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EPISODES ON CHANNEL 5 (UK) - WEEK 21

121 * 122 * 123 * 124 * 125


EPISODE 121

Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 18 August 1997 Mon 11:40 p.m. The strike begins, followed by a demonstration which has disastrous consequences.

Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
Erica ~ Patsy King
Bea ~ Val Lehman
Jim ~ Gerard Maguire
Paul ~ George Mallaby
Doreen ~ Colette Mann
Vera ~ Fiona Spence
Noeline ~ Jude Kuring
Leanne ~ Tracey-Jo Riley
Marcia ~ Judith Dick
Lorna ~ Barbara Jungwirth
Margo ~ Jane Clifton
Phyllis ~ Reylene Pearce
Mouse ~ Jentah Sobott
UNCREDITED
Officer Barry ~ Joy Westmore
Officer Powell ~ Judith McGrath
Sally ~ Nanette Wallace

  • Written by Denise Morgan
  • Directed by Leigh Spence
  • Thanks to Matt for opening credits.

    The women are locked in the rec room and Erica tries to reason with them . Judy wants to know why she or Doreen weren't called as witnesses at the inquest. Erica assures the protesters that Jock will never work in prisons again, but the women decide to continue the sit-in overnight. Despite Erica's instruction to ignore the protest, Vera finds the fuse box and plunges the rec room into darkness. Bea says it will give her all night to think up another strategy. Doreen tells Bea of Kevin's doubts about Marcia, but Bea suggests she shouldn't share that with Lizzie until Kevin is sure. Lorna has to go the toilet and is dragged off to be locked in her cell as soon as she leaves the rec room. Bea and Judy request permission to see Erica to find out how to have an inquest re-opened. Erica informs them they need new evidence and Judy will just have to get used to the verdict as it is. Bea apparently gives in and calls the strike off, though Vera believes it must be part of some cunning plan. At breakfast, Judy and Bea pass on the message that there will be a demonstration in the garden during the afternoon exercise period. Leanne suggests that as Noeline is visiting in the morning, she could be used to get a message to the press in advance of the demonstration. Meanwhile, Noeline is shown at her new job, wheeling a tea trolley along while wearing a vile combination of lime green and purple , and along the way helping herself from the office workers' purses and wallets. Bea objects when the women are locked in the laundry. Leanne takes the head off a garden fork to use as "protection". Vera tries to stop Noeline's visit to Leanne, but Erica allows it to go ahead. Under Bea's instruction, Lizzie fakes another attack to get out of the laundry and see what's going on. As she is leaving after her visit, Noeline gets her own back on Bea and Judy by lagging to Vera and passes on what Leanne has told her about the plans for the outside demonstration. Erica announces the women will be confined to the prison for the next few days and will not be allowed out for exercise. Bea cooks up plans for another demonstration, and tells Judy to invade the Governor's office and take Margo and Lizzie to help her. Lizzie begs to be allowed to work in the kitchen so she can serve tea to Erica. Judy is sent outside to empty the bins and Vera tells her she may as well work outside in the garden, so Judy has to convince Vera she's ready to tell Erica about the plans for another demonstration so she can get to Erica's office. Paul asks Erica if what he has found out about Marcia's brother makes sense. He leaves just as Lizzie knocks on Erica's door with her tea tray. Lizzie meets up with Judy and Margo outside the office and Judy takes Meg and Erica hostage and uses the phone to call the press. Bea sends Leanne to get a set of keys and bring them back to the laundry. The women grab Vera in the laundry and threaten to rough her up or even kill her . Bea forces her to say out loud "You are human beings" (not animals) and "Sharon was murdered". Vera is stripped of her uniform and tied up. Erica pulls the phone cord out of the wall to stop the press phoning back to check that Judy's call was really from Wentworth. Margo and Lizzie are left to guard Meg and Erica and help themselves to a drink from Erica's decanter . Bea and Judy lead a group of women up onto the roof. Jim finds Vera tied up in the laundry and learns that Erica is being held hostage. Marcia arrives to see Lizzie claiming that Josie is very sick and needs an operation, but is sent away. Paul phones Erica using the internal phone to get an idea of who is inside her office, then tricks Lizzie into opening the door by saying that Marcia is there to visit her, and Jim and other officers rush in and overpower Margo. The women on the roof see the press arrive and unfurl banners made from sheets which read WE WANT JUSTICE and GILMOUR WAS MURDERED. Leanne grabs a banner and is climbing some steps near the edge of the roof when she overbalances and falls to her death .

