Episode 7641

Extended Summary

Tane is driving; Nikau is whooping with joy next to him but Tane seems more stoic. Nikau suggests they go to Tane’s old place in the city and hook up with some of his old crew. Tane suggests they just go with the flow. Back at the hospital, Mackenzie expresses uncertainty about Dean and Ziggy’s plan. She points out the farm is isolated if Dean falls and needs a doctor, suggesting they look at adapting the flat instead. Ziggy says they’d need to install a lift and Dean’s only other option is the rehab hospital.

Ari and Mia debate what sort of adoption they should do. After briefly considering overseas adoption, they note they’ll need to sign up with an agency. Ari says they need to talk to someone who knows about it, spotting John by the surf club. They follow him inside, with Ari noting Marilyn said they had an adopted son. John is surprised to hear they’re thinking of adoption but recommends it. Mia suggests John come over for dinner, surprising Ari. John readily agrees.

Ari arrives home with a large amount of shopping. Mia says John could come in useful with character references and babysitting. Ari is still fretting about Nikau and Tane but Mia tells him to put it out of his mind and concentrate on what they’re going to say to John. Later, John arrives at the house. Mia says they’re having baked snapper. John has brought a rose wine. Ari says he’s never tried it and is more of a beer man. They ask John about agencies and waiting lists, while Mia muses about seeing a baby grow up. John explains that they adopted Jett as a teenager so he doesn’t know much about that.

Nikau is looking up venues on his phone and suggests going on a pub crawl and then to some clubs. He notes Tane doesn’t seem keen given it was his idea and should have said if he didn’t want him there. Tane replies that he doesn’t want to be there himself. He is frustrated when he gets a flat tyre, saying he just wanted to get away from Ziggy and the Bay. As he fixes the tyre, Nikau quizzes him about the comment, pointing out that Tane was the one who broke up with Ziggy. Tane thinks he had no choice but Nikau says Ziggy’s mistake wasn’t as bad as the one he made yet Tane just let Dean win. Tane says he was never in the running.

Ari experimentally tries the rose and grudgingly admits it’s not terrible, although he quickly switches back to beer. Mia asks John about the emotional side of the experience. John says it was a roller-coaster but it’s all worth it to hear a child call you Dad. At the hospital, Dean gets a text confirming that the hospital have given clearance for him to stay with Ziggy and he can move in tomorrow. He and Ziggy celebrate but Mackenzie is more guarded. Ziggy says she’ll go to Dean’s place to pick up some stuff. Mackenzie stays behind to ask Dean if he’s sure about this. She heads to the flat where Ziggy is packing up some of Dean’s things. Mackenzie asks if it’s a rush moving Dean in five minutes after breaking up with Tane. Ziggy insists she knows what she’s doing. Mackenzie agrees she’ll be there for them tomorrow.

Next morning, Tane and Nikau pull up outside the surf club looking for breakfast. They run into Mackenzie who tells them Dean’s being discharged, although he’s not walking yet. Nikau asks how he’s going to get up to the flat and Mackenzie admits he’s not going back there. Tane realises he’s moving in with Ziggy. Mackenzie says she had her reservations and Tane decides he doesn’t fancy breakfast. Back at the Parata house, Ari finds Mia doing research, which she quickly hides when Tane and Nikau come home. Ari expresses his confusion at how soon they returned. Tane goes to his room without answering and Nikau explains about finding out Dean’s moving in with Ziggy.

Clare helps Dean into a wheelchair. Mackenzie expresses reservations about him coping without a physio at home but Ziggy shuts her down. Ari appears and offers his help, taking Dean out in the wheelchair. Mackenzie tells Ziggy she’s there for both her and Dean. Soon after, Ari and Ziggy shoo Dean into the farm house on crutches. While Ziggy is stashing the bag, Ari comments that usually people take time to get over being dumped but instead Tane’s the one that’s miserable. Dean is shocked to realise that Tane broke up with Ziggy.

Tane runs into Mackenzie outside the surf club again. She apologises for putting her foot in it before. Tane says he doesn’t want to hear her talk about Dean and Ziggy having problems, since the only thing keeping him going is knowing he was right to stand aside. Mackenzie tells him he was, she’s just worried about Ziggy’s lack of support. Meanwhile, Nikau has found the adoption research. Mia confirms it’s something she and Ari are looking into it and asks him not to feel guilty. Ari comes home and mentions helping Dean and Ziggy. Nikau accuses him of taking sides, saying Tane’s still cut up about Ziggy, and also asks if they let ex-cons adopt these days. After he’s gone, Mia looks it up online and admits most sites say you can’t adopt with a criminal record but one says there are exceptions. Ari says that’s probably for stealing candy bars, not armed robbery. Mia wants to contact a lawyer for advice.

Ziggy tells Dean that Bella has called about visiting. Dean asks who ended things between her and Tane, wondering if they’d have split up if Tane hadn’t found out about the kiss. Ziggy says everything changed when she nearly lost him but Dean asks why she didn’t break up with Tane in that case. He asks if they’d even be there if Tane hadn’t dumped her.