Episode 7527

Extended Summary

Ryder and Chloe are walking into work together, chatting about how great it is getting to spend time together. Bella and Nikau are walking behind them and Nikau complains that he preferred them fighting. They encounter Dean, who asks Ryder to keep an eye on Salt, bluntly shutting down his attempt to enquire where Mackenzie is and joke about getting a pay rise. Bella tries to ask Dean what’s going on but he reiterates that it’s none of their business. At the hospital, Mia asks Ari if he ever thinks about Kuari, saying she was going past neo-natal earlier and it brought it back. Ari recalls holding him and that he’d have been eleven this month. He apologises for not being the person Mia needed then but says he’s there for her now.

Alf, Leah and Roo arrive at the Diner. Leah is disgusted with Susie robbing a community organisation and says they should have listened to Irene. Marilyn chimes in that John isn’t with Jett anymore: He packed his bags and left, not saying where he was going. Alf tries to ring John but gets voicemail. In fact, John is at home with the curtains closed. He starts to listen to Alf’s voicemail, in which Alf blasts him for messing up the surf club and worrying people, then puts the phone back on the table.

At Salt, Ryder and Chloe are acting coupley behind the bar. Nikau complains to Bella that not too long ago they hated each other but this is worse. Chloe asks Ryder to help her find the olives, but it’s just an excuse to get him in the store room and kiss him. Ryder contemplates telling Ari and Mia about them. Chloe suggests it might be best to do it while Ari’s in hospital but they’ve got plenty of time. At the hospital, Ari wakes from a sleep and senses something is bothering Mia. She asks if he and Mackenzie ever talked about having a family and he says they were never in that place. She wonders if he’d have done things differently if he’d known how their attempts to have a baby would turn out. Ari says he’d still have chosen her and is all in.

Mia goes to Salt and tells Chloe, Bella and Nikau that Ari’s coming out of hospital tomorrow. Ryder is shocked but covers it by saying he’s surprised he recovered so soon. Mia tells Chloe she’s moving in, which Bella notes actually leaves Chloe speechless. Chloe says she’ll come and help her pack after her shift, and Ryder tells her she can go now. He then desperately asks Nikau to help him come up with a way to tell Ari. Next morning, Dean is on the phone to Mackenzie near the Diner, offering to bring stuff in for her, while Marilyn serves Bella a takeaway. Alf and Roo turn up and tell Dean, Marilyn and Leah there’s still no answer from John. Alf is considering going by his place. Dean says he and Bella are going that way so he can check in. Alf agrees, since he can concentrate on the surf club accounts.

Dean pulls to a stop outside the Palmer house. Bella wonders why he hasn’t driven the extra twenty metres to Nikau’s place and if he wants to come see Ari. Dean notices John peering through the curtains and says he knew he wouldn’t be able to resist. Bella heads over to the Paratas’. Dean knocks on John’s door but gets no answer. He goes to John’s car and hits it, causing the alarm to go off. John turns it off from inside so Dean hits it again with the same response. Round the back of the Paratas’, with the sound of the alarm turning on and off in the background, Nikau is teaching Ryder a speech in Maori. Ryder isn’t sure it wouldn’t be better to speak in English but Nikau assures him respecting their culture will get Ari onside.

Inside, Bella and Chloe have got food ready for the newly-returned Ari and Mia. Ryder and Nikau come back in and Nikau prompts Ryder to give the speech. After a straightforward greeting, Ryder unknowingly says that he is not a good person, lies to his friends, isn’t worthy of Chloe and accepts Ari’s punishment. Nikau is sniggering and Ari looks bemused. Ryder realises what’s going on and, horrified, asks Nikau what he said. Chloe and Mia go outside (the alarm can still be heard going on and off). Mia wonders when Chloe and Ryder became an item, since she couldn’t stand him. Chloe says he grew on her: He’s funny and makes her feel good about herself, even if he doesn’t make the best first impression. Mia notes tracking Ari down has worked out for both of them.

Nikau tells Ryder he couldn’t resist it. Ari tells Ryder that Chloe makes her own choices and he’s happy if she’s happy. Bella and Nikau leave, with Ryder and Chloe quickly following. Mia tells Ari that a boy just asked his permission to date their daughter. Outside, the four youngsters observe Dean setting off the alarm. John finally comes out and Dean says he knew he wouldn’t be able to resist. John laments being outsmarted by Dean Thompson. They sit for a chat, with John saying the signs were there and he didn’t want to see them. Dean says he’s not the first idiot to trust the wrong person and encourages him to make things up with his friends and the club. John isn’t sure he can make up for letting Susie steal tens of thousands of dollars but Dean says at least he can try. As Dean leaves, he makes a point of setting off the car alarm one last time.

Ryder, Bella, Nikau and Chloe arrive at Salt. Ryder is still unhappy about Nikau tricking him while Nikau is still unhappy about being lied to. Chloe cuts in, saying they’re sorry Nikau was upset and she and Ryder offer a truce. Nikau checks Bella’s fine with it and she points out she always was. Nikau tells them to be upfront from now on… but regrets it when Ryder and Chloe start kissing. Downstairs, Roo asks Leah how things are going with Justin. Leah is annoyed that he keeps wanting to rehash things. Alf tells them that he’s waiting to hear from Gerald about the accounts. Roo draws their attention to the fact John has just entered, dressed more smartly than before. Alf asks if he’s going to take responsibility and John says that’s why he’s there.