Episode 20:
Slideshow
Jean Paul walks down the stairs to the crypt; walking over
to Erica's capsule he touches the end of it with his hands. "This is our own
private requiem, Erica my darling. A requiem for the living not the dead. The
service that Reverend Dawson conducted was for your sister Alison’s peace of
mind. Mine will come when you are free of this capsule and returned to life once
again to me. Everyone here on Maljardin doubts that cryonics will be a reality
in my lifetime. That is the only hope that keeps me alive. I love you and I
shall continue to love you as long as we will be together
again."
Upstairs in the Great Hall Elizabeth and Alison are sitting. "My
poor dear, you must be exhausted." Elizabeth tells her. "Exhausted Mr. Marshal? Emotionally
strung out, very nervous." Alison says standing up. "You have every right. It's been a
shattering day for you, and Mr. Desmond." Elizabeth also stands. " His darling
wife and your dear sister, but it was a lovely service." "Lovely, that's hardly a word I would
use for a service of the dead." Alison says. "Perhaps you're right. It was a poor
choice. Tasteful?" Elizabeth asks.
"There are no words to ease sorrow Mrs. Marshal, only time will do
that." "And it will. Why don't you
take yourself to bed Doctor Carr? You can certainly do with the rest." "Not until I have spoken to Dan
Forrest." "And Mr. Desmond of
course." Elizabeth says. "No, not
Jean Paul. No I think it best he be left to himself. To his own personal sorrow.
For the moment that is." "Poor man,
he has so much and yet so little,” says Elizabeth. "It seems without Erica he has nothing."
Alison says. "Where is he by the
way?" asks Elizabeth. "He's in the
crypt with my sister." "Do you mind
if I keep you company until he comes back?" "You're his guest Mrs. Marshal, not
mine." Alison says with a smile. "And this is his house. I couldn't object if I
wanted to, which I don't. But I must warn you he's been known to spend the whole
night down there with her."
Elizabeth sits down and looks up at Alison. "The entire night? In that
dismal place." "Erica’s is there;
to Jean Paul it's not dismal. She's the one and only love of his life. She still
is." Alison says.
Dan walks in from a side door. "Alison I was wondering... Oh Mrs.
Marshal, good evening." Dan says as he walks across the floor. Elizabeth stands. "Mr. Forrest. I assume
you two would like to be alone."
"On for a purely legal matter, yes." Dan tells her. "Suddenly I'm quite weary. Nothing to do
with the company of course. Good night." Elizabeth walks away. Dan and Alison watch her go up the
staircase. Elizabeth stops and says. "As a matter of fact I'm half asleep
already." "What did you find out?"
Alison asks Dan. "That I have a
weak back and sore feet. Crawling along those docks to find us a boat to get out
of here is a job for a younger man."
"But if Jean Paul says you can leave whenever you want to. Why are you so
cloak and daggers about it?" Alison asks.
"Because I suspect he is going to change his mind, if he hasn't already.
And an alternate plan is good policy."
"It isn't a good plan unless you can navigate the channel, even the
natives fear to challenge."
Back in the crypt Jean Paul is talking to Erica. "I don't
challenge the almighty Erica dear. I simply challenge his right to take what is
rightfully mine. You my darling wife."
"You can't be serious Dan that's sure death." Alison says. "That channel is no more dangerous than
Jean Paul, or whatever possesses him to think he is all
powerful."
"No power from the present or from the past or unknown to the
future, no being real or imagined will stand in the way of our new life
together. For your life I will sacrifice all others if need be." Jean Paul tells
Erica.
"Why so harsh on Jean Paul after all these years together?" Alison
asks. Dan walks over to Alison
carrying two glasses with brandy. "Because I believe in at least a teaspoon of
honesty every twenty-four hours." he hands Alison a drink then sits next to her.
"And now that I am no longer associated with him, I intend to follow that
prescription closely." "You're no
longer with him? Since when?"
"Didn't you hear? I got myself fired day before yesterday. That's
forty-eight hours on the unemployment line." "What happened?" "I dared to question the Almighty." Dan
tells her. "God." "The man who thinks he is." Dan
replies. "Well if you're on the
outs, why did he bring you here?"
"Oh on the pretext on letting bygones be bygones. Perhaps he didn't have
any choice. You see I had him over a barrel." "Skeleton in the family closet?" "No, a letter you wrote which he thought
was never delivered." "You mean it
was mailed after all?" "No
but Vangie saw Jean Paul trying to burn it. So she accidentally, on purpose
bumped into him. She doused the flames, rescued the remains, became alarmed by
it and called me." "I wrote that
letter before I understood Jean Paul's obsession." "You mean to say that now you do
understand it?" "No, not really but
I'm beginning to understand Jean Paul a little bit better. That was why I was
almost glad when he told me the letter hadn't been mailed." "Almost but not sure? He admitted he
hadn't mailed the letter?" Dan asks.
