Strange Paradise:  Episode 49
Episode 49:  Slideshow
Raxl:  “On Maljardin, Jean Paul Desmond’s isolated domain, loyalty are stretched to the breaking point by the unnerving chain of events.  Even the master’s long trusted servants come under the shadow of doubt, when Erica Desmond’s blood-stained locket is found, and the mystery of its removal from the cryo capsule is deepened by of the pearl found within.  Was it Fate or the devious hand of Jacque Eloi des Mondes that caused this long-forgotten skull to be disclosed or does it give warning of who is next to die?
 
The storm is raging on the Island as Quito carries the skull from the crypt to the séance table. He stares at it after placing it on the séance table.  "Quito, a skull on the séance table? Did you put it there?" Jean Paul asks as he walks to the séance table. Quito nods his head. "Ah, was it Raxl who told you to do this?" Again Quito nods yes. "Hmmm, she seems to think it's an omen of death. but I believe it is the angry spirit that has been plaguing us. If we could make contact with this spirit to find out what it wants us to do, then do it perhaps it will leave us alone." Jean Paul says walking a few steps away from Quito. "But it is Vangie the medium who must decide."  Quito walks past Jean Paul in agitation.  "I don't know how long my will can hold out. The séance must be now!" Quito turns to Jean Paul and nods, then leaves the room.
 
Holly is sitting up in bed. Tim is sitting next to her on the edge of the bed talking to her. "So you’re going to attend the séance."  "I get the shakes every time I think about it. But I must, I really must." Holly tells him.  "After all you went through how could you let Jean Paul persuade you."   "He needs us. He needs me."  "What is it about that guy!" Tim says angrily coming to his feet. "No matter what he does or what trouble he causes people are willing to forgive and forget as if he's some school boy playing tricks instead of a megalomaniac."  "You're beginning to sound like Dan Forrest."  "Is that so surprising." Tim says turning and walking back to Holly. "We're all in the same boat but up until now Dan seems to be the only one to do something about it."  "There's nothing we can do about it." Holly says Tim glances away. Holly watches Tim's _expression. "Is there?"  "There may be."  "Oh Tim be careful." Holly says worriedly.  "Don't worry about me. You're the one who should be careful. You know what happened at the séance last time."
 
Jean Paul paces back and forth through the Great hall. He looks at his watch as Matt rushes down the staircase. Jean Paul walks up to him. "Well?"  "Vangie says she'll have to wait a while longer. She expects the ordeal to be even more strenuous this time. She must take the necessary time to prepare."  "How long will she be?" asks Jean Paul.   "I don't know." says Matt.  Jean Paul walks away then he turns towards Matt. "You haven't changed your mind Reverend, you will be there?"  "I have said I will, and I will!" Matt says angrily.  Jean Paul looks away from him.  Matt steps off the bottom step and walks over to Jean Paul. "You are still determined to go through with it?"  Jean Paul turns angrily. "For heaven sake Reverend nothing will happen."  "Are you sure of that?"  "Look I don't understand this, for the past few days people here are beginning to treat me as if I'm some sort of tyrant."  "And aren't you?"  Jean Paul nods. "Well I know it must seem so keeping you all here like this for so long. It is for the best for Erica." Jean Paul turns away walking to the séance table, he grips a chair back with his hands. "And you have been comfortable here haven't you?"  "You mean comfort of the body, or the spirit?" Matt asks.  Jean Paul turns around angrily. "Are you about to lecture me?"  "Are you willing to listen?"  Jean Paul turns his back to Matt. "No Reverend, I'm thinking only of the séance and Erica." Jean Paul says then walks away.  Matt walks up to the séance table and shakes his head.
                
Quito enters the boat house to collect supplies. He picks up a barrel, he walks towards the door then stops and looks around. Not seeing anything he walks out the door.  Dan and Tim leave their hiding place in the boat house after Quito leaves. "That was close." Tim says.  "He'd have killed us with his bare hands if he had found us here. Without orders from anyone." Dan tells Tim.  "Okay I get the picture. Hey what's happening?" Tim asks as the boat house starts shaking.  "Water." Dan says looking down. "The whole place is going to be washed away. We've got to get out of here."  Matt and Dan grab something to hold onto as the boat house shakes. Tim falls, then pulls himself up. Dan looks at his watch. Tim grabs his arm as Dan shakes him off.   Looking at his watch Dan smiles, then the shaking stops. "I was right."   "About what? I thought we were goners." Tim says.  "The whirlpool is one of the things that make it impossible to get off this Island. Quito and Jean Paul know how to get a boat through it. Now I'll be able to, I found out when it stops."  "Well, who ever heard of a whirlpool stopping." Tim says.  "It's caused by the currants. This one is caused by the currant of tides. When it is high tide either high or low the water moves in or out. Now I found a way to get off this cursed Island. I'm going to use it if it's the last thing I do." says Dan.
 
