Episode 7270

The hostages remain seated and Reg brings over a nurse he found hiding. Ari asks Marilyn if she’s thinking about her family and she tells him it feels like someone walked over her grave. Mason leans over and tells Ari they need to do something. In the examination room, Bella is lying down, barely conscious. Mackenzie slips out, seen by the hostages but not the gunmen, then pretends to have just come out of the bathroom and surrenders. Phil places her with the others. At the Fed HQ, Robbo continues to get nothing from Des so replaces him with Victor. As they pass in the doorway, Des and Victor joke to each other about getting a day out. Robbo asks Victor if the plan is to have no witnesses and no trial. Victor says that’s smart but not a confession and that Robbo had the chance to take him out. Scott takes Robbo outside and tells him they’re wasting time but Robbo wants to keep up the pressure. He tells Scott to make sure Jay stays with Jasmine.

Outside the hospital, Colby insists to Willow and Dean that if they go in they risk people being hurt in the crossfire. McCarthy tells him the negotiator will be another twenty minutes. Colby gets a text from Bella from Mackenzie’s phone saying she’s scared. Colby tells her to trust Mackenzie and Bella replies that they’ve got her. Meanwhile, Reg takes Phil aside, worried that it’s taking too long. Mackenzie quietly updates Alex on Bella and she says she needs to get to her. Phil tells them to be quiet and Mason and Ari confront him, allowing Alex to get to the examination room. However, before she can go in, Phil finds her. She claims she panicked. As they are about to go back to the others, Phil hears Bella moaning and finds her.

At the Diner, Irene and Roo ask Justin about Grace’s first night with them. Justin says Tori is handling it. Roo wants to go round and see her; Justin agrees but says he’s trying not to overload her with bad news about Robbo or Leah. After he’s gone, John arrives: Marilyn isn’t at home so he guesses she forgot she was working and went to Yabbie Creek. He asks if they’ve heard about the hospital. Meanwhile, Phil manhandles Bella and Alex over to the others, where Mackenzie holds Bella. The phone rings; Reg guesses it’s the police and rips it out of the wall. Mason convinces the gunmen to let Alex examine Bella. All Bella can say of the pills is they were red and/or pink. Alex wants to get her to a bed to treat her but Phil refuses. Mason offers to get medical supplies so she can be treated there and Jasmine suggests letting Bella go. Phil says they’ll only go home if they do as they’re told. Jasmine tells Jay he needs to do something but Jay says he’s there to protect her, not them.

Roo is visiting Tori and Justin, with Tori handling Grace well. Roo asks where Mason is and looks uncomfortable when they say he’s working. Tori also mentions Marilyn going to get the memory book. After Tori has gone to put Grace down, Roo asks Justin if he knows what’s going on at the hospital. She heads to the Diner and tells Irene and John she thinks Marilyn is among the hostages. John initially says she had no reason to be at the hospital but looks ashen when Roo explains she was getting something for Tori.

Robbo continues to try to get answers from Victor, offering him a lighter sentence if he gives up the mole. Victor laughs and says that he’s innocent. Robbo tells the officers to take him out and Victor says he hopes “wifey” enjoys her day at work. At the Morgan house, Justin watches a TV report which says up to twenty people are being held hostage although there are no reports of casualties. He turns it off when Tori comes in.

Ziggy is sat outside Dean’s caravan and leaves him a phone message. She heads home and complains to Ben and Maggie that she can’t even find Dean to explain. Ben is surprised, since he’s meant to be at the board shop. They also see the news report about the hospital. Ziggy notices Dean standing with Willow among the people outside. Meanwhile, Scott has finally filled Robbo in on what’s happening at the hospital and he yells at Victor and Des as they’re taken away, before phoning Colby, who tells him he’s spoken to Jasmine. Robbo tells him the gunmen are working for Victor and Des. Colby tells him about them making ridiculous demands and then hanging up. Robbo and Scott leave in a car.

Back at the hospital, Ari and Mason note that the gunmen are rattled and they need to do something soon. Ari thinks they can easily surprise and take out the man on the stairwell and offers to start a fight while Mason gets people out. Mason says he’ll do it and starts loudly complaining to the gunmen about them not letting anyone help Bella. Alex and Jasmine soon join him, as does Marilyn. Ari looks uncertain for a moment then gestures for people to start moving towards the exit while their backs are turned. Outside, John joins Colby, Dean and Willow. Colby is trying to reassure them when a gunshot rings out.

Grace is suddenly crying hysterically and Tori can’t settle her. Justin starts singing and playing the guitar. The police are covering the hospital and a group of hostages including Ari come hurrying out. McCarthy tells the police to hold position. Colby questions Ari but he doesn’t know who was hurt, just that he heard shouting, a gunshot and a woman screaming. Noticing the camera crew, he hides his face. Inside, Marilyn comforts Jasmine, Mackenzie continues to cradle Bella…and Alex sits by Mason’s body. Even the gunmen look shocked. Irene and Roo at the Diner and Ben and Maggie at the farm house watch as the reporter states that five hostages have been freed but shots have been fired and several more hostages remain.

Colby notices Dean is missing, as Ziggy arrives and asks Willow where he is. Dean is checking exits down the side and gets one open, dashing in. Colby goes after him. Dean says Bella and Mackenzie are in there. Colby says Dean doesn’t know what to expect and could get someone killed but Dean says it’s their family. Colby draws his gun and goes with him. Upstairs, Alex drapes a sheet over Mason’s body then goes to help Mackenzie with Bella. Jasmine tries to talk to Phil but he pushes her back down: In the process, she sees he has an ouroboros tattoo. She tells Jay they’re Victor and Des’ men. Jay calmly says he knows.

Robbo and Scott are driving and Scott tells Robbo to go in a direction that Robbo knows doesn’t lead to the hospital. Robbo has flashbacks to Scott telling him he handpicked the bodyguards, trying to stop him talking to Des and Victor, taking Colby’s call, reacting to him asking Des about the mole and telling him to drive. He realises they got to him. Scott tells him to just drive.