Episode 7166

Extended Summary

Dean and Ziggy are walking down towards the beach, chatting about Ben being out and about the board shop being closed. They run into Mackenzie, who tries to talk to Dean, saying he hasn’t responded to her texts and inviting him for a beer, but Dean says it’s a bad time. As they walk on, Ziggy suggests to Dean that Rick didn’t mean he couldn’t say hello to Mackenzie but Dean is unconvinced. Up top, Mackenzie runs into Colby. She asks him to talk to Dean for her but Colby doesn’t want to get involved until he’s told Dean about them. He gets a call asking him to check out an abandoned car on Ocean Street. Mackenzie lets him know she’ll be home alone all afternoon. Later, Ziggy comes into Salt to see Mackenzie, which surprises both of them. Ziggy explains about Dean’s promise to Rick. Mackenzie says she and Rick called a truce and there’s no reason they can’t hang out. Hiding a call from Colby, she says she wants to get to know Dean.

Irene is still sitting in her car outside the Diner, looking at the paper. Leah comes over to check on her. Irene claims she has errands to run but Leah convinces her to come back inside for a coffee. There, Marilyn wonders if Irene got everything done and Irene says she has a lot on her mind. Marilyn asks if it’s Bella; Irene is startled but Marilyn merely meant looking after her while worried about Jasmine. Raffy comes in and claims she didn’t find Ryder. After Marilyn sits her down, she texts him saying “You didn’t mean that, right..? Call me.”

At the police station, Colby calls Mackenzie saying he’ll be a bit longer, explaining he’s made a breakthrough on the case. As he speaks, he looks at an image of Tommy’s driving license (which gives his full name as Thomas O’Reilly and an address in Reefton Lakes). He prints it out and quickly matches it to the photo in the paper. At the Diner, Marilyn tries to chat to Raffy who quickly excuses herself. Nearby, Leah continues to worry about Irene but she insists she’s fine. Colby comes in and tells them about getting an ID for Tommy, saying his car was found on Irene’s street. He’s confident that it’s only a matter of time before they find out who bashed him.

Near the beach, Ziggy fills Dean in on her conversation with Mackenzie. Dean doesn’t believe she could get rid of her anger for Rick that quickly. Ziggy agrees that they’ll probably never be best buds but thinks Mackenzie is genuine. She encourages Dean to try and get to know her without Rick getting in the way. Later, Dean ends a call, seemingly to Rick, in an annoyed mood and tells Ziggy that it’s true. He is still uncertain about seeing Mackenzie. Ziggy has given her opinion so suggests he talk to Colby or Willow if he wants another one.

At the Diner, Irene listens as Leah and Marilyn speculate what sort of monster would batter someone and dump them outside a hospital, momentarily misunderstanding when Marilyn suggests it could have been her. She says she has to call Bella. Outside, Raffy composes an angry text to Ryder asking why he’s ignoring her but deletes it without sending it. Alf comes out of the bait shop and asks if she’s all right. Raffy asks if he’s seen Ryder. Alf notes last time he did Ryder was looking for her and worrying they didn’t spend time together. Raffy says he broke up with her. Alf is sympathetic.

Colby turns up at Mackenzie’s house; he seems to know the code for the security lock. Mackenzie lets him in; they kiss and head for the bedroom. Colby’s phone rings and Mackenzie tells him to ignore it, then realises he’s a police officer so it could be important. Colby checks it, sees it’s Dean and doesn’t answer. At the Diner, Alf and Marilyn (who has been filled in) escort an upset Raffy back in. Raffy says she told Ryder how she felt and he dumped her. Leah agrees it’s not fair. Marilyn has a quiet word to Alf, who says he didn’t know what Ryder was planning. Irene takes the opportunity to leave; Leah and Marilyn have both noticed her odd behaviour.

Colby and Mackenzie are in bed, with Mackenzie reflecting on how she gets excited now when she sees a police car. Colby gets another call from Dean and this time answers. Dean (at Salt) asks Colby to meet him for a beer to discuss something. Colby says he’s busy and suggests Dean call Willow, but Dean says she’s not answering. Colby, trying to keep an even voice as Mackenzie cuddles up to him, rings off. Mackenzie wonders why he won’t tell Dean but Colby still believes it needs to be broken to him gently. They resume kissing. Back at Salt, Dean has ordered a large bowl of chips, which a newly arrived Ziggy helps herself to. He says he hasn’t been able to speak to Colby or Willow but Ziggy guesses he went to Salt hoping to see Mackenzie. He says she has the afternoon off and he doesn’t have her address. Ziggy points out the staff do.

Irene is back home and leaves a frantic message for Bella, saying the police know who Tommy is and it’s only a matter of time before he’s traced back to them. Meanwhile, Dean pulls up outside Mackenzie’s house, noting first the expensive neighbourhood and then Colby’s police car on the drive. He knocks and Mackenzie answers wearing Colby’s shirt. Dean pushes past her and finds Colby in the bedroom in his boxers. He walks out and drives off despite Colby calling after him.