Episode SPECIAL: All Or Nothing

Australian Air Date: 26th January 2017
UK Air Date: 14th March 2017
Writer: Louise Bowes
Director: Arnie Custo

It’s the final chapter of Gunno v the Braxtons. A catastrophic chain of events sees Heath, Bianca and Kyle caught in a prison riot. Will Ash be able to pull off the ultimate prison break-out and save them?

Extended Summary

Part 1

Kyle Braxton attempts to do his time and keep out of trouble, but the monotony of prison  life is suddenly broken when he is moved to the prisons’ ‘Protection Unit,’ known among inmates as ‘The Boneyard.’ Unhappy to be among informers, and the lowest of the low, Kyle keeps to himself, quickly making enemies with seedy characters like, prisoner Frank. The reason for Kyle’s relocation becomes apparent when he briefly glimpses the smiling face of Gunno – he’s back and doing time in general population.

Life for Heath and Bianca, on the other hand, appears to be returning to normal. They’re recovering well from their ordeal with Gunno. However, Bianca carries more than trauma on her shoulders – she’s pregnant, but isn’t ready to share that fact with Heath. The pair are eager to get back to the Bay, deciding to stop off and visit Kyle in prison on the way.

Word of Heath and Bianca’s prison visit quickly gets back to Gunno. He lights up at the news, seeing this as the perfect opportunity to deal a decisive blow to the Braxtons. With the help of his prison associates, Gunno begins a violent prison riot, and conditions rapidly deteriorate within the facility. Prison guards leap into action, commencing lock down protocols. With the whole place shut up tight, Gunno has the time to get truly creative…

Kyle has just learned of the horrors that befell Heath and Bianca at the hands of Gunno in the NT, when the lock down is suddenly initiated. Kyle’s dragged back towards his cell, only sharing a brief goodbye with his concerned older brother. The guard escorting Kyle and his fellow inmates loses touch with command. Conditions are falling apart within the prison. The group find themselves clashing with a gang of prisoners, armed with makeshift weapons. Kyle is barely able to escape, dragging an injured Prison Guard Mayhew to safety.

Heath and Bianca are being escorted down a series of corridors by guards, when Gunno comes over the prison P.A system. He’s taken over the command hub, holding guards hostage. Gunno is in control now. He announces to the prisoners that it’s time to play a game; “Find me a Braxton.” Gunno encourages inmates to continue their mayhem and hunt down Heath, Bianca and Kyle in the process.

Police and media gather outside the prison. The news coverage reaches Darcy at the Beach house, but Irene is quick to dismiss it, insisting that it’s a different prison. How long can she keep Darcy oblivious to the danger her parents are in?

Following Gunno’s threatening announcements, Heath and Bianca resolve to not wait around for Gunno to come find them. They seek out a hiding place, avoiding armed prisoners patrolling the hallways. After a close call, and fearing for their lives, the pair find shelter within a cramped ceiling crawlspace, hardly daring to breathe…


Part 2

Irene has called in back up. Nate and Ash agree to keep the situation secret from Darcy, as they rush off to the prison to see what they can find out about Heath and Bianca. Arriving at the prison, things look bad. Ash knows how quickly these things can escalate, and he doesn’t intend to sit around while his friends are in danger. He takes Nate around the back and reveals an old secret entrance, used for drug trafficking by Gunno when they served time together.  Ash is going in…

Things are going to hell within the prison as the guard that Kyle is protecting finally comes to. They’re trapped, with an angry mob of prisoners eager to get through to them. Kyle convinces the hesitant Guard Mayhew to hand over his keys so Kyle can get them out of there when the time comes. Meanwhile, Prisoner Frank uses the guard’s radio to get in touch with Gunno. The scorned prisoner informs on Kyle and Mayhew, hoping to earn the praise of Gunno, unaware of the horrors he’s about to unleash upon the ‘Boneyard.’ Gunno decides to open all doors, allowing the rioting general population to have their way with the inmates of the ‘Protection Unit.’ Kyle drags Mayhew across walkways, trying to stay out of sight, as Gunno sets prisoner against prisoner.

Gunno is furious with his henchman, Bandit, for losing both Braxton’s. His frustrations seem to be bubbling over when he catches sight of the manhole cover in the roof above… an idea beginning to form…

Tension is high as Heath and Bianca try to remain undetected in the roof space of the building, but they’re soon forced out when the vents are enveloped with smoke. Emerging into the open, they pick a direction and run for their lives.

Gunno now has eyes on all of his potential victims through the security cameras… He decides it’s time he heads down to the armoury.

Heath and Bianca’s attempt to flee appears to be undone as they reach a dead-end. At this moment, Ash suddenly emerges… Despite their shock, Ash is quick to lead them onward. The small group rushes through the facility, but Heath can’t bring himself to leave Kyle behind, the sole target of Gunno’s rage. Bianca does her best to get him to come along but this delay has cost them, a crowd of prisoners begin to close in. Heath is forced to distract them as Ash and Bianca make good their escape, leaping from a rooftop.

Kyle hides in the prison laundry with guard Mayhew. Gunno’s voice suddenly calls out – he’s found him. Gunno demands Kyle come outside and meets his fate. Kyle leaves the laundry and throws a pail of white powder in Bandit’s face, before running off. They give chase.

