Emmerdale spoilers: Cain’s very unexpected response to Ruby and Caleb’s plan for violent revenge on Ethan

There was some devastating news for Ruby Fox-Miligan (Beth Cordingly) at the start of Tuesday (May 21)’s Emmerdale, when Caleb (William Ash) gave her an update on their son Nicky (Lewis Cope)’s health.

Caleb had been speaking to the doctors who’d told him that they’d decided not to try to bring Nicky out of his coma because the swelling on his brain hadn’t gone down as fast as they’d hoped.

While Caleb said that wasn’t necessarily bad news, it left Ruby terrified that her son might have brain damage.

Nicky’s injuries were the result of an accident when the car he was in, driven by his friend Ethan Anderson (Emile John), ploughed off the road. Ethan dragged the unconscious Nicky from the car but soon fled the scene.

Well, he’s certainly changed

Ethan is currently facing a prison sentence after his dad, Charles Anderson (Kevin Mathurin), turned him in to the police. As he waits for his court date his family have been trying to keep his spirits up and in this episode they convinced him to go to the Hide for lunch.

This turned out to be a mistake, as Caleb spotted him there. Ethan tried again to apologise to Caleb, saying he felt terrible and was accepting full responsibility. He said he was praying for Nicky and asked if there was any news. ‘Why would I tell you?’ Caleb replied.

Later, Caleb was with Ruby in the village and they bumped into Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) and gave him an update on Nicky, with Ruby snapping at Cain before admitting how tired and stressed she was with worry about her son.

Then they saw Charles and Ethan. They were talking about Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler)’s scarecrow competition and both laughing.

Ruby wanted to know what they were laughing at. ‘My son is fighting for his life in hospital and you think everything’s a big joke.’ Caleb asked him, ‘Are you for real, you?’

It was Cain who defused the situation by telling Charles to take Ethan inside. Caleb was frustrated because he wanted to hurt Ethan. Cain said he did too, ‘But we can’t beat him up in the street.’

Previously Cain would have been the man you’d call if you wanted someone beating up in the street, but he’s a bit wiser and less hot-headed these days.

He was the one who stopped Caleb from beating Ethan up with a baseball bat soon after the accident happened and Caleb had taken Ethan back to Mill Cottage.

Cain – not usually one to trust the process of the law – suggested that Ethan would get his punishment in prison, when the other prisoners realise he’s a lawyer. Caleb said he ‘wanted him to suffer now’ and Ruby agreed.

‘If Nicky doesn’t pull through he’s going to wish he was dead,’ she vowed.