Showing posts with label 1989. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1989. Show all posts

Tuesday 18 December 2018

1989: Denis Rigg - Crushed Or Gored By A Bull?

Denis Rigg did not worry Mr Wilks.

Sharon has written to ask whether Denis Rigg, the shady businessman played by Richard K Franklin, ex-Mike Yates of Doctor Who, was crushed or gored by the bull which saw him exit the show in 1989? Apparently she has read on another site that he was gored.

Crushed, Sharon. The scene clearly shows the bull sideways on to Mr Rigg. There was no room in the stable for the bull to manoeuvre itself round to gore Mr Rigg. His angry manner distressed the bull which crushed him against the wall. Sheila Mercier, the wonderful Annie Sugden, recounted an occasion in which she walked between two cows carrying a bucket containing food for the geese. The cows moved together, missing Sheila, but crushing the bucket! This may have provided some inspiration for the Rigg storyline, which was also something of a public information sequence: do not act in an alarming manner in close proximity to cows or bulls - and do not put yourself between one of them and a wall while doing so! Joe Sugden (Frazer Hines) added to the message with his alarmed calls to Rigg to modify his behaviour.

Monday 11 July 2011

1989: The End Of The Matt And Dolly Years

When Matt Skilbeck married Dolly Acaster in 1978, it seemed that a happier era in his life was about to begin. Matt was no stranger to unhappiness and tragedy. His first marriage was to Peggy Sugden, only daughter of Annie and Jacob. It was a successful union, although Peggy was anxious for Matt to get on in the world and frustrated by his placid nature and tendency, as she saw it, to be taken advantage of.

Peggy died suddenly in 1973, shortly after the birth of twins, Sam and Sally. The twins themselves were killed, along with Matt's Auntie Beattie, when Beattie's car stalled on a level crossing and was hit by a train in 1976.

Dolly too had known unhappiness - the birth and subsequent adoption of a son, Graham, born of an unhappy relationship.

Perhaps the quintessential "Matt and Dolly Years", once jokingly referred to by comedienne Victoria Wood, began in 1980 - when Jean Rogers, the actress most associated with the role of Dolly, took over from Katharine Barker.

In the storyline, the couple knew some happiness - the birth of a son, Sam, and a move into a two bedroomed extension cottage at Emmerdale Farm - both events making 1982 something of a golden year for the couple. But there was also more turmoil and tragedy: Dolly lost two babies - the first at an advanced stage of her pregnancy in early 1980, the second in an early miscarriage in 1986 - the same year that Matt stood accused of murder.

As if that wasn't enough, Dolly's long-lost son turned up searching for her after deserting from the Army, a farmhouse called Crossgill, unexpectedly left to the couple, suffered a disastrous fire in 1988 and then, in the same year, Dolly had an affair with timber consultant Stephen Fuller (Gregory Floy).

And the Skilbecks' marriage fell apart.

Matt left Beckindale for Norfolk. Actor Frederick Pyne filmed his final scenes in November 1989 and the character last appeared on-screen in December. Dolly and young Sam (Benjamin Whitehead) remained in Beckindale until 1991.

It was a sad ending for what had seemed a happy and enduring screen marriage, and for some of the viewers' favourite characters.

Wednesday 7 April 2010

Matt And Dolly Skilbeck - The End Part 2

Matt and Dolly Skilbeck (Frederick Pyne and Jean Rogers), 1989 - their marriage was in its death throes.

When Matt received the letter from Dolly's solicitor regarding their divorce, he tore round to the mill house. Dolly was divorcing him on grounds which made him look totally responsible for the breakdown of their marriage. He had deserted the marital bed, but there was no mention as to why...

Dolly pointed out that Matt had agreed she should divorce him when they'd discussed the matter some months previously. It was all just words anyway. Things would be easier this way.

Annie Sugden (Sheila Mercier) was deeply disturbed by the break-up. In her day, marriage was forever. Dolly pointed out that Annie had endured years of misery with Jacob. Annie stated firmly that Matt wasn't Jacob.

But it was no use.

The Crossgill fire in 1988, the destruction of the new home she'd hoped to share with Matt and Sam, had changed something within Dolly. She had been happy with her home at Emmerdale Farm, absolutely thrilled when she and Matt had moved into the extension cottage in late 1982.

But the idea of having a home away from the farm, somewhere for just herself, her husband and child, had entranced Dolly. When it was suddenly and dramatically snatched away from them, she was left feeling isolated - Matt was happy to go on living at Emmerdale Farm. He didn't seem to understand her sense of loss.

And then Stephen Fuller had come along...

And now Stephen was dead, but Dolly's feelings towards him had damaged her marriage. Matt couldn't forgive her. And Dolly felt that maybe it was a good thing. She felt that her marriage to Matt was over.

And she must move forward.

Matt rather bitterly told Dolly that he hoped Sam would forgive her when she came to tell him how their marriage had broken up. Dolly replied that she would be as kind as she could be to both of them when the time came.

"I still love you, Dolly," Matt said.

But Dolly didn't want to hear that. She still had feelings for Matt, but her conviction that it was time to move on was absolute.

