Episode 7656

Extended Summary

Alf is sat outside the house when Ryder comes running out, having realised he’s late. Alf confirms Ryder slept through his alarm, with Alf having turned it off himself three times. Ryder is annoyed since he’s meant to be helping Chloe, saying people count on him. Marilyn appears and expresses surprise that Ryder’s still there as he hurries off. Meanwhile, Theo and Chloe park near the Diner. Although reluctant to give him all the credit, Chloe acknowledges his help. Theo asks her to shout him breakfast as a thank you, since Leah isn’t in at the moment. Chloe agrees, but says nothing more than $10. Theo gets two calls from Leah during the conversation but rejects them.

Ari sees Mia looking at a promotion she’s put together on her laptop advertising the gym, aiming for a membership drive. Ari worries she’s getting ahead of herself. Mia asks if there’s any word on the cheque and Ari says they can’t rush it. She says they can pull out if he wants to but Ari declines. Mia suggests he walk her to their gym. Later, the two of them are approaching the gym and run into Tane. Mia tells him that the countdown’s on to them owning the gym and tells Ari she’ll meet him for lunch. Ari tells Tane he made some calls and they’re giving him the money. Tane asks who “they” are and Ari replies that he’s not going to let Mia down again and reminds Tane he wanted to stay out of it.

Chloe asks Theo why he hasn’t visited Leah before now, as he rejects another call. Ryder comes bustling in, apologising for being late and saying he’ll do the deliveries by himself. Theo says they’ve already taken care of it. Ryder is thrown by the fact Theo was involved and asks to speak to Chloe outside. He explains about sleeping through his alarms and says that’s no excuse. Chloe says she needed him. Theo chimes in that it’s no sweat. Ryder tells him to stay out of it but Chloe says he should be thanking Theo. Alf tells Theo to wipe the smirk off his face and Theo asks if smiling’s against the law now.

Later, Leah and Justin arrive and Leah thanks Alf for telling her about Theo. After she’s gone, Alf tells Justin that he understands why he’s not so keen on Theo. Justin is worried Theo’s got Leah wrapped round his finger. Inside, Theo asks Marilyn for another coffee but changes his mind when Leah comes in. Leah tells him to stay and explains about wanting to put him up in a motel. Theo is pleased and Leah suggests they and Justin have a coffee together.

Tane asks Mia if Ari’s heard anything about the money and she explains he told her to be patient. Sensing he wants to say something, she invites him to do so. Tane encourages her to find another way to get the money. Mia says there is no other way and asks if he knows what it’s like to want something that will make you happy for the rest of your life. Meanwhile, Ryder and Chloe arrive back at her place. Ryder says Chloe told him to take the night off but Chloe says she needs to count on him. She says it shows he’s exhausted and taking on too much. Ryder is forced to agree.

Mia is having a heated phone call in the gym as Ari turns up. Tane doesn’t know who she’s talking to. Mia tries to suggest she and Ari eat outside but eventually admits the solicitor is onto her about getting the cheque sorted. Ari says there’s nothing he can do to hurry it. Later, Ari makes a phone call outside. Tane joins him and tries to get him to be honest with Mia. Ari blames himself for both her accident and the problems with the adoption. Tane worries the people he’s in contact with are police or worse but Ari says he has no choice.

Justin and Theo are walking on the beach. Theo thinks Justin has taken him there for a lecture. Justin says he’s going to offer him a job, explaining he owns a garage and thought Theo would be interested. Theo says he isn’t and doesn’t need a leg-up from Justin any more than Dimitri. He goes back inside and tells Leah he doesn’t need her putting Justin up to giving him a job. Leah says she didn’t but it’s good that he did. Theo says he doesn’t need charity but Leah retorts that he’s just accepted her paying for a motel and has now turned down a job that would pay for rent and food: She doesn’t mind helping him out but there are no free rides.

Alf finds Ryder outside the house and comments on things being tense between him and Chloe. Ryder says Alf and Chloe were right about him taking on too much but he doesn’t want to let anyone down: Chloe needs him, Salt’s his only source of income and he’s the only one that can run the board shop. Alf says he can’t do everything, leaving him unimpressed. He later apologises to him but still doesn’t want to let anyone down. He doesn’t want to quit TAFE with just a few months to go and needs his business with Chloe and his job at Salt for income…which just leaves the board shop. He doesn’t want to lose Dean his business but Alf says it’s not his responsibility.

Leah and Theo arrive back at the Morgan house. Theo tells Justin he’d like the job if it’s still available. Justin says he can start tomorrow and it will be basic to start with. Theo asks about pay and Justin says minimum wage. Leah tells Theo to watch telly while she sorts things and thanks Justin. Justin says to wait and see if they survive the first day. Outside the surf club, Ari tells Mia he’s arranged a meeting. Mia wants to go with him but Ari says he doesn’t want her there if there’s trouble. Mia is shocked that that’s even a possibility. Ari kisses her on the forehead and says he loves her before leaving.

Mia rushes home and asks Tane about it, saying the transaction’s happening now and she doesn’t know where or who with. She thought it would be simple and Tane points out that she gave Ari a load of stolen money and told him to deal with it. He suggests Ari knows what he’s doing but Mia still worries. Meanwhile, Ari pulls up at a remote spot. He checks the bag of money, then texts someone saying “I’m here”.