Episode 7848

Extended Summary

Theo is round the back of the Parata house with Kirby. He tells her he has to go but wants to talk later, and notes that it’s strange being there without Chloe, having failed to get information on her from Tane. Kirby says she doesn’t even know where her boyfriend is, then corrects herself, saying he’s her ex-boyfriend. Theo stresses he and Chloe haven’t broken up and she’ll be back. As he leaves, he leaves Chloe a rather irate message saying to call him. At the Morgan house, Leah raves to Justin about how well Theo fitted in with Lyrik. She notices Justin’s odd behaviour and he says he has to talk to Theo about something and it’s not good. Theo arrives and Justin tells him they need to chat about the band.

Irene and Cash arrive at the Diner. Irene offers to talk to Rose and Xander but Cash points out she doesn’t know any more than him. Irene worries that Xander hasn’t been in a good place. Xander turns up and worries his summons is about the dinner. Irene says it’s water under the bridge. Cash asks where Rose is and Xander says she was called into work. He was about to go to the gym so Cash offers to go with him.

Justin tells Theo about listening to Eden and Remi and how Lyrik involves more than a gig at Salt every now and then: Theo will be up and down the coast for months. Leah is surprised but supportive and Theo is enthusiastic. Justin worries that it’ll be too much on top of TAFE. Theo is dismissive of his concerns but Justin spells out that he thinks Theo will have to let either the garage or the band go.

Cash and Xander arrive at the gym. Xander asks Cash how the proposal went and Cash says he hasn’t managed to pop the question yet. Xander hasn’t spoken to Jasmine. Cash asked when he started at the gym and Xander says his counsellor suggested it might help him, confirming he rang the employee helpline. Cash offers to spot him.

Theo says he’s going out for a surf and declines to let Justin go with him, saying he needs to be alone. Leah suggests they meet for dinner at the Diner later. After Theo has gone, she chides Justin for crushing his dreams. Justin says he’s just trying to be realistic: Theo won’t be able to cancel a gig because he has an assignment due.

Kirby finds Theo by the beach and teases him about going for a surf instead of learning songs. He says he’s just learning how big the band want to be and that he’s not sure if he can cope with it on top of his apprenticeship. Kirby recalls him saying he loved music and wonders if they’re wasting their time with him. Theo says he loves both music and his apprenticeship. Kirby recalls her family wanted her to study medicine: She went to uni and liked it but liked music more so she dropped out to follow her dreams. She thinks he’d regret leaving the band.

Cash and Xander exit the surf club. Xander is sore and unsure whether the exercise helped. He reflects on how he always takes on the stress of a serious accident. Cash wonders when Rose is likely to be home and offers to drop by with a pizza later. Xander agrees, saying it’d be good to see Jasmine.

That evening, Marilyn chats to Alf and Irene at the Diner about Roo being set up for a relaxed picnic. Roo turns up and Alf congratulates her on being able to switch off, saying Martha will be pleased as well. Later, Roo comments on Alf working three jobs and offers some help but he tells her to look after herself. Irene hands a takeaway to Theo just as Justin and Leah come in. He tells them he’s meeting Kirby. Justin thinks he’s going to give up the apprenticeship but Theo says he’s going to try and do both: The band is his dream but he has no idea if it’s going to work out so he’s not going to risk his future on a gamble. He cons them into paying for his takeaway.

Xander looks at his tattoos, covering up when Cash arrives. Rose still hasn’t come home and Xander wonders where Jasmine is. After trying to put it off, Cash tells him that Jasmine’s left him and isn’t coming back. Xander wonders why and Cash notes she didn’t know about the proposal. Cash wants to call Rose and tell her but Xander says he will. Cash admits she hasn’t answered his calls. Xander tells him he deserves an explanation.

Tane and Kirby arrive at the Morgan house. He gets a call from Chloe and steps aside to answer it, asking where she is and telling her not to keep saying it’s family stuff. He ends the call in a subdued manner and tells Kirby that they’ve broken up. He asks Kirby to stay, saying he needs a distraction. Kirby says a lot of songs come out of heartbreak and convinces him to write something.

At the Diner, Cash fills Irene in on his conversation with Xander and says he’s going to go and see Jasmine and get some answers and maybe convince her to change her mind. He notes Xander is going to tell Rose. He says he’ll leave first thing in the morning and Irene says she’ll go with him.

Xander is tossing and turning in bed, hearing sirens. He makes a phone call, saying he’s been breathing and walking but nothing’s working. Eventually, he says the conversation’s helped and hangs up but sits on the bed sobbing. Down in the Diner, Alf prepares to head home. Marilyn is having to work late since Irene’s gone so Roo offers to stay with her. After Alf has gone, Roo says that she can’t stand being told to relax and is bored out of her mind.

Xander lets a woman into the flat, telling her to be quick and he’ll pay extra. She tells him to pick a design and he selects a picture that resembles a bird in flight, telling her to do it on his chest. The woman takes out tattoo inking equipment and begins the tattoo, with Xander starting to relax.