Episode 52:
Slideshow
Raxl: “Jean Paul the last
heir to the haunted Islands of Maljardin has sworn an eternal pact with the
power of evil for the return of his beloved Erica to
life. But the bargain has not been kept and the hours slip by. Infuriated he
challenges the emissary of the devil, Jacques Eloi
Des Mondes.”
Jean Paul looks at his watch. He
is standing in the Great Hall next to Jacques portrait. "Today, you promised me
my Erica today." Jean Paul turns and looks at Jacques. "It's already late in the
afternoon. Speak to me!" he shouts at Jacques. "I will not be tormented either
by you or your higher powers. Do you hear me!" With no answer Jean Paul angrily swings
around and strides to the staircase. Alison is walking down it. "Alison! What are you doing here? I gave
strict orders that I was not to be disturbed!" "Jean Paul I must speak to you." "I have no time to talk today." "Why? I have a right to an answer."
Alison says to him. "No one has any
rights on Maljardin but I and my wife."
"Erica? Erica is dead Jean Paul. Even her body is gone." "You think that this is the end of it?"
Jean Paul smiles. "Oh no, it is only the beginning. Shall I tell you? No I think
not. You will see for yourselves."
"So you really think that she'll come back to you?" "Yes, today. It has been promised for
today. Now leave me, I must be alone." Jean Paul tells her. "Of course. I was just thinking of
something that Dan said yesterday. Perhaps the reason she hasn't come back to
you yet is because of the presence of outsiders on Maljardin." Jean Paul shakes his head. "Nothing can
prevent her. There is a force stronger than all of you bringing her to me." "A force? Oh yes of course. I just
didn't understand. But I wish you would let the others leave the Island." "Go? Leave this Island and babble
this to the world. Have people think I am mad!" Jean Paul paces up and down the
Great Hall. "No. I would stay Jean Paul. For Erica’s sake and for yours. But
the others. What good would it do to keep them here?" Raxl is standing at the top of the
staircase landing listening to Alison and Jean Paul. "I'm not sure. Each one in his own way
has been drawn to the Island to serve some purpose. A pattern I cannot
decipher." "Well if you believe in
this force that is so strong they cannot be needed here. Let them go." Jean Paul turns away from Alison. She follows him. "No, she said they must
not leave. Perhaps later but not now. Nothing must be changed, everything must
be it was. Please Alison, now you must go." Jean Paul tells her. Alison turns away then walks up the
staircase. Jean Paul sighs. "Erica
darling, I have followed every one of your wishes. What more can I do?" "There is nothing you can do now. The
journey has already begun." Jacques tells him. "Soon, make it soon my Erica."
Raxl is standing on the landing when Alison walks up to her.
"Raxl, is something wrong?" "It
draws nearer that which is to be feared." Raxl looks at Alison. "He will not let
you leave." "No and Dan
thinks..." "There is no need to
fear me. I know the way he plans to leave the Island. And I will help him. But
it is too late. We must prepare to meet the stranger." Raxl says then walks
away. Alison looks away in
puzzlement.
Quito opens the door to the Sacred Temple. Walking to the altar he
sets down an offering bowl. He bows. Raxl is behind him, she also bows. "Is it ready?" Raxl asks. Quito nods.
Raxl walks forward. She has her arms crossed with her hands touching her
shoulders. "Light the fire." Quito does as Raxl orders. White smoke raises up
from the fire. "Oh Great Serpent,
you know the evil that approaches us, you can see far beyond into the future
that cannot be altered. Now while we still have time is there nothing we can do
to prevent it?" Raxl asks as she holds her arms outward. "We are not able to
capture the rabbit and sacrifice it to you. I have done my best. I need your
help now. Grant me your power Oh Great One." Raxl says as she clasps her hands.
Wind blows around the Serpent Staff. "Where is it?"
The rabbit is sitting on Holly's bed. Raxl sees it in a
vision.
"I hear. I shall obey. You know the force of the animal. Grant me
the power to fight it. To bring it to you Oh Great One. Grant me this one
request." Raxl smiles as she looks at the Serpent
Staff.
Jean Paul stands in the Great hall. "How much longer? You who have
the power to bring Erica back to me. How much longer must I wait!" Jean Paul
asks turning to Jacques portrait.
The room darkens and a greenish glow surrounds everything. The heartbeat
is heard throughout the room. On Jacques portrait is the mark. "Soon Master of
Maljardin. But great care must be taken. Nothing must be altered on this Island
Above all no living thing must die in these last moments. Remember that, or you
will lose everything."
Raxl and Quito walk into Holly's room. The black rabbit is sitting
on her bed. "Get the rabbit Quito."
