Season 3 poster

Season 3

(1981)

Overview

The third season of Australian drama television series Prisoner (commonly known as Prisoner: Cell Block H) premiered on Network Ten on 4 February 1981. It consists of 81 episodes and concluded on 11 November 1981. The season is notable for the conclusion to the tunnel escape storyline which ended the previous season; the departure of Vera Bennett ("Vinegar Tits") when she accepts the position of governor of Barnhurst; the kidnapping of Erica Davidson; the arrival of new prisoners Sandy Edwards…

Cast

Sheila Florance as Lizzie Birdsworth
Sheila Florance

as Lizzie Birdsworth

Val Lehman as Bea Smith
Val Lehman

as Bea Smith

Colette Mann as Doreen Anderson / Doreen Burns
Colette Mann

as Doreen Anderson / Doreen Burns

Judith McGrath as Colleen Powell
Judith McGrath

as Colleen Powell

Anne Phelan as Myra Desmond
Anne Phelan

as Myra Desmond

Elspeth Ballantyne as Meg Morris / Meg Jackson
Elspeth Ballantyne

as Meg Morris / Meg Jackson

Amanda Muggleton as Chrissie Latham
Amanda Muggleton

as Chrissie Latham

Betty Bobbitt as Judy Bryant
Betty Bobbitt

as Judy Bryant

Fiona Spence as Vera 'Vinger Tits' Bennett
Fiona Spence

as Vera 'Vinger Tits' Bennett

Patsy King as Erica Davidson
Patsy King

as Erica Davidson

Jentah Sobott as Heather "Mouse" Trapp
Jentah Sobott

as Heather "Mouse" Trapp

Ian Smith as Ted Douglas
Ian Smith

as Ted Douglas

Reylene Pearce as Phyllis Hunt
Reylene Pearce

as Phyllis Hunt

Jane Clifton as Margo Gaffney
Jane Clifton

as Margo Gaffney

Joy Westmore as Joyce Barry / Joyce Pringle
Joy Westmore

as Joyce Barry / Joyce Pringle

Tommy Dysart as Jock Stewart
Tommy Dysart

as Jock Stewart

Terry Gill as Jack Grace
Terry Gill

as Jack Grace

Bryon Williams as Dr Eric Weissman
Bryon Williams

as Dr Eric Weissman

Caroline Gillmer as Helen Smart
Caroline Gillmer

as Helen Smart

Kate Sheil as Janet Conway
Kate Sheil

as Janet Conway

Wayne Jarratt as Steve Falkner
Wayne Jarratt

as Steve Falkner

Olivia Hamnett as Kate Peterson
Olivia Hamnett

as Kate Peterson

Mary Ward as Jeanette "Mum" Brooks
Mary Ward

as Jeanette "Mum" Brooks

Episodes

Episode 166 poster

Episode 166 0.0

February 4, 1981

Judy and Mouse dig in the rubble with their bare hands, but they only turn up Irene's dead body . They shout for help a…

Episode 167 poster

Episode 167 0.0

February 10, 1981

Jim overhears Mouse and Margo discussing the escape and what might have happened to Doreen and Bea, and Irene's death i…

Episode 168 poster

Episode 168 0.0

February 11, 1981

Wally tells Judy he saw her photo in the newspaper, but tells her he has no intention of telling the police where she i…

Episode 169 poster

Episode 169 0.0

February 17, 1981

Vera gives Lizzie mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while the women wait for the ambulance to arrive. Meanwhile, Hazel remov…

Episode 170 poster

Episode 170 0.0

February 18, 1981

Wally tells Judy he's concerned that Micki is getting too involved in Judy's campaign to improve conditions, and Judy a…

Episode 171 poster

Episode 171 0.0

February 24, 1981

Graeme Hopkins arrives at Wentworth threatening to expose the contents of Judy's tape if Erica won't agree to grant him…

Episode 172 poster

Episode 172 0.0

February 25, 1981

Jock tells Judy she's now going to work for him: he wants $300 every time he visits - if not, he'll bash her and turn b…

Episode 173 poster

Episode 173 0.0

March 3, 1981

Doreen tries to take the blame as Jim returns her to her cell, but he obviously doesn't believe her. Bea and Lizzie are…

Episode 174 poster

Episode 174 0.0

March 4, 1981

Bea orders the women to send Sandra to Coventry so she can't get any more information. Judy overhears Sandra ask Jim to…

