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Magic Moments
> 2023
> The 2023 Season Premiere
Episode 8904
Written
by Jason Herbison, Directed
by Kate Kendall, Produced
by Andrew Thompson
10: 18/09/23, Amazon Freevee: 18/09/23
Melbourne, Australia. For most of the world, it’s about as far away as you could possibly be, but for the residents of Ramsay Street, Erinsborough,
it’s home. Generations of families and friends, living, laughing and loving together. Karl and I aren’t the only ones who have stayed for decades. In good
times and in bad, life has been anything but boring. No matter what happens, there’s always a sense of love and community. When we last came together, it
was to celebrate the wedding of Toadie and Melanie. But they weren’t the only ones uniting that day. Jane and Mike recaptured a moment in time. Paul and
Terese were once again drawn back to each other. And most people who were thinking of moving away, changed their minds. So many old faces came back to
celebrate. It was beautiful day, and it all seemed to end in a bang. Now, the story continues. Together, we are still the perfect blend…
A car drives into Ramsay Street, with JJ, the driver, struggling to bring the car to a stop. The passengers, his mums Remi and Cara, and his brother,
Dex, breathe a sigh of relief that they’ve made it in one piece, and Cara congratulates her son on his first big drive across the city. They all get out,
and JJ looks around. Karl, who is outside doing some gardening, waves to the new arrivals, and Remi waves back, saying to Cara that the ad did mention
that the neighbours were friendly. JJ is distracted by a piece of gold glitter he finds on the ground, as the rest of the family start to unload the car,
and he says that he likes this street…
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At no. 28, Susan is daydreaming as she gazes out of the kitchen window. Karl comes in with a rose for his jacket for the wedding, reminding Susan that
this is meant to be a happy day. She says that she knows, remarking that there’s never been a love story quite like it. Harold then joins them, saying
that he always sleeps well on Ramsay Street, whilst an unimpressed Susan mentions ‘someone’ coming home at 3am and waking everyone up. Karl quickly changes
the subject to the Ramsay Street History Book, which Harold says hasn’t been updated since his last visit. Susan says that a lot has happened in the last
two years, with Karl adding that they didn’t see some of it coming, and Harold tells them that they can’t let history slip away, and they need to update
the book while it’s all still fresh in their minds. Just then, Holly comes running out of her bedroom, late for work, and heads out of the door. Susan
again looks unimpressed, and Harold jokes about her describing the street as ‘the perfect blend’ He opens the book to the page about Mike and Jane…
At no. 24, Jane is on FaceTime with Mike, talking about how they’ll see each other soon, and how much they love each other. There’s a knock at the door
and Jane goes to answer - it’s the Varga-Murphy family. Jane explains that it’s her first time using Rent-a-Home, and they thank her for the early check-in,
explaining how someone just knocked on their door one day and made them an offer on their house in Werribee. They tell her that they’re planning to build
their own house, and will be going to stay with Remi’s parents when they’re ready for them. Jane tells them to make themselves at home, and says that she
just needs to finish getting ready for the wedding, and then she’ll be out of their hair. JJ then gets a shock as he sees the painting of Mrs Mangel in
the hallway.
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At Lassiters, Mackenzie is telling Sadie how she was nervous about her wedding speech, until she remembered Hendrix’s ring around her neck, and how he
would never let her say the wrong thing. They walk into reception and Mackenzie starts to read the speech to Holly, who is ignoring a guest at reception.
Paul and Lucy walk in, noticing the guest, Reece Peters, is waiting and being ignored. Holly says that she’s just logging into the computer and won’t be a
minute, so Paul calls porter Byron over to help Reece with her bags. As Reece and Byron get into the lift, Paul tells Holly that he doesn’t want any
excuses - if a guest wants something, they get it, and they shouldn’t be kept waiting. Meanwhile, in the lift, Reece and Byron look at each other,
then she stops the lift and they start kissing.
Outside the hotel, Paul is telling Lucy how he shouldn’t cut Holly so much slack, but Karl really wants her to stay in town. Lucy is surprised that
Paul is doing the Kennedys any favour, and he says that he keeps thinking about all of the people he lost from his life a few months ago, and how bad
that made him feel. Just then, Leo walks up, with Abigail, and Lucy asks about the wedding preparations - Leo says that everything is on track, thanks
to Sadie and Mackenzie. Paul then spots Terese across the complex, chatting to Haz outside Harolds. Lucy notices, and asks Paul if he’s having any
second thoughts about today, but he insists that he isn’t, and says that he’s a very lucky man.
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At Yorokobi Vineyard, people including Leo, Sadie and Mackenzie are decorating for the wedding, whilst at no. 22, a smiling Terese walks in, and goes
over to her wedding dress. At Lassiters Lake, Paul walks across the bridge, looking at the padlock with his and Terese’s names on it. Back at no. 22,
Terese finds a note in the coffee pod jar, saying ‘I can’t wait to marry you today!’ and she smiles to herself.
