EPISODE 531Broadcast on Meridian Tuesday 06 January 1998 23:55; Channel 5 Sunday 25 July 1999 04:40. Frank coerces Lou into helping with his revenge upon Geoff and Myra. Marl is told she is due for release. Joan has a blackout in front of the women.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Marlene ~ Genevieve Lemon Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Anita ~ Diane Craig Lou ~ Louise Siversen Sheila ~ Colleen Hewett Matt ~ Peter Bensley Geoff ~ Les Dayman Frank ~ Trevor Kent Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne Andrew Fry ~ Howard Bell Sister Hall ~ Gail Andrews Father James ~ James Wright  Dr Leary ~ Paul Wentford  Bluey ~ Bob Jewell  [R]Curly ~ James Shaw [L]Neighbour ~ Ron Little  Removalist ~ Peter Rose  | Marlene fills her pockets full of fruit cake from the kitchen, but Myra arrives in time to catch her red-handed. Ann sympathises with Judy but tells her she won't have much chance of winning her case against the financial resources of a record company. Judy asks her to find out if the Department would still be interested in buying Driscoll House from her to raise the money to fight her case. Frank returns to the workshop: Geoff has noticed he has been gone a long time. After failing to invite Meg out on a dinner date, Andrew Fry asks Ann to gather new evidence to help him get rid of Joan as a way of following up on Reb's allegations. Meg and Dennis find Joan still lying unconscious under the bookcase in the library. Sister Hall examines Joan, but she can't remember what happened to her and has to agree to go to hospital for an examination after her shift finishes. Frank wants to collect his side of the bargain: he tells Lexie he's already fixed Joan. Just then, Lou arrives in the rec room and announces that she's heard Joan is dead. Lexie attacks Frank for going too far. Anita asks permission to see Father James. Joan returns to work immediately, which disposes of the rumour about her death: she catches hold of Lou and accuses her of the attack, as she's (somehow) already heard that Lou has been telling people she's dead [*]. Mervin makes Marlene eat sausages and custard as aversion therapy to put her off food. Lou raises the possibility that Lexie had the best motive for attacking Joan, which makes Myra more suspicious about why Lexie attacked Frank. Father James hears Anita's confession of "impure thoughts" about Joe, and gives her absolution, but says she must not see him again. Joan picks on Dennis next as a possible attacker, pointing out he has plenty of motive to get back at her. Myra is suspected of the attack on Joan, as she was out of the laundry on a pickup at the time. After interviewing her, Ann believes her protestation of innocence, but tries to get her co-operation in ensuring there are no further attacks on Joan by telling her it's possible that Joan might be leaving soon anyway. Judy is dismayed to see "Shelly" on TV (in full Ziggy Stardust getup)  , but admits she sings the song well. Joan feels a sudden pain in her head while making tea in the staff room. Frank tells Lou he was the one who attacked Joan, and shows her his hit list written on a scrap of paper in green ink  "FERGUSON, DESMOND, MCCRAE, DELANEY" (the last two are probably spelt wrongly) and reveals what will happen if she doesn't help him by unfolding the paper: KELLY is at the top of the list. Joan sees a doctor. Lexie is guilty about her part in the attack on Joan, and seeks advice from Anita. Joan goes walkabout round the docks  and is found in a trance by the waterfront. Marlene is told she is to be released before the wedding: Ann agrees to "lose" the paperwork for a few days so it can go ahead inside Wentworth as planned. Dennis has trouble with a neighbour while moving into his new home. Joan has another blackout in the laundry in front of the women: they are amazed when she fails to respond to a sarcastic remark from Lou, and leaves without saying a word.
