Episode 7170

Extended Summary

Ben finishes a beer and asks Ryder, who has apparently just started work, for another, before changing his mind and asking for a whisky. He ignores a call from Maggie and Ryder notes he’s a braver man than him, recalling trying to avoid her once when he had an assignment late. Ben tells him there’s no need for them to chat. He gets a text from Maggie saying she’s worried and to call him. Ben doesn’t look too happy but does make the call. Meanwhile, Robbo arrives back at the gym, telling Mason that Jasmine is with Irene and Colby’s with her. Justin enters and loudly demands answers from Robbo. Robbo ushers him and Mason into the office and tells them it’s still an active investigation. Justin asks him to call Lance so they can speak to Tori. Robbo admits Lance isn’t with her anymore but assures them he trained the new guy. Justin isn’t impressed and Mason ends up having to steer him out as he becomes more irate.

Ben exits the surf club and hears Alf and John discussing the fact that the committee want to revoke Ben’s lease. Alf insists the board shop has brought revenue into the surf club. John seems to agree with that but says it now has a federal foreclosure notice on it and criminal association. Ben approaches and angrily tells them that he’s paid his rent and isn’t going anywhere. Maggie arrives as he storms back inside and apologises to them. Alf glares at John. Maggie follows Ben up to Salt and tries to calm him down but he says everyone’s talking about him anyway. Maggie tries to get him to come home with her but he insists he just wants a quiet drink and she reluctantly leaves him.

Justin and Mason walk on the beach. Mason reminds Justin he told him they had to trust Robbo would look after Tori but Justin says he only said that to stop Mason worrying. He is frustrated that Tori is in this mess because of people going after Robbo. Mason points out that Robbo’s here now so Tori’s in the best place and advises Justin not to lose his cool. At the gym, Robbo is having a video phone conversation with Lance, asking him again about the files. Lance warns him that it includes details of how his family died but Robbo says he needs to know to understand the people after him. Lance gives Robbo a friendly reminder that he’s technically his boss. Robbo ends the call as Mason returns. Mason apologises for Justin, saying he’s just worried about Tori and wants it to be over.

At the Diner, Alf, Roo, Marilyn and John discuss the run-in with Ben. All of them are on Ben’s side although John seems more willing to defend the board’s decision. Alf says he only has one vote and he and Marilyn encourage John to get the committee to put back the next meeting in order to give Ben time to sort things out. John agrees to try. At Salt, Ryder attempts to ask Ben about Coco and if she’s coming back for holidays but Ben shuts him down. He asks for another whisky but Ryder suggests he have some food or a glass of water. When Ben persists, Ryder makes it clear that he’s cutting him off.

Later, Ben finishes a glass of water before asking Ryder for another whisky. Ryder makes it clear he’s still not serving him. Ben asks to see the manager; Ryder says she’s not here but she’d back him up if she was. Ben picks up his car keys and goes to leave but Ryder stops him, saying he’s not going to let him drive and will call the police if he doesn’t back down. He sits Ben down and offers to call Maggie but Ben asks him not to. At the Diner, Justin arrives with some vegetables from Leah. He asks Marilyn how Raffy’s handling the break-up; Marilyn says she’s upset but is hoping she and Ryder can be friends. Alf and Roo enter, chatting about how Ryder’s doing at his new job. John chimes in that he taught him everything he knows; Alf isn’t convinced but Roo acknowledges it. Alf gets a call from Ryder and says they’re on their way.

Ryder is sitting with Ben as Alf and Roo arrive. He explains the situation and how Ben didn’t want him to call Maggie. Alf says he’ll get him home, declining an offer from Roo to go with him, and helps Ben to his feet, saying they’ll take his car. At the farm house, Maggie is working on her laptop. Alf arrives with Ben. Maggie says he’s been drinking and Ben, genuinely surprised, asks how she knows. Alf helps him into his room to sleep it off and explains to Maggie about Ryder having to refuse him service. After Alf has gone, Maggie goes into the bedroom and tells Ben she’s worked out a way to pay for his defence but it means selling the pier…then realises he’s asleep.

Roo compliments Ryder on handling things. Despite this, Ryder tries to get her to stay when Justin and Mason come in. The brothers encircle Ryder, saying they told him to respect Raffy…then smile, say they know he did and supported her through a lot, then ask for two beers. Ryder says he knew they were joking; Justin, smiling, says no he didn’t. Roo, who has hung back, smiles and leaves. At the gym, John turns up to see Robbo, asking about him being back there and whether they need to look out for anyone turning up for him. Robbo says it’s possible the initial information was a false alarm. John (somewhat comically) says he’ll keep an eye out anyway and Robbo can rely on him. Robbo ushers him out so he can lock up.

Next morning, Alf and Ryder are walking on the beach. Ryder is somewhat surprised by his run-in with Ben, saying it felt like he was suddenly the adult, Alf tells him he did well. Ryder wonders if he’d have done the same thing if it had been a big scary biker. Alf says they don’t get many of those in Salt and Ryder needs to treat everyone the same. Back at the farm house, Maggie is on the phone saying they want a quick sale and arranging a valuation. Ben comes in and asks what it was about. Maggie explains about her plan to sell the pier. Ben says she should have talked about it with him; Maggie says she tried but he passed out drunk. Ben insists the pier is their nest egg. Maggie says she’s not the enemy but Ben walks out.

At the Diner flat, Robbo is seemingly making breakfast (complete with a rose) when he notices an envelope pushed under the door, addressed to Ryan Shaw. He opens the door but there’s no-one there. He finds the envelope contains the photos of him and Jasmine taken earlier: On the back of one of them is written “Time for you to talk.”