Strange Paradise: Episode 21
Episode 21: Slideshow
Jean Paul walks slowly down the staircase from his room.
He puts his hand to his head. Coming to the bottom of the steps he hears
Jacques. "Psst, psst. Come here.
What happened last night?" Jean
Paul shakes his head no. "Please."
"You were alone last night, you fool you didn't have to be." "Please! Can't you see I have a
splitting headache?” He puts his hand to the side of his temple. "You deserve to have it split, and your
emotions. You love your dearly departed Erica, yet you yearn for her newly
arrived sister." He laughs. "And they call me a devil." Jean Paul walks back to the stairs and
stops. He rubs his forehead with his fist.
Alison walks down the stairs. Putting her hand on his shoulder she calls
his name. Jean Paul jumps.
"Alison." "What's the matter?" "A headache." "A severe one?" she asks. Jean Paul nods his head. Alison puts her hand to Jean Paul's
forehead, then checks his pulse. "Did you have it very long?" "Yes, since you found me in the state I
am."
"Come and sit down." She helps him to a chair. "It's your nerves you know. You insist on driving yourself so." After she gets him seated. "Where are your tranquilizers?" "I can't spend my life popping pills into my mouth." "You will do what you must do." Alison says. "I know what I must do and pills are not the answer." "Where are they?" she asks. He points to the table. "If these headaches keep persisting I will have to prescribe something stronger." "When Erica returns to me so will my strength." His face contorts with pain. "Now look I'm a doctor and a useless one unless I can prescribe properly. Now more important what I prescribe is to be brought over here and taken." "If it's necessary Quito will bring something over from the Mainland. Now really I'm feeling much better." "You're evading the issue. You can't spend your life doing that Jean Paul." She is pouring water and getting his pills ready for him to take. "I don't intend to." She hands him the glass and tries to give him the tranquilizers. "Here, take this." He looks up at her. "I'm not accustomed to taking orders." "But it's a request. Please. It'll make you feel better." Jean Paul takes the pills and swallows them. Looking at her. "Why are you so concerned?" "Because I took an oath to help who ever needs my help." Alison walks around the back of Jean Paul's chair. "To cure if possible. To make as comfortable as possible. And I can help you if you'll permit me." "Mmmm, such a delightful bedside manner." Jacques says to Jean Paul. "Why not let her operate?" Jean Paul starts getting upset. Alison watches him. "Obviously I have to prescribe something stronger. If I can only get a hold of some analgesics." "Doctor Menkin had a laboratory here. Would he have had anything?" Jean Paul asks. "He might have. Where is it?" "Morning." Dan says as he comes down the stairs. "Good morning." Alison replies. "Weather wise." Dan says, then he walks up to Jean Paul. "Ah, you look like you spent the whole night brooding." "Dan can't you think of something pleasant to say just once?" Jean Paul says. "I say what I think has to be said." "But this time Dan your talking out of turn." Alison says. "Oh I'm beginning to get the picture." "It's all out of focus and blurred. Jean Paul has a migraine. I'm just trying to ease it for him. And that is all you can develop from what you think you saw." Alison tells him. "Sorry." Dan looks at his watch. It's early for you to be up isn't it?" "I couldn't sleep,” she tells Dan. "Perhaps the reason your up at this hour is to jump at the intrigue that your imagination is building." Jean Paul says. "For all our sake I hope it is my imagination. Look, I didn't sleep last night either. I have a luxurious bedroom up there but it's like a six by six jail cell. This whole place is reminiscent of an armed fortress. And the only way to defend ourselves is potshots. That's no way to win a war." "Have you declared war Dan?" "I for one just want out before someone else gets hurt. Unless you have a better reason for keeping us here than just secrecy?" Alison looks at Jean Paul. He is rolling the glass across his forehead. Jacques portrait goes blank. Jean Paul stands up. "Well certainly you must have breakfast before you go." Jacques says with a smile. "Now if your room is a prison cell and you are a prisoner, well I invite you to have your last hearty meal." Smiling Jacques clasps Dan's shoulder with his right hand. He walks away from Dan then grinning walks up the steps to the bottom landing on the staircase. Dan smiles at him. "But that's only for prisoners condemned to death." Jacques looks at him. "Remember you said it," he says with a smile. Jacques rubs his hand over his face and with a small smile watches Alison walking over to him. "Do you realize Jean Paul what you are implying." "I think Dan does though. I have no plans for implementation. I'm purely on the defensive. The councilor here has already declared a state of war." Jacques says happily. "Lets cut out the flim flam and get down to facts." Dan says. "How far down?" "Down to the root of the problems here." Jacques puts his hand to his temple. "Well you see, it's this headache, the pain is really severe. I feel I lost my power, my faculty to think." He walks past Dan and peeks through his hand looking back at Dan. "Or to rationalize." He lays down on the couch. "Dan couldn't you hold everything till later, until Jean Paul is more himself?" Alison asks. "That's just the point, lately he's been more and more unlike himself."
