Although his heart stopped briefly, Fenner’s condition is stable enough for him to be rushed out to a waiting ambulance. Down on the block, Hollamby makes it clear that she’s going to make Shell’s life hell if Fenner doesn’t pull through. Later, she can’t believe her ears when she is told that Helen will be leading Larkhall’s own investigation, and even worse, that she has vetoed the idea of Shell being transferred to a secure psychiatric unit. Hollamby decides to take matters into her own hands and before long, Shell is being dragged to the psychiatric ward—the notorious ‘muppet wing’.
Josh takes Crystal back to his house and then formally asks her to marry him. Crystal accepts happily. The next day, she donates Hollamby’s carriage clock to a charity shop rather than run the risk of Josh finding it. Meanwhile, Fenner is convalescing in the hospital where he receives a visit from Marilyn. She has forgiven him for having sex with Shell and is now prepared to give their marriage another go. However, Fenner has other fish to dry and when Karen visits; he tells her that he still wants them to make a go of things. Karen is unsure—maybe she should give him chance to sort his marriage out. Fenner insists that there is nothing to sort out, his marriage to Marilyn is over.
Shell is horrified when she discovers that she will be sharing her cell with an old adversary: ‘Mad’ Tessa Spall, as unhinged as ever. After recognising Shell as the bully who tried to teach her some manners during her brief stay on G-Wing, Tessa takes great pleasure in turning the tables. Realising that the only way out of her predicament is to bow to all of Tessa’s demands, Shell finds herself singing hymns and tap-dancing for her tormentor’s amusement. However, Tessa is enchanted by the effort Shell is making to please her and soon begins showing every sign of developing an unhealthy obsession.
Julie S receives a letter from her son, David, and is overjoyed to hear that he will be starring in his school play. Both Julies are depressed at the thought of missing the play and Barbara’s suggestion that they should apply for release on electronic tag is a non-starter because neither of them has an address on the outside. Enter Nikki with a cunning plan—Monica Lindsey is now running a halfway house on the outside, why don’t the Julies get in touch with her?
Furious when she sees how well Shell and Tessa are getting on; Hollamby conspires with PO Betty Wheeler. After lock-up, Wheeler purposefully neglects to give one of the muppet wing’s most dangerous and unstable inmates, ‘Podger’ Pam Jolly, her evening dose of lithium. The following morning, Wheeler tells Pam that Shell stole her pills and points her in the direction of the bathroom where the thief is showering. Pam launches herself at Shell and it is some time before the POs deign to pull her off. Shell is left beaten and bloody on the floor.
Helen takes her investigation onto the wing and speaks to Yvonne. She doesn’t believe Shell’s claims that Fenner tried to rape her, and is becoming convinced that Fenner was going to get it no matter what. This point of view is confirmed when Yvonne tells her what she didn’t know: Fenner and Karen are shagging. And what’s more, Yvonne reveals that she shared this observation with Shell just before her attack on Fenner. Later, Helen visits an extremely shaken Shell and threatens to return her to the muppet wing unless she tells the truth. Shell confesses that she attacked Fenner because she was terrified Karen’s intimacy with him may have led to her telling the story of her childhood abuse.
When Helen leads a bloodied Shell back onto G-Wing, Hollamby is gob-smacked. She sends a rallying cry to the troops—they’re going on strike.
Memorable Moments
Hollamby – “What we want to know is what’s going to happen to Dockley? A couple of weeks down the block and then back into the system? You might as well stick targets on our backs.”
Shell – “I wanna speak to Miss Stewart! Get me out of here now!”
Hollamby – “Your patron saint isn’t going to save you this time Dockley!”
Nikki – “You know; I could get through a whole week just waiting for one look from you. And when I got that, I could get through another week. You see, you’re making me remember and I just want to forget!”
Helen – “Well I’m not going to let you forget because there is going to be a future.”
Nikki – “A future that could be twelve, fifteen years away.”
Shell – (Mimicking Cilla Black) “I like your hair, its gorgeous!”
Tessa – “You taking the piss?”
Shell – “Surprise, surprise!”
Tessa – (Grabbing Shell by the throat) I’ll give you a bleedin’ surprise!”
Yvonne – “Oh come on! You lot must’ve noticed – him and the Governor? It’s obvious! (Amused by Helen’s shocked expression) Shell looked like that when I told her.”
Helen – “Told her what?”
Yvonne – “That Fenner and Betts were shagging.”
Helen – “And when did you tell her this?”
Yvonne – “Hollamby’s do. Ooops! I do hope I didn’t push Dockley over the edge. I couldn’t live with myself if I knew I was responsible for Mr Fenner’s accident.”
Hollamby – “Right, that’s it! If they think they can let that smug little bitch back on here like nothing’s happened they’ve got another thing coming! We’ll see how they like having to guard their back for a change; we’re all out on strike!”
