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Magic Moments
> 2025
> Tess' Return
Episode 9241
Written
by Stephen Vagg, Directed
by Harry Lloyd, Produced
by Andrew Thompson
10: 13/05/25, Amazon: 13/05/25
Taye starts working as an escort... Taye claims that he's suddenly got money because a friend paid him back... Lydia wants to see Taye again... Darcy claims
that, unlike Karl and Susan, Dee and Tess gave him a little bit of forgiveness for what he'd done in the past... Karl gets Tess's number from Susan's phone...
Darcy finds out that Amanda has some shares that she doesn't know about... Everyone is worried when Amanda refers to Nicolette as Noelle... Darcy transfers
Amanda's shares to himself...
At the Waterhole, Amanda, Jane, Byron and Aaron are having a Mother's Day dinner together, and Aaron is talking about how competitive Isla is becoming at
card games. Jane says that Nicolette was very similar as a child, and Amanda suggests that they should all have a family board games night. Darcy then walks
in, telling Jane and Amanda that they look fabulous and tells them all to enjoy their evening. Amanda then says that they should order the food, but Jane
tells her that they already have and looks worried as Amanda tries to brush it off. Across the bar, Darcy has joined Karl and Terese, though she has to rush
off as she's having an online dinner with her daughters. As she's about to leave, Karl receives a text from Tess, arranging to meet for coffee the next day.
He asks Terese if he can sort out some business at the tram in the morning and she agrees, suggesting that Darcy could fill in. Once Terese has gone, Darcy
asks Karl what's happening at the tram and Karl quickly says that he has a fungus issue he needs to investigate!
 ..
At no. 30, Taye receives a message from Fallon, reminding him about their payment plan for the money he owes her. He quickly calls Lydia, puts on his Sonny
Manhattan voice and arranges another date with her. As Remi walks in with wine and a pack of cards, he promptly winds up the call and sits down, with Remi
asking why he's been so jumpy lately. He says that he's just preparing himself to beat her at cards and she prepares to deal.
The next morning, at Eirini Rising, Sadie is with Amanda, helping her to choose a photograph. Sadie notices the Best Nanna Ever mug on the shelf and says
that Byron made one like that for Jane, with Amanda saying that he made one for her too. Sadie says that Byron thought that she's forgotten about it, but
she again brushes it off as a simple misunderstanding and goes to make them some tea.
 ..
At no. 24, Byron is chatting to Jane about how nice the previous evening was and how they managed to get through it without any arguments. Jane admits that
she's been thinking about something Amanda said, which Byron assumes was something bad, but Jane says that she's actually worried about her mum's memory.
She explains that she'd been putting Amanda's odd behaviour recently down to her being a drama queen, but she's starting to worry that there might be
something more at play. Sadie then arrives, wearing one of Amanda's old kaftans, and says that she's just been with Amanda and she found the mug. Byron
points out that his grandmother was adamant that the mug didn't exist, but Sadie says that she must just be a little absentminded, though Jane looks worried
at another sign pointing to memory loss.
Out on Ramsay Street, Darcy finds Karl getting the bins and reminds him that he has to refill his painkiller prescription soon. Karl then tells him that he
already weened himself off the painkillers and is just taking the natural supplements now. As Darcy goes to offer him help if he needs it, Karl abruptly ends
the conversation and says that he has a meeting to get to, and a disgruntled Darcy walks back across the street. Max and Taye, meanwhile, are coming back
from a run and an exhausted Max is surprised when Taye starts doing push-ups. Taye insists that he's just trying to keep the ladies happy and, as Max goes
inside, Aaron comes over so he and Taye can walk to work together. Taye says that he heard that Aaron used to be a dancer and he asks if he has any tips, as
his new lady friends has asked him to put on a performance for her. Aaron tells him to come up with a persona and stick to it, as it's as much about
personality as it is about moving the body. Taye then starts to take notes on his phone.
 ..
At the tram, Karl arrives to meet Tess, only to spot Susan walking in from the other direction. He asks what she's up to and she explains that she was
hoping that they could grab a coffee together. He quickly says that he'd love to, but he has a meeting, so Susan leaves and he goes inside to find Tess
waiting for him. She says that she was sorry that she didn't get a chance to catch up with him at the high school protest and asks if Susan is coming.
