Episode 7131

Extended Summary

Ziggy and Dean are walking on the beach; Ziggy thinks it’s unfair that she has to work early while Dean has time for a surf. Dean goes over to Colby; Dean asks about Bella and Colby asks about Ziggy. Dean mentions Ben wanting to put him on the payroll, which he isn’t keen on. Colby tells him not to mess things up. Meanwhile, Alf and Roo are passing the surf club and see Mackenzie dumping the Sold sign in a bin. She explains that she’s the new owner of Salt and asks where she can find Alf Stewart. Alf says that’s him and Roo also introduces herself before leaving them to it. Mackenzie explains she was told she had to go to Alf for paperwork and keys. Alf introduces her and a passing Colby to each other. Colby notes Mackenzie’s car is parked in the emergency vehicle area, saying the police will give her a fine if they see it. Mackenzie says she’ll take her chances on a seaside sergeant coming past. Alf and Colby exchange bemused looks and Colby says it’s her call.

Ziggy and Justin are working at the garage. Ziggy asks if he’s heard from Brody; Justin says he spoke to him on the phone last night and everything’s good so far. Leah turns up with coffee and cakes, initially claiming she had too many before admitting she wants to ask a favour: She wants her and Justin to go for dinner with Ben and Maggie. Justin isn’t sure but acquiesces when she says Ben has agreed to it. At the farm house, Ben is wearing a shirt for a meeting before work while Maggie is at home in the morning doing admin. She tells Ben they’re having dinner out and to be ready for five o’clock.

Ben and Dean are working outside the surf club and Ben has given Dean his contract, which lists salary and minimum hours. Dean says it’s fine and Ben notes he needs to learn how to negotiate. Dean wonders if Ben can really afford it. Ben says that with Dean spending more time in the shop he’ll have more time to make boards, noting they only need one big order to get set up. Ben heads back to the farm house and finds Ziggy there; Justin let her go home to study while they’re waiting on a part. Ben mentions the dinner and Ziggy wonders if it might be tense with Justin there. Ben is shocked; Maggie comes in and Ziggy says she doesn’t know what she did but she’s sorry. Ben says he’s not having dinner with Justin.

Alf gives Mackenzie the surf club keys and three folders full of surf club regulations. He wonders why she came to Summer Bay, wondering if she has any friends or family in the area. Mackenzie says it was a good business opportunity and location. Colby comes in, in uniform, and gives Mackenzie a citation for the illegally parked car, which comes with a fine of $263. He says he’ll be outside waiting for her to move it. A short time later, Alf wonders if Colby was too hard on Mackenzie but he says he gave her fair warning. Mackenzie comes past from moving the car and Colby reminds her about the fine. Justin notices her and Colby tells him who she is; he decides to go and see her. Dean also comes along and tells Colby he signed the contract with Ben. Colby is slightly worried when Dean says he’s got something in the boiler.

Mackenzie heads back into Salt. She has difficulty opening the door to the store room. Justin comes in and tries to give her advice but she has already worked it out for herself. Justin explains he’s the former part-owner and Brody’s brother but Mackenzie says she doesn’t allow non-staff behind the bar and doesn’t need any advice. Justin leaves awkwardly. Back at the farm house, Ziggy tells Ben she’s going for a surf before going back to work. Despite saying she wants to stay out of it, Ziggy asks Ben why he won’t forgive Justin when she has. Ben is still annoyed that Justin stayed quiet about Brody cheating on her but Ziggy encourages him to move on.

Dean is sitting on the steps of his caravan, having a phone conversation where he tries to get someone to agree to something. Ziggy comes along and he tells her he’s just doing a favour for a mate. She invites him to join her for a surf and he immediately agrees; she comments on everything being easy with him. At the Diner, Alf and Roo tell Leah about Mackenzie, who they have a favourable first impression of. Maggie comes in and Leah tells her Justin agreed to the dinner; Maggie admits she tried to trick Ben into it and when he found out he said no. Ben also comes in and says after his chat with Ziggy he’s going to try and make things up with Justin, stressing it’s nothing to do with their meddling.

Ziggy rejoins Justin at the garage and he wryly notes she was meant to be studying, not surfing. Ben arrives and asks to talk to Justin. He says he’s pulled the plug on the dinner but suggests they go for a beer and sort it out. Justin agrees and Ben says he’ll meet him at five. Outside the surf club, Alf and Roo find Mackenzie putting out a sign advertising happy hour. They are in favour and say they’ll be in after they’ve gone home and got changed. Ben and Maggie come along with Ben still rather uncertain. Justin and Leah also appear; the two men point out to their partners that they don’t need them there watching them, but Leah and Maggie say they need a night out too.

The group enter Salt where Leah and Maggie go to the bar while Ben and Justin take a seat and make awkward small talk about work. Mackenzie introduces herself to the two women and wonders why they’re not happy; she explains their partners have issues with each other. They accept Mackenzie’s offer of cocktails and free food, with beer for the men. Ben asks Justin how it’s going to work and Justin suggests they just bury it and move on. Ben agrees before jovially noting Justin’s punching above his weight with Leah and Justin rejoins that the same’s true of him.

Later, Mackenzie brings the foursome free shots and Ben and Justin drink a toast. Alf and Roo come in and Mackenzie tells them it’s her first day as a restauranteur: She only finished business school last year. Colby joins Ziggy and Dean at the bar, having been kept back doing paperwork. Mackenzie asks if he’s checking if she’s breaking the law and he says he left his uniform at home. Dean gets a phone call and goes out onto the balcony to take it; Ziggy follows and hears him asking if someone’s in or out. She says she gets worried about men having secret phone calls but he convinces her to trust him.

Ben and Maggie arrive home. Ben is glad he sorted things with Justin and hopes they can forget about Brody. He checks his phone messages and is surprised to hear a request from someone wanting a hundred boards in four weeks. Back at Salt, Colby reminds Mackenzie her happy hour seems to be over and she agrees he should pay full price for his round. Dean and Ziggy join them and Colby does the introductions. Mackenzie seems thrown when she hears Dean’s name but covers; however, she remains looking apprehensive as they walk away.