EPISODE 586Broadcast on Carlton/LWT Thursday 14 May 1998 23:40; Meridian Monday 12 July 1999 23:50; Channel 5 Saturday 05 February 2000 04:40. The women vote for a new top dog. Joyce's life is under threat. May and Willie embark on the robbery.![]() Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Nora ~ Sonja Tallis May ~ Billie Hammerberg Willie ~ Kirsty Child Daphne ~ Debra Lawrance Eve ~ Lynda Stoner Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Lou ~ Louise Siversen Alice ~ Lois Collinder Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Barbie ~ Jayne Healey ![]() Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne David Adams ~ Richard Moss Tom Harley ~ Vince Gill Pat Slattery ~ Dorothy Cutts Paul Shaw ~ David Peatefield ![]() Ken Turner ~ Neville Stonehouse ![]() Nurse ~ Janine Mackay ![]() Ambulance Attendant ~ Peter Scott-Tulloch | Rita is inducted by Joan: she is on remand for GBH. Backed up by Meg, Joan demands that Rita removes her leather jacket because of the chains on the sleeve. Joan shortcuts the procedure by ripping the chains off ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() I rate this (mainly the first half of it) among the classic Prisoner episodes: for the quality of writing, acting and direction, as well as a daring mix of suspense and comedy that for once really does work. And it even survives some minor implausibilities: would there really have been no sign in the interview room of Eve's attack on Joyce? No blood at all? When Eve mentions Pat Slattery's husband, Pat snaps back that she's divorced.
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This was the point at which Meridian dropped the series.
EPISODE 587Broadcast on Carlton / LWT Thursday 21 May 1998 23:40; Channel 5 Sunday 06 February 2000 04:45. The heist ends in tragedy for Willie and May. Ann faces the ire of the women over the death of an inmate. David is drawn into Eve's evil web of lies.![]() Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Nora ~ Sonja Tallis May ~ Billie Hammerberg Willie ~ Kirsty Child Daphne ~ Debra Lawrance Eve ~ Lynda Stoner Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Jenny ~ Jenny Lovell Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Lou ~ Louise Siversen Pippa ~ Christine Andrew Alice ~ Lois Collinder Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne Barbie ~ Jayne Healey Ben ~ Kevin Summerfield Tom Harley ~ Vince Gill Pat Slattery ~ Dorothy Cutts David Adams ~ Richard Moss Jim Barry ~ Iain Murton Dan Russell ~ Gary Samolin Insp Ron Gordon ~ Neil Thompson Ken Turner ~ Neville Stonehouse Paul Shaw ~ David Peatefield Nurse ~ Louise Hemingway ![]() UNCREDITEDRita ~ Glenda LinscottGate Guard ~ Rod Allen The gate guard is called "Bob" on the phone by Ann, though he is the one who is usually referred to as Greg. | Nora sees how Rita handled Lou and Alice, as they are thrown out of the cell into her path as she happens to be passing. She later tells Julie that she thinks Rita could be ideal as top dog instead of Lou. Joyce is still in a coma after surgery ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() If you were going to throw something in a river to hide it, why choose a stream that barely comes halfway up a duck, as David does? |
EPISODE 588Broadcast on Carlton/LWT Thursday 28 May 1998 23:45; Channel 5 Saturday 12 February 2000 04:40. David comes to a sticky end. Pippa pays the price for crossing Rita. Two inmates depart from Wentworth, one out the front door and one out the back.![]() Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Nora ~ Sonja Tallis Daphne ~ Debra Lawrance Eve ~ Lynda Stoner Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Jenny ~ Jenny Lovell Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Lou ~ Louise Siversen Alice ~ Lois Collinder Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Barbie ~ Jayne Healey Ben ~ Kevin Summerfield Pippa ~ Christine Andrew Pat Slattery ~ Dorothy Cutts Slasher ~ Slasher Mrs Graham ~ Dawn Klingberg Minister ~ Robert Muddyman ![]() UNCREDITEDDavid Adams ~ Richard MossGate Guard ~ David Bickerstaff | Ann returns to her office distraught and guilty. Nora appeals to Rita but she won't be top dog: in fact she is more inclined to back Lou's action against the Governor. David visits Eve again: he tells her that he wasn't able to kill Joyce, so he has decided it's over between them and he can no longer represent her. Eve is furious and threatens to implicate him in her attack on Joyce. Pippa arrives at Wentworth as David is leaving and notices he seems upset. Joan lets Eve know she has seen through her act and tells her it won't be long before the women see through it too. Lou punches Lexie in the stomach ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Rita mentions "Pam" who is presumably supposed to be another prisoner. Astrology note: Ann admits to being a Virgo. David's suicide is not shown directly but is conveyed through sound effects: a muffled gunshot followed by the thump of a body hitting the floor. Mark Caffrey comments "Denny's - so prominently advertised by Joyce in (579), is visible right next to the prison in Daphne's release scene. |
This was the cliffhange"r episode at the end of 1985 in the original Australian run
