Episode 15:
Slideshow
Vangie's father The Conjure Man holds his hands above candle
flames that are sitting on an altar. Then walks across the room waving his arm
in some type of ritual. He comes to a cot and tiredly falls upon it. Vangie
comes through the doorway.
"Daughter, you're just in time."
Vangie reaches out for his hand, sitting near him." "No daughter it is to late." "No!" "A little water perhaps." he asks
her. Vangie gets up, pour water in
a glass and places it in his hand. After he drinks it she tells him he must
rest. "No rest yet. The Great
Serpent has sent for me." "No,
please." Vangie is starting to get upset.
"All these years waiting for someone to take my place. There's no one
left but you." "I don't believe."
Vangie says. Vangie's father grabs
her by the shoulder. "You of this modern world train for the future, when you'll
wake up to the network of your own mysticism. You believe that?" "I believe in extra sensory perception
and telepathy, all extensions of the mind." "Do you believe in witchcraft?" he asks
her. "It's roots are in the past."
Vangie says. "Where can you find
roots but in the past? How can a tree grow without roots? How can you deny your
own destiny? Yours is a gift of giving Vangie. "I don't want it!" Vangie cries. "You cannot escape it, he gasps. "I'll get your pills." Vangie says. "I'm beyond the wall of mortal men. They
can no longer help me. Let me speak these truths before I have to leave. On
Maljardin the devil is loose again."
"Yes." Vangie nods her head.
"Your minister will be sent for. The forces of evil have drawn the battle
line between God and the devil."
Back on Maljardin Jean Paul talks to Quito. "Don't forget the dry
ice. We must take every precaution."
Quito makes the sign of the cryonics capsule. "Yes I know we can take no chances. If
the capsule should spring a leak or the helium tank, Erica must be
protected." Alison is coming down
the staircase; she sees Jean Paul and Quito. "Now you can turn over the boat engines,
I'll be with you in a few minutes." Jean Paul tells Quito. "Good morning." Alison says with a
smile. "Good morning Alison. Did
you sleep well?" "First restful
sleep I've had since I've been here." she says with a nod. "Likewise." Jean Paul smiles. "The first
sound sleep I've had since Erica's death. Dreamless and soundless." "No dreams for me either. It's a good
feeling, if thats possible in this house." Alison leaves the stairs and walks
through the Great Hall. Jean Paul
walks over to Alison. She is pouring a cup of coffee. "I know what's eased my
mind. Knowing that for a while you'll be staying here." "I don't know if my decision has been a
sensible one." she tells Jean Paul lifting her coffee cup. "Alison you have no idea what it means
to me." "Well I'm a doctor, I have
a much better idea than you think. If I am to stay you must make me some
promises." "Promises?" Jean Paul
asks. "Quite a few." Alison tells
him. "Don't be a fool Jean Paul."
Jacques voice tells him. Jean Paul
glances up. "Leave me alone, he whispers.
"Oh no, not now." Jacques portrait goes blank. Jean Paul clutches his temple. " Oh!" he
cries out. "What's wrong, are you
ill?" Alison asks. "No nothing just
a twinge." Jacques says smiling. Twisting his ring he asks. "Now what
promises?" "Well first my father
must be notified of Erica's death."
"Very well, I'm sure when he learns the circumstances he will agree it is
only a technicality. Perhaps we can coax him into helping with her
resurrection." Jacques says sitting on the back of the couch. Alison is seated
in front of him. "I think you'll
find out my father knows cryonics is a far out dream." "There's always a beginning." he says
kneeling in back of the couch. "Aren't you proud, your sister is one of its
pioneers." he smiles at her. "Don't
talk like that!" Alison says angrily.
"Are you afraid of the facts Alison? Or don't you understand them?" "I don't understand you. I'm a fool to
stay here." "Oh come now Alison, I
think the unusual circumstances have us both a little upset, he says taking her
coffee cup from her. Then he reaches out and holds her hand. "Death is not an unusual
circumstance, she says as she pulls her hand away. "But if this death should ever leak to
the press, the intended publicity would make me a dead duck." Jacques tells her
as he walks around the couch to sit next to her. "And my plan is to defeat
death." "Defeat it?" "Science has already succeeded. Kidney,
heart and teeth transplants, why there has even been a brain transplant." "I know with embryo chicks, but not with
people. Not quite a brave new world yet." Alison tells him. "How can you a doctor deny the hope that
one day it soon will be. After all I have all the resources under my
control." "Perhaps you may have
charmed me but what about the others? Mrs. Marshal, Tim and Holly, you can't
keep them here forever." "I don't
need forever, Alison." Quito walks in. "Yes Quito?" Jacques asks. Quito hand signs to him. "Oh yes I'll be right down." Jacques
stands. "Well again I've lost the
argument." Alison says. "Argument?
