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Magic Moments
> 2016
> Charlie's Return
Episode 7296
Written
by Margaret Wilson, Directed
by Scott Major, Produced
by Jason Herbison
Channel Eleven: 08/02/16, Channel 5: 08/02/16
Brad asking Lauren to give it another go... Brad announcing that he and Lauren are back together... Brad hearing news from his mum that Doug has set the kitchen on fire... Lauren suggesting to Brad that Doug comes to Erinsborough...
Mark spelling out to Xanthe her options – staying with Sheila or going to a foster home... Susan giving detention to Xanthe and Piper... Xanthe shocked at Sheila’s calm reaction to the detention...
Paul promising to give Steph a good return if she will invest her $70k... Steph wanting to get her life back on track... Steph spotting Charlie outside...
Inside number 30, Steph is excited to see Charlie and Lyn outside and wants to go out to see them but Toadie warns her that she could jeopardise any future plans by seeing him because she doesn’t have a current arrangement to do so.
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On Ramsay Street, Lyn and Charlie are discussing his memories of the street before their move to Bendigo - Charlie states that he remembers the yard being a lot bigger. Lyn points
out that he was only 5 when he left and now he’s 10, everything is sure to be smaller. Lyn spots Susan and rushes over to explain that Charlie visits her a couple of times a year and with Steph now out of hospital she thought a surprise visit was in order. “Max gave his
permission?” Susan asks and from the look on Lyn’s face it’s something she’s obviously never thought about. She eventually mumbles a ‘no’ to Susan before adding that it’s a surprise for Charlie too. The alarm bells are already ringing with Susan and she asks if that is a
good idea. Lyn says to Susan, “All they need to do is see each other, everything will be fine!” Lyn then asks Susan to keep an eye on Charlie while she goes inside to see Steph.
“I’ve got some exciting news,” Lyn declares, as Steph opens the door at number 30. Steph asks her mum why Charlie is with her. “He’s come to see you love,” Lyn says. Toadie, concerned, asks Lyn if Max knows about this arrangement. Lyn explains that Max doesn’t
know about the visit but is sure that his worries are unfounded. That’s not washing with Toadie, who orders Lyn to take Charlie home - Lyn disagrees and states that she wants Charlie to see how well his mum is doing ‘and everything will be fine’. Toadie tells Lyn and Steph
that if they break the parenting order, they may never get access again. “What if everything goes well?” Lyn asks. Toadie comments that it is all irrelevant if Max finds out. Steph butts in and reminds Toadie that Charlie is her child, he is outside and she has to see him.
Amy tells her that they should listen to Toadie on this and Lyn now begins to see that she’s been somewhat hasty. Steph, getting rather emotional, states that all she wants to do is hold him. Both Lyn and Amy look concerned and worried about Steph, Lyn says, “Look
love, you came back here to do everything the right way yeah?” Steph can barely control the tears and heads to the window to see her son once more as Lyn exits, trying to put things right.
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Lyn returns out onto the street and explains to Charlie that his surprise is an afternoon with the Kennedys, taking Susan very much by surprise, but she plays along and they head inside to
have afternoon tea - with Steph watching on from the window of number 30.
At the Willis house, Josh has told Piper the news about Brad and Lauren getting back together and it now dawns on her why she had so many missed calls on her phone. She seems happy to accept it, more for fear of being a sourpuss at Paige’s wedding tomorrow. Their chat
is interrupted by Lauren popping in to say that Brad and Doug are on their way from the airport and to invite them over for a welcome party. The invitation is also extended to Terese when she appears but she turns it down citing work commitments.
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Amy arrives at number 26 and, much to Jimmy’s annoyance, is greeted with a mega hug by her, before he heads to his room after giving Xanthe her biscuits. Amy explains to Sheila the reason
behind the hug, having seen Steph unable to be in the same room as her own son. Xanthe wants to do a make-over on Amy, who refuses and doesn’t think it’s necessary to get a man but then begins to have doubts when Xanthe mentions how glammed up some of Kyle’s exes are,
having seen them in the family photo album.
“You are going to be okay,” Toadie tries to reassure a very despondent Steph and she admits that she knows her mum was trying to help but equally wonders what she thought she was doing! Toadie tells Steph that he is proud of her. “Because for once I did the sensible
thing? Who
knew I had it in me!” is Steph’s reply. Toadie reassures her that it’s going to be worth it in the long-run, especially while she negotiates with Max. Steph then gets bitter at him for not approving the visit, but he’s adamant that
she won’t be pushed out of Charlie’s life by Max and Philippa. Toadie reminds Steph that Charlie needs her and she will never stop being his mum, he reassures her that they will make it happen and to trust him. “I hope so,” says an emotional Steph.
