A new prisoner is brought into reception. Colleen is on duty in reception and takes the charge sheet

Colleen (to the officer) Thanks

The miserable-looking officer grunts and nods his head curtly before leaving

Colleen - Stand on the white line, please

The prisoner does as she is told

Colleen - Your name is Louise Cunningham and you have been sentenced to......

Colleen looks shocked

Colleen - Is this correct?

Colleen shows Louise the charge sheet, she nods her head

Louise - Yup, looks about right to me

Colleen - And this other bit? That's correct too?

Louise - Yup...got a problem with it have you?

Colleen - Not particularly, it's a shock that's all. I'd never have guessed it to look at you 

Brumby is still with Kate

Kate - You had better keep to your side of the arrangement too, I can easily blow the lid on this anytime I like. Imagine the trouble you'd be in if the authorities found out?

Brumby - Wouldn't look too good for you either doc.....that you faked the medical reports. My operation to repair my spine was a success and you made a fake report

Kate - That may be so but it still wouldn't do you any favours. The prisoners too would probably be mad with you, what do you think? Then there's your friend Andrea, she would be in a lot of trouble too

Brumby shrugs

Kate - So I hope you have something more for me next time I see you, you really must learn to try harder Michelle

Brumby - I said I'll get Winter fixed for ya and I will

Kate - Yes but when? I seem to be waiting an awfully long time, it's not good enough Michelle. Sandy is getting impatient

Brumby - These things take time....and she is in a different prison from me ya know, makes it harder

Kate - Perhaps it's time you had yourself moved back to Blackmoor then?

Brumby looks horrified

Brumby - That hell hole? There is absolutely no way I'm going back there

Kate - As you wish....but don't let me down. Don't let Sandy down, there's a good girl

Inspector Grace is with Tess in some woodlands

Tess is standing apparently staring into space. Grace looks impatient

Grace - Look Girly I warned you not to waste my time!

Tess - I'm not! I'm trying to remember where it was we buried her, it was a while ago now you know and I just need to get my bearings

Grace - Fair enough, just try not to take all bloody day about it 

Sally and Chloe are at Joan's house. Sally is rolling a joint

Chloe - Nice place ya got here

Sally - Yes not bad is it, sadly it doesn't belong to me, I'm just the lodger

Chloe - Where is the owner right now?

Sally - Just out...

Chloe - Does she mind you using her place to smoke like this?

Sally - Nah, she's very laid back

Sally lights the joint takes a deep drag and then hands it to Chloe

Sally - Have a puff on that girl

Chloe - Thanks, Joan.....

Bea is in reception on the phone

Bea - I want you to come today Thelma...I don't care what you want or don't want just get here! It's very important

Back with Chloe and Sally

Chloe - Wooooooh this is good stuff!

Sally - I told ya it was....this your first time using?

Chloe - Yeah...I got offered some at school once but I turned it down. Been curious ever since though

Sally - Of course, I have even better stuff too...even stronger harder stuff. If you'd ever like to try some let me know

Chloe - Yeah ta....think I better just stick to weed though ya know

Sally - Sure I understand....you don't know what you're missing though girl. I'll happily give you a free tester sometime just so you can try it out

Chloe looks interested 

Joan is with Spike at Marsh house, they are sitting in the lounge with a coffee

Joan - I hope you don't mind me popping in like this

Spike - Not at all Joan, I told you you're welcome back here anytime and I meant it

Joan - Thanks, Spike....I just needed someone to talk to

Spike - I guessed as much, you look down. What's the problem?

Joan - I've spent the last week job hunting and applying for as many jobs as I can and I'm getting nowhere. No one wants to know. I'm at my wit's end

Spike - I know it's hard, you just have to keep on trying. You'll strike lucky eventually

Joan - Will I?...god I hope so. I need something to keep me busy, I've never been one to sit around all day doing nothing and claiming dole...its times like this I miss Wentworth

Spike - You don't mean that Joan....no matter how down you feel now being free is better than being a prisoner anytime

Joan - I meant I miss being an officer Spike

Spike (Awkward) - Oh I see, I'm sorry 

Colleen is with Vera in her office

Colleen - There's a new prisoner waiting outside...Louise Cunningham

Vera - Show her in so I can meet her then Mrs Powell, what are you waiting for?

