Will Shona spill her secret?
AS DRUNKEN DAVID GOES OFF THE RAILS, SHONA COMES TO HIS RESCUE…
There’s shocking news for David and Shona this week, when it emerges that Kylie’s killer Clayton is at death’s door after an incident at the Young Offender Institution.
As Clayton’s mother, Shona is horrified when she finds out, while David – who has no idea about Shona’s relationship to his wife’s murderer – is delighted. However, when Shona later finds drunken David slumped on the cobbles where Kylie died, in the path of any oncoming traffic, she rushes to his aid. Will their growing bond prompt her to admit who she really is?
“Shona is already struggling to keep her secret,” admits Julia Goulding, who plays her. “She was finding it difficult even before she knew that David was Kylie’s husband – and now she’s being pulled in loads of different directions. It’s awkward, and even more so when Gail is around, because Shona is very aware that she’s watching her like a hawk.
“It’s a catch-22 situation, because while she feels relieved that someone knows her secret, she’s also feeling guilty that it’s David’s mum of all people who has to keep it.”
OPPOSITES ATTRACT
Shona’s guilty conscience weighs heavily on her after she and David are roped in by vicar Billy to help out at his charity bring-and-buy sale. And as the pair continue to spend more time together, the unlikely connection between them begins to develop…
“It’s the first time that Shona has started warming to David again since she found out about his plans to suicide-bomb Clayton’s prison van,” shares Julia. “But I think the reason for that is that David and Kylie’s kids are at the church event, too – and Shona does care about those children.”
While Shona is the one in the know, David has no idea that it’s Shona’s son who killed his beloved wife – and should he ever find out, there’s no telling how he’d react. So it seems incomprehensible that the pair should end up closer, particularly as their reactions to Clayton’s injuries are at opposite ends of the scale.
“Shona is very confused when it comes to her feelings about David,” sighs Julia. “On top of any feelings that may or may not be there, there are layers of guilt, stress and self-protection. So if she does feel anything significant for him, then it’s all buried quite deep…”
COBBLES CONFESSION?
Shona discovers that her son is fighting for his life in hospital after she overhears Faye telling Phelan that there’s been a fight at the Young Offender Institution. Shona rushes off immediately – while in her absence, David also hears the shock news.
It’s no surprise that learning Clayton is so badly injured that he may not survive is considered a reason to celebrate by grieving David. But following his jubiliation, Shona discovers David sat in a drunken heap on the Street, slumped over the spot where Kylie passed away. With a car coming towards him, Shona dashes across the road to help David before he gets hurt – so might this be the moment that she decides to be honest, and confess to David that she’s Clayton’s mother?
“Everything has gone so far, so Shona knows that the repercussions of coming clean at this point would just be huge,” says Julia. “She’s finally settled down in this community, got herself a job and formed some good friendships. I personally think that she should tell David the truth – it’s always better to be honest in the end.
“But if she does decide to keep quiet, it’s very well known that secrets never stay hidden for long in soapland…”