EPISODE 601Broadcast on Channel 5 Sunday 26 March 2000 04:40. Lou will wish that she had been transferred back to Blackwood (Blackmoor!) prison. Who will be Wentworth's new top dog? Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Jessie ~ Pat Evison Nancy ~ Julia Blake Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Lou ~ Louise Siversen Barbie ~ Jayne Healey Bob ~ Peter Adams Alice ~ Lois Collinder Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne Steve ~ Peter Hayes Dan ~ Sean Scully Fay Donnelly ~ Maud Clark Janet Williams ~ Christine Earle Off Radcliffe ~ Marion Dimmick Wendy Stone ~ Vivien Davies Ronnie Kennedy ~ Lyn Ford Alan Maxwell ~ Peter Flett  Kath Maxwell ~ Kate Hood  Det. No. 1 ~ James Patrick  Sam Page ~ Bruce Crowl Woodridge Officer ~ Bill Tisdall Neighbour ~ Pat Drenann  | Rita and Joan fight, cheered on by the women outside the locked laundry gate. Ronnie and Wendy squabble over breaking the strike by eating food from the kitchen. (*1) Jessie manages to free her hands and attacks Wendy, but fails to overpower her. Bob talks to Mervyn through a ventilation grille to find out what's going on. Steve tries to persuade the women to get medical help for Julie. Bob comes out through the ventilation shaft in the shower block. He knocks out Wendy as she's walking along the corridor towards the laundry and locks her in an empty cell. Bob collects Mervyn and they go to find Steve. On the way, Mervyn notices a woman hanging in one of the cells: it is Eve, who has been moved there from the dining room to make it look as if she committed suicide (but more I suspect to get the body out of the way so it doesn't have to be shown). Steve refuses to leave Julie, so Bob gives him a gun and tells him to barricade himself in the cell. Meg arrives at the prison (having been called in by Officer Hagen) and Joyce tells her the situation. When Faye is distracted for a moment, Bob knocks her out, frees the hostages in the dining room and captures the other conspirators lurking in the kitchen. Rita and Joan tire and Lou sends the women away so she can move in for the kill. Bob and Meg arrive in the laundry as Lou has a knife at Joan's throat  . Lou forces them to drop their guns  but Rita trips Lou as she moves forward to pick them up which allows Bob to subdue her (*2)  . Lou is still defiant as she shouts to her fellow conspirators in solitary (*3), but they are worried they will be transferred to Blackmoor. Rita is surprised to hear Meg say that Eve was found in her dormitory, but Rita won't tell Meg what she knows about it. Lou is put in solitary. Bob tells Meg he isn't going to transfer Lou to Blackmoor and wants to keep her in Wentworth: he says it is to make an example of her and goes to solitary to tell her so (*4)  . Jessie finds out Nancy's secret when she refers to how grateful she is she didn't let Peter go to prison. Nancy begs her not to tell anyone else. Rita returns to the women, somewhat battered. Barbie manages to get out a few broken sentences. Jessie and Rita impress on Nancy that saying anything to the police about Eve's killing is lagging. Bob invites his friend Alan Maxwell and his wife Kath to dinner: he explains to them both about the no-lagging code. Alan and Bob reminisce about their time in Vietnam. The police interview Nancy but she pretends she can't remember even when offered extra privileges. Nancy asks Rita if she thinks there will have to be a new top dog, and Jessie and the others speculate on the same subject next morning at breakfast. Ann tells Dan she can't go on the camping trip with him after what happened at Wentworth, but he persuades her to come along anyway. Joan demands to know why Rita saved her life: Rita says it was only because she wanted to finish her off herself and not have someone like Lou do it for her. After getting Bob to drop the charges against her, Joan tells Rita she thinks that makes them square .. for now. Julie comes back from hospital: she tells the women she is to be recommended for early parole along with Barbie and Jessie. Nancy's solicitor says she has no alternative but to plead guilty to her husband's murder as the case against her is very strong. Ann leaves for the camping weekend on the pillion of Dan's motorbike as the neighbours look on. Barbie and Jessie are released: Barbie whispers to Jessie what she's inside for  much to Jessie's amusement. Bob thanks Rita for what she did during the riot and hints to her that he wants her as top dog. |
I haven't seen the Channel 5 version of this episode, so grateful thanks to Mark Caffrey ("chicken") for pointing out some very strange cuts in it compared to what was previously seen on Central, Anglia (and Granada).
