Wentworth Prison

The women of H Block return to a rebuilt Wentworth to find a new dynamic in play. Vera is Governor, Will is her deputy, Kaz Proctor has established a power base, and the return of Ferguson as a prisoner stirs up the inmates. Bea, meanwhile, questions whether she has the stamina or desire to be Top Dog for the next forty years of her sentence.

Feeling betrayed, Vera tries to have Bridget dismissed and expose her relationship with Franky, but is instead forced to enlist Bridget's help when Ferguson makes a bid to be released from isolation; the three unlikely allies devise a plan to expose Ferguson's psychopathy. Kaz organises a naked protest to demand conjugal visits.

Against Vera's wishes, Ferguson is released into general. With the women out for blood, Vera confines her to her cell for safety reasons, but is shocked when Ferguson challenges the decision. As always, Ferguson has a plan. But will she live to accomplish it?

Having found protection in Kaz's crew, Ferguson cunningly blames Will for her brutal ganging, garnering further support from Kaz; Bea's defence of Will loses her the inmates' support. The first ever conjugal visit takes place, and Maxine receives a devastating diagnosis.

With Bea in the slot, Ferguson intensifies her manipulation of Kaz, exploiting shared experience of childhood trauma. When new inmate Tasha arrives, Ferguson sees an opportunity to force Kaz into action against Bea, involving acting Top Dog Maxine. Meanwhile Bea and Allie, slotted in adjoining cells, find their bond growing.

Bea is released from the slot and immediately confronted by Lucy; if she doesn't punish Tasha for her break in prison rules, Lucy and her crew will be forced to. Knowing that Lucy's punishment will be far more severe, Bea decides to shave the girl's head, a sight that upsets Doreen in particular.

Ferguson is rattled to learn that Bea will be supporting Jesper's evidence in court. While Bea seems to be losing control of the women, Vera is privately determined to see her maintain control and takes steps to cement Bea's power. When Kaz is sentenced for 12 years, Ferguson unveils her plan and urges Kaz to help her. In return, she'll take out Bea Smith.

As Bea and Allie take their illicit affair further, Bea finds herself uncharacteristically tentative and vulnerable. Neither is aware that Ferguson is closely tracking them, plotting to drug then murder Bea. Meanwhile, Maxine leaves the prison to undergo a double mastectomy, and Boomer faces a disappointing decision.

Recovering from Ferguson's attack, Bea believes that Allie was complicit. Learning of this, Allie pleads with Kaz to put the record straight; instead, Kaz cunningly confirms Bea's worst fears, persuading her that Allie was sent in to deceive her. Ferguson arrives back from the burns unit while Maxine, returning after surgery, finds herself caught in the crossfire between Boomer, Liz and Sonia.

When Bea discovers Allie has fallen back into drug addiction, she decides to remove her from Kaz's control once and for all, undermining her own authority in the process. Kaz, hoping to reassert her own standing, tries to resolve Doreen's custody issue, while Jake ingratiates himself with Vera and Will.

With Bea and Allie finally out as a couple, Kaz forms an alliance with Tina's Asian crew to help take Bea down. But when Jake smuggles a new batch of drugs into the prison for Tina, Bea gets wind of the stash and orders Tina to flush the gear. Tina refuses. Realising her support is weakening, Bea has no choice but to commit the ultimate sin and lag to Vera about the drugs.

Bea is devastated when she finds Allie unconscious, and is convinced that Kaz is responsible. But once she learns who really tried to kill her, Bea's attentions turn back to Ferguson's trial. Convinced that Ferguson is planning something, she enlists Franky to put a stop to it.