Episode 7698

Extended Summary

At the garage, Ziggy is giving Theo a lesson in carburettors and how cars often don’t have them anymore. Justin asks Theo about his challenges. Ziggy accuses him of interrupting the lesson but admits they were funny. At Salt, John is continuing to bombard Bella and Nikau with his Neighbourhood Watch ideas. Nikau thinks it’s what the police are supposed to do. John explains it’s about looking out for each other. He suggests scratching driving license numbers onto laptops and phones. Nikau doesn’t think people would want to scratch something they’ve paid money for.

Jasmine waits in the corridor for Dean to emerge from his room. Dean says he doesn’t need a babysitter and Jasmine says she’s a nurse and they’re mates. Dean disagrees and disappears again. Jasmine phones Ziggy, who gets permission from Justin to go home. Theo jokingly accuses Justin of playing favourites, since he doesn’t let him leave early. Justin tells him to sweep the floor and then they can go home, suggesting they have a night in with a movie. Theo indicates he’d rather spend the evening with Chloe but feels she isn’t interested and doesn’t want to push it. He asks Justin what the craziest thing he’s done is and is intrigued by his reference to a rite of passage.

John accosts Bella and Nikau downstairs at the surf club, saying they need to organise a committee meeting. Both are bemused that he considers them a committee and Bella reminds him that they’re meant to be meeting to discuss her working as a photographer. John suggests a free trial and Bella suggests a discount, but admits she doesn’t really know what to charge. Ryder and Cash come in and Bella and Nikau suggest John talk to Cash about the Neighbourhood Watch, slipping away. Cash says he can’t be directly involved, since it’s meant to be independent of the police, but agrees to give advice. At the farm house, Jasmine explains Dean’s news to Ziggy and leaves her to it. Dean appears and Ziggy wonders why half his life’s in the bin. Dean reminds her she said surfing’s who he is, so he doesn’t know how to earn a living if he can’t.

Bella and Nikau are walking on the beach. Bella admits she thinks being a freelancer is the most brainless idea she’s ever had: She doesn’t know what to charge or the basics of running a business. Nikau reminds her he passed as a lifesaver which shows you shouldn’t give up. At Salt, Ryder runs into Theo and Justin. Theo repeats Justin’s rite of passage phrase and wants to do something tonight. Ryder says Chloe isn’t available but Theo says they’ll film it themselves and shows him messages asking for the next video. Ryder agrees they’ll both come up with ideas and then flip for it.

John thanks Cash for his help, saying people need to learn the value of community. Jasmine comes in and says she was checking on Dean which John says is what he was talking of. He nearly invites himself along to their dinner and looks disappointed when Cash explains it’s one on one. The pair head upstairs with Jasmine noting she understands how Dean’s feeling, since she was worried she might not be able to nurse anymore when she found she had epilepsy. At the bar, Theo asks Ryder for ideas, also saying Justin should be judge. Ryder suggests shaving their heads, rebirthing or tattoos. Theo shoots them down, saying they’ll have to use his idea: Their hottest challenge yet.

Ziggy tries to suggest to Dean that he might still surf again but Dean refuses to discuss it. Ziggy says in that case she won’t surf anymore either, because she’ll just be thinking about how he can’t. Dean calls it emotional blackmail. Ziggy agrees. Later, Ziggy says they can do things other than surfing. Dean thinks Jai won’t be able to understand him not surfing anymore and he’s always promised to teach him. Ziggy says Jai would still love him if he was a florist or drove an ice cream truck, showing him a drawing Jai did of just him.

At the surf club, Ryder is aghast at Theo’s idea, saying he’s worried about their safety. Theo says they’ll need a crowd of people and they can use the caravan park. At the Diner flat, Nikau tells Bella he’s proud of her for getting back into photography. Bella says she’s thinking of re-enrolling in TAFE, since they have a business module. Ryder appears and asks to borrow a tripod, saying they’re better off not knowing what for. Nikau notices he’s carrying a first aid kit and he says no-one’s hurt yet.

Ryder joins Theo at the caravan park. Theo has laid out some coal, which they shovel into a path. As a crowd arrive, they set up candles and the tripod, then cover the coals with fuel and light it. Theo says there’s no law against walking across hot coals. At Salt, Jasmine and Cash discuss how they nearly got sucked back into John. Jasmine has to go on a double shift and notes she heard Cash helped Ryder out at the caravan park.

With the camera running, Ryder and Theo loudly introduce their fire walk challenge, before Ryder quietly confirms he’s absolutely not ready. They start across the coals but a passing Cash calls out, asking what they’re doing. They stop, saying they can explain, then jump off the coals in pain. Cash brings them some ice water and Theo complains Ryder has more. Felicity approaches and jokingly asks Ryder if his toe should be purple. Cash suggests they talk when he gets back but Felicity says she has plans.

Cash drops Ryder and Theo off with Justin, saying they refuse to go to hospital and Ryder refuses to leave until a winner’s declared. Cash leaves as Ryder ponders coming up with an excuse not to work with Chloe tonight. Theo tells Justin they need him as a judge and Justin says he’ll do it if he doesn’t have to be on camera. He studies the video as Ryder and Theo build themselves up to their audience. Justin awards it to Ryder, saying he took one more step. Ryder tauntingly calls Theo a loser and Theo retorts that he kissed Chloe, saying it happened while Ryder was throwing up after the chilli challenge. Ryder says he’s going home. Justin lightly slaps Theo on the arm, saying Theo couldn’t help himself.