STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 120

Episode 120a: Slideshow

Episode 120b: Slideshow

Raxl: "Midnight at Desmond Hall. The dawn will bring the wedding day of Jean Paul Desmond and Helena Raleigh. And still the old mansion broods in the darkness. Its curses threatening to destroy the happiness of those who dwell under its roof. While the Master of Desmond Hall faces another evil presence. The spirit of his dead wife Erica."

Jean Paul stands in front to the mirror as she speaks to him. "Marry her Jean Paul with my blessing. I want you with me again." Jean Paul shakes his head. "No more, no more! I sold my soul once. I won't do that again. You are out of my life Erica, alive or dead. I reject you completely!" "Just like that? It's not so easy Jean Paul." "I shall marry Helena and we shall be together against you Erica always. You will have no power over me. Your power has ended forever!" Jean Paul shouts. Erica starts to laugh. "Sleep well Jean Paul. In the morning we must dance at your wedding." Erica's reflection fades as her laughter echoes around the room. Jean Paul rushes forward touching the mirror.

Morning comes to Desmond Hall as Raxl places flowers in a vase. She straightens the garland wrapped on the railing of the staircase. Turning she picks up the vase and carries it to the Drawing Room. Quito is arranging chairs for the wedding. "Oh no Quito. Not so many chairs. Only the family will be here." Quito starts folding chairs and stacking them near the door. Raxl set the vase of flowers on a table and stands in front of the fireplace where the wedding ceremony will take place. "Mrs. Thaxton seems to be preparing for a very large celebration." She walks around straightening the room. "Cooking, polishing a dozen silver place settings. That's right Quito, five. That should be enough." Raxl looks around. "Doesn't the Drawing Room look lovely Quito?" Quito turns, looks around and nods. Raxl puts her hand on his arm. "Quito we must watch the Master very carefully today. Nothing must happen, nothing." Quito nods. He picks up the extra folding chairs and carries them from the Drawing room. Raxl glances around the room. "Nothing must happen. I fear for this wedding, I fear for it."

Holly is helping Helena with her gown for the wedding. "If you don't hold still I'll never get this pinned. There now where's my needle?" Kneeling next to Helena she glances around the room. "Oh Holly do you think this will do?" "Of course it will do. You'll be beautiful." Holly tells her as she threads the needle. "It's so old. I've worn it on stage I don't know how many times. But I just didn't have time to buy a new dress." Helena says then glances down at Holly. "I don't care; I want to marry Jean Paul that's all. If I had to marry him in a trunk suit I would." "Now you hold still while I take a couple of tucks in here. I don't know what I would have done if I had to look for a needle in your room. It's a complete mess." Holly says laughing. "I'm packing. We're going to leave tonight." "I know." Holly says as she breaks the thread with her teeth. "I'm going to miss you." Helena looks at Holly. "Holly I'm going to miss you too." She kneels next to Holly "But we will be back soon. I promise we will. Holly do you think Jean Paul and I can be happy together?" "I know you can." Helena glances away. "Perhaps it's too late for both of us." "Oh Helena you mustn't say that." Holly says. "No I mustn't. And I mustn't think of it." Helena says as she stands. "When we drive away we're going to start a new life, I know that. Holly you believe in spirits don't you?" Holly stands. "I'm in love with one." "Do you think spirits can harm people?" Helena asks with her back towards Holly. Holly looks away. "No more than people can hurt each other." Holly walks to the dressing table. Helena stands behind her. "What are you going to do Holly when were gone? About Philip, about the ghost of Philip?" "I don't know. I used to think if he appeared to me, talked to me that was enough but well I don't know." She says lowering her gaze. "Well there is the living to consider. Did you ever think of them?" Helena asks as she puts her hands on Holly's shoulders. "There's Cort." Holly laughs and looks at Helena. "He's even more of a ghost than Philip. I don't know who is the right girl to reach Cort. I mean really reach him but I just know it isn't me." "Well there is Jean Paul's cousin. He seems like a fine young man to me. He's the living image of your ghost." Holly walks away from Helena. "I better see if there is anyone who has white thread." "Holly?" Helena touches her shoulder. "I'll be right back." Holly says as she rushes from the room. Helena sits at the dressing table.

"Absolutely divine. You'll make a lovely bride Helena. Do you have your traveling costume picked out?" Erica asks her. "I won't listen to you. I won't talk to you Erica. Go away!" Helena shouts standing up then rushes from the room.

Philip is leaving his room and starts walking down the hallway when he sees Helena in the hallway. "Miss Raleigh, well today's the day isn't it? You look very nice." Helena walks up to him smiling. "Thank you Philip." "I forgot nobody is suppose to see the bride before the wedding." "Oh only the groom is forbidden."

