Within These Walls: Deception (ITV 20 Sep 1975, with Susan Littler)

In Deception Jane Sims is serving a four year sentence for being involved in a armed robbery, she quickly develops a strong friendship with Officer Mary White, Hane is an inveterate liar and quickly has Mary wrapped around her finger.

Mary persuades Charles Radley to give Jane a cushy trustee job in the library (Jane is library officer) and Jane is soon using the opportunity to take advantage, especially when a trio of workmen arrive to fix the pipes in the prison, including the library. One of the men, Billy, happens to know Jane quite well. When Mary leaves Billy and Jane alone together they take advantage of the fact. In the following weeks Mary is shocked to find herself pregnant.

Jane has also arranged an escape attempt after Billy finishes his sentence (he only has a few days left on his sentence) and when Officer White discover what the pair are up to Jane begins blackmailing her to keep quiet.

Things take a dramatic turn when Mary (helped by fellow inmate Rosie Doolan) miscarries the baby she is carrying. In a twist she accuses Charles Radley of being the father (the pair had briefly spent a few minutes alone with her when interviewing her for the librarian position).

Deception is quite the hard hitting episode as it happens, touching on lesbianism, abortion, illicit sex in prison and blackmail, all handled with a suitably delicate touch of course.

A very strong supporting cast sees Susan Littler as the deceitful Jane Sims, Gwen Taylor as the naive Officer White and Stephen Yardley as a builder working at Stone Park.

production details
UK / ITV – London Weekend Television / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast 20 September 1975 at 8.00pm

Writer: Tony Hoare / Production Design: Bryan Bagge / Director: Philip Casson

Series: Within These Walls Season 3 Episode 3

cast
Googie Withers as Faye Boswell
Jerome Willis as Charles Radley
Mona Bruce as Mrs Armitage
Sonia Graham as Martha Parrish
Denys Hawthorne as Dr Mayes
Susan Littler as Jane Sims
Gwen Taylor as Officer Mary White
Stephen Yardley as Mr John Wright
Richard Borthwick as Billy Jacks
Honor Shepherd as Shirley Adams
Miranda Forbes as Officer Parsons
Phyllis McMahon as Rosie Doolan