Episode 6426

Extended Summary

Alf arrives at the hospital and finds Roo and Matt fraught with panic over Maddy’s disappearance. According to the doctors, Maddy needs her medication and shouldn’t even be moving around this soon after surgery. Matt reckons they should be out searching but Alf points out there’s only so much they can do till morning.

Meanwhile, Nate and Ricky are trying to reconnect but can’t seem to put a foot right. Nate brings up his job interview for Head of Emergency, trying to make conversation, but this only creates more friction. Ricky is surprised to hear the interview is tomorrow – why didn’t he tell her sooner? Nate maintains that he did and reckons she forgot, but she assures him she wouldn’t forget something so important. Putting it aside, Ricky promises not to burst in ranting this time around. They both smile, shocked that it’s been an entire year since that incident. The comment sobers them both – an unintentional reminder of just how strained their relationship has become.

The next day, Chris seeks out John for advice on his proposal to the hospital board. Chris is working to get a wing of the hospital dedicated to Hannah, and John is proud of his efforts and pleased to see the lad in better spirits. However, their day soon takes a turn for the worse as they learn Maddy is missing.

Nate and Tori gather with the other candidates for the role of Head of Emergency. She can’t resist some light-hearted teasing, trying to put Nate off his game, but he soon realises what she’s up to. More amused than annoyed, Nate gives as good as he gets, and the pair bond over some friendly competition. Their respective interviews go well but Nate hopes his connection to the hospital will give him the edge.

With Maddy still missing, Matt confesses to Alf that he’s worried, Maddy hasn’t really been in good head space lately – what if she’s done something stupid? Alf tells him not to think like that and enlists some of the community (including John and Chris) to help with the search. Unbeknown to them, Maddy has holed up in a motel room, before going to Oscar’s grave to say goodbye – having missed his funeral. She feels lost and alone in the wake of her accident and needs Oscar’s support and friendship now more than ever. She misses him desperately and makes an emotional goodbye. However, all this takes a toll and her condition deteriorates fast. Meanwhile, Alf receives a tip off that someone has spotted Maddy near the cemetery, so he and Matt race to Oscar’s grave but arrive too late. Maddy has already left and they have no idea where she is. Matt discovers a photo of Maddy and Oscar at the gravestone – Matt’s certain she was there.

At the diner, Nate is meeting Ricky for lunch. He’s still pumped from the interview and they begin to move past some of their recent tension. Nate later finds out he’s missed out on the promotion to Tori, but handles it with dignity.
Returning home, Nate finds Ricky preparing a celebratory dinner. He tells her that Tori got the job. Ricky tries to be supportive but gets short shrift. Missing out on the promotion was clearly a huge blow but he refuses to open up, and we sense the ground they made earlier today has been lost already.

Back at search HQ, they decide it’s time to bring in the SES to help search for Maddy. Chris tells John he’s going to cancel his meeting at the hospital to help with the search for Maddy, but John encourages him to stay the course. John’s going to have an army of people here to help. Chris presents his idea to Tori and the former Head of ED – Tori accepts it. Sounds absolutely perfect.

Tanya arrives at HQ and rips into Roo for not telling her about Maddy. Roo tries to apologise but Tanya doesn’t want to hear it. She blasts Roo for letting her down, and accuses her of trying to turn Maddy against her. Meanwhile, Maddy has made it back to her motel room but her condition has deteriorated further. She collapses and her life is left hanging in the balance.

Tanya opens up to Roo, asking her if she has any idea how it feels as a mother, to just be shut out. Roo tries to comfort her, she’s nineteen, and needs to process things her own way. Tanya thinks it’s clear that Maddy has once again chosen Roo over her. Tanya blames Roo, as an adult she should’ve known better, and now Tanya may never see her daughter again. Alf intervenes but not before Roo is close to tears. Later, she opens up to him about the guilt she’s carrying. She thinks Tanya was right – she should’ve kept Maddy safe. But Alf reckons she’s being flamin’ ridiculous – she couldn’t have prevented any of this, no one could, and Roo’s been a better mother to Maddy than that woman ever was. Roo remains worried, what if they don’t find her? Tori arrives with news of Maddy’s blood results – Maddy is suffering an MRSA infection. It’s serious. If they don’t find Maddy within the next 24 hours, it will be life threatening.