1 January 2019

Eifion cannot keep away from the roulette . . .

Jason is engaged in another game of roulette on the laptop, 

. . . but then Sara comes home

but before he can see if he has won, Sara comes in, and he pretends to be doing the washing-up. “I’ve been thinking about the house,” she says, 

"Why don't we make a higher offer?"

“Why don’t we make a higher offer?   We’re not going to get what we want for 125, are we?   I’m worried that we’re delaying it and wasting money on rent!”

"Something has come up at APD"

She wants to discuss the matter, but Jason says he has to go to work, as something has come up;

"Something more important than buying the house?"

“Something more important than buying a house?” she demands, but he is sure that the house can wait until he has  sorted out the problem – or she could go to Gwyneth and make another offer.   

"There's still room to haggle"

“I’m not going to offer the asking price – there’s still room to haggle,” Sara tells him, and he feels sorry for Gwyneth, saying that she has no chance.

Business appears to be slack at the Deri

Dani is standing behind the bar, when a grim-faced Gwyneth comes in, wanting to go upstairs to see Gwern.   

"Remember what you said last night?"

“Sorry – have you got amnesia?” wonders Dani, “You remember what you said last night, do you?   What on earth came over you?”   

"I had been drinking since lunchtime"

She replies that she snapped, after having been drinking since lunchtime.

"You turned on me and Garry!"

“Yes, but you turned on everyone – on me, on Garry!” Dani continues, and Gwyneth maintains that she feels ashamed, and does not know where to start making amends.   She is advised that she should start with DJ;  “Then I’ll make a list of everyone else and bring it over to you!” Dani adds.

"Gwern's not here anyway"

Dani reveals that Gwern is not there, as Garry and Britt have taken them to Winter Wonderland;  Gwyneth once again becomes furious, as she was not consulted, and had plans for today.   

"I doubt that Garry is bothered about any plans of yours!"

“After last night, I doubt that Garry is bothered about any plans of yours!” Dani points out, “Can I give you a word of advice – Gwern’s friends are old enough to gossip about you and your antics.   Don’t you think it’s time for you to be nicer?”   

Things are not going Gwyneth's way just lately

Even more downhearted, Gwyneth leaves the pub.

No prizes for guessing what Jason is doing . . .

Jason has taken the laptop to APD, where he continues to play roulette – and loses again;  

. . . gambling – and losing – again!

he tries to place a further bet of £300, but is informed he has insufficient funds.

DJ comes in, wanting to escape from Bryntirion;  Jason says he is finishing up a few things.   

"Have you heard about the bet?"

“Dad is going on and on about Gwyneth – have you heard about the bet?” asks DJ, “Gwyneth bet that she could get me to marry her – 

"I can't believe how much of a fool I've been!"

“I can’t believe how much of a fool I’ve been – and how much of a cow she is!”   

"I'll catch up with you, DJ"

Jason says he has a couple of orders to finish, and then will catch up with DJ.   When DJ leaves, he forgets to take his file of papers with him, 

Jason is desperate for some more money

and Jason wonders what he is going to do, now his money has run out.

Gwyneth rushes across to DJ . . .

Gwyneth sees DJ in the street, and hurries across;  

. . . full of regret and apology

“I’m so sorry,” she says, “I can only imagine how angry and disappointed you are, but it was a misunderstanding.”   

He stops her there, and agrees that he is angry and disappointed – but not with her;  

"I'm angry with myself, for giving you another chance!"

“With myself, because I gave you another chance.   There is something seriously wrong with you, and I couldn’t care less if I never saw you again.”   

It is not Gwyneth's day today

So saying, he walks away, leaving her distraught.

"I want to make another offer on the house"

Just at this inopportune moment, Sara approaches, informing Gwyneth that she wants to make another offer on the house, and is willing to go up to 140.   

"Why do I always manage to spoil everything?"

“Not now!   I’ll think about it!” Gwyneth snarls, then adds, “Why do I always manage to spoil everything that’s good in my life?”

What Rhys aims to transform men into

In the Deri, Rhys, Ricky and Mathew are looking at pictures of muscular men on a laptop, 

"So this is what you boys get up to"

when they are joined by Tesni.   Mathew explains that Rhys wanted help on the best way to appeal to men, but quickly explains,  “To get them to go to the gym and to spend money.”

"What do you want to drink, Tes?"

Her brother asks what she wants to drink, and she chooses orange juice for a change;  “What do you usually drink then?” Ricky asks, and she replies that she likes cocktails.   

"We were thinking of having a cocktail party tonight"

Rhys follows up on this by saying they were thinking of having a cocktail party tonight at Mathew’s flat, which comes as news to the other two, 

"And there'll be food as well, won't there, Mathew?"

but Ricky quickly cottons on, promising that there will be food there as well.

