Yahoo News Emmerdale airs temporary exit in Belle and Tom story
The following article references coercive control and physical abuse.
Emmerdale spoilers follow.
Emmerdale has aired a temporary exit in Belle and Tom's coercive control story.
Belle King was seen leaving the village with Charity Dingle at the end of Wednesday's (July 31) episode after surprising Tom with the news that she was going to visit Zak Dingle in Scotland.
Tom had been trying to trick Belle into staying at Dale Head alone following their split so he could monitor her at all times with the various security cameras he installed.
The episode opened with Tom confronting Belle when he found her removing the cameras. Belle was defiant, insisting she no longer wanted to be monitored in her home.
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"I've only ever wanted what's best for you, Belle," Tom said. "I know sometimes I get it wrong, but you're all I care about."
Charity Dingle later popped round to Dale Head to find Belle taking down more of the security cameras inside the house. Sensing that Belle was feeling down, she suggested a visit with Debbie in Scotland where she could see Zak.
"A break might do you good," she argued.
Belle resisted the offer at first, saying she didn't want it to look like she was running away. Charity assured her this wouldn't be running away — it would be looking after herself.
Still worried that her family was taking Tom's side, Belle finally decided: "You know what? I will go. But not because I need the break but because I need some peace and quiet from you lot."
Tom later approached Belle in the village as she was packing her things in Charity's car. He wanted answers on why his estranged wife was suddenly leaving.
"I would have given you a lift if you'd asked," Tom told her, with Belle firing back: "I would have driven myself if you hadn't sold my car."
Tom tried to convince Belle to leave Piper with him, but she shut down Tom immediately by making it clear the dog was going with her.
"I can't believe you're doing this to me," Tom complained.
The villain stood stunned as Belle drove away with Charity to end the episode.
While Belle is taking a break from the village, Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw recently told Digital Spy that the coercive control storyline will continue for a while yet.
"We've said right from the beginning that we wanted to tell this story as truthfully and authentically as we can. For people who are subjected to domestic abuse, it's not something that's over in a couple of weeks," Shaw said.
"It's something that goes on for a long period of time and we wanted to be truthful to that. I think you can expect this storyline to run until the end of this year."
Since then, there have been reports that James Chase will be leaving Emmerdale once the storyline does properly wrap up.
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
Read more Emmerdale spoilers on our dedicated homepage
If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, organisations including Refuge (www.refuge.org.uk), New Beginnings Peer Support (www.newbeginningspeersupport.com) and Women's Aid (www.womensaid.org.uk) can provide further support and information. The 24-hour, freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0808 2000 247. The US National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or text LOVEIS to 22522.
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