Left alone in the extension cottage at Emmerdale Farm, Matt felt lost.

Annie spoke to him, telling him that in her day marriage was forever, if a marriage broke-up, the couple felt that they were letting everyone down.

Matt replied that divorce might be technically easier in the 1980s, but it didn't hurt any the less.

And then, out of the blue, Frank Tate (Norman Bowler), new owner of Home Farm, came up with an offer for Matt that rocked him on his heels. Frank had been both annoyed and impressed when Matt had stuck his oar in regarding the sorry state of some sheep which were being transported by Tate Haulage.

Frank resented Matt's interference, but the man was obviously a dedicated shepherd - his reputation in Beckindale was second to none.

So, via Frank, came the idea that Matt that should relocate and take up a new job on a large sheep farm in Norfolk. Matt was uncertain.

But Frank unsettled him, telling him that farming was on the move - Emmerdale Farm probably had another decade left at the most.

With Joe and Jack Sugden (Clive Hornby and Frazer Hines) bickering again, Matt realised that if he moved to Norfolk Jack could move back to Emmerdale from Demdyke Row, without being around Joe too much.

Jack could have the extension cottage.

Dolly was shocked by the suddenness of Matt's decision. She'd been worrying about him, and called to see how he was.

She'd never envisaged that Matt would leave Beckindale.

The thought of him going hurt her, even though she no longer wished to be married to him.

But she felt it would be a good move for Matt. He would be moving forward with his life too.

"You do right, love," she said, warmly.

And so came the day of parting.

Annie had come to regard Matt as family.

As had her father, Sam (Toke Townley).

When Dolly's Aunt Jessie had arrived for the christening of young Sam in 1983, and was wondering who the baby resembled, Sam senior had said: "He's got my nose!"

"You're no relation, Dad!" Annie reminded him.

"I keep forgetting!" said Sam.

Annie was well aware that she and Matt weren't flesh and blood relations.

But there was a strong family bond between them nonetheless.

Matt asked Annie to look out for Dolly and Sam junior.

"May God go with you," Annie said at the moment of parting.

And then, as Matt walked through the door for the very last time, Annie wept.

Frederick Pyne's last appearance as Matt Skilbeck was in episode 1410, broadcast on 7 December 1989.

Monday 15 February 2010

1989: Kim Tate Arrives...

Seth Armstrong (Stan Richards) was, of course, always a kindly, helpful soul. On meeting a newcomer to the village on horseback one day in December 1989, he noted the "posh" way she spoke, noted she was a stranger to the area, noted she was seeking directions to Home Farm, and decided to have some fun.

The newcomer on horseback was Mrs Kim Tate (Claire King), wife of the new owner of Home Farm, Frank Tate (Norman Bowler). Mrs Tate had set out from Skipdale on a bet with step-daughter, Zoe (Leah Bracknell). The two would both try and reach their new home at Home Farm on horseback, and who ever won the bet would get a quid.

Seth described a very circuitous route to Home Farm, all up hill and down dale...

He was laughing about his trick to Bill Whiteley (Teddy Turner) later in The Woolpack, reckoning that Mrs Tate would probably be halfway to Harrogate by now, when a voice from just behind him stated firmly: "Oh no I'm not!"

And there was Kim, on her first but certainly not last visit to The Woolpack Inn.

Kim was not amused by Seth's mischief. Her horse was exhausted by its hard ride over the surrounding countryside.

Mine host Amos Brearly (Ronald Magill) had discovered he had bats in the attic in 1980. In 1989, he had bats in the belfry. Who else but '80s Amos could have dreamt up the idea of turning Dracula into a pantomime? And who else could write such dialogue as: "Fee fo fi fum, me thinks I'll drink the blood of an Englishman" for Dracula to say?

Taking a break from his epic work, Amos emerged into the bar to discover Henry Wilks (Arthur Pentelow) and Dolly Skilbeck (Jean Rogers) hard at work, and a strange woman standing on the public side of the bar with Seth and Bill. And not only that but a strange woman who had left a horse on his forecourt. Horses were not allowed on The Woolpack forecourt!

"Mr Wilks - fetch the shovel!" yelped Amos, hurrying outside.

Henry ushered Kim outside, where Amos let her have it - both barrels - she must remove the horse forthwith!

"Horses are not allowed on Woolpack property under any circumstances whatsoever!"

Zoe had caught up with Kim, and the two women rode off together.

Henry then informed Amos that these woman were two members of the new family at Home Farm.

Amos was horrified. He wanted to keep in well with the local "gentry" - and besides that he'd already met Frank Tate and he was financing Dracula!

"Ladies! Ladies!" whined Amos, but it was too late - Kim and Zoe continued on their way.

Kim's next port of call was Emmerdale Farm, where she tethered her horse in the farmyard and knocked at the farmhouse door. Giving barely a few seconds for her knock to be answered, she set off to search for the farm owner.

A moment later, Annie Sugden (Sheila Mercier) emerged and was surprised to find no sign of a visitor, but a horse in the yard...

Kim came across Joe Sugden (Frazer Hines) at work in an outbuilding.

