Episode 7.1
Written by Phil Ford
Produced by Rachel Snell
Directed by Julian Holmes
Fenner is shivering in his prison bunk when a PO opens his cell door and orders him out of bed, telling him that just because he used to be a PO, he shouldn’t expect any favours. Fenner’s fellow inmates are delighted with the prospect of getting one over an ex-screw and don’t waste any time in cornering him in the shower. Beaten, bruised and most probably violated, he is soon begging to be put on the Vulnerable Prisoners Unit. However Fenner quickly finds that life on the VPU is not to his liking. He may be safe, but even regular beatings seem a preferable alternative to having to mix with paedophiles and rapists, especially when he begins to fear that he’s identifying with them.
On the other side of the bars Di is riled by the news that former G-Wing Governor, Frances Myers, has been given her own prison and that Neil will be taking over direct control of G-Wing. As Neil outlines his plan for a new era of respect between POs and inmates, newcomers Janine Nebeski and Arun Parmar are led onto the wing. Janine is still furious with Arun for confessing to their credit card scam and makes it very clear that she’ll get her revenge sooner rather than later.
Darlene is still worrying about the voodoo doll, but Natalie puts her mind at ease when she points out that if anyone, it looks like Bev. Although too canny to fall for such superstitious nonsense, Bev is wounded when Phyl pointed out that she and the doll share a certain edge of roughness. Phyl later relents when she sees how upset Bev is and cajoles the Julies into giving her a makeover. Phyl and Bev continue to have fun with the doll, scaring Hollamby witless in the process. Now with a sore neck and a gammy leg, Hollamby goes to see Dr Nicholson for a check-up and is hurt by his unsympathetic attitude.
Tina is having a hard time adjusting to freedom and life on the outside and is soon looking for ways to return to the safety of G-Wing. In desperation, she sets fire to a shop and is sent straight back to Larkhall on remand. Meanwhile, the Julies are appalled when they see Ben emerging from Natalie’s cell with a big smile on his face – they thought that he was Tina’s man. They report the matter to Neil who quickly discovers that Ben isn’t who he says he is. Ben is later caught in the middle of yet another close encounter with Natalie and dragged away.
Fenner has no choice but to confess his guilt to Di. Luckily, she’s that desperate to hang on to her husband that she’s willing to give him a second chance, and make herself an accomplice by clearing his lock-up of incriminating evidence. Fenner arrives back on the VPU and is surprised to come face to face with Ben. When he overhears Ben regaling the other inmates with details of his sexual exploits – including the time he failed to seduce Karen – Fenner’s ears prick up. Could this be his chance to pin the hit-and-run on someone else with a grudge against Karen? He steals Ben’s hairbrush and an insole from his trainers and gives them to Di. Under protest, she buys a blonde wig, covers it in Ben’s DNA, and then plants it in his van.
Natalie and Darlene are running a protection racket on G-Wing. The inmates are quick to cough up, all apart from Janine that is. Natalie can take what she wants from the other women, but she’d better not go near anything of Arun’s – Janine’s the only person entitled to steal her things. Despite her bluster, Janine’s singing from a different hymn sheet when Natalie confronts her, meekly agreeing to pay her dues before begging to be allowed onto the payroll. But Natalie wants to make an example of Janine and does it by stabbing her in the eyeball with a long pin.
After receiving an anonymous tip-off, the police swoop on Ben’s van and discover the wig and hairbrush that she has planted there. Ben is stunned when he is arrested for the hit-and-run. In the face of this new evidence, Fenner’s solicitor has applied for a discharge order… his client is now free to go.