    EPISODE 122

    Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 19 August 1997 Tue 11:35 p.m. Prison drama.

    Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
    Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
    Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
    Erica ~ Patsy King
    Bea ~ Val Lehman
    Jim ~ Gerard Maguire
    Paul ~ George Mallaby
    Doreen ~ Colette Mann
    Vera ~ Fiona Spence
    Kerry ~ Penny Downie
    Noeline ~ Jude Kuring
    David ~ Rod Mullinar
    Marcia ~ Judith Dick
    Josie ~ Michelle Argue
    Mandy ~ Paula de Burgh
    Sgt Bentley ~ Tim Hughes
    Art Buyer ~ John Blackman
    Defence ~ John Heywood
    Magistrate ~ James Taylor
    Manager ~ Peter Thompson
    OTHER CHARACTERS
    Reporter (Mr Harley) ~ Bob Ruggiero
    OTHER CHARACTERS
    Secretary
    Mr Walsh (the Government officer who makes the offer to Lizzie)

  • Written by John Wood
  • Directed by Leigh Spence
  • Thanks to Steve Hurst for pointing out that the actor credited as Tim Hughes for playing Sgt Bentley is plainly not the same person as the other credits for this name. I think his suggestion that the real actor was Malcolm Steed who was credited as CES Officer in (50) is probably correct.

    I suspect the Tim Hughes credit is attached to the wrong episode and for the wrong character name, since the uncredited actor playing a character named in dialogue as Sgt Martin in the following episode does look like Tim Hughes .

    The officers rush to catch the women as they come down from the roof, but they are silent and withdrawn after the accident. Judy tells Doreen "it's finished". Erica is also in shock but tells the police that she wants to speak to the press herself. Noeline has just cleaned out an office worker's handbag when a police officer arrives to tell her the news about Leanne. When it sinks it what he means, Noeline goes crazy and attacks the policeman. Erica tries to stall the reporter, but basically tells more of the truth about the incident than Jim thinks is advisable. Noeline's boss takes the opportunity of having the police in the building to mention that there have been complaints of money missing ever since Noeline started work. The missing money is found in Noeline's overalls . All the women lose remission and all their privileges for two weeks. Noeline's appearance in the magistrate's court is adjourned when she breaks down in tears, though she breaks into a grin when she is left alone. Paul calls on Kerry and finds her with a hangover from a monster drinking binge. David is warned that he risks having Kerry put back in Wentworth, which will put an end to her career and his profits. Erica is furious to find Vera persecuting Judy and tells her there must be no victimisation. A government official arrives to offer Lizzie an out of court settlement of $40,000. David tries to get Kerry back to work. Noeline is about to get off with a light sentence until the magistrate sees her previous record: in light of that, he gives her six months. Lizzie is upset not to have heard from Josie and assumes that is why Paul wants to see her. When he tells her about the offer and she mentions her family as a major factor in making up her mind, he tries to suggest to her that Marcia might not be her daughter after all. Noeline arrives at Wentworth as a prisoner and Erica sees her to offer her condolences. Noeline says no apology is necessary but only because she thinks Erica is useless anyway and "couldn't run a chip shop". Noeline introduces herself to Judy, telling her she holds Bea responsible for Leanne's death. Judy admits to Noeline that she was the one really to blame, but fortunately for her there is locked security gate between her and Noeline at the time. Marcia and Josie arrive to visit Lizzie, and Paul arranges it, even though Lizzie has technically lost her privileges. Marcia tells Lizzie that Josie suffers from a badly set leg after having broken it as a young child. Josie needs an operation to have the leg reset, but the whole process including nursing care costs too much. Lizzie says she'll try to arrange something, but is shrewd enough not to mention her compensation offer. Bea suspects Marcia's motives and wonders why she waited so long to contact Lizzie. Doreen tells Paul that Lizzie loves Josie and will try to help her, but Paul says he cannot do anything without concrete evidence that Marcia is a fraud. Noeline is the only one who's allowed buyup, but when Bea threatens her, Judy stands up for Noeline and seems to want to play the part of her protector out of guilt for having caused Leanne's death. Kerry phones David to say she's finished a painting, but he puts her off because he's with a client, but she hears the flirtatious comments in the background and rushes round to the gallery with the painting to see what's going on. David tells her her latest work shows signs of instability and is unsaleable. She loses control and knocks him out with an ashtray.

