STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 118

Episode 118: Slideshow

Laslo: "The mansion called Desmond Hall is soon to become the scene of a marriage. As Jean Paul the Master of Desmond Hall hopes to replace the dreary tolling of the bells of destiny with the joyful sound of wedding bells. But before the festivities can begin there are forces which seek disaster for Jean Paul and his Helena. Forces moved by evil ruled by the Prince of evil himself."

Irene lights the candles at her alter. "Weddings, eternal happiness a loving couple. Very well dream of marital bliss Jean Paul Desmond. But I pray the only marriage which will take place is the union of the Prince of Darkness with his servant Emily." Irene glances behind her. Emily stands in the doorway. Her head is covered by a veil. "Oh Emily my dear come and participate in the offering.

Emily walks towards Irene. "You've spoke of Jean Paul and a wedding. Is that what he plans?" "It will not take place." Irene tells her. "Tell me, he plans to marry Helena doesn't he?" "Dear child everything is in the hands of our ruler. The Supreme One manages all things. Now you must remember that." Emily shakes her head. "I can't believe that he would marry her or want to."

"Perhaps if we make the offering he will want you." Irene says to her. Emily shakes her head. "No, no he never will again. And that's why my offering must not be a plea for him to love me. I'm sure of that now." Emily says as she walks away from Irene. "It must be a calm and a reasoned request. Yes a polite request that Jean Paul and Helena die together."

Cort walks down the staircase looking at the garland wrapped around the railings of the staircase. Laslo stands in the foyer. "Rather handsome don't you think? Cheers up the old place." Laslo says as he walks towards the Drawing Room.

"What's it for?" "Ask your mother." Laslo says to him. "Laslo?" "Yes my dear stepson?" he says as he walks into the Drawing Room. Cort follows him. "Laslo tell me. What are the decorations for?" "Oh this is only the beginning." Laslo says as he pours himself a cup of coffee. "Soon this whole room will be decorated with flowers. And over there by the fireplace a minister will stand uniting the happy couple." Cort walks over to him. "The happy couple?" "In matrimony my dear boy. We're going to have a wedding." Laslo lifts the coffee cup. "Who’s wedding?" Laslo lowers the cup. "Well let me think." "Whose wedding?' Cort repeats. "Let me see. It can't be yours. Your association with women has hardly been of a lasting nature." Laslo says then walks to the fireplace and sets the cup on the mantel. "And with ladies someone seldom marries." Cort walks over to Laslo. "Laslo is it Holly and that man who calls himself Philip?" "My boy you have a vivid imagination. But then that has been one of your more imminent traits. You've always imagined me as a cruel stepfather for instance." Laslo says as he walks past Cort. "Oh that isn't imagination." Laslo looks at Cort. "What do I attribute it to? Hysteria, insanity."

Cort walks towards him. "I wish I was insane. Because then I can kill you."

Laslo laughs. "Spoken like a rational but violent young man." "Not violent enough." Cort says as he stands next to Laslo. "There, there you know as head of this household I have a theory that we should not meet in the morning. You're very high strung early in the day." Laslo says as he walks across the room and picks up his cup of coffee. Then turning he looks at Cort. "Jean Paul intends to marry Miss Raleigh of course." "And what should I say? This is so sudden?"

"Do you approve of the match?" "Well nobody asked me. But if I had my say I suppose I'd have to quote from the scripture. That it's better to marry than to burn." Cort says then walks to the doorway of the Drawing Room. "Where are you going?" Cort turns and looks at Laslo. "To Irene’s." He walks away. "To Irene’s." Laslo says as he walks to the table with his coffee cup and pours brandy into it. "Perfect place for a growing boy. Good work Irene." He says saluting her with his coffee cup before taking a drink.

