Barfield Prison begins to take shape again. Helen introduces the new black officers and they are met with mixed feelings from the staff and inmates. Helen also introduces a psychologist, Maureen Collins, who enlists the help of a prisoner to sort out the library. Alan Fisher is granted his home-leave, but he has some problems when he gets out. Helen discovers that he lied about the reason for his home-leave, which jeopardised his chances to move to an open prison.

The new prison is virtually completed and Helen demands that the new security systems are sorted out soon. The prisoners get drunk and one prisoner is attacked in the showers and his throat cut. Two other prisoners take advantage of the situation and attempt an escape. Helen realises that she could be replaced as the governor of Barfield, and has to fight to get the prison back in order before the Prison Services visit.

Victor Braithwaite carries out his plan and takes Officer Morgan hostage and holds him inside a cell at knife point. He makes demands and Helen tries to talk to him, but the prisoner inside the cell with him gets a kicking when he tries to release Morgan and Braithwaite refuses to allow either of them out of the cell.

Officer Morgan returns from his home-leave after the hostage situation. Helen leaves the prison on a training course and the prisoners plan their biggest escape attempt yet. A prisoner holds all the officers as everyone escapes and Marshall is shot down. Helen feels responsible for what has happened even though she wasn't there and feels she has failed in what she tried to accomplish at Barfield Prison.