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                    "You don't run this prison. I do."

Bea Smith is a former inmate of Wentworth Correctional Centre.

Before Smith was sent to Wentworth she was a simple housewife from the suburbs who had a job as a hairdresser. Smith's home life with her husband Harry Smith was abusive, but they stayed together for their daughter Debbie Smith.

Smith was arrested and sent to Wentworth for attempted murder, when Bea arrives she quickly has to learn what life behind bars is really like. Smith gets stuck in a turf war between Franky Doyle and Jacs Holt.

Smith would avenge her daughers death by killing Brayden Holt and Jacs Holt. She would rise to top dog after fighting Franky Doyle in the laundry. Bea's fall from top dog would come much harder.

Smith would fall in love with Allie Novak to the behest of Kaz Proctor who was Allie's long term friend and ally. Smith and Allie got to know each other to the point they had a relationship.

When Bea thought Allie was dead when she was hotshotted Bea planned to killed Ferguson, but in the end made the sacrifice to end her life to make sure Ferguson would be in Wentworth forever. Bea was stabbed 8 times before dying of blood loss.

Prior to Wentworth

Bea was 18 and pregnant when she married Harry Smith. He was an abusive husband who would beat and rape her throughout their marriage. Bea worked as a hairdresser. She had a very close relationship with her daughter, Debbie.

Sick of Harry's abuse, she eventually tried to kill him by knocking him out, duct taping him up inside the car and using the exhaust to suffocate him. Debbie came home from school, interrupting Bea in the middle of killing Harry. Bea abandoned the plan and told Debbie to call for an ambulance. To Bea's surprise, Debbie covered for Bea by telling the operator it was an attempted suicide. The family agreed to cover it up as a suicide but police were suspicious and arrested Bea. She was sent to Wentworth, on remand for the attempted murder of her husband.

Time At Wentworth

Upon Bea's arrival at Wentworth, she lashes out against guards who tell her she can't speak to her daughter and needs to be sedated.  When she wakes up in the morning, she is taken to her cell by Vera Bennett, and then shown around the place by Liz Birdsworth.

Bea finds herself in the middle of a power struggle between the competitors for top dog, Franky Doyle, and Jacs Holt. Franky wanted to try her out in bed, and Jacs humiliated her in front of everyone in the dining room. Bea quickly became friends with her cellmates, Liz, Doreen, Boomer and Franky, though her friendship with Franky was always a little uneasy due to Franky seeing her as potential competition for top dog.

As a newcomer to prison, Bea defies Jacs on a couple of occasions without fully understanding the consequences. Jacs responds by threatening Bea's daughter Debbie. Without Bea's knowledge, Jacs tells her son Brayden, who was approximately the same age, to seduce Debbie, get her into drugs, and eventually kill her with a deliberate overdose.

Bea confronts Jacs in her cell, wanting to know the truth behind what happened to Debbie and becomes enraged when Jacs justifies taking a hit out on Debbie. Bea stabs Jacs in the neck with a pen, unintentionally killing her. After this, she presses the duress button and is escorted away by two guards as her fellow inmates watch in shock and confusion. 

Season 2

In season 2, it is confirmed that Bea had killed Jacs. Though Bea's original charges of Attempted Murder (on her husband) had been dropped and she will now serve a 12 yr. sentence for the manslaughter of Jacs.

The first episode of season 2 shows Bea's incapability to cope with Debbie's death while not under the influence of sedatives. The Governor cuts her supply off, releases her from solitary and removes her from Cell Block H. Bea struggles with images of Debbie, refusing to believe she has died as she dreams of her. Liz comforts Bea, who decides she is going to get revenge by killing Brayden Holt.

Bea is attacked by Boomer under Franky's orders, in an attempt to display dominance over her and solidify her position as the new top dog.

Simone Slater returns to the prison, and eventually forms a friendship with Bea, who is using her to get at Brayden. Simone informs Bea of an attack the Holts have orchestrated against Bea, who initially suspects the new inmates Jess and trans woman Maxine. It is later discovered that another recent inmate, who had been faking a leg injury, was the attacker. After the inmate comes for Bea in the showers, Maxine saves her and the two become friends.

