Episode 1.5 - Tangled Web
Written by Louisa Page
Produced by Brian Park
Directed by Laurence Moody
Whilst Helen is listening to the news of Rachel’s suicide on her car radio, Dominic collects together the dead inmate’s belongings. He’s finding it hard to come to terms with the recent events and chooses to confide in Fenner about his disenchantment with the Prison Service and his decision to hand in his resignation. Fenner meanwhile is all too aware of the part her played in the tragedy. He’s desperate to cover his back and so makes it clear to everyone that the buck stops with Helen.
Helen arrives for a crisis meeting with Stubberfield and is irritated when she discovers that Fenner is already in attendance. When Stubberfield demands an explanation, Fenner jumps in with his theory that Rachel committed suicide because her baby daughter had been taken into care. Stubberfield asks Helen why she didn’t put Rachel on suicide watch and scoffs at her reply that she didn’t consider Rachel a risk. Making it clear that he is firmly on Fenner’s side, Stubberfield asks him to leave and then warns Helen to desist from alienating her officers, implying that her position is somewhat tenuous.
Denny, the weakest link of the conspirators, confides to Shell in the breakfast queue that she fears someone will discover that they bullied Rachel. After reassuring Denny, Shell spots a passing Nikki and decides to make light of the situation. Nikki responds by leaping over the counter to attack Shell. A violent fight erupts, ending only when Nikki is pulled off by the POs and dragged down to the block. Later Nikki is summoned to Helen’s office. She’s in a belligerent mood but is quickly disarmed by Helen’s unexpected willingness to give her the benefit of the doubt.
Zandra is whinging constantly about the trauma she experienced when she discovered Rachel’s body. Dr ‘No-No’ Nicholson has refused to give her anything to calm her ‘nerves’ and so there’s only one path open to her, blackmail. She asks Dominic and Lorna to intervene on her behalf with the doctor and when both refuse, she threatens to tell Helen that they covered up her escape from the clinic. Kidding herself that she can control the situation, Lorna goes to speak with Zandra and agrees to help out... just this once.
Mrs Hicks arrives to speak with Helen and Fenner and tells them of the package that Rachel had asked her to collect on Shell’s behalf. Shell is forced to think on her feet when Helen confronts her. She tells the Wing Governor that Rachel was pestering her for the address of her drug dealer. Helen however is still determined to find answers and visits the scene of Rachel’s suicide. Crystal, more concerned about God’s retribution than Denny’s, informs Helen that she witnessed Denny physically attack Rachel on the night of her suicide. Helen sends Denny straight down to the block where her nerve deserts her and she finally spills the beans about Fenner’s affair with Rachel.
Helen approaches Nikki who, although reluctant to grass, does confirm that she warned Rachel to steer clear of Fenner several times. This is enough proof for Helen who confronts Fenner before taking her accusations to Stubberfield. Having already heard Fenner’s side of the story, Stubberfield accuses Helen of having no evidence, poor judgement, and a questionable ability to do her job. Helen leaves, frustrated and humiliated… Fenner has won again.