Episode 175 poster

Episode 175 0.0

March 10, 1981

Bea tells the women they can use Sandra to feed her information which supports their cause. Meg gives Lizzie the news t…

Episode 176 poster

Episode 176 0.0

March 11, 1981

Bea dashes off to make Evelyn reveal what was in the the mixture she gave Doreen. When Evelyn finds out that Doreen hea…

Episode 177 poster

Episode 177 0.0

March 17, 1981

A doctor arrives to carry out tests for tropical diseases: Evelyn scoffs at him from her bed in the infirmary. Dr Grang…

Episode 178 poster

Episode 178 0.0

March 18, 1981

Sandra is persuaded to come back inside. Evelyn seems worried that her medicine isn't working on Meg. Sandra is told sh…

Episode 179 poster

Episode 179 0.0

March 24, 1981

Dr Granger says he wants to carry out further tests on the women to confirm his suspicions. Jim reports Georgie's attac…

Episode 180 poster

Episode 180 0.0

March 25, 1981

Sandra protests to Meg when her breakfast is brought to solitary that she didn't cause the fire. In the dining room, th…

Episode 181 poster

Episode 181 0.0

March 31, 1981

Vera wants to censor a letter from Ken Pearce to Bea when she sees it contains praise for Bea for setting his daughter …

Episode 182 poster

Episode 182 0.0

April 1, 1981

Hazel comes to Judy's cell to see if she's all right, and has to listen to a tirade against Georgie for her trouble. Be…

Episode 183 poster

Episode 183 0.0

April 7, 1981

Meg is also injured and the women are locked in the dining room: Judy asks for the gate to be opened so that Bea can ge…

Episode 184 poster

Episode 184 0.0

April 8, 1981

Det. Insp. Thorne arrives to control the handling of the siege, and snipers and gunmen take up position all around the …

Episode 185 poster

Episode 185 0.0

April 14, 1981

Georgie interrupts the TV news about the siege to tell the women her own news about David's decision on her parole. Bea…

Episode 186 poster

Episode 186 0.0

April 15, 1981

Erica tells Sally she's fallen for the oldest trick in the book and warns her that her work must improve. Vera sympathi…

Episode 187 poster

Episode 187 0.0

April 21, 1981

Vera thinks that Lizzie hasn't escaped at all and that the women are hiding her to play a joke on the officers. Jim say…

Episode 188 poster

Episode 188 0.0

April 22, 1981

Bob tries to apologise to Meg, but he still wants her to change her job. Lizzie is interviewed by the police about her …

Episode 189 poster

Episode 189 0.0

April 28, 1981

Chrissie returns to the laundry sobbing and Bea makes veiled remarks to Vera to indicate that she holds her responsible…

Episode 190 poster

Episode 190 0.0

April 29, 1981

No-one will talk to Bea in the rec room, though Hazel and Chrissie pointedly talk about her as if she wasn't there, pro…

Episode 191 poster

Episode 191 0.0

May 5, 1981

Bea refuses to talk to Ken on try to persuade him to give up his work for the PRG, but Debbie says she won't allow Bea …

Episode 192 poster

Episode 192 0.0

May 6, 1981

Chrissie lays into Mick as soon as she's through the front door of the new flat , accusing him of only being nice to he…

Episode 193 poster

Episode 193 0.0

May 12, 1981

Bea and the others are keen to know how Doreen's day out went. She tells them Peter wasn't what she expected, and that …

Episode 194 poster

Episode 194 0.0

May 13, 1981

Judy urges the women to stick together and support the strike: only Doreen mutters grumpily that she can't why they sho…

Episode 195 poster

Episode 195 0.0

May 19, 1981

Chrissie phones Meg at work to tell her about Mick's arrest and that she is in danger herself of being charged with har…

Episode 196 poster

Episode 196 0.0

May 20, 1981

The corridors are silent when Jim and Colleen check up later, though the din resumes after their dialogue. The women ar…

Episode 197 poster

Episode 197 0.0

May 26, 1981

Chrissie tries to convince Meg that the half-naked man fleeing her flat is an old friend, but Meg suspects she is back …

Episode 198 poster

Episode 198 0.0

May 27, 1981

At breakfast Judy, Hazel and Phyllis all "vie" for top dog, but it is only a ploy to make the staff feel that there wil…

