With every week that goes by, Emmerdale fans are growing more and more horrified by Belle Dingle’s (Eden Taylor-Draper) ordeal at the hands of abusive husband Tom King (James Chase) – and next week’s spoilers show things spiral spectacularly.
As the couple host a dinner party for friends and family, the tension can be cut with a knife – but guests are more focused on Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) and Marlon Dingle’s (Mark Charnock) marriage crashing onto the rocks.
Behind the closed door of the kitchen, Tom’s cruel behaviour is heightened even further, as the true reality of what Belle is enduring is confirmed in incredibly dark scenes.
Back in the dining room, the others are oblivious, and things are only set to get worse.
Meanwhile, another resident is in a terrible situation as Nicky Miligan (Lewis Cope) is left for dead in a car crash, caused by a drunk Ethan Anderson (Emile John).
When Ethan then takes a split-second action, he puts both of their futures on the line.
Monday May 6
Belle sneaks to a doctor appointment to organise her contraceptive prescription. Anxious as she explains to Manpreet she doesn’t want it sent to her home like her other medication and they find a solution.
Meanwhile, at work Tom is patronised by Vanessa when he messes up diagnosing an elderly dog with cancer without conducting the necessary diagnostic tests. When Vanessa and Paddy arrive in the nick of time she swiftly orchestrates the correct blood tests and it is just an abscess.
As the furious customer heads out, Tom starts playing victim, laying it on thick how Vanessa makes him feel unwelcome at the practice. He suddenly turns the tables by inviting the vet staff and their partners to a dinner party tomorrow night at his and Belle’s house.
Tom returns home furious after his terrible day and tells about the dinner tomorrow and firmly puts the success of it down to her.
Feuding Marlon and Rhona finally agree to meet for lunch. Things are awkward. Especially when Rhona tells Marlon she’s accepted Tom’s invite to dinner the following night.
He’s frustrated to have not been consulted. He agrees to attend, but they’re further apart than ever.
Ruby reluctantly accepts Moira’s offering of a reconciliatory lunch. But over lunch Moira comes up with a plan
Tuesday May 7
As guests arrive for the dinner party, tensions simmer between Rhona and Marlon. while loved up Mandy and Paddy only heighten the awkwardness. Tom’s toast about marital solidarity exposes the cracks in Rhona and Marlon’s relationship further.
Belle excuses herself, saying the onions made her cry, as her relationship with the controlling Tom is strained. Unbeknownst to her, he had found her hidden contraceptives earlier.
The row between Rhona and Marlon erupts as they lay bare their issues publicly. Rhona tries leaving, but defiant Marlon rejects it, forcing Rhona to seemingly end their marriage in front of everyone.
In another view of the same events, Belle puts the finishing touches to the Dale Head dinner, but critical Tom asks her to change into a more appropriate outfit, and she compliantly heads upstairs.
Struggling with a kitchen drawer, he finds her hidden contraceptives, but before he can confront her, the guests start to arrive. When Belle goes upstairs Tom joins her in the bathroom.
Soon Tom doesn’t let Belle out of his sight in the kitchen. When Rhona finally puts her foot down to leave following the argument, the other guests apologetically follow suit.
Belle’s desperate for people to stay, but they all make their excuses. And as guests depart, the terrifying reality of Belle’s life with the menacing Tom is laid bare.
Wednesday May 8
With all the nonsense going on at home Nicky is frustrated and asks Suni if they can live together.
Paddy talks to Marlon post dinner party and tries to urge him to make amends with Rhona. He later suggests marriage counselling but worries that she won’t agree.
Desperate Kerry needs to raise money fast and hits onto an idea.
Belle’s struggle is enormous following her ordeals.
Thursday May 9
Nicky asks Caleb for Nate’s shares to become an equal partner, but Caleb only laughs at him, leaving him frustrated.
Meanwhile, Suni is elsewhere in a bar and calls to say one of the men who was part of the homophobic attack on them last year is at the same bar as him.
Nicky wants to drive there, but Ethan sees he’s drunk too much, and says he’ll drive instead. As they head to get to Suni, Ethan sees a police car up ahead.
He turns around, afraid of being over the limit and as Nicky struggles to get hold of Suni on his phone,
Ethan loses control of the car. Soon after, there’s no sign of life from Ethan or Nicky in the crashed car. When Ethan comes round, he carefully pulls Nicky from the car he hides and then sees a car approaching, he watches as Moira discovers unconscious Nicky, before he runs away from the scene.
Kerry tricks her way into Pollard’s barn, and finds a way to get into his laptop. Kerry soon discovers he swindled her by selling her necklace for a fortune.
Furious Kerry plots revenge, convincing Tracy to let her run a cash-only sale at the shop. She ransacks the shop as villagers grab their bargains.
April admits she knows her parents are having issues.
Friday May 10
Ethan’s racked with guilt following the car crash as the consequences of leaving Nicky weigh heavy.
He makes attempts to cover his tracks but questions need answered.
Kerry confronts Pollard over his duplicity while Kim is frustrated by the set-up at Home Farm.