Karl then says that he wanted to get Tess on her own - it's about Darcy. She asks what he's been up to, as he's always up to something, and Karl asks when
she last saw him. Tess then drops the bombshell that she and Darcy ended up getting married and that she hasn't seen him since the divorce. Karl is shocked
and asks if she can tell him more about what happened. Tess looks unsure, but when she hears that Darcy has moved back to Ramsay Street and that Karl is
trying to prove that he hasn't changed, she agrees to talk, but says that it isn't a pretty story.
At Eirini, Jane, Susan, Byron and Terese are in the office, and Jane is looking to Susan and Terese for guidance about Amanda, asking if they've noticed
anything strange about her behaviour or her memory. Susan says that there've been a few moments of forgetfulness and that she referred to Darcy as 'Peter'
once, but Terese thinks that this could be put down to the readjustment after moving from Sydney. Susan points out that Harold had memory problems once
before, but it just turned out to be him mixing his medications. Terese suggests that they could get Karl or Darcy to do some cognitive tests, though Jane
is reluctant, feeling that it would damage her already fragile relationship with her mum. Byron then offers to try talking to Amanda - Jane thinks this is
a good idea, but Susan warns him to tread carefully.
 ..
Amanda is in her room and is delighted to get a visit from Byron, who suggests a card game. She tells him that she's just about to catch the courtesy bus
to the pharmacy, asking if he could come back later, and he then notices her papers on the table and asks about them. Amanda tells her grandson that she's
been putting off doing her banking, so he offers to help her out.
Back at the tram, Tess is explaining how she and Darcy ran into each other fifteen years earlier and she ended up chatting to him and he was very apologetic
and told her how much he'd changed. Karl recognises this behaviour from Darcy's recent return to Erinsborough, as Tess says that she fell for him all over
again and, with nobody to talk sense into her, she ended up marrying him - the beginning of the worst two years of her life, even compared to her abusive
ex-husband, Brendan. She explains that Darcy cheated on her, took money from her and gaslit her, and that it felt like 2001 all over again. Karl tells her
how sorry he is and she admits that, deep down she knew how people would react, so she kept the wedding quiet and the divorce even quieter, and that she
hasn't seen him since then. Tess becomes upset and admits that there's more...
 ..
At Eirini, Amanda is on her way back from the pharmacy when she runs into Darcy, telling him that Byron has offered to help with her banking paperwork
later, so he's off the hook. Darcy says that he doesn't mind helping, but Amanda tells him that Byron was very keen to do it, as he was very touched when
he found out that she still had the mug that he made for her as a child. Darcy smiles as Amanda says that moving back to Erinsborough might have been a
good idea after all and she walks off, leaving Darcy to work out a plan.
At no. 32, Taye is practising lines for Lydia later, unaware that Max has appeared and has been listening in. Taye quickly claims that he has a date and
wants to make a good first impression, but Max thinks that it seems like a lot of effort to be going to.
 ..
Tess is telling Karl that things got messy during the break-up, and they both did and said things they regret, but she was left being owed $15,000 by
Darcy and she doubts she'll ever see it again. She explains that Darcy was juggling a few debts at the moment, including with Anthony Hailsworth, another
doctor he went into partnership with. Karl doesn't recognise the name, and Tess asks if he thinks she's a fool. Karl points out that she was simply taken
in by a very skilled manipulator and that it's happened to Susan again too, plus the residents at Eirini think he's lovely. Tess asks what Karl is going to
do, and he admits that he doesn't know, to which she replies that, whatever Darcy says or does, his true nature will come out eventually.
Darcy, meanwhile, turns up at Amanda's apartment and asks if he can have a quick word before Byron arrives. Amanda is then confused as Darcy says that,
although she's an independent woman, he doesn't want to see her being taken advantage of, and he explains that he's concerned about elder abuse. He tells
her that, if she's worried about Byron or any other member of the family poking their nose in, she should tell him. Amanda asks what prompted this
conversation and Darcy points out that Byron has been absent from her life for years and he's suddenly interested in her finances and, although it could
be totally innocent, it could also be his way of getting his hands on her money. Amanda can't believe that Byron would ever do that and Darcy says that he
might dress is up as 'taking the burden off her', so warns her to be careful and tells her that he's always there if she needs him.
 ..
