Episode 8126

Extended Summary

Rose meets up with Xander, who is signing for a delivery outside the surf club, and asks where Mali is. Xander wonders if she’s spoken to him lately and encourages her to call him. Rose asks Xander to tell her what’s going on. Meanwhile, Mali and Zara arrive at the farm house. Zara comments on “baby Mali” standing on his own. She asks who does the cleaning and Mali says he does, and the cooking as well, pointing out it’s been a long time since they saw each other.

Remi chats to Bree, apologising for the way he spoke to her and Kirby. Bree suggests he talk about what’s bothering him to her or Eden…or to a counsellor. Remi doesn’t think he needs therapy, saying he’ll do the session work while he works out his next step, then suggests they finish their walk. Meanwhile, Leah and Justin are walking on the beach. Leah thinks they can’t leave straightaway: They’re needed for Roo and Marilyn (Justin argues Theo can look after Marilyn when she moves back in) and it’ll mean missing Kirby’s gig. They arrive at the coffee cart where Justin tells Marilyn about winning a week in a luxury hotel and having to leave tomorrow. Marilyn is thrown but tells them they should go.

Xander and Rose are walking on the beach, with him clearly having filled her in on Zara. He says they grew up together but also mentions what she said about being his promised wife, although he stresses Mali isn’t actually going to marry her. He also admits that he got the impression they were exes and went back to Mali’s. He encourages Rose to call Mali. Rose says she can’t just rock up at his place. Cut to her doing exactly that, with the flimsy excuse of bringing pizza, which Mali quickly sees through. Meeting Zara, she says she’s Mali’s girlfriend, which Zara casually says she knows.

Walking by the beach, Remi tells Bree that he’s got four more studio sessions and the sound engineer is trying to get him more work. He suggests they enjoy the day and go out for dinner. Later, they’re on the balcony at Salt but Bree points out Remi hasn’t eaten anything. He says he’s not hungry. Bree notes she won’t see much of him while he’s doing the sessions. Xander offers to box the food up; Remi says no but Bree says yes, and she’ll have it for lunch tomorrow. Remi apologises for being a poor date.

Mali, Rose and Zara are eating together. Rose asks about the “promised wife” thing and Mali says their famiies never actually went in for arranged marriages. Zara expresses surprise that Mali never mentioned her and says he was her first love, suggesting he should say he loved her too. Mali calls it ancient history. Zara goes in the shower. Rose notes she seemed hurt. Mali says she shouldn’t, because she broke it off. He tries to get Rose to stay but she decides to go home. At the Diner, Marilyn says she can cover Leah’s shifts and Theo can teach her to play video games. Leah still isn’t sure but Marilyn and Justin convince her.

Rose turns up at Salt, telling Xander she came to hang around and walk him home. She tells him Zara said she and Mali were each other’s first loves and Mali didn’t argue, but says she trusts him. Xander is amused that she’s hanging out with him rather than being back there. Meanwhile, Mali and Zara are sitting up. Zara says Mali made it sound like their relationship was nothing. Mali says he loved her at the time but it was forever ago. Zara reminded him that when she left for uni, he told her he’d wait for her and to come back when she was ready. She says she’s ready now.

Remi is sat up and looks at Kirby’s invite before putting it back in a magazine. Bree joins him. He isn’t keen on seeing a counsellor, thinking it’s for people who’ve had real trauma, not just lost a job. Bree says it’s for anyone. Remi says he’ll think about it in a few weeks. Bree offers to sit up with him. Back at the farm house, Mali reminds Zara that she left. Zara says she asked him to come with her but he said he’d never leave Manta Ray Point, and now he’s here. Mali says a lot’s changed in five years. Zara thinks their families would be delighted if they went back home and said it had worked out.

Next morning, Justin is on the phone to Kirby near the coffee cart, apologising for missing the gig. Leah chats to Marilyn about Roo, who Marilyn says is more and more like her dad. Later, Justin is sat in the car, tooting the horn, as Leah says goodbye to Marilyn. Marilyn gets a call from Alf but doesn’t answer it. Leah eventually joins Justin and the two of them drive off.

Zara meets up with Mali, who has just finished a surf. He is about to say something when he sees Rose approaching and says they’ll talk later. He awkwardly tells Rose that everything’s good. Later, as he finishes showering himself off, Rose gives him a coffee, noting it’s probably cold now. She asks him about Zara. Mali says nothing happened. Rose says that’s not what she asked. Mali says he has a surf lesson but suggests they have breakfast afterwards. As he leaves, Xander appears and Rose admits she shouldn’t have left Mali and Zara alone.

Roo is finishing a phone conversation with Alf as Marilyn arrives back. She notes he said Marilyn didn’t answer his calls. Marilyn says she doesn’t want to lie to him. Roo says she’s lied to her friends to suit herself plenty of times, so shouldn’t ruin Alf’s holiday to make herself feel better. She thinks the sooner she finds a nurse the better.