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Marie Winter (Maggie Millar)

First seen as top dog of the open prison Barnhurst where Bea is briefly transferred (197)-(198), making an eternal enemy of Bea by having her soup drugged with the hallucinogenic mushrooms that are the only entertainment in the countryside. At this stage she may not have been intended as a major character, though she seems built up out of all proportion for the short time she is on screen (and I'm not referring here to her ample rear end, which has as yet to make its mark).

The other characters seem unsure how to pronounce her name - most opt for "MarEE" (as in Marie Antoinette - let them eat mushies?) while only a few can manage the correct (Irish?) version with stress on the first syllable and a long "a".

She is later transferred to Wentworth (245) in a bizarre move by Ted Douglas to attempt to quell the disturbances after Bea goes to hospital for her kidney operation. She briefly becomes top dog and is involved in the three way power struggle with Sandy Edwards and Kate Peterson. Transferred to another prison (269).

Transferred back to Wentworth from Barnhurst (461) carrying cocaine in her soap dish, and immediately takes over the press from Judy. She attempts to recruit Reb to deal the cocaine for her, and then tries to find an officer to secure future supplies, attempting to bribe Dennis, and then bashing Marlene to get information on Heather's family (463). Joan Ferguson latches onto Marie as a potential source of trouble for Ann, and turns a blind eye to her drug dealing. When Marie proves the threats to Heather's family are genuine, Heather brings in drugs for her (465). Egged on by Joan and backed up by Lou and Alice, Marie starts a riot - taking Joan hostage and bashing her to add "realism" to the whole thing (466). When Marie takes Reb to solitary to kill Myra and Reb refuses to take part, Marie pushes Reb down the stairs. Judy catches Marie attempting to escape through the kitchen and knocks her out (467). When Heather tries to get Marie off her back by telling her that Joan plans to have her transferred to Blackmoor, Marie goes to Joan and demands that she organises an escape for her. After she has been given an additional two years for her part in the riot, Joan promises to set Reb up for Marie to bash in the shower block. During exercise period the same day, Lou creates a diversion while Marie scales the perimeter fence and escapes dangling from a helicopter, as arranged by Joan (471). The women learn in (479) that Marie has been recaptured and sent to Blackmoor (very ironic), and Joan phones Cynthia to "have a word" with her to make sure that Marie implicates Heather.


Updated ~ 04 October 1997
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