22 December 2015

Vicky tells Debbie what happened

Vicky has called her mother to Maes-y-Deri, and tells her that Sheryl tried to take Nicky last week;  “She told me that she came here on Wednesday, found Mark flat out on the sofa, and took Nicky for a walk.   Taking him without asking – I call that abduction!   She meant for Nicky to replace Meilyr – she was going to take him away from me!”   

"I want to know the truth!"

Debbie insists she wants Sheryl there and wants to know the truth.

Gaynor arrives at the shop and tells Colin she did all her Christmas shopping online;  “It was all a huge success until I bought a turkey from Royal Berkshire Farms.   

Gaynor has been defrauded . . .

“There were lovely pictures on the website, but this was delivered,” she says, producing a scrawny plastic turkey.   “The firm doesn’t exist, and the only ‘Berks’ are those like me who believed their adverts!   I paid nearly £70!”

. . . and Colin tries hard not to laugh . . .

Colin tries not to laugh at her predicament, and she is adamant she will not have a supermarket turkey;  “I’d rather eat the cardboard box!” she pronounces, haughtily, 

. . . as this is what they sent her

“They have made their money and now disappeared – with Christmas on Friday, where am I going to find a good enough bird?”

"Have I ever let you down?"

“Leave it to me – have I ever let you down?” says Colin, wisely not waiting for an answer.   “There’s one condition – if I find one, I share it with you on Christmas Day.”   Gaynor is only too willing to agree.   

He dials Penrhewl's number

As soon as she leaves the shop, Colin is on the phone to Cadno.

"Sorry, Colin, not a single turkey!"

She informs him that unfortunately none of Penrhewl’s customers have changed their minds about turkeys – or geese for that matter.   

"As good as mine – almost!"

Cadno has been making mince pies, and when Eileen visits, she tastes one;  “Nice – as good as mine – almost!”

"I shall be on my own"

Cadno is resigned to Christmas day alone;  the boys are to stay with Eifion, and Auntie Marian is going to a respite home for Christmas.   “Home alone – Christmas dinner for one,” says Cadno.

Sheryl receives a summons

Sheryl is by the shop when her phone rings;  Debbie summons her urgently to Maes-y-Deri.   Debbie, Mark and Vicky await her arrival;  Mark advises, “We have to calm down, or we’ll never get the truth.   Do you really believe she would have taken Nicky?”   Vicky is quite convinced about this.

Sheryl recounts last Wednesday

Sheryl comes in, and Vicky begins, “Start at the beginning so these two can hear what happened last week.”   Sheryl recounts that she knocked, found the door open and saw Mark sound asleep on the sofa.

“Nicky obviously needed changing and feeding – you were tired, so I took him out.”   Debbie demands whether that was all she had in mind, or was she planning to take him away.

"I'm just trying to be honest"

Vicky interrupts, “It didn’t cross your mind to take him away and never come back, so you could be a mother again?”   Sheryl pleads that she is just being honest, and if she had said nothing, they would be none the wiser.   

"Tell me what it's like to steal a child!"

“But your conscience would get the better of you if you didn’t!” rages Vicky, “Tell me what it’s like to steal a child!”   Mark tries to calm her down.

Sheryl then admits that she was right;  “I wanted him all for myself – I’m so sorry!”   

Mark is astonished at her admission

At this, Mark is lost for words.

"You've got one left – that's great!"

On the shop phone, Colin hears some good news from Aled;  “You’ve got one left?   Right, I’ll be over to collect it at . . .”   Then he hears Eileen come in, and puts the phone down, explaining that he is trying to find Gaynor a turkey.   

"Please let me carry on looking!"

“If I don’t find one, I’ll have a lonely Christmas!   Please let me carry on looking!” 

"What do you mean - you've sold it?"

As Eileen leaves, he rings back Aled, but is aghast to hear that last turkey has been sold in the intervening few seconds.

"I never planned for it to happen"

Sheryl explains, “When I looked at his face, everything vanished – all the grief, all the tears.   I never planned for it to happen, not for a moment.   I went to the village and nearly walked into you two;  you were talking about Nicky and showing photos on your phone.   You said you would show everyone that you were a good mother and that Nicky would have the best upbringing.   

