Episode 8439

Extended Summary

Abigail and Mali are relaxing at the farm house. Mali is ignoring text alerts on his phone. Abigail asks him to turn off the notifications and he sees a text from Rose asking him to meet her at Salt. Abigail asks if he’s going to ditch her again. Mali says no but Abigail says it’s all right so he suggests she come along. Rose greets them and is fine with Abigail being there. Rose says she got into detective school. Abigail, who is looking a bit excluded, says she thought Rose was already a cop. Rose thanks Mali for pushing her and giving her support. Abigail decides to go, saying she was supposed to cook Levi dinner but it’s fine for Mali to stay. Mali gives her his keys to drive herself home, saying he can walk back to the caravan park. Rose offers to drive him.

John goes to see Leah at the Diner and tells him they have to go back to see Irene first thing, explaining about her saying on the phone that she was scared. Leah agrees that they need to get to the bottom of it. Next morning, they turn up as Irene is finishing a group session. Irene is once more acting as if nothing’s going on but John says it didn’t seem that way last night. Leah tries to convince her to go home. Irene says she has to go and water her veggies.

Dana finishes a phone call at the surf club, having arranged a photographer, before admitting to Kirby she has writer’s block over her speech. Rose arrives and tells them about the detective training course, admitting it means moving to the city in two weeks. Dana asks if she’s coming back for the wedding and is upset she has to change her seating chart before remembering to congratulate her.

At the vegetable garden, Irene briefly chats to another inpatient, Sarah. Leah presses Irene about returning home, saying she’s dealt with her reasons for relapsing and people will be there to support her. Irene snaps at her to stop pushing and Leah decides to wait at the car. Irene says she has a paint class in fifteen minutes. John asks for a few more minutes to change her mind.

Rose and Dana are walking on the beach, with Rose giving the details of how the diploma will take two and a half years followed by a course. Dana asks if she’s told Xander, and Rose says she spoke to him last night. Dana asks if he mentioned her, then decides she doesn’t want to know. She wonders if this is because Xander has gone. Rose admits that’s a part of it. Dana says she’s glad Rose is following her dream but will miss her.

At the surf club, Mali tells Kirby that her next class are all beginners and will have to sign waivers. Kirby asks if he knows about Rose and Mali says she told him last night. Abigail arrives and sullenly returns Mali’s keys. Mali asks if she’s all right and Abigail calls him clueless, prompting Kirby to retreat. Mali says Abigail told him to go to Rose and Abigail says he was supposed to say no. Mali is unimpressed that she was testing him and leaves. Abigail asks Kirby how long Mali and Rose were together and why they split up. Kirby says no-one cheated but refuses to give details.

Irene is in her painting class, doing a picture of some flowers. John is there too and holds up his drawing. Irene decides to go and get a thinner brush. John follows her and she admits that even the thought of going home and having to face up to the memories makes her want to drink, so she doesn’t know how she’d cope with actually being there. John tries to convince her that she’s strong and says her friends will help her through it.

Shortly after, Leah sees John and Irene approaching; John and a staff member are carrying Irene’s bags. Irene and Leah share a silent look of reconciliation before the three of them get in the car and drive off. As they drive into Summer Bay, Irene tells John to pull over and hurries away from the vehicle, hyperventilating. John waves for Leah to stay back and tries to get Irene to let them take her home. Irene asks to go to the Diner instead. Leah leads her back to the car.

Abigail announces she’s going on her break. Kirby tells Mali that Abigail was asking questions about him and Rose. Mali snaps that the rule about no gossiping still applies and she doesn’t get to ask him about his love life. Kirby makes it clear she’s already told Abigail that it’s none of her business and tells him to sort it out before walking away.

Dana is delighted when Irene, Leah and John arrive at the Diner, giving Irene a tight hug and saying she can come to the wedding now and Harper will be delighted. Irene says they can talk about that tonight but Dana says she’s working and won’t be there, which Irene looks uncomfortable about. Leah quietly checks with Dana that the house is safe and Dana says she and Harper cleared everything out. Irene asks Leah and John what’s been happening.

Kirby arrives back for the waivers and Mali apologises to her. As Kirby leaves, Abigail comments that Mali will apologise to Kirby and not her. Rose turns up at that moment and thanks Mali for helping her celebrate. Abigail leaves and Mali admits that Abigail saw them hugging and jumped to the wrong conclusion and then he missed some signs last night.

Rose goes round to see Abigail at the farm house, saying that she’s not interested in Mali and thinks they make a cute couple. Abigail tells her that Mali said he was meeting a mate, not her. Rose admits Mali didn’t say that and comments on his tendency to tell half-truths, framing things to make his life easier and leaving stuff out. Abigail asks why they broke up. Rose says there was a thousand reasons, but when Abigail asks if one of them was not trusting him, she admits that was a part of it. She adds that Mali’s a great guy and you have to trust your partner in a relationship.