Episode 8619

Extended Summary

John and Dana are in a buggy with John telling her an anecdote about his time with Irene which falls a bit flat. Dana apologises, saying she had a falling out with Harper and isn’t sure what she’ll do if she hears from her. She explains about Harper contacting their mum. Meanwhile, Mackenzie tells Tane that she’ll cancel Eddie’s gig at Salt so he won’t look good in front of Jo. Tane comments to Archie that Mackenzie’s being a bit crazy and says it’s not a fight to be won. Mackenzie points out Jo was honest with him and not Eddie, suggesting it means she can be honest with him. Tane suggests it might just mean he’s her dirty little secret.

Marilyn serves Cash at the coffee cart and gushes about married life. Eden arrives and she and Cash move out of earshot. Eden says Cash walked away mid-conversation. Cash says it was more of a rant about how unhappy she is with him. Eden says she’s unhappy with her music career and Remi. Cash says she said nothing was going right in her life. Marilyn, who has been eavesdropping, is crestfallen. At the surf club, Levi approaches Mali and says he wants him to design a surf board for Mack to cheer her up, giving him free rein with it.

Levi arrives back at the farm house where Mackenzie is saying goodbye to Tane and Archie. Mackenzie again encourages Tane to make a go of things with Jo. Levi comments that she can be aggressive with her matchmaking. Just as they’re about to make the most of their alone time, Mackenzie gets a call from Salt. Some time later, she joins Levi again and they have another go at heading inside. Before they can though, Eden turns up saying that, ironically, she needs some marriage advice from Levi. Mackenzie goes inside and leaves them to it. Eden realises she was interrupting. Levi says he’s used to it.

Back at the surf club, John suggests Dana must have been shocked to hear about her father. Dana says John’s been more of a father to her. Harper turns up and asks Dana if she’s going to ask her what happened with their mother. John goes to clean the buggy and Dana reminds Harper she’s not interested. Harper says Kerrie’s turned her life around and there was no sign of drug taking. She mentions Kerrie asked about Dana. Dana isn’t happy that they were discussing her.

Abigail brings Mali some lunch and finds him focused on ideas for Mackenzie. He decides to take them round there to ask Levi’s opinion. Nearby, John tries to play peacemaker but Harper and Dana both tell him to stay out of it. Tane arrives with Archie who Harper greets enthusiastically. Tane asks how Harper’s work thing went. Dana says that was just a cover story and Harper actually went to see the drug taker that birthed them. Tane isn’t happy that she went behind his back.

Levi spells out to Eden how Cash would be offended by her saying nothing’s going right for her. Eden says Cash’s job gives hm a sense of purpose, like Levi’s, and that while he wanted to be a doctor, she was messing about with a guitar. Levi says she’s brilliant at it. Eden wonders what she is if she’s not a professional musician. Levi suggests bringing Cash along on the journey and Eden accepts she could have been a tad more thoughtful. Eden finally leaves but is immediately replaced by Mali and Abigail. Mali tries to show Levi the designs but Levi says he trusts him. Abigail notes she’s glad she rushed lunch for that.

Down on the beach, John runs into Cash, noting it’s the first time he’s seen him since the wedding and wondering if he and Eden would give a testimonial and five stars for him as a celebrant. Cash says they will when they’re talking again. John thinks it’s good to get your first marital tiff out of the way and wonders what it was about. Cash says Eden’s upset about her friends and career and thinks being married to him isn’t enough. John asks if he expected it to be and Cash acknowledges he didn’t. Dana calls over, asking whether John’s going to put the flags out or gossip.

Tane, Harper and Archie arrive home. Harper encourages Tane to speak. Tane asks why she went behind his back. Harper says she wanted to see if Kerrie was in a good place and she is and is excited to be a grandmother. Tane is shocked she told Kerrie about Archie and wants to know if Kerrie knows where they live. Harper says she only has a phone number but Tane is still worried about her tracking them down. Harper says she’ll put Archie down so they can talk calmly.

Cash and Eden meet at Salt. Cash apologises for not being more supportive and Eden apologises for not choosing her words carefully. Cash reminds her they wrote a list of all the things she could do with her music but she feels like she’s not going to make a life from it and needs something more worthwhile. Cash has to head off to work but says they’ll brainstorm it over breakfast tomorrow. After he’s gone, Eden looks up “volunteer roles” on her phone.

When Harper returns, Tane makes it clear he’s not going to let Kerrie see Archie ever. Harper asks how he’s going to stop it and Tane says he’ll apply for full custody. Harper asks who he thinks would win a custody battle, adding it’s not going to be the parent on a suspended sentence for kidnapping. She walks out.

Outside the farm house, Mali notes he’s narrowed it down to three colour schemes. Abigail doesn’t know Mackenzie well enough to know which one she’d like. Levi and Mackenzie come out and Abigail asks Mackenzie what her favourite colour is but she doesn’t know if she has one. They say that, to avoid interruptions, they’re going away to a retreat for a few days. Abigail notes that means they have the house to themselves. After Levi and Mackenzie have gone, Mali quizzes Abigail about her lack of subtlety. Abby doesn’t think Mack noticed.

Harper turns up at the Newman house. She sees Cash is in uniform but he says he’s got a minute. Harper says Tane is talking about getting a full custody of Archie and admits she went to see Kerrie and lied about it. Cash points out Tane’s only heard bad about her mum. Harper believes her mum loves them. Cash won’t give an opinion but suggests she stop thinking of it as a fight since she and Tane both want what’s best for Archie. At the surf club, Dana is attacking a printer in frustration as it won’t print her roster. John suggests it’s about something else and gives her a hug.

Harper arrives home and calls out but finds that Tane and Archie aren’t there. She discovers a note from Tane saying “I’ve taken Archie. He’ll be safe with me.”