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Bad Girls Recaps: Episode 1.5 “Tangled Web”

THIS WEEK’S RAP SHEET:

The monster: Jim doesn’t mourn for Rachel; he still has Shell to play with.

The melancholic: Dominic just wants a less depressing job. Is that so much to ask?

The misunderstood: Helen bumps up against the glass ceiling – and walls, floors and windows.

The morning after – It’s the day after Rachel’s death. Helen is driving to work with a worried look on her face. I don’t mean her usual stern, stoic thing; she looks kind of torn up.

At Larkhall, Dominic is cleaning up Rachel’s cell. Among the detritus of her things, he finds the picture of Maddie with the X’s scrawled over her eyes. And now he looks kind of torn up too, even beyond his usual puppy-dog-eyed, pouting thing.

Back in Helen’s car, we hear a radio announcer: “The Prison Service has promised a full investigation following the suicide of another female prisoner, the second this month. Nineteen-year-old Rachel Hicks, an inmate of Larkhall Prison, South London, appears to have hung herself -”

Helen: Hanged. The word’s hanged.

And her frustration is palpable – not just the surface-level frustration (which is glorious enough) at the announcer’s misuse of a word, but the deep, bone-level frustration at the system she’s simultaneously part of and trying to rise above. I can’t imagine how she must feel. Hang in there, Helen. Oops. Sorry.

The officers’ lounge – Dominic is talking to Jim about his sleepless night and his general feeling of shock. Jim shuts him up with a dismissive, “Yeah, well, it’s getting to us all, Dominic.” Silly Dom. Did you really think Fenner would lend a sympathetic ear? I’m pretty sure his heart has shrunk considerably by now – it might even be smaller than his brain – and he can no longer sympathize with anyone but the rats and the cockroaches. On a good day.

Dominic: Yeah, but I was her personal officer. She asked me for help, and I just told her to shut it.

Fenner: What? And that made her top herself? I don’t think so somehow.

Let me translate for you, Dom: Fenner is saying (1) He knows Rachel really killed herself because Shell was taunting her and Jim himself was using her, and (2) If every con Fenner told to “shut it” topped herself, Larkhall would have a population of about 12. Including the guards.

Helen arrives to ask Jim to cover for her. She has to see the Governor – “and guess what it’s about,” she adds.

After Helen leaves, Fenner remarks to Dominic that Helen is being extra bossy because she feels guilty. Dominic doesn’t see what Helen has to feel guilty about. Jim spins him a yarn about how Rachel went to Helen when she was desperate about Maddie, and Helen just ignored her. Dominic defends Helen, mostly because he has a brain in his head but also because he’s just that cool of a guy.

But Jim just keeps on braying: “Look, the fact is, she’s the Wing Governor, and the buck stops with her. OK?” Well, OK, as long as that also means she can fire your ass.

Shell’s cell – Jim stops by to make sure Shell is keeping quiet about everything Rachel-related.

Shell: Yeah? Well, if I’m in deep trouble, I don’t reckon I’ll be the only one, Mr. Fenner.

Fenner: You listen to me. You just keep your head down and stick to your story. This is gonna get messy.

Just like everything else you touch, slimeball.

A hallway – Jim bumps into Helen. Intentionally, it would seem: He tells her that the Gov wants him to attend the meeting too. Oh, is this like “good cop, bad cop”? Only, I dunno, “good cop, revolting cop”?

Governor Simon Stubberfield asks for Helen’s initial report. She gives the basics: time of death (7:00 a.m.) and cause of death (strangulation). She says foul play has been ruled out and that the chairman of the board of visitors doesn’t think the police will take further action.

Simon wants to know more about how “this tragedy” happened. Before Helen can speak, Jim jumps in with his recitation of how upset Rachel was about her daughter being put into care. Helen gives him such a look of death, I can’t believe his tongue doesn’t fall off and drop to the floor, still flapping.

