STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 135

Episode 135: Slideshow

Raxl: “Late afternoon at Desmond Hall, the last hazy light of afternoon is obscured by mists from the forests. It is almost as if the earth is struggling to hide its secrets as the Master of Desmond Hall Jean Paul Desmond must struggle to hide his. No one must know he is the victim of a curse. A curse that compels him to kill. But two people seem perilously close to finding out. One is a strange young girl with extraordinary and unexplainable powers of perception; the other is Philip Desmond who is close to possessing dangerous new knowledge. Knowledge which may on this day destroy him.”

“Susan, wait a minute.” Philip calls out to her. Susan stops on the landing at the top of the staircase and looks down at Philip. “What?” “I’d like to talk to you.” Susan walks down the staircase stopping in front of Philip. “I suppose you want me to explain what I said?” “Of course I do. You just can’t make a statement like that and walk away.” “Well the trouble is I can’t explain.” “What?” Philip asks.

“Well sometimes I say things I don’t understand. I just say it.” Susan says as she turns away from Philip.

“Would you mind coming into the Drawing Room with me please?” Philip says to her then walks to the Drawing Room door opens them and walks in with Susan following him. He closes the doors behind him. “Why are you closing the doors?”

Philip turns and looks at her. “I don’t want anyone to hear us.” “Why? Why do people in this house like to keep secrets?” Philip walks up to her. “It seems you know the secrets of Desmond Hall.” She looks away. “I know some of them.”

“Such as?” Susan looks at him. “I know you should stay away from Jean Paul tonight.” “But you don’t know why?” Susan walks across the room. “No it’s just a feeling I have. I can’t explain it.” Philip comes up behind her. “What would give you this feeling? Something Jean Paul did or said?” Susan shakes her head and walks away from him. “No I only met Jean Paul this morning and well he didn’t say or do anything out of the ordinary.” She says as she turns and looks at him.

Philip walks over to her. “But you did know he wasn’t in his room last night. How did you know that?” “I just knew.” “What else do you know about Jean Paul?”

“I know he has a secret.” “What is it?” “I don’t know. But I just know you should stay away from him tonight.” “What will happen to me if I don’t?” “You could die.” “Die?” “Just be very careful tonight.” She says as she walks away from him. Philip grabs her arm and turns her around. “Now wait a minute.” “I can’t tell you anymore. That’s all I know.” Susan says looking at him. Philip smiles. “You are a very strange girl.” “People have told me that before. Are we still going to dinner?” “Yes of course.”

“Well I better change.” Susan says glancing at her cloths then rushing from the Drawing Room. Jean Paul sits on his bed in his room as Raxl walks over to him. “But she is dangerous Master.” “Raxl I wouldn’t call her that.” Jean Paul says to Raxl. “But she knows things that she should not know. She knows about Helena and about Holly.” “Well possibly somebody told her.” Raxl walks across the room. “When she came to the house last night she had never been here before. Yet she knew the house and everyone in it.” Raxl stands across the bed from Jean Paul. Jean Paul stands. “Raxl there is such a thing as extra sensory perception. A perception that is beyond the ordinary senses. Now it is very possible that Susan possesses this kind of power.” he says as he walks across the room. Raxl walks up to him. “But what if she knows about you?” Jean Paul shakes his head. “No I’ve talked to her and she isn’t the slightest bit afraid of me.” “But she asked to see the murderer!” “And she did not know what she meant.” Jean Paul says then walks away. “Send her away for your own sake.”

“No. No I want to learn more about her. Perhaps I will tonight.” Raxl turns and looks at him. “Tonight?” “Yes. Philip has asked me to join him for dinner tonight in town.” Jean Paul tells her as he walks to a chair and sits down. “I might find out more about Susan.” Raxl walks over to him. “But you cannot leave this house tonight.” Jean Paul looks at her. “The danger is over.” “You can not be sure of that.” “I’ve already over come it Raxl. The star has never appeared on two successive nights.” “But you can not be certain. It might appear again you are not certain of that.” “How can I refuse without raising suspicion?” “You must not leave this house tonight. Do not tempt the fates that control your destiny or they may destroy you.” Jean Paul looks away from Raxl.

Philip and Emily are talking together in the Drawing Room. “Jean Paul didn’t ask you?” Philip asks. “No I passed him in the hall and he didn’t say a word.” “Well then I’ll ask you. Would you join us for dinner tonight?” Philip asks her with a smile. “I’d love to.” “Good.” Philip says to Emily. “I’m glad that Jean Paul will be getting out of the house. To be honest I’ve been worrying about him.” “Why?”

“Sometimes he behaves so strangely, last night for instance.” “What happened last night?” “I went to his room and told him about the picture. The picture of the four women hanging.” “And?” “He wouldn’t talk to me. He told me to leave.”

“Why?” “He wouldn’t say why. And then Raxl appeared and the two of them went off together without a word.” Philip walks behind Emily and stands on her other side. “I know he spent the night in another part of the house too. I wonder why he did that?” “Before Raxl appeared suddenly he stopped talking and he just looked at me and I had the oddest feeling.” “What kind of feeling?” “No never mind. I shouldn’t say anymore. What I was about to say was very foolish.”

