Episode 7559

Extended Summary

Bella and Nikau run into each other outside the Diner and joke about vaguely recognising each other (Nikau says he’s a model and Bella notes he modelled for an award-winning photographer); Nikau has spent the night in the city. He wants to check in at the bait shop first, then they can spend tomorrow together. Bella jokes that he should get his face insured. Back at the Parata house, Tane says it’s okay if Ziggy doesn’t want him to move in. Ziggy says she hasn’t said no and Tane replies that she hasn’t said yes. Ziggy asks what response he expected and Tane admits he expected her to leap into his arms and them to spend the rest of the day in bed. Ziggy asks for time to process after assuring him she’s really into him.

Mia is watching over Ari pumping weights in the gym. Ziggy comes in and they ask her about her secret project. She takes a few moments to realise they’re talking about the food truck she got Ryder and Chloe. She says to ask her if she’s okay after she’s finished punching something. As she sets up at the punchbag, they conclude something’s happened with Tane and briefly consider leaving it to them before deciding Mia will talk to Ziggy and Ari will go see Tane. At the Diner, Marilyn greets Alf and Roo who give her an update on Martha: She’s not ready to come home yet but is making good progress. Nikau comes in and says he just checked on the bait shop. He and Roo explain to Alf that Roo had to cover there while Nikau was doing a photoshoot in the city after Ryder bailed. Nikau asks Alf not to replace him since he likes working there and Roo tells him he’s safe for now. Nikau joins Bella, chatting about Ryder bailing and Nikau knowing he can’t let Alf down too often.

Tane is strumming a guitar outside the house when Ari appears and offers him a beer, asking about Ziggy. Tane tells him about asking to move in with her, explaining she didn’t say either yes or no. He admits he doesn’t understand relationships: He wants to be with her but wants her to want it too, and is halfway between scared and delighted. Ari notes the pluses are good. At the gym, Mia checks on Ziggy, who is enthusiastically hitting a punchbag. Ziggy tells her about Tane wanting to move in and says she’s had two heartbreaks, a wedding, a marriage, an affair and a divorce. She thinks she’s guaranteed to stuff things up. Mia suggests it could make her happier and offers a girls’ night out dancing. Ziggy says she’d rather beat the bag to death.

Ari is setting the table and asks Nikau, who is curled up on the sofa with Bella, to sort out the barbecue. After a bit of argument over how tired he is, Bella suggests they do it but Ari says that he and Tane, who is somewhat subdued, will do the cooking. At that moment, Sienna and Emmett arrive. Emmett is surprised that no-one knew they were coming and Sienna offhandedly notes her PA was supposed to call them. Emmett introduces himself to Ari, and Ari introduces Tane. Ari agrees to them staying, with Sienna offering up champagne. Later, as they finish the meal, Emmett looks over Bella’s work and Nikau questions Ari about Tane’s mood before suggesting his group go to Salt. Sienna asks how they get a cab and Bella says they walk. Tane sits outside on his own. At the surf club, Mia joins Ziggy and tells her that Tane’s never lived with a partner before: He got nervous at more than two sleepovers a week. She suggests Ziggy is honest with him.

Tane emerges from the bedrooms and hands Ari his old leather biker jacket, indicating Mia left it with him when Ari went to jail. He worries about not hearing from Ziggy and Ari encourages him to wait it out. Tane says the jacket looked better on him. On the balcony at Salt, Sienna is showing Nikau the reaction to a social media photo account she set up for him. Nikau is pleased but slightly confused at the positive reaction from people that don’t know him. Emmett jokes that social media is where good photography goes to die. Bella leaves the table and goes over to the railing. Emmett joins her, noting it’s a beautiful spot, and Bella agrees she’s taken a lot of photographs there. He asks if she has family in town: She says she used to live with her brother but now spends most of her time with Nik. Emmett shows an interest in seeing her work.

Next morning, Ari and Mia are preparing to set off on the bike and Tane jokes they should take a photo for the insurance. Ziggy arrives in time to wave the pair off, before suggesting she and Tane talk inside. Tane searches the fridge for milk but Ziggy says she’s fine without any. She starts to talk about what happened but they are interrupted by Bella and Nikau emerging from the bedroom, complaining about being summoned to a breakfast meeting with Sienna and Emmett. Ziggy and Tane head out the back to continue the conversation in private. Nikau stresses to Bella that the text wanted both of them and says they can still spend the day together after his shift. Outside, Ziggy tells Tane that she’s the problem. Tane says she can say no if she wants to. Ziggy thinks she’s jinxed and living together would wreck what they have. However, Tane thinks they’re great together and wants to throw everything at it. Ziggy agrees to moving in together.

Bella and Nikau are walking along the beach, making plans to have the conversation be as short as possible, using his bait shop shift as an excuse. Bella says afterwards they can go to a quiet spot with no phone reception. Inside, they briefly greet Marilyn before joining Sienna and Emmett. Sienna explains she wants to increase Nikau’s profile on social media with a photoshoot around the Bay, which Emmett wants Bella to help him pick out locations for. Nikau protests he has his regular job but Sienna insists it’ll just be a simple shoot.

Sienna and Emmett are at Salt when Allegra joins them. Emmett is surprised to see them and Allegra says Sienna ordered her there: She wants a “sexy couple” shoot. Emmett realises it’s not going to be a simple shoot after all and heads off to redo his plans. Sienna tells Allegra to keep Nikau focused. Allegra says she’s not paid to train newbies and Sienna retorts that in that case she won’t pay her at all: She wants Allegra to show her that she’s got what it takes. At the Diner, Nikau and Bella debate doing the shoot. Nikau doesn’t want to let Alf down but it’ll be good for Bella, and if it’s only a simple shoot they can still spend time together afterwards. Bella goes to talk to Sienna while Nikau approaches Alf and Roo at a nearby table and says he can’t make his shift. Alf is busy at the surf club and Ryder has gone to Yabbie Creek with Chloe to sort out a loan, so Roo reluctantly agrees to cover again. After Nikau has gone, Alf hopes he hasn’t bitten off more than he can chew.

At the surf club, Bella looks over the racks of clothes and she and Nikau conclude there’s no way they’re getting out of there early. Emmett calls Bella over. Sienna appears with Allegra. Nikau notes he didn’t know she was going to be there and Allegra says neither did she… then, after a look from Sienna, adds that it should be fun. Sienna says there’s no client to please today so they’re in control.