Episode 199 poster

Episode 199 0.0

June 2, 1981

The driver of the police van is dead and the officer unconscious. A very disoriented Bea stumbles out of the van and wa…

Episode 200 poster

Episode 200 0.0

June 3, 1981

Meg goes to phone the police but Mum tells her Bea needs medical attention. Meg agrees to go see Bea before alerting th…

Episode 201 poster

Episode 201 0.0

June 9, 1981

Terry finds Bea weeping hysterically in the corridor. She begs to see Meg. Bea tells Meg that she almost killed Margo, …

Episode 202 poster

Episode 202 0.0

June 10, 1981

Bea finds Mum unconscious and stays with her while Jim runs for help. Margo comes in tossing Mum's pills in her hand. B…

Episode 203 poster

Episode 203 0.0

June 16, 1981

At meal time, Margo acts terrified of Bea. Both Mum and Vera notice. Bea later tells Margo not to act frightened of her…

Episode 204 poster

Episode 204 0.0

June 17, 1981

Bea tells her counsel that she wishes to change her plea to guilty. On the stand, Bea testifies that she only had amnes…

Episode 205 poster

Episode 205 0.0

June 23, 1981

Lizzie's book is officially "opened". Mr. Muirhead visits Meg at home and tells her that Nick absolutely must move out.…

Episode 206 poster

Episode 206 0.0

June 24, 1981

Bea bails Lizzie out of trouble by having her give the women back their original bets and IOUs for the rest. Terry brin…

Episode 207 poster

Episode 207 0.0

June 30, 1981

Jim runs for help. Margo comes to in the infirmary, but has no idea who hit her. Bob tells Meg that he has no interest …

Episode 208 poster

Episode 208 0.0

July 1, 1981

Judy asks Bea what she intends to do with the cassette, but Bea is not yet sure. Meg gets to Nick as he is being escort…

Episode 209 poster

Episode 209 0.0

July 7, 1981

Jim finds Vera sobbing in the rec room. She asks to be excused for the afternoon and Jim agrees. The family doctor phon…

Episode 210 poster

Episode 210 0.0

July 8, 1981

Judy is stunned at meeting Lori and asks how she found her. Lori explains that her adoptive parents, the Youngs,were af…

Episode 211 poster

Episode 211 0.0

July 14, 1981

The Keep-Fit class ends with Jim about as winded as the women. Meg visits with Erica, who thanks her for the dinner. Er…

Episode 212 poster

Episode 212 0.0

July 15, 1981

Bea and Judy search for Doreen. Bea tells Lizzie to keep an eye on Lori. Lori claims she isn't at all frightened and th…

Episode 213 poster

Episode 213 0.0

July 21, 1981

While running in the park, Jim comes across Amelia and speaks with her. He shows her a photograph of Michelle and she r…

Episode 214 poster

Episode 214 0.0

July 28, 1981

Terry is not happy to see Kathy. He advises her to keep quiet about their marriage as it might put her in danger from o…

Episode 215 poster

Episode 215 0.0

August 4, 1981

Bea and Judy give Kathy's cell a thorough check for any more booby-traps. Inspector Grace arrives to see Kathy. Vera is…

Episode 216 poster

Episode 216 0.0

August 5, 1981

Doreen leads the verbal attack on Alison until Judy intervenes allowing Alison to run out of the rec room, bumping into…

Episode 217 poster

Episode 217 0.0

August 11, 1981

Bea hears Alison howling and rushes to the rescue, using a chair to break the circuit. Jim gives Alison mouth-to-mouth …

Episode 218 poster

Episode 218 0.0

August 12, 1981

The gunman, Harry, is looking for Terry, and forces Vera to ring him at work, but Vera tricks Harry by telling Terry th…

Episode 219 poster

Episode 219 0.0

August 18, 1981

Jim warns Alison not to be so stand-offish with the other prisoners. Wendy is pleased with Alison's quickness in pickin…

Episode 220 poster

Episode 220 0.0

August 19, 1981

Don is furious with the security after the assault on Alison, and takes it out on Jim. A repair man comes to fix the wa…

Episode 221 poster

Episode 221 0.0

August 25, 1981

The gate guard sees what has happened, and finds Kathy dead in the road. He calls for an ambulance, while Wendy in rece…

Episode 222 poster

Episode 222 0.0

August 26, 1981

Vera find Terry sweeping up the fragments of his broken mug. Bea warns the other prisoners about Terry, and tells them …

