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Magic Moments
> 2024
> Melanie's Departure
Episode 9149
Written
by Megan Herbert, Directed
by Lara Köse, Produced
by Andrew Thompson
10: 19/11/24, Amazon: 19/11/24
Cara is knocked off her ladder whilst working at the hotel... Holly blames herself for the accident... Remi tells Cara that she needed surgery... Vic tells
Melanie that Jane has ended things between them... Mel reminds Vic that he's still her friend's ex-husband... Jane thinks that things could still work out for
Vic and Mel... Mel tells Holly that she has to leave Erinsborough... Vic prepares to leave for Gippsland to take over his new pub... Krista sees a photo of a
man who left the vineyard without paying for his party and she recognises him... Leo complains about the huge bill he now has to pay himself... Leo loses the
photo as Krista looks at a photo on her phone, of herself with the mystery man...
In her office at the hotel, a guilty Krista waits as Leo returns, confirming that he's been unable to find the missing photo and it was the only evidence he
had. Krista apologises and Leo insists that it isn't her fault, just as they're interrupted by Byron who comes rushing in with an envelope that was left at
the vineyard, containing the cash to cover the party. Krista acts shocked, as Byron thinks that the mystery man must have developed a conscience and returned
to pay his debt. Leo realises that he'll need to go and update the police, but is still a little taken aback, as Krista tells him to just take the win.
 ..
At the hospital, Susan and Karl find Holly sitting in the waiting room. Karl tells his daughter that she looks exhausted, to which she replies that he doesn't
look so great himself. Susan says that he was up all night drinking with Paul and Shane, so he has no right to complain. Holly informs them that Cara is awake
and stable, but she hasn't been in to see her as she's waiting until JJ and Dex have been. Susan says that she's going to pick the boys up and bring them in
when they get back from school camp, and Karl says that he'd love to wait with Holly but he needs to prepare for Melanie's farewell. Holly insists that she'll
be fine to wait on her own.
At no. 32, Nicolette is outside preparing a farewell breakfast for Vic, as Byron joins her and says that she's gone to an awful lot of trouble. As they start
arguing, Jane and Sam join them, with Jane telling them to stop squabbling, before Vic also turns up. Nicolette is disappointed that he's ruined the surprise
so everyone, except a reluctant Byron, shouts 'Surprise!' anyway. Vic is touched by the gesture as Jane explains that everyone - except, once again, Byron -
has made a dish to give him a proper family send-off. Vic suggests that maybe a free lifetime supply of counter meals at the pub could make up for the way
he's treated Nic and Byron over the years and they all make a toast.
 ..
At Lassiters, Melanie is telling Krista and Leo about her plans to head to Queensland first, which will be good for business and gives her an excuse to visit
Sky. Krista is still upset that she's leaving and Leo points out that Vic won't be around much now, but Mel thinks it's still too close for comfort. Krista
breaks the gloomy mood by asking how they can help with the farewell party, but Mel says that Karl is across it all and she'll text them the details later.
Krista asks if Mel if going to invite Vic, but she hasn't decided yet, explaining that she still has a few more things to do, including reminding Paul to
send the apartment lease over to Krista to sign. Leo seems enthusiastic about the idea of him and Krista having the apartment to themselves, but Krista
clearly isn't so keen and Mel picks up on this.
As Krista takes a call by the lake, having attempted to track down her friend, Sebastian, but with no luck, Mel appears behind her. Mel asks why Krista
would want anything to do with a trouble magnet like Seb, as he was the reason Krista got kicked out of her grammar school in Sydney and shipped back to
the UK. Krista tries to defend him, saying that it was difficult for him being the scholarship kid around all the rich kids and he was the only friend
she had, but Mel still isn't convinced. Krista explains that she hasn't seen him since a couple of months before she returned to Australia but he's in
town now, and that he had a party at Yorokobi then left without paying. She tells Mel that this is something that she and him used to do a lot and she
thinks that this is his way of trying to reach out to her.
 ..
