The governor's office.

Jim and Pat Slattery are there with Vera

Vera - Ingleside have just rang. They are sending Chrissie Latham back here today, she's due within the next hour

Jim and Pat look surprised

Jim - Is she ready to come back?

Vera - Ingleside seems to think so, she has recovered from her breakdown well enough...if you ask me she was only putting it on, to begin with anyway!

Pat - Smith won't be happy to see her, not after what Latham did to Birdsworth

Vera - I'm sure we can keep our eye on those two, it's part of our job to prevent trouble after all. Now about Michelle Tucker...Sister Hall thinks she can return to her cell this morning

Jim - And what about the amnesia?

Vera - That is just an act isn't it! So long as none of us indulge her she will surely become bored soon enough

Brumby is sitting up in bed eating breakfast as Vera arrives at the infirmary

Vera - Tucker I trust you are well this morning?

Brumby - I'll be well once they let me go home

Vera -If by home you mean your cell I can tell you that you are going back to your cell as soon as you have finished your breakfast and your mother will be moving in with you to be your carer

Brumby - Look please tell me what happened to my legs? Why can't I walk anymore?

Vera snaps

Vera - You're not fooling me with this ridiculous act Tucker so you may as well pack it in right now

Brumby - Act? what act?

Vera sighs

Vera - Are you ready to tell me who put you in the skip yet?

Brumby - Yes that was Morgan

Vera - Morgan?

Brumby - Yes

Vera - I suspected as much...

Vera looks angry again

Vera - You could have saved us all a lot of messing around if you had told us this yesterday Tucker!...and let me tell you right now just because you are in a wheelchair doesn't mean you can get away with anything. I won't tolerate any nonsense from you just the same as I won't tolerate it from anyone else. Understand that and you will make your life here a little easier

Brumby smiles and nods her head

Brumby - I know miss, I've heard about boarding school before, it's the first time I've been though. My mum kept threatening me with it cos I'm such a handful at home, I never thought she'd actually go through with it though, I guess that's taught me hasn't it

Vera looks exasperated

Pat is in reception as a new prisoner arrives - Lexie Patterson

Pat (surprised) - Patterson?

Lexie - HEY! G'DAY MRS SLATTERY!

Pat signs for her

Pat- Well you know the procedure girl, on the line

Lexie - Yeah yeah I know

Pat - Your name is Lexie Patterson and you have been sentenced to six months imprisonment for possession with intent to supply, is that right?

Lexie - YUP SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT TO ME!

Jim arrives in reception

Pat- Who is looking after Julian while you're back here?

Lexie - Jessie of course, who do you think?

Pat - I would have thought with a child now you would be a bit more responsible by now my girl

Lexie - Yeah well never wanted to get caught did i

Jim - Typical attitude. Irresponsible little girls like you don't deserve kids

Lexie is mad

Lexie - AND WHO THE HELL ASKED YOU? I DON'T EVEN BLOODY KNOW YOU!

Jim - Careful how you talk to me young woman, I can easily put you on report, wouldn't be a good start would it

Lexie - Yeah well I'm sorry ok....just don't like it when people judge me as a mum. I love my little boy

Jim - Didn't stop you coming back in here though did it

Lexie gives Jim a defiant look

Pauline is in her cell packing when Kelly comes in

Kelly - Need a hand?

Pauline - No I'm almost finished

Kelly - I'm going to miss sharing with you

Pauline - I'll miss sharing with you too but I have to look after Michelle

Kelly - I know...I just hope whoever they put in here with me now is bearable

Pauline - Whoever they are you can handle them if they give you any bother

Kelly - Oh I know that and I will. But I'd much rather not have to. I'd rather have a quiet life than have to deal with crap all the time

Pauline - Yes I know what you mean...talking of crap what are we going to do to Morgan?

Kelly - I'm not sure yet, Cheryl and I have discussed a few ideas but we won't do anything without running it past you first

Pat and Lexie are walking along a corridor

Lexie - He's kinda spunky that Mr Fletcher, shame he's such a mongrel

Pat - Mr Fletcher is a perfectly decent officer Patterson

Lexie - Yeah? Well he should keep his opinions to himself...he had no right to judge me like that

Pat - If you expect sympathy from me you're on a hiding to nothing, I agree with Mr Fletcher

Lexie - Yeah you lot stick together!.....where's Mrs M when you need her?

