Dramau Cymru

The Rabbit (2001)

Meredydd Barker

Ⓗ 2001 Meredydd Barker
Mae angen caniatâd cyn perfformio neu recordio unrhyw ran o’r ddrama.

Act 2


	Dawn. Garan walks into view pushing a wheelbarrow laden with red roses, a bucket of water, various gardening tools and empty plant pots. Surrounding each rose plant is one sheet of a broadsheet newspaper. He is dressed in bib and brace. As he unloads the wheelbarrow he opens and closes his mouth as if he has something to say, but doesn't quite know how to start. The following is said with a certain amount of foreboding. He wants to tell the truth, but be seen to be positive. The right words seem elusive.
Garan	She was tall. Taller than me anyway. A strong women, Jesus, yes. A strong women and a good cook? She had advice for everyone who came near her... who came to her. A firm belief in God. A sense of humour, well... sometimes. Played many instruments. Her favourite was the harmonium, and who are we to argue?
	Garan finishes unloading the wheel barrow and steps forward.
Garan	Was never the same once Richard was killed. Killed protecting a flock that wasn't his own. I know of one flock that needed him. But I had no say in the matter. Four sons, two driven away. Can't blame her. Any animal would do the same. The strongest were sent out into the world to relieve our burden. Mathematics she called it. She loved her father. Hated me. She was Daddy's girl so the farm was in her name. He made her promise that my name was never to be on the deeds. And she was as good as his word. I should mention that she was honest. Richard was to have the farm, and Richard alone. She never believed that he'd died. He was always going to come through the door. Every morning she'd watch out for him. But he was never there. She made no will. Did I say she was imaginative?
	Sian, dressed in summer skirt and blouse, appears barefoot behind Garan. She holds a pair of sandals and a bottle of nail varnish. He doesn't notice her. She up-turns one of the plant pots, sits down, and paints her toenails while listening to Garan.
Garan	Well there was the day I'd had enough. It had rained for three weeks; potatoes and sheep rotten, worms in everything. Blight all over. I put my head in the oven and turned on the gas. Very cold on the face gas is. Funny that in an oven. Well I heard her come into the kitchen, I knew it was her because we've all got our own step haven't we? And she left without a word. I closed my eyes. Slipping away quite nicely I was when I felt a poke in the ribs. I looked up. She stood there with a cushion in her hands. I was going to say something, goodbye maybe, when she threw the cushion in the oven and said that if I was going to go then I should make myself comfortable. And that's how she saved me.
	Sian laughs out aloud. Garan turns in fright.
Garan	Good God Sian. You shouldn't do that. I'm practising.
Sian	(Imitates Garan.) 'And that's how she saved me.'
Garan	I thought a story would... What should I say then?
Sian	I don't know. Nothing I suppose.
Garan	No. I've got to say something.
Sian	Why? You hate them all anyway. Tell them that.
Garan	The boys─
Sian	─couldn't give a damn one way or the other. Just want it over with.
Garan	Over with. I suppose they do. Why do you think I hate them? They're people I've known all my life, there to mourn. Your mother─
Sian	─you can't stand my mother. You know I can't stand her either.
Garan	It was Mumma who didn't like her. I sat next to your mother in the first year of school. Five years old. Lovely smile she had.
Sian	Did she. I wonder what happened?
Garan	Your father.
Sian	It's difficult to have a bad word for people when you're five. There aren't enough words. She won't be there anyway. She's not one to gloat. As for Mumma, Rhys says she was an awful old cow. That's how I remember her.
	Garan looks shocked.
Sian	Tell them the story about the oven and that's how they'll remember her as well.
Garan	Does Rhys really feel like that?
Sian	Pretty much.
Garan	Then why have you come back?
Sian	Where else is there to go?
	Pause.
Garan	I should say something.
Sian	Tell them something they can believe. Tell them how Rhys used to cycle thirty miles some nights to steal bits for the tractors because Mumma was too mean to sign the cheques. Tell them how she took twenty years over castrating Mal. You could─
	A loud shotgun blast can be heard in the distance.
Garan	Good God Dafydd. Both barrels.
	Sian flexes her feet in the air to dry her toenails. She points at the roses.
Sian	They're nice.
Garan	Of course they're bloody nice, amount of work that's in them.
Sian	Only saying they were nice.
Garan	Beautiful is what they are.
Sian	That too.
Garan	Where are you going?
Sian	Nowhere.
	Garan points at Sian's feet.
Garan	Why do you do that?
Sian	(Defensive.) I've made bread and got breakfast ready.
Garan	I know, bach. You're a great help.
Sian	Because it looks nice.
Garan	You should put some socks on. Damp out here.
Sian	I will.
Garan	If you put socks on then there's no point painting your toenails.
Sian	Doing this makes me feel better. Some people put on a clean shirt. I paint my toenails. Don't have to go anywhere to enjoy it.
	Dav trots in with a plastic bag open for Garan's inspection. He is closely followed by Rhys who enters with his hands covered in blood. Mal is behind him. Dav goes away and comes back with a bench. He puts it down next to Garan and sits.
Mal	Cold out there this morning.
Rhys	Getting soft Mal. Bracing I thought it was.
Mal	Mind your gun Dav.
Dav	Okay.
Garan	(To Rhys.) What have you done?
Rhys	(Nods towards Dav.) Ask 'Magnum Force.'
	Rhys washes his hands in the bucket. Dav shakes the bag in front of Garan's face. Garan recoils in disgust.
Rhys	(To Sian.) Sian. Any sign?
	Sian shakes her head. Garan gives Dav a lecture.
Garan	(To Dav.) Why does it have to come back minced with you, Dafydd? Aim for the head boy. Between the eyes, that's what the lamp's for. Eyes show up and you aim between them. You're shooting at the breast meat.
Rhys	Shooting at the breast meat? I was close enough to strangle it.
Garan	What do you mean, 'strangle it?'
Sian	Do you boys want your breakfast out here?
Dav	Ready?
Sian	I haven't done the eggs.
Mal	Bacon sandwich and a cup of tea'll do me Sian. Lot on this morning.
	Sian goes.
Rhys	Mal and I were talking about the farm, the future and everything, when this one let go with both barrels. Felt a hot blast of air go past my knees─ ─thought to myself, 'watch for that in future', got up, helped Mal get to his feet. What's left is in the bag. Most of the poor bastard turned to gas it was so close.
Mal	Perhaps we should get him a rifle or something. You know, a bit more accurate.
	Dav obviously thinks it's a good idea.
Rhys	It'll be my knee cap that zips off into the night.
Garan	Maybe we should put a stop to it altogether.
