Episode 8553

Extended Summary

Irene comments to Leah on Marilyn telling Alf romance was on the cards and Leah notes someone should tell Martha. Marilyn privately asks Leah where John is. Leah says Justin is going to look. Justin runs into a just-arriving Theo, asking if he’s seen John and saying to set up and start without him. Roo and Cohen have arrived and greet Irene. Cohen greets Harper before Dana asks her what she said to her boyfriend. Harper says it’s what Dana said to her ex-boyfriend. Dana says Sonny has already said he doesn’t want to live with her and quickly shuts the conversation down as Sonny approaches. Irene wants to call John but Marilyn takes her aside. Leah explains to Alf, Roo, Harper and Dana that no-one knows where John is. Marilyn says she’ll look after Leah, and Irene says they’ll look after each other. Marilyn says Irene has always looked after them.

At the Diner, John ignores a call from Alf. Justin arrives and guesses that he couldn’t write his speech. John says he’s not going to the party. Justin says no-one wants to say goodbye but he should spend some time with Irene. John says Justin will think of something to say. Justin says he’s not going to lie for him and to be brave. John snaps at him not to tell him what to do and walks out.

Theo is playing for the group. Irene is sat with Leah and Marilyn. She gets a text from Cash saying he and Eden can’t make it but send their love. She goes over to Sonny, noting he’s usually the life of the party. She drags him off to dance, with Harper and Dana following them and Roo and Cohen doing the same. Alf tells Leah and Marilyn there’s still no word from John. Meanwhile, Justin is following John, who is insisting he can’t face it and doesn’t know what his life will look like without Irene. Justin asks him how he’ll feel tomorrow knowing he didn’t say goodbye.

Theo continues to play as Irene assures Leah she’s eaten and danced enough and is going to sit in the quiet. Sonny sits with her as she notes it’s starting to get real. She wonders about him and Dana. At that moment, John and Justin arrive and Irene goes over to greet John, who apologises. She says she’s glad he’s there.

Later, the group are all sat around the table. Alf appears with David, who says he wanted to say goodbye. Irene invttes him to join them. John stands up and says Irene’s changed a lot of lives, not just his, and taught them they’re stronger when they stick together. He says they don’t want her to leave (Alf agrees) but he’s happy she’s doing what she wants. He makes a toast to the bravest woman he’s ever met.

Later still, Justin has joined Theo on the stage and they start playing Amazing by Alex Lloyd, with the refrain “I wouldn’t change it because we were amazing things”. John asks Irene to dance with him. Sonny asks Dana to live with him, saying he’ll bring her blueberry muffins ever day, and she agrees. Marilyn drags Alf out there as well and Leah offers David one dance.

After the session, Irene approaches Alf and gives him the letters, asking him to hand them out afterwards and saying she could always rely on him. She says goodbye to everyone, thanking them for coming to celebrate and telling them to make more memories. Marilyn comes forward and hugs her. Dana calls over to send them a million photos. Leah gives Irene a goodbye hug too. John starts to walk away but Irene calls after him, telling him to walk with her. As they walk away, everyone else waves after them.

Irene and John walk outside the surf club, commenting on the fact he nearly didn’t turn up. Irene says it’s hard for her too. She gives John a ticket to Paris, telling hm to meet her at the Eiffel Tower and that it’s not goodbye, only au revoir. John says he’ll be there. Meanwhile, Harper brings some boxes back to Salt and finds Jo at the bar. She congratulates her on getting the house, saying she had many happy memories there and hopes Jo does too. Dana comments on the interaction and Harper says if Irene can accept her reality then so can she.

Irene has one last look around the beach house, before putting her passport in her bag and heading out. Outside, Sonny is standing in front of a posh car dressed as a chauffeur. Irene notes this wasn’t what she was expecting when he offered to drive her to the city and gets into the car. As they drive along the road out of town, Leah (at home with Justin), Dana (at the Diner flat), Harper (with Archie at the Parata house), John (in his office at the surf club) and Alf and Marilyn (at the caravan park house) are reading her letters. In them, she talks about how much their friendship meant to her and how she wants them to remember her as she is now, full of life and love and hope. She says to remember that life goes quickly and make every moment count, to laugh loud and not be afraid of change, and to take care of each other. As they pass the Now Leaving Summer Bay, Sonny asks if she has any regrets and Irene, as if breaking the fourth wall, says none.