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Magic Moments
> 2019
> Mark's Departure
Episode 8212
Written
by Jason Herbison, Directed
by Chris Adshead, Produced
by Natalie Mandel and Natalie Lynch
Channel Eleven: 15/10/19, Channel 5: 15/10/19
Scarlett cuddles up to a sleeping Ned on the sofa, as a shocked Yashvi walks in on them... Despite Ned's protestations of innocence, Yashvi breaks up
with him... Bea warns Yashvi that she is sure Scarlett is making a move on Ned... David informs the Brennans that Fay's Huntington's condition is worsening...
Mark decides to move to Adelaide on a permanent basis to take care of Fay... Shaun promises to help Elly as much as he can, and they share a kiss...
At no. 28, Bea and Finn return home to find Shaun and Elly kissing. Despite he and Elly being back on track with their relationship, Shaun announces that
he is still going to Switzerland tonight to tie up a few loose ends, and that the sooner he does so the sooner he will be back. Worried that it may have
slipped his mind, Finn reminds Shaun that they have a meeting with Toadie, just as he arrives. He, Shaun and Toadie head outside to chat, leaving Bea and
Elly to have their own little conference about what just transpired between Elly and Shaun. An anxious Elly admits that she is concerned about jeopardising
things with Shaun, but is also worried about Mark, feeling that she shouldn't be happy when he is so down. She admits to Bea that she is in a dilemma and
doesn't know what to do.
 ..
Out on Ramsay Street, Mark is explaining to Aaron that leaving town is his only choice, although he admits that he is going to miss everyone. Just as he
says that Roxy suddenly reverses out of her driveway, nearly knocking he and Aaron over. After their short-term relationship came to an end recently, Roxy
isn't in the mood to chat despite Mark's protestations that she nearly ran them over, quickly driving off with a cursory 'whatever'. As she departs Aaron
comments on the tension between the two of them; Mark informs him that Roxy did try to talk to him earlier, but he brushed her off. He also mentions that
Roxy doesn't know he is leaving, and he has a lot to say to her, leaving Aaron to query his reluctance to tell anyone he is planning to move away. Aaron
jokes that he should post notes in everyone's letterboxes announcing his departure, before soberly telling Mark that if he doesn't tell people he's going
then he may come to regret it.
At the hotel, Paul spots Scarlett in a restricted area and asks her what she is doing on the seventh floor as it is off limits. She tells him that she was
getting some medication for a client which he left there when he changed rooms. Paul seems to accept this explanation as Ned walks in, telling them both to
get back to work.
 ..
As Paul leaves Ned and Scarlett take the lift back down to the reception area; Scarlett seems convinced that Paul and Terese want to fire her, but Ned
assures her that they are too busy worrying about the building to think about much else. Ned comments that the repair work going on at the hotel is strange,
and then suggests that Scarlett schmooze Paul and Terese to try and get on their good side. Grateful for Ned's advice, Scarlett offers to buy him all the
beer he can drink as a token of her appreciation. Ned jokingly agrees to this.
Back at no. 28, Shaun, Finn and Toadie are chatting, with Shaun informing Toadie that he will be returning to Erinsborough in four weeks, so they can launch
the Buddy Club a week after that. Toadie seems pleased with this proposal subject to the conditions he's set being met, which Finn takes to mean that he
cannot play a role in the project. They shake hands in agreement and Toadie leaves to talk to Ned about his community service. He is stopped by Bea, who is
keen to know how Yashvi is after she caught Ned and Scarlett in a compromising position. With Toadie surprised that Ned would cheat on Yashvi, Bea asks him
if he can bring up the subject when he speaks to him shortly.
 ..
At no. 24, Mark is looking around the house, before packing a photo of him with his brothers into a box. He then packs up a framed memorial to Caitlin and
finally looks sadly at a photo of Elly.
Over at no. 22, Toadie informs Ned of his community service job for tomorrow for the foundation; an over 80s mediation class. As they joke about this Toadie
becomes serious and mentions that Yashvi is having a tough time since walking in on him and Scarlett snuggling together on the couch, as she felt certain that
there was something going on between them. Ned insists that Yashvi has got the wrong end of the stick and is not being mature, adamant that nothing happened
between himself and Scarlett. He asks Toadie to look after her now that they have broken up.
