Strange Paradise: Episode 148
Episode 148:  Slideshow
Susan” “Afternoon at Desmond Hall the Great House on the hill looks quiet and majestic to those who view it from the town below. They would be surprised to learn a web of intrigue exists there. Intrigue that has been building to an explosive confrontation. A confrontation that is just about to take place.”
 
Ada stands in the doorway of Irene’s cottage. Looking at Laslo.  “Come in.” Irene says to her. Ada steps in.  “Ada.” Laslo says her name.  “May I be alone with my husband?” Ada asks Irene while staring at Laslo.  “Of course.” Irene says with a smile as she starts across the room.  “No wait.” Laslo says to her.  Irene glances back at hi. “Why?”  :”Tell her why I was here.”  “Should I?”  Laslo turns and looks at Irene. “Go on, tell her.”  “He came to see me.”  “I came here because you blackmailed me into coming here. Tell her that.”  “She doesn’t have to tell me anything.” Ada tells him.  Laslo turns towards Ada. “But my dear you don’t understand.”  “Oh I understand that you’re here after promising me you would never come here again. I understand that you lied to me, deceived me!” Ada cries out as she turns away from Laslo.  “I have not.” He says as he steps closer to Ada.  Ada turns and looks at him. “From now on you are free to come here whenever you like! You’re free to do what you want to do. I’m going to divorce you!”  “Ada.” “I mean it our marriage is over!” She walks towards the door.
Laslo grabs her arm. “You must listen to me.”  “I’ve listened to you long enough. Let me go.”  “You don’t understand!” “Let me go!” Ada cries out as she pulls her arm away from Laslo and rushes from the cottage.  Laslo rushes to the door.  “Ada!”  Irene walks up to him. “Aren’t you going to go after her?”  Laslo closes the door and turns towards Irene. “In a minute. Why did you lie?”  “Did I?”  “You didn’t tell her why I came here.”  “Was it necessary? She wouldn’t have listened to me anyway.” Irene tells him with a smile.  Laslo walks across the room. “She can’t be serious about the divorce.”  “She sounded serious to me.”  “Well when she calms down she’ll listen to reason.” “You really think you will talk your way out of this?”  Laslo turns towards her. “I have always been able to reason with Ada.”  “You’ve always gotten your own way. I wonder if you will this time.” Irene asks as she crosses her arms and smiles at Laslo.  “Why are you smiling? You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” Irene steps away. “Frankly yes.”  “You want Ada to divorce me?” “I don’t care what she does as long as you are the loser.” “What do you mean by that?” Laslo asks Irene turns towards him. “You use people. You don’t care about anybody in the world except yourself. It’s time you learned a lesson.”  Laslo steps closer to her. “How did Ada know I was here?”  “Someone must have told her.”  “You?”  Irene shakes her head. “No.”  “Tell me the truth. Did you phone Ada and tell her I was coming?”  “No Laslo.”  Laslo turns and walks across the room. “How did she find out then?”  “Her son must have told her.”
Laslo turns and looks at Irene. “How would Cort know?”  “I mentioned it. He was here this afternoon and I told him I was expecting your visit.”  “Why did you do that? You knew he would go directly to his mother.” “Yes I did and I didn’t particularly care.” Laslo looks away. “You knew Ada would come here. I walked into a trap.”  “You could call it that. But it does sound rather melodramatic.” Irene tells him with a smile.  Laslo looks away. “Is this your idea of revenge?”  She steps away. “You used me Laslo; our relationship was just a convenience for you. And when it was no longer convenient you thought you would end it. I didn’t think you should get out of it so easily.”  “So you tricked me.”  “Don’t worry Laslo you’ll find another rich wife.”  Laslo stands and stares at Irene.
 
