26 October 2015

Opening time at the café 

Debbie opens the café and briefs her mother on what to do, 

Dol wants some toast

but Dol is more interested in having some toast for her breakfast.   

Dol is perturbed to receive a call

Then her phone rings;  she ignores it, saying that it is, “Insurance or something – waste of time.”   Debbie hands her an apron and tells her to smile for the customers

The genuine pictures are rather sparse . . .

Colin and Gwyneth are pinning the few remaining genuine competition entries on the walls in the Antur;  

. . . so Colin produces some he made earlier

then Colin produces some he made earlier.   “It’s the only way,” he assures Gwyneth, “We’ll just add them to the mix.  Do you think I have chance of winning?”

Kelly reports to Gethin that Ffion will not eat anything;  then she has an idea, and asks Gethin to stay while she pops out for a few minutes.   

"Haven't you got somewhere else to go?"

Ffion comes in and comments to Gethin, “One down, one to go!   Haven’t you got somewhere else to go?”   Gethin insists that he is going nowhere.

"Try to eat something"

“You must regret having anything to do with me,” laments Ffion, but he simply urges her to eat just a little, without any success.

"OAP discount on Thursdays"

Dani comes into the café and meets Dol;  “I work in the salon – if you want a trim, we do OAP discounts on Thursdays,” says Dani.   

Dol sees a way to make some money

Dol invites her to put anything, big or small, into the tips mug clearly marked “Dol”.

She sees Dani’s handbag and remarks, 

"I saw one like that on Ponty market"

“I saw one like that on Ponty market,” but Dani insists that hers is a genuine designer model.   “It’s hard to tell the difference,” answers Dol.

"This is the boost she needs"

Kelly has gone round to Y Felin, where she asks Britt to bring round Arwen for just a few minutes;  “She’s a bit better, but I think this is the boost she needs.   We’ve locked her in the flat since last week – she hasn’t had a drop since – we must be doing something right!   She’s desperate to see Arwen, and she’s not eating.”   

Britt remains stony-faced

Britt is unmoved and refuses.

"The last thing she needs is losing her mother!"

As she leaves, Kelly’s parting shot is, “Arwen’s had too many people turn their backs on her – the last thing she needs is losing her mother as well!   Think about it!”

Dol appears rather partial to cake . . .

Debbie catches Dol helping herself to yet another slice of cake, and demands that she stop eating in front of the customers, 

. . . and Debbie demands she pays for it

and that she pay for what she has consumed.   Dol empties her tips mug and gives Debbie the contents, then has another call, which she rejects.

Garry wants his rent

Gethin receives a text from Garry, demanding unpaid rent;  when Kelly returns unsuccessful, he leaves,

"I want my phone!"

and Ffion demands, “I want my phone – I might have some messages!”   Kelly will not hand it over, so Ffion storms, “It’s not up to you!”

"Look at yourself – you're a mess!"

“If I left things up to you, where would you be?” Kelly asks her, “Look at yourself – you’re a mess!”   Ffion acknowledges this, but denies being scared of anything.

“You’ve lost everything – that must feel fantastic, but you’re dealing with it great,” courages Kelly.

Ffion retorts, “Who the hell are you to tell me how to live my life?   You don’t know what I need!”   Kelly tells her to eat her sandwich, 

They both look shocked at Ffion's ferocity

but Ffion refuses and throws the plate across the room, 

The plate lies, shattered into pieces

where it shatters on the floor.

Kelly tells her she needs support

As Ffion cleans up the remains, Kelly assures her she knows how hard it is to beat something on her own;  “You need support – other people’s help.   I was in the gutter like you,  and do you know how I came through it?    I admitted I needed help.”

"You must let people help you"

Ffion sits on the floor by the washing machine;  Kelly tells her she will recover, but she must let people help her.    

"Why should I talk to you?"

Ffion demands, “Why should I talk to you?   I don’t know you – you’re not my friend.   You don’t want to know about my problems – nobody’s ever wanted to know!   Everyone who didn’t like me has left me – nobody hates me as much as I hate myself!”

Kelly clearly sympathises with Ffion's plight

As tears stream down Kelly’s cheeks, Ffion continues, “I can’t leave – I’m stuck with me!   Dad was the lucky one – he left once he found I was on the way!”   Kelly wonders whether she has ever thought of looking for him, as perhaps he is the missing piece of the jigsaw.

