Strange Paradise: Episode 134
Episode 134:  Slideshow
 
Irene: “Morning comes to Desmond Hall. The long night of mystery and apprehension has finally passed. The sun wipes the sky clear of the evil star. Within the family mansion light enters darkened rooms. There is a newcomer at Desmond Hall, the homeless young girl reveals little about herself. But her knowledge reaches into secrets she could not possibly know back when the Desmonds lived in another time.”
 
Susan stands at the open window in the Drawing Room looking out as Laslo walks up to her. “You are up early my dear.”  “I like to watch the day begin.” she says as she leans against the window frame looking at the sky. “You know each morning the seas, the trees, the rocks they are all reborn.”  “I thought last night you were part of an apparition.” Laslo says to her.  Susan turns and looks at him. “What made you think that?”  “You seem not to be of this world.”  “Perhaps it’s you who does not belong to the world.”  “You were part of the night and I thought perhaps you had vanished come this morning.”  “Sorry to disappoint you.” Susan says as she turns away from him.  “Oh you haven’t disappointed me. I’m pleased you are here. Would you like some coffee?”  Susan walks back to the window and stands looking out. “That’s very kind of you.”  “I’ll only be a minute.” Laslo says as he walks out of the Drawing Room closing the doors behind him. He walks to the telephone, picks it up and dials Irene’s number. “Irene listen carefully I must see you at once. No not here I’ll come to you. No I can’t talk but I think we have found the girl that we need.” He hangs up the phone and glances at the Drawing Room doors. He gets the coffee tray taking it to the Drawing Room and pours Susan a cup of coffee. He hands it to her over the back of the couch. “There drink it while it’s hot.”  Susan is sitting on the couch as she reaches for the cup. “Oh thank you.”  “I would like nothing better than to continue our interesting conversation of last night but I’m afraid I have business to attend to in town.” Laslo says to her as he walks around the couch and starts for the door.  “Of course.” Susan says looking up at him.  “Well I don’t like to leave you here alone.”  “Don’t worry I’m pretty content. You go ahead.” Susan stands holding the cup of coffee.  “Ah well you have company.” Laslo says as he sees Jean Paul in the doorway. “Jean Paul this is Susan.” Jean Paul walks into the Drawing Room. “Hello.” he says with a smile. “Raxl told me about you. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet you last night.” He tells her as he walks over to her. “You will find this a very active household. Everyone doing his own thing I think you call it.” Laslo says to her.  Susan glances at him then takes a few steps towards him. “Don’t you do your own thing Mr. Thaxton?”  “Indeed I do and I’m late. I leave you with the Master of Desmond Hall.” Laslo says then turns and walks out of the room.
Susan turns and looks at Jean Paul. “Are you really the Master of Desmond Hall?”  “Well only in a manner of speaking. This house really belonged to my brother Philip.”  She nods. “And he’s dead now.” She raises the cup to her lips and finishes the coffee.  “Yes we believe he is.”  “Don’t you know?”  “I know. He is dead,” Jean Paul says then walks away from her. “When we arrived here some months ago.”  “From Maljardin?”  Jean Paul turns and looks at her. “You know a great deal about us.”  “Should I pretend that I don’t know what I do know?”  Jean Paul glances away. “Raxl said that you asked about the murderer.”
“I know nothing of any murder.” She says as she walks across the room and sets her cup on the mantel. “She must have misunderstood me. You see I was very tired last night and sometimes when I’m tired I say things that don’t really make sense.”  Jean Paul turns away from her. “Then why did you say the murderer?”
“Is there a murderer here?”  “No. Desmond Hall is not a haven for murderers.”
“But Mr. Desmond you were locked in your room last night and couldn’t get out.” Susan says as she walks up to him.  Philip stands in the doorway.
