Episode 7556

Extended Summary

Dean approaches John as he leaves the surf club, asking him to help with a delivery at Salt. However, John isn’t in the mood to help. Leah follows John out and apologises about him feeling ambushed, saying she thought it would help to talk to someone that had been through the same thing. John asks if Stephen was in love with Susie as well, before saying he doesn’t want to go through all the gory details. Dean leaves a message for Mackenzie saying the staff haven’t been paid and the chef is threatening to walk. Back up in Salt, Leah apologises to Stephen, noting John not only lost his savings but was in love with Susie and felt guilty about the town being ripped off. Stephen says he employed a lot of friends he couldn’t pay and lost them, noting it’s been a lonely road. Leah says he’s not alone anymore.

Christian asks Tori if she needs help and Tori sarcastically comments about his search for the meaning of life, saying he’s dragging her along on his journey looking for something that doesn’t exist. Justin arrives and asks if they’ve seen Leah. Tori acidly notes Christian spoke to her earlier. Christian says he doesn’t know where she is and heads out for a walk. Later, Tori explains to Justin about Christian’s behaviour. Leah arrives with Stephen, shocking everyone by saying he’s from Scam Stop. Tori quickly excuses herself to put Grace down and Justin also declines an offer to join them. Leah insists Stephen stay.

Justin finds Christian sitting by the beach and tells him about Leah bringing Stephen home and how he thought she’d let go of things. Christian explains about telling her to continue the search, saying he thought Justin would feel the same. Justin is frustrated and Christian admits he’d say it again. Justin accepts it’s not Christian’s fault and Christian notes he’s having problems with Tori as well. They decide to go for a drink. Meanwhile, Dean arrives back at the flat and eventually finds Mackenzie sitting on the floor, having cut her hand on a broken glass. She morosely says she’s nothing and has no-one. Dean says she’s got him.

Leah is looking over Stephen’s dossier on Susie. He says he met her three years ago and didn’t say anything about Western Australia. He is determined to make her life a misery. Tori comes through, having got a call from Dean, and asks Leah to keep an eye on Grace. She also drops hints about Stephen leaving. He’s prepared to go but Leah tells him to stay. On the balcony at Salt, Christian notes he thought Justin would want to find Susie as well. Justin says he does but he’s happy to leave it to the police and isn’t sure what he’ll do if Leah won’t let it go. Christian suggests Justin be neutral, bite his tongue and let Leah do her thing. He muses that maybe he should do the same with Tori. He says he needs to work out why he was chosen to survive and also notes that he’s back at work the next day.

Tori is bandaging Mackenzie’s hand at the flat. Dean stops Mackenzie grabbing the bottle again. Tori asks if she saw the grief counsellor she recommended, explaining she had a miscarriage once. Mackenzie is sympathetic but says losing the baby wasn’t a big deal for her. Tori and Dean quietly chat about Mackenzie, with Dean saying he knows how to deal with messy. On the Diner patio, John tells Irene about Leah introducing him to Stephen. He says it’s shown him how gullible he was, since he thought maybe he was different and Susie really cared about him. He doesn’t want to ask whether Stephen was involved with her as well.

Stephen tells Leah about a call from someone who helped Susie change her tyre at Coffs Harbour. Justin and Christian arrive home and Stephen leaves. Justin tells Leah he’s trying to be supportive and they withdraw to the bedroom to talk it over. Tori comes in and Christian asks her if it’s too late to talk about the wedding. Leah tells a barely interested Justin everything that happened with Stephen and suggests Justin join her in meeting with him. Justin agrees. Back in the living area, Tori suggests a coin toss to see whether or not they tell each other their vows. Christian asks what would happen if it came out that they didn’t and Tori accepts that she doesn’t like surprises, suggesting that they write them together. Christian tells her he wants to make her happy. Tori thinks that he’ll remember what his life’s for once he goes back to work.

Next morning, at the Diner, John thanks Irene for letting him talk to her but still isn’t keen to talk to Stephen. Dean appears and John asks him what’s going on with Mackenzie and Salt, noting she and Ryder are the only people who can run it and now neither of them’s there. Dean isn’t keen to give him details and asks him to help out further. John agrees but reminds Dean he got him to face the world by setting off his car alarm, suggesting Mackenzie might need the same. Meanwhile, Justin and Christian meets up on the beach. Christian explains about making peace with Tori, while Justin tells him about meeting Stephen: It was the last thing he wanted but he found himself agreeing to whatever Leah said. Christian admits he’s uncertain about going back to work and Justin encourages him to take back control.

Tori and Christian arrive at work. Christian assures her he’s fine and doesn’t need her to check in on him. After they’ve said their goodbyes, Christian takes the lift but heads to the empty ward still taped off as a crime scene. He takes in the equipment trays and restraints, before slowly lying down on the bed.