"Come and sit down." She helps him to a chair. "It's your nerves you know. You insist on driving yourself so." After she gets him seated. "Where are your tranquilizers?" "I can't spend my life popping pills into my mouth." "You will do what you must do." Alison says. "I know what I must do and pills are not the answer." "Where are they?" she asks. He points to the table. "If these headaches keep persisting I will have to prescribe something stronger." "When Erica returns to me so will my strength." His face contorts with pain. "Now look I'm a doctor and a useless one unless I can prescribe properly. Now more important what I prescribe is to be brought over here and taken." "If it's necessary Quito will bring something over from the Mainland. Now really I'm feeling much better." "You're evading the issue. You can't spend your life doing that Jean Paul." She is pouring water and getting his pills ready for him to take. "I don't intend to." She hands him the glass and tries to give him the tranquilizers. "Here, take this." He looks up at her. "I'm not accustomed to taking orders." "But it's a request. Please. It'll make you feel better." Jean Paul takes the pills and swallows them. Looking at her. "Why are you so concerned?" "Because I took an oath to help who ever needs my help." Alison walks around the back of Jean Paul's chair. "To cure if possible. To make as comfortable as possible. And I can help you if you'll permit me." "Mmmm, such a delightful bedside manner." Jacques says to Jean Paul. "Why not let her operate?" Jean Paul starts getting upset. Alison watches him. "Obviously I have to prescribe something stronger. If I can only get a hold of some analgesics." "Doctor Menkin had a laboratory here. Would he have had anything?" Jean Paul asks. "He might have. Where is it?" "Morning." Dan says as he comes down the stairs. "Good morning." Alison replies. "Weather wise." Dan says, then he walks up to Jean Paul. "Ah, you look like you spent the whole night brooding." "Dan can't you think of something pleasant to say just once?" Jean Paul says. "I say what I think has to be said." "But this time Dan your talking out of turn." Alison says. "Oh I'm beginning to get the picture." "It's all out of focus and blurred. Jean Paul has a migraine. I'm just trying to ease it for him. And that is all you can develop from what you think you saw." Alison tells him. "Sorry." Dan looks at his watch. It's early for you to be up isn't it?" "I couldn't sleep,” she tells Dan. "Perhaps the reason your up at this hour is to jump at the intrigue that your imagination is building." Jean Paul says. "For all our sake I hope it is my imagination. Look, I didn't sleep last night either. I have a luxurious bedroom up there but it's like a six by six jail cell. This whole place is reminiscent of an armed fortress. And the only way to defend ourselves is potshots. That's no way to win a war." "Have you declared war Dan?" "I for one just want out before someone else gets hurt. Unless you have a better reason for keeping us here than just secrecy?" Alison looks at Jean Paul. He is rolling the glass across his forehead. Jacques portrait goes blank. Jean Paul stands up. "Well certainly you must have breakfast before you go." Jacques says with a smile. "Now if your room is a prison cell and you are a prisoner, well I invite you to have your last hearty meal." Smiling Jacques clasps Dan's shoulder with his right hand. He walks away from Dan then grinning walks up the steps to the bottom landing on the staircase. Dan smiles at him. "But that's only for prisoners condemned to death." Jacques looks at him. "Remember you said it," he says with a smile. Jacques rubs his hand over his face and with a small smile watches Alison walking over to him. "Do you realize Jean Paul what you are implying." "I think Dan does though. I have no plans for implementation. I'm purely on the defensive. The councilor here has already declared a state of war." Jacques says happily. "Lets cut out the flim flam and get down to facts." Dan says. "How far down?" "Down to the root of the problems here." Jacques puts his hand to his temple. "Well you see, it's this headache, the pain is really severe. I feel I lost my power, my faculty to think." He walks past Dan and peeks through his hand looking back at Dan. "Or to rationalize." He lays down on the couch. "Dan couldn't you hold everything till later, until Jean Paul is more himself?" Alison asks. "That's just the point, lately he's been more and more unlike himself."
