Episode 6839

Extended Summary

John looks up the jeweller’s shop online and tells Roo and Marilyn that it still exists and there’s a phone number. Marilyn excitedly suggests that the owner might know Martha or she might even own it herself, but Roo says she might not have been there in years or might have been given the box. She is reluctant to call the number, saying she has to think about how it affects Alf. Meanwhile, on the balcony at Salt, Olivia is showing Irene some new designs she’s done. She comments on getting her life back; Irene wonders if there’s anything else she wants back, meaning Hunter, but Olivia says that’s not an option. As if on cue, at that moment Leah and Hunter are wandering into the main restaurant, with Leah shouting Hunter a meal to celebrate getting into uni. Irene and Olivia come through and Olivia mentions starting uni the next day. Hunter thought she wouldn’t have time and she tells him she’s quit the Find and is selling through Liv Design again. After they’ve gone, Leah asks why Hunter didn’t tell Olivia about starting uni, since she’s bound to find out. Hunter says he’s trying to move forward.

Next morning, Mason comes across Hunter exercising near the beach, while Mason himself is coaching Jasmine in a work-out. Nick drops Jennifer off nearby and is somewhat confused since she said she was meeting Coco to study. Hunter tells the others that he’s due in for O week and all are enthusiastic. Jennifer offers to go with him but can’t cancel Coco, while Jasmine tells Mason she can work on her own, resulting in Mason being volunteered to accompany Hunter. Meanwhile, Ben, Maggie and Coco are having breakfast. Maggie comments on feeling better in a chemo free week. Ben on the other hand is sniffling but insists it’s just hay fever. Coco says if he’s ill he should stay away from Maggie. Ben says he has to head out to sort out a birthday surprise for her the next day. Coco admits to Maggie she has no idea what he’s planning.

John chats to Alf at the Diner, telling him about the address Roo found. He says she’s not sure if she’s going to follow up on it because she’s worried about what Alf will think. Alf admits he doesn’t think Roo should look into it but says he won’t stand in her way. He thinks she’ll be disappointed but John says he was disappointed when looking for information about his father but still needed to do it. Later, back at the Palmer house, Roo is feeling awkward wearing Martha’s old ring despite John and Marilyn’s reassurances. She admits it fits perfectly. Alf turns up and says he knows about the jeweller’s. Marilyn lightly hits John on the arm but Alf says he did the right thing. He tells Roo not to factor him into it and he’ll support her whatever she does.

Hunter and Mason are exploring the uni grounds but Hunter’s hopes of slipping in quietly are immediately dashed when Olivia seems them and comes over. She is surprised that Hunter is there and he points out that’s why he repeated school. He tells her he already has Mason as a guide and, even when she gives advice on which coffee cart to use, says he’ll find out for himself. He goes to check out the basketball club and Olivia comments that she has to get used to not being part of his life. Later, Mason convinces Hunter to go to the bar and Hunter tries to get Mason to admit he misses uni. They see Olivia sat at a table with a friend, Shelley. Mason tells Hunter that he and Olivia live in the same town, go to the same uni and have the same friends, so he needs to stop avoiding her. They go and join the two girls.

Ben comes into the Diner, coughing and sneezing. Leah notes a lot of customers have been showing the same symptoms. Ben tries to repeat the hay fever excuse before admitting it’s probably a head cold. He asks about banana muffins for Maggie; Leah says they’ve run out but Irene offers to make some more. Ben takes a phone call about some arrangements and tells Leah it’s good news. Meanwhile, Roo is asking Alf’s opinion about Martha being in Meribula and he says it’s as good a place as any, while commenting on the irony of her swapping one small coastal town for another. Roo is uncertain, despite her earlier determination. John says she’ll always wonder if she doesn’t go and Marilyn points out it’s only a day’s drive and the school’s closed. Roo turns to Alf who agrees.

Leah chats briefly to Jennifer, who is waiting for Nick at the Diner and somewhat bored. Irene gives Ben the box of muffins. He is still spluttering and Jasmine, who has just come in, says she’s a nurse and that if it goes on for a week he needs to stay away from Maggie while she has her chemo. Ben goes home and presents the box to Maggie and Coco. Maggie gets a call from Dr Callan and leaves the room to take it. Coco asks Ben about the surprise and he says he’s arranged an early morning hot air balloon ride. Maggie comes back and says her white cell count is low, although it’s just a precaution. Ben goes to hug her then takes a step back, saying he can’t be near her. He rings Brody and Ziggy to come home, telling Maggie that when they get there he’ll pack a bag. She asks about the surprise and he tells her. He suggests she goes with one of the girls but Maggie says they’d never get up that early and they’ll do it another time.

Mason is telling a story that ends with his lab partner throwing up. He suggests he and Shelley go to get more drinks, pointedly leaving Hunter and Olivia alone. Olivia suggests Hunter join the basketball club, saying she knows he’s good at it. Hunter leaves her to make a phone call…to Jennifer at the Diner, who is happy to accept his invitation to join them despite her arrangements with Nick. Ben comes in and asks Leah if she has a vacant van, saying Jasmine was right about him staying away from Maggie. Leah says he needs looking after and insists he stays with them at the house.

Outside, John and Marilyn are saying their goodbyes to Roo while Alf is checking her car and tells her to call him if she needs anything. After she’s driven off, John and Marilyn hope she finds Martha. Alf wishes he could say the same but suspects if she does find her she’ll get her heart broken. Meanwhile, Jennifer joins Hunter’s group at the uni bar and asks Hunter to get her a drink. She tries to convince him to get her a beer but he points out she isn’t eighteen yet and says he’ll get her water.

Leah gives Ben the key to the house, saying he can stay in Roo’s room and to take himself off there rather than infecting the customers. Nick turns up looking for Jennifer and Leah says she’s at uni with Hunter. Nick doesn’t know who she’s talking about and is aghast that Jennifer’s dating a boy named Hunter, picturing a tattooed biker. He doesn’t seem especially mollified when Leah says he lives with her and is a nice boy. Meanwhile, Hunter arrives back at the table with the drinks, including Jennifer’s water, but finds she’s got some other boys to buy her a beer. Mason proposes a toast to fresh starts while Jennifer sits on Hunter’s lap and kisses him…just as Nick turns up. Seeing the beer, he assumes Hunter bought it for her and says they’re not seeing each other again, dragging Jennifer away.