But Stubberfield buys Jim’s concerned-mother story:

Stubberfield: Didn’t you think to put her on suicide watch after that?

Helen: No, I didn’t consider her to be a suicide risk.

Stubberfield: I take it you’re not a mother.

Whoa! It’s like Simon is Barbara Boxer and Helen is Condoleeza. Except not like that at all.

Helen says that her maternal status has nothing to do with anything. And neither does Rachel’s, at least not entirely: Helen is sure there was something else at the root of all this. Simon continues to blame Helen in an exasperated, condescending way. Jim just sighs. I guess staff meetings in prison are like staff meetings anywhere else: Full of buck-passing and eye-rolling. And sexism.

More of the blame game — At breakfast, Denny confronts Shell:

Denny: Your drawing made her do it. She thought you wanted to cut her head off.

Shell: You got rid of it, didn’t you?

Denny: Yes.

Shell: Well then.

Denny: We could get another 10 years for this.

Shell: Look, no one’s got anything on us, OK? OK?! Rachel Hicks was a little whore.

Jeez, even the dead aren’t safe when Shell’s around. And Denny, I like you again: at least you feel a little bit guilty.

Nikki walks by, just as Shell is revving her engines:

Shell: Pity Rachel didn’t listen to you, Nikki. No good thinking the screws are gonna look after ya. Still, look on the bright side: At least there’s an extra helping today.

Nikki says what we’re all thinking: “You stinking bitch!” And then Nikki flies right over the serving table and onto Shell. The rest of the wing chants as they fight.

Lorna radios for assistance and also hollers at Sylvia, who’s nearby. A bald dude shows up and manages to drag a writhing Nikki off to solitary.

A hopeless battle — Back in Simon’s office, Jim continues to praise himself for “taking an interest” in Rachel and getting her the cleaning job. Helen points out that as Wing Governor, she did authorize that job, but Jim says that’s not really the point. Simon seems to agree. Sensing she’s been beaten, Helen excuses herself: She’s expecting Rachel’s mother to drop by any minute now. Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Simon tries to get Helen to take Jim with her, but she stands firm: “I’d rather see Mrs. Hicks on my own. Sir.” You’d think that snarl on Helen’s face would be enough to make Simon back down, but instead he just asks Jim to leave the room.

Simon: Have you got a problem with Jim Fenner?

Helen: I’m sorry?

Simon: [enunciating] Do you have a problem with Jim Fenner?

Helen: No.

And then Stubberfield gives Helen a little lecture that boils down to “Be nice to your co-workers.” Helen just takes it, knowing there’s no way to win with these guys.

The mood out on the wing — The two Julies think Shell deserved every slap Nikki delivered. Crystal agrees. But they worry that Hollamby will find a way to get Nikki transferred.

They try to remember Rachel, but they didn’t really know her well enough, since she went right up to G-3 after she arrived. Still, there was something sad about her.

Julie S.: I always had this feeling. I said to Ju —

Julie J.: Cursed.

Julie S.: That’s what I said.

Crystal says they’re just superstitious, but Julie S. insists that she’s a medium. “And that has got sod-all to do with superstition.” I don’t know how it’s possible, but the two Julies manage to make mourning seem kinda kooky and fun.

Crystal says Rachel wasn’t cursed: “She just didn’t know what to do with the two good fists God gave her.” Meanwhile, Zandra can’t get the image of Rachel’s dead face out of her mind, having woken up to it. She says her nerves are shot and the doctor will simply have to give her something for it. She walks by an anti-drugs poster just after she says this. Heh.

Crystal: If you loved that baby, you wouldn’t take nothing. Not even for a headache.

Zandra: I do love it. I didn’t get rid of it, did I? It can’t be good for it, me being in this state.

Sigh. Zandra, I worry. There’s something about you that’s oddly compelling, so please stay off the smack this time. If you won’t do it for your baby, do it for me. Yeah, that makes perfect sense.

