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Magic Moments
> 2015
> Stonie's Return
Episode 7208
Written
by Lisa Maroun, Directed
by Julie Money, Produced
by Jason Herbison
Channel Eleven: 09/09/15, Channel 5: 23/09/15
Toadie is upset to learn that Sonya almost ran Nell over while he was meant to be looking after her... Susan suggests to Sheila that she should get to know Russell’s sons – especially Tyler...
When Tyler tells Mark that their dad used to beat him, Mark suspects he’s exaggerating... Tyler and Russell get into a scuffle, leading to Tyler punching Russell... Mark and Aaron are aghast when Russell doesn’t deny beating Tyler...
The showdown between Russell, Mark and Aaron continues at number 24, as Aaron demands to know how long Russell was hitting Tyler. Russell says to Aaron “You’ve got no idea how difficult Tyler was...” “Oh, so this is his fault?!” is Aaron’s reply. A furious Mark heads out
to find Tyler, and Aaron follows him out – just as Sheila arrives. She’s shocked to see Russell with a split lip, and Aaron tells her to ask Russell why Tyler decked him.
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At number 28, Tyler has come round to talk to Karl about his recent scuffle with his dad. Karl comments that violence probably isn’t the best way to deal with Russell, but that Tyler’s done
the right thing by telling Mark about the beatings. Tyler’s still upset at Mark’s reaction, telling Karl that he looked disgusted. Karl says: “You know what? I’m proud of you. It might not feel like it right now, but being truthful about a difficult situation
is the best way forward.”
At Off Air, Imogen is stressing herself out organising the fundraiser for Toadie, so Daniel tells her to chill out. He offers to take care of things for a while, while she relaxes. Imogen is not keen to surrender control, but Daniel rips her to-do list in half and
tells her he’ll take care of one half of the tasks, while she does the other. Nate and Paige show up, volunteering their time to help out - Imogen tells Nate he’ll be serving on the bar, and Paige will be manning the door. Imogen and Daniel return to the
list, but neither of them can see how they can keep the fundraiser a surprise from Toadie, and get him there without arousing suspicion.
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Back at number 28, Karl finishes up a phone conversation with Susan, and informs Tyler that she’s said he can stay with them for as long as he needs. Mark and Aaron arrive to speak to Tyler.
Tyler asks his brothers what they want and Mark tells him that their dad admitted to what he did, so Karl leaves the boys to talk. Aaron explains that Russell’s staying elsewhere tonight and Mark apologies for doubting him. Aaron asks why he kept it a secret from them,
saying that they could have helped him. Tyler says: “How? You weren’t there. You were down the mines, and you were too busy being a cop. Dad hated me. I could never do anything right!” Mark tells Tyler that he wishes he'd said something earlier, but Tyler
explains that he didn’t want to ruin what they had with their dad. “Mate, you can’t think like that! You’re our little brother,” is Mark’s reassuring reply. With friendly arms on his shoulder, Tyler’s brothers apologise again to him for not being there for him – but
reassure him that they’re here now.
Over at number 24, Russell has told Sheila the truth about his relationship with Tyler, but she’s having trouble understanding how he could do that to his own child. Russell explains to Sheila that he was in a dark place and it was a long time ago. Sheila asks
if Tyler hadn’t spoken up, would he ever have mentioned it? Russell skates over Sheila’s question and tells her that he came to reconnect with his boys and not to live in the past. “So that’s a no!” is Sheila’s response. Russell says to Sheila: “I was trying to make things
right. If you knew, would you have given me the time of day? Please understand that the part of me that hurt Tyler – the angry part – he’s gone. I promise you, I’ve changed.” Russell then asks if he can stay with Sheila tonight. She doesn’t look especially keen, but
Russell promises to answer all her questions, so she reluctantly agrees that he can stay. Russell goes to fetch his things.
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At number 30, Imogen is trying to lure Toadie to Off Air for the benefit by pretending to invite him for lunch, but he just wants to spend the day with Sonya and Nell. Imogen isn’t taking
no for an answer, telling him that lunch is on her and Daniel – so Toadie agrees. However, at that moment a familiar face arrives at the doorstep – it’s Stonefish! Imogen looks worried that this will disrupt her plans, and suggests that Toadie should bring Stonie with
them for lunch, but Toadie asks if they can do lunch another time, as he hasn’t seen Stonie in ages and they have lots to catch up on. The brothers settle down for a day of pizza and wrestling, while a disappointed Imogen leaves.
At number 24, Mark, Aaron and Tyler are discussing Russell. Tyler doesn’t think he can stay at the house if Russell comes back, but Aaron and Mark continue to vow their support, Mark admits that he’d never have let Russell stay if he’d have known about the beatings.
