Emmerdale tonight, and there was a fantastic flashback episode dedicated to what had taken place between Belle and Tom at the cottage in Wales, after Cain and Charity discovered blood yesterday.
Eerie music played as the camera took viewers around the aesthetically charming cosy cottage before landing on the worrying blood on the door.
Then we were transported back four days to the couple’s arrival in Pembroke…
Belle learned the truth about Wales
Belle was thrilled when she clapped eyes on the stunning and isolated property. At first it appeared to her like a perfect getaway, as Tom regaled her with history on King Arthur and his wife, Guinevere, his one true love… who betrayed him. (Alarm bells!)
Later, Belle overheard Tom on the phone, discussing staying on at the cottage.
“This is huge Tom, and you’ve not even mentioned it,” Belle dared to say.
He fobbed her off, claiming he was going to bring it up over a romantic dinner – and then changed the subject by having a go at his wife for ruining the roast lamb she’d lovingly prepared.
The following morning brought painfully precise details of Belle’s torment – how she buttered and then spread marmalade on Tom’s toast so carefully.
He then declared he was going to meet the local vets practice, and dismissed his wife’s concerns about him planning their life without her.
“Look at this place, we could get you a pony… imagine it, Belle,” he said.
Emmerdale tonight: Puppy Piper abused again
When he got home, he was furious to discover Belle had gone out after Piper had run off.
Tom decided to teach the poor pup a lesson, chaining her up outside and ignoring her pleading barks.
The following day brought more anxious buttering of toast from Belle – and Piper barked outside after being left there all night.
Tom lectured frightened Belle on discipline, announcing, “I don’t want our kids to be feral.”
Belle looked terrified at just the prospect of imagining having children with him.
With that, Tom then went out to get milk, criticising Belle for how much tea she drank – and locking her in as he left.
When he came back, Tom announced he’d been offered the job and, as Belle once again tried to challenge him on not discussing it with her, the gaslighting began once more.
He demanded to know why Piper was still outside and, when Belle said he’d locked her in, Tom said the door was obviously stiff and she hadn’t tried hard enough to open it.
“Why Belle, why the constant need to play the victim?” he mocked.
WHO ELSE WANTS TO KILL THIS MAN?!
Tom turned violent
The situation really blew up over lunch, as Belle tip-toed around telling Tom she didn’t want to move to Wales and was scared how she’d cope if she had to move away from her family.
Her husband flew into a rage, throwing his glass of red wine at the wall and shouting: “Were you thinking about family when you killed our baby? Knowing how much I wanted a child. What about my family, why is it always about yours?”
Then Tom struck Belle and, as she sobbed on the floor bleeding, he goaded: “We never finished our story about the King and his Queen, who turned out to be such a crushing disappointment… what did he do after being lied to, humiliated, disrespected?
“Do you want to know the answer? He sentenced her to die.”
Belle then made a run for it to the bathroom, with Tom following to apologise – although it was really another excuse to attack her for the abortion. But he slipped up and Belle discovered that Tom had known about the termination before she confessed to it.
He then chillingly told her that they had to stay together… there was no alternative.
Belle was horrified later to find that he had apparently taken a load of pills. “If we can’t be together, I don’t want to live,” he told her, feebly.
The following morning, we learned that Tom had been sick and was feeling fine. Enough to tell off his wife for burning the toast.
Read more: Belle fans predict Tom’s terrifying next move
Belle’s great escape
Belle finally reached her limit after this and seized a chance to escape with Piper, locking Tom in the cottage.
Enraged, he smashed the place up before escaping through a window.
He had almost caught up with Belle as she got onto a bus.
“Belle! What are you doing, get off the bus now! Beeeeeeellllle!,” he bellowed.
Meanwhile, Belle sat at the back of the bus cradling Piper, relief slowly washing over her terrified face as the bus pulled away.
BRAVO!!!
What did you think of Emmerdale tonight?Â
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
