Episode 4.14 - Hard Knock Life
Written by Jaden Clark
Produced by Claire Phillips
Directed by Di Patrick
Watch this episode on SeeSaw now
Rhiannon is overcome with guilt now that her mother has been given an 8 year jail sentence for the attack on her singularly unpleasant pimp, Damian – especially now that she’s seen his true colours. She’s determined to make amends and turns up at the prison gates, begging to be allowed to see her mum. Although Julie J is forgiving, Julie S is less so. She tells Rhiannon that she will only forgive her if she goes to college and starts to make a proper go of her life.
Di has come up with a suggestion for Neil that will give her the companionship she craves and give Neil an ideal means of covering up his homosexuality. However, Neil is still unconvinced, not least because Di would be entitled to half of everything he owns if they end up getting divorced. But Di doesn’t need Neil’s money and offers to prove it by signing a prenuptial agreement. Realising that Di’s offer could solve a lot of his problems, Neil reluctantly agrees. G-Wing’s POs are amazed when they announce their engagement.
Crystal is still on her anti-God campaign and steamrollers Henry by ranting about the inconsistencies and hypocrisies she used to believe in. Henry is upset by Crystal’s loss of faith, not least because she has managed to turn most of the women against him. Buki is so disturbed by Crystal’s rants that she cuts up again. This is the last straw for Neil who decides to get Crystal out of his hair by releasing her 10 days early. Crystal says goodbye to HMP Larkhall, and with Josh and baby Zandra waiting for her on the outside, this time she won’t be coming back. Mark is also ready to move on, but not before delivering a classic passing shot to Fenner.
Snowball overhears Cassie confiding in Yvonne about Roisin’s drug habit. She passes the information on to Fenner who in turn, arranges a test, knowing that a positive result is guaranteed. What Roisin really needs is rehab but instead, she is given a spell in solitary confinement, something that does nothing to improve her already fragile mental state. After a night of banging her head against the wall, Roisin wakes up on the muppet wing.
Denny is devastated when Hollamby informs her that Jessie is dead. To cheer Denny up, the Julies decide to make a 21st birthday card that they sign in Jessie’s name and then smuggle into the meagre bag of her belongings that has been sent into Larkhall. Denny is made up with the card at first, but smells a rat when Di maintains that she didn’t come across a birthday card when she doing the inventory of Jessie’s belongings. Denny confronts the Julies, telling them that having nothing was better than having her hopes built up and then cruelly dashed.
After spinning Henry a sob-story about her sick mother, Snowball is allowed to make private calls on his office phone. The person on the other end is the same person who is smuggling stuff in for her – Ritchie Atkins! She tells him that the thing they have planned will go ahead on Larkhall’s upcoming open day.
Read the factsheet written by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies to accompany this episode:
Episode 14 - Release