Episode 8283

Extended Summary

Leah and Justin are walking on the beach, discussing the lawsuit and how the Diner is going to take an even bigger hit now Bronte’s suing as well. Leah says they’ll still have to pay an excess despite Justin saying that’s what insurance is for. Theo approaches them as Leah heads off to work. Justin and Theo worry about the pressure on her.

At the Diner, John has filled Roo in on Dana’s background and tells her and Marilyn he can understand her being jealous of Bronte. Roo advises John stay out of it. After John’s gone, Marilyn tells Roo she spoke to Ryder who wants her to convince Roo to go with him. Roo says Alf’s not around, she’s just signed up to be a foster carer and it’ll be months on a boat. Marilyn says Roo can come back if a foster placement comes up. Leah turns up and wonders why Marilyn’s there when she’s not rostered on.

At Salt, Dana tries to show Xander the fake link but he says Bronte isn’t responsible for an overseas hospital website. He dismisses her other claims, insisting Bronte’s genuine. Harper turns up and wonders why Dana called her. Dana tells her Bronte’s a fraud and is taking advantage of Irene’s kindness. Xander tells her to drop it and that he thought a nurse would have more compassion.

Dana heads downstairs and tells John no-one will listen to her about Bronte being fake. John mentions her childhood and Bronte getting Irene’s attention. Dana says her boyfriend thinks she’s heartless and John thinks she’s jealous.

Marilyn continues to try and convince Roo to go on the cruise. Roo argues Ryder will be working all the time and one outbreak on board and everyone will get sick. Leah silences her and tells Marilyn to wipe a table, then apologises and admits they’re being sued because of the contamination, including by Bronte. Marilyn says she didn’t see her at the hospital. Leah says she was too sick to leave the house and Roo says she didn’t look well when she saw her at the house. She then gets a text and heads to the gym, where Tane has just returned. He says he learnt a lot on the training and counselling programme and needs her help with an idea.

Xander is trying to phone Dana, aware that she’s screening him. Harper and John listen from the bar. Harper says Xander was harsh and John admits he might have made it worse. He offers to talk to her again but Harper says she’ll handle it. As she’s leaving, Roo and Tane arrive. Harper looks at Tane expectantly but he ignores her and greets John instead.

At the coffee cart, Dana sees Xander’s voicemail on her phone. Leah asks if she can get her anything before explaining that she’s clearing up and needs Dana’s chair. Dana tells her that it was Irene’s idea for Bronte to sue the Diner. Harper arrives and, after a brief chat about Xander, tells Dana that Tane’s back and ignored her.

Tane outlines his plan to John and Roo for a gym programme for the disadvantaged young. He says some of the people he met on the programme could turn their lives around if given a chance. He suggesting offering free boot camps and use of the equipment. Xander comes over to serve them and shuts down John’s questions about Dana. Roo says they need to talk to Alf. Tane says he did and was told to speak to them. John says they’ll have to get it past the committee.

At the Morgan house, Justin and Theo are preparing dinner. Leah comes home complaining about Irene going to Bronte without talking to her. Justin wryly suggests Irene knew how she’d react. Leah says it’s unethical and probably illegal and wonders how the insurance company would respond. Justin sits her down and convinces her to wait until tomorrow.

Harper and Dana are eating at the Diner. Dana says it’s partly to cheer Harper up but admits she’s also avoiding Irene, Bronte and Xander. Marilyn comes over and says she read Harper’s cards and there was an indication of romance. Harper says they need another five minutes. Dana asks about Tane before saying Harper never listens to her anyway.

At the surf club, John tells Tane the place has always been a safe haven for those who need it, mentioning Nikau and the role Tane and Ari played in how he turned out. Xander comes down and admits Dana still isn’t answering his calls. John advises him to sleep on it. Tane, who was about to ring Harper, puts his phone down.

Harper and Dana sneak back into the beach house. Seeing a light upstairs, Dana drags Harper into the downstairs bedroom and says she’s going to sleep there because Irene’s next door to her room and Bronte’s down the hall. She can’t sleep at Xander’s because she’s not talking to him. Harper says Dana wants Xander to agree with her. Dana says she wants them both to agree with her because she’s right. Harper says she thinks she is. Dana says she’ll chance upstairs after all.

Next morning, at the coffee cart, Leah tells John and Marilyn she’s accepted the situation with the lawsuit if Bronte got sick. Roo turns up and tells them she’s got some packing to do: She’s decided to join Ryder after all. She’s already spoken to the foster people and Alf, and asks John to keep an eye on the surf club and help Tane with his proposal.

Dana is in a park area looking over some apologetic texts from Xander. Harper appears and notes she left the house early, saying she can’t avoid Irene and Bronte forever. Dana says Harper can’t avoid Tane. She asks why Harper is believing a stranger over her. Harper doesn’t think anyone would lie about dying and says Dana needs to be 100% sure. Dana recalls what John said about her being jealous of Bronte getting Irene’s attention. Harper suggests Dana’s protective of Irene. She tells her to call her boyfriend and Dana tells Harper to do the same. Dana heads to Salt where she and Xander exchange apologies. She says she’s going to back off from Bronte because no-one else thinks that about her.

Harper goes to the gym and approaches Tane, saying they need to talk. He agrees. Meanwhile, Leah and Justin are down on the beach. Leah thanks Justin for his support last night, being grateful to have him as her husband. She ponders a sponsored social media post by Lyrik to get people to the Diner. Justin gets a call from Ava and says a quick goodbye to Leah before talking to her. He quickly notes that what she’s saying doesn’t sound good.

Tane and Harper sit in awkward silence at Salt before Harper says they should talk about what happened. Tane says it happened because they thought he was going to prison and recalls she made her feelings clear last time he kissed her. He suggests they forget about it and just be friends. Harper looks disappointed but agrees.