Solitary, literally and figuratively — Shell slides Nikki’s food through the slot in the door and tells Nikki she shouldn’t be getting anything after what she did to her. Then she notices that Nikki is reading a letter, so she reports that to Dominic: Apparently letters aren’t allowed “down the block.” Nikki just says, “Piss off, Dockley.” Dominic tells Shell to move along. Nobody likes a tattletale, Shell.

Dominic tries to make sure Nikki is OK, but she doesn’t feel like talking.

Nikki: I won’t swing, if that’s what you’re worried about. Two in two days: That’d give them something to think about.

So I guess “swing” means “hang,” at least in this context. I think last week Jim used it to mean “take a swing at.” How are we to keep up with all of the violent lingo?

Dominic just sighs and leaves.

Helen’s office — A smiling Lorna reports that Nikki is in solitary for nearly killing Shell. “Oh, great,” says Helen.

Helen: Look, I can’t deal with this just now. Bring her to see me in my office at 11:30.

Lorna: What, here? She’s on report, ma’am. She’s due in adjudication.

Helen: Lorna. If you ever make Wing Governor, you’ll know how annoying it is to be told how to do your job.

Wooo. Don’t take it too personally, Lorna: You happened to stop by just after Helen suffered some very long minutes in Simon’s office. But thank you for making Helen get all prickly again: It does look so very good on her.

The four-bed dorm — Zandra’s desperate for something, but the doctor wouldn’t give her anything. She asks Denny for some smack, but Denny’s not feeling friendly.

Crystal prays out loud, saying she knows how Daniel felt now that she’s stuck in her own kind of den with “these two scumbags.” Zandra just lies down and starts screaming. So Crystal adds to the chaos by yelling through the cell door at any guard who happens to be within earshot. And that’s Dominic: poor guy can’t catch a break today.

Helen’s office — Mrs. Hicks has arrived. Wow, Helen: How can you possibly deal with this? She tries to be professional and compassionate, but it doesn’t work; Mrs. Hicks clearly blames Helen and everyone else who’s in a uniform.

Helen broaches the subject of Rachel’s daughter, which only makes things worse. Mrs. Hicks says Rachel must have spent “all of eight weeks” with her daughter, and then breaks down and cries. Helen tries to comfort her, and seems to succeed a little.

Keeping a secret — Zandra asks Dominic to help her get some “benzos.” He tells her not to be daft. Zandra spits, “I hate this place!” Zandra, you rock when you scrunch up your face like that.

Dominic tries to walk away, but Zandra follows him. She threatens to tell someone about her near-escape (in the last episode) — or, more important, the fact that Dominic and Lorna haven’t reported that little incident. But Dominic isn’t cowed.

Nearby, Sylvia and Lorna have a little chat about the Gov:

Sylvia: If Nikki Wade’s not shipped out of here, I’ll want to know the reason why.

Lorna: Well, if you ask me, the Gov thinks she can bring her to heel.

Sylvia: The Gov does too much thinking. It’s about time she got her hands dirty and did a decent day’s work like the rest of us.

Lorna goes to the officers’ lounge, where Dominic is worried that Zandra’s going to talk. Lorna tells him not to let “a stupid prisoner” get to him. She says if Zandra’s acting up, that just means she needs “slappin’ down.” Oooh, Lorna, I love it when you get all butch!

Jim almost gets the last word — As Helen and Jim escort Mrs. Hicks out, Jim expresses his condolences. Mrs. Hicks says Rachel talked about Jim in her letters, and said he was very kind to her. Helen looks like she’s using every ounce of will power she’s got in order to keep from rolling her eyes.

Mrs. Hicks mentions that Rachel wanted her to pick up a package, and shares the name and address Rachel gave her: “I felt sure it was drugs, but Rachel kept telling me no, that it was jewelry for some girl on the wing. Michelle, I think, was her name.”

This sends Jim into a panic, so he tries to run off to talk to Shell. Helen stops him:

Helen: Just a minute, Jim. Can you see Mrs. Hicks out, please?

