Episode 7463

Extended Summary

Ari is sat at a table in Salt while Mackenzie is on the phone to someone, telling them to give her love to Willow. She sits with Ari and tells him about Colby getting twenty-five years after confessing and Dean being a wreck. Ari however is looking cautiously around, not really listening. Mackenzie suggests going to the police about Paul and Leon but Ari points out they’ve been handling stolen goods and drugs and thinks they’d better just sit tight. At the hospital, Justin is in a depressed mood about the lack of improvement. Leah thinks there’s still a chance but Justin thinks she’s clutching at straws and he’ll be permanently paralysed. Leah says she’ll see him tomorrow.

Ryder enters the surf club and is accosted by John, who shows him the match from Marilyn. Ryder is surprised but notes it makes sense for them to be consider compatible. John wonders what it means and if Marilyn wants to date him, and tries to get Ryder to talk to her. Ryder heads home and is greeted by Alf, who asks about Bella. Ryder says the news is all around TAFE and Bella wanted to be alone, so he’ll call her tomorrow. Marilyn comes through saying she needs to talk to Ryder about a matter of life and death. Alf leaves them to it. Marilyn explains she accidentally swiped right on John and wants Ryder to unmatch them. Ryder says he can, but if John’s already seen it, then he’ll know if she does.

Next morning, Mackenzie tells Ari and Tane that she’s going to sell her car and pay off the debt. However, Ari turns her down flat, saying he doesn’t want her involved. Mackenzie says she’s already involved and Ari says he doesn’t want her more involved. Mackenzie announces she’s going to work and refuses to let Ari walk her in. Ari tells Tane not to start. Outside the surf club, Ryder tries to dodge past John but is spotted. John asks about Marilyn and Ryder claims she was in bed when he got home and he hasn’t spoken to her. Mackenzie appears and tells Ryder he was meant to be in work five minutes ago, which he jumps on as a reason to bail on the conversation.

Leah arrives at the hospital and sees Justin being helped back onto the bed by a nurse. He tells her that the physio was prodding him for an hour and his legs still didn’t work. Leah tries to be upbeat, presenting him with a bacon and egg roll and coffee. Justin remains defeatist however, thinking he’s left it too late to have the operation. He objects to Leah trying to open his sandwich for him and says he’d be better off alone. Leah goes to the lift in tears. At the Diner, Alf and Irene look at the paper, which has a headline about Colby’s confession. Leah appears and tells them about Justin’s mood. Marilyn offers them a tea but then abruptly ducks out. Irene learns the reason when John comes in a second later looking for her. Looking at John, Irene tells Leah she’s got an idea.

At Salt, Mackenzie turns down Ryder’s offer to restock the fridge, saying she needs to keep busy. She rants, with only minimal interjection from Ryder, about Ari’s attitude and how much trouble the Paratas are in before finally concluding that she doesn’t need his permission. At the Parata house, Tane asks Ari about taking Mackenzie up on her offer. However, Ari is determined not to rely on her to sort out their mess. Tane says at least she’s got a plan.

John shows up at the hospital. Justin tells him he’s not really in the mood for company and John notes those are the times when you most need someone around you. John comments on the amount of time he’s spent in hospital. Justin says he could have done something to stop it but wanted just a few more days. John argues that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Meanwhile, Marilyn arrives back at the Diner, asking if John’s gone. Irene ironically comments on the fact he expected Marilyn to be there working. Marilyn admits she didn’t delete the app and accidentally swiped on John. She wonders if she should send him a text, since that’s how young people break up. Irene says she needs to talk to him face to face.

John talks to Justin about how hard waiting is and how you can’t even see what’s wrong but tells him that’s the hard part and that Justin has a lot of people supporting him. He notes relationships can be collateral damage but Justin still has Leah in his corner. Soon after, John arrives at the Diner and Leah thanks him for talking to Justin, saying she spoke to him and is on her way there now. Irene prompts Marilyn to talk to John. They start talking about how surprised they were to see each other on the app before Marilyn cuts John off and explains it was an accident. John says that’s what he thought, that it made no sense for her to match with him, but is clearly disappointed.

Tane finds Ari outside the surf club and suggests they could pay Mackenzie back. Ari thinks that’d take too long and it’s not Mackenzie’s problem. Tane points out it was his to start with and suggests it’s a choice between pride and the safety of their family. Ari goes up to Salt to talk to Mackenzie but simply reiterates that he doesn’t want her involved. Mackenzie says she won’t bring it up again.

At the Diner, Irene watches Marilyn prepare to delete the app, while John does the same thing at the surf club. Marilyn presses delete but John decides against it and instead replies to another match. At the hospital, Leah and Justin comment on how much help John was. Justin’s feet then move and he realises he can wriggle his toes. He excitedly tells her to call Christian.

Ari and Mackenzie are relaxing at Salt. Mackenzie finishes her drink and sends Ari to get her a water. He leaves his phone on the table and she uses it to send herself a text. She then goes onto the balcony and calls Leon, explaining who she is and saying she has a business proposition.