STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 145

Episode 145a: Slideshow

Episode 145b: Slideshow

Susan: “Night continues at Desmond Hall as flashes of lightening illuminate the trees and cliffs outside and thunder echoes in the many rooms of the family mansion. Within the ancient walls Jean Paul Desmond is being freed from the dreaded curse that followed him from Maljardin. But the evil that has haunted him now seeks another instrument. The Desmond past shrouded in mystery and intrigue of long ago moves impeccably into the present.”

Susan stirs restlessly in bed. She awakens and stands walking to the window and looks into the sky. The star is in the sky. Turning she rushes from the room.

Philip looks at Jean Paul. “You can go to sleep now cousin.” Philip says as he covers the mask with a cloth. “But the star.” Jean Paul says as he sits on the bed. “The star is gone.” “It will come back, it has before.” Philip picks up the mask as he wraps it in the cloth, he turns towards Jean Paul. “Orendo will protect you. I’ll leave him here with you. Now if at anytime during the night you feel threatened take him out of the drawer and take the cover off and circle his face with your hand like this.” Philip holds his hand above the mask palm down as he circles the mask. “And ask for his protection.” Jean Paul nods. “You’re safe now Jean Paul.” Philip says as he turns and places the mask in a drawer. There is a knock at the door. Jean Paul glances at Philip then at the door. “Come in.” Philip turns towards the door as Susan rushes into the room. “Susan, what’s the matter?” Jean Paul asks. “Well, I was worried about you.” “We are all right Susan.” Philip says to her. “But I saw the ...” “Saw what?” Philip asks. “The star in the sky.” “There is no star, it’s gone.” Jean Paul says to her. Susan rushes to the window and looks out. She sees the star. “No look.” “Susan it isn’t there.” Jean Paul tells her. She glances up and the star is gone .She glances back at Jean Paul then walks over to him and Philip. “We have rid Jean Paul of the star Susan. All is well.” Philip says to her. “But I just...” She glances at Jean Paul then rushes from the room. “Susan?” Philip calls to her. “Susan what is it?” He rushes to the door as Susan closes it. He turns and looks back at Jean Paul.

In the Drawing Room Cort looks at Raxl. “Why do you call it my star?” “It is the star of the head of the Desmond Family.” Raxl says as she walks across the room. “But I’m not the head, am I?” “You will be soon.” “Are you sure?” “If you do what I instruct you to do.” “How will I know?” Raxl turns and looks at him. “Trust me and the star.” “How can I trust anything if I don’t know what it is?” “Wait, it will reveal itself to you. In the meantime don’t tell anyone you have seen it. It is your secret star. It will protect you from all of your enemies.” “No one else knows?” “Only you and I.” Raxl says to him. Susan swings open the Drawing Room doors. Raxl walks up to her. “Raxl what are you doing?” “Let me pass.” Raxl says to her. “Why can’t Jean Paul see the star?” “The star is not out.” Raxl says to her. “It is out, I have seen it.” “How can you see my star?” Cort asks.

Susan walks closer to Cort. “Your star?” “Do not discuss it with her Master Cort.”

“You told me it was mine, only mine.” Cort says to Raxl. Susan looks at Raxl. “What did you tell him?” Raxl looks away. “Well tell her it protects me Raxl.” Says Cort. Raxl walks up to Cort. “I can not speak of it before someone else.”

“You told me no one else knows about it.” “Do not argue with me.” Raxl says to Cort. “Your greed and impatience has led you into a trap Cort.” Susan says to him. “Do not listen to her.” “You lied to me. You tried to trick me!” Cort says then turns and walks from the room. Raxl tries to follow him. Susan steps in front of her. “You’re not leaving Raxl until you explain what you are doing.” “I owe you no explanation Mademoiselle Susanna. Susan's vision blurs as she travels back in time. “I’ll go to the king himself. I will throw myself on the mercy of Madame Desmondestan. I will stop you Raxl.” “You cannot stop what fate has already put in motion.” “You will die on the guillotine.” “The guillotine is for humans.” “You are a witch.” “It is your lover Philippe Des Mondes who is being brought to trial.” Raxl says as she walks around Susanna. “Not I.” “You have set brother against brother. Noble against Noble in a plot to kill the King.” “Susanna Claire the fate of your lover has already been decided. It requires only the form of decree from his Majesty.” “Philippe Des Mondes is a good man!” “Good or bad he means nothing to me.” Raxl says to Susanna. “Please Raxl convince Jacques Eloi Des Mondes to withdraw his accusations before it is too late. Philippe is innocent.”

