29 August 2016

Siôn walks up a familiar hill

A steep street in Tylorstown in the Rhondda Valley sees Siôn walking up the hill 

He is proud to be back home 

and looking proudly around.   

What is that bike doing there?

He enters a terraced house, where a bicycle is inexplicably upside down in the livingroom;  

Historical photos

there are photos of a much younger Siôn and his former wife, Dr Gwen.

The next-door neighbour arrives

A woman comes in, introducing herself as Jackie from next door, who has been keeping an eye on the house while Leighton is away;  Siôn points out he is Leighton’s son.   

"He's still in South Africa"

“He is still in South Africa with my brother,” Siôn tells her, “He told me that a lovely lady had moved in next door,” and decides to put the kettle on.

Iolo and Tyler are back from Tenby

Iolo and Tyler are back from their stay in Tenby, where apparently Tyler thrashed Iolo at ten-pin bowling and mini golf.   

Gwyneth lurks in the background

Dani asks if they have had any more thoughts about the wedding, 

"It's that girl who attacked him"

but Tyler tells her that Iolo is worried about the arrest of the girl who attacked him.

"Can I speak to you?"

As they all go into number 7, Gwneth, who has been lurking nearby, follows them in, wanting to speak to Iolo.   

"Have you spoken to your father?"

They go into the kitchen (with Dani and Tyler listening outside the door).   “Have you spoken to your father?” Gwyneth enquires, “He disappeared on Thursday – can you phone him, as he is not answering my calls?”   

"His phone's turned off"

Iolo tries to do this, but finds that Siôn’s phone is turned off.

He immediately suspects that Gwyneth has quarrelled with his father, 

"I don't think he'll turn up for the court case!"

but she admits, “I don’t think he’ll turn up for the court case!”   She storms off, followed by Iolo, 

"Oh dear, this does not sound good"

while Tyler and Dani look at each other.

They tell each other about themselves

Siôn gives Jackie a mug of tea and she remarks that his father is a lovely man.   She is originally from Pontrhydyfen, but moved to Tylorstown when her husband, Ray, died almost a year ago of Asbestosis.   

"Was he Ray Harris?"

Siôn tells her that his wife died of cancer fifteen years ago, then he asks, “Was he Ray Harris?   We were in the same class at school, but lost touch when I went to university and he went to work in the colliery at Maerdy.

Dani has found an unbelievable offer

Dani has found a bargain wedding package online, 

She immediately informs Tyler

and rings Tyler to tell him about it.

Siôn with his haversack and bike is about to set off when he meets Jackie again, 

"I'm off to work at Ynyshir"

leaving to cycle to her job at a care home at Ynyshir;  

Siôn heads in the other direction

she tells him there are a lot of cycle routes in the area.

Macs can be of no assistance

At Y Felin, Iolo phones Macs, who cannot help with Siôn’s whereabouts, and Gwyneth cannot find the right password to open Siôn’s e-mails.   

"I'm not surprised he want to escape!"

She says, “He took a full case of clothes, but no books and no work.   Britt has been giving him a hard time about the divorce, and if Garry pokes his nose in, I’m not surprised he wants to escape.”

"Blaming everyone but yourself!"

Iolo accuses her, “You’re looking for someone to blame, other than yourself!” but Gwyneth insists she has given him more support than his children have.   Iolo is unshaken;  “Dad always puts us first – don’t forget that!”

Siôn arrives at work . . .

When Siôn walks into the Cash and Carry, 

. . . but does not seem to get through to the security guard

he remarks to the security man, “I’m John White;  this used to be a playing field when I was a lad – 

"I cycled down every night"

“I cycled down every night to play rugby.”   The security man just grunts, and Siôn continues, 

"Oh, sorry to disturb you!"

in English, “Oh, you don’t speak the language of heaven then – sorry to disturb you!”

"Pleasure to meet you, John White!"

As he walks away, the guard says, “Pleasure to meet you, John White!” and they shake hands.   Siôn says that he has missed the valley humour.

"Well, what do you think, then?"

Tyler is not convinced, and has never heard of buying a wedding online.   Dani enthusiastically points out, “It’s down from £6,000 to £1,200 because of a cancellation!   You get the job lot – food, clothes, cake.   The couple who cancelled have done all the hard work – you don’t even have to find a photographer.   