"Excuse me, can you tell me where I can find the owner?"

"Who's asking?"

"Is anybody round here capable of answering a simple question?" Kim was getting annoyed.

"Tell you what, let's start again, eh?" said Joe.

Kim explained to Joe that her horse was exhausted, and that she was trying to get to Home Farm. Had Joe got a horse box?

No, replied Joe, but he could get one.

Thank goodness!" said Kim.

As Joe loaded the horse into the horse box, Annie re-emerged from the farmhouse.

"Were you the person who thumped on my door?"

"I knocked, yes, but there was nobody in," said Kim.

"Well there was actually," Annie was slightly cold. She told Kim that she had been working at the top of the house. "And when I got to the kitchen door, all I could see was a horse. Huh!"

And Annie went indoors again, clearly unimpressed.

This was Emmerdale episode 1411, broadcast on 12 December 1989.

And Kim's introduction to Beckindale.

The 1980s were coming to an end. But before the decade died, newcomers were arriving in Beckindale who would ensure life would never be the same again.

Sunday 14 February 2010

Nick Bates In Glasses...

Nick Bates (Cy Chadwick) in The Woolpack in 1989 with Seth Armstrong (Stan Richards) and Jock MacDonald (Drew Dawson), and at an interview for the job of gardener at Home Farm - also in 1989.

Further to Chris' enquiry about Nick Bates (Cy Chadwick) wearing glasses in 1990 episodes of Emmerdale, I have checked all the episodes, beginning in March 1990 (when Nick was already wearing glasses) and working backwards.

The first appearance of the character wearing glasses dates back to 1989 - episode 1412, broadcast on 14 December.

I have skimmed through the episodes, looking at all scenes involving Nick and also his sister, Kathy Merrick (Malandra Burrows), and have found no reference in the dialogue to Nick's glasses at all.

It seems likely that actor Cy Chadwick was wearing glasses at the time, and that's why Nick suddenly wore them as well.

Actually, it's been good to focus on Nick for a while. The character was very ordinary and believable, but Cy Chadwick's portrayal never seemed dull.

Monday 28 December 2009

Dolly Skilbeck and Norfolk - Information Received...

We strayed out of the 1980s and into 1991 recently to pose the question: "Why did Dolly Skilbeck move to Norfolk?" It was known in 1991 that Jean Rogers, who had played Dolly since 1980, was unhappy about one of her final story-lines - Dolly having an abortion after an affair with the thoroughly unpleasant Charlie Aindow. Dolly had started work at the Beckindale playgroup in 1980 after a miscarriage, had been blessed with the birth of a healthy son, Sam, in 1982, and then suffered a further miscarriage in 1986. As Jean Rogers pointed out, it was well known that Dolly loved children and the idea of her having an abortion seemed totally out of character.

Why did Dolly move to Norfolk, we asked? Was it to be reconciled with husband Matt, who had gone there in December 1989? Several kind people have contributed their thoughts, and now Tim writes to say:

Dolly was tired and distressed after her affair with Charlie and her abortion. The story was highly unsatisfactory, I felt the abortion was something Dolly would not do, it was simply a trendy story the producer wanted to cover and Dolly was the character it was pinned to.

Dolly left the village to take Sam to live near his father and to get totally away from Beckindale. I don't think there was any suggestion of her and Matt getting together again as a couple. Didn't they part on bad terms?

No, Tim, in December 1989, just before he left Beckindale, Matt told Dolly he still loved her.

I don't think there is a conclusion to the Matt and Dolly story - well, at least not a conclusion that has ever been mentioned on screen! Thanks for writing.

December 1989 - Matt tells Dolly he still loves her. Jean Rogers, who debuted as Dolly in April 1980, and Frederick Pyne, who appeared in the very first episode, made Matt and Dolly an excellent advertisement for marriage for most of the 1980s. Then, 1988 arrived...

Wednesday 16 December 2009

Emmerdale - 1989 Festivities...



Just discovered on YouTube - a small glimpse of Christmas 1989 in Beckindale.

Monday 7 December 2009

1989: Matt And Dolly Skilbeck - The End - Part 1

It was in November 1989 that Dolly Skilbeck (Jean Rogers) took some news to her estranged husband, Matt (Frederick Pyne). She didn't come straight out with it. The conversation began with the thorny subject of the Skilbecks' current financial arrangements - or lack of them.

Their bank account was £185 overdrawn, and as Dolly pointed out, usually it was never overdrawn. Matt began to go through the statement, questioning Dolly about a couple of withdrawals. What had she been spending the money on?

"I've got to live!" cried Dolly. "I still can't get anything out of our building society account, remember?"

"I'll have it put in joint names - you know you only have to ask!"

"I don't want to have to ask - it's our money!"

"What's this sudden interest in money? I mean, what's this gone on?" Matt indicated the bank statement withdrawals again.

"Matt - it's Christmas!"

"That's weeks off!"

"Yeah, but it's still got to be sorted out - and as usual, it's left to me! What have you done?"

"I've been busy," Matt sighed.

"Well don't you think you should've? I mean, what do you expect me to do - give presents and cards from 'Dolly, Matt and Sam'?"

