Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) reached a desperate decision recently in Emmerdale, and planted drugs on April Windsor’s (Amelia Flanagan) friend Dylan (Fred Kettle).
Ever since he allowed Dylan to sleep in his house, Marlon has been on edge. The deal was to let Dylan stay until he got clean from drugs, but the withdrawal symptoms were intense, and Marlon wasn’t comfortable with having the young man in his home.
He found himself in a difficult battle between letting April’s mate stay because it kept April happy, and also knowing Dylan needed professional help.
Eventually, he planted drugs on Dylan, aware it would get him out of the home and potentially stop April from contacting him.
Dylan left the Dales but hours later, Marlon got told that he was in hospital after overdosing.
In tonight’s episode, Marlon visited Dylan in the hospital and quickly confessed that he was behind the plan.
A while later, Marlon headed back to the ward room and found Dylan’s bed empty. The character was getting ready to leave, ready to continue his life on the street.
Marlon had a bag of food for Dylan. He was grateful, but made it clear it was a poor attempt at buying his silence.
The two characters then sat down and started talking about the only thing they have in common – April. Marlon admitted that Dylan’s arrival was a reminder that he doesn’t know much about April’s life on the street, because she won’t tell him.
Dylan listened to Marlon and understood what he was trying to say, but also got his point across by telling him that he looked out for April on the street and vice versa – they were actually quite good friends.
Instead of arguing and clashing, Marlon and Dylan eventually reached a point where they were on the same page. To rectify his mistakes, Marlon then revealed that he’d like to pay for Dylan’s private therapy, so he can eventually create a new life for himself.
Dylan was grateful. As the two characters got up and prepared to part ways, Dylan told Marlon that he shouldn’t tell April the truth about who planted the drugs, he should carry on with the lie.
Marlon wasn’t quite sure, but felt touched that Dylan had recognised how much he really wants to rebuild his relationship with April.
It seems this is the last we’ve seen of Dylan as he heads off to rehab. Will continuing to lie to April be a move Marlon ends up regretting?
