Episode 7337

Extended Summary

Dean and Ziggy are on the beach preparing for a surf and discuss that they’re going to have the place to themselves tonight. Maggie appears further down the beach and admits that she’s just getting out of the house. Ziggy invites her for lunch, saying she’s not really in the mood for a surf. Dean says he’ll go and look after the shop. Maggie asks to avoid Salt but changes her mind when Ziggy says Ben isn’t working. Meanwhile, Evan remarks to Roo that he’s supposed to die as he lived but instead he’s dying of mesothelioma from asbestos poisoning. He’s been told he has months to live but doesn’t look or feel sick. Roo asks when he’s going to tell Ryder but Evan says he wants Ryder to get to know him because he wants to, not because he feels obligation. Roo asks what he’s going to do if Ryder doesn’t change his mind.

Back at the Diner, Ryder is telling Alf that Evan won’t leave even though he doesn’t think he needs him in his life. Alf says Ryder should have told him and Ryder says he wasn’t around. Alf says he should have phoned. Marilyn watches the pair nervously from the counter. Alf gets a phone call: It’s Martha, back at the house. She understands that he’s with Ryder and says they can wait on lunch since they’ve been eating together all the time. Roo and Evan arrive and Roo explains to the pair who the other is. Evan excuses himself and Roo refuses to tell Martha what they were talking about.

Maggie and Ziggy are drinking at Salt. Maggie reflects that it used to be Ben’s job to turn the outside light off at night and check for the mail, so now the light’s on all night and the mail box is full. Ziggy tries to suggest it’s sad but Maggie doesn’t want to go there, despite Ziggy saying she wants Maggie to be able to open up to her. Despite Ziggy trying to argue otherwise, Maggie thinks this is the new normal. Back at the Diner, Alf collects an order from Marilyn and asks what she wanted to tell him earlier. Marilyn says she doesn’t remember, then says it doesn’t matter. She thinks he should concentrate on Ryder.

Alf and Ryder join Roo and Martha at home. Alf is still looking to confront Evan and Martha notes he seemed nice when she saw him. Neither Alf nor Ryder are happy that Roo brought Evan home and Alf demands to know why he was there. Shortly after, Roo meets up with Evan down on the beach. She tells him she hasn’t told anyone but wants him to tell Ryder. Evan says if he does that it’ll seem real and admits he hasn’t told anyone. He says he wants to be more than the dying dad who’s turned up. Roo says if he doesn’t tell Ryder then she will. Evan says she gave her word and thinks that means something to her. Roo says Ryder means more.

Martha and Alf go round to see Marilyn at the Palmer house. Marilyn tries to ask them about their honeymoon but Alf wants to know why she was upset earlier and threatens to ask John when he comes home. Marilyn admits that John doesn’t live there and hasn’t done for some time. Later, she’s told them about the ultimatum. Alf isn’t happy with John but Marilyn says he’s just respecting her wishes. Martha wonders if he’ll move back in now the Paratas are gone but Marilyn wonders if too much has happened. Alf points to himself and Martha but Marilyn thinks they’re the exception. Martha wonders if she’d do things differently if she had the chance. Marilyn thinks she was always destined to end up like this but the Paratas distracted her from how empty her life is.

Dean greets Maggie and Ziggy as they come downstairs. Maggie tells Ziggy to go for that surf that she lied about not wanting. Ziggy doesn’t want her to be alone so Maggie decides to go to the gym. Ziggy tells Dean that Maggie’s in a black hole and blames herself for the way she treated her when she first found out about Marco. Dean suggests it’s between her parents. Later, Maggie returns from the gym, saying she’s fine. Dean quietly tells Ziggy to spend the evening with her instead of them having a night in alone. Ziggy goes over to Maggie and tells her she’s coming over for dinner and wants a roast with all the trimmings. Maggie heads off to organise it but Ziggy tells Dean it’s only going to help her for a bit.

Ryder is frustrated when Evan turns up at the house. Evan asks him to come for a walk with him and let him try and explain why he’s there. He promises that if Ryder doesn’t change his mind then he’ll leave. Later, the two of them are sat near the beach. Evan says he’s always lived for each day at a time but he’s beginning to look back on his life and thinks not being there for Ryder was a mistake. Ryder isn’t impressed and starts to walk away but Evan says he’s sick…of living with regret. He says Ryder might not need him but wonders if one day he might regret sending him away.

Roo arrives home and Ryder tells her he’s going to Salt and then to a gig in Yabbie Creek with Evan. He says that Evan told him why he really came and thinks Roo already knows the reason. Roo says to tell her anyway. Back at the Palmer house, Alf tries to get Martha to go after Marilyn, who has gone to the bathroom, but Martha thinks Marilyn needs privacy. Marilyn emerges and Alf tries to get her to come for dinner at theirs but Marilyn is reluctant to interrupt their first night back. Martha tells Alf to go home and she’ll stay with Marilyn.

Dean is closing up at the surf club as Roo arrives looking for Evan. She is annoyed that he didn’t tell Ryder the truth. Evan says he tried but it felt like emotional blackmail. Alf emerges from the office and he and Evan realise who the other is. Alf wants to know what Evan’s game is but Evan leaves. Alf and Roo go home and run into Martha, who says she left Marilyn alone when Jett called. Alf realises Roo knows something about Evan but Roo says it’s not fair for him to know before Ryder does. Alf insists she sit down and tell him everything that’s happened while he’s been away.

Dean is watching telly on his own when Ziggy arrives back with a box of leftovers from the meal. She feels bad that she had to leave Maggie alone and says she needs to move back home. Dean looks disappointed but says he’s fine with it and hugs her.