I know! 😭 She went through a lot, did Georgie.

Yes, I agree - I really like this addition to her storyline. Like you say, Mrs Armitage was always the rock at work (and at home with her husband), and, as we now see, there’s perhaps been something of a price to pay for this, in terms of her relationship with her daughter - a lot of responsibility being placed on Ellen as she was growing up, and Mrs A being very invested in her job and in supporting Ted and not as (emotionally or practically) available as she might have been as a mum. Of course, Ellen is supposed to be behaving like a bit of a child/teenager in this scene (reverting to old ways when back home!), so we don’t know exactly how accurate her description of events is. But in any case, you can just feel the hurt coming from Mrs A - I feel really sorry for her, and Mona Bruce does a fantastic job. If I was being fussy, I’d say that I wish Suzan Cameron (Ellen) was a bit less melodramatic in the delivery of a couple of her lines (“I was nothing more than an unpaid skivvy!” always make me chuckle 😏), but overall it’s solidly played. And Charles Morgan’s good too - I love Ted bellowing: “I won’t let you talk to your mother like this!” God, I’m getting old, empathising more with the parents, lol :D

@@withinthesewalls I agree, she's a little melodramatic in those moments. You can see the by-the-numbers drama school performance at work there. She's projecting too much instead of just feeling it and allowing the TV audience to see the emotion in her eyes and hear it deep in her voice. But as you say, she does play the character well overall. The older actors are by far the best in this show. They know how to do subtlety through years of experience. Suzan Cameron is one of the mid-age actresses, so I guess that goes along with her performance being mid-range at times. Three different generational styles of acting are on display in this show. One performance that makes me cringe is the young girl in "Transfer" who says "I'm a thief, There's a lot of us in here" and pulls OTT facial expressions and body gestures in all of her scenes. I get the impression her only experience prior to WTW may have been Oliver the musical. Charles Morgan is great as Ted and works really well with Mona Bruce. You can truly believe they're a real couple with some years behind them.

​@@Ruby_Kang Yes, at times it's like Suzan is playing it on stage rather than on TV: “Project to the back of the hall, sweetie!” lol I don’t remember her being so much like that in subsequent episodes, so I guess it may also have been to do with getting used to playing a brand new role. I agree totally about the subtle performances of the older cast members. The producers lucked out there with so many fine and experienced actors, particularly amongst its regulars. It’s what makes the show so enduring, I think. Ah, Ray! 🤣 @ ‘Oliver the Musical’ (that’s how I knew straight away who you meant)! She is very OTT and the director needed to ask her to dial it down rather, although I guess in the context of this particular episode, with its very offbeat vibe, she just about gets away with it on the whole - everyone in it is so odd, even the regular cast. I’d hate to see this character in a more ‘straight’ episode! :D And, again, yes about Ted and Mona - there is a real believability and consistency to them as a couple. A highlight across all five series of the show!

@@withinthesewalls I think you're right, Suzan hadn't had time to settle into the character yet. It's a pretty standard performance for that era, perfectly fine, and she does settle more into it afterwards, as the actors get to know each other more too.

Yes, definitely - it takes time for cast members to gel. And even in this scene, Suzan still does a decent job (despite the melodramatics :D). Even though I say about feeling sorry here for Mrs Armitage, it's clear that she wouldn't be the easiest person in the world to have as a mother, and Suzan manages to make me feel sympathy for Ellen too; it's obvious that both she and Mrs A are, at this point, just locked in a particular pattern of relating that they struggle to get past. It's good that they subsequently become much closer (and Mrs A manages to 'get over' the name of her grandchild 🤣), although it's a shame it takes the boyfriend being killed to achieve this!

Glad you enjoyed it! 😀 Mona Bruce is (as ever) brilliant here, isn't she?

Yes! I remember her really well, from when I was kid, as Debbie in 'Eastenders' (I can still remember seeing the infamous "drop dead!" episode as part of the Sunday omnibus that they used to show, and being shocked! 😲). And seeing some of those early episodes again quite recently, she really was very good in it. I also enjoyed recently seeing her pop up in an episode of 'The Gentle Touch' - she was a sex worker (I think) but very different to Judy Fryer (no Afro at least, lol)! I know she played Katy Betts in 'Angels' but I was so young when that was originally on that I can't properly picture the character - however, I'm currently watching the first series of this (so good) so I look forward to eventually seeing her in it!

