Shanice is in her cell with Status Quo blasting out of the radio. She sings along badly

AAAAAAH!, ERE WE ARE AND ERE WE ARE AND ERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, ALL ABOARD AND WE'RE HITTING THE ROAAADDDD! ERE WEEEEE GO, ROCKIN ALL OVA THE WORRRLD!.......AHHHHHHH! GIDDY UP AND GIDDY UP AND GEEEET AWAAAAAAAAY!......

Kath arrives and turns the radio off

Shanice (Shocked) - Karen? Been a naughty girl again have you? OOOOH! I just knew you'd end up back here one day, I said so to my Des many times!

Shanice points a finger at Kath

Shanice - Oooh you're a bad egg, Karen! Well, I dunno what ya done this time but whatever it was you'll regret being in here with me. I ain't forgotten your nasty little tricks on the outside!

Kath suddenly grabs Shanice and throws her against the locker

Kath- There are plenty of things I haven't forgotten either!

Shanice - Yeah well you poisoned my Jeremy against me! My lovely boy who I love so very much!

Kath - Do me a favour! I saved him from any more of your vile abuse and got him to tell the truth about you trying to kill Jim! Why should you get away with this stuff? You got away with enough already ....and now I want to know what the hell you thought you were doing giving Latham my address?

Shanice chuckles

Shanice - Didn't realize it was a secret did I!

Kath - You knew it would cause trouble for me didn't you?

Shanice - Paid you a visit did she?

Kath - Yes of course she did....that bitch is the reason I'm back in here and you're the one who gave her my address and I'm going to make sure you pay for it. Do I make myself clear?

Cheryl is walking a corridor with Peta

Cheryl - It will be good for you to meet Kath, Peet. She knew Reet very well....both as a friend and as an enemy

Peta - As an enemy?

Cheryl - Yes well they were enemies for a long time but when they made their peace I'd say there was a really strong friendship and respect between them just before Reet's death

Peta - Where is she now then?

Cheryl - She said she was going to pick a bone with Shanice, she seemed pretty angry

They hear a cry from Shanice's cell and rush off along the corridor...

....In the cell, Shanice is clutching her stomach in pain

Shanice - You bitch Karen! I'LL GET YA FOR THAT!

Shanice flies at Kath who coolly puts her to the floor with a judo move just as Peta and the impressed looking Cheryl arrive

Kath looks at Peta and looks stunned

Kath - Oh my god!...Rita?

Toni, Rachel, and Nigel are sitting grimly in the lounge

Rachel is sobbing in Nigel's arms as the doorbell rings

Nigel - Oh that'll be the police...we'd better let them in

Nigel goes to get up as Toni stops him

Toni - It's ok, stay with your wife, I'll let them in

Toni leaves the room to answer the door

Nigel - Was it such a good idea to leave your mother up there alone with the body?

Rachel (angry) - The body?! That's my father you're talking about! And you describe him as the body?

Rachel wails some more

Nigel - I'm sorry love, please calm down!...do you think perhaps one of us should go and stay with Beth?

Rachel - I'm not going back in there, I can't

Toni returns to the room with Inspector Grace and two police officers

Grace - We were informed of a suspicious death?

Nigel - Yes.....erm you see....well...

Rachel - My mother has murdered my father!...oh my god Ben still doesn't know about it! Oh he'll be heartbroken

Rachel sobs into her hanky

Rachel - How am I going to tell him?

Grace (impatient) - Well where is the body? We need to see it

Toni - It's upstairs, I can take you up there now

Rachel - My mother is up there still

Grace looks concerned

Grace - You left her alone with the body?

Rachel - Well she refused to leave him

Grace - Come on fellas we'd best get up there! She could be destroying evidence as we speak!

They tear up the stairs followed by Toni

In the bedroom, Beth is kneeling beside her husband with her head in his lap quietly sobbing. Toni, Grace, and the two officers enter

Toni kneels beside Beth and talks to her gently

Toni - The police are here Beth

Beth doesn't respond

Toni - They need to look at the body properly...what say I take you downstairs and make you a nice hot drink?