Lou refers to a "Miss Gorman", who is presumably supposed to be an officer. No-one seems to realise that the title of "Pixie's song" is in itself the strongest evidence of Judy's authorship. Why would Sheila, who'd never met Pixie, write a song to her? At the end of the scene marked [*] in the Channel 5 broadcast, there was a stray sound that could have been "Bitch!". Although a clumsy edit like this would usually indicate a cut, it doesn't seem to be so in this case, although it was where the commercial break came in the previous Granada broadcast. |
EPISODE 532Broadcast on Meridian Tuesday 03 February 23:40; Channel 5 Saturday 31 July 1999 04:40. Joan's behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic. Judy is recommended for immediate release. Anita sends Joe away. Sheila proposes an album with Judy.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Marlene ~ Genevieve Lemon Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Anita ~ Diane Craig Lou ~ Louise Siversen Sheila ~ Colleen Hewett Matt ~ Peter Bensley Geoff ~ Les Dayman Frank ~ Trevor Kent Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne Det. Insp. Grace ~ Terry Gill Joe Walters ~ John Quinn Mr Askin ~ Telford Jackson George McDonald ~ John Egan  Rose-Ann McDonald ~ Paula de Burg  Cab Driver ~ Buzz Allshorn  | Joyce finds Joan lost in thought in a corridor, apparently uncertain how to get through a security gate. Myra suspects Joan's odd behaviour is a devious attempt to trick them. Anita suggest to Myra that Joan may just still be suffering the effects of her father's death. Dennis is upset to read a newspaper report of the funeral of the murder victim, and Meg tries to persuade him he shouldn't blame himself. Mervin shows Joyce the wedding cake  - which he admits he has had to buy himself and asks Joyce to keep it secret (though we are treated to a closeup of the price tag "Enrico's Bakery $147"  , which Mervin has secretively propped up right next to the cake in the cold store). Marlene explains to Lexie that she doesn't want to be released anyway, quite apart from her wedding, as she has no friends on the outside. Ann tells Judy she has recommended her for parole, as Yemil has written a letter to clear her of the attack on Dennis. She asks Judy if she wants to reconsider selling the halfway house, and points out she wouldn't be able to return to running it. Anita turns down Joe's invitation to a Peace Summit in Geneva, as she's worried he's after her body and doesn't trust herself to resist. Frank leaves his cigarettes behind in the workshop so he can go back and tamper with one of the machines. Joan overhears Ann and Meg discussing the plan to collect evidence against her, but doesn't let them know she's heard. Dennis goes to talk to the parents of the girl he gave a lift to: the mother blames him for her daughter's death. Marlene dyes her hair pink by accident  . Joan has another attack and forgets to lock the cells at lights out: Myra and Judy realise but tell the others to stay in their cells. Only Lexie takes the risk and goes to the rec room to watch a late night movie. When Joan catches her, Lexie silences her by pointing out it was her fault for leaving the cells unlocked. Myra realises Joan isn't faking after all. Joan takes a taxi but forgets why she asked to go to the address when she gets there  . Geoff uses the machine and is cut when the blade breaks. Dennis examines the machine and expertly diagnoses a "holding nut" that's been "bent all out of whack", but still thinks this happened accidentally. Inspector Grace tells Dennis they have caught the murderer, but very ungraciously offers no explicit apology for unjustly accusing him. Lou tries to get Lexie to see that Anita is just filling her up with Catholic propaganda and reminds her of the Church's teaching on contraception. Sheila comes to apologise to Judy: she explains that she didn't deliberately try to pass the song off as her own, but just got caught up in other people's enthusiasm for it. She says Judy will get credit and the royalties for the song, and her manager wants Judy to write an album's worth of new songs for her to record. Marlene worries that her mother won't be able to get a wedding dress in time. Lou gets Myra and Geoff to go to the library separately, where Frank is waiting with a big lump of wood to bash them...
