Template:24th October



24th October 1996: It is Sunday morning. A group of people drive through the village in a caravanette. Meanwhile, all the security men are being put through their paces by Marlon at Wishing Well Cottage as he teaches them self defense. Zak makes fun of them and ends up being attacked by Marlon. The protesters survey the quarry site. Sarah and Rachel introduce themselves and offer Emmerdale Farm as their base. Rachel foolishly tells Chris about the quarry protest which is planned for tonight. Charles Miller does not anticipate any problems with the quarry protest. Chris tells Frank that the protesters are planning to move on the site before work starts. He asks him not to tell Rachel where he got his information from. Frank orders Charles to start work on the quarry today. Linda arrives to support the protest. They are making placards and planning to sit in the trees. The security lads are all enjoying their break in The Woolpack when Charles comes in and tells them to get to work as professional agitators are on their way. He mentions that there is £100 bonus in it for them. Zak immediately offers his services, conveniently forgetting how he taunted Butch for doing the same job. The protesters are all ready to go. Karen stresses to Jack and Sarah that they all want a peaceful demonstration. At baby James' christening party, Kim announces to everyone that Frank is using the party as a diversion to allow the quarry work to start. Half the people leave the marquee. The bulldozers are moving in. Acky shows Butch a baseball bat that he is planning to use. He loves violence. Mandy arrives at the quarry sit with her Munchbox. Mandy is doing a roaring trade from her Munchbox. Terry and Viv are having a secret tryst in the woods. Suddenly, the protesters arrive - with Kelly on board. Viv and Terry have to pretend that they have come to join them as members of the Church Action Group. Tree felling begins in Bluebell Woods. The protesters arrive and rush at the gates, taking over the bulldozers and managing to break through onto the site. Many of them climb trees. Kelly, Sarah, Linda and Tom attach themselves to a tree. Acky tries to drag Jack from his tractor, but Zak intervenes. Kelly fights with Marlon. He's having a hard time keeping control. Mandy and Tina watch from the sidelines as Zak has flour tipped over him. The blessing mob arrive - Seth, Betty, Ned, Roy and Rachel. They clash with Charles. One policeman arrives. The protest starts to get nasty. [Acky has a run in with Betty and ends up hitting her with his bat. Butch witnesses as Betty falls to the ground unconscious. Everyone gathers round. Charles calls Frank and tells him about Betty. Biff overhears and rushes off to the hospital with Zoe. Betty is taken to hospital. Linda goes with Seth. The quarry work is called off for the day, but the protesters stay. Rachel storms into James' nursery and accuses Frank. Kim sticks up for him, but only so that she can tell Rachel that it was Chris who actually told Frank about the protest. Biff and Zoe arrive at the hospital. Seth is upset. Chris is having a celebratory drink when Rachel storms in and smashes his glass out of his hand. He is stunned by her actions. She tells him that she is leaving him as he has betrayed her. It is dark at the protest camp. Tom plays the mouth organ as the security men look on. Mandy brings her burgers round. Acky threatens Butch if he tells anyone about hitting Betty. Seth holds Betty's hand. She is still unconscious.


 * For more information see Episode 2127 (24th October 1996)