Raxl is walking down the steps to the crypt. She walks
over to Erica's capsule. "Little Mistress, what are we to do? The Conjure Man is
dead. Your husband refuses to believe that you too are dead. The evil of the
devil is finally here. Jacques Eloi Des Mondes seems to be everywhere and yet
his image remains chained to a canvas."
Jacques is sitting up. "It's the most severe pain I have
ever known. And I've been through hell on occasions, but it would be
unreasonable for me to expect you to share the burden of my sorrow and pain."
Jacques says. Dan and Alison are
standing behind the table that is set near the
couch.
Raxl walks to Jacques crypt. "Jacques Eloi Des Mondes may
you suffer the torture and pain of the conjure doll with the silver pin driven
through its temple."
Jacques raises both hands to his temple. "It feels like
someone is poking pins and needles into my very being." He looks at Dan dropping
his hands. "Now perhaps Dan, you are trying to put a hex on me." "Look Jean Paul I'm sorry you're not
feeling up to par. I have no desire to see you suffer anymore than the rest of
us should be made to suffer. But a hex?"
"That was a very bad attempt at humor. Forgive me." Jacques says to
Dan. "Well I won't forgive you
unless you help me to find something to alleviate the torture you're going
through." Alison tells Jacques. "Oh
and I thought you were getting ready to leave me alone floundering in my agony."
Jacques says. "Neither Alison or I
intend that." Dan says. "Well it's
been very bad tempered of me, please understand my moods, my temper. No one is a
prisoner here, no one. Now you wouldn't run out on me now." Jacques looks at
Dan. "I'm not running out, though
it seems you have run out on me. I was fired, remember." "But rehired, remember." Jacques points
at Dan with a smile. "Well in that
case I better leave this Island so I can begin to look after your world wide
interests again." "Dan, you're only
part of the organization. Why don't you let some of the others pitch in?" "I wasn't only thinking of the business
matters. It seems there is a small legal snarl you are involved in." "Legal snarl?" Alison asks. "As tragic as it may seem I have to be
the devils advocate." Dan says.
"You? Well where does that leave me?" Jacques asks. "In a lot of trouble." Dan says. "You know, that could be true
enough." "What sort of trouble
Dan?" Alison asks. "It's a matter
of an unreported death." Dan says.
"Unpublicized, It was medically reported by Doctor Menkin before his
unfortunate demise>" Jacques says twisting his ring. "That too, can be a problem." Dan
says. "Dan are you acting for the
defense or the prosecution?" Jacques asks him. "Are you holding Jean Paul accountable
for the accident?" Asks Alison. "I
want to prove that it was an accident so that no one will be held
responsible."
Raxl calls for help in her Temple. "Oh Priestess of the
Serpent. Free us all from the curse of the demon. Return him from whence he came
and all here on Maljardin from whence they came. Free us before the binds that
hold us tighten and strangle the will to
resist."