“The Gods will welcome him into his eternal peace.” “There will be no eternal peace for any of the heirs of Jacques Eloi Des Mondes if his brother burns at the stake.” “My Master’s heirs will be safe as long as they keep me in their service.”

Susan comes out of the trance. “Raxl you will not leave until you explain what you are doing.” “I do not owe you an explanation Miss Susan.” “You’re leading that foolish boy to his destruction.” “I protect him as I have always protected the Desmonds.” “You’re setting him against Jean Paul, why?” “I do what I must.”

“And what’s that?” Raxl turns away. “It is my duty to protect the Master of Desmond Hall.”

Philip walks to the door. “Goodnight cousin. Get some sleep now.” Jean Paul stands. “Philip I can’t find the words to say or how to...” Philip smiles. “Well don’t say anything.” He walks over to Jean Paul. “We understand each other.” “You’re saving me for the woman that you love.” “Well the woman I love isn’t much good to me if she loves you.” “You’re a better man Philip.” “Emily doesn’t seem to think so. It’s what she wants that’s important.” The door flies open. “What is the meaning of the star? Tell me!” Cort says to them. “Cort what is it? What star?” Philip asks. Cort walks to the window and points. “The star that is outside in the sky.” He turns and looks at Jean Paul and Philip. “What is this star? What does it mean?” Jean Paul walks up to him. “Who told you about it?” “I saw it.” “When?” Jean Paul asks. “Just now in the Drawing Room. I looked out the window and there it was.” “Who else was down there?” Philip asks. “Susan.” “Well did she see it?” asks Philip. “No she came in just after it appeared.” Cort tells them as he walks closer to Philip. Jean Paul walks up to him. “Who was with you when you saw it?” “No one I was alone.” “Then what are you upset about?” Philip asks with a smile. “It’s only a star the sky is full of them.” “No it isn’t, Raxl told me that...” “Then Raxl was with you.” Philip says to Cort. Cort turns away. “I didn’t say that.” “Cort don’t lie. Was Raxl there?” Jean Paul asks. “Yes, yes she was but she told me not to mention it to anyone.” “Tell her I want to see her at once.” Jean Paul says to Cort. Cort looks at Jean Paul. “You won’t tell her I told you?”

“Why not?” Philip asks. “Because she will be angry.” “We will deal with her.” Jean Paul says to Cort. “Send her up to us.” Cort walks to the door. “And Cort?” Philip calls out to him. Cort turns “Yes?” “If anything strange happens tonight come to us.” “Strange? What do you mean?” “If you feel any peculiar sensations and anything that makes you feel unlike your normal self come to me or Jean Paul. Do you understand?” “No I don’t. Why should I come to you?” “Because we are asking you to.” Jean Paul says to him. “I’m old enough to look after myself.” Cort says as he looks away. “Oh Cort we all think we can look after ourselves but sometimes we are wrong.” Jean Paul says as he walks across the room. “Everyone tell me what to do!” “We Desmonds have not been close for a long time, as brothers or as cousins. Now I want to change all that.” Jean Paul says as he looks at Philip and Cort. “Promise you will come to us if you feel you are in any danger.” Philip says to Cort.” Cort nods. “All right, I promise.” He turns and walks from the room. Philip closes the door as Jean Paul walks across the room. “We have labored to free me of that curse now it has passes on to him.”

Philip walks up to him. “If we can rid you of it we can rid him of it too.” “Yes but what if it is passed onto him? Where does it go from there if it ever does? Does it go to you?” “We’ve got to trace it to its beginning. We must find out where it started.” Philip says to Jean Paul. Jean Paul glances at Philip. “And in the mean time that poor boy will go through the torture I endured. Oh no cousin, I would rather the curse stay with me and let it die with me.” Jean Paul says as he turns away from Philip. “It doesn’t die with you that I’m certain of.”

