STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 157

Episode 157: Slideshow

Philip holds the mask. “Orendo rejected us.” He says as he walks across the room. “But why?” Jean Paul asks. “Because I lost the totem.” “You didn’t lose it Philip Emily did.” Jean Paul says as he walks towards Philip. “But it was in my keeping. And don’t tell her what happened. She’ll blame herself and there’s nothing she can do about it.” “Well I’ve got to give her some reason for delaying the wedding.” Jean Paul says as he walks away from Philip. “I’ll talk to her.” Philip tells him. Jean Paul turns and looks at Philip. “We’ve got to get the totem back.” “I’m sure Raxl has it.” Jean Paul walks towards the window. “I’ll talk to her and I shall get it from her and bring it back to you. She wouldn’t lie to me.”

Emily sits in the Drawing Room reading a book when Ada walks into the room. “Cort told me the news and I’m so happy for you.” Ada says as she walks over to Emily. “Why thank you. I’m glad someone is pleased.” Emily says as she puts the book down. “Well we are all pleased, why shouldn’t we be?” Ada asks. “Well Cort was rather negative.” Ada laughs. “You mustn’t mind him. He tries to be so sophisticated but underneath it all he’s just a boy.” Emily stands. “He said that women who marry Desmonds live to regret it.” “That’s nonsense.” Ada says to her. “Well Raxl said the same thing.” “Raxl, Raxl is possessive and suspicious that’s just her nature.” “She said I should ask you about your mother.” Ada turns away. “What ever that means.” “Was she happy?” Emily asks. “No she had a very sad life. My father died when I was young.” “How did he die?” Ada looks at Emily. “I never really knew.” “Well didn’t your mother tell you?” “I don’t think she really knew either. He went away on a trip and well we received word that he had died.” Ada says as she sits down on the couch. “Then you were never sure that he was really dead.” “Oh yes my mother went to France for the funeral.” Emily sits next to her. “He died in France?” “Yes he died in France. Mother never spoke about it when she came back and then she died soon afterwards.” “How did she die?” Ada glances at Emily. “From grief I suppose. I really don’t like to think about it.” Ada says as she glances away. “It doesn’t really do much good does it?” “Were you with her when she died?” “No I was at school. She sent me away after my father died. Then I came to live here with my cousins.” “You must have known Jean Paul’s mother and father.” Emily says with a smile. “Tell me what were they like. I’d like to know everything about him. His childhood, his parents.” Ada jumps up. “I really don’t want to delve into the past.” She says as she walks across the room. Emily stands. “Raxl also suggested asking you about the woman who married your Uncle Benjamin.” Ada glances at Emily. “If you want to marry Jean Paul don’t look back. Turn your eyes to the future. There isn’t much we can do about the past. Jean Paul will tell you exactly what he wants you to know.” Ada says as she picks up an empty glass. “And nothing more. Please leave the rest up to ghosts believe me that’s the only way it’s going to work out.” Emily walks up to Ada. “Be content to make Jean Paul happy.” Ada says as she touches Emily’s shoulder. Jean Paul enters the Drawing Room. “Hello you both look so serious.” “No of course not.” Ada says with a smile. “Congratulations Jean Paul you both have my fondest wishes.” She walks up to Jean Paul. “And you will let me help you with your plans now won’t you? I think this house needs a little cheering up. I’m going to do it right now, excuse me.” Ada says then walks from the room. Jean Paul closes the door behind her then glances at Emily. He walks towards her. “Well news travels fast.” “Like wildfire.” Emily says. Jean Paul stands with his back towards her. “Yes it does.” Emily walks up to him. “Jean Paul what’s the matter?” “Nothing why?” he says as he steps away from her. “It’s like you’re not with me. There’s a distance.” “No I just came down to find Raxl.” Emily steps up to him. “Something’s bothering you.”

Jean Paul turns away. “I was talking with Philip and...” “And he said we should delay our wedding.” Emily says to him. Jean Paul turns and looks at her. “Yes I’m afraid for the moment we are going to have to.” Emily sits on the couch. “Can you tell me why?” “Darling listen it has nothing to do with you.” He sits next to her and holds her hands. “Philip knows why. Why can’t you tell me.” “If I could tell you I would.” “Are we to start our life together with secrets?” Emily asks.

