With Fenner now aware of her relationship with Nikki, Helen has no choice but to try and brazen it out. But when Fenner threatens to report Nikki’s escape to the appeals court, she is forced to tender her resignation. Nikki begs Helen to reconsider—they can always get Barbara to lie for them—but Helen is adamant. She makes Nikki promise to focus on winning her appeal before saying a tearful goodbye. The date of Nikki’s appeal is soured even further by Fenner’s presence as her escorting officer. Despite his dismissive comments about her chances, the testimony of Nikki’s chief witness, Sally Anne Howe, is both harrowing and convincing.
Tina is still defending Virginia to the disgust of Maxi and the derision of the rest of G-Wing. After Tina makes the unprecedented gesture of asking to be moved to another cell, Maxi decides to punish her disobedience with a bar of soap stuffed into a sock. But when Yvonne starts accusing Virginia of doing deals with Fenner and of trying to corrupt Tina, Maxi does a complete about turn. All of a sudden, she’s acting like she’s Virginia’s best friend! Seeing this, Yvonne decides that it’s about time the whole wing knew about Virginia’s deal with Fenner. Hollamby is disgusted by the slur on Fenner’s character and silences Yvonne by putting her on report.
After Virginia puts her miracle recovery down to the work of God, Crystal announces a little miracle of her own…she’s pregnant! Unsurprisingly, Karen refuses to believe Crystal’s claims that she was impregnated by God and demands to know which of her officers is the father. Josh is delighted when he hears the news and tells Crystal that now she’s pregnant, he’ll stand by her. However, they will have to come clean to Karen.
Fenner wastes no time in informing Thomas of the true reason for Helen’s resignation—he affair with Nikki. He responds by punching Fenner on the nose. Later that evening, Thomas meets Helen for dinner and confronts her about her feelings for Nikki. Although she admits that they were once involved, Helen insists that it was over a long time ago. However, Thomas is convinced that Helen’s feelings for Nikki run a lot deeper than she is admitting and urges her to be honest with herself before walking out.
It’s the final day of Nikki’s appeal and Fenner tries to blackmail Di into helping him ruin her chances of freedom by planting a scalpel in the lining of her jacket. But Di refuses to do any more of his dirty work. After saying an emotional goodbye to her friends on G-Wing, Nikki is taken back to court to hear the judge’s verdict. She can’t quiet believe it when he accepts her plea of provocation and reduces her conviction to manslaughter before releasing her on time already served. There are celebrations on G-Wing when the verdict is announced on the TV and Nikki is brought out in front of the cameras to make a statement. In another part of London, Helen sits in a pub and watches the TV with tears in her eyes.
Fenner spends some of his ill-gotten gains from his deal with Virginia on a gift for Karen—an engagement ring. But when Fenner leaves to fetch a bottle of champagne, she finds some mail from Helen—a statement of sexual assault against her fiancé. On his way out, Fenner overhears Yvonne arguing with Virginia in the bathroom. The two women separate and enter separate cubicles. A while later, Di finds Yvonne looking down at Virginia’s drowned body in horror. That evening, Yvonne is forcibly removed from her cell and dragged down to the block. She frantically protests her innocence, screaming out the name of the person she knows is really responsible—Fenner.
Trisha’s hopes of reconciling with Nikki are spoilt when Helen turns up at the club to offer her congratulations. When Helen leaves, a resigned Trisha orders Nikki to go after her. Out on the street, Helen informs Nikki that her relationship with Thomas is over and asks if there’s any possibility of them trying again. In the full view of everyone in the street, they make up with a passionate kiss.
Shell and Denny are still living the high life in Spain—until their fun in the sun is interrupted by an unwelcome visit from the Spanish police. Just like Thelma and Louise, they clasp hands before jumping into the sea.
Memorable Moments
Fenner – “Decided to brazen it out have you?”
Helen – “I’m hardly going to resign over a prisoner’s jottings and a couple of planted clues, am I?”
Fenner – “Fine...well…let’s go and ask Barbara Hunt ourselves shall we? Get her to tell us what she knows about that night…unless you want her to lie for you. You’d better make your mind up Helen because if the appeals court finds out about Wade’s escape I’ll have the both of you.”
Helen – “You know one of the best things about walking away from a job? All of sudden you realise you’ve got nothing left to lose…I may be on my way out Jim but I am gonna drag you all the way down with me. Enjoy it while it lasts.”
Fenner – “Don’t fancy yours much.”
Nikki – “Piss off Fenner!”
Maxi – “Oi crip! Why don’t you leave my sister alone?”
Virginia – “You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”
Maxi – “Fancy life back in your wheelie-bin do you?”
Virginia – “You know what they say about bullies don’t you, they’re nothing but angry little cowards inside.”
Yvonne – “Hear we missed another miracle.”
Julie S – “Yeah, Crystal here’s…”
Julie J – “Pregnant, but still a virgin!”
Yvonne – “’Ere, you couldn’t arrange it for the Holy Spirit to pay a visit to my cell after dark could you? Only you know…it’s been a while.”
Karen – “So Crystal, I want to know – who’s responsible?”
Crystal – “God miss.”
Karen – “Well, God has been busy in Larkhall of late hasn’t he? But I can’t help thinking that in this instance he had a little helper.”
Thomas – “I’ve been hurt before because someone wasn’t being honest with me, but you Helen, you’re not even being honest with yourself.”
Hollamby – “Hurry it up Wade; this isn’t a flaming Oscar ceremony!”
Wade – “I’ll miss Bodybag…taking the piss out of her anyway!”
Appeals Judge – “However, we have been convinced that Miss Wade’s actions were the result of provocation by DC Gossard. Therefore, this court rules that the original conviction be substituted with that of manslaughter, we impose a reduced sentence of three years imprisonment, time that has already been served. Nicola Wade, you are free to go.”
Hollamby – “Give over! Do I look like I was born yesterday?”
Yvonne – “Not unless you age at the speed of light.”
Nikki – “It goes without saying that I’m delighted to be set free, prison’s a terrible place, people don’t know half of what goes on – there are male officers employed on female residential wings, abusing vulnerable women…anyway, I was one of the lucky few inside to get access to some real education and there’s one woman I’ve got to that for all that because she always believed in me no matter how tough things got. I owe that woman, not only my freedom, but also my life.”
Virginia – “We need to talk.”
Yvonne – “It’s going to take more that a bath to wash the dirt off you O’Kane.”
Nikki – “I thought it was a bit rude not asking you to stay for a drink.”
Helen – “Well, I figured that if I waited out here long enough…”
Nikki – “So, do you want to come back in?”
Helen – “I could stay for one I suppose.”
Nikki – “That is unless there’s somewhere else you’ve got to be.”
Helen – “Thomas and I split up…I’ve been such an idiot Nikki!”
Nikki – “I know what you’re saying.”
Helen – “No, let me say it…Thomas is gorgeous, he’s everything you would want in a man…but I want a woman!”