    EPISODE 123

    Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 20 August 1997 Wed 11:30 p.m. Everyone tries to dissuade Lizzie from giving her money away. Is Marcia an impostor?

    Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
    Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
    Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
    Erica ~ Patsy King
    Bea ~ Val Lehman
    Jim ~ Gerard Maguire
    Paul ~ George Mallaby
    Doreen ~ Colette Mann
    Vera ~ Fiona Spence
    Kerry ~ Penny Downie
    Noeline ~ Jude Kuring
    David ~ Rod Mullinar
    Margo ~ Jane Clifton
    Marcia ~ Judith Dick
    Josie ~ Michelle Argue
    Helen ~ Caroline Gillmer
    UNCREDITED
    Officer ~ Dawn Klingberg
    Sally ~ Nanette Wallace
    Wendy ~ Helen Noonan
    Phyllis ~ Reylene Pearce
    Drunk ~ Alan Rowe
    Jimmy ~ Rob Hewett
    Sgt. Martin ~ Tim Hughes (see comment for the previous episode)
    Sgt Frost (unseen in the version shown on Channel 5 - see below) ~ Charles Gilroy
    OTHER CHARACTERS
    Demolition Man - the same as in (118)

  • Written by John Upton
  • Directed by Michael Pattinson
  • Kerry runs from the scene of the crime. Paul tells Meg he's going to get Marcia's marriage certificate to find her maiden name to prove that she isn't Lizzie's daughter. Noeline has a disagreement with Doreen and has to be calmed down by Judy. Bea tells Lizzie that they only have to find out if Lizzie's son was called Robert, but when they ask her Lizzie says her three sons were called Richard, Arthur and Henry. Paul calls in on Kerry, but she seems to have cleared out of her flat. When Paul goes to trace her at the gallery, David is still alive and sporting a head bandage, but he has no idea where Kerry has gone. Meanwhile, Kerry is shown talking to a drunk in the park. Bea tells Margo to arrange a message to be delivered to Marcia warning her off via Phyllis' brother, who is due to visit. Meg tells Erica that she's selling up her flat and moving. Paul belatedly reports Kerry's breach of parole to Erica and tells her that Kerry may believe that she's killed David. A plainclothes Sergeant (Frost?) questions Paul in his office and rebukes him for not reporting Kerry and David's liaison, saying that it's always the police who have to pick up the pieces. Lizzie tells Marcia that she's going to settle out of court to get the money to pay for Josie's operation, but Marcia suddenly doesn't seem too keen. (*) As Marcia is leaving, Paul happens to find out Josie's birth date and gives the details to Sally to trace Josie's birth certificate. Lizzie asks Margo if she can be paid in cigarettes if her bet comes in. Noeline is starting to use Judy's promise of protection as a way of aggravating Bea. Margo tells Noeline about Judy's pacemaker. Erica calls Judy to her office to warn her against getting too friendly with Noeline: she points out that Noeline could be regarded as just to much to blame for Leanne's death, as her lagging led directly to the roof demonstration. Noeline offers to sell Margo her buyup cigarettes as everyone seems to want to be paid in fags. Judy tells Noeline she doesn't owe her anything, but Noeline gives her a sob story about needing to get money out to her mother to support the whole family (or what is left of it after Col and Leanne's deaths). Bea gives Phyllis a note to pass out to her brother to deliver to Marcia. Kerry asks Helen for help, believing she's killed David. Helen's pimp sells Kerry some pills, but warns her not to take them with alcohol. Judy gives Noeline the hint to steal Margo's stash. Marcia finds a message on her doorstep and panics when she realises that someone knows the truth. Paul finally finds definite proof that Marcia is an impostor when Josie's birth certificate shows that Marcia's maiden name was Morgan. Kerry takes the pills and washes them down with alcohol, but passes out before she can put the chain on her door. Marcia and Josie leave Doreen's house. When Paul tries to track them down he finds from a demolition man that they left a half an hour ago. Margo complains to Bea that someone has turned over her cell. Noeline comes under immediate suspicion, but Bea realises that Judy put her up to it. Paul tells Lizzie that Marcia isn't really her daughter. Later on, Lizzie tells Bea that she knew this from her first meeting with Marcia. David finds Kerry unconscious, but instead of helping her, he helps himself to a few of her canvases.

