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EPISODES ON CHANNEL 5 (UK) - WEEK 6

34 * 35 * 36 * 37 * 38 * 39


EPISODE 34

Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 06 May 1997 Tues 4:40 a.m. Marianne makes herself very unpopular.

Lynn ~ Kerry Armstrong
Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
Erica ~ Patsy King
Bea ~ Val Lehman
Doreen ~ Colette Mann
Steve ~ Jim Smillie
Vera ~ Fiona Spence
Karen ~ Peita Toppano
Monica ~ Lesley Baker
Brian ~ John Bishop
Caroline ~ Julie Day
Col ~ Brian Granrott
Valerie ~ Billie Hammerberg
Russell ~ Clive Hearne
Noeline ~ Jude Kuring
Yvonne ~ Joanne Lehman
Gate Guard - Brad Lindsay
Clara ~ Betty Lucas
Kathleen ~ Penny Stewart

  • Written by Sheila Sibley
  • Directed by Peita Letchford
  • UNCREDITED
    Det Carter ~ Charles Gilroy
    Constable Fallon ~ Wayne Poulton
    Sgt Whitty ~ Rod Williams
    Marianne ~ Suzy Gashler
    OTHER CHARACTERS
    Freda (Monica's silent cellmate)

    This episode includes some of Val Lehman's worst ever acting: the "drunken maneater" act and the "hangover" are particularly embarassing. However, Lesley Baker's "hangover" is even worse...

    Thanks to posters on OTI's Recroom for correcting my mishearing of the old Governor's name as "Mollie".

    Bea hides in the garden until the policeman has left, but the girl who lives at the house next door sees Bea hiding outside. Bea and Val see her talking to the policeman outside, but nothing comes of it. Lizzie tells Doreen she intends to try to get back in Monica's favour and if she's got any sense Doreen should join her. Lizzie tries to suck up to Monica with memories of when they were first inside and the previous governor ("Dolly Repton"), which reminds Monica of Lizzie home brewing skills and asks her if she could still cook up something for the women. Meanwhile, Bea is somewhat the worse for wear after a hard night's drinking and is looking forward to another night out with the same blokes. She and Val are interrupted by the girl next door, Yvonne, who wants to meet Bea. Bea is concerned when she hears form Val that Yvonne's parents leave her unsupervised for much of the day, and gets a bit mother-hen-ish. Lizzie can't get yeast for home brew, so Monnie tells Lyn to bring some in, claiming that it's to make some decent "bread". Marianne de Vere, a socialite friend of Steve's, visits him to find out what's happened to Clara and instantly endears herself to all of us with her opening remarks that London is full of "coloureds" and is "no place for a white woman". She expresses an interest in funding the halfway house so Steve says he will arange a visit for her. Karen gets permission for University study. Marianne visits Wentworth and talks to Erica. Monica brings Lizzie a couple of buckets to help make the grog. Erica takes Marianne around the prison and Steve feels the need to apologise to Karen for her snotty attitude. He also tells her about the halfway house project and his hope that she might be able to work there. Yvonne waits for Val to leave and tells Bea she has seen her photo in the paper and wants to find out about what Bea did and why. Noeline finds out about the grog when Doreen comes to ask Doreen advice about it. Lynn manages to hide the yeast in a wheelbarrow in the garden before Vera searches her bag. Lizzie fakes an attack to get out in the garden for some "fresh air" to collect the yeast, involving some shameless manipulation of Meg such as pointing up at the Southern Cross (in broad daylight) to get her to look up. Noeline's brother Col visits and Meg lets him see her after his hard luck story. Monica is forced to agree to give Noeline one of the two buckets of grog. Noeline hears the family are due to lose their home as they can't pay the rent and she suggests to Col that he could burgle the Woods' house where their Mum used to work. Monica sells most of the grog so Noeline and Lizzie are left to tussle over two empty buckets. Col is caught in the act during a burglary. The women suffer the after effects of the grog. Col panics and takes Mrs Woods hostage, having taken his rifle with him, which Noeline advised him not to do. Col sees a routine police patrol outside the house and fires his rifle out of the window at them.

