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EPISODES (241) TO (245)

Thanks to Matt for the episode summary for (245) below. The others were originally based on the pages in Norwegian by Rikiya Remen, but have been rewritten since then.

241 * 242 * 243 * 244 * 245


EPISODE 241

Broadcast on Channel 5 Thursday 02 April 1998 04:40 Lizzie returns to Wentworth as a remand prisoner, protesting her innocence, and Judy gets a shock.
CREDITS
Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
Erica ~ Patsy King
Bea ~ Val Lehman
Doreen ~ Colette Mann
Kate ~ Olivia Hamnett
Sandy ~ Louise Le Nay
Officer Powell ~ Judith McGrath
Janet ~ Kate Sheil
Officer Barry ~ Joy Westmore
Hazel ~ Belinda Davey
Dr. Kennedy ~ Brian James
Mrs. Matheson ~ Dorothy Bradley

  • Written by Ray Kolle
  • Directed by Lex Van Os
  • Colleen accuses Meg of putting her in a bad light with Erica. Judy thinks can teach herself to use the Braille machine, but Erica tells her it is being moved to Barnhurst. Erica asks Colleen and Meg if they want to apply for a senior officer's post. Doreen gets a letter from an art competition and learns that one of her drawings has got an honourable mention. Judy gets a letter from Lori, where she explains that she has become engaged. Meg tells Judy that Sid's house has burned down. Janet and Meg congratulate Doreen on her success the the picture and Doreen gets permission to see Bea. Meg tells Erica that Lizzie is living with her. Doreen chats with Bea until she gets tired. The doctor tells Erica that Bea needs dialysis. Doreen's divorce from Kevin is finalised. Judy writes to Lori telling her that she must forget her, so that Lori's fiancé will not find out that her mother is in prison. Lizzie returns to Wentworth, charged with arson. Erica tells Lizzie that Bea is ill. Judy steals a letter written by Colleen. Lizzie visits Bea in the infirmary and Bea tells her that Sandy is now top dog. Colleen's letter is read by the prisoners: it is severely critical of the management. The letter is forwarded to a newspaper. Kate gets a visit from her mother and her son: it appears that Kate is indifferent to her son, and it also appears that she murdered her husband for his attitude to her affair. Lizzie watches Kate with her mother and son, and tells Kate that no-one should be separated from their kids in that way. Kate, who is clearly not as innocent as she pretends, loses control for a moment and almost gives the game away, but calms down enough to give Lizzie a satisfactory (but not entirely truthful) explanation.

    EPISODE 242

    Broadcast on Channel 5 Friday 03 April 1998 04:40 The women decide to discredit Officer Powell. And one of them is stunned when a doctor says her tissue is compatible with Bea's.
    CREDITS
    Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
    Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
    Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
    Erica ~ Patsy King
    Bea ~ Val Lehman
    Doreen ~ Colette Mann
    Kate ~ Olivia Hamnett
    Sandy ~ Louise Le Nay
    Officer Powell ~ Judith McGrath
    Janet ~ Kate Sheil
    Officer Bailey ~ Maureen Edwards
    Phyllis ~ Reylene Pearce
    Dr. Kennedy ~ Brian James
    Sister Franklin ~ Diane Greentree
    Wendy ~ Helen Noonan
    Paul ~ Col Elliott
    Policeman ~ Ian Sprake

  • Written by Wendy Jackson
  • Directed by Lex Van Os
  • A police officer comes to talk to Colleen. Janet and Meg go out for a night on the town. Sandy tells the other prisoners that if there is anyone who can donate a kidney for Bea, they will get certain advantages from it. Colleen is annoyed with Lizzie and tells her that she saw her with the flask of kerosene. Lizzie tells Judy and Doreen that she set the house on fire to stop Gordon getting hold of it. The three of them tell the whole story to Sandy. Sandy suggests that a copy of Colleen's letter should be sent to the newspaper, and they should hold on to the original. Meg tells Janet that Bob is in Indonesia for six months. A couple of men try to chat up Meg and Janet. Meg tries to get rid of them by telling them where they work, but it doesn't have the desired effect. Meg has an idea when a big hefty bloke comes into the pub, and says he is her husband and that he'll be very angry if he sees her drinking in a pub. Meg's suitor immediately cools off and makes himself scarce. Doreen's drawing is returned and Wendy the receptionist is amused when she takes the wrapping paper off. Sandy tells Colleen about the letter, and puts pressure on her to "forget" that she saw Lizzie. Colleen's letter is published in the paper and Erica is furious when she sees it, but it is anonymous so she doesn't know who wrote it. Bea feels slightly better after her dialysis treatment. Kate hints to Erica that one of the officers is being critical about the way the prison is being run. Erica takes Kate to her office, where Kate tells her that the statements in the newspaper come from Colleen. Erica offers to let her work in sickbay. Doreen unveils her picture: it shows Jim and Conway in a "compromising position". This infuriates Janet and she shouts at Doreen. Erica has to calm Janet down. Kate gives Sandy the impression that she was responsible for their loss of privileges. Dr. Kennedy tells Bea that the other prisoners are taking tests to see whose kidney is compatible with hers. Bea is sure that the doctors are keeping something from her. Doreen meets Dr. Kennedy: he tells her that tissue samples from Doreen match Bea's, and that it is possible for her to donate a kidney, if she is willing to do so.

