27 March 2019

"I'm so happy he's OK!"

Britt is her usual hyperactive self as she tells Aaron that Colin sends his best wishes;  “Sorry if I’m going on about it, but I’m so happy he’s OK.   You’re OK, aren’t you?”   

The song 'Lleucu Llwyd' has some significance

He confirms that he is, and then she hears a song playing on the radio, ‘Lleucu Llwyd’ (Lucy Grey), which sets her off again.

"You're not going to school today!"

“You’re not going to school today – you’re staying home – because I say so!” she tells him, and gives him a hug;  

"I'm sorry I put you in danger"

“I’m sorry I put you in danger – but I’m not going to make the same mistake twice!”   

He thinks that this time Mam has gone over the top

He thinks that this time she has really lost it.

Rhys sends a text to Ffion 

Rhys is busy sending a text to Ffion;  “Can’t stop thinking about last night,” and he grins broadly.   

"There should be a good turnout at the meeting"

His father predicts that there should be a good turnout today, at the public meeting about the Pwll Bach plans, and asks Rhys if he is coming, 

Rhys cannot be bothered to go . . .

but the reply is that he cannot publicly show his support.

“Gaynor and Ffion will be there – they’re against Pwll Bach – if they can make the effort, so can you!” Hywel grumbles, 

. . . until he hears that Ffion will be there

and when he hears the name of Ffion, Rhys promptly changes his mind.   He maintains that it would be a pity if his son was not there to support him.

"Why can't I go to school, Mam?"

Aaron asks Britt why he is not allowed to go to school, as he does not understand;  he has finished his homework.   

The buzzer startles Britt . . .

Then the doorbell buzzes, and Britt becomes very agitated, 

. . . so she rips it from the wall

ripping the intercom off the wall.   Then the phone sounds, and she is very eager to snatch it from Aaron;  

"Is everything all right?   Aaron was not at school"

it is Gaynor, who is standing outside the door, and wonders if everything is all right, as Aaron was not at school this morning.

"Sorry, he's got a heavy cold"

Britt improvises that Aaron has a heavy cold, 

"No I haven't, Mam!"

which he finds puzzling;  she apologises for not phoning earlier, and says she was vacuuming so she did not hear the buzzer.   

Gaynor thinks that something is not right

Gaynor is immediately suspicious.

"Why did you lie to her?"

“I’m not ill – why did you lie?” Aaron demands, and his mother says she is keeping him safe;  he cannot deal with this 

She will not let him use his phone

and says he is going to phone Garry, but she snatches his mobile, maintaining that she got them into this mess, and she is going to make sure they are OK.   He is now even more confused.

"Since Dani is so opposed to it"

Over in the Deri, Hywel is is preparing for the presentation, and is surprised that Garry allowed it, as Dani is so opposed to Pwll Bach.   “She opposes the landfill, but is willing to give this energy business a chance,” Garry replies, 

"If Seren hadn't made a fuss, she'd be here"

“If Seren hadn’t made such a fuss and wanted her mother when I was taking her to the doctor, Dani would be here.   

"We don't want anyone to die of thirst"

“Right, I’d better get behind the bar – we don’t want anyone to die of thirst, do we?”

"I'm not sure I should be doing this"

Hywel asks Eileen if she is nervous, and she is still not sure that she should be doing this, but he points out, “People trust you – all you need to do is be positive, and not go into detail.   

Hywel proposes some subterfuge

“If they hear that no electricity will be produced for several years, they’ll lose interest.”   Eileen agrees to try her best.

"Are you on your own, Gaynor?"

Gaynor arrives, and Rhys asks her if she is on her own;  he is told that Ffion is on her way, as she had a lesson before lunchtime.   Gaynor mentions to Garry that Aaron is ill with a cold, 

"Yes, that's what Seren has"

and he replies that Seren also has the same problem;  

"Britt didn't seem herself, either"

“Britt didn’t seem herself, either,” she goes on, 

"She's finding it hard without Colin"

but Garry simply says she is finding it hard without Colin.

Not the action of a rational person

Britt is about to go out, and cuts the cable to the landline;  

"I think I've got everything on my list"

“I think I’ve got everything on my list now,” she mutters, and Aaron asks if he can come with her.   “Of course not, but I’ll make sure I buy the ingredients to make you some pancakes.”   

"I don't want pancakes!"

He protests that he does not want pancakes, but she continues, “I won’t have to leave you again, because we’ll have enough food for a while.”

“What about school?” he asks, 

"You can forget about school"

but she decides he can forget about that for the time being.   “You can’t force me not to go to school for ever,” he says, as she closes the curtains, 

"The door will be locked"

and reassures him that he should not worry about being on his own, because the door will be locked.   He is told not to go anywhere near the windows.

Kath has locked up the shop . . .

