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General


"Allie isn't the same person she used to be. None of us are thanks to you."

Vera Bennett is the Industries Manager at Wentworth Correctional Centre. Vera received the role after Ann Reynolds suggested Vera come back to work after her maternity leave.

Vera served as Deputy Governor under several governors before serving under Meg Jackson, Erica Davidson and Joan Ferguson before receiving the promotion to Governor after the Wentworth fire.

Vera's life away from Wentworth was anything but quiet, she looked after her mother Rita Bennett in which she wouldn't allow Vera to do anything, this lead Vera to making up a boyfriend named "Adam". Vera became close to Matthew Fletcher until the two broke up.

Vera maintained a friendship with fellow officer Will Jackson and had a relationship with officer Jake Stewart, the later would result in Vera carrying Jake's baby named Baby Grace. Grace was born during the Siege of Wentworth.

Vera survives the prison explosion.

Season 1

Vera first appeared in Episode 1. She was quite a pleasant officer to begin with, trying to get to know the prisoners as people, trying to help prisoners adjust to life at Wentworth, and so on.. Vera helped to induct Bea Smith, and was a bit of a friend to her in general.  However, this attitude to the prisoners didn't go unnoticed, as Meg Jackson observed. Meg told Vera she needed to stop making friends with the prisoners, and start looking at what was really going on.

Episode 2

During a staff meeting Vera tells the staff that it has been a challenge filling in for Meg and she hopes that she can continue relying on her officers support during the time. Vera also says that the additional security measures put in place should be ok, Linda Miles says there is no guarantee that it won't happen again as officers patrol the compound, Vera says that officers should patrol in pairs and Linda retorts by saying all the women need is two shivs. Vera also says that they have moved the cameras to focus on any trouble and to keep a close eye on the instigators of the riot, as Channing comes into the room as Vera says that their next goal is getting the women into a routine again and the Channing will in the compound for the coming days and she also says the investigation into Meg's death is still ongoing as Will stands in the door way as Vera continues and says the police are unsure at the time whether or not that it was murder or an accident, Fletch makes a noise as Vera looks up and sees that Will is back and gives him a welcome, Channing thanks Will for coming back and he also says that one of his first goals is getting rid of the media mob that is camped outside the prison, he asks Vera if she has spoken with the press and she says no, Channing asks her if she has come up with something and what has she got.

Vera is in the office as Erica comes and asks for Vera to sign some incident reports and Vera tells her to add the reports to pile she is working on, Vera also says that if she manages to get through all the paperwork the media who are camped outside the prison will have left. Erica says to Vera that speaking with the press is part of the job and all they want is a sound bite. Vera then refuses and says that Meg and Dalton hated doing press and every other governor hated it as well. When Erica goes to say something Will barges into Vera's office and says that she needs to order a ramp. Vera awestruck says what and Will explains that when he was given Meg's' stuff back all of it was there including her wedding ring but not her bracelet. Vera asks him if the bracelet isn't at home and Will says that Meg always wore it and she was wearing it on the day she died, Vera then tells him a ramp would be expensive because of extra staff and clean up, Will then says to Vera that this is all about finding the person who killed Meg and demands that she order a ramp.

The following morning Vera is reading the paper and it's of Erica, Vera says that she thought Erica was her friend and Fletch says that Erica eats her friends for breakfast and shits them out at lunch. Vera then says she may not be as good as Meg but given the chance she could be, Fletch stands and and says that she wouldn't be acting governor if they thought any less. Erica comes in and apologies to Vera and says that is the first she has seen of the paper and says to Vera that she has to know what the press are like and that they are only looking for an angle to the story. Vera then says if she had anything to do with the story and Erica obviously pretending to be offended says 'what', Vera then says to her it was the last thing she needed and Erica attempts to apologise again. Derek comes in and asks Vera why he only just heard of the ramp that happened during the night, Vera says that new evidence from Will came to light and she was given no choice. Derek says this isn't going to look good for her budget and she knows it Derek leaves and so does Erica who follows while saying sorry to Vera again, Vera when they both leave rolls her eyes, knowing that she has just been stabbed in the back.

