Episode 8394

Extended Summary

Mackenzie and Dana are having their coffee on the balcony at Salt. Mackenzie thanks Dana for helping Abigail, who she says spent a long time on the phone to a crisis counsellor, and is grateful she didn’t call the police. Dana says she knows it gets easier. Mackenzie notes she wouldn’t know about Dana if not for this. Dana says that with the people she’s got helping her, it will get easier for Abigail too. Mackenzie suddenly gets a text and notes someone’s won the lottery.

Mackenzie and Dana go back inside and Mackenzie asks Xander if he wants the good news or the bad news. Dana says she doesn’t know what it’s about either. Mackenzie says the good news is she’s heard back from her friend who runs a hotel: One of his interns has had an accident and had to pull out, so there’s a place free for Xander. The bad news is it’s in Melbourne for six weeks and starts the day after tomorrow. Xander is uncertain, since he wanted something more local and would have to drive up so he can have his car with him. He asks for time to think about it.

Justin turns up at the Lyrik house to see Remi, pointing out he’s still technically Lyrik’s manager. He says Theo’s on his way. While Justin is keen to get Lyrik back together, he doesn’t want Theo put under pressure. Theo arrives and learns Kirby’s at work and Eden’s with Tim. Theo still isn’t sure: Playing with the band was the happiest time of his life but he’s not sure if he can do it now he’s a qualified mechanic.

At the Diner, John approaches Alf and Roo having read the article and agrees the rent increase is outrageous. Rose also comes over, saying she had no idea Alf had run the bait shop for so long, with John calling it a local landmark. Roo thinks this is evidence that the community are getting behind the idea. While out of earshot of the others, John tells Rose he nearly rang the police the other night, telling her Cash was involved in an altercation in the street and Tane had to break it up.

Xander and Dana are walking in a park. Xander isn’t keen on being away from Dana for so long but Dana encourages him to go for it, since she understands it’s important to him. Xander is surprised but agrees to make the call. Back at the Lyrik house, Remi and Justin assure Theo that he won’t have to do any publicity he doesn’t want to and it will take time to build momentum again. Remi suggests having a trial run with Lyrik for a month.

In the surf club office, John complains to Roo about her having to supervise his rosters but Roo reminds him that he changed the rosters twice in a week. She is distracted reading the comments on the article which aren’t as supportive as she hoped: The first reads “Out with the old, in with the new, it’s called progress” and others sarcastically suggest buying Alf a violin and say it’s time for a change.

At the Diner, Justin and Theo chat about Remi’s offer. Theo suddenly comes to a decision and leaves. Justin approaches Alf and says he saw the article. He goes to check the comments on his phone but baulks on reading them. Roo arrives and also tells Alf not to read it but Alf realises they’re hiding something.

Remi is on the phone to Bree, who has been given more time off work. Theo arrives and Remi fears he’s there to say no. However, Theo says he’s in. At Salt, John brings Mackenzie the post and asks if he gets a free coffee. Rose says she went looking for Cash but he wasn’t there. Xander and Dana turn up and Xander tells Rose about the internship. Rose drags him off to pack. John says he’ll keep Dana busy but suspects she’s going to miss him.

At the Diner, Alf looks over the comments and concludes that Roo’s failed and they’re not going to get the community support they hoped for. Roo suggests a petition or protest but Alf thinks they’ll just throw fruit at him. Justin asks what he’s going to do and Alf says he’ll pack up and sail off into the sunset. Later, at the surf club, John asks Roo what she’s going to do next but Roo is as willing to throw in the towel as Alf. John says that doesn’t sound like either of them.

Walking in a park, Rose tells Xander she’s proud of him, noting he seemed lost before the course. Xander reminds her she’s a senior constable now. Rose says Summer Bay’s been the making of them: They live in paradise, they’re kicking work goals and Xander has a non-imaginary girlfriend. Xander asks her to keep an eye on Dana for him.

Justin, Remi and Theo are having a drink at Salt. They told Kirby on the way up and left a message with Eden. At the bar, Xander is saying goodbye to Mackenzie, who notes she’ll manage to run the place without him but it won’t be the same. Xander thanks her for everything. Remi and the others come to the counter for champagne. Remi says the band’s unofficially back together and they might need a relaunch gig. Xander says he won’t be there but Mackenzie can handle it.

Xander meets with Rose and Dana by his car. Dana has got him a lot of snacks. Xander gives Rose a hug before she moves a discreet distance away. Xander and Dana kiss and he tells her he loves her. Dana says she loves him more. Despite Rose calling over, they manage one more kiss before Xander drives off. Holding back tears, Dana admits that’s the first time he told her he loves her.

Later, Rose and Dana are eating in a park. They agree to keep each other company while Xander’s gone, since Dana feels Harper doesn’t need her now she’s got Tane. Dana asks to stay over tonight and Rose agrees, since Bree will be with Remi. Dana suggests sleeping in tomorrow and then having a long brunch but Rose says she has a shift all day and is worried that it’s the first time she’s worked with Cash since she had to send him home.

In the surf club office, Alf looks at the article then bins the paper as John comes in. Alf insists he’s being practical. John says Alf is the first person to stand up for everybody else but won’t stand up for himself, asking if that’s really how it ends.