    Thanks to Björn Wallgren for deducing from the original episode summary that a whole scene and the start of another had been cut out of this episode when it was shown on Channel 5 compared to the version shown on Sweden's TV4 in September 2001. The scene represented by the passage in italics was completely removed and start of the scene at the point marked (*) has also gone. Possibly the cut was originally just to shorten the running time: it is hard to think of any other reason. If the scene featuring Sgt Frost was removed, the start of the other scene had to go as well as this was the point at which Sgt Frost is seen leaving the prison through reception. The shorter cut coincided with the commercial break with the sound faded in and out over an unusual credit screen showing Lizzie.

  • Sgt Frost: So you knew several days ago that Vincent was breaking parole?
  • Paul: Afraid so.
  • Sgt Frost: Oh, you certainly made things a lot more difficult.
  • Paul: Look, sergeant, in my job there are times when one must make judgements.
  • Sgt Frost: Oh, your judgement was way out in this one.
  • Paul: Yes, agreed, agreed. The important thing now is to find her.
  • Sgt Frost: Well, it could be easier said than done. Always the way, of course, the police department will pick up the pieces.
  • Paul: Look, I will give you every assistance, I assure you.
  • Sgt Frost: Oh, we will put out a general description and keep an eye on her flat.
  • Paul: Did Austin tell you what happened?
  • Sgt Frost: He went on and on like an old woman, till we mentioned pressing charges, then he didn't want to know.
  • Paul: But we have to find her before something else happens.
  • Sgt Frost: We will do everything we can, Mr Reid, but we can't put out a search party on every defaulting parolee.
  • Paul: Yes, all right, all right, of course, of course.

    After seeing the version of this episode on the DVD release, it seems more likely that the episode was cut for reasons of time as it runs for 48:03. I am also fairly sure that the actor playing Sgt Frost is Charles Gilroy.