Cort walks into Susan’s room and paces.  “Well don’t you want to talk?” Susan asks from the window seat she is sitting on.  “No.”  “Then why did you come here? I thought you said you wanted to talk to somebody.”  Cort walks back towards Susan. “I don’t know. I don’t know why I picked you.”  “Well maybe you think you can talk to me because we are about the same age.”  Cort sits on the floor next to Susan. “Maybe.”  “Look what’s the matter? Why can’t you tell me?”
“Oh it’s my Mother.”  “What about her?”  “Well I just gave her the shock of her life. He says as he glances at Susan.  “How?”  “Well I told her Laslo was seeing Irene Hatter."  Susan looks away. “Oh I see.”  “I’m glad I did it.”  Susan looks at him. “You don’t seem glad.”  “It’s just that I keep remembering her face when I told her. It’s almost like the world had come to an end.”  “You know Cort you pretend you don’t care about people but you do. You love your mother very much don’t you?”  Cort smiles. “Oh she gets me mad but she’s kind and gentle. She never harms anyone and I hate to see her get hurt.”  Susan looks away. “I know I felt that same way about my mother too.”  Cort looks at her. “You never talked about your family before.”  “Well my father died when I was a little girl and my mother she died several years ago.”  “I’m sorry.”  “No, no really there’s no reason to be sorry. They had happy lives.”  “Mine was happy to until Laslo came along. He has made my mother’s life miserable. Then she started drinking.”  “You know people drink to escape reality.”  Cort glances at Susan then stands and sits next to her. “Well I think she’s going to face it now. She’s down at Irene’s cottage and she’s going to have it out with Laslo.”  “What’s going to happen?”  “I hope she divorces him. I hope he gets out of her life and now!”  “Cort she’s going to have to make her own decisions. Like we all do.”  “Well it better be the right one.” Cort says as he looks at Susan and stands. “Because Laslo is going to do everything in his power to get her back. And I’m going to make sure I stop it from happening.”
 
Laslo walks towards Irene. “How could I have let you trick me?”  “I am as clever as you are and I can be just as devious. We’re two of a kind Laslo. That’s the source of our relationship.”  Laslo steps closer to her. “Our so called relationship is over.”  “Is it?”  “You expect me to come back after this?”  “I’m all you have now.”  “We’ll see about that.” Laslo says as he turns away.  “You will see.” Irene tells him.  Laslo stops near the door and glances back. “Goodbye Irene.”  “You’ll be back.” she tells him as he closes the door.
 
Ada quietly enters the mansion. She walks through the foyer with her head down.
Cort walks down the staircase. “Mother?” He slowly walks over to her. “What happened?”  “I can’t talk now.” she says then rushes up the staircase.  Cort steps forward to follow. Raxl walks out of the Drawing Room and grabs his arm. “Let her go.” Raxl says to him.  “I’ve got to find out what happened.”  “Her tears have already told you. Her marriage to Laslo Thaxton is over.” she says as she releases his arm.  “I hope it is.”  “Everything you wished for will happen. I will make it happen.”  “You?”  “Haven’t I given you all the information you needed?”
“Yes and I’m grateful. I do not want your gratitude, I want your trust. Do you trust me?”  Cort turns and looks at her. “Yes.”  “Good then I must have all your trust, for one day you will be Master of Desmond Hall .And for the rest of your life I will serve you.” Raxl says with a bow.
 
