Episode 38:
Slideshow
Thunder and lightening crash. Reverend Dawson walks over
to the smashed séance table looking it over. Jean Paul enters the room then
starts up the staircase. "Keeping
this here as a souvenir Jean Paul?" Matt asks. Jean Paul sees Matt turns and comes down
the staircase. He walks over to Matt. "No Reverend, we may have another
séance." "After we all so narrowly
escaped death." says Matt. "We face
it each living day." "But you can
not play with our lives like some kind of toy." "Play. Come now Reverend this is no
game. Surely superstitions and fears are not going to blacken your learned
convictions. All of our days are numbered." "But our days are not yours to dole
out." the Reverend tells him. "I
did not cause the chandelier to crash down on the table to shatter, that was the
result of the storm." "Which still
hasn't subsided." "It shall and
when it does we will have another séance that will enable me to contact my wife.
I will risk it all again." "And
risk all of us!" Matt says angrily.
"You forget the medium said death points only to me." Jean Paul says then
walks away to the crypt.
Quito is in the crypt wiping down the cryonic chamber. He
sees a shadow rushing down the stairs and lunges at the shape. "Quito!" Jean Paul shouts. Seeing who it is Quito backs away with
his hands still raised. "The
shattered séance table is causing to much concern, it must be repaired along
with the chandelier. Now see to it please." Quito signals to Erica's capsule. "I will remain with Erica. It's where I
belong. He turns towards Quito. "And thank you for keeping the night watch but
remember we trust no one Quito, no one."
Quito nods then leaves the crypt. "Sometimes we can not trust even
ourselves." Jean Paul says to himself. He walks over to Erica's capsule. "Oh
Erica the cryonics process, the séance is all for us. If only you can speak.
Only if you can tell me I'm doing what you
want."
Quito walks over to the séance table, he pick up the
chandelier then the table. He carries it out of the room. Matt is sitting on the couch watching
Quito. After Quito leaves Matt gets to his feet, he heads for Alison’s lab. Alison is checking the contents of a
drawer, then the file cabinet. She pulls files from it as Matt walks in the lab.
Alison throws the files down and lowers her head supporting it with her
hand. "Frustration grows, I know
the feeling." Matt says. Alison
raises her head then looks over her . "Defeat would be a better word." says
Alison walking around the counter top.
"If we admit that then we lose all hope." "After what happened last night is there
any hope left?" Alison asks. "The
secret to hope is faith.' "There
are secrets everywhere in this house!
And as Raxl has cried out evil. I'm not sure which causes which." Matt bend down to pick up the folders
and files Alison had knocked to the floor. He hands them to her. "The devil
getting to you too. The fact that there are so many wrong things here leads me
to suspect the forces of evil are manmade. Not a spirit from Raxl's belief."
Matt says to Alison. "Raxl’s
convictions are very strong. That the power of witchcraft is powerful enough to
conquer what ever it is." "Surely
you don't share her belief?" Matt asks.
"These notes here of Doctor Menkin’s, his experiments on cellular
reconstruction." She shows the file to Matt. "A few years ago They would have
been considered the imagination of the mind, some strange belief in the
impossible." "You surprise
me.' "This progress surprises me.
If I can only find the last six weeks of his experimental notes. It may even
surprise you." Alison says closing the file. "Why?" Matt asks "Because he was on the verge of a
scientific breakthrough. And if so perhaps there is hope of a different sort.
Perhaps Jean Paul is right, perhaps Erica can live again." "Perhaps! Perhaps! Perhaps!" Matt says
then takes a few steps. "One man fanatical in his grief, determined to
reincarnate one woman and to accomplish his purpose the rest of us are held
prisoners, here as chattel not human beings. The means to be used or discarded
which ever is more expedient!"
"What you forget is his love for Erica. His need for her is what drives
him, not for purposeful harm to other." Alison tells Matt. "I know about love. I didn't think I did
but I do. I left my pulpit to follow a girl I didn't realize I love. I thought I
wanted to help her." "Actually you
needed to help yourself."
"Exactly." Matt says with a smile. "But I can't help anyone or serve my
church or Holly Marshal. Now she's not only wasting her life, but in danger of
losing it!" "That fall down the
steps was accidental." "Nothing
that happens on this Island is accidental! It's all a progression that will
continue until the chain is broken! Your sisters death, then Doctor Menkin’s.
Then Holly’s fall, the picture of Erica Desmond slashed. Now this madness of a
séance and this so called accident may have left Vangie Abbott little more than
a vegetable." "Vangie! I must check
on her. In her state of shock it could prove fatal." Alison says rushing from
the room. Matt follows. With her
arms straight out Vangie is walking in the darkness along the top landing of the
staircase. She start descending the stairs. Alison and Matt come running from the
lab. Alison gasps when she sees Vangie. "Vangie!" Matt yells. Alison shushes him. "Don't shout. If you
panic she's lost." Alison and Matt walk up a couple of steps. "Vangie, Vangie
there are steps you know." Alison says walking up the staircase slowly. Matt
follows her. "Be careful." Alison tells her. Vangie starts walking down the stairs.
