Episode 7359

Extended Summary

Ari and Mackenzie are frolicking in the sea, with Colby watching them from the beach, looking unhappy about it. They come back to the shore long enough to banter. Mackenzie asks Colby if he’s coming in and Ari gives Colby a glare before dragging Mackenzie back into the water. Later, Ari and Mackenzie are showering and dressing outside the surf club. Ari heads off and passes Colby with them exchanging another glare: This is witnessed by Nikau from the distance. Mackenzie tells Colby that she’s now debt free, having finished paying Rick back the money she took to buy Salt, and invites him up for breakfast to celebrate.

Outside the bait shop, Alf apologises to Martha that he won’t be able to join her for the art exhibit in Merimbula but feels he needs to be there for Ryder with what’s happening. Martha wonders if she should stay as well but Alf says Ryder wouldn’t want that. They worry that Evan will leave without Ryder making things up with him. Back at the house, Roo and Evan are sat at the breakfast table: Ryder has yet to surface. When he does come down, he asks for some pancakes and then suggests he and Evan do some more guitar practice. Roo asks if he wants to talk about the fact Evan is leaving today. Ryder doesn’t and heads outside.

Nikau arrives home and Gemma notes he looks terrible. He says he’s been at work and she says that’s the only time he leaves the house. Tane says Nikau’s practising brooding and Gemma assumes it’s because of Bella, joking that she won’t be able to resist him for long. She heads off to work and Tane says Nikau won’t last if the police pull him in for questioning. Nikau worries that will actually happen. Later, at Salt, Colby and Mackenzie are eating and discuss Rick; Mackenzie is happy not to have any more contact with him. With Gemma watching them from behind the bar, Mackenzie asks Colby what was going on between him and Ari before. Colby admits he was a bit jealous but says the main reason is he’s convinced Ari is dodgy. Mackenzie ends the conversation.

Tane finds Nikau in his room. Nikau is worried what’s going to happen with the police, especially since Colby clearly doesn’t like Ari. Tane suggests he ask Bella about the police investigation. Nikau isn’t comfortable about using her. Outside the Diner, Ryder runs into Bella. He tells her about Evan leaving and how once he’s gone he’ll never see him again. He regrets wasting time pushing Evan away when he first turned up but Bella tells him Evan needed to earn his place in Ryder’s life. Ryder wonders if he should have horse therapy like her. They see Nikau loitering nearby; Bella is happy to let him wait but Ryder wants to get on. Bella calls after Nikau, who had started to walk away.

In the Diner, Ryder is watching the video of Evan’s song on his phone. Alf sits with him and tells him he needs to let Evan make his decision. Ryder isn’t happy that Evan gets to make the choices but Alf says Evan can’t choose to live, only how he’s going to die. He advises Ryder to make the most of the time they have. They head outside where Roo and Evan are waiting on the pier; Evan puts his oxygen to one side. Alf and Roo back off and let Ryder and Evan have time together, with Evan suggesting they fish.

Bella and Nikau are walking near the surf club. Bella says things haven’t changed much since she’s been away. Nikau brings up the Diner break-in and asks if Colby’s been talking about it at home. Bella wonders if he’s been talking to her just to grill her about it and Nikau says he was just trying to have a conversation that wasn’t awkward. Colby comes along and Nikau quickly makes himself scarce. Colby wonders what he was talking about and Bella says she has no idea. Back at the Parata house, Tane is pumping weights in his room to music. Ari comes in and turns the music down, prompting Tane to say he’s turning into an old man. They discuss Nikau and how nervous he is. Ari isn’t happy about Tane’s plan, saying they’re meant to be lying low. Nikau comes home in a state saying he messed up: Bella knew what he was doing and then Colby turned up. Ari sarcastically calls Tane’s move genius.

Ryder and Evan are still fishing on the pier, although neither is very good at it. Evan says Ryder’s lucky to have a family connection: He was adopted out and hasn’t realised what he missed out on until now. Ryder wishes they could just talk about fishing but Evan says he’s always avoided the hard stuff. Ryder wonders how he can be so cool about dying and Evan jokes to put that on his tombstone. He says he’s not leaving much behind that he’s proud of but he’s proud of the memories he’s made with Ryder and will hang on to them when things get tough.

Later, Ryder, Evan, Alf and Martha are having a last picnic meal near the beach. Roo is getting the car to take Martha to the city. They convince Evan to get a lift with them, since he’s still coughing heavily, and he accepts it. Roo turns up and they say their goodbyes: Martha tells Evan she’s pleased to have met him and Alf says he can call them for help any time since he’s part of the family now. Ryder asks Evan for any last fatherly advice. Evan gives him a homily about mixing beer and whisky and tells him to call Quinn and to try and be better than him. He discovers Roo’s things in the car: She’s coming with him, something she and Ryder have agreed on. Ryder notes Evan’s not perfect but he’s proud he’s his dad. Evan says no-one’s ever told him they’re proud of him before and the pair hug goodbye before Roo, Martha and Evan drive off.

Bella and Colby are playing pool at the surf club and Bella misses a shot. Colby tries asking her about Nikau’s family but Bella says he’ll have to talk to them. Gemma comes downstairs with the rubbish and she and Colby exchange glares. Colby tells Bella she hasn’t been co-operative over the Diner break-in. He gets a phone call about the Parata lease after winning the pool game. At the Parata house, Ari, Tane and Nikau are starting to calm down when Colby turns up, saying he’s doing door to door enquiries. Tane is suspicious but Ari lets him in, saying they’ve nothing to hide. Colby quickly spots the hoodie, which Ari says is his, and notes it matches the description of what the robber was wearing. Tane tells him to get out of his house and Colby agrees that it is his, even though he has no apparent income. Ari also tells him to get out without a warrant but Colby says he can get one now he’s sighted evidence and will make the call. Nikau asks if he can do that; Ari says apparently.