EPISODES (466) TO (470)

EPISODE 466 Broadcast on Meridian Tuesday 20 August 1996; Channel 5 Friday 12 February 1999 04:40 A riot breaks out when the officers are drugged and Bobbie Mitchell is blamed for injuring Reb. Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicholson Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Edna ~ Vivean Gray Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Marlene ~ Genevieve Lemon Dot ~ Alethea McGrath Marie ~ Maggie Millar Heather ~ Victoria Nicolls Rachel ~ Kim Trengove Off. Barry ~ Joy Westmore Lou ~ Louise Siversen Frances ~ Wanda Davidson Alice ~ Lois Collinder Wally ~ Alan Hopgood Gordon Munroe ~ Jim Ewing Shane Munroe ~ Robert Summers Off. Brown ~ Geraldine Girvan Reb (Stunt Double) ~ Maureen Jones Written by Coral Drouyn Directed by Steve Mann

Leigh tells Judy about the porno films and her plan to pre-empt Roland by releasing the story herself to Camilla Wells. Joan docks Shane's pocket money as a punishment for him staying out all night. Wally visits Ann: she tells him she knows that he helped Myra. Edna prepares a pot of tea with some of the leaves she picked from the garden and when Marlene complains of a headache, she gives her some to drink as "peppermint tea". Ann points out she would have to tell the police of Wally's involvement if asked directly, and breaks off their relationship, saying that it never had a chance. After lockup, Marlene starts to complain of stomach pains, but tries to get a good night's sleep rather than seek medical help as Bobbie suggests. At muster the next morning, Marlene tells Edna the peppermint tea certainly did the trick as she puked up in the middle of the night. Joan asks Ann to take stronger measures to punish the women for the damage and accuses her of trying to hide the facts from the Department. Bobbie and Reb scuffle in the laundry and Meg overhears Bobbie threaten to kill Reb. Judy warns Ann that the recent troubles are aimed at her, and that there may be more to come. Joan makes final arrangements with Marie for the riot: she wants it to start when she returns for the evening shift. Ann passes on a message to Joan that Shane hasn't been attending school. Reb is dubious about being involved in the riot: Marie shrewdly sees she is pre-occupied with her family problems, but says she's in it whether she likes it or not . Joan goes home to confront Shane and finds him watching TV and he runs out when she slaps him. Ann shows Leigh the headline "COVER GIRL CLAIMS ORGIES WITH MINSTER" and is annoyed that Leigh didn't tell her before exposing the Minister to the press. Joan visits Shane's father and pays him off to be allowed to take Shane back. Shane looks rather the worse for wear and has been beaten by his father. Joyce leaves Edna unattended for a moment as she takes her to collect more soap powder from the store room. Edna sees a cardboard tray with rat poison in it and deliberately drops a box of soap powder so she can empty the tray into her overall pocket.Marie sends Dot back to the staff room to collect the tea towels. Joan makes sure Dot's presence is noted, then slips something into the urn. Edna brings some barley water for Marlene that she claims was brought in by Harry to "settle her stomach" and tells her to drink it. Dennis asks Heather for a date. Marie and Lou start a fight and take Joan hostage when she tries to intervene. Marie announces the start of a riot: Judy fails to stop Marlene and Bobbie joining in. Marie casually swipes at Leigh as she goes past her cell and somehow manages to scratch her face (with the back of her hand?). Ann and most of the officers are out cold after drinking tea made from a drugged tea urn. Reb starts a fire in one of the cells. Joan is taken to one of the cells and her clothes ripped : Marie punches Joan in the stomach to add a touch of realism. Heather's voice is heard over the PA system and Marie goes to find her, cutting her off as she is trying to make a phone call from the staff room to Meg. As Marie frogmarches Heather along a corridor, Heather elbows her in the stomach and manages to get away. Judy finds Edna hiding behind the door of her cell. Dot faces the rioters down and tells then not to touch her cell as it's the only "home" she's got. Marie takes Reb with her to solitary, but when Reb finds out she is planning to kill Myra, she refuses to take part. Marie pushes her down the stairs, and smirks over the bannisters at the "gutless wonder" lying unconscious at the foot of the stairs. The riot alarm sounds. Bobbie finds Reb unconscious and is seen by Joan and Heather crouched over the body.

Substantial cuts were made to this episode, which lasted 38 minutes in the version shown on Granada. Meridian also seem to have shown the same cut version. Channel 5's version made an additional cut, indicated by the passage indicated in bold above. The original version was shown on Malta's Channel One.

