Episode 7281

Extended Summary

Ari and Nikau are fishing off the pier. Nikau notes Ari could have bought a meal for what the rods cost and Ari insists they’ll catch more than one meal and they all have to pitch in. Gemma appears, having dressed smartly for her first visit to the Diner. Nikau jokes that she’s been cooking for him for years and only poisoned him once before they both give her words of encouragement.

Gemma meets Irene and Marilyn at the Diner and says she can take as many shifts as they want. Irene notes they’re a staff member down and she needs to pop out later, so suggests Gemma starts straightaway. Gemma readily agrees and Marilyn offers to show her the ropes.

Colby tells a rather subdued Jasmine that there’s plenty of food in the fridge before asking Bella if she’s done all her homework for Roo, since she has counselling tomorrow. Bella is unenthusiastic, saying she knows taking the pills was dumb. Colby tries to get Jasmine to say counselling helped her but Jasmine isn’t listening and Bella says Colby should be helping her instead. Colby gets a call from Ryder, during which both Jasmine and Bella leave the room. Jasmine goes to her bedroom, putting her cup of tea aside untouched and looking at Robbo’s watch and the wedding photo before lying down on the bed.

Ryder and Roo are setting the table for breakfast, including a pot of tea, as Ryder says he’s arranged to meet Colby to hand over Jade’s phone. Alf and Martha appear before they can leave. Roo explains that, since the couple aren’t having a honeymoon, they can have a staycation: She and Ryder are making themselves scarce for a few days. Alf rather formally says it’s a good idea. After the others have gone, he and Martha drink a toast to each other.

As Ryder and Roo approach the Diner, Roo admits she doesn’t actually know where they’re going to be staying. She offers to stay and talk to Colby with him but Ryder says he’ll do it on his own. He approaches Colby and gives him Jade’s phone, saying it’s got the video and the time stamp on it. Seeing Nikau, he beckons him over. Nikau is reluctant but backs up Ryder’s story. Colby is sceptical at the idea of them finding the phone and says they’ll both have to make a statement. Nikau says he’ll tell him what happened but isn’t going anywhere. Ryder privately begs Nikau to help and he agrees.

Marilyn sends Gemma to deliver some orders. Irene checks they’ll be okay alone while she visits Jasmine. Gemma checks Roo and Maggie’s coffee order, getting it slightly wrong. Roo tries to talk to Maggie about getting a home tutor for Bella but Maggie is distracted by the sight of someone new working at the Diner and wonders who the last person to see Leah was. Roo recalls it was at John and Marilyn’s party and Irene was with her when she got the call. Maggie suggests working out a timeline rather than sitting around doing nothing.

Up in the flat, Irene offers Jasmine another drink which she also puts aside untouched. Jasmine says she did what Irene said, took things one day at a time to get through the funeral and doesn’t know what to do next and what to do about Robbo’s things. Irene says it could be a week or a month before she’s ready and suggests they box up his things and she can do what she wants with them.

Outside, Ari is cleaning a fish he caught and Gemma tells him about her first shift and how it looks like there could be more. They see the police car draw up nearby and Colby, Ryder and Nikau get out. With Colby having left (Ryder not so much), Ari grabs hold of Nikau angrily, accusing him of being in trouble with the cops already. Gemma says not here.

Inside, Colby and Ryder explain to Maggie and Roo that the phone proves Jade had the video before it was posted and the DPP will likely drop the charges against Ryder. Roo asks if Jade will be charged. Colby says they’ll speak to her and Ryder says she’s probably left town after Alf kicked her out. Colby says to leave it to them. Ryder asks Roo if she’s found somewhere to stay, before saying he’ll sleep in a van and she can sleep out in the rain. As he goes to leave, Bella, who has been listening in, comments on him being off the hook and asks if he wants some company, to which he agrees. Roo and Maggie ask to talk to Colby: Not about Bella’s home schooling but about Leah.

Ari, Nikau and Gemma arrive back at the motel. Ari demands to know what’s going on. Nikau sarcastically offers being caught mooning on the beach and the police trying to recruit him. When Gemma asks, he says he was helping a friend out. Ari doesn’t believe it, saying Nikau’s been looking for trouble “ever since…” He breaks off and Nikau completes it for him: Ever since his dad died. He says Ari’s not his dad and not to try to be, before walking out. Ari is frustrated.

Nikau arrives at Salt, comparing his last $5 with what’s on offer before sitting down heavily. He calls a young man, Tane, who is detailing two associates to get some boxes out of his boot. Nikau tells him Ari’s worse with him than he was with Tane, and Gemma’s listening to him. Tane says he’ll text Nikau his new address so he can visit him any time, adding that Ari, who he refers to as his brother, doesn’t need to know. He encourages him to go easy on Gemma.

Ryder and Bella sneak to the back of the caravan park house. Ryder explains he doesn’t know what Alf and Martha are doing on their honeymoon so is just going to sneak in and out. He finds Martha lying on the couch, calling through crossword clues to Alf, and removes a caravan key and sneaks out again before either of them notice him.

Gemma arrives back at the Diner and apologises to Marilyn for the long break, saying she’ll make it up. Gemma takes Colby’s payment and asks about Nikau. Colby says he witnessed something to do with a case and helped out a local kid, and it’s all sorted now. Meanwhile, Roo arrives at the farm house, where she has arranged to stay. She and Maggie go over what they know: Leah left the anniversary dinner after getting a phone call, they don’t know who from. Colby has told them that Leah hasn’t touched her phone or bank account and her car’s still missing. They look at the missing persons website, where Maggie takes comfort in the fact that 98% of people eventually turn up.

Gemma returns to the motel, telling Nikau it was a nice thing he did for Ryder. Ari is laying out a sleeping bag and says they can’t afford two rooms: His foreman won’t let him back on site until the doctor gives him the all-clear, which will take two weeks. Gemma says she won’t get paid by the Diner until after that. Ari wants to get another job in the meantime.

At the Diner flat, Colby sends Bella a text wondering where she is but she comes in moments later, saying she said she’d be back for dinner. Colby thinks she’s trying to avoid talking about the counsellor and accuses her of punishing him. Their argument carries through to the bedroom where Jasmine is looking over old text conversations with Robbo. Bella points out there’s one thing she can’t talk about and Colby insists her mental health comes first. Jasmine appears, telling them to stop and that they’re lucky to have each other, before walking out.

Alf and Martha are dishing up dinner. They comment on Roo texting them to say everything’s sorted with Ryder. Martha wonders if this is the rest of their lives: Nothing to talk about except kids and grandkids. They agree it’s quiet and Martha suggests Alf call Roo while she text Ryder. Alf suggests having just one night with just the two of them.

Colby follows Jasmine out onto the pier and apologises. Jasmine says the fight wasn’t the issue: Everywhere she looks in the flat she sees Robbo, even after packing away his things, and she can’t stay there. Colby puts his arm around her.