Episode 7534

Extended Summary

At Salt, Tane brings Ziggy a beer and comments on how they’ve hardly seen each other lately. Ziggy notes that Mackenzie is still holed up in her room and not talking to her but doesn’t think there’s anything Tane can do to help except distract Ziggy tonight. Meanwhile, Ryder and Chloe are asleep on the sofa at the cottage when Ryder hears noises outside. He checks on the bedroom and sees Bella in bed, then tries to rouse Chloe before finally hearing someone trying to get in and seeing someone outside, prompting him to wake Chloe in a panic. Nikau and Bella emerge from the bedroom and Nikau suggests Ryder saw a tree. Once back in their room, Bella removes the pillows that were creating a lump beside her and Nikau shuts the window, as they celebrate their success.

Ari finds Nikau’s note, which now has an extra bit from Chloe saying she and Ryder have gone after them. He tries to get Mia to do something with him but she reminds him he’s meant to be relaxing. They’re kissing when Tane arrives, prompting Ari to wonder why he doesn’t stay over at Ziggy’s. Tane claims she’s working odd hours. After he’s gone to bed, Ari wonders if they’ve had a fight and Mia accuses him of being so bored he’s gossiping about Tane’s love life. Meanwhile, Ziggy arrives home and finds Mackenzie crying. Mackenzie tries to claim she was just thirsty and needs to go back to bed but Ziggy stops and comforts her.

Justin gets up and gets the box of new painkillers. He seems to think better of it and put it back but then feels in pain so takes one before going back to Leah. Back at the farm house, Ziggy tells Mackenzie she’s glad she’s seen her cry and wonders what it’s about. Mackenzie says it feels like she’s lost everything and she doesn’t understand why she’s sad about the baby when she wasn’t going through with the pregnancy. Ziggy says that she’s still allowed to grieve. Mackenzie says she needs to move on but doesn’t know how.

Next morning, Tane is at the surf club where he gets a call from Ziggy, explaining about Mackenzie being upset the previous night and saying she has to stay with her. They consider meeting for lunch. After Ziggy has hung up, Mackenzie enters and, despite Ziggy having cleared her schedule, insists she’s going into work, saying she needs to keep busy. Ziggy acquiesces on condition she can drive her in. At the Parata house, Mia returns from a run. Ari has a list of things to do including moving her things from the city. Mia shuts down the idea of him carrying furniture around, saying she’ll get a removal firm. She does agree to a walk however.

Bella and Nikau bring Ryder and Chloe breakfast. Ryder is suspicious, wondering if they’ve put laxatives in it, and Bella asks where they’d get them from. Looking at her camera, she finds photos of all of them sleeping, taken during the night, and says her camera was in the front room. Nikau jokingly suggests it was the person Ryder saw. Later, Bella and Nikau claim the house is haunted, telling the story of the Stone Man: A hermit disappeared for ten years, then people started catching glimpses of him, before equipment was moved, dogs and friends disappeared, then three knocks are heard. Nikau knocks three times under the table and Ryder runs for the door, then trips and apparently knocks himself out… at which point he and Chloe start laughing. Ryder initially claims he knew all along they were messing before admitting he realised when he saw the photos: Bella always frames them off centre. He and Chloe acknowledge they gatecrashed and leave. Bella looks through the photos and finds a figure at the window in one of Nikau, taken before the others arrived…

At the Diner, Alf compliments Justin on looking better and he notes he’s finally sleeping now. Marilyn talks to Leah and Justin about John’s offer and says he’s probably going to sell the house anyway because of the bad memories. Later, Alf runs into Ari and Mia on their walk outside the bait shop. After chatting about how well he’s doing, Ari decides to head to Salt for some fish and chips.

Ziggy and Mackenzie arrive at the surf club with Mackenzie insisting she’s fine. Tane appears as Mackenzie heads upstairs. He and Ziggy follow and worry that Mackenzie’s overdoing it. Ari and Mia arrive and Mackenzie looks shocked to see them, quickly making her excuses and saying she’ll send someone to take their order. Despite advice from Mia and the others, Ari follows Mackenzie onto the balcony and asks how she is. He notices she looks unwell but she brushes it off and heads back inside. Mia tells Ari to let it go.

At the Diner, Ryder, Bella, Nikau and Chloe are back in town and debating the photo. Marilyn jokingly suggests someone came home with them. The youngsters officially end their prank war. Nearby, Justin texts Tori asking about the court case before assuring Leah he’s feeling better. At the surf club, Ziggy and Tane follow Mackenzie downstairs. She insists she’s fine but suddenly collapses.