 
Laslo arrives at Irene’s cottage. After he walks in and greets her he tells her why he came. “The point is my dear we need someone.”  “Not just anyone.” Irene tells him.  “This girl is a natural. She has a second sense. Emily tried to describe it to me last night but I don’t think I understand. It’s a knowledge of other people’s thoughts.”  “Who is she?”  “She won’t say. Her name is Susan and she laughs off any further questions and says they are not important.”  Irene steps away from him. “She may be dangerous.”  “Dangerous?”  “The powers that once were mine deserted me.”  “This may be your opportunity to get them back.”  “Will you try to understand? When they left me they went to someone else. Whoever that is, wherever they are they will turn them against me.” Irene says as she looks at Laslo.  “Then it may be to your advantage to see this girl.”  “When my powers left me my safety left me. Now I’m at the mercy of forces I have no means of controlling or directing.”  “Then I insist you see this girl.” Laslo says as he walks closer to her.  “All right. But don’t leave me alone with her.”  “We lost our self-confidence Irene?”   Irene walks to her altar. “When the candles died my confidence went too.”  “Well we must find your confidence again so we can accomplish our purpose.”  Irene glances away from him. “I’m not sure that I want to.”  “You are much too closely tied to my affairs to ever consider abandoning them. Do you understand?”  She glances at Laslo. “Is that a threat?”  “If I fail you fail with me. Oh come now let’s not argue. We have a course and in that course we may find our strength again.” He says with a smile as he stands behind her. “Providence may have sent you a means to regain your powers.”  Irene stares ahead in thought.
 
Susan walks to the window and looks out. “Are the cliffs down there dangerous?”  “They can be especially at night or in the fog but by day they are reasonably safe.” Jean Paul says to her.  Susan glances back at him. “I’m going to walk along the river edge. Mysteries of nature make our own seem so unimportant.” She turns and walks through the Drawing Room.  Philip enters the Drawing Room. “I’ll go with you.”  Susan stops and looks at him. “But I don’t even know you.”  Jean Paul steps up to them. “Oh I’m sorry this is my cousin Philip Desmond.” he says to Susan. “This is Susan.” he says to Philip.  “I’ll just run upstairs to get my coat and then I’ll take you down along the cliffs.”  “Can I go alone instead?” Susan asks him.  “Well of course.”  “I like to walk alone when I visit a place for the first time. Maybe we can walk together another time.” Susan says to Philip.  “Well it’s rather chilly out there. I think you had better take a coat. Oh could you be back by lunch?” Jean Paul asks her.  “I will.” Susan says with a smile then turns and walks away. She stops at the doors of the Drawing Room and turns looking back at Jacques portrait. Then walks out of the Drawing Room.
Philip turns and walks across the Drawing Room. “It was as if she were raised in this house. As if she were a Desmond. Where did she come from?”  “She didn’t say. Oh Raxl said you were looking for me last night.”  Philip looks at Jean Paul. “Yes I wanted you to help me reassure Emily.”  “What’s the matter with Emily?” Jean Paul asks.  “She was very frightened. She came to my room.”  “When was that?”  “Shortly after I hung the portrait.” Philip says as he looks at Jacques portrait.  Jean Paul looks away. “Did the portrait frighten her?”  “No. No she found a picture in a book. A picture of four women hanging on a gallows.” Philip says as he walks towards Jean Paul.  Jean Paul turns away. “I would rather not discuss that.”  “There are several things you would rather not discuss! For instance this portrait!” Philip points at Jacques portrait.  Jean Paul walks away from Philip.  “Raxl tells me there was a duplicate of it at Maljardin.”  “Philip it is not your concern!” Jean Paul says angrily.  Philip bows his head then looks at Jean Paul. “I’m only trying to protect you from the evil that haunts our family.”
Jean Paul walks up to him touching his arm. “Please you would do well to protect yourself and just leave me alone.”  “I was trying to save Emily from the evil that haunts her.”  Susan stands in the doorway. “The Desmond evil will not touch Emily. Emily is in no danger. I know it.” She turns and walks through the foyer.
