Its daytime in Australia and the women are in the Recroom

They seem in high spirits

Judy and Sasha are sitting together

Judy - Well that was quite an impressive fireworks display last night eh gals!

The women all seem to agree

Sasha - I feel we should try and find a way to thank Mr Moran, he has been very kind to us over Christmas and new year, very few prison governors would be this good to us

Judy - I agree love, just not sure what we can really do for him though

Vera knocks on Cassie's bedroom door

Vera - Cassie come on, it's time to get up! I won't have you lying around in bed all day, you need to look for a job again today!

All is silent in Cassie's room

Vera knocks again

Vera - Cassie come on get up now!

Still nothing

Vera loses patience and enters the room looking irate

Vera - Just because you had another wild night last night don't think it means you can...

Vera stops in her tracks

The room is empty and the bed unslept in

Vera looks concerned

At Wentworth Vera and Bob are in the staff room

Vera - Any news on Tone?

Bob - Yes I got an update from the hospital this morning, she is on the mend now. No real harm was done

Vera - Well that's a relief, I was worried about her. Still proves what a feral animal Winter is. They really need to catch her soon, scum like her shouldn't be free to roam among decent people

Bob - I don't expect her to stay out for long, they rarely ever do. She'll be caught and be back here soon enough

Vera - If you ask me she should go to Black...

Vera pauses with an embarrassed smile

Vera - I keep forgetting

Bob smiles too

Bob - You're not the only one, I catch myself forgetting for a moment too sometimes

Vera - I find it hard to get my head around the idea that they are going to turn Wentworth into a super-prison

Bob - Yes, I am struggling with it too, but I think we will just have to get used to it because it's going to happen whether we like it or not

Vera sips her coffee and looks troubled

Bob - Is everything ok Vera? I can't help noticing you seem to have something on your mind

Vera smiles

Vera - It's nothing really, it's just that Cassie didn't come home last night. She went out to celebrate the new year and I can't help but worry. But I'm sure she's fine

Inspector Grace is with a rough-looking Woman in a house. They are gathered in the kitchen

Two uniformed officers can be seen searching the house

The woman - I told ya he ain't ere didn't i

Grace- Forgive me if I don't take your word for it won't you Mrs Hamilton!

The two officers arrive in the kitchen and Grace gives them an inquisitive look

They shake their heads

Officer- He isn't here Sir

Mrs Hamilton - Told ya didn't I!

Grace - Where is he then! He might not be here but you know where he is right? You've hidden him, right?

Mrs Hamilton - No I haven't, I have no clue where he could be!

Grace - Don't give me that Mrs Hamilton! I wouldn't put it past you to be protecting him, after all, he is your son

Mrs Hamilton is in tears

Mrs Hamilton - Inspector I have no idea where he is really, he never came home last night

Grace- Maybe Mr Hamilton knows where he is?

Mrs. Hamilton - No I am sure he has no idea either!

Grace - If I find out you're lying there will be serious consequences

Mrs. Hamilton - I am not lying damn it!......but anyway i don't believe for one second that my little angel Aaron did what you're saying he did!

Grace- There were witnesses!

Mrs Hamilton - Well they are mistaken, my sweet boy would never stab no one!

Grace - Perhaps you can help us with one thing at least. Please identify the girl he was with for us?

Mrs Hamilton - Well the girl he went out with last night was his girlfriend Cassie. Of course, I have no idea if that is the same girl he was with when someone else stabbed the lad. In any case, they are both innocent

Grace- Her second name, please?

Mrs Hamilton looks thoughtful

Mrs Hamilton - I think her second name is Mcdougal or McDonald, definitely Mc something!

Grace - Cassie McDonald, yes I know her! Well, she has stepped up in the world from petty offenses to the accomplice in a brutal murder!

Mrs Hamilton - Nonsense, she is a sweet girl. Like I told you they are both innocent

Eileen is alone in her home as the phone rings

Reluctantly she answers it

Eileen - Hello?

There is no answer

Eileen looks irritated

Eileen - Look Ted I know it's you! You may as well quit playing childish games at once!

It is indeed Ted on the other end

Ted - I am annoyed that I failed to kill you last night, I will try again you can be sure of it!

Eileen - You will regret what you did, no one tries to kill me and gets away with it

Ted - Next time I try I will succeed!

Eileen - You will not succeed!

Ted - Yes I will!

Eileen - You will not because you shan't get a chance. I will see to it that you pay the price for what you did to me and that will be the end of it

Ted sneers down the phone

Ted - And just what the hell do you think you can do to me you murdering bitch?

Eileen - You'll find out

Eileen hangs up

The Laundry

The women are at work, with Ros on the press again. They have the radio on as Vera arrives in the room

Ros - How is Officer Williams today Miss Bennett?

