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Magic Moments > 2014 > Mal's Return Episode 6984

Written by Elizabeth Packett, Directed by Scott Major, Produced by Jason Herbison

Channel Eleven: 02/10/14, Channel 5: 16/10/14

Daniel and Amber living in his car... Matt can't forgive Lauren... Lou tells Karl he has to write the Book of Secrets novel... Josh tells Chris he's sorry... Nate offers Josh a lift, allegedly to see Chris...

At number 22, Terese asks Imogen where Josh is - Imogen tells Terese that he went for a run after he got back from the hospital, but he should be home soon.

..

In the car, Josh tells Nate the way he is going is not the way to the hospital. Nate remains silent.

Terese is worried and decides to call Josh... Even though Imogen tells her that he will probably be fine.

..

Josh’s phone starts to ring, but before Josh gets to answer it, Nate snatches the phone.

Terese proceeds to leave a voice mail “Hey Josh its mum, give me a call when you can, love you”...

..

At the hospital, Georgia is doing a test to see if Chris has any sensation in his right hand - she asks Chris if he can feel anything but he tells her he can’t. Chris asks if that's a bad thing, but Karl assures him that it’s expected at this stage and informs him that he’s organised a speech therapist and occupational therapist. Susan enters with some flowers for Chris; everyone comments how nice they are. Conversation moves on to Georgia and Kyle’s wedding, Chris asks Georgia what time he needs to be at her place, but becomes frustrated at being unable to express the words he needs to say. Karl reassures Chris that outbursts of anger are perfectly normal and should improve with therapy. Karl and Susan leave the room; Georgia follows them out and asks Karl if Chris can go to the wedding. Karl informs Georgia he doesn’t think it’s going to be possible. Karl asks Georgia if she wants him to break the news, but Georgia says that she'll tell him.

Karl and Susan return home and are discussing Chris, with Susan wondering if he could go to the ceremony in a wheelchair. Karl explains that would only happen if Chris makes a lot of progress, which is very unlikely. Susan remembers she hasn’t done any shopping, and Karl’s not impressed at Susan’s suggestion that he could have done some. Karl says to Susan “I don’t know where. I’ve just come off a very long shift. I’ve got to write ten pages for Lou tonight, on an empty stomach apparently”. Susan tells Karl to stop his whinging, she is going to head back to Harold’s and grab some takeaway. Just then Mal comes out of one of the rooms and says to them both “Grab me some lamingtons while you’re there mum!” Karl and Susan are thrilled to see Mal; Karl asks him what he's doing here and Mal informs them that he is over for a business trip and wanted to surprise them. Susan is disappointed that Catherine isn't with him, and worries that Mal’s tired after his long flight. She offers to make him some tea, but Mal tells her that he’s fine and offers to make Karl and Susan some tea. As he goes into the kitchen, he looks over at them, clearly preoccupied about something.

..

..

At number 32, Matt enters to find Amber at home on her laptop, and asks her if she has moved back home. Amber tells Matt that she’s came home to do some washing. “And to use our wi-fi?” Matt asks. Amber informs her father that she had exam questions to download. Matt points out that she left home, but then returns to use the perks, but she replies that Lauren said it was fine - Lauren pipes up telling Matt that she just wants Amber to pass her exams. Matt tells Lauren that Amber might have a better chance if she lived back here where there are fewer distractions. Lou, trying to calm the situation, suggests they all have a meal together since there’s been a lot of tension. They all agree, and Lou suggests brunch the following day. Lou also mentions that Alice and Daniel are invited; Amber tells him that Daniel is working. Bailey then suggests asking Paige - they all look at Matt, who asks why he would have a problem with it. Lauren comments that she will ask Paige first thing and asks Bailey to help her take the rubbish out. Matt then quietly asks Lou why everyone looked at him when Paige's name was mentioned, and Lou comments that Matt is bottling everything up and the whole family is walking on eggshells around him.

