22 April 2016

Siôn is deep in depression . . .

Siôn sits at his computer, his head in his hands;  he hears the post arrive and finds a letter, 

. . . but the letter cheers him

which cheers him up quite a bit.

"Chester has not been at school this week"

Gaynor sees Britt in the street and wants a word with her;  “Chester has not been at school all week – do you know anything about it?”   

"Oh, he's ill"

Britt manufactures the excuse that he is ill, but Gaynor is not taken in.   “If he doesn’t return to school – today, ideally – I shall need a doctor’s note.”

Britt apologises for her outburst the other day, and admits that she should not have said what she did.   

"You should be apologising to Ffion"

“You should be apologising to Ffion, not me!” insists Gaynor, adding, “I want to see Chester back at school as soon as possible.”

More work on the boat

Sam is busy painting the boat when Anita arrives to thank him for the meal last night.   

"When I get hold of a Monkfish . . ."

Sam replies, “That Bass was so nice, it cooked itself!   When I get hold of a Monkfish, I’ll cook something even better – if you’re interested.   

A nice, warming cup of tea

“Do you fancy a cup of tea from my flask?   I’m glad you’ve come over, as I was worried that you left early last night.”

Anita confesses, “I thought I might have scared you, because of the . . . you know,” 

"I enjoyed all the evening"

but he reassures her that he enjoyed all the evening.

Britt catches Chester out

Chester skulks around the flat, thinking he is alone, but is shocked to see Britt sitting, waiting for him;  she asks him why he is at home.   

"I can't go there – I'm scared!"

“I cant go there – I’m scared!” he whimpers.   Britt says she understands, but scared or not, he has to go back to school, or people will think he has something to hide.   

"You have to go back!"

She maintains that it will make life easier in the long run.

Chester responds, “If I have to be friends with Ffion, why aren’t you?”   She explains that it is not that easy, and that she is not the one skipping school, so he should get changed, and he will be in time for the second lesson.

"We're celebrating!"

As Siôn is pouring a drink, Gwyneth arrives home, and he invites her to join his celebrating;  

"I've been awarded the Blue Robe!"

“I’ve had some good news – I’m going to receive the Gorsedd’s Blue Robe, in recognition of my services to the community!”   She is very pleased to see the effect this has had upon him.

"Why don't we go to the Deri for lunch?"

“I appreciate you, even when you’re as miserable as sin, and won’t leave the house,” Gwyneth assures him, “Why don’t we go to the Deri for lunch to celebrate?”   

"It's just you and me having lunch"

He is reluctant to make a public show in the Deri, but she argues, “It’s just you and me having lunch – and I’m willing to pay!”

"Did you know Chester's not been in all week?"

In school, Gaynor asks if Ffion is settling back in;  Gaynor is about to return home for some papers she left behind.   “Did you know that Chester has not been in school all week?” she enquires, 

"No – I don't teach him (thank goodness)"

but Ffion points out that she does not teach him.   Gaynor reminds her that she has a duty to do what is best for every pupil.

"I don't know what came over me"

At Bryntirion, Anita tells Diane, “I don’t know what came over me when I kissed him – I didn’t go there with that intention, but I don’t regret it, and neither does Sam.   After all, it was his idea to meet for dinner – and he makes a nice cuppa!”

"What about Colin, when he finds out?"

Diane is not concerned about Sam, but asks  “What about Colin, when he finds out?”   Anita protests that it was only one kiss, but Diane adds, “It looks as if there are a lot more on the way!   

"Don't trample on Colin's feelings!"

“Don’t trample on Colin’s feelings – you’re better than that!”

"I do live here, remember?"

Sam is surprised to see Gaynor back at Llwyncelyn;  “I do live here,” she reminds him, “And this is what happens when I get thrown out – I forget things.”   She asks how the evening went, and Sam is quite pleased that he got a kiss.

"A classy lady in the house"

“I thought you’d approve of having a classy lady in the house,” he says, and upon further enquiry, confesses that it was Anita.   

"What you don't know is Colin and Anita were lovers!"

When Gaynor looks shocked, he tells her that he knows about Meic, and would not take advantage of Anita.

He is astonished when Gaynor reveals to him, “Colin and Anita used to be lovers,” and sits him down to tell him the whole story.

Britt has a sudden urge to . . .

In the middle of the ironing, Britt suddenly turns off the iron, 

. . . start a letter

sits down and begins to compose a letter, hoping for inspiration.

