Cwmderi Diary 2015: 19 March 2015

People are gathering in the Deri

Villagers arrive at the Deri for Meic’s “Living Wake”, where there are historical photos of Meic displayed,

The cake with its little fisherman

and a special cake.

Colin gives Dai the good news . . .

Dai calls at the shop, where he criticises Colin’s choice of shirt; “It’s a wake, not a hippy convention!” Dai says he does not feel like celebrating, but Colin gives him the news that three or four of the Lottery numbers have come up.

. . . but Dai feigns the loss of the ticket . . .

Dai looks in his wallet for the ticket, but tells Colin he must have lost the ticket; “At least, it’s not the jackpot!” he says,

. . . and intends to cheat his "friend"

and hurries out of the shop, unable to suppress a grin.

Meic and Gabriella walk along the street;

Gwen waves to Meic . . .

Gwen has just served Geraint in the café, and waves to them.

Meic posts a letter in the pillarbox,

. . . then he sees Sheryl in the salon

then glances across to the salon, where Sheryl has a customer. After looking up at the Deri, they go inside.

He is shocked by the applause

As they enter, the assembled villagers applaud him, beginning with Garry. “Stop it! I feel like the Prime Minister,” says Meic,

"We wouldn't be clapping for him!"

and Mark comments, “We wouldn’t be clapping for him!”

"So half of that is Colin's, then"

Jim, looking smart in his suit, is reading the paper in APD when Dai bursts in waving £50 notes and shouting, “The lottery ticket won £400!” Jim’s response is, “So half of that is Colin’s, then,” but Dai is reluctant to share the money.

“You would look bad if I happened to tell him about your underhand trick,” continues Jim,

Dai thinks he has won Jim's silence

and Dai hands over one £50 note to keep his mouth shut. Jim then pretends to dial Colin’s number on his phone,

"Mind you keep it zipped!"

and Dai is forced to unwillingly part with another note.

Siôn begins the proceedings . . .

In the Deri, Siôn rings the bell and welcomes everyone,

. . . and makes the first speech

then speaks of Meic being a pillar of the community, and how everyone spends so much time on the internet and less with real people. Mark interrupts with, “We’re in the Deri now, not Bethania!”

Siôn continues to praise Meic for promoting such a close community, and promises to try to follow in his footsteps.

"I can't think of a better person to run it!"

Meic replies, “The Deri should be at the heart of the village, and I can’t think of a better person to run it.” By this stage, Debbie is becoming rather tearful.

Jim and Dai arrive

Dai and Jim have now arrived; after after a word in her ear from Jim,

Diane wants her share . . .

Diane announces to Dai, “I understand you have been a lucky boy! Where’s my share? How much did you win?”

. . . and looks happy with her £100 . . .

Dai tells her that it was £200, and hands over half of that,

. . . but Jim knows the truth

much to Jim’s consternation. Dai turns to him and call him, “Traitor!”

If Meic were not a Gog, he would be perfect

Next it is Anita’s turn to speak of her memories of Meic; “All the years have been an honour, as he is so kind and fair – if you weren’t a Gog, you’d be perfect!”

He has known Megan "for ever"

Then Meic tells them that some people, like Megan, he feels he has known for ever, and others, like Gabriella, he has only got to know recently. “One or two dear people I would love to have been here tonight – Reg

He remembers Denzil

and Denzil. I have had a fortunate life, and don’t regret anything!”

Who is this, coming into the Deri?

The door opens and two strangers enter, one of them handcuffed to Kevin,

Kevin, escorted by two prison officers

who smiles at his father.

His presence is Gabriella's doing

Gabriella admits to Meic that she wrote to him.

Kevin says, “So you’re my half-sister. I’m Kevin, Cwmderi’s big monster.”

"You should have told me about Gabriella"

He chides his father for not telling him about Gabriella; Meic replies, “I know I haven’t been a perfect father, but I haven’t got time to make up for that now.”

"What I did was my responsibility!"

Kevin tells him, “What I did was my responsibility – you don’t owe me anything.” Meic tells him that if he cannot stand by his son, then no-one will. Then the prison officer tells him it is time to go,

After a quick hug from his father . . .

he hugs Meic, who tells him, “I love you!”

. . . Kevin is returned to the prison

as he is led away.

“Today is full of surprises!” Dai tells Jim, who informs him that he has another one; “I want another £50!” Dai says that at this rate it is pointless to have won, and asks if Jim has no shame.

"I'm ashamed I didn't tell Anita how much you won!"

“Yes, I am ashamed that I didn’t tell Diane how much you actually won!” answers Jim. As Dai reluctantly pays up, Colin notices with suspicion the £50 note changing hands.

"Right, Meic, it's time to go"

Gabriella tells Meic that it is time to go, but he now says he wants to tell Anita. “It’s too late now, you should have told her yesterday,” replies Gabriella, “Maybe keeping quiet is the best thing to do.”

Gabriella slips away with their coats

She takes her coat and his, whispering, “See you outside.”

Sioned remembers her father

Sioned thanks Meic for mentioning her Dad; “I wish he had the opportunity to have something like this, so we could say goodbye to him properly.”

Friendly words from Megan

Megan comments that he had a good turnout; “No less than you deserve!”

He puts his glass on the bar . . .

Then Meic puts down his glass on the bar,

. . . and sees that Anita is otherwise occupied

and seeing Anita enjoying a joke with Ffion, quietly slips out of the Deri.

Gwen sees the taxi drive away

He joins Gabriella in the taxi, and as it drives away, they are seen by Gwen, who is locking up the café.

"He's not in the toilet, I've just come from there," says Colin

Anita cannot find Meic,

Gwen wonders what is going on

which puzzles Gwen, who has just arrived;

Anita finds a DVD

she hurries home to see if he is all right, but instead finds an envelope addressed to her, containing a DVD.

Dai is still moaning at Jim; “Have you no respect? Of all the days to squeeze money out of someone!” Jim angrily replies, “Who rushed to Llanarthur to get the lottery money? Who’s been deceiving Colin?”

Colin discovers what has happened

Colin, standing behind them, says, “Oh yeah? I’m all ears!”

Dai and Jim continue to blame each other, but Colin brings a touch of reality to the proceedings;

"All we're doign is arguing about money!"

“This is Meic’s day, but all we have done is argue about money. We need to stop this nonsense now!”

He fetches the bucket, labelled, “CONTRIBUTE TO THE CANCER FUND PLEASE,”

Colin grabs Dai's last note to add to the others

and stands menacingly over the two of them as they retrieve the £50 notes from their wallets.

At least, they can see the funny side of it

As Dai and Jim resume drinking their pints, they look at each other and smile.

"Why Patagonia? Three reasons, really"

At home, Anita watches the DVD; Meic asks, “Why Patagonia? Three reasons, really: a chance to get to know Gabriella better; one last adventure; and the most important thing, to be far away from Cwmderi and Anglesey, so I can die as I wish. I’d rather you remembered me as I am, not as I’m going to be. I hope you will see that this is for the best, and that you’ll be able to forgive me one day.”