Episode 7757

Extended Summary

Near the beach, Mia and Tane watch as Nikau finishes off a taiaha routine. They comment on the fact he was up early. Mia asks Tane how he is, noticing he’s been tired. He says it’s nothing he can’t handle and she repeats the comment about herself. Nikau heads home and is surprised to find Chloe there, noting she’s usually at Bella’s. She suggests they hang out and have a swim. Nikau says he’s going to hang out with Bella. Chloe says she’s in the middle of an assignnment but Nikau says she texted him.

Ryder finds Felicity setting up for a pool match and wonders if she’s on a break already. Felicity tells him about being fired, protesting she’s better than anyone apart from Ryder. Ryder says Mackenzie’s fired him in the past and Felicity decides that’s her answer: She won’t accept being fired. She heads upstairs, with a concerned Ryder trailing in her wake. Felicity tells Mackenzie she refuses to be fired. Mackenzie says she can work if she wants but she won’t get paid. Felicity thinks Mackenzie will be too guilty to not pay her.

Nikau joins Bella at the farm house and they comment on having missed each other. Bella is awkward that Chloe knows Nikau’s there, explaining she needed space. Nikau tells her not to feel bad. Bella says that not only were Chloe’s ideas for the project bad but so are her own: Dean surfing or people running on the beach. Nikau has an idea. They head to the Parata house where Nikau goes to his room, telling Chloe they’re not stopping. Bella assures Chloe that Nikau’s helping her. Chloe accuses them of deliberately excluding her and she and Nikau end up snapping at each other until Tane and Mia come home. Mia takes Chloe for a walk while Tane asks what’s going on.

The fish supplier, Danika, turns up at Salt but refuses to leave the fish unless Mackenzie pays the outstanding bills. Ryder, walking in on the conversation, cheerily asks about the catch of the day, while Felicity suggests Danika won’t be able to sell the fish anywhere else. Mackenzie just announces that seafood is off for the week. Felicity finds her crying in the store room and asks what’s going on, refusing to be sent away. Later, Ryder arrives with the fish, saying Danika accepted Felicity’s argument and agreed she can pay next week. He’s stunned Mackenzie had told Felicity all about the financial problems. Felicity says Ryder can run things because she’s taking Mackenzie out before she loses it with either a staffmember or a customer. She ruffles Ryder’s hair as they leave.

Down on the beach, Bella is taking photos of Nikau’s rituals with his taiaha. Nikau notes he wishes Ari could see it. Further away, Chloe is telling Mia that Nikau is jealous of her hanging out with Bella. Mia says you have to make a decision to move on. She suggests Chloe try going back to the Diner again and Chloe agrees to talk to Irene. Back at the house, Nikau, Bella and Tane are looking over the photos. Mia and Chloe come home and Chloe goes off at Bella for hanging out with Nikau instead of her, saying she was the one who went to the class and wrote her artist’s statement. She heads towards her room but remains in earshot as Nikau says Chloe wants to be the centre of Bella’s attention. Chloe notices Nikau’s taiaha in his room as Mia urges to treat her with kindness.

Felicity brings Mackenzie a beer outside her caravan. Mackenzie asks if she’s got anything stronger before admitting that’s what caused this trouble. Felicity notes Mackenzie is cutting staff and hours and can’t afford to pay invoices. She says where she last worked the owner used to make extra money with after-hours invite-only poker games. Mackenzie is somewhat amused that her solution is illegal gambling. Back at the Parata house, Tane and Mia talk about Chloe not spending much time there while Nikau compliments Bella on the photos. Chloe passes through on her way out to work and Bella wishes her luck.

Felicity protests that Mackenzie doesn’t have any other options. Mackenzie thinks gambling never goes well and gives a hard hard pass. Felicity says she really wants to keep working at Salt, so Mackenzie needs to come up with another plan. Mackenzie heads back to Salt and thanks Ryder. She asks him to help her work out a way to reduce everyone’s hours fairly, saying Felicity’s in it with them now.

Bella thanks Nikau for his help and goes off to finish her assignment, asking Mia to let her know how Chloe’s shift goes. Nikau suggests framing one of the photos. Mia heads off to bed. Nikau reappears and tells Tane that his taiaha’s gone. At the Diner, Chloe is closing up. Nikau arrives and asks her where the taiaha is. Chloe says she didn’t touch his “stupid stick”. Nikau leaves, angry, saying he doesn’t know why he ever felt sorry for her.

Tane is asleep on the couch. Mia is sleepwalking straight towards a car. The sounds of its horn wakes her up and Tane appears, shoving her and himself to the ground.