Episode 7374

Extended Summary

Mackenzie is attempting to give Tane an interview at Salt, but he quickly establishes that he’s had no experience waiting tables or working in a kitchen and the only time he’s served drinks has been to ladies he’s been chatting up. Mackenzie insists she’s only offering him the job to help Ari and that he’d get less attention from the police with a regular income. Meanwhile, downstairs, Ziggy complains to Dean that she’s only getting drunk texts from Ben and Maggie, who she thinks must have gone straight from the airport to the vineyard. She tells Dean that if he ever tries to leave her as well she’ll drag him back and handcuff him to the bed.

John isn’t happy that Marilyn has taken him outside the house and isn’t letting him eat any of the muffins she has laid out, saying they’re to make a good impression on the new carer. John says the carer has to make a good impression on him and complains that they all talk to him like a puppy in training. Marilyn insists they need to find someone so they can get on with their lives. Back at Salt, Mackenzie tells Tane he wouldn’t be the first person she’s hired with no qualifications or experience. (She looks at an unimpressed Ryder as she says that.) Tane wonders why she’s hiring him and isn’t happy that she says it’s to help Ari, saying he doesn’t need Ari’s pity or hers. He walks out. Mackenzie tells Ryder to hold the fort.

Outside, Ziggy talks to Dean about the lack of interest in the house, saying she’s going to see the real estate agent. Tane and Mackenzie emerge from the surf club. Mackenzie points out Ari and Nikau are both working and asks Tane if he wants to be a better man. Tane asks why it matters to her what sort of man he is and walks off. Mackenzie brushes aside Dean’s attempt to talk but Ziggy gets Dean to go after her, since she wants to know what’s going on. Mackenzie explains she offered Tane a job and says she did it to help Ari. When Dean suggests it’s because of the muscles, she storms off.

John isn’t happy about Marilyn acting as though the new carer is a guest. The carer pulls up and introduces herself as Amber; John sarcastically asks if she has siblings called Red and Green. Amber stops him eating a muffin, saying he’ll give himself another stroke, and tells Marilyn to leave. Marilyn tries to tell her John’s schedule but Amber says she’ll decide the schedule. At Salt, Mackenzie tells Ryder not to text his friends while at work but apologises when he reveals he was looking for news on Evan. She approaches Dean, who is sat on the balcony, and tells him to sit with his back to her while she talks to him. She says she’s attracted to Tane. Dean offers to get Ziggy but Mackenzie tells him not to talk as she rambles that nothing has happened, her conscience is clear and she’s nothing to feel guilty about. She tells Dean he can speak now. Dean asks if he can go.

At the Diner, Marilyn has filled Leah in on Amber, admitting she found her scary. She says she still loves John but not as a wife should and is hoping to get a carer for him so she can move on. Leah wonders if maybe John is scaring off all the carers so she’ll have to stay. Inside the Palmer house, Amber asks John why he’s still in the wheelchair, saying he’s not having a stroke anymore and she can see that he can move his leg. John insists she’s there to do what he says but Amber says that’s not how it works.

Tane goes to his stash of money in the shed. He gets a text from someone called Snowy asking if he’s interested in another job. At the surf club, Dean has filled Ziggy in on Mackenzie and Tane. Ziggy muses on why smart women go for bad boys. Dean notes Ari can’t know since Tane’s still in one piece. They see Tane return and go upstairs.

Mackenzie is telling Ryder to put champagne in the fridge when Tane comes in and tells her he wants the job. Mackenzie isn’t entirely convinced it’s a good idea but Tane thinks they can make it work. Back at the Palmer house, Amber is trying to get John to stand up and accuses him of being scared. John tells her to pass him his phone so he can call her boss and fire her. Amber says if he wants to do that he’ll have to get the phone himself. She says stroke patients only recover if they put in the hard work. John says he’ll think about it after lunch. Amber tells him to make it himself.

Dean is taking a class down to the beach. Ziggy comes over and suggests they go up to Salt to see what’s going on. Dean points out he’s taking the class and then has clients to ring. He also points out Ziggy is meeting the agent at the house, so suggests they have dinner at Salt later to see what’s going on. Ziggy notes she’s impressed with him running two businesses. Up in Salt, Ryder is telling Tane where everything is. Tane points out he can’t serve alcohol. Ryder says you can do your RSA online, noting he finds TAFE boring but it’s a means to an end. Mackenzie gives Tane a stack of paperwork he has to fill in to get paid. Tane asks if he has to call her “ma’am”, which Ryder teases her about.

John has stood up but is reluctant to take any steps, worrying that he’ll fall over. Amber suggests he makes Marilyn proud. John isn’t happy at the remark and Amber suggests he can get back to being the man Marilyn fell in love with. Outside, Marilyn is chatting with Tane when they hear John bellowing inside. John tells Amber to get out and she’s fired. Amber passes Marilyn, saying she doesn’t know how she puts up with it. Later, John complains to Marilyn about Amber leaving him in the middle of the room and not feeding him. Marilyn gives him a plate of sandwiches and says he thinks the carers are either too nice or too mean and is making everyone miserable.

At Salt, Amber drains her drink. Ryder offers her another and Amber ponders whether she’s meant to put up and shut up or stick to her guns. Dean comes in and he and Amber recognise each other. Amber tells him to buy her a drink and then take her home to bed.