Cwmderi Diary 2016: 7 April 2016

“The Morning of the Wedding Day”

"I should have booked a decent salon!"

At the salon, Sioned is angry with Dani as she booked appointments for herself, Mam and Courtney for 11:00am, but it is listed as 1:00pm. “I should have booked a decent salon!” she moans, but Dani is sure she can accommodate them.

They try to decipher the appointment book

When Vicky arrives, she points out, “It’s Tyler’s writing – and it does in fact say 11am. You need glasses!”

A button has come off Ed's jacket

Ed comes bursting in, as a button has come off his jacket, and Dani tells Vicky to sew it back on, but she claims she cannot sew, leaving Dani to do it herself.

“I thought it was unlucky to see him on your wedding day,” says Vicky, “Well you know he’s not jilted you!”

"Mam, please phone me!"

Angela leaves another message for Eileen; “I’m sorry for everything, Mam – please phone me – I don’t have anyone else!” Courtney is looking for Eifion as she needs a lift to Penrhewl;

Courtney cringes away from her mother

when her mother offers to take her, she refuses.

“I could help with your makeup and hair – you used to love me styling your hair when you were little,” says Angela,

"That was a long time ago"

but Courtney replies that was a long time ago, when life was much simpler.

Sioned comes, announcing to Courtney, “The idiots at the salon are ready for us now!” and Angela offers her a wedding present.

"I don't want it!"

I don’t want it!” Sioned informs her, “All I want is a cheque for the money you got from Auntie Marian.”

"But Sioned, we are sisters!"

Angela pleads that they are sisters, but Sioned dismisses this;

"You're no sister of mine!"

“You’re no sister of mine! Don’t you dare come near my wedding!” Angela insists that she wants to see her daughter’s dress,

"No-one will want you there!"

but even Courtney warns her that no-one wants her there.

Siôn will use an old translation of the blessing

After consideration, Siôn has decided to use the old translation of the blessing, as the words are somehow stronger; Gwyneth is doubtful whether Sioned will know the difference. Siôn hopes that Sioned and Ed may become regulars at Bethania.

Gwyneth brings the post . . .

Then he opens a letter Gwyneth has given him, and his demeanour changes.

. . . and he reads it with concern

He reads, “We acknowledge your commitment to the faith in your community, but after obtaining information relating to your personal life, the Association cannot support your bid to be ordained.” He explains to Gwyneth that living together while he is still married is against the laws of the church.

"I shall never be minister of Bethania!"

Downhearted, he admits, “I’ve broken the code of conduct, and I have to accept that I shall never be minister of Bethania.”

Bobi and Arthur have added their touch to the cake . . .

At Penrhewl, DJ is amused to see that the boys have decorated the wedding cake, made by Eileen, with figures of Batman and Spiderman on the top.

. . . so DJ keeps it out of sight

When Eileen comes in, he thinks it wise to stand in front of the cake.

Eileen complains about the boys

is complaining that Bobi and Arthur have used the barn, the wedding venue, as a den, and now the tablecloth needs ironing again.

She dwells at length on all the preparations she has made;

"Right, Eileen, we'll keep them under control"

assures her that the boys will be kept under control, and that she should go and get pampered at the salon.

"Thanks, Dani, you're a life-saver"

Dani has reattached the button; Ed is so grateful, he kisses her, but he will still not reveal where they are going on honeymoon.

"Mark was going on about his theories"

Vicky mentions that all she heard last night from Mark were his theories about who killed Dewi. This unsettles Ed, and he leaves.

"I can't bless this marriage now!"

Siôn, wearing a tie, tells Gwyneth that they can guess who told the denomination. “This is all my fault, no-one else’s. How can I tell people how to live, while making a mess of it myself? I can’t bless this marriage now!”

"You owe it to Sioned"

Gwyneth insists that he must do it, as it means so much to Sioned, but he laments,

"I've let everyone down!"

The church says I’m not suitable – I’ve let everyone down!”

"I can't accept anything from you"

Angela tells Megan she has something to donate to Maenan Appeal, but is told that the shop is closed. “In any case I don’t think I can accept anything from you,” Megan answers, “I have to protect the charity’s reputation.”

"I'm trying to make an effort here"

Increasingly tearfully, Angela explains, “I haven’t stolen it – I’m trying to make an effort here. I’ve said I’m sorry and given back the money – I’ve lost my husband, friends and family - I can’t do any more!”

"Leave her alone, Megan!"

Seeing what is going on, Ed strides up and rescues Angela, warning Megan to leave her alone.

The salon in full swing

Eileen and Sioned sit in the salon, being attended to by Vicky and Dani. Dani asks if she has the traditional ‘something old, new, borrowed, blue’, and Sioned realises the blue item is missing.

"Marian had bluebells at her wedding"

Eileen recalls, “Marian used to tell me that bluebells were what she had at her wedding – Bob went up the hill to pick them for her.”

"I hope Jim will come"

She hopes that Jim will come to the wedding,

"Courtney, try to persuade him!"

and Sioned asks Courtney to go and try to persuade him.

