Episode 8626

Extended Summary

Sonny and Dana meet up near the surf club. Dana says they got their new personal alarms at work today and she also got to try out her new car instead of taking the bus, both of which she has Bree to thank for. Sonny says his day was devoid of natural light but the engineer has got the recording studio set up. Seeing Eden approaching, he tries to claim it’s really boring but she’s fine and says she has another exciting thing going on which she’ll tell them about if they go to Salt.

At the police station, Cash is surprised that David is still there instead of going to the hearing and says he can hold the fort for him. David snaps that he’d ask if he wanted him to, then apologises, admitting he doesn’t trust himself at the hearing and worries that a lawyer could use the confession and guilty plea to get Wendell a light sentence. He decides to go and be with the girls, asking Cash to let Leah and Justin know.

Back at the beach house, Jo tries to get Lacey to come to the beach with her, saying she can’t stay in her room forever. Lacey admits that being at her and Theo’s old place stirred some things up. She agrees to go if they get to talk about the latest in Eddie versus Tane. David turns up and, on hearing they’re going to the beach for a swim, says he’ll get changed and join them, which leaves them bemused.

At Salt, Eden has filled in Dana and Sonny. Dana jokingly calls her a VIP, Volunteer in Policing, and Eden says she’s never been arrested for something that was her fault. Sonny suggests he and Dana make the most of having the flat to themselves, promising there’ll be no interruptions. Dana goes with Eden to get a bottle of wine, explaining that Leah has been texting, calling and turning up in the middle of the night but is apparently backing off now.

Dana and Sonny arrive back at the flat kissing. Dana notes that having no room-mates means not having to limit themselves to the bedroom and tells him to pour the wine while she gets some pillows. Instead, she comes back with Leah’s note which was pushed under the bedroom door. At the Diner, Justin tells Alf that he almost wishes he and Leah were arguing because he can’t reach her. Cash turns up and tells Leah and Justin about the sentencing hearing, explaining David just found out. He says the sentencing could be this afternoon or it could be in a week. Leah snaps that the only thing the magistrate needs to know is that he’s a murderer. Justin tries to calm her and she decides to go out for a walk, asking Marilyn to keep an eye on things and telling Justin she wants to be alone.

Sonny reads over the note and calls it sad. Dana considers it creepy, pointing to Leah saying they’re the only ones for whom the world isn’t continuing after Theo’s death. Sonny says she’s read something into the photo he left at the grave. Dana points to her also saying he shouldn’t let himself be told he can’t reach out. Leah then turns up. Sonny says it’s not a good time but Dana says she’ll go and they can chat. Meanwhile, David, Lacey and Jo are walking by the beach. The girls comment that he isn’t exactly dressed for a swim. David gets a text from the DPP and tells them that Wendell’s been sentenced and he’s going away for a long time.

Leah talks to Sonny about spending all this time waiting for it and suggests they sit and wait for news together. Sonny tries to say he has plans with Dana but Leah is distracted by her note. Sonny asks where Justin is and decides to call him and meet him. Meanwhile, Cash has gone to Salt for an early dinner. Dana comes in and asks him if it’s breaking and entering if someone uses a spare key to let themselves in when you’re not there. Cash asks what she did and she says that’s not helpful. He gets a text saying he has to go back to the station. Eden asks Dana about Leah.

Justin joins Alf, Marilyn and Sonny watching over Leah at the Diner. Sonny goes to find Dana. Justin comments on her saying she wanted a big walk on her own and then going upstairs instead. Leah gets a call from Lacey and tells everyone that Wendell got a life sentence, twenty-five years non-parole. On the balcony at Salt, Lacey ends the call and joins David and Jo. Eden brings some champagne over and David says he ordered it. He drinks a toast to finally getting justice for Kristina and to Theo.

At the police station, Eden has brought Cash a pizza and filled him in about Leah. She says she can see both sides. Cash notes in the past she’s picked a side and stayed there for ten years, before saying that she’ll be an asset to the station. Eden tells him about Wendell getting a life sentence, explaining she saw the Langhams at Salt.

Leah and Justin arrive home. Leah notes that she thought hearing Wendell had been punished would make her feel better but it hasn’t. Justin gives her a hug and tells her he knows how hard it is to push against the anger but they need to look on the bright side and find the silver lining. Leah is annoyed, pulling away and saying there’s no silver lining in Theo dying.

David, Lacey and Jo arrive home. Lacey is insisting on watching a movie that Jo hates and goes to set up the laptop while Jo gets the snacks. Jo invites David to join them but he says the plot holes drive him mad. Lacey calls through for Jo to join her and they can be heard bickering in a good-natured manner. Alone, David looks at the photo of the recommitment ceremony and quietly cries.

Back at the Diner flat, Sonny tells Dana that Leah knows not to interrupt them but Dana isn’t convinced. Sonny assures her he’s moved the spare key. His phone rings and he insists it’s not Leah but his expression when he looks suggests it is. He doesn’t answer the call but gets a text message instead. Dana says Leah’s getting worse and Sonny’s soft approach isn’t working.

Next morning, Cash runs into David while out running. He says the station was quiet last night and he heard about Wendell’s sentencing. David agrees it’s a good result and hopes they can put their lives back together. Meanwhile, Sonny turns up at the Morgan house. Leah tells him Justin’s gone for a surf and offers him breakfast. Sonny says he’s not going to be there for long and needs to lay down some boundaries. He says the letter was too much and he needs space. Leah tearfully says she couldn’t cope if she couldn’t speak to him. Sonny says she has Justin. Leah says he just wants her to stop being sad and didn’t care about Theo like them, adding she’s starting to think he didn’t love Theo at all.