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Magic Moments
> 2024
> David's Funeral
Episode 8989
Written
by Ceinwen Langley, Directed
by Guy Strachan, Produced
by Andrew Thompson
10: 13/02/24, Amazon Freevee: 13/02/24
Krista says that David was a special man, but Aaron snaps back that he knows how special he was, as he was married to him... Paul remembers his meeting with
Eden... Leo accuses Chelsea of using David's death to get close to Paul... Paul says that he and Aaron don't want Krista at the funeral... Mackenzie, Haz and
Byron suggest that Krista stays with them at the share house... Sadie recognises a hoodie belonging to Eden... Sadie sees CCTV footage of Paul and Eden in
the hotel lift and wonders what to do with the information...
At no. 26, Wendy and Sadie are dressed for the funeral. As she finishes her make-up, Wendy tells Sadie that she loves her, adding that Paul and Aaron would
give anything to be able to say that to David one more time. Sadie asks if Aaron's parents are coming, but Wendy explains that they're both dead, but at least
he has Paul to lean on. Sadie doesn't look convinced.
 ..
Outside the hotel, Leo is lost in his thoughts. He suddenly realises Abigail is next to him, and he tells her that she'll be able to talk to Uncle David, she
won't be able to see him but he'll be able to hear her. He sees Lucy arriving and goes over to greet her. She hugs him, then hugs a tearful Paul as he and
Chelsea join them. Leo shoots a look of disgust at Chelsea and, as Lucy and Paul walk off together, Leo thanks Chelsea for helping Paul to get ready, but
says that his family will take it from here. He then walks off too, leaving Chelsea standing alone.
At no. 24, Aaron is desperately rewriting his eulogy for David, refusing to speak to Chloe on the phone. Nicolette tells Chloe that Aaron isn't mad with her,
and that she can't help it if her flight got cancelled. Jane then approaches Aaron, saying that Isla needs his help to get dressed, but he says that he can't.
After finishing her call to Chloe, Nicolette asks what's going on and Jane explains that Isla doesn't want anyone but David. Nicolette asks Aaron to try, but
he won't, so Byron and Sam go instead. Nicolette is becoming increasingly frustrated with Aaron as he says that he isn't ready to get dressed and leave, but
Jane calms the situation, telling Aaron to take all the time he needs.
 ..
At no. 32, Krista is grateful as Haz and Mackenzie insist that it's fine for her to hang around the house while they're all at the funeral. Sadie is surprised
to hear that she isn't going, becoming annoyed as she hears that Paul and Aaron don't want her there as they blame her for David's death. Sadie insists that
Eden is the one to blame, almost blurting out the truth about Paul, but she stops herself, saying that it shouldn't be up to Paul as he and David had only
just started speaking again when David died. Mackenzie insists that Leo and Aaron will come around, once all of the emotion has died down, but Krista doesn't
look convinced, and Byron glances over at Sadie, who is forcing a smile.
On Ramsay Street, Melanie is waiting for Holly and Karl, and watches as Toadie and Terese run over to the car in the rain. Terese sees Toadie staring over
at Melanie and snaps him out of it.
 ..
At Lassiters, Byron and Sam, the last of the guests, arrive as everyone waits to leave for the funeral. Isla says that she wants daddy to pick her up, but
Aaron just stares blankly at her, so Paul goes over and picks up his granddaughter. Nicolette quietly says to Paul that Aaron hasn't been near Isla all day -
Paul thinks they should cut Aaron some slack, but Nic says that this day is important for Isla too, and so Paul says he'll have a word. Chelsea then goes to
join Paul, but Leo stops her. She insists that she's just there to support Paul, but Leo tells her that this day is for close friends and family only and that
Paul hasn't even noticed her presence. As Leo walks away, Chelsea looks upset, only made worse when Lucy glares at her before getting in the car. Paul then
looks over at a lost Aaron, as the funeral cars begin to drive away.
At the funeral, the guests are beginning to arrive, as Nicolette looks at Aaron, sitting quietly on his own. Paul is also on his own, watching guiltily as
Isla plays with Abigail. Sadie looks over at Paul with disgust, while Toadie notices Terese looking at him with sympathy.
 ..
Paul then goes over to Aaron, who is still sitting down, holding the piece of paper with the eulogy on it and looking at the photograph of David on the
coffin. Paul tells Aaron that Isla is asking for him, and that this is a confusing day for her. Aaron says that he doesn't want to mess Isla up, but Paul
says that he doesn't need to be strong for her - he can cry or scream if he needs to - but he needs to be by Isla's side whatever he does. Paul adds that
there are mistakes you make as a father that you can never come back from, telling Aaron not to make this his. A tearful Aaron just says that he doesn't
want to do this without David.
Krista is sitting in the rotunda by Lassiters Lake, writing notes to David, thanking him for believing in her and telling him that she's sorry. She folds
them up into paper cranes and, with tears in her eyes, releases them onto the lake.
 ..
 ..
Back at the funeral, Aaron takes Isla's hand and sits with her on his lap, as Nicolette smiles. Aaron then looks over at Paul and they smile at each other,
as Leo begins to talk about his brother:
"When I was eight years old, I believed I had superpowers. And the only way I could unlock them was to jump off the roof of our house. David said the only
thing I'd unlock would be a broken leg. And when he was right, because of course he was, somehow this little guy kept my mum and I calm all the way to the
hospital. It was then when I knew that I wasn't the twin with the superpower. Most of us only have room in our hearts for the ones we love, but David had
room for everyone. It didn't matter who you were, he was there to help, even if you didn't know you needed it. David, I'll miss you for the rest of my life.