Philip glances at Jean Paul.
 
Laslo enter the mansion, Irene is with him. Irene walks through the foyer as Laslo closes the door. “There are times when I feel like an intruder in this house.” Irene says. “Nonsense my dear you are a friend of mine and my friends are welcome here.” He walks to the Drawing Room and looks inside. He looks back at Irene. “Strange the room is empty. It’s usually full of people now that Emily is back doing her work. Come in.” He holds his arm out showing her into the room. Irene steps forward and notices Jacques portrait. “Oh that’s new isn’t it?” She says as she walks up to it.  “Yes it is one of Ada’s ancestors. She found it in the attic yesterday.”  “The Desmonds are such handsome men don’t you think Laslo?”
Laslo stares at the portrait. “No I don’t. You amuse yourself down here and I’ll go get the girl.”  Irene walks across the room. “You told me you wouldn’t leave me alone.” “Don’t be silly. You’ll be all right.”  “Please Laslo.”  “I’ll be right back.” He turns and walks out of the room.  Irene turns and walks towards Jacques portrait. “You sure have a devilish look in your eye Jacques Eloi Des Mondes.”  Susan walks in. “Do you always talk to paintings on the wall?”  Irene turns and walks across the Drawing Room. “Where did you come from?” “Why is everyone interested in where I came from?” “You startled me I’m sorry.” Irene says to her.
“I was out walking along the cliffs. There is something purifying about the air. I don’t know but it seems to free the spirit.”  “Are you in need of purification?” Irene asks. .Susan walks around Irene studying her. . “Are you?”  “You must be Susan.”  “Yes I am.” she says with a smile.  “Mr. Thaxton has been telling me all about you.”  “Mr. Thaxton doesn’t know all about me.  Irene laughs. “He told me what he knows.” Irene says as she sits on the couch.  “What he knows are facts. But not necessarily the truth. And here he comes to ask questions again.” Susan says as she sits on the arm of the couch.  Irene turns and looks at the doorway.
Laslo walks into the Drawing Room. “She’s not in her room.”  “I can’t be two places at once can I?” Susan says to Laslo.  “Ah good you’ve met already.”
“Not really. I’m Mrs. Hatter.” Irene says as she holds out her hand.  “Irene dropped by. I thought you would want to meet her.”  Susan stands and walks across the room. “Mrs. Hatter didn’t drop by. You brought her.”  “You take great pleasure in contradicting me.” Laslo says to her.  Irene stands and walks over to Laslo. “She was walking along the cliff; she probably heard the car drive up.”
“Perhaps but then again perhaps not.” Susan tells them.  They turn and look at her. Irene steps towards her. “Laslo tells me you are a stranger in Desmondton.”
“Am I?”  “Well perhaps he misunderstood. Do you know people here?”  “I know him and his son. And I know Mr. Desmond.”  “Ah Jean Paul.” Irene says walking closer to Susan.  “Yes Jean Paul and I know Philip. So you see I’m not really a stranger.”  “We must introduce you to the young people in town.”  “I’m not sure I care to.”  “Oh it’s no trouble. I’ll give a little supper party at my house. We will invite people your own age. Wouldn’t you like that?”  “No thank you. Such things don’t interest me I’m afraid.”  “What things?”  “You know parties, suppers and dances.”  “At your age there was nothing I loved more than getting dressed up to go out to a party.”  Susan steps away stopping at the window. Irene follows her. “It’s so exciting don’t you think. The act of getting into new gowns, boys in tuxedos and dance music.” Irene looks back at Laslo when Susan doesn’t say anything to her.  Laslo shrugs. “The young today aren’t like they were in our day Irene.”  “Why waste time on trivial things when the marvels of the world are all outside.”  “But that is my world.” Irene tells her.  Susan turns and looks at Irene. “We each have our own world. I won’t try to make you enter mine if you don’t try to draw me into yours.”  “I was only trying to make your stay in Desmond Hall a little more pleasant.”  “Oh but it is very pleasant here already. I wouldn’t want to change anything.” Susan walks towards the doorway.  Jean Paul is walking into the Drawing Room when he sees Susan. “Oh Susan we missed you at lunch.”