It's only a discussion. When I argue I fight, but never with you." Jacques tells
her standing behind the couch; leaning on it he looks down at Alison. "Prove it." Alison says standing up. "I
heard there is a minister on the Mainland. Perhaps he is available, I'd like for
you to arrange for some sort of service for Erica." "What's the point, it's
inconsequential." "Not to me. Why
don't you want a service for Erica? Because you think she'll live again?" "Because I know she can." "You must be mad." Alison tells
him. "In less than a decade we took
man from the earth to the moon. Nothing's impossible, believe me, he says
sitting on the back of the couch with his back turned towards Alison. "How can I accept your belief? When you
deny a force that's stronger than both of us, God." Jacques glances up. "Well unfortunately
he and I aren't on speaking terms." Suddenly Jacques stands up and walks to his
portrait starring at it.
Back on the Mainland The Conjure Man is calling for help from his
God. Vangie is in the room with him.
"Stand back Prince of Darkness, bow to the Ambassador of Light. Conqueror
of mist, cooling wind draws heat, bright light dispels the Sirocco, blinding
fire should burn away the darkness."
Back at Maljardin Jean Paul covers his face with his hands then
lowers them. "You will have your minister. Your minister of God, Alison. If I
can find Reverend Mathew Dawson I will bring him here back with
me."
At the Mainland The Conjure Man tells Vangie the minister will
need help to fight the devil. "Align him with a man who stands close to Jean
Paul Desmond. He will fight."
"Who?" Vangie asks. "I see
him as the Knight of Pentacles, the cards have many names." "Oh yes and they all point in the same
direction, Dan Forrest. I sent for him already. He will be here today." Vangie
tells her father. "Good go help him
find his way to Maljardin." Vangie
tells him it should be he that should help. "The Great Spirit is always with me.
Death is waiting. There is to much to learn before we can drive the devil back
from where he came from."
In the French Leaf Caf้, Quito walks in. He signs to the worker he
is picking up any packages foe Maljardin. Jean Paul walks in behind him. "Oh Quito would you stow that aboard and
come back for the rest later." Jean
Paul takes a seat at the bar. As he orders his drink he watches Reverend Dawson
walk in. The Reverend comes up to the bar.
Jean Paul stands. "You are Reverend Matt Dawson aren't you?" "Yes and you're Mr. Desmond?" Jean Paul
reaches out to shake the ministers hand. The Reverend says. "I was told you
wanted to meet me." "Could we talk
over a drink or...? asks Jean Paul.
The Reverend smiles. "Tea totaling is from the dark ages. And I am
thirsty." he says as he climbs on a barstool. "For this time of the day I'm a gin and
tonic man myself, says Jean Paul.
"Sounds good to me." Jean
Paul orders the drinks. "I suppose your wondering why I asked for you?" "Yes and also wondering how Holly
Marshal is?" "She's fine, perhaps a
little downcast since she arrived."
"You mean since she was joined by her mother, says the Reverend. "I'm afraid that's right." "Communication with understanding would
work magic, wouldn't it?" "I'll
drink to that and the fellowship of man, says Jean Paul. "And mankind." adds the Reverend. "You don't seem curious why I asked you
to come here at this particular time." Jean Paul says. "But I am." "All right I'll come to the point
quickly. Perhaps we could retire to a neutral corner." Jean Paul gets up with
his drink and heads towards a table.
The Reverend watches him. "In this day and age?" he also stands and
follows Jean Paul. Quito comes into
the room. "I'll need you soon Quito." Jean Paul tells him. Quito looks at the Reverend and the
Reverend watches him as he walks away.
"That's my man for all seasons." Jean Paul tells the Reverend as he sits
down. "And all reasons, I couldn't operate without him." The Reverend is still looking at Quito.
"He's mighty impressive and a little forbidding." he says as he takes a
seat. "He's as gentle as a lamb.
Reverend Dawson can I... Will you keep a secret?" "I'm a minister, but in my faith there
is no confessional." "You know who
I am, don't you?" "Yes Mr. Desmond,
I am totally aware of your power and position in the temporal world." Jean Paul nods. "Well ever since the
moment I was born, every move I have made has been exploited by the news media.
From adolescence to adulthood I have been pressured, hounded and publicized with
everything I did. Now for the past six months here, I have finally found the
first peace of mind I have known in my life. Until..." Jean Paul looks down at
his hands. "Until what?" the
Reverend asks. "Reverend Dawson I
want to ask you to come back with me to my Island." "Is it because of Holly?" "No and Im not inviting you as a guest.