Holly is sitting brushing her hair at her night stand. "Tonight?" she says to Tim turning towards him.  "That's what we decided. You see there is about three minutes when the whirlpool stops, now that's not very long but it's plenty long enough for a motor boat to get from one side to the other." say Tim standing in the doorway.  "How are you going to start the boat without any key?"  "Well Dan will think of something. Crossing wires, I don't know."  "You sound so sure." Holly says turning around to face Tim.  "I'm surer now than I've been of anything. And you should see Dan. Now the séance could be the best thing that ever happened." Tim tells her.  "What do you mean?" asks Holly.  "It will be a diversion. You see Jean Paul will be so busy worrying about those spirits he won't even give a care about what's going on at the boat house."  "Unless he wants you at the séance to." says Holly.
 
Jean Paul is facing Jacques portrait when Jacques tries taking over Jean Paul's body. Jean Paul clutches his face. He spins away and shouts. "No! Not this time! I will conduct the séance and I will sit at the table!" Jean Paul runs off to the crypt.  Matt and Dan walk in from another doorway and watch as Jean Paul leaves the room. "It won't work. It can't, the whirlpool is just the beginning. So you found a way through. But what about afterwards? There are rocks and treacherous currants. No you haven't got a hope." says Matt.  "Tim and I don't agree. And while your sitting here being terrorized by that madman we'll be on our way. The three of us would have even a better chance at success. Come on Matt, what do you say?"  "No Dan, this is my place here now. I was sent here for other purposes. I can't just run away."  "All right. Don't blame me if you don't make it through the night." Dan says then walks away from Matt.  Matt glances at the séance table and sees the skull.
 
In the crypt Jean Paul is pacing fighting to keep Jacques away. "Oh Erica, soon, soon my darling. If only Vangie could get ready. I can't hold out much longer. I can't..." Jacques tries again to take possession. Jean Paul grabs his temples. "Get away! Get away! Erica if we are to have the time, if I can find the time. If I could only get to the séance and still remain myself let it be soon. Let it be soon!"   Matt and Tim walk quietly down the staircase. Jean Paul is sitting on the couch with his back to them. Matt is at the bottom of the staircase watching them. They quickly head for the outside door. As they open it Quito blocks their exit.  "You won't need your coats gentlemen." Jean Paul says to them. He stands. "The séance takes place inside."  Tim and Dan walk back towards Matt. "We were just going for a walk." Tim says to Jean Paul.  Jean Paul walks over to them. "The séance is about to begin. Oh no gentlemen."  "You don't want Tim and me, hostile spirits you know." Dan says.  "I want you all to be in the room tonight. You are all invited."  "Vangie wouldn't want us. We would just be in the way." says Tim.  "I'll decide who is in the way. I want you all here. Quito close the doors.: Jean Paul looks at Matt. "Matt get the others."  Matt walks up the staircase.  "Quito take the gentlemen’s coats." Tim and Dan hand their coats to Quito.
 
