Episode 6446

Extended Summary

Still trying to move on in the wake of Ricky’s departure, hurt Nate’s uncomfortable with everyone’s well-intentioned sympathy. Determined to get his life back on track he takes Casey’s crib apart and tries to focus on work with assistance from his understanding boss Tori… but none of it’s really helping.

Meanwhile, Tori has problems of her own. Encouraging her family to settle in to life in the Bay, her first priority is finding older brother Justin a job. When she hears Alf’s getting the Blaxland out of dry dock for a maintenance run, she volunteers mechanic Justin as a handy offsider. Although he’s not in any real need of help, Alf accepts – keen to repay some of the many favours the new doctor has done for his family lately. However, Justin’s not thrilled by his bossy sister’s interference and threatens not to turn up until Tori points out how much all of them stand to gain by making an effort to be productive members of their new community.

Unfortunately for Justin, Alf is in no mood when Justin turns up late for work and threatens to cast off without him, pointing out he only hired him as a favour to Tori. But reminded of all the reasons he should at least try and make a go of this opportunity, usually hot-headed Justin manages to bite his tongue and convince Alf to give him a shot.

Back in the Bay, Hunter is still struggling with the knowledge that Andy has claimed responsibility for Charlotte’s murder. After bottling things up with Olivia (who’s busy worrying about all the strange messages she and Chris have been getting from Irene) and attempting to exorcise his private hurt and guilt on the Caravan Park punching bag, Hunter’s pain finally surfaces when he charges into the police station, demanding to speak to Andy. His request is refused and Hunter is forced to leave, but he’s clearly a man dangerously close to the edge. With the Coastal News article about Andy’s arrest now out in the open, it’s only a matter of time before Chris and Olivia spot it and Olivia races back to support her broken boyfriend. He admits he has no idea what to do with all the emotions this revelation has brought up and Olivia’s left deeply concerned about his state of mind.

Pushing through a busy day at the hospital, Tori starts to notice a group of nurses watching her. Later when asking one of them, Erica, to pass a chart onto Dr. Cooper, Tori is shocked to learn that the latest rumour doing the rounds is that she’s responsible for the breakup of Ricky and Nate’s marriage. She does her best to shut down the hurtful gossip but it’s only when Nate stands up and bravely addresses all of his colleagues with the truth – that Ricky left him because of long standing issues between them, and nothing to do with Tori – that they all start to move on.

Out on the water, Alf and Justin bond over their shared experience with bossy sisters and Justin’s obvious love of boats. Everything seems to be going well until the unreliable Blaxland breaks down. Justin’s confident he can fix it but when Alf starts to look increasingly unwell it becomes clear he’s having a heart attack. With no time left to tinker with the engine and no way of contacting the mainland, bold Justin dives into the water and swims for shore to get help. But will he be able to raise the alarm in time?