Episode 6773

Extended Summary

Mason tells Ziggy to put the money back as she opines there is at least $10,000 there. She says her philosophy is finders keepers, while Mason says his is don’t mess with dodgy people who hide money in cars. They do at least both agree that they need to fix the car. Ziggy recalls learning a lot about cars from her boyfriend, who she says she outgrew. She tries to replace the bumper and in the process dislodges another packet, containing what she recognises as a credit card skimmer. Mason thinks they should call the police. Then a gun falls out.

At the Diner, Irene is leaving Luc with Leah and VJ, since she has to make arrangements with Mick for him flying out the next day. Alf arrives with the details of Mick’s flight. Both he and VJ volunteer to make sure Mick goes on the plane but Irene insists she should handle this. Mick hides something in the drawer before answering the door to Irene. She gives him the details and tells him they have an early start. Mick points out he doesn’t have much to pack. Irene tells him it will be a fresh start for him. Mick asks to come over for dinner to say goodbye but Irene says they’ll say goodbye at the airport. Mick thinks it’s because she’s scared of how Ash will react. Irene says Ash won’t even be there and she’ll pick him up in the morning. After she’s gone, Mick takes out the item he was hiding: A DNA test kit.

At the Diner, Alf chats with Justin about how things are going at the garage and about Mason. Justin also mentions he’s got the part in to fix the caravan park generator and they head off to sort it. Nearby, John and Marilyn are chatting to VJ about his plans after school. John tries to start a speech about his day only for VJ to cut in and say that in John’s day school leavers were guaranteed jobs, there were no uni fees and you didn’t have to live with your parents for ten years to afford your own place. Leah says VJ’s going to uni, starting a debate on business or arts which VJ cuts short. Meanwhile, Mick goes to the beach house and knocks on the back door…

Irene goes to the Stewart house to collect Luc from Leah and VJ and assures them Mick’ll be gone in the morning. VJ is still keen to go too but Irene tells him to concentrate on his last exams. VJ goes to get Luc’s dummy from the car while Irene tells Leah that there’ll always be a bond between her and Mick but he needs to go for now. While they’re talking, Mick lets himself into the beach house, goes to the bedroom and hides under the bed.

VJ gets ready for some last study but comments to Leah, John and Marilyn that he isn’t sure about spending another three years studying at uni. Leah tries to suggest he might feel better after his exam while John suggests he learns a trade. John and Marilyn leave as Justin comes in and tells Alf the generator is about fixed. Back at the garage, Mason still wants to call the police while Ziggy now wants to put everything they found back, especially after what happened when she crossed Zannis. The car’s owner, Judy, turns up and Mason quickly takes her into the office for a cup of tea while Ziggy hides the stuff they found.

Irene brings Luc home and puts her in the cot. Once she’s out of the way, Mick emerges from hiding. He takes Luc’s dummy and puts it in a plastic bag. He then tries to replace it with an identical one but Luc refuses to take it. Irene hears Luc crying and goes in but there’s no sign of Mick (who has presumably gone out the window) and she assumes Luc simply lost the dummy that is lying next to her. Meanwhile, in his motel room, Mick places the dummy and a sample of his own DNA in a package with a form naming himself and Billie as the parents.

Mason and Ziggy are desperate to get rid of Judy, telling her the rattle was just a loose exhaust pipe. Justin arrives back and is bewildered as Ziggy tells Judy there’s no charge for something as simple as that. As Judy drives off, a bag of money falls out of the bottom of the car, apparently unnoticed by her. Justin demands an explanation. Meanwhile, VJ has apparently been helping Leah with the shopping. She apologises for pushing him while he still isn’t sure about his future. Leah brings up his surfing, suggesting making boards or sports management. VJ says what he most cares about is Luc so Leah suggests working with children somehow. They see Mick run to the postman emptying the mail box and give him the package.

The money has been handed over to the police and Justin tells Murray that Judy didn’t give them many details because she wanted to pay cash. Murray says the number she gave them called out. After he’s gone, Justin asks Mason and Ziggy for an explanation. Mason says he took the car for a test drive and the money fell out when he went over a pothole. Justin tells them to call him if anything like that happens again. Ziggy seems pleased with how things worked out. Mason feels they should have been honest but agrees to go for a drink with her. At Salt, Ziggy makes a toast to team work. Mason is bemused that she seems to have enjoyed the day’s events but accepts that it took his mind off Beth for a bit and also says he’ll take her up on her offer of a game of pool some time.

Next morning, VJ tells Alf and Leah that he needs Mick out of town so he can move on. Irene comes to drop off Luc and they discuss the possibility of VJ working with children. VJ answers the phone: It’s the DNA test company looking for a sample of Billie’s DNA and also permission from Luc’s guardian. However, they refuse to tell VJ who ordered the test. VJ does a check on the company, confirming it exists, then puts two and two together and dashes out. Irene and Leah leave Luc with Alf and go after him. They all turn up at Mick’s motel room where VJ demands to know how Mick got a sample of Luc’s DNA. Mick says he has rights as her father. Leah and VJ both want him to leave town but Mick refuses, saying he doesn’t trust Ash to look after Luc: As soon as he proves he’s the father, he’s going to go for custody and win.