S2 ep 11

Bea is rushed to medical with Will telling Bea to stay with him , as Linda is in front clearing the way and Vera following the gurney, they are in medical as they access her injuries, and Ferguson asks what happened and who did this to her, as she fades out..

In her cell Bea exercises and she then pulls out from under the bed her drawing book and sees the other two blood lines and she then pricks her finger and draws a line, realising she needs more, she the walks over to the curtain and takes out both tablets before she takes them with water, putting her plan into action.

Bea walks into the dining room and see goes over to the food where Doreen walks away and gets some more food and says to Bea that she forgot how being pregnant makes you fart, and that she was going off like a rocket overnight and says that she was sometimes spewing and farting and sometimes at the same time, Bea asks Doreen if she can ring Toni again and Doreen says yes.

Bea walks over and Franky lets Bea sit next to her and Bea wonders if she is getting a seat at the big table, and Franky says that Boomer is not using it and tells Bea that she heard why Boomer got slotted and Franky tells Bea that Boomer was dealing with Liz and shouldn't of interfered and asks her why she snapped, Bea tells the story and says that she really needed the phone and Franky says if Bea wants to take her while Boomer is in the slot she can, Bea says that she doesn't want anything and she tells Franky that it is all in her head, as she moves to another table, as Ferguson watches on from the Governor's office.

Bea yanks the phone away from Doreen and interrupts by asking Toni Goodes if she has the present she sent her, Bea argues with Toni and says that she never said anything about going away and then comes up with a plan, she tells Toni to send the gun to Standstead House and give it to Liz and says that there will be something else in it for her..

In the phone cue Bea slams the phone and Doreen asks what that was about and Bea says that she needs her to call Liz and Doreen just looks at her and Bea asks if anything is wrong and Doreen says that there is, Bea grabs her arm and says that by the end of the day Franky will be gone and Bea will be running things and says that when she asks her to do something she does it, Bea picks up the receiver and tells her to call Liz. Doreen tells Bea if she fucks up Liz's parole she will never forgive Bea.

Bea talks to Liz and Liz tells Bea that Sophie Donaldson remembered her and she is really happy, Bea interrupts by asking her if she is going to be around the halfway house in the afternoon, and Liz asks why, Bea says that she has a package and it is being sent there, and she wants her to be there so someone doesn't take it. Liz then asks Bea if it is going to get her into trouble, Bea says no and asks her again if she is going to be there and Liz says she will be and then asks if everything is ok and Bea says that everything is fine and says that she has to go, Bea hangs up and walks away as Doreen isn't happy that Liz is being used.

In the laundry Bea looks around and then looks at Franky, Doreen gives Bea a bunch of laundry as Bea tells Maxine that she is going to need the shiv. Franky calls Bea over to bring over more laundry, Franky tells Bea to hang around for a minute the women watch on as Franky tells Bea that Ferguson is using her to get to Franky and Franky says that the screws using the women can be common but the Governor using someone is something else. Franky then tells Bea that she had nothing to do with Simmo Slater's death because she never even had a chance to cut the drugs. Franky tells Bea that is was Ferguson who gave Simmo a hot shot and she doesn't know why but she wants Bea to know. As Bea turns to walk away Vera walks in and tells Bea that the governor wants to see her, Franky says that she rests her case and then says to send her an invite, Bea says will do and Vera tells everyone to get back to work.

Vera takes Bea to the governors office where Vera lets her in and leaves her with Ferguson. Ferguson tells her to take a seat as Bea tells her that she needs to stop calling her to her office as it "doesn't look good". Ferguson finishes what she is doing and she asks what is the hold up with Franky as she says to Bea that she knows that she engineered Boomer being slotted and she has been in there for three days and Bea hasn't done anything. Bea says when the time is right she will, and Ferguson says that she isn't going to do it, Bea says again she will when the time is right, Bea then stands up and leaves.