Beth shakes her head

Beth - I can't leave my Brian...my lovely lovely Brian!

Grace is impatient

Grace - Look we haven't got all bloody day ok!

Toni (annoyed) - Can't you see she's upset?

Grace - Yeah well I'm sorry about that but I have a job to do!

Toni gently helps the reluctant Beth up

Toni - Come on love, we have to let these men do their jobs

Beth - But he's my husband, my lovely husband. I have to stay with him

Toni - Best we go downstairs, trust me

Toni leads Beth away

Grace waits till they are out of earshot and then turns to one of the officers

Grace - Follow her son, make sure she doesn't try to do a runner....and you had better call for forensics while you're down there

The officer - Yes Sir

Kath, Cheryl, and Peta are in the corridor

Kath - How can you be alive? I don't believe this

Peta - Do you mind telling her Cheryl, I get bored of it

Cheryl chuckles

Cheryl - Yes sure...This is Rita's twin

Kath - Twin? I never knew she had one

Peta rolls her eyes

Peta - Nor did she...look I tell ya what I'll fill you in later after I've had a drop of Whisky

Cheryl - Are you sure I can't tempt you to a spliff too?

Peta - No way! I told you alcohol is about as far as I go

Cheryl - Yes, fair enough...

Peta looks at Kath again

Peta - So you're Kath are you?

Kath - Well I am when Shanice isn't around yes

Cheryl chuckles

Cheryl - I noticed she calls you Karen

Kath - Yes and I told her several times it's Kath but it doesn't sink in

Cheryl - Yes I told her too, she wouldn't listen to me either

Toni leads Beth into the lounge and guides her to a chair

Toni - I'll make some tea

Toni leaves the room

Beth - Where are the kids?

Rachel - Still in bed...

Nigel - Oh crumbs we'd better stop them from going upstairs when they do wake up!

Beth - I can't understand how this has happened! I just can't understand

Rachel flies out of her seat in anger and grabs her mother and shakes her with rage

Rachel - OH YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND HUH? ALLOW ME TO TELL YOU THEN!.... IT HAPPENED BECAUSE YOU WERE TOO BLOODY STUBBORN TO GET HELP FOR THE SLEEPWALKING, TREATING IT AS A JOKE EVERY TIME ANY OF US BROUGHT THE SUBJECT UP. WELL LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED NOW, MUM! DAD'S DEAD BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T GET HELP!

Beth cries and the officer steps forwards as Nigel darts over

Nigel - It's alright officer, I'll take care of this

Nigel guides Rachel away from Beth

Nigel - Come on love, screaming at your mother won't help will it eh

Rachel is crying again

Rachel - Well someone needs to make her understand what she's done. Dad would still be alive if she had got help months ago as we told her to

Grace is in the bedroom bagging up the knife

Grace (to the second officer) - We have to be very careful with this little beauty son. see whose fingerprints are all over it

Cheryl, Kath, and Peta are in Cheryl's cell

Cheryl is rolling a joint

Cheryl - If I know you, Kath, you'll be wanting a bit of this?

Kath - Yes why not

Peta gets stuck into a bottle of Whisky

Cheryl - I can see you have not forgotten what I taught you, I was very impressed...she looked to be in plenty of pain back there

Kath - That bloody bitch is going to suffer a whole lot more by the time I'm done with her! I was looking forward to a fresh start when I got out of here but she has ruined everything... She, Des, Kyle, and Latham, I hate them all!

Cheryl - I wouldn't like to see you getting in any more trouble though...

Kath looks bitter

Kath - What does it matter now? Everythings ruined anyway

Toni arrives in the lounge carrying a tray with a teapot on it along with 5 mugs, a jug of milk, and some sugar

Toni - I didn't know how you all take your tea so I brought the pot in so you can pour your own

Toni lays the tray out on the table and turns to the constable

Toni - I brought an extra mug in case you fancy a cup too

The constable - Thanks ma'am

Toni pours Beth a mug of tea

Toni - Do you take milk and sugar love?

