ACTORSCHARACTERSSTARTEPISODES

EPISODE 340

The women continue their strike.

First broadcast ... 1983 (Melbourne)
Broadcast on Channel 5 Wednesday 19 August 1998 04:40
DVD release: volume 22 disc 1 (AUS)
Duration: 0:46:47



Meg ~ Elspeth Ballantyne
Judy ~ Betty Bobbitt
Lizzie ~ Sheila Florance
Erica ~ Patsy King
Joan ~ Maggie Kirkpatrick
Bea ~ Val Lehman
Off. Powell ~ Judith McGrath
Paddy ~ Anna Hruby
Maxine ~ Lisa Crittenden
Nola ~ Carole Skinner
Trixie ~ Anna Mizza
Faye ~ Anne Lucas
Parole Board Chairman ~ Lawrence Held
Mr Alcott ~ Tony Mack
Tess ~ Dianne O'Connor
Shirl ~ Leonie Bradley

  • Written by Dave Worthington
  • Directed by Kendal Flanagan
  • The parole board chairman suggests the halfway house has been running "almost a year" but it was only proposed in episode (290) - which would have been about six months previously.

    Erica takes Bea to her office to continue the discussion in private. Bea tells Erica to sack Joan instead of Meg, but the result of the shouting match that results is stalemate. The women are showing signs of boredom and disenchantment with the strike. Erica tells Meg she has managed to convince Ted Douglas not to sack her, and that they can to drop the enforcement of the non-communication rule, though other security restrictions will have to remain in place. However, he apparently thinks that the complaints against Joan are due to personality clashes amongst the staff, so she must stay. Meg tells the women the good news about withdrawing her resignation and tells them that though the officers are not allowed to get personally involved in helping the women, they could ask to see Judy when she becomes careers officer. Bea grudgingly promises Meg not to take any retaliatory action aganist Nola .. just yet. Judy interviews Tess for the halfway house, and warns her not to bring in drugs or booze. Nola's solicitor arrives to interview her. Faye is transferred from another block, and Joan hints that with Margo gone, she could start up the book again - only to make sure that she gets her cut if she does. Mr Alcott tells Erica that Nola demands to be let out of solitary. Erica explains that she's only there because isolation is still being renovated, and admits she has no legal grounds to hold Nola longer than two days, but can't understand why Nola is so insistent as she's partly in solitary as protection from the other women. Lizzie delivers a meal to Nola along with the printed death certificate: Nola just laughs and tears it up. Lizzie wangles a visit from Judy and sees a photo of Judy's new grandson, but Judy says she may not be allowed to go to Queensland to see him in person. Tess gets drunk and goes for Judy with a broken bottle: Judy nearly punches her. The women hang a dummy outside solitary to welcome Nola out: Joan walks past it and leaves it there for Nola to take down herself, then takes her to the laundry to work. Nola goes for Bea in the laundry: Joan lets them know she's watching and won't interfere if they decide they want to bash each other. The Parole Board give Judy one last chance. Maxine arranges a gang attack on Nola without Bea's approval: Bea finds out and stops them. A very bruised Nola is taken to see Erica but refuses to name her attackers, but hints that it might not have been the women, but rather an officer. She says that Erica can send her back to solitary if she likes, but she mustn't be surprised if it happens again. The women watch cagily as Nola gingerly sits down in the rec room to let them all know she's going to be around for a while yet. She also lets Joan know she's dropped a hint that it was her who bashed her, so she'd better watch out. A table-tennis table is donated by the PRG: Bea thinks Erica has only let them use it as there is very little else the officers can take away as a punishment. Nola starts her revenge by bashing Trixie when she comes to her cell to pack up her things before her release. Faye sees what has happened to Trixie just before she is locked in for the night with Nola.

    ***


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