Vera and Derek talk Vera says that she wasn't good enough and Channing says that it was a difficult decision and that she will be reinstated as the deputy governor. During a press conference Channing thanks Vera for her contribution as acting governor.

Season 2

VeraAsGovernor

Vera as the governor

After Erica's shock resignation from Wentworth Correctional Centre Vera serves as Acting Governor until Joan Ferguson is made governor of Wentworth.

Vera is also dealing with her ailing mother and the stresses of looking after her and being demoted back to deputy governor, Vera goes under the wing of Ferguson who teaches Vera all that she knows.

Vera earns the nickname 'Vinegar Tits' after a cruel prank meant for Matthew Fletcher backfired. Vera was sent home to 'take care of her mother', which she does by overdosing her on pain medication. Vera returns to work after her mothers funeral with an entirely new personality.

Season 3

Season 3 Vera gets infected with Hep C during a riot set up by Bea Smith, Vera keen to find out who does it, learns from Linda that Ferguson never opened the doors and it was Channing who did so. Vera later helped bring down Ferguson taking her complaints to the board.

Season 4

Season 4 Vera becomes Governor of Wentworth after Joan is arrested and sent to Wentworth Correctional Centre as an inmate.. Vera struggles in the governorship due to several incidents and a board after blood. Vera is forced to promote Jake to deputy after Will tests positive to drugs.

Season 5

In Season 5 Vera deals with a prison in mourning and staff on edge after the death of Bea Smith and a board wanting answers, Vera sets up Brenda Murphy for allowing Bea into no-mans land, and it sacked on the spot, Vera is put on notice by Derek Channing who takes over as acting Governor after Vera fails to realise Jake is the officer who is bringing drugs into the prison and the deaths of several inmates. Vera saves Joan from being lynched by the other prisoners.

Season 6

In Season 6 Vera is Pregnant to Jake and threatens to expose him after that murder of Nils Jesper and the escape of both Joan and Franky. But realises this would implicate her to, so she keeps quiet..

Season 7

Vera is 6 months pregnant and in the premiere is still governing the prison, she gets taken hostage by a junkie inmate and decides after that to step back from the governors duties, asking Will to take over as acting governor.

Vera in episode two announces she is handing over the governorship to Will as she is going on reduced duties and is clearly amused when Linda asks who will be acting deputy, Vera is also asked by Greg Miller before she goes on her leave to help him get better binding because of her good relationship to the prisoners and has good knowledge of them and what makes them tick, telling Greg to appeal to Boomer's better nature and for Liz's ongoing struggles with dementia.

WWGuardsLindaJakeWillVera

Linda, Will, Vera and Jake

Vera in episode 4 speaks with Greg and reveals that she is scared that she could turn into her mother as she is raising a daughter and that she probably won't feel anything until it actually happens. Vera then has a argument with Jake after he finds out from Miller that she is having a girl, she tells Jake he can't play the victim card and Jake storms out, as Vera later has words with Miller, she later gives Jake an ultrasound pic and receives apology flowers from Miller, and allows Kaz to stay with Liz in medical after she has an episode.

Vera is seen in episode 5 walking around the prison, until she spots the security cameras have been moved, Vera goes to check it out and she finds Kaz's body, Vera then turns detective and calls the memorial for Kaz a bad idea, while Vera is helping the detectives she finds that Marie had a jumper on at one stage and took it off and is shut down by Will, is seen with Greg when he says that Liz may have done it, later Vera speaks with Greg again and says that Liz should've stayed in medical. Vera later watches the rise of a new top dog.

