Episode 7037

Extended Summary

Ross lets Bella go after convincing her not to cry out. Bella says the police are looking for him. Ross tries to get her to come away with him and Bella accuses him of killing her mother. Ross insists Colby is lying. At the Diner, Marilyn and Maggie briefly chat about Maggie running a marathon. Colby comes in and sees the paper with the headline about Ross. Maggie tells him she had a chat with Bella about tutoring. Colby admits there’s been another change of plan and asks if Bella can get into the course in the city. Maggie says she’ll make calls. Colby mentions he and Chelsea are getting married tomorrow. Alf and Marilyn overhear and are surprised but supportive.

Bella tells Ross that the police found Michelle’s body so Ross says it was an accident. Bella also tells him about the recording of him saying he killed Colby’s dad but Ross says he was probably just saying the first thing he thought of. He again tries to talk Bella into coming with him. Bella sees Ryder approaching and tells Ross to go before he’s seen and she’ll meet him on the beach in an hour. Bella joins Ryder and both of them agree they need to talk. Outside the surf club, Mason is on the phone, offering to send someone his CV just in case, as Maggie approaches. He explains that Tori has given him a list of hospitals to contact, including one in Alice Springs. Maggie offers to talk about it but he says it’s not necessary and to get ready for her session.

Ryder joins Coco, Alf and Ben at the surf club where Ben offers to drive them to Yabbie Creek for the test to get their L plates. Ryder says he hasn’t studied but Coco says the test is easy. He also says Raffy isn’t happy and Coco sarcastically says they can’t have that. That’s enough for Ryder to decide not to go but Alf says it’s time for him to move on and tells him to go with Ben. Down on the beach, Bella meets with Ross. Ross tries to get her to go in the car with him but Bella is uncertain, saying Colby isn’t who Ross thinks he is. Ross says Colby is turning her against him. Bella says if she goes with him they’ll always be running and never have a normal life. Ross says they’ll be together. He puts his number in her phone and says to text him, and to not tell Colby or he’ll go to prison.

Raffy is sat on the sofa at the Morgan house stroking Buddy. Mason comes home and notes it was about time she used her spare key. Raffy says she came to hang with Buddy since her human friends are all getting their Ls, adding that she’ll never get hers because of the epilepsy. Mason says with her medication she might not have any more seizures, plus she gets to enjoy having a boyfriend who can drive, recalling that Brody used to chauffeur him around when he first passed. At the surf club, Colby meets up with Bella. Bella is now more open to the idea of moving to the city but declines an offer to go do wedding planning. However, she does add that she loves him. Colby hugs her.

Up in the Diner flat, Willow is failing to get hold of a band for the wedding. Colby comes in, on the phone to Chlsea and assuring her everything’s under control, then asks the others if it actually is. Dean says he’s got a venue sorted; Willow says that it’s Nugget’s old place. Colby isn’t too happy about using a River Boy party house, saying it should be classy. Dean says they’re having real beer instead of home brew. Colby says there needs to be something personal. Down in the Diner, Irene and Marilyn discuss the wedding and how it’s just going to be a small family affair. Willow comes in and asks if Bella can stay in her room while Colby and Chelsea are on honeymoon.

Dean suggests Bali or Metts as honeymoon destinations but Colby has something like Hamilton Island in mind. Dean offers to drive them but Colby says they’ll use the airport, then has the idea of a chauffeur-driven limo and hurries off to organise it. Bella has been loitering and comments on Colby seeming happy. Dean says of course he is: He’s got Bella back, a hot wife and the best mate in the world. In his room, Ross gets a text saying “Sorry Dad, but I need to stay. Good luck, Bella x”. He doesn’t look happy.

Bella and Dean go for a walk on the beach, having left Colby to continue the wedding planning. Bella wonders how Willow and Dean will cope without them and asks why they aren’t together, saying she used to wish her parents loved each other as much as them. Dean quickly changes the subect. In the Diner, Marilyn is badgering Willow for wedding information. Colby comes in and Willow talks about getting Chelsea ready in the flat. Marilyn is aghast at the idea of Colby and Chelsea spending the night before the wedding together and, despite Colby saying they’re going by River Boy tradition, convinces Irene to let them get changed at hers. Irene notes she won’t be there since she’s going to visit Heath, Bianca and their baby girl.

Bella and Raffy are chatting by the beach. Both are more upbeat about their situations with Bella suggesting she can still see all her new friends despite living in the city. Raffy goes to join Alf by the bait shop as Coco drives herself, Ben and Ryder up, having got her L plates. Ryder looks morose at first but then reveals he got his too. Ben notes he’ll have to up his insurance. Inside, Ben tells a crowd including Alf, Irene, Maggie and Mason. Coco is looking forward to independence, although Ben points out she’s still living rent free. Ryder teases Coco about her driving and Raffy tells him she’s fine now. Mason talks to Ryder in private, telling him to remember that even though he’s eighteen Raffy isn’t.

That evening, Colby and Bella leave the Diner flat on their way to Salt. Bella gets an assurance that she’ll be able to come back and see her friends. Ross watches them from hiding nearby. At Salt, Dean asks Willow if she’s properly broken up with Justin, saying it’s not fair to leave him hanging. They are interrupted by the arrival of Colby and Bella. Beers are handed round (but not to Bella) and they drink a toast.

Ross is in the Diner flat, shining a torch around. He looks through the file of wedding plans and finds a piece of paper that seems to please him.