“So I can blame him for all this?” asks Ffion, 

"I'm what's wrong – no-one else!"

“No, it’s simple – I’m what’s wrong – no-one else!”

"But sometimes, only a Mam will do!"

In the café, Dol tells Britt, “Being a Gran is great – any trouble and you can hand them back.   But sometimes, only a Mam will do!”   Britt is caused to think.

Anita points out the dirty crockery . . .

Anita then complains that she has been served tea in a dirty cup;  

. . . so Dol cleans it with her apron

“A bit of lippy never hurt anyone,” comments Dol, as she wipes it with her apron.   

Debbie's offer of a fresh cup is rejected

Debbie, seeing this, offers Anita a fresh cup, but she has had enough and leaves.

Incensed, Debbie orders her mother out of the café.   

Debbie calls Gwen in desperation

Then she phones Gwen;  “Can you cover in the café for a while?”

Eagerly awaiting the result

The villagers gather at CwmFM for the results of  the art competition;   Gwyneth announces the winner is . . . Courtney!   

Everyone is happy – except Debbie

Meanwhile, Debbie is looking round, trying to find Ricky’s entry.

"This baby is hard work"

At Maes-y-Deri, Vicky complains to Dol that her baby is hard work.   Dol recalls that in her day there were terry nappies;   

Dol recalls going down to the river with her washboard

“And no washing machines – we used to go down  the river with a washboard and mangle!”

"Promise me you won't end up like me"

After Vicky has gone for a nap, and Dol has rejected yet another call, she speaks to baby Nicky;  “Promise you won’t end up like me – I’ve made a right mess of my life.   Don’t you do the same.   

Nicky listens to every word

“Work hard in school and keep out of trouble, because trouble always finds a way of catching up with you.”

"I pushed everyone away!"

Kelly encourages Ffion that she has not had a drink in a week, but the reply is, “It doesn’t matter – I haven’t got anyone – I pushed everyone away!”

Just then the buzzer sounds, and Ffion insists she does not want to see anyone.   

Arwen runs to her mother

However, she changes her mind when Arwen comes in with Britt;  she runs to Ffion and they hug.

"Where is Ricky's picture?"

In the Antur,  Debbie demands to know where Ricky’s picture is;  Colin says it may have been mislaid, 

"I'll report you to . . . OFCOM!"

but after Debbie’s threats to report him to OFCOM, he admits, “I had a bit of a disaster – I threw most of the pictures in the bin by accident!   So I made some myself to put on the walls.”

"You have to give the trophy back!" 

She turns to the other people and announces, “Sorry, this is all a sham!   Colin did most of the pictures.   It’s not fair – you have to give the trophy back!”

"We all know what you're like in a competition!"

Courtney objects to this, and so does Eileen;  “You’re just angry Ricky didn’t win!   And we all know what you’re like in a competition!  Do you expect me to  believe you won that election fairly?”

With this argument going on in the background, Anita comments to Colin, “You managed to spoil the whole competition!   I hope you’re happy!”   Debbie tries to wrestle the trophy from Courtney, but Eileen intervenes.

Arwen, colouring happily with Ffion

Arwen is doing some colouring with Ffion when Britt says it is time they went.   Ffion pleads for just five minutes more, and Britt assures her, “We’ll be back once you’re better.”

"Mam will be better soon, I promise!"

Ffion tells Arwen,“Mam will be better soon, I promise!” 

"I love you!"

and as she leaves with Britt, Ffion adds, “I love you!”

"I'm going to have a bath!"

Ffion tells Kelly she is going to run a bath, and Kelly suggests, “Food afterwards?”   

Is the worst over for Ffion?

Ffion agrees, and for the first time in weeks, smiles optimistically.

23 October 2015

Anita has made a slap-up breakfast . . .

Anita prepares a lavish breakfast for herself and Kelly;  “I haven’t seen much of you lately,” she says, “We can catch up over a leisurely breakfast.”   Kelly regrets that she cannot, as she has a last-minute assignment.