Dav	Eh?
Rhys	My fault, Dad. I forgot what we were doing out there. Dav didn't. Bagged another two pretty clean. He's better off on his own. You going to phone the solicitor today?
Garan	I forgot all about that.
	Rhys glances at Mal. Mal shrugs, Rhys sighs.
Rhys	You said you would.
Garan	Yes.
Rhys	You know how important that is?
Garan	Yes, I know.
Rhys	You'll do it?
Garan	I don't like lawyers. No better than─
Rhys	Thieves. Maybe. But if we'd used one when we needed to, we wouldn't have this problem now.
Mal	Leave him alone.
Rhys	I can't do it Mal. (Looks to all of them.) This farm has got to be seen on the market. We agreed.
Mal	We could wait until after the funeral.
Rhys	We could wait... Haven't we talked about this? It makes sense to do it straight away.
Garan	A day won't make any difference.
Rhys	It will for my peace of mind. You know nothing's going to come of it anyway.
Mal	So you say. If nothing's going to come of it then what's the point?
Rhys	My peace of mind, that's the point. Everybody knows that this farm has no money. If we suddenly pay off half million odd in death duty, with cash, people are going to wonder where it's come from. I don't want that sort of publicity. We pay it off, bit by bit and if anyone shows an interest in the farm, well, I'm sure we'll find a way of putting them off. Jesus, you lot don't know what pressure is, do you?
	Dav yawns like a monkey as Rhys says this. Rhys watches him.
Rhys	And, of course, why should you?
	Sian returns with a tray laden with sandwiches and mugs of tea. She puts the tray down and the men help themselves.
Dav	Daddy's?
Sian	Sorry Dav. Forgot.
Garan	Go and get the bottle, Dav.
	Dav leaves.
Mal	Rhys wants to come back here and farm, Dad. Full time. He's been in the city for ten years. Had enough.
Rhys	Thank you. Touching.
Mal	Too much of a change I think. No bright lights.
Sian	He was born a farmer, not a thief.
Garan	He was born a thief. Sorry Sian. Never could take him into a shop, from the day he learnt to walk we couldn't. Not bad on a tractor, mind.
Mal	Right. Not bad on a tractor.
Rhys	Remember Uncle Harry? Driver in the desert rats wasn't he?
Mal	Yeh. And?
	Dav returns with a bottle of brown sauce. He puts some on his sandwich then hands the bottle to Rhys. Dav sits down, takes his shotgun apart, and cleans it with a rag from his jacket. He ignores everyone as he alternates between eating his sandwich and cleaning the gun. Rhys pours sauce on his sandwich. He looks disgusted.
Rhys	Who put vinegar in this?
Mal	Whoever noticed it was running out.
	Sian gets up.
Sian	Am I feeding those calves?
Garan	I've left milk outside the pens.
Sian	Someone bring the cups in when you've finished?
	Sian leaves. The men watch her go. Rhys nods towards Dav. Mal indicates that he's ok.
Garan	Good to have a women feeding the calves.
	Mal nods. Rhys doesn't understand. He carries on with his story.
Rhys	Going along with a lorry load of Nazi prisoners, wasn't he?
	Mal remembers the story. He nods and smiles as he finishes his sandwich.
Rhys	Drove through this gate. Ten seconds later there was a load of screaming in the back. Achtung minen! Achtung minen! Gone fifty yards into a minefield he had. Ten seconds to get in there. Six hours to reverse out.
Garan	What's your point Rhys?
Rhys	I took a wrong turn and I've been trying to get back ever since. But Mr Cooper won't let me.
Garan	Mr Cooper?
Mal	What if you're crap. At farming.
Rhys	Then you can sack me.
Dav	Rabbit sacked.
	Mal gets up.
Mal	Come on Rhys. Your new career starts this morning.
Rhys	What are we doing?
Mal	Have a look around the beef first. Feeding and we've got a breech to look at.
Garan	Is that what it is?
Mal	Looks like.
Rhys	What's a breech?
Mal	Calf wrong way around in the mother.
Rhys	I remember.
Mal	You've got to stick your arm in and pull it around. Sounds simple, but you have to use twine to─
Rhys	─me? Stick my arm in a cow? I'll phone the vet.
Mal	But you won't charge us. Vet will.
Rhys	I've seen it done, but I've never stuck my arm up a cow's arse before.
Mal	Neither have I. Think about that a second.
	Slight pause as Rhys thinks. Mal laughs, Garan chuckles. Dav looks serious.
Dav	You do it, Mal?
Garan	Which one is it?
	Mal points down with one hand and points up with the other. Rhys looks confused. Garan understands immediately.
Garan	Dafydd's. Don't worry, Rhys. She's got a long back that one. Mal's the only one who can reach.
Rhys	If it's his cow... How come he owns a cow?
Garan	Wanted one for Christmas. Whatever profit there is from her Dafydd gets.
Rhys	So why doesn't he stick his hand─
Mal	Arm's too short.
Rhys	What was that with the fingers?
Mal	Jesus you've got some questions. You'll see. Come on.
	Mal and Rhys turn to leave. Dav gets up.
Rhys	No you stay here, Dav. Look after everything, yeh?
Mal	Rhys'll do your jobs.
	Dav nods.
Rhys	Any poachers here, by the way?
Garan	Not for a long time. Not since Tommy Cradog.
Rhys	And he's dead, yeh?
Mal	I hope so. They buried him. Come on.
	Rhys and Mal leave. Garan moves to sit next to Dav.
Garan	You alright boy?
	Dav nods as he cleans the barrel of the shotgun.
Garan	Hell of a thing, isn't it?
	Dav looks at Garan for a moment, then nods.
Garan	Glad to see your brother?
	Dav nods, pauses for a moment, drops the barrel then embraces Garan. Garan returns the embrace.
Garan	Can't kid me, boy. Dad knew there was something wrong see. The old man knew.
	Garan holds Dav a while longer, then he gently pushes Dav back by the shoulders.
Garan	Come on now Dafydd. There's nothing to worry about. Rhys is back for good. Sorted the farm out and everything for us. (To himself.) And we didn't even ask him.
Dav	Don't want to cry.
Garan	It wouldn't matter if you did. You haven't had a good cry for months have you? You're always better after a good cry I've noticed.
	Tag appears behind them.
Garan	You're a brave boy, no, a brave man. That's what Richard would say if he was here I can tell you that now. Bit longer and it'll all be over, yeh?
Dav	Yeh.
	Garan leans back with a groan.
Garan	My back's bad today Dafydd. Dav gets up, puts a knee in Garan's back and pulls on his shoulders. Dav sniffs then turns immediately towards Tag.
