Sandra - So I am relying on you not to let me down, Maxwell

Kath - I want to know why you want Smith in solitary so badly?. I want to know what you are planning to do to her?

Sandra looks angry

Sandra - Listen, Maxwell, I told you before, that is none of your business

Kath - It is my business when you want me to do your dirty work for you

Sandra - Why do you care what happens to Smith?

Kath - Either you tell me what you have planned or our little arrangements over, I won't help you anymore

Sandra (angry) - You're being very foolish Maxwell, no one issues me with ultimatums

Kath - Well I just did, either tell me or find someone else to help you

Sandra - Fine, if you really want to know I'll tell you. Once Smith is in solitary she will be tied down to a bed and injected with heroin over and over again until she is a total addict, a total wreck. When I eventually let her out she will be a pathetic wreck desperate for her next fix. Now, are you satisfied?

Kath - You're mad, how will you get away with something like that?

Sandra - I have Dwyer on my side

Kath looks at her with contempt

Kath - Oh yes that son of a bitch, he took my son from me and you sat there and did nothing!

Sandra - Enough now, you can leave and get to work. Think yourself lucky I'm more interested in Smith right now or I'd make you suffer for being so downright cocky here today

Kath - It's a sick plan you know that...

Sandra - It's no less than Smith deserves, I'll bring her to her knees in the end, she'll be begging for her next hit

Kath - The plan is really quite insane too. How do you expect to pull it off without anyone finding out?

Sandra snaps

Sandra - HOW DARE YOU QUESTION ME LIKE THIS! GET OUT NOW AND GET TO WORK BEFORE I RUN OUT OF PATIENCE, YOU'VE ALREADY PUSHED ME ENOUGH TODAY!

Kath leaves

The rec room

Bea and Judy are sitting together as Kath arrives and stands in front of Bea

Kath - I want a word

Bea - I'm listening...

Kath - If you want top dog it's yours, I'm stepping down

Bea looks at her in surprise

Kath addresses the room

Kath - If you want Smith back in that's up to you ladies, I'm stepping down

Bea - Is this some kind of joke Maxwell?

Kath - No joke, the jobs yours if you want it

Judy - Why the sudden change of heart?

Kath shrugs

Kath - I'm bored of it now that's all

Bea - Yeah well I don't buy it

Judy - Nor do i

Kath - let's have a word in private Bea. come on

Kath turns and leaves the rec room, the others watch her go looking confused

Bea gives Judy a confused look and shrugs

Bea - This could be interesting

Bea follows Kath out

Judy - God I hope Bea isn't walking into a trap

Lorna - Yeah well you can't put anything past Maxwell

Cheryl - You talk about her like she is some kind of monster

Judy - Yeah well isn't she? Bea filled me in on her, she sounds pretty bad to me

Cheryl - Kath is mixed up right now, she's lost. Only a few weeks ago she had it all, a new home, a new baby, a new partner, and then she lost it all again. That would be hard for anyone to take

Lorna - That doesn't mean she has to take it out on us though does it?

Cheryl - No it doesn't and Kath knows how I feel about that. I've had to end our friendship, for now, I'm hoping the old Kath will find her way back soon then I'll be there for her when she needs me. The old Kath is still there, she just needs to find her again... I am convinced in time she will find her again

Kath and Bea are in Kath's cell

Bea - Well?

Kath - Clements hates you, she wants to destroy you

Bea chuckles

Bea - So tell me something I don't know!

Kath- You have no idea just how far she plans to go to destroy you. She told me just now, she wants you in solitary so she can tie you to a bed and turn you into a heroin addict

Bea looks at Kath in shock

Bea - You've got to be kidding?

Kath - I'm not, she wanted me to provoke you into a fight so she had an excuse to send you there

Bea - So why are you telling me this? I thought you'd jump at the chance

Kath has tears in her eyes, she wipes them away

Kath - I don't like what I've become, it's time to put a stop to it

Bea - More likely it's just another game

Kath - You can think that if you like, I don't blame you for that. But it's no game...why don't you go to the rec room and ask the others if they want you back as top dog?