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“How could I be so stupid,” Lyn whispers to Susan while Charlie sits on the sofa playing with his iPod. “You had the right intention,” Susan empathises with her but equally chastises her for
going behind Max’s back. Lyn says, “Max might mean well but he’s just plain wrong not giving Stephie another chance!” Lyn then explains that she keeps Steph’s memory alive by having photos all over her house and confirms to Susan that Charlie
doesn’t ask about her either, his last memory is visiting Steph in jail. Susan asks Lyn if that was when Steph wasn’t well. Lyn confirms it was and adds that it was terrible, that was why Max decided on no more visits and she understood that, she just thought now she
could get him to see her and see how well she is. Susan reassures Lyn that her heart was in the right place. “Yes, but where was my head!” is Lyn’s reply. Lyn is fearful she’s stirred up a hornet's nest with Max and Philippa.
At number 32, Lauren thanks Josh and Piper for their help in sorting out the spare room and their next task is to set the table while she sorts the food out. As they do that, Josh tells Piper that he’s noticed the picture of Matt is gone and he wonders how Amber would
feel about that. Brad and Doug arrive home and the kids warmly greet their grandfather, Piper especially, but Doug shuns Lauren and her offer of food when she greets him.
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Over at number 26, Amy can’t resist any longer and digs out the photo album to see the photos Xanthe was going on about. Sheila enters the living room, and Amy
quickly picks up Xanthe’s magazine instead. Xanthe jumps to the conclusion that Amy wants a makeover but she explains that glamming up isn’t her thing. Xanthe says, “Yes but you’ll still be you; you’ll just be a prettier version!” After coming out of his bedroom,
Jimmy gangs up on his mum too but she’s not up for being fully glammed. Sheila volunteers to be glammed up and likewise Jimmy so Xanthe goes off to get her warpaint, dragging Jimmy with her. “Seriously, I don’t want to look like his sporty ex,” Amy bemoans to Sheila.
Sheila reassures Amy by saying that Jade scrubbed up well ‘but she isn’t you...’ After hearing that statement, Amy wants to know why they are doing this and Sheila explains that it’s to help Xanthe as she misses her mum. The explanation seems to have calmed Amy down and Sheila
asks if there’s any harm in it.
Lyn, Charlie and Susan head down the street and Steph watches them from the front door of number 30, making sure she isn’t spotted by them as they pass.
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At number 32, Brad brings in a parcel and Piper enquires what it is - he explains that it's for Paige and it's from Singapore. Doug is still shunning Lauren’s food by saying it’s
overcooked and isn’t amused when they put together a plate for him to pick off what he likes. Doug accidentally knocks over a glass of water and when Lauren rushes to get a cloth, he abruptly asks if she’s “done enough!” Brad tells his dad that he is not being fair.
However, Doug states that he knows how he feels. Brad reminds Doug that Lauren has been very kind allowing him to stay in her home. Doug has heard enough and walks out of the room and goes to head over to number 22, “where we all should be”, he adds as his parting comment.
Doug, now across the street, explains to Terese that he didn’t want to be in Lauren’s house as it would give his blessing to what has happened. Terese is somewhat surprised at Doug, as she always assumed that he didn’t like her and that he’d gone out of his way to criticise
and compare her to Beth. “Okay, it might be a bit true but you were good for my son,” Doug says to Terese. Terese tries to change tack and states that Lauren just wants to make him comfortable but Doug fears something might happen and reminds Terese that Lauren
isn’t ‘family’. Terese says, “Doug, you’re sick, nobody is going to judge you.” “Unless I come out of my bedroom without my pants on!” is Doug’s reply. That gets a bit of a chuckle out of Terese before he states that he "forgets to do things all the time” and he
would prefer that to happen in front of Terese than Lauren because she knows him. Terese reassures him that Brad and Paige are there plus everyone at number 22 is there for him any time. Doug says to Terese “I’m not so far gone that I don’t see the pity in people’s eyes.”
“Now Doug look, I can only try and imagine, I mean if I was in that situation I’d be struggling too,” is Terese’s reassuring reply. “Here we go again, a bit more of that pity!” Doug adds. Terese tells him that isn’t what this is and reminds him that he is surrounded by
people that love him and adds that it’s an absolute privilege to do what they can for him. Terese comments that he should just give it a go with Lauren and if it doesn’t work out her door is open.
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At number 26, Xanthe is pleased with the work she’s done on Sheila and Jimmy but looks thrilled at what she’s done with Amy, commenting that she looks ‘hot!’ Amy doesn’t look too comfortable
with a low-cut, revealing dress nor a load of make-up but the newly-arrived home Kyle does! He even comments that he’d like to take her out somewhere fancy to match her outfit!
Josh reports to Lauren that he’s unpacked Doug’s stuff and thinks that he’ll like the room. “I’m glad there’s something he’ll like,” she sarcastically replies and Josh tries to say that it’s because he doesn’t like change. “Doug and I have always gotten along,” she
comments, although Josh points out things are different now, for everyone, as she’s Brad’s partner. Josh tells Lauren that if things get too much for her, he’s sure his mum will have Doug live at number 22. Lauren says: “You don’t know me that well if you think
that I’m going to throw in the towel at the first little speed bump.”
