EPISODE 122Broadcast 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 CHARACTERSReporter (Mr Harley) ~ Bob Ruggiero OTHER CHARACTERSSecretaryMr Walsh (the Government officer who makes the offer to Lizzie)  Thanks to Steve Hurst for pointing out that the actor credited as Tim Hughes for playing Sgt Bentley 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look like Tim Hughes | The officers rush to catch the women as they come down from the roof, but they are silent and withdrawn after the accident.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 123Broadcast 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 UNCREDITEDOfficer ~ Dawn KlingbergSally ~ 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 CHARACTERSDemolition Man - the same as in (118) | 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.
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 124Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 21 August 1997 Thu 11:25 p.m. Australian soapMeg ~ 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  UNCREDITEDMarcia (now revealed to be Ellen) ~ Judith DickSally ~ Nanette Wallace Estate Agent ~ Shane Bourne  OTHER CHARACTERSAmbulance Man 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 125Broadcast 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  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 | 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 |
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