EPISODE 426Broadcast on Channel 5 Friday 18 December 1998 04:40 Pixie falls for an old flame, the women score a victory over Joan and the escape bid ends in tragedy.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Erica ~ Patsy King Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Colleen ~ Judith McGrath Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Wally ~ Alan Hopgood Pixie ~ Judy McBurney Sonia ~ Tina Bursill Cass ~ Babs McMillan Minnie ~ Wendy Playfair Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Belinda ~ Jane Turner Helen ~ Caroline Gillmer Phyllis ~ Reylene Pearce Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Rick ~ Andy Anderson Stanley ~ Brian James Hugh Bennett ~ Steve Cummins Major Ferguson ~ Carl Bleazby Gary Wilder ~ Nick Waters Kevin Stansfield ~ Tiriel Mora Det. Insp. Thorn ~ Peter Aanensen Det. Insp. Bowen ~ Vin Foster  Ralph Cranton ~ Mark Morrisey Mr Schumann ~ Mark Zandle Off. Radcliffe ~ Marion Dimmick Detective ~ Bob Halsall Reception Nurse ~ Mary Rose Casey  Plainclothes Policeman ~ Justin Rich  Gate Guard Bob ~ David Bickerstaff Stunt Driver ~ Phil Brock UNCREDITEDCoral (receptionist) has her first (?) line | Judy makes it clear to Joan that the women know her father has been kidnapped. She demands that Joan phones the police and clears Colleen (but when she says she wants Colleen back as "Deputy" Governor, she surely means "Acting" Governor?) Gary tells Kevin he will kill Reb when she has led him to the money. Joan makes a statement to Inspector Thorne but finds out the other witness has already spoken to the police, so Colleen was already cleared. She announces Colleen's reinstatement and her own resignation to the women to make them give up Reb. The women don't believe it until Meg holds up the signed resignation. Erica tells Joan the kidnappers have extended the deadline by two hours. The Major sends Gary to phone Joan: Kevin is already in place at the hospital. Erica takes the call intended for Joan, and learns of the kidnap plot: she confronts Joan and tells her she should have reported it to the police to help them trace the kidnappers. Gary returns to find the Major on the phone to the police and knocks him out. The police take over and go ahead with the swap. Colleen returns and is told Joan has resigned. Kevin is suspicious of all the extra "doctors" at the hospital  , and phones Gary to tell him Joan has contacted the police. Colleen announces the women's "punishment" for the dining room protest: they will lose buyup, for 48 hours (which is when the next one was due anyway). Ralph comes to the shop to see Pixie, and invites her out to lunch. Joan and Rick are to accompany Reb to hospital: the "ambulance" arrives driven by Gary and Kevin. They take Reb and Joan with them. Rick is knocked out and is unable to raise the alarm quickly enough. The ambulance smashes its way through the barrier gates. Ann is outside waiting for Wally and comes inside the prison to find out what's going on. The gang transfer to a yellow van. Belinda overhears Minnie say she put the wrench in the library and starts to ask Cass where someone would hide something, say, in the library. The Major manages to free himself and escapes. Belinda searches the library while waiting for her teacher to arrive then settles down to listen while he tries to make her see the positive side of life. During his nauseating pep talk, she locates the wrench taped under the library table and smiles to herself. Sonia and Belinda are moved back into the same cell and Judy warns Belinda not to cause any trouble. The Major rings Wentworth from a farmhouse: when he finds the kidnappers have taken Joan he goes back to help her. When they arrive at the hide-out, Joan pushes Gary aside and shoots Kevin  in the leg. Kevin tells Reb that Gary was planning to kill her so the two of them could split the money two ways. Joan chases Gary and wounds him in the arm, and has him at gunpoint when the Major arrives on the scene. Gary thinks this is a good diversion and makes a dive for Joan but she raises the gun and fires, killing him  . |
