S05E11: Neil fires Karen

Snowball is dead, having hanged herself from the G-wing balcony. She left a note making some serious accusations about Fenner, which in light of the allegations of assault already made against him by Karen and her predecessor Helen Stewart, could get him into serious trouble. But everything’s not quite as it seems, and when a second note written by Snowball is found behind the noticeboard in her cell, asserting that she was forced to make up the allegations against Fenner and that Karen is really to blame, it looks like Fenner has got off scot-free yet again.

Karen, on the other hand, is in deep trouble – Snowball’s very public death is just the latest in a long line of suspicious incidents on G-wing since Karen’s been in charge. She’s survived demotion before, but this time it could be that she’s forced to leave Larkhall altogether.

Neil and Tony are faced with the reality that Di is expecting a child by one of them. Di has already made the decision to go through with a termination, but Neil and Tony have other ideas. And with the position of Wing Governor about to become vacant at Larkhall, Neil now has a useful bargaining tool. Di is dismissive at first, but after trying Karen’s office out for size she changes her mind and agrees to go ahead with the pregnancy, provided of course that she receives a healthy divorce settlement as well as promotion to wing governor.

While Julie S receives a visit from the breast nurse and then goes with Julie J to get her hair cut, the rest of the wing prepare a surprise party to cheer her up. As Denny, Tina and Al decorate the wing with balloons and streamers, Yvonne sets up a bar in the four-bed dorm complete with an illicit stash of vodka. However, Julie S has just gone through the trauma of being fitted with a false breast and is upset when she sees the signs of celebration on the wing, telling the others that she’s had one too many surprises recently. A tearful conversation with Julie J helps Julie S to come to terms with the events of the day, and, realising that the other women only want to cheer her up, she decides to join the party.

After Lauren’s henchmen discover a stash of heroin in Hedges’ flat and a mystery blonde in his bed, Yvonne tells him to get lost. Hedges maintains his innocence, telling Yvonne that the woman, Tasha, is his smack-addicted ex-girlfriend – he has allowed her to stay in his flat as she has nowhere else to go. Yvonne thaws slightly when she hears this and then completely melts when Hedges informs her that he has given Tasha her marching orders. Later, they meet in the laundry room, as they kiss; they are unaware of Tina taking photographs of them with a camera given to her by Fenner.

Al receives a letter from the CPS informing her that she will go on trial for the murder of Virginia O’Kane in three weeks time.

Julie S goes to the hospital to receive her test results and is told that there are no signs of the cancer spreading any further, but, there is a possibility that it may return, even after a course of chemotherapy. Julie is horrified when she is told that if the cancer does return, she may only have up to five years to live.

Realising that it’s only a matter of time before she’s gone and he’s back in a suit, Fenner feels safe enough to taunt Karen about her shortcomings as wing governor. However, as Fenner soon finds out, she’s down but definitely not out and his jaw hits the floor as she announces her intention to visit Shell Dockley at Fossmore in order to get her side of the story. Karen’s triumph is short-lived though; Neil calls her to his office and fires her.