Episode 6654

Extended Summary

Hunter and Olivia arrive at the caravan park house first thing in the morning; Olivia is trying to dissuade Hunter from his course of action. Hunter asks VJ for the key to Zac’s van. Leah comes in to overhear Hunter calling Zac a jerk; Hunter says Zac’s bailing on him. Leah doesn’t believe it and advises him to talk to Zac, which Olivia agrees with. However, once Leah has gone to work, Hunter and VJ head for the van. Leah arrives at the Diner and bumps into Zac. After exchanging chat about his health, she tells him Hunter thinks he’s leaving him. Zac says it’s not true and he’ll talk to him. Irene finishes work and tells Leah the roster’s in the kitchen; Leah acknowledges it in a mostly polite but not very friendly manner. Marilyn frets.

Roo runs into Marilyn outside the Diner. Marilyn says things are terrible inside and they have to do something. Roo is less than keen as Marilyn outlines a plan for the four of them to have lunch together, without telling Leah or Irene the other will be there. She eventually convinces Roo to help out. Later, Marilyn remarks to Leah and Roo that the three of them have the afternoon off so suggests they have lunch, emphasising just them. Leah eventually agrees. After she’s gone, Marilyn tells Roo to get Irene there. John comes in and Marilyn gives him a sandwich she made before asking him to stay away from the house so she can have the lunch. She looks awkward when John kisses her on the cheek.

VJ and Hunter work to extract a hair follicle from Zac’s brush. Olivia is still less than behind the idea and leaves, telling them to call her. Zac turns up and VJ hides the brush and the envelope containing the samples, which Hunter surreptitiously tells him to post. Zac says there’s been a misunderstanding: He isn’t leaving Hunter but didn’t want to get his hopes up until his plans were definite. He explains he’s considering moving to Hunter’s home town: Hunter could finish Year 12 there or they could wait until he’s finished before moving, and Olivia could come with them if Irene agrees. He emphasises that while he wants a fresh start, he doesn’t want it without Hunter and won’t move if he doesn’t agree. Hunter looks guilty and dashes out. He catches up with VJ but the latter has already posted the sample. Hunter berates himself.

Leah is helping Marilyn get lunch ready but when Roo arrives with Irene, both Leah and Irene are surprised to see the other there. Both go to leave but Marilyn stops them and insists they stay. Later, Roo is trying to keep the lunch light with a monologue about her pregnancy but neither Leah nor Irene is smiling and she tells Marilyn she’s running out of conversation. Marilyn asks Leah to say her feelings even though Leah doesn’t think it will help. Leah says VJ lost Billie and their plans together and has now lost Luc as well, blaming Irene for going for custody. Irene says she thought it was for the best but knows now she was wrong and was trying to make up for Mick. Marilyn says Leah can forgive Irene but Leah says it’s not that easy and decides to go. When Marilyn presses the matter, Leah tells her to sort out her own problems with John instead of interfering in her life. She walks out and Roo goes after her.

Hunter explains the situation to VJ and Olivia as they arrive back at the house. VJ suggests he just throw the DNA results away but Olivia says it’s not that easy. VJ says that if Zac is his dad then he needs never know, but Olivia thinks Hunter should be honest and Hunter agrees. Zac comes in: He was upstairs getting some of his things. VJ and Olivia leave to give them some space and Hunter tells Zac about the DNA test. He explains what Zac said when he was out of it, that he and Charlotte broke up at Christmas, and that he was premature. Zac says he and Charlotte had a fight Christmas Eve but were on and off until late February and went away for Valentine’s Day, so the timings do match. He’s hurt however that Hunter seemed to want him to not be his dad. He decides to continue packing and declines Hunter’s offer to help.

Roo catches up with Leah on the beach and says Marilyn meant well. Leah however thinks that everyone has problems, including Roo, who’s carrying her ex’s baby. She says if people stop judging her life, she won’t judge theirs. Roo goes back to the house and tells Marilyn they need to give Leah some space. Marilyn apologises for dragging Roo into it. She also realises Leah was right; she needs to be honest with John. Irene agrees, saying something good needs to come out of the day.

Zac is looking through his CDs when Leah comes home; he greets her and says he’ll be gone soon. Leah pours herself a drink but leaves most of it. Zac offers to talk or leave. Leah tells him about the lunch and that she doesn’t want to act like a horrible person and misses her friendship with Irene but can’t just let it go. She asks Zac about Hunter and he notes it’s complicated. Meanwhile, Hunter is with Olivia at the surf club; he fills her in and notes that Zac was hurt. Olivia says he seemed out of control for a bit, like the old Hunter people have told her about.

Leah and Zac both have drinks now as he fills her in on what happened with Hunter. He wonders what Hunter was planning to do with the test results and Leah suggests he hadn’t thought that far ahead. Zac notes he should go but Leah tells him not to and kisses him. Much later, when it’s dark, they come downstairs, adjusting their clothing, and Zac confirms the coast is clear. He asks what it means but Leah says it doesn’t change anything, they just both had a bad day. She asks him to go. Zac seems disappointed but complies.

Marilyn is waiting at home when John arrives home. She tells him to sit down and says things haven’t been the same since he’s been back. John thinks they’re working through it and Marilyn agrees that that’s what he wants, but says she’s not sure if she loves him anymore…