Episode 7309

Extended Summary

Nikau is hosing down a boat outside the bait shop. Bella approaches and greets him but doesn’t seem quite sure what to say next. Colby hobbles from the direction of the flat and Bella quickly chooses to accompany him to Salt, even though it means walking at his slow pace. At the caravan park, Ryder sees Ari talking to Mackenzie outside his van. Ari is keen for Mackenzie to go but doesn’t provide a definitive answer as to whether he’s interested in her or not. He announces he’s going for a shower. Mackenzie sits down outside his caravan with a beer, saying she’ll start without him.

Colby and Bella arrive at the surf club. Bella takes two attempts to ask Colby why he’s there, noting she has to pay a counsellor to listen to her because he doesn’t. Colby says he wants to talk to Mackenzie. Ryder comes past and tells them he saw her at the caravan park, being vague about whether she’s working and what she was doing there. Colby decides to go upstairs and get something to eat while they wait for her. At the Diner, Roo asks Marilyn if she’s heard from John but Marilyn isn’t sure what he’s doing and shuts the conversation down quickly when Gemma appears. Gemma laments her bad timing but Roo remains confident John and Marilyn will sort things out.

John arrives back at the caravan park and is confused to see Mackenzie there, even telling her Dean doesn’t live there anymore. He ends up going to his van. Ari appears and is slightly surprised to see Mackenzie still there. She mentions she’s ordered a pizza, and perhaps isn’t the princess he thinks she is. Ari agrees to share the pizza rather than let it go to waste. At Salt, Colby asks Ryder for the dessert menu. Bella is somewhat amused and realised he’s sticking around to tell Mackenzie he still likes her. She concludes he’s not going to be able to do so tonight. Colby accepts it and asks Ryder for the bill instead.

Ari and Mackenzie are eating by the bonfire. Ari admits he hasn’t quite got Mackenzie worked out and Mackenzie notes she’s done most of the talking when they’ve spoken in the past. Ari tells her he spent eight years in jail for armed robbery. Mackenzie apologises for pushing him and Ari says he was a stupid kid and now he just goes to work and has a beer afterwards. Mackenzie says it doesn’t put her off and kisses him. Ari kisses her back. At the Diner, Roo comments on Nikau’s appetite and offers him more work. Gemma tries to talk to Marilyn about her and John but Marilyn dismissively says it’s good to have time apart and he might surprise her. Gemma tells Nikau that Marilyn doesn’t seem to care her marriage might be over and she thinks it wouldn’t have happened if they hadn’t moved in.

Ari and Mackenzie wake up together and Mackenzie notes it’s her first time waking up in a caravan. She isn’t keen on communal showers but Ari says she’d make it look classy. They kiss. At the Diner flat, Bella realises Colby is wearing aftershave and wishes him luck with Mackenzie, noting he should get a move on because they’ve been circling each other for a while.

Ari and Mackenzie exit his caravan. They are seen by John who largely ignores their greetings and goes to his van looking grumpy. Shortly after, John turns up at the Diner. Marilyn asks him about Jett. John says he’s fine, then tells her Ari and Mackenzie are together. Gemma looks somewhat worried and Marilyn asks to talk to John outside. She is unhappy about him spreading gossip even though he insists it’s true. Marilyn wonders if John expected her to give away the fact she has feelings for Ari, which she says she doesn’t. John says he just wants to show her the sort of man Ari is. They are unaware that Nikau is listening from the bait shop.

Mackenzie asks Ryder to keep an eye on the bar at Salt while she does stock orders. Before she can get on it though, Colby appears and Ryder quietly tells Mackenzie he was waiting for her last night. Colby manages to get out the fact that he wants to give it another try but Mackenzie says she just wants to be friends and has moved on. Colby reluctantly accepts it. At the Diner, Nikau tells Gemma about hearing John and Marilyn arguing and worries that the town will hate them again. Gemma assures him it’s a different situation. After he’s gone, she tries to ring Ari. He is doing bench-presses at the gym and, after checking his phone, ignores the call. Gemma leaves a message saying to call her asap.

Bella is on the balcony, watching Nikau working on the wharf. Colby rejoins her and explains Mackenzie turned him down. He notes the subject of Bella’s interest and advises her to tell Nikau how she feels, reminding her of her advice to him. Soon after, Bella and Nikau meet on the beach. Nikau is confused, wondering if it’s about why she was weird yesterday or last week. Bella ends up yelling that she likes him and running off.

Bella turns up at the caravan park house and Roo tells her that Ryder’s working. Bella says she did something dumb. At Salt, Mackenzie is pleased when Ari turns up for a drink. Gemma appears and drags Ari aside, saying they’re supposed to be keeping a low profile but he’s been all over the papers and is now dating the local cop’s ex. Ari says he’s just trying to have the life he didn’t have for eight years. He suggests to Mackenzie that they instead go out and she agrees. Gemma is left fuming.