Episode 9349/9350 (28th April 2022)

==Plot==
Part One: Dawn suggests that Billy and Will go out for a drink together in Hotten so they can bond a bit more. She invites Victoria for a drink but she can't make it as she's covering for Bob at the Woolpack and needs to keep an eye on the temp chef. Ethan plans a special night with Marcus to make up for Charles' joke on him. Marlon asks Mary to invite Bear round to see him. Jai confronts Kim over planting the drugs at Take A Vow. Kim doesn't seem to have any idea what he's talking about but taunts him over being found with drugs again. Jai insists he will sort out the mess she's made. Billy and Will head off into Hotten. Ethan meets Marcus in the pub. Marcus suggests they both go back to Tall Trees Cottage. Jai tries again to get through to Laurel. He reminds her that the last time he fell off the wagon, he came straight to her and told her. He invites her to the pub for dinner. Chloe talks to Paddy about llamas as a friend of hers is planning to get one. She leaves her bag on a chair in the pub as they talk. Noah arrives behind her and, while no-one is looking, takes Chloe's phone out of her bag and guesses her PIN code to let himself into it. Marcus wants to get Ethan straight to the bedroom but Ethan slows him down, wanting to talk more first. He tells Marcus he believes they have something special. Rishi arrives to speak to Laurel and tells her about how he had the drugs in the car while with Archie and how Archie and Arthur almost caught Jai about to take drugs the last time he fell off the wagon. Laurel is furious.
Part Two: After her conversation with Paddy, Noah asks Chloe if she wants a drink but she leaves, promising to meet him again another time. Noah watches her leave from his phone, having installed a tracking device on Chloe's mobile. Marcus and Ethan's date is interrupted as Ethan is called off to carry out his duty solicitor duties. Ethan asks Marcus to wait for him at Tall Trees. Paddy and Mary are both surprised to learn that Bear has been regularly popping into see Marlon at the hospital and doing crossword puzzles with him. Mary makes him feel welcome to pop around anytime. Ethan arrives at the police station and learns he's defending a man named Jordan Greenlow who has been arrested on suspicion of assault. The police interview gets underway without Ethan knowing what has properly occurred. Laurel arrives to meet Jai in the pub and confronts him over Rishi's revelation earlier. She wonders what else Jai has been keeping from her. Jordan explains his side of the assault in the police interview - he has been in an altercation with a man who had been drinking in town who appeared to want to start a fight with him. When the man grabbed his shoulder, Jordan claims he punched him, knocked him to the floor and shoved him away. He then got arrested as the police arrived as the other man was on the floor. As Ethan defends Jordan and advises that the police should let him go until they obtain further evidence, DS Malik informs him that they plan to speak to the other man first who is currently in hospital and presents them with a photo of the victim - Billy.
Part Three: Dawn receives a text saying Billy is in hospital. Ethan explains to DS Malik and Jordan that he lives in the same village as Billy but asks them to carry on, saying there is no conflict of interest. DS Malik explains that A&E have confirmed Billy has suffered two broken ribs where as Jordan only has minor bruises. Rishi arrives at the pub to find Laurel and Jai still exchanging words. Jai accuses Rishi of stabbing him in the back. Leyla walks in on their argument and learns that Laurel found a packet of drugs next to Jai's wallet down the back of a chair in Take A Vow. The three of them try to force Jai to consult his sponsor. Dawn arrives at the hospital to find Billy has been beaten black and blue. He explains that he was the subject of a racist assault and that he gave his attacker no provocation. Describing how his attacker was clearly looking for a fight and even grabbed his shoulder as he tried to walk away, he confirms someone must have called the police as his attacker was arrested. In the interview room, DS Malik mentions how Billy has accused Jordan of making racist comments but Jordan denies this. Ethan is slightly taken aback when he sees a transcript of some of the comments Jordan is alleged to have made but continues to defend him. Will arrives at the hospital and tells Billy that Harriet is keeping an ear to the ground at work and will let them know of any developments. Billy worries that the colour of his skin and his previous criminal record may end up working against him. DS Malik concludes the interview with Jordan to go back into custody while enquires continue. Alone with Jordan, Ethan speaks to Jordan about appointing another solicitor but Jordan insists he wants him to continue. Laurel and Jai's argument at the pub escalates as Jai tells her he's done begging and brings Ashley into the argument, saying Laurel has been sapping his confidence at every opportunity and added to the stress of him relapsing in the past. Harriet learns that Ethan is representing Jordan and tries to persuade him to reconsider, telling him he may be putting his neck on the line.
Part Four: Rhona and Mary watch Bear and Marlon as they do a crossword puzzle together - Bear using the puzzles to improve Marlon's speech and spelling. They are astounded at how good Bear is with him and how much Marlon seems to enjoy it. Mary asks him to return tomorrow. Jordan insists to Ethan that he did not use racist language and did not provoke Billy. DS Malik returns with the news that Jordan is being charged with racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Ethan tells Jordan they will start building his defence tomorrow. Billy has returned home with instructions to take painkillers, anti-inflammatories and rest. He receives news that Jordan has been charged but is still convinced he won’t be able to get him convicted. Paddy asks Bear about his visits to see Marlon. Bear becomes defensive and tells Paddy he's been visiting Marlon so much because he's lonely. Archie wakes in the night and tells Jai he misses Arthur and Dotty. He wants to know if Jai will get back with Laurel but Jai tells him they're finished. Ethan drives back home to find Marcus walking back into the village to meet his taxi home. They notice injured Billy sitting outside his house. Ethan quickly gets back into his car.
==Cast==
===Regular cast===
*Will Taylor - Dean Andrews
*Dawn Fletcher - Olivia Bromley
*Billy Fletcher - Jay Kontzle
*Victoria Sugden - Isabel Hodgins (9349 only)
*Ethan Anderson - Emile John
*Marlon Dingle - Mark Charnock
*Mary Goskirk - Louise Jameson
*Jai Sharma - Christopher Bisson
*Kim Tate - Claire King
*Marcus Dean - Darcy Grey
*Laurel Thomas - Charlotte Bellamy
*Chloe Harris - Jessie Elland (9349 only)
*Bear Wolf - Joshua Richards
*Paddy Dingle - Dominic Brunt
*Noah Dingle - Jack Downham (9349 only)
*Rishi Sharma - Bhasker Patel
*Bob Hope - Tony Audenshaw (9349 only)
*Leyla Cavanagh - Roxy Shahidi (9350 only)
*Harriet Finch - Katherine Dow Blyton (9350 only)
*Rhona Goskirk - Zoe Henry (9350 only)
*Archie Breckle - Kai Assi (9350 only)
===Guest cast===
*Jordan Greenlow - Jack Parr
*DS Malik - Tibu Fortes
==Locations==
==Notes==
*This hour-long episode was shown at the regular time of 7:30pm.
*Viewing Figures: UK broadcast - 4,223,000 viewers (13th place).
Category:Emmerdale episodes
Category:2022 episodes
Category:Extended episodes