At, no. 30, Toadie is wrapping a gift, wondering out loud what you give a couple who has everything. Not to mention a groom who’s been married six times,
adds Melanie. Toadie says that he was just thinking about their wedding day, and Mel says that it was great day - give or take the odd balloon explosion.
She shows Toadie the pig necklace that she’s planning to give to Terese to carry in her purse, and is about to rush off to help the kids get ready, when
Toadie stops her. He says that he knows that things have been a bit strange recently, but he says that he’ll never forget their wedding day and how happy
he felt.
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At no. 22, Terese finds an invitation to her and Paul’s vow renewal under her sewing box. As she looks at it, Susan knocks and comes in with a bottle of
non-alcoholic champagne, and they are then joined by Imogen and Daniel, who have returned for the wedding and were outside trying to persuade Piper to
come, but she’s still refusing. Terese isn’t surprised, as Piper had her doubts about the marriage, but Imogen and Susan say that they support Terese
and just want her to be happy. Terese insists that she’s happy, and she thanks Daniel for coming, to support Paul. They make a toast to the big day.
As they talk, Paul is looking thoughtful, as he stares at a photograph of him and Terese.
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At no. 24, Jane is explaining that the painting is her nan, Mrs Mangel - quite possibly the most feared woman ever to have lived on Ramsay Street.
JJ says that the eyes seem to follow you around the room, and Jane says that Mike has always said the same thing. She explains that Mike is her partner,
and he’s gone ahead to London as they couldn’t get two cheap seats on the same flight. Remi says that they’ll see Jane again in a couple of weeks, and
she, Cara and Dex go outside for a barbecue. JJ stays and asks Jane if she can tell him some more about the street.
At no. 28, Harold is looking at photos of Lou and Donna in the History Book, as Jane comes in. Susan greets her, and Jane hands over a lasagne that Mike
has made, as a thank you for the Kennedys allowing Sam to stay. Jane checks that it’s still OK for her to leave her suitcase in Susan’s car, but is then
distracted as she spots an expensive-looking bracelet on Susan’s wrist. Jane assumes that Susan bought it with her payout from the school - Susan tries
to play it down, but Jane says that she deserves it after all her years of service. As Karl comes in, Harold tries to get him, then Susan and Jane, to
help with the updates to the book, but they’re all too busy. Jane mentions that JJ was just asking about the street, which gives Harold an idea.
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Harold arrives at no. 24, where he introduces himself and explains that he used to live there. He says that he heard about JJ’s interest in the street -
much to Cara and Remi’s surprise - and that he’s brought over the Ramsay Street History Book to show him.
At the Penthouse Apartment, Paul takes a ring out of his desk drawer and looks at it.
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At no. 22, Imogen and Terese hug, as Terese lays her wedding dress out on the bed.
In Reece’s hotel room at Lassiters, she and Byron are in bed. She asks if he has to go, and he says that he does, but he also wishes that he knew more
about her, other than her name. He starts asking her questions, and she replies, telling him that she’s from New Hampshire and that she came to Erinsborough
for a conference, but stuck around as she hasn’t had any time off in a while. They start to kiss, but are interrupted by a knock at the door. Byron ducks
into the bathroom to get dressed, as Reece answers the door to Holly, who’s brought some chocolates as an apology for earlier. Reece realises that Paul put
her up to it, then Byron’s phone starts ringing. Reece looks awkward, and Holly leaves. Byron tells his mum on the phone that he’s working but will be down
in reception soon. Reece asks Byron if they can see each other later - he says that they can, and that he hasn’t given up on finding out more about her. She
doesn’t look too pleased about that.
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In the hotel reception, Jane and Sam are on FaceTime with Mike, who’s in a country hotel near London. Mike is worried about leaving Sam on her own, but Jane
thinks she’s probably looking forward to a break from them. As Byron emerges from the lift, Jane goes over to him. Sam then asks Mike if he’s still going
to do ‘it’ - Mike says that he is, and begins to fill Sam icon his plan. Meanwhile, Jane is telling Byron how strange it feels to be going back to the UK,
and she’s getting a bit emotional thinking about how much things have changed for her. She tells Byron that it was a huge loss to her when Nicolette and
Isla, then David and Aaron, moved away, but having him back and seeing him make a go of his career at the hotel has meant so much to her. She says that
she’s so glad that he’s found a new passion, and he looks awkward, before they hug.
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At no. 24, Harold is explaining to JJ that Karl and Susan have lived on the street the longest, followed by Toadie, as a bewildered Remi and Cara look on.
They are further bewildered as Wendy lets herself in with a ‘Yoo hoo’ and explains that she’s their friendly Rent-a-Home contact if they need anything.
