Strange Paradise:  Episode 102
Episode 102:  Slideshow
Raxl: "Desmond Hall by daylight. The sounds of the morning disguising the presence of the spirit which haunts the residents of the ancient castle. But beneath its towers the mansion has memories of its own. Its ghost recalls how these stones had once served as an outpost in a new world. And later as a monastery where peace and freedom reign. But now where Holy Bells once sounded evil forces move in ominous silence for the death of all who dwell within. Thus whispers the wind when it passes Desmond Hall in the morning."
 
Jean Paul attaches a black band to the arm of his jacket as he walks down the staircase. At the bottom of the stairs he watches as Helena walks in from the outside. "Such a heavenly day. I walked in the meadows and picked flowers every step of the way." She walks up to Jean Paul with a smile as she carries a basket of flowers. "Mr. Desmond you look so grim and dramatic. As if you are in mourning."  "Agatha Pruett is dead." Jean Paul tells her.  "Agatha." Helena looks away. "A pretty young thing who dreamed of dancing. Dancing forever under the chandelier of Desmond Hall. How sad, how unbelievably sad. Mr. Desmond, Jean Paul how did it happen?"  "She was drowned in the river."  "Oh no. How?"
"She ran out of this house and no one knows how it happened." Jean Paul tells her.  "How unfair. May I go with you and bring these flowers?" Helena holds up a few flowers. "They look like her. So young so loving. She loved you Jean Paul. Did you know that?"  Raxl enters the foyer. "Master I have told you, you must not go."  "I have an obligation Raxl."  "It is too late. I learned from the shop keepers in town that the girl was cremated this morning. And her family has left Desmondton."  Jean Paul glances down. "Thank you Raxl."  There is a knock on the front door and Raxl answers it.  Helena glances at Jean Paul. "You must not have any guilt. Agatha loved you. For what ever reason Agatha took her life you must not assume it was because of you."  "Master?"  "What is it Raxl?" Helena turns and asks.  "This urn, nobody in sight. This urn on the doorstep." Raxl says as she carries it to Jean Paul.  "A funeral urn and a note." Helena says as she takes the note from Raxl and turns to Jean Paul.  "Read it." Jean Paul says quietly.  Helena opens it. "To Mr. Desmond. Here is our daughter with our curse upon your soul. Her mother and father."  Jean Paul bows his head.
 
The urn is placed in the Drawing Room on the mantel of the fireplace. Helena touches it. "But it is a dreadful thing. A constant reminder. It must not stay here." she says to Raxl.  "It is the Masters orders."  "Raxl talk to him. It can only cause him sorrow and needless pain."  "I do not think he will feel such grief Miss Raleigh unless you press it upon him."  "Well I would never think of such a thing. Raxl I'm here to be pleasant and to make Mr. Desmond happy."  "If you say so." Raxl says with a bow. Raxl turns and steps away.  "What did you mean by that Raxl? I demand to know what you meant?" Helena says as she walks towards Raxl. "You do not like me do you? You haven't from the moment I first appeared."
Raxl turns and looks at her. "I think you have other things to worry about. Such as your theatrical performances tonight. And the next place you will perform on your tour."  "I cancelled all the performances." Helena smiles at Raxl. "And to whether I go with the rest of the tour or not I shall leave to Mr. Desmond."  "You will stay at Desmond Hall."  "For as long as he wants me to." Helena says as she walks around the Drawing Room. "I intend to make Desmond Hall as warm and pleasant as I can. And I expect like treatment from you."  "I obey my Master." Raxl says with her back towards Helena.  "Then he shall speak to you this. Mark my words he will."  "I also confide in my Master and tell him my true feelings."
"Then tell me. What are your true feelings about me? After all it isn't my fault I resemble the late Mrs. Desmond."  Raxl turns and walks around the table. "Isn't it?"  "Not at all any more than I'm to blame that this house is haunted with fears of demons and curses." Helena picks up a flower from the vase.  "You do not believe in demons?"  "I find them dull especially when life is an adventure. Good fortune is much more exciting. If you must accuse me of something Raxl then say that I appreciate the Desmond wealth and Desmond comfort, I admit to that." Helena walks up to Raxl. "Make of it what you will but do not include me in your web of evil premonitions."  "I include you in nothing." Raxl says then walks towards the door.  "Raxl could you tell Mr. Desmond that I wish to see him please." Helena walks to the fireplace after Raxl leaves the room. "Well Agatha and what do you think? Do I tell the truth? The whole truth? For you my dear, you served your purpose well." Helena lays the flower in her hand next to the urn then looks away. "The stage is set." she says with a smile.
 
