Life moves by at HM Slade Prison on a day-to-day basis, with the usual antics of the various inmates becoming usual form. The newly-arrived and violent armed robbery, Oakes (Barrie Rutter) approaches the Slade Prison's Mr. Big, Harry Grout (Peter Vaughan), and using a cut from his last job before being caught, asks for his escape to be arranged. Grouty sets the price, then begins making arrangements.