Yes, don't you know why he wanted to keep it a secret on the Island about
Erica and the cryonics capsule?" Alison asks. "Well you're the doctor on the Island.
I’m only trying to cure the legal ills. Now don't tell me your sold on this
cryonics process?" Dan asks. "No
but lots of people are. I can't say I can be counted as one of them. No, it's
Jean Paul himself that I'm interested in."
"Oh, now I understand." Dan takes a drink. "No you don't Dan." Alison tells him.
"Perhaps I should have said that I'm concerned." "So am I. If you ask me Jean Paul is
prisoner number one on this Island."
"Yes but a prisoner by his own choice." Alison says. "Which we aren't." Dan says. "Because he must keep his secret on the
Island!" "A self appointed regent
with unwilling subjects. If you ask me the man faces revolt and when that time
comes I am going to be one of the leaders." Jean Paul is standing at the doorway on
the steps to the crypt. He is listening to Alison and Dan's discussion. "You know, I just can't read him Alison.
He switches from hot to cold like a temperamental hotel shower." Dan says. "There are two sides to all of us
Dan." "The blessed and the damned.
Yes I know the philosophy." Dan replies.
"There are times we all sit on a razors edge. Fortunately we slip we can
be cut." "Why bleed Alison if we
can prevent it?" "I'm not leaving
him Dan, he needs my help." "I want
to help him to, but not by aiding and abetting a wrong doing." "But he thinks what he is doing is
right." Alison says. "Unfortunately
for him and for us," Dan says. Jean
Paul walks up through the doorway.
"Do you know what you're saying?" "Yes, that Jean Paul is a dangerous
man," Dan says. "That's brutal and
totally wrong." "Not by my
instincts and not by his actions. You're not going to tell me you think he is in
total control of himself?"
"Councilor, may I speak in my own defense?" Jean Paul asks. He is
standing on the side of the staircase.
Alison and Dan stand. Jean Paul walks toward them. "I should be allowed
to testify,” he says. "How much
have you heard?" Dan asks. "Enough
to know my friends and my enemies."
"We are both your friends Jean Paul." Alison says to him. "In spite of what I've heard I'll accept
that for the time being." "Well now
what's that supposed to mean?" Dan asks.
"The facts will eventually speak for themselves Dan. As an attorney you
should know a case can be won or lost on a poor presentation of facts. I had to
discover love and companionship were not on the buyers market. It was especially
difficult for me since people would trade friendship for money, particularly
woman. And then I met Erica. She could have had a career for herself in the
theater. Public adulation, everything she wanted. But she only wanted me. Just
me and I wanted her. She gave up everything for me and I likewise will give up
everything to prevent anyone, anyone from stopping me." Jean Paul tells
Dan. Alison and Dan glance at each
other then look back at Jean Paul.
"No matter what it entails nobody stops me." Jean Paul says then walks
away from them. "Well, well, well
best speech I've heard since Et tuo Brute. Now don't stare so. Your guests will
think you are enamored of me. And with your back to them you might end up as
Caesar with a knife in it. Unless you beat them to the punch." Jacques tells
Jean Paul. Alison walks over to
Jean Paul with Dan behind her. "What's the matter with you Jean Paul? You
suddenly act as if we weren't even here." Alison says. "Or so you hoped we weren't. What comes
over you all a sudden that affects you so strangely?" Dan asks. "Look Dan if you want to leave go, but
you must promise me to say nothing about what has happened on this Island." Jean
Paul tells Dan. "I'm not sure I can
promise that." "For old times
sake!" "For the old Jean Paul
I wouldn't even have to be asked." Dan says. Jean Paul and Alison at each other. "I too would like to see Erica live
again, but that's not possible. So I have to see that you live again because
that can happen. Good night." Dan turns and rushes up the stairs case." "It hasn't been an easy day for any of
us." Jean Paul tells Alison. Alison
shakes her head no. Jean Paul yawns
and stretches. "Where are all the others?"
"Asleep I presume." Alison says as she follows Jean Paul. "Mrs. Marshal
tried to fight that potent wine we had at dinner. But finally she had to give in
to it." "You managed it though."
Jean Paul says as he sits on the couch.
"That's because I managed to stay away from the wine." Alison says. "You also managed to stay away from your
dinner." Jean Paul says. "I wasn't
very hungry." "Well it wasn't
exactly a day for a feast was it?" says Jean Paul. "No it certainly wasn't for me. It
wasn't for you either. You didn't eat anything." "I know I couldn't help seeing Erica at
the end of the table." Jean Paul tells her. "Jean Paul, you have to get a hold of
yourself!" Alison says. "I try,
unsuccessfully but today was impossible."
"The service?" Alison asks.
