Spike is in the lounge as Len storms in

Len - I see you have company? I want to talk alone Ferguson

Joan - Spike would you mind leaving us alone for a while?

Spike senses the tension

Spike - Is everything ok Joan?

Joan - Yes everything's fine. Len's just an old friend. Go on, go and make some tea or something

Spike leaves the room, closing the door behind her. Len sits down in a chair

Len - This is a nice reunion for us isn't it Ferguson

Joan - Say what you came to say and get out Murphy

Len - I know you set me up for Mason's rape Ferguson. I got Burke to admit to raping her, with a bit of persuasion from a few old mates down at Woodridge

Joan - Then that's good for you isn't it? You're names been cleared, what do you want from me?

Len shakes his head

Len - My name has not been cleared yet. The police won't rake that lying, raping toerags word for it. They need more. So it's confession time Ferguson, you're going to admit you set me up

Joan - And if I don't?

Len - I'll kill ya and ya know it

Joan - Get out...

Len tears out of his chair and hits Joan in the face

Len - I hand out the orders around here. Let's get to going...

He begins to drag Joan out of the room

Joan - Where are we going, Murphy?

Len - The police station of course

Spike is in the hallway as Len drags Joan out

Spike - Joan? What's going on?

Len - Keep out of this girl

Joan - It's fine, we're just going out for a while...

Len - Come on Ferguson, I'm not hanging around for a chat

Len opens the front door and pulls Joan out

Spike - Well when will you be back?

Len and Joan have gone, Spike looks concerned

The police station. Len pulls up in his car

Len - Remember what I said Ferguson, I don't want any crap, you're gonna tell them the whole truth or I'll kill ya

Len gets out of the car. Joan opens her door, gets out, and makes a run for it

Len catches her

Len - OH NO YOU DON'T!

Joan lashes out at Len who restrains her

Len - You stupid bastard Ferguson! I beat you once before remember, I can do it again!

Len leads Joan into the station

It's the following morning and Len is with Dwyer in his office

Len - So now my names been cleared.....I'm set up for some nice compensation for wrongful imprisonment. But I want more than that Mr Dwyer

Dwyer - Really and what else do you want Mr. Murphy?

Len - I want my job back as governor. Now that I have been cleared there is no reason why I can't return to the prison service is there

Dwyer flashes Len with a smile

Dwyer - Whilst the department is happy for you to have finally cleared your name we currently don't have any vacancies for governors. Now I am happy to offer you back a job as an officer, a senior officer of course...

Len - I want to be governor of Blackmoor

Dwyer - That's impossible, Mr Preston.....

Len - Mr Preston is as corrupt as they come. Once I hand over the evidence I have gathered against him you will surely see that he needs to be fired immediately...and who else would be better suited to take his place?

Exterior shot of police station

Inside Joan is with inspector Grace

Grace - We're releasing you on bail Ferguson. These are serious charges, I guess you know that. A date will be set for you to answer to a court for these charges. We'll be in touch and in the meantime I'm sure I don't need to remind you that you must not leave the state

Joan - Yes I know inspector

Joan's place

Spike knocks on her bedroom door

Spike - Joan are you in there? Joan

Spike goes in to find the room empty. She looks worried. Suddenly the backdoor is kicked in and Clive bursts in. Spike screams as he runs up and grabs her

Clive - Shut up Marsh! Don't make a sound. We can do this the easy way or the hard way

Blackmoor prison

Malcolm is led away in handcuffs as Dwyer and Len watch on

Malcolm turns to the police officers

Malcolm - Let me have a quick word with Mr. Murphy eh fellas?

Policeman - Ok Preston but no funny business ok

They let Malcolm go and he goes to talk to Len privately

Malcolm - You bastard Murphy, I looked after you, protected you from the other inmates at Woodridge, they would have killed you and this is the way you repay me?

Len chuckles

Len - Let's just say I always knew that one day it might come in handy so I gathered as much as I could against you...life's a bastard and so am i

Clive produces a packet of heroin

Clive - This time you will take an overdose Marsh, no fighting it this time

Spike - Why do you want to do that bastard's dirty work for him?