Kath, who has been working at the shop, is just locking up, so that she can attend the meeting;  Brenda arrives, thanking her for the information about the free buffet.   “I won’t have to cook!” she says, gleefully.

. . . when Britt approaches

Then they see Britt approaching, and Kath remarks, “Look out, she’s going to give me a mouthful for taking Colin’s job.”   

"I've got a long shopping list!"

Britt is devastated to find out the shop is closed, and points out that she has a long shopping list.

"The shop will still be here after lunch!"

Brenda advises that she come back after lunch, as the shop will still be there, 

"I can't leave Aaron – he's not safe!"

but Britt insists that she cannot leave Aaron alone in the flat for that long, pointing out that it is not safe.   “I shall have to go somewhere else now,” 

"I shall have to go to Llanarthur"

and decides to go to Llanarthur, predicting that she can be there and back in 20 minutes.

They are still waiting for customers . . .

In the Deri, they are still waiting for more people to attend the presentation, and Eileen is becoming more nervous, but Hywel says she is worrying about nothing.

. . . but at least the Joneses arrive

Then the Jones family come in, and Hywel proposes to give people another five minutes.

Mark orders drinks and goes to find a seat, while Debbie hopes this is not going to be a waste of time;  Brenda wonders where the buffet is, 

"No buffet until after the presentation"

and is informed that it is after the presentation.”

"You know I'm not one to interfere . . ."

Kath begins, “Look, Garry, you know I’m not one to interfere, but Britt was in a right state just now.”   

"She's under a lot of stress"

Garry nonchalantly explains that she is under a lot of stress at the moment, 

"Things are not right with Aaron, either"

but Kath adds, “I don’t think things are right with Aaron, either.   She was saying he isn’t safe or something – and when I asked her about it, she ran away.”

"Aaron?"

Now Garry is taking notice;  

He tries to conatct Britt's mobile . . .

he phones Britt’s mobile but is informed that the person he has called is not available.   When he tries the landline, he hears the disconnected tone, 

. . . then finds the landline is disconnected

and is immediately very concerned.   

"Dan, can you cover for me?"

He calls for Dan to cover for him, 

He heads out of the Deri . . .

and hurries across to the chip shop flat.

. . . and to the chippy flat

He lets himself in with his key and calls for Aaron, 

"Something's wrong with Mam!"

who informs him, “Something’s wrong with Mam – she stopped me from going to school.   She said it wasn’t safe – something’s wrong with her!”   

"I'll make sure everything is all right"

Garry reassures him that he will make sure everything is all right, and is told that she went to buy food, I should be back any minute.

Then he sees the severed phone line . . .

Garry then finds the telephone line has been cut, and will take Aaron back to the Deri now, but he protests that his Mam will go ballistic.   

. . . and takes Aaron to the Deri

“Leave your mother to me – come on!” orders Garry.

"The presentation hasn't started yet"

Ffion arrives at the Deri and is told that she has not missed anything, as the presentation has not yet started.   

The grinning Rhys cannot keep away

Of course, Rhys gravitates towards her, and says that he has come to support his father;  

"I heard you'd be here!"

“And I heard you’d be here,” he adds, “Did you get my text?”   He grins like the proverbial Cheshire cat.

Eileen begins her speech

Eileen rises to start the presentation and welcomes those present;  

"I hope it will be worth it"

Debbie comments that she hopes it will be worth it.   

"Quiet, Debs!"

“Just to remind you there will be a free buffet to follow,” Eileen goes on, “I’m sure that you’re asking what exactly is this renewable energy project – 

"This is a joint project"

“this is a joint project between Penrhewl and Hywel Llywelyn.”

Aaron's arrival interrupts the meeting

Garry comes into the pub and tells Aaron to go upstairs;  Eileen continues, “This is an alternative project which has proved to be very popular in other parts of Britain.   

"The potential to benefit everyone"

“This enterprise has the potential to benefit everyone.”

"Aaron, where are you?"

Britt arrives home at the flat, and is distressed to find that Aaron is no longer there;  

She is in a full-scale panic

“Where are you?” she shouts, with increasing panic.

"Have you seen Aaron?"

She emerges from the flat, and runs across the road, demanding if anyone has seen Aaron;  then she dashes into the Deri, shouting for Garry, just as Mark is about to ask a question.   

"He's taken him!"

“Help me, please!   He’s taken him!” Britt yells, “I only left him for half an hour – 

"Neville – he's taken Aaron!"

“Neville – he’s taken Aaron!”   

"Aaron's upstairs with Garry"

Hywel points out that Aaron is upstairs with Garry, so she immediately hurries in that direction, 

Gaynor sees that Britt is seriously unhinged

while Gaynor looks increasingly troubled.

“Didn’t I say there was something wrong?” asks Kath, and then Eileen wants to know what Mark’s question was.   

"When will we be getting the electricity?"

He wonders when the electricity will be supplied to them, 

"Before the end of the year"

and Hywel answers that it depends on many factors, but it is hoped to be before the end of the year.   Eileen looks very shocked to hear him say this.