At last, an explanation of how the tights got behind Dennis' back seat. Apparently they come as standard on second hand cars. Nothing says love like a big cake with blood red icing |
EPISODE 533Broadcast on Meridian Tuesday 10 February 1998 23:40; Channel 5 Sunday 01 August 1999 04:40. Geoff and Myra overpower Frank and Lou. The wedding is on rocky ground already, thanks to Matt's transfer.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Marlene ~ Genevieve Lemon Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Anita ~ Diane Craig Bobbie ~ Maxine Klibingaitis Lou ~ Louise Siversen Matt ~ Peter Bensley Geoff ~ Les Dayman Frank ~ Trevor Kent Andrew Fry ~ Howard Bell Mrs Warren ~ Eve Godley Mr Warren ~ John Proper Mrs Delany ~ Judith Roberts  Mr Delany ~ Colwyn Roberts  Adam Delany ~ Shane Lee  Julian Cream ~ Don Gray  Sister Hall ~ Gael Andrews Pat Slattery ~ Dorothy Cutts Officer Green ~ John Allen  Policeman 1 ~ Bill Binks  Policeman 2 ~ Ian Sprake  Celebrant ~ Leonie Collins  Organist ~ Freddie Gulliford Photographer ~ David Blackman Matt's parents are credited as "Mrs Delaney" and "Mrs Delany" - the latter is his father! | ...but Myra and Geoff turn the tables on them. Lou manages to escape from the library but Frank doesn't and ends up with another retaliatory kick in the crutch (with a few extra names added to the list of the women it is "for"). When Lexie questions Catholic doctrine on contraception, Anita shrugs and agrees with her, suggesting that she must be a liberation theologist on the quiet. Anita patches Lou up when she returns to her cell after the fight. Judy and Myra help Frank to get medical assistance. Lou rejects Anita's help, saying she doesn't need anyone, though her tearfulness tells another story. Ann gets no sense out of Frank or Geoff about the fight when she interviews them in the infirmary, but Myra lags on Frank to save Geoff's parole, despite Geoff's cries from the other room to try to prevent her. Myra has to admit to Lexie later that she lagged on Frank, but no-one can find it in their hearts to condemn her, although Anita lets Myra know she doesn't approve of violence. Marlene is given her mother's own dress from her wedding in 1960 which turns out to be a perfect fit, and after a honey blond rinse (which apparently has the power of industrial bleach) her hair has returned to its usual colour. Frank is sent to solitary after being restrained by Officer Green and Dennis and sedated by Sister Hall. Bobbie returns - wearing an engagement ring herself. The officers discuss Lou Kelly's bruised face as she is taken through reception to go to court. Joan overhears and assumes they are hinting she is responsible. Andrew Fry from the Deaprtment throws a spanner in the works by visiting to deliver the order that Matt and Frank are to be transferred to a prison farm at Gonella immediately after the wedding. Geoff will stay at Wentworth until his parole hearing is over. Ann lets Mr Fry know how disgusted she is with the Department's ruling. Marlene is upset that she she won't have a first night together with Matt but then decides to put a brave face on it. Following Ann's hints, Pat Slattery "loses" the paperwork to let the wedding go ahead and suggests she might be able to find it again around three in the afternoon. Matt's and Marlene's parents meet for the first time in the grounds. Matt's father gives 200 acres of land as a wedding present. Judy gives Marlene Pixie's lucky cardboard horseshoe (as it obviously worked so well for her). The transfer van arrives but the police officers have to wait. Matt and Marlene are married in the grounds, and read the embarassing vows they have written themselves to each other. After an hour and a half, Pat finds the papers, but when she explains the reason for the deception, the police officers agree to let the newlywed couple have another half an hour together. Joyce is shocked to discover Geoff and Myra snogging behind the marquee. Frank and Matt are transferred, but before he leaves Frank threatens to get even with Dennis some day. Myra catches the bride's bouquet as Judy nudges Lexie and Bobbie out of the way. Marlene decides not to watch the transfer van leaving.