    In the version broadcast by Channel 5, the credits for episode (33) made their third appearance at the end of this episode. Thanks to Matt for providing the credits above as they were shown on KOB (the NBC affiliate for the state of New Mexico), which identify the actors playing Brian, Russell and the Gate Guard]


    EPISODE 35

    Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 07 May 1997 Wed 4:40 a.m. Col detains Caroline.

    Lynn ~ Kerry Armstrong
    Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
    Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
    Erica ~ Patsy King
    Bea ~ Val Lehman
    Doreen ~ Colette Mann
    Greg ~ Barry Quin
    Steve ~ Jim Smillie
    Vera ~ Fiona Spence
    Karen ~ Peita Toppano
    Monica ~ Lesley Baker
    Connie ~ Deborra-Lee Furness
    Valerie ~ Billie Hammerberg
    Noeline ~ Jude Kuring
    Yvonne ~ Joanne Lehman
    Clara ~ Betty Lucas
    Wanda ~ Marilyn O'Donnell
    Caroline ~ Julie Day
    Col ~ Brian Granrott
    Patrick ~ Dennis Grosvenor
    Mal ~ Paul Jones
    Insp Horne ~ John Murphy
    Det Sgt Cowper ~ Sean Myers
    Constable Fallon ~ Wayne Poulton
    Reporter ~ Patrick Roberts
    Sgt Whitty ~ Rod Williams

  • Written by Michael Brindley
  • Directed by Leigh Spence
  • Greg, Steve and Karen do not appear in this episode.

    More pitiful acting: the performances of Col, Mr Woods and Inspector Horne are just embarassing.

    The police wonder what to do, until Col shows them his hostage at riflepoint at the window. Noeline scoffs at two women who are drinking grog in the laundry saying that her own home brew used to "leave you crook for days". The women refuse to give Lizzie a drink of the stuff she made, so she goes to Monica to complain. Clara decides to ask Erica if she can throw a party for her birthday. Mrs Woods tries to calm Col down, but points out he can't expect to just walk away after shooting at the police. Senior police officers arrive at the scene just ahead of Mr Woods, who is shocked to see his wife held at gunpoint. Clara offers a cookery lesson for her birthday treat to the other women: she hands over a shopping list to Erica who draws the line at wine, but allows the request for yeast. The police ask Col what his demands are: he can't think of anything better than to tell them to go away. Mrs Woods remembers who Col is and, getting impatient at the lack of action, grabs the megaphone and talks to Col. All he achieves is to get himself shot in the arm. Lizzie uses the yeast to make an extra brew in a store cupboard. Noeline unfortunately catches them at it and demands to be given half. Col demands to see Noeline, but the police say they will have to think about it. Erica attends Clara's party but Noeline leaves before the soup course and goes to drink the booze in the store cupboard. Meg calls Erica away from the party to get Noeline, who is found dead drunk on a folding table in the laundry. Yvonne has a few friends round while her parents are away for the weekend. Bea hears the noisy music at three in the morning and plays the heavy mother by breaking the party up. Noeline is taken to the scene of the siege next morning, but somehow she is still drunk and has to be propped up against the car while the police decide what to you. Vera volunteers to takes Noeline inside the house to see Col. Noeline is contemptuous of Col and says she can't be any help, reminding him that she told him not to take his gun. Possibly nauseated by Col's drivelling incompetence, Noeline chunders in a plant pot, and Vera and Mrs Woods make a run for it. Noeline leaves the house and Col follows her. He is shot and killed by the police . Noeline blames Erica for bringing her to the siege, or Col would still be alive. Bea goes next door and finds Yvonne still sitting in the mess from the party. When Bea leaves, Yvonne has a fit of spitefulness and picks up the phone to call the police to get back at Bea.

    EPISODE 36

    Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 08 May 1997 Thurs 4:40 a.m. Bea is arrested.

