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, convicted of stabbing her cheating husband to death in the shower, turns out to be an old flame of prison Doctor Greg Miller. Lynn has been convicted of kidnapping and burying a baby alive, and though she loudly protests her innocence, she is bullied by the other women, led by their 'Top Dog', murderess Bea Smith. Meanwhile, young inmate Sally Lee hangs herself in her cell while going through serious drug withdrawal. Tough lesbian Franky Doyle goes berserk when she learns her girlfriend Doreen Anderson, is being moved to another cell and destroys the Recreation Room. Bea Burns Lynn's hand in the steam press and Lynn reports her for it, putting Bea's upcoming parole in jeopardy. Late at nigh, bent screw Officer Yates lets Bea out of her cell so she can go and scare Lynn into withdrawing her complaint. Written by Darren Smith

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 into the care of her daughter, Lorraine, and Bea gets a lift into town from Eddie. Meg and Bill are having problems with their teenage son Marty, who tells them he wants to move out and get a place with his girlfriend. With Bea gone, Franky siezes the opportunity to take over the press and announces she is now in charge. Greg tries to talk Karen into appealing against her sentence, realising her husband was abusing her. Lynn goes on hunger strike until her innocence is believed. Mum's daughter rejects her, saying she doesn't want her coming home with her, so Mum checks into a grotty bedsit in town. Bea spends her first night of freedom in luxury at a hotel. Next morning, she visits daughter Debbie's grave and picks up a package from her old cellmate, a present for her husband.

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 leave. Prostitute Chrissie Latham tries to seduce Bill but he turns her down. Lizzie and Marilyn mess around with the wiring so that Eddie will be called in. Marilyn and Eddie climb up into the roof for a Liaison. Bea's return sends Frankie over the edge and she starts a riot in the dinning room. Bea, Doreen and some other women are trapped in the laundry; Frankie, Lizzy, Chrissie and others are in the dinning room. Frankie wants the gates unlocked so she and Bea can fight it out. Trapped in Frankie's side, pregnant prisoner Rosie Hudson goes into labour. Meg is taken hostage by Frankie's mob and tied up in the dinning room. Bill tries to talk Frankie into letting Meg go. She agrees, but in the meantime Vera Bennett deliberately unlocks the gates letting all hell break loose as she and her gang overpower ... Written by Darren Smith