Bea in the yard goes to the flowers and realises that her shiv is missing, as she looks to see where it went she sees Sky Pierson holding it and she lips to Bea 'fuck you'. Bea rushes inside and is caught up by Franky and Sky with Boomer following in from behind, and Franky asks Bea what is going on. Sky then adds that Franky had Maxine suss from the start and she hands Franky the shiv, Franky tells Bea that she could've gotten her a shiv and Franky holds it to Bea and Boomer asks her if she was going to stick the shiv in Franky and says that she is fucked. Franky tells Bea if she wants to talk to come and do it, Bea says that she doesn't think so, Sky points out screws as Vera and Will are coming there way, Franky tells Bea that she will see her after lunch. Franky turns and puts her arm around Bea when Will and Vera ask if everything is ok, they say everything is and Bea moves away before leaving and Franky says that she will see her later, Will and Vera look at each other and knows that something is going on. Bea stands in the corridor with her plan out the window she spots Fletch using his swipe card and Bea hatches a plan to get it.

Bea walks through the halls and she uses the swipe card to get into the main prison. Bea opens the airlock and has to quickly hide when she hears an officers radio and when the officer moves Bea makes her way to the mail room and when she opens the door she hears Ferguson talking to Linda and they are talking about Fletch's leave and Ferguson tells Linda not to do it at the prison as it would be highly irregular. Linda opens the door of the mailroom as Bea hides against the wall and Ferguson asks how Boomer is settling in, and Linda says that there is no issues and everything is fine, Linda then gets a call on her radio requesting her assistance, Linda closes the door as Bea goes over to the table and takes the box cutter off of the table and masking tape, Bea then leaves back to her unit.

Fletch stares at the doors as he realises he could be in massive trouble over it, as Jess walks up to him and tells him to say that he lost his card just as he gets a call on his radio to say that he is needed, Jess says Fletch needs help as Bea can be heard running back toward the main door, Bea sees him and immediately goes through the airlock and gives him back his card, Fletch asks what she has done and Bea tells him that he is in no position to ask, as Fletch leaves, Bea thanks Jess and Jess that that Fletch is 'fucked up.'.

Bea returns to her cell as she lines up all the magazines she has and tapes them up with the roll of tape that she stole from the mailroom. Bea leaves her cell and walks down the hall as Franky, Boomer and Sky watch on as Bea goes to work unit.

Bea takes the box cutter

Bea steals the box cutter

Bea tries to get her cutter out as Sky gives Franky her shiv. Franky then hits Bea with a shot to the stomach but it doesn't hurt her, Bea elbows Franky in the face and then a knife fight breaks out in the laundry room with Bea and Franky taking swings at each other and Franky gets in trying to hit Bea with her shiv multiple times before it breaks, the women are cheering Franky on. Franky grabs hold of Bea and attacks her holding her on the laundry press until it produces steam and Bea losses her weapon. Bea fights back and gets Franky onto the floor before Franky gets to the box cutter and slashes Bea across the head, this angers Bea who then grabs Franky and drives her into the washing machine, breaking the glass before Bea starts hitting her and getting in wild shots as Boomer tries to intervene she is stopped by Maxine who tells her she can't help, Bea then tells Franky to call the fight and say who won. Franky tells the women that it is Bea's and that she won. Bea stands over Franky but instead of attacking her and finishing her off, Bea rolls up her sleeves and uses the cutter to inflict wounds on herself much to the shock of Boomer and Doreen. Bea then gingerly walks over to panic button and presses it, sliding down the wall and leaving the women stunned at what just happened.

Bea in medical

Bea is rushed to medical with her injuries from the fight

Bea is rushed to medical on a gurney as Linda runs ahead to clear a path, as Will tells Bea to stay with him as he tries to keep her conscious. In medical Ferguson asks Rose if Bea is stable enough for transit and Rose says that she is going in and out but she will be fine. Ferguson lifts up Bea's shirt and sees the magazines that are taped to her body and Rose she's that she was prepared for it. Will comes in and says that the ambulance is there and as they are about to transfer her, Linda is about to cuff her but Vera says not to as it regulation not to cuff cut wrists, Will then says that they are going to take her to the hospital.

