EPISODE 127Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 26 August 1997 Tue 11:35 p.m. Gail goes in on remand. Erica tells her not to reveal her crime. Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance Erica ~ Patsy King Jim ~ Gerard Maguire Paul ~ George Mallaby Doreen ~ Colette Mann Vera ~ Fiona Spence Noeline ~ Jude Kuring Margo ~ Jane Clifton Gail ~ Susanne Haworth Tim ~ Jeremy Higgins Andrew ~ John Lee Kay White ~ Sandy Gore Vince Talbot ~ John Larking UNCREDITEDOfficer Barry ~ Joy WestmoreNoeline's sister(-in-law?) ~ Joan Millar  OTHER CHARACTERSGary Burke ~ David Page (see below) Wayne and Norelle Burke  Irene Nagel  Magistrate (at Gail's committal hearing)  There is a nice visual joke as the camera shot pans down from a poster of James Dean on the wall Thanks to David Page for emailing me to identify himself as the actor who played Gary Burke. He modestly claims that "a massive 15 or so lines was my offering, along with speaking in a disgustingly nasally voice" but at least the PIC here allowed him to prove his involvement in Prisoner to a sceptical friend. | The women are searched before their first day at the factory and Erica warns them yet again not to abuse this privilege. Margo has a perve at some workmen from the window of the minibus on the way. Vera asks to take charge of the keys to the yard, but Mr Reynolds refuses, saying he is quite capable of looking after the security. The foreman Vince Talbot shows the women around the section of the factory where they will be working. Paul speaks up for Gail Summers at her committal hearing, but the magistrate remands her to Wentworth until her trial. Meg is surprised to see Gail brought in as a prisoner. Gail is advised not to tell the women what she's really inside for, and Meg suggests she says she's been charged with shoplifting and can't pay her bail. Jim is less sympathetic to Gail's plight than Meg or Paul. Andrew further infuriates Vera by going behind her back to Erica to ask permission for the women to have lunch outside. Doreen realises that Judy is taking advantage of the break outside to check it out for possible escape routes and tries to talk some sense into her, pointing out that she will need some money. Judy wonders if she can cultivate the factory accountant Kay White, as she seems "sympathetic". Noeline's sister arrives to visit her, but won't stay and leaves a message that the youngest children, Wayne and Norelle are going to be put in a home. Erica calls in at the factory to check how the women's first day has gone. Andrew invites Erica for dinner, but she huffily declines, saying that their relationship must stay on a "professional" level. Noeline asks Paul if the sum of $250 would help keep her kids out of a home, and when he says it would delay the decision, she asks if her kids can be brought in to see her. Gail meets the women for the first time and they are all sorry for her when they hear her burst into whining when she tells her cover story as suggested by Meg. Vera tells Meg her "sympathy" for Gail is just a way of refusing to admit her responsibility for Gail being in prison at all. On the women's second day at the factory, Kay White notices Judy placing a bet with Margo and asks if she can place a bet too. Noeline is released from solitary and sees Gary, Wayne and Norelle in the garden, but she can't get close enough to pass them the money, so she tells Gary about the work release scheme at the factory, so he can try to pick it up from there. Kay brings in her own radio into the workroom to listen to the racing results, and Vera is unable to do anything to stop it  . Judy gives her winnings back to Kay to pay for a "street dress" (size 16) to wear for her escape and Kay promptly gives it back to margo to double her bet on the next race. Tim visits Gail and tells her he has been given custody of the children and is starting divorce proceedings. Noeline asks Judy to get the money out to her kids. Gail is upset after Tim's visit and a passing remark by Jim about "under the circumstances" it is all for the best makes her tell Lizzie and Doreen why she is really in prison. They are taken aback, but are called away by Jim before they can say anything. Judy hides the money in her hair and tells Doreen she is going to keep it for her escape. However, when the minibus arrives at the factory Wayne and Norelle are waiting at the gate, so Judy changes her mind and throws the money to them from the bus window. |
This episode is one of the few where the closing credits don't show an officer locking up. Instead there is a close-up shot of the chain link fence 
outside Andrew Reynolds' Apparel Factory, whose sign we see earlier in the episode 
. The lettering of the credits is yellow rather than the usual white.
As if to prepare us for cutting Prisoner back to three episodes per week, Channel 5 postponed episode (128) from Wednesday to Thursday, using the excuse that "the football went into extra time".