. . . but Kelly cannot stay to eat it

“You’ve gone to a lot of effort and I’m sorry.   Shall we go to the Deri tonight?   My treat?” Kelly tells her, and hurriedly leaves the house.

Ffion is woken by the buzzer

Ffion is asleep on the sofa when the buzzer awakens her and Kelly arrives to relieve Gethin.   Ffion has not touched her porridge, and Gethin reveals she has been back and forth to the toilet all morning.   

Gethin is not looking forward to work

Kelly sends him off to work;  “With Garry breathing down my neck!” grumbles Gethin, “Don’t forget to lock up after me.”

"Back behind the microphone, where I belong"

In the café, Colin tells Debbie and Mark he is back behind the microphone where he belongs, and Debbie comments, “I’d better switch off the radio – I don’t want to scare the customers!”   When Mark asks if he could have a slot on the programme, Colin replies that it would not suit the format.

Gethin calls at Garry’s flat to see Dani;  

"Don't make him tea!"

“Don’t make him tea – he’s got work to do, especially as he didn’t turn up yesterday!” says Garry, as he leaves for the garage.

"I've been up all night with Ffion"

Gethin tells Dani he has been up all night with Ffion, that Kelly is with her now and that he would appreciate it if Dani would look in later.   

"I don't want any part in this"

Dani is adamant;  “Look, I’ve made it clear I don’t want any part in this.   I’m willing to help, but not like this.   I’m going to the salon, and if I were you, I wouldn’t keep Garry waiting!”

As Anita sits, looking rather downcast, in the café, Dolores joins her;  

"Cheer up, lovely, it may never happen!"

“Cheer up, lovely, it may never happen!   Dol’s the name – Debs’ mum.   I understand the lingo – I just don’t speak it much any more.   What’s the long face for, then?”

Anita replies that things are not easy these days, and 

"Life can be a whatchamacallit!"

Dol commiserates;  “Yeah, life a can be a  whatchamacallit!   A problem shared is a problem halved, y’know.”

"You're not from round here!"

With startling perception, Anita comments, “You’re not from round here, are you?”   Dol tells her she is Abercraf-born and Ponty-bred – and lived on the same street as Tom Jones.

"Tom Jones was in Vegas!"

Debbie brings over a cup of coffee and remarks, “She lived on the street Tom Jones used to live in – he was in Vegas!”   Anita invites Dol over to the house for something to eat;  brunch sounds like a good idea to Dol.

Ffion eats a little of the toast

Kelly has made some toast for Ffion, and she manages a couple of bites, 

"I'll go and have a shower"

then says she may go and have a shower, which encourages Kelly.   “A shower and a change of clothes, and you’ll be a different woman,” she says, optimistically.

The close of another programme

At CwmFM, Gwyneth signs off at the end of the programme, adding, “Don’t forget to tune in next week to see who has won the art competition!”   Then she thinks it may be a good idea to go downstairs and choose a competition winner.   

"I'm sure I put them in there!"

“I’m sure I put all the entries in this box!” she exclaims, but they are no longer there.

“There were only old copies of CwmNi in there, and I put them in the recycling bin the other day,” Colin tells her;  

"They've been recycled!"

she realises the recycling collection was yesterday, and berates Colin for not checking first.

Dolores' family originates from Spain

At number 10, Dol reveals that her mother’s family came over from Spain during the Civil War;  they were miners from Asturias, which has green mountains and lovely beaches.

Anita remarks that sounds just like Wales, and Dol replies, “Except the weather is better – and the food, 

"This don't look too shabby!"

“but this don’t look too shabby!”   

She seems to enjoy her food

They tuck into the food, while Anita tells her that Kelly lives there, her sister’s daughter.   “Close, are you?” asks Dol, “Not like me and Debs then – but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.”   She helps herself to more food.

Gethin is reminded there is an MOT to be done

In the garage, Gethin is under a car, and Garry reminds him, “The next one needs an MOT as the customer is going on holiday tomorrow.   I’m off to look at a few cars.”   As Gethin yawns, Garry adds, “You need a large coffee!”

While he waits for the kettle to boil . . .

Gethin puts the kettle on, and while waiting for it to boil, reclines on the sofa, 

. . . he just has a quick nap

predictably dropping off to sleep.

"I wish I'd never had you at CwmFM!"

