Episode 8526

Extended Summary

Cash is running in a park area. He encounters Tane, who is pushing Archie in his pram. Tane explains that Harper has let him have Archie overnight again and Cash makes a comment about a boys’ night before running on. Jo sees Tane cooing over Archie and gives a slight smile. Later, Cash arrives home. Tane hands him Archie for a minute and worries him slightly by getting him to rub his back for reflux before returning with Archie’s bib. Cash notes things must be going well between Tane and Harper if she’s letting him have Archie two nights in a row. Tane thinks the ship has sailed between him and Jo.

Irene and Leah arrive back at the Diner. Leah tries to change Irene’s mind, suggesting she just reduce her number of shifts, but Irene says she’s not going to get any better and if she could run the place with Leah for another twenty years then she would. Marilyn arrives and, seeing their mood, asks what’s wrong. Later, Marlyn has been clued in and isn’t cheered by Irene saying it’s one less person to boss her about. Irene tells her to get back to work one last time. Justin arrives to pick up Leah and she tells him about Irene leaving the business.

Levi finds Mackenzie looking up IVF sites on her laptop. She is hoping for positive stories and points to a testimonial from a couple who tried for years and now have a daughter. Abigail comes home and Mackenzie quickly closes the laptop. Abigail says she won’t ask and confirms she locked up before heading to bed. Mackenzie asks Levi to keep things quiet until they’ve made a decision.

At the Parata house, Tane has put Archie to sleep but isn’t convinced by Cash’s suggestion that he can put his feet up and have a beer now. He asks if Cash knows what it means when a woman texts you in the middle of the night, before telling him about asking Jo out. Cash suggests his life doesn’t end now he’s got a baby. On cue, Archie starts crying.

Irene is alone at the Diner, closing up, and has a number of flashbacks: Putting out the Open sign; telling Miles he and Matilda are their first customers and Geoff and Annie don’t count as family; finding Alf, Mariyn, John, Chris and Jett running a Diner now full of customers; Leah showing her and Marilyn her wedding dress; and hugging John. She closes up for the last time.

Next morning, Levi and Mackenzie are on the balcony at Salt. Levi asks how long she sat up doing research last night. Abigail nervously brings them some drinks saying she’s not listening in. Mackenzie comments on how expensive it all is and Levi notes at least they don’t have to worry about that. They seem keen to do it.

Tane is trying to take a phone call while looking after Archie, telling Cash that someone’s called in sick and he can’t get hold of either anyone at the gym or Harper. He thinks he’s going to have to cancel the boot camps. Cash says he has the day off work so can look after Archie. Tane cautiously decides to do one boot camp and then come back, giving Cash directions on how to give Archie his bottle. Cash tries to follow the instructions, but ends up throwing the milk all over himself.

At Salt, Abigail serves Jo and wonders if she’s going to the gym given how she’s dressed. Jo says she’s just going for a walk. Mackenzie and Levi turn up and Mackenzie encourages Jo to go and see Tane, saying she got him to ask her out. Jo says she turned him down. Levi tries to get Mackenzie to drop it but Mackenzie presses ahead with encouraging Jo to go see Tane. After Jo’s gone, Levi asks Mackenzie if they can not get so involved in his colleague’s love life but Mackenzie just tells him to stay out of it.

Jo wanders down to the beach where Tane is setting up a boot camp and asks if she can join in. Tane says it’s meant to be members only and she says she’s thinking of joining. Tane eventually agrees, saying it’s a good way to make new friends. Meanwhile, Leah arrives at the beach house with flowers for Irene. Irene offers her a cuppa but Leah says she has to get to work. She wonders if Irene might consider retiring without selling but Irene wants it gone. Leah says she’ll talk to a bank manager about a loan. Irene wonders if she could sell to someone else but Leah says if she can’t run it with Irene, she’ll do it by herself. Irene offers her a cuppa, then realises she already asked her that. Leah heads off to work.

Jo delivers a succession of punches and kicks to the pads Tane is holding, noting David was big on self-defence. He dismisses the class before wondering about her joining the gym. Jo says things don’t have to be weird between them. On the Salt balcony, Levi finishes a call to a third clinic and confirms to Mackenzie that they also have a long waiting list. He notes they can keep trying the old-fashioned way even if they do have to wait.

Cash tries to call Tane as he puts a crying Archie into his pram, repeatedly telling Archie they’re going to go and see his dad as he pushes him out. At the surf club, Tane has finished signing up Jo and says the timetable for classes is online or he could text it to her. Cash arrives with Archie at that moment, complaining he won’t settle. Tane asks if he gave Archie the bottle and Cash says he’s wearing it. Jo leaves and Tane says Cash didn’t interrupt anything.

Irene arrives at the Diner. Marilyn nervously says she didn’t think she was coming in. Irene says she hasn’t forgotten and is there as a customer. Marilyn notes their best barista retired yesterday. Leah and Justin watch from a distance before Justin joins Irene, suggesting bacon and egg rolls. Irene realises he knows and says he doesn’t need to worry about her but should worry about Leah.

Tane shows Cash that there’s fresh milk in the fridge door. Cash notes criminals don’t cry like Archie does. He tries to convince Tane there’s significance to Jo joining the gym, saying there’s another gym in Reefton Lakes and one in Yabbie Creek with a nice spa, and suggests becoming a dad has made Tane dumb.