Episode 7787

Extended Summary

Ryder is standing on the beach with his surf board, staring out to sea. Bella and Nikau come along and wonder why he’s not going in. Ryder says he was thinking, then heads in, leaving them bemused. At the Diner, Chloe turns up early for her shift and Irene and Marilyn check on her. She tells them Gemma has taken Mia to a sulphur pool. Irene tells Marilyn to give Alf and Roo their order. They tell her that Martha’s at art class. Alf wants to text Martha to see if he can pick her up. Roo says they’re meant to be giving her space and Martha’s arranged to go for food with a friend after.

Nikau is posing for Bella outside the surf club when Ryder rejoins them. He tells them he has good news (although his tone suggests otherwise): He’s said yes to the opportunity of a lifetime and is leaving the Bay. Back at the caravan park, Roo tells Alf about a yoga and art retreat they could send Martha on. Alf is dismissive and accuses her of throwing Martha in the deep end with her fancy plans. Ryder nervously interrupts and suggests they sit down. Alf points out they are. Ryder says he’s accepted a job on a cruise ship and they leave port tomorrow.

At the Diner, Irene tells Justin that Chloe will bring his order over. Leah and Theo arrive and Theo apologises. Justin says he understands Theo went through hell but doesn’t get it. Theo says he didn’t want to let Justin down. Justin tells him not to let his history define him. Chloe brings Justin’s cake over and asks if she can get them anything else. Theo gives a rather abrupt no. At the caravan park house, Roo and Ryder are looking over the cruise ship on the internet, while Alf is sitting apart, not paying attention to them. Roo guesses that Quinn helped organise it. Ryder says he’d report to the head mixologist but be in charge of poolside cocktails. He tries to interest Alf, but Alf says there’s nothing to say and ends the conversation by saying he’ll give Martha a ring. Roo tells Ryder they need to arrange a farewell party.

Jasmine is checking on Millie. Logan asks how the patient is and Jasmine reminds him that he’s the patient. She explains to Millie that Logan was the driver of the other car and Millie notes he seems to be unscathed. Both of them are a bit hazy on the actual crash. Xander arrives to check on Millie but she angrily accuses him of wasting time on her instead of helping Jo and tells him to get out. Later, Jasmine runs into Logan while looking for Xander and finds him discharging himself. He says nothing’s broken and Mackenzie can keep an eye on him, promising to come back in if he feels worse. He is bothered that someone died and he can’t really remember how it happened.

At the Parata house, Bella shows Nikau an old photo of Ryder, recalling how he came to a party when she told him she was uncomfortable. Chloe arrives and talks about it being awkward seeing Theo. Bella explains they’re making a goodbye card for Ryder. Chloe takes a photo of a drunken Ryder out of her journal and donates it, then sits writing. At the hospital, Jasmine checks on Millie again. Millie is still blaming Xander for not saving Jo. Jasmine tells her Jo was dead when they got there.

Irene serves Xander at the Diner. He isn’t keen on talking about the job hunt. Logan collects a takeaway from Marilyn and confirms he’s just come from hospital without elaborating. He sits with Xander, who admits he’s wondering if Millie was right and he should have realised there was a passenger from the door being open. Logan says it’s all right to care but you have to be able to let things go. Next morning, Roo is briefing Justin, Leah and Marilyn by the coffee cart, arranging champagne and a cake. Marilyn wonders if there’s going to be a discount for family and friends on the ship. Roo sees Bella, Nikau and Chloe nearby and checks they’re free in a couple of hours.

Theo sees Ryder at the surf club. Ryder reveals he’s just handed in his Salt uniform. Theo wonders if he’s been fired again and he explains about the cruise ship job. Theo is impressed. Ryder invites him to the party and Theo notes at least he’s invited this time. At the hospital, Xander turns up with a bunch of flowers and apologises to Jasmine for not answering her texts. He goes to see Millie who says Jasmine explained things and she just needed someone to blame. Xander says he lost someone recently too and asks about Jo. Millie recalls she could talk you into doing crazy things like bungee jumping.

Irene is impressed with the cake Leah has knocked up but notes Roo will be expecting last minute ones all the time now. Justin finds Theo doing TAFE work and wonders why he isn’t going to the party. Theo admits he’s avoiding Chloe since he doesn’t want to cause trouble at the farewell. Justin reminds him about not letting history rule your life. At the Parata house, Nikau calls out to Bella that they’re going to be late. He knocks Chloe’s journal on the floor and the photo of Bella asleep falls out. He reads and finds passages about making herself cry to get rid of him, using Theo to make Bella feel sorry for her, and not understanding what Bella sees in him. Bella comes in and is shocked at him invading Chloe’s privacy. Nikau shows her the photo and says Chloe’s been playing them.

At the Diner, John is bewildered when Irene tells him Ryder’s leaving and asks why he wasn’t invited to the party. Irene asks if he’s checked his phone and John admits it buzzed earlier but calls it short notice. Seeing Justin and Theo about to leave, he co-opts Justin to help him pick out a present. Theo suggests just getting him an online voucher but John calls it an empty soulless gesture. Justin sends Theo on ahead. At the Stewart house, Marilyn is doing a tarot reading for Ryder and draws the fool card, which she says represents travel and childlike wonder. Roo and Chloe are also present and Chloe comments on him going from the food truck to a cruise ship. Bella and Nikau arrive and Bella gives Ryder the card. Nikau tells her he wants to say something to Chloe and she warns him not to spoil Ryder’s party.