Episode 7196

Extended Summary

Ben and Karen drink outside his van. Karen deduces that Ben’s a surfer from the board nearby. She tells him she’s visiting family and wonders if he’s on holiday. Ben says he’s taking a break. Alf sees them together from a distance but doesn’t approach. Karen asks Ben what he does for work. He says that he’s been branching out recently but he’s a builder by trade. At the Diner, Leah and Marilyn compliment Bella on her bravery. Irene emerges after being on the phone to her lawyer and says he thinks they’ve got a chance but they’re not out of the woods yet. He wants Irene and Bella to meet with him tomorrow.

Colby and Mackenzie enter Salt. Colby gets a message from Bella saying she’s going to testify. He gives Mackenzie a kiss to thank her just as Dean walks in. Mackenzie apologises for telling Ziggy about his parole ending but Dean says they’ve sorted it. He also says that he’s going to do the surf lessons. Colby jokes about making sure he has insurance. Alf comes in and tells Dean about Karen being around; they both hurry out. Back at the park, Karen asks if Ben’s in the doghouse, having noted his wedding ring. Ben says he hasn’t cheated but then they’re interrupted by Dean, and Ben learns Karen is his mother. Dean takes Karen for a walk and asks if anyone knows she’s here. Karen says he’ll have to keep quiet if the people from the hospital come looking…before assuring him she’s been discharged, and has the paperwork to prove it, although he’ll need to confirm her new address. Karen suggests going to Salt for dinner. Dean tries to put her off, saying he works there now, but eventually gives in. Karen goes to book into a van; Dean has to point out she’s going the wrong way.

Dean goes to his van and rings Colby, who is still at Salt. He admits Karen doesn’t know about Mackenzie, him dating Ziggy or even about Rick, so he asks Colby to get Mackenzie out of there before they turn up. Mackenzie asks Colby if it’s Bella on the phone; Colby says it isn’t and she doesn’t push it. Colby notes with amusement that Dean suddenly wants him to entertain his sister but agrees. Karen knocks on Dean’s window saying she’s booked in and is going to get changed. Shortly after, Colby ushers Mackenzie away from the surf club, saying her staff can cope and Bella will be fine with her joining them. Dean and Karen are approaching, with Dean doing a bad job of complimenting Karen on her outfit. Seeing Colby and Mackenzie ahead, Dean stops on the pretext of checking he’s got his wallet, making sure Karen isn’t looking as Colby steers Mackenzie away from them.

Dean and Karen enter Salt. Dean mentions there’s a new owner and blanches slightly when Karen asks who he slept with to get the job. He tries to get her to hurry up and order but Karen insists on going over the menu. Later, Dean tries to talk to Karen but she sees Ben at the bar and calls him over. After a few words, Dean drops hints to Ben to leave. He then takes Karen out onto the balcony for a chat. He reminds her of the suitcase in which he and Colby found the recording of Ross and Michelle, saying he found a letter and a baby photo in there. Karen tries to avoid the conversation but Dean says he found Rick and wishes he hadn’t. Karen acknowledges Rick is his father, saying she was young and starstruck and it was a drunken mess of a night: She sent the photo in a last ditch attempt to get Rick to be a family with them but later found out his wife was pregnant at the same time. After joking that she’d have had to stay faithful if Rick had wanted them, she says she didn’t want Dean to be rejected and Rick, his wife and kids can get stuffed.

Colby and Mackenzie arrive at the Diner flat with pizza. Bella is fine with Mackenzie being there and Mackenzie confirms she knows about Bella testifying. Bella starts telling her about their traditions, such as watching a movie afterwards (and not letting Colby choose) and arguing over the last slice of pizza. Colby advises her to have an early night for the meeting with the lawyer. Later, with Bella presumably in bed, Colby and Mackenzie debate whether she should get going and she eventually agrees to stay the night.

Next morning, Dean runs into Ben at the caravan park. Ben says Karen’s fun but Dean tells him that she doesn’t know about Mackenzie or about him dating Ziggy. He explains he didn’t want to drop it on her while she was ill and now he wants to drip feed her the information. Ben promises not to say anything. Dean also says that they’ll talk about the surf school some time. He goes to Karen’s caravan but it’s empty, with the bed unmade. Meanwhile, Colby and Mackenzie wake up together. Bella knocks on the bedroom door twice, first to check Colby’s awake and then to check he remembers she’s seeing the lawyer. Colby says he’ll meet her downstairs in twenty minutes. Mackenzie jokingly makes a knocking sound.

Karen finds Alf near the bait shop and they briefly chat. She sees Colby saying goodbye to Mackenzie, approaching Colby afterwards and joking she thought he only had eyes for her. Bella appears, complaining that Colby has been half an hour. She and Karen realise who the other is; Bella knows Karen was her mother’s best friend. Karen says Bella looks just like her and is pleased she’s with Colby. Near the caravan park, Mackenzie runs into Dean and asks about meeting Karen. Dean admits Karen doesn’t know about her, explaining Rick’s a touchy subject with her. Mackenzie realises he got Colby to decoy her; Dean says he didn’t need much persuading. Mackenzie says next time just ask her for help.

At the Diner, Colby is chatting to Karen while Bella is at the counter. Karen is impressed that Dean seems sorted. Bella comes over and credits Ziggy, causing Colby to roll his eyes. Dean arrives as Irene, Colby and Bella leave for the meeting with the lawyer. Dean admits that he’s dating someone called Ziggy (the name makes Karen wonder if her parents don’t like her). Karen asks what else she doesn’t know.