In a dark, deserted location, a car pulls up by a wire fence. It’s Nate with Josh - they get out of the car, and Josh asks what's going on. Nate pushes Josh up against the fence, saying “Chris’s brain is so bashed up he can barely even function. He’s hardly even him. He’ll be like that forever. Because of you. BECAUSE OF YOU”. Josh tells Nate to do whatever he is going to do because he deserves it - Nate considers this, then lets him go.

..

At number 28, Karl and Susan are chatting with Mal about his visit to Rome. Mal tells them both that he has some news to share with them “We, um… accidentally made a little bambino… or bambina? We don’t know yet”. “Catherine’s pregnant?!” Susan asks enthusiastically. Mal confirms that she is 13 weeks pregnant. Both Karl and Susan hug Mal and are thrilled, telling him he’ll make a great father, Karl pointing out he’s got a great role model. Mal tells them both that they will need some support, and Karl and Susan both agree. Mal announces that he going to take them out for dinner to celebrate, then he gets a text from Catherine, wanting to know if he's asked Susan and Karl yet...

Down at the Waterhole, while Mal is buying the drinks, Terese enters and goes over to ask Karl and Susan if they have seen Josh. They both tell her no, asking if everything is ok. Terese tells them that he went for a run a few hours ago and he hasn’t come home. Susan suggests to Terese that maybe Josh needs some time to himself. Terese half-heartily agrees and tells them if they run into him, to get him to ring her. Mal returns with the drinks, conversation starts with Libby and Ben’s recent visit and both Karl and Susan comment that it was terrific spending time with them. Mal says that it must be weird for them, having so much family living so far away. Karl agrees, mentioning that half of them live on the other side of the world. “So how would you feel, about having us live a little bit closer?” Mal says, Karl and Susan both excitedly ask if Mal and Catherine are planning to move back to Australia. Mal tells them they aren’t, but explains that Catherine is stressing about being alone with the baby when he’s working away - and that, in turn, is stressing him too. Mal proceeds to ask Karl and Susan if they would come over to London. Karl tells Mal that they will be there when the time comes and Susan suggests that they could probably stay a couple of months. However, Mal tells them that he was thinking that they would stay... for good. Karl and Susan are a bit taken aback at this.

..

..

The following day, at number 22, Terese tells Brad and Imogen that Josh’s bed hasn’t been slept in and he’s not answering his phone. Brad tells Terese he’ll go for a drive and look for him, but Josh turns up. Terese asks where he’s been. Josh informs Terese that he went running and Terese proceeds to say “All night?” Josh claims that he slept in the park, having left his phone in his room. Terese angrily tells Josh that they’ve been worried sick. Josh apologises and Brad tells him to shower, as they have to go to the police station.

Over at the Kennedy house, Susan is looking at the portrait of the children when Nate arrives home, with Susan wanting to know where he’s been. Nate tells her that he’s been at the hospital and apologises for keeping her car all night. Susan tells Nate that it wasn’t a problem, and tells him that Mal has came for a visit. Susan can tell that Nate is not himself and asks if everything is ok. Nate admits to Susan that he almost did something stupid, “The more I thought about Chris struggling, the angrier I got. But I realise that putting another person in hospital doesn’t do Chris any good”. Susan tells Nate that she’s glad that he saw reason and Nate agrees. Karl enters and Nate mentions Mal's visit, Karl tells Nate that it's given them a lot to think about.

Later, Karl and Susan are discussing the pros and cons of moving to London. Karl is quite excited about the prospect, but Susan is less keen.

..

Inside Harold’s, Paige asks Lauren if everyone wanted her to come to brunch or just Lauren. Lauren explains that it was Bailey’s suggestion and everyone else agreed. Lauren announces that the decision is made - it’s a family brunch and she’s asked Margie to cover her shift. Paige agrees to go and tells Lauren she's going to head home to get changed. Meanwhile, Alice is introducing Bailey to her grandmother, who decides he is "polite and cute". Bailey looks worried about the lunch, and he tells Alice his family is weird. Alice mentions that it's OK, her family is also weird, but Bailey seems unconvinced.