EPISODE 427Broadcast on Channel 5 Saturday 19 December 1998 04:40 Sonia realises that there is only one way to stop Belinda. The new Joan takes everyone by surprise. Belinda at last gets a chance to fulfil her ambition.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Erica ~ Patsy King Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Colleen ~ Judith McGrath Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Wally ~ Alan Hopgood Sonia ~ Tina Bursill Minnie ~ Wendy Playfair Cass ~ Babs McMillan Pixie ~ Judy McBurney Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Helen ~ Caroline Gillmer Belinda ~ Jane Turner Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Phyllis ~ Reylene Pearce Rick ~ Andy Anderson Stanley ~ Brian James Major Ferguson ~ Carl Bleazby Sergeant Mott ~ Peter Black  Ralph Cranton ~ Mark Morrisey Mr Schumann ~ Mark Zandle Policewoman ~ Sue O'Neill Frances ~ Wanda Davidson Officer Riley ~ Kathy Gordon Constable Sparks ~ Colin Sparks | The Major tells the police the shooting was accidental, and implies that he was holding it when it went off. The police set off in pursuit of Reb and Kevin. Judy is surprised at how keen Belinda suddenly is to get started on her Braille lesson, but this is mainly because it gives her another opportunity to visit the library. Sonia asks Phyllis to recover the spanner before Belinda finds it, but she has already found it where Minnie taped it under a table and she moves it to the top of a bookcase. Joan is forced to tell the Major that she's had to resign when he tells her he lied about Gary's shooting to save her career. Sonia complains she feels ill, but is only given some pills and locked in with Belinda. Unfortunately one of the tablets is a sleeping pill and Sonia soon starts to nod off even though she is standing upright. Belinda attacks her and Sonia calls for help. Rick puts Sonia in solitary for the night, telling her he doesn't believe her story, as he knew her husband Eddie and the effect she had on him. Bobbie comes to breakfast with multicoloured hair and has to wash it out. Joan tells the Major she's going to see someone to sort out her future. Fran tells the women she's heard on her transistor that Reb has been caught. Colleen tells Rick that Reb is coming back to Wentworth and hopes that Joan won't insist on working out on her resignation. However, Joan is paying a visit to Ann to ask her to withdraw her resignation: Ann phones the prison and talks to Erica, passing on Joan's assurances that her attitude has changed and pointing out the strain Joan has been under. Reb is brought back and has to be man-handled into solitary. Erica tells Colleen she'll be backing whatever decision the Governor and Department make about Joan's future. The women are busy speculating what job Joan would be better suited to when they are astonished to see her back at work, and even more so by her assurances that she will make every effort to change her ways. Sonia tries to recruit Reb while they are both in solitary but is rebuffed. Joan is listening, but for once she isn't gloating. Ann worried she's made a dreadful mistake especially as she won't have to face the consequences: she is determined not to return to Wentworth. Ralph takes Pixie for a picnic and is horrified by what she tells him of her life inside: he promises to get her out. Cass amazes the women by saying she thinks they should give the women a chance. Joan tells Sonia that she knows she's been hard on her in the past, but she won't be involved in any more rackets and will now be doing her job completely by the book. Minnie warns Judy that the spanner has gone missing. Stan takes Belinda inside for her lesson. Ralph takes Pixie for a drive after work and convinces her Colleen has bound her over into his care, and produces a wedding card  and dress to prove it. Belinda corners Sonia in the library  , and finds the spanner when the lights are suddenly switched off. |
EPISODE 428Broadcast on Channel 5 Sunday 20 December 1998 04:40 Erica is made the new Head of Department. Reb gets even with Sam (? Stan?), and a life hangs in the balance.