Discuss The Archers here. There's hut construction, new teen arrivals, pastured eggs, pining Pip and other fun Spring-like stories to choose from.

[PseudoBadger]

Maybe if we don't look directly at the other storyline it will disappear?

I wonder if what he said about her hitting him will provoke response from h? If he keeps that up wouldn't it be game over? Either charade continues but H knows or he comes out with his dastardly plans and threats and stops pretending to be nice (in private)? Seems a gaslight too far to me.

I found tonight very grim. Helen showed a bit of independence today - and what is the result. Another assault dressed up as 'because I love you SO MUCH'

I know I keep saying this but if you look at Helen's behaviour (and Rob's) from our perspective it seems inexplicable. The perspective you need to use is one of understanding something of how the domestic abuse cycle works and what effect it has. Link from the refuge site here If you are reading this and you are in an abusive situation then don't click on the link without also knowing how to delete your internet history, but do know this - there are people who will help you. The National Domestic Violence Freephone helpline is 0808 2000 347 and it's 24 hours.

Awful awful awful. But I feel there is hope. Fallon must have seen how Helen didn't want to leave. She'll tell Kirsty. Shula will mention something to someone.
This must come to end soon!

Nothernlurker, your posts have been very helpful to me in trying to make sense of this awful storyline. Thanks for taking the time to try to get it across.

Things in relationships can change very fast. Hopefully something will have been building up in Hell's mind. There have been a few twigs. Scary times for Hellin.

So who will be Helens minder tomorrow , when rob and Ursula are off on their day trip ?

Good point Kr1stina

I suspect tonights rape was in part intended to ensure she won't feel like trying any more of this independence lark tomorrow

As horrible as tonight was I think that might have clarified things for Helen. Last time she might have thought, well I had a lot to drink, maybe I got it wrong but this time no doubt. So hopefully she is thinking
He hits me but claims I hit him.
He claims he loves me but he rapes me.
All the other times he says he loves me he is lying.

Oh for fuck's sake, this is unbearable listening

How can Shula, Pat, Fallon stand by and listen to Rob talking to Helen the way he does and say nothing? If I was Shula, and heard someone speaking to their wife like Rob did in front of her, I would bloody well snap his head off! I just can't understand how everyone is so blind to it. It's driving me balmy.

Please let this wretched storyline come to an end now!

They don't say anything because she doesn't say anything.
People don't.

If nothing else it clarifies for her that she now finds him repellent, and being compliant won't be enough to maker her life bearable.

When R and U take Henry out, do you reckon they're going to tell him about exciting new school where you sleep over, but don't tell mummy or she'll haunt you again in the night?

small - I know we've often told each other on this thread "I hope you're right" in response to optimistic posts like yours, but it does feel now that they are moving to some conclusion, although I guess they'll maximise the drama to combine it with the outcome of the pregnancy.

Helen now doesn't even seem to be kidding herself that she's happy or pretending to Rob that all is fine. She had the tantalising glimpse today of just being able to sit down with a friend and have a chat - I may not be an expert on feminine mystiquery , but just having an idle gossip with F and K, then popping over to talk to your mum must be something she's now desperate to do.

What people do is go home and tell their mum/husband/sister etc though

It's very high risk of knob to be showing this behaviour in front of others who haven't been brainwashed into thinking Helen is insane

Oh sorry I forgot, the womenz will just think that's how a strong good looking man keeps his wife in her place. No meddling required as nothing to see here

byos or they will say well he isn't very nice but at least he doesn't hit her.

my mum sent me back to my ex at least 3 times because she thought he wasn't that bad and it was most likely partly my fault

Interfering in other people's rs rarely goes well. Look what happened when Kirsty tried.

But people will be talking - they may not interfere but it will trickle down

So Shula mentions it to Jill - Jill mentions it to carol who is already suspicious of him. Carol talks to Kirsty/pat. It starts to build a picture.

And you would totally expect fallon to tell kirsty

You would. But not on TA

That's what's so annoying!!!

Talking of annoying, what about Pat? I know there's the justification that she doesn't want to inadvertently push Helen away, that she is worried about appearing interfering or saying the wrong thing (especially after the home birth argument), but it feels like the scene could go:
H: "Mum, help, Rob's hitting me"
P: (not looking round) "Oh, I'm sorry, to hear that, love"
H: "Ah, no, Mum, I need help"
P: "I'm sure Rob knows what's best"
H: "I'm in pain. Get him off me"
P: "Well, I don't like to interfere"
Rob:"That's right, Pat, leave this to me"
P: "I know you're doing all you can, Rob..."

DadDadDad - that's why its so annoying because they have stuck Pats head so far in the ground. hopefully she'll pull it out for St. Patrick's Day

I will be so bloody mad if Fallon doesn't tell Kirsty about Knob marching Helen out of the cafe, it would be the normal order of things!

Seriously - Rob and Ursula on a coach tour of Borsetshire?

They're off to chat up Rob's old Housemaster, aren't they?

"You'd never know he was five - he's such a mature little chap."

Oooh! You could be on to something there, Kingscote. I think he just said tour, not coach tour, but yes, they could be off to the school.

OR they could be lurking round the corner, hoping to pounce on Kirsty as she tries to visit a supposedly homealone Hellin.

Definitely off to the school - I was about to post the same thing. And I think Henwee will let this secret slip at some point - because secrets are wrong remember.