EPISODE 471Broadcast on Channel 5 Friday 19 February 1999 04:40CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicholson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw 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 Gordon Munroe ~ Jim Ewing Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Ray Proctor ~ Alex Menglet  Lou ~ Louise Siversen Ronnie ~ Lyn Ford Sarah Higgins ~ Nell Johnson Sister Miller ~ Joanne Rankin  Gate Guard ~ David Bickerstaff MBW Rescuer 1 ~ Ian Shrives  (?)MBW Rescuer 2 ~ Bruce Alexander MBW Rescuer 3 ~ Ramsey Collins Maintenance Squad Man 1 ~ George Hein Maintenance Squad Man 2 ~ Shane Connors Ambulance Officer 1 ~ Ian Swan Ambulance Officer 2 ~ Simon Davies Marie's helicopter escape is totally implausible, of course, and deserves a page all to itself. But have a look at this newsclipping from The Sun, sent by Tim Coward. | The rescue team explain the risks of stopping the flow of water by blocking the inlet with an air bag: the bag could burst and the buildup of water could be released suddenly. Marie denies Reb's charge, but is sent to solitary until the VJ's hearing. Shane is caught on a grid: the rescuer asks Joan  to keep him calm while he is cut free. Bobbie and Marlene agree to share a flat when they are released. The police ask Joan for Shane's father's address: she reluctantly has to give it to them so he can be notified. Shane and the diver are swept out of the tunnel when the air bag does not hold: Shane is revived, but the diver has drowned. Dot complains about being set up for poisoning the urn: when they are reminded that it was Marie who sent Dot to the kitchen, Judy and Myra work out that Joan must have done it. Joan confronts Gordon Munro at the hospital: she threatens to go to the police if he harms Shane again. There is a new prisoner in solitary, and a new cook, Ray Procter: Marlene mocks his camp affectations and decides he is daffy enough not to notice if she steals food from the kitchen. Joan tells Marie the escape is organised, but Marie wants to settle with Reb before she goes. Lou warns Reb that Marie will be out to get her when she comes out of solitary. Joan denies any knowledge when Joyce asks after Shane having seen a piece in the newspaper. Marlene discovers the missing cheese and other goods from the kitchen in Ray's shoulder bag. Bobbie goes before the VJ and is given eight months on her sentence for the attack on Dennis. Joan gives evidence against Marie at the VJ's hearing. Reb refuses Myra's help against Marie, and points out that Myra owes her, and tells her that Marie was coming to kill Myra when she pushed Reb. Heather works out that it was Joan who doped the urn as she was the only one who had the opportunity: Dennis warns her to be careful who she repeats the allegation to. Marie gets two years, and Joan promises to set Reb up for her. Myra gets six months; Reb three months for the riot and two years for bashing Phyllis; Dot gets six months. Joan takes Reb to the shower block and keeps a watch out while she is bashed by Marie. Marlene is sent the Guinness Book of Records by her father and thinks the women should try to break a world record. Marie gets Lou to start a fight during exercise period. Heather finds Reb crawling along a corridor: Reb accuses Joan of bashing her. As soon as the diversion starts, Marie makes her move. Bobbie notices and tries to tag along, but Marie elbows her in the stomach. Marie effortlessly scales the fence, over the top and makes a spectacular getaway dangling from a helicopter. |
Thanks to the Canberra Prisoner page for pointing out that (471) also includes three small cuts which allude to the Edna Pearson plotline. For further details, see the Damage report on Episode 471
EPISODE 472Broadcast on Channel 5 Saturday 20 February 1999 04:40 Marlene devises a unique plan to raise money for charity, Joan faces a serious accusation, and Bobbie's looking for a way to escape.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicholson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw 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 Gordon Munroe ~ Jim Ewing Bev Baker ~ Maggie Dence  Ray Proctor ~ Alex Menglet Det. Insp. Barrett ~ Jeff Hodgson  Mr Daniels (Prosecutor) ~ Victor Kazan  Mr Fuller (Defence) ~ Brian Granrott  Judge ~ Noel Mitchell  Sister Phillips ~ Sarah Ryan  Dr Peter Howard ~ Tom Travers  Truck Driver ~ Justin Gaffney  At least this is a novel approach to disguising an understaffed jury - five | Ann sends Heather to count the women outside, and tells Joan of Reb's accusation against her: Joan cannot produce any other witness than Marie, so Ann tells her there must be a hearing, as she must know being such an expert on procedure. Myra tells the women their first suspicion was wrong, and that it was Joan not Marie who has been accused of bashing Reb. The doctor tells Ann that Reb must go to hospital as she is suffering from internal bleeding. Before she goes, Reb indicates she is willing to repeat the charges against Joan. Judy is upset to read that an audiological institute is unable to afford machines to help deaf children. Myra suggests that Judy should do something about it, rather than giving up and getting upset. Joan goes to visit Shane, and the sister ignores Mr Munroe's instruction that Joan should not see him. The women have a little party with goods stolen from the kitchen, including a bottle of brandy