Episode 7.4
Written by Phil Ford
Produced by Rachel Snell
Directed by Lance Kneeshaw
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Outside the heavy gates of Larkhall a swarm of press await the arrival of 18 year old Laura Canning, who’s been convicted of brutally stabbing her mother to death. Her sister Emily is still missing, presumed dead, and the police are convinced that Laura knows where she is. However, without proof, their hands are tied. The other inmates are shocked to hear that meek little Laura stabbed her mother twenty-seven times – how could such a quiet girl have committed such a ghastly act? Janine is more convinced when she sees the disturbing contents of Laura’s sketch pad.
Di is back at work after her suspension and her first task is to apologise to Natalie for hitting her. Natalie milks the situation for all she’s worth and Di storms off with the cheers of the inmates ringing in her ears. Now that Natalie’s happy, Fenner can rest comfortably again, well, sort off... he’s off for a hasty vasectomy – anything to prevent Di getting in the ‘family way’. Although the operation leaves him feeling sore, it doesn’t affect his roving eye. Natalie is fuming when she realises that she may have a rival for Fenner’s affections in the ultra feminine and demure form of Arun.
Colin is becoming more and more concerned about Laura and when one morning he opens her cell and finds her sleeping underneath her bunk, he makes a concerted effort to help. He’s convinced that Laura needs proper psychiatric care and promises to get it for her – if she’ll talk to him. Laura reveals that she was bullied and mentally abused by her sister Emily from a young age. Colin presses for information on Emily’s whereabouts and Laura admits that her sister is alive, but refuses to tell him where. In another part of London, Emily is tied up inside a derelict and deserted building.
Phyl and Bev’s cake scam looks like it could be about to hit the skids. Tina’s demanding more booze, Denise is demanding more cakes, and lecherous Frank is demanding more than just a bit of a fumble in exchange for his cream buns. This time, Bev flatly refuses to do the honours and so Phyl is forced to glam herself up. But just how low will she sink? Meanwhile, Hollamby is ecstatic – Dr Nicholson has proposed – and to seal their relationship, he has decided to move in to her palatial Hampstead home. Hollamby blushes with excitement, determined to show him a wonderful time, but will she realise that it’s just her cash he wants his hands on?
The Julies proudly open the doors to their new hair and beauty salon. Arun is first in the queue for a spot of pampering but ends up squirming with embarrassment when the Julies spot the five o’clock shadow on her upper lip. They offer to sort it out for her – a bit of waxing will sort it out, no bother – but Arun scuttles away. Next through the doors are Natalie and Darlene, but rather than paying like everyone else, they want their treatments for free – or else! The Julies seem happy to oblige, but revenge is a dish best served with bleach, as Darlene discovers when her newly dyed hair starts falling out in clumps.
Laura finally agrees to reveal the whereabouts of her sister – she will take the police to Emily, but only if Colin goes with her. Laura is led out to where the police are waiting. Although she trusts Colin, she draws the line at handcuffs and threatens to call the whole thing off. Colin realises that he has no choice but to agree to this demand if he wants to save Emily. They arrive at the derelict building in the nick of time and Emily is found alive. However, it soon becomes clear that she has learnt nothing from her ordeal and she viciously lays into Laura who is unable to take any more. All Colin can do is watch as she jumps to her death.