Quito grabs the black rabbit.
"Beast of evil, we know the darkness you contain. But the girl is not
here to protect you. Only she can give you the protection of our world. And your
word is to far away. You are our prisoner." Raxl crosses herself in the sign of
the Serpent. "Take the rabbit away." she tells Quito. "Holly?" Elizabeth walks into Holly's
room. "What are you two doing here? What's that you have in your hands?" "A harmless pet of Quito’s. We've been
searching for it for days. Take the rabbit to where it belongs Quito and hurry.
We do not have much time." Quito
leaves the room with the rabbit.
"Where is my daughter?" asks Elizabeth. "I don't know." Raxl says to her as she
starts leaving the room. "No,
wait." "Please you must let
me go. I cannot be delayed." Raxl says as she leaves the
room.
Quito is sneaking down the staircase with the rabbit. Jean Paul
stands near the staircase with his back towards Quito. He turns and sees Quito.
"Quito! What do you have there?" Jean Paul asks as he walks towards Quito. Quito shows him the black rabbit. "The black rabbit! As your Master I
command you to tell me what you are doing. What are you going to do to the
rabbit?" Raxl quickly walks down
the staircase. "Nothing Master. He found it in the girl's room and it doesn't
belong there." "I don't believe you
Raxl. I think you're up to your tricks, planning to harm this creature." Raxl tries to talk to Jean Paul. "Now don't lie to me. You've been
planning this from the beginning. A sacrifice to one of your primitive Gods. I
won't allow it. Give me the animal." Jean Paul tells Quito as he reaches out for
the rabbit. Quito turns away from
him. "Master listen. Please I beg
you it must be done!" "No! No
creature is to die on this Island, not today. Raxl I command you to give me this
animal!" Jean Paul says angrily.
Raxl nods at Quito. Quito hands Jean Paul the rabbit. Jean Paul walks away with the rabbit.
Raxl holds her hand up. Jean Paul struggles against Raxl's powers that forces
Jean Paul to stand still.
"Hurry Quito, we only have a few seconds." Jean Paul breaks through Raxl’s spell.
"I told you to go Raxl." Elizabeth
rushes into the room. "Jean Paul come quickly." "What's wrong?" "Alison is in the lab, she looks like
death." "Death?" Jean Paul
says. "Something about poison,
hurry!" Jean Paul rushes to the
door. He turns towards Elizabeth who is following after him. "Elizabeth, take
this and guard it. Remember give it to only me or Holly." He hands her the
rabbit, then rushes out of the room.
"Jean Paul hurry!" says Elizabeth.
Elizabeth looks at Raxl. "Why should I guard this? What's so precious
about a rabbit?"
Alison looks down at the lab table as Jean Paul rushes in. "What's
wrong Alison?" "The distillation I
made from the poisonous plants from the Island It's gone." Alison tells him
holding up a tray of test tubes.
"Alison you've been careless."
"It was right here in front of me. I saw it, I touched it. Then I felt
this chill as if somebody had opened the door." She looks away towards the
doorway. "When I turned back the test tube had
disappeared."
Raxl stands and gives Elizabeth an angry look. "Why are you staring at me?" asks
Elizabeth. "We cannot change our
Master's commands, we do not have the power. But Madame if you would give Quito
the rabbit then he can take it back to where it belongs." Elizabeth hands the rabbit to Quito.
"Why not? I don't like the animal anyway." she says brushing herself
off.
Jean Paul is opening cupboard doors in the lab. "Were you here
alone?" "Yes and the door was
locked. The contents in that test tube are more poisonous than the cyanide. It
should not be out of our hands." Alison tells Jean Paul. The tinkling of chimes are heard in the
room. "What's that?" Alison asks. The door closes. "Is someone there?" asks
Alison. Jean Paul rushes over to
the door. He opens it and checks outside in the hallway. "There's no one
there." Alison looks at the lab
table and gasps. She picks up the holder with the test tubes. "It's come back!"
says Alison. Jean Paul rushes over
to the table. "But it's empty." She says holding up a test tube.
Elizabeth paces in the Great Hall. She stops and looks at Jacques’
portrait. Jean Paul enters the room. "Is she all right?" Elizabeth asks. "She thought something was missing."
Jean Paul says turning towards her. "The rabbit! What have you done with it?
Jean Paul asks. "I gave it to
Quito." "You fool! I told you to
guard it!" Jean Paul shouts at her.
"Haven't I had to endure enough on this Island without playing a house
keeper for a ...!" "Will you get
out of here! Get out!" Jean Paul says angrily as he point for her to leave. After Elizabeth leaves Jean Paul spins
around. "Jacques! Help me! We must bring Erica back now! They are preparing a
sacrifice! There will be death on this Island! You must help me now!" Darkness covers the room, the heartbeat
pounds and the green glow covers everything. The mark appears on Jacques
portrait. "They must not be allowed to make this sacrifice. Go to the crypt.
