Thelma quickly shows Bea inside and closes the door. They stand in the hallway

Thelma - Did you get some sort of day release or something? Don't take this the wrong way but I am surprised they granted that to you given you are on remand for murder!

Bea chuckles

Bea - No Thelma i escaped

Thelma looks horrified

Thelma - Escaped? Oh, surely not...

Bea - Exciting isn't it

Chloe looks delighted

Chloe - Yeah it's awesome! I'm so glad you're here Nan

Bea - I'm glad I'm here too darling, I felt I have missed out on enough already, I didn't want to miss this too

Bea hands Chloe a parcel

Bea - I made you a present too...go on open it

Chloe opens it, it is a jumper

Bea - It's nothing special I know but it's the best I could come up with from prison

Chloe - It's ace thanks...come on, come and meet my friends and we have plenty of food!

Chloe leads Bea into the living room full of people

Thelma walks in behind looking uneasy

Ann is in a cafe with Ben

Ann - You look dreadful, are you looking after yourself?

Ben - I'm fine....I haven't come here to discuss my health. I came to tell you about Pip's funeral.... I've got it all arranged, it's tomorrow

Ann looks shocked

Ann - Really? That soon?

Ben -Yes, is there a problem with that?

Ann - No of course not, I wasn't expecting it to be so soon that's all. I thought the police might want to hold onto the body for a while longer...for their inquires

Ben - Why would they want to do that? They know how the culprits were

Ann - Now listen here, Ben!....

Ben cuts her off

Ben - Save it, I get that he is your son and you want to defend him but just don't bother trying with me I don't want to know

Ann sighs

Ann - Is she being buried or cremated?

Ben - She has already been cremated so there isn't much left to do, just burn what is left. She wanted to be cremated anyway

Ann - Must you be so crude about it Ben?

Ben - It's a pretty crude situation wouldn't you say? What's the point in putting it nicely?

Woodridge prison

Paul is waiting in a room as Inspector Ross comes in

Ross - Good afternoon Reynolds, how are you?

Paul- Bloody awful, how do you expect?

Ross nods his head grimly

Ross - Yes I know prison is not a nice place sonny....still you could get a massively reduced sentence if you own up now and save us the expense of a trial...that is what I am here for Reynolds, to ask if you have thought anymore on what I said to you if you have anything new to tell me I'm all ears

Paul sits back in his chair and shakes his head in anger

Ross - Your fiance isn't coping very well with prison you know Reynolds...I just received a call, bad news I'm afraid

Paul (worried) -Bad news? What sort of bad news? What has happened to her?

Ross - Relax, son, relax! She's ok now, the hospital managed to save her, but it could have been much worse

Paul - Why? Tell me what happened damn it!

Ross - She slit her own wrists son, she attempted suicide

Paul - Oh god...

Ross smirks

Ross - But it's like I told you, she survived so it's alright isn't it.....seems rough though son, she will have to go back to prison once she recovers and she clearly can't handle it in there

Paul - Look I told you, let her go!

Ross shakes his head in sorrow

Ross - And I told you she's a suspect, I can't let her go

Paul - But she didn't do anything!

Ross - Sorry son, my hands are tied

Paul - At least let me see her, visit her

Ross - Oh I don't know about that, you're a prisoner, I can't just take you out of here whenever you fancy it

Paul is crying

Paul - But I must see her, please

Ross - Yes maybe you should see her Reynolds, it might do you both some good

The party

Bea is having a great time with Chloe, dancing to an Abba track

Thelma is standing with a man who looks the same age as her, with a bald head and quite overweight

The man is studying Bea with suspicion

The man - Who is that woman love? I have never seen her before

Thelma - That's Bea Donald

Donald looks amazed

Donald - Really? But I thought...

Thelma - Apparently she's escaped

Donald - SHE'S WHAT?!

Thelma - Keep calm dear, there is no point in causing a scene is there, Chloe seems happy enough to see her. We'll just wait for the party to end and ask her to go, I'm sure she isn't here to cause trouble Don

Donald - I bloody hope not, and yes she had better leave quietly after the party

Wentworth General

Cindy is laying in a bed with her wrists in bandages as Inspector Ross leads Paul in, Paul has his hands handcuffed behind his back

Cindy (surprised) - Paul!