Jim: But I was gonna talk to Dockley right away.

Helen: I’ll see Michelle myself, thank you.

If ice water had a sound, that would be it. And I feel so refreshed!

A little chat — Lorna finds Zandra and lays down the law. Or tries to, anyway. She says things like “get this” and calls Zandra “doll” and “lovey,” all in an attempt to seem tough. But Zandra’s tougher:

Lorna: Remember, it’s your neck on the block if the Gov hears you tried to escape.

Zandra: And what will happen to you?

Lorna: Well, nothing, of course.

Zandra: For letting a prisoner escape? Well, just gimme the keys; I’ll let meself out.

Lorna: Look, I’m not willing to discuss this anymore. Just keep that shut, OK?

You’re so busted, Lorna. She totally called your blustery bluff! Heh.

As Lorna leaves, Zandra calls after her: “Miss, you’re sweating like a pig.” And she threatens to go talk to Miss Stewart if Lorna doesn’t help her. If you know what she means.

Lorna’s idea of “helping” Zandra is to remind her that there’s a pool competition later. Wow. Zandra pretends to be consoled. Out in the hallway, Lorna gives Dominic a thumbs up. But Zandra’s still scheming in her cell — and you’re a fool not to have guessed that, Lorna.

The store room — Shell is putting kitchen supplies away, or taking stock or something like that. Helen stops by for some small talk. She relays the name and address she got from Mrs. Hicks and asks Shell if she knows the guy. Shell pretends to think about it, and then pretends to come up empty. So Helen gets a little more specific and mentions Rachel and the package. See that, Lorna? See how Helen has her hand up and her jaw set? That’s how you threaten an inmate. Or that’s at least how you make a recapper swoon.

Shell just keeps on pretending: She “confesses” that she was trying to help Rachel get some drugs because Rachel was “desperate to score.” She even suggests that maybe Rachel killed herself because she couldn’t get any drugs.

Helen: We don’t know why Rachel killed herself.

Shell: You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?

Helen: No. I’m not.

Helen, you’re seriously going to strain something — you need to let those eyes roll the way they really, really want to.

Shell says she’d like to do something for Rachel and offers to sing at the memorial service. Shell sings? What, hymns to Satan?

Searching his soul — Dominic wonders whether the Prison Service is really worth all the hassle. He thinks anything’s probably better than locking up women for a living. Fenner tells him he just needs a good night’s sleep, but Dominic wants to get out. “I’m gonna quit,” he says suddenly.

The meeting — Fenner goes to the block to get Nikki; it’s time for her meeting with Helen. She gets in his face and says he must be missing Rachel more than any of them. He starts to threaten her, so she innocently says, “Sorry. Did I say the wrong thing?” I don’t know how you do it, Nikki. Stand that close to Fenner, I mean.

The officers’ lounge — Oh, wait. Is this the lounge? It seems to be the filing room too: Helen has just asked Dominic to pull Nikki’s file. As she leafs through it (it’s quite hefty), Dominic says he needs to talk. She asks him if it can wait. He says yes, but she sense something in his voice:

Helen: What’s the problem?

Dominic: It’s this place.

Helen: Well, that gets me a long way.

Jim interrupts to say that Nikki’s waiting for Helen. I’ll bet she is.

Jim also suggests that Nikki be shipped out:

Fenner: We’ve done all we can with her. She’s a pain in the ass.

Helen: Well. She’s not the only one, is she?

Yeah!

After Helen leaves, Jim bad-mouths Helen some more. Dominic tries to defend her again, but he’s losing his energy.

Helen’s office — Nikki’s defensive, to say the least. She has it down to a fine art:

Nikki: Suicide now? That what you call changing things for the better, Miss?

Helen: Sit down and listen.

Nikki: [sighing and crossing her arms]

Helen: [raising her voice] I said sit down!

y43hwgrnsfb,a — oh, sorry, I swooned all over my keyboard. And I’m a little light-headed, but I’ll try to collect myself.