Clive - The money Marsh, the money. The sort of money he is offering me one doesn't turn down

Spike - I can offer you more to expose Preston

Clive - Don't waste my time, I know you don't have a pot to piss in...I'm so sorry Marsh if it's any consolation it's nothing personal.

Spike suddenly lashes out

Clive - Don't be a fool, I said we can do this the easy way or the hard way

Spike backs away into a corner of the kitchen and grabs a knife

Spike - We'll have to do it the hard way then won't we

Clive - Don't be a fool Spike...c'mon give me the knife.

Spike - If you think I'm gonna lay down and let you kill me you're crazy

Clive - c'mon Marsh, you know you ain't gonna use that thing, you know you're not a killer, just give up while you still have some dignity, accept what's gonna happen to you...

With one swift movement, Spike slashes Clive's throat from ear to ear

Exterior shot of Wentworth.

Inside Janice is at her desk as the office phone rings, she picks it up

Janice - Yes?

It's Pat Slattery on the reception phone

Pat - Governor, there is an outside call for you from Malcolm Preston, would you like to take it?

Janice - Yes please Pat

Pat - One moment

Pat connects the call

Malcolm - Jan love I had to call you urgently

Janice - Why what's wrong? it's not Tommy, is it?

Malcolm - No, I dropped him at school as usual on the way in, no problems there. Look I'm afraid I'm in a spot of bother love, I've been arrested. I'm in police custody

Janice looks alarmed

The governor's office at Blackmoor

Dwyer and Len are sharing a whisky

Dwyer - May I take this opportunity to welcome you back into the prison service Len, you were a fine officer and I am sure you will be a fine governor for Blackmoor

Len sits back in his chair and lights a cigar

Len - Indeed I will be. I can run this place better than Craven, Leach or Preston ever could. I know how to keep prisoners inline

Dwyer - I have every confidence in you

Len - To think this time yesterday I had nothing and here I am back in a governors chair where I belong

Joan's place

Spike is sitting on the floor sobbing. Clive is lying nearby in a pool of blood. Joan comes in through the front door and stops dead in her tracks

Joan - What the hell happened here?

Spike - Where have you been? you've been gone all night

Joan - I had some business to attend to down at the police station....so you going to tell me what the hell has happened?

Spike is crying

Spike - He was gonna kill me, Joan, I had to kill him, I had no choice

The staffroom

Pat comes in to find Janice crying. Janice quickly wipes the tears away and pretends to be ok

Pat - What's wrong governor?

Janice - Nothing Mrs Slattery, why should anything be wrong?

Pat - It's just you seem a bit upset that's all...

Janice - I have had some bad news Mrs Slattery

Pat - I'm sorry to hear that, anything I can help with?

Janice - My fiance, the now ex-governor of Blackmoor, is going to prison on remand for corruption

Pat - Oh...well if there's anything...

Janice snaps

Janice - Don't be stupid woman there is nothing anyone can do is there! Just get on with your job. Helping me run this prison to the best of your ability is all the help you can ever give me

Pat - Yes of course governor

Janice leaves the room

Joan's place

Spike - That's it then isn't it. I'm going down for murder. That's mine and Marty's future down the drain

Joan is about to say something when there is a knock at the door, both women are panicked by it

Spike - Are you expecting someone?

Joan - No.....

Marty calls out from outside

Marty - Margaret it's me, are you in there?

Spike - Oh god don't let him in Joan please, I can't let him see what I have done

Joan - Just keep calm Spike, let me handle this

Joan opens the door slightly and pops her head around

Marty - Oh hello Joan....is Margaret there, please?

Joan - No Marty I'm sorry she isn't

Marty - Well where is she? I thought we agreed it wasn't safe for her to go out and about on her own while Preston is after her

Joan - I'm afraid she snuck off in the night Mr. Jackson, I have no idea where she went. Maybe you could go and have a look for her?

Marty is already backing away

Marty - Yes I'll try and find her, damn it why has she done this?

Joan - Let me know when you find her

Marty - I will.