Colleen - Have you read her file yet?

Vera - No not yet, I'm still waiting for Barnehurst to send it over. Why?

Colleen - Well there are a few things I ought to tell you about her before I show her in. Things could be a bit tricky with this one.....she's not exactly your run of the mill, average prisoner

Vera looks intrigued 

Brumby and Ian are back in the car driving back to Wentworth

Ian - So how did it go?

Brumby shrugs

Brumby - Boring..waste of time. She did a few checks and confirmed that my legs don't work anymore like I needed reminding

Ian - I know it must be frustrating but there must be a reason they do these checkups. Maybe to see if anything has changed, there could be a chance you'll walk again one day maybe?

Brumby - I doubt it. The operation failed and that was pretty much the end of it right there and then

Ian - Oh so you do remember?

Brumby looks panicked

Brumby - Nah not really... it's just what people have told me happened ya know 

Grace and Tess are at a spot, Tess looks distressed

Grace - Well?

Tess nods her head

Tess - I think this is the spot, yes

Tess starts sobbing and falls to her knees

Tess - This is the spot where we buried my baby

Tess wails uncontrollably

Tess - I'm so sorry Rebecca, so very very sorry....I love you, sweetheart. I never meant to kill you

Louise is standing in front of Vera

Vera - Good morning Louise....or should I say, Lewis?

Louise - You can call me whatever you like but I really do prefer being called Louise

Vera - Why they have sent you here I do not know, you should be in a men's prison!

Louise - Are you entirely stupid! Look at me I'm a woman now! I have tits and everything!

Vera - Don't be impertinent! I am the governor here and I expect to be shown respect!

Louise - Respect is something one earns Miss Bennett and one does not earn it by showing the disgusting level of ignorance that you have just shown!

Vera - How dare you! I was merely...

Louise - Expressing your prejudice I know

Vera - YOU WERE BORN A MAN AND SO BELONG IN A MEN's PRISON! THAT'S ALL I WAS SAYING CUNNINGHAM!

Louise - I would be lucky to last five seconds if they put me amongst men and you damn well know it

Vera - I don't know how long you're likely to last with this lot either!

Louise - They don't need to know about it do they...I do look like a woman and not a man, that's why I was sent to a women's prison

Vera - We can try to keep it from them of course but these things have a way of slipping out....anyway how on earth did you manage to look so convincing? Your face, your breasts, the whole lot of you look female?

Louise - That's because it is female Miss Bennett...I could afford the best plastic surgery going. My face redeveloped, my breasts developed, my boy parts chopped off and replaced with girl parts...

Vera looks disgusted

Vera - I don't need to hear anymore!

Louise - Disgusts you does it?

Vera - You're damn right it disgusts me! I've never heard anything so unnatural, so damn perverse. If it was up to me I would not allow such fanciful and downright disgusting procedures as a sex change

Louise - Pity you can't ever experience what I went through as a man, even just for one day it would have given you a better understanding of the hell I went through. I was a woman, I was born a woman in my mind but I was trapped in the body of a man. If you had the first idea what hell that feels like you'd be much less judgemental I'm sure

Vera - You were born a man and that's all there is to it! I'll never understand it or agree with it...and another thing I will be chasing up the department to see about sending you to a male prison where you belong

Louise - They'd tear me to shreds!

Colleen - Cunningham wait outside please, I would like a word with the governor alone

Louise leaves the room

Colleen - You can't be serious Vera? Send her to a male prison and they will kill her and you know it

Vera - So you agree with keeping him here, do you? You're ok with what he did?

Colleen - My own personal feelings don't come into it..the fact is we can't send him...her....whatever, to a male prison. We'd be signing her death certificate if we did that

Vera -He should have thought about that before he hand a sex change....or was silly enough to get himself locked up. What's he in for anyway?

Colleen - Oh well that's another shocker I'm afraid

Thelma is with Bea in the visiting room

Bea - Chloe tells me that you are trying to stop her from visiting me here...