Pat - Mrs Morris no longer works here

Lexie - Bugger! I wanted to see a familiar face, even if it was a screw!

Pat - You'll just have to make do with me then won't you

Lexie - I need to see Mrs Reynolds as soon as possible so I can ask about seeing Julian

Pat - Mrs Reynolds doesn't work here anymore either

Lexie - Bugger! oh well I want to see the new governor then

Pat - You will in good time

They arrive at Kelly's cell

Pat - This is your new cellmate, Webster

Kelly - You lot don't waste time do you? Paul's only this minute taken her stuff down to Brumby's cell and already her replacement is here

Pat - I'll leave you to settle in Patterson

Lexie - Hey what about seeing the governor?

Pat - You will in good time I told you

Lexie (aggressive) - I WANT TO SEE HER NOW!

Pat snaps

Pat - How dare you talk to me like that! You'll see her when she's ready to see you and not before

Pat storms off

Lexie tosses her box of belongings on the bed in a huff

Lexie - THIS PLACE STINKS!

Pauline is in Brumby's cell with her

Pauline - I'm so happy to be your carer at last Michelle. I was never happy with Morgan doing it

Brumby - Why am I in this bloody wheelchair mum? I wish I knew

Pauline - You don't remember what happened to you? Morgan pushed you from a moving car?

Brumby shakes her head and looks blank

Brumby - I never thought you'd put me in a place like this mum

Pauline - Michelle please let's not fight anymore. I know you blame me for everything but its time we moved on now, built bridges

Brumby - Why are you here anyway? I didn't think parents were allowed to stay in a boarding school with their kids, visit sure but not stay

Pauline - Boarding school?

Brumby - Yeah...I know I was a handful mum but I never thought you'd send me here

Pauline looks concerned

Chrissie is in the reception with Jim

Jim - Hello Latham, how was the journey over here?

Chrissie - Mr Fletcher? How long have you been back here?

Jim - A few months now

Chrissie - It's good to see you, I mean that

Jim - Yes well I wish I could say the same but after what you did to Lizzie it's hard to feel that way. I was as fond of her as everyone else was

Chrissie looks close to tears

Chrissie - I was fond of her too, I never meant to kill her, I don't even remember doing it

Jim - Oh really?

Chrissie - Yes really, I wasn't well at the time

Jim - Oh I know, being unwell, being out of one's mind, that seems to be the popular excuse you women use every time isn't it

Chrissie - Please Mr Fletcher you have to believe me, I loved Lizzie, she was one of my best mates in here

Jim softens a bit

Jim - Ok Latham calm down, I suppose when I think about it I believe you were unwell at the time and didn't mean to hurt Lizzie. It's Smith you have to convince not me, she loved Lizzie the most of all of us

Roo is standing in front of Vera

Vera - Tucker confirms to me that you put her in the skip Morgan

Roo looks furious

Roo - She's a bloody liar!

Vera - Normally I'd agree with you but on this occasion, it is blatantly clear to me, to all of us, that she's telling the truth. You will go before the visiting justice on this one Morgan

Roo - Am I going back to solitary?

Vera - No, I'm allowing you back to H Block for now until you see the visiting justice. However, I would advise you to keep away from Tucker

Lexie is playing a madonna tape very loudly in her cell when Kelly comes in and immediately turns it down

Lexie - HEY! I'M LISTENING TO THAT!

Kelly- And I'm not stopping you am I, just keep it down, it was far too loud

Lexie - Yeah well stuff you!

Lexie turns it up to full volume again

Lexie - THIS IS MY CELL TOO YA KNOW AND I WILL HAVE IT AS LOUD AS I LIKE

Kelly stops the tape and takes it out and tears the tape out

Lexie - BITCH!

Lexie tries to attack Kelly and gets a slap to the face. Kelly throws her against a locker and gets a hand around her throat

Kelly - This is not a good start Patterson, not a good start at all

Chrissie is in the governor's office with Vera. Jim is stood to the side

Vera - Welcome back Latham...back where you belong, in a proper prison and not that playschool Ingleside

Chrissie - You must be off ya bleeding rocker if you think Ingleside is a playschool, Miss Bennett. It's full of fruitcakes in there, I was scared to go to sleep some nights in case some lunatic attacked me in my sleep. Some of them would go mental if they didn't get their medication on time

Vera - Well I'm sure it was horrible for you...