Tag	Good Morning.
Dav	Stocky... curly.
Tag	(To Garan.) What? I'm looking for the owner.
	No response from Garan.
Tag	I said─
Garan	─I am the farmer.
Tag	Good.
Garan	How did you get past the dogs?
Tag	I didn't see any dogs. Are there any?
Garan	There should have been something.
Tag	Sorry?
Garan	There should have been something.
Tag	Ah well.
	Tag looks at Dav. Dav looks at Tag
Tag	Alright there? Beautiful day today.
Dav	Storm later.
	Tag looks up.
Tag	I can't see any clouds.
Garan	You're standing on a peninsula. Sea on three sides. The weather can change very quickly.
Tag	I know what peninsula means.
Garan	What is it you want?
Tag	I've come to buy your farm.
Garan	What makes you think that it's mine to sell?
Tag	You did say that you are the farmer.
Garan	Yes. Yes I did, didn't I?
Tag	I─
Garan	My sons farm here now. I think, maybe, you should talk to them.
Tag	No. I believe I have my man.
Garan	What have you been told?
Tag	That this farm is for sale in lieu of death duty. A price has been set, or soon will be, and that if that price can be met then you will be obliged to accept that offer.
Garan	Where did you hear this?
Tag	Some pub out there somewhere.
Garan	I see. We're for sale in the pub. I don't believe we're for sale anywhere else. Do you like roses?
Tag	Yes, they are pretty.
Garan	I like to think that they're beautiful. It has taken five years from cuttings to what you see here. Five years. Too long for them to end up just pretty, wouldn't you say?
Tag	No, they are remarkable. Your estate agent should mention them to prospective buyers.
Garan	They go where I go.
	Dav leans towards Tag and takes a big sniff.
Dav	Smell you a mile away.
Tag	What do you mean?
	Dav ignores him.
Garan	How much are you willing to offer for this property?
Tag	I'd say around four hundred and eighty four thousand pounds, give or take.
	Garan stops working. Mal walks quickly back. Rhys follows holding his back.
Garan	That seems very exact.
Tag	My judgement usually is.
Garan	You need to be careful. It's a difficult business. Very difficult indeed.
Tag	This is farming you're talking about here.
Garan	I don't know any other business. If you intend farming then you must have too much money, because there isn't any to be made I can tell you that.
Tag	Well cocaine's out of fashion for the moment. I might as well spend it on a farm.
Garan	So you say. My eldest son joined the army because he couldn't see any future in it.
	Garan returns to work on the flowers.
Tag	I don't think money is a motivation for joining the army.
Garan	Part of it was the challenge I believe.
Tag	Then why didn't he try running a farm?
Garan	Your point is well made Mr Cooper, very well made.
Tag	So you know who I am?
Garan	I know a stranger called Mr Cooper is staying at The Black Horse. This area doesn't receive many visitors. It's a quiet time of year anyway.
Tag	What else do you know about me?
Garan	Oh nothing really. I'm not interested in your character Mr. Cooper. Are you interested in him Dav?
	Dav thinks for a moment or so. He answers carefully.
Dav	Yeh. A bit.
Garan	There you are Mr Cooper. I told you to discuss terms with my sons. And one of them is a bit interested.
Tag	I know one of your sons. He─
Garan	─Rhys, you mean. You must excuse me, Mr Cooper. I'm tired and not quite myself. The circumstances are difficult.
	Tag looks down on the flowers. He bends down to pick one.
Garan	I would rather you didn't. You think them pretty, but these are the best. Kept for the funeral.
Tag	Where's Rhys?
Garan	He wants no more to do with you.
Tag	In the house maybe?
Garan	I─
Tag	I asked you a question.
Garan	There has been no agreement to sell.
Tag	But there is an agreement.
Garan	I don't understand.
Tag	Rhys has a large sum of money that belongs to me.
Garan	Four hundred and eighty four thousand pounds.
Tag	Give or take. By the end of today I will have my money or the deeds to this property.
Garan	My wife and I set a price closer to one million not three months ago. Including livestock and machinery. Unless you hold the difference in your pocket then we're not going to get very far. Your only alternative is to talk to my sons.
Tag	I shall. Don't worry.
	Sian enters.
Garan	This is Mr Cooper, Sian. But then you know each other in London I suppose. You must excuse me. I have work to do.
	Garan walks away. He indicates to Dav that he should follow. Dav shakes his head.
Sian	What were you saying to Garan then?
Tag	What kind of way is that to say hello?
	Tag steps forward to embrace Sian
Sian	Hello. What did you say?
Tag	Told him I wanted to buy the farm.
Sian	─You were winding him up you mean.
Tag	Just a little. Felt a bit frisky after the journey.
Sian	Burying his wife tomorrow.
Tag	Fuckin' hell.
	Sian nods at Dav.
Sian	His mother.
Tag	Sorry, but he is a big boy.
	Tag steps forward and grabs Sian's arm. Dav watches intently. Sian goes to him then squeals with pain. She pulls away and rubs her arm. Pause.
Sian	It's alright, Dav. What did you do that for?
Tag	Sorry. Passion got the better of me. Don't know my own strength.
	Tag embraces Sian. Sian puts her head on his chest. Dav strains to see what's going on from where he sits.
Sian	No, you don't.
Tag	Pleased to see me?
Sian	Of course. Good journey?
Tag	Not bad. Rikeman kept phoning every five minutes…
Sian	Rikeman?!
Tag	Doesn't seem to understand what I'm doing here. He usually sorts out this sort of thing.
	Sian pulls away from Tag. She looks very concerned at the mention of the name Rikeman.
Sian	Rikeman would kill Rhys.
Tag	Amongst other things. I told him I'd come to collect.
Sian	Oh.
	Tag pulls Sian to him. They kiss. Dav gets up to see what they are doing. Sian notices and pushes Tag away. Dav sits.
Sian	Do you have to be here, right now, Dav?
Dav	Cleaning up.
Sian	Where is he?
Tag	Who?
Sian	Rikeman.
Tag	London. I think.
Sian	You think?
Tag	What's the problem, Sian?
Sian	I don't want him down here. You won't need him.
Tag	I haven't asked him.
	Short pause. Tag can see that Sian is worried.
Tag	I can always ring him. Find out where he is.
Sian	Could you? I'd feel so much better.
	Tag takes out his phone, presses a few buttons. He puts the phone to his ear. Slight pause.
Tag	Alright? Where are you... right. I can hear a train... why Kentish town? Aah.. No I don't need any help here...
	Sian looks relieved. Tag smiles at her.
