Episode 6244

Extended Summary

As they make food for their large family, Leah and Zac continue to discuss Leah selling her share of the diner, Zac wants her to be sure before she does anything. The teens are talking about the University Info Day which they’re attending tomorrow and Oscar is preparing extra questions which the others laugh at good naturedly. Alf comes home commenting about all noise while then quietly admitting to Leah and Zac that it’s a nice noise to come home to. Maddy says she’s thinking about taking a gap year and traveling which stuns Oscar but Alf is encouraging saying that she deserves a break after her tough year. Once they’re in private Oscar asks Maddy about her plans for a gap year. He’s concerned but she seems really enthralled by the idea. Oscar enquires about her being on the other side of the world while he’s still in Summer Bay but Maddy shrugs his worries off saying they’ll make it work.

At the diner Irene and Marilyn cheerfully tease Roo about James.

Evie is testing Josh, he’s doing well but when Evie says they’re going to be late for dinner he insists that he needs to keep studying. Evie returns the next morning to find Josh crashed out on the couch and expresses her concern that he’s pushing himself too hard. Josh explodes at Evie, then smooths thing over with a kiss and a joke.

Oscar waits impatiently for everyone, ready to go to the Uni Info Day. As the teens leave, Alf appears with the mail, he slyly comments on her being dressed up, having been told about James by Marilyn earlier. Roo is worried about people talking but Alf encourages her warmly. Leah opens a letter reminding them about the deposit for the wedding venue, which forces her and Zac to discuss postponing the wedding, which they reluctantly agree to do. Later Alf commiserates with them about it and suggests getting a personal loan, but Zac thinks it’ll be hard for him to get one with a criminal conviction and Leah doesn’t want to get into debt. Leah says selling her share of the diner is the better option and Alf tells her to think carefully before she makes such a huge decision. Zac tries to persuade Leah to think about a loan but she seems to have made up her mind and as she marches off to speak to Irene we see them from someone’s point of view, who is watching them?

Roo and James greet each other with an awkward hug at the Uni Info Day but then conversation flows and they agree to meet up later. Roo is left with a feeling of excited anticipation. Evie and an obviously tired Josh walk through, Josh apologises for earlier but when Evie tries to be understanding, saying she knows he wants to do well, he shrugs it off and starts looking around. Later Evie catches Maddy picking up a Nursing leaflet and wonders whether she is intending to study after all but Maddy assures Evie she’s sticking with her travel plans. Once Evie walks away though Maddy looks thoughtful, as though she’s reconsidering. Roo and James bump into each other again, then Josh walks up and after he recognises James as Roo’s ‘date’ at Casey’s naming ceremony Roo protests a little too much about how casual hers and James’ relationship is. Josh goes on to look at the Architecture and Design stand and is told that while it’s a great course the hours are long and pulling all nighters is not unusual.

Leah has the hard conversation with Irene and Marilyn, telling them she needs to sell her share of the diner. They are both upset to hear it’s come to that, and try to suggest other options but Leah is convinced that she has no choice. Meanwhile Zac is looking at loan options online and starts to apply. Later he calls them and while he’s on the phone we see him from someone’s point of view again… Zac moves outside and we see gloved hands as someone walks around inside the house, searching. They stop and look through the scrapbook at the photos, pausing on the happy family photo of Leah, Zac, VJ, Oscar and Evie. Zac waits for Leah at the diner, he’s made them a packed lunch picnic. As Leah goes to get ready Zac receives a call from the loan company… Which VJ overhears and questions Zac about it. VJ quickly realises that Leah doesn’t know and pointedly tells Zac that his mum doesn’t need any more secrets.

Later on the architecture guy seeks Josh out and after discovering that the reason he looks so tired is from studying all night, he gives Josh his number, offering pills which will make staying awake and concentrating so much easier. Roo finds James at the end of the Info day and tries to give James an opening to see more of each other but while he is friendly he doesn’t offer more. Roo leaves, disappointed. At the diner Roo tells Irene and Marilyn about it. Just as Roo is saying that perhaps she read too much into it, James walks in and asks her out to dinner, specifying that it is a date, just to avoid any confusion. The ladies are thrilled.

The teens arrive home, and Oscar is happy to discover that Maddy might be interested in going to Uni after all. Josh hits the books, despite Evie saying they don’t have to straight away, he’s pushing himself hard.

Irene delivers the paperwork for selling the diner, Leah feels silly as she gets a bit tearful about it. Zac sees and going outside, calls to confirm his loan application…