Vera is stood on Meg's doorstep

Vera - Meg can I come in? I need to talk

Meg looks anxious

Meg - It's really not a good time right now Vera, perhaps I can meet you somewhere tomorrow?

Vera - But i need your help, Meg, Dan's kicked me out, i found out he was seeing someone else. I have nowhere to stay

Meg - Oh...

Ann enters the room from the bathroom

Ann - Meg, where are the spare...

Ann claps her eyes on Vera

Vera looks surprised and awkward

Vera - Oh hello Mrs Reynolds

Ann nods her head curtly

Ann - Hello Vera

Meg - Ann is staying here for a while Vera, so as you can it's best if you go, after...

Meg bows her head and examines the doormat

Vera - You don't have to say it, Meg, after what happened with Dan, yes I know. I'm sorry I bothered you

Vera turns to go

Meg - Vera wait, I can lend you some money if you need some

Vera (bitter) - Just forget it Meg

Vera walks away

Cindy is laying on the bed crying as Mandy leans over and kisses her on the cheek

Mandy - That was really nice princess... let's keep it between ourselves though eh

Mandy gets back in her own bed and lights a cigarette

Mandy - And in the future don't try and fight me either, you will never win

Meg and Ann are alone again

Ann - What did she want?

Meg - She wanted a place to stay apparently Dan threw her out, she found out he's been seeing someone else

Ann - Well I knew that would happen, I wish I could say I feel sorry for her but I don't

Meg - That's understandable, still I didn't like to turn her away like that Ann, but I know she can't stay here while you're here, it would be impossible

Ann - Where do you think she'll go now?

Meg - I have no idea...poor Vera, she never has much luck

Ann - She brings it all on herself

Meg sighs

Meg - yes I suppose she does really

Janice and Ian are cuddled up on the sofa with a bottle of wine

Ian - Are you coming back soon Jan? Fletcher is really settling in behind that chair now

Janice - You know I want to come back, but it's like I told you who is going to look after Tommy while I'm at work?

Ian - How is Maureen? Any improvement?

Janice signs and shakes her head

Janice - Absolutely none

The doorbell goes. Janice is annoyed

Janice - Oh who the hell is this at this time of the night?

Janice answers to find Vera stood there

Janice (surprised) - Vera? What do you want? Do you realize what time it is, I was going to go to bed soon

Vera - I need a place to stay Jan, please

Exterior shot of Wentworth in daytime

Inside Cindy is laying in bed as the bell sounds. Mandy gets up and lights a fag

Mandy - It's time to get up princess, that was the bell

Cindy still lies there

Mandy gets up and tips her mattress over sending her flying

Mandy - Are you ignoring me? I said its time to get up

Cindy - I didn't sleep a wink all night! I'm shattered

Mandy - Oh poor diddums!...make me some coffee!

Vera and Janice are eating breakfast

Vera - Thanks for letting me stay Jan, I have no idea where I would have gone otherwise

Janice - It's no bother at all Vera....how long are you intending on staying?

Vera - The thing is Jan I don't know, I'm homeless, no job, no money...I can't pay you any money for my keep right now, but I'm happy to help out around the house, look after Tommy for you, anything you need. Please don't kick me out, I don't want to be a nuisance but I'm facing the streets otherwise, you're my only hope

Janice - Alright Vera, calm down. Who said anything about kicking you out? You can stay as long as you like, as a matter of fact, it might just solve both our problems

Vera - Really? What are your problems then?

Janice - Well I really need someone to look after Tommy for me

Vera - What happened to Maureen?

Janice - It's a long story, I'll tell you about it later, right now I think it's time I got ready for work

Vera - I wanted to talk to you about that too

Janice - Go on?

Vera - I was hoping you could put in a good word for me with the department? Try and get me my job back...as an officer only I know...

Janice - I don't know if I can do that Vera, you blotted your copybook so badly after that bomb blast

Vera - I know but can't you try at least?

Janice - Yes Vera I can try....now can you look after Tommy for me while I'm at work? Pick him up from school, do all the things Maureen used to do?

Vera looks doubtful

Vera - I don't know, I'm not all that great with kids

Janice - But just now you said you were willing to help out with him?