Nikki sits. Helen stands, er, sits, firm:

Helen: I’m not having this, Nikki. You’re not gonna undermine the good order of this wing.

Nikki: So transfer me, put me on report, do what you like: I don’t give a s—.

Helen: Oh, when are you gonna grow up and stop all this macho crap?

Nikki: [conciliatory look]

Helen: Why did you attack Michelle Dockley?

Nikki: I dunno. Touch of PMT.

That’s PMS to us American types. Nikki gets up and makes for the door, but Helen’s not done:

Helen: [just plain yelling] Sit in that chair!

Nikki: [sitting back down] Don’t you wish it was electric?

I caught myself. I almost swooned all over the keyboard again.

Helen: The only option you leave me is to get you transferred.

Nikki: Send me where you like.

Helen: Is that what you want? To be moved far away from Trisha?

Nikki: I don’t give a toss about Trisha. She was getting on my tits, so I chucked her.

Helen: Was it … was it a long-term thing?

Nikki: Nine years.

Helen: Nine. It’s a long time.

Nikki: Oh, spare me the sympathy, will you? You probably don’t think it’s for real ’cause we’re dykes.

Helen: Oh, why don’t you just shut — [yelling] just shut up!

And Nikki does. Probably because she senses that something’s happening here. Maybe it’s just me.

The officers’ lounge — Lorna and Dominic chat about his possible departure. He says he’s serious: “So you can relax. No more naggin’ ya about tellin’ Helen.” Hee. You’re such a poet, Dominic.

Lorna says she’s had a word with Zandra so everything’s fine anyway. Dominic says she’s kidding herself. He also wonders why one black mark on their files (if they were to tell Helen about Zandra’s near-escape) would be such a big deal. Lorna reveals that she’s already got one black mark: She had an inmate on suicide watch, and very nearly didn’t watch her closely enough. “One more slip-up and I’m a goner,” she says sadly.

You’re a sad case, Lorna. But I like you anyway.

Helen’s office, where the air is electric — Helen’s still trying to get Nikki to simmer down.

Helen: Isn’t this usually how it goes? You break the rules; you’re thrown into segregation; you come out more bitter and twisted than when you went in. And then it just happens all over again.

Nikki: Yeah, that’s about right. So hurry up and get on with it: How many days do I get this time?

Helen: Oh, you love playing the martyr, don’t you, Nikki? I’m not sending you to the block. I’m giving you a warning.

Nikki: [confused] A warning? Is that it?

Helen: I’m sticking my neck out here, Nikki. I don’t know why, but I am.

Nikki: [blinking] Can I go now? Please?

Helen: Yes.

Helen, you’re even more beautiful when you follow your gut without even knowing why you’re doing it. You’re all instinct and id and intensity. And deliciousness.

After Nikki leaves, Helen just smiles slightly to herself. That’s right, Helen: You got to her a little. And you want her a little, too, but you haven’t a clue about that yet.

Back on the wing — Shell wants to know why Nikki is back. Fenner can’t even bother to argue: “She just is, all right?”

Yeah. So there. Poor Shell: You’re cozying up to the wrong officer. But I doubt Miss Stewart would fall for your crazy flirtations. She tends to prefer sane women.

A staff meeting — Helen is ready to discuss the investigation of Rachel’s death. But Fenner stops her: He wants to talk about Nikki.

Jim: She assaulted a fellow prisoner. Now she’s back on the Wing. Why?

Helen: Because I said so.

Aw, yeah.

But Jim and Sylvia keep complaining. Helen says she’s made a deal with Nikki and is trying a different tack: “Treating her like a human being and trusting her.”

Yeah, but you can’t expect Jim to do that, Helen. That’s like expecting him to, hmm, I don’t know: think before he speaks, maybe. Or just think, period.