Jacques tells Dan. "It seems you think someone deserves a
noose around the neck." "Jean Paul,
Dan is just trying to be helpful." Alison walks around the couch and stands in
front of Jacques. Then she sits on the edge, Jacques is stretched out. "You
should be thankful." "I'm sorry,
it's the migraine." Jacques says with his hand against his temple. "Now where is this lab?" Alison
asks. "I'll show you,” says
Jacques. Alison helps him stand up.
Jacques puts his hand on her shoulder. "Oh Alison, how could I ever manage
without you?" Alison takes his arm.
"Lets go." Jacques puts his other
hand to his temple. Dan walks
up. "Oh no, it's all right. We will
manage." Jacques reaches out for Alison.
"An analgesic will perform miracles." Alison tells Jacques. He nods his head, then they walk by
Dan.
"I Raxl from the line of Priestesses of the Serpent look
for the miracle that is only in the power of those much greater than I. Send it
to me. Send it to me!" Raxl has her arms raised holding a torch. Lowering her
arms she repeats. "Send it to me!"
Alison and Jacques are walking when he clutches his head
and bows in pain. "Still throbbing
badly?" Alison asks. "It's like the
devil,” he tells her as he straightens up.
Arriving in the lab, Alison looks around. There is a counter with round
glass containers and test tubes on it. Around the room are upper cabinets with
glass doors. On the side is a refrigerator, then more cabinets top and
bottom. "This is extremely well
stocked." Alison tells Jacques. He
is leaning on the refrigerator watching Alison. "Now this should be locked." Alison
tells him opening a top cupboard.
"Why?" "Amphetamines,
barbiturates, morphine there are enough drugs here to swing the entire hippie
generation well on its way to flower heaven." "Are you taking inventory or helping
me?" "I'm sorry, come and sit
down." Jacques walks around the
counter and sits on a stool. "Was
Doctor Menkin in the habit of giving you a needle?" Alison asks. "I have an absolute horror of
needles." Alison walks to Jacques
and rubs his temple. "Let me see."
"Oh please, your not going to put a needle in my temple?" "Don't be foolish, that would kill
you." Jacques mumbles to himself.
"Don't I know it?" Alison is
opening a file cabinet. "I wonder if he had a file on you?" "A file of what?" Jacques turns on the
stool facing Alison. "Your medical
history. That would help before I administer treatment." Alison pulls out a
file. "I'd be more than interested
to see it myself." Jacques says standing and coming up behind Alison. "I don't think you'll understand
it." "You may find it a bit of a
challenge yourself." Jacques says.
In the Great Hall Dan starts to pour himself a cup of
coffee. Raxl walks in. "Oh Msieu, let me help you." "Coffee I can almost manage." Dan tells
her. "Could I get you something to
go with it?" she asks. "Oh just
some information." Dan says as he sits down. "About what, Msieu?" "Raxl I am one of your Masters oldest
friends and I only have his best interest at heart. Will you believe that?" "There are things I am given to know."
Raxl replies. "Good then would you
answer some questions?" "If they
are permitted." "I know how hard
his wife's death has hit him." Dan says.
"It has destroyed us all."
"It seems to be my fate to trample on everyone’s feelings, but I must ask
you. Have you noticed a change in Mr. Desmond since his wife's death?" "Everybody has." "What I mean is did it occur since her
death or before?" "Oh no Msieu,
before he was as happy as one man could be." Dan stands and walks behind the chair.
"And the business of freezing, the cryonics process. Was that a sudden
decision?" "I don't know." Raxl
tells him. "Was it Doctor Menkin’s
idea or Jean Paul’s?" "Not Doctor
Menkin, that I know. There are many things I can tell you but I dare not. So
please... " Raxl turns away. "Raxl
you have nothing to fear from me."
Turning back to Dan. "You are not the
devil!"
Jacques puts Jean Paul's folder down. He has taken off his
jacket. Alison prepares a syringe.
