EPISODE 616Broadcast on Channel 5 Saturday 20 May 2000 04:40 Steve Ryan's mother doesn't know he is in love with a prisoner.![]() Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Nancy ~ Julia Blake Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Lou ~ Louise Siversen Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Alice ~ Lois Collinder Bob ~ Peter Adams Dan ~ Sean Scully Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne Steve ~ Peter Hayes Kath Maxwell ~ Kate Hood Pat Slattery ~ Dorothy Cutts Officer Hagen ~ Christine Andrew Bongo ~ Shane Connor Grub ~ Ingle Knight Heather Ryan ~ Julia McDougall ![]() Amy Ryan ~ Penny Ramsay ![]() Det. Insp. Barrett ~ Ian Walker ![]() Det. Waters ~ Steven Hutchinson ![]() Deidre Sims ~ Patti Perkins ![]() Ward Sims ~ Nicholas Trinder Photographer ~ Elwin Bradshaw Inspector Barrett takes the keys from Ann and throws them to the fingerpints man for checking. Unsurprisingly after such careless handling, we are told later there were "no clear prints" on them. | Ann and Meg inspect Lou's dead body ![]() |
EPISODE 617Broadcast on Channel 5 Sunday 21 May 2000 04:40 In a clumsy attempt to free his sister Rita, Bongo Connors, speeding on his motor bike, runs into Ann's friend Dan.![]() Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Nancy ~ Julia Blake Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Alice ~ Lois Collinder Jessie ~ Pat Evison Janet ~ Christine Earle Kath ~ Kate Hood Bob ~ Peter Adams Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne Steve ~ Peter Hayes Officer Radcliffe ~ Marion Dimmick Officer Dixon ~ Maureen Edwards ![]() Bongo ~ Shane Connors Grub ~ Ingle Knight Amy Ryan ~ Penny Ramsay Jim Barry ~ Iain Murton Det. Insp. Barrett ~ Ian Walker Judge O’Grady ~ George Dixon Nurse 1 ~ Meredith Abbot ![]() Tony Browning ~ Bradley Croft ![]() Minister ~ George Viskich ![]() Gate Guard Trevor ~ Brad Lindsay Gate Guard Greg ~ Rod Allen Gate Guard Roger ~ Bryon Dolan Truck Driver ~ Alan Barrett ![]() Fight & Stunt Co-Ordinator ~ Glenn Ruehland UNCREDITEDDan ~ Sean ScullyThe credits list Det. Insp. "Thorne" instead of Barrett and Officer Dixon should really be Officer Bailey. Lurch takes Lou's place in the mugshot credits. Ann's mysteriously intermittent heavy cold reveals several scenes that must have been shot on a different day than the rest. In these scenes, her blouse collar is also tucked inside her jacket collar rather than worn outside it as in the other scenes. | Joyce and Mervin get ready for the wedding, with much "comic" business from Mervin in trying to avoid seeing Joyce in her wedding dress before the ceremony. Rita frets that Dan won't get her message in time. Judge O'Grady plots with Jessie to arrange her escape to entrap Bassinger to come after her. Kath makes a statement to the police, but it is not as helpful to Lexie as she hoped, especially when Kath admits that she only came forward because Lexie asked her to. Alice drags Kath to the laundry to get her to tell the women what she said. Lexie attacks Kath, who fights back, pushing Lexie away violently so that she is winded by the folding table. Rita watches with interest but refuses to get involved. Steve's mother tells him there's been a call from the prison asking him to go in urgently. He realises that she has blown his cover and tells her he's moving out. Joyce's son Jim arrives for the wedding. Lexie is charged with Lou's murder and is sent to solitary. The new gym equipment is delivered. Ann sacks Steve with immediate effect for working at Wentworth under false pretences and allocates Meg to keep an eye on him until he leaves the premises. Bob goes to the police with new information, telling them about Lou and Janet's blackmail attempt and suggesting Janet should be interviewed. Somehow this information merely has the effect of angering Inspector Barrett and he shouts at Bob that he is lucky not to be facing charges himself. Alice overhears Steve talking to Meg in the staff room about why he has to leave Wentworth. Janet is interviewed by the police, and is tricked into confessing to Lou's murder with an outburst about Bob: "I should have killed him too" ![]() ![]() ![]() |