I wish you'd been selfish enough to save yourself, the way you saved so many others. But then you wouldn't have been my brother."
Aaron then takes his turn to speak, looking down at the eulogy he's written:
"I had a lot that I wanted to say. I struggled to find the words. I still do, because I just can't accept that he's gone. We won't get to see all the
incredible things that he still has left to do. Even if they are just the mundane kind of incredible like helping Nicolette and I raise our daughter, Isla.
Growing old together, being happy. I know I should be grateful that we even got to love each other at all. It wasn't enough, not for any of us."
 ..
 ..
Aaron then sits with Isla and Nicolette, who comforts him, as Leo motions to Paul that it's his turn to speak. Paul looks down at his speech and starts
to talk about how he didn't get to watch David grow up, but he's overcome with emotion, so Lucy joins him and continues:
"I didn't get to watch David grow up, but learning that this gentle, intelligent man was my son has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Lately, we
spent too much time apart and I regret every minute of it. But I knew that was going to change when he called me 'dad' the other day."
Terese looks devastated for Paul, while Sadie is disgusted with him. Aaron looks down at Isla.
Leo, Nicolette, Karl, Toadie, Paul and Aaron then carry the coffin away, each lost in their own thoughts.
 ..
Everyone is gathered at the Waterhole for the wake, and Sadie sits alone, contemplating what she knows about Paul. Byron notices and goes to join her.
She asks if this is the first funeral he's been to and he says that he went to his nan's, but she was ancient and it felt more like a farewell party. Sadie
says that she went to Hendrix's memorial, but there was another funeral for him in Sydney so she didn't see what his family went through. Byron agrees that
it was tough to watch Paul break down like that, then Sadie suddenly asks him a random question - is it better to be kind or honest? Byron decides that it's
better to be kind and he asks Sadie what she would be - she looks over at Aaron and admits that she can't make her mind up.
Paul is standing outside the Waterhole when Karl joins him, hands him a drink and makes a toast to the best doctor he ever had the privilege of working with.
Chelsea watches from a distance and is about to approach when Leo appears, calling his father back inside as the speeches are about to start. Lucy, who is
standing nearby on a business call, noticed Chelsea hanging around.
 ..
Inside, Jane gets everyone's attention and suggests that, as the wonderful unconventional family that they all are, they could take a moment and each reflect
on a memory of David that makes them smile. Nicolette remembers how he couldn't even pack for a weekend away without making a detailed spreadsheet. Leo
remembers the time he walked in on David doing an aerobics workout, hoping that it would help to get Aaron to notice him. He says that the only time he ever
saw his brother doing anything crazy was to try and get Aaron's attention. Nicolette remembers what a funny drunk he was, and the time he prank called Paul,
but as they all look over to Paul, he isn't listening. Aaron goes over to Paul and thanks him for everything, saying that he and Isla are lucky to have him,
but Sadie is listening in the background. Paul insists that he's the lucky one and always has been, while Wendy notices her daughter lost in thought and Sadie
says that she's realised that sometimes it's better to be kind. Paul then quietly leaves the bar, as Leo sends a text message to Krista.
Paul leaves the Waterhole, where Lucy is still outside on the phone. She ends the call and goes after her brother.
 ..
At the lake, Krista receives the text from Leo, apologising to her and asking if she'd like to come to the wake. She smiles to herself.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the lake, Paul is standing, looking at the ground. Lucy joins him and asks if he was trying to slip away quietly. He says
that he needed some air, but Lucy stops him and says that she's seen his grieving before and this feels different. Paul is about to say something when he sees
Krista sitting in the rotunda. He gets angry, saying that she doesn't get to grieve today when she's the reason. Lucy is shocked by his outburst and asks what
he's talking about, but Paul simply says that it should have been her, then walks away.
 ..
Paul walks past Harolds, with Lucy not far behind. Chelsea appears from inside the cafe and calls after Paul, but he ignores her. Lucy then introduces herself
to Chelsea, who's pleased to meet her and says that she wants to be there for Paul, whatever he needs. Lucy suggests that Paul just needs time and space to
grieve and heal. Chelsea insists that she understands, but Lucy isn't so sure, telling her in no uncertain terms to back off.
 ..
Inside the Waterhole, Krista walks in, as Melanie is telling a story about David, when Paul spots her. Everything goes silent as Paul shouts at Krista to get
out. Krista apologises, saying that she thought Leo must have cleared it with him, but Paul says that she's the reason that David is dead and her apologies
mean nothing to him, or to Aaron and Isla. As Paul continues to scream in Krista's face and she struggles to respond, Sadie suddenly shouts at him to leave
her alone. She says that Paul was the one who was with Eden the night before David died. Paul is stunned into silence as everyone looks at him...
Featured Regular Characters: Wendy Rodwell, Sadie Rodwell, Paul Robinson, Leo Tanaka, Abigail Tanaka, Aaron Brennan, Nicolette Stone, Byron Stone, Sam Young, Jane Harris,
Isla Tanaka-Brennan, Haz Devkar, Mackenzie Hargreaves, Krista Sinclair, Melanie Pearson, Toadie Rebecchi, Terese Willis, Karl Kennedy, Holly Hoyland
Guest Cast:
Viva Bianca as Chelsea Murphy,
Melissa Bell as Lucy Robinson
Trivia Notes
• Past characters Hendrix Greyson, Mrs Mangel, David Tanaka and Chloe Brennan are mentioned
Summary
by Steve
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