Strange Paradise: Episode 150
Episode 150:  Slideshow
Ada hears the voice calling to her in Philip’s secret room. “ADA.  The door opens and Raxl enters carrying a lamp. She silently calls to Ada putting her in a trance. ‘Ada Thaxton, Ada Thaxton can you hear me?’  “Yes I hear.” Ada says.  ‘You are alone, far from the life you normally lead.’ Raxl stands behind her.  “I am alone.”
 
‘You are asleep and this is but a dream, a dream.’  “All this is but a dream.” Ada says.  ‘I bring a warning from the past. I bring you words from those you loved long ago.’  “My daddy!” Ada cries out.  ‘They speak to you from beyond.’  “Speak to me.” Ada says.  ‘Are you prepared to listen?’  “I am.” says Ada.  ‘Will you obey their warnings?’  “I will.” Ada says.  ‘Your father speaks.’ “Daddy, Daddy.”  ‘Your father say if he had never left Desmond Hall he would have lived. He disobeyed when he left his home.’  “He never came back to mamma and me.” Ada says.
‘He should have stayed with you.’ Raxl steps closer to Ada.  “Oh yes.”  ‘And you are not to leave Desmond Hall’ “But I am so unhappy.”  ‘Do not resist your fate, embrace it. Your Uncle Benjamin resisted his destiny and you know what happened to him. Do you?’  “He went mad.” Ada says.  ‘And after he went mad?’
“He died miserably, mysteriously.”  ‘The Desmond who resists their destiny die miserably and mysteriously. Do you want to die?’  “No, no please!” Ada cries out as she slides down on a stool. ‘Then heed the words of your father.’  “I will, I will.” Ada says.  ‘Good and you will keep Master Cort here with you.’  “He won’t obey me.” Ada says as she looks at the floor.  ‘Persuade him to obey.’  “I can’t.” Ada says as she turns away.  ‘The fate of the Desmond men await him if he is fool hardy enough to leave his home." “What fate?” Ada asks.  ‘Your Uncle Benjamin burned alive in his room. Your father vanished without a trace. Philip Desmond your cousin disappeared never to come back. The Desmond men are only safe within their home.’ “Within this house.” Ada repeats.  ‘You will not let Cort leave Desmond Hall. Promise me that. Repeat after me. Cort will not leave Desmond Hall.’  “Cort will not leave Desmond Hall.”  ’Forget everything except the warning from your father. You will forget that I talked to you here.’  “I will forget.” Ada says.  ’You will remember.’  “I will remember.” Ada repeats.  ‘That you must not leave Desmond Hall.’  Ada stands. “I must not leave Desmond Hall.”  ‘Cort must not leave Desmond Hall.’  “Cort must not leave Desmond Hall.” says Ada.  ‘So be it.’  “So be it.” Ada repeats.  “Stay here.” Raxl tells her speaking out loud then turns and walks to the door. “I will come back for you when it is safe for you.” Raxl turns and walks out of the room.  As the door closes Ada is looking in the other direction. She stands and stares.
 
There is a knock on Philip’s bedroom door. Walking across the room Philip opens the door. Susan stands outside. “Philip I’ve got to talk to you.” She steps inside.
“Well come in.” Philip says as he closes the door.  “Jean Paul is not in his room.”
“It’s all right he won’t come to any harm.” Philip says with a smile.  “Are you sure?”  “Well why do you ask?”   “Well the star is going to appear again any minute.”  “It’s all right he won’t come to any harm. I’ll watch out for him.”  The door opens and Cort steps inside. “Have you seen my mother?”  “No.’ Philip says to him.  “I can’t find her. She’s not in her room.”  “Well where’s Jean Paul?” Susan asks.  “He’s outside looking for her.”  “Well we’ve got to bring him back into the house.” Susan says as she rushes to the door.  “No you stay here. I'll go find him.” Philip says to her.  Cort pushes the door closed. “Jean Paul can look after himself. It’s my mother I’m worried about.”  “Cort I’ll help you look for your mother. Let Philip find Jean Paul.” Susan says to Cort.  “We can’t let him stay outside not tonight.” Philip says as he leaves the room.   “What’s he so anxious about? Why can’t Jean Paul stay outside?” Cort asks Susan.  “Will you stop suspecting everyone?”  “I don’t have your innate trust in people.” Cort says as he walks from the room.  Susan rushes to the window and glances at the sky. The star is out.
 
