Episode 8043

Extended Summary

Mackenzie and Xander run into each other on the beach. She comments that his surfing is improving and Xander jokes that maybe she should give him time off to practice. Mackenzie says the advantage of working at Salt is he can surf in his lunch hour. She checks he’s not missing his old job and he says he’s just got his last pay packet.

Up at Salt, Felicity has been filled in on what’s happened with Andrew and chats to Justin about it, saying at least he knows where Andrew is and that he’s alive. Justin notes that Cash said they need to be patient. Felicity says Cash has an annoying habit of being right and arranges breakfast for Justin.

At the Diner, Irene advises Marilyn that another interview could be too dangerous. Marilyn says a national newspaper could get the word out. Roo says she’s already done that. She and Irene both think Marilyn should put her safety first. Marilyn agrees not to do it. Meanwhile, Justin is surprised to find Theo back in town early and asks if he just ditched Kirby to come back. Theo admits he left while she was asleep but says he left a note and Remi’s with her. He asks what he meant about “Esther” not being who they thought she was.

Felicity finishes a phone call about cutting down staff, assuring a listening Xander his job is safe. Mackenzie turns up and Felicity says she has lots of ideas to run past her. Mackenzie asks for the chance to have a coffee first. Felicity runs off to answer a call about new rostering software. Later, Mackenzie immediately approves Felicity’s first three ideas – QR code ordering at the tables, Salt-branded merchandise and new roster software – but isn’t so keen on the idea of a paint and sip night. Felicity admits she’s had time on her hands with Tane away and decides to go home and get her laptop. Mackenzie suggests Xander spend his last pay packet on a holiday but he points out that would mean taking time off. After a bit of prodding, he admits he gave the money away to someone who deserves it more.

As Felicity is walking home, she notices Justin and Theo chatting in the distance. Justin has filled Theo in. Theo is horrified that he led Margot straight to Andrew by making the missing persons page. Justin also feels responsible since he was the one who encouraged Andrew to go with her. Theo says Cash was right that he should have stayed out of it.

Marilyn makes a phone call at the Diner, before telling Irene and Roo that, despite what she said before, she’s decided to do the interview and has called the journalist. She says she’s not going to be bullied any longer or let Stunning Organics get away with it. Later, Marilyn plays the voicemail threat to the journalist. She says she thinks Stunning Organics are behind it, telling her about their CEO going missing. She shows the journalist the note that came through the window and says she’ll take it to the police. The journalist takes a photo of it. Irene and Roo watch with concern.

Outside the surf club, Theo tells Justin he’s taken down the missing persons page. He gets a text from Kirby saying she’s found his note and to call her but ignores it. He instead tells Justin they should go and see Andrew at the compound, thinking he can get through to him. Justin says that could ruin their chances of getting Andrew back and they have to be patient. Theo goes for a walk.

A woman turns up at Salt and asks Mackenzie about Xander. Mackenzie recognises her as Kate and it quickly becomes clear that she’s Jamie’s widow. She says she went to the ambulance station looking for him. Xander asks about Timothy but Kate cuts him off: She knows he put a cheque under her door and doesn’t want it.

Theo turns up at the empty Parata house. He searches and finds a file in Cash’s bag, taking a photo of the address. Felicity comes back in, on the phone to Tane and saying to give her love to Gemma. Theo says he was looking for Cash and hurries off. Felicity calls Justin. Theo hurries back to his car and finds Justin there. Justin chides him for breaking into a cop’s house. Theo is still convinced he can get through to Andrew and wants to make things right. Justin says this isn’t going to help and asks him to leave it alone.

Meanwhile, Marilyn and Roo walk on the beach. Roo admits that she’d have done the same thing as Marilyn, recalling she’s stubborn. However, she also hopes that Marilyn’s all right. As they talk, someone takes photos of them.

Justin and Theo walk. Justin tries to convince him to sit tight. He admits they don’t have a plan but need to prove that Margot is pulling Andrew’s strings. He notes at least they know Andrew’s all right physically. Theo ignores another call from Kirby and admits they spent the whole time they were away sniping at each other and he isn’t in the right head space to deal with it. He admits they’re not on the same page. Later, Justin says he’s going to go call Leah and checks Theo won’t do anything stupid. Theo promises he won’t do anything to put Andrew in danger. After he’s gone, Theo calls Kirby, learns she’s back and asks to meet up.

Mackenzie watches from a distance as Kate tells Xander she doesn’t want charity. Felicity turns up with a very long list of ideas. Mackenzie suggests focusing on one item and putting the rest aside for “one day”. Felicity agrees after amending it to “one day soon”. Mackenzie suggests either the merchandise or the roster software. Felicity decides on the latter. Xander tries to convince Kate to save the money for Timothy. Kate says she can provide for her stepson. She says the only thing they need is Jamie back. Xander convinces her to go out onto the balcony.

Kate talks about how much Jamie loved being an ambo. Xander recalls a call-out to an old lady with a fractured wrist and how good Jamie was with her. Kate says she misses him coming home and telling her about his day. Xander offers to tell her more stories but she walks out. Xander follows her and asks her to take the money. Kate realises it’s guilt money, because it should be him dead instead of Jamie. She says no amount of money will change the fact it’s not and that’s not fair. She walks away. Mackenzie watches from the balcony.