Jean Paul is dressing in his room with Quito assisting. "The jacket Quito." Quito holds it while Jean Paul slips it on. "The mourning band." Quito fastens it on Jean Paul's left arm. "Quito if you can only speak. If only through some magic you could tell me what you know."  Quito shakes his head touching his mouth with his fingers and hands.  "Quito you mustn't feel badly. I am the guilty one not you." There is a knock at the door. "The door Quito." Quito nods then walks to the door and opens it.  Raxl stands in the doorway. "Master?"  "Come in Raxl."  Raxl still stands in the doorway. "Miss Raleigh would like to see you in the Drawing Room."  "I said come in Raxl." Jean Paul says as he walks towards the door.  Raxl enters. "Close the door." Jean Paul tells Quito. Quito does as he is told. "Raxl, Quito is very upset because he cannot speak to me. There is something he knows that he cannot communicate. Now do you know of any way to reach him? To know what he is thinking?"  "I have tried in the past. It has been done."
"How?" Jean Paul asks.  "At great suffering to Quito."  "Oh no, he mustn't suffer."
"It is the only way Master."  "Quito whatever it is that you are trying to tell me is it important?"  Quito nods excitedly.  "Well it important that I should know what it is?"  Again Quito nods.  "Quito?" Raxl calls to him. "Do you wish me to apply the crown of iron?"  Quito shakes his head in fear.  "The crown of iron?" Jean Paul asks as Quito huddles in a chair in fear.  "It is our method Master in which I can decipher the unspoken secrets in his mind." She touches Quito's head. "It must be applied and tightened. It is most painful to Quito and to me. Although he suffers the pressure of the crown I too must suffer the agony that I may devise his thoughts. Quito?"  "No I won't let you be hurt either of you." Jean Paul says touching the chair Quito is sitting in.  "We are servants, Master."  "No I forbid it! Now Quito what ever it is that you want me to know I will learn it somehow in my own way. But I will not see you in pain." Jean Paul looks at Raxl. "Do you understand?"  "Yes." Raxl says quietly not looking at Jean Paul.  Jean Paul walks to the door. "I'll join Miss Raleigh."  "Master?" Raxl walks up behind him. "This woman do you know what she wants?"  "Oh just a little relaxation away from the years of drudging of the theater. A little luxury perhaps, a little kindness."  "And what do you want of her?"  "The memory of a little kindness." Jean Paul says then leaves the room.  Raxl walks up to Quito. "It must be done, you know that. The crown of iron."  Quito silently cries out in terror.  Raxl looks away. "It will be done."
 