Cort walks into the Drawing Room and watches as Laslo finishes a drink. “You’re supposed to be looking for my mother. Instead you’re hitting the brandy bottle.” Cort says to him.  “Your mother is a grown woman. If she wanted to be with us she would be.”  “You don’t want her to go so you just...”  “Of course I don’t want her to go. She’s my wife.” Laslo says as he stands in front of Cort.  “It’s a little late to be thinking of that isn’t it?”  “You have managed to upset your mother with these silly accusations.” Laslo says as he walks across the room.  “They are not silly. They are the truth.”  “You knew I was going to Irene Hatters. You sent her down there to catch me.” Laslo says as he walks to the couch.”  Cort turns towards him. “You gave your word that you would never see Irene Hatter again.”
“You set a trap for me.” Laslo says to him.  “You’re a grown man. You can do anything you want to.”  Laslo turns away from Cort. “You set your mother against me since the first time I came into this house.”  “Yes I’m taking her away from you.” Cort says as he turns away from Laslo.  “She doesn’t wish to be away from me.”  “Oh you’re still waiting for the opportune moment.” Cort says as he looks at Laslo.  “Moment for what?” Laslo asks.  “To get your greedy hands on her money.”   “There are certain accusations that do not deserve comments.” Laslo says as he walks away from Cort.  Cort turns towards him. “My mother isn’t Sylvia Carlton.”  Laslo turns and looks at him. “What did you say?”  “You heard me. I said Sylvia Carlton. Cort says as he steps closer to Laslo. “Or should I say Sylvia Thaxton. The last Mrs. Thaxton.”  Laslo looks away. “How did you know about her?”  “Oh the best kept secrets don’t remain secrets forever. How many rich Mrs. Thaxtons has there been already? And how many rich Mrs. Thaxtons are there going to be in the future?”
 
Ada looks around the Philip’s room. ‘I never wanted to be a Desmond. A little girl and happy parents. Oh daddy.’ Ada’s thoughts are silent and she starts to cry soundlessly. ’Why did you leave? Why did mamma die so sad, so lonely? Why did I become the woman I’ve become?’ She stands. ‘I’ve always been alone. My son is no comfort. My husband doesn’t care. Nobody cares.’  Ada turns and walks towards the skeleton. “Who is it? Daddy is it you?” She reaches out and hugs the skeleton. “Daddy.” She starts to sob. Glancing up at the skeleton Ada back away. “No!” She screams. “No!” She rushes t the door. “Jean Paul, Laslo Cort!” She screams out their names. “Someone help me! Someone get me out of here! Please, please!” She sobs. “I’ll do anything you ask. I won’t go away. I won’t ever go away! Only somebody get me out of this room!” Ada sobs as she slides to the floor in front of the door.
 
Philip rushes to Jean Paul’s room. He walks to the dresser and takes out the mask and starts to unwrap it.  Raxl opens the door. “Put away your mask and totems.”  “Leave this room.” Philip says.  “You have brought nothing but trouble with your Indian witchcraft.”  “It is not witchcraft.” Philip says.  “Oh it may ensure your crop of corn or help your warriors but it will do you no good here.”  “Then why are you so frightened of it?” “I am frightened by what it does to others.”  “To whom?” Philip asks as he looks at Raxl.  “To my Master.”  “Your Master is free for the first time in his life. You should be grateful.” He says as he walks away from her then turns and looks back at her. “Oh he’ll only be free for a little while perhaps. Nothing more.”  “You promised Jean Paul you would not appose us.”
“Give up your rituals! You bring harm to all you touch!” Raxl shouts.  Susan walks into the room. “Don’t listen to her.”  “You will interfere between me and my Master once too often!” Raxl says to her.  “Your Master is outside while the star that leads him too evil shines in the sky.” Susan says to her.  Raxl laughs. “He is protected from his star.”  “Then why are you laughing?” Susan asks.  “I’m laughing at the games that human beings play against the spirits that control them.” Raxl laughs as she walks from the room.  Susan walks up to Philip. “What does she mean?”  “Quick go find him and bring him to me.” Philip pushes Susan from the room. He closes the door and takes the mask from the dresser. He circles his hand over the mask as he calls upon Orendo.
 