It is! My favourite aspect of the ep is the focus on Mrs Armitage at home - the start of an ongoing storyline with her daughter. Hope you're doing well! 😊

Hi Jeff, yes, it is the same music. :) I'm a big fan of 'Prisoner Cell Block H', as well as the library tracks that we were used as incidental music in the show - so, as a fan too of 'Within These Walls' , I've added the music to this clip, just for fun. Hope you enjoyed the video!

I really did. I was very young when it was on tv and I know that my mum loved it. I love Prisoner knew Grundy got the inspiration from it but never saw it at all. I definitely want to see it. Thank you for sharing it.

@@jeffgreen7629 You're very welcome! Really nice to hear about your mum watching the show back in the day. I was also very (very!) young when WTW was screened (in fact, not even born for its first series! lol) so have no memories of it from the time - but I discovered it later via PCBH, which, like you say, was inspired by it. I discovered some episodes on YT about five years ago, and ended up buying the DVD boxset from Network - definitely worth it! I can recommend the Ruby Kang channel on YT, if you want to catch some episodes. And please feel free to have a look round my channel - there's loads of clips and mock trailers (most of them with Prisoner music!), plus a couple of videos I've made talking about some of the characters in the show (most unsettling inmates, etc.). Have a good weekend! :)

Totally! You can just feel Aileen's hurt at being 'rejected', and have some sympathy for her, despite her crimes and the fact that she's got form for destroying people (sometimes literally!). Geradline Moffat is fantastic in the role.

Glad you enjoyed the video! :)

🤣 I like the way that everyone in this episode - apart from Aileen - seemed to be a bit of a tealeaf! lol

😂❤❤

Absolutely! It was a clever decision and allowed them to really tell a story - and quite a morally complex and challenging one at that. I'm thinking of eventually doing a video that discusses Aileen in the context of her character arc, so keep 'em peeled! :)

@@withinthesewalls That sounds like a good idea. I look forward to it!

Thanks, Hel! Hope you're doing well. :)

Yep, the start of a new era, with Helen Forrester taking over the helm. Some of the content also got a bit more risque - this clip being a case in point! lol

Thanks! I'll have a look now. Seems to be more and more common for YT to 'hide' replies.

I love her too! She's a very believable and well-rounded take on the 'lonely prison warden'-type character, and Sonia Graham plays her so well. Welcome to the channel! :)

@@withinthesewalls Thank you :) Do you now where i can watch all the episodes of Within These Walls for free?

@@dennislundstrom8180 Well, as far as I'm aware, there's nowhere online that has all the episodes. But a brilliant place to catch a good chunk of them is the Ruby Kang channel. There's several eps on there, from all five series, and as Ruby is a Martha Parrish fan, all of these are episodes that focus on or at least feature the character of Martha. Picture quality is great too. There's also the Bruce Blizzard channel, which has all the episodes from the first series and (I think) the second, plus a good chunk of the third - but the picture quality is not always so great. But it does allow you to see at least one of the series in its entirety. Hope that helps! :)

@gavinpeacock1601 That's really nice to hear! And snap! :-) I first heard about WTW years ago because of it being mentioned in the Terry Bourke 'PCBH: Behind the Scenes' book, but I'd got completely the wrong impression, expecting it to be dull and nothing to write home about, so I was never that fussed about seeing it, even if it had been possible (pre-internet). It was only when I came cross an episode on YT about five years ago and decided to give it a chance that I realised what a brilliant programme it is - not least because there's so many excellent actors it it. And it's certainly a strong prison drama in its own right. Hope you enjoyed the video!

@gavinpeacock1601 Hi, just to let you know that I did get your comment on my recent video (the trailer for 'Skivers') but there was a compression issue with the video so I had to delete it and re-upload it (unfortunately, there's *still* seems to be an issue with the new upload, but I'm going to have to learn to live with it, lol), so just wanted to say thanks now for the nice comment - glad you enjoyed it!