“Oh I found an apple tree so I had an apple and some berries. I prefer natural foods.”  Jean Paul stares at her.  “Look stop worrying about me. I’ve managed to take care of myself for many years.”  Jean Paul smiles at her.  “You’re much too young to have had many years to take care of yourself in.” Irene says to her.
Jean Paul glances at Irene then walks over to her. “Irene what brings you here?”
“I asked Laslo to bring me up because I wanted to...” She glances at Laslo. “To find out how Holly is?”  Jean Paul glances away. “Holly is very well, thank you.”
“Well then you have heard from her.”  “Yes I heard. She hasn’t been so happy since she left Maljardin.”  Irene steps around Jean Paul. “I’m so pleased to hear it.” Laslo walks up to Irene. “I must get to my office, I’ll drive you home.”  “Well so soon? Very well.” She walks up to Irene. “Goodbye Susan you think over what I suggested. You may find that after a while your stay at Desmond Hall becomes just a little bit tedious.” “I never find life tedious wherever I am.” Susan glances away from Irene.  Irene looks at Jean Paul. “See you soon Jean Paul.” She then walks out of the Drawing Room followed by Laslo.  Jean Paul steps forward watching them leave the mansion then turns towards Susan. “Ah Mrs. Hatter is what you call a social leader of the community. She tries to bring people together.”  Susan walks to the couch and sits down. “People aren’t ingredients to be brought together in a bowl and stirred around and passed around like a tray of cookies.”  Jean Paul sits on the arm of the couch. “You have an unusual way of saying things.” He says with a laugh.  Susan stands and looks away. “I do?” She is staring across the room.  “What are you staring at?”  She walks up to Jacques portrait and leans her elbows on the mantel as she looks at the portrait. “Who is he?”  Jean Paul stands. “Oh just one of my many ancestors.”  She touches the portrait. “It’s you Jacques Eloi Des Mondes.” Jean Paul stares at her. “It is you Jacques Eloi Des Mondes.” Susan repeats.  “What did you say?”  Susan bows her head then turns towards Jean Paul. “When?” Jean Paul walks up to her. “How did you know his name?”  “I don’t know. I’ve never heard of him. Who is he?”  “Jacques Eloi Des Mondes.” Jean Paul says to her. “I’ve never heard of him.” “You just said his name. I heard you.”  Susan walks away and sits on the couch. “Perhaps it wasn’t my voice you heard.”  Jean Paul sits next to her. “Now listen are you trying to play games?”  Susan looks at him then away. “Why should I do that? “  “I don’t understand.”  “There is much in life we don’t understand.” She looks at Jean Paul. “There are voices from the past, voices from the distance calling us to help. We must listen to them and accept them.”
Jean Paul glances at Jacques portrait. “Those voices can bring evil.”  “No they lead us to a clear understanding of ourselves. We must embrace them for our own survival.”  “Now listen you are very young Susan. You haven’t really been up against the wall.”  “The young have been forced up against the wall sooner than you think.”  “Yes but you haven’t had to make compromises or concessions to get what you want.”  “How do you know what life has forced me to do? How can you recognize another’s destiny when you won’t even face your own?” Susan stands and starts to leave the room.  “No listen come back.” Jean Paul calls to her as he stands.  Susan stops and looks back at him. “No I’m going outside where the trees accept their fate and the birds fly into danger without fear, living their lives moment to moment without knowledge of the past or the future as we should do.” Susan says to him them walks out of the room.  Jean Paul turns and sits back on the couch staring into the flames of the fireplace deep in thought.