That is their entrance to their Temple."
In the crypt Raxl tells Quito. "The sacrifice to the gods must be
made if we are to save Maljardin."
Holding the rabbit Quito opens the door to the sacred Temple. "Stop!" Jean Paul runs up to them. "So
this is the way to your Temple, is it? Well you can close the door Quito, there
will be no bloodbath today." "No!"
Raxl shouts. "You dare to defy me
Raxl!" Jean Paul asks as he turns towards her. Raxl lowers her head. "We are here to
serve you and your family as we have for centuries. Served you and protected
you." Raxl looks up at Jean Paul. But if it means we must disobey you for your
own safety it will be allowed!" "No
this a matter beyond you." he turns to Quito. "Give me the animal." "No!" Raxl tells Quito. "Give it to me!" Jean Paul shouts and
reaches to take the rabbit away from Quito. "No!" Raxl tells Jean Paul. Jean Paul turns to Raxl. Raxl holds her
hand up in front of Jean Paul. Jean Paul freezes in a trance. "Hurry, the temple. The Temple Quito,
this spell will not last very long."
Raxl walks around Jean Paul. Slowly he turns towards
her.
In the Great Hall the mark appears on Jacques portrait. "Jacques
Eloi Des Mondes. Break the hold that is on the Master of Maljardin." "I obey. I obey." Jacques
answers.
Jean Paul stands staring at Raxl as she enters the Sacred temple.
She closes the door with Jean Paul standing on the outside. Jean Paul snaps out of the trance and
starts pushing against the stones of the wall. "To late Jean Paul. But we still may be
able to stop them. The Great Hall, quickly!" Jacques calls out to Jean
Paul.
Jean Paul rushes up the stairs to the Great Hall., then rushes
towards Jacques portrait, stopping at the liquor table. The room darkens, the green glow
appears. And the heartbeat is heard. The mark appears on Jacques portrait. "We
have no time to lose if you would see your wife again. You must do exactly as
you are told without question." "I
obey." says Jean Paul. "Place an
empty glass on the center of the of the table, hurry. Every second is
important." Jean Paul moves the
tray of drinks as he places the glass in the center of the table, then looks
up. "Now do you remember your oath.
That you would dare anything, give anything to have Erica returned to you?" Jean Paul nods his head. "I remember and
I swear I will keep my word." "Now
look at the glass. Concentrate on it."
Jean Paul watches as green liquid fills the bottom of it. "Yes it is the poison from the test
tubes. Pick up the glass." Jean
Paul looks down at it.
"In the Sacred Temple Quito has placed the rabbit on the
altar. Raxl is wearing ceremonial
robes. "We are prepared now. Oh Gods I offer this sacrifice of evil." Raxl says
holding her arms outward in front of her. Then she extends them out from her
sides. "For this we beg protection for all on this Island." She crosses her arms
as she bows. "It is in your hands now Quito. Quito unsheathes a
knife.
In the Great Hall Jean Paul looks up at Jacques’ portrait. "Take up the glass and drink it Jean
Paul!" Jean Paul glances at the
poison then looks again at the portrait. "I am mortal and this is deadly
poison." "You must drink it. You
must take into yourself the essence of all the evil of the Island. Hurry!" Jean Paul reaches out his hand. "Hurry! Danger surrounds us."
As Jean Paul lifts the glass to his mouth Quito raises the knife.
Jean Paul drinks it as Quito slashes downward.
The knife hits an empty alter. Smoke drifts away from it. Quito
backs away. Raxl is shaking her head as Jacques laughter fills the Temple. "We're to late! We are to late!" Raxl
cries out.
Jean Paul lowers the glass.
"Good Jean Paul. You have performed your task well. You are now one with
us. Look at the palm of your hand."
Jean Paul turns his hand over. On his palm is the same sign that appears
on Jacques’ portrait. "This is the
sign, when ever it appears , no matter where you are you will know that we are
with you." Jean Paul closes his
hand and looks up. "But Erica?" Chimes sound in the room. "She comes." Jean Paul smiles as the room is once
again light. "Erica." Jean Paul calls as he walks across the Great hall
following the chimes. "Have you come? My darling, my dearest. Where are
you?" The doors swing open. Erica
stands in the doorway. She walks towards him. "Jean Paul, Jean Paul my
love." Jean Paul slowly walks
towards her then sweeps her into his arms and kisses her.
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Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide presentation is the work of Ron
Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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