Vera - I meant the occasional babysitting if you wanted a night out and stuff like that, I didn't mean full time

Janice - Yes well you want a place to stay for free, it's the least you can do. And I will try and get you back into the prison service in return too I promise

Vera nods her head

The women are in the shower block

Cindy and Mandy arrive, Cindy looks a wreck

Mandy - We'll wait for the others to go Princess

Kelly has overheard

Kelly - And why is that?

Mandy - None of your business Webster

Pauline is also listening

Pauline -You want to give Cindy the freezing shower don't you as you did to me

Mandy (angry) - Keep out of this Pauline! You are far too cocky for my liking these days

Kelly - Oh is that right? Pauline can say what she likes when she likes and so can i

A shower becomes free

Kelly - you go first Cindy, go on

Cindy - Oh but Pauline and you are first, no?

Kelly - Pauline and I can wait can't we Pauline

Pauline nods - Yes, I'm in no hurry for porridge this morning

Kelly - And Slater you can go next, Pauline and I will wait for you to finish

Mandy - You nosy bitches!

Mandy storms off

Kelly - HEY DON'T YOU WANT A SHOWER THIS MORNING YOU STINKER!

Mandy ignores them and carries on up the corridor

Pauline - She skips them a lot of the time anyway, she often smells

Kelly - Yeah I've noticed that, dirty bitch

Cindy gets in the shower

Cindy - Thanks for what you did but she'll take it out on me later now

Pauline - Why don't you have a word with the screws? Ask about changing cells?

Jim is behind the governor's desk doing paperwork as Janice comes in in a suit

Jim (surprised) - Miss Raymond? I wasn't expecting you...

Janice - Always been one for surprises me...thanks for keeping the seat warm for me ... I trust you have your uniform to hand?

Jim - Yes its in my locker

Janice - Good...go and change into it right away, please

Jim looks annoyed

Jim - As you wish governor

Jim leaves in a huff and Janice sits behind the desk and smirks

The dining room

Cindy is sitting with Pauline and Kelly. Mandy is sitting alone

Mandy - Hey Cindy, there's a seat over here. I would like a word

Kelly - Just ignore her

Cindy - Maybe I had best do as she asks...

Pauline - No love, you have to show her you won't let her push you around anymore. Trust me I know, I was her first victim

Cindy looks horrified

Cindy - You mean...oh my god, she forced you into it too? I thought I was the only one

Pauline - Forced me to serve as her slave you mean? Fetch for her, make her drinks? Yes she did that to me

Cindy shakes her head and sobs

Cindy - No not just that, I mean...

Cindy pauses

Kelly - You mean what? What else has she made you do Cindy?

Cindy shakes her head

Cindy - It doesn't matter

Mandy calls out again

Mandy - Get your butt here now princess, I want a nice friendly chat..come on

Cindy gets up and walks over to Mandy

Pauline and Kelly exchange concerned looks.....

.....Cindy is sitting with Mandy

Mandy - I don't think you should hang out with those two, princess, I don't like them

Cindy - But they are nice to me Mandy

Mandy - And I'm nice to you too, remember?

Mandy lays her hand on Cindy's. Cindy quickly pulls away

Mandy - You need to learn to be nice back, or I'll keep on hurting you

Matt is standing in front of Janice

Janice - So how are you settling in Brewer? I'm sorry I had to dash off like that on your first day

Matt - It's fine Governor, I know why you had to do that and I am so glad your son is ok. As it happens I am settling in really well as Mr Fletcher was my mentor at Beechmont, he has helped me settle in well, it helped me to see a familiar face. Mr. Fletcher is almost like a father to me

Janice - I am glad to hear that, but I am back now and I hope you will come to me if you have any problems too?

Matt nods his head

Matt - Yes I will

Janice - Good lad, now tell me lad, is Ballinger still in the pound?

Matt - Yes she is

Janice - good....go and get her and bring her here please, I wish to have a chat with her

Matt - yes governor

Matt leaves the room

Janice sits back in her chair with a grin on her face

Ann is done up in a suit ready to go out

Ann - I am so nervous Meg, I have butterflies in my stomach

Meg - That's natural on the first day in any new job

Ann - I've never felt this nervous before though...Blackmoor Meg? I'd be lying if i said it doesn't intimidate me a bit

Meg - Ann relax, you'll be fine. You're the governor remember, assert yourself from the start, don't let anyone intimidate you

Ann - Thanks Meg I'll try, what are you going to do with yourself today?

