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Ric is being arrested as we cut between his mug shots at the station and the
slow,
rhythmic thumping of a tennis ball been thrown against a wall of a prison cell.
It’s
Johnny Cooper throwing the ball against a newspaper article about Rocco’s coma –
with a photo of Sally, Rocco and the Summer Bay House clan. A dark smile spreads
across his face. At the Station, Mattie is panicked as Ric is taken into the
holding cells –
Alf is fuming as Peter calls the magistrate and Sally feels completely
responsible – if only
she hadn’t taken Rocco in to begin with… Alf gets a hold of Morag – she’s
organising
leave to take Ric’s case as Peter emerges to let them know bail has been set.
Ric can
go home after the paper work’s finished. They need a miracle to occur – Alf just
hopes
that Rocco wakes up so he can reveal the truth. Back at the house, all try to
keep the
mood as light as possible – Sal’s going to cook a roast, but Ric heads to his
room.
Matilda follows and knowing there’s nothing she can say to cheer him, simply
lies
beside him and holds him close. Brad, Alf and Sal discuss the fact that no DNA
was
found other than Ric’s, something doesn’t add up. Brad decides to go to the gaol
to
speak to Johnny – he might get him to slip up. The others are wary, but Brad
promises
to be careful. In the city, Cassie tells Macca she wants to visit Sally. Macca
wants her to
stay home, he’s arranged a TV to be delivered for her. She hesitates – okay,
she’ll stay.
He heads to work, leaving her alone once more in the lonely house… That
afternoon,
Sal calls and tells her what’s happened with Ric – Cassie leaps up, she’ll be on
the next
bus.
Johnny isn’t keen to talk to Brad – he tries to plead with him, explaining
that the
damage is done, he’s made his point – but he could clear his conscience by
saving an
innocent man from going to gaol. Johnny doesn’t have a problem with his
conscience.
He didn’t stick his nose into someone else’s business. Brad explains that Sal is
still
trying to help Rocco. Johnny doesn’t care – no one asked her to. When is Johnny
going to see that he was the one who drove Rocco away? Johnny tells Brad to not
worry about him, worry about his girlfriend – to which Brad flares and jumps at
Johnny
– if he or his gang go anywhere near Sally… Johnny calls for the guard – he’s
trying to
assault me officer! The guard tells Brad to go… Back at the house, Alf leaves
Ric some
food on a tray in his room. He quietly lets Ric know that whatever he’s feeling,
he can
open up to them, failing that, promise me you won’t give up – cause we’re not
going to
give up on you – we’re going to beat this thing. You’ll see. Cassie arrives as
Alf tells her
the fight seems to have just gone out of Ric. Jack arrives – is there anything I
can do?
Alf asks if he can help push the investigations along at the Station? He’ll try
his best. As
he’s leaving, he passes Martha and comments that it’s good Ash finally broke it
off with
Rianna. She thanks him for not judging her as he heads to work.
Jack arrives at the Station and offers to help – he’s still on payroll. Peter
agrees he can
look into Ric’s case, but doubts he’ll find anything. Ash grabs the files for
him as Jack
comments that he did the right thing ending it with Rianna. Ash simply says it’s
been
pretty tough. He moves off as Jack answers Ash’s desk phone and takes a message.
He’s shocked at what he hears as Rianna leaves a message…
At the hospital, Rachel checks Rocco’s obs once again. There’s no sign of
improvement – but then just as she’s leaving his room, a small movement catches
her
eye – Rocco’s hand begins to move – she asks him to squeeze her hand, and slowly
but surely he does! Peter and Ash arrive as soon as they get the call – Rachel
tells them
to be patient – he’s only just woken and is very weak. Meanwhile, Brad returns
to the
house to report that Johnny was anything but helpful. Their sombre mood is
broken
with a phone call from Peter letting them know Rocco’s woken up. Alf’s thrilled
as
Mattie runs upstairs to tell Ric. He’s visibly relieved to hear this – finally
his name can be
cleared! Back at the Hospital, Peter is taken in to see Rocco. He asks him if he
recalls
who attacked him and Rocco, finding it difficult to speak, says that he can
remember.
He fights for air to get the words out, then Nurse Gloria calls that his blood
pressure is
dropping – they’re losing him again – Rocco tries to tell them who attacked him,
but
he’s hit with a bolt of pain and his eyes roll back. Rachel hits the arrest
button, he’s
gone into cardiac arrest. She grabs the defib paddles – its panic stations.
Peter heads to Summer Bay House – all are excited and wanting to know what
Rocco’s
told them – Ric’s smiling for the first time in days. Peter looks grim – hating
to shatter
their relief, but Rocco passed away. He’s sorry, but the charge against Ric is
now
murder!
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