Episode 6851

Extended Summary

Colby runs into Robbo on the beach after a surf but only gets curt responses when he talks to him, prompting him to comment that Robbo sucks at small talk. Tori has been approaching them throughout and tells Robbo that Kurt wants to speak with them. Robbo and Tori meet him at the flat where he says they’re screwed but adds that he’s not giving up. He produces the Beckett Reid file and notes that technically the charges aren’t against Robbo. He says the DPP aren’t interested in a plea bargain and a blanket not guilty plea would get laughed out of court so they need to see what charges they can get dismissed. He points to the fact that Kat was the one that told Robbo to escape custody. Robbo points out that he went along with it and is reluctant to blame Kat, but Kurt wants to see what the CCTV footage shows.

Ryder is watching on as Martha takes a nostalgic look around the caravan park house, noting that it’s not like Alf to take off. Alf comes back in, shortly before Roo comes home and sees Martha. Alf indicates for Ryder to leave them alone as Martha explains she heard Roo was looking for her. Roo says she’s glad she came. A short time later, Roo is pouring Martha tea; Alf is sat at the table not saying anything. Martha explains she lives out of town near Merimbula and even though Roo left a phone number with the jeweller, she didn’t think a phone call was right. She’s booked into the motel. She asks if Ryder is Roo’s son and Roo explains he’s her nephew. Martha asks about Alf having another child; Alf doesn’t answer and Roo suggests he doesn’t want to talk about what happened while Martha was gone. Alf storms out, saying he doesn’t want to hear Martha’s excuses.

Tori goes into hospital and finds Ash up and dressed. He says he’s just come back from dialysis and the doctors say he might be able to go home by the end of the week but Tori points out he’ll still have to come back in. Ash seems to want to speak to her but Tori excuses herself on the pretext of going to get his meds. Meanwhile, Colby and Robbo are having coffee outside the Diner with Colby encouraging Robbo to listen to Kurt’s ideas. Marilyn serves them and asks Robbo how he is. Colby notes Robbo seems to have people on his side but Robbo thinks it’s only because they expect him to go to prison soon. Kurt appears and says he has the footage.

Ash staggers down to the hospital corridor and locates Tori, saying he got bored waiting for her to come back. He asks her to help him back to his room and he thanks her for saving his life. Tori seems to want to get away again but Ash convinces her to come in for a bit. Meanwhile, outside the bait shop, Alf is complaining to John about Martha’s arrival. John thinks Alf should be there, since he’s got questions too. Alf says Martha’s caused more grief just to make herself feel better. John convinces him to come to the Diner for a cup of tea.

Tori tries to tell Ash he can’t go back to his caravan, saying Irene’s happy to have him stay, and Ash half-jokingly suggests he could stay at hers. He asks her if she ever thinks “what if?”, wondering what would have happened if they’d gone to New Zealand and saying he can’t think of a reason for anything that’s gone on. Tori gets a message from Robbo saying they need to speak with Kurt; Ash doesn’t see who it’s from but understands she has to go, adding that it’s been nice talking.

At the flat, Robbo and Kurt watch the footage together. Kurt asks what Ash and Kat said and Robbo says Ash tried to stop Kat leaving and Kat promised he’d be a part of his child’s life. Kurt notes the footage doesn’t prove anything but thinks he can paint Kat as crooked, given the number of black marks on her record. Robbo is increasingly furious, ending up grabbing Kurt just as Tori arrives, then storms out. Kurt says he quits. Tori follows Robbo and says Kurt’s his only chance, and if Robbo walks away from him, she’ll walk away from Robbo. Robbo still doesn’t want to use Kurt’s plan and Tori agrees they’ll think of something else.

Alf chats to John and Marilyn about Martha turning up. He is worried about the effect it will have on Roo. John says Roo was prepared to find her while Alf’s just had it dumped on him. Alf admits he’s often thought about what he’d say if he saw her again but doesn’t think answers will help now. John and Marilyn both thinks he should talk to her for closure. Back at the house, Martha explains she lives in Wallamutta, which consists of ten isolated houses, and that she spends her time painting and gardening and keeping to herself. Marilyn turns up and Roo introduces her and Martha to each other. Martha goes to have a walk, saying she knows her way around the caravan park. Roo admits she didn’t realise it would be this hard.

Robbo and Tori turn up at Kurt’s motel room and he notes he was expecting them earlier. Robbo and Kurt both agree that there’s only a slim chance of him escaping a life sentence but Robbo thinks Kurt’s his best bet. Kurt warns him he has a low pain threshold and not to threaten him again. He adds that they’ll all need a drink. Later, he explains they need to separate Robbo from Beckett: The latter is a ghost, with no convictions and no photo apart from the one from the passport. If they can dismiss the crimes Robbo doesn’t remember committing, they can call Novak self-defence and that just leaves the escape and assault charges. Since the footage doesn’t prove it was Kat’s idea, they need a witness. Robbo and Tori both sag as they realise he means Ash.

Marilyn tells Roo that Martha’s coming and encourages her to ask what she wants, before saying her goodbyes. Roo asks Martha why she left. It’s clear Martha doesn’t want to answer and she decides to go. Roo protests that Martha must have known she’d ask and Martha promises that she’ll come back tomorrow. Meanwhile, both Tori and Robbo disagree with Kurt’s plan: Tori says Ash lost his baby and blames Robbo, while Robbo agrees that Ash hates him, saying he’d lie on the stand rather than help him. Kurt doesn’t think Ash would commit perjury and risk jail and notes Tori seems very defensive of him. Tori admits they used to be in a relationship and Kurt says that’s perfect: She can convince him.