Within These Walls: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back (ITV 15 Feb 1974, with Sonia Graham)

In One Step Forward, Two Steps Back Marilyn Hunter, a high security prisoner who killed two babies, is brought to Stone Park personally by Faye (after she was given special permission to do so). The inmates on her wing are none too happy about her arrival especially when they think she is getting special treatment from the governor.

Martha Parrish, who is in charge of the wing that Hunter is on, is angry that she was not consulted about Hunter’s placement. Parrish, who has already made it plain that she dislikes Faye, is also rather too friendly with one of the inmates, Joan Harrison. Joan is due to transfer to open prison but wants to stay to be close to Martha. She takes the drastic action of trashing her cell, attacking a prison officer, stealing keys and then throwing herself from a roof and ends up dying from her injuries.

Trouble really starts when the board of visitors pay a visit, they have learnt that Faye stopped at a cafe on the way back with Marilyn Hunter despite express instructions not to make any stops. It turns out the police were tailing Faye to make sure that nothing happened. It’s a serious faux pa on Faye’s part and she is on the verge of resigning when she realises that has in fact made a major breakthrough with Marilyn Hunter and the work she is doing has real value.

Faye’s son Paul seems to have inherited Faye’s desire for change. He has got a job at a halfway house during the uni holidays. It’s not really followed up on but it does give the chance to get a few more reforming points across to the general viewing audience as Faye, Bill and Paul discover it over dinner.

The Prison Chaplain in this episode is played by David Butler who also happens to be the series creator.

production details
UK / ITV – London Weekend Television / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Friday 15 February 1974 at 9.00pm

Writer: Tony Parker / Production Design: Andrew Gardner / Director: Tony Wharmby

Series: Within These Walls Season 1 Episode 7

cast
Googie Withers as Faye Boswell
Jerome Willis as Charles Radley
Denys Hawthorne as Dr Mayes
Mona Bruce as Mrs Armitage
Sonia Graham as Martha Parish
Yvonne Antrobus as Marilyn Hunter
David Butler as Chaplain
Beth Harris as Miss Clarke
Rosalind Knight as Pauline Johnson
Susan Brown as Joan Harrison
Nigel Crewe as Paul Boswell
Raymond Adamson as Bill Boswell
Terence Conoley as Civil Servant Andrews
Arnold Peters as Civil Servant Brown
Theresa Watson as Sylvia Bennett