Marty gets in his car and drives away. Joan closes the door and returns to Spike

Spike - Thanks Joan..it's gonna be hard enough for him when he finds out I'm back inside, I didn't want him having to come in here and see this mess as well

Spike stands up and picks up the phone

Spike - Well I suppose I should get the pigs over, no point putting it off

Joan - Hold your horses a minute Spike...I have a plan that might just get you off the hook

Spike looks intrigued

At Wentworth, the women are at lunch. Bea and Lizzie sit beside Chrissie who promptly stands up to move seats

Bea - Chrissie wait, can't we talk love

Lizzie - Hear Bea out Chris eh

Chrissie reluctantly sits back down

Chrissie - Say what ya have to say Bea and make it quick...

Bea - I understand you're upset with me, angry with me. I can't blame you, not after what Murray did to Elizabeth. But this wasn't the same Chrissie I promise you that. Murray planned to kill Elizabeth, he wanted to kill her and he knew what he was doing. But I didn't want to kill that boy, I wanted Ferguson, no one else, he got in the way and it all happened so fast, it was a moment of madness, the three of us struggling over the gun and it went off

Chrissie - Ok so maybe you didn't want to kill the boy but you did and now you think it is something to be proud of

Bea looks utterly ashamed

Bea - I can't deny I feel pleased I got the freak. I wish it hadn't been like this but it is and I can't change it now, I can't bring the kid back to life. Maybe I'm a monster for feeling like this but I'm glad I got her...you have to admit she deserved to pay for everything she did to us all

Chrissie - Yeah ok, I agree on that

Bea - So mates?

Chrissie is unsure

Bea - You have to believe that I didn't intend to kill the kid

Chrissie - I do...

Bea - So? Forgive me?

Chrissie -maybe..oh .look Bea, this is too much for me to deal with right now. You'll have to give me time to get my head around it all, I'm sorry Bea but that's the way it is

Bea nods

Bea - Fair enough love

Bea gets up

Bea - I'll find somewhere else to sit

Lizzie goes to get up

Bea - No Lizzie you stay with Chrissie, keep her company

Bea moves off

Lizzie - Bea don't want you to think badly of her love

Chrissie - I know Lizzie, ok I bleeding know. But I need some time that's all, I am still dealing with what happened to Elizabeth

Joan's place

Spike is standing looking stunned

Spike - You want to take the blame for me?

Joan nods her head

Joan - Yes

Spike - But why? You'll go down for murder?

Joan - With a bit of luck I will go down for manslaughter, not murder, I will tell them he broke in and attacked me, I will tell them I was scared for my life

She points to the backdoor

Joan - There is the proof he broke in

Spike - But even if you can get off on manslaughter you will still do time? Why do that for me?

Joan - Because I have been trying to figure out a way to get back inside so I can fix Smith haven't i. Seems to me the job's been done for me, this is a perfect way don't you see

Spike - But Joan I can't let you take the blame for me...

Joan - Yes you can...

She picks the knife up and wipes it with a kitchen cloth and then takes a good hold of it in her hands

Joan - Now your fingerprints are no longer on the knife, mine are all over it

Joan puts the knife down again

Joan - It's best if you aren't here when the cops arrive Spike...so I think you best go to Marty's place

Joan leads Spike to the backdoor

Spike - But what will I tell Marty? He'll wonder why I left here when we all agreed on me staying

Joan - Tell him we fell out and you had to leave here, I don't know, tell him anything...

Spike - Thanks Joan, I owe you big time

Joan - I'm not just doing this for you remember. I have my own reasons too, you owe me nothing you have already done me a favour, we have done each other a favour so we are just about even I reckon...now go

Spike surprises Joan with a warm hug and then rushes off

Joan waits until she has gone and then picks up the telephone and dials for the police

Mandy and Brumby are doing a drugs deal in the corridor as Bea is coming along

Bea - Don't mind me will ya ladies

Bea stands to watch

Mandy - Yeah? Can I help ya? Want something do ya?