Laslo enters the mansion and walks through the foyer. “Ada” he calls out then turns to walk up the staircase.   Cort rushes down the stair and stands in front of him. “Leave my mother alone.”  “Get out of my way.”  “No.” Cort tells him.   “You’re the cause of all this trouble.” Laslo says to him.  “Did I deceive my mother? Did I tell her I was going to the office when I was actually going to my good friend Irene’s cottage?”  “You knew where I was going. You deliberately set a trap for me.”  “Yes I did and you walked right into it.” Cort says with a smile.
“You’re going to tell that to your mother.”  “Oh that isn’t necessary, she found you out Laslo. She knows the truth about you.”  “She knows only what you told her. You would tell her anything to break up our marriage. You’ve been against me from the start.”  “Because I know you don’t love her.”  Laslo steps off the stairs and turns away. “That’s a lie.”  Cort walks up to him. “The only thing you care about is the Desmond money. You’ve never cared for anything else but that!”
Laslo turns towards him. “Get out of my way!”  “You make me!”  Laslo grabs Cort by the front of the shirt. “I’d like to!”  “Cort, Laslo stop it!” Ada cries out.  Laslo releases Cort.  “He started it!” Cort tells his mother.  Ada walks down the staircase. “I don’t care who started it, stop it!”  “Ada my dear I want to talk to you.” Laslo says to her.  “And I want to talk to you.” She says to Laslo. “Would you leave us alone, Cort?”  “No.”  “I said leave us alone!” Ada tells him.  “Ada we could go into the Drawing Room.” Laslo says.  Ada turns and walks into the Drawing Room followed by Laslo.  “Don’t let him lie to you Mother. Don’t let him lie to you this time.”  Ada stands with her back towards Laslo. He walks up to her. “Now let’s settle this thing once and for all.” Laslo says to her.  “It’s already settled. Get out!”  “Ada?”  “I don’t want to argue with you. The time for arguments are over.”  Raxl walks thru the foyer and stands next to the Drawing Room doors and listens.  “You must listen to me.” Laslo says to Ada.  “We have said everything that is to be said.” Our marriage is over. It ended this afternoon.”  Laslo walks across the room. “You won’t let me explain about this afternoon.” He looks back at her. “You won’t give me five minutes of your time?”  Ada walks towards the couch and sits down. “All right Laslo explain.”  Laslo walks closer to her. “Your neurotic son set a trap for me.”  “A trap?”  Laslo walks across the room. “He knew I was going there. Irene told him. They both planned that you should go there.” They knew you would jump to all the wrong conclusions which is exactly what you did.”  “You told me you would never see that woman again.”
Laslo walks to the couch and sits next to Ada. “I had to.”  Ada glances at him. “Had to?” she says angrily.  “When I broke it off she threatened to cause trouble. I went there so there wouldn’t be any trouble. That’s the only reason I went, the only reason.”  Ada glances at him.  “Irene Hatter means nothing to me. I love you.”  “Don’t say that!” Ada says angrily as she looks away.  “It’s true, you’re my wife and I love you.”  “Did you love Sylvia Carlton?” Ada asks then turns and looks at him.  Laslo looks at her.  “Can’t you answer that? Did you love your first wife? You were married before weren’t you?”  “Yes.”  “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Laslo looks away. “Sylvia is dead. She died a long time ago.”  “I understand she was quite a bit older than you, and she was quite wealthy. What happened to her money? Laslo did you spend it?”  Laslo looks at her. “What are you implying?”
“There is a lot I never knew about you.” Ada says as she looks away. “That’s all.”
“So I’d been married before, what about it so were you.”  “You might have told me.”  “We never discussed our past either of us. I never questioned you about yours.”  Ada stands. “Well none of this is getting us anywhere. I want you out of this house.”  Laslo stands. “And if I refuse to go?”  Ada turns towards him. “Then I will be forced to call the sheriff and have you thrown out.”  “You can’t be serious.” he steps closer to her.  “I am, you have no right to stay here.”  “But I’m your husband.”  “Oh no not after today.” She looks away.  “Can’t you see what you’re doing? You’re letting your neurotic adolescent son come between us to prevent any chance of happiness.” Laslo says as he walks across the room.  “We have no chance of happiness. Not now.”  Laslo walks towards her. “That’s Cort talking not you.”  “This afternoon Cort told me to choose between you and I chose you. That’s how much I wanted our marriage to work out.”  “It can still work.”  “No Laslo you have deceived me for the last time.”  “You must believe me, I love you.” He touches her shoulder.  Ada pulls away. “Don’t touch me!” She walks away from him.  “Ada.”  “The marriage is over. Nothing you say or do will change it!” She shouts at him.
 