"Some of us've got other things to think about!"

"Oh, so you won't be buying your own son a Christmas present?"

"Of course I will!"

"And what about Sandie and Louise, what about Kathy, what about everybody?"

"I'm not bothered about anyone else! Sam'll get what he wants from me, I'll 'ave 'im up 'ere for Christmas and..."

Dolly was furious: "Oh no you won't!"

"Oh yes I will - this is where he belongs! You can mess me about Sunday afternoons and any other time, but not at Christmas - Sam comes here!"

"No, no - the Mill's his home now, not Emmerdale!"

"And where do I fit in with that?"

"Where do I fit in with your arrangements for Christmas? Right then, me and Sam'll spend Christmas together."

"We'll 'ave to see about that!" And Matt shrugged on his coat and made to go out.

"Matt! I wanna divorce! I want it all sorted, I've 'ad enough!" said Dolly

Matt paused, startled: "Why've you changed your mind? I offered you a divorce months ago - didn't seem to me it'd make any difference, and I thought you felt the same!"

"But it's gone on too long. I'm sure you want something sorted out after all this time - think about Sam!"

"What about him?"

"If we had a proper settlement you could see him at set times - you'd know where you were and so would I. We wouldn't have these arguments. We could start to lead our own separate lives. Not like this - with everything in a complete mess!"

"Well, I'll have to give it some thought - but for now I've got work to do!" Matt left the cottage.

Dolly pursued him outside and round to the front of the Emmerdale farmhouse: "Matt! Matt- listen!"

"I've said I'll give it some thought, not NOW not HERE!"

Dolly dropped a bombshell. "I've already seen the solicitor."

Matt was rocked on his heels: "You've done WHAT?!"

"I've seen the solicitor and I'm going to divorce you, Matt - like you suggested. You don't have to do anything - all right? It's all set up. Solicitor's working on it now. He'll be writing to you..."

"That's instead of a Christmas card, is it?" said Matt, bitterly.

"We couldn't go on the way we are. He'll write to you in a week or two."

Matt was devastated and moved away quickly. Dolly, greatly distressed, got into her car and left the farm...

To Be Continued...

Saturday 28 November 2009

E-Mails... Thanks For The Memory, And More About Kim Tate...

Justin writes:

What a memory you have! The whole history of Emmerdale crammed into your little grey cells!

Actually, Justin, my power of recall is lousy! My absolute favourite era of Emmerdale Farm was from 1980-1987, and although I enjoyed 1972-1979 and 1988-1990, I couldn't tell you much about what happened. And I have no interest in telly soaps of the 1990s or today. My ultra-reliable knowledge of the 1980s episodes of Emmerdale Farm/Emmerdale is simply down to the fact that I have most of them on DVD, taped from the satellite repeats years ago!

Christine says:

I'm so glad Kim Tate won your poll - definitely one of the most important Emmerdale character introductions of all time. I'm enjoying these "visits" to 1989, but what is coming across so far is that life was a lot slower in Emmerdale (or rather Beckindale) then. I'd forgotten how wordy it all was. Lovely to relive the memories.

Thanks, Christine. More to come. Next up is the final breakdown of the marriage of Matt and Dolly Skilbeck...

Friday 27 November 2009

1989 Emmerdale - The Story-Lines - How The New Era Began...

Emmerdale - the new era...

The scene is Main Street, Beckindale, November, 1989. Sarah Connolly (Madeleine Howard) has arrived with the mobile library. She greets a passer-by.

Henry Wilks (Arthur Pentelow) calls to her from the front step at The Woolpack, where he is bringing in the milk, mail and morning paper:

"Morning, Miss Connolly!"

"Mr Wilks!" says Sarah.

"Bit nippy!" says Henry.

"Certainly is!" says Sarah.

Inside The Woolpack, Henry tells Amos Brearly (Ronald Magill) that Sarah is back from her training course. Amos is agog and asks if Henry can take over the tidying up behind the bar.

"You can't wait to tell her that Jack's back - and fancy free!" Henry teases.

"As a matter of fact I was looking forward to asking her how she enjoyed Winchester!" says Amos, offended. "But as Jack's a friend of hers..."

Amos feels it would be "polite" to tell her. Henry tells him that Marian and Jack have got their own lives to lead now - he isn't telling Sarah that Jack is back in circulation. His attention is distracted as he sorts through the morning mail by a letter from Capri - from Marian. He goes to the back room to read it.

Nosey Amos is torn between following Henry and discovering what the letter says, and going out to the mobile library to impart the glad tidings about Jack's return to Sarah. The mobile library wins, and he scurries out of The Woolpack.

At Emmerdale Farm, Annie (Sheila Mercier) tells Jack (Clive Hornby) that she can't get over how Robert (Christopher Smith) has grown. "It's all that pasta!" grins Jack.

Annie goes to get Robert some orange squash, asking Jack if he's staying for dinner as she does so.

"No, I don't think so, Ma," says Jack. "I've got to go to the airport!"

"What?!" Annie is puzzled.

"Don't panic - I haven't changed my mind - I'm having some stuff air freighted over - just a few bits and pieces."

