Episode 6623

Extended Summary

Justin and Mason are playing table tennis with the fruit in Salt. Brody is annoyed when he finds them, saying the critic’s going to be there in an hour and there are customers around. He gives Justin chopping instructions and Mason instructions on decorations. Despite working hard, neither are taking it entirely seriously and when Brody makes a speech about how much it means to him, Justin makes fun of him. Back at the caravan park house, VJ is looking after Luc while Leah is on the phone to Irene, who is happy to have her. VJ thinks Luc should be with him but Leah says they have to do what’s best for her and she’s lucky to have so many people who want to look after her.

Irene takes Luc from Leah and barely listens to her directions on how to look after her, saying she remembers everything from last time and is fully stocked. VJ has to get back to his assignment and kisses Luc goodbye. Leah reflects on how he’s only eighteen and already had to cope with so much. Irene suggests Leah stay and show her how to use the steriliser. Meanwhile, Ash turns up at the caravan park house looking for Luc. VJ says she’s with Irene because he couldn’t cope. Ash says VJ should have come to him for help but VJ thinks he shouldn’t need help. Ash insists VJ abandon the assignment and come surfing.

Brody moves one of the tables slightly so the reviewer has a better view of the sea. Mason tries to get him to go and prep food instead. Lena arrives for work but just provides Brody with another target for barking orders. Justin tries to calm him down, saying they’ve had reviewers before. After his brothers are out of earshot, Lena offers Brody something to help him focus. Soon after, Brody is in the storeroom alone. He puts an empty sachet in his bag then comes out, wired and issuing instructions. Mason introduces Terry to him and Brody shows him to the table. Terry says to pretend he’s not here and act naturally but Brody interrupts, saying he’s put together a special three course meal of popular dishes from the menu with added ingredients. Lena brings the starter out.

John arrives home and tells Marilyn that it went well after a bit of awkwardness and Cal Whitman’s wife even complimented him on his cooking. He wants to do something fun but Marilyn just wants a quiet night in so he decides to cook for her. At the beach house, Irene has put Luc down. Leah says she’d better go. Irene asks if things are all right between them, sensing Leah has something on her mind. Leah says she’s thinking of going to her mum’s but it’s not about Irene. After a bit of pushing, she admits Zac cheated on her. Irene comforts her. Down on the beach, VJ asks Ash about forgiving John and Ash says it’s good not to be angry anymore. VJ thinks he’s let Billie down by not looking after Luc. Ash says Billie didn’t mean for him to do it alone and reiterates that VJ’s like his little brother.

Justin, Brody, Mason and Lena watch Terry from the counter. Despite the others’ advice, Brody approaches him to ask for the verdict. Terry says he doesn’t give on the spot reviews. Brody assumes he’s impressed so Terry says the menu’s good, the ingredients are fresh and the service and ambience are spot on, but there were too many clashing flavours. Brody says that’s just Terry’s opinion and goes on to say Terry is a hack who reviews because he can’t cook himself. Terry says he’ll never set foot in one of Brody’s restaurants again and leaves. Justin follows Brody outside and asks what that was about. Brody says he was nervous and overreacted and has just ruined everything.

John and Marilyn have finished eating and John notes that the Whitmans and the other families appreciated the meal he cooked them: It doesn’t make up for what he’s done but it’s a start. He seems less than enamoured with Marilyn’s choice of movie but goes along with it. Meanwhile, Brody and Lena are closing up Salt. Brody thinks the coke Lena gave him caused the problem but Lena says he didn’t do anything wrong and Terry was the one with the problem. She calls him amazing and they kiss passionately.

Next morning, Irene happily says hello to Luc. Her phone indicates a call from VJ but she is focused on Luc and doesn’t even seem to notice it’s ringing. Meanwhile, Leah is packing. VJ tells her he didn’t get an answer when he called Irene but Leah doesn’t think it’s anything to worry about. She says she’s going to his grandparents’ but can stay if he needs her. VJ tells her she should go, and seems more open to letting people help with Luc now, but wonders if it’s to do with her and Zac. Leah claims everything’s fine.

Ash finds Irene with Luc in the nursery and comments on the room. He checks that Luc being there is just a temporary thing and Irene says they’ll see. She isn’t keen for Ash to hold Luc, saying she’s had trouble settling and only wants her. She also doesn’t seem too interested when Ash mentions VJ is cut up about not having Luc with him. Ash checks it’s okay for him to drop round. Irene initially says yes, then tells him to text first and basically asks him to go. Back at Salt, Ash complains to Justin, saying Irene wants him to make appointments to see Luc. Justin can’t join him for a surf since Brody hasn’t turned up. Mason reminds Justin that Brody started acting oddly when Lena turned up and wonders if he took what she’s offering. Justin insists he wouldn’t, since it killed their parents, and Mason agrees. However, Justin looks less certain when Mason isn’t there.

John has let Marilyn sleep in and she light-heartedly complains she’ll be late for work. The phone rings; Marilyn thinks it’s telesales and John hopes to have fun with them but his demeanour soon changes when he answers. He tells Marilyn it was the court and his trial’s in two weeks. Meanwhile, Brody finally turns up at Salt. Justin guesses he spent the night with Lena. Brody insists everything’s fine and leaves his bag in the storeroom. Justin closes the door and searches it, finding the sachet. He looks furious.