Bea is rushed to hospital as Will and Officer Webb are there in support. Bea is then transferred over to a different bed and Will hands over Bea's medical file from the prison and he tells the nurse and doctor that they are defensive wounds as Bea was in a fight. The surgeon orders the nurse to call surgery and get Bea up there as soon as possible.

As Bea recovers from surgery the surgeon tells Will that surgery went well but he would like to keep her in overnight because Bea had an abnormally high blood clotting factor, Will asks if Bea will be ok and the surgeon says that she will be fine and it is what probably saved her life. Will goes over to Bea and Bea sees another patient being brought in and Will says that Franky really did a number on her, Bea doesn't talk about it and mentions that she is thirsty and would like a lemonade, Will agrees and he goes off to find a drink.

Will says he is just outside the ward, Ferguson tells him to get back to her and reveals to him that the injuries were self inflicted and to not leave her side, Will rushes back to the ward and he opens to the curtain to see that Bea has escaped. Will looks at a nurse and asks where Bea is and the nurse shakes her head as they go on a look out.

Bea escapes into the night

Bea runs from hospital

The elevator door opens to reveal Bea in civilian clothes making her way out of the hospital, while Liz is laying in bed at the halfway house she decides to take a look at the package as Bea makes her way to the bottom floor of the hospital, Liz opens the package and sees that it is a gun, and she reacts in horror, realising that she might know what Bea is up too. Bea manages to get out of the hospital and she escapes, into the night.

S2 ep 12

Bea is sleeping in the graveyard as the sun is rising as she wakes it is revealed that she has slept next to Debbie's grave all night. Bea puts flowers on her grave and she mourns her daughter as she puts her hat back on she leaves the graveyard and makes it to the city as she walks through the streets she steals a wallet and continues walking and walks past the police, Bea continues walking.

Bea at debs grave

Bea sits at Debbie's grave the morning after escaping hospital

Liz steps outside to lit up a smoke and as she is smoking, Bea from behind says "That shit will kill you..", Liz is stunned when she turns around and says that they should speak inside. When they get into the room, Liz asks Bea how she got out, Bea doesn't explain why and she asks if the police have been to the house yet, Liz says that they haven't and Bea asks if Liz got the package and Liz says that she did but she hates being dragged into whatever Bea is doing because she is on the parole, Bea says that no one will find out and Liz realises that Bea is going after Brayden and calls it suicide. Bea then asks where the gun is and Liz says she got rid of it and Bea knows she is lying and then goes through Liz's stuff before finding the gun in the drawer and says that she doesn't even know how to use a gun as she is a hairdresser, Bea looks at the weapon as Liz begs her not to go through with what she is about to through, Bea thinks about it before she opens the door and Liz follows her, as Bea looks down the stairs the police arrive and speak with the manager. Bea goes to run and Liz tells her to go through one of the rooms, as Bea barges through one of the rooms and opens the window, one of the residents is not happy about it and Bea points the gun at him and tells him to forget what she saw, as Liz watches Bea escape through the window..

As Bea escapes the halfway house, the police make their way to Liz's room, Bea manages to get down the stairs and into the street as the police knock on the door, Detective Tanner and another cop go into the room as Liz makes herself known by asking if she can help them. Liz "learns" of Bea's escape from Tanner and she says that she cannot believe that she got out. Tanner asks that is the question and he asks if she has heard from her, Liz says no. Tanner says that she asked Liz to receive a package and asks where it is and Liz asks what and Tanner says that they have a recording of their phone conversation. Liz says that all Bea was send her "magazines." as Bea disappears into the city.

