Episode 6603

Extended Summary

VJ is trying to get his head round things. Alf and Leah explain about the brain tumour but all VJ can think is that Billie might still be alive if not for John. Ash turns up and VJ tells him John started the fire. Ash heads off despite Leah calling after him. Alf decides to call Kat. At the hospital, Nate and Riley are telling John and Marilyn they have a top neurosurgeon to work on him when Ash bursts in and tells John he knows he killed Billie. John is bewildered and Kat and another officer come in and push Ash out. Kat tells him it’s not the time and gets the other officer to take him home. Nate asks her to explain to John and Marilyn. She goes in and tells them about the lighter. John says he was at home last night. Marilyn admits she went to bed before him. John says he chatted to Alf, then went to bed while Alf went fishing, but seems confused. Kat asks him about the festival; he recalls looking for Marilyn but again seems vague. Nate explains the brain tumour causes memory loss and blackouts and Kat says they’ve linked him to nearly all the fires. Marilyn continues to insist it’s not true but John realises he did it.

Back at the caravan park house, Alf, VJ, Ash, Leah, Zac and Hunter are all assembled. Ash is in a mess about John while VJ is insisting he can’t get away with it, despite Alf angrily reminding them he has a brain tumour. Leah says they need to concentrate on Billie’s service tomorrow. Alf, VJ and Hunter all go to bed. Leah offers to let Ash stay the night but he declines. Zac compliments Leah but she only abruptly thanks him and walks away. Next morning, Zac is going for a walk on the beach and comes across Sam going for a run. She notes he never called and Zac says he can’t talk to her and has a lot of people to look after. Sam asks who’s looking after him. Zac says he needs to get back.

Marilyn looks at her gloved hand. Alf turns up, asking how she’s going and offering her a lift to the service. Marilyn says she can’t go, not when Leah, VJ, Ash and Luc are there and think John started the fire. She realises Alf thinks it as well. Alf confirms he does but says it isn’t hers or John’s fault. Down on the beach, Zac and Hunter set things up while Matt and Evelyn look at a picture of Billie and Leah stares into space. Zac goes over to her but she pulls away so Evelyn goes to him instead. Alf, Kat, Phoebe, Olivia and Mason all arrive and many hugs are exchanged. VJ and Ash approach, VJ carrying Luc and Ash carrying the urn with Billie’s ashes. Leah convinces VJ to give her Luc.

Ash and VJ stand at the front of the gathering. VJ tells them that he loved Billie, she was an amazing mum and he and Luc are going to miss her. He sits down, taking Luc off Leah. A young man, Patrick, comes by and stands a short distance away from the gathering. Ash says Billie was the best little sister he could have had and he’s going to sing her favourite song. As he does so, Hunter puts his arm round VJ. Zac takes Leah’s hand but she pulls away. Back at the house, Marilyn packs a bag, while John stares into space in hospital. Ash and VJ carry the ashes to the water together, with most of the others following at a distance. Patrick walks away and Kat watches him go. Ash and VJ empty the urn into the waves and hug.

Riley is examining John at the hospital. Nate comes in and asks where Marilyn is. John says she was meant to be there, at which point Marilyn arrives and the doctors leaves. John initially doesn’t respond while Marilyn fusses, but eventually says he needs to apologise to her: All he can think about is that Billie’s dead and she’s in pain because of him. Marilyn comforts him. At Salt, with the wake in progress, Brody tells Mason to make sure the family have drinks. Riley turns up with flowers and apologies from Nate. Irene also turns up, having got a stand-by flight. She chats briefly to Leah and gives VJ a hug. Leah asks VJ to let her take Luc home; he is reluctant but eventually agrees. Zac says he’ll go as well despite Leah not seeming to want him with her. Mason sees Olivia looking at Hunter and says he can see she wants to talk to him and doesn’t mind if she does. Olivia asks Hunter if he’s okay and says he can talk to her if he wants to. He thanks her and walks away. At the bar, Matt, Evelyn and Phoebe discuss Ash’s singing before Phoebe proposes a toast to Billie.

Kat joins Ash on the beach. Looking out into the water, he says Billie’s out there now and reminisces about surfing with her. Back at the house, Leah responds without interest to Zac asking if Luc went to sleep okay and dismisses his attempts to compliment her on how she’s handled the day. Zac asks how long she’s going to punish him but Leah says it’s not about him. Zac says he needs her. Leah retorts that Luc needs her. Zac goes to Sam’s motel room and tells her he needs to talk to someone.

Matt joins Evelyn on the balcony at Salt and she says she needed to breathe. Matt thinks they should talk to VJ (who can be seen chatting to Olivia) and says he can’t imagine how he’s feeling. Evelyn tearfully says she can and Matt gives her a minute alone. Riley comes out and offers to leave but Evelyn says it’s okay. He says he’s sorry about Billie and comments on platitudes from people you don’t know before complimenting her on her smile. Brody watches them. Back at the motel, Zac reflects on Leah not letting him help. Sam guesses he was thinking about Oscar and the others. Zac comments on Evelyn being brave and says he understands Leah focusing on VJ and Luc but she was so cold. Sam takes his hand and they kiss.