Vera in episode 7, informs Rita that the doctors need to operate immediately and Rita asks if she can go and see her, but Vera says she'll speak to Will about it, Vera then grills Will about why he released Marie from the slot so early and says that just because Marie is grieving her son its not a good look for drugs to be seen. Vera informs Rita that she cannot see Ruby as Will has denied the request, and when Rita goes to jump the fence, she gets caught in it and Vera radios for help telling Rita not to move. Vera talks with Rita in the slot and during the night decides that what Will has done isn't fair and that she takes Rita out of the slot and drives her to the hospital. Vera and Rita wait for news as the two talk, Rita informs Vera that the injury was her fault, as the night goes on, Rita and Vera get to know each other better and Rita tells Vera that she'll make a great mum, Vera holds Rita's hand and puts it to her belly to feel the baby kick. Vera and Rita go back to Wentworth and Rita tells her to get some sleep, Will is standing in the entrance to the slot furious.

V

Vera as Deputy Governor

In episode 8 Will is still angry at Vera, but he understands in the end why she did what she had to. and she says that the only people who know are Will, Rita and herself. Vera later bumps into Rita and tells her something about Ruby, and seen with her again telling Vera that he is seeing Marie go with him all the time, Vera fluffs it off as it happens because she's top dog, but Rita says "during the night though?", this prompts Vera to investigate the security footage.

In episode 9 Vera listens to Marie and Will have sex in her office during the night, and in the morning confronts him about it, Will tries to justify his actions but Vera tells him "At least I didn't bury a prisoner alive." she later tells him that he is compromised and that Marie manipulated him. Vera later tells Marie that she will not let her destroy Will. Vera later is seen taking Liz to strip search when she asks Sean and the other officers for their IDs, when Vera goes into the room, she is taken hostage and an officer is knocked out, during the struggle to keep Liz quiet, Vera manages to press the panic button and all hell breaks loose. Vera is threatened by Sean, and is taken into the laundry where other hostages are. Vera reveals to the women that Marie is working with Sean and its an escape. Sean points a gun to everyone, and threatens to shoot Vera.

VeraGrace

Vera holding Grace after the siege

In episode 10, Vera goes into labour while being taken hostage in the laundry along with the others, is taken hostage by Sean to get pain relief when one of his cronies is shot in the arm. She gives birth to her daughter and she names her Grace, with the help of Liz and Boomer after the gunmen leave her in the boiler room, Vera is taken to hospital but before she is placed into the ambulance she has a talk with Will in which he says sorry to her.

Season 8

In episode one Vera is enjoying maternity leave, when she meets up with old colleague Ann Reynolds for coffee, Ann wants her to come back to work, which at first declines, but decides to take the role of Industries Manager on the condition that Will remains governor.

In episode two, Vera returns to work as Industries Manager and tells them about the decision to let the women work in the call centre. Vera then later escorts the police to Will's office and learns of the police wanting to talk to Ruby. Vera talks with Marie and says that no one in the prison is the same since the siege. Vera later goes on a night out with Ann and leaves Grace with Jake. Vera leaves the bar and sees Ann having sex in the alley. When Vera returns home she vomits in the garden and breaks a pot plant, she has a go at Jake for leaving the window open. Vera later talks with Will about Ruby and Marie, and says that she did it for Rita and what Rita did was for Ruby, Vera learns that Danny's death was an accident, and makes sure she takes the paperwork when Ann asks where it is. Vera later goes to get petrol with Ferguson lurking at the bus stop behind, Ferguson runs and Vera leaves.

In episode three seen in the prisons call centre, helping prisoners make calls about internet providers, when Boomer falls ill Vera escorts her to medical.

In episode four Vera is present when Ann announces the Protection Unit is to be shut down, and after the meeting she argues the point to Ann saying it not only puts those prisoners at risk but the staff as well. Vera is later asked by Linda to go to the governors office as the police wish to speak with her. Vera and co finally learn that Joan Ferguson is alive and learn the story of how she escaped the box. Vera is asked to ID Ferguson as she had no family left Vera confirms her identity. Vera and Will watch the Protection prisoners go into general and Vera asks Will if he's okay, Will is thankful he is no longer a murderer. Vera later lets Judy phone her dad. Vera and trio later go to the hospital to find Joan awake when asked if she knows any of them, Joan says no.