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At Harold's, Susan breaks off chatting with Lyn and Charlie to comment on the new looks of Sheila and Jimmy as they enter the cafe. Jimmy heads to the counter to order something so Susan
introduces Sheila to Lyn - when she comments about her being Steph’s mum, Charlie pipes up to ask if she ‘knows my mum?’ With this comment, Sheila has worked out the young chap is Charlie and at this point, Lyn drags her grandson away, taking him to the counter to pick
something. Sheila says to Susan, “Did Xanthe spray me with too much cheap perfume?” Susan replies no, and tells Sheila that Lyn’s got herself in a bit of a pickle and asks her not to mention Steph in front of Charlie.
At number 30, Steph can barely control the tears as she looks at her photo of Charlie.
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At number 26, Amy is back in her normal attire as she heads around the back to see Kyle - he’s somewhat surprised to see her like that. She thinks that Xanthe was right, he does like his women dressed
up and Kyle just looks confused. “Sorry, but that’s not who I am, wearing high-heels I can’t even walk in and dresses that fee like sausage casings,” she says. Kyle tries to interrupts Amy, however he does not get a chance as Amy continues, “I like to feel
comfortable and if I get attention, I want it to be for something I’ve achieved or made not how I look. And honestly, I thought you were the kind of guy who would accept me for who I am!” Kyle asks Amy if she didn't like how she was dressed earlier. Amy confirms
that she didn’t. Kyle decides to be honest with Amy and comments that he didn’t really like it and confesses that he heard from Dr Phil that he is supposed to tell a girl when she gets dressed up that he loves the way she looks. Amy then compares how Jade and Georgia
dressed in comparison to her but Kyle is quick to point out that he is into her, not her outfit. He adds, “You could wear jeans, a dress, your birthday suit, I don’t care. Whatever way it comes, I’ll take it… without complaints.” Amy admits that she thought she
was going to deliver him a lecture on respecting women and Kyle reminds her that he’s been around women his whole life... mum, gran, Naomi, Bossy. He couldn’t respect her more if he tried. Amy then asks him to ask his sister not to make her over again and he replies
that he’ll be her ‘fashion bodyguard’, before kissing her.
Over at number 32, Doug apologises to Lauren for how he behaved earlier, ‘something a guest shouldn’t do in someone else’s house.’ “You’re not a guest,” Lauren reminds him and states she wants him to feel like he’s at home, before asking if it can be forgotten. Brad asks
Doug if he wants a lie down and Josh interjects to ask if he wants food. Terese then steps in, as she can see Doug is being overwhelmed, to say that they ate at number 22 and he’s fine. Brad suggests a game of checkers to his dad, something he’s happy to do and Lauren invites
Terese to stay while Brad goes to get the board. Before we hear her reply, Doug is sitting at the table with Josh and tells him he should keep an eye on Brad because he cheats! “Yeah, he’s always had a habit of that. Maybe he’ll break it with you?!” is Terese’s sly
response to Lauren.
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Back at Harold’s, Sheila apologises to Lyn for putting her foot in it but Lyn is fine. She explains they’d have left Erinsborough already if she’d not said to Charlie that they were spending the day
with the Kennedys. Susan thinks she’d better hit the road in case she bumps into anyone else and ‘the whole thing turns nuclear!’ Lyn walks over to the table, where the boys were sitting, and asks Jimmy where Charlie is. Coyly, Jimmy comments that he thinks he upset
Charlie. Sheila asks Jimmy what he said - he explains that Charlie mentioned that Steph was his mum and he told him that she was awesome and they hang out all the time and… Lyn jumps in and asks Jimmy where Charlie is.
Jimmy says that he just left. “Oh no,” says Lyn, knowing where he’s gone.
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After hearing someone knock at the door of number 30, Steph composes herself before going to answer the door and has a huge smile plastered on her face when she sees the caller! “Charlie!”
Featured Regular Characters: Steph Scully, Toadfish Rebecchi, Susan Kennedy, Sheila Canning, Kyle Canning, Amy Williams, Jimmy Williams, Lauren Turner, Brad Willis,
Terese Willis, Joshua Willis, Piper Willis
Guest Cast: Lilly Van Der Meer as Xanthe Canning, Janet Andrewartha as Lyn Scully,
Alexander McGuire as Charlie Hoyland, Terence Donovan as Doug Willis
Trivia Notes
• Charlie Hoyland returns to the cast, having last appeared in 2011, as a recurring character with Alexander McGuire taking over the role from Jacob Brito. The character had
been seen in photographs leading up to his return
• Terence Donovan also returns as Doug Willis, for a final two-month stint as the character, before being killed off
• This is the first episode to use 2016 Opening Titles - Version Two
• Past characters Beth Brennan, Amber Turner, Max Hoyland and Naomi Canning are mentioned
are mentioned
• Gemma Pranita (Jade Mitchell) and Saskia Hampele (Georgia Brooks) are credited, as both are shown in photographs during this episode
Summary
by Kyle
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