Cwmderi Diary 2016: 2 September 2016

"She denied there was anything going on"

At Y Felin, Gwyneth tells Iolo, “It’s a bit late now to worry about him not turning up!” Iolo says he will try to contact the neighbour at Tylorstown, mentioning she was having a meal with him the other night. “She denied that there was anything going on!” growls Gwyneth, and then they hear the door.

Iolo is pleased to see his father home

When Siôn walks in, Iolo rushes over to hug him; “Stop playing these games – keeping us waiting until the last minute,” he says.

"You got what you wanted"

Siôn replies, “You’ve got what you wanted – for me to go to court. I don’t have to go, or listen to you.” Iolo walks out,

"I don't want any breakfast"

then Siôn refuses any breakfast.

"It won't be as bad as you think!"

Gwyneth reassures him that it will not be as bad as he fears, urges him to go and have a shower, and she will iron a shirt for him.

Iolo is being watched

As Iolo’s van arrives outside number 7, Meleri is watching from inside the café.

"Yes, five tables will be fine"

Tyler is continuing with wedding arrangements, deciding who will sit where;

"Dad is back!"

Iolo sits down, and announces, “Dad is back! Why did he have to put me through this? He’s still threatening not to attend the wedding, and Gwyneth is poking her nose in, pretending to put Dad first.”

Iolo is unconcerned about seating plans

He is not interested in allocating seats at the wedding reception, so Tyler concludes he will have to do it on his own.

"They want me as a witness at Meleri's trial"

Then a letter is delivered, requesting that Iolo is a witness at the trial of Meleri Dafydd.

"That's my funeral suit!"

Siôn points out that Gwyneth has selected his funeral suit, but she insists,

"I love a man in a suit"

“This one is perfect for you – I love a man in a suit.”

"I'm not going to a party!"

Siôn grumbles that he is going to court, not to a party.

"They know exactly who and what I am!"

“They know exactly who and what I am!” he says, “Siôn White is false – he pretends to be a campaigner for the language, society, religion, family.

"I wanted to be the centre of attention"

“I wanted to be the centre of attention – Siôn o’r Cwm! Ordinary people never get attention, and they are the backbone of society. I’m ashamed of who I am!”

Gwyneth replies that he needs to return to his life here, as this is his home, but he stresses, “I want Iolo and Tyler to move here!” She demands where he he will go – to Tylorstown?

"The Rhondda is too good for me!"

Siôn confesses, “That place is too good for me – I don’t deserve to call myself a Valleys person. Cwmderi is what I deserve.”

Gwyneth tells him, “Then you’ll have . . . we’ll have to stay here.” As he goes to change, she announces that she will accompany him; he is not interested whether she will be there or not.

"One of them looks familiar"

In the Deri, Meleri is telling Dani she is taking pictures for next year’s calendar; “I’ve noticed the photos of Cwmderi RFC; one of them looks familiar – Iolo White. He must have done a plumbing job for my parents.”

"Iolo and my brother are getting married"

Dani tells her that Iolo and her brother are getting married in two weeks, and reveals that he has had a hard time, and that someone attacked him a couple of months ago. “He’s lucky to be alive – and his father is going to court today.”

At that moment, Kelly walks in and is shocked to see Meleri there;

"You! She attacked Iolo!"

“You!” she snarls, and enlightens Dani, “She attacked Iolo! There’s nothing wrong with my eyesight!

Time for a rapid exit

“If only Iolo knew you were in his local!” Meleri escapes hurriedly from the pub.

Iolo looks at the letter again

As Iolo looks again at the letter, Tyler apologises for being preoccupied with the wedding, insisting that they are supposed to support each other.

"I want you to come with me"

Iolo decides that he wants Tyler to come with him to the court.

In the courtroom, Siôn is led into the dock just as Iolo and Tyler arrive;

Siôn receives a judicial reprimand

the magistrate addresses Siôn. “The bench is disappointed and surprised that a prominent member of the community, who should know better, has pleaded guilty to theft!”

"He's definitely going to prison?"

Iolo mutters, “He’s definitely going to prison – they’re making an example of him!”

"We don't want you falling apart!"

Gwyneth warns him not to fall apart, and to stay strong for his father.

Another shock for Iolo

Then into the courtroom comes Meleri,

He feels very uncomfortable

and to Iolo’s horror, she sits behind him.