That would be me! 😁 Thanks you very much for your kind words and glad you enjoyed the video. There's lots more of these kind of clips on this channel, so hope you enjoy having a look round!

Absolutely! I love Martha - a very layered character, played with subtlety by Sonia Graham. I feel really sorry for her in this episode, but it is very interesting seeing her in this kind of situation where she's so vulnerable, and at least she comes out on top in the end (like you say, living to fight another day).

I agree! A brilliant scene and quite shocking (although much deserved, lol). I think the way it's followed by Chantal having yet another tantrum, bringing us back full circle to her kick-off in the opening scene of the episode, is clever too. Welcome to the channel!

Totally! It's horrible, lol I love this part of the scene as it's just so unsettling in quite a low-key way - the drama comes from Martha finally realising without a doubt that something is definitely wrong, based on the 'off' behaviour of people who, superficially, are as friendly as ever. I really like the 'nurse' too - the bit where she steadies herself for 'performing' after Mrs Wiltshire goes hurrying off to hide in the bedroom is a great touch.

@@withinthesewalls I really like this part of the scene too. The tension is there but held just at the right level because they haven't cottoned on that Martha saw the extra champagne glass. We know, but they don't know. It's a tense moment for all but they think they're getting away with it. Yes, the "nurse" steadying her wrist is a nice touch, especially as it's in the same shot as the "doctor's" tense expression.

Yes! Great point re: the perspective of the con artists also informing the drama and tension - they're dying for Martha to just go as it all feels too close for comfort that's she's come back and nearly caught them, but they don't realise (as we do) that she's definitely twigged. Really nicely put! Serious question, and hope you don't think me nosey, but have been meaning to ask for a while: do you write for a living? I always enjoy reading your well-considered posts and insights. 😊

@@withinthesewalls (YT hid my reply so I've had to cut out some words, condense it and repost. Seems to be happening a lot more lately.) I don't mind you asking, and thank you for your kinds words, much appreciated. I do like writing film screenplays and miniseries scripts but I'm not making a living from it. I am currently in the process of trying to get a screenwriter agent. I'm under no illusions though, it's a long shot and nothing may come of it, so at the moment I can only consider it an enjoyable hobby. At the very least, I've found screenwriting very rewarding on a personal level and get creative satisfaction from doing it. I've also worked professionally in video production during the 90s (in a small local arthouse company), with hands-on experience with directing, editing, camerawork, and workshops with the camera/special effects teams at Pinewood Studios. That was a long time ago but the technical knowledge I gained has been useful in my screenwriting today, in understanding film language and writing for the visual medium. Plus, like yourself, I'm just passionate about good drama, so I tend to study what I watch.

@@Ruby_Kang Oh wow, good on you for pursuing what you love and I really hope it works out for you with securing an agent. 🤞I want to ask about what kind of material you're writing but I know that's a bit 'personal' and you may well not want to discuss that on here - but if we ever chat privately (damn YT for removing the direct contact feature!), you'll have to tell me more (if you want to, he adds as a quick qualification, lol). Anyway, I knew I wasn't imagining your flair! Bit different to screenwriting, but I work with academic text to make ends meet, and appreciate good writing and analytic skills! :) The video production work you did in the past sounds interesting too and yes, I can see how that must prove helpful in your screenwriting now.

Glad you enjoyed the video.

Yes, Sonia is fantastic, isn't she? And I agree about Martha's natural caution - on the one hand, she *was* very much sucked in (at an emotional level) by what Chantal and Richard seemed to be offering her; but on the other hand, she always knew deep down (because she wasn't silly) that something wasn't quite right but pushed her doubts away, and let herself live the fantasy, until it became too obvious and serious to ignore. Welcome to the channel, by the way!

@@withinthesewalls Thankyou, I rewatched this series again and was surprised how good it was..contemporary issues where right and wrong trod a fine line. I loved this episode where Miss Parrish seemingly lets her natural guard down .