At no. 32, Sadie and Max are sitting by the pool, using Trevor's training crate as a drinks cooler. Taye then appears, wearing expensive sunglasses,
claiming that he used his tips from the piano bar to pay for them. Sadie doesn't believe him, but Max prompts a change in subject, asking about Taye's
date. Taye insists that a gentleman never shares and then starts flashing the cash, asking them if they want to go for a drink. They agree, but Sadie then
notices some massage oil on Taye's neck - he claims that he treated himself to a massage too. As Max and Sadie go to leave, Taye hangs back and sends a
message to Fallon, telling her that he's sent the first instalment of what he owes her.
At Amanda's apartment, she's explaining how her late husband, Peter, used to deal with the banking and Byron asks how many accounts she actually has. She
admits that she isn't sure so Byron offers to do some research and help her consolidate it all into one account. Amanda is delighted and goes to make them
some tea, which Byron uses as an opportunity to mention how she forgot the mug he made for her. She insists that it just slipped her memory, so he brings up
the mix-up with Harold's medication and the fact that she forgot that they'd ordered dinner the night before. Amanda asks what he's getting at, asking if this
is why he offered to help with her banking. He says that he just wanted to take some of the burden off her shoulders, at which point she remembers what Darcy
said and becomes upset, saying that she's been warned about this and that she'd rather not have Byron's help. Darcy, meanwhile, has been listening outside
and comes in at this point and asks if everything's ok - Amanda asks him to show Byron out. Byron is surprised by this, but leaves, with Darcy closing the
door behind him then sharing a knowing look with Amanda.
 ..
In the Eirini office, Byron finds Jane, Terese, Karl and Susan waiting for news, and he explains that things didn't go very well. Karl suggests that maybe
Jane could try next, but then Darcy comes in, carrying something. He says that he'll come back later, but Byron insists that it's fine and asks how Amanda
was after he left. Darcy starts being vague and says that Amanda is very independent and doesn't like it when someone challenges that. Susan then asks him
what he's carrying and he opens up a blanket to reveal the mug, broken into pieces, claiming that she became agitated and he doesn't think she meant to break
it. As Jane comforts Byron, Karl doesn't look entirely convinced.
At the Waterhole, as Taye goes up to the bar to pay for his, Sadie and Max's drinks, Aaron is surprised by the huge wad of cash he pulls out. Remi then
walks up and is also shocked to see her brother flaunting his money, asking who actually uses cash these days. Taye quickly claims that it's from his tips
and asks Remi to join them for a drink - she replies that she should be encouraging him to save his money but, realising that would be a wasted effort,
orders a red wine and goes to sit with Sadie and Max. Taye then reports to Aaron that his date was a huge success, thanking him for his tips, and Aaron
picks up a hundred dollar note and asks him how he managed to get such big tips in a place like Erinsborough. Taye says that he got lucky, as a lot of
German and American tourists came through the piano bar and, before Aaron can ask any more questions, he returns to his table.
 ..
At no. 28, Karl and Susan arrive home and he tells her that his meeting at the tram earlier was with Tess Bell. At first, Susan wishes she'd known as
she'd have liked to catch up, but then she realises that this was all about Darcy. She reminds Karl that he was going to drop this vendetta, but then Karl
asks Susan if she knew that Darcy and Tess had been married. Susan is very surprised to learn this, particularly that Darcy never mentioned it, and Karl
then adds that Darcy behaved appallingly, cheated on her and used her for money. He adds that things also went badly when Darcy went into business with
another doctor. Susan admits that none of this sounds very good, but they should at least hear Darcy's side of the story before making their minds up. Karl
doesn't feel the need, pointing out that Darcy is just a compulsive liar with an agenda - at which point Darcy appears in the doorway and makes his presence
known...
Featured Regular Characters: Jane Harris, Aaron Brennan, Byron Stone, Karl Kennedy, Susan Kennedy, Terese Willis, Sadie Rodwell, Max Ramsay, Taye Obasi, Remi Varga-Murphy
Guest Cast:
Mark Raffety as Darcy Tyler,
Briony Behets as Amanda Harris,
Krista Vendy as Tess Bell
Trivia Notes
• Krista Vendy returns for a guest stint as Tess Bell, having last appeared in late 2023
• Past characters Dee Bliss and Lyn Scully are mentioned
Summary
by Steve
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