EPISODE 467 Broadcast on Channel 5 Saturday 13 February 1999 04:40 The riot continues apace. Bobbie is charged with causing Reb's fall. Ann announces that she has been fired. Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicholson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Edna ~ Vivean Gray Leigh ~ Virginia Hey Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Marlene ~ Genevieve Lemon Dot ~ Alethea McGrath Marie ~ Maggie Millar Heather ~ Victoria Nicolls Rachel ~ Kim Trengove Off. Barry ~ Joy Westmore Lou ~ Louise Siversen Alice ~ Lois Collinder Frances ~ Wanda Davidson Off. Radcliff ~ Marrion Dimmick Shane Munroe ~ Robert Summers Nicky (Dog) ~ Himself Diedre ~ Anne Charleston Sister Hall ~ Gael Andrews Dr Brian Copeland ~ Mark Gogall Police Inspector ~ Ian Walker Gate Guard Roger ~ Brad Lindsay Fireman ~ Glen Raymond Fireman ~ Greg Cass Written by James Simmonds & Andrew Kennedy Directed by Kendal Flanagan The label over Reb's hospital bed reads "Rebecca Kean 14/8/84" (which would have been in the future when the episode was first broadcast in July 1984!) but worryingly she seems to be under the care of a certain "Doctor Kilmore". Joan tells Shane her birthday is December 21st.

Bobbie protests her innocence, but Joan doesn't believe her. Myra smells smoke and shouts to be let out of solitary. Ann comes round and starts to organise help: she sets off alone to get the women outside. Marlene helps Dot to safety. Meg arrives and sends the gate guard Trevor to phone for an ambulance and Officer Radcliffe to let Myra out of solitary. Ann rescues Leigh from her blazing cell. Judy sees ? get punched by Marie, and makes Lou tell her that Marie has Joan's keys and is going to escape through the kitchen. The women assemble outside and Dot remembers the last time there was a fire in Wentworth. Marie and Judy fight and Judy knocks Marie out to stop her escaping . Bobbie, Myra and Marie are taken to solitary. Marie tells Joan she wants to be cleared of involvement in the riot, but Joan persuades her to accept punishment and wait until Ann is sacked. Heather tells the police that Bobbie was the only person near Reb when she found her. Joan apologises to Shane for hitting him and when she finds out it's his birthday, she says she will give him a birthday treat. Edna assures Marlene that everything will turn out for the best and says how much she misses her husband Harry. She suggests to Marlene that she drinks some lemon barley water to take away the taste of the smoke, but Marlene finds someone has stolen the bottle from her cupboard. Joan phones her father to ask him to use his influence to help her adopt Shane. The police interview Reb in hospital and take her dazed repetition of Bobbie's name as an accusation. The women complain to Joyce that their things have been stolen in the riot. Alice and Frances are both ill with severe stomach pains and vomiting. Shane sees that Joan has left her purse open on the counter top in the kitchen. The women wonder why only Frances and Alice were taken ill and whether Bobbie attacked Reb. Joan grudgingly admits that Heather handled herself well during the riot. Bobbie is told she will face the VJ and Meg will testify about hearing Bobbie threaten Reb. Marlene finds the stolen goods, including the barley water, in Frances and Alice's cell. Bobbie looks forward to Myra getting back and making Reb tell the truth. Leigh thanks Ann and is told that the Minister has resigned because of her allegations against him. Reb is surprised when Diedre tells her she has accused Bobbie of attacking her. Edna inquires after Marlene's health: Marlene lies and says she has been drinking the barley water as Edna suggested. Judy is bitter at the women's enthusiasm for Myra's return. Frances and Alice heavy Marlene to find out what was in the barley water. Marlene stops Bobbie in time from drinking some of it, and holds the bottle up to the light. Judy gives Myra the cold shoulder in the laundry. Marlene tells Judy she can see "flecks of stuff" in the barley water and says she thinks Edna has poisoned it: Judy agrees to take a look. Meg gets a postcard from Colleen on her European tour. Marlene clumsily knocks the bottle to the floor and destroys the evidence, and fails to convince Judy by argument of Edna's guilt. Ann shows Meg the letter discharging her as Governor of Wentworth.

Channel 5 showed the original uncut version. The version shown on Granada lasted only 38 minutes, with cuts indicated by the passages in italics.

Malta's Super 1 took a break at this point after 31st March 2000 and resumed on 29th September, but jumping back to (449).

