10 October 2014

PC Lesley Thomas, with bad news

Anwen brings two police officers upstairs in the café to see Debbie;  “What’s happened?   Is it Ricky?” she says, but they tell her they are here because of Mark.

Debbie tells Gemma what has happened

Downstairs, Sioned comes in with Gemma, who tells her that Mark was pleased to see her, then the police come down and Debbie tells Gemma that Mark might be dead.   They found a body with Mark’s documents.   Gemma bursts out, “But I was with him yesterday, until lunchtime!”

PC Thomas asks question

PC Lesley Thomas asks Gemma more questions upstairs, and says they need someone to identify the body;  Debbie agrees to do it, and worries what to tell Ricky, who is on a school trip to Cardiff.   Gemma tells them, “If I had stayed with him, this might not have happened.   We were going to get married, he asked me yesterday.  

"We were getting married, next summer"

We had our problems, but were going to give it a go, next summer.”   Sioned has joined them by now, and looks very sceptical at this last comment.

Mark always made Colin feel better

Colin, having been told by Sioned in the café, hurries to tell Meic the news, and says that however bad he felt, Mark always made him feel better.   

Meic felt like this when he lost Denzil

He has a drink with Meic, who tells Colin he knows how he feels, as he lost his best friend, Denzil.

He looks far from dead — just a bit knocked about

In a misty mirror in a hotel room, we see . . . Mark, his face rather battered, cleaning his teeth.   Liam is of the opinion he should get his injuries checked out, but Mark just wants to forget the matter, although his headache has not yet gone, and he is suffering from a hangover.   

Mark's battered phone will not be any further use

Liam has already revisited Leonard Lane, and found Mark’s smashed phone under a bin.

Fortunately, Mark had his wallet in his back pocket, so nothing of value was taken, except the necklace Liam had brought home for Debbie.   He reveals that it was given to him by the wife of an Afghan, for saving his life.

Sioned, convinced that all is not as it seems with Gemma

Coming out of the café, Gemma decides to go for a walk, with Sioned suspiciously watching her go.   

Things are still fraught between Debbie and Meic

Meic goes to Debbie, but does not receive a welcome.  “What sort of friend are you?” she says, “You led me on – I believed we had a future, then you dumped me as if I was nothing!”   She does ask Meic to collect Ricky from school after the trip and look after him until she returns from Bristol.

"I'm not so sure about Mark asking her to marry him!"

Sioned reports her suspicions to Ed, who regrets the way everyone has let down Gemma, including himself.   “I’m not so sure about Mark asking her to marry him;  why did she come home so early?” puzzles Sioned.   Ed wants her to move in with them, but Sioned tells him she is going to live with Gwyneth.   Ed worries, “She’s so fragile – what might happen now?”

FSO Elin James will take Debbie to Bristol

As Debbie is about to get in the car with PC Elin James, the Family Support Officer, to go to Bristol, she sees Gemma and asks if she would like to come.   

Gemma now intends to live at Maes-y-Deri . . .

Gemma agrees, then Sioned and Ed approach, urging her to come and live with them, but she, surprisingly, replies, “I’m going to live at Maes-y-Deri;  that was going to be our home.”

. . . and she is wearing a ring, which Sioned thinks odd

She also shows them her ring.   

"Where did that ring come from?"

As Gemma gets in the car, Sioned asks, “Where did that ring come from?   She wasn’t wearing it earlier.”   Ed is confused;  “Do you really think it is all in her head?”

Poor old Colin, listening to Mark's recorded voice

Colin is taking the loss badly;  at home in number 7, he rings Mark’s number, and listens twice to Mark’s voice message:  “This is Mark Jones’ answerphone service – I’m far too busy to talk, so tough!”

Mark is dissuaded by Liam from going straight home

Mark says he cannot wait to get home, but Liam replies that running home will not help, and he wants to stay away from Gemma.   Liam has been looking forward to spending some time with Mark.   

Mark goes straight for the bacon and eggs

Then room service arrives with their breakfast;  “Pain au chocolat, or straight into the bacon and eggs?” asks Liam.

They wait, silently . . .

Gemma and Debbie wait outside the mortuary, but when asked if she is ready, Debbie cannot go through with the ordeal;  

. . . but Debbie cannot face the ordeal

“I can’t do it – I don’t want to see him,” she cries, so Gemma offers to take her place.

Gemma identifies the body as Mark — for some unknown reason!

She is warned, “Prepare yourself,” and the sheet is lifted;  Gemma is asked, “Is this Mark Jones?” and she replies that it is.   

Ricky at Cardiff Bay

When she comes out, Debbie is looking at a photo of Ricky at the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff.   Mark’s bag is returned to them; 

Gemma, with the necklace intended for Debbie

they find letters with his address and the necklace, which Debbie assumes is an engagement present for Gemma;  she puts it on.   Debbie asks to go to the scene of the accident, to place some flowers.

The former "Electricity House" on the left, a blue and yellow sign to the right

Liam suggests finding a replacement gift for Mam, as Mark is not keen on returning to a pub;  as they walk across The Centre, a blue and yellow sign is visible in the background.   

The scene where Mark supposedly ran into the road and was killed

A few seconds later, Debbie, Gemma and the FSO emerge from Small Street and walk to the sign, “Accident Here 09/10/2014”.   They wonder why Mark ran into the road, and are told that there were no witnesses and no CCTV.   Gemma puts down her flowers, saying, “Rest in peace, Mark,” and Debbie says she will look after Ricky for him.

Walking back into Small Street

Then they return to Small Street.