy, haven’t you? When did you do it? Last night, or this morning?” He adopts a puzzled look, but she continues, “You know – you broke into Awyr Iach and smashed the place up!” He flatly denies this, and Britt emphasises that although he has a track record, he is now a changed character;

"Why would he want to do that?"

Colin wonders why Chester would want to vandalise the place.

“Do you want to tell them or shall I?” enquires Sara,

"He tried to kiss me – and I sacked him!"

“He kissed me – well, he tried to anyway – and after he made some terrible remarks, I sacked him!”

"I have no idea what you're talking about!"

Chester maintains that he does not know what she is talking about, and he has not been anywhere near Awyr Iach. “Right, if it wasn’t you, I’m sure it won’t take the police long to find out who it was,” she tells them, as she leaves the flat.

"You're not going anywhere!"

Once again, Chester intends to go for a shower, but his mother is not going to stand for that.

A policewoman is on guard outside the salon,

"I'm going to see some new suppliers"

as Cadno informs Eifion that she is off to see some new suppliers, as Eileen was paying through the nose. He is of the opinion that it is not worth the effort;

"We won't be here much longer"

“We won’t be here much longer,” he remarks, but she is not so confident. “Are you telling me you don’t want to go to New Zealand?” he demands, “This is our dream!”

She points out that there is a difference between a dream and reality;

"We can't just move to the other side of the world"

“We can’t just move to the other side of the world with two children without planning it carefully. We don’t know if we will get visas yet – they don’t have a skills shortage there.”

"We might as well give up now then!"

He scoffs that they might as well give up now then; “We can stay here, slaving our guts out in a second rate shop, until we get old and die!” Cadno tells him that they have to be realistic, and goes to her appointment,

"Tidy the shop while I'm gone"

asking him to tidy up the shop.

"You don't seriously believe her?"

“You don’t seriously believe her?” blusters Chester, and denies ‘trying it on’ with Sara. Britt points out that it would not be the first time – there was Ffion, and now Sara, but he insists that they threw themselves at him.

"Yes – and I smashed up Awyr Iach"

“Yes, I did kiss her – and I smashed up Awyr Iach!” he shouts,

"That slapper deserved it!"

“That slapper deserved it!”

Eileen wants to cancel as a mark of respect

Eileen and Jim walk in the garden of Penrhewl; she says that it does not feel right to hold the produce fair now that Sheryl has died. “Having fun while she is lying there,” she adds, and Jim tends to agree with her.

"Jim, can you help me with the bunting?"

Sioned is approaching, and want some help with putting up the bunting.

"This is our chance to show Penrhewl at its best!"

When they tell her that the fair is being cancelled as a mark of respect, she is adamant, “This is our chance to show Penrhewl at its best – we’ve worked so hard. If Sheryl meant a lot to the people of the village, that’s more of a reason to carry on.

"Perhaps more people will come than if she hadn't died"

“People will be glad to have somewhere to go – perhaps more people will come than if she had not died. Life must go on, Mam, Sheryl wouldn’t want us to cancel.”

Eileen reluctantly agrees

Eileen is swayed by her argument, and reluctantly agrees that the event should go ahead.

"Have you done anything at all while I was out?"

Cadno returns to the shop, to find that Eifion has apparently done nothing in her absence;

"It's been nonstop in here"

he maintains that the shop has been busy – nonstop. She maintains, “I know it seems as if I’m picking on you, but I’m trying to keep you busy. You’re not fine – I’m worried that you’re a bit depressed – let me make you a doctor’s appointment.”

"Everyone gets a bit fed up sometimes"

He replies that everyone gets a bit fed up sometimes, and when she insists that she wants to phone the doctor,

Off he goes

he gets up and goes out.

Dan delivers their meals

In the Deri, Dan serves their meals to Iolo and Tyler; they have had some good news –

The date has been set for the adoption hearing

a date has been set for the adoption hearing, and they are one step closer to becoming official parents.

Eifion comes in and asks for a pint and a large whisky;

"A bit early for that, isn't it?"

Iolo comments that it is rather early for that, and Eifion snarls, “Can’t a man drink in his local any more?

"I don't need hassle when I'm out!"

“I get enough hassle at home – I don’t need it when I’m out as well!”

"You haven't come out – that's the problem!"