"There's only a few cans and a loaf"

“What are you trying to do?” Mathew demands, “All there is in the house is a few cans of lager and a loaf,” 

Rhys appears to be fixated

but Rhys is confident of sorting something out.

Gwyneth explains to Sara

At number 9, Gwyneth has calmed down and explained the sorry tale to Sara, who cannot believe, 

"You were only going out with him because of the bet?"

“You were only going out with him because of this bet?” but Gwyneth says that she likes him, and he is a nice bloke.

"Honest and genuine – everything I'm not!"

“Honest and genuine – everything I’m not!” she groans, “I’ve tried talking to him, but he doesn’t want to know.”   Sara suggests she could have a word with him, but is told, “Don’t get ideas to make me reduce the price of the house!”   

"I'd appreciate your help"

Then she changes her mind, and says she would appreciate Sara’s assistance, but she still wants the asking price.   

"Nobody gets the asking price – you know that!"

“Nobody gets the asking price – you know that!” Sara emphasises, exasperated, “You may as well sell to us, rather than haggle with someone else down the line.”   Gwyneth says that it is 145, and no less.

They agree the deal – with one proviso . . .

Sara says that they have a deal;  “On condition that you have a word with DJ,” Gwyneth points out, 

. . . and Sara thinks she has got one over on Gwyneth 

and Sara looks rather pleased with herself.

Mark and Debbie are not impressed with the oldies' antics

In the Deri, Brenda is feeding Iori with dessert, while Mark and Debbie watch them with disgust.   “You’re a classy bloke,” Brenda tells him, 

"That posh house you live in!"

“The clothes you wear, that posh house you live in!”   He protests that it is only an ordinary little bungalow.

Jason is doing some eavesdropping

On the other side of the partition, Jason is listening in to this conversation, 

"It needs some maintenance – like me!"

as Iori continues that the bungalow could do with some maintenance – rather like him.   

Jason promotes APD's alleged special deal

Jason cannot resist the temptation, but offers, “If you want me to quote, let me know.   I couldn’t help overhearing – APD are offering special deals this month, if you’re interested.”

"I was thinking about getting someone to look at the roof"

Iori admits that he has been thinking about getting someone to look at the roof, and Brenda informs Jason that it is in Ffordd Mynydd Uchaf – the bungalows on the corner;  “Iori’s is the posh one.”   Jason says he has to see a client, and then will call round to take a look at the roof.

DJ is at work – on New year's Day

Sara finds DJ working at Awyr Iach;  

"I had a chat with Gwyneth"

“I had a chat with Gwyneth earlier,” she says, 

"I don't want to talk about her!"

but DJ does not want to talk about her, and that is why he left the house.

"You're a good influence on her"

“She’s a very complicated woman – but you’re a good influence on her,” Sara maintains.   DJ can see that Gwyneth has asked Sara to talk to him, but it will make no difference.   “She regrets making that bet – it was something that got out of control.”

"There's something seriously wrong with her!"

“I don’t care – there is something seriously wrong with her!” he growls, but Sara continues that Gwyneth is very honest in the way she talks about him, and it appears that he is one of the few people who could get the best out of her.

"I haven't seen any sign of that!"

“I haven’t seen any sign to suggest that,” he scoffs, but Sara is not asking him to go out with her, or even to be her friend, but urges him to give her a chance to explain.”

"Why do I always attract women who are wrong for me?"

“Why do I always attract women who are wrong for me?” he demands, 

"You haven't met the right one yet"

and she replies that he has not met the right one yet, but he will.   He says he will consider what she said.

Mathew expects an embarrassing evening . . .

Mathew is anticipating that the evening will be embarrassing, when Dani  comes in, with a case of various drinks;  

. . . but Dani has brought some drinks

“You owe me a few training sessions now,” she tells Rhys, “And there’s food left from last night’s buffet.”

"Am I a genius, or am I a genius?"

“Am I a genius, or am I a genius?” Rhys demands

"Gwyneth accepted my offer"

When Jason arrives at the Deri, Sara informs him that Gwyneth accepted her offer;  she is going to buy a bottle of champagne to celebrate at home.   “You could show a bit more interest,” she complains, 

"I have to have a chat with Iori"

but he explains that he needs a quick chat with Iori.

Jason has prepared an estimate

He has prepared a quote for the work on the roof, but it is only an estimate.   

"It's not cheap, is it?"

“It’s not cheap, is it?” comments Iori, but Jason points out that there is a special deal on at the moment, so he proposes to take off 20%, and could give another 10% if Iori paid in cash.  

