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Magic Moments
> 2024
> The 9000th Episode
Episode 9000
Written
by Shane Isheev, Directed
by Tenika Smith, Produced
by Andrew Thompson
10: 04/03/24, Amazon Freevee: 04/03/24
Leo welcomes Aaron back... Aaron asks Nicolette to let him make things right... Terese wonders why Toadie has been keeping things from her... Terese and
Toadie struggle to talk through their problems... Terese meets with Paul... Terese accuses Chelsea of taking advantage of Paul's grief... Chelsea
deliberately throws away Josh's memorial plaque... Paul asks Terese if his family will ever forgive him... Chelsea says that she doesn't believe that
Paul is the villain that everyone makes him out to be...
As Cara carries the fixed portrait of Paul to her car and drives it to the Lassiters complex, we hear Paul talking about villains:
"A villain carries many labels. Friend, colleague, boss, neighbour. They're even a hero to some. Most villains want power and control. What drives
this desire? Is it nature or nurture? Maybe it's the perfect storm of both. But perfect or otherwise, storms have a tendency of leaving a path of
destruction. The irony is, a villain's biggest victim is often themself."
 ..
 ..
At the Waterhole, Cara is showing the painting to Paul and Chelsea. Chelsea is impressed with how well it's been repaired, but Paul just looks at it
and then asks for it to be put in storage. Chelsea is surprised, but Paul is then distracted by Nicolette walking in with Isla. Chelsea suggests that
he should go over and say hello, but Paul says that he's just holding onto Terese's words that one day, his family will forgive him. As Cara leaves with
the painting, Isla sees it and rushes over to look at her grandad, as Nicolette pulls her away.
At Harolds, Toadie and Terese are having breakfast, but she's distracted by a conversation between Byron, Holly and Mackenzie at the counter. They're
talking about how Chelsea has gone power crazy at the hotel and Toadie tries to get Terese's attention, suggesting that they could go and see a movie
later. She isn't in the mood, and as Toadie goes to the bathroom, she listens as Holly says that Chelsea wants to give every guest a late checkout. Mack
asks what the problem is with that, at which point Terese chips in and says that it means less time for cleaning and more work for the staff. She apologies
for eavesdropping, but tells them that it sounds like Chelsea's decisions are detrimental to the hotel and asks if there's anything that can be done
legally. Mackenzie says that Paul knowingly signed the papers to give Chelsea the job, so Terese then wonders about involving the Sinclairs. Byron explains
that Krista doesn't want to get Reece involved, so Terese says that it looks like the hotel is stuck with Chelsea.
 ..
At no. 24, Aaron is tidying up, as Jane talks to the education department about JJ's suspension. Nicolette then comes in, having finally managed to get
Isla to go to sleep, explaining that she's over-tired and out of her routine. Jane says that she'd hoped that Aaron coming home would have helped -
Nicolette says that it has, but not enough. She explains that Isla hasn't stopped asking for Paul since she saw his painting. Aaron tells Nicolette
that he's sorry that she's had to deal with all of this on her own and suggests that Remi might have some ideas, or the names of some people who can help.
At the Waterhole, Krista is looking through a book of baby names and says that she's settled on Finn for a boy and Izzy for a girl. Leo grimaces and
says that those names remind him of some people who aren't very nice. She then suggests Darcy, and Leo says that she might as well go with Andrea or
Robert, as they'll all remind the people of Erinsborough of some unsavoury characters. She says that she'll cross those names off the list, and then
gets a message saying that Haz and Mackenzie have just signed up for the Longest Lie-In event. She says that she still wants to speak to Aaron about it,
as she doesn't want it to trigger him and cause him to leave again. She then notices Paul watching them from the bar, and Leo tells her to ignore him.
Paul is talking to Chelsea, wondering if Terese is wrong and he'll never be forgiven. Chelsea promises that she'll never let that happen, but Paul says
that nobody can make a promise like that.
 ..
At no. 30, Nicolette and Aaron are explaining Isla's problems to Remi, as Cara brings them all some tea. Remi says that she and Cara understand what it's
like to want to help your children, but not know how. She says that losing David has obviously made Isla very anxious, and Aaron adds that he has to take
some of the blame too, as he hasn't been around for her lately. Their chat is interrupted by Chelsea letting herself in - she explains that Jane told her
where to find Aaron and Nicolette and she asks if Paul can have a visit with Isla. Aaron and Nicolette immediately shut her down and she apologises and
leaves. Nicolette says that Chelsea has been completely sucked in by Paul, but Remi comments that it was all by Chelsea's design. Aaron says that everyone
seems more concerned about Chelsea's plans for Paul, but maybe it should be the other way around - and someone needs to warn Chelsea what she's in for.