Episode 223 poster

Episode 223 0.0

September 1, 1981

Terry is forced to go with "Wacka" and Dinah in his car: two men watching his flat see them drive off. Don is told he h…

Episode 224 poster

Episode 224 0.0

September 2, 1981

Terry is killed by a gunshot from the car. Erica gets a telephone call from the gate guard about the shooting, and imme…

Episode 225 poster

Episode 225 0.0

September 8, 1981

The women bet on who will replace Vera and tease Jim for not getting the Barnhurst job. Officer Powell is offered a tem…

Episode 226 poster

Episode 226 0.0

September 9, 1981

Bea and Doreen comfort Lizzie and convince her to carry on fighting for the house because Sid wanted her to have it. Be…

Episode 227 poster

Episode 227 0.0

September 15, 1981

Meg offers to look after Alison's children. Jim tells Meg that he has resigned, to her great astonishment. Erica phones…

Episode 228 poster

Episode 228 0.0

September 16, 1981

The "ghost" turns out be a young man called Peter Richards, who explains that he is on the run from the police, as he w…

Episode 229 poster

Episode 229 0.0

September 22, 1981

Jim believes that Colleen is trying to influence him to forget that he saw her hit Andrea. Judy tells Andrea that she's…

Episode 230 poster

Episode 230 0.0

September 23, 1981

Lizzie discovers that Doreen is missing, and starts to go after her. Jim brings Mrs Reid inside the house with the poli…

Episode 231 poster

Episode 231 0.0

September 29, 1981

Andrea's friends take Erica hostage, blindfolding her and bundling her into a delivery van. Linda rings Ted Douglas fro…

Episode 232 poster

Episode 232 0.0

September 30, 1981

... but she misses and Erica escapes. Wentworth gets a new prison officer, Janet Conway. Jim is disappointed when he fi…

Episode 233 poster

Episode 233 0.0

October 6, 1981

Peter is not angry with Doreen, and tells her it is his fault that Doreen is in trouble. Bea remembers who Officer Conw…

Episode 234 poster

Episode 234 0.0

October 7, 1981

The shot hits Jim in the arm but he still manages to overpower Linda. Doreen and Judy suspect that the strange way Bea'…

Episode 235 poster

Episode 235 0.0

October 13, 1981

Meg meets Lizzie to take her to Sid's house and advises her to try to make new friends on the outside. Bea tries to kee…

Episode 236 poster

Episode 236 0.0

October 14, 1981

Sandy tells Judy she thinks the importance they all give to the press is childish, and holds Judy's arm in it until she…

Episode 238 poster

Episode 238 0.0

October 20, 1981

Episode 238 poster

Episode 238 0.0

October 21, 1981

Judy is worried that Hazel might have hit Kate too hard, and asks Doreen to go and find out how she is. Meg asks Janet …

Episode 239 poster

Episode 239 0.0

October 27, 1981

Meg comes back to work as a prison officer. Sandy gets to hear that Bea is seriously ill and wonders whether she should…

Episode 240 poster

Episode 240 0.0

October 28, 1981

Erica tells Meg that Lizzie's house has burnt down, and that Lizzie has vanished. Erica orders Colleen to return the go…

Episode 241 poster

Episode 241 0.0

November 3, 1981

Colleen accuses Meg of putting her in a bad light with Erica. Judy thinks can teach herself to use the Braille machine,…

Episode 242 poster

Episode 242 0.0

November 4, 1981

A police officer comes to talk to Colleen. Janet and Meg go out for a night on the town. Sandy tells the other prisoner…

Episode 243 poster

Episode 243 0.0

November 10, 1981

Jim returns to work after a week's holiday. Joyce Barry shows Jim the drawing, and it has the same effect on him as it …

Episode 244 poster

Episode 244 0.0

November 11, 1981

There is a cell search, and Colleen tries to get Meg to leave her alone to search Sandy's cell, but Meg points out that…

Episode 245 poster

Episode 245 0.0

November 17, 1981

Kate speaks with Inspector Grace. Kate wants a witness "found" for her appeal in exchange for information. She tells Gr…

Episode 246 poster

Episode 246 0.0

November 18, 1981

Doreen tells Judy about life at Wentworth under Marie's rule before Bea took over and how bad it was. Marie stands outs…