 ..
At no. 28, Bea wonders if she wasn't tactful enough when asking Toadie to talk to Ned, whilst Elly decides that she needs to clear the air with Mark.
Having sorted things out at home, Mark heads outside to his car followed by Aaron and David, informing them that he has already said his goodbyes to the
neighbours. Aaron then becomes confused as Mark explains that he won't have heard the neighbours' reaction to his news yet, assuring them that it will all
become clear soon. He tells them that he needs to get on the road soon before it gets dark, although he must make one final stop before he goes. He then gives
them both a hug before driving away. As he leaves Aaron is disbelieving as he sees a post it note stuck to the letter box and goes over to read it, looking
incredulous as David asks him what it says.
 ..
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At no. 22, Paul is unhappy to see an empty whiskey bottle in his cabinet, shouting up at Roxy who he believes to be culpable. Ned suggests that he come and
join him and Scarlett at the Waterhole, but Paul is sure that he would get in the way as he's seen the way that Scarlett looks at Ned. As Ned tries to assure
Paul that Scarlett had nothing to do with his break-up with Yashvi, Scarlett arrives in a dress and hands Ned a post-it note she found in the letter box.
Conveniently for Scarlett she trips on the way into the living room and falls into Ned's arms, making Paul even more suspicious of what is going on between
the two of them. Before they head out Ned reads the note from Mark but doesn't understand what it's about and passes it on to Paul, who is also oblivious.
Paul slyly comments that things between Ned and Scarlett are slightly more obvious as they turn to leave.
At various locations in Erinsborough, residents are opening an email from Mark, the instructions to which he specified on his post it notes delivered to the
neighbours. Aaron, David, Kyle, Toadie, Nell, Hugo, Paul, Roxy, Ned, Elly and Bea are all watching their individualised video messages as Mark begins:
"G'day. If you're watching this, it means that I've left Ramsay Street, as in for good. I know it's usually better to do this sort of thing in person, but the
truth is, I don't trust myself to hold it together. But I couldn't leave without telling you all how much you mean to me."
His video messages then split into personal goodbyes, as he firstly tells Toadie that he was one of the first people he met in Erinsborough and how he has
become such an important part of his life. He then flippantly tells Paul that if someone hadn't pushed him off a balcony, he might never have become a part of
the community. Turning to Roxy, he tells her that she can party like nobody else but that she doesn't need to change for anyone as she is so much more. He
tells Ned that although they never really became friends, he feels that in a lot of ways they are similar, in that they are always trying to protect the
people they love.
 ..
 ..
 ..
Mark continues his goodbyes with further messages to Toadie, Kyle, Paul and Roxy, thanking Paul for leading him to Kate, apologising to Roxy for letting her
doubt herself, and assuring Toadie that they will always be connected by Sonya. He then turns his attention to Aaron and David, telling them that he was never
prouder than the day they got married, whilst assuring them that they will always be his brothers, and nothing will ever change that. Finally, he speaks to
Elly, who is sitting at home with Bea watching the video. He tells her:
"Elly, we weren't meant to be, but that doesn't mean I don't treasure the time we had together. You are going to be a fantastic mother, and this baby is
blessed to have you. Wherever life leads you, I wish you nothing but the best."
There are tears as Elly and Bea finish watching the video message, before Elly tells her sister that she can't leave things like this and that she must
find Mark.
 ..
Having digested Mark's heartfelt video message, Roxy is over at no. 32 and asks David and Aaron when Mark decided to leave. David informs her that it was in
Adelaide that Mark made the decision, starting off by requesting a work transfer and then making plans to rent his house out. Feeling saddened that the last
time she saw Mark was outside no. 24 when she nearly ran him over, she is interrupted in her thoughts as Elly rushes in asking where Mark is. Despite Aaron
telling her that she probably won't catch him, Elly pleads for information on where he could be. With David's gentle nudging, Aaron mentions that Mark did
want to go somewhere before he left town, and although he didn't specify where, he could probably take a guess as to the location.