In episode Five Vera stands with Will and Jake and hears him read the medical report on Ferguson. Vera is present during Ann's presentation to the ministers of corrections, when it goes wrong she says she'll get on top of the problem. Vera in her office watches Linda spray Judy on Ann's orders and reports her for it. Vera learns from Ann that her daughter died in a blast caused by terrorists and Judy reminds her of everything she lost.

In episode six Vera is present when Cynthia is taken to medical and tells Linda that she will deal with Marie instead of Will. Vera confronts Marie about the assault on Rattray and gets radioed as Ferguson has returned to the prison. Vera asks Reb if he knows about what happened with Rattray, Reb denies knowledge and walks away, Vera tells Marie that she will be charged with assault on Rattray, which forces Reb to tell Vera the truth. Vera watches with Jake, Joan's treatment in the psych unit.

In episode seven Vera sits in on a meeting where Ann says Ferguson is able to be released into general, when the argument goes on outside Will quits, and Vera tells Ann that if Will leaves so will half the staff. Vera later tells Judy she can't let her call her dad. Vera later rushes to guards after they find Ann bashed in the kitchen.

Vera8x8

Vera tells Miller she is worried about Linda

In episode eight Vera is present when she learns off of Will that Ann is recovering in hospital and is stable, Vera and Will try to get Allie to cooperate in giving them a name. Later Vera learns from Jake that Greg was in the creche with Joan, and Vera threatens Joan and tells her that "she'll kill her herself" and then tells Reb that he has to see Miller because his TOP surgery has been approved. Vera tells Joan later she has no choice but to see Miller. Later when the riot takes hold Vera runs to the creche where a traumatised Linda is and takes her baton to end the creche side of the riot. Vera later talks with Greg and says she is worried for Linda and it might be related to the siege.

In episode nine Vera talks with Greg about him going to Joan's committal hearing and she connects the dots between the guy who bashed her and the money he took, Vera and Joan then have words in the kitchen storeroom. Vera then makes a plan with Allie to get Joan to tell the truth, which results in Joan's LSD trip. Vera watches on as Joan freaks out and reveals she killed her, but when Linda knocks her out cold Joan is taken to medical where Greg tells Vera that whatever she said under LSD is meaningless.

In episode ten Vera struggles to settle Grace as she deals with Ferguson's upcoming committal hearing and the stress of the prison. Vera talks with Allie and tells her that what Ferguson said under the LSD is meaningless. Vera learns off Linda that Ferguson got taken to the psych unit for another 'breakdown' but finds out she is remembering again. Vera later tells Will that she is so worried about Ferguson she tells him to ring the courthouse, where they learn Ferguson has been committed to stand trial and that she is coming back in the prison in the brawler. Vera watches on as Ferguson is in the psych unit. Vera makes Linda spitbag Ferguson in a last minute attempt to make Ferguson remember who she is. Vera watches Ferguson and when she hears the code black, she turns off the light and walks away.

Season 8 Part 2

In episode one, Vera is first seen in the security room watching Ferguson in the kitchen, Jake says that she needs to stop because its interfering with her life. Vera says to Jake that Grace slept through the night at the sleep clinic but she needs routine. Vera runs off for a meeting with Will. Vera tells Allie that the prison will keep up with her physio and health team. Vera later makes Ferguson clean up vomit on the prison floor.

In episode two, Vera is first seen talking to Will about Reb's murder and Vera thinks that Joan could've done it because "Lou Kelly killed her goldfish." Will disagrees and says later that Sheila Bausch was near the unit when the camera was moved, Vera had ignored the clue from Joan to bring Sheila down.