Paul - Hey darling...

Ross - You have five minutes with her son

Paul - Is that all?

Ross - I shouldn't have taken you out of Woodridge at all, think yourself lucky you're getting this time

Paul - Can't you take my cuffs off? They are hurting my wrists...

Ross - You must be kidding lad! Come on, you don't have long here, stop wasting time

Paul sits beside Cindy

Paul - Why darling?

Cindy - Why what?

Paul - What do you think? Why did you try to kill yourself?

Cindy is crying

Cindy - I hate that place, Paul, I can't go back there

Paul - But it can't be that bad can it surely?

Cindy - It is, I can't bear it. If I go back I will try again, I'd rather be dead than go back there

Paul - You don't mean that...

Cindy - Yes I do

Paul - But look, love, we are both innocent, right? So just tough it out a while, soon the truth will come out and we will both be free to carry on with our lives, plan our future, we still have a wedding to organize

Cindy shakes her head

Cindy - It's hopeless Paul, it could take years for the truth to come out, that's if it ever does. You hear of people serving 20 years for crimes they never did. Well, I can't do that, no way. I can't even handle a couple of days in that place, how will I handle years and years?

Paul - But it won't be years and years, I promise you...

Cindy - Even if the truth does come out eventually it's not going to be soon enough for me. I am still going to be sent back there later today or tomorrow and I'm terrified

Ross - Times up son

Paul - Look can't I have a bit longer, please?

Ross - No I'm sorry...come on now sonny

Paul stands up

Paul - I love you, sweetheart, please be strong, don't give up

Cindy - I mean what I say, if I go back there I'm going to try again and again until I am dead

Paul - Cindy, please...

Ross - Come on son

Paul - Look can't you see I need to talk to her a bit more? Look at the state shes in

Ross - I'd love to help out but no can do sonny

Ross leads Paul out to the corridor

Paul looks at him bitterly

Paul - If she dies it's your fault

Ross - My fault? How did you come to that conclusion?

Paul - You're the one who locked her up for a crime she didn't commit. She can't cope with prison, she needs to get out

Ross - Then you know what you need to do, don't you son?

Paul looks horrified, he bows his head and grimaces

Ross - Well Reynolds?

Paul grimaces some more and nods his head

Paul - I'll confess to the crime, Sir...

Ross smirks

Ross - Good lad, you know its the right thing to do

Paul loses his cool

Paul - BUT YOU BETTER DAMN WELL LET HER GO, SIR!

Ross - We will sonny, we will. Now let's pop down the station shall we

Bea is stood watching as Chloe dances with some of her friends. Thelma joins her

Bea - She's having the time of her life, this is a great party Thelma, you did well for her

Thelma - Donald and I like to make her childhood as special as we can, especially on birthdays

Bea - I can see that and I'm pleased

Donald is staring at Bea from across the room

Bea - Is that Donald?

Thelma - Yes it is

Bea - I take it he knows about me?

Thelma - Yes I had to tell him

Bea - I gather he is not very happy about it?

Thelma - No and can you blame him?

Bea - No I suppose I can't...but I had to come, Thelma, you can understand that can't you?

Thelma - Yes I can and for what it's worth I am glad you're here because i can see how happy it has made Chloe. She wanted you here that's why she gave you an invitation...but after the party...

Bea - It's ok Thelma, after the party I go, no fuss, no drama I promise...I'm going to hand myself back in. I'm not interested in going on the run at my age been there done that. I just wanted to share Chloe's special day that's all

Thelma nods her head with relief

Ann is with Meg at Meg's place

Ann - So the funeral is tomorrow

Meg - How do you feel about it?

Ann - Devastated...I never thought I'd be attending my own daughter's funeral.

Meg - How is Ben coping?