Emily and Irene stand at the altar. "By all that sickens and offends the good, vermin, worms, stagnation and rot. By creatures who suck blood and clings to stricken birds too weak to sing. By everything I once despised. May I be worthy in your eyes." says Emily. "Very good my dear, well done. You are learning to create your own invocations. But surely there are viler things to swear upon than vermin and vampires. But don't worry about it. Soon the coven will gather for a full witches Sabbath and you will take your final vows. And you'll be amazed at the powers that flow through you." There is a knock at the front door. "It's all right, I won't let anyone in." Irene says to Emily as she walks to the door. "Who is it?" Irene asks as she drops the scarf from over her head onto her shoulders.

"Cort." "Cort welcome." Irene says as she opens the door. "Emily dear a friend."

Emily walks away from the altar and stands with her arms crossed. "Obviously I'm interrupting something." Cort says to them. "Not at all, not at all. Join us."

Cort looks at Emily. "Do I have to wear a wedding veil too?" "No ridicule please." Irene tells him as Emily drops the cloth from over her head and drapes it over her shoulders. "Emily you may go on." "No I can't, not with him here." "Now don't be shy." "I can't! He doesn't believe." "He will, my dear, he will. He's a beginner. And you must be his teacher. Now do go on dear. It was about birds that can't sing or something or other." Irene says as she puts her hand on Cort's shoulder.

Emily shakes her head. I won't. I can't." Emily quickly walks from the room.

Irene looks at Cort. "Bad, bad boy. See what you have done. Ridicule has no place here, no place at all." Irene says as she walks towards the altar and covers her head with the black scarf. "Too bad and Emily was doing so well too."

"What are you going to do?" "I carry on of course." Irene says as she stands in front of the altar. Cort steps over to her. "I expected this to be serious. Not a lot of hanky panky." "What I am about to do is serious and solemn and most powerful." She looks at Cort. "Are you still firm in your intent? Do you want to be rid of the person who calls himself Philip Desmond?" "Yes I want to get rid of him." "Then you must do as I say. And you must not mock or pretend to be superior. To the all powerful Ruler of Darkness no one is superior and no one is essential to his plans. Now do you still want what you say you want?" Irene asks as she circles around him. "So you must submit. Bow your head Cort." Cort stares at her. "Bow your head!" Irene says angrily. Cort stares at her defiantly then bows his head.

Quito carries in wood for the fireplace. Laslo sits on the couch in the Drawing Room reading a book. "Well, well a member of the wedding hard at work."

Quito drops the logs. "Tell me Quito are you going to carry a basket of flowers and toss them in the bridal path?" Quito walks past him. "Quito I want to talk to you." Laslo says as he stands and walks to the Drawing Room doors and closes them. Quito stands nervously moving his hands and fingers. Laslo walks up to him. "You know a great deal about me Quito and I'm grateful for your not revealing my secret. But then you can't reveal them can you? You know about the witches don't you?" Quito starts getting upset as he turns and looks at Laslo. "And the plot against Jean Paul." Quito shakes his head and backs away. "Oh you mustn't fear me in that regard. I'm on your side Quito. I want no harm to come to Jean Paul." Laslo says as he walks towards Quito. Quito continues backing away. "You do, you do want what your Master wants don't you Quito?" Quito nods. "You do want this wedding to take place?" Quito nods. "Then you must help me Quito. You and I have tasks we must attend to. There is something standing in the way of this wedding. The secret room Quito, the secret room."

Quito looks at him in fear and nervousness. "There is a force there that must be mollified if this wedding is to take place. You must help me Quito. You can handle him with me. Protect me while I ask for the cooperation of the Serpent God." Quito shakes his head no and rushes to the door of the Drawing Room.

"Quito! Do you want the wedding visited by the evil Serpent? Do you want your Master crushed in his coils?" Quito turns looking back at Laslo shaking his head no. "Then we must go to the secret room. No one must know. And after I have done what I must do Jean Paul will be very happy. He will be so happy he will rest in peace." Quito leans against the door in fear and terror.

