Episode 7569

Extended Summary

Ziggy returns home as Tane is about to leave for work and tells him about being fired, noting that Justin lost it at her out of nothing and that it’s a shame Tane’s got a job right when she could do with him sitting at home with her and wallowing. She decides she’ll stick with ice cream and that Justin will regret it, since she’ll have another job by lunchtime. At the Parata house, Ari finds Mia reading a book about having a baby. She assures him she’s not pregnant yet. Although Ari has the day off, Mia has to go into work. Bella and Nikau enter and Ari drily welcomes Nikau home. Nikau is wearing a shirt that the client gave him from his shoot and they are meant to be meeting Allegra to get some advice on his socials, although Bella pulls out of it, saying she has a TAFE assignment to do.

At the Diner, John comments on Stephen downing coffee and Stephen notes he had a lot of glasses of wine with Leah. John admits Susie was the only person he’s dated since his marriage and ran into her right after he’d left a dating app. Stephen says that’s what Susie does, uses dating apps to identify men who are lonely. Irene and Marilyn watch from the counter and greet Bella when she comes in, asking her about the fashion shoot. She tells them about Sienna wanting Nikau to gain more followers on social media, something she isn’t interested in. Meanwhile, Nikau meets with Allegra at Salt and is surprised to find Emmett there to help. Allegra says Nikau needs good socials to get partnerships. Nikau says Sienna suggested a day in the life post and notes he normally starts his day opening up the bait shop. Seeing Allegra’s stony look, he adds that since he’s quit, he usually goes to the gym.

Nikau explains the idea to Mia at the gym. Mia asks what the gym has to do with his life before smiling and assuring Allegra and Emmett that he’s there all the time. She’s happy to help out, especially when they offer a shout-out. She tries to put some paper in the bin, misses and finds a post-it note on the floor. Meanwhile, Ari finds Tane hosing down outside the bait shop and jokes about him doing an honest day’s work for once. Tane tells him about Ziggy losing her job. John and Stephen appear and John criticises Ari for riding his bike down the street in the middle of the night, although Ari protests it was only nine o’clock. After Stephen has gone, John gets a text signed by Susie saying “I heard you were looking for me Mr President.”

Ziggy is doing a ring round for mechanic work but has a hard time explaining leaving her previous employer, citing a personal crisis and economic downsizing, is unable to provide personal references and finally gets someone who is only interested in employing her as a receptionist. At the surf club, Ari approaches Mia and asks if she can take a long lunch to help with a family crisis. Bella enters and greets Nikau when he emerges from the gym. She is surprised to see Emmett there with him and Allegra but isn’t keen to get involved, since she still has her assignment. Nikau convinces her to join them.

Ziggy is sitting next to an empty tub of ice cream. Tane returns home and she tells him she couldn’t even get an interview. Tane says he’s called in reinforcements for either a celebration or a pity party. Ari and Mia turn up and Mia gushes over the place. Ziggy says her parents own it, meaning they can’t evict her. At Salt, Allegra encourages Nikau to post a story about his food. After they’ve gone to order, Emmett notes Bella was quiet and she says she can’t stop thinking about what he said about Sienna. Emmett tries to encourage her to follow her own path but she leaves.

At the Diner, John shows the text to first Irene and Marilyn and then Stephen, who he’s summoned back. Irene and Marilyn suggest it might just be kids missing about but John thinks the “Mr President” reference is personal. Stephen thinks it is Susie, playing mind games, and encourages John to text her back, asking how she knew. Later, John receives a reply apologising and asking to meet. Stephen discourages John from handing over the details to the police, saying they might scare her off by calling back and to let the private investigator handle it instead. Nearby, Emmett sits with Bella, who says she’s waiting for a takeaway. Irene overhears and admits she didn’t realise, going to sort it. Emmett asks to talk.

Mia asks Ziggy to give her a tour, leaving Ari and Tane to handle the barbecue. Tane asks Ari about trying for a baby and Ari congratulates him on getting his act together. Ziggy shows Mia the bedroom and they discuss how tidy the boys are. Mia says she doesn’t regret getting back with Ari and asks how serious Tane is about working at the bait shop. Later, as they eat, Mia quizzes Tane about it, saying she found his post-it note on the floor and thinks Jasmine didn’t even see it. Ziggy says she wound him up about it and Mia says if Tane wanted to work there, he should talk to her. She notes she’s okayed it with Jasmine if he wants it. Ziggy says he does. Tane doesn’t seem too keen but says nothing.

Nikau comments on the face Allegra isn’t eating the food she’s advertised. She says she has a runway shoot in two days. Nikau admits he doesn’t do much preparation beyond having a shower and Allegra says junk food catches up with you. Meanwhile, Bella and Emmett are walking on the pier. Emmett assures her she’s talented, adding that the industry’s brutal and no-one cares about anyone’s feeling. Bella reminds him he told her to get out. Emmett says that’s easy for him to say when he’s already established. He says he has a photography exhibition that a friend is organising and invites her to share it with him.

Back at the surf club, Allegra advises Nikau to reply to some of the comments on social media. Nikau says he’s going to hit the gym, admitting Allegra has made him feel a bit worried. Allegra produces a phial of clear liquid which she says is an appetite suppressants. Nikau is relucant to go down that path but Allegra puts it in his pocket, telling him to take it just in case.