At the hospital, Susan arrives with a very worried JJ and Dex, and they're greeted by Remi. She thanks Susan for picking them up and tells the boys
that they can go straight in and see Cara. She warns them that their mum has been badly knocked about and, although she's going to be ok, they need to
be prepared. Susan reminds them that Cara is a very strong woman and that it's an excellent hospital and, as she goes to leave, she bumps into Holly.
Susan checks that Holly is ok and tells her that she'll probably be able to see Cara a bit later. As JJ and Dex go into their mum's hospital room, Dex
spots Holly and glares at her.
At Krista's apartment, Leo still can't believe that someone would leave without paying their bill, but Krista says that people do strange things and it
might not be completely malicious. As Leo then tries to wrap Melanie's gift, he tears the paper and worries that it looks like it was pulled out of a bin.
Krista tries to tell him about Sebastian, but he says that he has a gift bag at the penthouse so he'll go and get that and meet Krista downstairs. Moments
after Leo leaves, there's a knock at the door and a shocked Krista is whisked off her feet by Sebastian. He says that he's been waiting outside for Leo to
leave, and she asks him what he's doing - he says that he's there to surprise her.
 ..
At no. 32, as brunch comes to an end, Isla presents her grandad with a card and Byron says that he can put it up behind his new bar. As they go inside, Nic
thanks Byron for playing nice, whilst Vic tells Jane that the kids are a credit to her. Jane is happy that he seems to have worked things out with them,
though Vic admits that things are still strained with Byron, but he hopes that it can improve with time. Jane tells him that she has a good feeling about
the future and she's proud of how Vic has turned things around. As Byron and Nic return, their phones all start to ping with invitations to Mel's farewell
party, but Vic is disappointed as he realises that he didn't get one.
Back at Krista's apartment, Seb is surprised to find her living somewhere so small, but she says that he has no right to hassle her after the stunt he just
pulled. He reminds her that they used to pull stunts like that all the time, but she says that it was a long time ago. He reminds her of some of their past
exploits, but Krista says that she no longer gets a kick out of ripping people off. Seb says that he was just trying to get her attention, but realises he
went too far as Krista says that ripping off her boyfriend wasn't the best idea. He asks if he can have a hug - Krista smiles and hugs him, before telling
him that he's an idiot, then sighing as he asks if he can stay with her.
 ..
In the Lassiters Complex, Krista has told Melanie everything, and Mel thinks that she should turn him down. She says that it wouldn't be healthy for Krista
to have him in her home, but Krista points out that she feels responsible for him becoming the wild child that he is. Mel isn't convinced, saying that she
can still remember what Krista was like before, when she lived the way that Seb still does - lying, taking advantage and not taking responsibility for
anything. Krista is upset to hear this, but Mel says that she's so proud of the life that Krista has made for herself now - but she needs to protect that
life. Leo then interrupts, asking if they're ready for the party. Mel gets up to leave, while Krista still looks conflicted about Seb.
At the hospital, Holly watches from the window, as Cara chats to JJ and Dex, wanting to know about their school camp. They think that she should rest,
but Remi insists that it's ok, and that Cara can rest later. JJ tells her about the shelter they built at camp, but Dex is clearly not in the mood to
chat. When JJ then asks how Cara fell, Holly appears and says that it was her fault. She tells Cara how sorry she is, but they realise that they were both
to blame for not being more careful, so Holly asks if there's anything she can do to help. Cara insists that she has plenty of help from the family, so
Holly tells her to get better soon and leaves, with Dex looking upset as she walks out.
 ..
At the tram, pig-themed decorations have been set up for Melanie's farewell party, and she introduces her newest cocktail, the Moscow Mel. Karl and Susan
tell Melanie how much they'll miss her, as she thanks them for giving her a safe place when she needed it most. They tell her that she's always welcome to
come and visit, and Mel tells them to think of her whenever they look at Elvis the pig. Mel then says her goodbyes to Krista, saying that she can postpone
her departure if necessary. Krista insists that she can handle Seb, and Mel agrees, telling her that she's stronger than she thinks. Krista then promises
that she'll make it up to Mel for everything she put her through, but Mel insists that she already has, and they share a hug.