    EPISODE 124

    Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 21 August 1997 Thu 11:25 p.m. Australian soap

    Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
    Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
    Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
    Erica ~ Patsy King
    Bea ~ Val Lehman
    Jim ~ Gerard Maguire
    Paul ~ George Mallaby
    Doreen ~ Colette Mann
    Vera ~ Fiona Spence
    Kerry ~ Penny Downie
    Noeline ~ Jude Kuring
    David ~ Rod Mullinar
    Margo ~ Jane Clifton
    Josie ~ Michelle Argue
    Helen ~ Caroline Gillmer
    Gail ~ Susanne Haworth
    UNCREDITED
    Marcia (now revealed to be Ellen) ~ Judith Dick
    Sally ~ Nanette Wallace
    Estate Agent ~ Shane Bourne
    OTHER CHARACTERS
    Ambulance Man

  • Written by Ray Kolle
  • Directed by Michael Pattinson
  • Margo is not in this episode (thanks Mark C)

    Thanks to Roger Campion for identifying Shane Bourne: as Roger says "he's a stand up comedian and used to have a regular spot called 'The Great Aussie Joke' on a show called 'Hey Hey It's Saturday' alongside Maurie Fields."

    Helen arrives at Kerry's flat and finds her unconscious. Realising that Kerry needs medical attention, she calls Paul Reed anonymously at Wentworth and tells him to come quickly and bring an ambulance. Vera offers to help Meg with her house hunting. Bea tells Lizzie that she only got involved with exposing Marcia for Lizzie's own good, but Lizzie reminds her the advice Bea gave her when she thought Kevin only wanted Doreen's money. Paul finds Kerry still alive, but he notices that some of her paintings are missing. Erica assumes that Kerry will have to come back to Wentworth now she has broken the terms of her parole, but Paul wants Erica to recommend that the parole is renewed, so Kerry can go to a sanatorium for treatment. Meg sees a new flat and decides to take it despite Vera's advice that it is too small (although it looks several times larger than her old flat). Erica tells Paul she is worried by Noeline's lack of reaction to Leanne's death. Doreen has a surprise visit from David Austin: Erica allows the visit but tells Meg to supervise the visit and listen carefully to what he has to say. Noeline flaunts her cigarettes in front of the other women. Kerry tells Paul that it was probably David who took the paintings. David offers Doreen $200 for the painting Kerry gave her as a wedding present, then doubles his offer, but Meg says that Erica's permission will be required first. Paul has somehow managed to get back to Wentworth and suggests to Erica that the way to teach David a lesson would be to hit him where it hurts most. Lizzie buys a packet of fags from Noeline for five dollars, and Bea is appalled when she finds out later how much Noeline has made Lizzie pay. Doreen demands $1,500 for the painting and tells David she wants cash: he says he will have to go to the bank and return later. Paul wants to know why Noeline's mother won't accept social security, as the children are about to be taken into care. Paul and Erica meet David in reception and string him along about Kerry's attempted suicide, and only tell him she is still alive when he has handed over the money. While Noeline is being taken past the store room she has the chance to take a look at the lock and later works out how to wedge it open with a folded piece of paper. Noeline shrewdly asks to work in the kitchen, so Jim puts her on cleaning duties, which is what she really wanted all along. Meg decides to have a housewarming party the following evening. Her new neighbour, Gail Summers, introduces herself by bringing her a cup of coffee round, and apologises for the dreadful wailing sound in the background which is her youngest child, Stevie. Noeline pours the detergent away so she can get to the storeroom. While Vera's back is turned, Noeline fixes the store room door. Marcia decides she has to tell Lizzie the truth. Noeline gets Judy to help her by keeping watch while she is in the store room. Marcia tells Lizzie her real name is Ellen Morgan, and she was in the same orphanage as Lizzie's daughter. Lizzie finds out that her daughter was killed in a car crash just before her twenty fifth birthday: she tells Josie and Ellen that they are her family now, and she has decided to give them her money. Jim and Erica pass by the store room and move Judy on. Jim not only locks the security gate, but pulls the store room door closed. There is no handle on the inside and Noeline is unable to get out, even though the door is unlocked.

    EPISODE 125

    Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 22 August 1997 Fri 11:35 p.m. Noelene (sic) is locked in the store cupboard overnight.

    Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
    Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
    Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
    Erica ~ Patsy King
    Bea ~ Val Lehman
    Jim ~ Gerard Maguire
    Paul ~ George Mallaby
    Doreen ~ Colette Mann
    Vera ~ Fiona Spence
    Noeline ~ Jude Kuring
    Gail ~ Susanne Haworth
    Tim ~ Jeremy Higgins
    Andrew Reynolds ~ John Lee
    Margo ~ Jane Clifton
    Vince Talbot ~ John Larking
    Phyllis ~ Reylene Pearce
    Mouse ~ Jentah Sobott
    Officer Barry ~ Joy Westmore
    Terry Barry ~ Jack Harris
    Dr Rupert ~ Rob Steele

  • Written by Denise Morgan
  • Directed by Bill Hughes
  • When Bea catches one of the extras lifting a pack of cigarettes from Lizzie's pocket she says "OK, Bev, give 'em back, you're not at the races now" - but it's Lil she's talking to.

    Bea tells the women not to rely on Noeline for any favours, but Judy arrives with the news that they will have to hold on a bit longer anyway, as Noeline is locked in the administration block. Judy persuades Bea to help cover for Noeline until the next day as long as Noeline hands over all the goods she's pinched without the women having to pay her. Gail calls at Meg's flat to borrow eggs, and Meg invites her to her flat warming party later. At home, Gail is shown to be having problems coping with her children. The women organise a little diversion to give Judy time to pad out Noeline's bed, so Officer Barry thinks she is already in her cell and locks the door. Gail comes to the party, but is a bit startled when Vera is inspired by a discussion of Noeline's family and expounds her views about what should happen to children when their parents can't look after them properly. Gail's husband calls in to collect her and shouts at her in front of all Meg's guests for leaving the kids alone. The women organise another little scuffle to cover for Noeline's absence the following morning. Gail invites Meg in for a coffee as she's on her way to work: Meg notices bruises on Jason's arm and suspects Gail's husband of mistreating the children. Doreen and several others pretend an attack of food poisoning, and as they are taken to the infirmary, Doreen faints just outside the store room so Judy can let Noeline out. Bea tells Noeline her goods are going to be shared out between the women and takes them off her. Bea wants to know why Judy is really helping Noeline: eventually Judy admits she was going to take all Noeline's cash for an escape she was vaguely planning. Erica inspects the kitchen, but can find nothing wrong with the "snags" (sausages). Noeline tells Erica the food poisoning was faked so the women could steal her buyup. Unfortunately for Noeline, Phyllis has overheard her lagging. Vera catches Meg in reception phoning around for playgroups and nurseries for Gail. The rec room is turned over after Noeline's tip off, but the women have had time to hide the goods properly. Andrew Reynolds comes to Wentworth to see Erica about a possible work release scheme, which he admits will help him to fulfil a large Government order. Judy persuades Noeline to put a bet on with Margo, so she can follow and see where Margo hides her stash. Vera is opposed to the work release scheme, but Erica assures her it won't involve any extra work. Meg offers to look after Jason while Gail goes shopping. Erica inspects the factory, but when the union representative there gets to hear of the scheme, he complains that it will undercut the wages of the permanent workers. While Gail is away, her husband Tim collects Jason and Meg can hear every word of their ensuing row. There is the sound of a door slamming and Gail rings Meg's doorbell asking for help as Jason has "fallen out of bed". At the hospital, the doctor doesn't seem to believe Gail's story about how Jason was injured. Gail admits to Meg that Jim has hit her and the children "once or twice". Meg tells the doctor of her suspicion that Jason's stepfather is abusing him. He tells her there is often nothing that can be done until it is too late. Margo sets up Judy and she walks into a trap when she follows Margo to her cell

    Storyliners: Dave Worthington, Margaret McClusky
    Script Editors: Patrick Amer (121); Ian Smith (122); Patrick Amer (123); Ian Smith (124)-(125)


    (116) to (120)


    Updated ~ 27 November 2008