"It's perfect – and on the day you wanted!"

“It’s perfect – and on the day you wanted!   It’s a sign – you have to buy it and I’ll pay for it!”   

She finds a credit card that Garry does not know about, 

"I must talk to Iolo first"

but Tyler is adamant;  “Don’t do anything until I talk to Iolo about it.”

"They don't need any security here"

Siôn tells Simon that everyone at the warehouse is so friendly that they do not need any security, and that he was lucky to get the part-time job there.   

"I used to be in television!"

Simon surprises him, “I used to be in television – in a factory making remote controls!   My better half, Carys, works in the café in town.”

Siôn phones Iolo

Siôn phones Iolo, who demands where he is.   Siôn reassures him that all is well, “But I won’t be coming back to Cwmderi.   

"I want you and Tyler to have Y Felin!"

“I want you and Tyler to have Y Felin as a wedding present – and I hope you have better luck than me.   Sell the furniture and buy stuff that suits you – and put the books in a skip!”

Iolo is horrified

Iolo looks horrified as he is told, “I’m with people who appreciate me – salt of the earth – unlike people from Cwmderi!”   As Siôn ends the call, it dawns upon Iolo his father must be in Tylorstown.

"He says he's never coming back!"

Tyler has just come in and Iolo tells him of his suspicions;  “He says he’s never coming back and he wants you and me to have the house.   It’s as if he wants to get rid of everything.   

"I have to sort this out on my own!"

“I’m going to Tylorstown – Dad’s my problem, so I have to sort this out on my own!”

"Steak and kidney pie tonight!"

As they have a pint after work, Simon tells Siôn, “The dinner will be on the table in half an hour – Carys always makes steak and kidney pie, chips and mushy peas on Mondays, and rice pudding for afters.   We eat what we like – none of this calorie nonsense.   

Siôn is jealous of this simple family life

“Life’s too short to live on lentils!”

"I went to the wild west – Llanelli!"

Siôn reveals that he has returned to his roots;  “I left for university, then Cardiff – then I went to the wild west – Carmarthenshire, the outskirts of Llanelli, nowhere special.”

"I didn't get a chance to talk to him"

Iolo gets into his van and leaves;  Tyler says that he had no chance to talk about the wedding, as Iolo was so worried about his father.   Dani takes him to the Deri for a drink, 

Gwyneth is still watching

as Gwyneth watches them.

Siôn is doing some window cleaning

When Jackie comes home, Siôn is cleaning the windows, and invites her for a meal to thank her for looking after the house;  

"How about steak and kidney pie?"

“Steak and Kidney pie, chips and mushy peas, with rice pudding to follow,” he promises.

"He didn't want me to go with him"

In the Deri, Dani is optimistic;  “When Iolo finds that his Dad is OK, then he can concentrate on the wedding.”   Tyler frets that Iolo did not want him to go too.   

"We can't miss this offer!"

“We must make a decision before this offer goes,  I’ll buy it as a present for Iolo,” she decides, and when Tyler urges her to ‘hold her horses’, she still clicks on the website and books it.   

"There – you've just sorted out your wedding!"

“You’ve just sorted out your wedding,” she proudly announces.

They enjoy a convivial meal

Over their meal, Jackie shows photos of her grandchildren, and Siôn informs her, “We’re a close family, since losing Gwen;  we meet up regularly, and follow the Scarlets everywhere – Ireland, Scotland.”

"What's your game?"

There is a knock on the door;  “Iolo demands, “What’s your game – hiding here?”   

"Oh, hello"

Seeing Jackie there, Iolo asks if he can have a private word with his father, so she hurriedly leaves.

"Very cosy!"

“Very cosy!” comments Iolo, “I wouldn’t have come if you explained where you were.”   When Siôn asserts that he needs peace and quiet, 

"Stop this nonsense and come home!"

Iolo replies, “Stop this nonsense and come home!”

"This is where I live now!"

Siôn does not intend to comply;  “I’m not going to court – I have a new life here, and if you’re here to persuade me to go back, don’t bother!   This is where I live now, and no-one’s going to ruin my life!”