Tag	You're breaking up, call you back, yeh?
	Tag puts the phone back in his pocket.
Tag	Now we know where Rikeman is. What about the lovely Rhys?
Sian	Mumma's death came as a shock. You know he had to go straight away.
Tag	It would have taken him an hour to deliver the cash, a short trip across town. That's all.
Sian	He could always steal some more for you.
Tag	So he has spent it.
Sian	No, no. Well it's nothing to do with me. I don't even know how much it is.
Dav	Four, five hundred thou' odd.
Tag	There you go.
Sian	And it's me and the money?
	Tag nods slowly.
Sian	I've been seeing Rhys since school.
Tag	Well you should have grown out of him by now. I'll let him go solo.
Sian	No, he can't. He's stopped.
Tag	Sorry Sian, but he stole that money for me.
Sian	I'm his girlfriend. Who are you stealing for?
Tag	That's different. This is business. I know about the farm, the death duty and everything else. Go find Rhys.
Sian	I don't know where he is.
Tag	I'm sure you've got a fair guess. Tell him I'll be waiting for him here. With one of the local boyos to look after me.
Sian	But─
Tag	Ten minutes. Then we'll come looking for him ourselves.
	Sian leaves. Dav continues to look at the newspaper. Tag lights himself a cigarette, then reads the newspaper along with Dav. Dav picks up his shotgun and rubs the barrel with a cloth. Tag reaches into his jacket and pulls out a handgun. He removes the ammunition clip and hands the gun to Dav. Dav looks at the gun for a moment or so. He leans over, smells the handgun, stares at Tag for a moment or so, then carries on cleaning his shotgun.
Tag	You can clean it if you like. Seeing as you're doing your own.
	Dav peers at the gun again.
Tag	Walther PPK. Just like James Bond.
Dav	Cleans itself.
Tag	What?
Dav	Water pistol. Cleans itself.
	Tag pockets his gun.
Tag	Rhys has told me all about you.
	Dav looks shocked.
Tag	Oh don't worry. All good things. Not really that daft, are you? Could do yourself a favour though. That's if you want to come across as being really smart.
	Dav stares as Tag leans forward and turns the newspaper through 180 degrees.
Tag	It helps your reading if it's the right way around. And, if you really want to keep up with the world, make sure the paper isn't three weeks out of date.
	Mobile phone rings. Tag takes out his phone and puts it to his ear. Dav puts down the shotgun.
Tag	Rikeman. Where are you... sorry how are you?
	Dav delves into his jacket and pulls out the biggest flick knife Tag has ever seen. The blade flies out with a definite click. Dav then reaches into another part of his jacket and pulls out two dead rabbits. Tag keeps a surprised eye on Dav.
Tag	For some reason I need to know where you are... No, I don't need you... I'm in Wales, babysitting.
	Dav throws the rabbits onto the newspaper, then he begins to gut and skin them with consumate skill.
Tag	No I can't let you sort this one out. You'd draw attention to yourself. If you go round clubbing people to death in friendly greeting they'll be, I don't know, saying scary stuff in Welsh about you. I haven't forgotten about that Irish job, Rikeman. Collect some money I said. Slaughter an entire fuckin' family, man, women and child, is what you did. The wrong fuckin' family as it happens. It said in the papers that even the dog had been blown away. Now I've never been howled at in an identity parade. How about you? I know O'Reilly's a common surname, but when I sent you over there I didn't tell you to kill all the O'Reillys in fuckin' Dublin. I didn't tell you to kill anyone. And I'm still waiting for a result on that job. Hello... Rikeman... Oh fuck!
	Tag turns to Dav.
Tag	Where's Rhys?
Dav	Kissed Sian.
Tag	Only a little one. Sometimes you have to do that for friends.
Dav	Are you a gangster?
Tag	No. I'm self employed.
Dav	Mal self employed.
Tag	Yeh?
Dav	Yeh. Rhys a gangster.
	Tag laughs.
Tag	Is he?
Dav	Richard said. Rhys going to be a gangster. Gangsters steal things.
Tag	They do more than steal things.
Dav	Well then.
Tag	What?
Dav	Rhys work on the farm. And stealed things. That's more. Richard said, anyway.
	Tag gets up and wanders among the roses.
Tag	Worked on the farm and stealed things, eh? What kind of things?
Dav	Can't remember. Police sometimes.
	Mal appears behind them with a hipflask in his hand. His free arm is covered in dark red mucus and black/brown liquid. He takes a big swig from his flask. He stares at Tag intently.
Tag	They arrest him?
	Dav stops cleaning the gun and giggles. Tag giggles then Dav laughs out loud. Tag laughs along until he finds it unnerving.
Dav	Never get past Mumma. Never.
	Dav stops laughing. He looks sad. Mal steps forward.
Mal	There was never much proof. He never stole from anyone in this county and, well, one tractor tyre looks much the same as another. He never stole more than we needed.
Tag	Who could want more?
	Tag stares at Mal's arm. Mal washes his arm in the bucket of water. Tag seems nervous.
Tag	What's on your arm?
Mal	Now? Rabbit blood, rose water, afterbirth and iodine. Bat's eye and we'd have some black magic.
Tag	God.
	Dav points up with one hand and down with the other.
Dav	She alright?
	Mal wipes his arm with a cloth.
Mal	Mother and son─
Dav	─bull. Nice one.
Mal	─doing fine. Bit of cash there for you Dav.
	Mal sits down next to Dav.
Dav	Says he isn't a gangster, Mal.
Mal	Does he Dav?
Dav	Yeh.
	Dav looks down the barrel of the shotgun as if it was a telescope.
Dav	Looks like one.
Tag	Watch it. So you're Mal, eh?
Dav	Says a gangster does more than steal things, Mal.
Mal	Do you do more than just steal things, Mr Cooper?
Tag	You watch too much television. You do have a television don't you?
	Dav looks at Mal. Mal nods. Dav nods.
Tag	If it's a bad film then it's got gangsters, you know, fettucini, jellied eels and stuff. Gangsters go mental at the smallest insult, then fall to bits if their mother hears them swearing. All bollocks. You know the best film with a thief in it?
	Both Mal and Dav look unsure after listening to Tag's little homily. They both shake their heads.
Tag	Bambi.
	Mal and Dav look deadpan.
Tag	Didn't you see the thief?
	Mal shakes his head. Dav does likewise.
Tag	Exactly. You never see a good thief.
	Pause. Dav and Mal look at each other. Mal turns to Tag.
Dav	What's a Bambi, Mal?
Tag	The last half hour is right up your street. You'd love Bambi.