She then spots Harold and asks him why he isn’t dressed for the wedding…
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At the vineyard, the guests are gathering for the wedding. Mackenzie has dropped her speech and is chasing after it, as Haz puts his foot on the piece of
paper to stop it from blowing away. She’s pleased to see that he came, and he asks if he’s fit to be her date. Meanwhile, Karl, Harold and Jane arrive a
little late, and Wendy explains to Susan that Harold had their new street guests engrossed in the History Book. Karl asks if there’s any sign of the bride,
but Toadie says that she’ll be planning to make a big entrance.
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At no. 22, Imogen approaches Terese, asking her what she’s thinking. Terese says that she never thought she’d be this happy, then remembers that she needs
to get Josh’s swimming medal, as her ‘something blue’. Imogen says that Josh is always with them, in spirit. Terese then spots something else in the drawer
and looks confused, but says that they should get going.
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At the Penthouse, Paul is gazing off into the distance, as Daniel and Lucy approach him and ask if he’s ready to go. He thanks them for being there today,
and Daniel asks what he was thinking about just then. He says that he was just trying to picture Terese and wondering how she
looks - “Breathtaking, I’m sure.”
At no. 24, Cara and Remi are discussing Ramsay Street, wondering if the neighbours should have been described as ‘overly-friendly’. Remi
thinks everyone seems nice, and Cara agrees, but says that it’s weird the way JJ has taken such an interest in the street. Remi thinks that
it’s been nice for them and the kids to get away from their troubles in Werribee, though Cara reminds her that they still have to go back, and insists
that everything is going to be fine.
As they talk, JJ is outside on Ramsay Street, looking around at the houses.
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Reece walks across the Lassiters complex, towards the hotel.
In her room, Reece sees that her dad is phoning her, and she rejects the call.
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At no. 24, JJ is looking through the History Book, at photos of people including the Rodwells, Paul and Terese, and Toadie and Melanie.
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Back at the vineyard, a car pulls up and Terese gets out. Everyone stands and smiles, as she and Imogen walk down the aisle. Paul is seen amongst the
guests, confirming that he isn’t the groom. Terese then arrives to join her groom, and we see Angie, Nell, Hugo and Callum in the front row of seats,
as Susan welcomes everyone to the wedding of Terese… and Toadie.
Featured Regular Characters: Holly Hoyland, Sadie Rodwell, Paul Robinson, Terese Willis, Karl Kennedy, Jane Harris, Leo Tanaka, Wendy Rodwell, Toadfish Rebecchi, Byron
Stone, Haz Devkar, Remi Varga-Murphy, Mackenzie Hargreaves, Cara Varga-Murphy, Andrew Rodwell, Susan Kennedy, JJ Varga-Murphy, Hugo Rebecchi, Sam Young,
Abigail Tanaka, Nell Rebecchi, Dex Varga-Murphy
Guest Cast: Guy Pearce as Mike Young,
Mischa Barton as Reece Sinclair,
Ian Smith as Harold Bishop,
Melissa Bell as Lucy Robinson,
Lesley Baker as Angie Rebecchi,
Ariel Kaplan as Imogen Willis,
Tim Phillipps as Daniel Robinson,
Morgan Baker as Callum Rebecchi
Trivia Notes
• The recap at the beginning of this episode is voiced by Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy) and features clips from
Neighbours' entire history
• There are no opening titles for this episode, with just a title card used as the Varga-Murphys arrive on the street
• The closing credits now list the regular characters, in alphabetical order by actor surname, for every episode, followed by semi-regulars (Sam, Nell, Hugo, Abigail,
JJ and Dex) who appear in that episode, followed by guest characters who appear in that episode
• First appearances of the characters Haz Devkar, Remi Varga-Murphy, Cara Varga-Murphy, JJ Varga-Murphy, Dex Varga-Murphy and Reece Sinclair
• The characters of Byron Stone, Nell Rebecchi and Hugo Rebecchi have been recast, though the latter two do not speak in this episode
• The characters of Imogen Willis, Daniel Robinson, Angie Rebecchi and Callum Rebecchi return for guest appearances, though the latter two
do not speak in this episode
• Tim Phillipps' surname is misspelt as Phillips in the closing credits
• Daniel is credited as a Robinson, though it was previously stated that he would take
the surname of Willis when he married Imogen
• Past characters Aaron Brennan, David Tanaka, Nicolette Stone, Isla Tanaka-Brennan, Piper Willis, Josh Willis, Hendrix Greyson and Mrs Mangel are mentioned
• The characters of Holly Hoyland and Byron Stone are now part of the regular cast, having only previously appeared in guest stints
• The song ‘Sunroof’ by Nicky Youre & dazy features in the opening scene, as the Varga-Murphys drive into Ramsay Street
• Although it is not clear in this episode, the scene with Melanie and Toadie is actually a flashback to events from a year before
Summary
by Steve
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