"We ought to phone the police"

Dani is convinced they should phone the police about Meleri looking for Iolo,

"Iolo was round there yesterday!"

but Kelly has to admit that Iolo found out where she lives and went there yesterday.

Dani seems to have some naïve views

Dani insists, “The wedding will prove to people like Meleri that love is all that matters.”

Siôn steels himself for the verdict

Sentence is passed upon Siôn; “We sentence you to twelve months in prison,” but then to the relief of everyone, except Siôn,

"Suspended for twelve months"

the magistrate adds, “Suspended for twelve months. You will have to wear a tag in your home, and keep to a curfew between 7:00pm and 7:00am for three months.”

Tyler goes to phone Dani with the good news;

"I'm a rotten and immoral man!"

Siôn protests, “That doesn’t suffice! I don’t want a suspended sentence – I’m a rotten and immoral man!” He is urged to calm down,

"Take no notice of him"

and Gwyneth approaches the bench to explain that he is under stress and does not mean what he said.

"Why are you here?"

As Meleri leaves the room, Iolo confronts her;

"I want to talk to you!"

“I want to talk to you – I know where you live!” she announces. Tyler comments that he saw her photo on Iolo’s phone. Iolo tells Meleri to go away.

Dani is prepared for a celebration

In the Deri, Kelly doubts if Iolo will want to celebrate the court sentence, then Tyler comes in, telling her and Dani that Iolo has gone to Y Felin with Siôn.

"Iolo's stronger than I thought"

“Meleri Dafydd turned up in court, but Iolo didn’t panic – he’s stronger than I thought.”

"What are you not telling me?"

They reveal that she has also been to the Deri, and it is Tyler’s turn to panic.

“They’re after him! What if she comes back with the gang?” he asks, but Kelly points out they will not do anything, now the police are involved,

"Come on – chill, man!"

and encourages him to have a drink and ‘chill’.

Iolo feels uncomfortable

In fact Meleri is at number 7 with Iolo; she reveals, “I saw that woman who was with you yesterday, and your boyfriend’s sister.” He demands what she is there for,

"You came knocking at my door!"

and she points out, “You came knocking at my door yesterday, remember?”

"I just wanted to scare you"

Iolo responds, “I couldn’t fathom how you could be so violent – you and your mates planned it, using Volcano to target me.” She maintains that she just wanted to scare him, and is not proud of what she did.

Iolo deduces, “You’re trying to get me to withdraw my statement!” but she denies this.

"Now I'm looking into your background"

“You looked into my background – now I’m doing the same to you,” she explains, “I came to court to know more about your family – you seem like an all right bloke. Sorry for those injuries – you didn’t deserve that.

"I now know there are more peaceful ways"

“I realise now there are more peaceful ways of showing I don’t like gays.”

Siôn is back at Y Felin . . .

Siôn sits at Y Felin,

. . . with his ankle tag

looking at the tag which has been attached to his ankle. When Gwyneth comes in and caresses his shoulder, he gets up and walks away.

"I've never been comfortable with gays"

Meleri reveals she has never been comfortable with gays, and her feelings deepened at university; “They were everywhere, snogging and taking over the pubs. You force your sexuality on people, and take advantage of those who can’t stand up to you.”

"At least we're honest"

Iolo points out that they are honest about their sexuality. “But you are different – you have to accept that,” she replies.

"Why do you hate us?"

Iolo does not understand her hatred for the gay community;

"My parents thought you were sick"

she says, “My parents didn’t like you – they said you were sick! Some of you are all right, I suppose. I admit I went too far, and you have to be satisfied with that.”

She leaves Iolo . . .

So saying, she leaves the house;

. . . an once outside, disappears from sight

when Iolo looks outside, he can see no sign of her.

Siôn does not look himself

Siôn has a haunted look on his face;

"We haven't had a drink together for ages"

when Gwyneth brings a bottle and reminds him they have not had a drink together for ages,

"I'm not having a romantic drink with you"

he answers, “I’m not having a romantic drink with you. I have no right to enjoy life.

"I'm never going to leave this house!"

“I’m never going to leave this house, not even outside curfew hours!” Gwyneth maintains he does not have to lock himself away.

"Off you go – you're not welcome here!"

“You still don’t understand,” he says, “I don’t deserve to be part of society. Y Felin is my prison now, so I’m going to suffer here alone. Off you go – you’re not welcome here!” She insists that her place is here with him, and that she knows what he is going through.