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Rita was refusing to have treatment that included a "heroin derivative", because she didn't want to end up "like Bongo", which I thought was a nice bit of writing. She didn't want the other inmates to know of her condition. "Don't want them making a three act play out of it," she said. If it's anything like The Importance of Being Ernest, they’d only do a couple of lines anyway. There was some nice writing and acting around the new developments with Rita. I loved the 'anger' scene where she yelled at Joan and pushed her out of her cell (and especially the expression on Joan's face!). Also loved the look on Joan's face when she was initially told about the seriousness of Rita's condition. Rita showed more anger later, hurling a kettle, a chair, and other objects at the brick wall. The fact that they mysteriously 'bounced' off the brickwork must have been far less satisfying than the expected SMASH.
Out in the garden, Alice and Harry were having a conversation about the plants growing inside the prison grounds, which was not only a poignant metaphor, but a nice reference to the theme song as the series draws to a close. Rita was elsewhere in the garden, and there was a nice shot of her sitting alone in the sunshine, with the 'Freedom' statue in the same shot. Even Joan seemed to have some good dialogue about Rita, when she said, "You're gonna need all the courage you can get."
"D'you reckon Brooke Shields wears a wig?" asked Alice. If she does I certainly hope it doesn't come form the same drag queen emporium - "I Can't Believe It's Not Nylon" - that supplied Kath, Lisa, Joyce, Judy and of course Bea Smith. Actually I did begin to wonder about the new extra in the laundry, but that does appear to be unfortunately real.
Despite being suspended, Marty still needed to be ordered out of the prison by Meg after hanging around and boring the pants off everyone about his crusade. He was later seen loitering outside, waiting for the delivery of Kath Maxwell, which made me groan aloud. She arrived, and no sooner had she stepped out of the car, than he grabbed her, shaking her and yelling at her. Now lets see.. trespassing on government property.. not leaving despite an official order.. physically and verbally assaulting an inmate.. use of threatening behaviour.. instant dismissal no doubt? Er.. Somehow I doubt it. Kath was so desperate to get Merle out of Ingleside (an excellent performance again) she confessed all, resulting in a surprisingly 'instant' reinstatement for Marty. Marty and Spike were jubilant, as if everything was finally sorted out. But I did wonder if they realised it had only cleared Marty (and Spike) of the drug charges, and hadn't succeeded in what he was initially trying to do. But they didn't seem too bothered about that.
In reception Joan went to answer the phone, which was ringing this time, rather than tinkling or farting. The phone also came into the storyline when it provided an 'economical' end to Rodney's girlfriend (they didn't have to pay her to appear). After all, she had performed her sole task of enabling a brief joke, so was promptly disposed of. Rodney whined on about being "inadequate" (a little too much detail, thanks) and showed his obvious jealousy of the man whisking her away to greener toothpaste commercials. "What does this joker know about Oscar Wilde..?" Rodney protested. If it's more than two lines, then I'd say a lot more than you..
Kath was put in the new punishment cell rather than solitary, where Vicki and Brumby subjected her to their nasty taunts and acting abilities. She was surprised that Marty had not paid her a 'midnight visit'. "You're lucky I take my job seriously," he said sternly, presumably forgetting his earlier incidents of assault, trespass, getting personally involved with an inmate, and allowing Merle to snort his chest hair. I thought it was a nice touch that Kath was in the punishment cell, while Rita was just the other side of the wall, in the reward cell. Two opposite locations, but next door to each other. Two strong women, both coming to terms with personal tragedy, and both looking at the ultimate "Freedom" - one through choice (scissors) and the other not (cancer).
And finally, a very effective final scene, with Kath opening the scissor blades, but suddenly being interrupted by Rita. Very exciting but still very moving.
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