At the point marked (*1) part of Wendy Stone's speech (in italics) has been removed:
"Same goes for the rest of you scabs. Lou wasn't too rapt when she heard you broke the strike so I hear. [To Nancy] Oh, what are you looking so scared about? Your name on the list, is it? Eh? I wouldn't bet me boots on Big Chief Moron doing much to help yous, either. He's too full of himself to worry about you lot. Should have known which side your bread was buttered on, girls. Oh don't tell me Bird Brain's got somethin to say".
Later on in the scene marked (*2), Lou's response of "Try it, Moron" has been clumsily edited to remove the word "moron". Presumably this is the point of the previous cut, too? In addition, there was a snip at (*3) which may also have included the dreaded M word. A further cut of Lou mouthing "you bastard" after Bob has left her solitary cell might only have been a result of a commercial break clumsily inserted by Channel 5.
EPISODE 602Broadcast on Channel 5 Saturday 01 April 2000 04:40. Lou is in a no win situation, and the police comb the streets for Lexie. Someone smuggles alcohol into Wentworth.Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Jessie ~ Pat Evison Nancy ~ Julia Blake Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Lou ~ Louise Siversen Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Barbie ~ Jayne Healey Bob ~ Peter Adams Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne Steve ~ Peter Hayes Dan ~ Sean Scully Bongo ~ Shane Connors Roach ~ Linda Hartley Mabel ~ Val Jellay Delores ~ Samantha Bews Mitzy ~ Jane Menz Policeman ~ Justin Gaffney  Harry Bassinger ~ John Frawley  Peter McCormack ~ Steve Bastoni Diana ~ Amanda Cook Mervin is not in this episode. Joan goes over to talk to two backgrounders she calls "Spencer, Balzano". One of them is featured in the mugshots in the final episode. I have corrected the misspelling "Justine" Gaffney. | Ann and Dan meet Roach and Bongo for a camping trip. Lexie beats Mitzi at cards, winning cash and cocaine, and is offended when Mabel accuses her of cheating as it is "unusual" for Mitzi to lose. Lexie snorts two rather thick lines of the coke after Mabel leaves the room. Rita is voted in as top dog and immediately proposes a party. Peter visits Nancy to tell her he is giving up University to pay for a better solicitor, but she won't let him, as it was to protect his education that she took the blame. Jessie visits Lexie and finds her high on cocaine: Lexie gets confused and talks to her as if she was back in Wentworth. She warns Lexie that she needs to keep her head clear to keep out of danger and moves her out Mabel's to her own house. Rita tries to cheer Nancy up. Joan congratulates Rita, saying she's pleased to have a "chronic no-hoper" as top dog. Mabel is sent to get a passport for Lexie so she can be sent out of the country. At exercise period, the women play with tennis balls to distract attention from the extra balls (filled with whisky) thrown over the fence by Barbie. Jessie shows Lexie a photo of her "sister" (which is supposed to be herself in 1935 but is very obviously a slightly touched up photo of Pepe Trevor  ). When Lexie takes her shirt off, Jessie is appalled to see the scars on her back. Roach tells Ann to give Bongo time to get used to having her around. Rita is forced to agree that the women will not take revenge against Lou: the women are not pleased to be told this, but grudgingly agrees. Steve has to lie about his reasons for working in the prison when Julie asks him if he used to be a doctor (either that or the writers have now forgotten the original reason). Mabel tells Lexie she has to have a haircut for her passport photo. Lexie runs out of the house after Pocco  , who is given back to her by a policeman: he recognizes her after it is too late to tell which house she came from. Mabel is worried that there will be a house to house search. Dan and Bongo fall out over the tent allocations and Bongo leaves. Jessie returns from Lady Giddings' house having gone to confront her, then not even going inside. Rita decides to name her gang the Warriors: at the time the only other member are those notorious hell raisers Nancy and Julie. Lou gets a threatening note ("ENJOY YOUR FOOD!"  ) in her meal and protests to Bob. Rita throws a party in her cell, but Joan interrupts to take her to see the Governor. Rita argues that she hasn't broken the agreement, and is only trying to give Lou a fright. Lexie is transformed into a respectable young woman  . As Mabel leaves Jessie's house, Harry Bassinger pulls up in a car outside and opens the bag on the seat next to him  , which contains an assortment of nasty looking gags and tools - including a hunting knife  . |
