Episode 7316

Extended Summary

Nikau is opening up the bait shop. Gemma tells him that Bella is being looked after. Nikau feels bad that he wasn’t there for her and ran away but Gemma says he did the right thing getting Ryder and needs to keep his head down. Nikau wants to get out of town and is still considering going to live with Tane, which Gemma is against. After she’s gone back to the Diner, Ryder appears but refuses to answer Nikau’s questions, saying Nikau wasn’t careful with Bella like he said and then ran away. He heads into the Diner. John also walks past without saying anything. Colby, Bella and Willow arrive by car; they are getting Bella’s things before she’s leaving straight away. Bella isn’t happy about being sent away. Nikau tries to talk to her but Bella runs past him into the flat and Willow goes after her. Colby explains Bella’s going away for a while to be looked after. He doesn’t agree to Nikau talking to her before she goes or tell him why she was in hospital.

Inside the Diner, John and Ryder chat about the lack of news from Colby and Bella. John also suggests Ryder go easy on Nikau. He tells Marilyn he’s giving her space but needed to talk to Ryder. She asks what’s going on with Bella. John initially refuses to say but then Irene asks as well. Outside the flat, Ryder reassures Bella that the centre might be good for her, although she doesn’t like being separated from Colby. She asks him not to tell Nikau what she did, but does stress that he didn’t do anything except make her like him. Ryder tells her to remember that everyone cares about her and promises to call every day; they hug goodbye. Bella follows Colby down the stairs; Irene stops her, saying cutting herself doesn’t solve anything and she’ll miss her, also giving her a hug. Nikau also approaches. Bella barely looks at him as he apologises and doesn’t explain when he notices the dressing on her arm. Colby calls her over to the car and she leaves.

Nikau goes into the Diner and puts the bait shop keys down on the counter, telling Gemma he’s done with Summer Bay. Gemma tells him he can’t go and also tells him that she heard Bella cut herself. Nikau says he should have known she wasn’t ready and is more determined than ever to leave. He goes to Salt and tells Ryder that he knows. Ryder reminds Nikau that he warned him Bella was fragile and regrets encouraging them. He acknowledges Nikau wasn’t at fault but accuses him of abandoning her because he was scared of her cop brother.

The car carrying Colby, Bella and Willow is let in through a gate. Several people are leading horses around; Willow calls it heaven for horse nerds but Bella points out she isn’t one. A man, Steve, welcomes them to Bridge Farm. He explains to a reluctant Bella that it’s an equine therapy centre, where teenagers who can’t open up about their problems work with animals. He shows them around the stable. Bella isn’t keen on mucking out manure and Steve says she’ll be surprised what she’ll do if she bonds with the horses. Bella asks about TAFE and Colby says she’ll have to defer. As Steve leads Bella to the paddocks, Willow tells Colby he needs to accept it for Bella’s sake. Bella remains reluctant but seems drawn to a horse, asking its name. Steve says she gets to name the horse she chooses. Bella calls him Bullet, saying that’s how her life feels: She’s out of control and hurting herself and others. Steve takes her into the enclosure and has her let Bullet sniff her hand.

Near the beach, Nikau makes a phone call. Tane is in bed and the woman with him draws his attention to the phone vibrating. Tane answers it and Nikau asks to come and live with him in the city. Tane refuses, saying Ari wouldn’t like it and Nikau can’t keep running away from his problems. Nikau hangs up angrily. John sees him and calls out to him but Nikau ignores him. John heads to the Diner where, after briefly exchanging words with Marilyn, he tells Gemma that he heard Nikau yelling at someone on the phone and he doesn’t think it was Ari. He suggests Gemma go talk to him.

Nikau is propping up the bar in Salt, composing a text to Bella. Ryder doesn’t seem happy to see him there. Nikau tries to clear the air, saying he’s sorry for leaving him to handle things, but Ryder isn’t impressed by his explanation that his family don’t get on with the police. Gemma arrives and wonders why Nikau isn’t at work and also who he was on the phone to. She tries to get him to sort things out and throws the remains of his beer into a plant pot. Nikau storms downstairs with Gemma following. She tells him he can sort things out with Bella when she returns and needs to keep the job. Nikau says he doesn’t fit in in Summer Bay and this wouldn’t happen if his dad was there. John tries to tell him to be more polite but Nikau storms out. John offers Gemma a juice.

Steve tells Bella they’re going to get Bullet to walk on cue and demonstrates with some gentle commands. As Colby and Willow watch, Bella attempts to emulate but Bullet fails to respond to her abrupt orders and she ends up throwing his reins down in frustration. Steve gets her to place her hands on Bullet and feel him breathe. She slowly begins to smile at the sensation. Back at the surf club, Gemma notes Nikau’s had a temper lately and that she wants him to have stability. John recalls having troubles with Jett after Gina died but says eventually they learned to keep the pain inside. He says the people in the town will help.

Bella tries again at leading Bullet and this time he responds to her commands. Colby and Willow are pleased but Steve tells them it’s time for them to go and Bella needs to do it on her own. Colby in particular doesn’t look happy.