EPISODE 128Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 28 August 1997 Thu 11:45 p.m. Kay's gambling gets the better of her and Noeline befriends Gail - to her cost. Erica invites Andrew to a Prisoners' Reform Group and Vince attacks Doreen in the store room.Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance Erica ~ Patsy King Jim ~ Gerard Maguire Paul ~ George Mallaby Doreen ~ Colette Mann Vera ~ Fiona Spence Noeline ~ Jude Kuring Margo ~ Jane Clifton Gail ~ Susanne Haworth Kay White ~ Sandy Gore Andrew ~ John Lee Vince ~ John Larking Tony ~ John Higginson Mrs Blakely ~ Janet Lord  Officer Barry ~ Joy Westmore An unnamed officer | Noeline is relieved to find that Judy got the money through to the kids. Gail gets a frosty reception in the rec room, which forces Judy to stand up for her. Doreen follows Judy out of the rec room and finds her crying: she knows that Judy is angry with herself for weakening and handing over the money which was supposed to be for her escape. Vera complains to Erica about the working conditions at the factory, but when she finds out Vera means for the officers not the prisoners, she tells Vera that complaints should be in writing. The women torment Gail with a chant of "Baby Basher" and Judy steps in again, before the officers finally break up the gathering. Gail asks Noeline to explain who this Bea is the women keep mentioning, and their threats that Bea will be saving Gail for herself until she gets out of solitary. The women have no work at the factory when the delivery company lets them down. Doreen finds out from Kay that the delivery contract will soon be put out to tender. Kay persuades Margo to accept a $20 bet. Paul goes to meet Tony on his release from the prison farm. Tony seems very jumpy after his time in prison. He goes to see Sally, but her mother tells him she has moved to Sydney. Lizzie has taken over the press temporarily, but is glad to hand it over to Noeline. Judy tells Doreen that she can help to get Kevin the delivery contract if she finds out the lowest bid in the tender so that Kevin can undercut it. Unfortunately, Doreen tells this to Lizzie in the rec room when the women return from the factory and Noeline's ears are flapping. Judy warns Gail not to trust Noeline, but when Gail finds a gruesome collage  on the inside of her cell door of what the women thinks he has done, she ignores Judy's advice and asks Noeline what to do. Noeline tells her she can get protection if she gives the officers useful information: for instance, about Doreen... Erica invites Andrew to a meeting of the Prison Reform Group. Gail goes back to her cell and finds it wrecked, so she tells Jim she's taken enough and has some interesting information for the Governor. Erica promises her protection, but tells her she did not have to offer information to get it. Doreen is called to see Erica, but she is able to deny that she has done anything wrong (as yet). When Erica lets her go with a warning, she accuses Noeline of lagging so she could get on the work scheme in Doreen's place, but Lizzie suggests the lagger might have been Gail as they know she'd also been to see the Governor. Paul tells Meg he will sacrifice anything to secure Tony's future. After he gives her a lift home from the PRG meeting, Erica accepts Andrew's invitation to dinner the following day. Paul tells Noeline he has recommended her for a trial on the factory scheme. Kay makes Doreen go into the store room with Vince to get materials so that Margo isn't disturbed listening to the racing results. Vince locks the store room door and makes it obvious that he wants Doreen to have sex with him  . |
EPISODE 129Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 29 August 1997 Fri 11:35 p.m. Paul and Tony dine at Meg's; Tony loosens up.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 Margo ~ Jane Clifton Gail ~ Susanne Haworth Noeline ~ Jude Kuring Vince ~ John Larking Tony ~ John Higginson Spike ~ Stephan Dennis  Andrew ~ John Lee OTHER CHARACTERSTony's other friend (with Spike)Erica's family background is developed later along the lines established here in her conversation over dinner with Andrew: her father is the late Mr Justice Marne, her mother is a "mild hypochondriac" and her brother a Member of Parliament. Another neckscarf disaster | When the women are searched on their return to Wentworth, Doreen wants to shower immediately, but Vera refuses to let her. Doreen tries not to let her feelings show and advises Judy that if she wants a forged passport she should go and see "The Weasel", who lived in Fitzroy. Judy tells Doreen she will be making for Singapore and not the USA when she escapes. Lizzie notices that Doreen seems down, and Doreen makes an excuse about hating the factory work. Tony finds out that if he wants to go back to college he'll have to start the year over again, so he tells Paul he is considering looking for a job instead. Meg invites Paul and Tony for dinner, and Meg tells Tony that if he needs to talk to anyone other than his father, he only has to call round. Andrew phones Erica and invites her to the races. Vera overhears part of their conversation. When Doreen asks to be taken off the work release scheme, Eric assumes she is only doing it so that Bea can take Doreen's place, so she turns down the request. After Lizzie also has a go at her, Doreen goes and wrecks Phyllis's cell to invite the punishment of being taken off the scheme, but again she doesn't get her wish: she only has to tidy up the cell and be confined to her own cell for the weekend  . Meg assumes the reason Doreen wasn't given a heavier punishment was that Erica didn't want to put anyone on report who was on the work release scheme. Vera chips in that this only proves that the whole scheme is corrupt and Erica is giving favourable treatment to someone she's involved with. When Bea