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EPISODE 197

Chrissie hears some shocking news from Del, while Bea moves into a cell with Tracey Morris.

First broadcast ... 1981 (Melbourne)
Broadcast on Channel 5 Friday 30 January 1998 4:40
DVD release: volume 13 disc 2 (AUS)
Duration: 00:47:15



Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
Erica ~ Patsy King
Bea ~ Val Lehman
Jim ~ Gerard Maguire
Doreen ~ Colette Mann
Vera ~ Fiona Spence
Chrissie ~ Amanda Muggleton
Officer Powell ~ Judith McGrath
Brenda Latham ~ Joan Millar
Del Latham ~ William Zappa
Janie Chapman ~ Alix Longman
Marie Winter ~ Maggie Millar
Mrs Roberts ~ Gerda Nicolson
Tracey Morris ~ Sue Devine
Mr Douglas ~ Ian Smith
Tony Morton ~ Chris Milne
Freda ~ Esme Melville
Mr Brownleigh ~ James Taylor
UNCREDITED
Gate Guard (Ted) ~ Brad Lindsay
OTHER CHARACTERS
Male Officer (with fire extinguisher)
Prisoner who sets fire to her cell (the one usually called Angie Dobbs)

  • Written by Dave Worthington
  • Directed by Juliana Focht
  • Freda refers to the men's complex, so Barnhurst is evidently not just a women's prison.

    Chrissie tries to convince Meg that the half-naked man fleeing her flat is an old friend, but Meg suspects she is back on the game and threatens to report it if Chrissie doesn't agree to visit Derek . Vera thinks the barricaded women should be forcibly removed, but Jim thinks they should just be allowed to get hungry enough to come out in their own time. He also suggests that Lizzie is left to wander around the building, as he hopes she will convince some of the women to change their minds. Sure enough, she goes to talk to Doreen and Lizzie and tells them about the Pentridge guards who have been brought in. Bea wakes up at Barnhurst and is greeted by Officer Roberts , who gives Bea a match for her cigarette by throwing across the cell and when Bea picks it up she sees that it's already been lit. Chrissie goes to visit Derek to find he is at the hospital: his wife receives a call from Derek to sya that their father has died. Ted Douglas visits Wentworth and finds out that the women are on hunger strike until Erica and Bea are returned. Bea meets up with Marie Winter and tells her she has no desire to challenge Marie's top dog position. Lizzie gives Doreen and Judy some food she's smuggled out of the kitchen. Derek thinks the way is clear for Chrissie to move in with him and Brenda, but Brenda has no desire to be stuck with another member of his family. Bea discovers that her cell-mate is none other than Tracey Morris, who is off with a work party that brings magic mushrooms into the prison. Later, when she confronts Tracey with this, Tracey says she is forced by Marie but that mushrooms aren't really "hard" drugs anyway. Brenda makes it clear to Chrissie that she doesn't want her living with her and Derek. Colleen catches Lizzie sneaking food to the women. Chrissie is granted custody of her and Elizabeth to move in with them. At breakfast time next morning, the women once again refuse to come out of their cells. Chrissie gets approval to have custody of Elizabeth. Colleen catches Lizzie passing food to Doreen and Judy and sends her back to her cell. Meg visits Erica and asks her to speak to the women, but Erica is fed up with Wentworth and points out she probably wouldn't be allowed inside anyway. Derek tells Brenda that he feels he has a responsibilty towards Chrissie as she was molested by their father and that he did nothing to stop it. Brenda agrees that Derek owes his sister. The women begin to light fires in their cells. Ted pleads with Erica to talk to the women but she insists she must be reinstated as Governor and be allowed to run a more liberal regime. Janie, one of Marie's lackeys, tries to be tough with Bea but Bea just throws her out of her cell. Brenda apologizes to Chrissie and she agrees to move in with them. Erica comes to Wentworth and meets with Judy. Judy says the women will continue the burn-out unless Erica is reinstated as Governor. Ted Douglas quickly reinstates her - but is adamant that Bea not be returned. Chrissie picks up Elizabeth, thanks Meg for all her help and rides off with her new family. The women gather in the rec room where Judy informs them that Erica is back but Bea is not. However, Judy has a plan...

    This episode summary was written by Matthew Bubb.

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    Storyliners: Dave Worthington, Alastair Sharp, Peter Brennan
    Script Editors: Ian Smith


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    Updated