Cwmderi Diary 2016: 21 November 2016

Courtney's best friends pay their respects

Gaynor has brought five of Courtney’s closest friends, with their flowers, to the accident site;

Jim watches from across the road

Jim emerges from the shop and watches as Gaynor says, “We lost a remarkable person when we lost Courtney. You were her best friends – there is no need to tell you how special she was.

"She was a treasure"

“She was an intelligent girl with a bright future, who enjoyed learning and had a quick mind that questioned and challenged. She was a treasure – and leaves a huge void.” Jim hurries off down the alley.

"Milk and butter!"

Britt is ready to leave to visit Chester when Colin brings the milk and butter she wanted; she tells him she will be back about seven, but then the phone rings.

"It's for you!"

Colin answers and hands it to her;

A troubling phone call

“Why? What did he say? Has he seen a doctor?” she asks,

"He's not up to visitors"

then tells Colin that the visiting order has been cancelled, as, “He is not up to visitors.”

"He'll be fine in a couple of days"

Colin assures her that he probably has a bug, and will be fine in a couple of days, then has to leave to finish his shift in the shop.

Cadno and DJ have just arrived in the 4x4

Cadno and DJ arrive in the village,

Elliw reads the messages

and see Elliw reading the cards in memory of Courtney; Cadno goes to see Eileen,

Then Eifion speaks to her . . .

then DJ witnesses Eifion talking to Elliw,

. . . and takes her into the house

and then going into his house with her.

"We're having a meal with Dani tonight"

In the Deri, Ffion reminds Gethin that they are having a meal with Dani tonight; “She wants to practise her cooking skills before Garry comes back,” she says.

Gethin doubts his sister's culinary abilities

Gethin is less than complimentary about his sister’s cooking, as it is not long since she could not boil an egg.

“It’s nice to have a night out,” says Ffion, “It has been a long time since we did that.” Gethin maintains he is looking forward to it – even if the meal will be burnt.

Britt tells Dani about Chester

Britt comes in and tells Dani about the cancelled visit;

"Someone could have attacked him!"

“They didn’t say what was wrong with him – someone could have attacked him! And then there’s Colin – he’s still putting Eileen first! As soon as I found out the visit was cancelled, he galloped off back to the shop, like he’s a servant and a grief counsellor rolled into one!”

"Come over for dinner tonight!"

Dani tells her, “Right then, as you’re not going, and the children are with Liz, come over for dinner, and bring Colin,” and Britt reluctantly agrees.

"I'm not here to socialise"

Jim comes in, very subdued and asks for a pint; he tells them, “I’m not here to socialise.”

Eifion attempts to get information

Eifion begs Elliw to tell him what she knows; he knows it is not easy but he needs help.

"I don't know who it was"

“She was seeing someone – but I don’t know who,” replies Elliw, “He was the first one she had slept with, but she wouldn’t say who it was, to keep me guessing –

"That's what best friends do"

“that’s all part of the fun, and what best friends do.”

"So we may never know"

Eifion concludes that if whoever this person is does not tell them, they may never know.

"Eifion wouldn't take advantage of her"

In the shop, Cadno tells Eileen, “I know Eifion’s worst side better than anyone – but he would not take advantage of her. He was so protective – like a father.”

"Cadno, you're upsetting Eileen!"

Colin intervenes to reprimand Cadno for upsetting Eileen by going over it all again.

Colin tries to calm her

He puts his arm round her, just as Britt walks into the shop,

"We've been invited to Dani's"

to tell him that they have been invited to Dani’s for dinner, although she does not particularly want to go.

"I don't remember saying that!"

Eileen hails this as, “A lovely idea – Colin was just telling me he wants to spend more free time with you. I want to talk to Cadno, so we might as well close the shop early. Go home, Colin – going out will do you a world of good!”

"Of course I want to go with you!"

Britt doubts whether Colin will want to go anywhere with her; “If you really want to go, you’ll have to smarten yourself up!” she snaps, and leaves the shop. Eileen tells Colin that it is time he started making a fuss of Britt, and asks him to turn the sign round on the door on his way out.

"Im fed up with being caught between those two!"

Relieved, she tells Cadno, “I’m fed up with being caught in the middle between those two!”

How many more new bar staff in the Deri?

In the Deri, where there is yet another new barmaid,

Jim regrets leaving the flat

Jim tells DJ that he is not sure he should have come out; “The first thing I see when open the door is that shrine! It’s impossible to forget – and there was a crowd from Cwrtmynach there earlier –

"Some kind of tourist attraction!

“like some kind of tourist attraction!”

