Charlie’s arrest has Yvonne planning a new scheme to keep her busy and the money coming in. Via Denny, she arranges for Josh to smuggle in four mobile phones and then recruits Barbara to set up a website advertising her new service—a telephone sex-line called ‘Babes Behind Bars’. The Julies and Denny volunteer to take part and Yvonne gives them each a mobile phone, telling them that they are set to vibrate rather than ring. They are all to wear earpieces and pretend that they are listening to music.

Zandra receives her test results, and the worst is confirmed by Dr Nicholson. She has a malignant brain tumour, with no possibility of a cure and no recommended course of action other than painkillers. She will die in months rather than years. While the inmates rally around Zandra, Karen arranges for her temporary release, which can be extended by a doctor indefinitely for health reasons. Dominic tells Zandra the good news, but she has nowhere to go. Her only option is Crystal, but she can’t go to someone’s home just to die. Crystal asks Josh if Zandra can stay with them, but he refuses—this is their first chance to be together.

Shell and her mother, Rita are reunited. It’s an explosive reunion and Rita rants and rages when Shell dares to mention the safety of her own children. Karen witnesses Shell recalling the traumatic incidents from her childhood, and her mother admitting to the chilling truth that has shaped Shell’s whole life. Afterwards, Shell asks Karen to contact Social Services—she wants her children taken into care. Back in her cell, she takes the photographs of her daughters down from the wall, kisses them and then tears them up. Before long, she is back to her old self again: piling on the make-up and squeezing herself back into her skimpy outfits. She makes a point of telling Denny that Karen is alright and that anyone who says otherwise better watch out!

In the garden, Nikki is tending to her ‘tomato plants’ when Barbara joins her. Barbara isn’t fooled, and when Nikki says that she is planning on destroying the cannabis, offers to take the responsibility of supplying them to Zandra to help ease her pain. Barbara gives the cannabis to Crystal, instructing her to dry it out in the oven before giving it to Zandra. Crystal bitterly regrets her decision to bin the cannabis, especially when Nikki points out that Zandra would be prescribed heroin on the outside. Nikki reveals that most inmates use Josh for contraband and, although Crystal is furious with him, he enlists his services. He will bring in proper painkillers for Zandra.

Crystal is determined not to leave Zandra in her hour of need, and devises a plan to stay at Larkhall. She retrieves the cannabis from the bins and posts an anonymous note to the POs, informing on herself. A quick search later and she is given additional days on the end of her sentence. It’s a huge sacrifice to make, but how can she desert her best friend in her hour of need. Outside, Josh waits in vain for Crystal to be released, engagement ring in hand.