Tyler sarcastically observes, “But you haven’t come out – that’s the problem!” Eifion warns him to shut up, and Iolo mentions that they are going to the fair at Penrhewl later, if he would like to join them.

"Oh yes – to remind me what I've lost!"

“That’s an idea – an afternoon on my farm, to remind me of what I have lost – great!” says Eifion;

Eifion polishes off his whisky

he returns to the bar and downs his whisky.

"Of course you should tell Sara"

Colin tells Britt that of course they should advise Sara that Chester confessed; “You heard what she said – if she doesn’t find out who did it, she’s going to the police!”

"But why did he do it?"

Britt wonders why he did it, and agrees that she will have to tell Sara.

She hopes that they can persuade her not to go to the police;

"I couldn't cope if he went back to prison!"

“I couldn’t cope if he went back to prison,” she groans.

The produce fair begins . . .

The produce fair is getting off to a slow start,

. . . and Jim is pessimistic . . .

and Jim despairs of anyone coming;

. . . but Sioned points out it is early yet

Sioned protests that it is still early, and the people will come.

Colin likes the look of this punch

First through the gate is Colin, and Sioned presents him with a drink – a secret recipe, she maintains.

Then the visitors start to arrive . . .

Then Iolo and Tyler with Greta arrive, and also Kelly with them.

. . . and are served with Penrhewl organic punch

Sioned brings them drinks, explaining, “It’s all made from Penrhewl’s organic produce – except the vodka.”

"Life is too short to worry about small stuff"

Kelly announces, “One thing this week has taught me is that life is too short to worry about small stuff,” and Iolo agrees that what happened to Sheryl has put everything into perspective. Kelly proposes a toast,

"In memory of Sheryl"

“In memory of Sheryl – let bygones be bygones!”

Britt is aghast at the damage

Britt goes to Awyr Iach and is horrified by the damage which has been done;

"I've contacted the police!"

Sara says she has contacted the police, and someone is coming to take a statement later.

"So he'll end up in prison again!"

“So he’ll end up in prison again,” Britt laments, and confirms that Chester has admitted he did it.

"Why isn't he here, apologising himself?"

Sara wonders why he is not here, himself, apologising.

"Because he's a stubborn coward!"

“Because he’s a stubborn coward!” his mother rages, “And when he’s like this, there is no way of getting through to him. Do you know how many times I’ve been in this situation?

Britt is at the end of her tether

“Having to see a parent or a teacher – or even a family member – begging them not to take things further? Assuring them that this will be the last time? I don’t know what to do!”

"Actually, I haven't been to the police"

Sara then assures her she has not in fact been to the police; “I knew it was Chester, despite his protestations, but I’m not interested in getting him into more trouble. But, without a police report, I can’t claim for any money from the insurance for the damage.

"I don't think I should be the one who has to pay"

“I don’t think I should be the one who has to pay.”

Britt appreciates this, and says that they will sort something out; as she is leaving, Sara remarks, “I know this isn’t any of my business, but don’t you think he needs help? He’s got real anger issues.”

"You're right – it isn't any of your business!"

“You’re right – it isn’t any of your business!” Britt replies, “But I will consider what you’ve said.”

Eileen extols her caramelised onions

Eileen is extolling the virtues of her caramelised onions, and elsewhere,

Beti and Madge are also officiating

Beti and Madge are manning another stall.

Sioned notices Cadno arriving . . .

Sioned notices with concern the approach of Cadno, with Bobi and Arthur. Jim replies, “She probably wants to have a look around – after all, it used to be her home.”

. . . and she notifies Eileen

Sioned then draws her mother’s attention to Cadno’s presence and insists that she will have to be asked to leave; Eileen cannot agree to this,

"The whole point is to break away from the past"

but Sioned points out that the whole point of this fair is to break away from the past and the terrible mess Eifion made.

Cadno is looking across the fields

Eileen actually feels sympathetic towards Cadno, and finds her standing by the lawn, looking across the fields.

"It must be strange, being back here"

“It must be strange, being back here,” Eileen says, and is told that so many things have changed since they left.

Cadno doubts if they will settle in the shop;

"You don't know the half of it"

“You don’t know the half of it,” she says.

