Episode 7.11
Written by Phil Ford
Produced by Rachel Snell
Directed by Declan O'Dwyer
The atmosphere at Larkhall is euphoric – Jim Fenner is dead! Police detectives DI Hayes and DS Hook are assigned to the case, but as they examine the bloody scene in the hanging cell, it becomes clear to them both that the list of potential suspects is endless. They begin their investigation by interviewing the person who found the body, Di. She describes the scene in the hanging cell, but conceals fact that she washed and changed her bloody uniform before sounding the alarm. She also tells Hook and Hayes that Fenner was having an affair with Natalie, an accusation that the inmate herself is quick to deny.
All of the inmates are searched and the onus of the investigation shifts to Pat when a sharpened garden cane is found concealed about her person. Pat readily admits that she was carrying the cane because of Fenner, but rather as a way of defending herself against further physical assaults. Desperate to get Pat off the hook, Sheena steals Darlene and Janine’s novel and gives it to the police. The two inmates are taken into separate rooms for questioning and immediately blame each other. Although Hayes now knows who fired the poison dart that was found in Fenner’s neck, he still has no idea who dealt the fatal blow.
Enter new Governing Governor, Joy Masterton. She’s ex-army and hard as nails and starts as she means to go on by demoting Neil to G-Wing Governor. She then places every single inmate on G-Wing on Basic regime. Pat is the first to clash with Joy and earns herself early morning calls at 5am followed by ice-cold showers until further notice. The inmates are then ordered to clean and tidy their cells in preparation for an inspection. Natalie is the only one who realises that sucking up to the new Number One is a wise move and tidies her cell with military precision. As a reward, she is allowed a TV in her cell.
A disgruntled Phyl returns to Larkhall, kicking herself for getting caught. Bev is overjoyed that her partner-in-crime is back, but soon sobers when Phyl breaks down in tears, unable to cope with the prospect of being back behind bars. Meanwhile, Natalie boasts about her upcoming outside visit, telling Pat that she will be spending her last night locked up in Larkhall. Pat can’t bring herself to grass on a fellow inmate, even one she despises, but maybe there’s another way she can foil Natalie’s plans.
Di is caught removing the bloody uniform from her locker. This is the break Hayes has been waiting for and he wastes no time in arresting her for Fenner’s murder. When the news of Di’s arrest filters down to the wing the following morning, Julie J shocks everyone by making a very public confession. Desperate to save her best mate, Julie S stands and also confesses, as does Pat, and then Sheena, Tina, Darlene and Bev. One by one, almost every inmate on G-Wing stands up and claims that they are the killer. Assuming that the whole thing is a warped practical joke, Joy orders an immediate lock up.
After steering Julie J back to the safety of their cell, Julie S is stunned when her friend makes another confession, this time giving a detailed account of Fenner’s murder. Unaware that they have arrested the wrong woman, Hayes and Hook lead Di away to a waiting police car.