Bobbie returns to her cell after the aerobics class and doesn't notice
that Marlene has been bashed. Marie tells Reb about the plot to replace
Ann with Joan. Shane agrees with Joan that they will both give up smoking.
Edna tells Rachel that Harry will try to get her out.
|
Edna and Rachel's cell |
The end of the scene
between Edna and Rachel is cut, presumably to remove the reference to her
first husband, which would be one of the points of similarity with Emily
Perry's case. The cut version ends with Edna's line:
Edna: If I know my Harry, he'll move heaven
and earth to get me out of here.
[The original version continues as follows]
Rachel: Guess there just aren't enough Harrys
and Ricks to go round.
Edna: I was terribly upset when my first husband
died. Heaven knows, he'd suffered long enough, poor soul. But I learned
one very important thing, Rachel. Hearts don't break. Oh, they come pretty
close, alright. I know how you feel, and when you get out you'll find someone
who's right for you. I just hope he'll be as wonderful as my Harry.
|
Kay seems to be over the worst of her withdrawal symptoms. Marlene tells
everyone her swollen face is due to toothache. Heather tells Dennis her
brother has had an accident on his bike when a car forced him off the road,
but doesn't want to report it to the police. Mrs O'Reagan is impressed
with Rachel when she does kitchen duty.
|
"I've read about you: you're the poisoner!" |
[This scene ends
in the cut version with the lines:]
Mrs O'Reagan: Why can't you take a leaf out
of Rachel's book? It's easy to see you know your way round a kitchen -
and how to behave in it.
[The original version continues:]
Rachel: I was going to study home economics
before I came here.
[Mrs O'Reagan crosses to the other bench where
Edna is working and sniffs at a large bowl of what looks like tinned tomatoes
- or possibly raw mince?]
Mrs O'Reagan: Just a pinch of mixed herbs,
I think?
Edna: Oh right, Mrs O'Reagan.
Mrs O: You're new to me. What's your name
again?
Edna: Pearson. Edna Pearson.
Mrs O: Oh. [as it slowly sinks in] I've read
about you: you're the poisoner! I'll not have you in here preparing food.
Leave us alone immediately.
Rachel: Mrs O'Reagan, that's not fair. Edna's
innocent.
Marlene: Yeah, her husband's even getting
an appeal for her. He wouldn't do that if he thought she tried to bump
him off, would he?
Edna: I am innocent, Mrs O'Reagan.
Mrs O: That's not what the papers said. And
you are in prison, aren't you? I won't have the poisoner in my kitchen.
Goodness knows, there's plenty in here don't deserve to go on breathing
God's clean air, but just the same they've got their rights. And I'll not
see anyone poisoned by food from my kitchen.
Marlene: Tastes pretty poisonous anyway, usually.
Mrs O: You watch your tongue, young lady.
[To Edna] I'm going to see the Governor and have you taken off kitchen
duties immediately. And don't you touch any food while I'm gone, d'you
hear? [To Marlene] And I might just have a little word about you while
I'm there. Now you clean up your mess. You can help her. I'll finish the
rissoles myself when I get back.
|
Heather hands over the drugs she brought in for Marie, but tells her
she won't do it again: Marie tells her she ought to remember who's really
got the upper hand.
|
Governor's Office |
Edna: But how could anyone possibly poison
the food in a prison kitchen?
Ann: Edna, you're missing the point.
Edna: I never poisoned anyone in my whole
life. I obviously wouldn't have the faintest idea of how to go about it.
Ann: I'm sorry Edna, but you'll just have
to accept the fact that some people panic at the idea of poison. You probably
think Mrs O'Reagan's irrational, but she's got a very difficult job to
do here and she does it surprisingly well. We certainly don't want to lose
her.
Edna: But don't you see what this means? The
women have been so good, they've all accepted me and the fact that I'm
innocent. If I'm banned from the kitchen, they'll start to wonder.
Ann: I wouldn't worry about that. The work
rosters are changed every day. We'll just move you to laundry duties this
afternoon.
Edna: Why won't people believe me?
Ann: Well, hopefully your appeal will clear
up doubts once and for all. Anyway at least your husband has complete faith
in you. That must be a great comfort.
