Episode 7442

Extended Summary

Dean emerges from the house, having set Jai up on his iPad. He asks Colby how he found him and Colby says Willow made some calls. Dean says he’s got nothing left in the Bay – he didn’t want the board shop and Ziggy’s gone – and Jai is all he has left. He shows Colby the envelope he found. At the Diner, John comes in and asks Marilyn for a coffee. Amber asks him if he’s seen Dean and to let her know if he does. John wonders what it was about.

Willow and Ziggy look over the contents of the van. Ziggy curses herself for trusting Tane and semi-seriously suggests burning it. Willow says that would just bring in the police and fire brigade. They head inside, where Willow says she’s going to call some people. Ziggy isn’t really comfortable with the idea of getting River Boys involved but accepts she hasn’t made the best choices herself. Willow calls Nugget and says she needs another favour.

Some time later, Ziggy texts Tane checking that he’s okay. Willow asks about them. Ziggy says they’re just mates. Willow isn’t entirely convinced but accepts they have bigger problems. Meanwhile, John finds Amber at the surf club and she notes all Dean’s friends have disappeared off the face of the earth. John wonders what’s going on and Amber explains that Dean took Jai.

Dean guesses that the envelope came from Francesca and says she’s right and he’ll never get to see Jai if he doesn’t run. Colby warns him that Amber could go to the police. Dean thinks that’s a reason to get going. Colby asks how Jai feels and reminds Dean how he felt when they tried to take him away from his mother. Near the beach, Amber has filled John in. John is sympathetic but gets her to admit she doesn’t think Jai’s in danger. They note Dean doesn’t always think things through. Amber says she’s tried to be a good mum. John recalls co-parenting troubles of his own and suggests Dean might wake up to himself. Amber wishes she’d never told Dean about Jai.

Colby phones Willow from near the house. He says he’s found Dean but hasn’t talked him into coming back yet or told him about the deadline, since he’s worried it would make him run. He asks Willow to try and stall Amber but Willow says she has her hands full with something Colby doesn’t want to know about and tells him he needs to get Dean back. She rejoins Ziggy and assures her they’re going to sort everything out.

Jai shows Dean a picture he’s done. Dean wonders how he’d feel about them extending their adventure. Jai is enthusiastic but wonders if Amber will join them. Dean says she might be too busy and Jai suggests she might miss him. Dean looks awkwardly at Colby. At the surf club, Amber notes she thought Colby would bring Dean back but, despite John trying to talk her out of it, she thinks she needs to call the police. Before she can do so, Colby appears and gestures for her to go outside.

Amber rushes outside and finds Jai there. After giving him a relieved hug, she angrily turns on Dean, pushing him and saying she hates him. Jai is upset and John takes him inside. Dean says Jai was on his own and they both accuse the other of not answering calls. Colby tells Dean to go and takes Amber inside. She asks Jai where he slept but he just asks why she’s angry at Dean. John takes Jai up to Salt. Amber thanks Colby for bringing him back. Colby tries to argue Dean’s case but Amber insists she won’t let him near Jai again.

Dean goes back to the flat where he overturns the table and chairs in anger before looking at Jai’s photo. At Salt, Jai is explaining to Amber what happened and she apologises for being angry before. John brings Jai a drink and suggests Amber and Dean could talk things over when the dust settles. Amber is reluctant to go into it but eventually says Francesca has started a war, Jai’s caught in the crossfire and she doesn’t know what to do about it.

Willow gets off the phone from Nugget and tells Ziggy that he’ll get rid of the van if they get it to an address. Ziggy says it’s a day’s drive away and worries about getting caught driving a stolen van. Willow says they’ll switch the plates. She asks if there’s a chance of Tane coming back to sort things. Ziggy says there isn’t. Willow gets a text and Ziggy guesses from her reaction that whatever problem Colby and Dean had is sorted. Willow suggests they go on an all girls road trip. Meanwhile, John arrives at the Diner and asks Marilyn for a double shot. He notes it’s not his story to tell but Amber had some problems, and comments on two people who care about each other tearing each other apart. They exchange knowing looks.

Back at the flat, Colby tries to convince Dean that Amber will come round but Dean thinks he’ll never see Jai again. Colby says Dean should have thought it out better. Dean is scornful of Colby lecturing him on that score, saying he’ll never forgive Colby for Ross, him losing Ziggy or today. Colby heads to the surf club and runs into Willow. He asks her to join him for a beer but she says she’s going away for a few days and reminds him he doesn’t want to know why.

Shortly after, Colby is drinking in Salt on his own. He looks up Taylor’s details on his phone but puts it down without calling her. He then gets a text from Angelo saying there’s been a development in the case. Outside the farm house, Willow is putting the new plates on the van. Ziggy is still not keen on the idea so Willow says to give her the keys and she’ll do it herself. Ziggy relaxes and indicates she’s driving. The pair get into the van and head off.