Episode 32:
Slideshow
"Jean Paul your inference that I would harm my daughter to
take her fortune for my own is insulting and in bad taste. Something I never
expected from you." Elizabeth says in anger. "Your strong defense against a simple
inquiry lends credence to a simple supposition." Jacques says with a smile. Elizabeth stands. "I've taken all I
intend to take." She angrily walks away. Vangie is in the doorway. "Leaving?" Vangie asks. "You do have extra sensory perception
Miss Abbott." Elizabeth says as she stops and tells her angrily. Jacques gets to his feet and follows
Elizabeth. "And an excellent sense of timing. Vangie you've interrupted Mrs.
Marshal's dramatic exit from which there might be no return. And we do have that
séance to perform, don't we?"
"Unless you prefer not to reach your wife." Vangie says to him. "I'm not such a coward to back down from
Erica or the past, or the future Mrs. Marshal. Oh yes I control my own destiny."
Jacques says Vangie lets out
a scream. "The cryonics capsule, something is wrong." Vangie
says.
In the crypt on Maljardin, Raxl is checking over the
gauges for Erica's capsule. She turns to the capsule. "Little Mistress, there
are those who want to see you sealed in this capsule forever. And there are
those who want Jean Paul Desmond to be forever possessed by the
devil."
Jacques puts his hands to his temple in pain. He cries
out. "Jean Paul I thought you
were..." Elizabeth says to him
"Vangie you said something about the capsule. What?" Jean Paul asks
turning towards Vangie. "I had a
vibration and..." "Everyone is
staring at us!" Elizabeth whispers. "These violent spasms and strange moods that
come over you Jean Paul. It makes you seem like two people! What happens to
you?" she whispers very upset. Then turning to Vangie. "And you?" Jean Paul walks a couple of steps
foreword. "The question is, what happens to who ever tampers with Erica's
resting place? And the answer is death." he says
angrily.
Raxl checks the gauges again.
Jean Paul rushes into the mansion. Looking at Vangie after
he lays her suitcase down. "Quito when he comes up from the deck will show you
to your room Vangie. Excuse me." Jean Paul rushes to the crypt. Elizabeth and
Vangie are left standing in the Great
Hall.
"Oh Msieu you're back." Raxl says rushing up to Jean
Paul. "What went wrong Raxl?" "No one knows. There were strange
hissing sounds and puffs of smoke coming from the gauges, but they all seem to
be in order now." Raxl says following him to the equipment. Jean Paul starts checking over the
gauges. "Who discovered the breakdown?" "I hesitate to tell you." "But you will." Jean Paul says turning
towards Raxl. "Mr. Forrest." "Dan! Why was he down here?" Jean Paul
asks. "There is some cyanide
missing from the laboratory, he was searching for it or so he said." "He said. You doubt him?" asks Jean
Paul. "All I know is Mr. Forrest
doubts me and Quito, and he is continuously disputing you and all this." "All this!" Jean Paul says angrily
swinging his arm around to include the whole crypt. "Is what is preserving Erica
until she can be brought back to life! Everyone questions my changes of mood.
Now I must question changes in others. Where is Mr. Forrest?" "I observed he and Doctor Carr heading
for the cove." "There's danger
there too." says Jean Paul. "But
they are searching for the poison they consider more dangerous. and it is
Master." Raxl says. "There is
danger hiding everywhere on Maljardin. It has a history that has plagued the
family, and who will plague all who pry into my affairs!" Jean Paul says
angrily.
"You seem to devise much in life Miss Abbott, why don't
you tell my fortune." Elizabeth says to Vangie. "Did you bring your tarot
cards?" Vangie stands looking at
Elizabeth. "I'll pay." says
Elizabeth. "I don't require the
pack to read you Mrs. Marshal." Vangie says stepping away. "Really how then, palmistry?" Elizabeth
asks showing her palm to Vangie. "I have been told I have a very interesting
palm." "Interesting, but not
surprising." Vangie stands with her arms crossed. "What is it?" "I don't believe you would want to
know." Vangie says turning away. She looks back at Elizabeth. "Leave Jean Paul
Desmond alone Mrs. Marshal. His troubles are great enough." "I think I understand. I know the same
kind of grief. His wife, my husband."
"You don't understand. There are varying degrees of love. Your kind at
one end and Jean Paul’s at the other."
"Oh that's what you're getting at. I know Jean Paul has to live his own
life." says Elizabeth. "No ones
life is safe because of Jacques Eloi Des Mondes. There is only one way to return
him to his eternal doom and save us all from his curse." Raxl says looking at
Erica's capsule, she turns to Jean Paul. "The conjure doll and silver pin. Where
are they?" "I don't have them
Raxl!" "His effigy must be
pierced!" Raxl shouts to Jean Paul.
"Now even you begin to doubt me. What are we coming to!" Jean Paul
asks. "I fear it will not be good,
as long as evil remains free to poison to poison the air." Raxl says stepping
away. "From this moment on Raxl,
Erica's capsule and all those cryonic gauges must be checked even more
frequently and carefully! Jean Paul says pointing at the gauges. "It will be done." Raxl says stepping
away from Jean Paul. "Or my will ,
will be done." Jean Paul threatens coming up behind
Raxl.