"That's right, one at a time. Carefully Vangie. That's right slowly." Alison
says walking next to her. Matt is walking backwards down the stairs facing
Vangie to catch her if she falls. Alison sends him to the other side but warns
him not to touch her. "There, you
are at the bottom remember the staircase divides, turn to the right." Vangie
obeys. "I'm Alison, were you looking for me?" Vangie walks forward her arms
still extended. Alison walks with her. Matt walks behind them. "Where are you
going Vangie? You are so tired, don't you want to sit down and rest?" Alison
asks leading Vangie to the couch. "Do you want to put your arms down. Come and
sit down and rest. You're safe now, you can put your arms down." Alison says as
she lays her hand on Vangie’s arm. Vangie lowers her arms. "That's right come
and sit on the couch.' Alison and Matt help her to sit. "Would you like to lie
down?" Alison signals Matt to help lift her legs onto the couch. Matt hands
Alison a cushion as they settle Vangie back so she is laying down. Alison looks at Matt they are both
squatting next to the couch. "Pretty frightening." Matt says quietly. "To me it was terrifying. A little
knowledge is worse than none at all. She's cataleptic and I don't know how to
bring her out of it." Vangie stares
straight ahead. "There's no need to whisper now, she can't hear us." Alison
tells Matt. "Why did she react to
you?" "I wouldn't know, she's in a
world of her own. A world beyond me."
Quito walks up from the crypt. He stands next to the side of the
staircase watching Alison and Matt.
"But you have to do something for her." says Matt. "I know, yes I do but I can't bring her
out of it. She may lose her mind for good." "I don't know how many straws to break
the back of your patience, but I've had it!" Matt says coming to his feet. "Please, where are you going?" Alison
asks as she stands. "To find Jean
Paul and break his back if necessary! Oh I respect his love for his wife though
I deplore his selfishness but his obsession is threatening too many other lives.
And if he isn't halted his paranoia will drive us all to madness!" Matt says
then turns away. "Matt please."
Alison says taking a step after him then looks back at Vangie. "Can't you see we can't wait! Look at
her!" Matt says walking back to the couch.
Vangie just stares straight ahead.
"Even you are starting to change and all because of a possibility of
cellular reconstruction or the possible rebirth of your sister! A dream,
scientific or otherwise that is generations away if ever. And if it comes what
are you going to buy for Erica? A few more years of mortality with all its
intended ills. You can't keep denying the true fate of every human being.
Eternal rest!" "Even as a minister
you have no right to pass judgment on that!" Alison says angrily. "No more right than Jean Paul has to
judge!" Matt angrily says pointing to the staircase. "And I won't submit to it
any longer!" he says angrily rushing towards the crypt. Quit who is standing
near the staircase blocks Matt’s from getting to the stairs of the crypt. "Please let me pass." As Matt steps
forward Quito grabs him. Matt then grabs Quito's shoulders. "Quito!" Matt yells
at him. Quito drops his hands.
"Matt please, he's too strong." Alison says rushing over to them. Matt releases Quito. "I'll find
something to even the odds!" Matt says rushing towards the lab. "Quito, you take care of the Conjure
Woman, don't let her move." Alison tells him then rushes after Matt. Quito walks over to Vangie, he kneels
behind the couch. Looking at her he gives a silent cry covering his face. He
looks up and brushes back her hair with his hand. Coming to a decision he walks
towards the crypt.
Matt is in the lab opening drawers, he takes out a knife.
Alison enter walking up behind Matt. He turns making Alison gasp. "Reverend,
please. If you give way how can the rest of us hope to hang on to even a shred
of sanity." She reaches out and takes the knife out of his hand. Matt covers his
face with his hand.
Quito goes to his room creating a drink from herbs.
Pouring it into a mug, he stirs it then tastes it.. He then nods his
head.
Matt sits on a stool as Alison brings him a glass of
water. "Here, take this." She hands him two capsules. "It will calm you
down." "I feel as if everything is
disintegrating including me." He says then takes the tranquilizers. "I'm on the verge of hysterics myself."
says Alison. "Everywhere I look I see distortion." "The grinding fact is that we are all
hopeless prisoners here, and that adds up to Jean Paul Desmond! So obsessed he
may drive us all mad!" "Obsessed,
or is Vangie and Raxl nearer the truth. They say he is possessed." Alison
says.
Jean Paul stands in front of Jacques portrait. "You were
the disrupting influence at that séance."
"I. Do I resemble a part of the chandelier that came crashing down?" says
Jacques. "You caused it to
happen." "Seems you know my every
move. Just as I know yours." "I'll
find a way to change that if it's the last thing I do!" "It well may be the last thing for the
two of us. If we were two? If we must cross swords in open warfare so be it.