When Judy refers to "The Rainbow Connection", does she mean the song from "The Muppet movie" (1979)? Wedding flowers or possibly a mixed leaf salad? Marlene with her bridesmaids |
EPISODE 534Broadcast on Meridian Tuesday 17 February 1998 23:40; Channel 5 Saturday 07 August 1999 04:40. Good news for Geoff and Judy, but some mysterious goings on inside the prison lead Meg and Dennis to suspect Joan of attempted murder.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJudy ~ Betty Bobbitt Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Marlene ~ Genevieve Lemon Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Anita ~ Diane Craig Lou ~ Louise Siversen Sheila ~ Colleen Hewett Geoff ~ Les Dayman Simon Towne ~ Victor Kazan  Peyton Morse ~ Earl Francis  Judge Hardy ~ Noel Mitchell  Douglas Hopwood ~ Kristopher Steel Mary Burns ~ Trish Mulholland Thelma Hawkins ~ Paula Langlands Albert James ~ Alan Rowe Andrew Fry ~ Howard Bell Alice Jenkins ~ Lois Collinder Marge Briggs ~ Christine Best  Pat Slattery ~ Dorothy Cutts Off. Hagen ~ Christine Andrew Man 1 ~ Michael Brooks  Man 2 ~ Ron Bingham  Policewoman ~ Trisha Juster | The women go back inside after the wedding and the cake is divided up. Marlene gets a reply to her letter in her final mail call: the parents of the dead man say they have forgiven her. Joan gives evidence at Lou's trial for the attempted murder. Anita gives Marlene a crucifix on a chain as a leaving present. Under cross-examination, Joan has a blank spot while giving evidence and doesn't hear the question. Myra gets a letter containing worrying news about Kay being harassed by the drug dealer who got her into trouble before. Geoff promises to see if he can help when she's released. Lexie misses Marlene and is comforted by Anita. Lou is returned to Wentworth  , sentenced to another 7 years, but still vowing vengeance against Frank. Anita suggests to Joan that she would benefit by taking some leave. Lou tells the women what happened in court. Joan has another blackout just before she walks past the cell where Myra and Geoff are having one last snog: Myra realises she hasn't seen them. Lou tells Anita about her childhood. Myra plans to use Joan's condition to set her up for bashing Lou. Anita tries to object to Myra's plan, but is told to stay out of it. When one of the other women waiting for the parole hearings mentions Hazel disparagingly, Judy remembers her (in flashback). Ettie sends a gift to the women: a statue representing "Freedom"  . Joan blacks out in the rec room, but comes to almost immediately: Lou points out this flaw in Myra's plan. Judy gets parole. Myra thanks Judy for offering to help by keeping in touch with Geoff when he's released, but tells her there is no future for her and Geoff. Geoff's parole hearing seems to be going badly, with mentions of Sam's murder. Judy is collected outside the gates by Sheila, who is driving a white sports car (and wearing a wonderfully kitsch fake tiger skin coat  ): "Pixie's Song" is played over a montage of classic Pixie moments. Geoff is also released: Dennis allows him to say goodbye to the women in the laundry and especially to Myra. He insists he will wait for her release. Andrew Fry is outraged to find the statue still in reception. After being provoked into an argument with Lexie, Joan has another blackout in the laundry. Despite Anita's protests, Myra decides to go ahead with the bashing of Lou and sends Lexie to fetch Meg and Dennis to be witnesses. When they arrive in the laundry, Lou is on the floor and Joan is standing over her unable to remember what has happened.