EPISODE 618Broadcast on Channel 5 Saturday 27 May 2000 04:40. Nancy naively starts to keep a diary recording everything that goes on in prison. Steve has big plans for Julie.![]() Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Nancy ~ Julia Blake Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Alice ~ Lois Collinder Jessie ~ Pat Evison Kath Maxwell ~ Kate Hood Janet ~ Christine Earle Bob ~ Peter Adams Dan ~ Sean Scully Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne Steve ~ Peter Hayes Taps ~ Valma Pratt ![]() Uncle Perc ~ Vic Gordon ![]() Sister Hall ~ Gael Andrews James Dwyer ~ James Condon Tom Harley ~ Vince Gill Nurse ~ Nicki Woolmington ![]() Jim Barry ~ Iain Murton Mitch ~ David Le Page Male Prison Officer ~ Bill Tisdall Secretary ~ Jenny Ryan ![]() Ambulance Man ~ Ray Hutchinson Ambulance Driver ~ Campbell Higgins Fight Co-Ordinator ~ Glenn Ruehland Gerda Nicolson still has a cold, particularly noticeable in the scene near the end with Rita. Jessie says she hopes Ann "POQs": Pisses Off Quick? Lexie's remark "Just like that other Weasel" is picked up by other writers as a nickname for Janet Williams. The first rec room scene is supposed to be at night, but it looks like it has been lit by Uncle Perc, with a very strong side light apparently coming from the direction of the rec room cupboard. The actor who plays the "Male Prison Officer" in fact appears to be John Allen (Officer Green) | Dan is taken to hospital after croaking in Ann's ear that she should go easy on Rita, as the escape was not her idea. Ann tells Bob to call in some officers from leave (including Joan) to cover for her absence. The wedding reception continues, videoed by Uncle Perc - with an old style video camera that requires there to be extra lighting in the shape of a studio spotlight. He may well have shot the wedding video too, as he actually asks (without any detectable trace of sarcasm) for some Vaseline to smear on the camera lens. Steve tells Meg he intends to propose to Julie before her parole hearing to give her something to look forward to. Lexie gets Alice to threaten Janet when delivering her tray to solitary: as a way of getting her own back, Janet lets Joan know about Bob and Kath's relationship. Although Joan already knows or suspects as much, it is obviously a surprise to Alice. At the hospital, Ann is told that Dan has suffered two broken legs and a spinal injury and needs to be put in traction. Alice tells the women about Kath, and a deputation is sent to ask Kath some "polite questions". Joan confronts Bob with Janet's allegation, but he tells her that Ann already knows about his friendship with Kath. However, Bob realises that if their secret has become public knowledge, then Kath is in danger. Rita, Alice and Lexie find Kath in the gym (where she has conveniently wandered, apparently to conduct an inspection of the equipment) and threaten her. Kath grabs a barbell to defend herself ![]() ![]() ![]() |
EPISODE 619Broadcast on Channel 5 Sunday 28 May 2000 04:40. If Julie is freed after facing the parole board she will be able to marry Steve.![]() Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Joyce ~ Joy Westmore Nancy ~ Julia Blake Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Alice ~ Lois Collinder Jessie ~ Pat Evison Janet ~ Christine Earle Kath ~ Kate Hood Vicki ~ Rebecca Dines Debbie ~ Ellie Nielsen Bob ~ Peter Adams Mervin ~ Ernie Bourne Steve ~ Peter Hayes Taps ~ Valma Pratt Tom Harley ~ Vince Gill James Dwyer ~ James Condon Mary Burns ~ Trish Mulholland Thelma Hawkins ~ Paula Langlands Albert James ~ Alan Rowe Michael Brennan ~ Norman Handcock ![]() Gate Guard Bob ~ David Bickerstaff The dance marathon tracksuits get another airing for the volleyball game. Vicki and Debbie don't seem to have any dialogue: I assume they are credited because they are on the prisoners' volleyball team. | Lexie challenges the other women to a race using some roller skates she "found in a toy box" and got someone in the workshop to