Raxl is still at the Drawing Room doors. She straightens and walks up the staircase. She stops in front of Susan's room and knocks.  Cort walks across the room and opens the door.  Raxl enters. “He is gone.”  “What happened?”  “Your mother told him to leave the house, that the marriage is over.”  “And he went?”
“After arguing for a long time but your mother didn’t listen to his arguments. She was very final.” “Good, thank you Raxl.”  Raxl bows to him and walks away.  “So it’s finally happened.” He says to Susan.  “How did Raxl know what they were talking about? Was she eavesdropping?”  “I told her and she was only following my orders.”  “She’s always around listening to other people’s conversations isn’t she?”  “I think that’s good. She was the one that heard Laslo making a little appointment with Irene Hatter. That’s how I found out about it.”  Susan walks up to him. “Be careful Cort.”  “Of what?”  “Of people who spy on other people. They can be deceptive even dangerous at times.”  “Raxl is loyal to me.”  “I don’t know, I wouldn’t trust her if I were you.”  Cort turns and looks at her. “Why not?”  “I don’t know, it’s just a feeling I have.”  “I’ve got to go and find my mother.” Cort says as he walks out of the room.
 
Ada stands in front of the fireplace with a drink in his hand. Turning she walks back to the decanter and fills her glass again.  Cort walks into the Drawing Room. “Mother?”  Ada looks up. “Laslo is gone.”  “I know, are you all right?”  She carries the decanter with her. “I soon will be.” She sits on the couch. “I’ll be surrounded by a beautiful haze and nothing will matter.’  Cort walks to the couch and sits next to her. “I know how you feel.”  “Do you?”  “Well I think I do. But I think you’ll be glad that the marriage is over. It was the worst mistake you ever made.”  Ada turns towards Cort. “I loved him; I still do in spite of everything.” She says as she bows her head. She picks up her glass and takes a drink.  “Don’t say that.”  “Oh I know you don’t like to hear it but it is the truth.”  “Forget about Laslo.”
“Oh that’s so easy to say and so hard to do.”  “You’ll forget him in time.”  “I just want to forget everything.” She says as she fills her glass again. “And drift.”  Cort takes the decanter from her. “Don’t drink anymore!”  “I need it. I need it badly. It’s my medicine. It keeps me going.”  “Well I’m not going to sit by and watch you drink yourself to death.” He sits the decanter on the floor.  “Oh I’m not going to die. I’ll go on living somehow.”  Cort stands and walks a few steps. Then looks back at his mother “Mother all this house has is terrible memories. Why don’t we get out of here? Why don’t we go away?”  “Go now where would we go?” She asks with a laugh.  “Why don't we go to South America? Remember we used to talk about it when I was a little boy.”  Ada nods. “Yes I remember.”  Cort kneels next to her. “Why don’t we go there? Why don’t we just pack our bags and go?” Cort says with a smile.  Ada laughs. “Just like that?”  “Yes just like that. What’s keeping us here?”  “Nothing I suppose. I could use a change any change.” Ada says to him.  “I’ll make the arrangements and we’ll leave in the morning.”  “So soon?” she asks Cort.  “Well why not? The sooner the better.”  “Yes why not. Yes I need to get out of this house. We both do, I want to go.” Ada says to him.  Cort smiles and sits next to her. “Then you go up and pack your bags and I‘ll do the same.” He says touching her hand.  “All right.” Ada kisses him on the cheek and gives him a hug.  “I’ll take care of you Mother. I’ll make you happy again.” Cort says as he pulls back to look at her. “You’ll see.”  Ada stands and walks to the Drawing Room doors and looks back at Cort with a smile, she turns and calls Raxl. Walking into the foyer she sees Raxl on the staircase.  “Raxl come and help me pack my things.” Ada says as Raxl walks down the stairs.  “Pack?” Raxl asks.  “Cort and I are going away.” “What?” Raxl asks.  “We’re leaving Desmond Hall, we’re going away. Come help me pack.” Ada says as she clutches the staircase railing.  “In a minute. There is something I must do first.” Raxl tells her.
“Well all right but don’t you be long.”  Raxl walks into the Drawing Room and closes the door. She walks up to Cort.  Cort sits with his head bowed.  “You must not leave Desmond Hall.” Raxl says to him.  “Why not?”  Raxl kneels next to him. “Soon you will be the Master of this house. This is your destiny.”  “I want to go away from here. My mother wants to go too as I do.” “You do not know what will happen if you leave.” Cort looks at her. “What will happen?” “You will die!”
 
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Summaries written by Debby Graham .  The slide presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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Episode 149