Episode 7186

Extended Summary

Colby is taking a shower outside the surf club. Mackenzie gives him a wolf whistle and learns he has just finished work. They consider having dinner later, although Colby wants to check with Bella first. Near the pier, Maggie attempts to phone Ben without success. Alf, John and Roo are nearby. They decide to split up and look for Ben and meet back there in two hours.

Irene drops some things at the Diner and Colby comes to her aid. She tells him about getting the court date and Bella’s reaction to possibly having to testify, adding that Ryder interrupted before they could finish talking about it. Colby heads up to the flat and calls out to Bella, who emerges and says Ryder’s gone. Colby asks how she feels about testifying and Bella says she’s good with it and wants to help Irene. She accepts Colby’s offer to spend the evening chilling out together. Ryder texts her to say the party starts at 4pm and she texts back saying she and Colby have plans.

Ryder looks disappointed when he gets the text. A classmate, Blake, notes they’ve got the area and music sorted and Josh’s sister is sorting out the rest of the refreshments. Roo arrives and wonders if Ryder’s seen Ben before asking why Blake’s there. Blake goes to set up for the party. Roo questions Ryder who reminds her she told him he should celebrate. She explains about the dinner at Salt; Ryder says it would be social suicide to cancel the party. Roo says it’s Alf’s call and goes to talk to him outside the bait shop. She gives a spiel about how Ryder’s already sent out the invitations and has been neglecting his male friends while helping Raffy. Alf doesn’t have a problem with it since Ryder’s proved himself responsible. They decide to go to dinner at Salt after all to give them space.

John finds Ben on the beach, mentioning him leaving the tools unattended and Maggie worrying about him. Ben says it was an overreaction and irritably says he just wanted five minutes to himself. He heads back to work; John advises him to call Maggie. Meanwhile, Blake and Josh are carrying a cool box out of the house as Alf and Roo arrive home. Alf tells Ryder he’s fine with the party but there are ground rules: Keep the music down and no alcohol. Roo agrees, since while Ryder is eighteen, others like Josh and Blake aren’t.

Ryder joins Blake and Josh down at the caravan park. They explain that Josh’s sister was meant to be getting some alcohol but she’s been held up at uni. Ryder suggests maybe they could have the party without any but they laugh at the idea. Then they remember that Ryder’s eighteen so he can get the beer. Ryder looks conflicted. Meanwhile, Colby and Bella arrive at Salt to pick up pizza. Colby approaches Mackenzie and apologises for cancelling their dinner. Mackenzie understands but says it’s flat out so they might have a wait. Ryder arrives and is bemused that Bella’s “plans” seem to involve watching Colby chat up Mackenzie. Bella again refuses to go to the party but Ryder tells her to come along if she gets sick of being third wheel.

John goes round to see Maggie. She has heard from Ben but John is worried at how down he seemed. Maggie says she hoped he’d turned a corner but John is worried Ben’s just going through the motions and thinks Maggie should talk to him. Meanwhile, Ben drops the bait shop keys off with Alf and Roo having completed the job. Alf asks how much he owes him but Ben says he mainly used Alf’s materials. Alf offers to buy him a beer instead. Ben gets annoyed at people thinking they need to keep him company and tells him to let Maggie knows he’s fine.

Ryder has acquired two boxes of beer bottles and sneaks past Colby and Mackenzie with them. He asks Bella not to tell Colby about them and Bella agrees if he doesn’t put more pressure on her about the party. Despite this, she goes over to Colby and Mackenzie and tells them she’s going home and there’s no need to rush back. Colby and Mackenzie note their date is back on. Meanwhile, Ben arrives home and has a go at Maggie for talking to Alf and John about him. Maggie says she’s worried he’s depressed but Ben retorts that he’s furious and tells her to stay out of it.

Irene turns up at the Diner flat. She was hoping to talk to Colby and Bella together but Bella insists Irene say what she was going to. Irene admits her lawyer thinks Bella’s testimony will have more impact on the jury if she delivers it in person. Bella says she’ll do that then. At the caravan park, Alf and Roo check in on the party and are impressed at how civilised it is. They wonder where Ryder’s got to. Seeing Ryder sneaking past with the beer bottles, Blake and Josh claim he went to the bathroom. Ryder emerges having hidden the bottles and Alf and Roo leave, passing Bella. Once they’re gone, Ryder produces the beer.

Ben apologises to Maggie, saying he keeps getting angry but knows he needs to pull himself together and do something productive. Maggie sarcastically asks if he’s going to do more jobs for Alf but is cheered when he says he’ll make a new surf board for Ziggy, since hers was broken a while back. At Salt, Alf and Roo turn up and tell Colby about Bella being at the party. Colby is initially concerned but they assure him it’s a quiet affair and Roo thinks it might help Bella return to school.

Bella is standing on her own and goes to retrieve a bottle of beer. Ryder stops her, saying she’s underage, but she points out so are a lot of people who are drinking. Ryder didn’t expect them to get stuck into it but Bella says that’s what happens when you supply free booze. After Ryder’s moved on, she takes the bottle and starts drinking. Meanwhile, Colby and Mackenzie walk near the beach. Colby wonders why Bella didn’t text him and Mackenzie replies that you don’t text your brother from a party. Realising they’re near his place, they kiss.

Bella continues to drink from the bottle. Ryder takes it off her but Bella threatens to call Colby and report him for supplying minors with alcohol. She takes the bottle back and continues drinking.