	Mal takes a swig from the flask. He offers it to Tag. Tag takes the flask and sniffs the neck.
Tag	Irish?
	Tag takes a swig.
Mal	Welsh.
	Tag chokes.
Dav	Here.
Mal	Smells just like whisky. 'Prince of Wales,' I call it. Make it from carrots mostly.
Tag	Smells, yes.
	Tag hands the flask back to Mal.
Dav	Moron. Self employed he is, Mal.
Mal	That's the difference is it, Dav?
	Tag turns to Dav.
Tag	What did you say?
Mal	He said 'moron' Mr Cooper. That's Welsh for carrot.
Dav	He loves Sian, Mal.
Mal	Does he Dav?
Dav	Kissin' her.
	Mal looks genuinely shocked.
Mal	Kissing our brothers girlfriend? Why?
Tag	Wait a minute. I've known Sian for─
Dav	Got a gun, he has.
Mal	What kind of gun, Dav?
Dav	Little thing it was.
Mal	Wonder what Sian sees in him?
Tag	Very funny. Where's Rhys. Sian was going to get him for me.
Mal	Sian running around after Rhys for you. Wonder why?
Tag	Listen─
Mal	If you were a fox in a field full of rabbits, would you go for them?
Tag	I haven't got time for this.
Mal	Doesn't take any time to think about really. If you were a fox walking through a field full of rabbits, would you go for the rabbits.
Dav	Easy question.
Tag	I don't know. Am I a tired fox, or a hungry fox. Maybe I'm an ill fox, a lazy fox.
Dav	Just a fox.
Tag	Just a fox. Then I don't know. I'm not any old fox.
Mal	Why were you kissing Sian?
	Tag becomes defensive.
Tag	I wasn't kissing Sian. I've known Rhys and Sian for donkey's years.
Mal	Good friends, eh?
Tag	If you like.
Dav	Do you like?
Mal	Do anything for them, would you? These good friends of yours?
Dav	Do you kiss Rhys?
	The sound of a pig screaming in the distance. It sounds as if it's in pain then silence. The sound was unnerving.
Tag	What the fuck's that?
Mal	Sounds like a dog in a gin trap. No dogs here. Pigs we've got. Keep them on a lead, mind. Sounds as if Father's just taken one for a walk.
Tag	Being a smart arse must be in the genes. Where is he?
Mal	Pig in one hand, record player in the other. Knife in pocket. Sounds as if he didn't have time for the record player today. Field with a tree especially.
Tag	What are you talking about?
Mal	Father likes a brass band. Loud. The sound carries worse than the pig which is the point I suppose. I play Neil Sedaka.
	Dav shakes his head. Garan appears.
Mal	Dav would prefer the pig. No need to play it for long. A few hours later the fox has cleaned the mess up for you. Pork tonight. Sausages if we have the time.
Garan	Takes longer than that to bleed a pig, Maldwyn. And you wouldn't give the guts to a fox. Good black pudding going to waste.
	Mal and Dav look disgusted.
Mal	I'm not sure if Mr Cooper would like brawn. Todays pig will go in the freezer tomorrow. Tonights pig is from the weekend. Go and find him if you want.
	Tag look as if he's going to leave.
Mal	What's the point if your good friend Sian is going to bring him to you? Stay here and have another drink.
	Mal holds out the flask to Tag. Tag shakes his head.
Tag	Fuck it. He can't be far away.
	Tag takes a couple of steps.
Mal	Point your gun at him, Dav.
	Tag stops to look at Dav. Dav doesn't move. Tag looks at Mal.
Tag	Don't be silly. A rabbit's one thing─
Mal	Point the gun at him, Dav.
	Dav doesn't move. Stares at them both.
Tag	But a man? That's something else.
	Tag looks at Mal with contempt. Mal sips from the flask.
Mal	Point the gun at him brother.
	Dav immediately points the gun at Tag. Tag shakes his head and laughs. Dav seems nervous. Can't get his words out.
Dav	Han... hand... hands.
Mal	He wants you to put your hands on your head, Mr Cooper. Isn't that right brother?
Dav	Yeh, brother.
Mal	Go on then, Mr Cooper. Humour him won't you? The boy's only been watching too many films.
	Tag doesn't move.
Mal	We should be ashamed, shouldn't we brother? Pointing a gun at one of our brother's best friends.
Tag	Pointing an unloaded gun at one of his best friends.
Mal	Shoot him Dav.
	Dav looks at Tag. Tag looks at Dav. Mal relishes the situation.
Mal	Shoot him... Dav.
	Pause.
Mal	Shoot him brother.
	Dav opens the breach of the gun and tries to load cartridges into it, but they spill all over the floor. Tag laughs as he watches Dav's performance.
Mal	Shoot him!
	Dav goes very still. Tag points his fingers at Dav.
Tag	Bang. Now you know how a rabbit feels, brother.
	A shrill phone tone. Pause. Tag takes his phone from his pocket, looks at it, then sighs. He knows that this is a conversation he doesn't really want to have. He presses a key on the phone and talks.
Tag	No, no. I'm sorting this out. He stole that money for me. My money.
	Short pause. Tag looks baffled/nervous. Dav shifts his weight in his seat. Mal and Dav back away. Tag points at them in warning. They stop.
Tag	Sian says the old bat just dropped; dead as a brick before she hit the ground... Yes, 'fuckin' sudden' as you say. But people do get old and die of old age despite people like yourself. (Slight pause.)
	Sian appears behind the brothers. None of them see her. She stops and watches.
Tag	Remember what I said though. Don't come unless... (Shouts.) Rikeman, remember what I said, fuckin' listen to me...
	The phone goes dead.
Sian	I thought you'd called him?
Tag	He... he phoned back?
Sian	What are you doing with the gun?
Tag	What gun?
	Sian can't believe what she's hearing.
Sian	Why have a gun down here?
Tag	Protection and persuasion.
Sian	Guns freak me out.
Tag	You don't say. (Pause.) I suppose you're right. If you're any good you don't need one. Rikeman doesn't use one, usually.
Sian	What are you going to do now?
Tag	Find Rhys. Do you know where he is?
Sian	No. They're having dinner tonight. Garan would just like the men together.
Tag	I presume I'm invited.
Sian	I wish you'd leave it.
Tag	You don't want to see Garan without a home. Nowhere to grow his flowers or bring up his little boys.
Sian	They don't have anywhere to go.
Tag	Tag snorts. This isn't a natural disaster we're talking about here. A disease hasn't killed off the crops. A tornado hasn't destroyed the farm. It's their own fault. They should have sorted it out.
	Tag holds Sian by the shoulders. He talks earnestly.
