Dylan Penders’ (Fred Kettle) return to Emmerdale has been less than ideal for the lad – instead of getting himself clean in rehab as intended, he’s returned as one of drug lord Ray’s (Joe Absolom) lackies.
He’s immediately found himself in a life-threatening situation too – having been stabbed in the leg by Kyle (Huey Quinn) with a dirty pitchfork as he attempted to do over one of Moira’s (Natalie J Robb) barns.
Now that wound is infected and Dylan can’t ask for any help. When pushed by April (Amelia Flanagan), he refuses to see a doctor, instead choosing to hide out at the Cricket Pavillion.
As a doctor won’t work, he and April concoct a dodgy plan B – to raid the vets for supplies and fix him themselves. Because who needs six years of a medical degree when you can watch how to sort a deadly wound on YouTube?
They sneak into the surgery to get their supplies when they’re caught red handed – by Paddy (Dominic Brunt). Thankfully, Paddy is in his good Samaritan mode and, shocked by the state of Dylan, sets to work sorting the wound. He then offers Dylan a bed for the night.
But he’s getting himself involved in something serious, risking his registration to help the homeless lad. And worse, he risks the wrath of Mandy (Lisa Riley) and Marlon (Mark Charnock) when they arrive.
They’ve all got such faith in Dylan and have no idea the dark circles he’s now mixing with. Later, Ray tells Dylan that he’s got more work from him and when Mandy is busy, Dylan reveals a stash of drugs in his backpack.
The next morning, while eating breakfast with Paddy, Dylan ignores Ray’s texts, a dangerous move. In the Woolpack Paddy, Rhona (Zoe Henry), and Marlon discover that Dylan was the one stabbed by Kyle, and it puts a whole new spin on things.
Now Paddy and Marlon have a new problem on their hands as they must work on Rhona to stop her telling Moira that Dylan was the one in the barn.
Dylan shakes off April to do the drugs drop, which he plans to be his last as he tells Ray no to the next job on offer.
A bold move, and one that is strangely well received. It’s a fair assumption to think Ray might be a bit miffed at Dylan’s gall, but Ray seems to take it well.
Or does he? The fact he’s later seen spying on Dylan and April walking through the village would suggest not.
