As the curtains fall on The Feud, Sonia (played by Amy Nuttall) casts a sorrowful glance at Alan's lifeless body in the morgue, while Emma Barnett (portrayed by Jill Halfpenny) stands afar, surveying a real estate property with an eerie premonition. The prospective client, whispering tales of past atrocities, reveals that the previous occupants met with a grim fate. As Emma inches closer, the client abruptly bolts, leaving her to step into a house dripping with macabre memories, its walls splattered with telltale signs of violence.
Enter John Barnett (portrayed by Rupert Penry-Jones), prompting Emma to confront him with accusations. He steadfastly denies any wrongdoing, while she informs him of the police's pursuit. In a bid to escape their troubled past, Emma, Sonia, and Barbara (played by Tessa Peake-Jones) list their homes for sale. John confesses his urgency to flee upon sighting Alan (Ray Fearon), steadfastly maintaining his innocence in Sonia's company. Beth (Megan Trower), meanwhile, had sent Emma incriminating photos of John and Sonia, yet the latter remains elusive. John's bewilderment grows, craving clarity on the unfolding chaos. Emma, probing deeper, wonders if he wishes to confess to the affair or to Alan's murder. He vehemently denies any involvement in the dark deeds known as "the magpies thing."
Emma's father fears for Beth's safety, while John persists in his denial of Alan's slaying, insisting he found him already deceased. Emma suspects John's guilt stems from Alan discovering his plans. Their conversation about Derek's demise is abruptly halted by the police's arrival. Barbara reflects on Derek's abusive past, while Ian Casey (Joel Beckett) informs Emma of legal developments, hinting at an impending retrial and extending her suspension pending hearing results. Emma accuses Ian of finally achieving his long-desired victory.
Barbara pens a heartfelt letter to Emma, and John, desperate, phones her, pleading for release. Emma hangs up in disgust upon his confession of the affair. At the police station, Emma reports Beth as missing, surprised to find PC Gallagher (Jamie-Lee O'Donnell) back on duty. Gallagher, skeptical of Beth's true whereabouts given her age, nonchalantly agrees to log the report. Emma's plea for trust is met with Gallagher's reminder of her own disgraced past. Elsewhere, Beth's cries for help echo unheeded.
Barbara confides in Emma about Marcus's tree and Derek's reluctance for a grand funeral. She unveils the autopsy's conclusion: Derek succumbed to his fall. The revelation of Derek's abusive nature leaves Emma grappling with uncertainties surrounding the incident's witnesses. Barbara, aware of John's fiery temper, implicitly questions his innocence in Alan's death. Seeking solace, Barbara unburdens her soul about Derek's autopsy, leaving Emma worried and unreachable to Beth, whose phone rings unanswered in the silence of her distress.
Terry Dobson (played by Larry Lamb) arrives, driven by the urgent need to confer with Emma. He unveils a bombshell: her builder, Lee Hatby (Chris Gascoyne), has halted her project plans. Emma is baffled, wondering what could possibly prompt Lee to take such action. Their conversation drifts to Beth, who had expressed fear of someone unknown. As the weight of her losses bears down on her, Emma is overcome with emotion.
Sonia, seeking solace and guidance, visits Nick and implores him to assist in uncovering her husband's murderer. Nick reveals a chilling detail: his camera, meant to safeguard the premises, was deliberately disabled on the fateful day, capturing only Alan's entrance, followed by John. Clearly, the perpetrator was aware of its presence. Nick expresses his heartfelt regret over Alan's demise.
Stepping outside for a cigarette, Emma notices a telltale sign of forced entry—a lock sliced cleanly off the gate. Venturing into her neighbor's yard, her eyes fall upon bolt cutters resting on a nearby chair. She promptly dials Lee, urging him to return her call.
Determined to uncover the truth, Emma heads to Nick's residence, requesting to view his footage. Nick insists that there's nothing remarkable to see, mentioning the camera's deactivation immediately after Alan's arrival. Reluctantly, he invites her inside to verify the recordings herself. Inside his room, Emma's attention is drawn to seagull photographs adorning the walls and an array of bird-watching paraphernalia.
As they scrutinize the footage repeatedly, Emma spots Lee approaching Alan's place for a conversation. Nick recalls an eerie sight: Lee lingering in his van for an extended period, which struck him as odd.