    EPISODE 243

    Broadcast on Channel 5 Saturday 04 April 1998 04:40 Doreen wants to visit Bea in hospital.
    CREDITS
    Erica ~ Patsy King
    Jim ~ Gerard Maguire
    Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
    Janet ~ Kate Sheil
    Officer Powell ~ Judith McGrath
    Doreen ~ Colette Mann
    Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
    Bea ~ Val Lehman
    Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
    Kate ~ Olivia Hamnett
    Sandy ~ Louise Le Nay
    Mr. Edgar ~ Ken Fraser
    Sister Franklin ~ Diane Greentree
    Officer Bailey ~ Maureen Edwards
    Mrs O'Reagan ~ Christine Calcutt
    Det. Insp. Grace ~ Terry Gill
    Mr. Douglas ~ Ian Smith
    Officer Barry ~ Joy Westmore
    Hazel ~ Belinda Davey

  • Written by Michael Freundt & Andrew Kennedy
  • Directed by Kendal Flanagan
  • Jim returns to work after a week's holiday. Joyce Barry shows Jim the drawing, and it has the same effect on him as it did on Janet. Erica is discussing the newspaper article with Ted Douglas when Jim bursts into the office. Mr. Douglas insists on stricter security measures based on Gillespie's recommendations, and says that two new officers are coming to help carry out the new regulations. Doreen visits Bea in sickbay to try to find out from Bea indirectly how crucial it is that she gets a new kidney. Jim blames Janet for encouraging Doreen's artistic talents. Doreen tells Judy that she could donate a kidney for Bea, but is afraid and doesn't want to do it. She also asks Kate for advice. Kate lets slip in front of the other prisoners that Doreen could be a kidney donor: Judy tries to shut Kate up, but the damage has already been done. Sandy is visited by Inspector Grace, but he can get absolutely nothing out of her. Lizzie tricks Mrs. O'Reagan in the kitchen into signing a piece of paper. Lizzie gives Kate a doll she has made to give to her son. Kate thanks her for it, but when Lizzie goes Kate gives it to Sister Franklin. Judy steals a requisition form from reception. When Doreen comes on visit, Bea tells her that she knows about the test results and says that she'll still be friends with Doreen even if she decides not to donate a kidney. Bea finds out that Sister Franklin has got Lizzie's doll. Lizzie hides the requisition in between the other orders. Kate tells Bea that her son has so many toys that Sister Franklin's kids will value the doll much more than he would. Doreen tells Judy and Sandy that she has decided to go ahead and have the operation to donate a kidney to Bea. Kate's lawyer visits her: he says that he has found some major discrepancies in her accounts. Colleen tries to force Sandy to tell her where the letter is hidden, but Sandy just laughs at her.

    EPISODE 244

    Broadcast on Channel 5 Tuesday 07 April 1998 04:40 Dr Kennedy visits Bea and confirms that Doreen has agreed to donate her kidney.
    CREDITS
    Erica ~ Patsy King
    Jim ~ Gerard Maguire
    Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
    Janet ~ Kate Sheil
    Officer Powell ~ Judith McGrath
    Doreen ~ Colette Mann
    Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
    Bea ~ Val Lehman
    Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
    Kate ~ Olivia Hamnett
    Sandy ~ Louise Le Nay
    Dr Kennedy ~ Brian James
    Officer Bailey ~ Maureen Edwards
    Det. Insp. Grace ~ Terry Gill
    John Fitzwater ~ Paul Glen
    Phyllis ~ Reylene Pearce
    Mighty Mouse ~ Jentah Sobott
    Sister Johnston ~ Gael Andrews