Matt walks into Holly room "He's waiting."  Holly stands. "I'm frightened."  "I know but we'll all be there with you. I have to go and fetch the others." Matt says turning away.  "All the others?" Holly asks. "But Vangie said..."  "All of us. Jean Paul’s orders."  "All right then." says Holly.  "You're being very brave Holly." Matt says touching Holly's shoulder.  "I don't feel very brave."  Dan, Tim, Jean Paul and Quito stand next to the séance table. Elizabeth, Alison, Holly and Reverend Dawson walk down the staircase to join them.  Jean Paul walks over to them and greets them. "Welcome."  "I'm not sure we should be here." says Alison.  "I'm sure." Jean Paul tells her.  "In any case I'm glad to see were not meeting under a chandelier." Elizabeth says to everyone.  "This time there will be no accidents. Every element in Maljardin will be here. Every action observed. Ladies, gentlemen take your places." They walk over to their chairs. Tim stops next to Holly. "Holly are you all right?"  "What happened to your escape?" Holly asks quietly. Tim points at Quito.  "Quito bring Raxl here. You see, everyone." Jean Paul says.  Holly moves over a seat when she notices her mother sitting next to her. She sees the skull. "Does that horrible thing have to be here?"  "The skull is Raxl’s contribution. Is that not so Raxl?" Jean Paul says to Raxl.  "That is so." says Raxl, she is standing behind Jean Paul.  Jean Paul reaches out and turns the skull. "I am not afraid of a dead man's skull. These empty vacant spaces that stare at us all have no eyes to see us. There is no brain to wish us evil. There is nothing but death. I am looking for life. Raxl, bring Vangie down we are waiting."  As Jean Paul starts taking his seat Raxl calls out to them. "I have warned you, all of you"  Matt and Tim stand.  "Sit down!" Jean Paul orders them. They sit back down. Jean Paul also sits.  "Jean Paul?" Alison calls to him.  Jean Paul sits with his eyes closed.  "Alison is speaking to you." Dan tells him.  "I am listening."  "If Erica does contact us from the world of the dead, then you lost her. The experiment is over." Alison tells him.  "It will never be over."  "Leave her rest in peace Jean Paul. Her soul is at eternal rest." says Matt.  "We are still finding a way to help her to tell us if there is a way for her soul to be brought back to her body. She will tell us all." says Jean Paul.  "There is no must with the dead." says Raxl from the staircase.  Jean Paul looks at her then he notices Vangie. "Vangie." He calls her name and stands to his feet. Vangie walks down the staircase and joins them.  "Vangie, this time you will succeed. Sit down." Jean Paul says to her.  "There is someone missing." says Vangie.  "There is no one outside of the circle that would interfere with your spirit. We are all here."  "There is one missing." Vangie says as she takes her seat. "There is someone who has failed to join us. Erica." Vangie says closing her eyes.  "Erica." says Jean Paul sitting down.  "You will all join hands. Lights, to bright!" says Vangie.  "Quito dim the lights." Jean Paul tells him.  "Silence. Erica return. A sign Erica, give us a sign. Speak to us." Vangie calls to Erica. "The Conjure Gods have the power that flow through me. They cannot be denied. Erica Desmond we bid you return!"  "Erica!" Jean Paul shouts.  "Here, I hear!" Holly calls out.  "Erica Desmond if you have entered this room make your presence known to us." says Vangie. The door blows open.  "Wind, only the wind." Holly says with her eyes closed.  "Erica Desmond I command you to speak." says Vangie.  "Yes, yes." says Holly.  "Is that you Erica?" asks Vangie.  "Make her speak. Erica!" calls Jean Paul.  "There is a force here beyond my powers. I cannot control it." Vangie says. The doors slam shut. "Silence. Is it you Erica?"  "Erica I have waited so long, speak to me. I beg you." Jean Paul calls to Erica.  A light chime is heard through the room.  "Is that you Erica?" asks Jean Paul. "Have you returned to me?"  "Jean Paul, Jean Paul I am here. We will never be parted again Jean Paul. Jean Paul." Erica's voice calls to him.  "Erica, I heard your voice. I heard you speak. Erica? You spoke, I heard you. We all heard you."  "Silence." Vangie warns everyone.  "Erica?" Jean Paul calls.  "Erica." Vangie calls to her. "If it is you tell us your a spirit of goodness. If you are a spirit of the light give us a message of love and peace on this Island. If you are an evil spirit depart."  "No." says Jean Paul.  "Jean Paul, I love you. I will come to you." Erica's voice is now coming from Holly's mouth.  "Yes. Yes I'm listening." says Jean Paul.  "I'll be with you soon Jean Paul. Soon I will be with you."  "How? Tell me how?" asks Jean Paul.  "There is evil here." Vangie says.  Holly screams.  "I want this stopped." says Elizabeth.  "Leave the poor girl alone." says Dan.  "No, I hear her. Erica!"  "Jean Paul you must open my capsule." Erica tells him.  "Will I find you alive? Unharmed?"  "Open my capsule alone." Erica says.  "There is an evil force here." Vangie tells them.  Holly cries out. "Erica Desmond!"  "Stop, we must stop this." Vangie tells Jean Paul.  "Yes we must stop this!" Matt cries out.  "No I hear my Erica. Tell me how..." Jean Paul starts saying.  Vangie stands and clutches her throat. "No! Let me go. Conjure God, my ancestors.' Vangie staggers.  Everyone but Jean Paul and Holly stand. Jean Paul shout at everyone to sit down.  Vangie cries out as she falls. Alison rushes to her side. "Vangie."  "Murder I've been murdered." Vangie cries out as she clutches her throat.  "Vangie it's all right. Don't move." says Alison. The other are standing around them.  "Death, it was prophesied that I would die here on Maljardin. They must leave. Escape. I have been murdered." says Vangie.  "I will avenge. Who has harmed you?" asks Raxl.  "Evil, evil has destroyed me. Let me die." Vangie struggles. "In peace here on Maljardin." Vangie's hand falls away from her throat.  Raxl and Alison lower Vangie to the floor. Alison checks for a pulse. "She's dead." Alison stands and Matt holds her.  Jean Paul looks up. "Forgive us all Vangie."  Raxl crosses Vangie's arms on her chest. "Vangie is gone Master but another has arrived." In Vangie's hand is the pearl from the necklace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Summaries written by Debby Graham .  The slide presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Episode 50