Episode 7233

Extended Summary

Colby meets Mackenzie on the pier and immediately kisses her, saying he wants to take them off pause. Mackenzie is thrown, saying he can’t just make a grand gesture without backing it up, but he says he made a mistake before and can handle Bella. Although not committing, Mackenzie kisses him again. Neither of them realise Bella is standing just a few yards away watching them. Meanwhile, Dean is lying on the bed in his caravan when there’s a hammering on the door: It’s Willow, who says she needs to spend the night there. Dean tries to question her but she collapses onto the bed so he decides to sleep outside.

Next morning, Irene is on the beach leaving a phone message for Willow, wondering where she is. She runs into Colby and asks if he’s seen her. Colby suggests she might be at the gym. In fact, Willow is exiting Dean’s caravan, looking somewhat sheepish. Dean wonders about her being dressed up and Willow admits she did something stupid. Dean asks who he was. Willow says it’s not like that but doesn’t want to talk about it further, although she does admit she’s not okay.

Bella joins Colby on the beach and asks where he was last night, saying she was woken by Grace’s crying and he wasn’t in his room. Colby says he must have been in the bathroom. Bella says she’s finding a Modern History assessment dull and suggests she’s changed her opinion about some things. Colby suggests they go for breakfast at the Diner. At the farm house, Ben arrives back and explains to Maggie he went for a surf: He’s following his therapist’s advice about staying active and is managing without the medication. He is meeting his lawyer later for an update.

In Salt, Mackenzie tells Dean that she thought the time Colby was spending focusing on Bella would allow her to get her head around his work. Dean suggests some people would see those things as positives, although personally he doesn’t know what she sees in him. He says Colby has nine lives but Mackenzie thinks he must only have about three left. Dean says he knows how to look after himself. Irene enters and asks Dean about Willow; he explains about her crashing at his. Downstairs, Willow arrives and finds Alex waiting for her. Alex starts to talk about the previous night but Willow says she can’t remember what happened. Alex looks disappointed but leaves. Irene has been listening in and asks Willow if it’s true.

Retreating into the gym office, Irene notes that she’s seen Willow drunker than that without forgetting things. Willow tells her about Alex kissing her, them getting past it to become friends, and then the kiss last night. Irene asks if she likes her. Willow says she’s never felt like this about a woman before: She lets guys take her as she is but she wants Alex to like her. Irene suggests being honest. Later, Willow is composing a text to Alex saying she does remember. Dean comes in with a takeaway and says he has three minutes of his break left to talk. Willow says it’ll take more than that: She turns down his offer to talk to “the bloke from last night” but thanks him for the food. She finishes the text and sends it.

At the Diner, Ben and Maggie part, with him going to see the lawyer, and arrange to meet at Salt for lunch. Irene briefly chats to Maggie. Nearby, Colby talks to Bella about the assessment, suggesting she take up Photography again since she has a talent for it. However, he quickly leaves when he gets a text from Mackenzie. He meets her on the beach and tells her he can’t promise he’ll be safe but will try. He also says he’ll handle Bella. Mackenzie accepts it and they kiss.

Colby and Mackenzie arrive back at the surf club where Colby tries to convince Mackenzie to ditch work so they can go back to hers for an hour or two. Mackenzie agrees and goes to tell her staff she’s going to see a supplier. Bella has been sat nearby throughout and throws Colby by approaching him. She says she does have a good eye for photographs and shows him one of him and Mackenzie kissing on the beach before accusing him of lying to her and storming out. Mackenzie has come down during the row but heads back upstairs. Colby follows; Mackenzie isn’t happy that he kept it from Bella. Colby says he was holding off until he knew for sure and will sort it.

Willow meets Alex near the beach and apologises for pretending not to remember. Alex asks why she kissed her and Willow says she wanted to. Alex wonders if she just wanted to see what it was like. Willow says she likes her and doesn’t want to stop hanging out. Alex suggests they just spend time together without pressure or labels. Near the bait shop, Colby finds Bella sitting among the boats. He is sorry for lying, telling her that he wanted to see if Mackenzie agreed, but also says it isn’t up to her if they date and asks her to give Mack a chance. Bella says she did and Mack betrayed them, and will do it again sooner or later. Colby makes it clear nothing’s going to change.

Ben enters the surf club and stands by his old counter. Dean arrives and Ben says he was just reminiscing, recalling they made a great team. Dean has surf lessons booked for the afternoon but Ben can’t help out. He gets a call from his lawyer, who he’s just seen, and sends Dean on ahead. He assumes it’s something else to sign but the message surprises him. Upstairs, Dean tells Maggie where Ben is. Ben comes up and says the AFP have dropped the charges. Mackenzie and Dean join Maggie in congratulating him. Mackenzie gets a text from Colby saying Bella is “OKish” with them being together: Neither she nor Dean is convinced. They go over to the Astoni table with champagne. Ben says he wants to reopen the board shop and reminds Dean he agreed they make a good team.

Mackenzie finds Dean on the balcony. He says Ben expects him to help with the board shop again but between Salt and the surf lessons he doesn’t have any spare time: He doesn’t want to let Ben down but doesn’t see how he can do it.