Episode 6761

Extended Summary

Robbo goes for a rather intense run along the beach, ending up near the surf club. He looks up “Beckett Reid criminal” on his phone but the only results he get refer to a law firm. He puts the phone down in disgust; John asks if he’s wrecked it and Robbo seems to momentarily think he’s saying Beckett. He asks for the newspaper John’s holding: The cover depicts a photofit of Novak. Meanwhile, Kat is escorting Ben out of the farm house despite him, Maggie and Ziggy all insisting it’s unnecessary. Ziggy says it was her fault, while Coco checks that it’s true, not seeming happy about it. Ben and Maggie say he was about to go and apologise to Brody and if Kat lets him go then he will, but Kat’s under orders from McCarthy to bring him in.

Alf is disbelieving of Ryder’s claims. When Roo comes in, Alf asks if she’s got any children he doesn’t know about and fills her in; Roo confirms he isn’t hers. Ryder refuses to say what his surname is and Alf wants to call the police, thinking it’s a ruse to get away with the thefts. He wonders if Ryder is another one of Duncan’s. Ryder says his mother is Quinn Jackson, Alf’s daughter. Alf and Roo take Ryder back to the house. Alf wants to call Quinn but Ryder says he’s lost his phone and doesn’t know her number. Alf is still keen to call the police and Roo takes him aside, saying it’s possible Ryder is his grandson. Alf points out Ryder’s Australian when Quinn was American. Roo reminds him Quinn came to town once and Alf says it was for a couple of weeks twenty years ago. As they talk, Ryder is searching the house behind them.

Kat brings Ben into the station, with the rest of the Astonis in tow. Ben is still insisting it’s a waste of time and that he and Brody can sort it out over a beer. McCarthy appears and orders Ben taken into the interview room but Ben refuses and keeps trying to leave the station until he’s eventually placed in the cells to cool down. Ziggy goes to the Diner and accuses Brody of wanting Ben to go to jail, saying he had no right to report him for something that was her fault. Brody says he didn’t report Ben but Kat has asked him to go to the station to make a statement. Ziggy tells him to say Ben didn’t do it but Brody refuses to lie.

Maggie asks Kat if they need to get a lawyer. Kat says Ben hasn’t been charged. Robbo comes in to check on Kat, who says she isn’t a target now she isn’t testifying and McCarthy has removed her protection. She adds that the officers involved in the corruption case are all in custody so their only chance is to track down the man who tried to kill her. She also mentions she has the files on the case at home. Robbo heads to her flat; Marilyn seems him going up the steps but stops herself from saying anything when she sees he is carrying a screwdriver. Robbo picks the lock and finds Dylan’s file. The next file is on Lance Escott; Robbo searches for the name and Beckett Reid on his phone but finds nothing. Marilyn knocks on the door and asks Robbo if he broke in. He says the door was unlocked and he was looking for his wallet. Marilyn has brought round what looks like a cake for Kat and Scarlett; Robbo accepts it rather curtly and shoos her out.

Ziggy complains about having to wait at the station and Maggie sharply tells her she can go if she wants. Brody comes in and tells Kat he doesn’t want to press charges. Kat says it’s up to the police whether charges are laid but it will be difficult without a victim statement. Brody says he doesn’t want to give one and Kat says he can go. Ziggy tries to thank him but he walks out without talking to her. Later, Kat lets Ben out of the cells. Maggie tells him Brody didn’t make a statement but Kat says there are other witnesses. Ben still thinks the police are wasting his time. McCarthy has been checking Ben’s record and discovers he has a prior conviction for assault. Ben and Maggie say when Ben was eighteen his brother Marco tried cracking onto Maggie at a party and Ben stopped him. McCarthy says the injuries go beyond that. Ben becomes increasingly belligerent until McCarthy charges him with assault.

Alf and Roo do a search for Quinn on the computer but the last address is from 1996. They wonder if she might have married and changed her name but Ryder is less than forthcoming. Alf threatens to call the police if he isn’t straight with them. Ryder says he didn’t come straight to them because he wasn’t sure if he wanted to meet Alf and still isn’t. Roo takes Alf into the hall for a chat, saying she can’t think of a reason why Ryder would be lying. Alf ponders whether he could have got information on Quinn when he broke into the surf club and Roo points out he doesn’t exactly leave the information lying around. They go back through and find Ryder has left after taking $50 from Alf’s wallet. Ryder is at the surf club. Ziggy and Coco come in. Ryder approaches and says seeing “you” made him feel like a supernova, clarifying that he was talking about Coco. Coco isn’t keen to accept his offer of a drink but Ziggy pushes her onto him while she goes up to Salt. Ryder clicks his fingers at John and orders drinks (although Coco only has water). Marilyn comes in and tells John Robbo was acting strangely but then dismisses it.

Ryder finishes telling Coco a story that apparently involves something horrible happening to someone who held in a sneeze. Ziggy returns and Coco is happy to leave with her. John reminds Ryder he hasn’t paid as Roo appears and asks Ryder about taking Alf’s money. John hands him the change for $50 with impeccable timing. Roo points out Ryder left his bag, meaning he wasn’t serious about running. She asks why he doesn’t want them to speak to Quinn and Ryder says he doesn’t want to be sent back. At the station, McCarthy gets Maggie to sign the papers about the surety and Ben’s court dates. Ziggy and Coco return and Maggie tells them Ben’s being released on bail. She tells Ben when he is brought through that it was $5000 and she got a loan. Ben continues to act injured but neither Maggie nor Coco are impressed, with Coco telling him to grow up. Maggie says it wasn’t Brody who went to the police and it was Ben’s attitude that caused the problem.

Ben approaches Brody on the beach. Brody isn’t keen to chat but Ben acknowledges that he screwed up and thanks Brody for not making a statement. Brody isn’t impressed with the apology but shakes Ben’s hand when it’s offered. Brody says he’d never intentionally hurt Ben’s family. Ben accepts that but still doesn’t want him with Ziggy. “And there it is,”Brody notes, walking away. Up at the Diner flat, Robbo has finished looking through the files, seemingly without getting any joy. He has flashbacks to Novak telling him who he is.

Robbo turns up at the police station, where most people are leaving, with a takeaway. McCarthy lets him through to see Kat and she tells him there’s no news. Robbo keeps a close eye on what she’s doing on the computer as they talk. McCarthy calls Kat over to finish a report. Robbo logs onto her computer and looks up Beckett Reid. Meanwhile, Roo bring Ryder back to the house and he gives Alf the change from the money he took. Alf privately asks Roo about him; Roo thinks there’s a scared boy underneath the attitude and either way they can’t throw him out on the streets. Alf suddenly notices the drawing of Novak on the front of the paper and recognises him.

Kat finds Robbo on the computer and takes him into the office, asking for an explanation. Before they can get very far, McCarthy enters with Alf who shows them the drawing of Novak and says he’s found their man. Robbo looks horrified.