Edna: [nodding] Harry knows the truth and
that's what really matters.
|
|
"Eurggh! Eurggh!" |
Marlene: What an old sourpuss. Fancy kicking
Edna out like that.
Rachel: Yeah, I can't imagine her hurting
a fly let alone poisoning anyone.
Marlene: We ought to teach O'Reagan a lesson.
Rachel: Now, Marlene. You're in enough trouble
as it is. Don't push your luck.
Marlene: [winking] I've got an idea. Watch
this. Euuuh! [clutching her stomach and lying flat out on the workbench]
Euuuh!
Mrs O: What's the matter? Is she sick?
Marlene: I think I've been poisoned.
Mrs O: What's she been eating?
Marlene: I only had a teensy weensy little
taste.
Mrs O: What did I tell you? Get the nurse.
No, the doctor. Get the basin quick, I don't want her being sick all over
my clean kitchen.
Marlene: Oh the pain, the pain.
Mrs O: Somebody do something! Where does it
hurt?
Marlene: It hurts like hell here [pointing
to her cheek] when I laugh.
Mrs O: You little .... (vixen?)
Marlene: Oh come on, don't do your Charlie.
We're just trying to show you Edna wouldn't poison anyone.
Mrs O: That's it! You've gone too far this
time.
Marlene: Oh where's your sense of humour,
Mrs O?
Mrs O: I lost it the day they started sending
me lunatics like you to work in my kitchen. Well, you won't be working
here again.
Marlene: Oh what a shame, and I was just learning
to to love peeling little spuds and gouging thier cute little eyes out.
Mrs O: Doh!!!
Marlene: Look, you don't report me and I won't
tell everyone what you put in your rissoles.
Mrs O: That does it! This time I will tell
the Governor. [she storms out]
Marlene: It was only a joke.
Rachel: I've got a feeling this one is going
to backfire in a big way, Marlene.
|
|
Dining room |
Judy: Why isn't Marlene serving?
Edna: Got herself into strife with Mrs O'Reagan.
I think she reported her to the Governor.
Judy: As if she isn't in enough trouble. Did
she say who bashed her?
Bobbie: Two guesses: Winter or the Freak.
She's been getting the heavy from both sides.
Edna: She was full of beans in the kitchen
in spite of her toothache.
Bobbie: Yeah, and if that's a toothache, I'm
a screw.
Marlene: [bringing a tray to the table and
sitting down] What a bummer Mrs O kicked you out of the kitchen Edna. You
missed all the fun.
Judy: I wouldn't worry about it too much if
I were you. She's as mad as a hatter.
Edna: She thinks I'm guilty.
Marlene: And she reckons I'm mad.
Judy: Oh well. Sometimes she's right.
[The cut version of the scene starts here]
Bobbie: Heard from Reno yet?
Marlene: Nope. I hope she doesn't put me back
in the laundry.
|
Heather goes to see Ann to offer her resignation: Ann assumes the problem
is with Joan and says she should give it another couple of weeks. Myra
phones Ann to tell her she isn't guilty of the crimes she's been accused
of in the newspapers and is about to turn herself in: Ann hears Wally's
voice in the background and realises he is helping Myra. Leigh sees her
solicitor, who tells her that her lover did have the films at the time
she attacked him and he thinks Roland has them now. Marlene rips up a skirt
to convert it into a high fashion ensemble.
|
"Oh, poor Harry.." |
[The last line in
the cut version is:]
Marlene: By the time I'm through with it they
won't even recognise it.
[The original scene continues:]
Edna: Honestly, Marlene. It's no wonder you
get yourself into so many scrapes. If you only...
Bobbie: [tuning her transistor radio] Hey
Edna! Edna, quick, it's your old man. Hey, turn it up Rach, quick.
Harry (voice over): The whole thing is absolutely
ridiculous. Now you tell me, why would a sweet lady like that try and poison
me? My Edna and I have the sort of marriage you only read about in books.
It's just tearing me apart to think of her shut away behind those cold
grey walls for a crime she never committed. I want my Edna back and I won't
rest until I get her back.
Interviewer (voice over): Thank you Mr Pearson.
Well, listeners, this tragic story...
Judy: He's really pulling for you, love
Marlene: God, I'll say!
Rachel: I'm surprised they didn't let you
off on his testimony alone. He sounds so sincere.