Annie asks if he wants to store the "bits and pieces" at the farm. Jack says yes.

"Does that mean you'll be moving in with them?" asks Annie.

"Oh, we're fine at the moment, with Kathy!"

"You've been there long enough!" says Annie. "Isn't it time you decided?"

"I haven't decided anything, Ma," Jack replies.

Annie tells Jack it's time he made some plans - he can't just "drift along" like this.

"That sounds like a good plan to me!" says Jack.

"Oh, Jack!" Annie is exasperated.

"You've got to live for the present, Ma," says Jack. "It's much less complicated."

"Is that so?!" Annie challenges him. "What's your plan for the present, then?"

"To see Joe, I s'pose," grins Jack. "I've got to scrounge something to drive to the airport, haven't I?"

At the mobile library, Sarah is aware that Amos is hovering, having already selected some reading matter. "Do you want another book, Mr Brearly?"

"Nay, nay - just browsing!" says Amos. "This'll do me." He steps forward: "I don't suppose it'll be news to you as a certain member of the community's back in Beckindale."

"Sorry?" Sarah is puzzled.

"I thought you'd have heard - him being a good friend of yours!"

"A friend of mine?"

"Jack Sugden's back!"

Sarah is slightly rocked on her heels, but does her best to conceal the fact from Amos.

"Oh. Is he?" She turns her back on Amos, and begins replacing returned books in the shelves.

"Aye, you could've knocked me over with a feather!" squawks Amos. "There we were, all expecting him and Marian and little Niccolo, then he came back on his own!"

"Well, Jack was always one for surprises!" says Sarah, keeping her tone cool.

"This were a surprise - a big surprise!" cries Amos. "I thought he might've phoned you!"

"Me? Oh, I don't think so. It's probably just a business thing - a holiday perhaps."

"Nay, nay!" says Amos. "It's all over between him and Marian. He's back for good!"

Sarah manages to keep her calm exterior, finally asking: "Are you sure you don't want another book, Mr Brearly?"

Amos leaves. Sarah lets her mask slip. The news of Jack's return has left her feeling more emotionally churned up than she would ever reveal to Amos.

At Emmerdale Farm, 1980 is casting a long shadow into November 1989. In February 1980, Jack had returned to Beckindale. Joe had been uneasy at his brother's return, but the once-in-a-lifetime offer to join Ed Hathersage in America for the summer had provided a welcome respite from the challenge of working with Jack. Joe, the pragmatist, found Jack's idealism hard to handle when it came to farming.

Returning to England later in 1980, Joe had been offered a job as farm manager at NY Estates, and so had bowed out of active work at Emmerdale Farm, although he remained on the board of the limited company.

The thing was, Joe had felt that his position as farm manager at Emmerdale Farm had been ended by Jack's return, and as the years went on Joe came to feel that Jack had as good as thrown him off the farm. When Jack took off on his travels again in 1988, Joe had stepped into the breach at Emmerdale Farm.

And now, here Jack was back again.

Would the next few months turn out to be a re-run of 1980, with Jack taking over the farm and Joe being left feeling pushed out?

Kate (Sally Knyvette) is anxious about Joe and asks Kathy (Malandra Burrows) about the past situation regarding Jack and Joe:

"He pushed him out of Emmerdale before."

"Before my time," says Kathy, who arrived in Beckindale in 1985.

"Joe is really convinced that he's lying low plotting something terrible - he's really winding himself up about it."

"Oh, I don't think Jack knows what he wants to do - he just seems relieved to be out of Italy."

"I just wish he'd make up his mind - for my sake at least!" says Kate.

"I don't think Joe's got anything to worry about, you know."

"I just wish that Jack'd tell Joe what he wants to do!"

Jack and Joe Sugden (Frazer Hines) and Matt Skilbeck (Frederick Pyne) are out, selecting sheep to go to market.

"What about this one?" asks Joe.

"Yeah, let her go - she should've gone last year," says Matt.

"Never - there's life in her yet - give her another chance!" Jack grins, teasingly.

"Give over - she's well past it!" says Matt.

"Might get another chance on an Italian farm, but not on this one!" says Joe.

"Aye, I'd forgotten about the profit in pie meat!" taunts Jack. "Still, it saves all that messing, don't it? Straight down to market and a few more bob in your pocket! I dunno! New beef herd, milk production up, even a smart new kitchen. Who says farmers are starving?!"

"Is there owt we can get you?" asks Joe, stung.

"Aye, you can lend me the Land Rover!" says Jack.

"What for?"

"Well, I'll hire it if you like! Just some stuff I've got to collect from the airport!"

"Yeah, it's there - the keys are in it!" said Joe, indicating the Land Rover.

"It's not going to stop production, or anything? I mean I don't want to upset the accountant!" sneers Jack.

"Just take it, will you?" Joe is sick of his brother's "banter".

"Are we gonna get this lot sorted for market, or aren't we?" cries Matt.

"You heard the man - time is money!" says Jack, and leaves them to it.

"What's on for lunch today, Mr Brearly?" asks Sarah Connolly, back at the mobile library.