Raxl tries to step around Susan. “I must go.” “Not until Cort comes back.” “He needs me.” “Then he will come to you.” “Do not stand in my way. Go back to the life you knew before you came to this house. I warn you.” “You don’t scare me with your threats Raxl. I’m safe from you.” Cort walks into the Drawing room. “Jean Paul wants to see you right away.” he says to Raxl. “I do not take orders from him anymore.” Raxl says then turns away. “He insisted that I tell you to go up right now.” “What did you say to him?” Cort turns away. “Nothing. I said nothing.” Susan looks at him. “You asked him to explain the star didn’t you?”

Cort looks back at them. “What if I did?” Raxl walks up to him. “You foolish young man! I told you not to mention it!” She says angrily. “How dare you speak to me like that?” Raxl glances away. “I apologize. I lost control of my tongue. It will not happen again.” “Your Master wants to see you.” Raxl turns away. “He is no longer my Master.” “Is that for you to say Raxl?” Susan says to her. “It is his choice not mine.” “Go upstairs to him.” Cort tells Raxl. “Let him come to me!” Raxl shouts as she looks at Cort. “Do as I tell you!” Cort commands. Raxl bows. “As you wish.” She turns and walks from the Drawing Room. Susan looks at Cort. “So now she’s taking orders from you?” “It has nothing to do with you.”

Susan walks up to him. “The star is yours now don’t deny it.” “That has nothing to do with you either.” he says with his back towards her. “Cort your star is followed by mine.” Cort turns and looks at her. “What do you mean?” “They are in conjunction with each other.” “It’s all nonsense.” “Don’t you believe in the stars?” Susan asks as she walks away from him. “It’s all superstition.” “Some of us believe it.” “Yes, you people like to wrap yourselves up in mystery.” Cort says as he walks away from her. Susan turns and looks at him. “What do you mean you people?” “Look at you, you dress like a freak and you wander this earth like you have no home.” Susan walks over to the fireplace and leans her arm on the mantel. She turns towards Cort. “The earth is my home as it is your’s.” “You believe in spells and stars.” Susan looks away. “What do you believe in Cort?”

Cort steps away from her. “It’s none of your business.” “It’s none of my business but it’s to the woman who soon might call you Master, right? If she hasn’t already.” Cort looks at Susan. “Don’t mock her; she stands between me and evil.” “I wouldn’t count on that.” “Stay out of my life.” Cort says to her. Susan walks up to him. “Does she stand between her Master and evil or does she lead him to it?” Cort turns away. “She’s only a servant.” “Yes I know but whose servant is she?” Cort glances at Susan.

Raxl enters Jean Paul’s room. “You wanted to see me?” “We would like an explanation from you.” Jean Paul says as he stands near the window with his arms crossed. Raxl glances at Philip then back to Jean Paul. “An explanation of what?” “What did you tell Cort about the star?” Philip asks. “I said nothing.” She says as she looks at Philip. “I think you are lying.” Philip says to her. “Be careful Mr. Philip your protection is an ancient one but mine is even more so.” “The truth is my protection.” “The truth is that the star is not shining tonight!” Raxl shouts. She walks to the window. “Look for yourself.” Jean Paul walks to the window. “Cort said he saw it.” “If I didn’t see it how can he?” She says as she looks at Jean Paul. She steps away from him. “Your cousin has turned you against me.”

“My cousin has helped me.” “By slandering me. Me, who guarded you at Maljardin.” “He has done nothing of the sort Raxl.” he says as he walks up to her. “Your trust is what kept you alive and free from harm.” “He was not free.” Philip says to her. “He lived!” “But at what price!” Philip replies. “My duty was to keep him alive at any price.” Jean Paul nods and walks across the room. “My life is not worth any price. I put my faith in the Desmonds from now on.” “The Desmonds? Brothers that have sent each other to the gallows, to the guillotine and to the stakes. Brothers that have murdered each other for money and women.” “That is not Philip nor is it I.” Raxl looks at Philip then walks up to Jean Paul. “Look at him Master, look into his heart. Why are you so naive? Why have you lost your faith in me?” Jean Paul turns and faces Raxl. Philip watches him then turns and takes out the mask. He uncovers it and holds it up facing Raxl and Jean Paul. “Orendo keep her here. Orendo keep her with us; force her heart out into the open.” Raxl stares at the mask in anger.