Tag	It's bad management. Simple as that. If Rhys wants to save this farm then he will. But it's not going to be me who funds him.
	Sian eventually pulls herself away. She steps back and folds her arms.
Sian	What are you going to do now?
Tag	Go into the house and get my money.
Sian	I'm sorry I ever asked you down here.
Tag	Jesus Christ. Don't you realise that by now Rikeman would be back in London, I'd have the money, and Rhys and his family would probably be dead. Dead Sian. Dead. Now, if I walk out of that house without my money then I might still phone him.
	Sian shudders. Tag's calm exterior unnerves her. She swallows hard and replies.
Sian	What's he going to think if you tell him that you can't sort little Rhys out.
Tag	He'll think whatever I tell him to─
Sian	I've only met him once, but he didn't strike me as the kind of man you tell what to think.
	Tag knows that Sian is telling the truth. Sian's voice becomes stronger.
Tag	You'd look a fool. He'd make sure of it. No one would listen to a word Tag Cooper said. Ever again.
	Pause.
Sian	But there is something you can do.
Tag	What's that?
Sian	Tell Rikeman that you and Rhys have come to an agreement.
	Tag laughs.
Sian	Rhys is going to fight you because of us. You know that.
	Tag nods his head.
Sian	I can't help you. You should just let him go. Why can't you do that?
	Pause. Tag turns away from Sian. He looks at the flowers as if an answer lies somewhere amongst them. Sian looks at his back apprehensively. Tag suddenly turns around. His voice is precise, as if giving orders to someone who will have no choice but to act on them
Tag	Because if you let one go you have to let them all go. I'm going to get the money. Then we're both leaving.
	Short pause. Tag turns his back on Sian.
Tag	Go. Go.
	All leave.
Tag	Pigs... brothers... roses...
	Tag looks to the sky. The lights dim for a moment as if a cloud has passed over the sun. Tag looks malevolently at the flowers. He breathes deeply then destroys one. Rhys arrives, dirty with work, sits down and smiles as he watches Tag in action.
Tag	Fuck it.
Rhys	Alright there, Coops?
	Tag spins around. Short pause. Tag eventually smiles.
Tag	Lovely place.
Rhys	The gossip can be a killer. Apart from that it's alright.
	Tag wanders around with his eyes firmly on Rhys. Rhys looks around, but makes no comment about the mess.
Tag	What are you up to?
Rhys	Been checking the beef. They're all fine.
	Pause.
Tag	Your brothers...
	Tag laughs. Rhys smiles.
Tag	What's all that with the hands?
	Tag points up and down. Rhys doesn't answer. Pause. A little steel to Tag's voice.
Tag	What is it?
Rhys	It's a cow. Dav's cow. One horn points up, one down.
	Pause.
Rhys	Dav's never given it a name. He just points up and down. So we all do.
Tag	Right.
	Short pause. Tag smiles.
Tag	Mal's home brew. Jesus.
Rhys	Wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy.
Tag	I would. Veg looks good in the basket. Good soil.
Rhys	Look forward to working it.
	Tag stops smiling.
Tag	How was the job?
Rhys	Easy enough.
Tag	Thought so.
Rhys	It was a good job to retire on. What are you doing here?
Tag	I was invited. Sorry about that.
Rhys	Well it's good to see you then.
Tag	You were meant to come and see me. Why didn't you?
Rhys	My mother died.
Tag	I can't imagine anything being more important than delivering that money to me. Where is it?
Rhys	On the farm. Safe.
Tag	Sorry to hear about your mum.
Rhys	If it wasn't for you fucking my girlfriend you'd have sent Rikeman after me. My father burying my mother in the same week. And you're saying that you're sorry about my mum. Tell my father. He might survive the next few days.
Tag	I'd send Rikeman after my mother for the dinner money. So you know about me and Sian.
	Rhys doesn't respond.
Tag	She said you'd work it out. What I don't understand is─
	Rhys holds up his hand. Sian appears behind them.
Rhys	I'm retiring. With your turnover you can afford the loss.
Tag	That's a pity. According to the gossip you're a natural.
Rhys	What did I say about gossip? According to gossip you're a pimp.
Tag	I'm coming to see you tonight. I'll give your mum a bit of this (makes a sign of blessing with his right hand), have a bite to eat with your family, do a little business with you and be on my way.
Rhys	You're a pimp. That's the gossip about you did you know?
Tag	I want to talk to you about Sian. No deals.
Rhys	You want to take her and the money?
Tag	That's what I'm going to do. She started it, I want you to know that.
	Sian steps forward, but decides to stop and listen to Rhys.
Rhys	Fuck off Tag. You weren't mugged. Women eh? She stays with me until after the funeral. Then you can have her. I keep the money and you leave me alone forever.
Tag	I can have her like that?
Rhys	Yeh, like that.
Tag	But she stays with you until after the funeral.
	Sian steps forward.
Sian	Wait a minute. You two are talking about me─
Tag	That's right. We're talking about you. Shut up. I've been waiting a long time for this little chat.
Rhys	My father likes her being around. The family have known her a long time, you know? I give you both a month.
Tag	Maybe. But I'm not going back without the money. You see I know what all this is about. Big brother Richard gets himself killed liberating sheep farms in the south Atlantic. So little brother thinks he can do whatever it takes to save the fucking hanging gardens here. You think the world owes you. You think─
Rhys	─I think you don't understand. Richard was the biggest bastard to walk this earth. My brother. Worse than you and Rikeman put together. He made the first ten years of my life hell. A bully, he was, who'd fight anyone for any reason. I don't give a damn for him or his memory.
Tag	Your father and brothers wouldn't say that.
Rhys	My father believes in ghosts. I don't. Mal was always too big to be bullied. Dav was too small. They remember him differently. It's Richard's fault that Dav runs around shooting everything with a pulse. No, the world doesn't owe me. You do.
Tag	It's not your money.
Rhys	Not your girl.
Tag	I've stolen your girlfriend, you've stolen my money. Call it quits, shake hands and on my way. Is that it?
Rhys	Something like that.
Tag	But Rhys, whatever happens, I get what you've got. So, as things stand, there isn't a deal as you'd call it. It's just down to the money. You should leave the pimping to the experts.
Rhys	Fuck you.
Tag	That's the great thing about money. It just stays money. It doesn't change its mind. It doesn't put on weight or lose interest in you.
Rhys	Do you feel like that when you look in the mirror?
	Tag makes a fist to punch Rhys. Sian gets up.
Sian	No.
Rhys	Battle of wits too much for you is it? You want my girlfriend, money and good looks?
