Ross tries to drown Simon
THE BAD BOY BARTON WANTS REVENGE ON HIS ATTACKER…
Raging Ross has murder in mind this week, as he gets Simon – the man who attacked him with acid – right where he wants him. But when events reach a dramatic climax, there’s one thing standing in the way as Ross prepares to become a murderer – his Auntie Moira…
Following the tip-off from his ex-lover Dawn, Ross discovers that Simon is attending Joe Tate’s masquerade ball with the intention of robbing the joint while he’s there. Grabbing a holdall packed with duct tape, rope and plastic ties, Ross rushes up to the estate to kidnap Simon. What does he want from the man who destroyed his life?
“Ultimately, Ross wants to hear Simon confess, and he wants justice to be served, but because the court case was thrown out, the only justice he can get is revenge,” explains Michael Parr, who plays the Barton brother. “It’s gone past getting ‘an eye for an eye’ given the mental torture that Simon has put him through. Ross just wants to kill him.”
This is a very dangerous situation, not least because Ross has started relying on hard drugs to get him through the day. His judgement is clouded – and his plan is flawed, to say the least…
“As always with Ross, there are more holes in his plan than a sieve!” despairs Mike. “There’s a scramble when he hears where Simon is, and he rushes to put things in a bag. He packs some weapons and things to tie him up with, so he just acts instinctually. He thinks he’s planning – but with Ross, it never goes to plan.”
When he arrives at Home Farm, his Aunt Moira spots him and then Simon. Realising that Ross plans to kill, Moira tries to intervene.
“She’s the good angel on his shoulder, and she tells him that he doesn’t really want to do this,” shares Mike. “Moira can relate to this because she killed Emma, Ross’ mum. She knows how hard it is to live with a death on your conscience.”
However, when Ross claps eyes on Simon, the fella sees red – and the chase is on.
“Ross is furious,” says Mike. “This secretive plan goes right out of the window, and they take off on foot chasing each other. Ross is in a rage, and after he catches Simon, who
“Ross needs the chapter to be closed on this part of his life”
keeps lying, it sends him over the edge. Simon’s terrified because of how Ross is, and there’s a big fight scene. It was great fun to film.”
Moira discovers the two men at the lake, and she does everything in her power to get through to Ross. But given the ordeal he’s been through at Simon’s hands, it’s unclear if she’ll be able to make any difference. Will Ross get what he needs from this revenge moment?
“He needs the chapter to be closed on this part of his life,” muses Mike. “It would be a huge milestone if he could just get a confession from Simon, and some kind of justice.”