Elizabeth turns to Vangie. "Of course I do think I find
Jean Paul a frightening man. He's extraordinary." Elizabeth says walking towards
Vangie carrying a drink. "He
wouldn't be one of the most powerful men in the world if he wasn't both those
things." says Vangie. "That's why
he's a creature of moods." asks Elizabeth.
"We all have them." says Vangie.
"Not like he does." "You
don't impress me as a woman who frightens easily." says Vangie. "I'm not usually." "Do you find it a frustration?" asks
Vangie. "What?" "To be afraid of a man who is wealthy
and widowed." Vangie tells her.
Elizabeth looks at Vangie, then away. "I understand his wife was a very
beautiful woman." "And completely
devoted to him." Vangie tells Elizabeth.
"Which of course explains his devotion." "To her, yes." says
Vangie.
Jean Paul is standing next to Erica's capsule. "Erica my
darling, there are some people here on our Island who would destroy the process
by which you will be returned to me and fill my arms again. But I promise you no
one, no one under any consequences will live if he or she causes you to remain
forever dead!"
"So by means of a séance you're going to help Jean Paul
reach his wife?" Elizabeth asks Vangie.
"It is possible you know."
"Provided you're qualified, with the power I mean." Vangie looks angrily at Elizabeth. "My
father man was the Conjure Man. He passed his strength on to me." "Enabling you to reach the life
from beyond." says Elizabeth. "Jean
Paul believes so." "Do you?"
Elizabeth asks. "There's no
guarantee in any life except this one below." Vangie says with a smile. "And what guarantee does it hold?" "That death is sure to follow." says
Vangie. Elizabeth walks away. "It's
inconceivable to me how anyone can subscribe to mystic beliefs." "Your religious beliefs are based on a
heritage." says Vangie. Reverend
Matt Dawson is walking down the staircase carrying his bible. "A heritage Vangie
which is duly recorded." says Matt.
"In the good book I know." Vangie says walking over to the Reverend. "No
miracle Reverend?" "Oh yes, but no
magic." Matt tells her. "If this is
going to develop into a sermon than I think I'll freshen up." Elizabeth says
putting her drink down and starts leaving the room. "Oh by the way Reverend,
have you seen my daughter since her unfortunate accident?" "Accident on purpose is how Holly termed
it." Matt says walking up to her. "I believe she's in her room." "Sulking more than suffering I'm sure."
Elizabeth says walking away. Matt
turns to Vangie. "Waiting to hear I presume." "And you don't want to tell." Vangie
says walking up to him. "Holly fell
down the stairs, claims she was pushed. Jean Paul and she are convinced it was
by me." "Is that your convention?"
Vangie asks. Matt shakes his head.
"Theirs and in no uncertain terms."
Vangie stares at the Reverend, walks around him then
leaves.
Raxl talks to Jean Paul. "And for your own safety and
those of your dear Erica. We must watch very closely all those on Maljardin,
Reverend Dawson, Dan Forrest and Elizabeth Marshal. Only the priestess of the
serpent knows what is really on their minds." Jean Paul stares at Erica's capsule
while Raxl is talking. He turns away from the capsule. "I'll find out. You have
said many times the worshipers of the Great Serpent subscribe to human
sacrifices." Raxl walks away from
Jean Paul. "The blood basin of the altar has been dried for centuries. Since the
time of Jacques Eloi Des Mondes."
"But if his evil can rise again as you fear." "No please, Msieu no." Raxl turns to
Jean Paul. "I will do what has to
be done Raxl. Nothing more, nothing less!"
Raxl signs to her God. The Serpent Staff appears then disappears. Raxl
walks away. Jean Paul walks up to Erica's capsule, he grips a flower in his hand
then lays it back on the capsule. Raxl is behind him watching. She shakes her
head then walks from the crypt.
The Reverend is in the Great Hall when he sees Raxl. She
is heading up the staircase to the bedrooms. "Raxl." "Yes Reverend." "I have searched all over this place, it
has many rooms hasn't it?" Raxl
walks down the steps, then walks over to the Reverend. "I have never counted
them." "Perhaps there are some
rooms no one even knows about." says Matt.
"If there are such rooms they are a secret to Raxl." Raxl tells him. "Things don't just disappear into thin
air." says Matt. "The poison. I
have searched all the room I know of."
"It must be hidden somewhere."
"The mysterious ways of Maljardin have confused from generation to
generation." Raxl says. "How? From
some trick of black magic?" Matt asks.
"I do not know." Raxl says turning away. "But you do know the legend. Tell me."
Matt says walking up to Raxl.
"Where there is evil, there is magic. Where there is magic strange things
happen, but first there must be evil." They both look at Jacques portrait. "And
there is." Raxl says. "When did
this legend of Maljardin first begin?" Matt asks turning back towards Raxl. "Before the time of Jacques Eloi Des
Mondes. When this house first stood it was a palace of kings and there were many
people here until this Island became his." She looks at Jacques portrait. "Then the natives all left?" Matt
asks. "Only the greedy and foolish
remained. And none that left ever returned. There is a curse here Reverend, him
the devil." Raxl and Matt turn towards the portrait. "But three hundred years is a long time
to fear a man long dead." says Matt.
