Episode 7885

Extended Summary

Irene and Rose run into each other near the beach, with Rose having just come off shift. Irene asks her about Cash. Rose says they haven’t talked much. She thanks Irene for dropping meals off. Irene also asks after Xander. At that moment, Xander is bringing a patient, Carmel, into hospital and tells her he’ll find a nurse. Carmel worries about the food she left behind and Xander assures her it can be frozen. Dean and Ziggy appear, with Ziggy complaining about Dean leading them to emergency. They run into Xander and claim they’re there for check-ups. Xander asks what ward they’re looking for and Ziggy asks for a directory. Xander points out they’ve just walked past one. After he’s gone, Ziggy accuses Dean of making it obvious.

Leah is on the phone to the manager of the Palace in Reefton Lakes and convinces him to include publicity and transport. Justin is astonished that she managed to bump the fee back up and get free food and drink. Leah says she does it all the time at the Diner. Justin says he just does an honest job at the garage and doesn’t have to do a hard sell. Leah suggests the band could help and Justin admits he made out he had a plan. Leah decides to teach him about confidence.

At the Parata house, Nikau tries to talk Tane out of selling the gym. Tane thinks it’s brought him nothing but trouble. Nikau says Tane’s great at boot camps. Tane admits he enjoys it, but isn’t sure it’s what he wants to do for the rest of his life. Nikau convinces him to think about it.

Leah rips up Kirby’s chart and tells Justin she’s set up a proper tracking document covering accommodation, travel, meals and publicity. She asks about Justin’s contract and if he’s getting paid. Justin admits they just made vague references to mates’ rates. Leah thinks he should have a cut and points out the regular income is from Salt. She suggests the band’s increased popularity should be reflected in the fee and he has leverage.

At Salt, Xander tells Rose how Carmel injured herself falling off a ladder while setting up a surprise birthday party. He adds he almost delivered a baby after the waters broke in the ambulance. Mackenzie overhears and anxiously asks if that happens often. Xander and Rose are bemused by her behaviour as she sends a text to Dean saying “Desperate for updates!”

Doctor Lee tells Ziggy and Dean that the blood test shows everything’s fine. Ziggy thinks they can go and Lee asks if they want to hear the baby’s heartbeat. She sets up the scanner and, after a few worried seconds, they hear the heartbeat. Dean wonders if it’s a bit fast but Lee assures him it’s perfectly healthy. Later, the two of them walk outside the surf club, both overwhelmed by the experience. Dean admits it made him think of missing things with Jai but he won’t let it ruin the day. Ziggy suggests Dean can tell Jai and Karen tomorrow but Dean wants to keep it between them for now.

Up in Salt, Leah gives Justin a brief pep-talk before he goes to talk to Mackenzie. Mackenzie has just received a text from Dean which is simply a thumbs-up. Justin launches into a spiel about how they need to talk about Lyrik’s fee. Mackenzie says it’s the middle of the dinner rush and reminds him that she gave him advice about management and he hasn’t actually called a meeting. An exasperated Leah beckons Justin over. Outside, she is going to delay the post-mortem until tomorrow but Justin asks for feedback now. She says he crumbled as soon as he was challenged, forgot his leverage and didn’t ask for a specific fee increase. Justin thinks he was doing okay until Mackenzie reminded him he went to her for advice.

At the Diner flat, Xander finds Rose up in the middle of the night. She stares at his tattoos and he assures her there’s nothing new. He gets a phone call and tells her it was his partner from today who’s working a double and told him Carmel has died. He assures her he’s fine. Meanwhile, Nikau finds Tane sat behind the house. Tane asks if Nikau ever has conversations with Ari and Mikaere in his head. He notes Mikaere would tell him to stop being a sook and Ari would tell him to do what he thinks is right. Nikau suggests Tane selling the gym might not change anything. Tane admits the fact the gym is a connection to Ari is part of the problem.

Next morning, Tane meets Nikau at the surf club loading bay. Nikau says he’s got Tane’s back if he wants to sell the gym but reminds him Tane took him away to ground him when he was lost. He produces his taiaha and Tane’s and convinces him to join him. The two of them go down the beach and run through their rituals.

Irene serves Rose coffee at the Diner. Rose admits Xander got some bad news that knocked him off course. Xander has come in and says Bree told him Carmel died of a pulmonary embolism unconnected to the accident. He also insists he’s still fine. Rose gets a text from her sergeant saying Cash isn’t coming in. Down on the beach, Tane is now more relaxed and tells Nikau he’s not going to rush into any decisions.

Justin approaches Mackenzie outside the surf club and says they didn’t finish their meeting. Mackenzie calls it an ambush. Justin points out that there’s no contract between Salt and Lyrik. He says Salt have gained 50,000 followers and traction. Mackenzie thinks that’s because of Salt and Justin replies that that’s brought her more customers. He says a 20% increase or lose them.

Not long after, Mackenzie serves Dean and Ziggy at Salt, confirming before Dean asks that there’s extra bacon. She also chides him for not giving her more information on the check-up. Ziggy admits the smell of bacon is making her feel ill. Mackenzie tries to take the plate away but Dean grabs it. Mackenzie tells him some men give up certain foods in solidarity. Dean decides to take Ziggy for some fresh air and worries that the “grommit” won’t like bacon. Mackenzie, left with two untouched plates, wonders if they’re coming back.

Justin returns home and nervously confirms to Leah that he found Mackenzie. He says he followed Leah’s advice and has altered the terms of the deal. Leah realises he isn’t saying something. Justin admits he overplayed his hand and Mackenzie cancelled all future gigs. Leah protests that he had one job. Justin says the band’s going to kill him.