Episode 6704

Extended Summary

Leah tries to convince Alf to go with her to the Diner so she can make him some food as she closes up. Alf insists he can look after himself. Leah tells him about her chat with Maggie and how she thinks they can get on after all. On cue, VJ arrives home telling her she was right about the Astonis and relates how Ben threw him out. Leah is furious and wants to confront Ben but Alf tells her to let things settle. At the farm house, Ben is being given the cold shoulder by Maggie and Coco and insists he’s not the bad guy. Coco says he wants her to make friends then throws them out of the house. Ben insists VJ was there for one thing and Coco, bewildered, storms off to her room. Maggie refuses to support Ben, knowing what her reaction would have been if her father had done that. Ben replies that her father did do it, to him. Maggie retorts that he’s now become him and she didn’t need it.

Next morning, at the Diner, John and Marilyn tell Irene that they’ve given Raffy time off school with Mason in hospital. Olivia comes in and tells Hunter that his letter to Wally came back in the post, marked “Return to Sender”. She adds that it’s been opened and then resealed. She thinks they should try again to find Wally. Hunter walks out. Olivia finds him on the beach, sitting on a boat and looking at the photo of Wally that Peggy gave him. She tries to tell him not to give up but Hunter says Wally could be anywhere. He screws up the photo and throws it in the boat. As he walks away, Olivia retrieves it…while Wally watches Hunter from a nearby car.

Leah suggests Alf drop off the reference he’s written for John and Marilyn but he makes an excuse not to. After he’s left the room, Ben and Maggie appear. Maggie says Ben’s going to apologise. When VJ comes in, Ben says he’s sorry but neither Leah nor VJ are convinced of his sincerity and VJ leaves. Leah tells them Coco’s not in any danger from VJ and in fact started it, filling them in on her lying about her age so VJ would take her on a date. At school, VJ greets Coco. She thinks he hates her but he tells her it’s not her fault. Maggie calls Coco into her office and speaks French to her before revealing she knows about the lie. Coco agrees it was dumb but says she was told to make friends and it’s not just a matter of time like Maggie thinks. Maggie says VJ has very different life experience to her and tells her not to chase him. Coco says Maggie’s talking like not only has she got no friends but she’s also a creepy stalker.

At Salt, Leah complains to Marilyn about the Astonis. Ben comes in and Leah tries to leave but instead Marilyn leaves the two of them alone. Ben says he really is sorry now but since they’ve arrived Coco has been lying to date boys and Ziggy has been hanging around a meths head. Leah understands his worries about Brody but says VJ’s not like that. Ben asks for a clean slate. At school, VJ is filling Hunter in on his date with Coco. Hunter reminds him he said she looked young but thinks there’s not that much age difference. VJ says her lying was a deal breaker, plus there’s Ben. Hunter says he was just acting like a typical dad, although he admits he doesn’t know much about that at the moment. VJ asks how the search for his father’s going and Hunter says it looks like he’ll never find him.

Olivia is walking near the beach when she sees Wally some yards away. She checks the photograph to confirms it’s him. Wally gets in his car and, although she calls out, he drives off. When VJ and Hunter come into the Diner, Olivia quickly ambushes them and tells them she’s seen Wally in town. She deduces that he must’ve read the letter after all and then had second thoughts about not getting in touch. She says if he leaves town again Hunter’s got his address although Hunter’s still not comfortable about just going there. VJ isn’t convinced they can find him but Olivia says it’s a small town and she knows what his car looks like. She and Hunter dash off.

Maggie turns up at the caravan park house with a bunch of flowers to apologise to Leah…only to find Ben already there, fixing the sink for her. Maggie says they do want to fit in. Alf comes in and notes people are still wary of their plans for the pier. Ben and Maggie tell him that they’ll show him the plans before submitting them to council and invite his input. VJ comes home and Ben apologises to him and shakes his hand. He and Maggie leave with Leah thanking Ben for his help. VJ goes back to school and tells Coco that Ben is fine with him now. Coco tells him about the lecture she got from Maggie. VJ comments on how he didn’t notice she could barely speak French. Coco suggests they hang out again but VJ thinks she should find people her own age.

Ben and Maggie have a celebratory drink at home with Maggie confirming that school was better the second day. Ben bemoans having both their daughters go off the rails at the same time. Maggie wonders if that’s actually what Coco’s doing, since they did tell her to make friends, but Ben thinks lying to impress boys isn’t good. Maggie thinks she’s happier now. Coco comes home and dourly tells them she was at the library away from boys of any age. They invite her out to dinner but she declines. She posts a smiling photo of herself online with a caption saying her new school is awesome, but her expression in real life suggests the opposite.

Hunter and Olivia are beginning to get a bit downhearted when they spot Wally on the headland. Hunter approaches him and both he and Wally make it clear they know who the other is. Wally apologises for his handling of things and suggests they go and talk. The three of them head to Salt where Wally says he regrets sending the letter back; he was on his way to a conference in Sydney when he saw the turn-off for Summer Bay and knew he had to drop in. Hunter is looking forward to spending time with him but Wally says he can’t be Hunter’s father.