Bea arrives at Brayden's garage and she makes her way over to the bins where she looks through the window and sees Carly Slater with him and they are both about to do drugs and they are listening to music. Bea goes in through the window and watches Brayden about to inject Carly and she stops the music. Brayden looks up and sees her as Carly notices that Bea has a gun. Bea tells Carly to leave and she does so as Bea then holds Brayden at gunpoint, Bea questions him and asks him why he killed Debbie. Brayden says that he never meant to kill Debbie he just wanted to take away her feelings and that she wanted it, Bea says if she wanted to die and Brayden says it was for Debbie to forget, she loved Bea and she hated that she was in Wentworth. Bea calls it bullshit and asks him again why he did it and Brayden says that he didn't have a choice and that Jacs made him do it. Bea then asks him why didn't he say no to Jacs and Brayden says that he doesn't know why and Bea says that he put the needle in Debbie's arm and doesn't know why? Brayden then says it is because he's fucked and Bea sees the drugs on the table and tells him to mix it all up and inject it into his arm.

Brayden does so as Bea continues and says to add more to his drug mix but he refuses and Bea says that she will shoot him if he doesn't. Brayden then says that Bea will have to shoot him, as Bea threatens to do so, Will Jackson (Wentworth) arrives through the door and sees Bea has the gun and tells her that if she goes through with shooting Brayden that she will be in prison for the rest of her life. Bea tells Will to shut up as she goes to think. Will tells Bea that Debbie would not want her to kill Brayden at least not with a gun and that this isn't her. Bea eventually lowers the gun and Will tells Brayden to leave. As Brayden goes to leave he smirks at Bea and Bea realises that Brayden never felt sorry for killing Debbie and she shoots him in the head killing him instantly. Will walks over to Bea as the police arrive and Will looks out the window he takes the gun off of Bea and says that they need to surrender, Will at the same time ignores a phone call. The police outside are interviewing several witnesses including Carly. Bea looks at Will and Will lifts her up and escorts her away leaving behind Brayden's body.

Bea with a gun

Bea avenges Debbie

The police are outside Brayden's business and they are trying to move people out of the way with Detective Tanner asking an officer if they have enough people, the officer confirms and says that there is officers at another entrance as well. As the roller door opens, Tanner instructs Bea and Will to get down on the ground and the team is ready with their weapons as Tanner also spots the gun Bea used. Will tells Bea to do as the police say and she gets down on the ground and Will does as well but he attempts to explain that he is an officer from Wentworth Correctional Centre. Both Bea and Will are arrested and Will is under arrest for aiding and abetting and Bea is charged with escaping and murder. Bea and Will are lead to the police cars with the media watching on as well and breaking the news live that Bea Smith has been arrested.

Upon Bea's return back to Wentworth during the night Ferguson and Vera are there waiting for the brawler and when the brawler arrives and Bea gets out Vera says that she will take her to the slot and Ferguson just says to process Bea and but her back in with the other inmates, Bea walks up to Ferguson before being taken away calling her 'Freak'.

Bea is taken back to her unit, where Franky declares Bea top dog.

Season 3

Bea is returned to Wentworth after being sentenced to life without parole for the murder of Brayden Holt.

When she returns from her trial we find out that the Governor Joan Ferguson is taking away all the privileges even smoking. Bea gets slotted for ordering a smoke strike. While in the slot she writes a red X which means fire and now on the other side of the tray. Maxine gets the tray and puts Bea's plan into action. The women grab mattresses and liquid that react with fire. Maxine starts the fire. A group of masked inmates take Vera hostage and manage to break Bea out of solitary. Bea heads to the exercise yard where she says to Joan - "you don't run this prison I do".

Jodie is told by Joan to shiv Bea otherwise she keep torturing her. Jodie shivs Bea during a game of Basketball in the exercise yard. 

In the episode Evidence, Joan sends Bea to the Psychiatric Ward after Joan hires a goon to attack her in Wentworth. Bea is apparently in the exercise yard saying that a man who was neither a inmate or a screw attacked her near the boiler room.

In the episode Blood and Fire, Joan Ferguson lights Wentworth on fire and gets trapped with Doreen's baby Joshua, Franky and Bea turn around and go looking for Jess and Joshua, they find them in a rubbish area, the ceiling starts collapsing with Bea, Joshua, Franky and Ferguson trapped inside. Bea climbs through the vent while holding Joshua and exits the building. Bea gives Doreen Anderson her baby and then runs back inside to save Franky and Will Jackson runs in after her. Will and Bea manage to push the door open and Bea grabs Franky and tells Will to leave Joan there but Will grabs her and brings her out. The place burns down with Jess inside but everybody else gets out.