Ronnie is called "Corbett" again at mail call. Officer Hagen is called "Jo". "Pixie's song" is played under the final credits instead of the usual theme tune. Judy's envelope containing her belogings has the number |
EPISODE 535Broadcast on Meridian Tuesday 03 March 1998 23:40; Channel 5 Sunday 08 August 1999 04:40 Anita holds the key to Joan's freedom in her hands. Meanwhile, Joan undergoes a major operation. Ann puts an end to her relationship with Myra.CREDITSMeg ~ Elspeth BallantyneJoan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Myra ~ Anne Phelan Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Dennis ~ Nigel Bradshaw Anita ~ Diane Craig Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Lou ~ Louise Siversen Alice ~ Lois Collinder Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne Andrew Fry ~ Howard Bell Father Lennon ~ Terry McDermott Mother Mary Helen ~ Carmel Millhouse Norm Barry ~ Bill Johnston Dr Leary ~ Paul Wentford Surgeon ~ Basil Hull  Technician ~ Gaytana Adorna  [TOP]Anaesthetist ~ Lawrence Mah [BOTTOM]Admitting Clerk ~ Joanne Rankin  Nurse 1 ~ Ella Bowles Nurse 2 ~ Mary Rose Casey  | Myra warns the women not to gloat too soon about getting rid of Joan. When Joan has to admit she can't remember anything about the bashing, Ann suspends her pending an enquiry, but privately confesses to Meg that she doesn't believe Joan would have bashed someone in front of so many witnesses. Joan tells Joyce she remembers nothing after speaking to Lexie, and most particularly doesn't remember Lou doing or saying anything to prokove her. Joyce is sympathetic, as Joan cuts a pathetic figure. The women anxiously wait for news: Ann eventually comes to the rec room to tell the witnesses they will have to make a statement. Myra is amazed to find that Lou has claimed she didn't see who hit her. Joyce volunteers to help Meg rather than go home and face Norm, as they've had an argument. Lou gets a note in her dinner  warning her "GET YOUR MEMORY BACK OR YOU'LL BE IN HOSPITAL FOREVER". Ann has to restrain Andrew Fry from making his mind up just on the basis of Joan's confused silence and is appalled when he questions Myra and Lou at the same time. Joan goes to talk to Anita, but hesitates when she sees her kneeling in prayer. Mr Fry prompts Lexie with evidence while questioning her. The enquiry is concluded without calling Anita and Joan is dismissed despite her plea of suffering from memory lapses. Dennis tells the women Joan has been sacked. Joan packs her things and leaves, shrugging off Meg's expressions of sympathy. Joyce is becoming more dissatisfied with Norm, but can't get him to look away from the tennis on the television long enough to discuss it. Ann snaps back at Fry when he makes a clumsy attempt to grope her and threatens to sue him for sexual harassment. Anita wrestles with her conscience: Myra pours scorn on her for saying Joan is not as bad as they all think. Mervin cheers Joyce up with a tray of freshly baked croissants. Even after a heavying from Lou  , Anita declares she must follow her conscience. Myra dramatically illustrates the consequences by forcing a pair of scissors into Anita's hands and suggesting she use them on her, or Lou, or Lexie. Joan goes back to the doctor and is diagnosed as having a blood clot on the brain needing immediate surgery. Anita goes to Ann and tells her the truth: Ann is annoyed that she didn't tell her earlier and Anita is sent to isolation for her own protection. Joan insists she has no next of kin when she is being admitted for the operation and has to correct herself when she gives her occupation as "prison officer". Mr Fry wants to suppress Anita's story when she refuses to name names, but Ann threatens to leak it to the press. He impatiently reinstates Joan officially and sweeps out. Anita thinks her delay in coming forward to clear Joan is further proof of her vanity and pride. No-one can contact Joan to tell her she's cleared, as she's in the operating theatre having her blood pressure read repeatedly to try and inject a bit of tension into the scene ("ER" it isn't). Father Lennon and Anita's Mother Superior try to determine whether Anita should face a trial for her various misdemeanours and expulsion from the order. After she is told that the Department will accept Anita's evidence, Myra takes the blame for the frame-up: Ann says she will in future refuse to recognize her as top dog.
Lexie uses a colourful phrase "We'll be in more poo than a Warraby (?) duck" Dennis seems to have had a haircut in the middle of a working day. Meg fluffs a line and refers to the inquiry as an "inquest". One of the backgrounders is called "Gina". Lexie appears in mugshot credits, with (as Martin pointed out in the Digest) a hairstyle she didn't have when the picture was taken... |
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