Cwmderi Diary 2016: 13 September 2016

"I have to carry on as usual"

Hywel says there is no need to open the salon today, but Sheryl is determined to carry on as usual; “I’ll go and see Anita later, to see what she has to say,” she tells him.

"You don't suspect Anita?"

He is surprised that Sheryl suspect Anita, and warns her to be careful what she says. “I can’t think who we’ve upset so much!” she adds.

That letter goes into a lot of details

Then she frets, “Do you think this could spoil our chances with the authorities?” Hywel looks again at the letter, which details his bankruptcy, her violent relationship and the affairs of both of them. He advises that they must be alert and keep an eye on people, as the mask is bound to slip before long.

Sheryl wonders where this letter-writer is

When leaves for work, Sheryl looks up and down the street.

"He wants to contact Meleri again"

In the café, Tyler moans to Dani that Iolo wants to contact Mel again; “She has this hold over him!”

"He has to deal with this on his own"

She recommends that he should step back and let Iolo deal with the matter on his own, predicting he will come to his senses in the end.

"Bacon butty, please, Gwen"

Garry comes in and orders a bacon butty from Gwen.

Hello – it's that Tom again, who lured Iolo

In the alley Meleri and Tom are lurking; “I know what I have to do,” she tells him, and he is confident she will be brilliant.

He is confident Mel will succeed in her quest

They kiss, but then see Dani coming out of the café;

"We'll come back later"

they agree to come back later, when it is quieter.

Chester's homework . . .

Chester comes into the café and asks Garry for help with his maths homework,

. . . which is all double Dutch to Garry

but Garry cannot make head or tail of it, and doubts if he can be much use. “Mam says you’re good with accounts,” says Chester, so Garry pretends he is busy this morning, but will look at it later.

"This can't come as a surprise to you"

Sheryl is at Anita’s and shows her the letter, asking who would write a letter like that. “This can’t come as a surprise to you,” replies Anita, Not everyone is going to agree with you adopting Esther.” Sheryl demands if she wrote those disgusting comments,

"No, I did not!"

and Anita vehemently denies it.

Anita thinks it is for the wrong reasons

“I told you to your face what I thought,” she says, “It’s nothing to do with race or colour – I’m just concerned you’re trying to ease the pain of losing Meilyr. Have you thought what’s best for Esther?”

“We’re giving her a future – why can’t people understand that?” Sheryl demands, gets up and leaves.

"Leave, before I call the police!"

Answering the door, Iolo tries to close it again when he sees it is Meleri, but she forces her way in, wanting to talk. Iolo orders her to leave before he phones the police,

"Just let me explain!"

but she pleads, “Let me explain first – I just want five minutes of your time, please.”

"I should have told the police about the first one"

As they walk down the street, Hywel tells Garry he thinks the second letter may be his fault, as he did not report the first to the police, but Garry strongly advises against involving them.

"They'll make a mistake before long"

“If you make it public, you force whoever sent it to be on their guard,” he says, “They’ll make a mistake before long – just be patient.”

"Keep your ears open in the Deri"

Hywel asks him to be vigilant in the Deri, as after a couple of pints, tongues can loosen.

Tyler is coming round to Dani's way of thinking

Tyler comes to the Deri and tells Dani, “I’ve been thinking about our little chat – I need to let Iolo sort it out himself.” Dani suggests that they go to the cinema or somewhere to take his mind off Meleri.

"Where's Garry? He wants to see me"

Ricky has been summoned to see Garry,

"Are you familiar with these?"

who asks him if he is familiar with the documents he took from Chester. “Yes, we did this last year,” Ricky answers.

Garry has a proposition for him

Garry has a deal for him; “If you can explain this to me, without telling anyone, I’ll give you £20.”

"Make it £30, and we have a deal!"

Ricky leans forward and replies that if he makes it £30, they have a deal.

"You won't change anything!"

Iolo is adamant that there is nothing Mel can say to change anything. “I know – I shouldn’t have brought up that therapy business,” she tells him,

"Please, I want you to understand!"

“I don’t hate gay people – please Iolo, I want you to understand!”

Iolo is of the opinion that she is playing some sort of game, and insists that it is time she left. “Tell your excuses to the court! Off you go, before I call the police!”

