Episode 7555

Extended Summary

Ziggy and Tane are walking along the beach, with Ziggy debating the relative merits of a hotel room or her own bed. Tane reassures her that they’re unlikely to run into Mackenzie at the Diner, reminding her that’s why they’re avoiding Salt. They run into Alf, who guesses Nikau won’t be coming into work after the night out. Tane apologises that Nikau’s let him down but Alf appreciates Nikau has a job, unlike Ryder. Inside, Ziggy asks Ryder about the party. He raves about it, then notices Roo looking at him and says it was research. Roo gives him until the afternoon to come up with a business strategy, implying that otherwise he’ll be the caravan park’s toilet cleaner. Ryder complains to Chloe about her telling his family he had a plan. Chloe responds by producing the card from the taco van, indicating she has an idea.

Over in Salt, Christian has ordered a virgin bloody mary and waxes to Tori about how much he appreciated the sunrise and water and suggests they go arctic free-swimming in Norway. Tori asks him not to go swimming on his own with no lifeguards, then says she’s put Grace into day care so they can write their wedding vows. Christian is quickly distracted by a brainwave: He’ll join an ocean swim club, so he won’t be on his own. Heading downstairs, he talks to John, who quickly gives him the details of a club and says they meet every morning. Christian explains he’s trying new things and thinks everything happens for a reason even if you don’t know about it is. He asks John about searching for Susie and John says it brought up a lot of stuff. Leah appears with Grace’s pram and John quickly makes his excuses, claiming the phone’s ringing.

Chloe is telling Ryder her plan to set up a food van in the surf club car park. Ryder is delighted but not sure where they’re going to get the start-up money from. Chloe thinks he can talk his relatives into giving them the money. At the counter, Irene chats to Ziggy and Tane and mentions that Mackenzie is living with Dean now. When it becomes clear that Ziggy doesn’t know that, she awkwardly says that maybe she was mistaken. Outside, Ryder and Chloe sit with Alf and Roo and explain their plan. Alf and Roo are kind of underwhelmed, although Roo is impressed when Chloe explains it’ll attract people from the beach who don’t want to get dressed to go to Salt. However, Alf isn’t keen to give them a van and asks how much they need for start-up costs. They admit they don’t know.

Back at the Morgan house, Christian comments to Leah that he’s noticed tension between her and Justin lately. Leah says that everyone wants her to give up her search for Susie and she doesn’t want to let them down, even though she’s affected by all the people who’ve lost everything. Christian indicates she lives her life for herself and thinks that she won’t be happy unless she gets rid of her toxic hate, saying that was what went wrong with Lewis. He advises her to keep at it. Back at the Diner, Tori is telling Irene and Marilyn about writing their wedding vows. Christian and Leah turn up, and Christian tells Tori that Leah was bothered by Justin’s attitude but he got her back on track with some motivation. Tori does not look happy.

Ziggy is punching pads Tane is holding at the gym before Tane calls an end to the session. Ziggy checks her phone and wonders if she was too hard on Mackenzie. Tane says Ziggy supported Mackenzie and she hit on her boyfriend. Ziggy agrees. At Salt, Ryder and Chloe have met with Roo to talk over their business plan, saying they need to look over start-up costs and profit forecasts. Ryder says he’s studying Hospitality, not Business Studies, and that his idea for the business name is Charter Incorporated, with Chloe nominating herself as CEO. Roo says they need a van, trailer, supplies, council permit and a wage, showing them her figures. Chloe tries to suggest she’s added it up wrong but Roo says they need $50,000.

At the Diner, Irene checks Leah is okay after their run-in over John yesterday. Tori approaches Leah and tries to apologise about Christian. However, Leah thinks Christian was right and she can’t give up. Tori calls it an obsession but Leah insists she’s trying to get justice for all Susie’s victims and it’s nothing to do with Justin. She gets a text and heads off to see John. Tori looks round and sees Christian being given a tarot reading by Marilyn. Irene says she tried to stop them, as Marilyn produces the wheel of fortune, which represents change and luck. At the surf club, Leah approaches John, saying she knows he’s been avoiding her. John says the search has left him wondering again whether Susie really cared for him. Leah says she has a new lead and encourages John to give it one last go.

Christian follows Tori from the Diner, asking whether she’s angry about the nude swim, him talking to Leah or the tarot cards. Tori says this isn’t like him and he threw a grenade into Leah and Justin when everyone else was trying to talk her down. She notes he has no idea how much damage he’s done. At the Parata house, Chloe is despondent and Ryder reminds her he got his car against all odds. Ziggy and Tane emerge and Chloe says their dream has been crushed, with Ryder noting they need a van. Ziggy says she has a mate that owns a junkyard who might help.

Up in Salt, Leah shows John details of another of Susie’s victims. John says it could be a hoax and is just opening up another wound. A man appears and knows who they are. Leah tells John that he’s Stephen from the Scam Stop forum. Meanwhile, Christian arrives back home. Tori says she’s worried about him, wondering how he’s had such a personality change. Christian says he was clinically dead and would like her to support him. Tori tries to dismiss it as a phase but Christian says he needs to know why he was given a second chance.

Stephen explains to Leah and John that he’s a builder and Susie approached him with a proposition to build apartments together and sell them. He lost his business, his apartment and his wife, who even took the dog with her. He wants to join forces but John says he can’t help and angrily tells Leah that he doesn’t appreciate the ambush and to leave him out of it.