Thelma - Yes I am. Look Bea it's nothing against you, you know I haven't got a problem with you seeing Chloe. It's Donald he just won't have it. If he knew what was going on he'd hit the roof

Bea - Now you listen to me and you listen damn good. I don't give a toss about what Donald thinks or wants...I have been kept away from my granddaughter for 11 years and I don't intend to be kept away from her any longer, you got that? It's not what I want and more importantly, it's not what Chloe wants, we are bonding more and more each time I see her

Thelma - I know, but...

Bea - But nothing...if Donald has a problem he can come and see me and maybe he'll have the decency to sit and talk with me and try to get to know me a little better this time. If he is not prepared to do that then you can expect to hear from my solicitor. I won't sit back and let Donald dictate to Chloe and myself like this...I mean it Thelma

Thelma looks worried

Chloe is leaving Joan's place

Chloe - Thanks, Joan, I had a great time

Sally - It was my pleasure, I had fun too. You have my number ring me anytime when you want to hang out again...and remember what I said about the offer to try some better stuff. There's no rush to make up your mind, think about it and tell me when you're ready

Chloe nods her head

Chloe - Thanks I will

Back with Vera and Colleen

Vera has a look of total disgust on her face

Vera - Oh you're joking surely?

Colleen shakes her head

Colleen - Nope, its there in black and white on the charge sheet

Vera - Oh how disgusting. Not content on mutilating his own body he has to mutilate someone else too......show him back in at once, I want a word with him about this

Colleen opens the office door

Colleen - In here Cunningham

Louise reenters the room

Louise - I hope you called me back in to apologize for your displeasing attitude towards me, Miss Bennett?

Vera - I did not Cunningham! I called you back to tell you what a disgusting animal I think you are!

Louise - Didn't you do that already?

Vera - That was before I found out what you're in here for. I already thought you were enough of a freak before

Louise - You can't talk to me like that Miss Bennett!

Vera snaps

Vera - I CAN TALK TO YOU ANYWAY I LIKE! I KNOW WHAT YOU DID TO THAT MAN!

Louise - He asked for it, I make no apology for it. He deserved it!

Vera - No one deserves that. Being a man yourself you should have understood how horrific what you were doing was

Louise grins

Louise - Oh I did believe me I did...that's why I did it

Vera looks at Louise with contempt once again and then turns to Mrs Powell

Vera - Take him to isolation

Colleen tries to guide Louise out

Louise - Hey hang on! Why are you sending me to isolation? I don't want to go there

Vera - Tough, that's where you're going while I see about getting you transferred to Woodridge

Louise - You bitch! you can't treat me like this!...what about my lunch! I haven't eaten for hours I suppose you plan to starve me to you sadistic bitch!

Vera looks at Colleen

Vera - Fix him some lunch from the kitchen

Colleen nods her head

Louise loses it and yells angrily

Louise - I'M NOT A HE DAMN YOU!

Vera yells back

Vera - YES YOU ARE!... I WILL NEVER ACCEPT YOU AS ANYTHING ELSE!

Colleen leads the protesting Louise out of the office

GATESLAM

PART 2 

Colleen is in Isolation with Louise

Colleen - I'll get you something to eat from the kitchen. Is there anything particular you want?

Louise - Just a cheese sandwich will do...and a hot drink to please if that's possible

Colleen - That will be fine

Colleen turns to go

Louise - Wait for a second Mrs Powell, I want to know something

Colleen - Go on?

Louise - What do you think of me?

Colleen - What I think doesn't matter Cunningham. I'm here to do a job and I treat everyone the same

Louise - I bet deep down inside you agree with Miss Bennett, you just don't say it

Colleen - As a matter of fact I don't agree with her...if you really want to know I think what you have done is brave. Not everyone has the guts to follow through with what they truly want in life, especially something like this. It must have been difficult for you

Louise - You don't know the half of it...you can't let them send me to a male prison please, I won't survive in there

Colleen - You won't be going to a male prison. The department made the decision to send you here and Miss Bennett can't change that no matter how much she might want to

Louise - I bet she'll give it a damn good try

Colleen - She will but she won't succeed

Louise looks scared

Louise - I hope not...I'm scared Mrs Powell

Colleen - Just try to relax, you're safe here

Louise - I can't stay here, that will do my head in being kept alone...I guess you find my crime sick as well?

