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EPISODE 44

Monica is free.

First broadcast ... 1979 (Melbourne)
ITV broadcasts: Yorkshire Mon 10 Feb 1986 23:00 ; TVS/Channel Thu 6 Nov 1986 22:30 ; Central Sun 2 Aug 1987 23:15 ; other regions
Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 17 May 1997 Sat 4:40 a.m.
DVD release: volume 3 disc 3 (AUS)
Duration: 00:48:29



Lynn ~ Kerry Armstrong
Monica ~ Lesley Baker
Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
Jim ~ Gerard Maguire
Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
Erica ~ Patsy King
Bea ~ Val Lehman
Doreen ~ Colette Mann
Greg ~ Barry Quin
Vera ~ Fiona Spence
Karen ~ Peita Toppano
Vince ~ Terry Emery
Mac ~ Peter Finlay
Fred ~ Gary Files
Joyce ~ Judy Nunn
Julie ~ Judith Woodroffe
Aunt Madge ~ Paddy Burnet
Jennifer ~ Laurel Burton
Edith ~ Colleen Clifford
Horrie ~ Michael Gamble
Peter ~ Carrillo Gantner
Sam ~ Alex Porteous
Alf ~ Frank Raggart
Suzanne ~ Joanna Weir

  • Written by Dave Worthington & Ian Bradley
  • Directed by Leigh Spence
  • Doreen is not in this episode

    Monnie is eventually released, little suspecting what a narrow escape she had. Lynn tells the kidnappers she isn't called Monica: they believe her but say they will keep her as a hostage to put pressure on Joyce. Karen hears from her student friend about the lecture she missed from the sociology lecturer Peter Clements, and lends her a tape she made. Monica looks up Joyce's aunt Madge, who knows about the money but is glad to let Monnie take it. Karen meets Jennifer, Steve's legal partner and - it appears - now his lover. Madge's neighbours Edie pops over to borrow a jug of milk: Madge tells Monica that Edie and Horace are due to be evicted. Edie returns home and ignores another reminder that her house is to be demolished. Karen is introduced to Peter Clements: he says he will be taking some time off to do research. He asks to speak to Karen: he evidently knows she is in Wentworth and asks if he can give her a few pointers for his research. Joy visits Joyce and is told they have kidnapped Monica. Joyce instantly realises from the threat to ruin the hostage's "pretty face" that she cannot be talking about Monica, and laughs when she hears the description of the blonde 20 year old who is the hostage. Bea doesn't find this quite as funny when she realises Lynn is in danger. Julie returns to the gang with the news that they have the wrong woman , but she says they have to hang onto Lynn until they get the money. The man who has bought the house comes round in person to tell Edie and Horace to get out. Peter Clements gives Karen a lift back to Wentworth: he tells her that he actually wants to study the staff rather than the prisoners and asks her for background information on the officers. Joyce informs on Vince and his mates to Jim: he passes on the information to the police (apparently Julie was foolish enough to put her real address in the visitor's book) and they are arrested. Monnie arrives home as Fred is on the phone to the his girlfriend Blossom. She sends him off to the pub so she can unpack the cash and divide it up. Edith and Horace look for other accommodation with the Salvation Army but they decide to sleep rough rather than be split up because they aren't married. The next morning Edith finds Horrie has died in the night . Vera and Jim are both contemptuous about the news that a psychologist will be working at the prison. Monica won't let Fred take the money to the bookie but insists on taking it herself: unfortunately he sees where she has hidden the rest of the money. Peter Clements is introduced to the women and gets a promise of co-operation from Bea if in return he will bring some contraband into the prison. Monica goes to pay off Fred's debts, but the bookie tells her he didn't owe as much as Fred had claimed. Peter Clements persuades Erica to let him have access to the prisoners' personal files and Greg also expresses interest in his project. Edie finds a bottle of whisky in Horrie's overcoat and drinks a toast to him as she wanders through the park. Monica returns home to find that Fred has run off with her share of the money.

    The set for Monica Ferguson's kitchen seems to be basically the same as the one used for the first halfway house.

    Is it a deliberate irony that Greg holds forth about research into the causes of cancer while waving a cigarette around? He never seems to smoke at other times.

    ***


    Storyliner: Dave Worthington
    Script Editor: Anne Lucas


    ITV regional broadcast dates:-
    YTV Mon 10 Feb 1986 23.00; TVS ... ; Channel ... ; TSW ... ; Central Sun 02 Aug 1987 23.15; Thames Thu 12 May 1988 23.35; STV Fri 05 Aug 1988 23.35; Anglia ... ; Granada Thu 14 Jul 1988 22.35; Tyne Tees Thu 04 May 1989 23.05; Border ... ; HTV ... ; Grampian ... ; Ulster ...


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