Jason applies a couple of discounts

He asks if that looks better. 

"I used to work for a builder!"

Brenda stresses that it is £5,600;  “This quote is a joke – £2,200 for scaffolding?   It’s a bungalow!   I know what you’re doing – I used to work for a builder – the discounted price is fair for the work, but that’s what we were expecting before any special deal!   You just want the full price, but want it in cash – 

"No, thanks – Iori is not interested!"

“no, thanks, Jason – Iori is not interested!”

"No chance of that with you around!"

She grumbles to Iori, “I hate people who take advantage!” and he says there is no chance of that with her around.   “Now, where are you taking me for dinner tonight?” she enquires, “Somewhere posh, I hope.”

Sara warns Dani about setting up a charity

Sara admires Dani for starting her charity, but it is so much work;  “Remember my idea of a charity to set up a baby unit?   

"It was too much for me in the end"

“It was too much in the end – you have to find trustees, define your intentions, and then sort out the tax and the accounts.”

"I haven't done any of that"

Dani has not done any of those things, but is advised to do so before the authorities catch up with her.   Sara can help with the financial side.   Jason says that Iori is going to think about it, 

"Did I leave a  folder in APD?"

and then DJ hurries in, querying if he left a folder in APD.

“Would you mind if I went over and had a look?” he asks, “I have to renew my driving licence, 

"My whole life is in that folder"

“and my whole life is in that folder.”   Jason says he is calling back in there on the way home, and will only be half an hour.   

"I'll text you about it, OK?"

He will text DJ about the folder.

Rhys tries his chat-up technique

The party in the shop flat has begun;  Tesni is chatting to Rhys, who says he runs a keep fit business, and asks what she does.   

"Is Mathew seeing anyone?"

“I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but I’d like to travel before deciding on a career,” she replies, and then asks if Mathew is seeing anyone.   

"You're losing your touch, mate!"

She immediately gravitates towards him, and Ricky tells Rhys that he is losing his touch.

Jason must be used to seeing this by now

Back at APD, Jason finds his card has been declined by the roulette website, and wonders what to do;  

He has a drink . . .

he pours himself a drink, and then notices the folder which DJ left behind.

. . . then looks inside DJ's folder

Looking inside it, he finds the details of DJ’s bank account;  

Jason's devious mind is working overtime

after another drink and giving it some serious thought, 

He applies for a credit card in DJ's name

he reopens the laptop and begins applying for a credit card in DJ’s name.

"Cwmderi's OK – it's closer to Swansea and Cardiff"

Tesni appears to be very comfortable in Mathew’s company;  “Cwmderi’s OK – at least it’s closer to Swansea and Cardiff,” she says, and he assumes that she is a city girl.   

"We could go to Cardiff together"

“I like exciting places with plenty to do,” she goes on, and he suggests that they could go to Cardiff together.

This Tesni certainly does not hang about!

She smiles at him, moves closer and kisses him, 

Rhys and Ricky are watching developments

as Rhys and Ricky watch from a distance.   “You don’t waste time, do you?” Mathew remarks, 

"Is there anywhere more private we could go?"

and she wonders if there is anywhere more private where they could go.

“How about your bedroom?” she enquires, and he agrees, if that is what she wants;  

Off they go, bedroom-bound

she leads him by the hand, 

"You should ask Mathew for a few tips!"

as Ricky recommends to Rhys that perhaps he should ask Matthew for a few tips.   Rhys replies that he does not see them queueing up to go out with Ricky, either.

Gwyneth is in apologetic mood again

Gwyneth returns to the Deri and tells DJ, “I just want a quick word – I  really regret causing this mess.”

"Sending me to prison for a crime I didn't commit"

“Mess?   Well, that’s one way to describe it!” replies DJ, and Sara says she has to go and phone Jason;  “As if sending me to prison for a crime I didn’t commit wasn’t enough,” he goes on, 

"The conversation got out of control"

and she says that the conversation with Eifion got out of control, as he was challenging her about Dai.   “Don’t blame Eifion!” he warns her, 

"I was really enjoying his company"

but she insists that whatever the reason for the bet, she was really enjoying his company, and would do anything to have him back as a friend again.

"I enjoyed your company, too"

He answers, “I enjoyed your company too – and I don’t want a nasty atmosphere between us – life’s hard enough as it is.”   

"You have no idea how much that means to me"

She whimpers that he has no idea how much that means to her.

"But it doesn't mean we can be friends!"

“That doesn’t mean that we can be friends!” he emphasises, 

"Without trust, there's no relationship, is there?"

“I could never trust you – and without trust, there’s no friendship, is there?”   

Gwyneth is devastated

She is in tears as he walks away.