Bea looks at Kath for a second and then turns to go

Kath - Oh and Smith...

Bea looks back

Kath - Decide what you want to do about Clements, the woman's dangerous, she needs to go

Bea nods her head and leaves

The rec room

Bea returns

Judy - What happened love?

Bea - Kath told me what Sandra has planned for me.....

Judy - Oh?

Bea - I'll fill you in later but first it's time for a vote for the new top dog...

Cheryl - Is she really stepping down?

Bea - Yes it looks like it to me. She says she regrets hows she's behaved

Cheryl smiles

Cheryl - I knew she'd find her way back to us, I knew it

Kath is sitting on her bed as Bob arrives

Bob - There you are Kath, I thought I'd come and see how you are

Kath jumps up and runs over to Bob, she hugs him

Kath - I'm so pleased to see you, I wanted to talk to you

The rec room

Most of the women have their hands up

Bea - So looks like I'm back in again

Judy - Congratulations love, it's where you belong

Vera arrives in the doorway

Vera - seems very quiet in here ladies, everything ok?

Judy - Wentworths got a new top dog Vera

Vera - Oh yeah? who?

Bea smiles

Bea - Me Vera

Kath is still hugging Bob

Bob - What did you want to talk about? Is something wrong?

Kath smiles at Bob

Kath - Nothings wrong, quite the opposite in fact. I've finally realized how I feel about you, I love you

Kath goes to kiss Bob and he backs away shocked

Bob - Where did this come from? It's a bit sudden, you've always said we're just friends

Kath - I was wrong, we're more than that. You could help me escape Bob, we can have a future together

Kath hugs Bob again

Kath - I love you, I know we can be happy

Bob pushes her away in anger

Bob - You think you can manipulate me, use me?

Kath shakes her head and strokes his face

Kath - Of course not, I'd never use you. I care about you, you're my best friend

Bob - I care about you too, more than you could ever realize. It's wrong of you to try and use me like this

Kath - I told you I'm not using you

Bob - You are and you really expect me to help you escape? I can't do that and you damn well know it

Bob turns to leave in anger

Kath - Bob wait...don't leave me, please!

Bob - I'll talk to you again when you're prepared to talk sensibly. I won't listen to any more of this nonsense

Bob leaves the cell

Vera is in the staffroom having a coffee as Sandra enters

Vera - Ah governor I have some news for you about Bea Smith

Sandra smirks smugly

Sandra - In solitary is she?

Vera - No, she's taken over as the top dog

Sandra looks annoyed and surprised

Sandra - But what about Maxwell?

Vera - Stepped down by all accounts, gave the job back to Smith

Sandra looks stunned

Alone, in her cell, Kath takes a bottle of brandy out of her locker and starts to drink it

Sandra arrives in the cell in a rage

Sandra - Maxwell what the hell are you playing at?

Kath drinks her brandy and looks at Sandra

Kath - I'm not playing anything...I'm not playing your game anymore. I'm no one obedient little puppet, not anymore

Sandra drags Kath to her feet and knocks the bottle out of her hands, the bottle falls on the bed

Sandra slaps Kath in the face

Sandra - YOU STUPID BITCH! WE HAD AN AGREEMENT, NO ONE BACKS OUT ON ME EVER!

Kath spits in Sandra's face

Kath - You're a revolting bitch

Sandra attacks Kath in a rage, they fight and Sandra tries to choke Kath

Kath reaches out and grabs the brandy bottle and smashes it over Sandra's head

The rec room

Bea - Now ladies we need to talk about Clements

Cheryl - She's a bitch, what else is there to know?

Bea - Maxwell told me something very disturbing about her, about just how evil she'll be given a chance. We need to get rid of her

Judy - Got a plan, Bea?

Bea - Not yet, I thought we could discuss it right now

Cheryl - Yeah well you'll have to excuse me, I want to see if Kath is ok

Cheryl leaves the rec room

Bea - Now about Clements...

