Episode 7466

Extended Summary

Dean unconvincingly claims to have only had a couple of beers. He says Colby took the blame and he’s off the hook. Ziggy says that doesn’t change anything. Dean drunkenly insists that he wants the whole lot with her: Living together, dogs, kids. Ziggy refuses to discuss it and says they’ll talk in the morning when he’s sober. She offers to drive him home but Dean says he’ll sleep in the car. However, moments later, she hears the engine starting and dashes out to find him driving off. At the caravan park house, Alf and Roo are discussing going to the station to wave Ryder off. Martha is looking distracted and hasn’t touched much of her food. She says she’s still full from lunch and offers to clean up. After she’s out of view of the others, she looks at the note again.

At Salt, Tane insists on paying given what Mackenzie’s done for the family. He notes Rick won’t be too pleased at losing the porsche. Mackenzie says he might get it back since she reported it stolen. Tane looks horrified and Mackenzie assures him she’s joking. Ziggy comes in and asks if they’ve seen Dean, explaining about him taking off drunk: He’s not at home and isn’t answering his phone. Mackenzie worries about him. Tane says Bella’s with Nik and might know something. Meanwhile, Dean is driving but keeps passing out at the wheel and drifting off the road towards the trees, each time waking and swerving back onto the road.

Ziggy tells Mackenzie what Dean said and curses herself for not taking his keys. Tane returns; Dean isn’t answering calls from Bella or Mackenzie either, but Tane has found out about him not being allowed to see Colby. Both Ziggy and Mackenzie want to go and look for him. Tane decides that he and Ziggy will go. Meanwhile, Martha is making a secret phone call to someone, thanking them for the letter and for not telling “him” where she was. She decides she needs to see him herself.

Tane tries to ask Ziggy what happened between her and Dean. After a long pause, Ziggy simply says it wasn’t meant to be. They see Dean’s car has apparently hit a tree. Tane hurries over and quickly realises Dean isn’t hurt and has apparently just passed out. He sends Ziggy away, saying he’ll get him home. Soon after, Dean’s car pulls to a halt outside the Diner and Dean falls out of the passenger side. Tane gets out and helps him towards the flat, with Dean insisting on taking the steps himself.

Once inside the flat, Dean tells Tane he didn’t invite him in. Tane refuses to give Dean his car keys, saying he can have them in the morning, and says he’s surrounded by people that are worried about him. Dean lies down on the sofa and quickly falls asleep. Tane leaves him alone. Meanwhile, Ziggy arrives back at Salt, having filled Mackenzie in over the phone. She notes that she couldn’t give Dean comfort tonight but doesn’t want anything to happen to him.

Next morning, Alf and Marilyn are chatting about how Ryder’s going to get on with his internship. Martha announces she’s going to Merimbula after breakfast. Alf is thrown but Marilyn suggests it could be a romantic break. However, Martha says she wants to go on her own and snaps that she doesn’t have to explain everything. She apologises, saying she didn’t sleep much. After Martha’s gone, Marilyn apologises for pushing it but Alf doesn’t think she was the problem. Meanwhile, Dean wakes up to find Mackenzie standing over him. She chides him for his drink driving and for his drunken speech to Ziggy, before convincing him to eat, shower and get to work.

Ziggy meets up with Tane at Salt and thanks him for last night. Mackenzie appears and notes Ziggy slept in. Ziggy still feels exhausted from all the worrying. Tane notes at least she won’t have to see Dean, who’ll be nursing a hangover. Mackenzie says he’s actually downstairs setting up. Ziggy and Tane head down and Ziggy reminds Dean he owes them an apology and a thanks. Dean asks to talk to her. Tane says she doesn’t want to talk to him and Dean says it’s none of his business. He tells Ziggy that he remembers everything from last night, including that she agreed to talk to him when he was sober. Ziggy agrees and gives him five minutes.

Irene notices Martha sitting on her own at the Diner and wonders what’s wrong. Martha asks Irene if she’s ever done something she’s truly regretted. Irene offers to call Alf or Roo but Martha doesn’t want them to know. She says she has a son that Alf doesn’t know about. Later, Irene brings her a drink. Martha says that Kieran is grown up now but they have a troubled relationship, to the point that last time they saw each other she called the police on him, although she says it wasn’t his fault. Irene says that he might be trying to reconnect but Martha worries it might be for less friendly reasons and wants to find out before telling Alf and Roo. Irene agrees to keep quiet but warns her secrets come out.

Alf talks to Roo about the fact he doesn’t seem to be welcome in one of their homes and is convinced there’s something Martha isn’t telling him. Martha returns and Roo leaves them to it. Alf says he thought they’d deal with things together. Martha tells him she’ll explain when she gets back from Merimbula and asks him to trust her. Back at the surf club, Dean insists to Ziggy that he meant everything he said. Ziggy accuses him of emotionally blackmailing her. She says he lied to her and Colby going to jail doesn’t change that. Tane comes over and asks Ziggy if she’s all right. Dean says it’s nothing to do with him and he and Tane square up. Ziggy sends Tane on his way before heading off in the opposite direction.

Up in Salt, Tane complains to Mackenzie about Dean. Mackenzie points out he’s lost his best friend, his girlfriend and his kid in one go and advises Tane to cut him some slack. Meanwhile, Ziggy is working at the garage and is frustrated when Dean turns up. She tells him he had his chance but Dean sits down and says he’s not going anywhere until they’ve fixed it.