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EPISODE 166

The women are confined to their cells after the extent of the escape becomes known. Meanwhile, Bea, Lizzie and Doreen are trapped in the tunnel

First broadcast ... 1981 (Melbourne)
Broadcast on Channel 5 Wednesday 26th November 1997 23:35
DVD release: volume 11 disc 2 (AUS)
Duration: 00:47:30



Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
Erica ~ Patsy King
Bea ~ Val Lehman
Jim ~ Gerard Maguire
Doreen ~ Colette Mann
Vera ~ Fiona Spence
Anne ~ Rowena Wallace
Gillespie ~ Wynn Roberts
Mouse ~ Jentah Sobott
Margo ~ Jane Clifton
Phyllis ~ Reylene Pearce
Hazel ~ Belinda Davey
Mr Douglas ~ Ian Smith
Off. Powell ~ Judith McGrath
Youth ~ Nick Holland
UNCREDITED
Van Driver ~ Terry Trimble
OTHER CHARACTERS
Detective Inspector Bridges
Petrol Station Attendant
Traffic Policeman

  • Written by Alistair Sharp
  • Directed by Rod Hardy & Juliana Focht
  • When Gillepsie looks at Doreen's file, we can see her mugshot pictures . Although the picture is the same, the number is much lower down than in the version we see in the opening credits .

    Judy and Mouse dig in the rubble with their bare hands, but they only turn up Irene's dead body . They shout for help and hear Bea's voice on the other side of the cave-in: Bea tells them that Doreen and Lizzie are still alive. Meanwhile, Anne is making a rockery on top of the tunnel, but Gillespie sees her and sends her back inside the marquee. Bea has to help Doreen free her leg , but she still isn't able to walk, so Bea goes back alone to try to get help. Margo and Hazel are worried that Bea and Lizzie haven't come back , especially when Vera notices that Bea isn't around, but Margo manages to cover for her. Bea reaches the entrance to the tunnel but can't get the lid up. Gillespie notices the ladder and raises the alarm: all the kids are sent home. Bea finds her way back to Doreen and Lizzie and suggests they all sit down and wait for help to arrive: Lizzie points out that they've made sure that no-one knows they are down the tunnel and if they are relying on Anne for help, they may be in for a long wait. Judy and Mouse find the other end of the tunnel and try to clean themselves up before coming out into the daylight. The women are sent back to their cells and it's only when the costumes come off that the officers realise there are six prisoners missing. Gillespie blames the officers' incompetence for the escape, especially Vera when she admits she suspected Bea was missing but didn't report it straight away. Judy's letter to Erica is found in a cell search and handed over to Gillespie, but he shrugs off its claim that his repressive security measures caused the escape. Judy and Mouse find the van, but a youth has just broken into it and is going through the glovebox. Judy ties him up and shoves him in the back of the van. Mouse and Judy check the driving licences for their new identities. The inspector investigating the escape points out there are no tracks around the base of the ladder and asks iof there is any other way they could ahve escaped. Gillespie wants to take away all the women's remission and offer to give it back in return for information. Erica is unhappy with this, but goes along with it and makes an announcement to the women, who are still in their cells. Judy sets the thief free and drives off, leaving him in the middle of nowhere. Judy reluctantly agrees to stay with Mouse rather than splitting up immediately. Bea is beginning to lose her cool and turns on Lizzie, blaming her for getting them all in this mess by following Doreen. Judy stops at a filling station and makes the excuse of going to the toilet to leave Mouse on her own with the van. Mouse only realises when she finds a farewell note wrapped around the money and searches the toilet block without success. Ted Douglas arrives to investigate and Erica immediately hands him Judy's note as soon as Gillespie starts to try to put the blame on the officers. When Erica thanks him privately for his support, he points out he can only support her so far. Jim has to recall the officers to serve meals when he has already told them they can go home. Colleen has had enough and threatens to bring in the Union. Mouse is asleep in the van when a lorry driver stops to offer her a mug of tea: something he says makes her rush back to the van and drive off at top speed. Gillespie is angry when four officers fail to turn up for the early shift next day, but he still refuses to let the trustees serve breakfast and Jim and Vera are told to do it on their own. Mouse is stopped by a police car after going through a speed trap, and is recognised by the traffic cop. Erica decides to overrule Gillespie and allow the prisoners to help serve meals. Mouse is returned to Wentworth and taken to solitary. Erica stands up to Gillespie's bluster when he complains to her about his orders being ignored. Doreen muses on the irony of her making an unsuccessful suicide attempt when she is now quite happy to lie down and let death come. This talk of death makes Bea completely crack up and she cries out that she won't let any of them die.

    ***


    Script Editor: Patrick Amer
    Storyliners: Dave Worthington, Alastair Sharp


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