Episode 7455

Extended Summary

Mackenzie, Nikau, Tane and Ari are chatting outside the surf club. Bella has gone to the city with Dean and Willow to try and find a lawyer for Colby. Nikau has his bag with him, wanting to move back in since Bella’s not at the farm anymore. Both Ari and Tane refuse. Ryder tries to sneak past them, then says he knows they didn’t want him to call the police but he felt he had to. The Paratas appear stern for a moment then relax, noting he got the heat off them. Mackenzie, Ryder and Ari head up to Salt and Tane reiterates Nikau can’t move back in. Outside the Diner, Justin has sat down. Leah is worried at the level of pain despite Justin saying Christian warned this could happen. John says he’ll get his car and give them a lift home. Justin tries to say he can walk but Leah accepts.

Roo and Owen walk through the caravan park. Owen wonders why her family think he’s done something terrible. Roo says she didn’t tell them anything but blamed him by omission, letting them decide for themselves what he’d done. She admits she doesn’t really know what to say. Owen wishes she’d stuck around and talked to him. At Salt, Mackenzie and Ryder chat about how Bella’s doing. Ryder says he hasn’t spoken to her since Colby’s arrest. Mackenzie gives Ari some pizzas. She offers him some money to pay off the dealers but Ari doesn’t want her involved. However, he thinks things are okay for the moment so suggests she stays over.

John and Leah help Justin into the house. Leah was hoping Tori would be there but Justin knows she’s at work and Jasmine has Grace. He takes some painkillers, convinced the pain will pass, and says he’ll have a shower. John offers to stick around and tells Leah it’s a good sign that Justin asked for help. Meanwhile, Owen and Roo are sat by the beach. Roo admits there a thousand ways she could have handled it better and Owen asks why she didn’t pick one. He understands they both have a past and she had feelings for Evan. Roo wants to put it behind them but Owen thought they could talk it through and accuses her of acting like a child. Roo turns it back on him and Owen walks away.

At the Parata house, Nikau is on the phone to Bella, telling her to call him after she’s seen a lawyer. He tells his uncles that he spoke to Gemma, who was disappointed but understood: He only told her about Colby, not about anything else. Ari and Tane still aren’t keen on him staying there but Nikau insists families stick together and they’re stronger that way. Ari and Tane note he sounds like Mikaere and Tane takes Nikau’s bag to his room. Mackenzie suggests they eat. Meanwhile, Justin returns from his shower and notes he feels better and is going to have a lie down. Leah thinks they should call Christian but Justin says they’ll talk to him when he comes back with Tori. He notes John’s advice has been good recently. John leaves them to it.

At the Diner, Roo tells Marilyn she can’t tell Owen that she might be in love with his dead brother. She recounts their argument and admits she messed up, saying she wouldn’t be surprised if Owen left town. In fact, he’s at Salt with Ryder, ordering a lime and soda. Ryder offers his services as a relationship counsellor. Owen isn’t keen on discussing things in detail, just saying there was a misunderstanding and Roo felt she had to leave. He says he wants her to be honest with him, however bad it is. Ryder says trust is important. Owen muses on the phrase and thanks Ryder, leaving a tip and telling him to buy himself a coffee.

Nikau, Tane, Ari and Mackenzie have finished eating. They muse that Ryder calling the police has got them some breathing space. Ari suggests they stay vigilant but get on with their lives. Nikau says he’s going to meet Ryder. Tane isn’t keen but Mackenzie points out they’re meant to be getting on with their lives and Ari agrees so long as he only goes to the surf club and back. Shortly after, Nikau is walking. A car drives slowly behind him, going up onto the verge. When Nikau looks round, the car stops and then revs its engine. Nikau flees and the car speeds after him, swerving round him at the last moment and driving on.

Nikau barrels into the surf club in a panic, colliding with someone. John tries to ask him what’s going on as he rings Ari and tells him what happened. Ari tells him to stay at Salt and he’ll come and collect him. John again tries to ask him what’s going on, but eventually accepts he’s not going to talk so says they’ll have a drink at Salt and Ryder can pay. Mackenzie feels guilty for encouraging Nikau to go out and wonders if she should go home. Tane says someone might follow her as well and assures her they’ll look after her. Mackenzie says she has money and her car but Tane says Ari would never go for it.

Ari joins John, Ryder and Nikau at Salt. Ryder worries they’ll come after him since he was seen at the house. Ari thinks he’ll be okay but to call if he sees anything suss. He takes Nikau away. John wonders how much trouble they’re in. Ryder says they’ve got him in their corner. John wryly notes that’ll be a comfort. Meanwhile, Owen finds Alf outside the caravan park house. Alf says Roo told him Owen did nothing wrong so he can consider this an apology. Roo emerges and sends Alf inside, explaining she told him a less mortifying version. She apologises for the way she spoke earlier and assures Owen she does want to get past it. Owen tells her to come find him when she’s ready.

Leah finds Justin lying on his bed in pain. He asks for more painkillers but can’t have any for hours. He says they normally help but not this time. Leah helps him onto his side; she wants to call Tori but Justin says no. Meanwhile, Ari and Nikau arrive back at the Parata house. Ari agrees Mackenzie should stay and he and Tane note they’ve not been left alone for as long as they thought. Ari says he’ll take first watch. Back at the Morgan house, Leah brings Justin some ice and says she’s calling an ambulance. Justin agrees.