Strange Paradise:  Episode 1
Episode 1:  Slideshow
Episode 1
 
A large hulking man is walking up a hill carrying buckets of dry ice.  In the mansion the housekeeper and Dr. Menkin are in a discussion. "Quito is back,” the doctor tells Raxl.  "Doctor, what Msieu Desmond asks...” Raxl questions the doctor.  "You mean what he demands." Dr. Menkin replies.  "Dr. Menkin you must tell him."  "The voice of reason is helpless in the face of agony and grief." the doctor replies. Raxl looks at him with a worried look on her face.  Jean Paul Desmond descends the staircase carrying his wife's body.  Raxl pleads with him. " Msieu Desmond let the little bird rest in peace, she is dead."  Jean Paul takes his wife's body to the family crypt. Raxl and Dr. Menkin follow him. Coming up from the crypt Raxl goes to Jean Paul.  "Oh my poor Msieu, I know how much you loved her."  "Love her Raxl, I love her." Jean Paul says as he walks away.  "It's always hard to accept the finality of death." Dr. Menkin says as he comes up to Jean Paul.  "I do not accept it, not for my Erica." Jean Paul retorts.   
 
Dan Forrest and Dr. Alison Carr are discussing Jean Paul and Erica. Alison has not heard from her sister in quite a while. Knowing that Erica is six months pregnant she is very worried about her. Alison decides to fly with Dan to Maljardin, Jean Paul and Erica's home.
 
Dr. Menkin is waiting for the people from the cryonics society. Jean Paul is worried the boat cannot get across because of the high wind and the upcoming storm. He starts yelling, and then grabs Dr. Menkin and starts shaking him.  "Msieu Desmond please, has the devil taken your soul." Raxl asks him. Jean Paul looks stunned then walks away. Raxl walks up to him. "I know the pain, the sorrow. I loved her too."  "Raxl with every resource at my command for the rest of my days, I will bring my lovely Erica back." Jean Paul turns and heads up the staircase.  Raxl glances at a portrait on the wall and asks Dr. Menkin. "Can your modern science ever raise the dead."  The doctor tells her it's not possible. "With out the breath of life there is no life. The dead belong to him." talking about God.  Raxl again looks at the portrait. "And you Jacques Eloi Des Mondes belong to the devil."  Jean Paul is holding a glass of brandy. Raxl is behind him.  "There are forces here of ancient evil, good and evil that you must not tempt to rise and you will. Let your poor wife rest in peace, do you dare to fly in the face of God?" Raxl tells him.  "On this Island from this moment forward, I am God." Jean Paul tells her.  "Bravo." a voice comes from the air. Jean Paul turns with his glass raised, he looks at the portrait. Raxl turns, looks at the portrait then turns back to Jean Paul. She reaches for his wrist.  "Msieu, Msieu Desmond."  "Three hundred years apart but like me he lost a wife." Jean Paul says.  "Please don't compare. Please, please." Raxl begs.  "But for the span of centuries, he and I could be the same man." Jean Paul tells her.  "No, no he was the devil." Raxl tells him. "And after what you have done!"  "No more Raxl. Goodnight." Jean Paul tells her. Raxl leaves and heads up the staircase.  Jean Paul turns back to the portrait. "Who are you?"  "You heard faithful old Raxl,” the portrait tells him.  "The devil!" Jean Paul says as he turns walks away to stand next to the staircase.  "Can you turn your back on him?" the portrait asks.  "No! NO this is my battle!" Jean Paul says.  "For the want of an ally the battle could be lost. Turn, face me. Look!  Jean Paul turns toward the portrait.  "Come closer." Jean Paul walks "Closer. Now who am I." Jacques asks. Jean Paul lifts his eyes toward the portrait. "The man you are, the man you might have been."  Jean Paul is transported to Jacques time. He watches as Jacques greets his wife. Then leaving with her to the laughter of their guests. Jean Paul is back at Maljardin still holding the glass of brandy. He looks around the room.  "How lovely a woman is, especially a man’s own." the portrait says.  Jean Paul turns and looks at the portrait.  "For my life I give you back your woman."  "You are the devil." Jean Paul says as he turns away.  "He lives in every man. Find me where I lie in the tomb." the portrait tells him. With his back to the portrait Jean Paul raises his glass. "Poor sweet Erica, poor darling, suspended forever between life and death." the portrait tells him.   Jean Paul rushes away.  "Find me where I lie in the tomb. Find me!" the voice echoes.  "No, NO!" Jean Paul hurls the glass at the portrait. He then turns and runs to the crypt. Coming to Erica's casket Jean Paul kneels down behind it he puts his hands on the top.  "Erica my darling, I have found a way." He then hunts for Jacques name on his casket. Finding it he reads Jacques Eloi Des Mondes:  Who disturbs my sleep has the devil to pay. 1760-1789   Jean Paul starts pulling out Jacques casket.
 
Alison and Dan arrive on the mainland. They have to wait for the next day to get word to Maljardin of their arrival because of the bad weather hitting the area.  As the female singer starts her song we flash to Jean Paul opening the casket. He finds a doll with a nail through its head. As the singer in the cafe sings “That Old Black Magic”, Jean Paul pulls the nail out.  Raxl clutches her head and screams.  As she is rushing to the crypt Jean Paul is wearing the outfit from the portrait of Jacques Eloi Des Mondes. The portrait shows up blank.   "The voodoo spell is broken." Jean Paul (Jacques) says.  Raxl rushes in, Jean Paul, back in his own cloths turns around and asks. "Why what is the matter with you Raxl?" He holds the doll in his hand.
 
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Summaries written by Debby Graham .  The slide presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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Episode 02