    Lynn ~ Kerry Armstrong
    Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
    Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
    Erica ~ Patsy King
    Bea ~ Val Lehman
    Doreen ~ Colette Mann
    Greg ~ Barry Quin
    Steve ~ Jim Smillie
    Vera ~ Fiona Spence
    Karen ~ Peita Toppano
    Monica ~ Lesley Baker
    Connie ~ Deborra-Lee Furness
    Valerie ~ Billie Hammerberg
    Noeline ~ Jude Kuring
    Yvonne ~ Joanne Lehman
    Clara ~ Betty Lucas
    Wanda ~ Marilyn O'Donnell
    Sister ~ Wendy Damien
    Officer ~ Anne Sutherland
    Detective ~ Bill Tyrell
    Student ~ Joanna Weir

  • Written by Denise Morgan
  • Directed by Leigh Spence
  • Connie is seen briefly in the laundry but doesn't seem to have any dialogue (unlike Wanda when she is playing cards with Lizzie and Doreen). I don't think the Sister appears in this episode either.

    Monica tells Clara she's taking over the "business" of supplying grog (in front of the officer supervising the shower block). Clara says it couldn't be Noeline who stole the grog as she saw her being taken to the infirmary, and she worries that Greg will realise why she was so ill. Lynn and Karen are just about to leave from reception when Erica cancels their work and study release when they won't lag and say who made the booze. Val warns Bea not to get too involved in the troubles of the girl next door. Noeline refuses to accept the tranquillisers prescribed by Greg. When the police arrive, Bea lies to protect Val and tells the detective that she just turned up that morning and demanded help. Yvonne takes the hint and backs her up. Clara takes all the blame for the home brew, so the work and study release can go ahead. Karen refuses a lift from Steve to University, as she wants to prove she can do it herself. Erica gives Clara a roasting for producing the grog, as it contributed to the trouble at the siege and sends her to solitary. Bea is brought back to Wentworth, but surprisingly it seems to be accepted that she will put straight back in her dormitory, rather than put in solitary. Doreen is on cleaning duty in the shower block, so is the first to welcome Bea back. Doreen passes the news on to the women in the laundry, but Monica says Bea can't just assume she will just walk into her old position again. Greg takes out Bea's stitches, under protest. Bea sees off a challenge from Noeline and takes back the press from Monica. Monica tries to put pressure on Lynn to get stuff for her, but Bea steps in saying that nothing must happen to endanger the work release program. Noeline, Bea and Karen are now sharing a cell and the situation looks likely to explode at any moment. Vera goes for dinner at Meg's flat and Vera clumsily asks her if she likes living alone: she is obviously still missing George. Noeline waits until Bea is asleep then walks overto her bed and punches her, but Noeline wakes up herself next morning with even more bruises. Karen and Bea are taken to the Governor, but Bea claims responsibility for the attack on Noeline. Erica and Vera discuss the options for moving the women around to avoid potential conflicts. Doreen visits Clara in solitary to ask for help: Clara advises Doreen to stay out of the conflict between Monica and Bea. Bea walks into the laundry to find Monica on the press. Monica refuses to give the press over so they fight and Meg is knocked unconscious trying to break up the fight. After a dressing down from Erica, and the threat that she will lose her parole, Monica seems to accept Bea's claim to be top dog. Greg looks after Meg in the infirmary and has a misty edged flashback indicating he is starting to look on her romantically. Meanwhile, Steve goes to find Karen on the University campus and they talk about her relationship with Greg. He confesses he is becoming involved with her, but she tells him she isn't ready to return his feelings. Lynn is moved into a cell with Doreen and Lizzie, so Noeline can be moved into a cell on their own. Greg looks after Meg at home: Meg thinks she is more shaken up because it reminds her of Bill's death. Vera also drops in on Meg and is back to her old self, gloating about the punishments she gave Bea and Monica. Doreen and Lizzie want Clara to stand up to both Bea and Monica. After Vera leaves, Greg and Meg get more intimate and he offers to stay the night with her.