Vera - Why do you lot want to pretend to care?

Ros -We aren't pretending, we really do care. We all like Officer Williams and we think that what Marie did to her was flaming disgusting, right girls?

They all agree

Vera - Yes well if you honestly want to know I'll tell you, she is recovering well

Ros - What a relief!

Vera - If any of you know where that animal is you should tell us now

Ros - We have no idea I swear Miss Bennett. Marie would hardly tell any of us where she was planning to go

Vera - She is a savage beast and I hope they recapture her soon!

Ros - And we all agree entirely Miss Bennett!

The song on the radio, a Kylie Minogue song, ends

Radio announcer - Can't beat a bit of Kylie! Now for the news.....

Vera - And why do you have the radio on ladies?

Ros - No harm is there surely?

Vera - I believe it is nothing but a distraction! I will switch it off now!

Vera goes to switch it off as the women protest in anger

Vera - QUIET THE LOT OF YOU!

Vera carries on walking towards the radio

Radio announcer - ....police are hunting for a young couple who they have reason to believe were responsible for the fatal stabbing of a 21-year-old male outside a nightclub last night when New year celebrations ended in tragedy. The couple, a male and a female, are believed to be white with previous convictions. Their names are Aaron Hamilton and Cassie McDonald

Vera has just put her arm out to switch it off as she hears the names. She freezes in horror

Everyone in the laundry looks stunned. They stand in silence looking at Vera

Vera just stands there in shock

Ros eventually approaches sheepishly

Ros - Miss Bennett...Miss Bennett are you alright?

Vera - What?

Ros - Are you alright?

Vera shakes her head

Vera - No....no I don't think I am really

Ros - We all heard what he said about Cassie

Vera shakes her head more still and is obviously distressed

Vera - Yes well I am sure they have made a mistake, a dreadful mistake. You lot should know how incompetent the police can be more than I do, I bet it's that fool Grace running the investigation! Cocking it all up as usual!

Vera looks around at the women

Vera - It was all a mistake, you'll see...and now you'd best get on with the work

Vera leaves the room

The women all exchange looks

Vera wonders a corridor, seeming to be in some kind of trance, as Marina arrives along the corridor

Marina - G'day Miss Bennett, how are you today?

Vera carries on as if she hasn't seen or heard Marina

Marina - Are you ok Miss Bennett?

Vera carries on in her trance like state

Marina stares at her as she walks along

Marina - Speak to yourself then why don't you Marina!

Vera bumps into Vern further along the corridor

Vern - I have been looking for you Miss Bennett, you are wanted in the governor's office

Vera stares blankly at Vern

Vern - Come on, I'll take you there shall I?

Vera - Cassie....he wants to see me about Cassie right?

Vern - Let's just go to the office shall we, come on

Vern guides Vera along

Vern guides Vera into the office where Bob is waiting. He has Grace with him

Bob - Vera, the inspector needs to talk to you, I'm afraid something serious has happened

Vera - Yes...yes, I know. I heard it on the radio

Grace - Take a seat, Miss Bennett

Vera - No thank you, I'm alright standing

Grace- Suit yourself....now I need to ask you about Cassie...

Vera suddenly snaps in a rage

Vera - I KNEW YOU'D BE INVOLVED YOU INCOMPETENT, LAZY, CORRUPT FOOL! WELL, YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG SUSPECTS YET AGAIN INSPECTOR! YET AGAIN YOU'RE A PATHETIC DISGRACE AND A FAILURE

Grace puffs on a cigarette and ignores Vera's outburst

Grace- Do you know where she is? We need to find her and Hamilton and question them

Vera - She was home all night with me last night, she couldn't have done it see!

Grace - Come on now Miss Bennett, I wouldn't recommend giving false information when we are dealing with a murder

Vera - Well it's not false, is it! It's the truth and you got it all wrong once again!

Grace- I don't think so somehow. Really I would advise you to co-operate with me at once. If you know where she might be I need to know

Vera is fighting back tears

Vera - She didn't do it alright! She couldn't have been involved!

Grace snaps

Grace - STOP WASTING MY TIME AND TELL ME IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING VERA!

Vera - GET STUFFED GRACE!

Bob - Let's all just calm down here shall we!

Grace softens a bit

Grace- Look, Miss Bennett, I understand she is your daughter and I understand this is distressing for you. But we really need to find her, apart from anything else she could be in danger if Hamilton decides to hurt her too

Vera shakes her head in distress

Vera - I don't know where she is, she never came home last night

Grace - And do you know where she went last night?

Vera - Just out with the boy to see in the new year, that's all I know. I told her to be careful, don't do anything foolish, I told her, I warned her...

Vera is in tears and Bob jumps out of his chair to comfort her

Vera - I knew that boy was trouble, I knew it from the start!