Episode 8498

Extended Summary

Alf, Irene and Leah are chatting at the coffee cart when David turns up. Alf notes he heard from a friend at the council that there was a new police officer at Yabbie Creek and guesses it’s him given the uniform. They do a round of introductions, with Alf explaining he’s president of the surf club and looks after the caravan park, and Irene and Leah own the Diner. Leah asks if he’s Lacey’s father but only says she comes into the Diner sometimes.

Lacey arrives at the Diner flat, on the phone to someone asking about a trial shift. She tells Theo that last night was fine but she needs more than one shift to be able to move out of the backpackers’. Theo suggests he could sell his car: He’d still have $5,000 left after paying off the loan and she could use that. Lacey doesn’t want to be dependent on him. Theo says the offer’s there.

At the farm house, Eden listens as Abigail chats to Jimmy on the phone and says she loves all the presents. Eden tells her she can’t be bought. Abigail says Debra can tolerate being in the same room as him. Eden says Jimmy didn’t respect his own marriage and she doesn’t want him at the start of hers, insisting it’s her guest list.

At the surf club, Cash gets a call from David. Tane stops him to tell him he’s going to Japan with Harper and Archie, and on his way to Yabbie Creek to get some stuff. Cash thinks it’s a bit weird to go on your honeymoon with your ex-fiance but Tane insists it’s just a family holiday. Alf appears, saying he met Tane’s new sergeant earlier and he seems a decent bloke. Cash says he seems it.

David goes into his office at work. He pauses and looks at the family photo, seeming a bit solemn and teary, and when someone knocks on the door he asks for a minute. By the road, the younger woman from the photo, Jo, has her car broken down and burns her hand checking the radiator and fan belt. Tane is driving the other way and stops, asking if she needs to borrow his first aid kit or for him to look at the car. He admits he’s not a mechanic and Jo says she doesn’t need help. After a bit more pressing, Tane leaves, bemused.

David asks Cash if he checked up on some graffiti. Cash says the servo owner recognised some of the kids from CCTV and they’re bringing them in for questioning. David asks about Alf, who Cash says basically runs the town. Eden comes in, telling Cash about Abigail wanting her to invite her dad to the wedding. Cash quickly introduces her to his new sergeant, who insists he’s “Sergeant Langham”, not “David”, and tells her it’s time to go, before telling Cash to bring the kids in for questioning and plan his wedding in his own time.

Jo is in the same spot as Tane comes back in the other direction and stops by her again. Jo asks if this works for him and he says he doesn’t drive past if someone’s in trouble. Jo says she needs a new fan belt and will call a mechanic. Tane drives off, at which point Jo finds her phone is out of battery and starts walking.

Cash goes to David’s office with a cup of tea. He apologises for Eden, saying she’s stressing about inviting her estranged father to the wedding. David asks if he’s interviewed the kids yet. Cash says they’re still trying to track down their parents and guardians. David tells him to focus on that. Meanwhile, Lacey finds Theo has advertised his car for sale on the internet. He says he’s doing it for himself, not for her, since he can’t look at the car without remembering what happened…but he’d still like to use the money to help her, suggesting it could be a loan. Lacey comments on getting lucky with him.

At Salt, Abigail asks Eden for two margaritas before accusing her of giving her the silent treatment. She asks what will happen if Levi has a kid and their dad wants to be a part of it, adding that he’ll die some day and it’ll be too late. Cash comes in and Abigail tells him to talk some sense into Eden. Meanwhile, David and Jo arrive at the Diner and briefly chat to Alf. David chides Jo for not keeping her phone charged and says they’ll fix her car tomorrow. Leah comes over with some menus and David does the introductions. Leah says she didn’t know Lacey had a sister and David tells Jo she comes in there sometimes. After Leah has gone, Jo suggests they go to the backpackers and David can use his police badge to intimidate people into letting them into Lacey’s room. David thinks they should tread gently, given what happened last time he tried to talk to Lacey. At the counter, Irene says David seems like a nice chap and Leah says he is.

Lacey offers to cook something for Theo. There’s a knock at the door and Theo initially assumes Sonny’s forgotten his key. It’s actually Leah, who delivers some leftovers before asking for a moment with Lacey in private. They head out onto the balcony where Leah tells Lacey her father and sister are downstairs. Lacey says Jo is the only person she wants to see less than her dad.

On the balcony at Salt, Eden tells Cash that Debra was devastated for years and thinks she might just be making nice for Abigail’s sake. Cash suggests she find out for sure and Eden agrees a visit might be a good idea. Eden goes back to work and Tane takes her place at Cash’s table. Tane comments on all the things needed to go on holiday with a baby. Cash is pleased for him, even if it’s not a picture perfect family.

Alf notices Abigail behind the counter at the board shop and she says Mali wanted her to check something. Alf notes he hasn’t seen him in a week. Abigail says he’s spending all his time shaping boards and is a bit overworked. Eden comes downstairs and says she’ll consider inviting their dad if their mum is really okay with it. Abigail decides to drive them there.

Next morning, David drives Jo out to her car only to find Tane working on it. Tane says he’s replaced the fan belt, technically a serpentine belt. David says his daughter told him not to touch the car. Jo asks if he’d drive a car that some random had fiddled with and David says Tane makes a habit of overstepping. Tane leaves and David confirms he’s met him before. He also notes he’s done a good job.

Abigail and Eden are preparing to leave from the surf club. Alf asks if Mali is coming in and Abigail says he was asleep when she left, having worked late. Nearby, Theo tells Lacey he has to go and see someone about selling the car. Jo loiters by the door and approaches Lacey when Theo has gone, suggesting they go upstairs to eat. Lacey tells her to get lost.

Lacey is waiting outside when Jo approaches her again, saying she can’t bury her head in the sand. Lacey says Jo’s the one that should be feeling guilty and tells her to own up to what she’s done. Jo says Lacey doesn’t know what she sees when she closes her eyes. Lacey starts to walk away and Jo grabs her arm. Lacey hits her, Jo pushes her and soon they’re both scrapping. Cash rushes over and pulls them apart, saying they’re both coming down the station.