Episode 7280

Extended Summary

John and Marilyn are walking away from the Diner. John notes Marilyn seems more like her old self and Marilyn is looking forward to the wedding. They run into Ari, and Marilyn cheerily asks him if he’s seen the paper. Ari rather gruffly confirms that he has and Marilyn realises she’s done the wrong thing. Ari says she could have asked before plastering his face over the front page of the paper. Marilyn asks what she can do and Ari says to leave it. John ushers Marilyn away, saying they have to get the coffees back to Roo.

Back at the motel, Nikau argues that no-one reads the paper anymore but Gemma thinks it’s a big deal in a small town. Jade comes to the door and tries to get Nikau to give her phone back. Nikau tells Gemma she’s a perv who films guys and tried to film him. Ari turns up and casually slams the door in Jade’s face before saying they’re meant to be keeping a low profile. Nikau says he can talk and heads out, telling them to make the decision without him.

Outside the Stewart house, Maggie admires the archway that Ben built in a day while he reflects on how much Alf has done for them. Irene tells Alf she didn’t get anything from the police; they were hoping the wedding would bring Leah back. John and Marilyn turn up, having got changed, and give Alf an update on Martha. Nikau comes up the drive and Ben intercepts him. Nikau says he’s looking for Ryder but Ben says there’s a wedding going on and he should come back later. Nikau starts to leave, then darts into the house when Ben’s turned away. He finds Ryder and hands him Jade’s phone, saying it’s got video of him and other guys on there and she tried to film him too. John comes in to get Ryder and Nikau leaves. Ryder puts the phone in a drawer.

John and Ryder join the others outside. Alf checks on Ryder before the bridal car pulls up. Roo comes up the aisle first, telling Alf he looks very handsome. Martha then follows, dressed in a white lace dress, and compliments Alf on his hat and the rebuilt archway. Celebrant Claire welcomes them to the wedding before saying Roo has a few words. Roo says she used to dream of her parents being together so they could be a family and today she gets her wish.

Ari wonders if Nikau was right: It’s just a puff piece in a local paper. Gemma says there’s trouble everywhere, dismissing Summer Bay as a holiday town designed to suck you in which is like everywhere else underneath. She says as soon as people know about them, it’ll be bricks through the window, graffiti and threats again. She points out they’ve no roots there and Ari can’t get a job, saying they should leave tomorrow. Ari agrees but isn’t sure they can convince Nikau.

Jade chases after Nikau near the beach, continuing to demand her phone back and saying she’ll go to the police. Nikau says it’ll save him a job. Jade tries to threaten him and Nikau says he’s seen off worse than her. Jade changes tack and tries begging but Nikau tells her he’s already given the phone to Ryder. Jade runs off.

Martha says when she last made her wedding vows she didn’t do a good job of sticking to them, and is glad to have a second chance with Alf. Alf pulls out what he’s written, then puts it away again, saying he’s had beautiful children and grandchildren, some of whom are ratbags, and Martha was his first love and he wants her to be his last. Ryder manages to drop the ring handing it over. Claire leads the vows (“Too flaming right I do,”confirms Martha) and says Alf can kiss the bride…which he’s got a head start on, even taking his hat off.

Later, Alf and Martha cut the cake. Irene tries to get Ryder to give a speech but he says he did his bit with the ring. John and Ben both try to claim they’re the real best man. Marilyn asks Irene if she’s seen Gemma’s resume, pointing out they’re short of casuals, but Irene says she doesn’t want to talk about work today. Alf makes a speech, saying it’s not easy to have a wedding in a time of sadness but he’s always been able to count on each of them: Summer Bay is his home and they’re his family. He says a toast to Martha Jane Stewart (with a can of beer in Alf’s case). Ryder sees Nikau return and goes over to him.

Jade is desperately searching the inside of the house when Ryder and Nikau appear and Ryder retrieves the phone from its hiding place. They escort her out, with Jade still trying to protest. Alf and the rest of the wedding party come round the corner. Ryder tells Alf that Jade broke into their house. Jade protests she was recovering her property and Nikau says she’s been blackmailing people. Alf says it’s his wedding and his house and if Jade doesn’t get out of her van now, she’ll have the police on her. Ryder tells her to back down and leave his family alone. Jade retreats and Roo comments to Martha that it wouldn’t be a proper Stewart wedding without Alf having a go at someone. Alf turns on Nikau but, after a word from Ryder, ends up telling him to get a drink and some cake. Nikau looks bemused as he follows the group back to the party.

Later, Irene, Marilyn, Ben, Maggie and John are at the Diner. Irene offers them some decaf coffee, saying it’s a trick Leah taught her to get you to sleep. Marilyn follows her to the kitchen and wonders why she doesn’t want to talk about Gemma, when they only have two casuals to run the place tomorrow. Irene says she doesn’t want to think about replacing Leah but is convinced to at least look at Gemma’s resume.

Nikau arrives back at the motel to find Ari and Gemma packing. He says he’s just been at a wedding as guest of honour and they’re good people. Gemma says people don’t always show their true colours straightaway. Nikau says it only takes one person to make an internet search for their past to come out and she’s judging people she doesn’t even know. He insists he’s staying even if they’re not. Later, he’s in the motel room alone and looks at an article on his phone, with the headline “Criminal dies in heist”.

Ari and Gemma are sat on the balcony at Salt. Ari concludes that they’re the ones overreacting, and they’ll always be one awkward conversation away from their past being discovered. Gemma won’t leave without Nikau but wonders if Ari’s sure he’s right. He isn’t. She gets a call from Irene and says she’ll see her tomorrow, noting that Nikau’s the happiest he’s been in ages. Ari’s a hero and she’s got a job (which prompts a celebratory dance).

Alf is alone on the veranda when he hears “Unforgettable” playing. Martha comes out, with the tune playing on her phone. Alf notes it’s their song and he hasn’t heard it for years. He holds out his hand to her, saying he wanted to dance with her then and does now. They dance along to the music.