April Windsor (Flanagan) is still a shell of herself since returning from her six weeks on the run in Emmerdale, not least because Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) is inadvertently preventing her from moving on.
April returned a changed woman after her time on the streets, having made two close friends before losing one in a stabbing over her purse, and then herself giving birth to a stillborn baby in a gym toilet.
Everyone knew it would take time for her to readjust, but it’s taking Marlon even longer to accept it. He is still struggling to accept this new version of his daughter, which means rebuilding their relationship is way, way off.
Marlon is woken at night by a noise and sneaks downstairs to find April, who is furious at his lack of trust. He tries to de-escalate the situation, but anything he says only fans the flames.
April hasn’t let her street life go, and she’s later seen sneaking into a derelict squat where she reunites with Dylan, the lad who saved her while she was homeless. It’s perhaps the only place she feels understood.
Marlon follows her and puts both giant feet in it when he confronts her. He’s unprepared for her vitriolic reaction when he jumps to conclusions over what she’s up to.
It further drives a wedge between father and daughter as he proves he hasn’t got the foggiest about what she’s experienced.
But to his surprise, Dylan encourages April to return with her dad. In response, Marlon promises to give April some space.
What Marlon doesn’t expect is to see next is Dylan rock up in the village. April immediately explains she invited him here so Marlon can just back off, but Marlon wants to have words with the lad. He’s afraid of his influence on vulnerable April.
April is firm though, she wants to help Dylan and thinks he belongs in the village.
Pressuring her dad, fickle Marlon caves and allows Dylan to stay the night. But is Marlon’s nightmare only just beginning?