At number 7, Gwyneth regrets having Colin at the radio station;  

He is warned he will get the blame

he suggests they could paint some pictures themselves, and use false names.   Gwyneth objects;  “We might have got away with you pretending to be Tarw Du, but we can’t risk a stunt like this!   If no more pictures come in over the weekend, we’ll have to cancel, and you’ll take the blame!”

Ffion walks back into the room;  

"I thought you were going for a shower"

“I thought you were going for a shower,” says Kelly.   Ffion cannot remember saying that and has been for a lie down, as her head was spinning.

"Did I really say that?"

“Did I really say I was going for a shower?” she asks, puzzled, and gets Kelly to turn the radio off as she says the music is too loud.   

The music is inside Ffion's head

Even with it off, she can still hear music in her head.

"The music isn't playing!"

Kelly grabs her and shouts, “The music isn’t playing!”

Dol describes the meal as, “Stonking!” and when Anita proposes clearing up, adds, “While you do that, I’ll nip over the pub for a brandy – it’s good for the digestion.   Come round the caff after, my treat!”

Dolores meets Colin

She finds Colin in the Deri and introduces herself;  “I’m Colin Evans – you may have heard me on the radio,” replies Colin.   She tells him she understands Welsh and there is no need for this English.

"If you play your cards right . . ."

“Hey, I’ve had boyfriends younger than you – play your cards right and . . .   Mine’s a brandy, by the way!”

"I have to have a drink!"

Suddenly Ffion announces, “The music’s gone!   I’m cold – I’ve had enough!   I can’t take any more!   I have to have a drink – Kelly, please!”

"That's not me!"

Kelly shows her the drunken selfie she made on the phone the other day, but Ffion refuses to believe that it is her.   Kelly says, “Right, it’s gone – OK?” 

"Nothing is OK!"

but Ffion insists that nothing is OK and runs back to her bedroom.   

Kelly contacts Gethin . . .

In desperation, Kelly phones Gethin.

. . . and wakes him from his slumbers

He wakes from his lengthy doze on the garage sofa and answers the phone, to hear Kelly calling Ffion’s behaviour, 

"I'm worried – really worried!"

“Really weird – she’s hallucinating – I’m worried – really worried!”  He assures her that the worst will be over by tomorrow, and will be back after work.

"You have to call a doctor!"

Dani has just called in, and again advises Gethin that he has to call a doctor, but he does not want people knowing how bad she is.   “Think of the risk!” urges Dani.

"Where's the bogs?"

As Debbie talks to Gwyneth, Dol rushes into the café, saying, “Two coffees for me and Anita, and where’s the bogs?   I’m busting!”

“Before you ask,” Debbie tells Gwyneth, “She’s my mother!”   

"Have we had a lot of entries?"

Anita comes in, asking if there have been many competition entries.   Gwyneth tells her there are loads, before scurrying away.

Debbie tells Anita her new friend is in the toilet.   

"She's a bit of a character!"

“She’s a bit of a character – I can see how she could rub people up the wrong way,” comments Anita.

"Like a boomerang – but not as much fun!"

As Mark comes in and is told that Dol is there, he replies, “I can’t get rid of her – she’s like a boomerang – but not as much fun!   I want her out of the house!”

Dol returns, singing the Asturias anthem in Spanish and tells Anita, 

Dol wants to move in with Anita . . .

“I can teach you some Spanish, if you like – instead of rent!”   Anita’s face falls as she continues, “How about I keep you company in that house of yours?   That Mark hates me, and Debs is hardly going to invite me to stay at hers, is she?”

. . . but Anita does not favour that idea

Anita emphasises that she does not think this is a good idea, 

Debbie has had an unexpected change of heart

and Debbie comes over to unenthusiastically offer that she can stay there.   

"We'd be like two ferrets in a sack!"

“We’d be like two ferrets in a sack!” graphically remarks Dol, but Debbie insists she can bring her stuff over later.

While Gethin admits to Dani, “Every time I try to do the right thing, it goes wrong!” Garry returns, and is furious that the MOT job has not been done.

Gethin is dismissed from the garage

“Go home!” thunders Garry, “And don’t come back!   I don’t want you near the place!   I’m sick of it – I should have done this a while ago.   Off you go!”