EPISODE 468 Broadcast on Channel 5 Sunday 14 February 1999 04:40 The women register a protest over Ann's dismissal. Bobbie injures an officer, and Reb tries to clear her. Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicholson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Edna ~ Vivean Gray Leigh ~ Virginia Hey Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Marlene ~ Genevieve Lemon Dot ~ Alethea McGrath Marie ~ Maggie Millar Heather ~ Victoria Nicolls Rachel ~ Kim Trengove Off. Barry ~ Joy Westmore Shane Munroe ~ Robert Summers Nicky (Dog) ~ Himself Diedre ~ Anne Charleston Douglas ~ Andrew Gilmore Mrs O'Reagan ~ Christine Calcutt Blonde Woman ~ Carol Reason Male Escort ~ Colin Nicoll Drunk ~ Brian Worth Fairy Floss Attendant ~ Lily Steiner Shooting Gallery Attendant ~ Rob O'Hara Larrikin Kid 1 ~ Nicholas Brennan Larrikin Kid 2 ~ Michael Seen Written by Sally Webb Directed by Kendal Flanagan We do not know how many women are in Wentworth, but apparently five dozen steaks are enough to feed them all at the barbecue. The role of Diedre is miscredited to Gael Andrews. The misspelling Christine "Culcutt" is repeated and we also get "Brain" Worth for good measure.

Marlene overhears Ann telling the officers she's been asked to resign. Joan is smugly confident of being appointed, but Meg warns her that she may find there won't be any staff to boss around if she does. Marlene passes the news on to the women. Judy is scornful of Myra's intention to let the Department know of their feelings and demand Ann's reinstatement. Heather points out that it is odd that Joan didn't sound the alarm straight away. Judy lets Myra know her feelings about the thankless task of looking after things while she was out having a "good time". Joan gives Shane his birthday present. Marie sees Myra for the first time in the dining room and trades threats with her new cell mate. The women sort through Leigh's clothes to select items for the fashion show. Marlene snubs Edna's offer of help, making her frown and produce a doom laden chord on the soundtrack. Ann tells Meg that it was Wally who helped Myra when she was on the run. Joan takes Shane to Luna Park and finds her purse is lighter than she expected. Leigh comperes the fashion parade: Marie keeps up a running commentary and rips Marlene's skirt. Shane thinks he sees his mother at the fairground. Judy confronts Marie about her behaviour at the fashion show: Marie is about to punch her in the chest, but Myra intervenes, but gets no thanks from Judy. The women hold a sit-in protest in the dining room in support of Ann, but she persuades them it will not help her. Marie gives up the press on Myra's orders. Ann suggests a barbecue to use up steak donated by a local butcher after the riot. Marie taunts Bobbie accusing her of the attack on Reb: Bobbie grabs a pair of scissors and when Dennis tries to calm her down, she stabs him in the arm. Joan insists that Bobbie should be put on a charge. Reb returns from hospital: she tells Ann that Bobbie didn't push her, but refuses to say who did. Judy and Myra start to make friends again. Marie punches Reb in the stomach to make sure she will continue to incriminate Bobbie. Ann tells Joan that the Department wants them to work together until Joan officially becomes Governor [*]: Joan suggests the answer to the problem of Marie is to transfer her to Blackmoor. Reb agrees to see her father: he apologises for not being a better father and they are reconciled. Joan tells the women to make the best of the barbecue, as things will be different when she takes over. Marlene does the cooking at the barbecue, except for her own steak which is cooked by Bobbie. Edna notices and digs up a root from the garden and shows Bobbie how to use an "old busher's trick" of prodding it thoroughly into the steak while it's cooking. Ann tells Meg that Edna's appeal has been upheld on the grounds that inadmissible evidence about her first husband was given at her trial. She tells Meg to collect her so she can be told she is free to go. The women congratulate Edna on being released. Marie reminds Joan of the terms of their deal. The women clear up after the barbecue and Marlene starts to feel ill and collapses with stomach pains.

Channel 5 again showed the original uncut version. The version shown on Granada lasted only 39 minutes, with cuts indicated by the passages in italics. A sentence in dialogue referring to Edna's appeal during the scene marked [*] was also cut out.

EPISODE 469 Broadcast on Channel 5 Tuesday 16 February 1999 04:40 Dennis goes to the rescue of a man trapped in his car, and Marie blackmails Joan while a surprise announcement is made about Wentworth's new governor. Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicholson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Leigh ~ Virginia Hey Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Marlene ~ Genevieve Lemon Dot ~ Alethea McGrath Marie ~ Maggie Millar Heather ~ Victoria Nicolls Rachel ~ Kim Trengove Shane Munroe ~ Robert Summers Nicky (Dog) ~ Himself Lou ~ Louise Siversen Frances ~ Wanda Davidson Alice ~ Lois Collinder Mrs O'Reagan ~ Christine Calcutt Richard Adams ~ Mike Rohan Harold Watkins ~ Raymond Rich Unconscious Driver ~ Mike Acland Ghoulish Youth ~ Steve Kidd Ghoul Observer ~ James McCrae Written by Fay Rousseaux & David Phillips Directed by Colin Budds

