Things took a dramatic turn for Marshall Hamston during Wednesday’s episode when he was reunited with his abusive father Colin after he was discovered hiding.
The teenager had been hiding in Rishi Sharma’s house with the help of Arthur Thomas after fleeing the boarding school his father had forced him to attend.
It came after Marshall’s father Colin disowned him over his sexuality and threw him out once he discovered his son had feelings for Arthur Thomas (Alfie Clarke).
However, Marshall (Max Fletcher) was discovered in Wednesday’s episode by Arthur’s mother Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy), who realised her son wasn’t at school and wondered where he was going.
Laurel then insisted on calling Marshall’s father Colin, who appeared apologetic when he reunited with his son, with the teenager then agreeing to return home.
Reunited: Things took a dramatic turn for Marshall Hamston during Wednesday’s episode when he was reunited with his abusive father Colin after he was discovered hiding
Hiding: The teenager had been hiding in Rishi Sharma’s house with the help of Arthur Thomas after fleeing the boarding school his father had forced him to attend
But Arthur was left furious after his mother told him that Arthur had returned home, revealing his fears for Marshall going back to his homophobic father Colin (Mark Noble).
After learning that Colin cruelly called Arthur a ‘pervert’ for his sexuality, Laurel was left fearing she made a terrible mistake by calling Colin, with Marshall’s future hanging in the balance.
The drama kicked off in Wednesday’s episode when Laurel noticed something was amiss when Arthur sneakily stole flapjacks.
Arthur was then seen giving the snacks to Marshall, having brought the teenager to his house in the middle of the day after Rishi became convinced their was a ghost in his house.
He asked Marshall: ‘Have you done any more thinking?’
To which Marshall replied: ‘Yeah loads, but it’s pointless. I can’t go to school, I can’t go home.’
But Arthur said: ‘You can’t stay in here forever.’
A dejected Marshall said: ‘If you want me to leave.’
Before Arthur could respond, his mother Laurel burst in the room and asked: ‘Arthur, what are you doing here?’
Realisation then dawned on her face as she noticed Arthur was sitting with Marshall, who she believed was at boarding school after his father Colin had sent him away.
In tense scenes, Rishi (Bhasker Patel) was furious after discovering that the mystery intruder in his house was Marshall, not a ghost as he had come to fear.
An angry Rishi said to Arthur: ‘You’re sudden enthusiasm for Scrabble was a ploy to stop me going home? I thought it was a ghost!’
Despite Arthur’s apologies, his mother Laurel said: ‘We will discuss this properly later, but there will be consequences.’
Arthur then revealed his plot to keep Marshall hidden, telling his mother: ‘I’ve been helping him since he was supposed to go to boarding school.’
Discovered: However, Marshall (Max Fletcher) was discovered by Arthur’s mother Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy), who then insisted on calling his homophobic father Colin
To which Marshall explained: ‘We wrote them a letter saying my granny was sick and I had to go to Italy to visit her.’
Laurel asked: ‘Do you even have a granny in Italy?’, to which Marshall replied: ‘No.’
Laurel then insisted on calling Marshall’s father Colin, saying he needed to know that his son wasn’t at boarding school.
Marshall begged: ‘You don’t have to tell him, please.’
But Laurel said: ‘I know you don’t have the easiest relationship with him and going to boarding school was sudden, but he’s your dad. It’s non-negotiable, I need to tell him where you are.’
Marshall was then seen looking very nervous as he waited for his abusive father to collect him, appearing to fear his reaction at him fleeing boarding school.
Marshall said: ‘My dad hates being phoned at work.’
To which Laurel assured him: ‘He’s a parent, it comes with the territory.’
As Colin walked in, Marshall said: ‘Dad!’
Laurel then reasoned: ‘Colin, let’s all stay calm. Marshall knows he’s gone about this the complete wrong way.’
As Marshall told his father: ‘I’m sorry, don’t be mad’, Colin ran towards his son and grabbed him in a tight embrace, much to the teenager’s surprise.
The father and son were then seen sitting down with Laurel to work out what was to be done and if Marshall was to return to boarding school or stay in the village.
A confused Colin asked his son: ‘I drove you to the school.’
To which Marshall said: ‘I turned around, I didn’t want to go.’
Laurel said: ‘It’s tough isn’t it? Joining a school halfway through the year.’
Marshall then admitted that he missed Arthur and shared his desire to return to his old school, Hotten Academy.
Colin then asked his son if Arthur had helped him ‘forge’ the letter to his boarding school, but Marshall insisted: ‘Only think up the words, he didn’t actually do it.’
Colin then accepted that his son’s reaction had been ‘knee-jerk’ but admitted that he still found it ‘challenging’ to accept his son’s sexuality because of his religion.
But Laurel told him: ‘Arthur’s sexuality is part of his identity… our young people deserve better.’
‘It’s not about what we think, it’s about supporting our children,’ she added.
To which Colin assured her: ‘Which is all I’ve ever tried to do, support him.’
Marshall then asked his father: ‘So, can I still see Arthur? Can we cancel boarding school? I’ll work really hard, spend all the holidays doing revision.’
And Colin replied: ‘As long as you can bear coming home.’
Marshall appeared unsure and then mumbled ‘yeah’ in agreement, with Colin saying that it was ‘good’.
Laurel appeared pleased that they had some to an agreement and that Marshall would be returning home and to Hotten Academy.
She said: ‘I’m glad this has been productive, Arthur is going to be very relieved.’
However, Arthur was left furious after his mother told him of the new development, sharing his fears for Marshall.
Arthur raged at Laurel: ‘What? You called him. That’s why he isn’t texting me, I’ve sent him loads of messages.’
Laurel insisted: ‘There’s been a breakthrough, Colin has accepted your friendship.’
However, Arthur revealed: ‘Colin’s homophobic! He’d never change his mind in a day! He called me a disgusting little pervert!’
A shocked Laurel said: ‘I didn’t realise, why didn’t you warn me?’
Before quickly leaving, Arthur said: ‘What have you done?’
To which Laurel then admitted: ‘I think I’ve made a huge mistake.’
After manipulating Marshall into coming home, Colin is set to start love-bombing him with messages in episodes set to air later in the week.
But rather than agree to return home with his family and forgive his father, Colin’s behaviour leaves Marshall more conflicted than ever about his feelings.
In the scenes, Marshall is grateful for Jai and Laurel taking him in after Colin (Mark Noble) threw him out once he discovered his son had feelings for Arthur (Alfie Clarke).
He is further defeated to hear Hotten Academy can’t accept him back without his father’s approval.
Eventually, Colin agrees to Marshall returning to Hotten Academy, although Laurel and Jai fear it may only be because he wants his abuse of Marshall to be kept quiet.
Later, when Jai opens up to Laurel about his fears of the impact on their family of them taking on Marshall, he doesn’t know that devastated Marshall is listening to the conversation on the stairs.
Confusion: After manipulating Marshall into coming home, Colin is set to start love-bombing him with messages in episodes set to air later in the week
The next day, Colin appears, asking to see Marshall, but Jai and Laurel are unconvinced by his apparent change of heart and only agree he can see his son if Marshall gives his consent.
Marshall’s wrong-footed by his caring approach when Colin tries to convince Marshall he’s sorry for disowning him over his sexuality.
When his dad says he loves him and tells him it’s time to come home, Marshall is shaken by the request.
Colin does his best to manipulate him into coming home, and the next day Marshall is confused as his dad continues to love bomb him with messages.
With Marshall now more confused than ever, has his family been torn apart for good?
Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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