"My own meat and tatie pie!" says Amos, rather proudly.

"Save some for me!" smiles Sarah.

At Hotten Market, Matt has made a grim discovery, in the back of a truck carrying sheep.

"Have you seen the state of this lot in here - have a look!" he tells Joe.

"They're a bit tightly packed!" says Joe.

"There's one of 'em dead - and three of 'em off their legs!" says Matt.

"Well, it happens," says Joe.

"Yeah, with cowboy firms, not Tate's!" says Matt.

"Yeah, well I'll get our heifers ready," says Joe.

"Have you had a look in here lately?" Matt asks the truck driver.

"Why, what's up pal?" says the driver.

"Is something wrong?" asks a young man, approaching - closely followed by Eric Pollard (Christopher Chittell).

"Yes, there is summat wrong - the condition of these ewes in here! There's one dead and some of 'em are down!"

"Dead?!" cries the young man who is Christopher Tate (Peter Amory), although Matt doesn't know it. Christopher takes a peek in the back of the truck. "Some of 'em are getting on - he's held on to them too long. Still, we're off-loading them now."

"You're not letting 'em through in this state, are you?" Matt asks Eric.

"The paperwork is in order, Mr Skilbeck," says Eric.

"They'll be in the abattoir by tonight - I'll see to it that farm gets a good ticking off!" says Christopher.

Matt insists that he wants the vet to be brought out. Eric insists that the paperwork is "A-OK". Christopher says he takes Matt's point - but it's just a bad bunch. Matt accuses them of "market hopping" - nobody else will take the sheep in that state, so they bring them to Hotten.

"This really is none of your business!" says Eric.

"It's my business if I see stock being ill treated!" cries Matt, and insists that he wants the vet to come out.

Christopher asks the truck driver to unload the ewes.

"We'll see about that!" says Matt.

"Ah, Miss Connolly! Meat and tatie pie?" asks Amos, as Sarah enters The Woolpack.

"Please, and a glass of dry white wine please, Mr Brearly," says Sarah.

"Coming right up!" Amos notices that Sarah looks around as the door opens to admit a regular. "Expecting anyone?" he asks, nosily.

"No," says Sarah, with a knowing smile.

Caught out being beaky, Amos is uncomfortable: "Oh I just... well, I thought you might want your pie savin', like."

"I'll have it now, thank you!" smiles Sarah.

Back at Hotten Market, Matt drives the Emmerdale Land Rover into place so that it blocks the back of the Tate & Son truck carrying the mistreated ewes.

"Surely we can talk this over amicably, Matt?" asks Eric Pollard.

"If you won't call the vet out, I will!" Matt is adamant.

"I'm going to ring the vet now!" Matt tells Christopher Tate. "Until he gets here, that truck and that stock goes nowhere!"

At The Woolpack, Sarah has been joined by Kate and Kathy and they are discussing Archie Brooks (Tony Pitts) and his choice of reading matter from the mobile library.

"What sort of books did he like?" asks Kate.

"Spy thrillers," says Sarah.

"What, Archie?!" laughs Kathy.

"He said the only reason was to see the degradation of capitalist society as it wages a futile cold war," says Sarah.

"I'm really gonna miss Archie!" says Kate.

Kate goes to the bar for more drinks.

"Why didn't you tell me Jack was back?" Sarah asks Kathy, faintly prickly.

"Didn't you know?" Kathy is surprised.

"Why should I?" asks Sarah.

"Well... I thought he'd've phoned..."

"Our friend Mr Brearly told me," says Sarah. "He's staying with you, I believe?"

"Yeah..."

"I suppose he's making your life a misery, is he? Now it's all over with Marian."

"He seems happy it is."

Sarah is taken aback: "Oh."

"Perhaps I should tell him you were asking after him?"

"Well, that's up to you. Just make sure he realises I don't want him arriving on my front doorstep at midnight, looking for a bed for the night."

"Now, would Jack do that?" Kathy smiles.

"You know damn well he'd try it!"

"Why don't you tell him yourself? Look, come round for a meal tonight."

Sarah refuses, but invites Kathy to hers for a meal instead.

"Should I invite Jack, too?" Kathy asks, impishly.

"Don't you dare!" says Sarah.

Back at Hotten Market, the vet has arrived and the ewes are being unloaded from the truck.

"I hope you're staisfied!" says Eric Pollard to Matt.

"It had to be done - and you should've brought him out, not me!" says an unrepentant Matt.

"I wish you hadn't, Mr Skilbeck!" says Christopher Tate. "This'll cause the firm a lot of hassle getting these back to their owner for tonight!"

"Yeah, well you shouldn't've taken them in that condition!" Matt insists.

"The man's an old customer - we had to!"

"Yeah, better than being threatened with prosecution by the vet!" cries Matt. "You'd better get on with it!"

"Any time I can do you a favour, Mr Skilbeck!" says Christopher, sarcastically.

At Emmerdale Farm, Jack arrives back from the airport and asks if Joe will lend him a hand with his stuff.

"Everything all right?" asks Annie, emerging from the farmhouse.

