Episode 7347

Extended Summary

Mackenzie is on the phone to Ryder near the surf club, learning about his gig plan. He seems to want her to do the advertising but she says she’ll only arrange staff and he’ll have to do the rest. She runs into Dean and explains the call before asking about Karen; Dean says she’s surprisingly good and has kept her job at the league club. Ari comes along and has a brief chat with Mackenzie, saying he’ll be up for a pint soon. He asks Dean about Ben and Dean says he’s a good bloke. Dean wonders why Ari’s asking. Ari says no reason. In the motel room, Ben tells Gemma that he didn’t realise how lonely he was until he woke up with her, so doesn’t regret spending the night holding her. Gemma says she feels the same. Before they can talk further, Ziggy knocks on the door and asks why Gemma’s there. Gemma leaves and Ziggy asks Ben what’s going on.

Alf, Marilyn and Martha walk along the beach. Alf has some surf club paperwork to take to John at the hospital. Marilyn asks how John’s doing and offers to get some of his favourite muffins from the Diner. Alf says they’re still having to be careful with what he eats so Marilyn says she’ll whip up some puree for next time. At the hospital, John is trying to eat his puree when Alf turns up. He suggests John could sign the surf club forms although John’s not sure he can. Alf broaches the subject of Marilyn coming but John gives a firm no.

Ziggy asks Ben if Gemma is a friend of his now. Ben says they had a drink last night, which they were talking about when Ziggy interrupted. He admits she stayed the night but says nothing happened. Ziggy asks if he’s forgotten Maggie or was trying to get back at her. Ben says it’s none of her business and Ziggy leaves. Meanwhile, Gemma has got ready for work. She sees a text from Ben suggesting they meet later.

Ziggy meets up with Dean back at the flat and confirms she missed him during his night away. He suggests spending his afternoon off together. Ziggy says she wouldn’t be good company and says Ben’s seeing Gemma, explaining what Ben said. She notes it doesn’t look like they’re going to get a happy ever after. Meanwhile, Ben and Gemma are chatting on the Salt balcony. Gemma thinks that their timing is bad. Ben is surprised that she seems to want to end things before they even get started and asks if they’re not even going to spend time together. Gemma says she has to get back to work.

Ari asks Gemma if Ben is messing her about. Even though Gemma says he isn’t, Ari stops Ben on his way out and warns him that if he hurts Gemma they’ll be having more than a chat. Slightly bemused, Ben acknowledges the warning. Mackenzie offers Ari another drink. Back at the Diner flat, Dean realises why Ari asked about Ben but points out that if Ben and Gemma didn’t do anything then it’s not actually cheating. However, Ziggy thinks the fact they have a connection is worse. Even though Dean warns her not to, Ziggy wants to tell Maggie.

Maggie chats to Martha about her art in the Diner, noting she’s interested in what people do with their spare time now she’s got a lot of it. She leaves, passing Alf, who hasn’t got much information on John to give Marilyn. Martha encourages Alf to go back to John and try and convince him to see Marilyn. Outside, Dean and Ziggy come down from the flat and see Maggie. Ziggy goes to talk to her and asks if she’s seen Ben. Maggie admits she’s avoiding him and says she’s feeling in a better mood. Ziggy decides not to say anything.

Dean and Ben pass each other outside the surf club. Ben realises Ziggy has spoken to Dean and Dean suggests Ben is self-sabotaging, saying he’s not going to get his wife back by starting something with another woman. Ben says Dean can lecture him about relationships when he’s been lied to for twenty-odd years of marriage. Dean replies that at least he knows he’s in a relationship, unlike Ben. Up in Salt, Mackenzie lets Gemma know that she took an order wrong. Mackenzie chats to Ari about Gemma and Ben, saying Gemma had to move on some day. Ari is worried that Gemma’s rushed into it and about the effect it will have on Nik. He decides to go and see if Tane’s brought him home.

That evening, Dean and Ziggy meet up back at the flat. Ziggy says she couldn’t tell Maggie, while Dean admits he might have said too much to Ben. Ziggy suggests they forget about it and plan the surf trip even if they can’t go on it yet…then suggests they do the planning in the bedroom. Meanwhile, Gemma arrives home to find Ari cleaning. She gives him a pizza from Mackenzie and he tells her Nikau and Tane will be back from the coast tomorrow. Ben comes to the door and Gemma sends Ari out of the way. Ben says Gemma’s right that they should stop things and Gemma jokes that she’s already dumped him. They suggest being friends once things have settled down and Ben declines to come in so as not to antagonise Ari.

Marilyn and Martha chat on the Diner veranda about Alf going back to see John. Marilyn wishes she knew how he was getting on. Meanwhile, Alf is about to leave John but stops to remind him that he’s been worrying that his marriage is over and now he’s pushing Marilyn away. John says he’s protecting her. Alf says that whether he wants to admit it or not, he’ll need Marilyn’s help. John says visiting hours are over.

Next morning, outside the surf club, Martha suggests to Alf that she goes and see John but Alf suggests letting him stew. Outside the Diner, Dean gets a call from Bella. At the hospital, John tries and fails to operate a remote control with his right hand. Marilyn comes in and says the nurse called and said he wanted to see her. John takes her hand and Marilyn says she’s not going anywhere.