    EPISODE 37

    Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 09 May 1997 Fri 4:40 a.m. Plans for the barbecue are announced.

    Lynn ~ Kerry Armstrong
    Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
    Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
    Erica ~ Patsy King
    Bea ~ Val Lehman
    Doreen ~ Colette Mann
    Greg ~ Barry Quin
    Steve ~ Jim Smillie
    Vera ~ Fiona Spence
    Karen ~ Peita Toppano
    Monica ~ Lesley Baker
    Reporter ~ Rod Dorin
    Marianne ~ Suzy Gashler
    Noeline ~ Jude Kuring
    Clara ~ Betty Lucas
    Officer ~ Sue Silver
    Officer Williams ~ Anne Sutherland
    Mrs Bourke ~ Babs Wheelton

    OTHER CHARACTERS
    Gate Guard (not one of the usual ones

  • Written by John Drew
  • Directed by Marcus Cole
  • Meg claims to be at least ten years older than Greg. Really?

    The dangerous lifers mentioned by Bea are volunteered for kitchen duty: although they are called Jenny and Lil , they are not the extras later identified by these names. In fact, doesn't "Jenny" look a bit like Marinia Jonathan?

    Long serving background prisoner Barbara Jungwirth is referred to as "Maisie Higgins"

    Doreen seems disappointed when Lynn says she might be leaving soon on parole. Doreen's reference to Franky is probably meant to suggest to us that Doreen is developing a mild crush on Lynn. Bea tells Karen she doesn't regret her escape and particularly relished her time with Brian. Greg and Meg have an embarrassing breakfast the morning after their night of "passion" (obviously not helped by the cheesy MOR ballad playing on the radio about "Strangers that we know"). Greg examines Noeline and declares her fit for work. Erica asks to see Noeline and tells her she is to be released in a week, but Noeline is not impressed. Erica warns her to stay out of trouble until she is released and predicts to Meg that Noeline will be back in Wentworth again. Steve goes to look for Karen to tell her the halfway house project is on after he has persuaded Marianne de Vere to stump up the money. Karen assumes he is pursuing the project because of Marianne, but he points out he can see her whenever he wants. Vera brushes off Steve's news about George Lucas, saying that as far as she's concerned it is all over. Steve tells Erica that Marianne wants to throw a barbecue for the women, as she wants to make a big fuss of being seen to be charitable and supporting the halfway house. Erica thinks this is a good idea and it might be good publicity and that they should invite the media to cover it. Vera is not so enthusiastic, and tells Erica she must be out of her mind and the Department will never agree to it. Erica replies that the Commissioner (not the Minister?) has already given his consent. Meg admits to Vera in private that she also has misgivings about Marianne de Vere's motives, but can see a positive side. Bea selfishly pours scorn on the half way house, asking what use it is to lifers like herself (and "Jenny" and "Lil"). Noeline's mother visits: she was the only one who attended Col's funeral as the rest of the family couldn't afford to travel. Erica announces the barbecue to the women, and the setting up of the halfway house. Clara asks if she could do the catering and promises to keep control of the kitchen this time. Lizzie and Monica are appalled that Clara is adamant that there will be no alcohol production line this time. Lynn gets a letter from Geoffrey, who's back at University: Doreen again takes the chance to wallow in self-pity and point out that no-one is waiting for her on the outside. Erica's only concession to Vera's strict ideas on security is to rule that the women will have to wear uniform at the barbecue rather than their own clothes. Clara can't get the women to discuss the halfway house project as they are to concerned to vote on what to watch on the new TV. During the barbecue, Vera deliberately sends the prisoner "Higgins" to fetch the supervising officer out of the kitchen, assuming that something bad is bound to happen. Meg and Greg keep each other at arms length at work: at first she is keen to forget it, but Greg wins her round and invites himself to her flat again. Sure enough, Lizzie and Doreen start a food fight by squirting cream all over each other. Noeline sees the TV arrive and be carried to the rec room. During the barbecue, Noeline goes inside and manages to give the escorting officer the slip. Marianne gives a speech in the grounds then goes inside to unveil her colour television , but storms out when she finds it has been smashed (by Noeline).

