Episode 11: Slideshow
Carrying a candle Holly walks down the staircase. She stops and
looks at Jacques portrait, then turns and goes down into the crypt. She hears
Jean Paul talking. Jean Paul is
telling Erica of his bringing Tim to the Island to paint her portrait. Holly
comes up behind him. "As this
cryonics capsule preserves you, so our love sustains me until we are ready to
share our life again." Jean Paul says to Erica. Turning he sees Holly. "What are you doing down here?" He grabs
Holly's wrist, the candle goes out.
"I was thirsty." "And you
came all this way for a glass of water?" Jean Paul says as he lets go of Holly's
wrist. "I was trying to find the
kitchen and I heard you talking." Holly tells him walking up to Erica's capsule.
"What is this place, a morgue? "
Walking behind Holly, Jean Paul tells her. "These are my ancestors." "And this?" she points to the
capsule. "My wife." "Your wife! Is she dead?" Jean Paul nods his head. "Oh boy you are a kook. I'm going to get
out of here." Holly runs past him, Jean Paul tries to grab her, but she gets
away to the stairs. Raxl is walking
down the staircase from the bedrooms, when she sees Holly run through the Great
Hall. Holly hides in a scrunched position on the couch. "What happened?" Raxl asks Jean
Paul who is behind Holly coming from the crypt. "She found me in the crypt. She's
frightened." "She's on the verge of
hysterics." Raxl says. "Oh don't
over dramatize Raxl. She will be back to herself in a moment." Jean Paul says as
he puts his hand on Holly's shoulder.
Holly is still sobbing. "I
doubt any of us will in this cursed house and doomed Island." "That's enough Raxl. She needs something
warm, some chocolate perhaps." "You
too?" "No I... I remember Erica
used to like it on occasions. Yes me to. Miss Marshal? Holly?" "I'm all right now Mr. Desmond."
Holly sits up but is still upset.
Jean Paul sits next to her. "You have had quite a scare. I'm sorry." "I really flipped out there for a
moment." "It's not really a
pleasant scene." Jean Paul tells her.
"Was I really that bad?" "I
was referring to the crypt." "Oh
yea, It is cold and dreary isn't it?"
"Especially for someone your age." Jean Paul tells her. "I'm not really that young Mr. Desmond
and I know about death and how much it can hurt you." "I'm much older than you are and I can
tell you the hurt is very great."
"You're not that old."
"Sometimes I wonder how old I really am,” replies Jean Paul. "Sometimes I feel older than
Methuselah." Holly tells him. "But
much prettier." Jean Paul tells her.
"But much sadder." replies Holly.
"With the whole world before you. Don't be." Holly looks at Jean Paul. "Oh no Mr.
Desmond, I feel sad for you and that poor lady down there. I heard you talking
to her, you must have loved her very much." "She was my life, she is my life." Jean
Paul says with a sad smile. "Now
she's dead." "She will rise again
Holly. Does that seem strange to you?"
Holly turns her face away. "I called you a kook before." "Do you think I still am?" "Mr. Desmond I don't know. I wish you
had been around when my father died. We had this big cushy funeral. My mother
all in black and weeping until the will turned up. The money was left to me and
she was red with rage. I wish I could have gone to my father's funeral with a
belief like you have. Then maybe
someday my father and me could be together again." Holly cries out for her
father against Jean Paul's shoulder.
Jean Paul holds her with a sad look upon his face. I'm sorry." Holly pulls away. I don't
know why I broke down like that. It could be because you are so sad and I'm so
unhappy." "Look, if it's because of
your father try to think of the happy times. The things you shared together, the
good memories. They help Holly." Jean Paul tells her. "I know, but my mother always manages to
louse up my thoughts. Even my life. Please Mr. Desmond, I owe you too much to
weigh you down with my woes. I stowed away on your boat, then I intruded on your
private sorrow." With a smile Jean
Paul stands, "No harm done. Now you get yourself to bed and get a good rest.
Raxl will be up with some chocolate later and tomorrow Quito and I will take you
back to the Mainland." Holly grabs
Jean Paul's hand. "Oh no, please let me stay. just till... look it won't be for
long. Please, yesterday you said you understood someone who's wanting to
escape." Holly pleads with Jean Paul.
"I do but after all you're only a..." Holly turns away from Jean Paul curling
up on the couch facing the back of it. "Don't say that." she cuts off Jean
Paul’s words, then pounds her fist against the cushion. "I'm sick of hearing it.
I'm not a child." Jean Paul again
sits on the edge of the couch. "Holly, are you in some sort of trouble?" Holly turns toward him, "No I'm only
trying to find a little happiness. Please let me stay. I'll pay you back
whatever it costs." "Money isn't a
factor, your peace of mind is." Jean Paul says with a smile. "Then your answer is yes?" "I'll think it over." Jean Paul tells
her. "Thank you." Raxl walks in with the chocolate. "Raxl, would you leave mine here, and
Holly will have hers in the other room." Jean Paul walks away, he stops with his
back to them. "Can't I have mine
here with you?" Jean Paul turns.