"They've lost one of my boxes at the airport - I'll have to go back tomorrow!" says Jack.

"Oh no!"

"That's Italians, Ma - they muck up all your plans!" says Jack, making a dig at Paolo, Marian's husband.

At The Woolpack, Amos is in agony, wondering what was in Henry's letter from Marian. The letter is on the dining table, and Amos is itching to read it, in fact right on the verge, when Henry comes in, announcing that he's "nipping up to Emmerdale."

"Right you are, Mr Wilks. Everything all right over in Capri, is it?"

Henry scoops up the letter and goes to put his coat on. "Aye."

"Gracie Field's used to live there, tha knows, married a German chap. Enjoyin' the holiday, is she?"

"Who? Gracie Fields?"

"Marian!"

"Seems to be!"

"Children all right?"

"Yes, fine, fine."

"Bearing up, is she?"

"She's very well, thank you," Henry was giving nothing away. "See you later!"

And he left behind an Amos who wasn't only nosey - he was also very concerned.

Joe helps Jack to move some of his stuff from the airport into Emmerdale. Jack still seems in a teasing mood; Joe is still anxious. How did Joe enjoy France, Jack asks him - Joe spent from 1983 to 1986 there working for NY Estates. Joe says that he liked it, and asks Jack if he's thinking of going abroad again. No, says Jack, he's quite happy for the time being staying at Demdyke Row with Kathy.

As Joe, slightly reassured, goes to leave the kitchen, Jack can't resist saying: "I don't suppose you're desperate for any extra rent?"

"I think I can manage without, for the time being!" says Joe, stiffly.

Jack grins: "Good!"

In Eric Pollard's office at Hotten Market, Christopher Tate is on the phone. He can't return the ewes, but arranges to "get shot of them" in Belgium. The vet won't know where they've gone. Christopher asks Eric to let him know if he sees Matt Skilbeck "hanging about". "I've enough hassle without him interfering."

"Busy?" asks Eric.

"I'm run off my feet, yes."

"Not seen much of Frank lately. What's he up to?"

"This and that," says Christopher, guardedly.

"Must be six months since I last saw him at The Foresters."

"Oh, he's gone upmarket since then," says Christopher, mysteriously. "See yer!"

Back at Emmerdale, Annie invites Jack and Robert to stay to tea. Jack refuses - Kathy'll be preparing something, he says.

"You've been back a week, you've not had a meal here yet!" says Annie.

Henry arrives. He tells Jack that the letter he received from Marian that morning states that Jack abandoned her.

"Henry!" says Annie. "You know he wouldn't do that!"

"Wouldn't he?" asks Henry.

"I never abandoned her, Henry!" Jack grins - finding the notion absurd.

"Well, that's what she's saying," replies Henry. "Says she's been dropped by an impatient, irresponsible man, who can't face up to any kind of responsibility."

"Well, she's entitled to her opinion, but she's wrong. She's had her chances, plenty of 'em," says Jack.

"Two sides to every story, Jack," replies Henry, grimly.

"Well if that's the way she sees it, perhaps it's best it never worked out." Jack and Robert leave.

"That was uncalled for, Henry!" says Annie.

Henry is grim-faced. "Maybe Marian's right - I've just been talking to Joe. He [Jack] hasn't given him an inkling of what his plans are, nothing!"

"Well, maybe he's too upset over Marian to make any?" Annie suggests.

"I can't see that. Back a week and he's forgotten her. I'm sorry, Annie, but it's been building up since I got this thing," he indicates the letter. "I really thought they were going to make a go of it, I really did!"

At Demdyke Row, Jack returns with Robert.

Kathy says she'll put the tea on, but Jack says he'll cook - he hasn't done a thing since he turned up!

"Um, I hope you don't mind, Jack, but I've been invited out for a meal," says Kathy. And, remembering Jackie, "Don't worry - it's not with a man!"

"Even if it was, luv, life goes on..." Jack smiles.

"What's the mystery? Who's invited you out?"

"Aha, that'd be telling wouldn't it?"

"Are you sure it isn't Tubby Turner?"

Kathy laughs: "No!"

She refuses to tell Jack the identity of her dinner hostess.

At the farm, Annie, Henry, Joe, Kate and Annie are discussing Jack.

"Well, you remember what he was like at Jackie's funeral - he was snapping at everybody. He can't be over it yet," says Kate.

"The end of things with Marian can't've helped," sighs Annie.

"Oh, it's all excuses," Joe cries. "He gets away with murder!"

"He's had a bad time!" Annie insists.

"Now that annoys me - it really does! I mean, he comes and goes as he likes, without a thought to anyone. I mean, why won't he tell us what he's planning?"

"You've just got to give him time, Joe," says Henry.

"We haven't got time, Henry! Good God, you're a businessman, you know how tough it gets, year-by-year! I daren't make a move on this farm for fear of Jack messing it all up! We're better off without him!"

"This is his home," Annie cries. "Would you push him out of his own home?"

"He really should let us know though, Annie, I mean it's not fair to keep Joe on a string like this," says Kate.

"We'll manage as we are for the moment. He'll be back soon enough," Annie is firm.

