Shell decides that she wants in on Zandra’s deal with Lorna, whether she likes it or not. Alone in the bathroom with Zandra, Lorna mistakenly believes that she has the upper hand. Triumphantly, she explains that Helen now knows about the escape attempt—she’s in the clear and will no longer tolerate Zandra’s threats. Lorna blanches when a toilet flushes and Shell steps out of the cubicle. As a witness, she tells Lorna that it’s not the cover-up she and Zandra will talk about, it’s the supplying of drugs—but only if Lorna is stupid enough to stop smuggling them in.

Sean has been press-ganged by Helen into giving a lecture on gardening to some of the women. He is extremely nervous, but when Shell and Denny try to disrupt the lesson, Nikki comes to the rescue. Afterwards, Sean makes a point of thanking Nikki for her help, yet when she discovers that he is Helen’s fiancé, the expression on her face makes it clear that she now wishes she hadn’t bothered. Later, Helen finds Nikki in the potting-shed and demands that she explain herself—why was she so distressed when she learnt about the engagement? Nikki scoffs at what she interprets as feigned innocence and grabs Helen’s hand, holding it against her breast. Helen is shocked and embarrassed and, after tearing her hand away, flees the shed.

Shell is busy selling the new consignment of pills smuggled in by Lorna. Eagle-eyed Dominic notices a steady flow of visitors entering her cell and realises that she must have a stash in there. After searching Shell’s cell and coming out empty-handed, Dominic finally strikes lucky when he searches the cage belonging to Charlie the canary. Shell protests vehemently and demands to see Fenner, her personal officer. Fenner is called from the PO’s Office and is furious, how dare she summon him? In a tight corner, Shell tells him about Lorna. This adds to Fenner’s fury and he demands to know how she can dare lie about a fellow PO. After violently pushing Shell to the floor, he leaves the cell.

Helen and Nikki are both having a hard time trying to come to terms with what happened in the potting-shed. Eventually, Helen summons Nikki to her office to make it clear that something like that must never happen again. Forcefully stating that she is not a lesbian, Helen advises Nikki to find another object for her affections. Taking refuge in sarcasm, Nikki apologises for causing Helen so much trouble before leaving the room. Returning home to Sean that evening, Helen tells him that she loves him and that she wants them to be married as soon as possible.

Shell spends her first night back on G1. Without Fenner’s support, she is no longer queen of the landings and she swears revenge on Lorna. In a silent rage, she contents herself with destroying the other participant in her downfall—Charlie—by snapping his neck and then flushing him down the loo.

Memorable Moments

Shell – “Surprise, surprise! It’s amazing what you hear when you’re doing a number two!”
Lorna – “What’s going on?”
Shell – “I told you, a number two.”

Hollamby – “You may be able to fool Miss Stewart but you can’t fool me. I’ve been in this job too long to have the wool pulled.”
Nikki – “Fifty years now isn’t it?”

Nikki – “Suddenly the place is awash with nice screws. Bodybag will be bringing me cups of tea next!”

Sean – (Holding up a bulb) “If you look you can see a lot of root growth.”
Shell – “They look like a pair of hairy balls!”
Nikki – “Shut it Shell! Some of us are interested in this.”
Shell – “And some of us are interested in hairy balls, we know you’re not.”

Nikki – “You wanna go and give Denny a hand? Be a first, it’s usually Denny who wipes your arse!”

Crystal – “I’ll say a prayer for you. Only He can save you…Him and a good barrister!”