Chrissie - It was

Vera - Then that might teach you not to go around killing people Latham! Birdsworth was a harmless enough old lady even if she was a prisoner

Chrissie is distressed

Chrissie - It's just like I told Mr Fletcher...I didn't mean to kill her

Vera - Rubbish! Nothing you pack of animals do is ever just an accident

Chrissie sits and sobs as Jim looks concerned

Vera - And save the crocodile tears! They simply won't wash on me

Jim - Yes well I think I should take Latham to see her cell now, who is she sharing with?

Vera - She's going in the three-bed dorm with Gibson

Jim helps a sobbing Chrissie out of her seat and begins to guide her out of the office

Vera sits back in her seat and smirks

Vera - One last thing Latham

Chrissie looks around and wipes a tear off her face

Chrissie - Yeah?

Vera - Try and keep out of Smith's way. I'm sure the officers will do all they can to protect you but they can't watch you 24/7 and knowing Smith if she really wants to get you she will, so it would serve you well not to provoke her

Jim leads Chrissie out of the office

Jim - I think seeing your new cell can wait, the women are on outside rec now you can join them. The fresh air might do you some good

Chrissie - Thanks Mr Fletcher

The women are on an outside rec as Pauline wheels Brumby out

Pauline - How about this then Michelle? A nice bit of fresh air

Brumby - Funniest school I've ever been to this one, ain't done a scrap of schoolwork the entire time I've been here. Are the teachers all on strike or something?

Cheryl and Kelly walk over

Cheryl - You ok there Brumby?

Brumby - Why does everyone keep calling me Brumby anyway? My name's Michelle!

Cheryl - Gee I'm sorry Michelle, you never minded us calling you by your nickname before

Bumby - Nickname? I don't have a bloody nickname! My name has always been Michelle nothing more!

Pauline beckons Cheryl and Kelly out of Brumby's earshot

Pauline - She's acting very strangely, she keeps on about this being a boarding school and doesn't seem to remember why she's in a wheelchair. It's like she's lost her memory or something

Kelly and Cheryl chuckle

Pauline - It's not funny?

Kelly - She's putting it on ain't she, can't you see. Clever bitch, probably hoping she'll get released or something if the authorities believe she can't remember her Crimes

Pauline stares over at Brumby. Brumby smiles at her

Brumby - I never knew boarding school would be this easy mum, thanks for bringing me!

Kelly and Cheryl laugh again, Pauline looks concerned......

.......Jim arrives outside with Chrissie

Jim -There is a special tree in the garden now that was planted for Lizzie, would you like to see it?

Chrissie nods

....Bea is over the other side of the garden with Tracy

Bea - What are you in for than love?

Tracy - Shoplifting, I was on parole for another offense so coming back here was unavoidable

Bea - Silly girl

Tracy - I know, just can't help meself I guess

Bea smiles and then spots Chrissie over by Lizzie's tree, the smile leaves her face...

.......The women from maternity are coming out with their babies, Cheryl spots Kath and rushes over for a chat

Cheryl - Hey g'day

Kath - Hey stranger, how're things on h block?

Cheryl - Much the same as ever

Jim has spotted Kath and leaves Chrissie alone, he approaches Kath

Jim - Maxwell I was going to come and see you, Bob and Mrs Hewitt are coming in to see you later about your appeal

Kath nods

Kath - Thanks Mr Fletcher......

......Chrissie is alone by Lizzie's tree

Chrissie - Oh Lizzie. I'm so sorry

Bea runs up and attacks Chrissie

Bea - Not as sorry as you're going to be Latham

Chrissie screams as Bea attacks her

Chrissie - Please Bea, it was an accident I swear!

Bea punches Chrissie in the stomach, Chrissie screams and cries

Bea - MY BEST FRIEND IS DEAD AND YOU KILLED HER BITCH!

Having seen the commotion Jim and the women rush over, Jim pulls Bea off of Chrissie

Jim - That's enough of that Smith!

Bea - You'll keep Latham!

Chrissie - Please Bea, you have to understand...

Bea looks at her with hate

Bea - I'll never understand, I'll never forgive either......

.......Brumby is alone in the other part of the garden as Roo appears and grabs her

Roo - Ok you little bitch, I think it's time you told the truth, Slater put you in the skip right?

