Episode 7749

Extended Summary

Mia is pacing at home when Nikau and Tane arrive back. She is delighted to see them, giving them both hugs, and they explain about John picking them up at the airport. Nikau says Gemma sent her love and Mia recalls Gemma called her and she meant to ring her back. Nikau goes for a shower as Mia talks to Tane about the house being cleansed and how she sees Ari every time she closes her eyes. Nikau sits in his room. At the surf club, Ziggy suggests ideas to help the Paratas to Dean – cooking them meals, mowing the lawn, tuning their cars – but he rejects them. John approaches and tells them about giving Nikau and Tane a lift, noting they were quiet.

Nikau finishes a phone call with Bella, arranging to see her tomorrow, and tells Tane she’s at a movie in Yabbie Creek with Chloe. Tane checks his phone and sees the bill for the car hire. Nikau tells him they should have filled up the tank themselves. Tane admits to Mia that the trip cost a lot. Mia doesn’t feel up to opening the gym. Tane says he’ll do it. Nikau talks to Mia about how it helped being around Ari’s friends. Meanwhile, John suggests to Dean and Ziggy that they sort out a roster to help out at the gym. Tane appears in uniform, saying they need to pay the bills, and John directs him to the gym mail. Dean suggests fundraising and John calls Roo over to advise.

Tane goes into the empty gym and turns on the lights. He goes to the office and finds a photo of Ari and Mia on the desk. Meanwhile, Dean and Ziggy go round to see Mia and Nikau. Dean apologises for not making Ari’s farewell and says they want to set up a crowdfunding page for the family, with Ziggy asking for a picture of Ari. Nikau thinks it’s great but Mia says no. When Dean says people want to help out, Mia frantically tells them to stop and rushes out of the room.

Dean and Ziggy retire to Salt, reflecting that they stuffed up. Ziggy calls it an extreme reaction but Dean says they shouldn’t have barrelled in. He worries Mia blamed him for not being around but Ziggy convinces him she just hated the idea. Meanwhile, Mia is lying on her bed. She listens to Ari’s voicemail, then listens to it again. Tane knocks on the door and she pretends she was talking to someone. Tane says Nikau told him what happened and thinks Dean and Ziggy were just trying to help. Mia accepts she overreacted but stands by her decision, saying she wants Ari to be remembered as a proud man, not a charity case.

At the Diner, Roo is on the phone to Ziggy, saying it was right to ask permission. John eavesdrops and says it’s a shame Mia didn’t go for it. He wants to discuss further ideas but Roo is preoccupied with Alf’s trip to Merimbula. She says she’s not going to pretend that everything’s okay when it isn’t and going would validate Martha’s decision not to have the transplant. John suggests she sleep on it. Meanwhile, Mia is asleep. In her dreams, she is in the house with Ari, who tells her he missed her. Mia says she missed him too. Ari tells her she needs to let friends and family in and not push them away, noting his spirit has a long way to go before it can rest and he needs to know she’s okau. Mia asks to stay with him and he says that can’t happen. Mia says he can rest and they kiss, then she wakes up and touches her lips.

Next morning, John and Nikau are on the beach with Nikau noting he’ll catch up with Bella after his shift. He wishes Mia had come to New Zealand with them and notes he needs to get some paid work. John mentions the crowdfunding idea but Nikau doesn’t think they should push Mia. Tane comes over and asks how everything’s going. John asks how he is and he says people don’t need to worry. John and Nikau aren’t entirely convinced. Meanwhile, Mia arrives at the surf club. Dean and Ziggy say they didn’t mean to overstep but Mia apologises for her reaction, saying Ari was proud but also liked being part of the community. She gives them a photo for the page. Dean says he owes Ari everything. Mia says Ari didn’t consider ir a debt but Dean says he does.

Mia goes into the gym. Tane is surprised to see her. She tells him what she said to Ziggy and Dean and that she owes it to Ari to get on with things, telling him about the DPP closing the case. She notices the photo, now out on the reception desk, and asks Tane if he remembers it being taken. Tane says it was right after they bought the gym. Mia goes to get changed. Later, Tane is setting up outside and tells Nikau about Mia being back at work. Nikau asks him if he’s told Felicity he’s back and tells him to find time for himself.

Roo runs into Alf at the Diner. He says he’s about to hit the road and offers her a lift. Roo says she’s not ready but to give Martha her love. Alf confirms he got her art supplies. Later, John finds Roo there and she notes Alf has gone and she’s already second-guessing herself not going. John says she could call Alf back or drive there herself but Roo says she’s sticking to her decision.

At the caravan park, Felicity is dancing along to music on her headphones. Tane comes up behind her and stands watching for several seconds until she notices him and stops. She jumps into his arms and they kiss. Felicity asks if he’s okay and he just hugs her.