"I'm the same as you – I'm gay too!"

“I’m the same as you!” she blurts out, “That’s what all this has been about. I’m trying to come to terms with who I am. That’s what I wanted to tell you last week – I’m gay too!”

Iolo is taken aback

Iolo is dumbfounded, as she continues, “I don’t expect this to change anything, but you deserve to hear the truth, after everything I put you through. Attacking you was a disgusting thing to do – I think I was trying to cover up my sexuality I couldn’t accept I was gay.

"I've lost everything, and I'm homeless!"

“I’ve lost everything – now I’m officially homeless. My parents don’t want a gay daughter, so they’ve thrown me out! At least now you know why I behaved like I did.”

"Oh – that's awful!"

Iolo is completely taken in by this story, mumbling that it is awful.

"Wait! Where will you go?"

When she moves towards the door, he stops her, asking, “Where will you go? Look, stay here – one of my housemates is staying with his daughter in Cardiff tonight.

"I'm sure Tyler will understand" — Yeah, right!

“I’m sure Tyler will understand, and I’ll help you find somewhere tomorrow.”

"I'm glad you can be honest with me" — honest!

She thanks him profusely, and he says, “I knew there was something about you – I’m glad you can be honest with me. At least some good will come out of all this.”

"Working according to plan so far"

She hugs him, but does not look entirely sincere.

"Anita wasn't surprised"

Sheryl reports to Hywel what Anita said about not being surprised that they received the letter, and thinks that it will be harder than expected to find the culprit.

"Let's spend time with the little one"

He admits that he is more concerned about this letter-writer than about the authorities taking Esther. They agree to take the afternoon off and spend time with the little one.

Now Iolo is buttered up with compliments

The hostilities having been dispensed with, Meleri describes Iolo as, “One of the nicest people I’ve ever met – I can’t believe how nice you’re being!”

Iolo offers helpful advice

Iolo advises that she should try to talk to her parents, as it will make a difference to get them on her side.

“I don’t think that will happen,” she admits, “They said they don’t want to see me until I’ve been on therapy and until the court case is dropped.”

She appears momentarily thrown by his question

As Iolo pours another cup of tea, he asks about the other two attackers. Meleri rather unconvincingly maintains that she did not know them.

"They're letting me take the flak"

She tells him, “Iolo, I’m scared of what will happen at the court case! I can’t believe those two, letting me take the flak for the attack they planned.”

He is insistent that he must stand up in the court and point out that this was a homophobic attack, and that he cannot just drop the case.

"We're both being punished for being gay"

She sympathises, “We are both being punished for being gay – you with the attack, and me with my parents.”

Iolo is being worn down, just as planned

Iolo’s determination shows signs of beginning to waver.

"Get out now!"

Tyler comes in and is incensed to see Meleri there; “Get out now!” he yells,

"After all she's done to you!"

and turning to Iolo, adds, “After all that she has done to you, you’re talking to her!”

"We understand each other now"

Iolo tries to point out that things have changed, and that now they understand each other,

"Well, I'm staying out of your way!"

but Tyler goes on, “Until you realise she’s trouble, I’m staying with Dani, out of your way!”

A quick, secretive text message

As Iolo follows him out of the door, Meleri fires off a quick text, before he comes back and apologises to her.

Garry displays his mathematical prowess

Garry explains knowledgeably to Chester in the Deri, “Despite this being a rational number, you can still write it as a fraction, just the same.”

"Ah – I understand now!"

Chester is enlightened, and asks if there is any chance Garry can help with his project on Friday.

"Listen in your maths lessons"

“No – this is a one-off!” Garry is quick to point out, “Listen in your maths lessons – maths is important for every businessman!”

"How did I do, then?"

Garry asks if he sounded convincing, and Dani wonders where he learned this information; when told it was from Ricky, she enquires how much it cost. Garry ponders, “Imagine if I listened at school, where would I be now?”

Tyler is seething with anger

Then Tyler bursts in and angrily informs Dani, “When I got home, Meleri was there! He’s obsessed with why she attacked him! Why can’t he forget about it – and her? Spending time with a homophobe!