“Well say it anyway.” he says walking around her. Emily turns and looks at him. “I had the feeling that Jean Paul wanted to kill me.” “Kill you?” “I told you it was foolish.” “What gave you that feeling?” Emily turns and walks away from Philip. “The way he looked at me. His eyes were strange and cold.” “Go on.” Philip says. “The expression on his face was I don’t know. It’s ridiculous, why would Jean Paul harm me?” “I don’t know.” Philip says as he walks up to Emily. “Well he wouldn’t. See it was the picture it must have upset me. My imagination was working over time.” “Well maybe, maybe not. All the same I’m glad you told me.”

Raxl enters the Drawing Room. “Mr. Philip?” Philip glances up. “Yes?” “My Master asked me to find you. He will not be having dinner with you tonight.”

Philip walks up to her. “Why not?” “He has other plans.” “What are they?”

“He did not say, just that you must have dinner without him. That’s all he said.”

“All right thank you Raxl.” Philip says as he turns away from her. Raxl bows and leaves the room. Philip walks across the room. “Well?” Emily walks over to him. “I do wish Jean Paul would change his mind. It would do him a lot of good to get out of this house.” “I just may be closer than I thought.” Philip says. “Closer to what?” “To finding the secret of Desmond Hall.”

Jean Paul stands in his room with his arms crossed when there is a knock at the door. He looks up. “Yes?” The door opens and Philip glances into the room. “Cousin?” “What is it?” “Can’t I persuade you to have dinner with us?” “I’m afraid you can’t. I’m sorry.” “Emily and Susan will be very disappointed.” Philip says to him. Jean Paul smiles. “Well I’m sure the three of you will have a good time.” Jean Paul says then walks across the room. “Raxl says you have other plans. Would you mind telling me what they are?” “I’m afraid I would mind.” “Do I ask too many questions cousin?” Jean Paul looks away from him. “Sometimes.” “Well sometimes it’s the only way to get answers.” Jean Paul turns and looks at Philip. “Answers to what?” “Mysteries.” “Am I a mystery?” “Well I don’t understand you.” Jean Paul walks up to him. “Please don’t try.” “Well if you definitely decided not to come with us.” “I have but you’re going to be rather late, you better go.” Jean Paul says to Philip as he opens the door. “Well goodnight then.” Philip says as he walks out of the room. “Goodnight.” Jean Paul tells him then closes the door behind Philip. Philip stands in the hallway turns and raises his hand to knock again then changing his mind he turns and walks away.

Susan is walking down the staircase. Emily is standing in the foyer waiting for her. “You look lovely.” Emily says to her. “I look like me, that’s all that matters.”

Emily is trying to fasten a necklace around her neck. Susan reaches up to help her. “When I was your age I used to love pretty cloths. I still do.” Emily says to her. “Then we are interested in different things. Emily glances back at Susan. “What are you interested in?” “Oh people and just living I guess.” She finishes fastening Emily’s necklace. “There.” Emily touches the necklace the looks at Susan. “Have you been like that always?” “Always.” Susan says as she stands with her hands on her waist. “I wouldn’t know how to be different.” Emily touches Susan’s shoulder. “Then don’t try.” She turns and sees Philip coming down the staircase. “Is Jean Paul coming?” Emily asks him. “No he refuses.” “You couldn’t get him to change his mind?” “No he says he has other plans, he wouldn’t say anything more.” “I’m disappointed.” Emily says to Philip. “So am I. Well if we are going we might as well go. Are you ready Susan?” “Yes.” “Well shall we.” He lets Susan and Emily go before him to collect their coats. Raxl walks down the staircase and watches them. Philip glances back at her, then walks over to the staircase. “Raxl did you want something?” “No goodnight.” She says with a slight smile. “Goodnight.” Raxl turns and walks up the stairs. Turning Philip walks outside as he follows Emily and Susan. He stands holding the door. “Is something wrong?” Emily asks. “I was just thinking.” Philip says as he walks up to them. “I couldn’t understand why Jean Paul wouldn’t come with us tonight.” “Why don’t you go back and talk to him again. Maybe you can get him to change his mind.” Emily says to Philip. “I doubt that.” “You could try. I could drive Susan to the Inn and you can meet us there later.” “Well if you really wouldn’t mind doing that I would like to talk to Jean Paul again.” “No I don’t mind.” Emily says to him. “All right I’ll meet you in a few minutes.” Philip says as he smiles at her then walks back to the mansion door. Susan looks at him. “Don’t go back into that house!” “But why?” “You are in danger there.” “From what?” “I don’t know but danger is there.” Philip laughs. “Another of your feelings?” “Yes if that is what you want to call it.” “It’s just made me more curious. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” He says as he touches her shoulder then turns and walks back into the mansion. Susan walks up to Emily. “He shouldn’t have gone back into the house.” “What can possibly happen to him?” “I don’t know but something will." Emily wraps her coat more tightly around her and takes Susan’s arm. “Come on Susan.