found by Ray in the kitchen (which he thinks belonged to Mrs O'Reagan). Ann finds Joan at the hospital and tells her there is no point trying to see her: Reb is in the operating theatre and may die. If she does, Joan will be charged with murder. The women find out that the new prisoner is Bev Baker: Marlene recognises the name. She says Bev has been charged with murdering and dismembering several people. Heather has also heard some of the gory details from her brother on the police force. Meg is rather less than sympathetic to Joan's difficulty proving her innocence. Bobbie has asked to be put on kitchen duty and weighs up the possibility of escaping in a garbage skip. At Rachel's trial, she loses composure during her evidence and launches into a tirade against Trevor Priest. Bev is brought to the laundry and is quite happy to tell the women about her crimes. Myra rushes outside to stop the garbage truck, and finds Bobbie hiding under it rather than in the skip as she feared. Marlene has the idea of raising money to buy a reading machine for deaf children by trying to break a world record. Bev finds out that Heather's brother is a policeman and Heather turns round to see Bev looking at her coldly. Myra warns Ray to keep quiet about the escape attempt or she'll inform on him helping himself from the kitchen. Bev admits she killed several more people than the one she was charged for. Rachel is found guilty and sentenced to five years, to be served on a prison farm. Marlene is alarmed when Bev strokes her arm and says she thinks they will be good mates. Bobbie makes an impression of Ray's key in a bar of soap. Myra finds she's sharing with Bev. Heather discusses her suspicions of Joan's involvement in the riot with Meg, who suggests she tells Ann. Bobbie calls Myra a hypocrite for trying to stop her escaping. The police arrive to see Joan: she assumes they want to question her about the attack on Reb but instead they arrest Joan for the abduction of a minor. |
EPISODE 473Broadcast on Channel 5 Sunday 21 February 1999 04:40 A new inmate with some eccentric ideas arrives at Wentworth; Munroe gives Joan his terms for her keeping Shane; and a prisoner goes over the wire.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicholson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Bev ~ Maggie Dence Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Marlene ~ Genevieve Lemon Dot ~ Alethea McGrath Heather ~ Victoria Nicolls Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Shane Munroe ~ Robert Summers Gordon Munroe ~ Jim Ewing Nicky (Dog) ~ Himself Mark Rodgers ~ Alan Chaplin Ray ~ Alex Menglet Lou ~ Louise Siversen Off. Slattery ~ Dorothy Cutts Det. Kendall ~ Greg Smith Det. Insp. Barrett ~ Jeff Hodgson Inspector Purnell ~ Paul Zweck  Constable Dawkins ~ Stephan Hutchinson  Nurse 1 ~ Abbie Holmes  Nurse 2 ~ Patrice Millar | Joan is told that Shane is backing his father's story. Marlene tries to convince Bobbie it's foolish to try to escape. Joan phones the hospital and learns that Shane has been discharged from hospital. Bev is mildly amused that more of her victim's bodies (or parts of them) have been discovered buried in her old house. Lou tries to sound out Bev to be the brains behind the rackets: Bev isn't interested in the money but seems intrigued by the possibilities. Shane runs away from his father and goes to Joan, saying his father threatened him and Nicky to make him give a statement against her: she tells him he must go back to his father until she can get custody. Myra and Judy decide to keep a watch on Bobbie to see if she's planning to escape. Joan turns on Heather when she happens to mention calling the hospital to see how Reb is. Bev deliberately puts her hand in the press to see what it feels like. Mr Munroe phones Joan to arrange a meeting. The women decide on a waltz marathon as their record breaker for charity. Gordon Munroe wants money from Joan in return for giving up Shane: she refuses and tells him she'll see him in court. The police interview Reb in hospital, and incriminates Joan again for the attack on her, but is only taken seriously when she provides a possible motive. Ann tells Myra she appreciates the women's fears but says she can't transfer Bev without appearing to challenge the court's decision that she is sane. The police go to Wentworth to interview Joan: she tries to hint it was Marie who bashed Reb. Bev deliberately shuts Dot in the cold room in the kitchen: Ray discovers her some time later. Bobbie drops some dishes so she is left alone in the dining room to clear up and Ray keeps her in the kitchen for a home made vanilla slice. Bev  slashes Lou's arm with her fingernail to illustrate the sort of payoff she will want is she is to become involved in the rackets: Lou is to find other victims for her. Officer Slattery lets Joan go in to speak to Reb at the hospital to find out why she's lying, but Reb refuses to make a deal with her. Ray leaves Bobbie alone in the kitchen and she uses her key to get into the grounds. She climbs over the inner fence covering the barbed wire with a blanket, but hurts her hands on the second fence. In the rec room, Myra and the others notice that Bobbie is missing. The sirens sound and Bobbie is trapped on the wire  . |
A prisoner called "Jenny" is twice mentioned in (473) in connection with the workshop. Could this be the source of the name of one of the background characters?