Yes, I know what you mean, on all counts. I'd never watched WTW until fairly recently, when I came to it (without much expectation) through a longstanding love of Prisoner Cell Block H (I'd heard it was an influence on PCBH!) - and was also surprised to find out how good it is. It definitely paints characters and situations in shades of grey and is intelligently written - and, while in some ways its obviously of its time, I think it still very much stands up to present-day viewing. When you say about rewatching, did you first see it when was it originally screened? And yes, this is one of my favourite episodes - great to see Martha in a completely different situation to anything we'd seen her in before!

You're welcome - and thank you! Yes, poor Martha (fantastically played). They really sucked her in and exploited her loneliness, the buggers. I'm glad she gets the better of them in the end!

Thanks. I nearly didn't use it as I thought I might be over-egging the pudding a bit - making too obvious for this point of the story that Martha's in danger. But then I couldn't resist :D Definitely re: comeuppance (poor Martha; Liz's line about "How can you tell with Miss Parrish?", when asked how she's taken the news about being conned, is sad :-()! It's a clever ending with Chantal in particular!

Thanks! Glad you like the trailer. Yes, this episode is one of my favourites - Sonia Graham is fantastic in it, including in that crying scene (it feels very believable, including the turn to anger at the end). Just a brilliant turn from her. The story kind of reminds me a little of a storyline in the very early days of 'Prisoner', when Vera Bennett is conned by a couple of drug dealers, one of whom lives in a swanky flat. She's similarly left heartbroken. And I can definitely see what you mean about 'Tales of the Unexpected'! The first time I watched this episode, I knew something was amiss but hadn't expected it to be what it is. And I think the strange relationship between Chantal and her brother is a great extra layer to the whole thing - lots to be read into that! And with the mother - Chantal had to grow up early because of her mum's criminality, but in lots of ways (the tantrums, etc.) she's never grown up.

@@withinthesewalls From what I've read elsewhere it seems to be a popular episode. I love the stories where the focus is on Martha because there are a lot of layers to her character, matched by the great skill of Sonia Graham's performance. She's terrific at conveying subtlety and depth, and carrying an air of dignity. I just love watching her. Ah! yes, I vaguely remember that storyline with Vera in Prisoner. That's when we (the viewers) started to see her as human and felt sympathy for her. I think it was one of the most potent storylines for that reason. Now that you mention it, I can see the comparison with Martha in this story. Good point about Chantel. In many ways she's a spoiled brat brought up without a moral compass. Martha's killer line to her at the end as she leaves the cell quite surprised me when I first saw this episode!

Yes, she's a very layered character, played with subtlety. And yes, with dignity, which is a great way of putting it. It's a lot in the eyes too - the character of Richard even comments on it (well, when he says about Martha's sad "Russian eyes"!). Yep, you're right about the humanising aspect of the 'being conned' storyline for Vera. They're some of my favourite episodes. I think that story and 'Mother's Girl' also share an enjoyable feeling of intrigue. And of 70s kitsch, of course! Haha, yes *that* line is fab and actually quite shocking! "Now you can have a real depression!" Love it and Chantal's (characteristic) reaction... Martha really made it known that she was no longer her problem (and who can blame her?)! 😏lol

Thanks! 😀 Louella is pretty freaky, ain't she?

Yes! I love her, both as Dolly and as Kathleen. Such a presence!

My whole family were glued to Widows. I haven't seen it since it aired and I was very young at the time, but I remember her screen presence in that show and I'm willing to bet it still stands up as good solid drama.

@@Ruby_Kang I didn't watch 'Widows' at the time, although I think my mum may have mentioned it as the name has always been familiar to me. I only got to see it for the first time about three years ago, when a mate lent me all three series on DVD, and I really enjoyed it, especially Ann Mitchell's performance (I always say this, I know, but I thought the first series was the best, lol). I did notice that it had been uploaded to YT about six months ago, on one of the channels I subscribe to, but when I looked just now to find a link to the first episode, I can't find it, so it's possibly been deleted, sadly.

@@withinthesewalls With any given show the first series will inevitably be the best (in most cases).

Yes, this is true! 😃

Definitely!

Aw, cheers, mate! 😎

@@withinthesewalls if you ever want to be in part 2 please let me know 🙂

@@rathouselibrarymusic Certainly will do - thanks v. much! 👍