DJ returns the cake to its previous state

At Penrhewl, DJ has removed the unapproved additions from the cake,

"I can't find the figurines anywhere"

but Cadno is concerned that she find the figurines which should be there. DJ then locates them, inside the toy house,

"Ed's lost a leg!"

and laughs, “Ed’s lost a leg – but I don’t think anyon will notice!”

"The only choice is to leave"

In the shop flat, Ed has made a cup of tea; “It’s all such a mess,” wails Angela, “And it won’t get any better. The only choice is to leave, now that my relationship with Eifion is over. Sioned and Eileen don’t want to know me. I could go somewhere I’ve never been, look for work, and when I’m settled, Courtney could join me.”

"I don't like to think of you all alone"

Ed does not like to think of her all alone, but she argues that she is alone now, as everyone has turned their backs on her;

Notice the old 'hand on the knee' routine

Ed maintains that he has not. “Courtney was right – life was much simpler before we came to Cwmderi.

"We were happy"

“We were happy – you, me, Courtney and Gemma. The problems started when we took over the Deri.”

"I sometimes feel like running away"

Ed is in a similarly dejected mood; “I came to be landlord of the Deri, and ended up driving taxis and making tea at the café. I’m tempted to run away, when it all gets too much.”

"Ooh – is this my opportunity?"

Angela detects a chance here; “It doesn’t have to be like this – I’m making a fresh start, far away.

"Come with me – we could be happy together!"

“You could come with me – we could be happy together, just the two of us. Come with me!” Ed makes no reply.

"Is Siôn giving the blessing?"

In the street, Megan asks Sioned if Siôn is giving the blessing; she replies,

"Of course – I can rely on him"

“Of course – I can rely on him.” Megan suggests that the mess with Angela has not helped, but Sioned simply wants to forget about her today.

"Ed was very supportive of Angela"

“To be fair, Ed was very supportive of Angela when she was in tears just now,” Megan adds,

"He's always willing to help"

and although Sioned says that is what Ed is like, always willing to help, she has doubts.

"I'm getting married in two hours!"

“I’m getting married in two hours – you’re not thinking straight!” says Ed,

"You'll never please her – she's a spoilt brat!"

Angela argues that his life will be trying to please Sioned, and he will fail, as she is a spoilt brat. Do you love her? If so, why did you sleep with me? There’s still something between us – it was the stress of running the Deri that split us up!

"I've got the money!"

“If we go to a place where nobody knows us, we can start again – I’ve got the money!”

"Auntie Marian's money"

He corrects her that it is Aunti Marian’s money, but she insists, “It’s our money – our future!”

"Thank goodness for that!"

Cadno is frantic as the cake has disappeared from the kitchen, but mightily relieved when DJ confesses he took it to the barn.

Eileen arrives at the farm

Eileen arrives and tells them that Courtney is trying to persuade Jim to attend.

"Right Siôn, time to go"

Gwyneth informs Siôn that it is time he left for Penrhewl, but he is adamant that he is not going; “I can’t give the blessing, knowing that I will never be minister.” Gwyneth argues that no-one will know he has received the letter, but he feels that he would be deceiving everyone.

And, just to make matters worse . . . Megan

Then, to add to his woes, Megan turns up, on the pretext that she is collecting the vestry key; actually she wants to check that he has received the post. She suggests that most of the post is junk mail these days.

Gwyneth is not happy

Gwyneth interrupts, “Well, we had junk today – like this letter opposing Siôn’s ordination!” Megan says that it was her duty to tell them,

"Wasn't it your adultery that broke up your marriage?"

Gwyneth asks, “Remind me why you and your husband split up! Wasn’t it your adultery that broke up your marriage? There’s one rule for you and another for Siôn!”

Megan wonders why Siôn has not told Sioned he could not give the blessing;

"I lost faith in you when you 'borrowed' from chapel funds"

“I lost faith in you when you ‘borrowed’ from chapel funds.”

"Do you object to my pastoral style?"

Siôn speaks up; “No – you were willing for me to continue as long as I did what you wanted! You object to my pastoral style? Would you rather see the doors shut rather than bringing in new members?

Megan is not used to being talked to like this

“Until you throw me out, I’m Bethania’s leader, and I will give the blessing, so you’d better leave!”

"Everything's going to be OK, you'll see!"

Angela is planning already; “I’ll get my passport and pack a bag – everything’s going to be OK, you’ll see!”

"What's going on here?"

Sioned comes in and demands what is going on.

"Ed and I are going away together!"

“You’ll have to cancel the wedding – Ed and I are going away together!” Angela tells her.

"You're even more nuts than I thought!"

Absolutely thunderstruck, Sioned answers, “You’re even more nuts than I thought!”

"He'd never be happy with you!"

Angela continues to assure her, “He’s come to his senses – he’d never be happy with you!” In reply to Sioned’s demand, Ed denies that he said that. “He doesn’t have to say – I know!” Angela insists.