Episode 6686

Extended Summary

Justin and Ben are in the midst of an argument exiting the surf, Ben blaming Justin for breaking his fins. Justin argues it’s not his problem. Later, Ben informs Alf the water tank is fixed and Alf’s impressed with his work. Ben would love to stick around but his girls are keen to move on. Then Justin drives Ben’s car past – on a test drive – but Ben assumes Justin has stolen his car and runs after him. Justin pulls over and asks Ben what he wants. Ben exclaims, he wants his car back! Justin’s confused. At the diner, Justin explains he was taking Ben’s car for a test drive. Ben demands his keys but Justin wants his payment for fixing the car first. Stand off. Justin decides he and Ben will just have to test drive the car together. Finishing his test drive with Ben, Justin tells Mason he’ll be home soon. Ben apologises for earlier and Justin gives him a discount since he stuffed his surfboard. Ben offers a lift back to the garage when there’s a CRASH. The guys left the handbrake on Ben’s car off and it’s rolled down the hill and into a metal bin. Looks like Ben will be hanging round for another week. Ben and Justin chat over a beer at Salt, bonding. Justin leaves when the Astoni women arrive after their bus tour.

At the Morgans, Brody feels terrible after a swim. He starts hallucinating, hearing and seeing his mother begging him to be honest with his family, just as Mason walks in. Brody admits to Mason that he’s hallucinating again. Mason asks Brody what their mum is doing and to tell her he misses her. Brody says it’s just all in his head, but Mason says Brody is lucky, he wishes he could see their mum again. Then suddenly, Mason and his mother disappear. Brody’s hallucinated the whole thing, including Mason! He rushes around the house calling for Mason, not wanting to believe his hallucinations are so bad. But Mason’s not there. Brody’s desperate. Brody paces, trying to remind himself he’s in control. Mason wanders in with food and Brody shuts his eyes trying to determine if he’s hallucinating again. Mason’s adamant, it’s him. Brody says his tired and it’s messing with his head. He’s going to sleep it off. Mason’s worried and calls Justin. At night, Brody hallucinates again. He tells her to leave him alone. She encourages him to text his dealer Zannis to make it all stop. He pulls out his phone and begins to text Zannis, picking up his car keys and heading out.

The Astoni women bicker on their way to the diner to meet Ben. Maggie’s mother has asked when they will arrive at her house. Ben notes he’s nearly finished with the water tank and Ash reckons the car will be fixed by the afternoon, so they should be on their way tomorrow. Ziggy’s anxiously trying to call her boyfriend Jarrod. Maggie wants to have a better look around Summer Bay and has found a bus tour. Ziggy and Coco would rather die but Maggie makes the call. John answers, across the diner. He walks over, happy to help. His bubbly attitude puts Ziggy and Coco even further off the idea. The Astoni women arrive for the bus tour. Ziggy and Coco would rather be doing anything else. John’s happy though, one more step towards normality. John gets his ‘Fun Rangers’ to buckle up, to much eye rolling, then Ben runs past after his car, leaving the Astoni women gaping after him. Coco thinks her dad’s lost it. Ziggy thinks they are the biggest losers on earth. John offers to show them some WWII gun emplacements. Maggie’s keen but the girls are too busy listening to Ziggy’s phone. Maggie scolds them, warning Coco she gets car sick. Maggie apologises to John and Maz, she thinks Summer Bay is heaven. Coco suddenly demands they stop the bus, she feels sick. Ziggy’s disgusted and Marilyn almost knocks herself out on the dashboard as John slams on the brakes outside the Farm House. Once outside, Marilyn suggests they get some water from the house, she knows the owners, even though they’re away. There’s a FOR SALE sign in the front yard. Coco’s feeling better and Maggie admires the farmhouse. Ziggy’s keen to get moving and then almost walks on a snake. All the women scream and John assures them it’s just a python and tries to herd it away with a stick. Ziggy and Coco have had enough of Summer Bay, they want out now! Ziggy looks at the paper, the headline is about a psychotic arsonist accompanied by a photo of John! Marilyn explains John had a brain tumour but Maggie says she doesn’t need to explain, she’s happy to get on with the tour. Ziggy’s disbelieving, they can’t get back on the bus with arsonist John. They begin arguing and John and Maz overhear. Maggie sighs and asks if John could just drive them back into town. Maz and John try to hide their disappointment, this was such a big step for John. Marilyn pastes on a smile as they get back on the bus. At Salt, the girls are dismayed to hear the car isn’t fixed. Ziggy is angry her boyfriend won’t pick up the phone. Maggie tells Ben about the farmhouse for sale and how nice it would be to move to the Bay. Ben has hardly had a holiday yet so he’s keen to stay another week, but Maggie teases he’s just trying to avoid her mother. Maggie informs the girls they’re staying on for a bit. Ziggy and Coco are furious. Ziggy storms out and Coco screams into a cushion.

Later at the diner, Maz worries to Leah about John, he’d been so happy to do the tour. John quietly sits at a table but assures Marilyn he’s okay. Two weeks ago today would have knocked him off track, but he’s doing better. All that matters is that Maz and their friends know the real him. John’s positive attitude is a welcome change.

In the morning at the diner, Ziggy’s angry her boyfriend Jared still isn’t answering the phone. She’s got her bag and invites Coco to come home with her. She leaves and starts trying car door handles, finding the Salt van is open and has the keys inside. She buckles in and heads off, unaware that Brody is sleeping in the back.