He adds that he and Aaron are pulling out of the garage investment. Tyler asks Mark if he's sure. “What he did to you changes everything,” is Mark’s reply. Mark even suggests that Tyler could press charges retrospectively. Tyler
looks surprised and asks Mark if he thinks their dad should be charged - Mark just thinks that he should pay for what he did. Aaron agrees, but adds that it’s up to him to decide. Tyler tells them that he’s never really thought about it. Both Aaron and Mark promise to
support Tyler with whatever decision he makes.
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Off Air bar is being decorated with Toadie-related paraphernalia, and Karl has set up a TV screen with a slideshow of some Toadie photos from over the years. Imogen turns up, and tells
Karl and Daniel that Toadie isn’t coming, because his brother has turned up. “Swordfish or Starfish or something…” Karl says to Imogen “Stonefish! Its typical Stonie – turns up at the last minute and throws a spanner in the works!” Karl declares that the Rebecchi
boys are like family to him, and reassures Imogen that he’ll get Toadie here for the benefit. Sheila then turns up with some Toadie face-masks on sticks! She asks Karl how Tyler is, and admits she’s struggling to get her head around what Russell did to him. Sheila
admits to Karl that she’s fallen for Russell. Karl tells Sheila that he and Susan hesitated to tell her, they hoped he’d changed. Sheila admits that Russell keeps telling her that he’s changed but she is not so sure.
Russell comes round to number 24 to speak to Tyler, but Mark sternly tells his dad that he can say whatever it is to him and Aaron too. Russell starts by telling Tyler that he never meant to hurt him and whatever he was going through at the time, he had no right to
take it out on him Russell apologises, but Tyler is not convinced by his father’s words. Russell tells Tyler that he’s trying to make peace and he’s got to meet him half-way, but Tyler says that he doesn't have to do anything. Mark tells Russell that he and Aaron
are pulling out of the garage investment - Russell begs them to reconsider and tells them that all he ever tried to do was his best. Mark says: “Yeah, well it wasn’t good enough! Tyler’s your son! You were meant to protect him!” Russell tells his sons that he can
make it up to them, if they only let him. Tyler refuses and tells his dad that he hasn’t changed and he’s lucky that he doesn’t press charges! Russell asks if they want him to pack his bags. The look on the Brennan brothers' faces clearly states that Russell is no longer
welcome.
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Preparations are now well underway for the fundraiser at Off Air, and Imogen is becoming increasingly stressed out. Daniel again tells her to relax, but she admits that she wants to keep
busy so she doesn’t have to think about her family falling apart. Daniel promises to take care of the to-do list, and kisses her. Aaron and Tyler turn up to help out with the fundraiser, and Nate presents them with mullet-wigs, which he tells them that they’re required
to wear as part of the uniform. They and Nate put the mullets on and start doing their best bogan-style laughs.
At number 24, Mark is telling a shocked Paige what’s happened between Tyler and Russell, and she feels guilty for badgering Tyler about how great it is to reconnect with parents. Mark is feeling guilty too and thought Tyler was being lazy and irresponsible. Mark
recalls a time when he called home and his dad had a new story about the trouble Tyler had got himself into. Paige adds that Tyler always admitted he was rebellious, but Mark says: “Yeah and I always criticised him for it. But not I just realise he was acting
out because of the way Dad was riding him. I didn’t realise what he was running from. I’ve done nothing but let him down!” Paige disagrees with Mark and tells him that he did his best. “He was my little brother! How could I not have known?” comes Mark’s reply.
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On Ramsay Street, Russell tells Sheila that he’s spoken to the boys, who no longer want him living with them – so he’s heading back to Port Lincoln today. Russell asks Sheila how she would
feel about coming with him. She remains silent and Russell tells her that he was hoping she would be more excited at the prospect. Sheila asks if she'd be expected to just forget what's happened. Russell reminds Sheila that
he is still the same man he was yesterday and again asks her to come with him. Sheila tells Russell that she loves him... Russell adds that he apologised to Tyler and doesn’t know what else he needs to do to fix things between them. Sheila says: “That’s the
problem. What you did – you can’t just fix it. Tyler will have to live with this for the rest of his life. It has shaped him as a person.” Russell tells Sheila that they can work through it and adds that Tyler will get over it. Sheila disagrees and firmly tells Russell
that he needs to go back home, find himself a counsellor and start to face up to what he’s done. Russell tells Sheila that he can do all that if he knows she is by his side. However, Sheila tells Russell that he doesn’t need her to do all that. Russell then asks if he
and Sheila are over and she again tells him to get some help, and then maybe they can try again, but she thinks that day seems a long way off. Russell looks sad as Sheila walks away.
