Within These Walls: Labour of Love (ITV 22 Mar 1974, with Pam St Clement)

The problem of keeping prisoners occupied in a worthwhile way is at the heart of Labour of Love. Most prisoners are involved in work or activities of some kind but some find the going difficult. Linda Silvers, overweight and somewhat slovenly, is picked upon by the other inmates but finds solace in making paperweights with real flowers in them.

A new prison visitor, Cecily Foyle, a friend of Faye’s who works in a gift shop and is rather taken with the paper weights, hits upon a new scheme selling the paperweights in her shop.

Meanwhile another prison visitor, Mrs Yardley, is causing a few problems because of her forthright views. When she finds out what is going on with the flower paperweights she gets the unions involved. It almost causes a major upset but Faye is able to smooth things over with the visiting “Fancy Goods” union official. Not for the first time Faye reiterates the point that the prisoners are not there for punishment but as punishment, a subtle but all important difference.

An interesting episode with quite a few “outside the prison” scenes, especially with visits to Cecily Foyle’s shop.

production details
UK / ITV – London Weekend Television / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Friday 22 March 1974 at 9.00pm

Writer: Peter Wildeblood / Production Design: Rodney Cammish / Director: Paul Annett

Series: Within These Walls Season 1 Episode 12

cast
Googie Withers as Faye Boswell
Mona Bruce as Mrs Armitage
Jerome Willis as Charles Radley
Audrey Muir as Miss Flaxton
Toni Palmer as Fran
Doremy Vernon as Ella
Rosemary Blake as Bette
Pam St Clement as Linda Silvers
Elizabeth Weaver as Mrs Yardley
Diana Van Proosdy as Prison officer Adams
Katie Flower as Prison officer Moffitt
Muriel Barker as Miss Flowers
Jenny Short as Sheila
Phyllis McMahon as Rosemary
Joan Benham as Cecily Foyle
Hazel McBride as Heather
John Gregg as Tom Phipps