"Ocean's 9-1-1" is the fifteenth episode of the second season of 9-1-1, and the twenty-fifth episode overall. It aired on April 22, 2019.
Synopsis[]
A retirement party for a bank manager turns into an emergency, and then a mystery, as the first responders are accused of pulling off a daring heist.[1]
Full Synopsis[]
A Pacific Federal branch briefly closes as it holds a retirement party for manager Franklin Prentiss, who gives a short speech regarding his experience with the staff. A security truck carrying valuable goods stops and as the guards unload the cargo, Franklin opens the vault. Harrison comes around to bid farewell, after which Franklin washes his hands with sanitizer. Billy, one of the guards, brings the goods into the bank, commenting on Nina Wolcott's hair while on the way. After depositing the goods and with Franklin providing a signature, the two men shake hands as a token of gratitude. Franklin stays inside and applies more sanitizer. Billy walks out and jokingly warns Nina to stop flirting with him if she does want to take over after Franklin's resignment. Moments after, he collapses and starts foaming. When Nina orders others to dial for emergency services, she finds Franklin in the same state.
Sam, the other security guard, was surprised when 118 responds to the scene. He knocks the armored truck's glass when Buck comes over and tries to comprehend the situation, who reveals two people have collapsed. Sam is concerned as his partner Billy's life might be at stake. When asked about any allergies or conditions, Sam denies, adding that Billy is a pescatarian who indulges more than Sam himself. Buck advises Sam to stay seated while they resolve the situation.
Chimney doesn't find any signs of suffocation or tags that could suggest medical conditions on Billy. Bobby prompts the crew to grab oxygen, whist he goes inside to check on Franklin with Eddie and Hen, who reports the same symptoms with Billy. Eddie suggests it may be a neurotoxin, as that was part of his medic training, though he cannot reach a decisive conclusion just yet. Bobby acts on said hypothesis and orders the bank to be locked down. However, as the vault door begins to close, Hen rushes inside, and is subsequently trapped. Establishing contact with Hen over radio, Bobby demands for the vault to be opened, but is told by Nina it operates on a temporal sequence, and it will not automatically unlock until the next day. While Nina tries to establish contact with the vault's manufacturer, Bobby discovers Hen also collapsing inside the vault through CCTV.
The LAPD and HAZMAT units also respond as Sam reports the situation on the phone. Bobby, now in SCBA gear, meets commander Bowman and describes their current scenario. Bowman suspects the chemical agent that Bobby mentioned could be as well be transported in the armored truck prior. Everyone else without protection had a mask on, and Bobby mentions no further symptoms on everyone else. Bowman orders for decontamination stations to be set up, prepare the casualties for transport and survey the structure for any possible clues. The vault's manufacturer has took the call and is sending a technician over while also trying to open it remotely, though both have their risks - the tech unit that can open the vault easily may not arrive until after hours, and remote access is not reliable. Buck and Eddie are unable to open the vault due to technical constraints, so Bobby orders for power to be shut down and drill some holes to get fresh air flowing inside. Sam, who's still speaking on the phone, tries to get Buck's attention when the latter goes outside regarding the team's progress. However, Buck can't hear him with all the HAZMAT gear, and neither could Sam leave the vehicle, so they give each other thumbs up before Buck returns inside. Sam then discovers other units setting up HAZMAT equipment.
As night falls, Bobby authorizes Chimney to cut power so Eddie may begin drilling. Other units in HAZMAT gear lead the remaining civilians away, through the decontamination apparatuses and then inside ambulances. Eddie is successful, and Buck begins supplying oxygen. When Buck asks for their next move, Bobby declares they will have to open the vault.
Michael takes a call from Bobby, who asks if there are any possible solutions within their urgency. Michael proceeds to name Chuck, who appears to like Michael himself, ad Bobby advises him to reciprocate the affection. Sam suspects Billy has died as the units cart Billy away into an ambulance, and suspects it may or may not be an infection, while affirming the money they've rolled inside are secure. Michael manages to access the architectural blueprints of the bank, and informs Bobby it was built for an insurance company in 1965 before the bank took over in 1973, meaning the vault was a later addition. Michael also spots the south side of the vault backed by the original infrastructure rather than metallic reinforcements, which the team may possibly destroy. Bobby orders the crew to drill in several locations per his instructions so they may weaken and demolish the wall. Chimney (who is still in his HAZMAT gear) gives his doubts, but Buck and Eddie go along. Meanwhile, an ambulance delivers the casualties to a hospital, and Nina watches as Billy was carted inside, while hospital staff place them in quarantine wards. After some drilling, Buck starts bashing the wall with a hammer. Billy enters critical condition at the hospital, drawing many medical resources away until he eventually dies. Bobby prompts Chimney to provide them with intel from the bank's CCTV so the demolition work would not injure anyone inside, and after checking in with him, they activate their winch to begin pulling, although they ultimately fail. When Bobby receives news on Billy's death, Buck realized they have little time left and enters the truck, warning others to stay clear while he backs it up, successfully tearing a section from the wall, and the crew outside remain to survey. Meanwhile, Chimney complains at the irony of remote access arriving immediately after, followed by the rest of the team. He enters to check on both Franklin and Hen. As Hen is loaded into an ambulance she demands to contact Karen, which Bobby promises at Mercy General hospital. The crew all discuss their confusion as there were no toxins reported, while Franklin and Hen came out just fine. Buck remarks that at least Sam no longer has to remain on the armored vehicle. The crew's chatter at the station were interrupted when many units led by detective Lennie Wash enter and open the ladder truck's storage alcoves, revealing equipment bags stuffed with $300,000 stolen cash, prompting a police investigation.