Season 4

In season 4, we see Joan return to Wentworth as an inmate, Vera is in charge of Wentworth with Will as second in command, and Kaz, the leader of the Red Right Hand challenges Bea in her position as Top Dog. Bea self-harms herself repeatedly in a few episodes but is later caught by Allie Novak.

In episode 4x07, the prisoners holds an election of having a Top Dog or not but instead of persuading the inmates to vote for her. She wished she lost the election of no Top Dog. Instead she wins and they keep Bea as the Top Dog and all the rules still apply. Vera also was happy because without Bea then the prison would be in much trouble with drug-smuggling.

For the rest of series 4 Bea continues to fall in love with Allie, and even gets Allie sober when Allie does drugs. It isn't until Allie is given a hotshot by Ferguson that Bea does want revenge for everything that Ferguson has done. Bea plans to keep Ferguson in prison by setting up her own murder. Bea tells Vera that she will get Ferguson to confess everything she has done with a contraband phone, Vera declines at first but allows Bea to go on with it. Bea leaves the phone behind and takes a shiv. Bea meets Ferguson in 'No Man's Land' and tells Ferguson she will take her down. As the two clash Ferguson manages to get hold of the shiv and Bea forces herself onto the shiv and repeatedly is stabbed, Bea informs Joan that she has "won" and at the same time staff run out to find the mess. 

Bea's last and final lines are "I win..."

Season 5 and Further Mentions

In season 5, the fellow inmates/prisoners learn of Bea's death and make a memorial for Bea and her daughter Debbie. Elderly eccentric inmate Marge Nowak maintains the memorial and garden until her death. She is mentioned in many episodes in season 5, as Allie and her old friends grieve for her and seek vengeance against Ferguson.

In season 8/9 Bea is mentioned after Ferguson is brought to trial, and its possible that Joan would be vindicated for Bea's death due to Ferguson's fugue state. Later on Allie "sees" Bea before she is pulled out of Wentworth after it explodes.

Trivia

  • Both the old, and new versions of Bea have used the press to burn someone.
  • In the original series, Bea did not die on-screen as she was transferred to another prison and her fate was later confirmed to have died in a prison riot. In Wentworth, Bea is stabbed to death by Joan Ferguson.
  • As of Bea's death, none of the immediate Smith family are alive.

Appearances

Wentworth: Season 1
"No Place Like Home"
Appears
"Fly Me Away"
Appears
"The Girl Who Waited"
Appears
"The Things We Do"
Appears
"The Velvet Curtain"
Appears
"Captive"
Appears
"Something Dies"
Appears
"Mind Games "
Appears
"To the Moon"
Appears
"Checkmate"
Appears
Wentworth: Season 2
"Born Again"
Appears
"Whatever It Takes"

Appears
"Boys In The Yard"


Appears
"The Danger Within"

Appears
"Twist The Knife"
Appears
"The Pink Dragon"

Appears
"Metamorphosis"


Appears
"Sins of the Mother"

Appears
"The Fixer"
Appears
"Jail Birds"


Appears
"Into The Night"
Appears
"Fear Her"

Appears
Wentworth: Season 3
"The Governor's Pleasure"
Appears
"3x02 Failing Upwards"
Appears
"Knives Out"
Appears
"Righteous Acts"
Appears
"3x05 Mercy"
Appears
"Evidence"
Appears
"The Long Game"
Appears
"Goldfish"
Appears
"Freak Show"
Appears
"A Higher Court"
Appears
"The Living and the Dead"
Appears
"Blood and Fire"

Appears
Wentworth: Season 4
"First Blood"
Appears
"Poking Spiders"

Appears
"Prisoner"


Appears
"Screw Lover"

Appears
"Love and Hate"
Appears
"Divide and Conquer"

Appears
"Panic Button"


Appears
"Plan Bea"

Appears
"After Life"
Appears
"Smitten"


Appears
"The Eleventh Hour"
Appears
"Seeing Red"

Appears
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