EPISODE 603Broadcast on Channel 5 Sunday 02 April 2000 04:40. A crazy ex-cop is on the loose and Lexie is returned to Wentworth. The baddies receive an unforgettable lesson.Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Jessie ~ Pat Evison Nancy ~ Julia Blake Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Lou ~ Louise Siversen Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Bob ~ Peter Adams Alice ~ Lois Collinder Steve ~ Peter Hayes Dan ~ Sean Scully Harry Bassinger ~ John Frawley Janet Williams ~ Christine Earle Kath Maxwell ~ Kate Hood Father Harris ~ John Kelly  Judge O'Grady ~ George Dixon Policeman 1 ~ Peter Patay  (?)Policeman 2 ~ David Le Page Detective 1 ~ Jeffrey Hodgson  Detective 2 ~ Eric McPhan  Gina ~ Anne-Marie Carley  Doris ~ Irene Hewitt  Policeman ~ Matthew Barker | Jessie leaves Lexie alone in the house and goes out to do some more organising for Lexie's passport. Harry Bassinger watches Jessie get into a taxi and reaches for his knife. Rita gets drunk, narrowly escaping detection by Joan, who is just about to investigate the noise when Bob calls her away to cover to a sick Officer Radcliffe. Harry pretends to be (an ex-customer?) delivering flowers for Jessie: Lexie won't open the door, but when she thinks he's gone and goes to pick them up, he is right next to the door. Jessie can't hail a cab on the streets then sees a police car cruise by. Bassinger attacks Lexie, but she knocks him out with a vase, just as Jessie arrives home to warn Lexie. Steve is sympathetic to Julie's story of how she got into prison. Jessie and Lexie tie Bassinger up and call the police but they are already doing a house to house call and have been alerted by a neighbour. Jessie tries to send Lexie away but the police have the house surrounded. The police recognize Harry as an ex-Superintendant and untie him. Jessie phones Judge O'Grady from the police station, but he tells her he won't help as no court will take her word against Bassinger's. Ann admits to Dan that she misses Wentworth and is considering going back. There are grumblings from some of the women that Rita has bashed Gina for not keeping watch properly, but Rita warns all of them that Lou is finished as top dog. Ann backs away when Dan moves towards her to kiss her at the end of their dinner date. Alice and Lou are released from solitary and both of them are apprehensive about the reception they will get. Kath phones Bob from the hospital asking if she can talk to him. Julie designs a still and she and Rita plot to make illicit grog. Alice and Lou hide out in the chapel service: Rita drops in to talk to them and warn them to keep out of trouble. Lexie and Jessie are brought back to Wentworth, additionally charged with assault. Kath tells Bob she is close to distraction over her daughter, who has a hereditary defect after her husband's exposure to defoliants in Vietnam. She tells Bob she wishes the doctors would just let her daughter die to end her suffering. Jessie tells the women about Bassinger but Lexie is furious that she is back inside. Lexie has a go at Lou when she finally decides to walk into the rec room. Rita threatens to still a billiard ball in Lou's mouth  , and Lou realises that not even Alice will support her any more. Julie confesses to Lexie that she's in love with Steve. The women give Lou and Alice a trial: Julie is prosecutor and reads the charges - including attempting to kill Lexie and causing injury to Rita and herself. Rita hands each woman a match and tells them to vote with it: breaking it to indicate guilty. Meg visits Ann and Ann confesses she is still worried what Dan's reaction will be to her mastectomy. Nancy counts up the vote. Rita announces the guilty verdict and sentences them to be hung. Lou and Alice are gagged and taken to a cell where the nooses have been prepared  . |
EPISODE 604Broadcast on Channel 5 Saturday 08 April 2000 04:40 Lou is left a physical wreck. The deputy governor is demoted to make way for Bob Moran. Bassinger burns evidence.Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Jessie ~ Pat Evison Nancy ~ Julia Blake Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Lou ~ Louise Siversen Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Bob ~ Peter Adams Alice ~ Lois Collinder Steve ~ Peter Hayes Dan ~ Sean Scully Pippa ~ Christine Harris Ben ~ Kevin Summers Harry Bassinger ~ John Frawley James Dwyer ~ James Condon Hope Ryan ~ Kerrin Hayden  Andy ~ Bob Jewell  Lexie refers to Pocco as "she", though I'm sure "she" was a male dog before... | Rita launches Lou into space and the rope snaps, as it was deliberately cut and stitched together again. Rita warns Lou not to try it again or next time it will be real. Joan finds Alice crying in the toilet, but Alice can't be scared into confessing what happened. Nancy objects to Rita's treatment of Lou and Alice, but Jessie says it was the right thing to do. Alice comes to apologise to Rita then tells Lou she's not with her any more. Lexie tips Lou's dinner into her lap and gets a telling off from Rita for stepping out of line: it appears not to bother him. Ann explains the reason for her shyness to Dan. Steve is called to unblock a toilet and finds the reason is the remains of the tennis balls. Jessie appeals to Bob about Harry Bassinger: she manages