“Darling will you please just give me a little bit of time. That’s all I ask.” “How much time?” Emily asks. “I don’t know.” Emily looks away as Jean Paul stands. “I must talk to Raxl.” he says to her. “I seem to be the only person around here you can’t talk to.” Emily says. “That isn’t true.” “I’m sorry.” Emily says as she turns away from Jean Paul. “I didn’t mean that.” “You must trust me. Have you seen Raxl?” “Yes.” Emily says with her back towards him. She turns and looks at him. “Yes I have. She stopped a few minutes ago before going out and warned me about marrying into the Desmond family.” “What exactly did she say to you?”

“She told me to ask you about your mother.” “My mother?” “And about your grandmother. Then she said I could marry you if I had enough courage to face the kind of lives that they had.” She says as she walks up to him. Jean Paul turns away. “I’ve got to find her!” “What did she mean?” Emily asks. Jean Paul stops and looks back at her. “I can’t explain that now I can’t!” “But Jean Paul you've got to tell me!” Jean Paul walks back to her and holds her by the arms. ”Listen Emily, Raxl is trying to frighten you.” “No Raxl doesn’t frighten me but you do. What is it that she wants me to know?” “I think you should go away until I settle this with Raxl.” Jean Paul says as he turns away from Emily. “No I’m not leaving! That’s just what she wants me to do. And that’s what Cort wants me to do.” Jean Paul turns towards her. “Is that what you want me to do?” Emily asks him. “What did Cort say?” “Oh he’s like Raxl full of warnings about what happens to the Desmond wives.” “Darling listen I promise you solemnly before we are married I will tell you everything you want to know. But I can’t now and in the mean time don’t listen to Cort. Don’t listen to anyone.” He says as he holds her. “But please just don’t be afraid.” Emily looks up at him. “But they are trying to get to you through me don’t you see that. If we just love one another nothing can harm us. Put your faith in me and ignore the others.” Jean Paul holds her.

Cort stands looking out his window when his door opens and Laslo walks in. “Well what do you want? Your mother said you wanted to speak to me.” Laslo says. Cort walks over to him. “What a great pleasure dear stepfather.” “If you‘re going to be impertinent good day.” Laslo says as he turns towards the door. “No wait.” Cort says as he closes the door. “I’m sorry.” “That’s the first time you have ever apologized to me.” “Well I’ve decided that it’s pointless for us to disagree.”

“I’m pleased to hear that.” Laslo says to him. “We have much to lose by being enemies. And much to gain by being friends.” Cort says as he walks away. “Oh we do, do we?” Cort turns and looks at him. “Yes we do dear stepfather we do. I really never wanted to be unfriendly. I know I’ve been rude and arrogant but that’s over now.” “Oh?” “All I really wanted to do was make sure that my mother was happy. She is happy isn’t she?” “I think so.” “And are you happy?” Cort asks. “Why do you ask?” Cort turns away. “It’s just that every so often I wander what makes you happy.” “You’re planning something aren’t you?” Cort walks away. “Right.” “And you want my help.” “If that is possible.” Cort says to him. “It depends.” Cort stands in front of the window and looks out. “As far as you can see everything out there belongs to the Desmonds.” He glances at Laslo. “Oh much, much farther than even you can see.” Laslo says as he walks to the window. “You manage the factories, the buildings in Desmondton, the orchards and fields. The banks and the farmhouses, its all ours.” Cort says as he steps away from Laslo. Laslo shakes his head. “Technically it belongs to Jean Paul.”

Cort sits down. “Yes but when he gets married and settled he’s going to be much more serious about the business affairs.” “He never has.” “But he’s changed. He’s no longer the melancholy man who worried about his dead beautiful wife. He’s a bridegroom and then a father, and a father gets very serious about the property their children will inherit.” “What are you suggesting?” Laslo asks as he steps closer to Cort. “If all the Desmond estates were mine you will have a free hand.” “Are you offering me a partnership?” “I’m offering you so much more than that. I’m offering you what you couldn’t get from your rich widows.” “We’ll see. I’ll think it over.” Laslo says to him. “Don’t be too long about it. The happy couple are eager to start their new lives. And even though I wish them all the happiness I hate to have it at my expense.”