Ann talks to Sister Hall about Marlene, and talks to Marlene herself, but she won't say who poisoned her, as she doesn't expect to be believed. Judy and Bobbie are taken to see the Governor: Marie comments that she has found a way of taking out the rubbish. Judy tells Ann about Marlene's suspicion that she was being poisoned, but is incredulous that Bobbie is suspected of it. The women watch news of Edna's release on TV, but Judy returns to the rec room to report that it is suspected that Marelen was deliberately poisoned. Bobbie accuses Judy of lagging, and says she is to face three charges of attempted murder (which would be Reb, Marlene and ... Dennis?). Joan catches Shane putting the money back in her purse: he explains he was going to buy himself a birthday present to impress his friends. At breakfast, the women discuss what to do about Edna. Rachel thinks they should at least phone Harry to warn him . Shane is feeling sick, and Joan realises he isn't faking to get off school. Rachel and Judy go to see Ann, but she wants proof of their allegations against Edna and says it looks to easy to blame her of any poisoning. Reb tells Bobbie she can't get her off the hook, because she can't lag, and won't even tell Bobbie who pushed her. Joan amazes Heather by thanking her for her help during the riot, and confides to her that Marie is going to Blackmoor. Heather challenges her to explain why she didn't sound the alarm, but is not convinced by what Joan says. Myra and Judy discuss Rachel's phone call to Harry. Bobbie is not impressed by her friends attempt to get her off the poisoning charge and says that Reb knows who pushed her, and since she isn't saying it must have been Marie. Marlene asks Frances and Alice to tell what they know about the barley water. Marie tells Lou, Alice and Frances that she has Joan under her thumb and tells them to fix Myra and her mates. Lou leads Myra and Judy into a trap, but they turn the tables. Heather refuses to bring more drugs in for Marie and tells her that Joan is planning to have her sent to Blackmoor. Rachel marvels at Marlene's cast iron stomach. Marlene finds a suicide note on Bobbie's bed . Rachel says she doesn't think Harry believed her. Marlene shows Judy and Myra the "suicide" note and they go in search of Bobbie. Rachel's solicitor tells her she has a good chance at her trial. Meg tells Marlene that Bobbie has gone to the infirmary with a headache. Dennis rescues a man from a crashed car just before it catches fire . Mrs O'Reagan rejects Rachel's menu ideas. Marie checks up on Joan's idea of her side of the deal , loses her temper and slaps Joan: she threatens to expose Joan's involvement in the riot and demands that Joan helps her to escape. Meg tells Joan there is new evidence against Edna, as an oleander twig was found near the barbecue, and has to admit to Joan she misjudged Edna. Ann is furious that Joan has already started to order things for when she is Governor and tells her to cancel it all. To prove that Bobbie isn't forgotten, Judy reads Pixie's letter to the women, asking after her and saying she's visited Cass. Joan tries to reprimand Heather and Dennis for turning up late to work. Meg reports back to Myra that she's had a call from Kay. Dot scalds Mrs O'Reagan and herself with hot fat. Marlene writes to her parents. Bobbie tells Marlene she was going to kill herself, but she stole the wrong pills. The Minister's secretary visits Wentworth to tell Joan that Ann is to be reinstated.

This episode suffered the most substantial cuts arising from the Edna Pearson storyline, losing almost a third of its length and lasting only 33 minutes in the version shown on Channel 5 and previously in all ITV regions apart from Meridian.

Although she does not actually appear in it, it brings Edna's story to a conclusion (apart from references in episodes 470 and 471) and the many cuts are scenes where her case is discussed.

EPISODE 470 Broadcast on Channel 5 Wednesday 17 February 1999 04:40 Judy receives some bad news, Rachel takes over in the kitchen and Shane's life is in danger when he becomes stuck in a storm drain. Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicholson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Leigh ~ Virginia Hey Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Marlene ~ Genevieve Lemon Dot ~ Alethea McGrath Marie ~ Maggie Millar Heather ~ Victoria Nicolls Rachel ~ Kim Trengove Off. Barry ~ Joy Westmore Tammy ~ Gloria Ajenstat Ruth ~ Mary Murphy Mark Rodgers ~ Alan Chaplin Mrs Rodgers ~ May Howlett Dr Jeremy Smith ~ Paul Wentford Shane Munroe ~ Robert Summers Nicky (Dog) ~ Himself MBW Rescuer No 1 ~ Ian Shrives MBW Rescuer No 2 ~ Bruce Alexander MBW Rescuer No 3 ~ Ramsey Collins Policeman ~ Wayne Hurst Mrs Lois Barker ~ Ngaire McCutchean Perving Driver ~ Howard Stanley Passing Car Driver ~ Margaret Edwards Cyclist ~ Mark Finn Written by Betty Quin(n) & John Powers Directed by Colin Budds Heather wearing an "adorable" pink top showing a koala playing tennis .