Beth sits and stares into space

Suddenly one of Rachel's sons runs into the room in his pyjamas, carrying a lego toy, he runs up to his parents

The boy (excited) - Look, mum! dad! Russell and I made this!

Nigel - Oh wow, that's awesome son!

The boy rushes over to Beth to show her the toy

The boy - Nan look!.....hey where is granddad? I want to show him too

Beth turns her face away and quietly sobs as the boy looks confused

Nigel gets out of his seat and guides the boy out of the room

The boy - What's wrong with Nan, dad? She looks really upset

Nigel - Come on son let's go and get your lazy brother and sister out of bed, shall we. Maybe then we can play in the garden for a bit

The boy instantly forgets his concerns

The boy (excited) - Oh can we play football again dad!

Nigel- Yes of course

Rachel - I have to sit my babies down and tell them their granddad is dead, then they will ask how it happened....that should be fun shouldn't it

Beth appears to pull herself together for a moment

Beth - Has anyone told Ben yet?

Rachel - No, that's another fun little job that Niger and I will have to do I suppose

Beth - Don't be silly, I can tell him!

Rachel - Really? How are you going to do that from prison?

Beth looks horrified

Beth - From prison?

Rachel - Did it not even occur to you that you'll be going to prison for this mum?

Beth - Oh but I didn't know what I was doing! I was asleep when I did it!

Rachel - What a damn mess this is! And all because you wouldn't accept any help!

Toni pours a cup of tea and tries to hand it to Rachel

Toni - Here you are

Rachel knocks the cup out of her hands sending it flying

Rachel - I don't want a lousy cup of tea! I want my father back!

Back with Cheryl, Peta, and Kath

Kath takes a deep drag on a spliff

Kath - So I suppose it's all around the prison about Jim and me by now? Knowing Shanice she wouldn't waste much time in spreading that around

Shanice - Actually I told her to keep it to herself but we already knew anyway

Kath - How?

Cheryl - Ailsa saw you two together in the grounds

Kath - Oh I see...

Cheryl - I'm a bit hurt that you didn't trust me enough to tell me, mate, you must have known I wouldn't tell anyone

Kath - Look I'm sorry, believe me. of course, I trust you but Jim made me promise not to say anything

Peta -So what are your plans for Shanice?

Kath looks angry

Kath - Not sure yet, but something good

Cheryl - Yeah well I still think you should avoid further trouble

Kath cheers up for a moment

Kath - Hey want to hear some good news about Vic?

Grace has joined Beth, Toni, and Rachel in the lounge. He has his notepad put

Grace - Would you like to tell me what happened Mrs Abbott?

Toni - Hey shouldn't she have a lawyer present?

Grace - She is entitled to one when we interview her formally, this is merely an informal interview

Toni - So she doesn't have to tell you anything right now?

Grace - Not if she wishes not to no...it just helps if she is willing to cooperate at the earliest point

Toni turns to Beth

Toni - I advise you not to say anything until you have a lawyer present

Beth - No it's alright, ask what you would like to ask Inspector

Grace - Did you kill your husband Mrs Abbott?

Beth looks distressed

Beth - Yes I must have done...but I don't remember doing it and I certainly never wanted to kill him. I loved Brian very much you see, we had only just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. 40 wonderful years together and the most wonderful party last night...we had a lovely cruise to look forward to as well......and then this happens.....oh how am I going to live with myself?

Grace looks confused

Grace - I don't understand, what exactly do you mean you don't remember doing it? Were you drunk at the time or something?

Rachel - What my mum is trying to say inspector is that she carried out this murder while in the act of sleepwalking. She has been sleepwalking for months and refused to get help for it

Beth looks at Rachel in shock, she looks hurt, tearful

Beth - Murder?......darling please, it wasn't murder!

Rachel - Yes it was

Beth - But i.....

