Episode 7116

Extended Summary

Colby and Willow are walking along the beach. Colby says Willow didn’t have to say what she did to Dean but Willow thinks she did and notes she wants him to be happy. Colby invites her for a coffee and Willow agrees even though she has to get to the gym. Colby wants to check on Bella first, noting it seems to be one step forward and two steps back with her. They go to the flat; Willow tries to wait downstairs but Colby realises Bella isn’t there and worries she’s run away again. Willow predicts she’s with mates and tells him not to call her because she’s just trying to get a reaction. She takes a rain check on coffee and heads to work.

At the Palmer house, John and Marilyn bombard Jett with questions about the apartment: Is it one bedroom, furnished, in a good area, close to the shops? John offers to look it up but Jett admits he was caught off-guard and never asked for the address. He says Wilson is going to e-mail him the details but has a gym session first. They head for the surf club when John tries to get Jett to leave him his phone in case Wilson calls. Willow appears and tells Jett she thinks they should use boxing pads; Jett agrees that he feels like hitting something. Left alone, John and Marilyn worry. Alf appears and they fill him in. Alf thinks it’s good news but they tell him they don’t think Jett’s ready, having only just got safe and secure in Summer Bay. Alf thinks the army will support Jett: He needs independence and it’s his decision.

At the Diner, Irene chats to Ben and Maggie about the car rally, with the Astonis explaining that even the drivers don’t know the route, they’re given directions at the beginning of each day. They all express bemusement that Dean went with her. Colby comes in and asks if anyone’s seen Bella: He’s already checked with Raffy and Ryder. Irene thinks she’ll come home when she’s hungry. Next morning, Dean is driving along an outback road with Ziggy asleep next to him. She is stunned when she wakes up and Dean tells her they’re nearly there, saying he should have woken her. She filches around for food in the back but can only find muesli bars. She pulls a rope which, unknown to Dean, starts flags flying on top, then turns the music on loud. Bella wakes up with a start at the sound and looks momentarily worried when she realises where she is.

Willow runs into Jasmine on the beach and they note they keep missing each other at home. Jasmine is on her way to see the counsellor and tells Willow about Robbo coming into the first session. She explains about him wanting to sort himself out before they get back together and how she’s avoiding the gym because of it. At the Palmer house, Jett tells John and Marilyn he’s got the e-mail from Wilson. It includes interior photos of the flat and Google Map of the location. John and Marilyn are positive, noting it’s furnished, open plan and near the shops and a park. Jett is quiet, eventually saying he’s going for a shower.

Willow is finishing up a class outside when Colby arrives and asks if she’s seen Bella, who didn’t come home last night. Willow advises he tries calling her again. Bella’s phone starts vibrating. She quickly turns it off. Ziggy has heard something but when she turns the music off, there’s nothing to hear. All the same, she tells Dean to turn the music off and does a walk-round. Looking in the boot, she asks what this is and opens it up…to retrieve a bag of food Dean didn’t tell her about. Bella relaxes as Ziggy closes the boot and takes over driving.

Colby and Willow search the surf club. They ask Alf if Ryder’s seen Bella; Alf says he’s studying with Raffy but agrees to keep an eye out. A convoy of cars arrive at the rally start and the organiser tells Ziggy and Dean where to register and that they’ll get the first day’s info soon. They open up the car boot and Bella sits up, shouting a loud greeting. Dean chastises her for being there and Ziggy leaves him to handle it while she goes to register. Bella doesn’t think Dean should be there, saying he should be with Colby and Willow. Dean calls her a dumb kid and Bella agrees that she is a kid…so he can’t leave her alone.

John and Marilyn continue to discuss the apartment in positive terms. Jett tries to get a jug from the fridge but drops and smashes it. As John and Marilyn fuss over him, he angrily hits the side of the fridge several times, saying he can’t look after himself. Later, John gets him some ice for the bruised wrist, commenting that it’s normally him that breaks things. Jett is dispirited that he’s so against the idea of moving out having been desperate for it two weeks ago. John and Marilyn reassure him that he can be independent but also that there’s no pressure to take this flat if it’s not right. They decide the three of them should go and see it together, since Alf and Irene would cover for them at work.

Colby and Willow are searching near the surf club. Colby gets a call from Dean. Willow says not to tell him about Bella but Dean, of course, already knows and tells Colby he should sit down. Colby is furious and storms back to the flat with Willow in tow, attempting to mollify him by pointing out they did worse while Colby says Bella could have been hurt if there’d been an accident. Colby intends to fly down there and get a hire car and wants Willow to come with him. Willow says she will if Colby really wants to but she’d rather not, since she’s trying to put some space between her and Dean. Colby understands.

At the Diner, Irene and Alf assure Marilyn that they’ll keep an eye on things while she and John are gone with Jett. As Marilyn leaves, Ben and Maggie arrive and say Ziggy’s posted photos from the rally. Irene has already heard about Bella so they explain to Alf. Willow, who has been sat nearby, adds Colby’s gone up there. Irene notes she’s surprised she didn’t go since the three of them are normally joined at the hip. Willow snaps that her life doesn’t revolve around Colby and storms out, dropping a card in the process. Back at home, she is looking forlornly at photos of Dean and Ziggy when Jasmine arrives back from her counselling session. She says Aiden left her some homework, writing a journal giving full details of her panic attacks, but isn’t keen to get started.

The rally entrants, including Dean and Ziggy, listen as the organiser makes an announcement prior to handing out the details. Ziggy looks over at Bella and notes it isn’t a surprise she’s messed up given what she’s been through. Bella is flabbergasted that Dean and Ziggy are still preparing to get underway in twenty minutes. Having driven up nearby, Colby walks over and tells Bella they need to have a chat.