to persuade him that other escapees might be in danger. He phones the Minister, who gives him the brush-off and reminds him of the last time Jessie made a fool of him. Steve asks Rita to try to persuade the women to trust him a little more and not treat him like a lagger. Julie makes Lexie apologise to Jessie. Nancy gets a telling off from Rita for ignoring her order to send Alice to Coventry. Julie sees Steve meeting a woman outside the gate, and assumes it is his girlfriend. Pippa and Ben return unexpectedly  and interrupt Ann's cosy dinner date with Dan. Joyce is worried that she will have to waltz at her wedding and Meg is just giving her lessons  when Joan walks into the staff room and catches them. To their surprise, Joan reveals her own shady past as a dance champion with the trophies to prove it. After Dan has left, Pippa makes it plain that she disapproves of Ann's involvement with a "bikie". Lou shouts to Alice, taunting her for crying after lights out. Meg suggests to Bob that he could extend Jessie's visiting rights as a way of allowing her to use her old contacts to get more evidence against Bassinger. She also warns him that Ann wants to return to her job. Ann sneaks out of the house and spends the night with Dan. Harry Bassinger is seen tearing up and burning his scrap books on the escapees he's trailed. Pippa is waiting for Ann when she tries to sneak back into again the morning after. When Pippa starts to lecture her again, Ann reminds her she is hardly the person who should be moralising. Rita sets Lexie and Julie on to scrub out the detergent cans in the laundry. Bob  accuses Joan  of being the source for a critical newspaper article headed "PRISON OFFICER SPEAKS OUT". As Ann is returning to work, Meg is told she will be demoted to allow Bob to become Deputy Governor. |
EPISODE 605Broadcast on Channel 5 Sunday 09 April 2000 04:55. Lou makes a poisonous martini and Ann Reynolds returns to Wentworth as governor.Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Jessie ~ Pat Evison Nancy ~ Julia Blake Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Lou ~ Louise Siversen Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Bob ~ Peter Adams Alice ~ Lois Collinder Steve ~ Peter Hayes Dan ~ Sean Scully Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne James Dwyer ~ James Condon Diana Groom ~ Amanda Cook Roger (Gate Guard) ~ Bryon Dolan | Bob tells Meg he wouldn't mind if Meg appealed against the decision to demote her, or she could talk to the Minister, as he's coming in to the prison to discuss the matter with the staff. Alice notices that Julie has left a trail when moving the cans from the laundry to clean them out for the grog, so she mops it up and takes the blame. Dwyer indicates he thinks Bob should have remained as Governor and even hints he should subtly undermine Ann when she returns. Bob firmly declines the invitation. Julie tells Rita that Alice covered for her. Dwyer brushes off Meg and tells her to put her objections in writing. Julie is upset to hear Steve talking about going out for a meal with "Hope". Joan humiliates Lou and threatens to send her to Blackmoor and have her friend Cynthia to look after her. Rita tells Alice she's no longer in Coventry. Lou tries to persuade Alice to let her know what's going on with the booze so she can steal it once it's made. Joan is touched by Joyce's invitation to her wedding, though Joyce tells Meg she only did it because she felt she had to and she and Mervin hoped Joan wouldn't actually come. Rita takes orange juice out of the dining room in a bag slung around her neck. Nancy is given the job of stealing sugar and yeast from the kitchen. Bob tells Ann she can count on his full support. Lou steals some caustic soda from Steve's tool kit while he talks to Julie. Ann comes to the rec room and tells the women she's back as Governor. Rita springs a leak in her bag and goes to unload the juice. Ann is puzzled at the silent reaction she got from the women. Joan comes across Steve's tool kit unattended and finds him in Julie's cell explaining to her that Hope is his sister. Joan reports them to Ann, and tries to blame Bob for not sacking Steve over the centrefold photo. Meg assures Joyce that she won't let Joan exploit the situation between her and Bob to try and get rid of him. Ann lets Steve off with a warning for leaving his tool kit open. Bob questions her decision, as he had already given Steve a final warning. Joan warns Steve and Julie she'll be watching them and will eventually catch them "at it". Rita is asked by Ann to provide a list of suggestions for improvements to conditions - in writing, which Rita only reluctantly agrees to do. Lou takes one of the cleaned out cans from the laundry and adds some of the caustic soda to it  . |
Story Editor: Bevan Lee
Script Editor: Fay Rousseaux (601); Alister Webb (602)-(603); Ian Smith & Fay Rousseaux (604); Fay Rousseaux (605)
Storyliners: Bevan Lee, Tony McDonald, John Coulter, Kelly Bermingham
| (596) to (600) |