Brumby - Who are you?

Roo - You want to make me pay for paralyzing you and I get that, but I thought we reached an understanding on that, I told you I was sorry. Now you're going, to tell the truth, if I have to hurt you to make you

Brumby - I don't know who you are but carry on like this and the headmistress will know about it

Roo grabs Brumby's wheelchair by the arms and violently shakes it

Roo - TELL THEM SLATER DID IT TUCKER!

Brumby screams out and attracts the attention of the others

Pauline, Cheryl, and Kelly run forwards. Lexie is nearby and puts out a leg to trip Kelly over, Kelly is sent flying.

Pauline and Cheryl arrive and pull Roo off of Brumby

Pauline - Are you ok Michelle? Has she hurt you..........

......Lexie is helping Kelly up off the ground

Kelly brushes herself down

Lexie - Are you ok? You really went flying then

Kelly - I'm fine

Lexie - Nasty accident wasn't it...any idea how it happened?

Kelly glares at Lexie

Kelly - I tripped over something?

Lexie - Oh dear, any idea what?.......

.....Jim is with Brumby

Jim - Everything ok here? Did Morgan touch you?

Brumby - I'm fine Sir, really

Cheryl - Yes it was nothing Mr Fletcher, it's been dealt with now

Jim looks at Roo

Jim - We're keeping our eyes on you you know Morgan, be warned

Roo sneers

GATESLAM

PART 2

Lexie is with Vera in the governor's office. Jim is present

Vera - I offer my deepest apologies for not seeing you earlier Patterson, but I have been rushed off my feet all morning

Lexie - Sure no worries

Vera - I usually make a point of meeting troublemakers straight away...

Lexie (angry) - Who says I'm a trouble maker?

Vera - I DO PATTERSON! I HAD A GOOD LONG LOOK AT YOUR FILE, IT WAS ONE OBNOXIOUS ACTION AFTER ANOTHER.

Lexie - Yeah well it's all lies

Vera - Oh I'm sure it is....so you'll be on your best behaviour then? I won't have any cause for concern?

Lexie - No none

Vera - That's good to hear Patterson it means I won't need to punish you too often

Lexie - When can I see my son Julian?

Vera - When I am satisfied that you have earned it, maybe in a week or two

Lexie - A week or two? You've gotta be kidding lady I can't wait that long!

Vera - It's Miss Bennett to you, not lady! Yes it will be at least a week or two but you should bear in mind it will be even longer than that if your behavior is poor, which frankly having read your file I suspect it will be

Lexie - You can't keep me from him for that long! Mrs Reynolds would have...

Vera - FORGET ALL ABOUT MRS REYNOLDS! I'M THE GOVERNOR NOW NOT HER

Lexie - Yeah pity!

Vera - You can have extra cleaning duties for a week because of that ....Mr Fletcher take her to the laundry so she can begin work

Jim - Yes Miss Bennett

Jim leads Lexie out of the office

Lexie - What an old bitch! I suppose you agree with her, do you?

Jim - Yes I do, as a matter of fact, prisoners have to earn their privileges, and contact with their kids is a privilege and not a right

Lexie - Well it bloody well should be a right! 

The women are in the laundry and Lexie joins them

Lexie - G'day girls I'm here to work

Cheryl looks delighted

Cheryl - Hey Lex! I thought that was you I saw on outside rec

Lexie - Yup it was! Good to see ya, Cheryl, there's no one here I know anymore, cept you

Lexie has a look of disgust on her face

Lexie - And Maxwell, of course, I saw her outside

Cheryl - Good to see you too, Reet would clobber you if she was here though ya know that don't you? She'd be pretty disappointed to see you back here

Lexie - Yeah I know.....so how long has that old bitch governor been here? Reynolds was a lot nicer than her

Cheryl - Old Bennetts only been back a few days...she was the one who was governor when the bomb went off Lexie

Lexie looks disgusted

Lexie - And they let her back as governor? That's outrageous

Cheryl - I know.....not much any of us can do about it though

Lexie - yeah I guess so....so where is Maxwell?

Cheryl - In maternity, why?

Lexie - wanted to say hello that's all....so she's pregnant?

Cheryl - Yes she is, she's appealing her sentence too, looks like she'll probably get out

Lexie - Really? some girls have all the luck eh