Rachel - It makes no difference that you were sleepwalking mum, it's still murder. As far as I see it anyway and I am sure the law sees it that way too

Beth begins to cry again and Toni comforts her

Toni - But I loved him! I loved him so much!

Rachel gets up to leave the room

Rachel - I'd better make sure Nigel is still in the garden with the kids, I really don't want them in here right now while this is going on

Rachel leaves the room

Beth cries in Toni's arms

Beth - I loved him! I really did!

Toni - I know you did

Toni turns to Grace again

Toni - I think these questions can wait, you can see how distressed she is

Grace - Yes....we'll carry on down the station

Grace approaches Beth

Grace - I must inform you of your rights Mrs Abbott.....you have the right to.....

Toni -Hey hang on! Are you arresting her?

Grace - Yes of course I am! What else do you expect?

Beth looks startled......

......Rachel is walking back up the hallway towards the lounge as Grace leads Beth out

Beth - They are taking me to the station darling, I don't know what to do

Rachel - You'll just have to tell them the truth, that's all you can do

Beth - But I'm scared!

Rachel - And I've just lost my dad thanks to you!

Beth runs at Rachel and tries to hug her

Beth - Forgive me! Please forgive me, please I beg you

Rachel pushes her away

Grace begins to pull her away

Grace - Come on Mrs Abbott! It's time to go

Toni - Look can't you give them a few more minutes?

Grace - No I can't, sorry

Rachel - I don't want to see her right now anyway

Beth is led out the front door, she calls back

Beth - SWEETHEART I'M SORRY, PLEASE FORGIVE ME, DARLING!

Toni is alone with Rachel

Toni - She'll need someone to go down the station to support her

Rachel - You go then if you're so concerned

Toni - You should go, you're her daughter

Rachel (mildly aggressive) - Listen, love, I have to tell my brother that his father is dead, the father he was very close to and loved very much....and when I have finished doing that I have to sit my three young children down and tell them too. Three children who are too young to fully understand what has happened and will be heartbroken as they loved their granddad a great deal as well.....so darling I don't have time to worry about mum right now. She got herself into this mess, she'll have to deal with it because I have to deal with other matters right now like trying to keep this family together

Toni - Ok I'll go down the station then, she needs someone

Rachel - Why do you care so much anyway?

Toni - I happen to like your mum, even though I haven't known her long

Toni turns to leave as Rachel stops her

Rachel - I haven't forgotten about you being on the sofa with my husband.....right now I have other things to worry over but I want you to know that doesn't mean I've forgotten it

Toni leaves. Rachel glares after her looking angry

Back with Kath, Cheryl, and Peta

Cheryl - She took off with Spider?

Kath - Yes, I think they love each other a great deal, I hope they make it. Vic deserves some happiness

Cheryl - Yeah but I never saw much love coming out of Simpson, it all seemed pretty one-sided to me

Kath - Oh I think she does love Vic, she just didn't know how to show it until now. Something must have clicked inside her

head and she realized she didn't want to be lonely forever and that it was time to stop hiding behind her barriers

Cheryl - I don't trust her, she could hurt Vic

Kath - I don't think she will

Cheryl - Since when have you had such faith in Simpson Kath?

Kath - Oh I don't like her any more than you do but I think she is genuine about Vicki. They have a good chance of having a happy life together in Adelaide I think...I hope so anyway

Cheryl - She was a good girl the old Vic, I liked her

Kath - I liked her too

GATESLAM

PART 2

Toni is in the police station reception talking to the desk sergeant

Toni - Look I just want to know if she is ok, can't you even tell me that?

Desk Sergeant - Your mother is being looked after you needn't worry about that

Toni - She's not my.....oh never mind! Has she been interviewed yet?

Desk sergeant - Yes I believe she is being interviewed as we speak

Toni - Does she have a lawyer present?

Desk Sergeant - How would I know lady! Look either sit quietly or leave! You're making a nuisance of yourself!

Toni sits down looking annoyed