EPISODE 589Broadcast on Carlton/LWT Thursday 04 June 1998 23:40; Channel 5 Sunday 13 February 2000 04:40. All is revealed about Eve, but is she as evil as the authorities make out? Meanwhile Reb is declared a `new woman' and is promptly released.![]() Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Reb ~ Janet Andrewartha Lou ~ Louise Siversen Eve ~ Lynda Stoner Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Alice ~ Lois Collinder Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Barbie ~ Jayne Healey Nancy ~ Julia Blake ![]() Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne Peter McCormack ~ Steve Bastoni ![]() Joe McCormack ~ John Larking ![]() Jessie ~ Pat Evison ![]() Mabel ~ Val Jellay ![]() James Dwyer ~ James Condon Amanda Francis ~ Meg Clancy ![]() Dr Weissman ~ Bryon Williams Lady Giddings ~ Gabrielle Hartley Pat Slattery ~ Dorothy Cutts Off. Radcliffe ~ Marion Dimmick ![]() Policeman ~ Matthew Barker ![]() | Pat Slattery takes Eve back to her cell. Eve tells Pat that she thinks David may have been upset because she reminded him of his wife. She is comforted by Pat's suggestion that the real reason for David's suicide may never be known. Ann arives at Wentworth and demands to know how David managed to get inside while he was carrying a gun. Joan loyally suggests she should ask Officer Slattery as she was on duty at the time. Ann reads David's note. The women are reluctant to be sent for lockup early by Officer Radcliffe, as they know something must have happened. Joan tells Eve about the note David left for the Governor and with evident pleasure she takes Eve to solitary. Eve's demand to see another solicitor is answered by Joan's "if you can find one..." Pat is hauled over the coals by Ann for letting David through without a search, though Pat points out it would have been difficult for her to search a man who was the best man at Ann's daughter's wedding. Ann goes immediately to Reb ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Although there would have been no extended break between the shooting of this episode and the last, both Pat Slattery and Eve's hairstyles look noticeably different: Pat has a more obvious side parting and Eve is more backcombed and lacquered. Eve's lipstick also seems to be a few shades lighter than when we last saw her in the interview room. Reb's box of belongings is clearly marked "REBECCA KEAN", though she has her hand over the surname for most of the scene. Near the end of the episode, Rita seems to call Lou "Kean" rather than Kelly. Mark Caffrey comments: "Ann pulls up in her car with Meg outside the inner gates, but the scenes continues within the gates - the exercise yard tree and prison windows are clearly visible behind Meg." |
EPISODE 590Broadcast on Carlton/LWT Thursday 25 June 1998 23:40; Channel 5 Saturday 19 February 2000 04:40. Lou's actions force Ann to leave the prison and face a bleak and unknown future. Lexie comes face to face with the mother she never knew.![]() Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Eve ~ Lynda Stoner Daphne ~ Debra Lawrance Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Lou ~ Louise Siversen Nancy ~ Julia Blake Jessie ~ Pat Evison Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Barbie ~ Jayne Healey Alice ~ Lois Collinder Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne Dan Moulton ~ Sean Scully ![]() Joe McCormack ~ John Larking Mabel ~ Val Jellay Anna ~ Adair Stagg ![]() Judge O'Grady ~ George Dixon ![]() Interviewer ~ Roy Hampson ![]() Pat Slattery ~ Dorothy Cutts Sister Hall ~ Gael Andrews Molly Gibson ~ Patsy Martin ![]() Off. Ward ~ Jacqui Jackson Policewoman ~ Tanya Simonow ![]() Gate Guard Bob ~ David Bickerstaff UNCREDITEDJoyce ~ Joy Westmore | Rita warns all the women not to touch her stuff in future or they'll have to answer to her. She also supports Lou in her plan to stage a plate-throwing protest and start a hunger strike, which duly takes place at the next meal time. Jessie asks Judge O'Grady (who is one of her regular customers) for advice in getting into Wentworth: he suggests some possible crimes and offers to use his influence to get her a custodial sentence rather than a fine. The women shout to each other after lockup and discuss the hunger strike. Joan throws Eve's food on the floor after telling her that Joyce may not survive the attack on her. Jessie tells Mabel that she has decided the best thing to do is to attempt to steal a police car. Joan congratulates Lou for at last getting something right, then returns to solitary to make Eve eat her meal off the floor. Ann worries that she has lost the women's support and wonders whether she should look for another job. Lou tells Mervin they refuse to cook breakfast as no-one will be eating it, but Barbie catches Lou stuffiing her face privately in the food store. Rita is the only one to come for breakfast, but only just in time before Joan orders it should be taken away. Pat Slattery reports that Eve appears to have had a mental breakdown, though she suspects she could be faking it. Lou plots to set Joan and Rita against each other. Eve's performance fails to impress Ann, and she tells Eve she will stay in solitary for a while, but she later takes Sister Hall's advice not to put her in isolation. Ann resigns, but is requested to take a month's leave of absence instead. Lou overhears Ann telling Mervin she's resigned (as she was probably intended to). Dan Moulton comes to see Rita: he apologises to Ann for the Conqueror's behaviour at Pippa's wedding. Ann stops his sociolgy lecture short and explains that he's wasting his breath as it's her last day in the job. Daphne is interviewed on TV about her PMS defence: Nancy is watching until her boorish husband switches the TV off. Alice notices Dan and gives him the once over while she's on skip duty. Lou demands cash from Eve ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Meg mentions Dennis, adding that he "doesn't write so much any more" (and can you blame him?) Barbie has quite a lot of lines in this episode that aren't either of her two usuals: later scripts usually reduce her to desperate shy miming instead. Mark Cafrrey comments "...on the fate of Paul Reynolds; Ann tells Meg 'Pippa and Ben are gone, and Paul can look after himself' " |
Story Editor: Coral Drouyn (586), Bevan Lee (587)-(590)
Script Editor: Kit Oldfield (586)-(587); Alister Webb (588); Kit Oldfield (589); Alister Webb (590)
Storyliners: Coral Drouyn (586), Bevan Lee (587)-(590), Tony McDonald, John Coulter, Kelly Bermingham
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