Dominic speaks up in support of Helen. He says nothing else has worked so far with Nikki, so why not try something else? Helen adds that Nikki’s partner has just ended their relationship, so that’s a factor.

Jim: Oh, I’ve heard it all now. Sod the rules ’cause some lesbian’s gone and dumped her girlfriend.

Sylvia laughs. Helen squirms. Get used to it, Helen: You’ll need to toughen up in preparation for coming out. I mean, if you do. Not that you have to. But please do!

After the meeting, Dominic gives Helen his resignation. She tries to talk him out of it, but he says he’s made up his mind.

The four-bed dorm — Crystal is making a wreath for the memorial service. Helen stops by to ask them about Rachel. Denny says they don’t know anything. Hey, Denny, you’re looking kinda foxy today. Why am I so drawn to you? I’d last about two minutes in prison: You’d toy with me and then dump me for Shell.

Helen tries to ask Zandra about Rachel, but Zandra’s high again and not making much sense. Crystal finally speaks up: She says Rachel smashed up her room because she wanted to be on her own and get away from Denny.

Crystal: [to Denny] You kicked her. I saw you.

Wow, Crystal. That’s brave, unless you want to get kicked next.

Helen yells at Denny (so much yelling in this episode!) until Denny confesses that yes, there was one little kick. Helen sends Denny down the block. Helen thanks Crystal, and it’s a good thing she does — it gets her a little closer to the truth:

Crystal: She deserves all she gets. She’s a sinner, like most of you in here.

Helen just gives her a “whatever” look and leaves.

Thickening the plots — While Lorna is within earshot, Zandra asks Fenner what would happen to a screw who let someone escape. Lorna looks like she’s ready to make a break for it herself — from her own skin.

And then Shell tells Fenner that Denny’s saying all kinds of bad things about him and figures he should be “banged up” (locked up) for what he did to Rachel.

These cons do have the guards right where they want them. Except for, um, the being locked up and all.

The memorial service — There’s a chapel in the prison, and a chaplain to go with it. As he speaks, Lorna sees Zandra exchanging a phone card for a pill. You’re in it now, Lorna.

And then the unspeakable speaks: Shell sings “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” That was the whole problem: Rachel never got a moment to herself. Nikki, Helen and the two Julies look kind of annoyed — even Fenner seems to think it’s a crock.

But I have to admit: Shell’s not a bad singer. If you like crazy, evil singers.

There’s a hymn, and then Helen speaks. Is it wrong of me to feel sort of turned on by the sight of her with a Bible? She’s sporting some nice rings, too. Preach, sister!

Helen says she’s personally devastated by Rachel’s death, and also wants Rachel’s family to know that “no stone will be left unturned in our efforts to find the cause.” Well, look no further, Helen: Stony-faced Jim is right there in the throng. Shell’s not so stony-faced, but she definitely has rocks in her head.

As everyone files out of the chapel, Lorna pulls Zandra aside. She’s decided to have a word with the doctor because Zandra looks so ill. Zandra plays along and smiles sweetly.

I’d stay in solitary if I were you — Fenner asks Denny if she knows why Rachel topped herself. Denny says, “Yeah. So do you.” But then Fenner recites the official story to her again: Rachel’s mum put Maddie in care, and that was enough. Denny just shakes her head, so Fenner takes her jaw in his meaty hand and repeats the story. “Just stick to the story and you’ll be all right.” Denny, surely you know that the words “all right” and “Fenner” belong nowhere near each other.

Denny’s adjudication — Helen is trying to get the truth out of Denny. But Denny’s sticking to the story as instructed. Fenner’s right there in the room all along, so it’s not exactly a calm environment. He interrupts and tells Denny to apologize.

Helen: Anything else, Mr. Fenner?

Jim: No, ma’am.

Why is it that everything he says sounds like an epithet?