Hen claims to the detectives that she was stuck inside the vault and paralyzed with Franklin, who also appears to feel unwell, having no idea what happened. Maddie and Buck were suspected, as immediately after taking the call, she sent an ambulance, and Buck a text saying their financial issues were resolved. Buck clarifies it was about Maddie's landlord who was withholding a security deposit, which just happened to occur around the same time. He also recalls the day where they purchased items to celebrate Chimney's second return. Lennie Wash and Anita Mercer refuse to believe a coincidence, but Maddie advises them Buck's unit gets directed around by her more often than not. Chimney doesn't reveal anything useful as he would never backstab his allies which he consider his family. Bobby is accused of conspiracy with Michael, much to the amusement of Athena. Michael doesn't think the blueprints are actually stolen, as they tend to be requested by anyone, though Lennie adds terrorists into the equation. Eddie is also suspected, which he refutes with his training, as these were in his protocols prior. Bobby tells them the break-in was one of the many common improvisations they have on the job. Michael declares that he is friendly with the responders he knew, including Bobby and Hen, and plays down speculation on his deteriorating relationship with Athena. Eddie gives a confusion answer as he barely even knew Michael. Hen is curious on the culprit describing her "cranky", and Buck remnices a past scene, where Hen is agitated when they have a disagreement over Chimney's return. Buck assumes they are overdoing it, and Hen argues they must demonstrate their passion to Chimney, who didn't mean for everyone to literally ignore his recovery. Marty Collins, the mechanic, walks up after describing the ladder truck's replacement to Bobby, and offers to inflate balloons for Hen. She is surprised when Marty reveals he recovered from his arthritis from some "witch doctor". Athena goes in and brings a bland white cake, which Buck remarks on. Hen reminds him this time Chimney did not have some sort of unusual injury. The detectives also lay their claims on Karen losing her employment at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratories further reducing their dwindling income against experditures. Hen does recall their discussion, where Karen rants on the unreasonable objectives, the cost of their new roof and Denny's daycare. Eddie is also in financial difficulties due to Christopher's disabilities, as he has to pay Carla, the private institution, surfing lessons, afterschool programmes and physical therapy, but unlike his wife Shannon, he doesn't consider that an issue himself, and he is too busy for anything else. Chimney denies that he was using his hiatus to scope out and rob the branch, nor is he scheming with anyone. Bobby is confronted with the fact he recently moved from Minnesota to Los Angeles, and his past wasn't well known, let alone the background between himself and the crew, despite assuring them the integrity of his team. Buck is adamant Bobby was doing whatever that's right, so he obeys. Hen is speculated to have entered the vault not out of instinct, but rather to stage a distraction, so someone else could steal the funds, and is shown a snapshot depicting an unnamed individual in a HAZMAT suit stealing the funds. Sam reveals a firefighter ordered him to leave the truck for decontamination, which contradicts Buck's statements, as he ordered Sam to stay inside the vehicle, assuming the driver was prohibited from leaving anyway. Everyone then realize the stolen funds were from the armored vehicle's trunk, which vanished without notice, supposedly by Hen's distraction. Buck is confounded and demands the detectives to restart their narrative.
Hen decides to pay the bank another visit, determined to find out the truth, even though Athena suggested she could not have committed these crimes anyway. They knock, and Nina comes to them, also recognizing Hen who mentions no negative symptoms. As she dd not recall much of her experience inside, including Bobby's plan to rescue her, Hen decided to examine the scene again. The duo learn from Nina that Franklin, who recently retired, worked for 26 years but was terrified of being sealed inside vaults. He was spooked many times by headlines of such incidents, and possibly filed in his request after hearing a recent case. She also mentions being locked inside while conscious is far macabre than not, before allowing the two to enter the vault. They find workers relocating contents of the deposit boxes to another branch as per transfer protocols until the vault itself is repaired. Hen recalls these events and ends up finding the bottle of hand sanitizer under one of the lockboxes. The detectives remain suspicious, as Hen was revisiting the crime scene and could as well as plant it herself, though Athena provides an alibi. Lennie and Anita were surprised when Hen tells them Franklin's hands were in contact with her face. Athena connects the Florida incident to this particular case, where firefighters were likewise forced to drill through the vault to rescue a trapped child, and are forced to cut the power out of safety concerns. When Nina discovers box 725's contents, $6,000,000 worth of diamonds, missing, Athena suspects Franklin may have stolen them as nobody else could access the box. The detectives draw their firearms when Franklin refuses to open the door for him, and they discover him dead well before he could escape U.S. soil. With no sign on these diamonds, either, they shift their blame back to Hen, much to her annoyance.