In the Drawing Room Helena picks up the vase of flowers and smells them.
"Lovely, very lovely." Jean Paul says walking into the Drawing Room.  "Not at all. I'm used to arranging plastic bouquets on a stage. It's been a long time since I had the real petals."  Jean Paul walks to her and touches the flowers.  "A real scent of flowers." Helena says.  Jean Paul bends and smells the flowers. "Oh these look as if they have come from a magic garden where you have lived all your life. Even the flowers obey you." He says with a smile. As Jean Paul straightens he sees Agatha's urn. He stands and stares at it.  "Jean Paul what is it?" Helena looks across the room. "Oh I see. Perhaps my flowers are out of place."  "No, no. I think she would like it there. She loved Desmond Hall. She always liked to see it sparkle." Jean Paul looks away sadly.  "It really must go. The urn, her ashes don't belong." Helena says walking to the mantel and reaching for the urn.  "No don't touch it!"  Helena pulls her hand away. "Very well then. And the note that came with them? The message. What about this and the curses?" She picks up the note.  Jean Paul walks over to Helena and takes the note from her. "This had nothing to do with Agatha. Her parents had nothing to do with her dead or alive. She ran away from them, disowned them and I will disown them now." Bending towards the fire he throws the note into the flames.
"I wish it was always so easy disowning our enemies." Helena says. The note becomes surrounded by flames. "Jean Paul!" Helena cries out.  The fire flash and flares as a skull appears in the fire. "Burn! Turn to ashes!" Jean Paul shouts as he grabs a poker and shoves it into the flames.  "That acid smell. As if flesh were..." Helena says.  Jean Paul pulls back from the fire. "It's gone."  "My what highly unusual parents. I do hope they never decide to send fan letter to obscure actresses."  "Erica!" Jean Paul shouts.  "What did you say?" Helena asks.  Jean Paul turns away. "I'm sorry. When you spoke like that you sounded like Erica when she..." He says walking away from Helena.  "When she was bitter?" Helena asks.  "Yes." Jean Paul turns and looks at Helena. "But she was seldom bitter."
"Well then I shan't be either." Helena says with a smile. She walks up to Jean Paul. "Jean Paul you must tell me when I do something that is wrong. If I'm ever to achieve a valid performance."  "Performance? I didn't bring you here to perform." "Didn't you?" Helena asks looking at Jean Paul's face. 
 
Raxl and Quito are in Philip's secret room. Quito sits as Raxl lifts up a round crown of metal. It has points on the bottom. "Quito are you willing?"  Quito nods.
"For the Master Quito, for the Master."  Quito nods then bows his head. His hands are clasped against his chest.  "Then raise your head."  Quito raises his head slowly.  "There must be no movement, no motion, and no sound. I must listen to the mind and the spirit." The attaches the crown to Quito's head as Quito screams silently. Raxl places her hands on top of Quito's head. "For the Master Quito, for the Master."
 
Jean Paul sits in a chair in the Drawing Room silently.  Helena stands in the doorway. "Jean Paul look at me. Well what do you think?" She turns and shows off her gown.  Jean Paul stands.  "Am I beautiful?"  Jean Paul smiles at her. "Very beautiful."  "From the theater, Shakespeare. Lady Macbeth who is perhaps not suppose to look beautiful at all. But she must have some charms don't you think?" Helena says walking to Jean Paul. "To have such powers over her husband. Would you like to hear some of it?"  Jean Paul nods.  "Oh good, then let me see. A dagger." Helena says and looks around the room. She walks over to a table and picks up a letter opener. She raises it in front of her. "Is this a dagger I see before me? No it's a letter opener but it will have to do."  Jean Paul laughs as Helena walks over to him.  "Now come. You sit down there." She directs him to the couch. "The guest of honor." She looks at Jean Paul. "And the performance shall begin." She says with a bow. Helena walks across the room. "We failed but screw your courage to the sticking plate and we will not fail." She walks towards Jean Paul. "When Duncan is asleep where to wander shall the day’s hard journey soundly invite him? It's to Chamberlain shall I with wine and what thrall conversed that memory. The water of the brain shall be a few and the receipt of reason on lenback only. When is swimish sleep their dreaded nature lie as if in death." Helena kneels. "What can not you and I put upon the unguarded Duncan. What not put upon the spongy officers who will bear the guilt of our great quill."  Jean Paul leans forward. "Bring forth men children only for I adulated metal shall pose nothing but males."  Helena looks at him. "You know it and well too. Or this." Helena stands and holds out her hand. "And yet there's a spot. Out spot, out I say! One, two by then tiss time." She raises the dagger brings it down knocking Agatha's urn to the floor. "Oh I'm so sorry." Helena says as she looks at Jean Paul.  Jean Paul stands in anger.  "I got carried away with my role.' Helena says looking at the broken urn. "And poor Agatha scattered about." She kneels down touching the pieces.  "Helena!"  "Yes." She looks up at Jean Paul.
"In your role there is no reason to raise the dagger! There is no cause to lift your hand!"  "I don't know what you mean."  "You smashed that urn deliberately! And as far as I am concerned all the perfume of Arabia will not sweeten this! Shakespeare!" He says angrily and walks out of the room.  "Well! Who would have thought the man to have so much blood in him?" She says with a smile.
 
