Episode 7972

Extended Summary

Mackenzie approaches Felicity at the Salt bar and tries to suggest she’s not ready to come back to work and it’ll be too much pressure. Felicity continues to insist otherwise, saying she’s co-owner, meaning Mackenzie doesn’t get to tell her what to do. At the Parata house, Nikau and Cash arrive home. Tane tells them about Felicity calling off the engagement. Cash says he hoped distance would help. Tane says he’s going back to work. Nikau protests Tane has been there for Felicity. Cash says he’ll deal with her.

Justin knocks on the door of Ava’s room. Ava appears and seems to have been crying, accusing him of wanting her to go. Justin insists that’s not what he said and suggests they talk about her boyfriend. Ava refuses and goes back into her room (with some tissues Justin gave her) as Theo looks on. Later, Justin remarks to Theo that Leah would know how to handle it. Theo suggests that Ava coming there means she feels safe with him and that he do as she says and spends time with her.

Felicity serves a customer in Salt but the customer protests she asked for no dressing. Felicity is bewildered that she just wants a bowl of lettuce. Mackenzie steps in, offering the customer a free drink, which Felicity objects to. Cash arrives, wanting to talk to Felicity about Tane. Felicity responds by disappearing into the store room, where she sits drinking and crying. Mackenzie tells Cash that she’s been rude to customers and got every order wrong. Down on the beach, Nikau tries to convince Tane to stop working and go and talk to Felicity. Tane says he tried that and just made things work, wanting Nikau to drop it.

Felicity replaces the nearly empty bottle and finds Cash and Mackenzie waiting for her. She goes to pour herself another drink and ends up slamming the glass down in anger, smashing it and cutting her hand. Mackenzie tries to give her a cloth to stem the bleeding. Cash takes over, telling Mackenzie to get the first aid kit.

Justin and Ava are walking near the beach. Ava asks Justin to teach her to surf, suggesting them she could go surfing with him and Theo in the morning. Justin says he’ll teach her if she answers one question about her boyfriend: How did she meet him? Ava says she met him online. Justin is concerned, wondering if she’s met him in real life and if he even exists. Ava says it was only one question. She orders an almond latte from Irene at the coffee cart, with Justin ordering a flat white.

Cash has bandaged Felicity’s hand. She protests that she can’t feel anything and Cash says alcohol’s a great anaesthetic. He says he’ll get her some food and talks quietly with Mackenzie about her. Downstairs, Nikau gives Tane a smoothie as a peace offering. Cash brings Felicity downstairs, saying he’s taking her home. Felicity stops as she sees Tane, then says to take her to the caravan park because that’s where she lives now. After they’ve gone, Nikau tries to convince Tane that Felicity still loves him, telling him about her learning her vows in Te Reo Maori.

Cash and Felicity relax outside a caravan. Felicity calls them being there together the good old days. Cash replies that she used to complain about the shower block and made a decision to move on from there. Felicity replies that it blew up in her face and she’s learned you have to know your place. Tane approaches and, despite Felicity asking him not to, Cash leaves them to talk. Tane says he knows she doesn’t want this and he loves her. Felicity replies that this is all his fault: She never wanted to get married and the car crash was a wake-up call. Tane gives up and leaves. Felicity looks upset.

Theo is practising his guitar at home. Justin and Ava arrive back and Justin suggests they go online to buy her a board and wetsuit. Ava, however, is more interested in listening to Theo. Justin says he wants to talk to her boyfriend, saying a video call will be fine if he lives a long way away. Ava refuses and walks out. Theo offers to talk to her.

Cash returns to find Felicity on her own. She reminds him that she and Tane broke up. Cash protests that Tane made her happy and she’s thrown away the best thing that’s ever happened to her, asking if she knows why. Meanwhile, Nikau returns home to find Tane packing. Tane says things are over with Felicity: She’s determined to push him away and he can’t help her. He says he’s going away for a few days.

Theo and Ava walk on the beach. Theo speaks up for Justin, saying his relationship with his dad was toxic and Justin helped him out. He asks her about her boyfriend. Ava admits there isn’t one: She made it up to explain to her mum why she was online so much. Later, they meet up with Justin outside the surf club. With a bit of prompting from Theo, Ava tells him about making the boyfriend up and insists that she doesn’t spend as much time online as Nina thinks. Theo suggests he and Ava go to the movies and she agrees.

Cash searches through Felicity’s caravan, finding several bottles. After initially saying she can just buy some more, Felicity becomes hysterical as he bins it, sobbing that it’s the only thing that stops her from seeing the crash and the fire all the time. Later, Cash brings Felicity a blanket as she sits by the fire. She admits fire usually reminds her of the crash but she doesn’t mind when he’s there with her. She talks about how they should have known they were cursed after what happened to their parents and people like them don’t get to be happy.