Laslo looks at Cort. “You sound as if you have been reading too many cheap thrillers.”  “And you don’t seem to be concerned that your wife is missing. Why is that?”  “My dear boy you’re taking her away from me. I have made up my mind on that fact as gracefully as I can. Her safety is your concern not mine. Goodnight.” Laslo turns and starts to walk from the room.   Raxl has entered the Drawing Room, Laslo pauses and looks at her then walks from the room.  Cort steps towards her. “Raxl I need your help.”  “You have refused my offer to help.”
“I’m sorry I got angry at you. It’s just that everybody seems to be against me. Please don’t you forsake me too please?” Cort begs.  “How can I help you?”
“Find my mother.”  “Your mother is under the influence of others now.”  “Who?”
“Your cousins Jean Paul and Philip.”  Cort steps away. “But Jean Paul is searching for her and Philip is looking for him.”  “Philip is in Jean Paul’s bedroom, I just spoke to him.”  “Philip told me he was going to find Jean Paul!”  “When will you learn that you cannot trust others? Listen the Desmonds turn on each other like jungle animals, they always have and they always will.”  “And I’m caught between Jean Paul and Philip?” Cort asks.  “Yes unless you put yourself under my protection.”  “And what about my mother? She too is a Desmond. Does it mean I can’t trust her either?”  “I do not come between mother and son.”  “You haven’t answered my question.”  “Your mother is caught too, between her husband and her son. Between your cousins and you. Do not let her stay in this house alone.”  Cort turns away. “But we’re leaving!”  “By leaving Desmond Hall there is no protection for her or for you.”  “I’m taking her away from the scene of her unhappiness.”  “There are other ways of removing the cause of her unhappiness.” Raxl says to him.  Cort turns and looks at Raxl. “What are you suggesting?”  “Who is making her unhappy?”  “Laslo.” Cort answers.  “There is another reason for her misery isn’t there?”  “Of course Mrs. Hatter, she's...”  “Go on.” Raxl tells him.  “So that’s where she’s gone is it? She’s gone to Mrs. Hatters to find out the truth.” Cort says to Raxl.   “It’s possible.”  Cort walks into the foyer and grabs the telephone.  Raxl touches his arm. “It would be better if you went down there and spoke to them.”  “But she might not be there.”  “I think perhaps she is.” Raxl says as she walks away from Cort. “But Mrs. Hatter would not tell you the truth on the phone.”  Cort sets the phone back on the cradle and rushes through the foyer and grabs his coat.  “I’ll wait here. You bring her back.” Raxl says to Cort.  “Thank you Raxl. I should have trusted you a long timer ago.” Cort turns and walks out the door.  Raxl steps outside and looks into the sky. The evil star is in the sky and pulsating. She watches it with a smile.  “What are you looking at?” Laslo asks from the open doorway.  Raxl turns. “I thought I heard a sound outside.”  “Where’s Cort?’ Laslo asks as he steps closer to Raxl.  “I don’t know.”  “He was here when I left.”  “Well he probably is still looking for his mother.”  “You know more about what’s going on than you let on.”  “I beg your pardon?”  “This house has been chaos since you came from Maljardin with Jean Paul.”  “Surely you don’t hold me responsible for that?” Raxl says to him.  “You’re always at the center of it. Right now your here, my wife’s vanished and her son is gone. And you stare at me as if you know the secrets of the past.”  “Mr. Thaxton I know you’re upset but I do not have to tolerate your accusations.” Raxl turns and walks away.
 
Jean Paul enters the mansion and takes off his coat hanging it up. He walks through the foyer and sees Raxl on the staircase. “I’ve searched the grounds everywhere for Ada. There is not a sign of her.”  “She will return when she feels safe.” Raxl says as she walks down the staircase.  “I wish I could be as certain of that as you are.”  “She wanted to be alone where no one could find her.”  “Oh and where would that be?” Jean Paul asks.  “Where would you go Master if you wanted to be alone?”  “You know where she is don’t you?”  “She seeks the comfort of her ancestors.”  “Where?” Jean Paul asks.  “Where their spirits can advise her.”  “What spirits?”  Raxl steps away. “From the dead Desmonds.” Her father, your Uncle Benjamin, your brother.”  “What do you know? What are you telling me?” He steps up to her. “Answer me.”   “I will find her for you.”  “Never mind I know where she is. She’s in the secret room isn’t she?”  “I promised I would not say.”  “And all this while you have had us searching inside and outside without telling us that you know where she was.”  “I’m protecting her from danger.” Raxl tells him.  “I’ll protect her, you stay out of it.” Jean Paul turns and walks up the staircase.  Cort walks through the front door. “She wasn’t at Irene Hatters. You were wrong.”  Raxl turns and faces Cort.  “Why would she be at Irene's?” Laslo asks. As he walks through the foyer.  Cort walks over to Laslo. “Maybe she had something to talk about with your friend.” He pushes past Laslo and enters the Drawing Room.  Laslo follows and closes the doors behind him. “You and I are going to have a talk as we should have had when we first met.”
“It’s too late stepfather.” Cort says as he turns and looks at Laslo.  “Oh I can put up with your insults and your childish pranks if I have to but when it begins to endanger your mother I draw the line.” He turns and looks at Cort.  Cort laughs and shakes his head.  “Listen to me. You have driven your mother to the brink of a nervous breakdown.”  “You blame me?” Cort asks with a smile. “Me, I wasn’t the one carrying on behind her back.” Cort says angrily.  “Laslo turns away. “Oh you fool! You want to destroy her because you can’t accept the fact that I married her.” He says as he looks back at Cort.  Cort turns and looks at him. “What do you mean destroy her?”
 
Ada hears a sound. “Daddy, help me. Why did you leave us? Oh Daddy we were so happy mamma and I until you went away. Don’t leave me behind this time please!”  Jean Paul opens the door and looks at Ada. He glances up as he hears the heartbeat. He walks towards Ada.  “I knew you would be back if I waited long enough. I knew you'd come back to your little girl.”  Jean Paul opens his hand. The Mark of Death has appeared.
 
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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 151