Episode 23:
Slideshow
Jean Paul turns his monitor to the crypt. He then picks up
the microphone. "Erica my darling. I do know what is right and wrong, and to be
with you is always right for me. I cannot control either though, for is it wrong
to want you alive again. Is it wrong for me to want to give up my life for yours
if need be. Because the devil will not have my soul! If it means freeing you
from the capsule I will. We will destroy each other so that at least we will
share our eternity together." Jean Paul glances at the monitor, he sees Reverend
Dawson next to Erica's capsule. "So
give her peace my lord and rest in thy kingdom. Have mercy on her loved ones,
who are so troubled at loosing her. Grant them also peace. In thy name of great
compassion. Amen." Reverend Dawson offers a prayer. Jean Paul is watching
him.
Before Matt leaves he walks over to the other crypts. A
shadow comes over him. He turns. "Quito, you startled me." The Reverend looks at
the name plaques. "A store house of the past, generation by generation. But you
are the one I must see." Quito
turns away, the Reverend grabs his arm.
"I want to leave to, but how? Not unless you help me leave and not just
the crypt, but Maljardin." The
Reverend walks around Erica's capsule with his back to Quito. "Your boat. If I
can use it to get to the Main Island." he turns back and walks towards
Quito. "He is deaf." Raxl says as
she walks into the crypt. "He may
not be able to talk, but Quito can hear Raxl." "He cannot help you leave Maljardin. No
one can." "Can not or will
not?" "You must not leave for her
sake." Raxl tells him.
Jean Paul is watching the exchange between the Reverend
and Raxl.
"Who? Holly, Doctor Carr, Mrs. Marshal?" He glances at the
capsule. "Or her?" Quito reaches
out towards the Reverend. Raxl stops him. "If I must not leave Raxl I have a
right to know why." "There is
danger here to all." "And by
staying, by not trying to leave. What can I do about it?" says the
Reverend. "You are a man of the
church of the Christian God."
"Yes." Matt replies. "Even
so I think perhaps you will understand." Raxl says. "I'll try Raxl, trust me." He puts his
hand on Raxl's shoulder. "You need to trust someone, I can sense that. You have
a great need. Why Raxl?" "Evil
walks in this place." Raxl says turning away.
Alison is looking through her files in the laboratory. She
checks the bulletin board, then the cupboards. "Alison I've looked everywhere for you.
I'm beginning to feel like a one man bureau of the missing." "Oh please Dan, don't bother me. I'm
busy." "What's got into you?
Slamming doors, snapping peoples heads off. That's not the patient persevering
Doctor Alison Carr I used to know. Or are you changing too?" "You talk about..." Alison
says.
"Evil!" Matt says to Raxl. "Of danger but not how I am to
fight them." "God, the Christian
God. He is good?" "He is love
Raxl." "So you are good." "I am his servant." "It is not enough when evil walks. The
soul is lost. The sorcerer calls for it to return to the body." "And is a soul lost in this place
Raxl?" "Most easily it returns here
and here." Raxl touches Matt’s
hands then his temple. "These are the holes in the body. When it departs it goes
from there. When it returns the magic of the Curren Detto is a favorite belief
of my people. Do you understand?"
"That which you no longer believe." Matt tells her. "I believe the Christian God is
good." "And I his servant can help
you with this matter of the soul." Matt tells her. "Someone must. Please help us! Help us,
someone must!" Raxl cries out clutching Matt's arm, then pulls away crying. The Reverend puts his hands on Raxl's
shoulders. "I'll try Raxl. Perhaps I can, but in order for me to help you, you
must help me. You must tell me what..."
"Not here." Raxl says quietly looking
away.
Jean Paul is watching them very
closely.
"What?" the Reverend asks. "We must not stay further in this place.
Quito, the Temple." She walks to Quito. "Come Reverend." "Where?" "You will see." Quito stands and blocks Jean Paul view
from the monitor. "Quito, the
secret door." Raxl tells him. Quito
pushes the door open. Raxl enters with the reverend following. They both carry
torches. Quito closes the door. Quito opens the second doorway to the Temple.
Raxl walks forward, then stands in the circle of the pentagram. "I've read about many ancient Temples
but this one is..." "Secret and
sacred. The Temple of the Serpent." Raxl tells Matt. Raxl holds her arms out, then Raxl and
Quito pass their torches from hand to hand. "Ancient people who years ago lived on
Maljardin, they are the Island people. For three thousand years they were one
with the earth." "Farming people?"
the Reverend asks. "Not warriors,
not dealers in the devils business of death. This was our temple. Is our
Temple." Raxl and Quito bow, Raxl
places the torches in holders. The Reverend steps forward and looks around. "The Christian God is not displeased?"
Raxl asks. "God believes that each
may have his own belief. Is this what I think this is?" Matt is touching a table
with dark stains on it. "Basin of
the blood sacrifice." Raxl replies.