"I loathed it especially because it was for my only love." Jean Paul
tells her "I almost wish I
hadn't asked for that last decency for my sister." "Last is so final, Alison." "So is death." Jean Paul turns toward Alison. "I'm not
going to try to convince you anymore. Now please don't attempt to change me."
Jean Paul says. "You must stop driving yourself." Alison tells him. "It's the most important thing, that I
must drive myself. I drove myself to give you a service for Erica because that
is what you wanted." "But she's my
sister, I thought she deserved some type of memorial." "That's exactly what it was. Not a
burial." says Jean Paul. "She's
sealed from life." "Until cryonics
brings her back again. All that is important to me is that Erica lives again.
Nothing else matters. So the world can be shut out." "And all your guests shut in." Alison
tells him. "Well to have love again
it might be necessary to be hated." Jean Paul says. "Your guests don't hate you, they're
afraid of you Jean Paul." "Dan
Forrest isn't afraid." "Yes, he is
afraid for all of us here."
"Perhaps, but primarily for you as I'm afraid anything might go wrong for
Erica." "I'm just beginning to
realize how very deeply you can love." Alison says. "Are you?" "Yes, I think so." "Except we're to close together Alison.
I find my senses are..." "Good
night Jean Paul." Alison says after looking at him. She stands and heads for the
stairs. Jean Paul stands and rushes
after her. He looks up at her. "Alison, Alison please wait." he grabs her
hand. "Please let me go." Alison
cries out and pulls her hand away.
Jean Paul turns away and takes a couple of steps. "Faint heart, aw was it hers or yours."
Jacques says with a chuckle. "Had I been in your place." Jean Paul spins around. "Look the last
thing I need tonight is you." "You
need me day and night. Unless you don't need Erica. Or are you perhaps beginning
to think you need her sister."
Alison goes into her room. Looking in her mirror. "What's the
matter with you, that's Erica's husband." Alison cries out to
herself.
"What are you doing to me?" Jean Paul cries out. He is facing away
from Jacques portrait. "I'm not a
vital throbbing woman, Alison is as Erica was." Jacques tells him. "Erica will be again!" "But until then?" Jacques asks him. "You are a devil!" Jean Paul
whispers. "Don't you wish you were,
or are you?"
Alison is asleep but restless. She opens her eyes and climbs from
her bed. She walks like she is in a trance to her mirror. Jacques appears beckoning her as
she walks forward. "Madame and
Msieus, I know that you will forgive me but my wife is indisposed. So if you
will pardon me, us." Raua takes Jacques hand. They are once again in Jacques
time. Jacques sends away his guests and grabs Raua. (She looks identical to
Alison) "Oh Raua I thought they
would never leave." "You didn't
give them much choice,” she says.
"I had to be alone with you."
"We shouldn't." Raua pushes him away and rushes around the
staircase. Jacques runs up and
across the first landing, then down the stairs. He grabs her hand. "I
must." "But Huaco, my sister." "Long since abed, sleeping." "I didn't mean that. She is your
wife." "Unhappily." says Jacques
kissing her hand. "Jacques
don't." "Just a little pleasantry,
no wrong in that." "But it's so
cruel." she leans towards him then pulls away rushing across the room. He catches her. "You're enough of a
woman to need a man." "But I love
my sister." "Of course you do." He
holds her standing behind her. "No
it's so wrong." She again pulls away and rushes into the dining room Jacques
follows her. "Between a man and
woman there is no wrong only need. And you are mine." He takes her in his arms
and kisses her. Raua pulls away. "I
should be ashamed but how can I. Who am I? Your woman, that's all that
matters." Jacques comes up behind
her; he kisses her on the neck.
Raua pulls away. "But I must take my leave." Jacques puts his hand out. "Come my
sweet, come back." he reaches out with both arms. "Come back to my
arms."
Alison is sleeping in bed, she reaches out with both of her arms.
Her eyes open, she quickly sits up wrapping her arms around
herself.
Jean Paul looks up, he is still in the Great Hall. "Your conscience will be the death of
both of us. To coin a phrase why fight it." Jacques
laughs.
Alison is sitting on the edge of her bed. She gets up and walks to
the mirror. "What's the matter with me? The dream was so powerful. The name and
the costumes are only in my conscience. That portrait haunts me more than Jean
Paul himself. Or is it just my way to disguise my true feelings. How can I want
my sister's husband?" she cries out to
herself.
Jean Paul stumbles across the room. "How can you want your wife's sister?
It's simple because you are a man." Jacques says to him. Jean Paul tries turning away,
trying to ignore Jacques words. "Or
are you becoming the man I was? Or have you always been?" Jean Paul looks at the portrait. "I
don't know, I don't know!" "I do
but I’m not telling." Jean Paul
turns and tries to run up the stairs. He trips and stumbles. "Whoop, don't trip or Hades forbid you
could brake our leg." Jean Paul
runs up the rest of the stairs.
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Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide
presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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