Colin supplies Britt with a glass of punch

Meanwhile, Colin sees Britt approaching and fills up a glass for her; she takes a long swig,

She phones Chester . . .

then phones Chester, wanting him to go and see Sara to thank her for not involving the police.

. . . but he is otherwise occupied . . .

He is ensconced on the sofa,

. . . with his X-BOX

playing his computer game, and ignores the call.

At Penrhewl, Eileen watches Cadno, who is standing by the gate, looking across the fields;

Eileen has a customer for her lemon drizzle cake

Kelly admires the lemon drizzle cake which Eileen made, and says she will definitely buy one — perhaps two.

"This place is like, trendy organic!"

“Do you know what? Since you and Jim are back here, this place has got a different vibe – it’s like ‘trendy organic’!”

Sioned is still fretting that Cadno is there, and offers to deliver the welcome speech instead of her mother.

"Thank you for coming here today"

She addresses the assembled multitude, “May I have your attention, please? I’d like to thank you all for coming here today – it has being a bit of a journey to return here,

"It's lovely to be back at home"

“but it’s lovely to be back at the home where I’ve got so many fond memories of us as a family. Unfortunately, Penrhewl’s reputation has taken quite a knock recently – but that’s all in the past.”

Cadno does not look particularly happy . . .

Cadno is is looking very disapproving as Sioned continues, “We’re going to give everything – body and soul – to make Penrhewl a focal point in Cwmderi again.”

. . . and interrupts Sioned's speech

Cadno interrupts, “I put my body and soul into this place too, and I have fond memories of raising a family here, building a business.”

"Sometimes things don't quite work out"

Sioned replies that she is sorry for what happened to her, and that sometimes things do not quite work out.

"I'm sorry that I was a total failure!"

“I’m sorry I was a total failure! That I let my children lose their home – and I’m sorry that Eifion . . .” Then she strides tearfully over to the children’s play area and tells the boys that they are going now;

The boys refuse to go home . . .

they refuse to leave, and Eileen says that she will bring them home later.

. . . so Cadno walks off on her own

Cadno walks off across the farmyard.

"She really embarrassed herself there"

Sioned comments, “She really embarrassed herself there – in front of her children and everything.”

"The leopard hasn't changed its spots"

Kelly has been watching from a distance; “So the leopard hasn’t changed its spots,” she observes to Jim,

"You want to watch her . . ."

“You want to watch her – she’s got a plan.

". . . Sioned's always got a plan!"

“Sioned’s always got a plan – haven’t you learned that by now?”

Eifion is not at home

Cadno arrives back in the shop flat, but Eifion is nowhere to be seen;

Cadno looks in the mirror . . .

she takes off her jacket, looks at herself in the mirror

. . . sits down and cries

and begins to cry.

Iolo and Tyler are thinking of going away to Cornwall

Iolo and Tyler walk past the salon, with Iolo enthusing about the idea of going away; “I’ve seen a place in Cornwall, child-friendly and it’s available.”

A drunken Eifion does not want any help . . .

Then they look down the alley and see Eifion, sitting on the ground, in a state of inebriation; they want to take him home, but he refuses,

. . . but only to see Alun

groaning, “I want to see Alun.”

"Cadno's never going to forgive me!"

They drag him to his feet, and he mumbles, “Cadno’s never going to forgive me – what am I going to do?”

He is taken to number 7

Iolo instructs him that what he is going to do is to drink a lot of water and coffee; “You’re in no state to do anything else!”

"Takeaway, Chester!"

Britt and Colin arrive home with tandoori chicken masala takeaway, but Chester, still on his computer game, does not want any.

"Do you know how lucky you are?"

Britt enlightens him that Sara is not going to the police; “Do you know how lucky you are, and how close she was to going? I had to stand there, grovelling to her, and promise to pay for the damage.

"She says you need to see a therapist!"

“And then I had to listen to her saying you need to see a therapist.”

"What do you want me to say, Mam?"

“What do you want me to say, Mam? That I won’t do it again – that I’ll pay for the damage – that I’ll go and see a therapist? Happy now?”

"That's exactly what I want you to do!"

She rants at him, “Yes – that’s exactly what I want you to do – I know you’re upset about Hannah! But think of Hywel or Esther – he’s lost his wife, and she’s lost her mother! Stop feeling sorry for yourself all the time! And start being more appreciative!”