"Well I'm happy for you and Jean Paul. I really am." "That's very kind of you Philip." "Not really. I want good things and only good things to happen to all the Desmond family. That's selfish." "No it isn't. I want happiness for all too." Helena tells him then walks away.

Jean Paul is in his room dressing when Erica talks to him. "Well the bridegroom cometh." Jean Paul quickly turns around towards the mirror. "Erica?" Erica's reflection appears in the mirror. "Did you sleep well Jean Paul?" "Very well. As a matter of fact I have made up my mind that you will not spoil our plans, no matter what you do." "But I wouldn't dream of spoiling your wedding. I want you together Helena and you. Then I'll be with you both." "You will not be with us. Helena rejects you! I reject you!" "Much easier said than done. You will see me Jean Paul. You will see me." Erica says as she fades away. Jean Paul stands and stares at the mirror. There is a knock at the door. "Yes." The door opens and Helena walks in. She is wearing the red cape that Erica wore in the mirror.

Jean Paul turns. "Erica!" he says with a shocked look. "Jean Paul it's me Helena." "Helena?" "You mustn't see my wedding gown. So I put on this cloak. Ada got it for me from some of the family things." Jean Paul stares at her.

"I'm sorry I don't look like Erica but I'm not Erica. Oh Jean Paul I'm frightened." She throws her arms around his neck. Jean Paul holds her. "Darling there is nothing to be frightened of. This is your wedding day. Don't be frightened."

Helena pulls back. "We're not telling each other the truth. Erica is here isn't she? She's still here." "Darling that doesn't matter." Helena turns away. "It does matter. It matters to me. What does she want?" Helena asks as she walks across the room. Jean Paul comes up to her. "I don't care what she wants. I want you that's all I care about." He takes her in his arms and kisses her. They hold each other. "Darling this is your wedding day and soon you will be my wife. Think of that and nothing else." He steps back and holds her hands. "I will, I'll try." She reaches out and hugs and kisses him "Got to go now. Finish getting dressed." She gives him a kiss then walks from the room. Jean Paul closes the door and walks to the mirror. "Well you see Erica I will do what you want me to. I shall marry that lady." He says with a smile.

Raxl is hanging wedding decorations in the Drawing Room as Philip enters. "Very pretty Raxl. All of it." he says with a smile. "Mrs. Thaxton was in charge of the decorations." Raxl says as she walks away from him. "Raxl, I would like to be part of the wedding. Don't, don't freeze me out." Philip says as he walks towards her. "I can only be truthful. Your presence here is very disturbing. On a day when there shouldn't be any disturbances." "What if I said your feeling were wrong." Philip asks as he stands next to Raxl. "I don't know what you want here. Your motives seem secret." "Well motives are my own business.' "Very well but you must understand why I feel as I do regardless of your motives." Raxl says as she turns towards Philip. "You look so much like my Master's brother it can only disturb him on his wedding day." Philip turns as Jean Paul walks into the room. "Well why don't you let Jean Paul decide that himself." Jean Paul smiles at Philip. "I shall." he says as he walks towards him. "Philip you are my cousin and you are part of the family line. I'd like to ask you to be a witness at the ceremony. To be my best man?" "Master?" say Raxl. "Well what do you say?" "I say I'm honored. I say yes." Philip tells him happily. Jean Paul puts his hand on Philip's shoulder. "Thank you Philip. Listen I need help. I, I am as nervous as a boy today." Jean Paul says as he walks across the room. "And another thing you are going to have to keep track of the ring." He hunts in his pockets. "Where's the ring, the ring?" "In your room Master." Raxl says to him. Philip watches Jean Paul laughing. "Thank you Raxl. See I need your help." Jean Paul says looking at Philip. "Now I have so many things to think about. I can't think of anything. Where's Ada?" "In the kitchen." Raxl tells him. "Well I must go and see her and see if everything is running smoothly." Jean Paul says as he rushes from the room. Philip laughs as he watches him. Raxl steps up behind him. "I'm glad you can laugh M'sieu. If you were thinking for a wedding present for the bride and groom a hand carved figurine might suit very well." "A hand carved..." "A totem, and Indian totem." Raxl says as she walks in front of him. "Used to ensnare the evil spirits so they can do no injury." "It was you wasn't it Raxl?" Philip asks as he crosses his arms. "You went through my things!" "I discovered it quite by accident. I've kept its presence a secret until now." Raxl turns and looks at him. "But perhaps my Master might wonder why his best man must carry a totem? Are you being pursued by evil spirits M'sieu?" She says then turns and walks out of the room. "Philip reaches into his pocket and pulls out the totem.