    EPISODE 38

    Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 10 May 1997 Sat 4:40 a.m. Erica is rebuked.

    Lynn ~ Kerry Armstrong
    Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
    Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
    Erica ~ Patsy King
    Bea ~ Val Lehman
    Doreen ~ Colette Mann
    Greg ~ Barry Quin
    Steve ~ Jim Smillie
    Vera ~ Fiona Spence
    Karen ~ Peita Toppano
    Policeman 2 ~ Tony Accetta
    Monica ~ Lesley Baker
    Alex ~ Lakis Kanzipas
    Clara ~ Betty Lucas
    Irene ~ Maria Mercedes
    Policewoman ~ Gillian O'Flynn
    Tessa ~ Nadia Tass
    Stavros ~ Theo Tsalkitzakos
    Policeman ~ Vernon Wells

  • Written by Sheila Sibley
  • Directed by Marcus Cole
  • Greg is not in this episode

    The actor playing Stavros gives a a splendidly hammy performance - one of the ripest ever seen in Prisoner ("Lies! All lies! So your liddle sister innocen dis she? Like a flaaah!?!?")

    Was the "SPEAK IN ENGLISH" sign in the interview room put up especially for this episode?

    Erica is furious to get the blame for the press coverage of the smashed TV and cancels all privileges, including work and study release. Vera stops Karen and Lynn in reception as they are about to leave. Karen finds Bea in her cell instead of in the laundry, as she objects to Clara queening it in there. Bea says it wouldn't have happened if she'd been in charge and to prove she knows everything that's going on, she tells Karen she knows that her "boyfriend" Greg is "having it off" with one of the officers. Bea is sent back to the laundry while the cells are searched, so she teases Clara that if she thinks it's unfair for all the women to be blamed she ought to go and persuade Erica. Not recognising the sarcasm (or not acknowledging it anyway), Clara scuttles off to try to do just that. The hammer is found in the shower block where anyone could have hidden it. Despite Meg's suggestion that Noeline is the most likely suspect (as no-one who was staying inside would have smashed the TV) Erica declares that the ban on priveleges will stay. Clara unfortunately chooses that moment to pop her head round the door without making an appointment, and is sent packing by Erica . Clara's parting shot as she leaves is that she understands, as it must be a "bad time of the month" for Erica. A Greek woman called Irini is arrested for prostitution . Erica looks over the expenses for the catering and wonders how the women could have got through so much cream and eggs. Vera is forced to admit that the women were unsupervised for part of the time. Doreen tries to convince Erica to let her and Lynn to work in the garden, with no immediate success. Irini's brother and his wife are worried by what will happen to her. Next day, Lynn and Doreen have been given permission to work in the garden. Irini is brought to Wentworth on a 21 day sentence: she speaks little English. Irini's fiance Stavros turns up wanting to know what has happened to her and is told she is in prison. Karen and Lynn find Irini crying in her cell and Karen tries to communicate with her as she knows a little Greek. They find out that she came to Australia to be married, but not much else. Irini is introduced to the women in the rec room: Monica calls her a "dago" (inaccurately as well as offensively) and her prejudice seems to stem from a Greek shop competing with her beach front business. Meg asks Bea in private why she is standing back and doing nothing with all the trouble: she lets it be known she is put out by Clara. Karen asks Steve to visit Irini's brother and find out why he wasn't in court to speak up for her. With Monica's encouragement, Lizzie and Doreen teach Irini some colourful English expressions, so when Meg comes back to the cell, Irini tells her to "bugger off". Bea sits quietly in a corner of the rec room reading and tells Karen she's in "semi-retirement". After visiting Irini's family, Steve tells Meg and Karen that Stavros has broken off the engagement and that Irini's brother Alex and his wife Tessa did not attend court as they are illegal immigrants. Now that Irini will not be getting married, she is also liable to be deported.

