Episode 7326

Extended Summary

Ari and Tane continue to square up to each other in front of Nikau, with John, Ryder and Roo watching from a bit further away. Ryder explains who Tane is. Ari wants Tane to go but he refuses. At the Diner, Marilyn notes Gemma will be missed when she goes to work at Salt. Gemma checks her phone; she is worried that she hasn’t heard from Nikau since he went off with Ryder. Marilyn answers a call from Roo on the Diner phone and hands it to Gemma.

Ari knocks Tane to the ground. Tane is quick to get up and they look ready to continue the fight but Gemma quickly gets between them and tells Ari to go home. She tells Nikau to take Tane to Marilyn’s. John says if she hadn’t stepped in he’d have called the police. Gemma thanks Roo for calling her. At the hospital, Ben is brought in by an ambulance crew with Maggie trailing. The ambulance officer tells Tori that he collapsed twenty minutes ago: He’s been semi-conscious throughout but hasn’t responded to questions. Maggie says he had a headache and was hot and sweaty yesterday: She thought it was the flu but this morning he was burning up.

At the pier, John and Roo fill Marilyn in on Ari and Tane’s confrontation with John explaining Ari was the one who threw a punch. Roo gets a call from Maggie asking her to cover her classes. Marilyn wonders where the Paratas are now. They are, of course, at her house, where Gemma gives Tane some frozen peas for his jaw and asks if he’s in trouble. Tane says he heard Ari was stuffing up and Nikau needed a night away. Gemma wonders where he’s staying but he dodges the question, going to the bathroom to assess the damage. Gemma chides Nikau for bringing Tane since he makes Ari mad but Nikau says Tane listens to him.

Tori notes Ben has a temperature. Freya gives her the results which indicate a slightly elevated white cell count. Tori tells Maggie that there’s some signs of an infection but the results don’t support it. She asks if Ben’s on any medication other than anti-depressants. Maggie admits they haven’t been talking. Ben starts having a seizure. Outside the surf club, John asks Ari if he’s sorted everything out. Ari says it’s none of John’s business. John says it is when it’s outside the surf club and Ari’s family are staying with his family.

Nikau shows Tane Marilyn’s crystals and notes the fridge is where meat-eaters’ dreams die. Gemma says Marilyn’s been good to them. Tane says he heard Ari didn’t deliver. Gemma says he’s done all he can but Tane says they’d be sleeping in the car if not for Marilyn. At that point, Marilyn returns and notes they have a visitor. Back at the hospital, Tori gets the results that rule out an infection and tells Maggie that Ben’s on anti-seizure medication and stable. Maggie recalls him taking the headache tablets and decides she’ll call Ziggy. Tori lets her into Ben’s cubicle.

Marilyn and Tane exchange pleasantries and Tane thanks her for looking out for the family. Gemma says they’re looking for somewhere else but everywhere’s too small or too expensive. Tane and Nikau turn down Marilyn’s offer of herbal tea and leave. Gemma assures Marilyn that Tane isn’t dangerous but can’t explain why Ari hit him. Meanwhile, Nikau and Tane are down on the beach. Tane admires the view, noting things can’t be that bad. Gemma appears and wants to talk to Tane alone; Nikau says he’ll meet him in the bar. Gemma says Tane should have told her Nikau was with him and they don’t need him coming to save them. Tane says he’s not going to stay away from Nikau just because Ari tells him to. Gemma didn’t know he did.

Maggie leaves a message for Ziggy and Ben starts to come round. Maggie tells him he’s in hospital and calls Tori over. He tells her he started feeling ill yesterday afternoon and admits he took two or three extra anti-depressants. Tori reminds him he’s meant to stick to the dose: The extra pills probably caused the headache and then reacted with the headache tablets, which could have killed him. Later, she returns and says the test results have confirmed serotonin syndrome. Ben will be on fluids and monitored for a few days. Tori says he should have called a doctor and she’s going to get the psychiatrist to reassess him. Maggie wants to stay with Ben. Ben says it’s her choice but isn’t particularly welcoming.

Tane joins Nikau in Salt and assures him he’s not going anywhere. He offers to shout him something to eat and, seeing Ryder behind the bar, says the drinks are on him since Tane gave him beers. Ryder points out he didn’t drink them. Tane gives him money for two lots of burger, chips and beers. On the pier, Gemma tells Ari that Tane’s with Nikau and isn’t happy he told him to stay away since he’s family. Ari says Tane abandoned them but Gemma says Ari was always hard on him and is doing the same to Nikau. Ari says Tane isn’t as innocent as he acts.

Ari and Gemma walk on the beach. Gemma points out Tane’s not got a criminal record. Ari thinks that’s just luck and says he wants to stop Nikau going down the same path as Tane. Gemma replies that they will but Tane’s the only brother he has left now. Back at Salt, Tane suggests to Nikau that now he’s there he can sort out his women trouble. Gemma and Ari arrive; Nikau wants to bail and Tane offers Ari a beer before round two. Gemma says they should all sit down together as a family. None of the others look keen on the idea.

At the Diner, Roo tells Tori she heard Ben’s in hospital. Tori can’t give details but says he’ll be fine. She notes Justin and Leah are babysitting and Marilyn asks if she still needs her tomorrow. John comes in and asks Marilyn about Ari and Tane. Marilyn says Gemma’s sorting it. At Salt, Gemma tries to get Ari and Tane to talk. Tane asks how work is. Ari asks how unemployment or whatever Tane does is. Mackenzie comes past, greeting them. Tane offers to get another round but Ari says he doesn’t want his dirty money. He goes to the bar and orders four beers. Mackenzie asks about his new friend. Ari says he’s not a friend and will be gone soon. Nikau comments to Gemma on the failure of “family time”.