Episode 7744

Extended Summary

Ryder approaches the Parata house. Singing in Māori can be heard from inside and an older couple walk past him. Near the beach, Felicity is insisting to Cash that the tangi is a celebration of Ari’s life. Cash is worried it might be hard on her after their father’s death but Felicity insists otherwise. Jasmine appears and Felicity tries to get her to back her up. Jasmine notes she and Cash haven’t spoken in a week because of their shifts.

John exits the Parata house and finds Ryder, asking if he’s going in. Ryder is uncertain. John says he wasn’t sure at first and offers to walk him in but Ryder snaps no, saying he has to work. Back at the caravan park house, Alf is lamenting the disaster of the lunch. Roo gets a call from John about his encounter with Ryder. Theo decides to go and look for him. Roo reminds Alf and Justin that it’s about a year since Evan died and Justin notes his friends going through the same thing might be stirring things up. Alf decides to go and give Theo back-up.

At the Diner, John also fills Irene in on his meeting with Ryder. Irene is surprised John went over to the Paratas’. John says he was being neighbourly and reveals Ari is laid out according to their tradition. He recalls how tough he was on Ari, Gemma and Nikau when they first came to town and how he was unkind to Ari at times. Even though they made amends a long time ago, he notes they never talked it over and he never said he was sorry. At Salt, Theo is bugging Ryder, trying to get him to come back to the lunch. Felicity wonders why Ryder’s there and he insists that he’s a certified hospitality manager. Felicity says that if he’s working for free, she’s taking a break. Alf arrives and apologises for the lunch, saying he’s proud of Ryder. Felicity joins Cash and Jasmine’s table with a bowl of chips and suggest they stop dragging their feet over moving in together. They awkwardly says that’s not happening anymore.

Cash drags Felicity downstairs and tells her to stop butting into his relationship. He says that Jasmine’s withdrawn the offer and admits he’s scared. Felicity says recent events have taught her that life is short. Cash says they’ve taught him that things can change quickly and he wants to be there if Felicity needs him. Felicity says he’s only moving up the road and she’s trying to stand on her own. Cash heads to the Diner, where John leaves him and Irene alone. He asks her if she’s still okay with him moving in and for a key. Irene asks what Jasmine thinks and he says she doesn’t know and he wants to surprise her. Irene calls moving in without her permission breaking and entering. Cash says not if she gives him the key but Irene isn’t going to hand it over without Jasmine saying so.

Alf returns home and tells Roo that Ryder’s okay. Roo admits that all this has made her think about Martha avoiding her and doesn’t want anything to happen to her while they’re estranged. Alf encourages her to call. Outside the Diner, Justin tells Irene that he spoke to Leah and she suggested organising flowers from the Diner staff. Irene is planning to send some meals as well but isn’t sure what to send to a traditional Māori wake. They don’t fancy dropping in like John did. Jasmine appears and Irene tells her she didn’t want to commit to anything without her say-so but is thrilled. Jasmine clearly has no idea what she’s talking about so Irene hurries away.

At the surf club, John and Theo discuss his mother intercepting the letter. Theo still won’t tell Justin or Leah about Dimitri. John wonders if he’s spoken to Chloe, saying she seemed shaken up when he saw her this morning and people were trying to cheer her up with stories about Ari. Theo says that gives him an idea. Upstairs, Felicity is carrying two large boxes; Ryder takes one off her and helps restock the fridge, apologising for being a grump. He asks what it’s like at the Paratas’. Felicity is surprised he and Theo haven’t been round. She says Chloe’s doing better than she did when her dad died. Ryder asks if it gets any easier, explaining his dad died pretty recently. Felicity says it’s always going to be there but you get used to it. Theo appears and comments on them being on the floor together. Felicity says Ryder was right about him being punchable. Theo says he’s got an idea.

Heading downstairs, Ryder agrees it’s a good idea to record a tribute video for Ari. Theo says they’re using their filmmaking ideas for good. Ryder says they can do it at his place, admitting he was hard on his family. They think Alf, Roo and Justin will do it and call John over. Later, Ryder and Theo are putting the shooting area together. Alf asks Roo how the call to Martha went and she admits she ended the call quickly before she got angry. Irene arrives and they explain to her. She asks for some thinking time so they start with Alf. After some initial discomfort, he notes that Ari was a great fisherman and earned his respect. John says the video was his idea (Theo says it wasn’t). Irene asks for more time. Roo checks her outfit. Justin doesn’t know what to say. Ryder says it’s for Mia, Chloe, Nikau and Tane, explaining it’s to give them something to remember Ari by. Theo leans into shot and says it’s also to make them smile.

Felicity sends Tane a text saying she’s thinking of him. Cash arrives and says his plan didn’t work, explaining about asking Irene for the key. Felicity is bemused that instead of asking his girlfriend if he could move in, he asked her landlady. Cash asks her for advice but she points out last time she tried that over Jasmine’s birthday it didn’t work out. Jasmine is running near the beach. Cash calls out to her but she has headphones in and he ends up having to run in front of her to get her attention. Jasmine isn’t keen to talk, admitting what’s happened with Ari has got to her and she knows what it’s like to have someone you love just gone. Cash says that’s why he wants to talk to her.

Justin finishes his video, saying Ari always put family first. Roo wonders if they should go to the Paratas’ in person. John says they’re taking Ari back to New Zealand tomorrow and he spoke to their elder, the Wirembu: There isn’t going to be a funeral in Australia. Roo wonders if they should go over tomorrow or this afternoon. Meanwhile, Cash takes Jasmine up to Salt and gives her a wrapped box with his toothbrush in. He admits it seemed more romantic in his head but explains it’s because he wants to put it next to hers in their bathroom. He asks if the offer to move in is still open. Jasmine looks awkward.