Meg - I'm starting my first day in my new job

Ann looks confused

Ann - New job?

Meg - At Spike's drug center, remember I told you about it

Ann - Oh yes of course

Meg - it's the opening today

Ann - Are you sure you're up to it?

Meg - Yes, I can't sit around here all day, I have to keep busy. If you're up for Blackmoor I feel sure I'm up for this

Ann - true, it will be far less challenging than Blackmoor, I almost wish I could join you there instead

Meg - You'd best be off Ann, don't want to be late on your first day

The women are lined up for muster. Ian and Colleen are present

Colleen - Laundry, Gibson, McPherson, Slater, Balzano, Young, Webster. Kitchen, Tucker, Matthews, and Smith

Pauline and Bea begin to move off

Pauline(to Cindy) - Come on love... I'll show you where the kitchen is

Pauline begins to lead Cindy away as Mandy walks up and grabs her

Mandy - I want a word in private...

Pauline - Bea and I will wait

Cindy nods

Mandy leads Cindy into a corner out of Pauline or Bea's earshot

Mandy - Remember what I said?

Mandy taps her mouth

Mandy - Keep that shut in front of nosy Pauline

Cindy nods her head

Colleen is nearby with Ian

Colleen - Slater! Matthews! When you've finished your little gossip perhaps you'll head off to your allocated work areas

Mandy - Sorry Mrs Powell, we're off now

As Mandy and Cindy part company Cindy leaves with Pauline and Bea.

Mandy swaggers off in the other direction. Colleen and Ian watch them go

Ian -alone at last eh

Colleen - You didn't come round last night, I was hoping you would

Ian - Yes I know Colleen, I'm sorry. I was tired that's all, how about tonight?

Colleens face lights up

Colleen - Yes I'd like that

Ruth is with Janice. Matt is also there

Janice - Wait outside please Mr Brewer, I would like to talk to Ballinger alone

Matt - As you wish governor

Matt leaves the room

Ruth takes a seat

Janice - I did not give you permission to sit Ballinger

Ruth - If you want to talk to me then I'm sitting down otherwise forget it, and there are a few things I have to say to you too, I don't intend to stand

Janice - Oh and what have you to say to me?

Ruth - I would like a few answers, Raymond.....

Janice - Answers to what?

Ruth - Firstly did you set me up to take the blame for what Webster tried to do to your son? And secondly, did you give the women my file? Gibson had it and tells me you give it to her...I already know about Dwyer and the photos

Ruth -Yes, on both counts

Ruth is fuming

Ruth - Why did you do that Raymond? You would rather let Webster get away with it?

Janice - Webster won't get away with anything I assure you of that. But right now I'm focusing on destroying you...I hear Arnie sent his solicitor in the other day to hand you divorce papers? How tragic

Ruth - What do you know about that?

Janice smirks

Janice - Everything...I had a little chat with Arnie you see, made him realize that he should divorce you. Mr Pendlebury really was most cooperative once I showed him the check

Ruth - So you were behind it all? I might have known....you won't get away with this Raymond!

Janice smirks

Janice - Seems to me I already have

Ruth - You needn't look smug, I'm going to see to it that you pay dearly

Janice - And how will you do that? No one wants to know you anymore, all your power, all your contacts, all of them are gone

Ruth - We'll just see about that won't we

Janice calls out

Janice - Mr Brewer in here, please

Matt enters

Janice - Ballinger can go back to H Block now

GATESLAM

PART 2

The kitchen

Cindy is stirring a pot of food while staring into space and not keeping her eye on the job

Pauline - Cindy love, that is going to burn in a second!

Cindy - What?.....oh yeah sorry

Pauline - You're a million miles away Cindy, what's the matter

Cindy - It's nothing, just this place you know, I'm not used to it

Pauline - Yes I know what you mean, it does take a while to adjust. Are you sure there's nothing else wrong, Slater, perhaps?

Cindy - No everything is fine I promise

Bea is nearby acting shifty

Bea - Pauline help me take this stuff out to the bins will ya

Pauline - Yes ok...

Pauline helps Bea take 4 black bags outside.

Bea - I'm escaping in a minute

Pauline looks stunned

Pauline - Escaping how?

Bea - On top of the garbage truck, it will be here any minute, I need you to create a diversion while I climb on top

Pauline - So you're really going ahead with this?

