Cwmderi Diary 2016: 26 April 2016

"He should have used a loudhailer!"

Dai furiously tells Tyler at APD, “He should have used a loudhailer so that people from Cwrtmynch and Llanarthur could hear as well!” Tyler looks amused, and asks what is the next step. “It’s complicated when you’re dealing with a crackpot!” is the reply.

Kelly does not have a welcome

Kelly comes in, wanting a word in private with Dai, but he warns her,

"If you write one word . . ."

“If you write one word about what Mark Jones said, I’ll take you, and that rag of a paper to every court in the land!” When Kelly maintains that it is local news, he shouts, “What you want are facts, not lies and gossip! Go away and find a story about dogs fouling the pavement!

". . . you'll be in the muck up to here!"

“If you print anything about me or APD, you’ll be in the muck up to here!”

"What if he points the finger at me?"

Ed is rattled; “If he can do this to Dai, he can do it to anyone! What if he points the finger at me? He had no reason to accuse Dai, but that hasn’t stopped him!”

"You're one of the few friends he has left"

Sioned tries to calm Ed, reminding him that he is one of Mark’s few remaining friends.

Eileen comes in and Ed leaves;

"Something's not right"

“I know you well enough to see that something’s not right,” says Eileen, “It’s not easy living here with Jim and me.”

Sioned confesses that things are not perfect;

"Ed slept with Angela!"

“Ed slept with Angela just before we got married – she admitted it to me the morning of the wedding! Ed denied the whole thing, but I know they did.” Eileen is surprised that the ceremony went ahead, but Sioned admits, “Now that Angela is out of the way, it makes things a bit easier. We discussed everything long and hard – separating would be the easy thing to do, but we’re going to give it a go. You think I’m crazy, don’t you?”

"Well, I think you're brave"

Eileen, on the contrary, thinks she is brave.

"He might be at the 'cop-shop'!"

At the café, Kelly says that Mark is not at home, and Debbie informs her that he might be at the ‘cop-shop’.

DJ tells them what Mark has been saying

DJ interrupts to tell them Mark has been accusing Dai of planting a phone in his house, and Kelly suspects that he knows more than the police.

Iolo has just done a minor plumbing job in the café kitchen, and Kelly grabs him to enquire how his foray into Volcano is going.

Iolo is pleased with his progress . . .

He proudly tells her he has been messaging someone – Tom.

. . . and Kelly seems to share his enthusiasm

“I’m meeting him tonight – and really looking forward to it.”

Jim has received documents from the council, detailing the requirements for hosting the Eisteddfod, but Dai is preoccupied.

"What if he puts this rubbish online?"

“What if Mark Jones starts spreading this rubbish about me online, and tarnishes my good name? I would have no control, and would have to go into hiding!”

Jim asks him when Dewi was killed.

"How am I supposed to remember that?"

After some thought, Dai pins it down to the second week in January; “Just after the Tremyrddin match.”

"That day we were pricing up the conservatory at the Bull"

Referring to the calendar on his phone, Jim finds that on 15th Janury they were pricing up the new conservatory for the Gog who has bought the Bull at Llanarthur. Dai remembers,

"Yes, I had to haggle with him!"

“Yes, I had to haggle with him – he was so tight!” Jim proudly pronounces that there is his alibi, and Dai chuckles.

"There are rumours he has gone to the police"

In the café, Ed is deep in thought when Debbie asks him what he has heard about Mark; “There are rumours that he has gone to the police,” she says, “He must have new evidence.” Looking rather uneasy, Ed gets up and leaves.

Tyler's favourite activity – marking

Tyler is marking schoolwork with a red pen when Iolo comes in with the news,

"I'm going out to Swansea for a date!"

“I’m going out to Swansea for a date, through that Volcano app – I don’t want to be single for ever! He’s called Tom, from Cwmtawe. He speaks Welsh and likes football, skiing and travelling. Enjoy your marking!”

Mark is hesitant about opening the door

Mark is disturbed by the hammering on his door; “It’s Jim, and I’ve found out something about Dai you should know!” When he opens the door, Dai barges in as well as Jim.

Dai spells out his alibi

Dai informs him of his alibi for the day Dewi was killed,

"How long did it take you to think that one up?"

but Mark is unconvinced.

"Go and ask the owner of the Bull!"

“Go and ask the owner of the Bull at Llanarthur,” instructs Dai, “And when you’ve found out the truth, I want you to come to the Deri at 10:00pm and do exactly what you did yesterday. Get everyone’s attention and tell them I’m not a murderer!

