Episode 7202

Extended Summary

Colby is pacing outside the court house. Bella emerges and asks if he’s all right, followed by Irene, Leah and Collins. They explain the court’s in recess; the judge adjourned until the next day so everyone could cool down. Colby apologises for his outburst and Bella is upset that she has to go through it all again. Colby leads her away as Irene and Leah ask if Tommy has to be in court tomorrow since he’s given his evidence. Collins say it’s out of his hands: The prosecution want Bella’s testimony to fall apart since then the defence’s case falls apart. Meanwhile, at Salt, Willow joins Alex, who has ordered a drink and takes Willow’s phone to stop her fretting. Mason also joins them and asks Alex to put him out of his misery about the internship.

Colby and Bella arrive back at the flat. Colby is insisting that it’s not going to happen again, saying that if Tommy’s in court he’s going to get her out of there. Bella snaps that he’s not helping and can’t fix it. Despite Colby trying to talk to her, she goes into her room, wanting to be alone. Downstairs in the Diner, Leah has filled in Alf and Justin. She notes it wasn’t Colby’s finest hour although Justin can understand him wanting to protect his sister. Leah wishes there was something more she could do.

Alex asks Mason why he ended up with the Pilbara. Mason says it was just one place he applied to and admits he assumed he would get into Northern Districts. Willow teasingly points out he had another chance there and Mason admits he was arrested over the CBD oil. Willow gets a call from Colby and says she has to go; Alex says to come back if there’s time, then asks Mason more about his arrest. At the Diner flat, Willow confirms to Colby that she knows Tommy was at the court. Colby says that Bella started falling apart and he lost it. He says Bella doesn’t want him there and doesn’t trust him. Willow pours away his drink, despite him saying it’s Robbo’s. She says she’ll go with Bella if necessary but wants to talk to her first. Bella lets her into her room and says she couldn’t think about anything else with Tommy staring at her. Willow says don’t look at him but at someone she trusts. Bella suggests Irene and Willow suggests Colby, before insisting that Bella’s tough.

Mason and Alex have moved to the balcony at Salt and have both been drinking, especially him. He notes he doesn’t want to leave Raffy and would like to be there when Tori’s baby is born. Alex says they’ll have to try and keep him there and Mason notes he’s glad to have someone in his corner. He starts to say that she’s probably not after anything serious but Alex cuts him off, saying that’s not what this is about and explaining carefully that she’s gay. Mason is surprised but still agrees to get another round in. Down on the wharf, Alf is heading out to fish and finds Ben sitting there. He notices Ben has a takeaway dinner lying untouched. Ben says there’s been nothing from the investigation and he has no idea what he can do.

Next morning, Colby joins Bella on the flat balcony and both note they couldn’t sleep. Colby suggests Willow take Bella to the court but Bella wants him to come, saying he’s been beside her until now. In the Diner, Leah laments to Justin that she hasn’t had any response from the support group. Marilyn offers to get Irene something but Irene declines and, when Marilyn suggests it will all be over soon, notes that might not be a good thing. Marilyn tries to be optimistic.

Justin runs into Mason on the beach and notes he was in late last night. Mason tells him about Alex helping him get an internship locally. Justin comments on her helping both him and Raffy, while Mason says she’s not his type. Alf comes over and wonders if they’ve seen Ben. Outside the court, Irene, Leah, Colby, Bella and Collins are preparing to go in. Suddenly, Teresa approaches with a group of women from the support group, waving banners and chanting about “Shame the victim blame.” Irene and Leah are grateful and Colby tells Bella they’re here for her as well.

Teresa and the others are among those in the gallery as Collins leads Bella through a detailed account of what happened. Bella relates how she talked to Tommy online and liked him, but in person he was angry and scary and said he was fed up of girls breaking promises, refusing to leave. She relates how she locked herself in the bathroom, then when she came out he grabbed her and cornered her in the bedroom; when Irene came home, he was on top of her, kissing her and ignoring her telling him to stop. When Collins notes Tommy said she initiated it, she says that’s a lie. Collins asks what she thinks Tommy would have done. Wegenar objects, calling it speculation and saying she had the chance to answer before the fiasco yesterday, but the judge allows it. Bella says he would have raped her. Tommy looks considerably less smug and some of the women cheer.

Alex joins Willow in the gym, noting she and Mason were at Salt until closing time and Willow didn’t come back. Willow gets a call from Colby; Alex offers to give them some space but Willow asks her to stay. The news delights her. Soon after, Willow is hugging Bella on the wharf while Colby congratulates her on nailing Tommy. Bella notes she’ll have to go through it again at Tommy’s trial but Willow and Colby both think she’ll have no trouble.

In the Diner, Irene and Leah fill in Alf, Justin and Marilyn with Irene noting she’s proud of Bella. Ben wonders how long she’ll be waiting for the verdict and Irene thinks it won’t be long. Ben says that’s how it should be, not waiting in limbo. Alf and Justin follow him out to the beach and hear him making a heated phone call to his lawyer, saying to get answers from the AFP or he’ll talk to them himself. Alf and Justin are impressed.

Back inside, Irene and Marilyn are serving while Leah checks the comments on her vlog, saying they’re all supportive of Irene. However, her face falls and she admits some of them are full-on and it sounds like a call to arms. Irene looks at the comments, which advocate an eye for an eye and even threaten the judge. She says they’re not about justice but vigilantism.