"This late at night, a man and woman left together alone. Poor Raxl wouldn't
approve." "You're putting me on."
Holly says. With a shake of his
head Jean Paul walks back and grabs Holly's hand to help her up. "I'm putting
you off, to bed. It's late and I have things to do." As Holly walks away she tells Jean Paul
"At first I thought that was a portrait of you." stopping at Jacques
portrait. "Seriously he's dead
three hundred-years. " Jean Paul says with a smile. "Well, who is he?" "Jacques Eloi Des Mondes, an ancestor."
Jean Paul tells her, the smile is gone.
"Three hundred-years, he still looks pretty groovy. Like he knows what's
happening." Holly says with a smile.
Jean Paul glances at the portrait then looks away. "Oh yes, he was a real
swinger all right. Goodnight Holly." he says looking at her. "Goodnight." Holly replies as she heads
up the staircase. Jean Paul watches
her go up as he walks toward the staircase. Turning he walks away then looks
back. "Like her. I do. We must keep
that nubile little one." Jacques says with a laugh. "She's leaving tomorrow!" "Now must you deny us our little
pleasures?" "She will not be
touched by you!" Jean Paul tells Jacques.
"I was thinking of you."
"Leave her be, she has enough on her conscience!" "Whose is the conscience that ways more
heavily? And a troubled conscience doth make cowards of us all." Jacques
laughs.
The next morning Alison comes down the staircase. "Good morning Doctor." Raxl greets
her. "Good morning Raxl." Alison
says with a smile as she walks into the Great Hall. "Feeling better?" Raxl asks. "I wasn't feeling ill, I just wanted to
be in my room alone. I had a lot of thinking to do." Walking to Raxl she puts
her hand on Raxl's shoulder. "Raxl, would you do me a favor?" "If I can." "I'm really concerned about Mr. Desmond.
I know that he still loves Erica very much and he is desperately unhappy. I
suffer for him, but what he is doing is wrong."
Jean Paul is in his secret room watching and listening to the
conversation between Alison and Raxl.
"I agree, but how can we stop Msieu Desmond?" Raxl asks. "I wish we could get a hold of Dan
Forrest. Maybe he can make sense out of this because I can not." "He's not here." "I know but we have to get word to him,
because we are virtually prisoners here. Can you get Quito to mail this
letter?" "No, Quito he only does as
the Master tells him." Raxl tells Alison.
"But I thought he obeyed you."
"Not on matters that Msieu Desmond decreed." "Will you mail it?" Alison tries giving
the letter to Raxl. "I am as loyal
to the Master as Quito. I will do what I can to convince him but I will not
betray him."
Jean Paul turns off the monitor angrily. "Raxl you have to help or we'll all go
mad!" Alison cries out as she turns away.
"In an honorable way, I will do what I can." Raxl turns away then turns
back to Alison. "A friend of yours came over last night from the Mainland.
Perhaps he can help you." "Who?"
Alison asks as she turns toward Raxl.
"Mr. Stanton."
"Stanton?" "He seemed to
know you. He asked about you at dinner and I told him you were ill." "Tim Stanton, the artist?" "Yes, he said he wanted to thank you for
something." "Is he still
here?" "Yes." "He can repay me. He can mail this
letter." Alison says happily.
Tim is coming down the staircase, he hears Alison request. "For you
Doctor Carr I will ride pony express," he says smiling. "We missed you last
night." "We?" "Yea, Holly Marshal and me." "Who's Holly?" "Oh just a crazy kid who stowed away in
Mr. Desmond's boat." "To come
here?" "She did it for kicks. I
can't say I blame her though. This place is A-okay." Alison shakes her head no. "You don't think so?" Tim asks. "I might have thought that once." Raxl enters and tells them she is going
to prepare breakfast. "Raxl, just
juice and some coffee for me please." Alison tells her. "Very well Doctor." "I don't know how to thank you for
getting me this commission. You know you saved my life." Tim tells Alison. "You mean the portrait of Erica? Your
still not going to do it, are you?"
Tim turns toward Alison. "Well I'm here to do what you arranged with Mr.
Desmond to have me to do. You act surprised. Does your sister usually come down
for breakfast? I would like to meet her and get started." Alison sits down and looks up at Tim.
"Erica will not be down for breakfast."
"Oh, the afternoon light is just as good." "She won't be down for lunch either or
dinner." Alison tells him getting sad and upset. "If I'm out of line Doctor Carr stop me.
What are you trying to say?"
"Didn't they tell you?" "I
don't know what you are talking about."
"Well, my sister is...dead." Alison glances down. Tim walks to the back of Alison's chair.
"Forgive me. I am sorry. Did it happen during the night?" "No it happened before you came
here." "It's strange that Mr.
Desmond didn't tell me about it." Tim walks to the fireplace leaning his arm
against it. He shakes his head.