"And I want an apology!"

“And I want an apology – if not, I shall be on the phone to my solicitor first thing in the morning!” He and Jim march out, leaving Mark wondering.

Tyler looks up Tom on the Volcano app

Tyler is checking the photos of certain Volcano members on his phone when Iolo comes downstairs, having changed.

"It's my first date for ages!"

“It’s my first date for ages, and Tom looks really nice!” He leaves, full of excitement.

At dinnertime in the shop flat, Jim mentions that he has details of some flats for Ed and Sioned to look at.

"We can't afford anything"

Sioned remarks that they cannot afford anything, and Eileen orders Jim to be quiet.

Iolo helps himself to a chip

As Kelly emerges from the chippy, she sees Iolo; she jokes, “You’re going out, and I’m living the high life in front of the telly with a bag of chips for one! Don’t mention dating apps – I’ve been there, done that!

He does not like the sound of these weirdos

“It was a disaster – a lot of them are greasy divorcees or weirdos. But I’m glad you’re doing this!”

Off he goes in the Deri Deithio taxi

His taxi arrives and he gets in.

"They've been here long enough"

After the meal, Jim tells Eileen, “They’ve been here long enough – they need to start looking. This is our home, we need the space and they don’t look like moving.”

"They have . . . other problems"

Eileen replies that they have very little money – and other problems.

Number 1, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay

In the darkness, outside a former bank building, Iolo waits;

"Oh, hi! I thought I was in the wrong place"

then Tom arrives, and asks him,

"A couple of drinks?"

“A couple of drinks? There’s an amazing bar not far from here.” They walk along the street.

They aregue over where to put the car parks

Dai and DJ have joined Jim to look at the Eisteddfod plans; they argue over where the car parks should be situated. DJ’s worry is how to get Cadno out of the way on Thursday when the council will be looking at the farm. Jim recommends,

DJ looks dubious about Maenclochog

“Take her to Maenclochog! There’s an open day at Erw Las Farm – she’ll love that!”

"Jim obviously wants us out!"

In the Deri, Ed remarks that it is obvious Jim wants them out of the flat. Sioned laments, “If only we knew where Angela was!

"Imagine what we could do with £50,000!"

“Imagine what we could do with that £50,000! I’ve tried everything to contact her – she’s sitting on a fortune, and we are just getting by. Can’t you contact her?”

Ed’s response is that he does not want to talk about her, let alone see her.

"As far as I'm concerned, she's dead!"

“As far as I’m concerned, she’s dead!” he stresses, just as Mark arrives and looks round the corner at them. Sioned is surprised that he dares to show his face.

This is investigative journalism

At the bar, Kelly starts quizzing Mark; “How did it go with the cops? Have you given them a statement?”

"Excuse me"

Mark walks away to where Ed and Sioned are sitting.

"I've been so stupid"

“I’ve been so stupid – I should have listened to you,” he tells them. Ed asks what made Mark change his mind, and he replies,

"Dai was in the Bull at the time"

“Dai was in the Bull when Dewi was killed – I spoke to the guy who met him there – and now I have to pay the price! Dai ordered me to swallow my words in front of everyone.”

. . . and after a few Jagerbombs . . .

Iolo has really enjoyed his evening, and Tom says he prefers Tuesdays, when the drinks are two-for-one.

. . . they are being followed

Two shadowy figures can be seen following them as Iolo expresses the wish that they can meet again.

Tom leads him into an alley, where the other two rush up

"I hate gays!"

and the girl hisses, “I hate gays!”

Iolo appeals to Tom for assistance, and is appalled to hear the answer,

"And so do I!"

“So do I!” The girl punches Iolo and Tom gives the order, “Do it!”

A baseball bat is produced

The other male produces a baseball bat, and they set about Iolo, who cries piteously.

"Leave it, Debs!"

Debbie finds Mark in the Deri and asks if he has been to the police; he says that he has not, and will not be going.

"Take her to Timbuktu if you like!"

Then Dai, Jim and DJ arrive; Dai tells DJ, “I don’’t care if you take her to Timbuktu, as long as she is not at Penrhewl!” Then he notices Mark and asks DJ the time; he is told it has just turned ten.

"Mark Jones is usually full of himself!"

Dai relishes the moment as he announces, “Mark Jones is quiet this evening – he’s usually full of himself! He’s going to say even bigger things tonight than last night!” The other customers are puzzled, as Dai continues, “Right Mark, what have you got to say?”

Mark quietly says that Dai is not a murderer,