Helen reminds Denny that she has a long record of violence and bullying, and had better keep quiet or she’ll be transferred. In the meantime, she’s sentencing Denny to seven days on the block. Denny’s not happy, and not circumspect: As she goes, she spits, “Mr. Fenner, you said!” But Fenner distracts Helen with his own dash of bitterness:

Jim: Certainly got your favorites, haven’t you?

Helen: I’m sorry?

Jim: Well, Nikki Wade half kills a prisoner and she gets a slap on the wrist. Denny gets put down the block for a week for kicking someone.

Helen: Daniela Blood is a bully, Jim. I’m surprised a man of your experience doesn’t know the difference.

Woooo! Shut up, Fennel. (I hate fennel, so this is an insult.)

A bargain — Lorna gives Zandra some good news: She has an appointment with the doctor on Monday. This is how I know prison is different from everywhere else: for those of us on the outside, a doctor’s appointment is usually bad news, or indifferent news, at best.

A cry in the dark — Denny wants to be let out of solitary. Lorna tells her to just do some exercises, but Denny can’t because they’ve taken her shoes and there are cockroaches all over the floor. Lorna still won’t let her out, so Denny plays the only card she has: “I know what happened to Rachel.”

A morning meeting — Helen is ready to hear what Denny has to say. Denny tells it like it is:

Denny: It’s Mr. Fenner. He was shaggin’ her.

Yes. Yes yes yes yes yesssss.

Helen doesn’t believe her, so Denny gives a few more details, like the fact that she got this info from Shell. But when Helen asks whether Shell would confirm Denny’s story, Denny can’t exactly say yes. So Helen dismisses her and scolds her for making false allegations against her staff.

Don’t think for a minute that Helen’s not taking this seriously.

A spot of gardening — Helen stops by to see Nikki. They chat like old friends:

Nikki: Hi.

Helen: Hi. How ya feeling?

Nikki: So-so.

That’s wild. From fighting to small talk in about three minutes flat. Well, I guess it’s the prison equivalent of the U-Haul joke.

Helen, before I forget: That really is a nice jacket.

Helen asks Nikki whether they can speak “in strictest confidence.” Nikki says, “Sure.” So Helen asks her to elaborate on Fenner’s “fan club.” Nikki resists, but then gives in:

Nikki: I can’t prove anything. I’m not naming any other names, but I did warn Rachel off Fenner. Thought he was taking advantage.

Round one — Helen confronts Fenner about Rachel. As usual, he slithers his way out and threatens to “have” Helen if she accuses him again.

Helen: Don’t threaten me, Jim. Makes you sound guilty.

And that? Makes me sound like a dork as I clap my hands with glee.

Alliances — Lorna asks Zandra about her doctor to the visit. Zandra got a couple of pills, so Lorna says, “That’s you and me quits, then. No more favors, got it?” Zandra mutters, “till next time” under her breath as she walks away.

The governing Gov’s office — Before Helen can tell Simon Stubberfield about her suspicions regarding Fenner, he reveals that Fenner has already talked to him. And of course he backs Jim up. Helen tries to defend herself, but Simon says she’s “disturbing” him and needs to seriously ask herself whether she should be doing this job.

She should, Simon. And you should be cleaning her office and shining her shoes. And wearing a little French maid apron while you do. Scratch that: The vision is too terrible.

The four-bed dorm — Zandra’s feeling sorry for Denny. Crystal tells her to feel sorry for Rachel’s little baby instead. Zandra says there’ll be a bed for the baby in Larkhall in 15 years. Ah, the circle of life.

Breaking into the boys’ club — Helen confronts Jim about going to see his “buddy,” Simon. Jim says he could teach Helen how to run Larkhall, and if he were running it, Rachel would still be alive. Alive and abused, you mean.

Night calls — Denny calls out her love for Shell. Shell’s reply is weak, but fairly sincere. Shell’s threat to Crystal, on the other hand, comes through loud and clear.

NEXT TIME ON BAD GIRLS: Denny’s mother shows up; Helen and Nikki talk about books and studies; Lorna and Dominic confess.

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