“I looked at Nicky, and it was as if he was telling me to give you a chance to do that – I realised it was all over.”

"I'm going to call the police!"

“As far as I know, you were going to leave the country,” protests Vicky, and wants to contact the police, but Mark advises against it.

“I nearly left you in the same nightmare I’m in,” replies Sheryl, “If the only way you can forgive me is by calling the police, that’s OK!”  She leaves.

Cadno, alone with her soup

Cadno has finished her lunch when Eileen returns and admits, 

"I was like a spoilt brat!"

“The truth is I’ve behaved like a fool this year when it comes to you and the farm.   I was like a spoilt brat – and I’m sorry!”

"Is there any room on the naughty step?"

Cadno is similarly regretful;  “Is there any room on the naughty step?   I’ve not been much better.”   After a hug, Eileen invites her to share Christmas with her and Jim, reminding her that Bobi and Arthur will be just across the road.

"I'm sure Jim will find room for them!"

“You can bring the mince pies with you, “Eileen suggests, “I’m sure Jim will find room for them!”

(In English) "You have only quail?"

Colin has now contacted the English-speaking Westgate Farm, but he is rather dismayed;  “You only have quail?   

"What exactly is it?"

“What is it exactly?   A bird – the size of your fist.   Excuse me for asking, how big is your fist?”   

Colin envisaging a quail appears rather amusing

Gwynfor, Geraint and Mal are rather amused by this conversation.   “And you only have one!” says Colin, dejected.

Mark points out the possible ramifications

Mark tells Debbie and Vicky, “What she did was unforgivable, but I think she has suffered enough.   This could work against us;  the police will not be impressed that she was able to take Nicky so easily, and might involve Social Services, then what happens?   I was sleeping on the sofa, with the door open, and we didn’t even notice when she brought him back,   If you make that call we could lose him for real!”

"Top London chefs serve salmon!"

Colin goes to Llwyncelyn and suggests salmon, which receives an unfavourable reception from Gaynor, even when he explains that is what top London chefs are serving.

"The bank's fraud department"

Gaynor receives a call from the bank’s fraud department, and goes to get the relevant paperwork.   

"I thought you could do something with this"

At that moment, Cadno arrives, carrying a large box.   “I thought you could do something with this,” and explains that Gwynfor saw Colin heading this way

"Hallelujah!"

Colin is jubilant;  “Good heavens!   Hallelujah!   I want this more than anything in the world!”   He throws his arms around her, but pleads, 

"Don't tell anyone you were here!"

“Don’t tell anyone you were here – I’ll settle up with you in the morning.”

"Ooh, Colin!   You're amazing!"

Gaynor returns, relieved that the bank have assured her that she will get the money back;  when she sees the turkey, she is overjoyed.   Colin maintains that he was only joking about the salmon, as he wanted to see her panicking.   

"It will be all right to come on Christmas Day?"

It will be all right to come on Christmas Day?” he enquires, and she tells him he is invited, turkey or not.

He pats the turkey affectionately

He predicts that it will be like the old days;  “How we laughed!” he says, but Gaynor warns that she does not want a day filled with his bad jokes.   “As long as you don’t fill me with cheap sherry, and take advantage of me,” he jokes.

Mark spells out their conclusions

Mark visits Sheryl at the salon to tell her, “We want you to know that we’ve made a decision.   This will not be reported to the police, but we want it kept a secret between us.   Vicky doesn’t want you to see Nicky ever again.   

"Carry on as if this never happened, right?"

“Sorry, but we want to carry on as if this had never happened, all right?”

Sheryl is definitely not in favour of this; 

Sheryl insists she must be punished for what she did

 “No, it’s not all right!   It’s obvious that Vicky’s not forgiven me if she won’t let me see Nicky again.   I should pay the price for what I nearly did – it’s the only hope of getting rid of my feelings of guilt!   Can’t you see that?”

"You are paying the price!"

“You are paying the price!” stresses Mark, “If we go to the police, we could lose Nicky for ever!   

"You have to come to terms with this all on your own!"

“You’ll have to come to terms with what you did all on your own!”   He turns and leaves the salon.