Emmerdale
Emma tries to keep young Arthur quiet about the video
mon-fri / ITV
Emma’s in a panic. Young Arthur is about to spill the beans over her dirty deeds, so she sets out to destroy his video evidence. Then Laurel walks in on her rummaging in his toybox. Find out what Emma does next on
She is the Queen of manipulation, but Emma Barton is fast realising that trying to stop young Arthur Thomas from blabbing about that video isn’t child’s play. He knows something is afoot, despite her best efforts to explain away the footage that shows her trying to confuse Ashley when he was in the grip of dementia.
Emma starts out by trying to con Arthur by feeding him the old ‘It wasn’t what it looked like’ line, and has the perfect opportunity when she offers to help Laurel by taking the lad to the bus stop.
‘Emma makes out she was trying to help Ashley,’ explains star Gillian Kearney, ‘but Arthur doesn’t believe her, and Emma realises she will have to destroy the evidence. It’s painful knowing that Ashley’s videos are precious memories for the family, but she has to plough on and take this out of Arthur’s hands.’
Emma puts her plan into action during a walk with Laurel. Faking an injury, she sneaks back to Mulberry Cottage to find the video. But Laurel returns unexpectedly, and catches the nutty nurse nosing about in her home. What’s more, she’s so concerned about Emma’s odd behaviour that she has a word with Harriet about it.
Running out of options, a panic-stricken Emma asks God for guidance. ‘Emma really believes that God doesn’t want her secret to get out,’ say Gillian, ‘and comes up with yet another idea. She sets a trap and then lures Arthur in.’
But Arthur is a tough nut to crack, and Emma’s frustration mounts as, after a valiant effort and some world class conniving, the youngster explains that he is going to tell his mum everything.
It looks like Emma’s luck has finally run out – but then she is handed an unexpected lifeline. As her mind games take their toll on Arthur, the schoolboy starts to wet the bed. Desperate to help her son, Laurel decides to seek advice – and reckons Emma, with her medical knowledge and kindly tone, is the perfect person to turn to.
Is Emma set to exploit the situation to her advantage?
Emma makes out she was trying to help Ashley, but Arthur doesn’t believe her