repair. Joan barely pauses to congratulate Merv and Joyce on their wedding before launching into a tirade against the officers versus prisoners volleyball match. Ann gets a postcard from Pippa from the latest stage on her world tour. Meg asks Bob to inform Lexie about Jessie's escape, but she isn't in the laundry as she's off on her leg of the roller-skate race. Julie is keeping count of the time for her by counting under her breath. Lexie arrives back in the laundry just after Bob has left. The Minister arrives at Wentworth to give Ann a roasting, and she realises from his comments that he has inside information. He demands that Joan is made Deputy Governor and when Ann says she refuses to work with Joan, he says she'd better think it over, as Joan will be Deputy with or without her as Governor. Kath comes out of solitary and thanks Bob for the women's changed attitude towards her. Bob eventually manages to find Lexie and tells her about Jessie's escape: at first she is delighted but them remembers Bassinger and worries that he'll be tracing Jessie's whereabouts already. In fact, Jessie is in hiding with Taps guarded by Tom Harley. Rita has a go on the skates, a little shakily at first, but Julie has lost count for her by the time she gets back to the laundry as Lexie has come in to tell everyone the news about Jessie's escape. Meg is angry to be demoted and considers resigning but Ann points out it will leave Joan in unchallenged command if they both leave. Ann suggests that they accept the situation for now and try to gather evidence of Joan's incompetence or corruption. Bob gets a dressing down from the Minister but is told he will be staying at Wentworth for the time being because of the staff shortage. Tom reminisces to Jessie about May and Willie, but significantly fails to mention how it all turned out in the end: Jessie would be justifiably a bit nervous if she knew. Joan pretends to be surprised at her appointment as Deputy Governor, but there are a few uneasy looks amongst the other officers gathered in Ann's office for the Minister's announcement. Bob tells Kath he is staying at Wentworth, but they will have to have no contact other than as officer and prisoner. Ann tells Joan she can't work with her and adds that she will be working to get Meg back as Deputy. Alice has a go on the skates and collides with Joan: Joan takes the skates back to the laundry as an excuse to tell the women that she's the new Deputy Governor. Meg and Ann work out that one of the women must be working with Joan and feeding her information. At Julie's parole hearing, she is questioned about stealing files from reception, involvement in smuggling and fixing the radio controlled car: from the look on Ann's face much of the information is news to her. The officers play the prisoners at volleyball ![]() |
EPISODE 620Broadcast on Channel 5 Saturday 03 June 2000 4:40![]() Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick Ann ~ Gerda Nicolson Nancy ~ Julia Blake Rita ~ Glenda Linscott Julie ~ Jackie Woodburne Lexie ~ Pepe Trevor Alice ~ Lois Collinder Jessie ~ Pat Evison Kath ~ Kate Hood Janet ~ Christine Earle Bob ~ Peter Adams Vicki ~ Rebecca Dines Amy Ryan ~ Penny Ramsay Amelia Bassinger ~ Barbara Burder Taps ~ Valma Pratt Steve ~ Peter Hayes Tom Harley ~ Vince Gill Judge O’Grady ~ George Dixon Harry Bassinger ~ John Frawley Gas Company Man ~ Frank Sheenan ![]() The actress playing Amelia Bassinger does not seem to be the same as before: I suspect she is actually Judith Roberts. Joan remarks "the Board was light on Lumsden" - another previously unmentioned prisoner, presumably from D block? It sounds odd for both Jessie and Ann to use "Judge" as if it were Mr O'Grady's real Christian name rather than a job title. Nora and Barnhurst are both mentioned in dialogue. Marie Trevor should have stuck to her role as producer: the second half of this episode is simply badly written, and the direction and dodgy camerawork make matters even worse. | Ann tells Joan she should have allowed Steve's visit and makes her phone him to tell him he can visit in