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EPISODE 51

Meg is robbed.

First broadcast ... 1979 (Melbourne)
ITV broadcasts: Yorkshire Mon 21 Apr 1986 23:35 ; TVS/Channel Thu 15 Jan 1987 22:30 ; Central Mon 17 Aug 1987 0:30 (Tue) ; other regions
Broadcast on Channel 5 (UK) 25 May 1997 Sun 4:40 a.m.
DVD release: volume 4 disc 1 (AUS)
Duration: 00:46:17



Jean ~ Christine Amor
Monica ~ Lesley Baker
Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
Jim ~ Gerard Maguire
Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
Erica ~ Patsy King
Bea ~ Val Lehman
Doreen ~ Colette Mann
Greg ~ Barry Quin
Vera ~ Fiona Spence
Karen ~ Peita Toppano
Bella ~ Liddy Clarke
Peter ~ Carrillo Gantner
Martha ~ Kate Jason
Noeline ~ Jude Kuring
Leanne ~ Tracy-Jo Riley
Officer Phillip ~ Lise Rodgers

  • Written by John Upton
  • Directed by Leigh Spence
  • Jim is not in this episode (thanks Mark C)

    Bella is led to the shower block through reception behind the screen where new prisoners are lined up . In one shot you can even see back into reception through the shower block where there is usually a blank brick wall.

    Jean arrives home to find Meg clearing up after the burglary: only twenty dollars and a radio are missing and the police suspect it was kids. The new prisoner demands to be let out of solitary: Bea stirs it by leading the other women to join in the chant. Erica orders Bea to stop the chanting as the new prisoner is due out of solitary in any case. Erica then tells Karen the new woman's name is Bella Albrecht and she is put on trust not to reveal anything she may find out about the case on the outside. The women discuss the new prisoner: Lizzie thinks she must be a spy and Noeline suggest she is a heavy from another prison. They get their chance when they hear the prisoner being taken on a round trip and led for some reason right past the laundry. Erica reminds Bella she is being kept from the women for her own protection as she killed her own child. She is advised to think up another reason why she is inside, and when she meets Bea for the first time (taking a good look through the spyhole of the single cell she'd been assigned to) she tells her that she killed her husband, which makes Bea warm to her a little, though she is suspicious that Bella is still locked in her cell. Leanne tells Noeline she's moving in with Denny, and from what Meg overhears she realises that it was Leanne who burgled her flat. Jean persuades Meg not to report it to the police. Bea refuses Martha's offer to find out about Bella and says she will ask Karen when she returns from her study leave. Jean confronts Noeline about Lianne's burglary, but she tries to pretend she knows nothing. Karen keeps silent about the new prisoner depsite Bea's accusation that she has gone over to the other side. Erica warns Peter Clements not to tell anyone about Bella when he arrives to carry on his study. Lizzie is appalled to find out that no doctor has been appointed to replace Greg. Bea tricks Peter into telling the whole story: Bella murdered her illegitimate child to marry another man, and mutilated the child to cast suspicion elsewhere. Bea threatens Bella in front of Vera, but refuses to take Bella staright to the Governor as she demands and instead takes her back to her cell, after threatening a detour via the library. Vera tells Erica that the women know and accuses Karen of leaking the information. Erica stops Karen's study release. Bea is appalled to find out about this and she goes to Erica to confess that she got the information from Peter Clements. Erica is not convinced and tells Bea she will be held responsible for any trouble. Bella is let out of her cell and is attacked in the shower block .

    ***


    Storyliners: Dave Worthington; Margaret McClusky
    Script Editor: Anne Lucas


    ITV regional broadcast dates:-
    YTV Mon 21 Apr 1986 23.35; TVS ... ; Channel ... ; TSW ... ; Central Tue 18 Aug 1987 00.30; Thames Fri 01 Jul 1988 00.05; STV Fri 02 Sep 1988 23.05; Anglia ... ; Granada Sun 31 Jul 1988 23.35; Tyne Tees Thu 06 Jul 1989 23.05; Border ... ; HTV ... ; Grampian ... ; Ulster ...


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