    EPISODE 39

    Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 11 May 1997 Sun 4:40 a.m.

    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
    Steve ~ Jim Smillie
    Vera ~ Fiona Spence
    Karen ~ Peita Toppano
    Officer 1 ~ Jean Cain
    Mr Goodwin ~ Lloyd Cunningham
    Alex ~ Lakis Kanzipas
    Clara ~ Betty Lucas
    Irene ~ Maria Mercedes
    Receptionist ~ Helen Noonan
    Officer 2 ~ Sue Silver
    Tessa ~ Nadia Tass
    Stavros ~ Theo Tsalkitzakos

  • Written by Ron McLean
  • Directed by Brian Faull
  • Greg is not in this episode. The credit for Jim Fletcher is a mistake - although he is mentioned, he doesn't appear until the following episode.

    Two nice line fluffs from Patsy King in the this episode: "What you are suggesting slaps of collusion" (she means "smacks") and another line that comes out sounding more like "I'm jumping at shallows" than "shadows".

    Erica walks into work next day and imediately starts to lay down the law, stopping the receptionist from packing up the buyup goods and tearing a strip off Meg for allowing Karen to have two visits in one week. Karen and Monica clash over Monica's racist remarks and Karen asks Clara to get her to stop. Bea stirs it by adding to the request, knowing full well that Clara has no influence over Monica at all. Erica announces to the staff that the Visiting Justice Mr Goodwin to investigate the running of Wentworth. Vera lets Meg know she is looking forward to Erica being forced out so she can be Governor. After being put under heavy pressure by the women, Clara has a word with Monnie about taunting Irini. This rebounds on Bea when Monica caves in and apologises to Irini as Meg has already done the hard work by reminding Monica about the forthcoming parole hearing when she could get remission of most of her remaining sentence ... unless she gets a bad report. Tessa and Alex tell Karen about Nikos who is a friend of Stavros and is the one who forced Irini into prostitution. They agree to see Steve Wilson and make a statement to help Irini. Erica announces to the women that there will be an investigation and any of them have the right to approach him if they want to. Clara once again gets the credit when she asks Erica for work release to be resumed when Meg has already persuaded her to consider it. Vera tries to send Tessa and Alex away when they arrive with good news for Irini, but Erica overrules her. They tell Karen they can be naturalised because they have been in residence for five years, and they think this means that Irini can live with them, but Karen is not so sure. Mr Goodwin arrives and reels off for Erica a list of the points he needs to address before he can make a report (one death, one suicide, two escapes and so on). Doreen bursts into tears when Clara tells her she's not doing the gardening very well without Lynn, and eventually pours out her life story to Clara, telling Clara that she reminds her of her mother. Mr Goodwin's first suggestion is to transfer Clara to Fairlea as she is only on remand and they have a remand section, unlike Wentworth. Doreen runs outside after Clara, clutching a (new? ) teddy bear for comfort. Bea offers Erica a deal by persuading the women not to complain to Mr Goodwin about any of their grievances. Mr Goodwin refuses to recommend Karen's suggestion that interpreters should be provided for non-English speakers, as they fully occupied in men's prisons. Karen gets Steve to drive her to Stavros' house on the way to University. Lizzie's complaint to Mr Goodwin is that the officers killed her "Clarrie", who turns out to have been the pet cockroach that she trained to whistle and who drowned in a cup of Milo. Vera is more than happy to fill in the details for Mr Goodwin about Lynn's escape and the barbecue, but he counters with his knowledge of her standing bail for George Lucas. Vera is delighted to be called to the Governor's office to be told about some changes in staffing that will affect her. Unfortunately for her, it turns out that Mr Goodwin will be recommending the appointment of a male Deputy Governor, so she will have to be demoted back to senior officer rank.

    Storyliner: Dave Worthington
    Script Editor: Anne Lucas


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    (40) to (45)

    Updated ~ 12 August 2008