At Harolds, Toadie and Terese have finished breakfast and prepare to leave to go for a walk. As they're going, Melanie walks in, late for breakfast with
Holly. When Terese sees Melanie, she decides to go for her walk alone. Toadie goes to pay, while Melanie says to Holly that it looks like things are pretty
bad between Toadie and Terese. Holly points out that Toadie can't look at Melanie either, so Mel says that she will leave Toadie be.
 ..
Terese walks into the Lassiters reception, alarmed to see that Josh's plaque is no longer in its usual place. She grabs a passing Krista and asks where
it's gone - Krista explains that they were having some work done, but it should have been put back by now. She goes to check out back, just as Paul and
Chelsea walk by. A distressed Terese tells Paul what's happened, as Krista returns and says that she can't find it, and Chelsea feigns shock, asking how
something like this could have happened. Krista then notices that Theo the tradie's ute is still outside so she goes to call him.
Toadie and Mackenzie are walking up Ramsay Street, discussing work, and Mackenzie mentions that she looked into the Chelsea situation for Terese, but
nothing can be done legally. Toadie asks what she's talking about, and Mackenzie explains that Terese overheard them earlier, but she's just being
protective of the hotel staff. Toadie, however, believes that it's Paul who Terese is trying to protect, and he's further irritated when he sees Melanie
watching them from no. 28's front garden. As they walk over to no. 22, Melanie continues to watch, about to make a start on the gardening. Meanwhile,
Nicolette, Cara and Remi are leaving no. 30, with Nicolette apologising for Aaron's anger earlier, saying that he's still very upset with Paul. She
thinks that all of the tension is bad for Isla, and Remi says that they'll get through it and she'll send over a list of recommendations later. Remi
thinks that Isla is clinging on to Paul as she associates him with David and Nicolette admits that it was very tough to watch her daughter reach out
to Paul's portrait earlier.
 ..
Later, Melanie is wrestling with the whipper snipper, as Toadie comes over. He doesn't say anything and Melanie realises that he's upset, offering to
help him. He explains that Terese is shutting him out, before going to leave, saying that it's silly of him to be talking to Mel. Mel tells him that she's
there for him and he says that he doesn't know what Terese is thinking, or whether he can fix his marriage. Mel thinks that it's unfair of Terese to be
behaving like this, and Toadie agrees, saying that the only thing that Terese seems to care about it Paul. Melanie tells Toadie that she hates to see him
hurting like this and she wishes she could take the pain away. They come close to kissing before Toadie comes to his senses, realising that they're in the
middle of no. 28's front garden, and he rushes off to speak to Terese, leaving Melanie disappointed.
Toadie walks into the Waterhole, shocked to see Paul with his arm around Terese. He goes over and learns about the missing plaque, immediately suggesting,
to Terese's disgust, that they could get a new one made. She says that it wouldn't be the same to visit a new one. Byron and Krista then join them, with
Krista explaining that they haven't been able to find the plaque, and that Theo has had to leave for another job, but if it ended up with the rubbish, it's
probably at a tip by now. They explain that it could be at one of a number of tips, and Krista apologises to a heartbroken Terese.
 ..
At the penthouse, Paul is on the phone to Cara, wanting the name and number of every contractor who was at the hotel that morning. As he ends the call,
the lift doors open and Nicolette is standing there with Isla, who runs over to her delighted grandfather. A clearly uncomfortable Nicolette says that
someone wanted to say hi to him.
In the Lassiters office, Aaron arrives to see Chelsea. She asks if he's changed his mind about Paul seeing Isla, but he explains that he's there because
he's worried about her, and that there are some thing she needs to know about Paul. He says that David's death wasn't the first that Paul was responsible
for, telling her about the fire Paul started at the complex, which killed Gus Cleary and led to Gus' brother getting revenge by killing Paul's niece, Kate.
He says that Paul's world is dangerous - and he isn't faithful to women either. Chelsea quickly says that, as far as she knows, he never cheated on Terese,
but Aaron tells her about how he cheated on Lyn Scully and she found out just after their wedding. Chelsea insists that there are two sides to every story,
but Aaron replies that Paul is destructive; he slept with Terese when she was about to marry someone else and all of Paul's ex-wives warned Terese not to
marry him. He says that Paul's worst act, in his opinion, was when he paid Nicolette a million dollars to give up her baby, as Chelsea looks at him, unsure
what to make of all this.
 ..
At no. 22, Toadie and Terese walk in, and he's trying to make her see that the plaque isn't as important as what it symbolised. A shocked Terese asks
him how he'd feel if someone replaced the mural of Sonya and he admits that he'd be upset but he'd also be open to finding somewhere new to remember her.