Bea - Yes I am. I have already missed out on 11 years of her life, I want to be at her party

Pauline - Where will you hide tonight? The party isn't until tomorrow

Bea - I have a place to go Pauline don't worry about that

Exterior shot of the drug referral unit

Inside Spike, Graham, Dwyer, and various others are present as Meg arrives

Spike - Meg, you made it I'm glad...would you like a glass of champagne?

Meg - I'd love one thanks

The kitchen

Jason enters the room, Cindy is there alone

Jason - Where on earth are the others? I only left for a minute

Cindy - Oh I think they took some rubbish out Mr. Stephens

Jason - Well they better hurry back in

Cindy - Sorry to be a bother but can we talk for a bit

Jason (irritated)- We are running very behind here... I need to get the lunch ready

Cindy - Can't we talk just for five minutes

Jason - What about?

Cindy begins to cry

Cindy - I hate this place, I'm not coping well at all. I really need someone to talk to and you have such a kind face...please I'm terrified in here

Jason looks sad, he hugs Cindy to comfort her

Jason - This place terrifies me too and I only work here, cannot imagine what it's like to have to stay here all the time

Cindy - It's awful, absolutely awful.. I'll be honest with you I saw one of your knives earlier and was tempted to slit my wrists with it that is how bad I felt. I held it across my wrist for a moment, i was going to do it but then I chickened out, I am such a wimp, I hate pain you see...

Jason looks horrified

Jason - You must not think like that Cindy, not ever

Cindy - Yes I know

Jason - Promise me in the future if you feel like that come and talk to me or another member of staff about it

Cindy - Yes I will...I was right about you, you're kind

Cindy plants a kiss on Jason's lips, Jason backs away in surprise

The garbage truck arrives and the garbage boy, a scruffy-looking lad in his early 20s gets out

Pauline rushes over, she noticeably only has one dangly earring in her ear, the other ear is earring free

Pauline - Wait, love! You can't empty the bins yet

Garbage boy - Why not?

Pauline - I think I lost an earring in one of the bags

Garbage boy - So now you want to search through all the bags for it do you?

Pauline - Oh yes, if you don't mind?

Garbage boy - Sorry lady but I do mind, I have a lot of ground to cover today, I don't have time to mess around hunting through bags of rubbish for an earring

Bea is climbing on top of the truck

Pauline - But this earring is important to me, my late husband brought it for me

Garbage boy - Then you should have taken better care of it lady

Bea is on top of the garbage truck laying flat out, out of sight

Pauline - Well perhaps you're right, this will teach me a lesson

The garbage boy nods his head

Garbage boy - So can I get on with my job now?

Pauline - Yes young man, go ahead. I'm sorry I wasted my time

A tipsy Spike is making a speech

Spike - I am so glad this day has come, I know Marsh house will be a success and it will help hundreds of women

Spike giggles

Spike-It was not my idea to name it Marsh house I promise, I feel it seems very pompous to name something after yourself. It was in fact Graham who came up with the name

Graham - Yes that's right, Margaret protested but I insisted. This was her idea, she pushed the department for it, she put in all the hard work. Marsh house seemed appropriate and the department agreed

Dwyer takes a sip on his champagne and peers at his watch looking bored

Spike - Now I would all like to introduce you to Meg Morris, she is the first member of staff I took on here and we would both agree it was unexpected as we haven't always seen eye to eye but now I feel it's the start of a good working relationship. So I would like to raise a toast to new beginnings

Spike holds out her glass to Meg to toast. They toast

Meg - Cheers

Pauline watches the garbage truck drive out the gate with Bea on the roof. She takes the second earring out of her pocket and slips it in with a grin

Pauline (to herself) - Enjoy the party Bea

Pauline goes back inside......

......Inside Pauline finds Cindy and Jason all over each other in the kitchen. Pauline looks shocked

Jason backs away like a rabbit in the headlights

Cindy - Don't worry about Pauline Jas, she'll keep a secret

Pauline - Yes far be it for me to interfere

Jason - Yes well we must press on with the lunch now or Raymond will be down on us all like a ton of bricks......Tucker! Where have you been? You were gone ages? Where is smith?

Spike and Meg are in the garden again by the pond

Meg - I wanted to get you alone Margaret, I have some rather bad news for you

Spike looks worried