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EPISODE 290

Hannah makes an escape bid with the help of two gunmen, and Susie's birthday brightens up when a parcel arrives from Wentworth.

First broadcast Wednesday 7th July 1982 20:30 (Melbourne)
Broadcast on Channel 5 Wednesday 10 June 1998 04:40
DVD release: volume 19 disc 1 (AUS)
Duration: 0:46:30



Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
Erica ~ Patsy King
Bea ~ Val Lehman
Doreen ~ Colette Mann
Off. Powell ~ Judith McGrath
Steve ~ Wayne Jarratt
Susie ~ Jacqui Gordon
Wendy ~ Helen Noonan
Chrissie ~ Amanda Muggleton
Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick
Hannah ~ Julieanne Newbould
Faye ~ Anne Lucas
Wendy ~ Helen Noonan
Jack ~ Jeremy Kewley
Benny ~ Peter Ford
Frank ~ Doug Bowles
Jackie ~ Catherine Lynch
Donna ~ Arkie Whiteley
Mr Strachan ~ Gerry Thomas
Police Sergeant ~ Evan Zacharia

  • Written by Graeme Foreman
  • Directed by Lex Van Os
  • Wendy appears twice in the credits.

    Here are the house rules of Mrs Beamish's establishment and the plans of the halfway house . Surely the former seem far too brief and the latter too extensive?

    Another unconvincing headline in The Despatch, with the Letraset not even aligned properly which leads to an unconvincing "Letter from Wentworth" which begins "The State Government yesterday announced a new employment program for disadvantaged people"

    Joan foils the attempt to snatch Hannah from court by grabbing Hannah and making the gunmen release Meg. Steve visits Chrissie in solitary, and she offers him a deal: she will tell the truth if he arranges a visit from Elizabeth. He refuses. Meg thanks Joan for her quick thinking, but admits that there was a moment when she thought she might really break Hannah's neck. The women hear about the attempt to free Hannah on the radio. Doreen hides her money in her tissue box and finds the money already there has been stolen: Bea realises Hannah could not have been the thief, as she was in court at the time. Joan tells Hannah she's been asked to keep a special eye on her: Colleen interrupts to bring Chrissie to share with Hannah, which seems to throw Joan off her stride - obviously she realises it will be more difficult to get to Hannah if she is not on her own. Steve wants to know why Joan lied to cover up for him, and points out that Bea has access to the press and can write anything she likes: Joan tells him not to worry about that. Bea makes Chrissie admit that Steve didn't rape her, but finds out that the alibi Joan provided was also a lie. Chrissie claims that she did have sex with Steve as her part of a deal to get a visit from Chrissie, but he'd tricked her and gone back on his word. Joan interrupts Chrissie's story to point out that anyone would think she'd be fair game anyway. Bea decides to write her next article on sex in prison. Judy suggests to Hannah that her stay in prison would be more bearable if she tried to make friends with some of the other women. Mrs Beamish gives Susie a present, as she'd been made aware that it was her birthday when Meg brought a present from Lizzie. She is offended when she sees that Susie prefers the homemade pincushion from Lizzie to the gold neckchain she bought herself. Susie goes to visit Lizzie but is refused permission to see her by Joan: Erica sees her instead and tells her she is likely to be released from her status as a Ward of the State soon. Hannah asks Colleen for permission to work and see her solicitor. Meg sees Erica about a proposal for a halfway house and a craft shop, and suggests Judy to run it. Judy is told she will have to have approval to associate with ex-prisoners. Chrissie discusses escaping with Hannah, and Hannah offers her money to arrange it. Steve has Wendy over for dinner. Doreen gets hold of Bea's article about Chrissie's "rape". Both Hannah and Doreen are amazed that Chrissie doesn't seem very happy that it has been printed. Faye accuses the women of stealing her money, and seems to be most suspicious of the "new girls" Hannah and Chrissie. Susie is shopping for clothes from the bargain rack in a dress shop when she meets Jackie, who takes her for dinner to celebrate her birthday. Erica sees the newspaper article and demands to see Steve immediately. Colleen phones him at home and is surprised when Wendy answers the phone as they are having breakfast together after she has stayed overnight with him. While Susie and Donna are in the restaurant, Donna Mason arrives. She is also a prostitute and sees Susie's "potential": she gives Susie her address and says she can stay with her if she ever needs accomodation. Joan tells Faye she's off the book and will be transferred to another block. Susie asks for overtime but her boss expects sexual favours in return. Steve explains himself to Erica and Joan backs up his story. Joan is sent to fetch Chrissie to the Governor's office: on the way she threatens Chrissie that Elisabeth will suffer if she does not do what Joan wants.

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