Hello, and welcome to "The Foot Of Our Stairs" The Big J - Joan The Freak Ferguson Part 2
Here’s part 2 of The Big J – if you’ve never seen these episodes of the show then this video does contains spoilers.
Having found Doreen’s bookie money – Ferguson trots her off to the Governor to report the incident. However, Ferguson pockets some of the proceeds herself. You can see displayed in this scene two of the things often quoted by actor Maggie Kirkpatrick. The first being the “menacing stillness” of Ferguson, which Maggie puts down to stage fright in the early days, and the way Ferguson appears to sort of sail through the corridors which is apparently influenced by a description given to the matron in the movie Caged in which she was said to “sail through the corridors like a great grey battleship”
Moments later in Erica’s office, Doreen is being reprimanded for her involvement in gambling – but Ferguson has only reported a fraction of the figure found on her, which takes Doreen by surprise
A new inmate arrives – Hannah Simpson played by Julianne Newbold – she doesn’t make the best first impression on the inmates but Ferguson however, takes a fancy to her.
06 – After escorting the women back to their cells, Ferguson decides to pay a visit to old lag Lizzie and have a discussion about the gambling in the prison. Having disarmed Lizzie with some general chit chat and asking who the guy in the photo is. Its Sid, Lizzie would have married him – had he not died that is. Lizzie confirms the gambling is taking place and basically confirms Joan’s suspicion that its Faye Quinn is running the game. Ferguson leaves Lizzie a little bottle of booze as a parting gift – she’s cultivating an informer.
Ferguson wastes no time in confronting Faye Quinn about the book. Faye is played by Anne Lucas, Wife of Prisoner producer Ian Bradley who is the creator of the Ferguson character. Joan tells Faye she can have her betting money back in exchange for a cut of future takings – a pretty big cut, but in Joan’s own words – she is a big girl.
The women have to explain to Lizzie that Ferguson is a lesbian, something which has eluded Lizzie’s attention so far, and Chrissie Lathan, played by Amanda Muggleton, thinks that she can use this to her advantage.
Its around this time that Joan pays a visit to new inmate Hannah in her cell, the meeting is interrupted by Colleen Powell – played by the late Judith McGrath. Hannah makes a comment about Ferguson trying her luck with the receptionist. Colleen demands an explanation but Hannah drops the matter
Chrissie tries her hand at manipulating Joan using her womanly wiles to try and get sister in law Brenda to bring in Elizabeth – chrissie’s kid. Ferguson soon puts her in her place though.
A little later Ferguson pays a visit to Faye who mentions that there’s a thief operating in the jail stealing their well hidden money. Ferguson quickly formulates a plan in her head, and suggests it might be Hannah Simpson. Faye jumps on this, with Ferguson warning her off any reprisals – but its obviously a plan to make Hannah vulnerable and then offer protection – for a price no doubt.
Sure enough – some of the women attack Hannah and Joan comes to her rescue, trying it on in the process – but Hannah’s not swayed and tells Ferguson loud and clear that its not on. Joan has other plans however. Its something of a relief to a Ferguson fan such as myself that this predatory side of Joan is not a trait that is carried forward through the rest of the series. I began watching this show from episode 333 and had never seen these earlier episodes. so by the time I was invested in Joan, and then saw these older episodes, I was pretty put out to see Joan behaving this way. Its obviously very early in the character’s development however and despite Ferguson being a complete bad guy – she did maintain standards of integrity, on her own terms, later in her development.
Just before her split shift break, Ferguson is passed a letter for Chrissie, its one that’s been missed during mail call. Ferguson offers to give Chrissie the letter but as we know by now, everything with Joan is a step in some plan or other. Joan’s last words in this episode are in the form of advice to Steve Faulkner.
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