Philip walks down the staircase. Jean Paul meets him in the foyer. “Did you speak to Emily?” Philip asks. “I tried to.” “You didn’t tell her about Orendo?”

“No I didn’t want to alarm her. She’s upset, a little confused.” “I’ll talk to her.” Philip says to him. “I wish you would. She may listen to you.” Jean Paul says as he touches Philip’s arm and walks across the foyer. “I’m looking for Raxl, she’s gone out.” “Just find out if she really has the totem.” Philip says. “I’ll get it from her.” Jean Paul says as he looks at Philip. “No just tell me.” Philip says as he walks closer to Jean Paul. “I’ll take care of getting it back.” “Philip please tell Emily the truth about the mark.” “It’s best that we don’t.” Philip says as he looks away. “I can’t have her suspecting me of deceit and evasion.” He says as he looks away from Philip then glances back at him. “It won’t do her any harm knowing about it.” “Perhaps you are right. But we’ve got to make sure she’s safe.” “I’ll make sure she’s safe. I promise.”

Emily stands in the Drawing Room crying silently. Philip enters the room and closes the doors behind him. “Emily.” “Please go away.” Emily says to him. “I must talk to you.” He says as he walks up to her. Emily walks away. “I don’t want to talk.” “Now listen Emily if you really love Jean Paul then stand behind him because he is going to need you.” Philip says standing behind her. He holds her by her arms. Emily shakes her head with a sob. ”It’s all my fault isn’t it?” “It’s no ones fault.” “I lost the totem.” “Now I shouldn’t have given it to you.” “Then why did you?” “Because I was more concerned for your safety than mine.” He says as he drops his arms. Emily turns towards him. “Oh Philip what am I going to do!” she sobs. “Just carry on the way you were going. Make your wedding plans but just don’t set any date.” He says as he helps her sit on the couch. He sits next to her. Emily looks at him. “Jean Paul is in danger isn’t he?” “I’ll find another way to protect him.” “He’s gone out alone to find Raxl.” Emily says.

“We’ve got to find the totem. We have searched her room and it’s not there.”

“She could have given it to Cort.” “What makes you say that?” Philip asks her.

Emily stands. “Everything Cort says to me these days is an echo of what Raxl says. They are together all the time.” She says standing in front of the fireplace.

“She warned me that the Desmond curse could go to Cort if it ever left Jean Paul.” Philip says as he stands. “But it has left Jean Paul.” “We’re not certain of that.” “But Cort has seen the star, he’s heard the heartbeat.” Emily says as she walks towards Philip. “Susan saw the Mark of Death on his face.” Philip nods. “Cort may be the next Master of Desmond Hall.” Emily shakes her head. “Don’t let that happen. He lives with his star or he dies when the star passes on to another.” Emily says as she walks away from Philip. “He won’t die, I promise you that. He will not die.” Cort turns towards his mother. “What have I done now?” Cort asks. “Nothing, on the contrary I want to thank you for being so kind to Laslo. He was pleased.” “Well we just found that we have a lot of things in common that we never suspected before.” Cort says as he closes the door. “Well I knew you would like each other if you just gave him a chance.” Cort steps up to his mother. “Oh I’m giving him a chance, a great chance.” “He will be a different man now that you accept him as a father.” “I only want you happy now mother.” He says as he touches her shoulder, then gives her a hug. “Oh I’ve been thoughtless. I didn’t realize what I was doing. But it will all be different now you wait and see.” Ada pulls away. “There’s just one thing Cort.” “What’s that?”

“I don’t want you to spend so much time with Raxl.” “I don’t mother, really I don’t. It’s just that she’s lonely. Jean Paul spends most of his time now with Emily and Philip. You can’t blame her for that can you?” Cort says as he walks across the room. “I don’t trust her.” “Well you don’t even know her. You have avoided her ever since she came here!” She reminds me of...” Ada looks away. “Of what?”

