Episode 8606

Extended Summary

Cash sees Lacey at work outside the surf club and checks on her. Lacey notes Mali’s been great and thinks Cash sounds like her dad. After Lacey’s gone inside, Harper comes along and suggests Cash and Eden come over for dinner. Cash says it’ll just be him because Eden’s helping Abigail. Harper says it can be the two of them and Tane. At that moment, Tane is in bed with Jo at the motel. They comment on Tane bringing her there and forgetting his credit card, and the receptionist’s comment on their “last minute booking”, before holding hands and kissing.

At the Diner, Marilyn is picking herself off the floor as Leah calls out. Marilyn quickly claims she was just fixing her shoe. Leah explains she’s got no energy to cook and has come for some food. Marilyn suggests a caesar salad. Leah checks Marilyn’s done the stock orders and thanks her for everything she’s done. Later, Bree is eating at the Diner when she sees Marilyn stumble. Marilyn admits she fainted before but says she just skipped a meal and was hungry. Bree convinces her to sit down and have something to eat, even though she protests she has to close up.

Lacey arrives home and calls out with no response. She phones David and learns he’s at work. She says Jo’s not there but won’t be long and she’ll be fine. Jo is still curled up in bed with Tane and says she wishes they could stay like this. She asks that they keep this to themselves for a while, since Lacey’s still grieving and she doesn’t want to be insensitive. Tane quickly agrees.

Cash arrives at the Parata house and greets Archie, saying he’s missed him but confirming to Harper that he doesn’t miss being woken up in the middle of the night. Harper says they’re waiting on Tane, who isn’t answering her calls. Cash suggests they eat and Tane can heat his up. At the motel, Jo suggests they order in some food but Tane says he has to go. Jo nuzzles up to him and tries to get him to stay, saying David’s got Lacey. Tane says he has to get back to Archie and didn’t tell Harper he wouldn’t be home. Jo reluctantly accepts it.

Harper rejoins Cash after putting Archie down. Cash asks how things are going with her mother. Harper comments on Dana asking to be kept out of it, saying she’s not sure she could do it without involving her and she’s not sure she wants to anyway. Cash says there’s no rush. Tane arrives back and makes an excuse about a problem at the gym. Cash decides to take him out for a drink.

Bree has got Marilyn to eat something. Alf turns up and is pleased to see Marilyn taking a break. He says he’s there to help her cool off, since it would mean they can get it done quicker and she can have an early night. Bree agrees and Alf realises something’s going on. Marilyn initially tries to claim it’s nothing before admitting she fainted and trying to downplay it.

On the balcony at Salt, Cash tells Tane he’s happy for him but wonders how this fits in with what David said. Tane says he hasn’t told Jo and she wants to keep it quiet for Lacey’s sake. Cash is bemused at Tane claiming that’s the reason but agrees to keep it quiet in return for another beer. At the beach house, Lacey is looking at photos of Theo on her phone. Jo turns up and is surprised David isn’t there. Lacey explains he got called into work. Jo claims she was at work and isn’t in scrubs because a patient was sick on her. Lacey explains it’s Theo’s birthday tomorrow. After commiserating, Jo goes to have a shower. Lacey sees a message on Jo’s phone from the Bay Motel thanking her for her stay and asking for feedback.

Next morning, Alf is at the Diner when Marilyn turns up. He protests that he told her to take the day off. Marilyn insists she feels fine and will take meal breaks today. Alf says he’s already told Leah she’s having time off. Leah arrives and finds Alf insisting Marilyn’s not working and Marilyn insisting she is. Later, Alf tells Leah about Marilyn passing out. Bree arrives and agrees with Alf that Marlyn taking time off would be a good idea. Marilyn insists it’s her decision. Leah suggests they take things to the coffee cart together.

Down by the beach, Jo is sparring with Harper, who comments on her energy. Jo rotates to partner Tane. Lacey watches them and comments to Cash on them not fooling anyone. Cash tries to play dumb but Lacey suggests they tell each other what they know. Cash admits they’re together and that they were worried about telling Lacey. Later, at the beach house, Lacey challenges Jo on sleeping with Tane and wonders why she didn’t tell her. Jo says she doesn’t want to rub her love life in Lacey’s face while she’s grieving. Lacey insists she’s happy for her and, when Tane texts, tells her to call him.

At the coffee cart, Leah tells Marilyn to go home. Marilyn says she knows it’s Theo’s birthday. Leah suggests working is a distraction and admits she was planning a birthday dinner for Theo when he got back from Tasmania. She reiterates that Marilyn should go. Meanwhile, Jo and Tane are back in bed in the motel room and comment on how Cash and Lacey figured it out straightaway. Jo thinks there’s no reason to keep it secret now but Tane is keen to keep quiet. Jo wonders if he’s worried about Harper. Tane says David’s going to have a problem with it.

Lacey is walking through a park area and sees Leah coming the other way, walking over to her. Leah brusquely asks if she can help her. Lacey says it’s going to be a hard day. Leah says Theo didn’t get to wake up to it. Cash sees them and comes over as Lacey suggests she and Leah spend the day remembering Theo or light a candle. Leah makes it clear she doesn’t want to spend the day with the reason Theo’s dead. Cash leads Lacey away as Leah tells her to stay away from her.