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Magic Moments
> 2015
> Vanessa's Return
Episode 7218
Written
by Stephen Vagg, Directed
by Gary Conway, Produced
by Jason Herbison
Channel Eleven: 23/09/15, Channel 5: 07/10/15
Paige is shocked when Tyler plants a spontaneous kiss on her... Amber accuses Paige of being a flirt... Tyler wrestles with an intruder in the garage, who turns out to be Lucas...
Lucas tells Mark that he’s bought back Fitzgerald Motors... Lucas is wary of Tyler, but decides to keep him on at the garage... Sonya is concerned about Lucas, and Tyler overhears that his new boss may be a gambling addict...
At number 30, Sonya is on the phone to Vanessa, trying to establish how Lucas could afford to buy back the garage. They agree to meet up later, but after she’s finished the call, Sonya tells Toadie that Vanessa became strange and evasive after she queried where Lucas
got his money. Sonya thinks the evidence is beginning to add up that Lucas is gambling again. Toadie thinks Sonya should talk to Lucas about it, as his ‘lifelong Gamblers Anonymous sponsor’. Sonya is not very keen to do this but Toadie tells her that she has got
Tyler and Mark worried so she needs to talk to Lucas - Sonya reluctantly agrees.
 ..
Lucas turns up at the garage to see how Tyler is getting on. He suggests they hold a sausage sizzle later to celebrate the reopening, and hands Tyler an excessive amount of cash to buy
supplies. When Tyler comments that Lucas seems to be carrying around an awful lot of money Lucas smiles and tells Tyler that he’s come into some lately. Lucas goes on to tell Tyler that he won’t be around all that often, so he will have to take care of some ‘not
strictly garage-related’ matters for him as part of the job. When Tyler enquires what sort of work, Lucas tells him that he can’t say just yet, but it's nothing he can’t handle and it will be cash-in-hand sort of stuff. Tyler reminds Lucas that he hardly knows him, but
Lucas tells Tyler that he knows ‘enough’. Tyler reluctantly agrees but looks worried.
Imogen and Amber are drinking smoothies at the Willis house, but Imogen announces she has to leave to meet with Toadie. Amber is worried about her upcoming uni deadlines. Imogen suggests she ask for special consideration due to her pregnancy, but Amber tells her she’s
already had extensions due to her dad’s death, and is deferring for a term after the birth – so wants to get some marks in the bag now. Imogen enquires about the assignments Amber needs to complete and Amber explains that her latest assignment is to tell a story with
photos. Imogen suggests she goes to Lassiter’s car park in search of conflict as it’s the ‘backbone of any good story’ - Amber doesn’t sound thrilled at this idea, but Imogen drags her out of the house.
 ..
In the back garden of number 32, Mark and Paige are frolicking about in the pool. Mark has had a restless night, worrying about Tyler’s involvement with Lucas, wondering whether he’s gambling again – and
the potential impact on Vanessa and the kids. Mark suggests that, if things do go belly-up at the garage, Tyler could do a few shifts at Harold’s to 'make ends meet', but Paige doesn’t seem keen and makes excuses, commenting that he would need training. Mark asks her to
promise to think about it. She does, but looks worried.
Toadie has summoned Imogen to the Waterhole to give her some news. Imogen says: “I’m being sacked? Subpoenaed? Replaced by a younger, less bossy law student?” But Toadie reveals it's good news – he can now afford to pay her again, in money, as opposed to
cubits of appreciation. Toadie also thanks her for organising his benefit event, as it gave him the push he needed to get on with his life. Toadie explains that while he can’t pay her retrospectively for work she did while he was in hospital, he has found another way
to reimburse her. He’s arranged a networking lunch for her with high-flying barrister-turned-judge Jan Barton, whom he knows from his Simmons & Colbert days. Imogen is excited, spouting off a list of recent judgments that Jan Barton is famous for. But then she gets
nervous and says to Toadie: “What if I say something stupid? I’ve seen her in court, she can be withering..." ”She’s much more agreeable when there’s food involved,” is Toadie’s reply. Imogen is happy as she realises she could ask Judge Barton to write her a reference.
Toadie adds that the judge is bringing her partner to lunch, so Imogen can invite Daniel if she wants. Imogen hugs Toadie, and rushes off to tell Daniel the good news.
