Episode 7743

Extended Summary

Dean and Ziggy arrive home and Ziggy takes a moment to bask in the silence of the house with Karen gone. Dean comments on how happy she looked and Ziggy jokingly calls him Deano. Dean gets a call from Bella. Ziggy tells him not to answer it, since if she knows Karen’s gone she’ll come home, unbuttoning her shirt to make the point. Dean answers and turns ashen. They head round to the Diner flat where Dean angrily demands Logan tell him how Ari went from being fine one minute to dead. Logan says it was an aggressive form of cancer and goes on to say Ari died a good death on his terms. Mackenzie arrives in time to overhear and, horrified, begs Dean to tell her she misheard. She breaks down in tears and Dean comforts her. Ziggy convinces Logan to leave them to it.

Ziggy and Logan walk on the beach with Ziggy getting details about Logan being with the family when it happened. Logan wonders if he’s missing something with Dean and Mackenzie; he knows Dean was friends with Ari but isn’t sure why Mackenzie is reacting like that. Ziggy says they had history and asks how much he knows. Logan knows Mackenzie was with someone before him and there was a pregnancy involved, realising that was Ari. Back at the flat, Dean repeats what Logan said about Ari having a rare tumour and guesses it was too advanced to operate. Mackenzie says she was confused when Ari was arrested and always assumed they’d have an opportunity to talk through what happened between them. Logan comes back and Dean apologises for blaming him. Logan says Ziggy’s in the Diner and Dean goes down. Logan tries to talk to Mackenzie but she just makes a start on dinner.

Downstairs, Ziggy has filled in a shocked Roo, Irene and Alf, who didn’t know Ari was sick or in hospital. Ziggy gets a text from Dean and leaves. Alf notes it always seemed like they were missing something when Ari was arrested and thought it would come out in court. Meanwhile, Justin and Theo arrive at Salt. Ryder awkwardly tells Theo he took his advice, or rather biting his head off, by accepting Alf’s apology and moving back home. He shows them a certificate, saying he’s graduated. Theo takes a photo and Justin asks if there was a ceremony. Ryder says there was but he missed it. Theo suggests asking Mack for a pay rise or at least a new cocktail. Ryder is thinking of one called The Graduate. He gets a phone call from Roo and looks shocked.

Alf and Roo arrive home, with Ryder appearing shortly after. All of them are finding it hard to believe. Ryder says he’s called Nikau but he didn’t answer. Roo sees his certificate and congratulates him. Ryder says it seems insignificant now and goes to call Nik again. Meanwhile, Ziggy finds Dean sitting in the dark. She notes the house is quiet without Karen and Brett, and says she pities their new neighbours. Dean asks her if she remembers him going AWOL after they broke up and says Ari was the one that tracked him down: Dean didn’t want him there but Ari just soaked up his abuse and told him Bella needed him. He wonders why he couldn’t have done the same here.

Next morning, Roo joins Alf outside the bait shop. He notes he was thinking about Martha and that things like this remind you of the people you love. They express disappointment at missing Ryder’s graduation. Logan and Mackenzie appear from the direction of the flat, with Mackenzie claiming she has to get to Salt to do admin. Alf asks Logan about handling the case. Roo asks Mackenzie how she’s feeling and Mackenzie says she’s fine before hurrying on, telling Logan she didn’t want to gossip. In the Diner, Irene tells Justin she’s sorting out a new roster without Chloe. Alf and Roo arrive and they discuss it. They don’t think they should tell Marilyn while she’s still sorting her head out. Alf thinks they need something to look forward to and suggests a lunch to celebrate Ryder’s graduation. Roo and Justin agree.

Ziggy finds Dean up and notes he didn’t sleep much last night. Dean wishes he could do something to help Mia and asks why he gets to live and Ari doesn’t. He walks out. Down on the beach, Ryder has composed a text to Chloe saying he’s there for her. Theo approaches and wonders if he’s heard from Nikau or contacted Chloe. Ryder isn’t sure if he should, since they haven’t spoken in ages. Theo thinks she’d liked to hear from him even if she doesn’t reply, so he sends the text. He confirms Ari was likea a dad to her and was good to him when they were dating. They wish they could do something to help.

Ryder checks on Logan at Salt. Logan says he wasn’t as hungry as he thought and wonders if Mackenzie’s around. He finds her sitting in the store room sobbing. She tries to make out she’s just handling back orders, then says she’s in shock. Logan asks why she won’t talk to him. They go for a walk near the beach where Logan admits Ari got to him, choosing to go his own way. He explains knowing about her and Ari’s history. Mackenzie realises Ziggy told him and he notes Ziggy was surprised he didn’t already know. Mackenzie says she didn’t intentionally hide it from him but it didn’t seem like the right time to tell him. Logan acknowledges that she loved Ari and says it showed him what’s important.

At Salt, Ryder spills a great deal while pouring a juice and asks Theo if he has any ideas how to help Chloe and Nikau. Theo suggests leaving them takeaway bevvies but Ryder thinks there’ll be a stack of stuff on their doorstep. He gets a text from Alf inviting them both to lunch and thinks he’s rallying the troops to help the Paratas. They arrive at the caravan park house where Roo shows him the framed certificate and Justin congratulates him. Alf explains it’s a low-key celebration for his graduation. Ryder goes along with it but is clearly disappointed.

Ziggy finds Dean on the beach and says she doesn’t have all the answers but knows why he’s still there: She and Jai would miss him if he went. She suggests they call Amber about taking Jai away after the funeral. Dean says he doesn’t do funerals and will say goodbye to Ari in his own way but agrees about Jai, giving him a call. At the caravan park house, Alf suggests a toast and compliments Ryder, saying they’re proud of him. However, Ryder isn’t happy with sipping champagne when Ari’s just died. Alf says they were just trying to focus on something positive but Ryder thinks it’s wrong to be celebrating now and walks out.