EPISODE 535Anita holds the key to Joan's freedom in her hands. Meanwhile, Joan undergoes a major operation. Ann puts an end to her relationship with Myra.First broadcast ... 1985 (Melbourne) |  |
 Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Anita ~ Diane Craig Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Lou ~ Louise Siversen Alice ~ Lois Collinder Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne Andrew Fry ~ Howard Bell Father Lennon ~ Terry McDermott Mother Mary Helen ~ Carmel Millhouse Norm Barry ~ Bill Johnston Dr Leary ~ Paul Wentford Surgeon ~ Basil Hull ){kind=small} Technician ~ Gaytana Adorna ){kind=small} [TOP]Anaesthetist ~ Lawrence Mah [BOTTOM]Admitting Clerk ~ Joanne Rankin ){kind=small} Nurse 1 ~ Ella Bowles Nurse 2 ~ Mary Rose Casey ){kind=small} | Myra warns the women not to gloat too soon about getting rid of Joan. When Joan has to admit she can't remember anything about the bashing, Ann suspends her pending an enquiry, but privately confesses to Meg that she doesn't believe Joan would have bashed someone in front of so many witnesses. Joan tells Joyce she remembers nothing after speaking to Lexie, and most particularly doesn't remember Lou doing or saying anything to prokove her. Joyce is sympathetic, as Joan cuts a pathetic figure. The women anxiously wait for news: Ann eventually comes to the rec room to tell the witnesses they will have to make a statement. Myra is amazed to find that Lou has claimed she didn't see who hit her. Joyce volunteers to help Meg rather than go home and face Norm, as they've had an argument. Lou gets a note in her dinner ){kind=small} warning her "GET YOUR MEMORY BACK OR YOU'LL BE IN HOSPITAL FOREVER". Ann has to restrain Andrew Fry from making his mind up just on the basis of Joan's confused silence and is appalled when he questions Myra and Lou at the same time. Joan goes to talk to Anita, but hesitates when she sees her kneeling in prayer. Mr Fry prompts Lexie with evidence while questioning her. The enquiry is concluded without calling Anita and Joan is dismissed despite her plea of suffering from memory lapses. Dennis tells the women Joan has been sacked. Joan packs her things and leaves, shrugging off Meg's expressions of sympathy. Joyce is becoming more dissatisfied with Norm, but can't get him to look away from the tennis on the television long enough to discuss it. Ann snaps back at Fry when he makes a clumsy attempt to grope her and threatens to sue him for sexual harassment. Anita wrestles with her conscience: Myra pours scorn on her for saying Joan is not as bad as they all think. Mervin cheers Joyce up with a tray of freshly baked croissants. Even after a heavying from Lou ){kind=small} , Anita declares she must follow her conscience. Myra dramatically illustrates the consequences by forcing a pair of scissors into Anita's hands and suggesting she use them on her, or Lou, or Lexie. Joan goes back to the doctor and is diagnosed as having a blood clot on the brain needing immediate surgery. Anita goes to Ann and tells her the truth: Ann is annoyed that she didn't tell her earlier and Anita is sent to isolation for her own protection. Joan insists she has no next of kin when she is being admitted for the operation and has to correct herself when she gives her occupation as "prison officer". Mr Fry wants to suppress Anita's story when she refuses to name names, but Ann threatens to leak it to the press. He impatiently reinstates Joan officially and sweeps out. Anita thinks her delay in coming forward to clear Joan is further proof of her vanity and pride. No-one can contact Joan to tell her she's cleared, as she's in the operating theatre having her blood pressure read repeatedly to try and inject a bit of tension into the scene ("ER" it isn't). Father Lennon and Anita's Mother Superior try to determine whether Anita should face a trial for her various misdemeanours and expulsion from the order. After she is told that the Department will accept Anita's evidence, Myra takes the blame for the frame-up: Ann says she will in future refuse to recognize her as top dog.
Lexie uses a colourful phrase "We'll be in more poo than a Warraby (?) duck" Dennis seems to have had a haircut in the middle of a working day. Meg fluffs a line and refers to the inquiry as an "inquest". One of the backgrounders is called "Gina". Lexie appears in mugshot credits, with (as Martin pointed out in the Digest) a hairstyle she didn't have when the picture was taken...
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ITV regional broadcast dates:-
Broadcast on Meridian Tuesday 03 March 1998 23:40
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