Episode #1366: Death of Denis Rigg (6 Jul. 1989) Written by James Robson

Crooked local businessman Denis Rigg drives past Emmerdale Farm as he prepares to inflict his reign of terror on the Sugdens.

Meanwhile, at the farm, Kathy books a hair appointment in time for a job interview later that morning. Joe walks in and explains that he's still treating his prize bull's infected eye. Annie is also worried what Denis Rigg will do to get their farm. Joe says "I won't let Rigg grind us down. Not yet anyway!"

At The Woolpack, Amos is irritated by Henry's habits: "Every morning you take the paper and pipe and you go upstairs for a read and a smoke!"

At Hotten Market, Denis wonders what Joe sees in Emmerdale Farm, and asks Eric Pollard "It's a scruffy little hill farm with limited acreage and hard land! Why does he want to stay there so bad?" "Something in the blood" Eric replied. Denis, determined to get posession of Emmerdale Farm, says to Eric: "I've made quite a study of Joe. He's pulled some clever strokes over the years. He's the key you see. If I can get him moving my way, the rest will follow!"

Lynn meets Kathy outside the hairdressers and offers to pay for her hair treatment as an apology for messing up her hair the day before.

Denis calls in to see Henry Wilks at The Woolpack, to try and get him to persuade the Sugdens to part with Emmerdale Farm. He opens up his briefcase and produces documents about his proposals. "You've no papers in their I'm prepared to look at!" Henry proclaimed. "I've got work to do here!" said Denis. "Nasty work, Mr. Rigg!" said Henry. "You frighten people, children and an old woman!" Henry had no intention of looking at the proposals and told Denis to go away.

At Victoria Cottage, Alan Turner and Caroline Bates are waiting for the phone call to see if there has been a change of heart regarding their business plan for Home Farm. The two then set off to confront Denis about rejecting their plans. "YOU MAKE ME SICK, RIGG!" Caroline shouted. "I'M NOT HERE TO BE LIKED, MRS. BATES!" Denis responded.

At The Woolpack, Amos tells Dolly and Seth about Henry's irritating habits and likens them to Seth's habits. Seth tells Amos he wants to be careful who he finds fault with because he's moving up in society. "Everything's coming up roses" said Seth. Henry tells Rev. Hinton that he's suffering from hay fever, and asks him about being back at St. Mary's. Rev. Hinton tells Henry he's been asked to retire. Local farmer Ted Sharp brings Dolly a bunch of roses. Dolly gives them to Amos to put in the pub.

At Demdyke, Jackie is back from a work trip, as Kathy waits for the phone call to find out if the milk recorder job is hers.

Jackie and Kathy go to the pub where they meet Lynn and Pete Whiteley. Jackie and Kathy are overcome with disappointment when Lynn tells them she's got the job.

At Emmerdale Farm, Joe tells Annie he won't let the farm fall into the hands of Denis Rigg. Outside, Denis arrives and follows Joe into the barn where his prize bull is kept. "GET OUT OF HERE!" shouted Joe. "NO! YOU GET OUT OF HERE! I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS LAND WHATEVER IT TAKES!" Denis declared.

As Denis was about to make his move, the bull charged and pinned Denis to the wall, crushing him. As he lay in agony, Joe drags him outside and discovers he has stopped breathing.

At Hotten Market, Eric tells Alan that he's written out a contract for Denis to sign, regarding their business plan for Home Farm.

Matt, Annie, Kate and Joe look on in disbelief as Denis is taken away in an ambulance.

Episode #1: Funeral of Jacob Sugden (16 Oct. 1972) Written by Kevin Laffan

16th October 1972, and the Sugden family of Emmerdale Farm, Beckindale, North Yorkshire gather for the funeral of patriarch Jacob Sugden, who died 6 days earlier from liver failure.

Peggy, Jacob's daughter, spots a young horsewoman (Marian Wilks) in the hills nearby and wonders who she is.

"Go and hurry mum, Joe!" said Peggy. "She's coming!" said Joe.

The widow, Annie, slowly made her way out of the farmhouse wondering whether her eldest son, Jack, would turn up for his father's funeral, but there was no sign of him.

Annie says to the driver of the hearse - "Take it slow! I don't want Jacob bumped about on his last ride!"

