Episode 7179

Extended Summary

At the surf club, Dean tells Ziggy about his argument with Mackenzie. He doesn’t understand why she was upset at him talking to customers, saying it isn’t his fault that he knows everyone. Ziggy decides to go and check on Ben; Dean thanks her for helping Bella and gives her the money Ben left as a tip to return to him. At the Diner, Marilyn watches from a distance as Ryder does a thorough proof read of the project. He hands the laptop back to Raffy and she sends the project. Ryder is disappointed when she immediately leaves, reminding him they’re not friends.

At Salt, Ryder is taking time pouring drinks while he chats to a frustrated Dean about how he misses Raffy as a friend despite breaking up with her. Mackenzie returns and asks Dean how long the table have been waiting for their drinks. Later, as they are closing up, Mackenzie tells Ryder and Dean they can go. Ryder happily accepts, since he has an exam the next day, but Dean offers to stay and help. Mackenzie says she has book keeping to do. Dean suggests she go home but Mackenzie doesn’t want to, saying it’s too quiet, and tells him to leave. Dean sees her pour herself a drink.

Maggie emerges from the bath and asks Ben if the dinner’s in the oven, reminding him he said he’d do it. Ben says he’ll do it now but Maggie says it’s too late now and suggests they order something in. Ziggy arrives with Ben’s money but he refuses it, saying it was a tip. Maggie queries him going for a drink instead of buying petrol and Ben says it was just the one. Maggie decides to use the money to buy dinner. Later, Maggie and Ziggy have finished watching a movie but Ben is uninterested, saying he’s going to bed and suggesting his one beer tired him out. Maggie and Ziggy reflect that he’s not good; they admit he’s lost everything but think he’ll bounce back. Dean turns up and Maggie also goes to bed. Dean talks about Mackenzie. Ziggy points out Mackenzie has no friends in the Bay and Colby’s dumped her, meaning Dean is all she has. Dean realises he’s been giving her the brush off.

Next morning, Roo finds Ryder waiting for her outside the Diner instead of inside. Ryder says he needed the fresh air and Alf adds that it’s because Raffy’s inside. Ryder heads off to school as Maggie appears and sees the For Sale sign on the pier. Alf says it was put there this morning. Maggie notes Ben has given up, not even getting out of bed this morning, and worries seeing this will break him. Inside, Marilyn gives Raffy her lunch while John and Mason give encouragement. Mason tells her to keep checking the time and has given her eight spare biros. Marilyn tells her to use extra time if she needs to. Alf and Maggie enter. Maggie notes Ben never smiles anymore and recalls how strong he was during her cancer; now he’s in a dark place.

Ziggy is checking Mackenzie’s social media, which Dean isn’t too comfortable with. They see she used to have VIP access at clubs and lots of friends, which she’s given up to find Dean. Ben appears and Ziggy makes a joke about him sleeping in which he doesn’t appreciate. Ziggy tries to get him to go for a surf and kisses him on the cheek as she leaves. Dean goes to Salt and asks Mackenzie if she’s tried out any of the local clubs, suggesting he go with her. Mackenzie asks if he’d dance with her; Dean won’t promise that but says he’d buy her a drink. Mackenzie asks if they could take selfies together; Dean agrees but Mackenzie quickly shuts him down.

Raffy and other students are in the classroom as Maggie arrives and reminds Raffy she can have fifteen minutes more if she needs it. Ryder also arrives and tries to give Raffy an animal-shaped rubber as an exam mascot but she tells him to take it away. At Salt, Dean tells Ziggy that Mackenzie thought he was a try-hard. He looks again at her media page and sees she likes hiking. He goes over to her and suggests they do that together but she quickly realises he knows nothing about it. She asks if he’s been stalking her social media and he says Ziggy did. Mackenzie tells him to take his pity away. Ziggy rejoins Dean and tells him Mackenzie wants to get to know him so he should be himself.

Ben is watching what appears to be a cookery programme. Alf arrives and says Maggie spoke to him earlier; she doesn’t know Alf is there but she is worried about him. He comments on Ben sitting watching TV and Ben says he’s got nothing else to do. Alf says he’s not there to talk Ben round but to help, but he’s not going until Ben starts talking sense. Later, Ben notes that mowing the lawn felt like Mount Everest and that if he’d done it then he’d have nothing else to do. Alf suggests he could find him work at the caravan park. Ben says he has no income and the court case is going to bankrupt them. Alf tells him not to shut his family out. At the school, it is 12.00 and Maggie tells everyone to put their pens down. As they file out, Maggie offers Raffy the extra 15 minutes but Raffy says she doesn’t need it. Ryder tries to praise her but Raffy walks out.

Dean and Ziggy drag Mackenzie into the gym and Ziggy gives her a bikini, telling her to use the changing rooms. Mason says they’re for members only, but a series of glares convinces him to make an exception. After getting changed, the three of them head down the beach with boards. Mackenzie reminds them of her previous attempt at surfing but Dean says the swell’s kinder today and she’s got him as a teacher. He says he’s not much of a talker so this is his language. Mackenzie understands and they all run out into the sea together.

At the Diner, John, Marilyn and Justin congratulate Raffy on the exam and she notes how much the CBD oil is helping. Justin gets a phone call and moves away to take it. He seems horrified by the news, protesting that Raffy’s just started her HSC trial. Outside, Alf tells Maggie that he went to see Ben. He agrees he’s struggling but thinks they should let him find his own way instead of pushing him.

Justin comes into the gym and tells Mason that Raffy’s CBD trial is being cancelled because the funding’s run out. Mason confirms that’s what happens. Justin worries she’ll go back to having seizures. Mason suggests having a family meeting with the Palmers but Justin says he has a better idea. He heads for the Diner flat and tells Alf he’s hoping Robbo can put him in touch with Tori but Alf tells him Robbo and Jasmine have left town. John and Raffy appear and check Justin is okay taking Raffy to her hospital appointment. Justin agrees but looks worried.