Barbara's arrival interrupts their investigation, seeking Nick's assistance in her own matters. Meanwhile, Emma visits John in jail, informing him of Lee's interference with her plans. John vehemently denies any involvement, mentioning Alan's office and probing further about the camera's condition. Emma shares the detail of its sabotage and inquires about the gate lock, which John couldn't have tampered with since he possessed the key. John confesses his unforgivable actions towards Sonia but stands firm on his innocence regarding Alan's murder. He pleads for Emma's help.
Emma mentions Barbara's suspicion towards Derek, and during their discussion about Beth, a thought sparks in her mind. She recalls Gallagher's premature awareness of her search for her daughter. Confronting Gallagher at the police station, Emma threatens dire consequences if harm has come to Beth, prompting Gallagher to suggest tracking her phone. Terry sends Emma Lee's address via message, and she attempts to reach Beth once more.
Confronting Lee, Emma demands answers about the halted plans, wondering if Alan orchestrated it. She further quizzes him about disabling Nick's camera. Lee counters with a question about why he saw Emma and John entering Derek's house on the night of his death, hinting at unpaid debts.
Later, Sonia discovers Emma at her home, mistaking her intent as revenge-driven. Emma inquiries about the baby, and Sonia claims ignorance of Lee's actions against the plans. Emma theorizes that they aimed to halt the construction, forcing a sale that would rid them of Alan's problem, John. The only potential complication was Sonia agreeing to leave with John. Emma hints that Sonia might be eager to scrutinize Nick's footage for her own appearance.
As they venture outdoors, Emma voices her conviction that the perpetrator who ended Alan's life utilized the snips to breach the gate's lock, making their escape through her verdant sanctuary. In the midst of Emma's attempts to summon the authorities, Sonia reveals a bombshell: Alan had confronted John, accusing him of an affair. Until that fateful day, she was oblivious to the clandestine liaison between Alan and Lee, as well as their scheme to meddle with the construction. Sonia confesses that Lee had sneaked into the backyard with the intention of aiding Alan in intimidating John, only to discover Alan's lifeless body upon arrival. Furthermore, she admits to harboring plans to elope with John. Desperate to clear John's name, albeit reluctantly, she sought Nick's surveillance footage, fearing the worst yet dreading the truth.
Nearby, Emma stumbles upon deceased magpies, a grim omen. She recounts how Alan had been intimidating her, a revelation that Sonia speculates Nick might have been privy to. Terry's call interrupts as Emma departs, informing her of Beth's phone being active and her on-the-move status. Terry cautions against calling, lest they deactivate it again. Undeterred, Emma persists in pestering Nick to scrutinize the footage, eager to ascertain Lee's arrival time. Relenting, Nick grants her access while preparing for work.
Amidst her contemplation of the magpies, Emma rummages through Nick's belongings and unearths photographs depicting Alan with magpies in his car's trunk. Scanning the footage, she spots Nick's reflection in the car, perched on a ladder, obscuring his camera. Upon Nick's return, Emma confronts him, suggesting his distress over the magpies led him to sabotage his own camera, aware of Alan's involvement. She presents her evidence, postulating that Nick deemed Alan deserving of punishment and incorrectly presumed John to be the perpetrator. Nick retorts dismissively, claiming the magpies were just that—birds—and implores Emma not to involve the police, threatening to expose incriminating footage related to Derek's fall if she does. His laughter turns sinister as he chokeholds her, declaring them all bullies, bound for prison together.
Enter Sonia, armed with a nail gun, who savagely retaliates against Nick. He is promptly whisked away in an ambulance, as Sonia confesses to Emma a shared suspicion that has now crystallized into a dire reality—her potential complicity in murder should Nick succumb to his injuries. Emma assures her, citing medical reassurances of his survival. PC Gallagher's return coincides with Beth's homecoming, the latter expressing reluctance to punish Gallagher, fearing the loss of their bond. John is freed from incarceration, only to find Emma awaiting him in her vehicle, her intentions having shifted. She curtly dismisses him, driving off.
Barbara confronts Emma upon her return, her tone laced with reproach yet understanding. She acknowledges Emma's actions as wrong yet necessary for uncovering the truth, expressing a twisted gratitude. As Barbara smiles and strides away, Emma learns of an impending new neighbor, vowing to remain put. Beth steps outside to greet the buyer, Marcus, who proceeds next door to visit his mother, Barbara. Emma retreats indoors, dialing her father.