Ailsa sheepishly enters the room

Ailsa - Evening ladies

Lorna - What the hell do you want?

Ailsa - I thought we could all talk

Lorna - Oh yeah? About what? About how you and your loony mates were cooking and eating us....who would have been next if you hadn't been stopped when you were?

Ailsa - No one as far as I was concerned, I was ready to call it a day

The women sneer and mock Ailsa

Ronnie - Oh yeah I'm sure ya were!

Ailsa is indignant

Ailsa - I was I tell ya!

Ronnie - Well even if you were it doesn't change the murders you committed before that

Ailsa - Yes but we all have to live together...

Bea - Not necessarily so. You see we do plan to protest about this, see if we can't get rid of you again

Ailsa looks distressed

Ailsa - Please ladies, I can't stand it in isolation. Can't we let bygones be bygones?

Bea takes a puff on a cigarette

Bea - No chance love

Ailsa - What business is it of yours anyway? I didn't even know you were back here. what makes you think you can come back here and start throwing your weight around as if you'd never been away?

Bea - Because I'm the top dog that's why

Ailsa - Then please try to show an old girl a bit of mercy

Bea - Did you show any of your victims any mercy?

Ailsa bows her head in shame

Bea - Like I said you've got Buckley's chance of ever being accepted back here again

Ailsa leaves the room looking distressed

Lorna shakes he head

Lorna - She's got some nerve I'll give her that. Expecting to come back here like nothing ever happened and we'd just accept her back among us. That woman is crazy!

Sandra staggers from the cell with blood pouring down her face

Kath calmly sits on her bed and takes a photo album out of her locker. She looks through the photos. Merle, Linda, Alan, Jim, baby Scott

Kath has tears streaming down her face as she picks up a piece of broken glass and slashes her wrists

Sandra staggers down a corridor and bumps into Janice

Janice - What happened to you then Mrs Clements

Sandra (weak voice) - I need help Raymond

Janice - Yes I can see that, come on

Janice leads Sandra off

Cheryl arrives at Kath's cell where Kath is sat bleeding

Cheryl - Oh god, what have you done?

Kath looks at Cheryl

Kath - It's for the best, can't you see? Everythings such a mess, its time for me to go

Cheryl runs into the corridor

Cheryl - SOMEONE HELP! QUICKLY!

Vera runs up

Vera - What on earth is all the shouting for Gibson?

Cheryl - Kath needs help, Miss Bennett, shes slashed her wrists

Vera - I'll get help

Vera runs off

Janice leads Sandra up a flight of stairs

Sandra - Where the hell are we going, Raymond?

Janice - To get help of course

Sandra - Stop playing games, Raymond! can't you see I need help urgently

They arrive at the top of the stairs

Janice - All I can see is a pathetic woman in pain, what you need is putting out of your misery darling

Sandra chuckles

Sandra - And you're the one who's going to do it are you?

Janice nods her head and whispers in Sandra's ear

Janice - I'll let you into a little secret, I'm having an affair with your husband

Sandra - Oh I knew it, you bitch!

Janice grins

Janice - Well it doesn't end there, you see I intend for Richard to help me escape, I can wrap people around my little finger, manipulate them. Especially men who find themselves saddled with a horrid old bitch like you. I can show him the love he never got from you and eventually, he'll do anything I ask him to do...and with you out of the way it will be easier for me to step into your shoes as the number one woman in his heart

Sandra - Oh you're mad, even Richard isn't that stupid. He'll work out what you're doing soon enough

Janice smirks

Janice - The smartest thing you ever did was coming into this prison undercover...the dumbest? Stepping forwards

Janice gets her hands around Sandra's throat

Janice - Bye-bye Clements!