In episode three, Vera is standing during the meeting Ann has with the guards. Vera tells Ann they don't have enough cells to put drug users in, Ann says she doesn't want them in isolation, she wants them visible. Vera later speaks with Rita to tell her she's sorry about her dads death. Vera learns from Will that Ann has found out about Marie and Will's affair, she says to deny everything between the two of the them. Vera also partly defends the use of Restraint Station's. Vera later argues with Jake about Grace and says that he will never take her away from her.

In episode four, Vera is seen in the staffroom when Jake tells her about Eve Wilder, when Linda comes in and tells them about the new inmates who are ready of the Restraint Station, Linda says that she was surprised that Ferguson's name wasn't on the list. Vera sleuths on the prison computer the results of her drug test. Vera uses Liz's test results and goes and confronts Greg Miller, whom he says he is trying to get Ferguson to remember who she is. Vera when driving to work the next day falls asleep at the wheel and she realises she needs help. Vera comes in and asks Jake to take her for the night.

In episode five, Vera is in the staffroom when Ann flies off the handle about the camera in the prison. Vera talks with Ann and says that Ann needs to realise that she cannot bare an entire burden on herself. Vera later hears Ferguson in the yard laughing and goes to talk with Miller about it and she says that they must know each other. Vera later finds out that Eve spent time at Blackmoore and tells Miller to ask. Vera later tells Miller before he is about to leave that Boomer is in the slot after bashing Judy. Vera takes photos of Miller's notes on Joan and later reads them and finds out that Joan indeed has her memory back.

In episode six, Vera is present in the officer meeting when Ann says that she wants to find the camera at any cost. Vera talks with Will about Miller and how she knows everything. Vera tells him they will have to find dirt on him in order to sack him. Later when Eve is taken to medical Vera rushes to see what happened. When Linda says that Jake hasn't been seen since. Vera and the officers go on the hunt and Vera finds him out the back and releases Jake from the cuffs and says that he was hit in the head with something. Vera asks if Jake was assaulted, and he says no. Vera runs into Miller and tells him to read several other inmates files on what Ferguson was involved in and Will later stand in the security room and threaten to bring down both Ferguson and Miller.

In episode seven, Vera is present when Will tells everyone about the threat that Lou has made to them. Vera and Will later talk with Allie and make up a plan to get rid of him. Vera and officers later watch Allie attack her legs and when Allie is in medical Miller says it may be because of PTSD. Will and Vera talk where Vera says she is calling it off as she doesn't want to put anyone else at risk. But in the end manage to suspend Miller after setting him up.

In episode eight, Vera and Will talk about how the photo was sent to her printer. Vera talks with Linda when Joan is with the police, Vera rushes in when a passport with Grace was seized. Vera asks where the police found it and they confirm it was in Ferguson's hovel. Vera tells Joan later that she failed in whatever she wanted to do. Vera tries to poison Ferguson but Jake talks the milk she tainted and almost makes a coffee with it. Vera finally tells Jake that Ferguson had a passport with Grace in it. Vera gets a call from Ann who is crying in the car. The next day Vera is in the education unit and Joan is there when she is about to garrotte her she is stopped by an angry Ann.

In episode nine, Vera is first seen in court watching Joan's trial continue, she watches on as Greg Miller lies through his teeth. When Vera returns to the prison she is stopped by Jake in the elevator and he says to her that she's just spinning it to look good in the media. Later on Vera spots a disjointed Linda Miles who tells her what is going on. Vera stops Ann from hitting Judy anymore and orders Linda to take Judy to medical as a result. Vera tells Ann that she needs help and Ann just brushes her off and blames Vera for not being there when her daughter died. Vera later tells Will about what happened and she says she needs to report her once and for all. Later Vera returns to court with a folder full of notes she would be ready to show the court until Ferguson reveals she has had her memory back for a while. Later Vera taunts Joan and says that she could've walked free and what her "end game was.". Much later Vera and several guards learn of the death of Marie Winter.

