Episode 8287

Extended Summary

Tane and Harper are having a workout session on the beach. Harper claims she’s burning off stress. They take a break and Harper’s attention is drawn to a couple getting frisky in the water. Tane talks to her about his proposal and how he wants her help finetuning it. Harper agrees and Tane requests some jump squats from her. At the hospital, Bree checks the airway and learns there’s air in Levi’s peritoneal cavity. Mackenzie watches on anxiously as he’s rushed into theatre.

On the balcony at Salt, Tane shows Harper a website he could use about exercise improving self-esteem. Harper asks what sort of people he wants to attract, like foster kids or homeless kids. Tane says anyone who’s considered too hard. Harper realises that might need juvenile diversions and says she’s had trouble connecting with kids like that. Tane thinks he can relate to them and Harper agrees.

They head downstairs where Tane insists Harper comes with him to talk to John. He tries to pitch the proposal to him but John is focusing on a problem with the drains and tells Tane to give it to him in writing so he can present it to the committee. Tane asks for Harper’s help getting it printed off. Harper initially says she has work to do, then changes her mind and agrees.

Rose approaches Mackenzie saying she has Levi’s statement for him to sign. Mackenzie bursts into tears and says she can’t believe Mali has brought them this trouble. Before Rose can pursue the matter, Bree turns up and says Levi has been stabilised and taken to theatre: The knife perforated his stomach. She wonders if anyone has told Eden. Mackenzie decides that she’ll do it.

Cash and Eden are lying on the beach. Cash admits he isn’t used to lying down doing nothing in the middle of the day and says they both need to get jobs. Eden sees the call from Mackenzie but refuses to answer it and notes going to Salt for lunch is also out.

John arrives back at the surf club on the phone to Alf, saying he’ll get the minutes for the AGM out and the rosters for the lifeguards. He sees Tane’s proposal and flicks through it but references to juvenile repeat offenders, unlimited access to the surf club and gym, and curtailing violent tendencies through anger management soon put him off the idea.

Outside, Tane asks Harper to help him pitch to the committee, guessing she was on the school debating team. He says he got the idea in counselling: Everyone had a reason for being there and not all of them were as lucky as him, growing up with his brothers and his whanau. They see John, and Tane goes over to him. John says that he hasn’t had a chance to read the proposal yet and refuses to talk about it with him.

Back at the Newman house, Cash comments to Eden on having to eat at the Diner instead of Salt. Eden jokes that Cash could work at Salt and he notes he won’t get another job as a personal bodyguard. Cash gets a call from Mackenzie and confirms Eden is with him. He tells Eden that Cash is at the hospital: Not starting his new job, as she initially assumes, but as a patient.

Cash and Eden head to the hospital. Eden isn’t sure about being there since she cut Levi off. They run into Rose who says Levi’s on the second floor. Eden heads up there alone. Rose talks about the intruders and how she thinks they were after Iluka but Mali won’t talk to her. Cash asks if the thugs have form and Rose says she can’t discuss an investigation with him but misses having him to bounce ideas off. Upstairs, Eden watches through a window as Mackenzie tends to a sleeping Levi. Cash comes up behind her and suggests she goes in. Eden says Mack’s got it covered and she just needed to know he was alive and being cared for.

Tane is shouting Harper lunch at Salt. Harper notes she feels like the proposal is hers as well now. Tane wonders if John is dodging them and Harper says he’s running the surf club himself with Alf and Roo away. Tane thanks her for having his back and she has a flashback to them kissing. Tane snaps her out of it, saying he’s going to find John. He finds him on the beach, where John claims he hasn’t read the proposal. Tane offers to talk him through it. John says he needs to move the flags so Tane hops in the Cam-Am with him, saying he’s always wanted to ride in it.

At Salt, Cash and Eden discuss Levi and the fact they can be there without running into Mackenzie. Eden admits that, watching them together, she thinks Mackenzie really loves Levi and can’t fault her for that, although she’s not ready to forgive Levi. They prepare to go home and look at jobs but then notice Harper drinking on her own at the bar. Cash goes to check on her while Eden heads home. Harper suggests she and Cash talk about something other than what’s bothering her.

At the hospital, Bree tells Rose that Levi’s out of surgery and awake. She agrees to Rose taking the statement in as long as she’s quick. Rose goes to join Levi and Mackenzie. Levi signs the statement and Rose asks Mackenzie about hers. After exchanging looks with Levi, Mackenzie says that Mali called the intruders the Allens: The woman was called Nat and the brothers were Gordie and Campbell. Levi adds that they took Iluka.

Cash and Harper come downstairs at the surf club. Cash notes that Harper never told him what was bothering her. Harper says he really doesn’t want to know and it’s a shame because he was a good listener, recalling calling him for help when he was a cop. As Cash leaves, John comes in followed by Tane. John admits he’s read the proposal but says he’s not going to put it to the committee.

At the Newman house, Cash briefly fills Eden in on Harper. Eden gets a text from Mackenzie about Levi being awake and admits she texted her for an update and she isn’t the enemy anymore. Cash tells her he’s decided to go back to the police, saying he was just being stubborn. Eden is supportive and wonders how they make it happen. Cash says that’s what they’ve got to find out.

Tane and Harper walk away from the surf club. Tane is bewildered at John turning against the idea. Harper advises him not to give up and he agrees, saying they need to find another strategy. He offers to shout her dinner so they can talk it over. Harper stops him, saying she can’t do this anymore, and walks away leaving him bemused.