Cheryl is sitting by Kath's side crying

Cheryl - Miss Bennett went to get help, just hold on a while longer Kath

Kath - I don't want to hold on, I want my miserable life to end

Cheryl - No, you don't mean that

Kath - I do, I hate what I've become. Look at me, I've been behaving like a monster

Cheryl - But you weren't yourself when you did all that. You can put it right again now

Kath shakes her head

Kath - I have nothing left to live, for now, it's all gone. I'm tired of trying to be a better person and have something better from life only to have it all taken from me. Then I hate how angry and bitter and vindictive I get when it does. I don't like the person I become. I'm tired of fighting, tired of trying, tired of it all. Things were different once when I had Linda before I ever came to prison, but since Linda's death, it's all been hell. Sure I met some special people. Merle, Marty, You....but I lose even them eventually. Even Bob hates me now

Cheryl - You haven't lost me, I still care about you

Kath -You'd be better off not having me in your life believe me

Kath closes her eyes

Cheryl - Kath? Kath, don't go mate. C'mon stay with me, please

Cheryl shakes the unresponsive Kath

Cheryl - Kath? C'mon Kath!

Bob is walking along a corridor as he finds a figure lying on the ground, he rushes up and finds Sandra lying on the floor

Kath is carried off on a stretcher by two paramedics as Cheryl watches in tears

Cheryl - Will she be alright Miss Bennett?

Vera - I don't know, I hope so

Cheryl - She lost a lot of blood

Vera - Well she's in good hands now, I'm sure they will do all they can for her

Cheryl - I hope so, she's a good person, she really is. She just gets a bit lost sometimes

Vera smiles sadly

Vera - I know, she gave me a home when she had every right to turn me away. She was trying hard to make a go of it with Jim but nothing went right for them. The Battersby's caused them so many problems.....its very sad really

GATESLAM

PART 2

Exterior shot of Wentworth in daytime

The women are in the dining room as Bob comes in wearing a suit

Bob - Attention please ladies

Janice - Hey Mr Moran, what's with the suit?

Bob - I was about to get to that Raymond...Mrs Clements is currently unavailable so i am stepping in as governor

Bea - What do you mean currently unavailable?

Bob - I mean she's in hospital Smith, in a coma

Janice looks fretful

Janice - What happened to her?

Bob - She was found lying unconscious in a corridor, someone had attacked her. The police will be in to conduct interviews today, if anyone knows anything I advise you to come forward now ....well that will be all ladies. If anyone wants to see me I will be in my office

Bob leaves the room

Judy - So someone tried to kill Clements eh?

Bea - Yeah, pity they didn't finish the job properly

Janice sits in her seat looking worried

Bob is in the governor's office with Vera

Vera - Any news on Maxwell this morning?

Bob - She's in Wentworth general, she lost a lot of blood but shes stable by all accounts

Vera - Poor Maxwell, I know you must be worried about her. I know you care about her

Bob nods his head with concern

Bob - I just don't understand why she did it

Vera - I do....she'd had enough

Bob - Kath's always been a fighter

Vera - Yes but we can all reach a point where we feel enough is enough, where we don't want to fight anymore. She's been through so much

Bob nods his head

Bob - Yes I know...

Vera - Shocking about Mrs Clements isn't it?

Bob - Yes, very. I was the one who found her

Vera - Yes, that can't have been pleasant

Bob - It wasn't, she looked a real mess

Vera - anyway I'd best get on with my rounds now

Bob - Yes I have a call to make

Vera gets up and leaves the office

Bob waits for her to go and then picks up the phone

Janice is with Richard in his office

Richard - What will I do if she dies?

Janice hugs him

Janice - Have a nice life. Face it the woman makes your life hell

Richard - That doesn't mean I want to see her dead...

Janice - I know it doesn't darling...but what's happened has happened. Time to focus on having a better future without that poison in it

Richard - Well you speak of her like she's already dead, she isn't dead yet you know

Janice - Yes I know...I'm just trying to prepare you for if she doesn't pull through. i want you to know that it doesn't need to be the end of the world, there are options there for you to have a better life

Richard - With you you mean?

Janice smiles and kisses him

Janice - Of course with me, who else?

Richard pulls away

Richard - Yes well I can't sit here with you while she's lying in that hospital bed, it doesn't feel right

Janice stands up

Janice - I understand that. I'll leave you alone for now

Janice leaves the office