Fenner, Colin and a few of their PO colleagues are on a lads’ weekend to Amsterdam. Not surprisingly, their first stop is a seedy lap-dancing club, where they are all very taken with dominatrix Naughty Nikki…until they realise that her face is uncomfortably familiar…it’s Shell Dockley! Ken and Colin give chase but are thwarted by the bouncers backstage. Fenner has more luck and catches up with Shell outside, he tells her to leg it, but she can’t—she’s heavily pregnant! Shell quite enjoys being banged up in the liberal, humane atmosphere of a Dutch nick and plans to fight extradition. But she doesn’t count on the interference of the father of her baby, a British diplomat called Jeremy Pugh. He’s keen to get Shell out of harm’s way as soon as possible and arranges for a helicopter to speed her straight back to the UK.
Several weeks have passed since Larkhall went up in flames—but the prisoners are still bearing the physical and mental scars of their ordeal, and are all keen to get their revenge on Snowball Merriman, who planted the bomb that caused the fire. She’s already disfigured from her run-in with Yvonne, and now the rest of the inmates want their turn—none more so than Denny, still reeling from Shaz’s death. At least there is some good news in an announcement regarding former inmates, Cassie and Roisin. They have both been released and pardoned, following their daring rescue of Neil from the flames during the fire. Julie O’K and Al conclude that saving a screw from mortal danger might get them a ticket to the outside…but they have to create the danger first.
The DST have been unable to locate the gun that was stolen from Karen’s office and give her the all-clear to take G-Wing off lock-down. Little do they know that the gun has been hidden underneath Neil’s desk by a red-band, Terri, and that she plans to give it to Snowball as soon as she is allowed off the block. Having been informed that the police don’t have enough evidence to charge her with Shaz’s death, Snowball decides to focus on how she’s going to talk the inmates round. Fenner meanwhile has decided that it’s time for “round two” and arranges to send Denny up to Snowball’s cell. Yvonne steps in at the last minute and manages to talk Denny down—she promises that somehow, she will make Snowball and Ritchie pay for everything they have done.
Di is discovering that her marriage of convenience to Neil is not quite what she was expecting. She always knew that she could expect nothing more than companionship from her gay husband, but since she’s nursed him through his convalescence, she wants more than to be stood up in favour of his ex-boyfriend. The last thing Di needs is a letter from someone called ‘Gnasher’, threatening to sit her on a “pointed stick”. It’s obviously just some silly girl’s way of getting attention. Al and Julie O’K are dismayed by Di’s reaction and resolve to try harder next time.
As well as having to deal with the news that Shell will be returning to Larkhall, the Hollambys are also experiencing considerable financial worries. After her credit card is refused at the local supermarket, Hollamby rifles through Bobby’s paperwork and is appalled when she discovers that their overdraft is nearing the £50,000 mark. There’s also the matter of the exorbitant monthly payments Bobby is making to someone called A.J. Whitley—has he got another woman? Hollamby confronts Bobby when he returns home and discovers that the truth can sometimes be much worse than a rampant imagination—A.J. Whitley is the name of a loan-shark Bobby borrowed a significant amount from using the family home as security!
Henry conducts a moving service for Shaz and the inmates lay their painted stones at the foot of a newly planted rose bush as a memorial. Snowball lays her stone like everyone else, claiming to be overcome with guilt at causing Shaz’s death, but in reality, her only concern is the fact that the memorial is a convenient hiding place for the gun. Things get ugly on the wing when emotions begin to flare, but once again, Yvonne steps in to smooth things down. She’s convinced that Snowball and Ritchie are planning another escape attempt and this time, she’s going to be ready for them.
Shell arrives back at Larkhall and after being searched, is banged up in a cell on the reception wing. Once alone, Shell discards her brunette and takes out a razor blade she had hidden.
Episode Factsheet
What happens on an inmate's arrival at prison?
Find out in the fact sheet compiled by The Centre for Crime
and Justice Studies.
Episode 1 - Arrival
Memorable Moments
Shell – “Get this friggin’ cock off me willya?”
Hollamby – “Why couldn’t you chuck her in the canal and drown her properly?”
Fenner – “I’ll tell you why…because she’s pregnant.”
Hollamby – “Oh no! We lose one Dockley and get two back!”
Shell – “I’ve told you, my name is Nikki Wade!” (Sweeps pot of yoghurt off the table) “And I don’t like knobbing yoghurt!”
Hollamby – “Where’s the custard creams?” (Walks to door and shouts at Barbara) Hunt! (Barbara doesn’t respond and Hollamby gives up) You can’t even tell her off now without a flip-chart!”
Karen – “Neil wants the wing off lock-down.”
Hollamby – “I suppose all good things come to an end.”
Fenner – “We’re going to get the cons to believe that are we?”
Hollamby – “They’ll have our guts for garters before we can blink.”
Karen – “Best not blink until you’re off duty then Sylvia.”
Hedges – “You’ll be processed tomorrow.”
Shell – “I ain’t a tin of friggin’ peas!”
