Episode 8261

Extended Summary

The film crew are setting up by the beach, preparing a clapperboard with Day 1 on it and setting up named chairs for Nelson, Stevie and Todd. Alf and John look on and Alf comments that a lot of hard work goes into it, acknowledging that he’s changed his mind. They chat to Nelson, who congratulates Alf for his showing on Sunrise and wonders what happened to John. Alf says they decided it was best to have the president do it. Nelson admits that Stevie hasn’t turned up. At the Newman house, Stevie is rooting through the cupboards looking for booze. Cash tries to convince her that’s not what she needs and to answer Nelson’s calls but Stevie finds one of Felicity’s bottles of wine.

Harper and Dana walk through a park area. Dana admits she expected it after letting Tane into the hospital but didn’t expect Harper to get dragged into it. Harper worries that something she’ll say will send Tane to jail and notes his lawyer will have a witness list sooner or later. Dana says they can put her on the stand but can’t make her talk. Harper says they can make her go to jail if she doesn’t talk.

At the farm house, Marshall is putting Mali through his paces, asking about him going to the house. Tane gets a text from Harper but ignores it. Marshall asks Mali how Tane reacted when Mali encouraged him to return the baby. Mali says Tane was always going to do the right thing. Marshall says the prosecution will tear that apart, twisting Mali’s words to say he got Tane to turn himself in, and doesn’t think they can put him or Harper on the stand. He points out they still have Sonia and suggests they go for a coffee.

Rose arrives at the surf club and finds Kirby working the board shop. Kirby says she’s taken her first group session and got a guy’s number. Mali comes in, closely followed by Tane and Marshall, and checks Kirby actually did some teaching. Tane and Marshall head upstairs. Tane asks about taking the stand himself but Marshall is worried about him being cross-examined and tells him to show no reaction in court. At the bar, Xander takes a phone call from someone calling in sick. Nelson turns up looking for Stevie. Xander hasn’t seen her or Cash. He starts to talk about his bosses not turning up but Nelson walks off.

Cash tries to stop Stevie drinking. He gets a call from Nelson and refuses to ignore it, so Stevie knocks the phone from his hand. Cash tells her to get in the shower and sober up, taking the bottle away from her. Stevie drains her glass. Cash warns her not to make him carry her to the shower. At the surf club, John greets Kirby as the newest member of staff and expresses relief that he isn’t having to listen to Lyrik rehearse at the moment. She has been sorting the orders according to date and Mali tells her they were sorted according to how long they’d take. Rose turns up and Kirby decides to go and have lunch with her. Mali says she has another class and Kirby says it’s not for an hour. John asks Mali if Kirby knows who the boss is.

Cash has got Stevie a bit more together and tells her he’s told Nelson she overslept. He tells her she’s not a fraud but a professional: He enjoyed Death Throes even though he doesn’t like horror movies because Stevie made him care. At the set, Nelson tells everyone that they can still get back on schedule. Stevie arrives with Cash in tow. Nelson asks if she’s been drinking and she admits she’s not entirely sober. Nelson sends her to make-up.

At Salt, Kirby and Rose chat about the guy whose number she got. At the bar, Xander bemoans to Dana and Harper about Mackenzie and Felicity neglecting the place and says he’s texting them both, before commiserating about the court case. Harper says she’s going down to see Tane at the gym. Dana approaches Rose and asks if she can get out of it. Rose says she can’t talk about it with them, since she’s giving evidence too.

Downstairs, Tane and Marshall arrive back. Tane notes Marshall could earn more doing corporate work. Marshall says he tried that and it bored him to tears, whereas this way he has a chance to make a difference in someone’s life. Dana and Harper come downstairs and Harper approaches the pair’s table, asking to speak to Tane in private.

Dana hangs back outside as Harper fills Tane in. Tane understands there’s nothing she can do. Harper says she can still be there for him but Tane suggests they keep their distance. He walks away from her, leaving Dana to join her. Inside, Mali welcomes Rose and Kirby back from the break. After Kirby has walked out of earshot, Mali says he’d have liked a break too but Kirby didn’t check. Rose suggests giving her time to settle in. Tane comes back in and tells Marshall about the subpoenas. Marshall says now they have a chance to cross-examine them and twist their words.

Cash asks Nelson if make-up usually takes this long. Nelson says it does, which is why Stevie was meant to be there at 5am. Stevie emerges, in costume and looking more confident. Pleased, Nelson calls the set to order. At the surf club, Xander comes down on the phone to Mackenzie, confirming Felicity has agreed to a team meeting. Kirby overhears and checks he knows what’s going on, telling him about Mackenzie being with Levi and leaving his wife for her and Felicity not being happy. Mali tries to interrupt before Kirby rushes off to her class.

Xander empties some bins outside and turns down an offer to go out with Dana, telling her he’s not sure how to navigate things with Mackenzie and Felicity. After Dana’s gone, John guesses Xander has heard about Mackenzie and Levi, saying he thought everyone knew. Inside, Kirby returns from the class and tells Mali she needs to go to the post office to send her mum a birthday present. Mali challenges her about talking about Mackenzie while in uniform, but Kirby says he has a right to know. Mali also points to her going on breaks without asking, which she’s doing again. Kirby says she’s finished her classes. She leaves him to deal with a customer. Mali looks less than satisfied.