Episode 7325

Extended Summary

Roo follows Marilyn down to the beach. Marilyn acknowledges that she shouldn’t have snapped at John and says she’s thinking about Gemma moving on. Roo points out that that was the idea but Marilyn says with John gone and now the Paratas she’s driven everyone away. Roo encourages her to talk to John but she says Irene will be wondering where she’s gone, heading back inside. Ari appears and wonders where Nikau is, pointing out the bait shop’s closed. Roo says it was probably quiet. Outside Tane’s house, Tane says Nikau can’t stay there because of Ari. He thinks Ari sorted them out a place up the coast. Nikau says he didn’t sort anything and won’t admit he’s wrong. Tane still won’t budge but does agree to Nikau coming inside to catch up. He tells Nikau to bring Ryder, who has been sitting nervously throughout the exchange.

Ben and Maggie are in Salt. Maggie tries to ask about his trip but Ben says he’s not there for the company. Maggie isn’t sure where to start with fixing things but suggests turning up and trying is the important thing. Ben isn’t convinced. Maggie convinces him to stay for an early dinner. Later, the server brings their food and Maggie tries to make small-talk but Ben, increasingly uncomfortable, says it’s too soon and doesn’t feel right. He walks out.

Roo goes to see John at the surf club and says she spoke to Marilyn. John comments on the fact that the Paratas are leaving her and he was the one that copped it. Roo thinks Marilyn knows she was wrong. John says he tried to talk to her but Roo encourages him to try again. At the Diner, Ari is still looking for Nikau but doesn’t want Gemma to know yet. He tells Marilyn about her getting a job at Salt and how she can now look for places. Marilyn hopes she didn’t make Gemma feel she had to go. Ari takes her hand and says they’re grateful. John sees them together and leaves without them noticing him.

Nikau tries to convince Tane that he’s fine with sleeping on the couch but Tane isn’t keen on going against Ari and says Nikau needs to fight his own battles. Nikau walks out, annoyed. Tane asks Ryder if he lives in the same town as Nikau and if it really is that bad. Ryder says it is. At the surf club, Ben is even more distracted as Ari comes in and asks if he’s seen Nikau. Ben manages to say he hasn’t. After Ari’s gone, Ben takes some pills. John comes over and sees he’s sweating, wondering if he has flu and if he should be there if he’s contagious. Ben says they were his anti-depressants and John awkwardly notes it’s good he’s looking after himself. After he’s gone, Ben takes another pill.

Ryder tells Tane that Summer Bay has nice beaches and Nikau’s made friends, but they had no food or money and were sleeping in the car until Marilyn gave them somewhere to stay. He adds that Ari is always on Nikau’s case and something happened with Bella. Tane tells him to wait there while he goes outside to talk to Nikau. Tane decides Nikau can stay for one night, then he can go home. He tells him to let Gemma know but not say where he is. Nikau makes the call, saying he went for a drive with Ryder and is staying at a mate’s.

At the Diner, Maggie tells Roo that Ben couldn’t even look at her and she’s not sure if him loving her is enough. She leaves and Marilyn joins Roo. Marilyn is confused when Roo asks about John coming to see her, then realises he might have seen her with Ari and got the wrong idea. She goes to the surf club and tells John that they were just talking. John says he knows: He wasn’t jealous, he just didn’t want to interrupt. Marilyn realises he actually was just checking she was okay and agrees to talk.

Ryder nervously exits the house, saying he has to get to work. Nikau says he’s staying and Tane stresses it’s just for one night. After Tane has gone inside, Nikau tells Ryder he’s sure he can get Tane to let him stay for good. He tells Ryder not to let anyone know where he is, especially Ari. At Salt, Marilyn is beginning to think she was foolish to think she could solve the Paratas’ problems and worries she’s made them feel unwelcome. However, John tells her she did help them and they’re getting the home they wanted.

Ari sees Ryder arriving at the surf club and asks what happened to Nikau. Ryder says he’s staying at a mate’s out of town but he doesn’t know who. He manages to dodge past Ari towards Salt after suggesting he try calling. Meanwhile, Tane brings Nikau pizza as he ignores Ari’s call. Tane calls Ari a dog with a bone and Nikau says people like dogs. Tane asks about Marilyn; Nikau says she’s a vegetarian who loves crystal but she’s cool. Tane asks about Bella and Nikau says nothing’s worked out how he expected including her. He wants it to go back to how it was when they were living together but Tane says Ari would never let Nikau stay there.

Maggie is watching telly. Ben comes through and she says there’s some dinner left over. Ben says he has a headache and gets some painkillers. Maggie tries to apologise for making him talk but Ben says he can’t deal with it now. Maggie heads to bed after warning him the painkillers are strong. Ben looks wrecked. Next morning, Maggie again tries to offer Ben food, then realises he’s sweating through his clothes. Ben initially tries to shrug her off, then looks woozy and says he can’t see properly. Maggie tries to help him to a chair but he passes out. Maggie calls an ambulance.

Outside the surf club, Ryder is telling Roo he might go for a drive down the coast. Ari comes over and demands Ryder tell him where Nikau is. Ryder continues to say he doesn’t know; Roo tries to intercede and John also comes over to try and calm Ari down before pointing out Nikau’s behind him: He and Tane have just pulled up in a car. Ari says he told Tane to stay away. Tane says Ari isn’t calling the shots now.