"You've put him in danger!"

Upstairs Britt is ranting, “You had no right to bring him here and put him in danger – that song was a sign, but you don’t see it!”   

"You're not making any sense, Britt!"

Garry tells her she is not making any sense, but she rambles on, “Now you’ve spoiled things – of course he was scared, and no wonder, with you dragging him out of the flat!”

"You're the one he's scared of!"

Garry makes it quite clear that Aaron is scared of her, but she tells him not to be stupid.   “He was upset – he had no idea what was going on – and he’s not the only one!” says Garry.

"Is everything all right?"

Gaynor has come upstairs and asks if everything is all right;  

"It's none of your business, Gaynor!"

she is told by Britt, “Go downstairs, Gaynor, because this is none of your business!”   Gaynor begs to differ here, because it involves Aaron.   

"I'll make sure Aaron is in school tomorrow"

Garry advises her to leave, but confirms that she is right – Britt is not herself;  he will make sure that Aaron is in school tomorrow.

"What were you whispering about, then?"

Britt sneers, and demands what they were whispering about;  

"He will be in school tomorrow"

“I was saying she does not have to worry about Aaron, and that he will be in school tomorrow,” is Garry’s reply.   

"This is nothing to do with you!"

She is quite adamant that this is nothing to do with him, 

"I'm not leaving him on his own with you!"

but he tells her, “Aaron is staying here for the night – you can stay too, but I’m not leaving him on his own with you!”

"You're not taking Aaron as well!"

“I know what you’re trying to do, but you’re not taking Aaron as well!”  Britt snarls, “Just like you stole Chester.   I’m the only one who can keep him safe, Garry.”

"Aaron, we're going home now!"

Then she shouts, “Aaron, come on, we’re going home now!”   Garry informs her that he is staying there, but she walks off to find Aaron.

Downstairs, Hywel is winding up the meeting, commenting that there has been a lot of interest, and they hope they will get the support of the village;  

Now Hywel is trying to flog shares in Pwll Bach 

“I have to let you know that you can buy shares worth £200, so you can benefit from this enterprise.   Help yourselves to the buffet.”

"Britt has completely lost it!"

Gaynor reports to Ffion that Britt has completely lost it, and Ffion agrees to accompany her back to school, 

"Dad wants a word with you, Ffion"

but Rhys intervenes, alleging that his father wants a word with her, about Arwen and Esther.

"I couldn't just let you leave"

“I couldn’t just let you leave,” he says, 

"Come out here"

and leads Ffion to a secluded spot at the foot of the stairs;  she is gullible enough to follow him.

Eileen objects to Hywel's lies . . .

Eileen is disturbed;  “You told me not to go into details – and what did you do?   Promised electricity would flow by the end of the year!”   Hywel explains what he was doing;  

. . . but he is only interested in people's money

if they can get people to invest early enough, they will have more money to invest in the business.

Jim protests that today was supposed to be to get them to drop their opposition, not to fleece them.   

"We're not taking their money!"

Eileen puts her foot down;  “There are no assurances this green energy project will get the go-ahead – so we’re not taking their money!”

Rhys gets stuck in again

At the foot of the stairs Rhys and Ffion are kissing;  “What do you think you’re doing?   Anyone could see!” she complains, 

"Fancy some company tonight?"

but he considers it to be exciting, and asks if she fancies some company tonight.   

"I've got meetings until late, sorry"

“I’ve got meetings until late, sorry,” she replies, and walks away.

Then Rhys has to move aside, as people are noisily coming down the stairs;  

"Everything will be all right now"

“Everything will be all right now,” Britt insists, but Garry is still adamant that she is not taking Aaron home tonight.

"Leave us alone!"

As all the Deri’s customers look on, Britt rages, “Leave us alone – we don’t need him, do we?   He doesn’t understand!   Are you all right, Aaron?”   

"I want to stay with Garry!"

He announces that he does not want to go back the flat with his mother;  “I want to stay with Garry!”   

The customers watch . . .

As all the customers watch with horror, 

. . . as Britt rails at Garry

Britt shouts, “I know what you’ve done – you’ve taken the only child I have left!   Can’t you see what he’s trying to do?   He’s kidnapped my son!”

"Come upstairs, Britt!"

When Garry tries to persuade her to go upstairs, 

"Don't you touch me!"

she is quite ready to punch him;  “Don’t you touch me, understand?” she says, then looks round at all the people staring at her.   “You’re all the same!” she tells them, and tries to seize Aaron.

Another group of aghast customers

He manages to escape upstairs, and Garry bars her way from following him;  looking like an completely insane woman, 

She points at all the customers as she backs out of the Deri

she points in turn at all the customers, growling, “Right!” and goes out of the door.   

He can have no doubt there is something wrong with her

Garry is left stunned.