|
Prisoner is a programme that is so resourceful, well-known characters are able to have significant parts in the programme, without actually appearing. Or rather, after the actors have long left and have no intention of returning. In this case Reb Keane and Ray Proctor. Poor Ray, probably just as well we didn't see him, if he was as spaced out as the words on his letter, which Ann kindly waved around at the beginning of the episode - what looked like lots of monosyllabic words with curious one-inch spaces between them, as if someone was desperately trying to fill a page with very little effort.
Nice reference to Kerryn's storyline this episode, when Myra talked to Marlene about how she'd feel with Matt making love to her (Marlene) in the conjugal visiting suite with the women jeering outside. Actually I'm sure the visiting suite had been removed when we saw a shot of the gates that used to lead to it. Maybe it would have to be an alfresco experience, in which case the women would be more likely to give marks out of ten.
So Mervin was stuttering and bumbling around, as we learned he had to prepare 40 meals. Which presumably means four meals per prisoner? Even so, would a prison be economically viable with only 40 inmates? I seriously doubt it. What a lot of that huge red building must be sitting idle. Maybe they'd be better to get a house with a few extra bedrooms and fit some locks.
Best line of the episode from Marlene to Mervin: "Hey Merv, your rissoles are burning!" Put me in mind of a few good weekends I can remember. And only in Prisoner can they bring in a prison cook who has a catering phobia. Classic stuff.
The results were in from the tests, to show what Jan had consumed. Impressively precise too, indicating that it was indeed a bottle of that furniture-polish-10%-alcohol. "Are you suggesting she's an alcoholic?" said a horrified Ann to Myra, as her eyebrows almost shot off the top of her head in surprise. Er, considering she's inside for a drink-related crime, I guess it wouldn't have even entered anyone's head.
Poor Marlene, falling out with her parents. What's more amazing is that Matt didn't take one look at her Dame-Edna sound-alike mother, think about what Marlene would probably be like in twenty years time, and run for his life.
Strange line from Judy to Sheila, "I never show my songs to anyone until they're absolutely perfect". This is presumably despite playing/singing Pixie's song ad nauseam for the last few episodes? And Marlene said her singing "needs a little polish". Sounds like she should have got Jan on the case.
On to the screws, and I'm sure Meg had had an extreme attack of mid-eighties highlights. Either that or she'd gone very grey overnight. Possibly all those attacks, bombs, murdered husbands, etc. catching up with her. Also, I loved the scene where Jan screamed at Alice about the poisoning etc, causing the mute Officer Radcliffe to purse her lips sternly.
And another feature unique to Prisoner - tap-dancing prison officers. Who needs gritty drama when you can have the former acting governor click-clacking across the rec room to the tune of The Entertainer?
Meg appeared unexpectedly and caught Marlene in a cell with Door-Matt, chatting. "You could be on a charge!" she told them strictly. Nothing at all to do with the security gates being left wide open, and inmates (male and female) allowed to wander around as they please, I guess. As proved when, five minutes later, the two lovebirds were filmed alone in a cell again. Only this time I would have preferred some warning before the horror of Matt putting his hand on one of her threp’nies.
Today's 'Big Background Extra Moment' went to Ronnie, belting out some drab old wartime nonsense at the top of her voice with Jude on the piano. Even officer Hagen got a line, but unfortunately it was so uninteresting I can't remember what it was.
Ettie's case might have made a one-inch-by-one-inch article in a bottom corner somewhere near the back of a newspaper, but what a surprise to see hordes of journalists crowding the prison gates just on the off-chance of catching the governor for a quote. Obviously not very many old ladies had lost their cats at that particular time. And as Ann drove into the prison, it was interesting to see part of the writing on the wall of the main red brick "prison" (studio) building in the background. Of course, the huge white H painted on the prison wall could be to indicate H-block, nothing to do with c-H-annel 10.
Frank wondered aloud what it must be like to be a virgin at 24. When I get there, I'll let you all know..
|
