The Governor

- Season 1

(1995)

Helen Hewitt, prison board member and criminology researcher, joins a team tasked with investigating a suspicious death that occurred during a recent riot at the all-male Barfield Prison. When the governor of Barfield is sacked, Helen takes the job on a transitional basis, an appointment that bypasses the obvious successor and ignites resentment among both inmates and guards.

Governor Helen Hewitt is eager to discuss her prison renovation plans in a television interview, but due to an internal leak to the tabloids, she never gets a chance to explain. Instead, she's blindsided on-camera with the morning headlines decrying the excessive cost of Barfield's renovation. Back at the rock pile, tensions are mounting. While one inmate attempts an escape, another's cell is burgled. And a new inmate arrives with too much money and too little sense.

Two new prisoners arrive at Barfield: Norman is a tough, dangerous repeat offender; young Anthony is a first-timer and plenty scared. Because of the earlier escape, Helen is placed under review by the Prison Service, who are also considering shutting Barfield down completely.

Anthony and his cellmates go to trial for their part in the hanging incident. Helen is called as a witness and must lock horns with Anthony's formidable lawyer.

As Barfield Prison begins to take shape again, Helen hires several new officers and two female employees: psychologist Maureen and educator Zania. Having lied about his marital situation, prisoner Alan is granted home leave for the weekend.

Barfield wakes up to a tragedy involving Alan as Helen prepares for an important visit from headquarters. Maureen leads a drama group, but Helen and the officers believe she's getting too close to Norman. Anthony and dealer Snoopy plan a hit on their tormentor, Braithwaite, aka 'Tarzan'.