Episode 8531

Extended Summary

Cash is throwing a ball about by himself in a park area and throws it to Tane, who is apparently about to start a class. He explains he’s spending time with Cohen while Roo lodges the adoption papers and Tane comments on his attempts to look after Archie. Cash asks if his new client who he’s into turned up. Tane claims not to know who he’s talking about.

Up in Salt, David is still trying to play peacemaker between Lacey and Jo but Lacey feels as if there’s nothing to talk about if Jo isn’t going to give her the ring and gets up to leave. She invites David to intervene and he awkwardly says that Jo’s had it for months. Lacey says she knows whose side he’s on and leaves. Jo says she’ll go after her.

Jo follows Lacey down to the surf club and reminds her of when Jo wrote a love letter to Tyson Brady and all the girls laughed at her but Lacey held her hand the whole time. She asks what happened to them and Lacey says Jo drove her mother into a tree. She storms out past Alf and Tane. Tane asks Jo how she is. Later, Jo tells Tane that the ring is a memory of her mother like what he brought back from New Zealand but she’s always wanted Lacey to be part of their family again. Tane asks if giving her the ring would actually solve anything.

Roo tells Cohen that Cash will be looking after him while she sorts out the adoption process. Cash turns up and Roo warns them not to throw the ball in house. Cohen throws it to Cash anyway before going to get his runners. Roo tells Cash she wants him to have a safe home like Cash did with Gary. Later, Cohen and Cash are playing up on the headland. Cohen calls Cash old, then apologises. He says he doesn’t know why Roo’s being so nice to him. Cash recalls how his sister was a handful and he did odd jobs so his foster parents wouldn’t give up on him. Cohen says he’ll race him to refill the water bottles (although Cash gives up after a few steps).

Back at the Diner flat, Lacey complains about Jo getting what she wants. Theo asks how Jo got the ring and Lacey says she probably slipped it off her mum’s finger, before admitting she probably didn’t. Theo says it sounds like they both deserve it. Lacey asks if he’s suggesting a custody arrangement. Theo suggests she tell Jo what the ring means to her.

Cash and Cohen are continuing their game. Roo watches them before joining David nearby and telling him the department’s agreed to Cohen staying with her while she’s assessed. He admits nothing’s sorted with his daughters. Cohen calls out to them and David says it’s the first time Cohen’s called him by his first name. Cohen invites him to join them and he declines. Cohen then asks if Cash can come to dinner. Cash says Eden’s doing something with Abigail so he’d be happy to. Cohen and Cash both promise not to kick the ball inside.

Tane and Jo are walking on the beach. She thanks him for listening and notes he’s full of surprises. She accepts giving the ring to Lacey won’t stop her blaming her for their mum’s death, explaining that there was a car accident where she was driving, she can’t remember what happened but the police cleared her, but Lacey can’t accept bad things happen for no reason. Tane recalls that when his oldest brother died there was a lot of guilt and anger but they got through it. Jo suddenly gets a text from Lacey wanting to meet.

At the Diner flat, Lacey is already regretting it. Theo offers to stay but Lacey sends him to wait in their room. Jo turns up and comments on seeing where Lacey lives for the first time, wondering which her room is. Lacey says Jo’s not there for a house tour. She reminds her of the day they picked the ring out and Jo recalls David nearly crying at the price. Lacey says the vow renewal was the last time they were all together and happy and she wants the ring so she can remember their mum like that. Jo says that’s why she wears it and them arguing isn’t helping David, recalling how she used to find him at the barbecue area in the middle of the night. Lacey suggests there’s another solution.

Cohen asks for the meat for Cash. Roo and Marilyn chat about being at the Diner without Irene. Cash checks the barbecue and Cohen wonders what he meant about odd jobs. Cash says he’d mow the lawn or chop wood and had a part-time job at one point. Alf comes out and Cash is happy to leave him to take over and tells Cohen to stay with him. Roo watches as Alf gives Cohen lessons.

Up in Salt, Jo brings Lacey a drink, saying it’s been a while since she got her a glass of wine. David turns up and is surprised to see Lacey there, since Jo didn’t tell him she’d be joining them. Lacey and Jo explain that they’ve come to a compromise: They give David the ring, which he gratefully accepts. Lacey immediately leaves.

Theo is practising guitar on the flat balcony when Lacey turns up. She tells him about David getting the ring but thinks that now that’s sorted she doesn’t need to speak to Jo again. Back in Salt, Jo is telling David that it felt like progress, since Lacey might have walked out but she walked in before that. David reflects on the irony of giving her mum an eternity ring and says it means a lot to all of them; he gave it to Jo because he wanted her to be happy. He heads to the station, passing Tane. Jo tells him she and Lacey have turned a corner.

Alf calls the meal a good feed and Roo remarks that he’s complimenting his own cooking. Cohen insists on helping Marilyn clear up, saying he’s not a guest. Roo thanks Cash for coming. Next morning, Lacey meets with Jo, who tells her they need to do something to help David. Lacey says they’re not doing anything together. Jo says David looks after her because she has panic attacks about the accident. Lacey is unimpressed and walks away.

Back at the flat, Lacey complains to Theo about Jo thinking they’re besties. Theo thinks the panic attacks might be PTSD. With a bit of pushing, he says the version of her that acts and talks like this isn’t the Lacey he fell in love with. Meanwhile, Tane finds Jo having a panic attack by the beach. Jo says she was wrong and Lacey is never going to forgive her. Tane helps her control her breathing.