Episode 8539

Extended Summary

Sonny and Dana are spending time together on the beach, with Sonny making an effort to teach Dana to fly a kite, which quickly crashes. Shortly after, they are kissing in a secluded spot. Dana compliments Sonny on his skills (mostly meaning the kite flying) and thanks him for being a distraction. At the beach house, Irene comments that John is the only person she knows who can be sweet and annoying at the same time. Sonny and Dana come home in the middle of the discussion.

Outside the surf club, Jo denies having any part in Lacey’s investigator dropping the case. She says she wanted the investigation to go ahead so Lacey would finally have to accept the truth. Theo approaches and Jo goes over to Tane, asking him for a drink. Later, Lacey tries claiming to Theo that Jo’s just hoping no-one will take the case. After she rejects his suggestion Jo was genuine, Theo says Lacey doesn’t care what he thinks and he has other things going on.

John tries to argue against what Irene’s doing and Dana reminds him Irene’s not meant to have undue stress. Sonny asks Irene why it has to be today. Irene says she could wake up any day and need to go into a home and doesn’t want to be a burden. Sonny asks if Irene remembers the $50 she lent him. She looks shocked for a moment, then he admits he’s joking. She sees the funny side and Sonny offers to take her stuff to the op shop. Irene agrees and says to take John with him.

Down on the beach, Lacey approaches Theo and apologises for being a bad girlfriend. She asks him if he wants to go back to the garage. Theo tries to dodge the question, saying he’s helping her. With a bit of prompting, he admits that he misses working with Justin but says Justin can easily replace him at the garage and it will be less easy to replace him doing the surf lessons.

Tane and Jo are having a drink on the balcony at Salt. Abigail tells them the sofa’s free if they want privacy. Jo comments that Abigail seems to think they’re on a date. They banter a bit about whether it is or not with Tane saying they’ve already been on a couple. Jo says it doesn’t count if you’re interrupted or just randomly eating in the same place. Tane suggests this could be their first official date. Later, they have moved to the sofa area. Jo comments on how good it is working with Levi and Tane suggests the patients love her too. While he’s at the bar, his phone rings with a call from Harper. Jo puts it on silent.

Dana asks to see what Irene’s looking at and Irene shows her a collection of postcards from over the years. She says some are from family, with Fin having loved to travel with the grandkids, and others are from people who lived with her when they had nowhere else to go. Dana picks up one from Paris and Irene recalls when Bianca and April lived with her and caused nearly as much trouble as Harper and Dana. She says April was married to Dex and they went to Paris. She isn’t going to throw the postcards away but keep them like the photos.

Later, Sonny arrives back and Dana comments on how John has a big heart but is terrible at change. Irene invites Sonny to stay for dinner. Dana suggests Irene shows him the postcard. Irene is staring vacantly into the fridge and admits she’s forgotten what she’s doing. She goes to freshen up, asking Dana to keep an eye on the stove.

Theo meets with Justin at the Diner. He apologises but says he can’t come back to the garage until Mali’s back and no-one knows when that is. Justin tells him he’ll have to find a permanent replacement for him. Theo is disappointed but accepts it. Back at Salt, Tane is talking to Jo about speaking Te Reo Māori to Archie. Jo confesses to hiding the phone call and turning his phone upside down. Tane checks his phone; it’s not an emergency but he does have to go and get Archie. He agrees Jo overstepped but says they’re okay. As he leaves, Lacey arrives and tells Abigail to fire Theo, saying he wants to go back to the garage but won’t let them down. Abigail is a bit worried, since the surf lessons are the only thing keeping them afloat and it’ll be hard to find another instructor, but Lacey offers to work longer hours to get sales up and begs her to agree.

Irene is sat up during the night, looking at the postcards. Sonny comes downstairs and claims Dana’s talking in her sleep. He looks at the postcards and picks up on one from Peru, recalling going there. He says he travelled for two years or so and it taught him how big the world is. Irene wishes she’d travelled more, saying it’s too late now. Sonny disagrees, suggesting she can’t let her illness define her.

Next morning, Theo and Lacey meet with Abigail outside the surf club. Abigail tells Theo that he’s fired. Theo is confused, asking if Mali’s coming back or she’s got someone lined up to replace him. Lacey says it was only meant to be temporary anyway and he should let Justin know he’s available. After Abigail’s gone, Theo knowingly remarks that Lacey had nothing to do with this and kisses her.

Leah turns up to see Irene with breakfast, which Dana and Sonny quickly get in on. Irene announces that she’s decided to sell the house and go travelling while she still can, visiting old friends and family and seeing place she’s always wanted to see. Leah asks when she decided this and Irene says last night and that she’s deciding what her life’s going to be like. Sonny congratulates her but Leah doesn’t look happy.