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Erica ~ Patsy King Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Colleen ~ Judith McGrath Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Wally ~ Alan Hopgood Sonia ~ Tina Bursill Cass ~ Babs McMillan Minnie ~ Wendy Playfair Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Belinda ~ Jane Turner Helen ~ Caroline Gillmer Phyllis ~ Reylene Pearce Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Mo ~ Bronwyn Gibbs  Rick ~ Andy Anderson Stanley ~ Brian James Major Ferguson ~ Carl Bleazby Paul Reynolds ~ Paul Newman Hugh Bennett ~ Steve Cummins June Bennett ~ Sai McKenna  Officer Radcliffe ~ Marion Dimmick Sister Kelly ~ Liddy Holloway Mr Schumann ~ Mark Zandle Det. Sgt. Rouse ~ Paul Karo Gate Guard Trevor ~ Brad Lindsay Pregnant Prisoner ~ Estee Naylor  [R]One of the extras (I think it is "Jacko") can be seen with a distinctly "Bea Smith" hairdo. | Belinda cannot land the blow to finish Sonia off  , and Mr Bennett and Rick arrive. Colleen asks to see Joan to tell her she doesn't believe he's changed and will report any evidence of misconduct to the Department. The women are so desperate for tobacco so they scour the garden for smokable leaves. Colleen sends Belinda to solitary. Bobbie asks Cass to steal herbs from the kitchen to use as tobacco substitute. Bobbie, Helen and Judy go to beat up Sonia when they find out about Belinda as they assume Sonia was the attacker. Rick stops them and tells them the truth. Stan brings his old pianola for the women to use: Cass notices him clutching his heart after pushing it into the rec room: he asks her to keep it secret as he didn't declare his heart condition. Meg reports that Pixie hasn't returned from work release: Colleen phones Mr Schumann to find that she left work early. Sonia accuses Rick of switching off the library lights: he doesn't exactly deny it but tells her she won't get anywhere telling a story like that. [So who did turn the blasted lights out? I'm sure we never find out for definite. Joan seems the most likely possibility, but how did she do it?] Mo Maguire is brought in on remand for a series of cat burglaries, claiming she is innocent. Mr Bennett introduces Belinda to his wife, who is also blind. Mo is taken to the laundry and immediately launches into a furious tirade against Bobbie when she happens to mention hearing about Mo's case on the radio. Colleen asks Rick about Sonia's accusation: he points out he couldn't have turned the lights out as he was bringing Mr Bennett to the library and was with him the whole time. Belinda is transferred to another block and says goodbye to the women. When Colleen asks him why he left the police force, Rick tells her his girlfriend was killed in a bank raid which turned out to have been set up by a police officer. Minnie tells Judy and Helen she knows that Mo is innocent, as one of her own gang is responsible. Stan helps Bobbie when she gets bleach in her eyes trying to do her hair and has along talk to her in the infirmary. The Major leaves for the country. Wally comes to visit Judy to tell her Alice has had a breakdown: she recommends Myra Desmond as a replacement. Mo is furious when she finds out that Minnie has information which can clear her. Paul refuses to let Ann give up her job for his sake. Reb walks into the rec room with Bobbie's Walkman and drops it on the floor, but it is Bobbie who gets a charge from Stan. Stan suggests that the women could do gardening duties. Erica announces she is the new Head of Department: Joan looks rather dismayed. Reb tells Sonia that she has moved the money to a new hiding place. Bobbie insinuates that Reb is "on" with Sonia and gets a punch in the face. Stan has to subdue Reb  , which leaves him a little breathless. Sonia accuses Joan of turning the library lights out, but she denies it. Stan goes to talk to Reb, and has an attack. He fumbles his pills and Reb kicks them out of his reach. |
EPISODE 429Broadcast on Channel 5 Tuesday 22 December 1998 04:40 Bobbie and Cass rush to Stan's aid, Camilla is given 24 hours to pay fifty parking fines, and Joan's pleasantness terrifies Sonia.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Colleen ~ Judith McGrath Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Sonia ~ Tina Bursill Minnie ~ Wendy Playfair Cass ~ Babs McMillan Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Helen ~ Caroline Gillmer Mo ~ Bronwyn Gibbs Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Camilla ~ Annette Andre  Meryl ~ Marilyn Maguire  Phyllis ~ Reylene Pearce Stanley ~ Brian James Rick ~ Andy Anderson Eddie ~ Norman Yemm Myra Desmond ~ Anne Phelan Alan Desmond ~ Peter Craig  Kathy Silver ~ Tina Darby Sister Kelly ~ Liddy Holloway Terence Makin ~ John Shaw  Kelly ~ Karen Johnson Policewoman ~ Maureen McInerny  | Cass and Bobbie come to Stan's rescue: Reb is knocked hard into a wall by Cass and they both help Stan