Prisoner: Season 1
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera created by Reg Watson that is set in the fictional Wentworth Detention Centre, a high‑security women’s prison. The series debuted on the then‑known 0‑10 Network, airing first in Sydney on 26 February 1979 and the following day in Melbourne. The inaugural season comprises 79 half‑hour episodes and concluded on 28 November 1979. Within its opening run the programme introd
Season overview
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera created by Reg Watson that is set in the fictional Wentworth Detention Centre, a high‑security women’s prison. The series debuted on the then‑known 0‑10 Network, airing first in Sydney on 26 February 1979 and the following day in Melbourne. The inaugural season comprises 79 half‑hour episodes and concluded on 28 November 1979. Within its opening run the programme introduced viewers to the daily lives, backstories and interpersonal
Episodes
Episode 1
Feb 27, 1979 · 47 min
Two new prisoners, Karen Travers and Lyn Warner, are inducted into Wentworth Detention Centre and have to adjust to the harsh regime and the tough women they meet there. Karen, con
Episode 2
Feb 27, 1979 · 46 min
Lynn withdraws her complaint, so Bea's release is approved. The prisoners hold a farwell party for Bea and Mum. Mum leaves her beloved garden in the hands of Lynn. Mum is released
Episode 3
Feb 28, 1979 · 46 min
With Frankie's hold over the women growing, she attempts to show the screws who is in charge by getting the women to stay in the dinning room until she gives the order for them to
Episode 4
Mar 6, 1979 · 48 min
Bill dies on the way to hospital and Rosie gives Birth to a boy. Meg is devastated as the police investigate into Bill's murder begins. The cops are not getting very far; meanwhile
Episode 5
Mar 7, 1979 · 48 min
Mum recuperates from her collapse at her daughter's home but has to pretend to the children that she is an aunt as Lorraine told them their grandmother was dead. Frankie and Bea fi
Episode 6
Mar 13, 1979 · 46 min
Lynn reveals she must be pregnant after being raped by her employer, Mr Bentley, the father of the baby she is supposed to have buried alive. Frankie bullies Lizzie into giving her
Episode 7
Mar 14, 1979 · 49 min
Lizzie finds a stray cat in the garden and brings it into the prison. When it dies, she blames Frankie for killing it, but it turns out she did it accidentally herself by giving it
Episode 8
Mar 20, 1979 · 45 min
Bea Smith and the other inmates find out about Frankie's plans to get paroled and live on a farm so they try to rile her into blowing her chances. Marilyn gets a job at a hotel but
Episode 9
Mar 21, 1979 · 48 min
Marilyn's boyfriend Eddie is suspicious of where she got the money for his birthday gift: back "on the game" (prostitution)? The final straw is a visitor who is obviously a "workma
Episode 10
Mar 27, 1979 · 47 min
Helen Masters sets out to affect the quality of prison meals as part of her campaign to get a character witness for her trial, the prison doctor. Marilyn returns to prison, but Edd
Episode 11
Mar 28, 1979 · 47 min
The inmates start realigning after Master's release; Frankie gains motivation from her brother to work on good behavior. Lyn, who has returned to her parents' home, runs away with
Episode 12
Apr 3, 1979 · 48 min
The inmates start realigning after Master's release; Frankie gains motivation from her brother to work on good behavior. Lyn, who has returned to her parents' home, runs away with
Episode 13
Apr 4, 1979 · 46 min
Vera's attitude continues to become more punitive toward the inmates, bringing a reprimand from the governor. Lizzie's heart forces her to return to the prison, while Frankie and D
Episode 14
Apr 10, 1979 · 45 min
Shot in the holdup, Doug dies and Lyn cannot run, so she calls the prison doctor who gets there just before the cops. She loses her baby. Doug gets sacked because of his involvemen
Episode 15
Apr 11, 1979 · 46 min
Karen permits the prison doctor to contact her lawyer about a retrial, and Dr. Miller kisses her. Vera walks in on them and reports him. A new prisoner, who is reputed to be really