Lou becomes violently sick after eating some poison soup intended for Jan. Alice becomes concerned about what should happen to Janice once she is released back with the women. Dennis picks up a runaway girl who later turns up dead, and the murder becomes pinned on him. Ettie's time on the outside causes Meg many headaches. Meg and Dennis finally share a kiss. Frank tries to rape a new inmate, until he discovers she is a nun.

Eve begins to show another side of herself after a flashback with Robin. The prisoners question the integrity and authority of the council after a series of incidents involving Joan, Lou and Lexie. Reb Kean makes her return to Wentworth, with a rather different transformation of her former personality...leaving everyone suspicious. A culprit destroys Lexie's clothing designs.

Lexie trys to save her designs with the womens help, then starts to question her self worth. Lou continues her raid to stir up trouble with everyone, especially Nora. Merv wins the cooking competition, despite suffering panic attacks and another seizure before the contest. Reb's 'supposed' amnesia continues, with numerous flashbacks and threats from Joan causing her to deteriorate. The officers are shocked when they discover what previously happened to Reb in the mental hospital.

Reb discovers hurtful, disturbing truths about her past. Cynthia forces Joan to continue harassing Reb. In light of Merv's success at the cooking comp, the women decide to hold a beauty and talent contest. Eve continues her victimisation of Lou by implicating Lou bashed her. Lexie discovers the outcome of her design work. Nora hears some disturbing news about what her mother is doing at present time.

Joan forces Reb's mental anxiety to escalate, but the women fight for her by trying to get the story published in the media. The beauty contest is given the go ahead, with a judging panel selected, the women preparing themselves...and a book run on potential winners. Yet the book may cost some of the contestents a broken bone or two. Daphne's appeal is ready to begin.

After a failed attempt to get Reb's story to the press, Ann makes inquiries about her ECT treatment, to discover something startling. Mothers are high on the agenda as Lexie decides not to interfere in her mother's wealthy lifestyle and Nora meets her 'dead' mother. Lou and Alice continue their terror campaign on some of the contest entrants. May and Willie are offered the chance of a lifetime...but it may cost them their mates and their lives.

After a few initial hassles, the contest goes on, with the highlight a showstopping performance from Lurch as Carmen Miranda. Yet the overall winner is as shocked as everyone else. Pippa and Ben come to blows over her prospective job offer in London, but decide to go for it and honeymoon in London while they are at it. Reb's psychological trauma haunts her and Joan offers her a way out...with a razor blade. May and Willie sadly bid farewell to the girls and promptly 'escape' from the policevan ready to do the job with the cops.

Chuck cooper looks into using May and Willie for his job, until he discovers something about them that may cost them their lives. David confesses to Ben his knowledge of Eve's guilt, yet still intends to pursue her case because of his love for her. Nora drops a bombshell on the women that may cause havoc, long term and short term.

After the downfall of the council, Nora is hesiant about stepping down as Top dog because of Lou's ambitions to claim the position. Reb finds out the truth about her sessions with Dr. Weissman and lashes out at Nora and the other women in anger, exposing part of her former self. Wentworth is in for some new inmates.

Remand prisoners Rita ""The beater"" Conners and Barbara ""Barbie"" Cox are brought into Wentworth, Rita charged with assault and bodily harm, while Barbie's charge remains a mystery. Joyce overhears David and Eve discussing Eve's guilt, yet it may cost Joyce her life. A new top dog is elected...and she already asserts herself by trying to get a bashing in or two...

Rita's caring persona yet strong physique prompt Nora into considering her as top dog material. Lou begins her reign as top dog by asserting her position in the laundry and getting in a bashing on Reb as punishment for Joyce's bashing. The gallery robbery is successful, until a twist of plan costs one of the girls their life. Ann feels guilty over the death. Joyce's life is in danger.

Pippa's art class ends in disaster as the women are fired up by Lou's campaign against Ann: Pippa insults Rita, so she decks her and gets hauled off to Solitary. Lou pours yellow paint down Rita's leather jacket, ruining it. Joan drops the jacket off to Rita in the pound, enraging her no end. Nora vanishes, and it later turns out she has escaped. Slasher and the Conquerors turn up at Pippa and Ben's wedding and try to disrupt the ceremony. Daphne wins her appeal and is released. Jenny decides to get her own flat and move out of Ann's place. David tells Eve he couldn't kill Joyce and calls off their affair. Racked with guilt, though, he returns to the prison after the wedding and shoots himself in the interview room in front of Eve.