Episode 8379

Extended Summary

Tane follows Perri through a park area. Perri doesn’t want Tane involved since he’ll get in trouble. Tane says if Perri runs then he’ll always be considered guilty and he did what he had to do. A police car draws up and Rose gets out, wondering what’s going on. Tane says they’re just getting some fresh air. Rose reminds them they’ve got a big day tomorrow and she’ll see them both then. Tane leads Perri back towards the house.

Rose heads to the police station and is surprised to find Cash there in uniform. He explains he turned down the transfer and was offered a posting there. He points to his insignia, adding that he took a demotion to stay in Summer Bay. He calls her “boss”, asking if there’s anything for him to do, and she says she has to do prep for court tomorrow.

At the Diner, Harper composes a text to Tane wishing him well but doesn’t send it. She notices Alf studying the menu hard but he ignores her, asking Leah for a black tea to take away. Leah confirms to Harper that he’s out of sorts. Harper runs into Justin and Theo as she’s leaving. While Justin goes to talk to Leah, Theo asks Harper about Perri. Harper thinks he should wait until tomorrow to check on him.

Back at the Parata house, Tane comments that he thought they were past this and says if Perri runs, he’ll always be hiding. Perri thinks the court will call him a murderer and a liar. Tane says they’re warriors and it’s in Perri’s blood. He recalls asking him about his mana when they first met. Perri still doesn’t know what it is. Tane says it’s the internal force that guides them to do the right thing and Perri’s shown he has it: When he came back to him after the first class, when he refused to do a job for his father and when he turned himself in to the police. Perri goes to his room.

Rose is studying the computer screen. Cash throws a paper plane at her with “Anything I can do?” written on it. He asks if he should go out on patrol and Rose tells him to go and keep the streets safe. Next morning, Harper is greeted by Tane at the Parata house. Perri appears and moments later Theo turns up. Tane and Harper go to wait in the car. Theo asks how Perri is, before realising that’s a stupid question. Perri says the trial could take a day or two and is pleased someone came to see him off, asking for a minute.

Tane, Harper and Perri approach the court. Tane won’t be able to go in since he’s a witness. Jane comes out to bring them in. Tane tells Harper to keep an eye on Perri. Soon after, in court, the prosecutor is questioning Rose who says Perri wasn’t there when she arrived. The magistrate has to stop him making comments. Rose testifies that Carl was in the pool when they arrived. The prosecutor says Perri made no attempt to help him and gets pulled up for leading a witness. Jane brings up the AVO and the charges against Carl. The prosecutor says he was acquitted. Rose argues the AVO was still in place and Carl shouldn’t have been at the house but the prosecutor says he’s not on trial.

At the Diner, John tells Cash he’s happy he’s sticking around but wonders how he feels taking orders from a former junior. Leah also tells Cash she’s glad he’s around, then asks John if he’s seen Alf. John hasn’t, even though he has surf club business to discuss, and notes the bait shop was closed. At Salt, Justin and Theo discuss him going to check on Perri. They note Alf’s in there, which isn’t usual. Justin goes over and Alf snaps he came in for peace and quiet. Justin retreats.

Cash is handing out coffees when Rose arrives back at the station. She says the prosecutor’s tough and it’s not looking good for Perri. They reflect on not finding evidence of Carl’s abuse. In court, Tane says he found Perri on the beach and told him to go home, at which point Carl put cigarette burns on him. The prosecutor interrupts, asking if Tane ever witnessed anything. Tane says he had his own run-ins with Carl and saw Perri was scared of him, but admits he never saw him touch him. The prosecutor asks to end the speculation. Jane asks Tane about what Perri was like when he found him and the prosecutor interrupts to say he ran away. Tane insists the police and court let him down, with Jane trying to get him to quieten down before the magistrate brings him into line. The prosecutor cross examines, asking about the youth program and how Perri was taught martial arts. He suggests Perri was taught too well, before withdrawing the question.

Tane, Harper, Perri and Jane exit the court. Jane is annoyed that Tane gave them an excuse to throw his testimony out. She gets a text and tells them to go and get something to eat, since there’s a two hour break until the closing statements. Tane feels he messed up and Harper says he stuck up for Perri. At the police station, Rose gets a call from Harper with an update. Cash asks for permission to check on Tane. Rose asks him to stop calling her “boss”. Cash says he’s fine with taking orders from her and now calls her “Senior Constable”..

Alf is on the phone to Martha at home, insisting he’s all right. John turns up and tells Alf there’s been some proposed membership changes which need the president’s approval, Alf snaps at him to handle it himself. At the Diner, Justin tells Leah about seeing Alf and admits he ended up running away. John appears and says that, while Alf biting his head off isn’t unusual, he didn’t seem himself. Leah decides to give Martha a call.

Tane, Harper and Perri are driving. Perri tells them to stop, then runs to the road side and throws up. He thinks he’s going to prison and should never have listened to Tane. Harper tells Tane to give him a minute. Later, the three of them are back in court but Jane hasn’t turned up. Jane eventually runs in, saying her last witness is ready to take the stand. The prosecutor tries to object but Jane says he must have missed her revised witness list. She calls Kaia Hayes. A woman takes the stand and looks tearfully at a shocked Perri who murmurs “Mum?”