Episode 7301

Extended Summary

Maggie follows Ben out into the corridor with Marco remaining in the living area. Ben continues to want Marco gone. He wonders why he’s there and Maggie suggests his parents told Marco about the party. Ziggy and Dean arrive; Ziggy and Marco are surprised to see each other. After another request, Marco leaves. Dean asks for someone to fill him in. Soon after, while Ben and Maggie listen in discomfort, Ziggy explains to Dean about Marco hitting on Maggie. As the parents leave, she explains that Ben decked him and Marco had him charged with assault. They’ve seen each other at family gatherings since then but never talk.

While making dinner, Justin leans across Leah, then apologises when it makes her uncomfortable. Leah says she knows he won’t hurt her but she keeps getting reminders. She thanks him for his patience, especially when he’s dealing with Mason. Marilyn arrives with Grace and Justin takes her to change her. Leah tells her that she knows what happened with Mason and is sorry Marilyn got caught up in it. Marilyn says she’s focusing on the good things in her life. At the Diner, Roo runs into Ari; he tells her that with the overtime he’s done, he should be able to pay his van bill on his next payday. Marilyn arrives and gushes over Ari. Even though he was about to leave, she drags him off to sit with her until her shift starts.

John is in his office at the surf club; he contemplates calling Marilyn but doesn’t. Roo arrives and asks if he’s going to Ben’s birthday party. John says he hasn’t been invited but Roo says it’s an open invite. John says he’ll see. Roo runs into Dean and Ziggy and checks they don’t need help. Ziggy worries that Marco being around will put Ben off his stride. At the farm house, Ben has finished outside. Maggie is cooking but snaps at Ben when he offers to help before admitting she’s worried about the party now. They reflect that Ben’s parents have never forgiven him for cutting Marco out of his life but Ben insists he won’t spoil the party.

Ziggy explains to Dean how Ben didn’t have anything to do with Marco after the assault charge so they didn’t see much of his family. She doesn’t want to get involved, so naturally Marco comes in at that moment. He tells Ziggy he’s there to make things up and asks her to help him out. At the Diner, Marilyn thanks Ari for brightening things up and mentions the party. Ari recalls the days when Gemma and Mikaere used to throw them. Roo arrives back and asks Marilyn what’s going on with her and John. She points out neither of them seem to feel good about what happened so suggests they talk to each other about what went wrong.

Leah brings a large number of outfits into the living area and asks Justin what he thinks she should wear. Justin’s opinion that she’d look good in anything doesn’t exactly help her. Justin thinks she shouldn’t obsess about what she wears and Leah accepts it. He suggests they don’t have to go to the party but she wants to. At Salt, Ziggy asks Dean to stay as Marco rejoins them with three beers. He notes that Ziggy and Coco probably haven’t heard anything good about him but he regrets what happens. He says pride has got in the way of making things up before now. He’s staying in Yabbie Creek and gives Ziggy his number for Ben. After he’s gone, Dean notes it’s too early to know whether or not to trust him but it’s Ben’s call.

Ben is trying to unstring some lights as Dean and Ziggy arrive back. Ziggy tells them about meeting Marco. Maggie is sceptical about him wanting to make things up. Dean points out he took a chance on Mackenzie but that goes down like a lead balloon so he decides to leave. Ziggy gives Ben Marco’s number. Next morning, John and Marilyn meet up near the beach. John says he’s ashamed of how he behaved at the surf club and Marilyn says she didn’t mean to hurt him. John asks if it’s just about the Paratas or if something else is going on. Marilyn says the Paratas are good people but John wants to talk about the two of them. Ari comes past and takes all of Marilyn’s attention. John says she’d obviously rather talk to him and walks away.

Justin tells Leah that he was thinking they might get to Ben’s early to help with the setting up. Leah agrees and notes that she’d better put her make-up on. She heads to the bathroom but starts having flashbacks of Douglas getting her to get ready for the wedding and ends up knocking everything off the surface. Justin comes in and finds her having a panic attack. Later, Leah says she wanted to go to the party but accepts that it’s too early. She isn’t happy about the way she’s feeling. Justin says she’ll get through it and suggests she see the counsellor when she’s ready. Leah thinks he should go to the party and get on with his life but Justin says she is his life. Leah continues to look dispirited.

Ziggy, Dean and Ben join Maggie at the Diner after a birthday surf. Ben is pleased with the watch he got as a present but not so much with Ziggy’s suggestion of skydiving together. Dean says he’ll be over to help with the party after his surf lesson. Ziggy asks Ben if he’s going to call Marco and he says he thinks he will: He learnt in counselling not to hold on to things and thinks he owes it to his parents to at least try. Ziggy says she brought the number just in case. Later, Ari tries to talk to Marilyn about seeing her with John. Marilyn tries to avoid the subject then says John’s very rigid, before inviting Ari and his family to the party. Ari doesn’t seem keen, even when Marilyn says John won’t be there, but she insists on calling Gemma.

Dean sees John at the surf club and asks if he’s going to Ben’s party. John is reluctant, despite Dean pointing out it’s a free feed. John says he’s not sure about being there with Marilyn but Dean thinks that’s a reason to go. At the farm house, Roo turns up and cheerily tells Ben, Maggie and Ziggy that, as requested, she hasn’t brought anything. Marilyn also arrives with Ari in tow and some food, saying she thought it was a chance for the Paratas to meet people. Roo and Maggie quietly notes it’s a good thing John isn’t coming. After most of the others have gone outside, Marco also arrives and gives Ben a bottle of single malt. Ben shakes his hand while Maggie continues to be colder.

Outside, Dean and Ziggy express satisfaction at Marco being there and Dean baulks at being called her boyfriend. Marilyn checks with Maggie that it’s fine to bring the Paratas. John arrives, greeting Roo, Dean and Ziggy, then sees Ari with Marilyn. Roo awkwardly says Marilyn invited the whole family and Dean takes John for a beer. Maggie briefly chats to Ben and Marco before going inside. Marco follows her and Maggie says after the party he needs to leave. Marco says it’s not about her: He wants to fix things with Ben and would appreciate her support. Maggie asks why she would and Marco says he doesn’t want to tell Ben that they slept together.