Safely out of the prison, Bianca is a wreck, demanding Ash go back for Heath. She passes out in Nate’s arms. Ash reluctantly concedes to go back. Nate assesses Bianca in an ambulance, where she reveals to him that she’s pregnant, all her fears bubbling to the surface.

Heath witnesses acts of violence against a random guard as he moves through the chaos of the prison. He realises his own civilian clothes paint him as a target and quickly changes into a prison uniform. He’s startled as he once again runs into Ash. As they plan their next move; rescuing Kyle, gunshots ring out across the prison…

… Gunno pokes at a seemingly lifeless Kyle – putting his gun back into his waistband… Is Kyle dead?


Part 3

The sound of gunfire echoes over the surrounding streets. The police tactical unit gears up to go in – this situation is coming to an end, one way or another. Irene watches the developments on the news coverage. She can no longer hide the truth from Darcy, who is distraught at the notion of her family being stuck in there with criminals. Irene moves to assure her, Heath would never let anything happen to Bianca.

Meanwhile, Heath struggles with guilt, feeling responsible for all of this. Ash makes him call Bianca before he does anything stupid.  Running through the prison, searching for Kyle, Heath tries to say goodbye in case he doesn’t make it back, but Bianca demands he come home. They’re quickly cut off as Heath and Ash run into more trouble.

Bianca is overwhelmed, worried she’s lost Heath to despair at the worst possible time. She’s only brought out of it by Isla, the woman Kyle went to prison for in the first place. She recognises Bianca, wondering if she’s heard anything about Kyle. Isla is guilt ridden herself, having avoided visiting Kyle, she desperately wants to tell him how much she still loves him.

A wounded and bloodied Kyle has managed to drag himself into a sitting position. He can barely stay conscious by the time Ash and Heath stumble across him. They work to stop the bleeding, wrapping a torn shirt around Kyle’s bleeding abdomen. The boys work to drag Kyle out of there but he’s physically and psychologically at breaking point, unable to see a reason to go on. He’s still in prison, and Isla has given up on him – what possible future is worth living for? Heath takes a hard-line approach, demanding that Kyle man-up and not pass out. Ash meanwhile is distracted by a guard in the distance. There’s something oddly familiar about the uniformed man – and then the penny drops… It’s Gunno.

Ash chases after Gunno, who fumbles with his gun, firing wildly. Ash bears down on him, ignoring the barrage, and pushing rioting prisoners out of the way. Gunno manages to slam a gate closed in front of Ash, breaking his line of sight. It looks like Ash has lost his man, until Guard Mayhew, who’s been playing possum, calls out and alerts Ash to Gunno’s hiding spot.  Gunno raises his gun to blow Ash away but his advantage disappears when his gun fails to fire. Fuelled by rage and adrenaline, Ash has a nervous Gunno cornered. What does Ash intend to do?

Heath desperately drags Kyle along their escape route, when police suddenly descend upon them. Still dressed in his prison uniform, Heath is cuffed and taken into custody. He’s relieved however, as paramedics are called in to see to Kyle. Outside the prison Bianca tries to explain that Heath isn’t an inmate, while Nate attends Kyle. Bianca finally steals a moment with Heath, she needs to know what he meant on the phone. Was he really giving up? Heath doesn’t have an answer for her.

Ash finally appears to have his anger under control. He’s determined to make sure Gunno stays in prison until he’s an old man. This pushes Gunno a step too far and suddenly the two clash viciously. Ash overwhelms Gunno, driving him backwards. Ash is horrified to discover that he has accidentally impaled Gunno upon a hook, instantly killing him. Ash is reeling when Guard Mayhew, having witnessed the entire thing, stands and offers to take the blame. He doesn’t think Ash should end up back in prison for the likes of Gunno. Mayhew takes responsibility, and Ash is left to slink off into the yard, processing what he’s just done as Police take control of the prison at last.

Safely outside the prison Ash overhears Guard Mayhew giving an interview to journalists – he intends to make sure Kyle Braxton has his sentenced reduced for his actions during the riot. Mayhew goes on to publically take responsibility for the death of one of the inmates. Kyle is stabilised and reunited with Isla. She admits that she’s been staying away due to her enormous guilt over his incarceration. Kyle doesn’t blame her, he just needs to know if they have a future. She silences him with a kiss – it seems these two do indeed have a future. Bianca and Heath talk to Darcy over the phone, assuring her they’re okay, and are finally coming home.

Back in the city, Heath and Bianca are washing off the day – each privately struggling with recent events. Bianca looks at keepsakes from Rocco; the child they lost. Finally she works up the courage to tell Heath; she’s pregnant. We leave them, clearly both unsure of how this is going to play out.

Guest Cast

DARCY CALLAHAN (ALEA O’SHEA)
TREVOR GUNSON (DIARMID HEIDENREICH)
ISLA SCHULTZ (SAMANTHA JADE)
SERGEANT EMILY LARSEN (LAUREN CLAIR)
PRISONER FRANK (PETER CALLAN)
PRISON GUARD MAYHEW (JUSTIN STEWART COTTA)
PRISON GUARD RICHARDSON (SANDY WINTON)
PRISON GUARD (AARON SCULLY)
BANDIT (BENJAMIN HOETJES)
JOURNALIST (CHANTELLE JAMIESON)
PARAMEDIC (OLIVER COONEY)

Trivia

This feature length special was written, produced and shot as a special block of three episodes. In Australia and the UK, it aired as a movie, but was shown as three separate episodes in various other parts of the world, including in Ireland.