Raxl looks away and tells Matt. "To some of us three hundred years is but
a life time." Matt looks at Raxl.
"A single what?" "It has happened,
it is happening." Raxl says with a smile. Raxl starts walking away. "I can tell
you no more." "But what of the
natives left behind?" "They died
very soon, it was the curse on Maljardin. Have you ever seen a man who has lost
his soul Reverend? Their eyes down, the fishermen no longer fish, the children
cease to play. They do no more than sit and wait." "For what, death. Like an
epidemic." "Of evil yes. Think what
you like Reverend but since that time no native has ever tried to settle on
Maljardin." "With Jean Paul Desmond
playing God they couldn't even if they wanted to." Matt says. "Unless one travels on the wings of the
Great Serpent and there is one who has the magic to come and go. Powers that are
not of this earth. The Conjure Woman."
"Vangie Abbott, she has come to Maljardin." "Where she may will be the next to die,
if the Great Serpent so desires. The tarot cards told us both death will come to
her on Maljardin." Raxl says to Matt.
"But the tarot cards did not say when I'll die." Vangie says from the
staircase. "All our destinies are
written in the book of life." Matt says.
"Even yours Reverend and let me warn you not only by your God." Raxl
says. Vangie walks down the
staircase as Matt leaves the room.
"In the crypt Jean Paul walks up to Erica's capsule. "More
and more Erica my darling it seems I must fight not only the devil but those he
brought here to serve his will. My love for you are my only ally. Together you
and I have more power than all of them put together. We will win and we will be
back together again." Jacques voice
comes to Jean Paul. "Of course you will. A family that works together lives
together." "Get out of here!" Jean
Paul yells. "Suppose we just
whisper so dear Erica may sleep."
"Can't you even respect the sanctity of her resting place?" Jean Paul
says angrily. "Temporary resting
place, isn't that what we call it? Until we free our darling from the darkness
that surrounds her." says Jacques.
"I will free her!" "Of
course you will. We will. That's the pact we made, the pact you are going to
keep. For my life I give you back your woman, remember. Remember it well! And
one parting word, séances come and séances go but death goes on forever. The
choice is yours. Or should I say ours."
"Erica my darling don't let the evil of that devil cause you
apprehension, we will conquer..." says Jean Paul. "Or die trying." Jacques tells him. Jean Paul backs away from Erica's
capsule and rushes up the staircase.
Vangie is walking down the stairs. Raxl is in the Great
Hall "Conjure Woman, what are we going to do?" Raxl asks. "Talk to Erica Desmond." Vangie says
walking up to Raxl. "To learn if it's her wish that Jean Paul mourn her frozen
body for the rest of his life." "He
will not accept that. He will fight even you." Raxl tells her. "The fight has already begun. There will
be a séance." "What ever words come
across, the Master might find peace." says Raxl. "We might not have any words at all."
says Vangie. "The Conjure Man's
power is still within you. Your father will guide the joining of hands." "I must touch the capsule before the
first attempt Raxl." "Come." Raxl
leads Vangie to the crypt. Vangie and Raxl stand in back of the capsule. Jean
Paul is watching them from the shadows Vangie holds her hands out then raises
them palms outward over her forehead.
"What are you doing?" Jean Paul asks walking towards them. "Please Msieu, the Conjure Woman is
trying to help." Raxl walks over to him.
Jean Paul walks over to Vangie. "Only for a séance Vangie. Erica must
remain undisturbed." Vangie lowers
her hands, then touches the capsule. "And if you don't like what you
learn?" Jean Paul nods his head.
"I'll face that when the time comes, and you." he says angrily then leaves the
crypt. Raxl walks up to stand
behind Vangie, she crosses her arms. Vangie again raises her arms, then places
her finger against her forehead with her palms facing
outward.
Jean Paul rushes into the Great Hall. He turns around
looking around the room. "Question Jean Paul." Jacques asks him. "I'm the one to ask the questions." Jean
Paul tells him. "Belligerent,
aren't you." "Why can't you stop
turning people against me! You must stop it!" "Blowing the whistle on me is that it?
Think Erica will hear it? The whistle I mean." "Leave her out of this!" Jean Paul tells
Jacques. "She's so much a part of
us. Do you think it's chilly for her where she lies?" "Stop it!" Jean Paul yells. "As you wish, but there go the chances
for dear sweet Erica to ever warm up again." "If it's the last thing I do I'll free
myself from the fight to possess me."
"We're merely sparring now, when we really get into the battle someone
has to die." "Perhaps it will be
you." Jean Paul tells him. "Or you
Jean Paul Desmond. Or will you be preceded by one of our guests, now let me see
a likely candidate could be..." Jacques laughs without finishing the
sentence. Jean Paul turns away
angrily.
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Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide
presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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