Episode 6960

Extended Summary

Outside the garage, Dean attempts unsuccessfully to phone Willow. Justin says she told Irene what happened and Leah and possibly Jasmine also know: He doesn’t think any of them would tell the police but that will change if Alf finds out. He guesses Willow is either hiding to avoid going to court or gambling. Dean says there are places in Mangrove River she could go to in order to lose money or she could go see Russell. He sends Justin there, saying he’s going to check with Colby. He heads to the flat and asks Colby if he’s seen Willow. Colby says not today, but she was upset at how long Dean was facing in jail last time he saw her. Dean is annoyed that Colby told her and says to call him if he sees her.

Brody is on the phone at Salt, asking someone not to be put off by how small Salt is. He asks them to think about it and says he’ll call them back. Ziggy comes in, explaining about her early dart from work. Brody thinks Justin wanted to talk to Dean about Willow but Ziggy thinks only Dean makes Justin that grumpy. Although Brody tries to get her to go for a surf, Ziggy insists on staying and helping him. Meanwhile, Willow is waiting at the police station. She ignores a text from Justin and has several missed calls from both him and Dean. Colby arrives and Willow says she’s been waiting for him. She asks if it would help Dean if he had a good reason for doing what he did or someone else was there with him. Colby wants to discuss it outside but Willow wants to give a statement. She says Dean can’t go to jail for helping her like he did helping Colby, and threatens to give the statement to someone else if Colby won’t agree. Colby tells her to give him a minute.

Brody is on the phone again outside the surf club and the people on the other end make it clear that he can’t change their mind. Brody sees Justin and asks to have a quick talk with him. He explains that, since he and Ziggy missed the gig, he’s been trying to get the band to play at Salt, but they think it’s too small a venue. He can’t get any other bands interested either so asks Justin to play. Justin says that if Brody needs an answer now it’ll have to be no, since he’s got too much on his mind. He sees Dean and follows him into the surf club. Dean says he thought Willow might be there. Justin hasn’t been to Mangrove River but did see Russell and learned Willow was there today, meaning she hasn’t gone too far. Dean is annoyed that Colby spoke to her. Justin is unimpressed with how stressed Dean is and tells him to leave it to him, saying Willow is his girlfriend and his problem.

Colby joins Willow in the interview room. He tries to suggest they just have an informal chat but Willow insists it be on the record and also refuses the offer of a solicitor. Colby says that if someone was with Dean, they’d be facing charges. Willow tells him to start the recording. Later, Colby asks about them targeting Salt. Willow explains that they knew it was always busy and they could get in and out. She says she was the oe who fitted the skimmer and confirms Alf being injured was an accident and she called the ambulance. She explains about her gambling problem and how Dean borrowed money to pay off her debts and needed to pay it back. Colby stops the recording and says she should have asked him for help and Dean was always going to do something stupid to help her. Willow insists on carrying on with the interview.

Ziggy asks Brody why he keeps going outside. Brody claims to have been taking recycling out and tells her to take a box into the store room. He then follows her in and starts kissing her. Later, Justin is at Salt with Brody. He hasn’t found Willow and notes that he’s kind of resigned to her turning up when she wants. Brody asks if she’s worth it: He likes her but she causes Justin a lot of trouble. Justin says that he loves her. Brody understands. He asks if Justin’s reconsidered playing at Salt. Justin notes he’s not the only person in the family that plays.

Dean arrives back at the caravan park as Alf is showing a young woman, Chelsea, around. Alf notes it’s a friendly place but, noting Dean watching them, says there are still some boofheads around. He gives her the key. Dean waves to her but she walks in the other direction. Ziggy approaches with a pizza and calls it subtle. Dean says she can leave the pizza if she wants to chit-chat but Ziggy says if the pizza stays, so does she. Later, she asks him if he’s still got a job. Dean (who has been watching Chelsea walking past) is annoyed she automatically assumed he was the reason for Justin’s bad mood. Ziggy asks if it was about Willow and Dean confirms she’s gone to ground. Ziggy wonders why he still does things for her when she hurt him and Dean asks if Brody knows Ziggy’s there. Ziggy tells him not to push away the few friends he has and leaves.

Colby finishes the interview and tells Willow she’ll be formally charged with accessory to assault, credit card fraud and possibly obstructing justice. He points out that, although this will help Dean, it comes down to the judge and they could both go to jail. She asks him to visit Russell while she’s in jail. Colby exits the room, looking shattered. He calls Justin, who is still at Salt, saying Willow’s at the station and needs a friend. Justin says his goodbyes to Brody. Ziggy comes in and kisses her husband, saying she got lucky with him.

Chelsea asks Dean if the caravan park provides towels, since she wants to have a shower. Dean first claims they air dry, then suggests she could use his if she doesn’t mind sharing. He then says the beach is awesome and suggests they go there for a swim and dry each other afterwards. Chelsea says not in a million years but thanks him for the beach tip. Meanwhile, at the Morgan house, after selecting a tune on the laptop, Brody picks up the guitar and, after a shaky start, plays a complex tune. As he does so, Justin arrives at the police station and is shown to Willow’s cell by Colby. They kiss through the bars and Justin says he understands why she did it.

Colby goes to see Dean at the caravan park and tells him that Willow’s confessed. Dean is angry that Colby didn’t stop her, saying he should have called him. Colby says he gave her every opportunity to back out but Dean accuses him of putting his badge before his friends and walks away. Colby finds him sitting on a log and says that Willow would have just given her confession to someone else and couldn’t let Dean take the blame. He notes he wishes he had someone like that. He heads back to the police station and encounters Chelsea, now in police uniform: It is clear they know each other and Colby seems much less pleased to see her than she is to see him. He asks what she’s doing there and she says she’s transferred to Summer Bay.