Ann sighs

Ann - Not very well I'd say, he seems so bitter Meg. And the thing is I understand how he feels. I have the most reason to be bitter, my own son is taking the blame for something he didn't do and I keep putting a brave face on things, going off to that hellhole and getting on with the job, smiling and going through the motions and really I want to scream and cry

Meg - I feel the same...now I have to organize Marty's funeral and I don't know if I can face it

Meg is tearful, Ann comforts her

Ann - I'll help you, you're not alone Meg

Exterior shot of police station

Inside Paul is sitting in an interview room with Inspector Ross

Paul - And that's why I killed her. We argued, it turned violent, there was a struggle and I killed her. She was a rotten bitch to my Cindy and she made me angry. She refused to apologize for throwing wine at her, I guess I simply saw red. I didn't mean to kill her I swear

Ross - And after you realized what you had done you set the house alight to try and cover your tracks?

Paul nods his head

Ross - For the tape please son

Paul - Yes inspector, after I killed her I set the house alight to try and cover my tracks

Ross - Well you didn't cover them very well, you left enough clues to sink a ship

Paul - I was nervous I guess, not thinking properly. I'm not a criminal

Ross - You are now son, you're the worst kind, a murderer

Paul - Yes well Cindy isn't, you have to let her go

Ross - We will....now is there anything else you wish to add?

Paul - No inspector

Ross - Interview concluded at 18.56 pm

Ross turns the tape off

Ross - I'll get a statement written up and you can sign it...you would have saved us all a lot of bother had you owned up from the start son. Your girlfriend might not have tried to kill herself then. Still better late than never I suppose, owning up is going to go in your favour somewhat when it comes to sentencing but you are still looking at a very long sentence. You've pretty much thrown your life away over a silly family dispute sonny

Paul bows his head and weeps

At the party, the lights have been dimmed. Thelma and Donald enter the room carrying a cake with 11 candles on it

Everyone begins to sing happy birthday

The hospital

Inspector Ross is there with Cindy

Ross - I have good news for you Miss Matthews, you won't be going back to Wentworth, as of now the charges against you are dropped

Cindy looks delighted

Cindy - Yeah? For real?

Ross - Yes for real. Your fiance confessed, it turns out he did go back out while you were in the bath. He went back to confront his sister about the way she treated you at dinner, it turned violent, he caved her head in with a vase and then set the house alight

Cindy looks shocked

Cindy - I can't believe he did it, not my Paul

Ross - Believe it, it's true. At least you don't have to go back there eh

Cindy smiles with delight

Cindy - Yes there is no way I could have coped back there. I'm glad this nightmare is over

Ross - For you, it's over, for your fiance it's only just begun

Cindy looks upset

At the party, guests are beginning to leave

Bea is with Chloe

Bea - It's time I went too

Chloe (disappointed) - Can't ya stay a bit longer?

Bea - No, I'd love to darling but its time I got back, I don't want to outstay my welcome do i

Chloe - You never would, not as far as I'm concerned

Bea - Yes but I suspect Donald or Thelma may have something to say about it eh

Chloe (stroppy) - It's not fair! They make all the decisions!

Bea - Now be fair love, it is their house

Chloe - Yeah suppose

Bea - There is no suppose about it, they have been more than fair allowing me here at all. We should both be grateful to them

Bea walks over to where Donald and Thelma are standing

Bea - Thanks for having me, I'll be on my way now

Bea and Thelma hug

Bea turns to Donald

Bea - I know we didn't get a chance to talk but it's been nice to put a face to the name anyway.....I didn't mean to cause you any bother

Donald nods his head curtly

Bea turns to Chloe

Bea - Come on, come and show me out

They leave the room

Donald and Thelma are alone again

Donald - Can we trust her alone with Chloe? She could try and kidnap her?

Thelma - Stop being silly Don...

.....Outside Bea and Chloe are alone in the front garden

Chloe - I could come with you, we could go on an adventure

Bea - No love we can't. You have to stay here and I think you know that deep down inside, you're a sensible girl

Chloe - Those two are so boring, at least you're fun!

Bea - I hope you're glad I came?

Chloe - Of course, I am Nan

Bea - I'm glad I came too

Chloe is crying

Chloe - I wish you could stay longer

Bea - I wish that too...come and visit me soon won't you

Chloe - You bet!

