Emmerdale spoilers follow.
Next week on Emmerdale, a special episode airs which shows the same dinner party from the perspective of two different couples.
Tom, Belle, Marlon and Rhona take centre stage in the episode, which explores strains and secrets within both relationships.
Elsewhere, Nicky fights for his life following a car crash, and Kerry takes her revenge on Eric.
Here’s our full guide to 13 big moments coming up.
1. Belle sees a doctor in secret
Belle visits the local doctors surgery to organise her contraceptive prescription, but she’s nervous as she doesn’t want Tom to find out. This follows Tom’s ongoing pressure for them to start a family together.
Belle explains to Manpreet that she doesn’t want it sent to her home like her other medication. Manpreet is understanding and they come up with a solution.
2. Tom complains about Vanessa
Tom messes up at work by diagnosing an elderly dog with cancer without carrying out the proper tests. Vanessa and Paddy intervene just in time, with Vanessa quickly confirming that the dog only has an abscess. The mix-up leaves the dog’s owner furious.
Tom feels patronised by Vanessa and plays the victim, falsely claiming that she has been making him feel unwelcome at the practice.
3. Tom gets an idea
Tom tries to get his colleagues back on side by inviting them and their partners around to a dinner party at his and Belle’s house.
Belle is unsettled when Tom returns home in a foul mood and he puts unreasonable pressure on her, claiming that the success of tomorrow night’s dinner party is entirely her responsibility.
4. Marlon and Rhona’s marriage implodes
Marlon reluctantly attends the dinner party with Rhona, but he’s annoyed that she accepted the invitation without consulting him first.
During the gathering, things turn sour as Marlon and Rhona start to openly clash in front of the other guests. Rhona tries leaving but when Marlon refuses to join her, she retaliates by seemingly ending their marriage – much to the shock of their friends.
5. Tom threatens Belle during the meal
Once Marlon and Rhona’s dramatic scenes have aired, Emmerdale‘s special dinner party episode rewinds to show Tom and Belle’s differing perspective on the evening.
Before the guests arrive, Tom criticises Belle’s outfit and orders her to change into something he deems “more appropriate”.
Tom then makes an unexpected discovery in the kitchen, but people start to turn up before he gets a chance to confront Belle about it.
Later, when Belle goes upstairs for a second, Tom joins her in the bathroom and threatens her.
6. Tom’s abuse escalates
The dinner party descends into chaos following Marlon and Rhona’s row, so the guests start to leave. Belle is desperate for them to stay, but everybody makes their excuses to go.
Once Tom and Belle are left alone, the terrifying reality of their abusive marriage becomes clear once again.
7. Paddy tries to fix things
Paddy speaks to Marlon following the disastrous dinner party and encourages his best friend to make amends with Rhona.
Paddy suggests that marriage counselling could help the couple to resolve their issues, but will Rhona agree to this?
8. Nicky wants to get serious with Suni
Nicky asks Caleb whether he can take Nate’s shares in the business and become an equal partner. Caleb scoffs at the suggestion, leaving Nicky hurt that his dad doesn’t seem to take him seriously.
Nicky gets annoyed with so much chaos at home, so he asks Suni if they can live together.
9. Moira and Ruby meet up
Moira suggests to Ruby that they should have lunch together following recent tensions between them.
During the meal, Moira comes up with a plan.
10. Ethan crashes a car
Nicky worries when Suni calls him from a bar, revealing that he has spotted one of the men who was involved in the homophobic attack against him last year. Nicky wants to drive to pick Suni up, but he knows that he has drunk too much.
Ethan steps in to drive instead, but he regrets it during the journey when he spots a police car up ahead and worries about being over the limit himself.
Ethan turns the vehicle around to avoid driving past the police. Before long, he loses control of the car altogether and crashes.
11. Ethan flees from the scene
Ethan and Nicky are both knocked unconscious in the crash. Ethan is first to come round and he carefully pulls Nicky from the vehicle.
When Ethan sees another car approaching, he rushes off and watches from a distance. Ethan spots Moira find Nicky, who’s still unconscious. He decides to run off rather than face the consequences.
12. Kerry takes her revenge
Kerry goes snooping on Eric’s laptop and discovers that he conned her by selling her necklace for a fortune.
Kerry takes her revenge on Eric by running a cash-only sale at the shop, allowing villagers to claim items at rock-bottom prices. Eric is in for a shock when he realises that Kerry has decided to get even with him.
13. April worries about her family
April admits that she knows Marlon and Rhona are having marriage problems.
With their issues clearly taking a toll on the wider family, will Marlon and Rhona fight for their future as a couple?
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
Organisations including Women’s Aid can provide further support and information on coercive control or coercive behaviour.