Holly walks back into her room. "Well do you like it?" She asks showing off her gown to Helena. "Do I make a suitable bridesmaid for you?" Holly asks with a smile. "Oh Holly you look lovely." Holly rushes across the room to Helena who is sitting at the dressing table. "So do you." "No I don't. My hair is all wrong, it's completely wrong. Oh Holly what am I going to do?" "You're going to relax It won't be long now." Holly says with a laugh. "That's not true. It's going to be like waiting for an eternity." Holly walks away from Helena. "I saw an unfamiliar car coming up the drive just now. I think it was Reverend Hawkins arriving." Helena turns and looks at Holly in a panic. She stands. "So soon?" Holly laughs. "One moment it was an eternity of waiting then it's too soon." Helena laughs. "Oh you're a dear. Okay I feel calmer now. I think, I think I'm ready." The door opens and Irene steps into the room. "I couldn't miss your wedding. As much as I'm apposed to it I couldn't miss it." Irene says with a smile. Helena looks at Irene as Irene hands her a gift wrapped package. "Excuse me you have company. I'll leave you." Holly says to Helena as she walks to the door. "If there is anything you want just call me." Holly turns and leaves the room. Irene looks at Helena. "Your gift, open it." Helena looks at it." "Are you afraid?" "No." "Then open it."

"Yes, yes." Helena says as she unwraps the gift. Irene steps away from Helena. "Pretty wrapping don't you think? Emily helped me to make it up. Poor child she will never be the same after this. She always felt that Jean Paul..." "Did you come here to torture me Mrs. Hatter? Is that why you came here?" Helena asks as she looks at Irene. "I came to warn you." "I've survived enough warnings. I think I know what I'm doing." "I saw a vision Helena, of you. Your face was in agony and blood." Helena turns away. "You’re a dreadful woman." "I report what I saw." "I don't care what happens to me. I'm not afraid to suffer. Not if I can help Jean Paul." Helena says as she turns towards Irene. "Jean Paul will suffer the most. He will see the life dwindling away from you as Erica's spirit takes control of you." "No!" Irene turns away. "He will see you suffer and fade until he no longer has you. He will have Erica. He will live with Erica. Be married to Erica."

Helena turns away. "No! Leave me, get out of here!" she shouts. "You have opened the wrappings but you haven't opened the box." Irene says as she walks to the door. "Think of what I've said Helena before you take your vows." Irene walks out of the room. Helena walks to the table and sets down the wrappings and the box. Picking up the box she hurls it across the room. It hits the door and opens. A large insect climbs out of the box. Helena walks over to it and stares at it. Taking her foot she crushes it. "She lied to you. You see what she is, an evil woman. You must marry Jean Paul Helena. Marry Jean Paul." Helena backs against the door as Erica talks to her.

Philip is in Jean Paul's room helping him with his boutonniere. "Philip no one knows how important this marriage is to me." "Well marriage is important to every man Jean Paul." "Yes but especially to me. For a long time I didn't have any life. But now Helena is my only hope. My only reason fro living." Philip looks at him. "You sound haunted." He finishes with the flower. "There you go." "Thank you." Jean Paul says as he checks it over. Philip walks over to Jean Paul’s bed and leans on the back railing. "You sound as if you've been cursed." Jean Paul shakes his head. "Not today Philip, not today." "Jean Paul before you leave Desmond Hall I've got to know if the Desmond family has been cursed and what the curse is. I have to know because it affects my life." Jean Paul steps closer to Philip. "Is that why you came here Philip?" "Partly. Maybe the most important part." Philip says as he looks away from Jean Paul. Jean Paul nods. "You have a right to know. You are a Desmond and you shall know before I leave." There is a knock at the door. Raxl glances in. "Master it's time." Jean Paul starts checking his pockets nervously then looks at Philip. He walks to the door. "Jean Paul?" Jean Paul stops and looks at him. "The ring?" Philip says as he walks up to him. "Oh." He picks it up and starts to put it inside his jacket. Philip holds out his hand. "Oh." He hands it to Philip. Philip laughs as Jean Paul rushes from the room. Philip follows him.

Helena sits at the dressing table in Holly's room deep in thought when there is a knock at the door. "Come in." Holly walks in. "Helena it's almost time. The music is about to begin." "I can't Holly. I can't go down there." "Oh you're just nervous. They say that all brides are." Holly puts her hands on Helena's shoulders. "I can't." "Helena don't you love Jean Paul?" "Yes." Helena says as she stands. "Dear God, yes." Holly smiles. "Well then come on." Helena looks at Holly.

"Come." Holly says holding out her hand. Helena takes it and follows Holly from the room.

In the Drawing Room the organ plays the wedding march. Holly starts down the staircase. Helena is behind her. "You must marry Jean Paul Helena. Marry Jean Paul." Erica says to her. Helena starts down the staircase. "Jean Paul will suffer the most. He will have Erica. Live with Erica. Be married to her." Irene's voice says to Helena as Helena stands at the bottom of the staircase. "I can't. I can't do this to Jean Paul. I can't." Helena cries out loud.

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

~Ron/Bella~
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