Tag	Nah, no head shots. Want you looking smart for your funeral. See you tonight.
	Rhys looks up at Tag.
Rhys	Before you go, there's something I haven't asked. How did she start it?
Tag	What? Let him finish. This might be interesting.
Rhys	How did she start it? Did she go around to your house and seduce you? Did she see you in a pub when she was out with the girls? Did you seduce her?
Tag	No, it just happened one night.
Rhys	Where was I?
Tag	On a job I think.
Rhys	A job you would have sent me on?
Tag	What's your point?
Rhys	Was it a job that you sent me on?
Tag	You don't work for anyone else.
Rhys	A long way away? It wasn't a long time ago.
Tag	I believe you were in Edinburgh as you well fuckin' know.
Rhys	Yes. The money that was supposed to be in the safe, that was supposed to be behind the El Greco, in the house that wasn't in Edinburgh.
Tag	As I told you, the information I was given─
Rhys	Was bullshit, I should have been in Glasgow. Four days of arsing around on trains and staring at maps and I came back with nothing. What were you doing for those four days?
Tag	I still don't see your point.
Rhys	I couldn't say a lot of the Scottish names. You probably can't say a lot of the Welsh ones. I was lost. Like you are now. But I had the sense to go home.
	Tag grabs Rhys by the lapels, pulls him out of the chair. Rhys struggles furiously but isn't strong enough. Tag throws Rhys to the ground and kicks him twice. Sian runs forward and tends to Rhys on the ground.
Tag	Cheap little sod.
	Tag turns away to be faced by Garan. Tag backs away. Rhys tries to pull himself up using the back of the chair, but falls back to the floor at the first attempt. Sian tries to help him.
Garan	Get away from him.
	Sian doesn't move. She is shocked by Garan's aggression.
Garan	Away I said.
	Rhys, breathing heavily, gets up at the second attempt and drops into the seat.
Rhys	Dad, you don't understand...
	Rhys is too winded to continue.
Garan	I understand too well.
Tag	You're taking one mighty step back with all of this you know?
	They back further away.
Tag	See you later. The men watch them go. Rhys clutches his ribs and groans. Dav continues to watch. Garan is very concerned. He shakes his head.
Garan	It isn't worth it. Can't be.
Mal	Is he going to use that gun?
Rhys	If he has to, yes.
Mal	Looks a bit soft to me.
Garan	Give him the money.
Mal	But I haven't had a chance to count it.
	Pause. Rhys is quiet.
Garan	It's up to you Rhys. He's got a gun. You've said he'll use it.
Mal	(Stern.) I'd have him.
Garan	Oh Maldwyn─
Mal	I would.
Garan	I'm not losing any more sons.
Rhys	Sell up then. Live in a council house, because that's all your money's going to get you. Work in a factory, Mal?
Mal	I'd make more money, I know that. Where can you work is the question.
Rhys	So you'd sell? I should hand that money back, should I?
	Mal knows this is no answer.
Mal	Is this going to plan?
	Rhys doesn't answer.
Garan	Well that settles the matter. Sian, go and see if he's gone.
	Garan turns to Dav.
Garan	Dafydd. I want you to─
Rhys	─it's going to plan.
Garan	Who's done this?
Rhys	Mr. Cooper. Did the roses then he started on me.
Mal	Sian and him is a plan?
	No reply.
Mal	You've got half a million. Go a long way in Brazil that would. You'd be a multi millionaire.
	Rhys laughs.
Rhys	Brazil?
Mal	Australia, then. Wouldn't be as much of a language problem there.
Rhys	Wouldn't be any language problem in Wales.
Mal	Well. You could lose yourself in Swansea, I suppose.
Rhys	Fuckin' hell.
Mal	He'd never find you.
Rhys	That's because I wouldn't be there and he wouldn't go. He'd send someone else.
Mal	Well there's Milford, or Neath?
Rhys	You're thinking tropical, then.
Mal	Half a million. I wouldn't be here.
Rhys	No, you'd be hiding out in Pen Rhys, or working on the tugs out of Pembroke.
	Pause.
Garan	I wasn't born here, but I was born a farmer. I was the Dafydd of my family, at the end of the line. Your Uncle, as you know, drank the farm away in the end. I know I could have made more of it than he did.
Rhys	But you met Mumma and married into a farm. That was justice. You got a farm of your own.
	Garan takes a rose.
Garan	No. You know Dats would never have allowed that to happen. He would rather see the farm ruined than my name above the door.
Rhys	Well this is why I'm here.
Garan	Is it? All I want is in this rose. When I die the rose will have to stay behind. So will the farm.
Rhys	What about the people left behind?
Garan	Rhys, you get satisfaction by taking what someone would like to keep. I don't. There was a day when it would have been a victory to say this was mine, but not now. If the taxman can do a better job of farming then so be it.
Rhys	I don't know then. I thought we'd agreed everything.
Garan	I'll be there for you. You, because this is about your future. Five hundred thousand pounds. At your age I would be gone. I wouldn't come back here.
Rhys	You wouldn't know. You've never been away, none of you. I'm homesick, you're sick of home.
Garan	It's not like that. It's been kept away from me for so long it's not worth having.
Rhys	Go to Brazil. Go on. You'd fly, land, then fly back, I promise you. You'd feel the same if you hid in Swansea. Homesick is just the other side of that hill. You should try it sometime.
Garan	Mal would be gone, I would be gone.
Mal	I can't remember the farm you remember Rhys.
Garan	You say your doing this for us─
Rhys	─all of us.
Garan	We didn't ask you.
	Rhys didn't expect this statement.
Mal	You didn't ask us.
Rhys	But your surname above the door, our surname, not Mumma's and Dats's.
Mal	You'd be one of those names?
	Pause.
Rhys	I don't know.
Mal	I think a morning's work's confused you.
Rhys	At least I smell of something. Don't usually smell of anything.
Mal	What?
Rhys	I don't. Can't afford to break up a sweat.
Mal	Rubbish.
Rhys	I know a thief who crawled down a hundred yards of air conditioning just to see a security guard stare at him from behind a fan. 'Old Spice, is it?' Crawled backwards for an hour with torchlights and police shouting at him from either end. 'Nice arse.' 'Wouldn't wear perfume where you're going.'
Garan	What has this to do with our situation?
Rhys	Can smell Mal three fields away.
	Dav nods.
Mal	Like hell.
Rhys	I stand outside buildings waiting for people to leave so I can go in. You've all got blisters.
	Rhys takes a pair of black leather gloves from his pocket.
Rhys	I wear these.
	Dav steps forward. He takes the gloves from Rhys.