“Well she brings back memories of Benjamin Desmond, that poor tormented man.” “But she didn’t even know him.” Cort says to her. “No but she reminds me of his housekeeper.” “How did you know her?” Cort asks. “I only had a glimpse of her once. Mother wouldn’t allow me to visit Uncle Benjamin because he had very strange habits and interests.” “What kind of interests?” “Black arts, magic the kind you were interested in when you were a little boy.” She says as she steps closer to Cort. “Well that was only childish nonsense.” “Well it wasn’t childish nonsense as far as your Uncle Benjamin and your Grandfather were concerned.” “My Grandfather?” “Yes he had many bookcases of strange volumes on potions and spells and all kind of magic.” “What happened to those books?” Cort asks. “Oh Mother had them taken away after he died.” “Who took them?” “Oh I don’t know. I was at school; it was so very long ago. Anyway that doesn’t really matter now.” “Well I’d like to see them that’s all.” Cort says as he looks away. “No it isn’t important; the important thing now is that you are taking an interest in the family affairs and that you are going to work with Laslo.” Ada says as she touches his arm. “Yes I think stepfather and I will become good partners, very good partners.”

Emily stands in the foyer as Laslo walks towards her. “I’m very pleased for both of you congratulations.” Laslo says to Emily. “Thank you.” Emily says with a smile. “I’m sure you will be both very happy. Where is Jean Paul?” Jean Paul steps up behind him. “Here I am.” He says with a smile. “Ah I was just giving my blessing to your bride to be. We’re all very happy for you.” Laslo says as he shakes Jean Paul’s hand. “That’s very kind of you.” Jean Paul says to him. “And when will the wedding be?” he asks looking at Emily. “Oh we haven’t decided yet.” “Yes that’s up to Emily.” Jean Paul says. “Well if there is any way I can help? Goodnight.” Laslo says as he walks up the staircase. Jean Paul glances at Emily. “Oh just giving his blessing, that doesn’t sound like Laslo.” “Jean Paul you’re beginning to sound like me.” Jean Paul smiles and takes her into his arms. “Have you forgiven me?” “There’s nothing to forgive you for. As long as we are happy that’s all that matters. If we have to wait we will wait.” Emily says as she pulls back and looks at him. “Thank you.” Jean Paul says as he brushes her hair back from her face. “Did you find Raxl?” “No. No I was driving around Desmondton thinking she might be shopping but I didn’t see her. She could have returned.” “No I’m sure I would have heard her.” “Why don’t we look for her, there have been so many people coming in and out of this room we can go where we can be alone and talk. Come along.” He leads her from the Drawing Room. From the top of the staircase Laslo watches as they walks through the foyer hand in hand. He walks down the staircase and enters the Drawing Room.

Ada enters the Drawing Room carrying a tray of champagne. “Well we are going to celebrate. Where are they?” she asks as she looks around the room. “They’ve gone for a walk. Oh no they are getting into the car.” He stands at the window and watches Jean Paul and Emily. “Laslo don’t spy on them.” Ada says as she sets down the tray. “I’m so pleased to see true love walking hand in hand that I couldn’t resist staring.” “It’s nice to have a happy couple in the house.” Laslo picks up a glass of champagne. “It’s nice to have two happy couples in the house. To you my dear Ada.” Ada picks up a glass and he touches his glass to her's then takes a sip. Philip walks into the Drawing Room. “Philip won’t you join us for a drink?” Laslo asks. “Have you seen Jean Paul?” “They just walked away into the sunset.” “They did?” “Jean Paul and Emily want to be alone. They have a life to plan. Lots to talk about like most young couples in love.” Laslo says to him. “Will you have a drink Philip?” Ada asks as she hands him a glass of champagne. “Thank you I will.” “The house is quiet.” Ada says. “Perhaps I should ask Cort to join us.” Laslo says. “Oh he’s gone to town. He said he is going to a movie and then going to have dinner out. He gets restless around here.” “Well it’s just us three.” Laslo says as he raises his glass. “Well Susan is upstairs. I’ll go get her.” Philip walks from the room. Ada looks at Laslo. “Poor Philip.” “Why what’s the matter with him?” “Oh you men. You never realize when a man has a broken heart.” “No I suppose not.” Laslo says to her. Philip walks through the foyer then opens the outside door. He looks at the dark sky and not seeing anything he walks back inside.

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

~Ron/Bella~
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