EPISODE 289 Bea's latest article is published, and the editor offers her a regular column. Meanwhile, Susie's social life gets her into hot water in the hostel. First broadcast Tuesday 6th July 1982 20:30 (Melbourne) Broadcast on Channel 5 Tuesday 09 June 1998 04:40 DVD release: volume 19 disc 1 (AUS) Duration: 0:45:54

Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance Erica ~ Patsy King Bea ~ Val Lehman Doreen ~ Colette Mann Off. Powell ~ Judith McGrath Steve ~ Wayne Jarratt Susie ~ Jacqui Gordon Wendy ~ Helen Noonan Chrissie ~ Amanda Muggleton Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Hannah ~ Julieanne Newbould Faye ~ Anne Lucas Mrs. Beamish ~ Carmel Millhouse Benny ~ Peter Ford Frank ~ Doug Bowles Amanda ~ Antoinette Byron Mr Walton ~ Clive Hearne Solicitor ~ Hardy Stow Policeman ~ Steve Mahaffey UNCREDITED Jack ~ Jeremy Kewley Written by Dave Worthington Directed by Lex Van Os

On the way to the showers, the women admire Bea's new hairdo, which has materialized overnight (apparently with help from Doreen, who's in solitary?) Chrissie tries it on with Steve once again but Steve tells her he's still not interested. He says if she wants to see Elizabeth she must see the Governor. Colleen catches the tail end of the conversation as she brings a uniform for Chrissie to wear, as her parole has now been revoked. Amanda warns Susie to get permission if she's planning to go out again tonight. Meg collects Judy from the laundry to go to her appeal. Colleen ask Chrissie what she was talking to Steve about: she hints that she will charge Chrissie with blackmailing an officer to push her into making an accusation of sexual harassment against Steve. Bea hears enough of this to work out what's going on and warns Chrissie she'd better not get Steve into trouble. Colleen tells Steve that Chrissie has made an official complaint against him. Erica suspends Steve until the complaint can be fully investigated. Jack invites Susie out again. Joan tells she she doesn't much care if he is having sex with Chrissie, but that if she's giving him trouble, she will "fix" it. Bea demands that Chrissie tells her exactly what she's done to get Steve suspended. What Joan overhears confirms the gossip about Steve and Sandy, and she arranges to walk past Bea to let her know that she was overheard. The charges against Judy are dropped, but she has to return to Wentworth to wait for her parole to come through. Joan goes to Erica and tells her she was on night shift with Steve and he was never out of sight, so he couldn't have raped Chrissie. Erica mildly reprimands Colleen for not getting all the facts before reporting Chrissie's allegation. Colleen takes Chrissie out of the laundry to solitary for making a false accusation against an officer. Meg goes to tell Steve his suspension has been overturned. Mr Walton of the Dispatch tells Erica the paper wants to offer Bea a regular column: Bea at first can't believe it, but accepts if she will be able to write without Departmental censorship. Hannah's solicitor gets no co-operation from her when he visits her before her trial. Wendy is taken aback when she comes to keep a date to see Steve's boat, but finds Meg there in overalls helping to paint it. Doreen is released from solitary and apologises to Faye for losing the money, but Faye says she started the book again and Doreen can still work for her. Susie apologises to Mrs Beamish and gets permission to go out, but only if she is back by eleven o'clock. Hannah tells Joan she isn't interested in being "friends" and threatens to tell the Governor when Joan strokes her leg. Joan tells her not to waste her time, as Chrissie is in solitary for complaining about an officer: she puts on the leather gloves again and twists Hannah's ankle to show her who's boss. Lizzie hears about Joan giving Steve an alibi, and tells Bea it must be a lie, as she was alone with Steve for quite a while when he got her tablets for her headache. Doreen adds in her story about Joan keeping most of the take money she confiscated. This convinces Bea there must be something in Chrissie's allegation if Joan is going to such lengths to cover up. Susie decides to go back to the hostel and sneak out again. Mrs Beamish is watching for her and wants to know who drove her home and why he's still waiting outside: she waits a while then follows Susie to her room, catching her in the act of climbing through the window. Meg is called to the hostel next day to try to talk some sense into Susie. Joan and Meg have to accompany Hannah to court as the police are occupied with a demonstration: Joan cynically comments it must be in support of "civil rights for gay bikies". Bea tells Steve she can prove he was alone and had enough time to visit Chrissie. Hannah takes no notice of her counsel in court, and seems to be looking round the court room over his shoulder. Suddenly two men enter the court room and draw guns. Outside the courtroom, Joan hears a gunshot: she goes back in to see the gunmen have shot a policeman and taken Meg hostage to snatch Hannah from court. ***

Thanks to Peter Rayner for sending me scans from his treasured copy of "TV Week" (Victoria edition, dated July 3, 1982). As well as a feature with capsule biographies of some of the major characters, the episodes broadcast in this week appear to be (289) and (290)

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