EPISODE 474Broadcast on Channel 5 Tuesday 23 February 1999 04:40 Bev continues to look for thrills inside Wentworth by frightening her fellow prisoners. Meanwhile, Joan's dismissal has far-reaching implications.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicholson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Bev ~ Maggie Dence Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Marlene ~ Genevieve Lemon Dot ~ Alethea McGrath Heather ~ Victoria Nicolls Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Shane Munroe ~ Robert Summers Nicky (Dog) ~ Himself Ray ~ Alex Menglet Diedre Kean ~ Anne Charleston Mr Warren ~ John Proper Mrs Warren ~ Eve Godley Det. Kendall ~ Greg Smith Alice ~ Lois Collinder Frances ~ Wanda Davidson Off. Slattery ~ Dorothy Cutts Off. Radcliffe ~ Marion Dimmick Geoffrey Johnson ~ John Murphy  Dr John Bishop ~ Rod Densley  Sister Hall ~ Gael Andrews Gate Guard ~ Bryan Dolan Scab ~ Rick Ireland  Spider ~ Shaunagh-Lyn Weaver Policeman 1 ~ Paul Dawber Policeman 2 ~ Bill Fozz Officer ~ Jacqui Jackson Joyce mentions that a new area is to be converted as a visiting suite. Wild and Wonderful It's important to file your samples correctly | Bobbie knocks out a guard (with one kick of her plimsolls) and her absence is confirmed by a head count. Heather takes Dennis out for a meal in a Chinese restaurant and teaches him how to use chopsticks. Judy dismisses Dot's chest pains as malingering, even though Dot wants to know what from her what a heart attack feels like. Bobbie looks up her friends in her old haunts, but no-one is able or willing to help her. Bev seems intrigued by the idea of being top dog as a "new experience" she hasn't had and tells Myra she's going to take over - while idly playing with a pillow, which she holds as if preparing to smother her. Dennis sees Bobbie after leaving the restaurant with Heather, gives chase and catches her  . Myra wakes in the night and lights up a cigarette, only to see Bev watching her from the other bed. Bobbie pleads with Dennis and Heather not to turn her in, but she is returned to Wentworth and put in solitary, where Marlene sees her next morning when she delivers her meal. Ray is carpeted for leaving Bobbie alone in the kitchen, even though he claims he locked the door when she left. He thinks he is being sacked, but Ann tells him he will be kept on until Mrs O'Reagan returns to work in a few days [but she never does, of course]. Det. Kendall tells Joan the charges against her will be dropped. Bev takes over the press, but is voted off again, but not without jabbing a pair of scissors into the bench close to Myra's hand. Ann tells Joan the Department have asked for her resignation, even though the charges are dropped. The women are told they will be allowed to go for the record attempt and the Department will match the money raised. Heather tells Joyce she thinks her report on the riot may have contributed to Joan's sacking. Joan accuses Heather of Joyce of hypocrisy for wishing her well. Diedre tells Reb her father's will has been read and has left her all his money - to the tune of $200,000, without any conditions. Shane meets Joan as she leaves work. Shane meets Joan as she leaves work having been bashed by his father. Dot is taken ill in the laundry and Bev uses her medical expertise to help. Joan persuades a doctor to photograph Shane's bruises  as evidence. Dot is sent to hospital for tests for a suspected ulcer, just as Bev diagnosed. Marlene is visited by her mother and father and she asks them to find sponsors for the dance marathon. Joan sees a solicitor about custody, but is told she must get her job back to be considered seriously. Meg and Heather are overjoyed that Joan has been sacked. Over Meg's voiceover, Joan is shown at home in uniform unsure what to do apart from pouring herself a drink. Bev grabs Marlene by the throat in the laundry  but lets her go after Marlene has described to her what it feels like. Judy is appalled by Bev's approach to be her assistant when she takes over as top dog and particularly her comparison with Judy's own "mercy killing" when she killed a patient for distracting her from her crossword. Frances and Alice are involved in the rackets if they will get Bev a selection of knives. Joyce tells the officers that the Union has declared a strike in support of Joan. |
