Could a newcomer in the village be the answer to Charity Dingle’s prayers or the purveyor of her worst Emmerdale nightmares? Charity desperately needs someone to talk to, but who? Who would understand that she has secretly mothered Sarah’s baby, or that she cheated on Mack with Ross? She later stole money from Caleb to pay off her blackmailer Dr Todd, who assaulted her while she was unconscious.
Charity’s Trauma
Charity is struggling in the wake of her attack. The police couldn’t take her investigation any further, and Todd laughed in her face. Her family think she has postnatal depression when really she is drowning in a sea of trauma with no one to tell.
Cain Dingle is also having a hard time, albeit a very different one, and the pair bond over their difficulties. Despite her turmoil, Charity focuses on encouraging Cain to confide in Moira about how he’s feeling. Focusing on him makes her forget about her own woes. But it doesn’t work both ways and she remains clammed up.
Mack is completely on the outside because of course she can’t confide in him either. He tells Chas he’s feeling awful and inadequate, with Chas inwardly squirming given the knowledge she has. What makes it worse is that when he tries to talk to his wife she shrugs him off. He really can’t get in.
Charity’s Desperate Escape
Charity tearfully climbs in her car and speeds off, leaving Mack wondering what happened. Charity is her most fragile ever, sat at the edge of a lake, blocking out the world, with the weight of it on her shoulders. She refuses calls from Mack, sparking a convening of the Dingles.
The group makes plans to find her. When they fail to come up trumps, they make the difficult decision to call the police.
Meanwhile, Charity is stood staring into a lake when she is approached by a stranger. Seeing her in distress, the stranger reaches out to Charity, but as she touches her, Charity turns round and wallops her.
A Surprise Outcome
The stranger is surprisingly understanding, claiming her actions are that of someone who doesn’t want to be touched without giving permission. Who is this person? She assures Charity she can trust her and Charity is on the verge of opening up. But could it be a mistake? Could she open up to this stranger, only for them to turn out to be a newbie in the village with no loyalty to keep Charity’s information a secret?
Elsewhere, there’s a danger Chas is on the verge of cracking too as Mack leans on her. One way or another, is Charity about to be set free by the truth?