is released from solitary, Erica implies that if she stays away from Gail she has a good chance of joining the factory work party. Margo can't pay out for the women in Wentworth until Kay pays her what she's owed. Noeline presents Gail to Bea to give her a bashing for hitting her kid and when she refuses she taunts Bea with going soft on child bashers, and Doreen attacks Noeline. They are both taken before Erica, and Noeline is let off. Erica has a private word with Doreen as she sees this as yet another attempt to be taken off the work release scheme, so as a punishment Doreen is forced to continue on the scheme. Tony meets an old college friend who has also dropped out of his course and who invites him to a party if he brings some dope and booze. Judy realises that Vince is the reaon why Doreen hates the factory work and is scared to go back. Andrew comes to see Erica again and invites her to dinner. Bea finds out about Margo being owed money by Kay and warns Margo not to do anything to jeopardize the scheme. Tony confides in Meg about his difficulties finding work and she advises him that many ex-prisoners have to use false names to get work. Andrew admits to Erica that he is married, but Erica says it doesn't matter as she doesn't intend letting their friendship slide into "sordidness". Noeline is allowed on the work release scheme for the first time. Andrew tells the women the next consignment has to be finished that afternoon. Paul arrives at Meg's flat looking for Tony after he fails to return home, but at the same time a police car pulls up. |
EPISODE 130Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 01 September 1997 Mon 11:35 p.m. Doreen finds out the tender details from Vince and phones Kev. Judy passes out in the laundry room and is taken to hospital, giving her an opportunity to escape.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 Margo ~ Jane Clifton Gail ~ Susanne Haworth Noeline ~ Jude Kuring Vince ~ John Larking Kay ~ Sandy Gore Doctor ~ Kirk Alexander Policewoman ~ Amanda Halifax  UNCREDITEDOfficer Barry ~ Joy WestmoreMrs Blakely ~ Janet Lord Sally ~ Nanette Wallace OTHER CHARACTERSMr Robards (Gail's Legal Aid solicitor) Pam (Tim Summers' new girlfriend)  Two of the women on the work release scheme get a chance to speak - Gladys The non-speaking male nurse Thanks to Andy Dolman for his (surely correct) suggestion that the actress playing Pam is Amanda Irving, who plays a very similar role in (218) | At the factory, Noeline complains that her machine doesn't work, but Vince is more interested in Doreen. Meg is suprised to see letters in the mail for both Judy and Bea. Judy volunteers to go to the store room when Vince has his eye on Doreen and she uses the opportunity to issue a warning that she knows what he's up to and she isn't afraid of anything he can do to her. Bea and the other women torment Gail in the laundry, but Lizzie is beginning to have sympathy for her. Kay tries to put off paying her debts to Margo, and shrugs off Margo's threats, asking her which of the two of them is more likely to believed. Gail asks Paul to find out who is looking after her children. Vince wants to know what Doreen has told Judy and warns her to keep quiet in future. Meg tells Paul there is a letter for Judy from her sister saying their father is ill and he wants her to go and see him. Bea also gets a letter - from Ken. Paul advises Judy that there is no chance of getting compassionate leave for her to visit her father, but that if he'd been in the same country it might have been possible: Judy replies with disgust that she wasn't even allowed to attend Sharon's funeral, so why should she want to visit an old man she hadn't even seen for twenty years? She goes on to say that as far as she's concerned he died a long time ago. Meg saves Gail's daughter Katrina from being run over outside the flats  and finds that Tim's new girlfriend Pam has been left in charge of the kids and has just popped out for a packet of fags. Doreen and Lizzie try to persuade Bea to reply to Ken's letter. The women on the work release discuss previous escape attempts and Judy learns about Bea's escape from hospital. Judy notices that two bolts of cloth are missing from the stores and worries they will be blamed for it, but Kay tells her that Vince has probably taken them. Doreen tries to get the information on the tender from Kay but is told that it is Vince's responsibility. Next time Vince asks for volunteers to go the store room, Doreen offers and has to have sex with Vince in return for the value of the lowest tender. Gail's solicitor is very harsh with her, but Paul assures Gail he knows what he's doing and warns her she will have to face worse under cross examination. Kay eventually pays her debts, so Margo lets her place another bet. A casual remark from Noeline about cloth being stolen makes Kay lose her temper. Erica overrules Vera's wish to prevent Doreen phoning Kevin as long as the call is made in Paul Reid's office. In front of Vera and Paul, Doreen passes on the information about the tender, and Vera puts her in solitary until she can see Erica next morning. Bea stays up late writing a reply to Ken's letter. Judy hangs around the drier in the laundry until she passes out when her pacemaker malfunctions  . Erica releases Doreen from solitary when she arrives next morning. The doctor tells Judy she will be kept in overnight but will probably be fit enough to be released next day. Meg calls in on Pam and has to put out a (small) pan fire and change the baby's nappy, as Pam has popped out and left the kids alone. Pam returns drunk and throws Meg out for being a nosy interfering bitch. The doctor leaves the room for a moment while Judy is having tests and returns to find she has gone leaving a uniform-less policewomen behind. |
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