Chloe hands Bea something wrapped in paper

Chloe - There's a bit of birthday cake for later!

Bea laughs and hugs her

Bea - See ya soon ok

Bea wipes a tear from her face and leaves, Chloe watches her go and cries......

.....Bea is at Debbie's grave, it is dusk now

She takes the piece of birthday cake out of her pocket and starts eating it

Bea - The police will have this place staked out Deb, any moment now they will arrive to arrest me. I have something to say to you, so I had better be quick about it.....

.....A Police car is pulled up on the road nearby

Policeman 1 - That's her alright, I'd bet a months pay on it

Policeman 2 - Sure looks like her...you'd think she'd have enough sense not to come here.....

......Bea - I am disappointed in you, love, angry even. I hate feeling like this because I love you so much too. But why Debs? I wish I understood why? I know you probably felt you had nothing to offer a child, but I think it could have been the making of you. Having a child to care for, could have been the thing that got you off the damn drugs. And frankly, I am angry you didn't tell me about her, I would never have agreed to have her adopted out if you had....I guess you know that right. That's what Kerry told me anyway. You denied me the chance to know my own granddaughter Debbie...

...The two policemen are approaching slowly...

....Bea - She looks so much like you Debbie, sounds so much like you. She definitely has your personality...feisty! A bit stubborn too, a bit belligerent and rebellious. Takes after us both I guess! Well I don't mind that so long as she doesn't get too rebellious, look at the mess that got us two into, I want a better life for her, and I know you do too

Bea smiles sadly

Bea - I miss you, Debbie, every day I miss you...you and that silly old coot Lizzie. And I want you to know that as angry as I am with you right now I still love you and I forgive you.....it's as much my fault as yours...no that's wrong Debbie, it's more my fault than yours. You were just a lost young kid and needed guidance and where was I when you needed me? If anything it should be me asking you for forgiveness. I hope you do forgive me, Debbie....I'm not sure I have forgiven myself yet

The two policemen arrive and flash a torch, right into Bea's face?

Policeman 2 - Smith? Bea Smith

Bea stands up and shields her face from the torchlight

Bea - I was expecting you boys

Bea holds her hands out and policeman 1 slaps on a pair of handcuffs

Policeman 2 - Any chance of telling us why you escaped and where you've been?

Bea shakes her head

Bea - Nope, no chance at all boys

Bea looks back at the grave

Bea - Bye Debbie, love you...

Policeman 1 - Come on Smith, time to go...

They lead Bea away

GATESLAM

PART 2

Exterior shot of Wentworth in daytime

Inside the women are at Breakfast. Janice arrives in the room

Janice - Attention ladies, I have something to tell you all. As I am aware some of you have been worried about Cindy Matthews I thought you may like to know that she has made a full recovery

Pauline and Kelly looks delighted

Pauline - That's great news Miss Raymond, thanks for telling us

Janice - The good news doesn't end there She has also been released, all charges against her have been dropped

Janice leaves again

Kelly gets up and walks over to Mandy

Kelly - Pity that eh...looks like you lost your plaything doesn't it

Janice is in the governor's office with Jim and Colleen

Janice - I thought I ought to tell you both that Roo Morgan has been recaptured and is on her way back here

Colleen looks surprised

Colleen - She is coming back here? Surely she belongs in blackmoor?

Janice - Yes i would have thought so too but apparently they are scared of trouble between her and Marie Winter if she goes back there

Jim - How did they catch her?

Janice - Well after she tried to murder her own sister she hid out at her uncle's place and hired a private detective to find her son...the sister had him adopted can you believe it because she felt he would be better off away from Morgan. She paid the private detective using the proceeds of her robberies and it turns out he did track down the child. Morgan forcibly kidnapped the child from the adoptive family, putting the adoptive mother in the hospital and she wanted her uncle to help her skip the country. By all accounts, the uncle decided he agreed with the sister and shopped Morgan to the cops

Colleen - Seems even her own family hate her

Janice - Yes seems so doesn't it