Irene moans as she stands at the altar. "I have appeased the all powerful for your unbelief. Before you can be admitted into the circle of fire which will answer all your desires you must first fulfill the tasks assigned to you. A girl, Cort. We have need of a girl to complete the coven." "And in the meantime Holly's with Philip." Cort says to Irene. "And so she shall be until you fulfill your obligation." Irene says as she blows the candles out. "And how do I fulfill the assignment? What do I do? Walk the streets of Desmondton until I find a girl. "Then what do I say? Honey how would you like to join a witches’ coven?" Irene lifts her head angrily. "You mock me again!" "I'm being practical. What kind of girl? A pretty or ugly girl. A clever or stupid girl." "Sensitive, a girl who will respond to the emanation of the spirit. A girl that wants something as much as you want the death of Philip." "Did I specify death?" "How else do you expect to get rid of him? Spirit him off to some remote Island? I'm afraid that only works in children's stories." Irene tells him as she sits on the couch. "I won't kill him. I won't kill anyone!" Cort says as he sits next to Irene. "I want Holly. Holly is the one I want. Do you understand?"

"Oh the innocence of it all. Get Holly! Go ahead your own way!" Irene stands and walks around the room angrily. "Send her a valentine!" "I'm sorry Irene. It's just I do want to cooperate I do. But you've got to promise me one thing. That nobody is going to be hurt because of this." Irene stands in front of the fireplace then looks at Cort. "Only Philip." Cort nods. "Only Philip." "But there are others in the coven who will have requests. Each one must be honored." Cort shakes his head. "Not by me!" "Then they will not honor your request. So no Holly." There is a knock at the door. Irene looks up. "In a moment." She looks at Cort. "Think it over Cort." She helps him to his feet. "Business matters, they would only bore you. Now Emily is in the back parlor grousing. Go and talk to her. Grouse with her if you wish, but don't talk of the coven. If you do then neither of you will be admitted or allowed to enter." "Maybe I don't want to enter." "As I said Cort think it over." Cort turns and walks through the cottage to the back room. Irene walks to the door and opens it. "Laslo come in." "Is Cort still here?" he asks as he steps inside. "In the back parlor." "This is no place to talk." Laslo tells her. "He won't hear. If he comes in we can tell him we are discussing business." "The wedding is to be tomorrow." Laslo tells her as he walks around the room.

"Tomorrow? I thought at least a week or two." "Tomorrow then they plan to leave." "It mustn't take place. It mustn't be allowed too." Irene says as she walks towards Laslo. "I have plans of my own for the wedding." "What plans?" "At Desmond Hall there is a power enough for anyone. The Serpent God." Laslo says as he munches on snacks that are in a bowl on the table. "Laslo you don't have the knowledge to control him.” "Quito will control him. I will only make my request." "You're insane to attempt it." "Oh I'm not planning to destroy the Serpent. As a matter of fact I'm supplicating him." "I warn you don't try."

Laslo turns and looks at Irene. "Do you want Jean Paul to marry and leave Desmondton? Travel beyond our reach." Irene shakes her head no. "No, then you must believe in my little scheme." "I'm afraid. For you, keep to our own ways Laslo. Don't play with other Gods especially the Serpent God." Laslo walks towards her. "Irene what if I told you I was doing this for you. That in addition to the rituals and orgies of witchcraft that I have shall we say a spiritual feeling for you." Irene backs away from Laslo as he walks towards her. Reaching out he grabs her by the shoulders and kisses her. "It's a lie! I don't believe you. You’re wicked and a liar!" "So are you my dear. Can't we consider that the bond between us." He takes her in his arms and kisses her as Cort walks into the room. "Well stepfather." Laslo releases Irene. "Cort, It's not what you thought."

"Business matters Mrs. Hatter?" Cort says as he looks at Irene. "Yes, yes of course it was. I must be going now. Mrs. Hatter, Cort." Laslo says as he steps to the door. He looks back at Cort. "This is a private matter and I trust you trust it as such." "Trust me? You never have before." "I find I must now dear Cort." Laslo says to him as he walks out of the cottage. Cort walks over to Irene. "Cort you must understand." "I understand. Does he? Does he know you're a witch?"

