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.