"If he does come back, he'll just mess things up!" Joe is bitter.

"Why are you so against him?"

"I'm not! It's just... look, I'm concerned about this place. How can Emmerdale survive with me pulling one way and Jack t'other, eh?"

"You're equal partners in the farm - you have to!" Henry points out.

"You don't work here. And you don't work with Jack! Besides, things are different now, Henry - I'm not the batchelor brother any more. I mean, why do you think I eventually gave in over Home Farm, eh? Because I could see a place here for me - and I've got a family of my own now, remember. And a baby on the way if I'm lucky. No, it just won't work!"

"It has to work, he's your brother," says Annie, grimly.

Jack was also under discussion at Sarah Connolly's flat.

"He's so contrary," sighs Sarah. "One minute he'll turn up on my doorstep and stay over, presuming I'll go along with everything he wants. The next minute, he's forgotten I exist.

"Do you want him to ring?" asks Kathy.

"I don't care whether he rings or not!" says Sarah - not entirely convincingly.

"Do you really mean that?"

"Last time, I told him that if ever things didn't work out with Marian he could call me. It's been a week, so..." Sarah shrugs.

"Well, you could always ring him."

"Look, can we talk about something else?" asks Sarah.

At Demdyke Row, Jack has just got Robert off to bed, when Seth Armstrong (Stan Richards) arrives.

"I've told Meg about this, but will she listen? Will she 'eck!"

"Come in!" grins Jack.

"Begged 'er, I went on my bended knees. I were as near cryin' as a man could be. And what did she come back with?"

"Well, that might depend on what you said to her in the first place!"

"You'd be wrong thinkin' that, Jack! I told her straight! I said, 'Kathy might be our neighbour, Meg, but I'm not spending rest of my life poppin' in and out of 'er 'ouse, tryin' to borrow stuff!' It were a pair of tights last week. I were astonished that Meg could get into 'em!"

Seth has told Meg the borrowing must stop, but in the meantime he wonders if Jack can lend him some butter? "She'll murder me if I don't get any!"

Seth tells Jack that if there's anything he can do in return - Jack only needs to ask. Jack takes the wind out of Seth's sails by asking him to babysit that night - "just for an hour".

Seth is not in love with the idea. But what can he do?

Back at Sarah's flat, Sarah asks Kathy how's she getting on.

Kathy says she's enjoying working at the farm, and having Jack staying at Demdyke Row: "He's so like Jackie."

"That man again!" smiles Sarah.

The phone rings, and Kathy, rather uncomfortable, listens to Sarah arranging to meet someone called Jerry the following night.

At The Woolpack, Jack and Amos are chatting.

"Seth? Seth Armstrong?! Babysitting?!!" Amos is taken aback at the news.

"Is there some problem with that?" asks Jack.

"Nay," says Amos.

"Well, that's all right then!" laughs Jack.

"Well, I am speakin' as Robert's godfather, tha knows. And if lad wakes and cries out in't night... well... Seth's mouth is most frightening - all them gums. Some of us are used to it, of course, but I'd not like little lad to 'ave nightmares!"

Jack laughs again.

Amos tells Jack that Robert needs a mother, and starts on about Sarah Connolly - he likes her.

"Yes, I'm fond of Sarah too, Amos - but we wouldn't want to cross too many bridges too soon, would we?"

"Wouldn't we?" asks Amos, disappointed.

"Well, we wouldn't want to frighten her off with indiscreet hints every time she walked in here."

Taking this particular hint, Amos changes the subject: "Lot of weather we've been having lately, Jack."

Up at the farm, the discussion about Jack has stretched on well into the evening.

"Oh, for the last time, Ma, I can't work this farm with Jack!" cries Joe.

"That's why we've got to sit down and talk and get this thing sorted out!"

"Your Ma's right, Joe," says Henry.

Kate intervenes: "Oh, come on, Joe - he's been back for days and you've hardly spoken to him. Look, have you ever thought that he might be frightened of announcing that he wants to come back?"

"Jack? Frightened? No! He's causing the maximum amount of aggro by sitting tight at Demdyke! What do they call it, Henry - divide and rule?"

"Now that is ridiculous!" says Henry.

Kate returns to the arena: "You've got to talk - the pair of you!"

"Ah, yeah!" Joe isn't buying. "Anything to accommodate Jack! That's how he's been throughout the years, luv! Work round Jack - make sure Jack's all right. That's why we've got five equal shares in this place - some idealistic scheme that he dreamt up! Well, it's farming by committee, Henry, and you can't do it! I mean how can we get a secure policy for this place when we're running a farm like that, eh?"

"That's why we've got to talk!" Annie insists.

"Oh, what's the point, Ma? He'll be against us making a commercial go of this place, you know that! He'll do it to spite me!"

"What do you suggest?" asks Henry.

"Well... I think we ought to think about splitting up!"

"Joe!" Annie is aghast.

"I don't want to do it, Ma, but if Emmerdale is to survive, I think that's what we ought to do. And if it means me buying Jack out, then I'll do it!"

A stunned silence descends...

More from 1989 Emmerdale soon...