The Snow Spider

I can hear them. Children. Dim Hon.

Nain said it was to be locked away and forget about it.

So, what's the point in having it, then, if you can't use it?

No!

WIND BLOWS

You let the horse go, didn't you?

And now, what was trapped inside it all these years has been released.

But how can we stop something so terrible?

You have Arianwen to help you.

He must be stopped, Gwyn.

Can you? I don't know how.

THUNDER RUMBLES

HORSES NEIGH

SHEEP BLEAT

DOG BARKS

HE ROARS

FOOTSTEPS THUD HEAVILY

DOOR OPENS

Efnisien mustn't be strong enough yet.

But he soon will be.

Here.

The Stories of Mabinogion?!

That's him. Efnisien.

What language is this?

It's Old Welsh. I can't read it.

But if Gwydion from these legends defeated him,

maybe this will tell me how.

ARIANWEN SQUEAKS

I was hoping you might help with that.

"Branwen, daughter of Llyr..."

I knew it! I knew you could do it!

Those words, I know them.

Nain! She used to read these to us.

I remember.

"Read those to us"?

Who are you?

I think you know who I am, the girl you saw in the web.

And those clothes, they fit you perfectly.

They're Bethan's, from when she went.

I'm not Bethan, Gwyn.

And the scarf! What scarf?

I never told you. There was an extra gift from Nain,

a scrap of Bethan's scarf from when she went missing.

And you used it? Yes! When I made the silver ship.

You must miss her so much.

But I promise, Gwyn, I'm not your sister.

Not any more, anyway.

What do you mean? I think I was once.

But then I went out there.

Onto the mountain?

Yes, but much further than that.

So, now you're Eirlys?

And I always will be, Gwyn.

Always.

What's wrong with you? Nothing.

Well, that's not true. You look like they stole Christmas.

I saw her, Nia.

I saw Eirlys. Alun! When?

The other night, when we were playing in the top room.

Why didn't you say something? She could have been hurt.

She was there, but then...

Then she wasn't.

But I was kind of glad she was gone.

She freaks me out.

Why? Oh, come on! You must see that she's a little bit odd.

And...? And she's taken Gwyn.

No-one's taken Gwyn away from you and you know it.

It was you who made the spaceship story, wasn't it?

No, Gwyn told that to me. He really did.

Did he ask you to keep it a secret? But it couldn't have been true.

That doesn't matter. Did he ask you not to tell anyone?

Thought so.

Bethan left four years ago, when those clothes fitted her.

Why haven't you grown?

You've seen us. Heard our voices.

Did they sound like old voices to you?

It sounds like a school.

But without the teachers.

You're all...children. There are no grown-ups.

We grow up on the inside, but not on the outside.

And that's OK?

It's better than OK, Gwyn.

It's wonderful.

It means we gain knowledge and wisdom,

but we also get to keep all the fun and love of being a child.

Imagine you and Alun together, without arguments.

We never used to argue.

Anyway, I thought you didn't like Alun.

I don't mind Alun. It's just...he's not like you, Gwyn.

He doesn't understand your magic.

Hold on, if you're not Bethan any more, then why did you come back?

To help, I think.

That night you saw me in the web, I saw you needed me.

I just waited for your call.

But if you're not Bethan any more, then how do you remember the stories?

Just because I'm Eirlys now

doesn't mean I don't have Bethan's memories.

Of you, of Mam and Dad and our home.

Mrs Griffiths, have you seen Gwyn?

I'm afraid not, Alun. I haven't seen him since Friday.

I'll go and check the farm.

Alun! You tell Gwyn to stay safe now and that goes for you, too. Yeah?

It's no time for children to be roaming around

with the weather all up on its hind legs.

DISTANT THUNDER RUMBLES

"Then, one day, Efnisien came across the horses of the Irish King.

" 'Whose horses are these?' he said.

" 'Why, they're the King of Ireland's,' he was told.

" 'And he is to marry your sister, Branwen, today.'

"Efnisien screamed.

" 'No-one asked me. She shall not marry! Not today!'

"And then, Efnisien took out his sword and went for the horses..."

Enough!

Gwydion must have trapped Efnisien's spirit in the horse

to punish him for what he did.

And now I've set him free.

So it's my responsibility to trap him again.

DISTANT THUNDER

And mine, Gwyn.

What do you mean? You can't go out there again.

No, Gwyn. You wouldn't have taken the horse out there

if it wasn't for me. You knew not to let it go.

I have to help you stop him.

But...how do you stop a storm?

"Then, Gwydion trapped the prince's storm

"and destroyed he who had brought it upon them..."

A trap!

That's what you need to make with your magic.

A trap to turn his powers against him.

But...

..how will I know what to do? You'll know.

When the time comes, Gwydion will return to help you and you'll know.

SHE SQUEAKS

THUNDER RUMBLES

You can do this, Gwyn. I believe in you.

You have the power to do this.

Thanks. For what?

I caused this. And I lied to you.

Well, you told me the truth in the end. OK?

If I don't come back, tell Mam and Dad I love them. No!

Gwyn, I'm coming with you!

No, you should stay.

If I don't capture him, they'll need you.

She'll protect me.

Come on, Arianwen. Let's do this.

DISTANT RUMBLING

"Nothing wrong with being scared.

"How can anyone be brave, if they're not scared first?

"And that's what you are, Gwyn.

"Brave!

"Your power will protect you."

INDISTINCT WHISPERING

SHE SQUEAKS

DOORBELL RINGS

Alun! Mrs Griffiths, is Gwyn home?

Yeah, just up in his room.

Where's Gwyn?

What have you done with him? Nothing. He's gone to see his Nain.

No, he hasn't. I've just been there.

He told me to say he's at his Nain's.

I don't care what he told you to say. Well, we know that, don't we?

But some of us can keep a secret.

Look, that's why I'm here, to say sorry.

To Gwyn?

Yeah.

And you.

I really need to see him.

Please?

He isn't here.

Then where is he? DISTANT THUNDER CRACKLES

Up on the mountain. Why? He's trying to save us.

All of us. You're not making any sense.

Whatever he's doing, he shouldn't be up there on his own. Alun!

I'll come with you.

WIND HOWLS

THUNDER RUMBLES

DISTANT HORSE NEIGHS

SHE SQUEAKS

THUNDER RUMBLES AND ROLLS

Gwyn!

Gwyn!

Gwyn! Gwyn!

Gwyn!

Eirlys?

Eirlys!

"Ac yno, fe gaethiwodd Gwydion storm y tywysog dieflig."

ARIANWEN CHIRRUPS

MANIACAL LAUGH

Gwyn!

DISTANT MANIACAL LAUGH

DOORBELL

Gwyn? Oh, hiya. Come in, come in. Gwyn?

I'm...I'm getting the car. They're not here.

Well, as I was driving up... What? What did you see?

They were so far up the mountain,

I thought it was you two checking the sheep.

Ivor, call Mountain Rescue!

MANIACAL LAUGH

Arianwen!

THUNDER RUMBLES