Colleen - Yes I'll admit your crime did shock me a bit...still like I say here to do a job not have personal views

Louise - I did it to him for a reason I promise....he got what he deserved

Colleen - I'm sure....right I'll go and sort out that food for you

Louise smiles

Louise - Thanks Mrs Powell, you've been very kind. It's a shame you're not governor instead of Miss Bennett

Colleen - I'll be back soon with your food

Colleen leaves the cell

Donald and Thelma are sitting down together in their lounge

Donald looks furious

Donald - The disobedient little madam! wait until I get my hands on her

Thelma - Look Don the thing is I really think you're being unfair here. She has every right to see her gran and clearly wants to. I think it's wrong of us to stop her

Donald - Well I don't, that woman's trouble

Thelma - She isn't going to let this rest you know....she threatened to get her lawyer involved

Donald scoffs

Donald - Let her! She's a criminal, a murderer at that! We are respectable law-abiding citizens. she wouldn't stand a chance in hell

Thelma - Maybe not...I still think we have no right to stop Chloe from seeing her if that's what she wants

Donald - Well look Thelma love I don't intend to discuss this any further. my mind is made up. We have something else to discuss now...something I consider far more important

Thelma - What's that?

Donald - The school rang just now...Chloe didn't show up today. When she gets in she better have a damn good reason for this!

Thelma looks concerned

Dwyer is in Vera's office with her

Vera - So that is my request Mr Dwyer

Dwyer smiles at Vera

Dwyer - We take on board what you say Miss Bennett, but the department has made its decision, Cunningham has to stay here

Vera - But he doesn't belong here! Surely you agree?

Dwyer - As it happens yes I do, but we can't send him to a male prison, he is officially recognized as a woman now. The risk is too great

Vera - I don't want him here

Dwyer - Yes well what you want doesn't really matter Miss Bennett, the department has made its decision

Vera - So I have to like it or lump it?...oh well I am only the mere governor I suppose, I'm no one important

Dwyer - Now look here Miss Bennett, you have to obey orders the same as we all do! I expect you to do so and not make complaints. You should also release Cunningham from Isolation, you have no grounds to keep him there

Vera - If I put him among the women they could kill him if they found out

Dwyer - Then they mustn't find out must they...and that's what male prisoners WILL do to him within a short space of meeting him. Here he has a better chance of keeping it hidden. How many of the staff know about him?

Vera - Only Mrs Powell so far, I was going to gather the rest of the staff together and tell them

Dwyer shakes his head

Dwyer - No I don't want you to. The fewer people who know the better

Vera - But it's in his file, the officers can read it any time

Dwyer - When his file arrives you must keep it under lock and key, not allow anyone else to see it

Vera - They are bound to ask why?

Dwyer - Then tell them that it is department orders that the file is kept confidential

Vera - That will make them suspicious! And what about Mr Fletcher? He is my deputy. surely he has the right to know?

Dwyer - Mr Fletcher must not know, no one else must know. Just us two and Mrs Powell is enough

Vera looks annoyed

Joan is back home with Sally

Sally - Would you like a cup of tea Joan?

Joan - I'd love one thanks

Sally - You look down Joan, what's wrong?

Joan - I'm just fed up with having no job. How are ex crims ever supposed to move on and settle down if no one will give them a job or a chance?

Sally - You would never have said that a few months ago, the Joan I met on remand thought she was a cut above and all prisoners were scum

Joan - I still hate most of them..and I am better than them. I can understand how hard it is for them when they get released better now that's all

Sally - Sure....makes you fancy a line or two doesn't it?

Joan shakes her head

Joan - No it does not, I have to be strong and put that habit behind me now...and if I ever find out you have any of that stuff in my house you're out

Sally - Relax Joan I don't

Joan - I know you've been smoking cannabis, I can smell it, even though you have tried to mask it with air freshener

Sally - So a bit of weed is harmless isn't it?

Joan - Yes, just so long as you leave it at that

Sally - I will