Here’s a 700-word scene inspired by the headline:
“Emmerdale’s Ross Barton shattered as Steph’s fury spirals out of control” — filled with drama, heartbreak, and betrayal.

INT. BARTON’S GARAGE – NIGHT

The garage is dimly lit, the scent of oil and metal hanging heavy in the air. ROSS BARTON is working on his car, his hands greasy, but his mind is far away. He wipes his forehead with the back of his hand, exhausted. The sound of a car screeching to a halt outside catches his attention. He looks up, his expression hardening as he sees STEPH storming toward him, her face flushed with anger.

STEPH (voice shaking with fury):
You think you can just walk away from everything, Ross? From me? From us?

Ross stands up, wiping his hands on a rag. He tries to remain calm, but the tension in the air is palpable.

ROSS (quietly):
Steph, please. This isn’t helping anything.

STEPH (fuming):
Oh, it’s not helping? You mean running away to this place—hiding in your stupid garage like you’re some kind of loner—that’s not helping?

Ross takes a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly. He tries to reach out to her, but she steps back, eyes filled with frustration and hurt.

ROSS (softly):
I’m not hiding, Steph. I’m just trying to figure things out.

STEPH (scoffing):
Figure things out? You’ve had months to figure things out, Ross! And all you’ve done is shut me out. You don’t even care about us anymore.

Ross’s jaw tightens. He doesn’t want to argue, but it’s hard when every word she says feels like a dagger to his chest.

ROSS:
It’s not that simple. You know that. There’s a lot going on—things I can’t explain right now.

STEPH (laughing bitterly):
Oh, of course. There’s always something with you, isn’t there? Something you can’t explain. Something you won’t face. Well, I’m done waiting, Ross. Done trying to fix this mess you’ve made.

She starts pacing, her voice rising as she continues, too angry to stop herself now.

STEPH:
You don’t think I see it? You don’t think I’ve noticed how much you’ve pulled away? I’ve given you everything, Ross! And this is how you repay me? By acting like I’m the problem?

Ross’s eyes widen in disbelief. His voice shakes with emotion.

ROSS (pleading):
Steph, please… I’m not saying it’s your fault. It’s not. But there are things… things I’m trying to deal with on my own.

STEPH (furious):
On your own? You think I haven’t been trying to deal with things on my own? You’re not the only one who’s struggling, Ross! I’m here, fighting for us, while you’re… you’re just falling apart!

Ross takes a step toward her, but she takes another step back, shaking her head.

STEPH (tears in her eyes, voice breaking):
You’ve shattered me, Ross. I don’t know who you are anymore.

The words hit him harder than anything. Ross stands there, staring at her, the weight of her words crushing him. His voice cracks when he finally speaks.

ROSS:
I never meant to hurt you, Steph. You have to know that.

She wipes her eyes angrily, pushing past him as she heads for the door.

STEPH (voice low, dangerous):
Well, congratulations. You’ve succeeded.

ROSS (desperately):
Steph, don’t do this. We can fix this. I know we can.

STEPH (whispering, almost to herself):
You don’t get it, do you, Ross? It’s too late. You’ve pushed me too far.

Her words hang in the air, heavy and final. She reaches the door, pausing for a moment.

STEPH (without turning back):
I don’t think I even know who you are anymore.

With that, she slams the door behind her, leaving Ross standing alone in the garage, his heart in pieces. He stares at the door, the sound of her footsteps fading away, and a broken silence fills the space between them.

INT. EMERDALE VILLAGE – LATER THAT NIGHT

Ross walks down the dimly lit street, his mind reeling. He’s lost in thought, barely registering the people passing by. All he can hear are the echoes of Steph’s words: “You’ve shattered me.”

He reaches THE WOOLPACK, the glow of its lights seeming to mock him. CHARITY DINGLE is standing outside, locking up for the night. She notices Ross and steps toward him, her face hardening as she sees his expression.

CHARITY:
Ross. You look like you’ve been through a war zone. What’s going on?

ROSS (distracted):
I messed up. Again.

Charity studies him for a moment, her voice softening.

CHARITY (gently):
Don’t tell me you’ve lost her. Not Steph.

Ross looks up, his eyes raw, defeated.

ROSS (voice cracking):
I think I have. And this time, it’s all my fault.

Charity sighs, placing a hand on his shoulder.

CHARITY:
Ross, you can’t keep running from your problems. You’re gonna lose everyone if you don’t start facing up to them.

Ross nods slowly, the weight of her words sinking in. He looks down at the ground, shoulders slumped.

ROSS (whispering to himself):
I’ve already lost her.

FADE OUT.

Let me know if you’d like to continue this! Maybe Ross fights to win Steph back, or the fallout leads to even more drama.