The funeral cortege made it's way out of the farm towards the nearby village of Beckindale, where, watching from the local pub, The Woolpack, was the deceased's eldest son, Jack, who had just returned to the village having spent 8 years in London.

"There he goes then?" said landlord Amos Brearly. "Aye, that's the end of him!" said Jack.

Amos asks Jack if he is going to the funeral, to which he replies - "You think I should do you?" "It's your dad - no point bearing grudges against the dead!" said Amos. Jack responds by claiming he has no grudge against him.

As the funeral takes place at Beckindale St. Mary's, Jack makes his way to the family farm he walked out on 8 years ago.

After a long hard look around, Marian Wilks (on horseback) says to Jack, "Do you like the view?" "They've all gone to the funeral, in case you didn't know!" said Marian. "I do as a matter of fact!" Jack replied. Marian remarks about Jack giving the farm a right going over. "It's my home. Where's yours?" said Jack. "Inglebrook. My father's just bought it!" said Marian. Marian tells Jack about how her father made his fortune reprocessing acids in Bradford.

With the funeral over, the Sugden family gather in The Woolpack, where Peggy claims Jack has no right to claim any sort of inheritance following his father's passing. Annie is insistant that there are no family feuds on the day of the funeral. "Jack's my son. I can handle him, and the rest of the family!" said Annie.

Marian Wilks arrives back at Inglebrook, where her father (Henry Wilks) admires the view, proclaiming "That's what I've worked for!" Marian tells her father about nearby Emmerdale Farm. A farm which Henry claims they have a right of way across to their land.

At Emmerdale Farm, Jack's whereabouts is still a mystery to the family, and Peggy thinks he's too ashamed to show his face and points out that he's been back in the village many times in the last 8 years and not even bothered to call in on his family.

Outside Jack calls on Joe and says "Remember me, do you?" "Jack isn't it?" said Joe. "We expected you at the funeral!" "I don't like funerals!" Jack replied. Joe asks Jack to come inside the house. "You've come home then?" said Annie. "Aye Ma!" said Jack.

LATER: A worried Peggy tells Matt that she fears Jack might sell the farm from under their noses.

Downstairs, Annie gives Jack a good hard talking to about the way he walked out on his father, but tells him she will not be so unreasonable and refuse him food and shelter. She tells him if he wants to stay at the farm, he's very welcome.

THE NEXT MORNING: Jack & Joe are working on the farm when they meet Marian. They introduce themselves to each other and Jack recognises the name Wilks from Wilks & Fisher, the Bradford company who killed off a lot of fish using harmful chemicals. Marian claimed it was all an accident, but Jack, standing up for what he believed in, said nobody pours in poisonous chemicals like that into a river deliberately, unless it's the cheapest way of getting rid of it. With that, Marian rode off quietly.

At Emmerdale Farm, Henry calls on his new neighbours and explains to Annie how he has a right of way across their land to his lower meadow and that it is in the deeds to the house. She refutes any such rights and tells him he must bring the evidence for her to see. "As you wish!" said Henry.

Annie then tells Henry that there's no need to claim anything and that he can walk across their land anytime as long as the gates are kept shut and no harm is done. But Henry proposes to have the main gate walled off and use the other gate as a main access for cars. "At the moment, it's impossible because it's littered with farm impliments! I want them cleared away - THE LAW IS ON MY SIDE!" said Henry. "WELL YOU CAN GO ON WANTING!" Annie replied.

At The Woolpack, Jack asks Amos about the couple across the bar. "I don't know him, but she's Wilks' girl who's come to live next to you!" said Amos.

Jack goes through to sit with couple and Marian introduces Alec Saunders to Jack Sugden. "Old Yorkshire name Sugden - mentioned in the Doomsday Book! - What's your pedigree?" Alec, feeling insulted, suggests to Marian that they go as he is particular about who he drinks with. Jack then confronts Marian about the fish poisoning incident. "As soon as father knew what was happening, he had the dumping stopped!" said Marian. Jack tells her he's sure the fish were very grateful, but unforunately - DEAD! With that Alec and Marian walk out.

Amos tells Jack that he didn't make much change in his brief conversation with Alec and Marian. "EARLY DAYS!" Jack proclaimed.