At number 32, Matt is unimpressed that Amber is doing Daniel's washing. Paige comments that she used to live in a van with her ex, which was "awesome in a seedy way". She catches Matt's eye and quickly comments that she soon realised that it was a terrible idea. Bailey arrives with Alice, closely followed by Karl. Lou claims that Karl is giving him advice for a doctor character in his book. Lou thanks Karl as he hands him some notes, and Lauren invites Karl to stay for a while, but Lou tries to get rid of him and proceeds to put some music on. Lauren starts to dance with Paige and Amber – Karl looks on.

At the hospital, Georgia tells a grumpy Chris she’s really sorry about the wedding, but they’re going to video it, and she’ll save him ten pieces of cake. Nate turns up as Georgia is leaving, and tells Chris that he was rude to Georgia just now. Chris explains that he can’t go to the wedding - Nate tells him that he must do as the doctors say, then hugs him and Chris moves his arm to hug him back. Nate says to Chris ”See, you’re getting better. Slowly, but you are, everything is going to get better”.

..

Back at the Turner house, Alice comments on how close Paige is to the Turner family and asks if she is in touch with her biological father as well. There’s an awkward silence, then Paige tells Alice that it’s Brad Willis. Alice says to Bailey “Mr Willis? From school?” Bailey nods discreetly. Matt remains silent and Lauren comments that it’s a long story but they’re all getting to know each other. Another awkward silence appears, Alice then asks Paige where she lived before, and says that she’s been to Adelaide. Alice asks Matt if he’s been there. He tells Alice yes but many years ago. Matt proceeds to say “Lauren’s been there more recently”. Lauren coughs, and Lou offers everyone cheesecake. Amber tells everyone she’s going to meet Daniel at the car before he gets back from work, and proceeds to take a load of food with her. Matt is annoyed, especially when he discovers that Lauren has given it to her. Matt walks out, and everyone else looks awkward.

A little bit later, Lou tells Bailey that Karl’s “research” is unusable. Lou goes to answer the door, and Bailey is a bit embarrassed to tell Alice that Lou is an erotic author. Lou enters with Alice’s gran Layla. Layla apologies to Lou for staring but says that he reminds her of the author E. M. Williams. Lou admits to Layla that he is E. M. Williams and she's delighted, saying that she's a big fan of The Book of Secrets. Layla comments that Lou looks younger in his online photo, and he tells her that he's camera shy. Layla says to Lou “You should consider taking a new one. Your masculine energy now is even more intense”. Alice looks very awkward, and tells her gran that they are leaving now, Bailey leaves too, leaving Lou staring after them.

..

Over at number 28, Susan asks Karl what he has got in his hands and Karl tells her that Billy has been going through some old photographs and he came up with that. The photo is of the Kennedy family when they first moved into Ramsay Street. “Look at the date stamp. Its twenty years ago to the day that we moved to Erinsborough”, Karl says. Mal suggests it’s the perfect amount of time to spend in one place… Susan points out it’s a big deal moving overseas at their age, but Karl doesn’t think that means it’s a bad idea; after all they’d be near a lot of loved ones, not to mention their new grandchild. Mal asks if they are going to come. Karl tells Mal that they are seriously considering it and says to Susan “Maybe this stage of our lives has run its course. Maybe it’s time to begin a new one”. Susan looks at them both, as though she's seriously considering the idea.

Featured Regular Characters: Karl Kennedy, Susan Kennedy, Lou Carpenter, Matt Turner, Lauren Turner, Amber Turner, Bailey Turner, Georgia Brooks, Paige Smith, Chris Pappas, Nate Kinski, Brad Willis, Terese Willis, Joshua Willis, Imogen Willis

Guest Cast: Benjie McNair as Malcolm Kennedy, Vivienne Awosoga as Alice Azikiwe, Carolyn Shakespeare-Allen as Layla Azikiwe

Trivia Notes
• Benjie McNair returns to the cast for a two-week guest appearance as Mal Kennedy
• It is revealed that Mal's wife Catherine is pregnant
• Past characters Libby Kennedy, Ben Kirk, Catherine O'Brien, Zeke Kinski, Rachel Kinski, Holly Hoyland and Billy Kennedy are mentioned

Summary by Kyle

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