Episode 6979

Extended Summary

Leah finds Ryder sitting on the beach. She remarks that she expected him to be studying, since he has an exam in a few hours, but Ryder says he’s not sitting the exams or going back to school. Leah says Alf and Roo would want him to but Ryder says they haven’t even bothered to text. Leah says they asked her to look after him. Ryder says he doesn’t need another lecture. At the farm house, Ziggy has popped by to check on Maggie. Maggie insists she’s fine and Ziggy points out she’s putting the milk back in the fridge without using it. They and Ben clam up when Coco comes in; she assumes they were talking about her and Ziggy says she’s there to wish her luck. Coco triple-checks her bag before being convinced to get dressed and have breakfast.

John and Marilyn bring Raffy to the Diner for breakfast, suggesting she has fruit for brain food. They tell her that if things don’t go as expected, they know she’ll have done her best, but Raffy says she’s fine. Marilyn goes over to the counter and chats about Raffy’s recovery with Irene. Leah comes in and tells them about Ryder, thinking it’s guilt over the accident. Raffy overhears and goes to the caravan park to ask Ryder what he’s doing. She says she overheard Leah say he blames himself. Ryder says everyone else does but Raffy disagrees: He’s their friend and didn’t know what was going to happen. She refuses to go without him so he goes to get his stuff. Left alone, Raffy clutches her head in pain.

Ben and Maggie wonder where Coco is. Ziggy says she’s still in the bathroom. There’s a tense silence as they wonder if her bulimia’s resurfaced. In fact, she’s sitting on the toilet seat, trying to memorise her notes. Ziggy knocks on the door and she assures her she’s not throwing up. Ben decides to drive her in. Back at the caravan park, Ryder finds Raffy gone. Leah turns up ready with a speech but Ryder tells her he’s already going. He wonders where Raffy went and Leah suggests she just got tired of waiting.

Ben, Maggie and Ziggy have Coco ready to go out the door, checking she has her lucky pen. However, Coco hovers in the doorway, looking panicky and eventually says she can’t do it. At school, Ryder finds Raffy and asks why she didn’t wait for him. Raffy doesn’t remember their conversation but says at least he’s here, whereas Coco hasn’t shown up yet.

Maggie is with Coco in one of the bedrooms, reminding her what her counsellor said about picturing the worst that can happen. Coco says she has: Failing and being laughed at. Ben and Ziggy listen in. After checking Ziggy’s okay to look after Maggie, Ben goes into the bedroom and offers to drive Coco in so he’s on hand to support her. He says if she goes at least she has a chance of passing. Meanwhile, Irene finds Marilyn outside the Diner: She says Raffy will be going in about now. Irene assures her she’ll nail it. Leah arrives and says Ryder went but still has the attitude and is feeling guilty and isolated. She doesn’t feel she can call Roo since Caroline’s funeral was the previous day, despite Irene urging her to.

The invigilator is laying out papers as Ben and Coco arrive at the school. Ben quietly says he’ll be in the office until she goes in, then outside the room. Raffy and Ryder approach and assume Coco was doing last minute cramming; Ben says he’s there to get files for Maggie. The teens are called in; Coco is the last to go but eventually takes a deep breath and goes inside. At the farm, Ziggy is trying to keep things light with Maggie; Maggie gets a text saying Coco has gone in. She wonders why they haven’t heard from the hospital. Ziggy suggests one of Brody’s healthy meals before they decide on chocolate cake.

Ryder asks to borrow a pen from Coco, saying he knew she’d have a spare. The invigilator tells them to turn over the paper. Raffy looks at hers but her vision is blurred, with the paper looking reversed at times. Ryder and Coco are soon writing furiously but Raffy is still having trouble focusing, holding her head in pain and quietly sobbing. She starts writing, but seemingly immediately the invigilator calls time. In the corridor, Coco tells Ben it went fine and he says he’s fighting the urge to hug her. Ryder says he did fine too; Raffy seems out of it but eventually says her too. Ryder suggests a celebratory shake but Coco says she has to get back to Maggie. Once the others have gone, Ben hugs her.

Maggie and Ziggy have demolished the entire chocolate cake. Ben and Coco return and Coco says it went well and she’s sorry for freaking them out. Once she’s out of earshot, they tell Ben there’s no news. Later, Coco is cheerily studying, despite being tired, and decides to take a cold shower to wake herself up. Tori gets a phone call from the hospital and tells Ben and Maggie that Tori’s coming round in person, now. Coco comes in and hears Ben mention the results, asking what’s going on.

Raffy and Ryder arrive at the Diner. Raffy is still pretty out of it but when John and Marilyn guess that she smashed the exam she agrees. Ryder goes to see Leah in the kitchen and thanks her, saying he would have regretted not going. She agrees to his request for a free burger and shake. John and Marilyn give Raffy her “favourite”, naked veggie burger (which Ryder points out is just salad). Ryder ponders if he’ll get a car for taking his HSC but Raffy starts coughing violently and goes outside for air. She staggers along the wharf, dragging her feet and clutching her head. Ryder finds her and she tells him she feels sick. He tries to help her inside but she collapses and starts fitting. Ryder calls out for help.