Toadie and Stonie are playing a spaceship game with Nell, when Sonya enters the room. Sonya tells Stonie that she’s glad he made the trip down, he says that he felt he ought to, having missed their wedding and Nell’s birth. Karl shows up, and launches his
plan to lure Toadie to the fundraiser – claiming that there’s an event at the hospital he should go to about making the most of life in a wheelchair. Toadie isn’t keen, commenting that he just wants to spend the day with his brother. Karl turns up the pressure, by telling
Toadie that he’s already booked him a place, but Toadie refuses and tells Karl that it will have to be next time. Karl has no option but to take Sonya into the kitchen and tell her about the benefit. Sonya’s sceptical as to whether Toadie is ready for something like
that, but Karl insists it would do him good. He tells her she should keep it from Stonie as he’ll blab, but to somehow get Toadie to Off Air.
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Shortly afterwards, Sonya corners Stonie alone, and tells him she wants Toadie to go to the wheelchair seminar that Karl
mentioned, as it would do him good to get out. Stonie says to Sonya: “No, trust me – I know him better than anyone.” “Do you? I mean, you haven’t even been around. I mean, I’m the one that’s here every day showering him, taking him to appointments, taking him to rehab.
That’s me – I’m his primary carer. You’re not the one who’s been here; I am,” says Sonya in reply. Toadie comes in, and Stonie breaks the news that he’s going to the wheelchair seminar after all. Feeling bad that she’s had to lay down the law, Sonya tries to get
Stonie to come too – but he’s clearly taken offence at her words, and claims he has to go and see Chantelle’s sick aunt. Stonie leaves and Toadie looks annoyed as Sonya goes to get ready.
At Off Air, the bar is now buzzing with guests for the fundraiser. Paige is trying to get hold of Tyler on the phone, but to no avail. Paige admits to Nate that she can’t imagine what he’s
going through. Karl turns up again, and tells Daniel and Imogen that Toadie’s apparently on his way, but not very happy about cancelling his plans with Stonie. Imogen tells Karl that everyone’s getting anxious, and that the party was supposed to start soon. Daniel
suggests they bring forward some of the entertainment. Imogen says to Daniel, “We can’t start Toadie’s benefit without Toadie!” But Daniel takes the microphone nonetheless to introduce some warm-up acts. Imogen looks furious as Daniel introduces her to the stage,
but soon Imogen is doing a rather awkward tap-dance on stage, all the while wearing a bright green T-shirt with Toadie’s face on it! Paige and Nate try to hold in their giggles, but Daniel indicates that Nate is next up on the performance list! Nate decides to try
his hand at stand-up. “What do you get when you cross a kangaroo with a sheep? A woolly jumper!” Next it’s Paige’s turn to wow the crowds by doing hula hoops, but Daniel is now rapidly running out of ideas – and is hoping Toadie turns up soon…
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On Ramsay Street, Russell is loading his bags into a taxi. A sad-looking Sheila is waiting to say goodbye. Russell tells her that when he gets back home, he is going to see someone and
work a few things out and he hopes to keep in touch with her. Sheila hopes he keeps to his word. Russell kisses a tearful Sheila on the cheek, while his three sons watch, stony-faced, from the balcony of number 24. Sheila says: “Look after yourself. Please
get help. Cause if you do, maybe the door’ll stay open for us...” Russell looks up at his sons, who just stand there watching, and gets in the taxi as Sheila fights back the tears. She breaks down as it drives away.
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At Off Air, Daniel is now so desperate for delaying tactics that he considers playing his ukulele – but at that moment Karl rushes in, signifying that Toadie is just outside. Sonya pushes
Toadie in the wheelchair, and everyone shouts ‘surprise’, but rather than be amused by the Toadie T-shirts, mullets and masks, Toadie just looks annoyed and asks what is going on. Daniel explains it’s a fundraiser for him, to help pay for his recovery. “Wow. Just –
wow,” is all Toadie can say to everyone, he turns to Sonya, looking absolutely furious, and says to her, “You’ve got to get me out of here right now...”
Featured Regular Characters: Toadfish Rebecchi, Sonya Rebecchi, Imogen Willis, Karl Kennedy, Daniel Robinson, Sheila Canning, Mark Brennan, Tyler Brennan, Paige Smith, Nate Kinski
Guest Cast: Anthony Engelman as Stonefish Rebecchi, Russell Kiefel as Russell Brennan,
Matt Wilson as Aaron Brennan
Trivia Notes
• Anthony Engelman reprises his role as Stonefish Rebecchi for two episodes, having last appeared for a guest stint in 2007
• Russell Kiefel makes his last appearance in this episode, after a seven-week guest stint as Russell Brennan
Summary
by Kyle
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