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Back inside number 22, Imogen raves excitedly to Daniel about the lunch with Judge Barton, and the numerous career benefits it might bring. Imogen tells Daniel that he must bombard the judge
with warmth and charm, as she can't rely on herself for that. However, Daniel starts researching the judge on his phone, and is appalled to learn that she was the one who allowed fracking to take place along the coast. He starts to get political, outlining
his intention to challenge the judge on the merits of custodial sentences, and why all judges have to be ex-lawyers instead of coming from all walks of life. Imogen looks horrified as she imagines her career collapsing around her ears…
Sonya is sitting outside Grease Monkeys when she gets a text from Tyler, she quickly hides her phone as Lucas comes out to join her. He presents Sonya with an envelope, inside is an early birthday present – a three-day spa pamper package. Sonya is
unwilling to accept it, wondering how he can afford it, given he has three kids, a mortgage and has just bought a second garage. Lucas becomes agitated as he can see she’s driving at something and asks her to ‘spit it out’. Sonya asks Lucas if he is gambling again and
begins to reel off all her evidence, but Lucas insists he’s not. He tells Sonya that he can’t say where all the money’s come from, because he’s ‘not allowed’ – and that Sonya will just have to trust him. “Well I’m sorry – I don’t” is Sonya’s response
and Lucas storms off angrily.
 ..
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Shortly afterwards, Sonya is on the phone to Toadie, telling him about her awkward encounter with Lucas. Suddenly, Vanessa shows up, and gives Sonya a big hug – she’s decided to meet Sonya
with Lucas for a catch-up, but asks where Lucas has gone. Sonya’s forced to explain that she accused him of gambling. Sonya points out that he’s been very cagey about his money and that Vanessa herself was acting oddly on the phone. Vanessa smiles and explains what’s
really been going on. “It’s my money. I sold a recipe to a bakery chain. It’s to make low-fat cupcakes taste high-fat. We’ve made a packet from it!” Vanessa goes on to explain that she’s signed a non-disclosure agreement until the product launches, which is why she
and Lucas have been evasive. When Sonya tells her it sounded like Lucas was on the phone to a bookie, Vanessa explains he was just playing ‘phone shop orders’ with their son Patrick; and Tyler’s ‘cash-in-hand’ work would just be taking money for cupcake deliveries.
Sonya feels guilty for getting it all so wrong.
Paige is manning the outdoor coffee stall within the Lassiter’s Complex, when Tyler comes past. She says there’s ‘no way’ he’s working here, explaining how Mark suggested he should. Paige has assumed that Tyler asked Mark to ask her, but Tyler tells her he had nothing
to do with it. He admits he’s worried about the cash-in-hand work at the garage, though, saying he doesn’t want to get involved with dodgy business again. He explains that Sonya thinks Lucas is gambling again. Amber is lingering around with her camera, having taken
Imogen’s advice. Unbeknownst to them, Amber begins taking pictures of Paige and Tyler laughing together, as Paige stuffs a cake in her mouth to make Tyler crack a smile.
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Meanwhile, Imogen talks to Toadie outside his office. She admits she’s worried about Daniel coming to dinner with Judge Barton, now that he’s vowed to bring up all kinds of political
arguments with her about her more controversial judgements. Toadie tells Imogen that Judge Barton will be able to handle it, but Imogen, looking extremely worried, says to Toadie: “But can my career?... I’m worried he’ll get her back up with all his very liberal
views!” So Toadie tells Imogen not to bring Daniel if he’s going to make her feel uncomfortable.
At Fitzgerald Motors, Vanessa drags Sonya over to talk to Lucas, so they can make up after their argument, before leaving them to it. Sonya apologises for jumping to conclusions, but Lucas tells her that he shouldn’t have been so sensitive. He admits it’s because he
has felt tempted to gamble a few times lately, with the pressure of having three young kids – but adds that he has a new sponsor in Daylesford who is looking out for him. Sonya wishes she could be there for Lucas, but he points out she has enough on her plate, especially
with Toadie’s injury. Sonya gets upset, admitting how hard she’s found it and says to Lucas: “And the one thing I want to do, I can’t – I just can’t do it. Because, I can’t fall apart. I can’t do it to Jarrod, I can’t do it to Nell, I can’t do it to Callum…” Lucas hugs
her. “This is about me. I accused you of stuff, because I’m in this hole and I don’t know how to get out of it,” she explains. Lucas tells Sonya to pick up the phone and call him whenever she needs to. However, Sonya says that it’s not the same as having him next-door.
Lucas and Sonya both say that they love each other and hug again.
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Daniel turns up at the Waterhole just as Toadie is leaving. He thanks Toadie for having set up the lunch between Imogen and Judge Barton. Daniel seems excited to be having lunch with a
judge, so Toadie tries to find out why. When Daniel tells Toadie he’s planning on bringing up a load of political issues, including the law’s treatment of refugees, Toadie reminds him that it’s a networking lunch to help further Imogen’s career, and that as such, he
might want to keep his views to himself. “So what are you saying – just sit there and be a handbag?” says Daniel. “Take it from me – if you don’t think that you can go through with that, it might be best just to leave before she gets here,” is Toadie’s reply.