 
Irene enters her cottage followed by Laslo. “No Laslo. Each time you find what you think is the answer we end in failure.”  “She’s a remarkable girl.” Laslo says as he throws his coat over the back of the couch.  “I think she’s rather ordinary like most of her generation. Really, those cloths and that narcissistic self-preoccupation.”  “I tell you she has strange powers.”  Irene turns away from Laslo. “I saw no evidence of this unless rudeness is a power.”  “She could be useful to us.”  “In what way?”  “For our coven.”  Irene walks away from Laslo and sits on the couch. “We no longer have a coven.”  “What do you mean?”  “I have been warned. I have already lost my powers I will not risk my life as well.”  Laslo sits down next to her. “Risk your life?”  “Who ever has taken over my powers will not rest until they have my life.”  “That girl has frightened you.”  “Yes I am frightened but not of this girl. Now I am at the mercy of time. I thought that I could keep the ravages of the years away from me, I thought that I could suspend the passage of time.” Irene stands and walks across the room. “Then I let myself be persuaded to join you in your plans.”  Laslo stands and walks over to Irene. Standing behind her he holds her by her arms. “They are our plans.”  Irene pulls away from him. “No not mine yours.” She glances back at him. “And now I am powerless, I can’t help you. I can’t help myself.”  “You can’t give it up just like that!” Laslo says as he walks up to her.  “I didn’t give it up. It was taken from me.” Irene says as she walks away from Laslo.  “We will talk about this when you are not so upset.”  Irene turns towards him. “No it’s over we have failed.”  “We’ve failed because you are clumsy.”  “No Laslo we have failed because you have tried to use the powers of others for your own purposes.”  Laslo walks towards her. “If you give it up that will be the end between us. You realize that.”  “So be it. I’ll wait until my spirits speak to me again, if they ever do.” She glances at Laslo and walks out of the room.  Laslo grabs his coat and angrily walks out of the cottage.
 
Jean Paul is coming down the staircase as Philip is walking through the foyer. Philip waits for him at the bottom of the staircase. “I was just going up to talk to you.” Philip says to him.  “Look Philip I think we have talked enough for one day.”
Philip glances away “Yes I’m sorry.”  “No I’m sorry; it’s just that I’m in a retched mood.” Jean Paul says as he touches Philip’s arm.  Philip smiles. “We are all in a retched mood today. Look I just saw Mrs. Thaxton, she said that Laslo was taking she and Cort out to dinner.”  “Oh well Raxl will prepare our dinner.”  “No wait why don’t we all go out to dinner.”   “Why should we do that?”  “It might put you in a better frame of mind for one thing.”  “No I’d rather not.”  Philip smiles at him. “Emily is depressed upstairs; it might cheer her up too.” Philip says as he walks behind Jean Paul then puts his hand on Jean Paul’s shoulder.  “She may prefer to stay in.”  “I won’t accept no for an answer. Now you have to try to be a better host to your guests.”  “Philip I can’t.” Jean Paul starts to walk away from him.  “Susan’s a lot younger than we are, she might like some excitement. See new faces.”  “She almost seems happiest when she’s alone.”  “Well I’ll ask her and you ask Emily.”  Jean Paul nods. “All right I’ll think about it.”  “Don’t think about it. Do it or I will.”  “All right.” Jean Paul says as he touches Philip’s arm then turns and walks up the staircase.  Philip watches him as Susan walks in from the outside. “It would be wise if you made other plans for tonight.” Susan says to him.
“Our plans are set. We are going out to dinner. You and I, Jean Paul and Emily. Wouldn’t you like that?”  “It doesn’t matter about me but you stay away from Jean Paul tonight.” Susan says then turns away and starts to walk up the staircase. On the stairs she stops and looks back at Philip. “What ever you do don’t be alone with your cousin tonight.” Susan walks up the remaining stairs.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Summaries written by Debby Graham .  The slide presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Episode 135