DJ casually mentions Elliw going into Eifion's house

DJ takes advantage of the situation; “I saw Elliw there just now – and she went in the house with Eifion afterwards. It was a surprise to see him taking a young girl in there, but I suppose he had his reasons.”

"Right!"

Jim is outraged to hear this; he gets up, and marches out of the Deri with a look of fury on his face.

A devious smile

DJ smiles contentedly.

"She was really happy before she died"

“Courtney was really happy before she died – that’s good, isn’t it? says Elliw, then suddenly there is a banging on the door.

"Everyone knows you're a pig, Eifion Roberts!"

Jim bursts in and demands, “What are you doing here with her? Were you looking for trouble, bringing her here? Everyone knows you’re a pig, Eifion Roberts, and now you’ve enticed her!

"You're close to getting punched!"

“You’re close to getting punched!”

Then he turns his attention to Elliw, asking why she is here with the beast who got Courtney pregnant.

"Perhaps you got her pregnant!"

Surprisingly calm, but direct, she replies, “Perhaps you got her pregnant!”

Jim is taken aback, but continues ranting that he was her father. Elliw adds, “She saw Eifion as a father too – he looked after her as if she were his own daughter! If it’s stupid to accuse you, it’s also stupid to accuse Eifion!

Elliw speaks with wisdom beyond her years

“So calm down – and we’ll have a rational conversation about this!”

Jim is stopped in his tracks

Jim is dumbstruck.

"I can understand why you're taking Eifion's side"

Eileen understands why Cadno is taking Eifion’s side, as he is her children’s father, and she thinks she can trust him. She remarks, “I’ve heard him telling lies to you and Sioned over the years.”

"He would never do such a thing"

Cadno demands whether Eileen believes he could do such a thing, and she replies that Jim is convinced of his guilt. “Prove to me that it was someone else,” Eileen challenges her.

Dani is rather unsure about cooking

Although the casserole smells lovely, Dani wants Ffion’s opinion on whether the chicken is cooked.

"I'm sure it will be perfect!"

Gethin says he is confident it will be perfect, but keeps his fingers crossed.

Britt contemplates doing a runner

Colin and Britt arrive, but Britt almost changes her mind;

Colin explains her problem

Colin explains that the visit has been cancelled for some undisclosed reason. “He didn’t want to see his mother!” comments Britt. Colin urges her to forget about him tonight, but this starts her off again,

"How can I forget my son in prison?"

“How can I forget my son in prison, while I enjoy myself here?” She dashes out,

"We'll be back in half an hour!"

but Colin seems confident that they will be back in half an hour.

Elliw spells it oput to Jim

Jim is uncharacteristically quiet as Elliw tells them, “Courtney was dating someone in the village – the baby’s father – but wouldn’t say who.

"She kept the secret from Eifion as well"

“It was definitely not Eifion, as she kept the secret from him as well – and other secrets too. She sent a text the day before the accident,

"I remember that argument!"

saying she had a horrendous argument with Sioned, but didn’t say what it was about.”

"I just want to know who the father is!"

Jim is not interested in hearing about Sioned; “I just want to know who the baby’s father is!” Elliw again emphasises that there is no way it is Eifion, so Jim admits,

Jim actually apologises to Eifion

“If Elliw is right, sorry, Eifion!”

"I didn't realise you were so upset"

Back home, Colin confesses he did not realise that the call from the prison had upset Britt so much; “You told me that you were all right –

"What do you think I am? Psychic?"

“what do you think I am? Psychic? I know you’re worried sick, but you have to be honest with me and ask for help.

"Yeah, I do shout a bit, don't I?"

“Shouting and losing your temper won’t help anyone!”

"Come on, put your coat on"

He proposes, “What we should do now is to wipe those tears and go back to Dani’s. When was the last time you had a night out? I won’t enjoy it unless you’re there with me – come on!”

"There's nothing to say Jim's wrong"

In the Deri, DJ tells Cadno, “Unless there is some definite evidence, no-one knows the truth – there’s nothing to say Jim’s wrong.”

"Jim has accepted I'm not the father!"

Then Eifion arrives with a smile on his face and offers to buy both of them a drink; “Jim has accepted I’m not the father – he had to believe Elliw, didn’t he? She was in the house when he stormed in like wild animal – but she managed to bring him to his senses! And he said sorry!”

"Another plan down the drain!"

This news does not please DJ one bit.

"I was wrong, Eileen"

At the shop flat, Jim confesses, “I was wrong, and I’ve had to admit it!” Eileen is very proud of him, and says she will have to do the same to Cadno, as she had convinced herself it was Eifion.