Jean Paul rushes down the stairs to the crypt. He looks
around. Then walking to Erica's
capsule he says. "Erica, oh Erica if only you can speak. If only you can see.
And tell me Raxl and Quito’s secret. But someday, someday soon you will. You
will my darling." He quickly walks away.
Matt takes his hand away and clenches his fist. "God would
not be pleased with this." "Only
the priest used it. And only to please the Gods of fertility." "But sometimes humans were sacrificed."
The Reverend says. "As others have
sacrificed. You know the Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent." "Yes." Matt says looking back at
Raxl. "He gathered bones from other
worlds, when he returned he sprinkled his own blood upon them." "And thus created his man." Matt tells
Raxl. "This is the belief." "Did you bring me here to talk about
ancient tribal history Raxl?"
"Tribal? It was, it is the highest culture." Raxl tells him. "Right, but what about this danger the
evil that rumbles around here?"
"You scorn what I have said. I see it in your face and in your eyes. Your
presence corrupts the Temple. It was wrong of me to bring you here! To trust
you!" Raxl turns away towards the entrance. "Wait! you must trust someone, trust
me." Raxl turns back. "I scorn nothing about this Temple. It's
a place of worship. I respect as I would my own. If I seem impatient with past
history, it's only that the present concerns me more." Matt turns away. "Yes." Raxl walks up to Matt. "I think evil does walk in this place."
He turns to Raxl. "Say what you brought me here to say." "Before you came to Maljardin you knew
of Jean Paul Desmond?" "Yes, he has
become a living legend." "Living,
once yes." "What?" the Reverend
says. "Luck smiled on him and all
the gifts it gave him, the greatest was his bride. My Madame, my little bird."
Raxl says sadly. "He loved her very
much." "They were so happy
together." Raxl says. "But the
service for Erica, why did he close his ears to my words?" "You were speaking of the dead. He has
made a bargain against death." "A
bargain? I don't understand."
"Msieu the Gods have the power of life and death, but there is another
who also has such power."
"Another?" Matt asks. "The
devil! I fear the devil possesses my Master. And it will destroy all of us!"
Raxl cries out turning away. "Unless."
"Unless what Raxl?" He puts his hand on Raxl's shoulder and turns her
around. "Unless someone powerful
enough on Gods side will help us to help you. Help us to help him for if he is
destroyed we will all be doomed with
him."
Jean Paul is sitting in the Great Hall. He stands "I
believed in a simple eternity once. Do I believe in it still?" Jean Paul says to
himself. "Are you asking or
telling?" Jacques speaks to Jean Paul.
"You swear to bring Erica back, when?" Jean Paul turns to ask
Jacques. "You want a timetable, go
to your local bus depot. You want me to help you don't make me punch a time
clock. Why don't you be a good little man?" Jacques says. Jean Paul points his finger at Jacques
portrait. "I am still my own man and don't you forget it!" "Until I decide, your my man or should I
say our man." says Jacques. Jean
Paul turns away angrily. "Meanwhile
remember always we're both from the same side of the barricade, against those
who hope to defeat our plan for dear Erica’s return. Can't have that, can we?"
Jacques says. Jean Paul walks
quickly away from Jacques, almost running up the stairs to his
room.
In the laboratory Alison sits on a stool. Dan is standing
talking to her. "You're a hard
person to keep tabs on Alison. And even more difficult to figure out." "Oh no, not really. It's just I'm so
frustrated. I can't find it anywhere."
"What are you looking for?" Dan asks. "Erica’s medical case history." "Maybe Doctor Menkin didn't keep a
record on it." "No, he was
meticulous and far to professional. And look at all these notes, he conducted
hundreds of experiments. You're going to tell me he didn't keep notes on Erica."
Alison says. "Well your sister
wasn't an experiment Alison."
"But she was his only patient."
"In which case if he was going to take any notes at all, he'd begin with
her case." Dan says. "Exactly, so
why didn't he?" Alison asks. "Maybe
he did." "No, I've searched for
them everywhere." Alison stands and walks around. "I've turned this lab inside
out." "Jean Paul took them." Dan
says as he looks at Alison. "No he
didn't, I asked him." "Do you
believe him?" "Of course I do."
Alison says. With a smile Dan tells
Alison. "Mind you, I’m not calling him a liar." "It sounds as if you are." Alison tells
her. "You're quick to jump to his
defense."
Jean Paul is in his secret room watching Dan and Alison on
the monitor.
"He's my brother in-law and a friend." Alison tells
him. "And that's all?" " Oh please Dan, not that again." "I'm sorry but you have to admit he's
not the Jean Paul we have all known all these years. He's completely different,
like a man neither of us have known. Like two sides to a bad coin. First he's
harassed, then the next minute he's serene and happy. Neither whom we know at
all. You have noticed?" "Oh course
I have and I don't like it." Alison says.
