Episode 6573

Extended Summary

The Morgans’ secret is out. Their story is splashed all over the front page of the Coastal News. It’s not the way they’d pictured the town discovering their past. Especially Tori, who was on her way to tell Nate the truth when he arrives at her house with a copy of the newspaper – is this her big secret? Nate’s not angry Tori kept it all a secret, but he thinks she still could have trusted him. She warns that they both could have gone to gaol if anyone found out she’d told him the secret. Dazed, Nate heads off to process the news, leaving Tori troubled.

Justin arrives at the Diner, still shaken by seeing Ava. When John shows him the Coastal News, Justin grimly heads straight back out, completely blanking Matt who also has questions about the article. Tori worries to Justin and Brody that Nate might be running for the hills. Brody feels like they’re the town freaks thanks to the news article. Justin reassures them, it will all calm down eventually. They desperately hope it’s true.

Manning the garage all on his own, Matt is busy fending off phone calls from journalists asking about Justin and bleating from John about his car being fixed on time. He calls Justin to complain about being left on his own, but agrees to hold the fort for today.

An exasperated Tori tells Justin that he can’t avoid Phoebe forever and to sort it out, but Justin is struggling with seeing Ava, although he hasn’t told anyone yet.

In the gym, some wise words from Alf help Nate to see that perhaps he should focus less on how he feels and be a friend to Tori – she’s been through a lot and perhaps needs someone to talk to.

Phoebe’s not feeling very inspired in her songwriting, but Evelyn agrees to her suggestion for the name of the Festival, “Summer Grooves.” Evelyn says Matt has been hounded by journalists at the garage and that Phoebe must be pretty shocked by all the news. Phoebe lies and says she’s still processing. Justin rocks up and bursts into tears, confessing he didn’t know where else to go. Phoebe immediately comforts him. Justin knew Nina would be angry, but he didn’t expect her to ban him from seeing Ava forever. He frets that Ava doesn’t even know he exists. Phoebe thinks Nina might become more reasonable once she’s had a chance to calm down and verify his story. Justin apologises for walking out on Phoebe the night of the trial celebration, but his plan to testify and then move on with Ava and Phoebe has been ruined. Phoebe reassures him, confident he will sort things out with Ava and their relationship can proceed one step at a time.

Tori apologises to Nate, she didn’t want him to find out this way. Nate understands that she had to keep it from him but he is struggling to get his head around it. It seems that perhaps they may find a way past this but then Nate realises the full extent of Tori’s deception – she had her own reasons for calling Careflight. Her main motive was to protect herself and had nothing to do with him at all.

When Evelyn asks Phoebe if she and Justin are together now the Morgans’ secret is out, Phoebe says Justin has too much going on and she’s taken a step back to let him deal with his baggage. Evelyn suggests Justin could do with having Phoebe by his side to help deal with everything.

Raffy, Justin and Brody discover Salt has been trashed and graffitied with “Drug Scum.”

Nate and Tori’s discussion has become heated. He doesn’t know what to believe. Nate wonders if he knows Tori at all – what else has she lied about? Tori begs Nate to give her a chance, she is still the same person, only her name has changed. But it’s too much for Nate, he can’t be in another relationship where there’s no trust.

At Salt, Phoebe is shocked to discover Salt has been trashed when she arrives for work. She encourages Brody and Justin to go to the police but a disheartened Brody thinks it will only bring them more trouble, the Summer Bay community obviously doesn’t want them around. When Raffy confronts the local baying mob, Phoebe comes to rescue and stands up for the Morgans. Phoebe tells them Justin is the bravest person she knows, not realising Justin is behind her. When Justin thanks Phoebe for standing up for them, she becomes flustered and hurries away, leaving Justin staring after her – a tiny smile playing on his face.

When Tori updates Justin on her breakup, he again tells her that things will calm down once people get the real story and that Nate will come around eventually.

Matt and Evelyn are in the midst of a make out session at the garage when Evelyn notices a smoke smell. They check outside and see a number of oil drums on fire. Matt grabs the fire extinguisher and yells for Evelyn to call the Fire Department. Evelyn watches, terrified, begging Matt to stop – she can’t lose someone else!