Alison stands and walks over to Tim. "There are many strange things about
this Island. Tim will you mail this letter for me when you get back to the
Mainland." "I can't walk out now. I
mean I have already taken the money for the portrait and paid off that lug who
was on my back." "You can't paint a
portrait of a dead woman!" "Well
I'll just have to try, won't I? From a picture or my sketch. If Mr. Desmond
really wants that picture I'm going to try. Only I can't figure out why he
didn't tell me about it!" Tim says sitting down. "There's a lot of things on this Island
I hope you never have to figure Tim. Now I'm begging you for your own sake leave
here and mail this letter for me!" Alison raises her voice while trying to hand
him the letter. "You can't mail it
yourself?" "No, Mr. Desmond doesn't
want me to leave." "Why?" "There is something about my sisters
death he doesn't want anyone to know."
Jean Paul is again listening to Alison and Tim's conversation from the
doorway. Alison still holding the
letter turns and walks toward the fireplace. "What a fool I am. He won't let you
leave either." "Let him try to stop
me." Tim tells her. "I'll get that letter mailed. You remember that stow away on
the boat last night when I got here? Her name is Holly Marshal. Mr. Desmond is
going to get rid of her. I'll get her to mail your letter." "If only you could, if only she would."
Alison starts getting excited.
"Come on." Tim tells her and they rush up the staircase. Jean Paul comes through the doorway; he
has an angry look on his face as he looks at the empty staircase. "Eavesdropping." Jacques asks. Jean Paul spins around. "If you are ever to raise Erica from the
dead quietly, as if she had never died. No one that comes to Maljardin can ever
leave again. Alive that is." Jean Paul walks toward the portrait of Jacques. He
then turns away with a fearful expression on his face. Tim is talking to Holly. "What are you
so uptight about?" Holly walks away
then turns around with one hand on her hip. "You just chose the wrong girl to
play messenger that's all." "You're
being shipped out anyway so what's the sweat?" "I'm not being shipped out." Holly says
angrily. "Are you kidding, you stow
away on his boat, you plunk yourself down as an unwanted guest and expect Mr.
Desmond to sit still for that?"
"Yes, maybe he will." Holly walks away. "Your nuts if you stay because it's not
helping. Anyway Holly," he takes her arm and turns her towards him. "You can't
run away from everything all your life. I just got you a job from Vangie at the
French Leaf Cafe." "I can't work
there now that he has showed up."
"The Reverend?" "Matt
Dawson." "He seems like a pretty
straight guy to me. Maybe you should go back there and find out for
yourself." "He's the last person in
the world I want to find out about." Holly walks away from Tim and sits on the
cushions of the couch. "Okay, it's
your life. But I want to return a favor and the only way I can do it is through
you. Could you tell Mr. Desmond you forgot something at the hotel or make some
excuse to go there to mail this letter?" Tim is sitting on the arm of the chair
as he shows Holly the letter. "Back
to that again. Why doesn't Doctor Carr mail it herself?" "She can't leave here for a while. " Tim
stands and walks around the chair.
"Are you too lazy or afraid of getting sea sick?" " Tim leans on the chair and looks at
Holly. "I don't think I can leave either." Tim turns and looks at Jacques
portrait. "Hmm, the plot thickens
or is this another of your many mysteries?" Holly asks. "Believe me Holly it's no joke." Jacques portrait goes blank. "Doctor Carr and I know something that
Mr. Desmond doesn't want anyone to know. He wants it kept
secret."
Jean Paul comes down the staircase with a smile. "But Holly knows
about it also." Holly and Tim stand
together facing Jean Paul. In his hand Tim still holds the letter. "Mr. Desmond, where did you come from?"
Holly asks. "From up there." Jean
Paul points upward. On his hand is Jacques ring. "No excuse me from down there."
Now he points downward. "Then I went up there,” he says with a laugh as he walks
down the rest of the stairs.
Walking up to Tim he grabs the letter from him. "What's this?" He opens
and reads it. "Tsk, tsk Alison really shouldn't do this to me. Despite her good
intentions." He slides the letter
back to its envelope then inside his jacket. "And I'll tell you why." He signals
Tim and Holly to have a seat. After
they are seated Jacques stands in front of the fireplace with his arms crossed.
"For the first time in my life when my wife Erica died something happened beyond
my control. Now I'm not accustomed to defeat, so I intend to reverse it."
Jacques tells them. "Reverse
someone dying?" Tim asks. "Quite a
challenge, wouldn't you say? It's rather like transporting a devil from Hades
into the Artic. Instead of hell freezing over the ice melts down. Which you
might call transference of power. Oh under ordinary conditions my Erica could be
in a deep freeze and that would be my business. But if the truth would be known
then the press, the television crew and the news media would exploit and
speculate and make this Island a Mecca of curiosity seekers. Now we can't have
that can we? That's why this letter of Alison’s with all its good intentions can
never be mailed until the dead are raised. Or what ever our destiny may
be." Tim and Holly look at each
other. While Jacques is speaking
Raxl comes down the stairs listening. She shakes her head and with an upset look
she quickly goes to the crypt. Walking to Erica's capsule she speaks. "Who is he
little Mistress? Your husband or Jacques Eloi Des Mondes, a Satan out of the
past three hundred-years. Battle lines must be drawn in the mystic world to
protect the dead and those destined to die."
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Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide
presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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