"I apologize. Of course you can understand it. You were in excellent
health in the last examination. Except for a few minor problems with migraine
headaches, which we are about to relieve now." Alison tells Jacques. Jacques is rolling up his sleeve and
giving Alison a pained look. "Must we use the needle?" he asks looking at
it. "For injections, of course."
Alison smiles. "Don't tell me you're afraid?" "What, Jean Paul never." he smiles and
sits back down on the stool. "Only do you mind if I don't look." He covers his
eyes with his hand. His ring fades away. Jean Paul is once again in
control. "This won't hurt a bit."
Alison says. Jean Paul looks at
Alison after glancing at his arm. "Go ahead." "I thought you said you didn't want to
look?" "Why should I?" asks Jean
Paul. "Well that's an about face,
you seem like a different man." Jean Paul looks
away.
"Fair is fair. I got my needle centuries ago now it's his
turn." Jacques says from the Great Hall.
"In a few minutes you'll feel like a new man." Alison
tells Jean Paul as she puts his folder back in the cabinet. Jean Paul watches
her. Alison walks around the lab.
Jean Paul is still watching her. "It's all yours" "What?" Alison asks with a smile. "The lab I mean." "Well it's certainly well stocked. No, I
don't belong here." "Yes, yes you
do. Your sisters home is also your home."
"How's the headache, is it better?" Jean Paul puts his hand to his
head and smiles. "Gone thanks to you." He stands and picks up his jacket. "It's only temporary Jean Paul, you know
that." "I know." Jean Paul slips
into his jacket. "Until some cure
or medical breakthrough." says Alison.
"Well isn't that your field, research? Why couldn't it be discovered
right here? In this laboratory by you along with..." Alison sits down and smiles.
"What?" "Genetics." Jean Paul
says. "That incomplete experiment
of mine in that laboratory at home?"
"Work on it here." "Why?"
Alison asks. "So you can help me to
find a way to bring Erica back."
"Jean Paul, why do you persist in these hopeless dreams?" Jean Paul slams his hand ion the table.
"It's not hopeless. Now you know as well as I do that someday some doctor will
find a way to synthesize life in a laboratory. Now why shouldn't it be
you?" "Even if that were possible
what good would it do Erica?" "Look
once it is discovered what it is that killed her and a cure is affected, even if
some of the cells are beyond redemption we could..." "It's utter nonsense." Alison says.
"Even if we were able to create a living cell, it would take years before we
could teach it to reproduce itself. Years before we could create even the
simplest of organisms, let alone a complex thing like a human body." "I'm not asking you to create a whole
body, only the part that killed Erica."
"If she died of Eclampsia, I must tell you the damage is severe and
extensive." "Then you will not face
the challenge." Jean Paul asks. "I
am facing a challenge." Alison stands up. "Trying to bring you back to
yourself!" "I'll only return to
myself when we bring Erica back!" Jean Paul says angrily, then walks out the
door of the lab.
Dan is sitting drinking a cup of coffee, Raxl is serving
him. Jean Paul comes angrily through a side door. He's heading for the staircase
to his room. Dan jumps to his feet.
"Oh Jean Paul." Jean Paul turns and
looks at him. "Leave me alone. I am going upstairs to rest Raxl, and I do not
wish to be disturbed." he says angrily.
"Yes, Msieu." Raxl leaves as Jean Paul heads up to his room. Alison
rushes up, from the lab. "What's
got into him all of a sudden?" Dan asks Alison. "It must have been the after effects of
that shot I gave him. Alison steps up on the stairs. "What ever it was I'm not
sure it helped him." Dan says.
"That's why I must stay here a little bit longer." Alison says. "But I thought you and I..." "I'm sorry. Please Dan, I feel I must
stay." she rushes up the stairs to go to Jean Paul. Dan is left standing next to the
staircase. Raxl walks over to him.
"Msieu." "Yes Raxl." "Don't do what Doctor Carr says. Do not
stay. Run, all of you. Run as fast as you can, while you
can."
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Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide
presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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