He suggests that they could find somewhere new to remember Josh - she asks if he means somewhere away from Paul and the hotel, which is where Josh and
Doug died and where they should be remembered. She adds that this isn't about Paul, it's about Josh, before rushing off upstairs.
Back at the Lassiters office, Chelsea asks Aaron if he's done yet, but he continues, showing her a photo of Brent and telling her how Paul ruined Brent's
future on purpose, just because he didn't want him to be with his granddaughter, Harlow. He tells her about how Paul deliberately poisoned the wetlands,
which gave Toadie's cousin, Dylan, toxic poisoning and his baby developed leukaemia. He talks about how Paul tried to make Steph Scully think she was
losing her mind, and he drove Harold Bishop to almost kill him. Chelsea tells Aaron that he's a very good storyteller but she suspects he's using some
creative licence - he says that he's happy to go and speak to Paul, who can confirm what's true and what isn't.
 ..
At the penthouse, Paul and Isla are playing with her dolls, as Nicolette watches on. Paul asks Isla how old her doll is and she says that it's 9000
years old. Nicolette comments that this is the happiest she's seen her daughter since David died, Paul says that he feels the same, as Nicolette reminds
him that she isn't doing this for him. Just then, the lift doors open and Chelsea and Aaron walk in. He's stunned to see Isla with Paul and, ignoring
Nicolette's pleas to let her explain, he rants about how Paul always gets what he wants, no matter how much he hurts people. An upset Isla runs over to
her mum, while Aaron is stunned when, after everything he just told her, Chelsea goes and takes Paul's hand.
At no. 24 a little later, Jane takes Isla some warm milk in her bedroom, as Aaron and Nicolette remain in the kitchen. She points out that he took Isla
to see Paul at Christmas and it seemed to be working this time, until he barrelled in and started shouting. Nicolette says that Isla was finally happy and
settled, but an increasingly angry Aaron says that Paul isn't the answer and he doesn't want Isla to see him. Nicolette responds that Isla needs something
to hold on to right now, as she thought Aaron had died too when he just disappeared. Aaron still won't accept it, but Nicolette says that Isla misses Paul
as much as she misses David and if Aaron can't understand that, then their daughter is going to be the one who suffers.
 ..
At the Waterhole, Terese is pushing food around her plate, lost in thought about the missing plaque. Melanie and Holly walk in and see her - Melanie
comments that she looks unhappy, and Holly explains about the plaque going missing, so they decide to go and eat at Harolds rather than risk upsetting
Terese further. Paul and Chelsea then come in and he sees Terese, rushing over to ask her how she's feeling. She says that he doesn't look too great
himself and he says that Aaron just had a go at him, but he deserved it. He goes to phone Cara, to see if she's got the numbers for the tradies, and
Chelsea remains, saying that she doesn't like Terese's chances of finding the plaque. When she adds an assumption that Terese won't be visiting the hotel
much from now on, Terese has a sudden realisation and accuses Chelsea of throwing it away on purpose. Chelsea acts like she's deeply offended and walks away.
At no. 24, Aaron brings in the painting of Paul, explaining to Nicolette that he borrowed it from Cara, and he's going to put it in Isla's room to help
her sleep. Nicolette thinks it's a great idea, but Aaron isn't interested in making small talk with her. He tells her that they're done with each other,
and says that, over the years, people have said that she's just like Paul - and they were right.
 ..
At the penthouse, Paul is looking at the family photos on his shelves and, as he takes his and Terese's wedding photo down and puts it in the drawer, we
hear him talking again about villains:
"They say no-one's a villain in their own story. I'm not sure that's true for me."
Featured Regular Characters: Paul Robinson, Cara Varga-Murphy, Remi Varga-Murphy, Nicolette Stone, Aaron Brennan, Isla Tanaka-Brennan, Terese Willis, Toadie Rebecchi,
Mackenzie Hargreaves, Holly Hoyland, Byron Stone, Jane Harris, Leo Tanaka, Krista Sinclair, Melanie Pearson
Guest Cast:
Viva Bianca as Chelsea Murphy
Trivia Notes
• This episode is themed around Neighbours villains and, as well as Paul, other notable villains mentioned are Izzy Hoyland, Darcy Tyler, Finn Kelly,
Robert Robinson, Gus Cleary and Andrea Somers
• Other past characters mentioned are David Tanaka, Reece Sinclair, Steph Scully, Lyn Scully, Dylan Timmins, Harold Bishop, Kate Ramsay, Sonya Rebecchi,
Josh Willis, Doug Willis, Brent Colefax, Harlow Robinson
Summary
by Steve
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