Just remember you through down the gauntlet." Jean Paul points at Jacques then cries
out in pain clutching his temple. He stumbles over to the couch and cries out.
Jacques ring is upon his hand.
Vangie sits up. "Lucifer. He is..."
"The devil you said Vangie." says Jacques stooping down next to
Vangie. "Devil he is, devil he will
remain until I can exercise and destroy him." "But aren't you finding him to powerful
for all of us." "In the end it is
we who will be to strong for him."
"But you are already losing all the battles. Look at you now Vangie, look
at you now. Able to talk only to me because like Quito you are living in his
half world. Who put you there?"
"Fear not, he can not kill me my death is ordained." "He hasn't killed you. Who knows maybe
in your present state you'll be able to reach Erica." "I didn't want to reach her for myself
but for you Jean Paul. The demon Jacques Eloi Des Mondes his evil was at the
table. It was his alien presence that destroyed the séance." Alison and Matt had walked into the
room, they stand listening. Vangie
lays down. "Vangie, Vangie!"
Jacques grabs her arms shaking her.
"Jean Paul! Leave her be." Alison says rushing up to Vangie. She kneels
next to her. Matt comes up to the couch.
"Vangie’s been in a trance since the séance." says Matt. "Can't you do anything to bring her out
of it?" Jacques asks. "I can't
treat her, I lack the knowledge. She must be taken to the Mainland." "You know that's impossible." "What's impossible is that she remain
here!" Alison says. "She needs
medical help, possibly therapy." Matt says. Quito walks up behind Jacques. "It's mystifying to hear her talk as if
you were that man." Matt says pointing at Jacques portrait. "An ancestor three
hundred years dead." "The islanders
are very superstitious with strange fancies. You're not joining that group
Reverend?" "I may join them too."
says Alison. "Perhaps you all need
therapy or some kind of treatment." Jacques says. "What kind of treatment?" Matt
asks. "Relief of tension as at a
séance. I never came so near to reaching Erica as the last time. So we must try
again, but I need Vangie’s help. We all do." "I couldn't allow her to try it again."
Alison says. "Even if she were capable of it." Quito walks up to them with the mug.
"What does Quito want?" Alison asks.
"It's just a simple cure from him for Vangie." says Jacques. "Simple?" asks Matt. "What is it?" Alison asks. "A pinch of hope, a dash of witchcraft,
a whiff of prayer. It's harmless as Quito himself is." Jacques tells them. Alison takes a sip. "It tastes kind of
herbal. Vangie try this." Alison puts the cup up to Vangie’s mouth. She drinks
it. Vangie blinks her eyes then
glances around. "What happened? We were so near making contact and then
something exploded here in my head." Vangie touches her temple. "The explosion you heard was a clap of
thunder and the crash was part of the chandelier that fell and shattered the
séance table." Matt tells her quietly.
"We must try again, we must." Vangie says sitting
up.
"One of us or all of us might have been destroyed last
night. We don't need witchcraft to know the kind of devil were fighting." Matt
says. "It's Jean Paul Desmond
himself who risks all." Vangie says.
"He risks all our lives and holds them forfeit for a maniacal dream."
Matt tells Vangie angrily. "No, no
you're wrong!" Vangie says. "We can
discuss this another time Vangie. What you need now is rest. Jean... Where's
Jean Paul?" Matt looks around. "I
don't know." Vangie holds her aching head.
"Matt, you take her upstairs. I'll get her a tranquilizer." Alison says
heading for the lab. Matt helps
Vangie to her feet. Quito stands in the
background.
In the lab, part of the wall swings out and Jacques walks
out carrying a folder. He glances through it. Hearing someone coming he closes
the secret panel, then lays the folder on top of Alison’s work. He then stands
and listening he turns towards Alison. Alison walks up to him. "So this
is where you got to." "How is
Vangie?" "Strained, she needs a
tranquilizer." Alison says as she picks up a bottle. "And another séance is out
of the question." "Except Vangie’s
will is stronger than all of us." Jacques says as he backs away then quickly
leaves the room. Glancing down
Alison sees the folder and notes. Excitedly she looks through
it.
Jacques enters the Great Hall, he walks to the table to
get a drink. Pain hits him and he clutches his head. Jean Paul has taken back
control of his body. "Your will is
becoming greater Jean Paul. You have repossessed yourself temporarily ." says
Jacques. Jean Paul turns around.
"Or permanently. Why wasn't it your portrait that was slashed instead of that of
my darling Erica? Erica!" Jean Paul shouts rushing to the
crypt.
Entering the crypt Jean Paul walks to Erica's capsule. "Oh
Erica, I almost reached you. I almost heard your voice but at the last moment I
was possessed by a devil. But the medium is herself again and this time nothing
will stop us, till we, you together with me win in our fight to drive the devil
back into hell forever!" "You
included, Jean Paul Desmond." Jacques says to him.
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Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide
presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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