Raxl enters Jean Paul’s room. “Everyone is gone. We are alone in the house.” Raxl says to Jean Paul. “Good.” Jean Paul says as he stands. “You were wise to stay in tonight.” Jean Paul nods. “Yes I just hope my excuse would work. I was trying to think of...” He bends over in pain as the heartbeat starts. “Is it?”

Jean Paul sits down on the bed. “The heartbeat, the heartbeat!” he says bent over in pain. Raxl rushes to the window and looks out. “The evil star has appeared again.” She says as Jean Paul sits breathing heavily in agony. Philip walks through the hallway to Jean Paul’s room. He stops outside the door when he hears Jean Paul’s voice. “You know what must be done?” “Yes I will take you to the tower room and lock the door. I have the key.” Raxl tells him with her arm around his shoulder. “Good and remember to leave me there until dawn. If anyone asks where I am just say I left the house. We will think of an excuse in the morning.” “No one will find you. I will hide the key.” Philip still stands outside the open bedroom door. “Come quickly. There isn’t a moment to lose.” Jean Paul says to Raxl. Philip rushes down the hallway and stands in the doorway of another bedroom as Jean Paul and Raxl come out of the bedroom. Raxl is helping Jean Paul walk down the hallway. Philip follows behind them at a distance. Arriving in the tower Raxl unlocks the door and follows Jean Paul into the room, closing the door behind her. Philip walks to the door and puts his ear against it. When he hears the door begin to open he hides down the passageway. Raxl closes and locks the door, then turning she walks away. Philip follows her. Raxl enters Jean Paul's bedroom carrying the key in her hand. She glances around then walks to the flowers. She hides the key in the vase. Philip stands on the side of the door where he can watch Raxl. He smiles after she hides the key then nods to himself.

Jean Paul stands in the tower room with only a single candle for light. He turns when he hears the door being unlocked. “Raxl?” The door opens and Philip steps into the room. Jean Paul stares at him. “Hello cousin.” Philip says to him.

“What are you doing here?” Jean Paul asks. “I might ask you the same question.” Philip says as he closes the door. “Listen! Go now!” “I’m not leaving until I find out what you are doing here?” Jean Paul turns away from Philip. “You shouldn’t have closed that door.” “Why? Am I in some kind of danger?” “You may be.” Philip walks up behind him. “Now what danger am I in?” “Oh you’re a fool!” Jean Paul shouts. “Am I cousin?” Jean Paul turns and looks at him, he then rushes to the wall He looks back at Philip. “Listen how did you find your way up here?” “Is that really important?” “You only pretended to leave this house. You have been spying on us.” “No I came back to try to persuade you to go to dinner with us. I overheard you and Raxl talking. I was curious. I still am.” “Where did you get the key? From Raxl?” “No I saw where she hid it then I simply went and took it and here I am.” Jean Paul turns away from him. “You are too inquisitive for your own good.” “Is that a threat?” “It’s not a threat. It’s a warning. No go please.” “What will happen to me if I don’t?” “Look don’t ask anymore questions. Just go please.” “Why are you here? Why are you locked in this room?” Jean Paul leans against the wall with his back towards Philip. “I can’t tell you that!” “Can’t tell me or won’t!” “Have it either way just go!” “And why are you so frightened?” “Don’t ask for an explanation!” Jean Paul shouts turning towards Philip. “I am asking!” Philip shouts back. “You are here because of the Desmond curse aren’t you?” Jean Paul looks at him then walks across the room.

Philip follows him and stands behind him. “Jean Paul what is the curse?” “If you knew you would leave now!” “I am not leaving here until you answer my question.” “The Desmond curse will not affect you, only me!” “You still haven’t answered my question.” Jean Paul turns towards him angrily. “Philip leave now go!” Philip shakes his head no. “Please! Please!” Jean Paul begs. “No, no I’m not leaving here you must know that.” Jean Paul rushes to the door and opens it. “Raxl! Raxl!” he shouts. Philip walks over to him. “She can’t hear you Jean Paul!”

Jean Paul closes the door and turns towards Philip. “Listen Philip if you would only listen to me for a moment.” He gasps in pain gripping his hand. “What’s wrong?” Philip asks as he looks at Jean Paul’s hand. The Mark of Death has appeared on it. He glances up at Jean Paul. “What are you doing? Jean Paul? Why don’t you answer me?” Jean Paul turns away as he faces the door. “What has happened to you?” Jean Paul slowly turns and looks at Philip. “Jean Paul what’s wrong?” Jean Paul walks towards him as Philip backs away. “Answer me what is it?” Jean Paul reaches up and grabs Philip around the throat strangling him. Philip breaks free and pulls out the totem. Jean Paul looks at the totem then at Philip and grabs him around the neck. Philip drops the totem as he falls on the floor with Jean Paul’s hands squeezing 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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