Episode 125 (7th January 1974)

Ruth returns to the village without Tom or her children, and snaps at Edward when he asks after Tom.
==Plot==
Amos arrives back from his brother's auction with a family heirloom - a painting of his grandfather. Ruth Merrick turns up at Smithy Cottage. Frank and Janie are surprised to see her. Joe, Matt, Henry and Annie go over Cuthbertson's scheme for the farm. They agree to go through with his decisions. Henry isn't happy about selling Hawthorn Cottage however and is shocked further when Joe suggests knocking down the remains of Inglebrook House and joining the land up with Emmerdale Farm. The following day, Henry calls into the farm to inform them he's going to London on business for the day tomorrow and he and Joe disagree over the plans for Inglebrook land again. Alison reminds him that the shop's deep freezer is being delivered tomorrow but Henry informs her he won't be there for it. Reverend Ruskin visits Frank and discovers Ruth is back. He asks after Tom but she tries to avoid the question and snaps at him.
==Cast==
===Regular cast===
*Annie - Sheila Mercier
*Joe - Frazer Hines
*Matt - Frederick Pyne
*Sam - Toke Townley
*Wilks - Arthur Pentelow
*Amos - Ronald Magill
*Ruskin - George Little
*Alison - Carolyn Moody
*Frank - Eric Allan
*Janie - Diane Grayson
*Ruth - Lynn Dalby
===Guest cast===
None.
==Locations==
*The Woolpack - Backroom
*Village Store - Shop floor, Exterior
*Smithy Cottage - Living room
*Emmerdale Farm - Farmhouse kitchen/living room, Milking shed
==Notes==
*First appearance of Ruth Merrick since 21st November 1972.
*TV Times synopsis: Janie Blakey is astonished when her sister, Ruth, comes back to Beckindale, without her husband or her children . . .
*This episode was included on the following commercial releases:
**Emmerdale Farm: Volume Five DVD released by Network on 31st August 2015.
Category:1974 episodes
Category:Emmerdale Farm episodes
Category:Episodes released on DVD