Bobby: Must be nice having a bloke like that
looking out for you.
Edna: It is, dear. It's the only thing that's
kept me going these part dreadful weeks. Dear Harry. Oh, poor Harry. How
he must be suffering.
|
Meg tells Ann the building society will replace her missing money as
they were at fault.
|
"Marlene, did you hear what I just said?" |
[Marlene comes into
Edna's cell with a maternity smock draped round her middle]
Marlene: Guess what? Leigh's all for the show
now.
Edna: Why that's lovely, dear.
Marlene: Yes, she's lending us all her dresses
and everything. Picture of Harry, eh? [picking it up]
Edna: Yes, I always keep it with me.
Marlene: Jeez, he must be a nice bloke. You
know, I reckon my dad would do exactly the same if my mum were in the same
boat. If she said she didn't do it, he'd believe her.
Edna: Oh, some men will believe anything you
tell them. They're so gullible. I mean, take Harry for instance... [Edna
freezes as she realises what she has said, but she has her back to Marlene
and doesn't see her attention is concentrated on posing in the mirror with
the dress]
Marlene: What do you think of this then, eh?
Edna: [still with her back to Marlene] Marlene,
did you hear what I just said?
Marlene: Oh yeah, sure. Do you reckon I should
turn like this? [practicing her catwalk manner]
Edna: Oh that's really nice dear. Very nice.
[With a fake cheery smile]
|
Joan is furious with Shane for staying out all night with his friends.
Roland confirms he has the films and tells Leigh he will release them at
the time of her trial if she doesn't do the publicity he wants. Dot is
suffering from indigestion after lunch, and so is Marlene. Judy tries to
help Marlene when she has to do a job for Marie. Edna is visited by Harry.
|
The garden
Perhaps I should not be so surprised, but the information on the oleander
does seem to be accurate. The entry
in the Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System includes the following:
"Oleander (Nerium oleander) is an ornamental indoor shrub found in Canadian
homes and offices. This plant is quite toxic if the leaves or stems are
ingested. Humans have died after eating meat that was skewered with oleander
stems. Ingesting a single leaf may be toxic to a person."
The plant Edna picks the leaves from even looks
like an oleander... |
Edna: Oh, Harry. Sometimes I wonder if we'll
ever be together again.
Harry: Now you mustn't let it get you down,
dear. George is very confident the appeal will be successful. You'll be
home again in no time at all.
Edna: I keep telling myself that but it's
so hard when I can't be with the person who's been my whole world. I feel
so lost somehow.
Harry: Edna, I swear that when this whole
horrible mess has been cleared up, I'll make sure that nothing will ever
part us again.
[From this point, the rest of the scene is
cut]
Harry: You know, you should ask if you could
work out here in the garden. Much better than in that depressing old laundry.
With your green fingers you could have this place looking a treat in no
time.
Edna: It would take a bit longer than that,
I think.
Harry: Oh I don't know. A bit of pruning here
and there. Fixing a few things up. Like this oleander bush for instance.
Could do with a bit of attention. Funny how such a dangerous plant can
have such delicate flowers, isn't it?
Edna: Well, it's only the sap ... (breaks
off as an idea occurs to her in a burst of sinister electronic music) ...
that's ... poisonous.
Harry: Yes, when I was a kid a friend of mine
nearly died from it. His sister used the sap to make milk for a make-believe
tea party. Can you imagine that? Oh, talking about tea parties, I promised
George I'd meet him in the club at 3 o'clock. I'd better be going. Won't
be long now and then no more goodbyes. See you soon
Edna: (absent mindedly) Soon...
[After Harry walks away, Edna bends down to examine
the oleander bush and plucks a handful of the leaves. She gazes ahead into
space, lost in thought] |
Dot and Bobbie find their cells wrecked, but Judy is suspicious that
nothing is actually damaged. Ann tells Meg that Myra has returned and is
in solitary: Joan brings her news that the rec room has been trashed as
well as the library. Ann tells the women they will pay for the damage out
of their wages. Judy confronts Marlene, who admits the damage but notes
that Joan saw her and did nothing to prevent her. Judy realises that Joan
is plotting to undermine Ann and take over from her. Joan orders Marie
to start a full scale riot |