  • Written by Barbara Ramsay
  • Directed by Kendal Flanagan
  • There is a cell search, and Colleen tries to get Meg to leave her alone to search Sandy's cell, but Meg points out that the regulations require there to be two officers present. Sandy gets a visit from her "lawyer", John Fitzwater, who is really working for McNally. He wants Sandy to recruit women from the prison to work as prostitutes on their release. Sandy asks for him to arrange to smuggle extra washing along with the normal deliveries. Sandy ransacks her cell, just as Colleen and Meg turn up. Sandy takes the opportunity to annoy Colleen by making hints about the letter. Meg discovers that her ID badge is missing. Meg goes to find Colleen and discovers her searching Sandy's cell. Colleen tries to explain it away, and finds the ID badge on the floor, but instead of giving it to Meg, she puts it in her own pocket. Lizzie collects the "extra" orders from the kitchen. Jim, Colleen and Meg have a meeting with Erica, and Erica notices that Meg has lost her badge. Colleen takes the chance to play the part of Meg's guardian angel: she says that she found the badge a while ago, but forgot to give it back to Meg. Lizzie has made sure that yeast was among the goods she ordered, so that she can start making home brew. Meg comes out of Erica's office after a dressing down. Janet discovers that Lizzie has a stash of cigarettes. The prisoners get new uniforms. Sandy tells Bea that they can earn more money by having extra washing smuggled in. Lizzie's talk of operations makes Doreen nervous. Erica tries to get Sandy to influence the other women to accept the new rules, but gets the cold shoulder from her. Kate sees where Sandy has hidden Colleen's letter. Doreen starts to feel that she's been put under pressure to agree to the operation when she didn't really want it. Kate tells Colleen that she knows where the letter is and will tell her if Colleen will organise a visit for her. Doreen explains to the other women in the dining room that the operation to donate a kidney to Bea has been called off. Sandy lets Doreen explain why she changed her mind, and Doreen explains that she is afraid. Colleen arranges Kate's visit, but Kate is a little sly and won't tell her straight out where the letter is. She hints that people under stress like Colleen get sweaty palms and recommends she use talcum powder on them. The letter is hidden in Sandy's talcum powder container. The first delivery of extra laundry arrives, with money hidden among it. Colleen asks Sandy to tidy up her cell, and Sandy finds the letter has gone. The visitor Kate wanted turns out to be Inspector Grace, and she offers to be a informer for him.

    Thanks to David Breeze for an interesting communication about the change in uniform at the halfway point of this episode. He remembers an article at the time of the first Australian showing which revealed the real reason for the change: the original costumes weren't designed to have lasted this long and were literally dropping to bits. The change seems to have caused a few continuity problems, though. It is perhaps forgiveable that Doreen should be the only one still to be wearing an old uniform on her first appearance: after all, she has just returned from clinic and wasn't present at the fitting session in the rec room. However, she seems to be have been issued with a new uniform pretty swiftly in time for her next scene only a few moments later. Kate always wears the new (less faded) denim with the embroidered crest, but two scenes with Sandy appear to have been shot at a different time when she was wearing one of the old navy knitted polo necked tops under it. These are intercut between scenes of her wearing a new style blue checked shirt then a similar green checked shirt - thus appearing to give her five costume changes in a very short space of time.


    EPISODE 245

    Broadcast on Channel 5 Wednesday 08 April 1998 04:40 The women become determined to disrupt the harsh security measures that plague them, and the infamous Mary (?) Winter arrives on transfer from Barnhurst and sounds out Sandy's leadership.
    CREDITS
    Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
    Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
    Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
    Erica ~ Patsy King
    Bea ~ Val Lehman
    Jim ~ Gerard Maguire
    Doreen ~ Colette Mann
    Officer Powell ~ Judith McGrath
    Janet ~ Kate Sheil
    Steve Fawkner ~ Wayne Jarratt
    Kate ~ Olivia Hamnett
    Sandy ~ Louise Le Nay
    Marie ~ Maggie Millar
    Det. Insp. Grace ~ Terry Gill
    Ted Douglas ~ Ian Smith
    Mr. Taylor ~ John Proper
    Julie (Receptionist) ~ Christine Jack
    Wendy (Receptionist) ~ Helen Noonan
    Officer Barry ~ Joy Westmore
    Det. Sgt. Ross ~ Bill Garner

  • Written by Rick Maier
  • Directed by Juliana Focht
  • Thanks to Matt for opening credits.