I'm asking you professionally." The
Reverend looks down clasping his hands then looks back at Jean Paul. "I'm afraid
you'll have to explain." "There's
something I want to know first."
"Yes." "Will you hold what
I'm about to tell you in complete confidence?" "As a minister I have respect for any
confidence within the law. What do you want of me?" "First I want your solemn promise that
you will say nothing of what you discover on that Island. "I don't make blind promises." the
Reverend stands up. "I must insist
on this one!" Jean Paul also stands.
"And I insist I can not until I know!" the Reverend says. "Now what do
you really want of me?" Jean Paul
looks away and says quietly. "The funeral rites for my wife. Conducted by you an
ordained Minister of God." "What?"
asks the Reverend looking shocked.
"Until the day she rises again and returns to me, her death must be kept
a secret." The Reverend takes a
seat. Jean Paul tells him about
Erica. "You maneuvered me in a
corner Mr. Desmond. Ive heard of cryonics but I take no stand on it yet." He
stands to face Jean Paul. "I only know as a minister your wife should have some
burial service. I welcome the chance to give her that last service." "Then you will pack and be ready to
leave immediately." "I'll meet you
on the dock." the Reverend told him leaving the table. "Good, thank you." The Reverend turns back. "Give me ten
minutes." Jean Paul nods as he sits
down. "Reverend are you leaving
us?" Vangie asks as she walks up to the Reverend. "My host has invited me to the Island."
he tells her walking away. "I'm
glad to here it, says Vangie. She walks over to Jean Paul's table. "He may be
the most important member of your house party." "Perhaps." "But not the last." Jean Paul looks up at her. "Who?" "He's just arrived, your friend and
counselor." Jean Paul looks up.
"Dan! What are you doing here?" he stands up. "I sent for him." Vangie tells him. "You, why?" Dan Forrest walks up to them. "Vangie
sensed that something strange was going on down here and thought I might be
needed." "Well you thought wrong!
Your place is not here." Jean Paul tells him angrily. "Let's not pull rank, we have been
through to much together for me to take that." "Well I'm sorry if I offended you Dan,
you can always walk away." Jean Paul says as he sits down. Dan also sits. "What is it? What's got
into you?" Jean Paul will not
answer him. "Jean Paul when you're
making business deals, holding companies, juggling empires, I sit back and watch
you in admiration. But something is out of whack here. Like that crazy
signature, Jacques Eloi Des Mondes that you signed on that last set of
documents." "I, I didn't like the
deal. I thought it was just as good to get rid of it." "But why the trickery? Why not just tell
me." "Look do you have to go on and
on?" Jean Paul asks. "Yes, I'm not
only concerned about you but Alison and Vangie's warning." "Vangie?" "And my fathers." Vangie tells him. As Jean Paul reaches for his drink
Jacques ring appears on his hand. "You overstepped yourself Dan. Go home, you're
not needed here." Jacques takes a sip from his drink. "You can't shut me out that easily. I
want to see Alison. I want to know what is going on here." "That's none of your business." "I am your business, I thought you were
mine." Dan replies. "You presumed
wrong." "Then let us end this
business relationship. What about Alison?"
"Alison is no longer any of your business either." Jacques says. "What do you mean?" "Get out of my life! Jacques says
standing up. Dan also comes to his feet. "And hers." Jacques says as he walks
away. "Take your job and I'll take
Alison!" Dan tells him angrily.
Jacques stops and turns around. "Don't be a fool Dan, you worn out your
welcome on Maljardin." "You won't
get rid of me that easily." Dan comes after Jean Paul. " I'm coming to!" Quito steps in and stops Dan. "It could be your last try, Dan. Quito."
Quito backs away and follows Jacques.
Dan walks up to Vangie. "You sit there turning up your crazy cards
reading death and destruction. Who! How! When?" "I don't know yet. I don't know." "Well I'm going to the police. Something
has happened to Jean Paul."
"They'll be no help, this is beyond them." "But it's not beyond me. As long as I've
been fired I'm going to take that vacation I've been promising myself. Right
here! And I'm going to find out what's rotting in this bright tropical sunlight.
Even if I have to blow up that Island!" He turns to Vangie. "What do the cards
tell you?" "What your heart does,
that a woman is in danger."
"Alison?" Dan asks. She
shakes her head. "Then who?" "The King of coins." "But who is he?" "That's the whole point. Who is he?"
Vangie replies.
On Maljardin Jacques opens the mail, lies on the couch and throws
it into the air.
"Or which is he?" Vangie asks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide
presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