Cort follows Susan to her room. She sits brushing her hair as Cort sits next to her. “If you find my company so distasteful why don’t you leave me alone? I’m tired and I would like to go to sleep.” Cort stares at Susan’s reflection in the mirror. “You fascinate me.” “Don’t flatter me.” “You do, you make a great mystery of ordinary things.” Susan turns and looks at him. “Like what?” “Well Raxl for instance. Whose servant is she? That sort of thing.” “She isn’t what she seems to be you know.” “Who is? Are you?” “What do I seem to be?” Susan asks. “No don’t go playing games with me. All of a sudden you appear from nowhere and you still pretend that you know us from before.” “I never said that.”

“Oh yes you did, to me. In the secret room the first night we met each other.” “No I said you remind me of someone. Now is that so unusual?” “But then you pretended that you didn’t know what you meant by it.” “Well I didn’t.” Susan says to him. Cort shakes his head. “You’re just trying to get attention. Trying to make yourself look important.” Susan stands. “Now why should I do that?” She walks away from him. Cort walks up to hr. “Who knows why. But you do it all the time.”

Susan looks at him. “If I were you I’d try to listen to people more carefully when they tell you things.” Cort steps away. “You’re not me. You are a spoiled little nobody that pretends that she loves everyone and everything. You wander along the cliffs singing songs and picking wild flowers.” He walks up to her. “What are you hiding beneath that disguise of your’s?” “I’ve got nothing to hide.” “You can fool Emily Blair and Philip because they think you have some sort of special knowledge. But you can’t fool me.” “Cort I’m not trying to fool you or anyone else.” “Then leave, follow your star somewhere else.” He says as he walks to the door. “My star led me here.” “There you go again the mysterious little wanderer. Hinting at secrets, telling fortunes, trying to make herself look important.” “Cort don’t get so angry. Look you and I are almost the same age we shouldn’t be arguing.” “Don’t try to make friends with me.” “Are you so sure of yourself that you don’t need friends?” Susan asks as she walks towards him. Cort turns away. “I’ve been able to look after myself before, thank you.” “Poor Cort.” Cort turns towards her angrily. “Don’t make fun of me!” He then turns and walks from the room.

Raxl looks at Philip. “Orendo bring the truth to her lips. Bring the truth from her heart. Now tell us the truth.” Philip says as he holds the mask in front of Raxl.

“Do not force me to speak.” She says to Philip. “What did you tell Cort about the star? Raxl answer me I command you!” Jean Paul says to her. Raxl lifts her hand to attack Philip and the mask. “Orendo free the truth from this woman!”

Raxl turns towards Jean Paul. “I am not your’s to command!” she shouts. “Do you defy me?” “It was you who broke the pact.” “What pact?” Jean Paul asks.

“You have turned away from me to others.” “Raxl?” “Is that what you wanted to hear?” “You shall leave Desmond hall tonight.” “I belong here.” “You do not belong to me if you do not serve me.” “Don’t send me away. The only life I know is with the Desmonds.” “Either you obey me or you leave my house.” Raxl looks at him. “Desmonds have come and gone and I have remained.” “Not any longer, I am free of you.” Jean Paul says as he walks away from her. Raxl walks up to him. “I will remain here long after you are gone.” Jean Paul looks at her. “When I go I will take you with me.” “Be careful cousin she speaks the truth.” Philip says to Jean Paul. Raxl laughs. “Take me with you? No Desmond takes me on his final journey.” She looks at Jean Paul. “There are still Desmonds who require my service and I will serve them as I have served in the past.”

Cort stands in the Drawing Room staring at Jacques portrait. He turns away, the heartbeat comes to him. He turns and looks back at the portrait.

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

~Ron/Bella~
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