Joan accuses Meg of conspiring to undermine her: Meg tells her the Department have at last realised she isn't suited to the post of Governor. Dinner is late because of Mrs O'Reagan's accident: Joyce says that Dot will be all right after treatment. Ann thanks Leigh for putting pressure on people to arrange her reinstatement and wishes her well with her trial. Myra reiterates to Marie that she can't count on Joan's support so there are to be no more drugs. Heather will be listed for a citation for her heroism during the riot. Shane is still ill when Joan gets home. Marie taunts Bobbie into hitting her at buyup. Leigh tells Judy that Roland has been arrested for blackmail and she may start her own modelling school when she gets out. Joan is mistaken for Shane's mother by the doctor she calls out to examine him. Heather is annoyed that Dennis took over to control the fight between Marie and Bobbie and made her look incompetent. She is also worried that his show of "gallantry" will have given away their relationship to the women. Marlene gives Leigh her lucky rabbit's foot for her court appearance: Bobbie sourly comments that it hasn't done Marlene much good. Rachel decides to use the mince to cook meatballs for the women's lunch. As she has been re-instated as Deputy Governor, Meg stands down as Union representative and Joyce and Dennis agree to stand. Reb tells Marie she's changed her mind and doesn't want to be involved in her drug dealing. Ann tells Reb her father has died a few hours earlier: Reb refuses to see her mother, who has asked to visit. Outside the Governor's office, Joan taunts Reb by reminding her that Joan's own father is at least still alive. The food runs out when Rachel is put in charge of the cooking and the women start to protest. Joyce is elected Union Representative. She shows Meg the rabbit's foot returned by Leigh after she only gets a two year bond. Joan warns Marie not to make trouble: Marie threatens to hurt Shane, and gives Joan a list of people to contact to arrange her escape. Dennis phones Heather to apologise and is invited for a meal with her family. Joan gets no reply when she phones home: Shane has gone out with Nicky. Nicky gets stuck in a drain, and Shane can't get help from anyone passing on the road - though one motorist is willing to "help" him in another way. Judy gets a letter from Lori telling her that her grandson will be deaf for life after the operation were unsuccessful [*]. The heavy rain makes Shane worried for Nicky's safety, and he goes into the drain to rescue him. Meg lets Marlene know that Reb's father died and asks her to pass it on to the other women to be easy on her. A neighbour of Joan's passes on a message from the police that there's been an accident and she should contact the local station. Marie taunts Reb into punching her: Meg sees the aftermath of the fight, but Reb coolly owns up to punching Marie and announces she is willing to go to the Governor and reveal who pushed her. Joan is called to the scene of the accident to talk to Shane and keep him from panicking: she begs the rescuers not to let Shane die.

Thanks to the Canberra Prisoner page for pointing out further cuts connected with the Edna Pearson plotline. At the point indicated above by [*] the scene in the rec room scene ends in the cut version with Judy's line "I can't be with Lori now, I feel so helpless" then goes straight to the next scene as Shane goes into the storm drain. The original version [total duration 45:04] continues as Bobbie interrupts to draw their attention to the TV news:-

Bobbie: Hey, shut up and listen to this.

TV Announcer: ... Pearson case. Mr Harry Pearson today confirmed that he and his wife Edna will seperate. Mr Pearson, whose campaign for his wife's release led to a quashing of her conviction for attempted poisoning announced that irreconcilable differences caused the separation.

Myra: Thank God for that!

TV Announcer: The Citizen's Law Reform Group protested outside the Supreme Court today, demanding a retrial for Pearson. They claim that the separation is proof that Mr Pearson's evidence could stand a closer investigation but they were told the case was definitely closed.

Myra (to Rachel): Good on you, love: you convinced them. (him?)

Rachel: Terrific!

Bobbie: Beauty, eh Rache?

Myra: (to Judy) You see? We're not so helpless just because we're in here.

Ironically, Myra's congratulations are spoken over the passage in italics. I think this implies that Edna will not get a retrial after all, so although Rachel has managed to warn off Harry, Edna appears to get away with murder.

(461) to (465)

(471) to (475)