Episode 7553

Extended Summary

Bella is impatiently waiting on the beach for Nikau to finish a swim, worried that she needs to get him ready for the shoot. Nikau says he’s been up since five stressing. Bella gets a text about Mackenzie moving in and is annoyed about not being consulted. Meanwhile, Leah is walking away from Justin on the pier. Justin wants to talk things over but Leah is angry about him not supporting her and says she’ll make her own way home. Justin walks off. Alf emerges from the bait shop and confirms to Leah that he heard them.

Bella tries to hurry up Nikau, who’s in the shower, and wonders if she’ll need her tripod, then whether she’ll actually do anything. She gets a text saying the driver’s on the way and tells Nikau that he’s on time. Shortly after, the two of them are outside the house and are stunned when a long limousine pulls up and the driver calls Nikau “sir”. They jump in the back and Nikau takes a selfie for Gemma.

Dean asks Mackenzie if she’s feeling better and she admits she isn’t really. Dean claims Bella is fine about her moving in. She encourages him to go to work, saying she’ll just be sitting around feeling sory for herself. However, after Dean’s gone, she seems more alert. Later, Jasmine turns up offering help but Mackenzie is quick to grab a bottle of margarita and a blender and convince Jasmine to join her for a drink.

At the Diner, Leah tells Alf that she understands Justin doesn’t want to be involved in her search for Susie but wishes he wouldn’t try and stop her. Alf wonders if there’s more to Justin’s objection than appears, saying he hasn’t been himself lately. Leah goes home and calls out for Justin. She notes an empty blister pack of pills. Looking in the box, she finds two more empty sets and only one full one.

The limousine arrives in the city and Bella and Nikau head into a large work space, where photographers are shooting models in different areas. Sienna quickly grabs Nikau, leaving Bella to wander over to Emmett. She notes she wanted to look like she always did this but instead is just thinking wow. Emmett says if she didn’t she’d be a jaded hack like him. Bella goes over to Nikau, who is getting his make-up done, and reassures him. Back at the Diner flat, Mackenzie and Jasmine are drunk, with Jasmine filling Mackenzie in on her tarot reading, including getting the tower card and the devil card. Mackenzie is sceptical but Jasmine says Marilyn told her it’s about how you look at the cards.

Leah is waiting as Justin arrives home. He says he’s not ready for round two and thinks that she doesn’t care about anyone else. Leah however thinks his behaviour is strange and produces the empty pill packs, asking if he’s been double dosing again. Justin says that he’s been in pain but Leah reminds him the doctor says it’s not safe. Justin says he’s not been able to talk to her because she’s been either working or had her head stuck in the laptop. Leah accepts she’s been neglecting him and says they’ll concentrate on getting his medication sorted. Justin agrees to make an appointment but shoots furtive looks at his bag as he says it. Leah offers to take time off work but Justin gets it downgraded to a cuppa together beforehand.

Sienna tells Nikau to lose his belt because the client doesn’t like it. Nikau is rather worried that they’re there. He is paired with Allegra, who Bella remembers from the previous week. Nikau has difficulty following Emmett’s instructions to act close to Allegra but her encouragement helps him to relax and pose with her. Sienna and the clients look pleased but Bella looks uncomfortable. At the Diner flat, Jasmine has set up an app to produce tarot cards for Mackenzie: The empress, which symbolises wealth, the arts or infidelity, and the hanged man, which refers to making wild decisions to distract yourself. Dean arrives and is bewildered by Jasmine’s idea of looking after Mackenzie. Jasmine leaves, suggesting Mackenzie get some food. Dean notes if he and Mackenzie had known each other as kids they’d have been a nightmare. Mackenzie doesn’t think Ziggy will forgive her, pointing out she never forgave Dean.

Leah checks that Justin is fine with her going before giving him a kiss goodbye. After she’s gone, Justin retrieves a packet from his bag and hides it under a drawer in the bedroom. Later, at the Diner, Leah talks to Roo about how Alf was right about Justin. Jasmine comes in, saying she just needs some water and fresh air, and sagely advises them not to mix drink and tarot cards. Leah gives her a bottle of water on the house, with her and Roo very bemused.

Bella and Emmett check over the photos, as do Sienna and the client, who give a thumbs up. Nikau thanks Allegra for helping him. Sienna tells Nikau he can keep the outfit he’s wearing but also needs to attend an after party. Nikau wants to give it a miss but Sienna says he was booked for a job and it’s not over yet. Later, Bella approaches Sienna outside and says Nikau really needs to catch up on some sleep instead of going to the party. However, Sienna insists it’s not up for discussion and Nikau hasn’t been around long enough to call the shots, suggesting Bella re-read the terms of the contract. Bella says Sienna doesn’t own him but Sienna says she does.