Episode 7377

Extended Summary

Tane comes up from the beach and runs into Mackenzie and Ari near the surf club. Mackenzie reminds him his first shift starts soon and Tane says he doesn’t take long to scrub up. Ari reminds him he has to follow Mackenzie’s instructions. He tells Mackenzie he’ll pop by later. Mackenzie ends up looking at Tane as he showers nearby. Outside the bait shop, Nikau is unravelling a net when Bella sneaks up on him and takes a photo: She has just had her first day at TAFE where they discussed old school techniques. Nikau suggests they do something to celebrate. Bella thinks this just means a burger at the Diner but Nikau suggests she come round his that evening.

Amber comments on Willow being a fitness guru, suggesting that living in “Snobby Bay” has made everyone old, with even Dean looking like a married man. Willow tells her about Ziggy’s anniversary tat. Mackenzie comes over: Willow starts to introduce them but chokes halfway through, leading Amber to assume she’s another of Dean’s exes. Mackenzie explains she’s actually his long lost sister and Amber says she wouldn’t put anything past Dean after a few drinks. Mackenzie doesn’t look impressed and Amber notes she’s clearly not from Mangrove River. She tells Willow about sleeping with Dean and is surprised she doesn’t care. Tane arrives for work and Mackenzie tells him to try and get some food into Willow and Amber. Amber flirts with him. At the Diner flat, Ziggy reassures Bella over her outfit and adjusts her hair. Dean gets a text (with photographic evidence) about Willow and Amber hanging out. Ziggy suggests they go and join them.

Ari finds Nikau preparing a meal and guesses Bella is coming round. He tells him to be a gentleman and Nikau points out he’s not Tane. Bella arrives and Ari lets her in, leaving after a pointed cough from Nikau. Bella offers to help but admits she doesn’t know much about cooking. Nikau is doing one of Gemma’s old family recipes and tells Bella to pick the movie. At Salt, Amber learns Willow doesn’t gamble anymore. Dean and Ziggy arrive and Mackenzie warns them the girls are drinking enough to double her alcohol order. They join the pair and Amber notes she’s accepted Colby’s assertion that she shouldn’t stay angry at Dean and Willow…although she also thinks Dean’s long-lost sister should have stayed lost. Ari arrives, claiming it’s for the beer and Mackenzie, but quickly admits he was checking on Tane. Mackenzie sends Tane to clear the balcony. Amber follows him out and asks what time he finishes. Tane says he has to be there until closing but Amber says it’s a one time only offer.

Willow complains to Dean and Ziggy that she misses being a firecracker, saying it’s all right for them because they’re happy. She tries to order more drinks and Ziggy suggests they have booze back at the flat. Mackenzie serves Ari another drink and they realise Tane isn’t there. Back at the Parata house, Bella and Nikau are watching the “cheesy horror movie” Bella selected but she admits she’s finding it boring. She asks about Gemma and Nikau says she’s spending time with family and visiting places Mikaere grew up. Tane and Amber stagger into the house in an embrace and exchange quick greetings before going to the bedroom. Bella decides to go and Nikau says he’ll walk her home.

Mackenzie and Ari are clearing up at Salt. Mackenzie wonders why Tane would disappear, since she thought he was taking the job seriously. Ari says he’s just accepted Tane letting people down. Mackenzie says Ari doesn’t have to tidy up and Ari says it means he gets her back to his faster. Meanwhile, Willow is confused when Dean and Ziggy take her to the Diner flat, saying she doesn’t live there, and they note Irene wouldn’t appreciate her being drunk. Willow tries to whisper to Dean about him sleeping with Amber and Dean says Ziggy knows. Willow puts music on and tries to get people to dance.

Bella and Nikau are outside the door and comment on the older generation being messed up. They kiss goodbye and Bella goes indoors, where Willow tries to get her to dance as well. Bella explains about Amber turning up with Tane. Willow runs to the bathroom to throw up. Ziggy asks Dean if he still misses the old days.

Tane goes to the fridge during the night and runs into Mackenzie, who asks where he got to. Tane tries claiming he was ill, then Amber sticks her head round the door of his bedroom and asks if he’s coming back. Tane cheerily notes he’s busted and goes back to her. Next morning, Bella gives Willow an account of her throwing up, getting the munchies and wanting to go for a midnight swim. Willow says it’s impolite to remind people of things they want to forget but remarks to Ziggy and Dean that she’s glad Amber’s forgiven them and it’s the most fun he’s had in ages.

Tane joins Ari, Nikau and Mackenzie for breakfast and tries to claim his visitor was an old friend but can’t remember her name, only that it was a colour. Nikau tells Mackenzie she’ll get used to Tane’s randoms and Mackenzie offers him a lift. Ari makes it clear to Tane he’s not happy that he let Mackenzie down. Outside the bait shop, Bella tells Nikau she ended up yelling at the adults to keep it down and Nikau notes Ari had to unplug Tane’s loud music. He apologises for their date being messed up; Bella admits she wasn’t sure it was one given her lack of comparison. Nikau suggests they do something before she has to go to TAFE.

Willow runs into Amber on the beach and gently chides her for abandoning her for Tane the previous night. She also notes it was the most fun she’s had in ages and suggests they do it again. Amber agrees but says she has to get to work. She runs into Tane near the surf club and he jokes about her leaving him without a note or phone number. Amber says she’d have stuck around if she didn’t have to work. Tane half-seriously hopes he still has a job. After Amber has gone, he notices Mackenzie has been watching them from the balcony, looking unhappy.

Tane enters the surf club and sees Nikau and Bella (who reminds him of Amber’s name). He apologises for messing up their date and suggests a system for taking lady friends home. Nikau suggests they just stay out of each other’s way. Tane goes upstairs and makes a somewhat half-hearted apology to Mackenzie. She says the other staff had to cover for him. Tane asks if she’s more bothered about him leaving or him leaving with someone. Mackenzie walks away.