"Neither do I or being on this Island. The thing is it's up to Jean Paul
to arrange to send us back to the Mainland." Dan tells Alison. "Not us Dan, you." Alison sits on a
stool. "Why not you?" "We've been through this before. Jean
Paul needs me, he needs a friend and he needs a doctor. And Erica’s sudden
death, the cause of it needs careful study. My specialty is research and
obviously it was also Doctor Menkin’s. And I want to know what he found
out." "Alison what good will that
do now?" Dan asks. "It will help
matters in the future. Erica died of Eclampsia and that disease is very seldom
fatal. This time it was. Why? Doctor Menkin must have kept a case history."
Alison says as she turns toward Dan.
Dan walks towards her. "Well if you can't find it and Jean Paul didn't
take it?" "Listen, maybe I found
it. Maybe Doctor Menkin’s experiments had to do with Erica's case. Maybe these
notes are his attempt to save her or find a cure for her. If my supposition is
correct her medical history is right here." Alison points to the notebook she is
holding. "All I have to do is dig it out."
"Well that's quite a long-shot." Dan says. "Life and death are a long-shot and
long-shots do come in occasionally."
"All right, if you stay I stay." Dan tells her. "But there is one thing,
wouldn't Doctor Menkin have told Jean Paul that is what he was doing. If he
was?" "I would think so." "In that case I have a question to put
to Jean Paul and another one." Dan says.
"By all means do so." Jean Paul says as he walks into the lab. He has an
angry _expression on his face. "Now what was that question again Dan? What is it
you wanted to know?" "It's my
question really more than Dan’s." Alison says walking around the counter towards
Jean Paul. "What is your question?"
Jean Paul asks Alison. "I can speak
for myself Alison." "Your turn
Dan." Jean Paul says. "When was
Erica’s death reported?"
"Why?" Jean Paul asks.
"Because I don't believe it ever was." "The cryonics people saw Doctor Menkin’s
issued statement. Now they wouldn't have put Erica in cryonic suspension if they
thought otherwise." "They saw it
and who else?" Alison asks. "Like?"
says Jean Paul. "The authorities."
Dan asks. "I can't answer for
Doctor Menkin, he is no longer alive,” says Jean Paul. "But a death has to be reported. It's
the law, don't you know that." Dan tells Jean Paul. "I'm the only law on this Island,” says
Jean Paul. "You've got to be
kidding." Dan says as he sits down
."On the other hand, look; Doctor Menkin could have reported it before
his death. The secrecy of it still must be maintained. Can you imagine the
public knowledge and what that would mean?" Jean Paul walks around the room as
he talks. "You can't rewrite the
law for your own convenience." Dan tells him. "I'm only thinking of Erica, and Alison
will tell you if some overly officious medical examiner wants an autopsy, what
it would mean." "Well the capsule
would have to be opened." Alison tells Dan. "Exactly and all of my hope of Erica
being restored to life would be completely destroyed." "Maybe everything is in order, though I
can't find Erica’s case history. I do have Doctor Menkin’s research notes."
Alison tells Jean Paul. Dan stands.
"Did Doctor Menkin tell you these experiments have anything to do with
Erica?" "We never discussed his
experiments." Jean Paul says walking across the room. "Alison thinks there might be a
connection,” says Dan. "I can't
answer,” replies Jean Paul. "You
mean you endorsed him in all this." Dan sweeps his hand around the room. "And
yet you were not concerned with his experiments. Is that it?" "My only concern and need of Doctor
Menkin was for Erica’s care. If he wanted the laboratory to remain here, I gave
it to him. And I want to rehire you Dan if you'll except." "But you did on the Main Island before
we came back here. At least you said let bygones be bygones and I assumed." "Of course, my mind has been cloudy
understandably." "Well since I
can't get off the Island to take a retainer from anyone else. Agreed, again."
Dan smiles, then walks around the counter and puts his hand out for a
handshake. "I may need you
more than you imagine." Jean Paul says then shakes Dan's hand. "Well lunch
should be ready, after you."
Alison and Dan leave the room. Jean Paul opens a glass cupboard door; he
reaches in and takes out a bottle.
"Are we eating alone?" Dan asks, he is standing in the doorway. Jean Paul keeps the bottle out of sight.
"No, I'll be right along." He closes the cupboard door and pockets the bottle.
He then follows Dan. Alison and Dan
walk into the dining room; Jean Paul stops in the Great Hall and takes the
bottle back out. "So you think you
have the solution in the palm of your hand?" Jacques says. Jean Paul turns toward Jacques portrait.
"If you think I lack the courage."
Jacques laughs. "It will
finish you,” says Jean Paul. "And
you." "No, I no longer
matter." "To Erica you matter, if
she is ever to rise again. So be a good boy and store that away for another day.
Now join your guests, eat slowly and digest what I have said very
carefully."
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Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide
presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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