Amber is still lurking around the Lassiter’s Complex courtyard with her camera. This time, she’s watching Paige serving a coffee to Mark. Mark tells Paige he’s having a tough day, owing to work issues and worrying about Lucas. Paige tries to cheer him up with the
same cake-in-mouth trick she used with Tyler earlier – but Mark is simply perplexed, and tells her it’s ‘not a good look’. He also says to Paige: “I appreciate the effort, but sometimes all I want to hear from my girlfriend is ‘everything’s gonna be okay.’” Paige
half-hearted tells Mark that everything’s gonna be okay. Mark heads off and tells Paige that he will catch up with her later. Amber, who has been taking pictures of the encounter, looks concerned.
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Back at The Waterhole, Judge Barton has arrived, and is having lunch with Imogen and Daniel. She apologises for her partner not being able to make it. Conversation quickly dries up, so
Imogen tries to start a new one about an article she’s read. Barton hasn’t read it, so Daniel fills the silence by complimenting the food, and making a reference to singer-songwriter Paul Kelly. He and Judge Barton quickly bond over their love of Kelly’s music – Daniel
explaining that his dad think’s he’s the best songwriter Australia’s ever produced. Judge Barton tells Daniel that his father’s 'a very wise man', and admits that she’s gone to lots of Paul Kelly concerts, and that he’s even been to her house. Daniel declares
that Kelly would be on his fantasy dinner party list, along with Michael Mann and Russell Brand! Imogen laughs along, but she looks rather put out by Daniel’s domination of the conversation.
At Fitzgerald Motors, the sausage sizzle is in full swing, and Mark arrives to join Sonya, Tyler, Lucas and Vanessa. Sonya quietly tells Mark that she got it wrong about Lucas, explaining that he isn’t gambling after all. Meanwhile, Tyler admits to Lucas that he
overheard Sonya and Mark talking about his gambling history and Lucas explains the cash-in-hand work will only be for Vanessa’s cupcake deliveries. Tyler’s relieved; he’d assumed Lucas wanted him to do dodgy stuff because of Tyler’s past crimes. But Lucas reassures
Tyler that Mark speaks highly of him, which is why he knew Tyler could handle the extra work.
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Back at The Waterhole, Judge Barton and Daniel are still talking about Paul Kelly, while Imogen sits in silence. Judge Barton tries to bring Imogen into the conversation, which stimulates
some talk about the merits of mandatory sentencing. Judge Barton asks Imogen what her views are on the subject, but while she equivocates, Daniel brings Paul Kelly back into the conversation so it slides off-topic again. Imogen looks furious.
At the Turner house, Amber hands Paige a release form for her to sign, so she can use the photos she’s taken of her for her photography assignment. Paige is shocked, as she hadn’t realised Amber had been taking snaps. Amber shows her the photos and says to Paige “Act one –
Paige with Tyler Brennan, having a good time. Act two – Paige with Mark Brennan, not having a good time. Act Three – sister presents photos to Paige and waits for reaction...” Paige replies: “Act Four – Paige tells sister that she’s being annoying!” Amber comments
to Paige that if somebody looked at the photos and didn’t know the back story, they’d think Tyler was Paige’s boyfriend. Paige again states to Amber that they are just friends. However, Amber is not convinced, thinking that there’s more to it and adds that she
obviously enjoys being around him. Paige insists there’s nothing in it, and that when Tyler kissed her it was completely one-sided. “I’m just saying – pictures don’t lie,” Amber says to Paige, whilst she hands her the camera so she can take a second look.
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At The Waterhole, Judge Barton has gone, and Daniel is raving to Imogen about how cool she was. He tells Imogen that they should catch up with her again soon. However, Imogen is not too happy
and tells Daniel that she felt like his handbag, as they both ignored her. Daniel tells Imogen that he thought he was being the ‘handbag’ and adds that he was pretty good as he didn’t say anything too controversial. But Imogen retorts that she was working up to ask
Judge Barton for a reference, and that Daniel totally stole her limelight. “This was my lunch to show off, not yours,” she says, and Daniel insists that she came across well, given how much she has going on in her life right now. “So I did awesome, for a
loser. Great,” says Imogen in reply. “No, that is not what I’m saying. Maybe we should talk about this later, once you’ve had a chance to cool down a bit”. Imogen, however, is getting annoyed and angry with Daniel and says to him: “When? When I come
to terms with the fact that you just blew an amazing opportunity for me?” and she proceeds to storm off.
Featured Regular Characters: Toadfish Rebecchi, Sonya Rebecchi, Daniel Robinson, Imogen Willis, Paige Smith, Amber Turner, Tyler Brennan, Mark Brennan
Guest Cast: Scott Major as Lucas Fitzgerald, Alin Sumarwata as Vanessa Villante,
Natalie Gamsu as Jan Barton
Trivia Notes
• Alin Sumarwata makes a return as Vanessa Villante for this episode, and making two further guest appearances in episodes 7252 and 7256
Summary
by Kyle
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