Outside the Waterhole, Kyle is also discussing Mark's video message with Ned and Scarlett, as Scarlett heads inside to get a drink. Noticing the way that
Scarlett looked at Ned as she headed inside, Kyle wonders if she has her sights set on him, but Ned contends that it is too soon after Yashvi to think about
dating. Ned informs Kyle that things were difficult between Scarlett and her ex-partner Rex, and asks Kyle to keep an eye on her. He agrees to do so and
leaves, just as Scarlett comes back outside with her drink. With Kyle's words fresh in his mind, Ned indicates to Scarlett that although she is beautiful
and a great friend, it is too soon after Yashvi to think about dating again. He asks her to keep it to work hours from now on, so that no one gets the wrong
impression, and Scarlett agrees, although she mentions that she may not have any work hours to keep to if she doesn't resolve things with Paul and Terese.
She tries to ask for his advice, but Ned goes to the bathroom first, leaving Scarlett alone. She looks angry and upset with Ned's words.
 ..
 ..
Mark's final stop before he leaves is revealed to be at the Lassiters park, as he stands looking thoughtful next to Sonya's friendship tree, and then glances
over to the rotunda where Kate lost her life. With Aaron having divulged Mark's possible location, Elly rushes over, feeling relieved that she managed to
reach him in time. Mark looks surprised to see her, but before he can comment on this, Elly admits that in his farewell video message he told her everything
that she ever wanted him to say to her, but she felt that she wanted to tell him a couple of things herself. Firstly, she asks him if she is the reason that
he is leaving, and although Mark doesn't deny that this is the case, he also mentions other reasons such as his mum and brother Tyler, who need him. Elly
then starts talking, finding it easy to open up to Mark in the fraught circumstances:
"Just know I have nothing but love for you. I know that things didn't work out between us, but I still really care about you, what scares me the most is the
thought of us becoming strangers."
They promise that if they see each other in future, Mark won't look the other way, before Elly continues:
"You mean too much to me Mark. Never stop chasing your dream of having a child. I know one day when you find the right person, you'll make an incredible
father, and the baby will be so lucky to have you."
Knowing that time is short, and that this could be the last time they see each other, they stand together on the bridge as Mark looks at a love locket
they left when times were good for them. Mark considers if in the future another young couple will come across their locket and wonder who Mark and Elly
were, before Elly admits that if the history books say anything, when they were good, they were good. Mark agrees with this sentiment as they both contemplate
their respective futures.
 ..
At no. 32, Ned tries to assure an uncertain Scarlett by telling her that Terese loves a protege, whilst Scarlett admits that she loves women who empower
other women. Ned is certain that if they can get Terese on side, then Paul will be easier to manage. After their conversation earlier, Ned checks that
Scarlett is okay, but she informs him that she is fine. She understands that it is important if people don't get the wrong idea regarding the status of
their relationship. Their chat is suddenly interrupted with a deafening crash as a brick is thrown through the window, broken glass smashing onto the ground.
After hearing the noise Aaron rushes in and then goes to the front of the house, as Scarlett begs Ned not to leave her alone. As Ned picks up the brick, he
sees a note which reads 'You're mine', leaving Scarlett certain that her ex-partner Rex has returned and is nearby.
Featured Regular Characters: Mark Brennan,
Aaron Brennan, David Tanaka, Elly Conway, Bea Nilsson, Finn Kelly, Toadie Rebecchi, Nell Rebecchi, Hugo Somers, Paul Robinson, Ned Willis,
Roxy Willis, Kyle Canning
Guest Cast: Christie Whelan Browne as Scarlett Brady,
Brad Moller as Shaun Watkins
Trivia Notes
• Final regular appearance of Mark Brennan, though the character
would return for a guest stint during the 35th anniversary episodes in 2020
• Past characters Tyler Brennan, Kate Ramsay and Sonya Rebecchi are mentioned
Summary
by Michael
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