to a cell to lie down and rest. The women hear Camilla Wells radio program about her dispute over a parking fine. Sonia is frightened by Joan's confusing new image and approaches Judy for help but Judy tells her she will have to look after herself. Rick finds Cass trying to revive Reb and Cass admits to him that she attacked Reb. Colleen is having financial trouble and is slightly cheered by the news of Erica's appointment. Cass is sent to solitary when she is unable to explain why she attacked Reb. Judy adapts "Mack the Knife" to mock Joan. Meg interrupts this virtuoso piece of hamming to tell Judy that Myra Desmond has said she can't help with Driscoll House. Stan tells Cass he will have to admit his health problems to Colleen to get her out of trouble. Judy phones Myra to try to persuade her to change her mind, and despite her own personal problems, Myra says she will visit the halfway house. Colleen thanks Stan for his honesty and tells him to release Cass from solitary. Joan wants it acknowledged that she will not be left alone with Sonia. Cass is let out of solitary. Reb is unrepentant, and is told she will be charged with the assault on Stan and sent to solitary when she recovers. Myra finds Driscoll House in a shambles. Sonia is on tray duty and asks Reb casually when she'll be out of the infirmary. Reb replies scathingly that she's only interested to have someone to cover her back. She tells Sonia she'll be trying to escape, but she'll make sure she fixes Stan before she leaves. Ann returns as Governor to Colleen's dismay. The women listen to Camilla Wells' radio talk show and her announcement she has refused to pay the fine and is going to jail. Mo asks for a phone call to contact Minnie's solicitor. Ann calls a staff meeting and tells the officers Camilla Wells is coming to Wentworth after refusing to pay her fine, and is to be given special treatment: for once the bitter cynical voice is Colleen's, not Joan's. Camilla is inducted at the same time as Meryl King, who is on a drugs charge and she kicks up a fuss about the disparity between their sentences. Mo is not impressed by Minnie's solicitor. Camilla demands to be treated the same as the other women and is given a single cell rather than being accommodated in isolation. Joan is questioned by Camilla when she shows her to her cell, and she fills in Camilla about her own days as Governor. Sonia calls Eddie in to help her, but he refuses to help her with her fears of persecution by Rick and Joan. Stan suggests the women start a Glee Club. Camilla is a bit overwhelmed by the attention she gets from the women in the rec room, but seems eventually to break the ice. Eddie asks Joan if he can see Rick and takes the opportunity to remind her that he is still looking out for Sonia's welfare. Meryl pals up with Sonia and confirms that Eddie is on the take. Joan is told that her resignation can be withdrawn, and Colleen sneers at Ann's gullibility. Camilla antagonises the women by telling them their crimes mean they don't deserve better treatment and shouldn't whine so much about their rights. Stan is allowed to stay at Wentworth, but with lighter duties and that he will have to be accompanied by another officer at all times. Colleen is annoyed that the job of telling him is passed on to her by Ann, and tells Meg she won't carry Ann any more: if she's not fit to do the job she shouldn't have come back to work. |
EPISODE 430Broadcast on Channel 5 Wednesday 23 December 1998 04:40 Myra fears that she's lost her daughter for good and Colleen is furious at her treatment at work. Meanwhile, Rick's detective work leads him into dangerous trouble.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Colleen ~ Judith McGrath Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Sonia ~ Tina Bursill Cass ~ Babs McMillan Minnie ~ Wendy Playfair Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Helen ~ Caroline Gillmer Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Mo ~ Bronwyn Gibbs Camilla ~ Annette Andre Meryl ~ Marilyn Maguire Phyllis ~ Reylene Pearce Stanley ~ Brian James Rick ~ Andy Anderson Eddie Stevens ~ Norman Yemm Myra Desmond ~ Anne Phelan Alan Desmond ~ Peter Craig Kay Desmond ~ Sally-Anne Bourne  Bill Desmond ~ Vince D'Amico  Gloria Payne ~ Totty Goldsmith  Ray Foster ~ Thomas Coltrane Kathy Silver ~ Tina Darby Annie Ross ~ Tracey Kelley Daryl Stone ~ Tony Porter  Taxi Driver ~ Rod West Delivery Man 1 ~ Ron Bingham  Delivery Man 2 ~ Rick Bufalo Interviewer 1 ~ Ian Gilbert  Interviewer 2 ~ Liz Walley  Interviewer 3 ~ Jamie Jackson  Reporter 1 ~ Tracey Hannigan Reporter 2 ~ Bill Manderson Gate Guard Bob ~ David Bickerstaff TV reporter ~ Anne Sutherland | Judy has a word with Camilla to remind her that the women have feelings too and she's antagonising everybody with her pretence of superiority. Joan surprises Meg and Rick with the news that she's been allowed to take back her resignation and is glad to be "part of the team" again. Myra sorts out the halfway house, but still finds time to worry about her daughter Kay. Camilla apologises to the women, but makes it clear she can't offer anything more than free publicity when she gets out. The Glee club's first sing-along is disrupted by Cass's tone deaf bawling, but Bobbie turns out to have hidden talents. Meryl tells Sonia the story behind Rick leaving the police force. Camilla can hardly believe her ears when she is told that Cass and Judy are inside for murder. Ann is stopped at the gates by reporters wanting to know about Camilla: Camilla suggests the media could be pacified if she is allowed to hold a press conference. Joan's veneer of good behaviour cracks when Mo backchats her. Sonia tries to make a deal with Rick in return for protection and gives him information of Detectives Mears and Birmingham, but he rejects her accusation that he husband Eddie is involved in their corrupt schemes. Mo is put in solitary and slaps Joan to provoke her: she is told she will be charged with assault. A billiard table arrives for the women: Colleen is outraged that she didn't know about it even though the order went through while she was Acting Governor. She tries to pretend that it is the security aspect that bothers her most, but Ann tells her she will just have to get used to the fact that she has returned to work and displaced her. Reb returns from solitary and challenges Helen to a game of billiards for money. Myra finds out that Kay hasn't been going to school because she's been living with her father and his girlfriend Gloria. Cass accepts a bet from Reb, after admitting that all she knows about billiards is what her Uncle Eddie taught her. Myra goes to see her husband Bill: he tells her he doesn't want Kay to live with him as it would cramp his style with Gloria. Camilla behaves herself at her press conference, apart from putting on of the reporters onto Mo's story. All the women bet on Cass to win at billiards which makes Judy and Helen suspect Reb is hustling - until they see how good Cass really is. Rick meets Eddie outside work and he seems to admit getting involved in some underhand deals. Cass beats Reb  at billiards (or is it snooker?). Myra tries to open Kay's eyes to her father by telling her what he said about not wanting her to live with him, but it misfires and Kay just threatens to move out and live with her boyfriend. Rick follows Eddie to a junk yard and sees him being paid off by one of the Fellowes gang, but Rick is knocked out and put in a car due to go in the crusher. |
It's already hard enough to distinguish the actors playing the reporters in this episode without a crucial mistake that makes it appear that there are not enough men's names for the actors who have dialogue. However, two of the actors also appear as reporters in (453) and from his ludicrously large speca alone it's obvious that "Jan Gilbert" is a mistake for Ian Gilbert.
The reporters who approach Ann as she leaves Wentworth seem to come last in the cast list, in a block with the Gate Guard and the "TV reporter" (on the right of this shot 
), who is clearly Anne Sutherland. Therefore Reporter 1 would be on the left of this shot 
and Reporter 2 would be this man 
? They are both credited again as reporters in (524).
Thanks to Roger Campion for asking the very pertinent question "So who the hell in this episode is Annie Ross?". I assume she is the second halfway house resident in an early scene. She comes downstairs 
to say that Kathy 
has been sick. Odd that, since the last time we saw her she left the shot to the right 
and although the stairs are in full view the whole time, we never see her go up them.
Script Editor: Ian Smith (430)
Storyliners: Alister Webb, Betty Quin, Ray Kolle, Coral Drouyn, Christine Madafferi
(421) to (425)