    Although Julie has been appearing on a regular basis since at least (151), this seems to be the first credit for the character

    Kate speaks with Inspector Grace. Kate wants a witness "found" for her appeal in exchange for information. She tells Grace where Megan Barnett's body is buried. Grace agrees to work with her. Lizzie's solicitor arrives and informs her that the prosecution's chief witness is Colleen, who saw her with a bottle of kerosene. Lizzie is not worried. Bea asks to speak to Doreen. Sandy writes a note to Jack Fitzwater, asking for keys to be made and smuggled in. Grace asks one of his underlings to investigate Kate Peterson. Doreen forges Jim's signature on the fake rosters and Sandy gives them to Judy to type up in reception. She then gives Lizzie the bad news about Colleen discovering the blackmail letter. In the dining room, Lizzie is pretty depressed and asks Colleen if she's read any letters lately. Colleen becomes angry and grabs Lizzie to take her to the Governor's. Kate steps forward and tells Colleen not to manhandle a frail old prisoner. Colleen forgets Lizzie and drags Kate off to solitary. The women are impressed with Kate. Kate tells Colleen she doesn't mind solitary and it makes her look good. Judy offers to do some typing for Wendy and types up the fake rosters instead. Doreen visits Bea and tells her she loves her but just doesn't have the courage to go through with the operation. Bea understands, but asks her to leave. Doreen goes to the laundry and cries. Sandy tries to cheer her up and Judy presents the "new" rosters. Colleen brings some books to Kate. In exchange for an unsupervised visit from Grace, Kate tells Colleen that Lizzie is smuggling goods out of the kitchen on Thurdays in the laundrey trolley. Colleen says she'll bring Kate a radio as well. Judy distracts Julie and hangs up the roster in reception. Sandy lets Colleen know that whenever she writes a letter she always makes several copies. Colleen frantically dashes to solitary. Kate tells her to calm down, that it's most likely not true. Sandy tells Lizzie she'll find some way of getting Colleen. When leaving for the day, Colleen doesn't understand why so many officers are scheduled off the next morning, but she just sneers at it and leaves. Officer Steve Fawkner arrives at Wentworth and flirts with Julie. Erica greets him and doesn't understand why no one's reported for work. Meg takes him for a tour of the prison. Meanwhile, while being fed breakfast in bed by Janet, Jim asks her why she's not at work. She says the roster had her off, he doesn't think that's right. Erica then phones and asks where she is. A very confused Janet gets ready to leave. Steve causes quite a commotion in the shower block. Sandy tosses off her robe in front of him. Later Sandy gets a note from Fitzwater, which she burns, and a set of keys. She then uses a key to open the security gates, get to the staff room and drop a lighted cigarette into a locker. Ted Douglas arrives as Judy is switching the fake roster with the original. He doesn't realise what she's doing, but makes a lot of noise anyway. Judy then trashes the forged roster. As Ted bickers away at Erica the fire alarm goes off. The fire is easily extinguished, but Ted has had enough. He feels the women need a calming force so he is having Marie Winter transfered from Barnhurst (!!) The logic of this eludes everyone...but Mr. Douglas is determined. Janet, after having been yelled at by Erica for being late, visits Bea and tells her not to feel sorry for herself. Bea isn't impressed, but does perk up a bit upon catching sight of Steve. Marie Winter is inducted by Janet, who is a bit brusque with her. Marie puts her in her place quickly. Judy is duly impressed. At meal time, Marie makes her presence known and inquires who's top dog with Bea out of commission. Doreen says its Sandy. Marie thinks that's just fine, but Sandy doesn't look too pleased. Erica has been informed that a traffic fatality has provided a kidney donor for Bea - she must leave at once. While being taken down the hall on her stretcher, half delirious, Bea catches sight of Marie. "What's that bitch doing here?", she asks. Marie just laughs. Still wondering why that "bitch" is at Wentworth, Bea is carted off to hospital.

    Script Editor: Ian Smith
    Storyliners: John Mortimore, Andrew Kennedy, Michael Freundt


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    (246) to (250)

    Updated ~ 11 May 2008