Episode 8473

Extended Summary

Tane tells Irene that he thought he and Harper were going to be okay when they were at the hospital. Irene suggests Harper is exhausted and wants everything to be perfect. Tane points out that she’s okay with Irene and Dana helping. Irene suggests having your ex around is another matter but encourages him to talk to Harper and sort things out.

At the police station, Cash tells Lacey he can arrange to have her put up at a motel under police guard tonight. Lacey asks what happens tomorrow night. Cash says he’ll do his best to find her a safe house but doesn’t have the final say. Lacey gets a call from Gage and says he’ll get more angry if she doesn’t answer, but turns it off anyway. Cash recalls seeing them together when he drove past and she recalls telling him she wanted a break and being dismissed. The phone rings again and Cash says this could be the rest of her life if she doesn’t talk. She turns the phone off again and sits down. Gage leaves a message for Lacey telling her to call him back, then tells the River Boys to go to her place, the pub and anywhere else they can think of.

At the beach house, Marilyn is cooing over Archie and asking Harper how she slept. Tane turns up and Marilyn says she has to get ready for work. Tane suggests to Harper that they have a chat about how things are going to work with Archie. Harper says Archie needs a bath. Tane offers to do it but Harper insists she can manage.

Justin complains about Remi’s lack of loyalty, asking if they’re meant to forget how Theo ended up in there. Leah tells him that’s enough, saying none of it matters if Theo doesn’t pull through. Justin tries to assure her he will. Meanwhile, Lacey gives her statement to Cash, with another officer present and a video recording. She says Theo was dragged in there and tied up under the car, and Gage was playing with him by starting to drop it and then stopping. She says when Sonny turned up, all hell broke loose: Theo was crying out in pain and Gage lost it at her. She admits he did it because he found out they were sleeping together. She gets another call from Gage but turns her phone over.

Marilyn is leaving the house and asks Tane if he wants anything. Harper appears, having put Archie to sleep. Tane asks if they can have that talk now, and whether they should keep the arrangement loose or come up with a schedule. Marilyn chimes in that she’s going. Tane says he’s happy to help with bathing, changes and groceries and that he heard Harper could express milk so he could feed him. Harper says she’ll call him if she needs anything. At the hospital, Justin and Leah become alarmed when monitors start going off around Theo but a nurse assures them he’s just waking up. The staff crowd around Theo and reassure him.

At the surf club, Cash chats to someone on the phone, making sure Lacey’s settled in. He runs into Tane, who says he’s going to check on the gym and then go home. Cash is surprised he’s not spending the night at Harper’s. Tane says he’s been dismissed and apparently it’s more important Harper bonds with Archie. He turns down Cash’s offer of a lift home.

At the Diner, Marilyn asks Irene if there’s any news of Theo. Alf asks them about Archie and Harper being home and Marilyn comments on there being a bit of tension with Tane. She convinces Irene to go home and she’ll close up, then asks Alf about Eliza. Alf says she’s helping him at the bait shop and Roo’s keeping her busy with homework: He expected push back but she’s gone along with everything. He wonders why Marilyn doesn’t want to go home. Marilyn admits it’s even more full now with Archie and Tane.

Irene checks on a sleeping Harper and Archie, then notices the bedding is piled up on the sofa with no sign of Tane. Next morning, Tane is outside the surf club. Cash joins him and confirms that Theo’s awake and he’s going to see him, but he’s not going to arrest anyone until the witness is safe. He encourages Tane to talk to Harper.

Theo tells Cash about how Gage had found out about him and Lacey and how he was forced under the hoist and it was Gage who lowered it onto him. He keeps asking about Lacey. Leah thinks she can look after herself. Cash says she’s come forward as a witness and her account matches Theo’s. Theo worries she’ll be in danger if Gage finds out. Cash steps out to take a phone call and Justin goes to get some clothes for Theo. Cash tells him that Lacey’s disappeared from the motel, suggesting either she’s changed her mind or Gage has got to her.

Cash and another officer go to the River Boy hang-out. Gage is inside, with Lacey cuddled up to him. Cash tells Gage he’s under arrest for grievous bodily harm and it would be murder if Theo hadn’t woken up. Gage tells Lacey to call a lawyer. After the others have gone outside, Cash asks Lacey what she’s doing and she points out there won’t be any questions if she’s sitting on Gage’s lap when he’s arrested. She loudly tells Cash to talk to her through her lawyer.

Harper apologises to Marilyn and Irene for Archie being noisy during the night but they insist it’s fine. Irene asks about Tane. Harper says not to tell her to talk to him, but at that moment Tane arrives anyway and Irene and Marilyn quickly make themselves scarce. Harper says she’s desperate to have a moment to herself and have a shower. Tane tells her to go and he’ll watch Archie.

Theo tells Leah his new pain relief is working and apologises for putting her through this. Lacey turns up and brushes past Leah, telling Theo Cash told her he was awake and they’ve arrested Gage. She kisses him. Leah walks her out and thanks her for doing the right thing but says not to come there again because Theo needs to concentrate on recovering. She goes back in; Theo is pleased that she and Lacey have met.

Tane is cradling Archie and suggesting they go for a walk. Harper rejoins him. Tane passes Archie over and says he doesn’t want to hurt her but he can’t turn being a dad on and off and won’t let her shut him out. At the Diner, Marilyn finds Alf and rambles about things being better with Eliza. Alf cuts her off and tells her she should move back in. She’s relieved.

Harper tells Tane she meant what she said about him being Archie’s dad but she can’t switch her feelings on and off either and it’s difficult having him around. Tane asks to have Archie for the day, saying he’ll bring him back whenever Harper wants.