"I won't be allowed to keep it at home"

When they arrive at the Deri, Siôn tells Gwyneth that he will not be allowed to keep the blue robe at home. “I know you have no interest in the Eisteddfod but this honour is a boost, reminding me that I do have virtuous qualities, despite what some people say!”

"It's two fingers to Megan!"

Gwyneth laughs, “It’s two fingers to Megan and her cronies who believe they have the right to be judge and jury round here.   Maybe you could wear it at the chapel!”

“I don’t want Megan to think that I’m trying to top her OBE!” replies Siôn, “Will you come to the Eisteddfod with me?”   Gwyneth agrees to come for the whole week if he wants.

"I'm sorry, Anita – I made a fool of myself"

When she comes in with Diane, Siôn tells Anita that he is not upset with her, and wants to apologise for his behaviour in the chapel, admitting that he made a fool of himself.   

"I don't want to take sides"

She in turn maintains that she does not want to take sides.   Gwyneth comments that she does not trust Anita.

"Colin would just want me to be happy"

Anita tells Diane, “I can’t understand why you think I’m being unfair to Colin – it’s not as if we split up recently.   Colin would just want me to be happy.”   

Diane recommends caution

Diane urges her not to lose her head too soon, and above all, to be careful.

"Where's your girlfriend?"

Chester returns to school, but as soon as his mates see him, they joke, “Where’s your girlfriend?”   Chester tries to get away from them, but they taunt him, “What are you doing?   Are you going to hide at home for another week?”

Mrs Llywelyn to the rescue

Fortuitously, Ffion has witnessed this altercation and barks the order, “Stop it!”   

"It's a bit late to worry about that now!"

The other boys rapidly disperse, and Ffion asks if Chester is all right.   He answers that it is a bit late for her to worry about that now, 

"I didn't start this trouble"

but Ffion puts him right;  “I didn’t start this trouble – the sooner you accept it was your fault, the sooner we can move forward.   After all, that’s what we both want.”   Chester walks away.

"You must stop letting this ruin your life!"

Gwyneth insists that Siôn must stop letting this chapel business ruin his life.   “He replies, “I know I’m not dealing with it very well, but it’s easier said than done.   

"It's only going to get worse!"

“It’s only going to get worse with Megan leading, whether temporary on not.   Then there will be a new minister – there’s no escape!”

"What is the point of staying here?"

“If it’s that terrible, what is the point of staying here?” she demands, “People move from place to place – it would be commonsense to start a new life somewhere else where we would be appreciated.”

Chester returns home all tearful;  

"Ffion says it's all my fault!"   (That's because it is, you idiot!)

he tells Britt, “Ffion says it’s all my fault!”   When Britt stresses that is not true, he demands, “So tell her!” and runs off to his bedroom.   

A look of paper-tearing fury

Britt looks at the part-written letter, then furiously tears it into tiny pieces.

"Colin was quite upset when they split up"

In the Deri, Gaynor apologises to Sam for the way she reacted earlier, and conceded that they are all adults;  she adds, “Colin was quite upset when he split up with Anita, as he had strong feelings for her.”   

This concerns Sam

Sam has become rather concerned, 

"Been working on the boat?"

so when Anita passes and enquires if he has been working on the boat again, he gets up and leaves, saying he has more work to do.

"It's makes sense!"

Gwyneth continues to persuade Siôn, “It makes sense – we are both flexible with work – you work from home, and I’d be glad to get away from Awyr Iach, with their zero hours contract and dodgy principles.   I could start up my Reiki business anywhere.”

"I can't just run away!"

Siôn is not convinced;  “I’ve already upset the religious community.   Having received the blue robe, I can’t just run away from the community.”

"Trying to keep them happy will drive you mad!"

Gwyneth emphasises,”You’re not running away – they’ve turned their back on you.   Who are you afraid of upsetting – Megan and Britt?   Trying to keep those two happy will drive you mad!   We can soon sort out the practicalities;  it’s time to look after your own interests for once – everyone has the right to be happy!”

"We could do worse than Cardiff"

“Where would we go?” enquires Siôn, and Gwyneth suggests they could do worse than Cardiff.   

Cardiff obviously has unpleasant connotations

“I’m not going back there!” he says with obvious distaste, “How about Newport?   There is a growing number of Welsh speakers there, and they’re enthusiastic about chapel and community!” 

Gwyneth is delighted

Gwyneth is amazed that he has been convinced so easily, but he seems adamant;  “There we are then – Newport it is!   

"I'm going to leave Cwmderi – with you!"

“I’m going to leave Cwmderi – with you!”