future. Steve tells his mother he's in love with someone at Wentworth. She assumes (not having seen any of them) that he means one of the officers: she is appalled to be told it is actually with a prisoner and tells him he is throwing his life away. Janet is dragged to the rec room to be questioned as a possible lagger, but she manages (surprisingly easily) to convince Rita that she is innocent. Rita manages to work out that if Kath has been passing on information about things that happened before she arrived, then someone must have told her about it. She asks if anyone has been talking to Kath and Nancy has to admit she has mentioned the radio controlled car to Kath, but she is sure she didn't say anything about the cocaine. Joan lords it over Meg, citing rules and subsections to justify petty confiscations from the women's cells. Meg warns Joan that if she is using an informer she is playing a dangerous game, which could put the life of the prisoner concerned in question. Taps visits a shopping mall in a lurid red ensemble hoping to attract the attention of Harry Bassinger. Even though Taps seems to have left the hat topped with a neon sign reading "FOLLOW ME" at home, Bassinger can be seen lurking behind a tie rack observing her every move. Alice holds Kath while Rita bashes her. Nancy tries to intervene, but this only alerts Meg to the situation. Meg takes Rita and Alice to the Governor's office along with Lexie, who was acting as lookout. Rita and Alice are sent to solitary and Lexie is given extra cleaning duties. Harry Bassinger follows Taps home: she has now topped off the red ensemble with a bright yellow umbrella just in case he is at risk of losing her. It doesn't say much for her street wisdom that she is actually completely unaware that she is being followed. Ann wants to talk to Steve before he sees Julie: she asks him if anyone could have got the details used against Julie at her parole hearing from reading his thesis. Kath tells Bob his presence in Wentworth puts her in greater danger. Bassinger's wife begs him to go on holiday to get away from the publicity generated by the latest escape: this seems to indicate that she knows very well of his involvement in the previous murders of escapees and worries he is already tracking down Jessie. Nancy apologises to Lexie for getting them all into trouble and they make up over discussing names for Lexie's baby. Kath asks Ann for a transfer, but Ann refuses as she knows there is overcrowding in other prisons. Ann's refusal hardens Kath's attitude and she warns Ann she will have to defend herself in any way she knows in future. Steve shows Julie the engagement ring (to a sleazy jazz cocktail piano accompaniment). Lexie is just about to get heavy with Kath when Janet happens along, but Kath rebuffs Janet's offer of help. Ann advises Bob to consider a transfer himself for his own good as well as Kath's. Bassinger calls the gasman and reports a gas leak at the house where Jessie is staying, so that he can find out the time the engineer is expected to call. Kath refuses to let Nancy play the Good Samaritan and tells her to go away and leave her alone. When Ann leaves Wentworth to visit Dan in hospital, Joan makes a point of asking for a contact number just in case there are any decisions to be made that she can't be trusted to handle on her own. Bassinger gets into Taps' house through the back as the gasman calls at the front, and overpowers Tom. Joan reminds Lexie that this time she's in prison for a long stretch, so she won't stand for any insolence from her. Bassinger makes Jessie tie Tom up and pulls a knife to kill Jessie. With one bound, Tom is free, overpowers Bassinger and Bassinger is taken away. Tom has to pretend to talk to the inaudible off-screen police officers not catered for in the script. Bob makes his decision: he tells Ann and Kath ![]() |
Story Editor: Bevan Lee
Script Editor: Quincy McQuade (616), (617); Alister Webb (618), (619); Quincy McQuade (620)
Storyliners: Bevan Lee, Tony McDonald, John Coulter
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