In episode ten, Vera is first seen during the staff meeting after Marie Winter's death guards will be stationed outside of the unit, Linda says that they don't have the staff and Vera doesn't think its fair. Vera later chases after Ann and says that she will be following her report on Ann and says she will back Will, Ann leaves and Jake rushes out and says that Joan is being transferred to Sinclair and that the two should make a run for it to Alice Springs. Vera refuses Jake's idea and says that she needs to stop running from her past. Later when Jake is in the admin bay he asks Vera if she knows why a brawler is just sitting in the sallyport, she doesn't know why. Vera later goes to check the brawler but doesn't see anything wrong with it. Later after the prison explodes, Vera finds Judy, but she is dead. Vera finds Ann going through the paperwork in the admin area, Vera asks Ann why she hasn't made it out of the prison yet, Ann says that they had to let the bomb in to tie it too Judy. Vera tells Ann that Judy is dead and so are many people, "innocent people" are dead and several injured. Ann attacks Vera to the point Vera losses consciousness, Vera sees Joan but she passes out before she could see what Joan does. Joan carries Vera out of the prison and Vera asks why Joan saved her Joan reveals that she saved Vera because Grace needs her mother. When Joan walks off Vera passes out. Vera makes her way to safety and is hugged by Jake. Vera is told by Will that Ann Reynolds was one of the casualties and that Allie is still missing. Vera learns off of Linda Miles for the count that 5 officers and 28 prisoners are unaccounted for. Vera doesn't say anything. Vera and the team are happy when Allie is brought out of the prison alive.

Vera's last lines are "Yep.."

Trivia

  • This version of Vera is nothing like the Vera of the original to begin with.  During Episode 1, many fans tweeted that Vera and Meg seemed to have switched roles/names.
  • Vera's nice attitude won't last.  Kate Atkinson has stated in interviews that Vera will get nasty over time, and this has been correctly proven in Episode's 8, 9 and 10. Although she does become stricter she still a bit lenient as governor.
  • Boomer, Liz, Vera and Will are the only characters to appear in every episode with Linda following close behind only missing one episode the pilot. Starting in Season 8, Liz loses this distinction, as she no longer appears due to her death.

Appearances

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

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"Boys In The Yard"


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"The Danger Within"

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"Twist The Knife"
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"The Pink Dragon"

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"Metamorphosis"


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"Sins of the Mother"

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"The Fixer"
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"Jail Birds"


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"Into The Night"
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"Fear Her"

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

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

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"Prisoner"


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"Screw Lover"

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"Love and Hate"
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"Divide and Conquer"

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"Panic Button"


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"Plan Bea"

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"After Life"
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"Smitten"


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"The Eleventh Hour"
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"Seeing Red"

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Wentworth: Season 5
"Scars"
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"The Bitch is Back"

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"Nothing but the Truth"


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"Loose Ends"

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"Belly of the Beast"
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"Happy Birthday, Vera"

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"The Pact"


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"Think Inside the Box"

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"Snake Head"
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"Mere Anarchy"


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"Coup de Grace"
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"Hell Bent"

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Wentworth: Season 6
Clean Slate
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The Boxer

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Bleed Out


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Winter Is Here

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Bitter Pill
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The Angel of Wentworth

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The Edge


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Lovers and Fighters

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Shallow Grave
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Fractured


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Indelible Ink
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Showdown

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Wentworth: Season 7
Blood Wedding
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Payback

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Atonement


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Karen

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Ascension
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Mother

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Bad Blood


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Protection

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Under Siege Part One
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Under Siege Part Two


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Wentworth: Season 8
Resurrection
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Ends And Means

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Enemy of the State


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Revenant

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Fallout
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Fugitive

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Battle Lines


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Goldfish Part 2

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Monster
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The Enemy Within


Appears


Wentworth: Season 8pt2
Rogue
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Requiem

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The Ties That Bind


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Judas Kiss

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The Unknown Terrorist
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One Eye Open

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Collateral


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The Abyss

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The Reckoning
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Legacy


Appears
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