Episode 8535

Extended Summary

Alf, Roo, Marilyn and Cohen finish eating. Cohen is a bit nervous about going to Summer Bay High, since he hasn’t been to school in a while, and Roo tells him they’ll go to get his uniform tomorrow. Cohen starts to clear the table and suggests he help Alf out at the surf club tomorrow morning. He insists on clearing away.

Bree drops onto the sofa and drunkenly rambles that music is Remi’s language and Avalon understands it so she’ll always understand him better than her. Remi tries to insist otherwise. Bree, after drinking straight from the bottle, lies down and compares Avalon to a virus, saying that’s her language. Remi says if Bree deletes the song then Avalon will be gone. With Bree drifting off, he leaves a glass of water on the table next to her and drapes a blanket over her.

Next morning, Levi is sat in the kitchen, looking a bit sleepy. Mackenzie comes through and notes the cramps are settling and she hasn’t thrown up since 2am, wondering if that’s what her life’s come to. Levi suggests they go for a walk. Mackenzie isn’t sure, saying she’s low on energy, but eventually agrees. Meanwhile, Roo has got ready for an interview with the adoption people. Alf and Cohen are preparing to leave for the surf club. Alf suggests he might be able to get John’s permission to give him a ride in the buggy and Cohen says he can help with the flags. Roo tells Alf and Marilyn that it seems like Cohen feels he needs to work all the time but Alf thinks she’s looking for problems. Marilyn offers to go with Roo and she agrees.

Walking on the beach, Mackenzie tells Levi he was right and jokes that he should be a doctor. Levi wonders if she meant what she said about only doing one round of IVF, saying it might not work. Mackenzie says if they have to do another round, they will, but she’s choosing to be positive. Remi approaches and Levi worries it’s round two. Remi apologises, saying he was out of line. Mackenzie says she didn’t know what he was talking about yesterday but has found out Avalon made a request, to which she’s said no. Remi feels like an idiot and thanks them both.

Back at the flat, Bree is taking some pills for a headache as Remi arrives. She says she doesn’t remember much about last night but does remember playing Avalon’s song. Remi tells her about Avalon messaging him asking him to do a gig at Salt, saying he hasn’t replied and Mackenzie has shut it down. He thinks Avalon will move on. Bree wonders if he will, asking him about playing the song.

Alf and Cohen run into Harper at the surf club and she explains that Archie’s with Tane so she’s hoping to use the gym, although she’s preparing herself first. Cohen asks what he can do and Alf suggests he take the bins out. Alf thanks Harper for the reference and thinks Cohen is what they were missing. Meanwhile, Bree tries to get Remi to listen to the song, saying it’s actually good. Remi says it just reminds him of the biggest mistake of his life. Bree says the song isn’t the problem and wants to listen to it, acknowledge it’s good and move on.

Cohen is washing the buggy with Alf supervising. Alf keeps pointing out bits he’s supposedly missed until Cohen points the hose at him. Harper appears after a short session and jokingly asks if Cohen wants to come home with her and fold some clothes, only for him to agree. Alf tells her not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Cohen asks what that is.

At Salt, Mackenzie tells Levi she’s not going to order peppermint tea for once. She is excited about the ultrasound tomorrow. Levi warns her not to put pressure on herself but she dreams about a dozen follicles. Meanwhile, Remi and Bree are listening to the song but Remi obviously isn’t comfortable. Bree says it’s good but Remi says the exposure therapy isn’t working. He turns it off and leaves.

Roo chats to Alf outside the surf club, saying the assessor said because she’s already approved as a foster carer they might be able to fast-track it. Harper and Cohen arrive back and Roo thanks Harper for the reference. Harper insists on giving Cohen money for the work and leaves. Roo tells Cohen that she hasn’t actually been told he can stay yet but it’s looking promising. She says Marilyn’s cooking dinner for them.

Roo and Cohen arrive back at the caravan park house and are greeted by Marilyn. Cohen gives Roo the money, calling it his rent. He says Cash told him he used to do jobs so his foster parents didn’t give up on him. Later, Roo and Marilyn have sat Cohen down for a chat. Roo gives him back the money, saying they’ll put it in a savings account. She says that, while she wants him to keep his room tidy, his only job is to be a kid, to go out, have fun and make friends. She insists she’ll do the dishes this time. He convinces her to let him dry.

Bree finds Remi sat a picnic table, systematically breaking a twig. They exchange apologies. Remi admits that he can’t listen to or play music anymore and says all that matters is getting them back on track. Bree doesn’t want him to throw away music but he says it’s his choice. On the balcony at Salt, Mackenzie tells Levi she’s thinking of calling the baby Henrietta if it’s a girl, saying it’s a good name to shout across the farm. Bree arrives and mentions Avalon’s offer. She asks if Mackenzie would let Remi and Eden play. Mackenzie is keen. Bree says Eden is too but she needs to convince Remi.

Roo sends Cohen to wait into the car before they get his school stuff sorted. He passes Alf, who discusses with Roo how it  feels like Cohen belongs there. Roo gets a message saying the adoption has been paused. Meanwhile, Bree goes to see Remi at his place and tells her about the gig she’s organised and that it’s not Eden’s idea but hers. She says the man she fell in love with was a musician.

Roo is trying to get through to the department on the phone as Alf attributes it to a problem with paperwork. Roo tries ringing David and is surprised when he does know something. She tells Alf that the police think they’ve found Cohen’s father.