Episode 2304 (31st December 1997)

==Plot ==
Betty spots Jack moving out of the cottage and is shocked when he tells her that he is moving back in with Sarah and the children. She disapproves. Marlon slept rough last night and looks terrible. Betty takes pity on him. Steve wants Kim to let him deal with the blackmailer, but she refuses and tells him that if he interferes, she will call off the engagement. The Dingles discuss Zak's birthday next week. Butch and Sam have planned a surprise present for him. Zak seems depressed about it all. Jack moves his stuff back into the farm. Sarah doesn't want him to take it all for granted. Ned wants to start work as soon as possible. Rachel has an awkward meeting with Robert in the post office. He takes great delight in telling her that Jack is moving back in with them today. Marlon is just about to enjoy a breakfast in the tea rooms when Butch comes in and covers the plate with salt. Mandy invites Paddy back to her flat this afternoon. Chris has noticed that Kim and Steve are having problems. He takes delight in mentioning it and offers to talk to Tony about his business scheme. Roy doesn't want to go and see Jan, but Ned forces him. Mandy and Paddy arrive at her flat to find Butch and Sam behaving strangely. She can't wait to get him inside. Lisa pretends that she has forgotten Zak's birthday next week. Alan has had the photograph of Terry and Vic framed. Mandy is wearing sexy lingerie, but she and Paddy's love life is interrupted when a pig appears from under a table. Butch and Sam have bought the pig for Zak’s birthday. Mandy is furious with them for leaving it in her flat. Butch is pleased that he disturbed Paddy's passion. Jan looks at a baby picture. Roy and Ned arrive to visit her. Kim is leaving to meet the blackmailer. Steve has a last attempt to stop her going. Kathy is fed up having Marlon looking such a mess sitting in the tea rooms all day. She ends up agreeing to let him stay with her for a few days after pressure from Eric. Jan has ignored Roy all afternoon. Zak wants to know what everyone is whispering about behind his back. Kim meets the blackmailer. He forces her to drive to the quarry. Kelly meets up with Roy. He tells her that his mum seems to have forgotten him. Paddy has noticed some cows on some woodland near the Sugdens. Jack tells him that they probably belong to Jed Outhwaite. He has nipped into the Woolpack for a quick pint. Alan tells him that he is glad to see him back with Sarah. Paddy is exhausted after his afternoon with Mandy. The blackmailer reminds Kim that she arranged the murder of the lady in the lake. He checks that she is not bugged before speaking. Zoe offers to send Jan some flowers, but Ned is short with her. Jack is about to leave when Rachel walks in the pub, they exchange a few words. The blackmailer tells Kim that he wants £50,000 and has got a video of her setting up the deal to murder her lookalike just to frame Frank. They are watched by Steve.
==Cast==
===Regular cast===
*Betty Eagleton - Paula Tilbrook
*Jack Sugden - Clive Hornby
*Marlon Dingle - Mark Charnock
*Steve Marchant - Paul Opacic
*Kim Tate - Claire King
*James Tate - Bradley White (uncredited)
*Mandy Dingle - Lisa Riley
*Lisa Clegg - Jane Cox
*Sam Dingle - James Hooton
*Butch Dingle - Paul Loughran
*Zak Dingle - Steve Halliwell
*Sarah Sugden - Alyson Spiro
*Ned Glover - Johnny Leeze
*Viv Windsor - Deena Payne
*Rachel Hughes - Glenda McKay
*Robert Sugden - Christopher Smith
*Kathy Glover - Malandra Burrows
*Eric Pollard - Chris Chittell
*Dee Pollard - Claudia Malkovich
*Patrick Kirk - Dominic Brunt
*Zoe Tate - Leah Bracknell
*Christopher Tate - Peter Amory
*Anthony Cairns - Edward Peel
*Roy Glover - Nicky Evans
*Terry Woods - Billy Hartman
*Alan Turner - Richard Thorp
*Jan Glover - Roberta Kerr
*Kelly Windsor - Adele Silva
===Guest cast===
*Jimmy Daniels - Steve Owen
==Locations==
*Church Lane
*Home Farm - Kitchen, office and hallway
*Wishing Well Cottage - Yard, Mandy's flat and living room/kitchen
*Melby Farm - Farmhouse (lobby and kitchen)
*Windsor's Village Store & Post Office - Shop floor
*The Old School Tea Rooms/Pollard's - Main area
*Tate's Veterinary Surgery - Consulting room
*Holdgate Farm - Living room
*The Woolpack - Public bar
*Fairfields Hospital - Day room
*Unknown road
*Demdyke Quarry site
==Notes==
*TV Times synopsis: Roy is finding it hard to cope with his mother's illness; Mandy's plans for passion are thwarted by a wild beast; and Kim is confronted by her shady past.
Category:1997 episodes
Category:Emmerdale episodes