EPISODE 475Broadcast on Channel 5 Wednesday 24 February 1999 04:40 Bev starts up a lottery with some unusual prizes; the strike causes hardship on all sides; and Dennis makes a stand for his principles.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicholson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Bev ~ Maggie Dence Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Marlene ~ Genevieve Lemon Dot ~ Alethea McGrath Heather ~ Victoria Nicolls Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Ray ~ Alex Menglet Lou ~ Louise Siversen Frances ~ Wanda Davidson Alice ~ Lois Collinder Gladys ~ Di O'Connor Phillip ~ Steve Kuhn Rita ~ Jenny Seedsman  Marion ~ Taylor Owens  Major ~ Carl Bleazby Vera Rodgers ~ May Howlett Frank Bolton ~ Terry Emery  Officer Riley ~ Kathy Gordon Officer Slattery ~ Dorothy Cutts Reporter 1 ~ Ian Gilbert  Reporter 2 ~ Gary Kliger Cameraman ~ Bill Manderson Union Type ~ Harry Reid Protagonist ~ Neville Stonehouse Policeman 1 ~ Peter Drake Policeman 2 ~ Andrew Grant Ann tells Ray it is "no small matter serving breakfast to forty cells". Myra introduces Pam, Ronnie, Tina to the social worker. | Ann is informed of the strike: Joan's reinstatement and an apology from the Department. Meg takes the women out of the dining room early and locks them in their cells, but Joyce inadvertently lets slip that the officers are on strike. Judy is given emergency trustee status so she can serve breakfast with Dot. Bev taunts Myra for her apparent fear of being locked up in a cell with her and wonders which of them will kill the other first. The Union secretary and Joyce visit Joan at home: she reluctantly agrees to accept the Union's support. The Major comes to visit Joan after she has to put off another phone call from the press: she hasn't told him because she thought he would be disappointed in her. Ann tells Meg that social workers are to be sent in to help them run the prison: some of them are trainees. The Major tells Joan his leukaemia is in remission. Myra wakes up to find Bev has a razor blade against her neck, but she is only toying with her. The women protest noisily at being kept in their cells for their breakfast. The Major sends away the reporters gathering outside Joan's house. The social workers arrive for duty  and are briefed: one of them is keen to start group "touch therapy" to get to know them. Bev threatens to kill the next person to walk into the laundry, which turns out to be Rita, another one of the social workers: the women create a disturbance and Myra takes the scissors from Bev. Heather and Dennis disagree about the strike: despite his Pom whinger background he is opposed to the strike. Bev announces a raffle with a $5 prize with only thirty tickets sold. The social workers lounge around in the staff room drinking coffee and trying to "empathise" with the women. Dennis tells Heather he is going in to work despite the strike. Marlene wins the $5 and Bobbie is told she has won the "consolation prize". Phil Cleary, one of the social workers, tells Meg he knew Bobbie when working with street kids: he suspects Bobbie doesn't know her mother died of cancer six months before. Dennis drives through the picket line and goes to work. Lou brings Bev a selection of "tools", including a knitting needle. Lou calls Dennis a scab for turning in to work. Ann tells Meg the officers at Barnhurst, Woodridge and Blackmoor have joined the strike. The women rehearse for the dance marathon: Judy makes another camp reference when asked to play the piano: "what do I look like, Peter Allen?" Bobbie is taken to Bev's cell to receive her "prize": Bev takes the bandages off her hands and reopens her cuts from the barbed wire with a razor blade to give her a "full manicure". |
Channel 5 broadcast a slightly cut version of the end of this episode: in the version seen previously in the UK on Granada (and other regions?) after Bev's line about the "manicure", we see a closeup of Bobbie's hand, though thankfully not exactly what Bev is doing to it.
| (466) to (470) |