Bea - Nah love, just wanted to see what's going on. I don't like drugs you know, wouldn't have this type of thing going on when I was top dog

Mandy - Yeah well ya ain't top dog now are ya and this is none of ya business. I don't think Roo will appreciate you poking your nose in either

The drug deal completed the inmate walks off with a spring in her step

Bea - No I suppose you're right there Slater

Mandy turns to Brumby and hands her a stash of drugs and the takings

Mandy - Take these to the hiding place, don't pinch anything cos I'll know and you know what Roo will do to ya

Brumby - No worries Mandy

Brumby leaves and Bea watches her go

Mandy - I'd love to stand around chatting Smith but got people to see

Bea - Same here

Mandy - Catch ya around then

Mandy walks off and Bea goes off in the direction Brumby went

Joan's place

Sergeant Johnson and a swam of police are there

Johnson has his notepad out

Johnson - So you say he broke in and you had to defend yourself?

Joan - Yes, how many more times must I say it?

Johnson - Just getting things clear Miss Ferguson that's all

Inspector Grace arrives

Grace - Well Joan, twice in the one-day eh...no wonder I get heartburn!..have to take these bloody things

He pops a Rennie tablet in his mouth and turns to Johnson

Grace - What's the story Sergeant?

Johnson leads him into the kitchen to look at the body

Johnson - This is Clive Anderson, a support worker at Oakwood Drug referral unit. Miss Ferguson claims he broke in here, attacked her and she defended herself by slashing his throat with a knife

Grace - I see.....weren't you a resident at Oakwood for a while Joan?

Joan - Indeed I was yes and that must have been how he got my address

Grace - And any idea why he broke in here?

Joan shrugs

Joan - To rob me I imagine, I can't think why else can you inspector?

Brumby is strolling along when Bea comes up behind her and drags her into a cell and pins her to a bed

Brumby - What the hell is this Smith?

Bea - I should beat you black and blue for this, but since you're only one of the monkeys, not the organ grinder I see no point in that. I'll save my energy for Morgan

Bea raids Brumby's pockets for the drugs and takings

Bea - I'll just take these and let you get off

Brumby = What you can't take those. Roo will...

Bea - You can tell Roo that if she has a problem she can come and see me, in fact, I'll be waiting for her

Brumby leaves the room

The laundry.

Roo is on the press. Brumby rushes in

Brumby - Roo, it's Smith, she took all the drugs and the takings

Roo - What the hell are you on about Tucker?

Brumby - She ambushed me in a corridor and took the lot, I couldn't stop her, she's too strong for me

Roo grabs Brumby by the throat

Roo - This better not be a lie to cover yourself for stealing them for yourself Tucker! You always did have light fingers at Blackmoor!

Brumby - It's no lie Roo, I swear. I know what you'd do to me if I ever tried that trick don't i

Roo - Where is smith now?

Brumby - In her dorm

Roo turns to Mandy

Roo - Come with me Slater

They begin to leave

Vicki - Hey what about the press?

Roo - You can have a go on that McPherson

Vicki - Yeah, hey cool!

Roo and Mandy are gone. Vicki goes to get on the press

Brumby - Hey how about letting me have a go on it?

Vicki - Roo said me didn't she Tucker

Vicki steps on the press and Brumby sulks

Pat and Meg are in reception

Pat - You hear about Mr Preston Meg?

Meg - Yes and it's shocking isn't it. Of course, I never met the men but people spoke highly of him

Pat - Yes and of course the governor is cut up about it too, he's her fiance remember

Meg looks like she had forgotten that

Meg - Oh yes of course...

Pat - Between you and me I caught Miss Raymond crying in the staffroom earlier

Meg - Really? Oh dear, perhaps when I get a moment I should go and see how she is

Two officers lead a new prisoner in

Officer - New arrival for you ladies

Pat and Meg turn around. They are both surprised by the new prisoner. It's Joan

GATESLAM

PART 2

Joan is stood on the white line

Meg looks at the charge sheet

Meg - You have been remanded into custody to await trial for murder charges, is that correct

Joan - Yeah that's correct Morris Only it was manslaughter wasn't it.

Meg - Well you'll get your chance in court

Joan - I guess this must really make your day seeing me back in here? You can have a good laugh at my expense now eh?