Dav	Nice.
Rhys	Have them Dav. Work them to shreds.
	Dav, delighted, puts them on.
Rhys	I want to spread my fingerprints.
Garan	Where Rhys?
Mal	And there's Rikeman.
	Rhys ignores these observations.
Rhys	I make a living as nobody. Haven't you noticed I go in the opposite direction to everyone else? I wear black, I don't smell, I don't exist. A proper thief never does.
Mal	You and Cooper read from the same book. There's one hiding in Bambi.
Rhys	Told you that story, did he? He's right though. I can't do it any more.
	Sian returns. They all look at her. She looks at Rhys.
Sian	He isn't going away.
	Rhys is frustrated.
Rhys	I know, Jesus.
Sian	Well?
Garan	(To Sian.) Where is he?
Mal	Where is he then?
Sian	I don't know.
Garan	He just ran away, did he?
Mal	Are we going to do this?
	No reply.
Mal	I need to know Rhys.
Rhys	I don't know.
Mal	Great. Come on Dav.
	Mal and Dav turn to leave.
Rhys	Where are you going?
Mal	Some farming to do, Rhys. We'll keep working 'till you've made up your mind. Take your time.
Rhys	I know what I want to do.
Mal	Yeah, yeah.
Garan	No you don't. You only know what you don't want to do.
Rhys	Yes.
	Garan leaves. Sian looks to the floor.
Rhys	You alright?
	Sian doesn't answer.
Rhys	He hasn't done anything to you, has he?
Sian	No. It's what you're doing to me that's the problem.
Rhys	Where is he?
Sian	Walking the cliff path.
Rhys	I haven't done that for years.
Sian	He's coming back tonight.
Rhys	Everyone seems to think that's a surprise.
Sian	So what are you going to do?
Rhys	I don't know.
Sian	I don't mean with your life. What are you going to do about Tag?
Rhys	I don't know.
Sian	Stick to the plan?
Rhys	I don't know.
Sian	But how far are you willing to go? Don't tell me. You don't know.
	Pause.
Sian	God, you'd be a bad farmer.
Rhys	I'd be diabolical. Most of them are. They all make their own rules.
Sian	You would to make up for being so useless.
Rhys	Nothing wrong with that. Tag'd be a good farmer come to think of it. Maybe we should give him the farm.
Sian	(Stroppy.) I knew it. You're not sure are you?
Rhys	Would you be a farmer's wife?
	The question takes Sian by surprise.
Sian	Well I wouldn't come here the way it is. If you did something else with the place.
Rhys	It's a farm, Sian. It can't be any other way.
Sian	You could do something else with it.
Rhys	For me to point at this place and say I'm a farmer is as good as anything.
Sian	It's all you can think of, you mean.
Rhys	I can't point at a casino and say: 'Skinned the safe in there last week. Here's my card. CV's on the web site.'
Sian	You see me as a farmer's wife?
Rhys	You'd be a better farmer's wife than I'd be a farmer.
Sian	When that happens, the farmer's wife is the farmer.
	Rhys and Sian laugh together. Rhys clicks his fingers.
Rhys	Foiled. We could get a grant to farm ostrich.
	Sian laughs.
Rhys	We can. Mal's got the forms.
Sian	And you didn't laugh? There's a joke about sticking your neck out.
Rhys	Could grow hemp.
Sian	Well that's original. How many farmers do you know that grow dope?
Rhys	Just around here or in Wales altogether? There's a market for it.
Sian	Holiday cottages. You'd get a big grant for that.
	Rhys shakes his head.
Sian	Bed and breakfast?
Rhys	Who does the cooking? Dealing with strangers you don't give a fuck about.
Sian	It wouldn't be like that.
Rhys	Be like farming ostrich, but the birds want their bacon crispy and the morning paper ironed.
Sian	Garan was right. You know exactly what you don't want.
	Rhys winces with pain. He clutches his ribs. Sian goes to him.
Rhys	I'm alright.
	Pause. Sian steps back.
Sian	What do the boys say?
Rhys	The old man just wants the best for all of us. Mal just wants five minutes down a dark alley with Tag. But he'd work in a factory if he had to. Mal thinks I should go to Rio. They could visit me then and perhaps pop down to the Falklands and see Richard's grave.
Sian	You're joking.
Rhys	He's dead, but he knew what he was doing with his life, yes I'm joking.
Sian	So they don't know what they want either. What about Dav?
Rhys	What about him?
Sian	What does he think?
Rhys	Didn't think about asking him.
Sian	He's got his rights. Don't forget, he is an adult.
	Pause. Rhys looks serious for a while, then smiles.
Rhys	You know something; Mumma used to torture us about this.
	Rhys smiles at the recollection.
Sian	What?
Rhys	Well we used to take the piss out of him, when we were having dinner or whatever.
	Short pause.
Rhys	If Mal or I said something, Richard was gone by then, she'd lean over us and say that out of all the children, Dav learnt his name the fastest. He was seven months or something ridiculous.
	Rhys points at his chest and does an impression of Dav.
Rhys	Daveev... Daveev fi. Mal was two before he could say Mal. Probably twenty before he could say Maldwyn.
Sian	So what do you think Dav would say?
Rhys	Dav goes shopping once a month with Father.
	Sian is exasperated. Rhys doesn't notice. He is serious.
Rhys	Only time they leave the farm. Father says that Dav never looks out of the window; not to the front, not to the side. Sits there and reads the manual. Dav can tell you about the MkII Landrover, no bother.
Sian	Do you want me to cook the dinner tonight?
Rhys	They go into the shop, and Dav might look at Father, but mostly he looks down. If he can't see it, it isn't there.
Sian	Rhys?
	Rhys looks at Sian. He ignores the question.
Rhys	Eats a packet of biscuits between the shop and the car park. Always for down, crumbs flying everywhere.
	Sian kisses Rhys on the head and walks away.
Rhys	And he looks down on the way back. Not interested in how someone else's sheep are doing, how much silage they're getting next door. Father's always looking around when he drives. Surprised he doesn't crash or hasn't crashed before. Dav doesn't look up until he hears the cattle grid beneath the wheels. Sounds like a bad harp that cattle grid does when the wheels go over. Two chords that could be the same to me or you. But Dav knows the difference between them. One's marked exit and one's marked home. One sound means he's leaving, a thick ugly sound like a bag of pipes falling in a well. He looks down and doesn't look up until he hears the wheels on the grid again. But coming home the sound plays like a chord from Gabriel. Then he smiles. Father says he only smiles like that when he knows he's in the yard. The kind of smile people with bad teeth would love to give. Learnt his name before any of us.