Athena claims to May and Harry they'll have a surprise today, which ends up being a police search. After the kids are gone, the police units enter to search, and Athena, after viewing the warrant comments she left coffee for them. Anita assumed she expected them. Athena reminds them that as a police officer, she was aware of such protocols, knowing they might be searching all of the crew at once, though she does not disclose whether if they are informed or not as she doesn't bother. Bobby, Michael and Chimney are all agitated by the search messing with the fire station's condiments, Michael's PC being confiscated, and Chimney's wardrobe being disturbed. As Buck's vehicle, like many others, also has to be searched, Maddie attends work via Uber.
At Athena's place, she and Hen discuss the police searches turning up nothing. Athena advises her to keep some patience as they will eventually narrow down the suspects list, though Hen is intimidated by her privacy invasion which could cause Eva to get on their trail, which Athena assures will never occur again. Michael enters and complains when he discovers both his and Harry's PCs confiscated, as he doesn't believe Harry, an avid Minecraft player, could be possibly involved. Athena pokes fun at how they might be the same after all, which he counters with the fact they're helping Bobby to rescue Hen, who gives him some beer. As Hen gets her toxicological report and walks outside, Michael notices how the house was unusually clean, with the remaining two joking on how the police didn't really dare to mess with a respected colleague. Hen was surprised when Athena reveals she knew about the scorpion venom that knocked her inside the vault, and Athena claims the authorities discovered the same substance in the bottle. Michael is bewildered, but Athena and Hen were a step closer to the truth.
The next day, Buck, Eddie, Bobby and Chimney lure Marty into the station on the guise of a mechanical failure, revealing their awareness of his involvement in the heist. When Hen also confronts, Marty panics and tries to escape, but was immediately arrested by Lennie, who was waiting with a squad of units outside, Athena included. Marty denies of killing anyone as he was taken away.
Athena watches as the detectives interrogate Marty. Lennie mentions the scorpion venom in the bottle had killed Billy due to an allergic reaction, the same substance Marty employed against his arthritis. Anita, who just looked it up, reads off her phone for its practical effects. Lennie concludes that Marty abused it to stage a distraction. When Sam, the driver, is unable to recognize Marty, Athena slams the door, and Sam confirms this.
Buck is puzzled by the crime and comments on its complexity - The venom was used to distract authorities from the armored vehicle, which in turn drew attention from a diamond heist. Hen tells Eddie that Franklin was Marty's brother in law, having married Marty's sister, explaining the connection between the men. Franklin's role is to divert authorities from Marty by faking a HAZMAT emergency. During the commotion, Marty is able impersonate a firefighter, get Sam off the truck and steal his equipment to loot the vehicle. He then stored the funds in empty equipment bags and loaded them inside the 118's vehicle, discarding the gear so he could walk free. Bobby speculates Marty nearly succeeded, only for the authorities to search the vehicle moments later, preventing Marty from retrieving his loot. Buck doesn't understand how are the authorities even tipped off so Chimney takes over and explains. Franklin knew where the diamonds are, so after starting with Marty's plan, he faked a medical emergency, leaving him with ample time to steal the diamonds as he expects the vault to open only on the next day, and if the authorities brute force it by cutting power, the ensuing blackout will shadow his theft. A complication, however, arises when Hen enters the vault as well, forcing him to also paralyze Hen for an opportunity at the lockbox. Once he's clear from the scene, he tips off the authorities, sending them on a wild goose chase of false suspects so he could escape. The rest of the crew muse on how Marty, enraged at Franklin's apparent betrayal, presumably killed him.
Marty refused to admit his charges of murder and stealing the diamonds. As the only target was money, he used scorpion venom specifically to avoid lethal consequences, and is completely unaware of the diamonds. The detectives and Athena aren't sure if Marty's statements are genuine, so Athena brings up the question to them again. Eventually, the coroner discovers them in Franklin's stomach - It appears that since Hen's presence greatly reduced the amount of time he has, he swallowed them with help from some bottled water so he could smuggle them out, but didn't expect them to lethally injure him.
Bobby and Athena both discuss on how Franklin died of acute intestinal blockage, which she jokes as "greed". Fire Chief Alonzo pays an unexpected visit, and while Athena doesn't seem to mind him, Alonzo informs Bobby it wouldn't be anything easy. The LAPD revealed to the LAFD some complicated matters while they file through Bobby's past, and the LAFD now has to perform a full inquiry. Until they obtain a satisfactory answer, Bobby will be suspended. When Athena comes over and demands an answer from Alonzo, Bobby reveals it is about the history he concealed in Minnesota.
Cast[]
Starring[]
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Guest Starring[]
Co-Starring[]
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Trivia[]
- The episode's title is a reference to the 1960 American heist film, Ocean's 11.
- There are three parts to the mystery, all of which were solved, ironically not without assistance from external sources:
- Marty stole the money and framed the crew, using Franklin as a distraction.
- Billy was killed by scropion venom due to an allergy.
- Franklin dies after ingesting the diamonds.
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