Episode 8568

Extended Summary

Mali runs into Tane on the beach and comments on him trying to get Archie used to being there. John pulls up next to them. Mali asks about his patrol and John says there’s a lot of stupid people around. Tane thinks John is going to tell him he’s doing something wrong but John just says he’s lucky to spend time with those he loves. As he drives on, Mali reminds Tane that John’s struggling with Irene gone.

Back at the Diner, Harper is fanning herself in a panic while Dana tries to tell her it’s just a date. Harper asks a passing Leah to tell Dana she can’t sign her up to dates but all Leah hears is that Harper’s going on a date and asks for details. Harper asks to do it at her own pace and Dana makes chicken noises. Harper announces she has to leave: Not to get ready for the date, but to pick up Archie.

David nearly collides with Alf and Justin as he arrives at Salt. He’s trying to sort out a removalist for the house. Justin offers to help him out tomorrow morning. David remarks that it’s good things worked out for Cohen, calling it the perfect ending. Alf doesn’t seem to share that assessment. After he’s gone, Justin explains he liked having Cohen around. Later, David arrives back at the police station, on the phone to Jo about the move. Constable Doyle brings him an envelope that a courier just dropped off. David opens it to reveal the crash investigation report, which he places in his bag.

Outside the surf club, Harper collects Archie back from Tane. Tane comments on his reaction to the sand, saying he’s moved from annoyed and frustrated to puzzled and curious. He asks her if she’s doing anything interesting this afternoon. Harper, somewhat flustered, says she never does anything interesting. Tane reminds her she said she was going dating. Harper says she isn’t yet.

Later, Mali is putting a plan for John to Tane, who he wants involved. Tane declines, calling it a bit too much John for him. Mali approaches John on his own and tells him they’re going camping together. John admits he doesn’t have anything on but says he’s had enough pity invites. Mali says going out to nature is the best way to clear your head, plus he wants to share some Blackfella secrets with him. Warming to the idea, John calls himself an expert camper.

Harper arrives home with Archie and is immediately surprised by Dana, who offers her a choice of outfits, one of which she describes as serious social worker and the other as light and breezy. She says if Harper really didn’t want to go, she’d have already texted Donnie. Harper says the last time she liked a guy, it ended with a cancelled wedding and her living with him as a single mum. Dana says that’s unlikely to happen again and leaves her to choose an outfit while she finds her some shoes.

A short time later, Harper is showing off the light and breezy outfit for Dana. Tane turns up and they awkwardly explain that Harper has a date and Dana is babysitting. Harper says she didn’t lie to him before. Tane says he’s happy for her but seems uncomfortable. Harper says she’ll stick with the agreement not to bring him back there. Dana suggests she might go back to his. Tane starts to tell her something.

At the surf club, John and Mali are packed and ready to go. John wants to know exactly where they’re going and Mali warns him not to tell a Blackfella he can’t find his way in the bush. Tane turns up asking to go with them, to which they agree. At the beach house, David is unpacking boxes. He is about to look at the file when Alf arrives with a present. David worries he offended him earlier. Alf says it’s fine, adding he’s off to the city because his grandson’s coming into port and he’s got a few days to spend with him. They discuss the importance of family.

John spends the car journey regaling Tane and Mali with a long stream of navy stories. They eventually arrive at the site where John waxes lyrical about nature. Tane goes to set his tent up. John declares that the first spot he picks would flood in the rain and the second would have a tree branch fall on it if it was windy, declaring the spot where he’s put his things the best. Tane quietly tells Mali he could have said all three spots were the same.

Later, Tane and Mali have their tents put up while John is struggling with his, saying he hasn’t been camping since the navy and isn’t used to new tents. Mali quietly tells him to go along with something. He holds what he calls bush tucker out to Tane. Tane pops some in his mouth and John calls it kangaroo poo. Tane spits it out and Mali assures him they’re just lollies.

Harper returns home to Dana and Archie. Dana bombards her with questions, asking how it was, if he was nice, if there was any kissing and if he paid. Taking Archie, Harper says it was fine, he was nice, there was no kissing and they split the bill…and there isn’t going to be a second date, since there was no spark. Dana thinks her description of her ideal man (vulnerable, serious about family, active) is Tane. Harper says she’s already arranged another date with someone called Drew.

John, Tane and Mali have set up a camp fire. Mali says they need it to keep the Hairy Man away. The others are confused. Mali says he thought it was a legend Blackfellas told their kids to stop them wandering off at night, until he saw one: He and Iluka were walking when he saw a pair of glowing eyes up a tree and found himself unable to move. Iluka shook him to break eye contact and they ran home, with their mother making them stay in one room. John nervously says it’s a good story.

David finishes setting up the house, then gets out the file. Looking through all the photos soon reduces him to tears. At the camp site, no-one is up. John is lying in his tent with a face mask on when he hears noises outside and sees shadows, looking around in fear.