Raxl stands over Quito. "Yes, yes." Quito grabs the crown and pulls it from his head. "Quito you mustn't. I heard your mind speaking to me." Raxl kneels next to him. "I know it causes you untold suffering but I must suffer too. It must be done for the Master. Who are we Quito? Nothing, two creatures who have lived too many centuries. Our blood cold our skeletons trapped inside of us. Our bones bleached and dry. What purpose do we have but to serve? " Raxl stands.”Quito I command you by the spirits of our ancestors by the powers of the beneficial God I..."  The serpent hisses. Raxl glances up. "No! Do not dare to enter! God of evil you have no power here! Depart!"  Quito stands in fear as the Serpent's shadow forms in front of them.  "Quito I know that you have visited the river caves beneath Desmond Hall. I know that the caves were sealed up by Gerard Desmond. You have seen the altar of the Serpent God. You know his powers and his dark secrets. In the name of our ancestor destroy the Serpent. Kill! Kill!"
 
Jean Paul sits alone in his room when there is a knock on the door. "Jean Paul let me in. I've come to apologize. I confess it was not an accident. Jean Paul can you hear me?" Helena asks as Jean Paul turns away from the door. Helena enters and closes the door behind her. She walks over to the chair Jean Paul is sitting in. "Jean Paul it was all for you. Haven't you suffered enough?" Helena kneels in front of him. "Jean Paul you must try to begin a new life and leave all your memories behind you. Memories of bitter things. At least mine are. You said you didn't like Erica when she was bitter so you must reject bitter things. Agatha's memory would only bring you pain. Jean Paul I gathered her ashes and scattered them in the sunshine and they landed in the flowers which is where she belongs. Where she will be transformed into living lovely things and not cause you any pain. That is what I want Jean Paul to bring you happiness. Do you believe me?"
Jean Paul glances at her. "I believe you."  "Good, good." Reaching up she kisses him. "Now you mustn’t mistrust me again." Helena stands. "I am never against you Jean Paul." She walks to the door. "I am always as you want me to be." Helena says then she leaves the room. Jean Paul stands and walks to stand in front of the mirror. "Erica I love you."  "Erica is dead my brother. Erica is dead." Philip's image appears in the mirror.  "Philip?"  "When will you stop mourning the dead and serve the living. I'm not dead Jean Paul, I live."  "Alive? Are you alive?"
"Alive and in constant suffering. Look upon my face and rescue me."  "Where? Tell me where can I find you!" Jean Paul says as he rushes to the mirror and touches it. Philip's image disappears. "Where?" Jean Paul whispers.
 
Helena is on her knees in the Drawing Room sweeping up the urn and Agatha's ashes. She picks up a garbage can. "Well Agatha dear what can I saw except ashes to ashes." She pours the remains into the can.
 
Raxl and Quito face the Serpent. "Kill it Quito. The Serpent can not crush you. Kill him!" Raxl shouts as she backs away. "I call on the Gods of the Serpent. You who rule for power of good and not evil. The battle is being done with your enemy! Drawing from the evil Serpent his blood!" She looks at Quito. "Crush it Quito, crush its heart."  Quito has the Serpent in his hands twisting it. The door starts to open. Raxl turns and tries to push it closed. "Out, you must stay out!" Jean Paul enters. "Master you must leave."  "I am not afraid."  Quito lays on the floor unconscious. "We have lost. We have lost the battle." Raxl says as she rushes to Quito. "Quito are you all right? The Serpent can not defeat you."  Jean Paul kneels next to him. "Quito I am sorry. You must live Quito and help me find my brother. He is alive!"  Quito stirs.  "Yes my brother is alive. Somewhere."  "Quito knows Master. He has been there."  Jean Paul glances at Raxl.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Summaries written by Debby Graham .  The slide presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Episode 103