Episode 8505

Extended Summary

At Salt, Kirby drinks a toast to finishing the album. She and Justin are celebrating but Remi is a bit more subdued, pointing out he still needs to mix it. Justin asks when the album might be ready so he can organise the launch. Remi says it’ll be ready when it’s ready. Kirby thinks Avalon will have set a launch date. Remi heads off to sleep and then get back to work. Kirby drinks his champagne as well as her own.

Roo serves Cohen some lasagne, saying she can make some toast if he doesn’t like it. Cohen says it’s good. Marilyn turns up and is introduced to both Cohen and David, dubbing herself the fun one. Roo leaves her to watch Cohen while she quietly asks David if there’s anything else she needs to know. David says a social worker will contact her; Samantha’s hearing is tomorrow and if she doesn’t get bail then Cohen will have to stay there until they locate a relative. Roo says he can stay as long as he needs to.

Remi has come home to find Avalon on the doorstep. Avalon thinks it’s a sign that they need to get back to work on the album and wants him to come to the studio with her now. Remi says he needs to get some sleep. Avalon wonders what happened to the “little helper” and produces a sachet for herself. At the Diner, Harper is telling Irene she’s cut her maternity leave short and will be back at work tomorrow with Archie in day care. Irene asks what Tane thinks and Harper says he doesn’t know, snapping that he went off to Japan but she gets called a bad parent for going to earn a living. Irene hands her the takeaway.

Avalon tries to get firm answers from Remi about recording. Remi protests there’s only so many hours in the day and Avalon says that’s why she uses the night. Kirby comes home and wonders if Remi got some sleep. Avalon says she happened. Kirby asks about Avalon’s launch date and Avalon says she needs to finish the album first. Remi says he preferred it when they hated each other. Kirby says she didn’t hate Avalon, just envied her. Remi stops them staying up drinking, sending Avalon home and Kirby to bed.

Roo checks Cohen has pyjamas in his bag and sends him upstairs, saying she’ll come up in a bit. She checks Marilyn is fine with him being there. Marilyn thinks Cohen needs someone like Roo. Meanwhile, David has received a phone call at work but learns there’s nothing on Cohen or Samantha in the system. He looks at the photo of his wife and daughters on the phone.

Roo finds Cohen sat up reading and says it’s getting late. He asks to finish the chapter and explains it’s about a realm ruled by dragons; there’s seven books in the series and he prefers the others. He says he used to go to the library when his mum wasn’t around; he couldn’t borrow anything because they didn’t have an address but the lady let him read whatever he liked and sometimes gave him a book. Roo says she’ll be just down the hall, then, catching his expression, offers to stay with him while he goes to sleep.

Next morning, Roo serves Cohen scrambled eggs. Marilyn joins them. Roo notices Cohen eyeing the fruit bowl and says he doesn’t have to ask permission to take one. Harper turns up and explains she’s back at work and Archie’s in day care; she’s been assigned as Cohen’s social worker. Cohen seems nervous when Harper asks to spend time with him but agrees when Roo says Harper’s a friend and good at her job.

Avalon meets Kirby on the balcony at Salt. Kirby says she’s had an epiphany: They should be allies instead of rivals. She suggests that, since they appeal to similar audiences, they should promote each other’s albums. Avalon readily agrees.

Justin turns up at the Lyrik house and tells Remi that the venue Kirby wanted for the launch has had a cancellation and he’s asked them to put it on hold for next week. Remi repeats that the album will be ready when it’s ready. Justin suggests someone got out of the wrong side of bed and Remi says he never got into it. He says he can get the album done in a week if Justin leaves him alone and doesn’t interrupt him.

Roo goes to see David at the police station. He says they haven’t tracked any relatives but he’s put in a request for both Cohen and Samantha’s birth certificates in the hope of tracing a father or grandparent. He wonders why Roo became a foster parent and she says she thought she could make a difference. She wonders about him being with the police and he says his mum thought he looked good in uniform.

Kirby and Avalon turn up at the Lyrik house and tell Remi that Avalon has come up with the idea of them doing a duet. However, they want it on Kirby’s album so they need to write the lyrics and get it recorded at the end of the week. Remi says a firm no, saying it’s his money and his call.

Cohen and Harper are walking on the beach. Harper doesn’t know where his mum is or when he can see her but assures him she’s being looked after. She leaves him skimming stones and goes over to Irene, who has been filled in by Marilyn. Harper says this is what she likes best about the job: Helping kids who are lost and confused like she and Dana were.

Kirby and Avalon are walking near the surf club, frustrated by Remi’s decision. Avalon wonders why it’s his call and Kirby admits he’s funding the album. Avalon comments on how he doesn’t come across as cashed up. Justin appears and they tell him about the missed opportunity. Justin offers to talk to Remi. He goes round and wonders what happened to Remi saying he’d sleep when he was dead. Remi says he got tired. Justin convinces him to say yes.

Irene, Harper and Cohen arrive at the Diner and meet Roo and David. Harper and David exchange brief introductions before she leaves. David and Roo sit Cohen down. Cohen doesn’t know his father’s name. He says they used to visit a grandmother in Canberra but he doesn’t know her name and it was a long time ago. David goes to take a phone call. Later, he privately tells Roo that Samantha has been denied bail and sent to a women’s prison…and has relinquished parental rights, not wanting anything more to do with Cohen.

Kirby and Avalon are on the beach. Kirby admits the album feels incomplete now although Avalon notes they’ve made a new friend. Justin appears and tells them the duet is on. Meanwhile, Remi gets up and puts his jacket on, making to go out. He takes the drugs from his pocket and says he doesn’t need it, going to tip it down the sink… then stops, considering.