Back at the hospital, Dex walks back into Cara's hospital room after getting a drink, watching as she sleeps while Remi and JJ play cards. He then walks off.
 ..
At the tram, Nicolette is telling her dad that she'll be visiting him at the pub, if only to get her free counter meals. Vic suggests that she could bring
her brother with her, and Byron tells his dad that it took guts for him to come back to Erinsborough. Vic says that it's just the beginning and that he's
going to continue trying to make it up to both of his kids. Nic tells Vic that she loves him, asking him to call when he gets to the pub. He tells her that
he'll send her a selfie and they hug.
Meanwhile, Mel is saying her goodbyes to Holly, who says that it feels like she's losing a big sister. Mel tells her that sisters are life and, as they hug,
Mel spots Vic. Holly encourages her to go over and talk to him - he says that he didn't want to leave without saying goodbye. He hands her a gift - some
coloured chalks to write her specials board - and they hug, as Jane watches from a distance. Vic tells Mel to be happy, and she says that he deserves to be
happy too. He then gets in his car and goes.
 ..
Later, Mel is packing up her gifts, as Jane offers to give her a hand. Mel says that it's been the best day, but Jane asks if there might be something that
would make it even better. They're interrupted by Leo and Krista, who have fortunes and affirmations to hand out. Mel opens her and reads 'Go bravely towards
your dreams. Live the life you've imagined' and they raise a toast. Jane then asks Mel if she's going to live bravely in every way, saying that if she's
holding back from being with Vic because of their friendship, then she needn't. Jane tells her to grab any chance at happiness with both hands, and they hug.
Later, Mel is in her van ready to go - she tells her friends that she loves them all, then drives off. As she goes, she receives a call from Madame Zolga,
telling her that it's amazing timing and asking if the universe has a message for her.
 ..
 ..
At number 28, Karl answers the door to Dex, who bursts in and angrily confronts Holly, telling her that Cara could have died because of her, and that she
can't get away with it. He tells her that she's to blame and he'll never forgive her, before quickly leaving. Karl and Susan tell Holly not to take it
personally and that Dex is just upset after seeing his mum in hospital. Holly thinks that Dex is right, however, saying that she just seems to keep on
hurting people. Karl thinks that she should reconsider giving the podcast interview the following day, but Holly says that she needs to talk about it and
get her story out there, otherwise it will just keep hanging over her.
At his new pub, Vic is setting up his phone to take a selfie and is surprised when he looks at it and sees Melanie in the background. She says that she's
being brave and asks him if he needs any help to write his specials board. He reminds her that she was meant to be off having adventures and she tells him
that the universe kept giving her signs about where she make her first stop. Vic disagrees and Mel's face drops, but then he suggests that this could be her
final destination. They share a kiss.
 ..
 ..
At Krista's apartment, she and Seb are reminiscing about the past and he suggests that they should go out, telling her that she doesn't have to drink.
Krista turns down the offer, saying that she has work in the morning so Seb relents and says that they can still stay in and have fun. She again tells him
that she won't be having that sort of fun and that she's sober and has worked hard to build her new life. Seb calls it boring, and Krista suggests that he
thinks that she should be embarrassed. He tells her that he's happy for her and that she seems to be in a good place, so he'll leave if it's going to be too
difficult to have him around. Having successfully manipulated her, Seb smiles to himself as Krista tells him that he can stay and they share a hug.
Featured Regular Characters: Melanie Pearson, Karl Kennedy, Susan Kennedy, Holly Hoyland, Krista Sinclair, Byron Stone, Nicolette Stone, Jane Harris, Leo Tanaka, Sam Young,
Remi Varga-Murphy, Cara Varga-Murphy, JJ Varga-Murphy, Dex Varga-Murphy, Isla Tanaka-Brennan
Guest Cast:
Craig Hall as Victor Stone,
Rarmian Newton as Sebastian Metcalfe
Trivia Notes
• Final regular appearance of Lucinda Cowden as Melanie,
though the character would return for a short guest stint during the 40th anniversary episodes
• Past character Sky Mangel is mentioned
Summary
by Steve
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