"Cort." Irene says as she turns away. "Does he know?" Irene faces the fireplace. "No." Cort grabs her and turns her around. "I want to know the names of the members in the coven. Who they are! Because I'm not going to join until I know." "You'll see them when we gather." "I want to know now!" Cort shouts.

"They will be protected as you will be. They must have their amenity. Cort look at me, look closely. Study my eyes and look deeply steadily." Cort turns his face away. "No don't turn away. Look at me." Irene touches his chin and turns his face so he looks at her. "What do you see in my eyes? Treachery, deceit, no honesty and love." Cort stares at her as Irene puts him under her control. "Tell me Cort, what do you see?" "I see love." Cort says. "And concern for you. Concern for your wishes." Cort again tries to look away. Irene forces him to look at her. "Look deeply into my eyes and you will see Holly. What do you see Cort?"

"Holly." "Yes Holly. The attainable Holly who will be yours if you trust me. Will you trust me Cort?" "I trust you." "You will obey me." Again Cort tries to look away. "You will obey me for Holly's sake. For Holly." "I will obey you." "Good. Then you will forget all that you saw tonight. Laslo was not here at all Cort. Tell me Laslo was not here." Irene lowers her hands. "Laslo was not here." Cort repeats. "Now sit down Cort. Sit down." She puts her hands on his shoulders and pushes him towards the couch. Cort sits looking at Irene. "Now shut your eyes and dream Cort. Dream of Holly." Cort closes his eyes as Irene waves her hand in front of his face. She walks around him. "What a fine boy you are. What a good boy, a very good boy." Irene says as she stands behind him. Emily walks out of the back room and stands next to Irene. "He is foolish." "I know." "He came to me and spoke nonsense. He spoke of Holly; he's in love with her. Which is wrong because soon Holly will be with the man she loves far away far away." Emily says to Irene. Irene stares at her. "Emily how do you know that?" "I just know as I know that before Jean Paul can marry Helena she also will be far away, very far away."

Laslo enters Philip’s secret room caring candelabra. "Come on Quito. There is nothing to fear. I have candles to light the way. Come along Quito." Laslo sets the candelabra down as Quito enters the room. "Quickly before someone sees us. There is nothing to be frightened of for you're strong. Nothing can stop you, even the serpent God. We must call him forth Quito." Quito turns and tries to leave the room. Laslo grabs his arm. "We must, for your Master's sake. For Jean Paul's sake." Quito turns and looks at the room in fear. Then he hears the hissing of the Snake. "Oh he comes. Stand before me Quito." Laslo shoves Quito in front of him. "Are you here Serpent? Then I ask you now, today before it's too late. I subjugate you oh Serpent to destroy Jean Paul Desmond. Destroy him!"

Angrily Quito shoves Laslo and rushes from the room. Laslo rushes for the closed door. "Quito don't leave me here! The latch, where is the latch? Quito!" Laslo shouts; He turns away from the door as the Serpent rises up in front of him. Laslo clutches his neck and screams.

Emily looks around. "I feel, I feel an evil force moving in on someone." She closes her eyes. "A man is crying, he's begging for rescue." "Emily who is it? Who do you see?" Irene asks. "I can't see him clearly but I hear his cries for mercy. The evil force is moving in on him! I can feel his terror! It's getting closer and closer!" Cort screams clutching his throat. Irene turns towards him. "Cort?" She touches his shoulder. "The man I see is a victim of the Serpent God!"

Shouts Emily. "Laslo!" cries Irene.

"Quito help me, come back. It's choking me Quito." Laslo stumbles knocking over the candelabra. Laslo collapses as a fire starts burning in Philip's room. Someone help." Laslo cries out holding his throat.

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Summaries written by Debby Graham . The slide presentation is the work of Ron Janick.

~Ron/Bella~
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