Episode 82: Slideshow
Raxl: In the late and lonely hours of the night Desmond
Hall does not sleep. Jean Paul Desmond doomed to kill despite his own efforts to
free himself from an ancient curse can not rest. For suspicions are beginning to
rise. His secret is threatened with discovery. And through the dark corridors
the evil Irene moves intent on using her witchcraft for Jean Paul’s final
destruction."
Holly is asleep in her room but tossing restlessly. "Jean Paul.
Jean Paul take me away. Please." Holly calls out in her sleep. Irene enters Holly's room.
"Who's there?" Holly asks raising herself up. "Shhh its Irene." "What are you doing here?" Holly asks
turning on the light. "I've come to
protect you. I'll just sit by your bed and watch over you as you sleep we don't
need the light my dear." Irene says reaching for the lamp. Holly puts her hand out. "No I want it
on. What do you want? It's late."
"I have learned tonight that you are constantly in danger." "I don't care
as long as Jean Paul is here." "My
dear that's just it. You are in danger because of Jean Paul. You're good
guardian by his own admission is a murderer." Holly looks away from Irene. "Irene that
can't be true! Jean Paul?" Holly says getting out of bed. "Unfortunately it is the truth." "He couldn't murder anybody." Holly
says. "Quietly, quietly. Nobody
must know that I'm here." Irene says dropping the hood on her coat from her
head. Holly stands next to Irene.
"I want to see Jean Paul. I want to talk to him now." Holly says turning towards
the door. Irene grabs her arm. "Jean Paul is asleep. Now you must be quiet
Holly." "I want to see him. Let me
go!" "I can't. I can't." Irene says
to her. "You're hurting me." "For your own good I can't let you go.
Now Holly I am your friend. How could I harm you? I am your good friend." Holly stares into Irene's eyes. "Yes. Look at me. How could I ever harm
you?" Holly stands still and stares
at Irene. "Now sit down
quietly." Holly walks over to a
chair. Irene helps her sit, then she walks across the room. "And I shall turn
out the light." After turning off the lamp she walks back to Holly. "And you
will listen to your good friend
Irene."
Raxl is sitting on the floor near the fireplace tending
the fire. "Yes Master." "Raxl I
have tried haven't I? I have tried to fight off the curse of the Mark of Death.
I never wanted to kill anyone and yet I have killed." Jean Paul says from the
couch. "And the innocent have been blamed. Raxl what am I to do? Tell me?" "Will you listen to my warnings? Will
you do what I tell you, you must do?"
Jean Paul shakes his head. "I feel powerless, powerless to
do anything." Jean Paul says then stands. He walks forward a few steps. "Oh I
wish to heaven I never knew Erica. I should have never called her from the rest
of death. Oh what a mockery it all is." He walks around the room. "For love I
called her back from the grave. For love I made a pact with evil. And now I'm
forced to kill with these hands." Jean Paul says opening his hands and showing
them to Raxl. "The strange results of love." Raxl stands. "Master you must not think
of the past. We must act now."
"How? Where can I run to? Where could I go without the curse pursuing me?
There's only one answer left for me. There is only one step I can take to
freedom. Death." Raxl shakes her
head. "You must not allow yourself to think that." "Oh but I do Raxl. I do." Jean Paul
steps away. "And I carry with me one solution." Jean Paul says taking a gun from
his pocket. He looks down at it. "If I only had the courage to use it." "Give it to me. Give me the gun." Raxl
says holding out her hand. "Master you are not the kind of man to take your own
life. Don't you see that is what the evil one wants of you, your soul forfeit to
him condemned forever? Give me the gun."
Jean Paul looks down then away handing the gun to Raxl. "There are other
means." Jean Paul says then he walks to the window. "The cliffs, oh the cliffs
are high. And the rocks beneath them are jagged and final. Perhaps that would be
the proper solution, to die beneath the cliffs of Desmond Hall. So that my
brother Philip... Philip?" Jean Paul says turning away from the window. "Yes. Philip think of him now." Raxl
says walking to Jean Paul and touching his arm. "And if you are ever tempted by
the icy fingers of death remember Philip."
Jean Paul looks at Raxl. "Philip is dead." He walks away from Raxl. "You don't know that. His spirit has
spoken to you through Miss Holly. That is all we know." "Do you believe that he is alive?" "I feel a presence in the house, a
spirit in pain and anguish. Oh Master you must answer his plea for help. You
cannot die. I will help you against the evil in this house. I will stay here as
long as you want. But you must swear to me one thing that you will not take your
own life. Live Master live!" Raxl walks over to him and puts her hand on his
arm.
Quito is asleep in a chair in Jean Paul's room when there is a knock at
the door. Quito
awakens gets up and hides next to the dresser. Laslo enters the room with a
tray. "Jean Paul?" He looks around and sees Quito. "Well well well. Our wandering boy has
returned. Oh don't be afraid of me Quito." Laslo says setting the tray on the
dresser. "I wouldn't hurt a fly. And you are not a fly are you?" Quito still hides next to the dresser. "Now, now please. It's all right
Quito. You see I
saw the light shining under the door and I came to share a drink with your
Master. Now come along. You and I shall have a drink." Laslo says opening the
decanter and pouring brandy into glasses. Quito still hasn't moved from the side of the
dresser. "Oh come now. A person like you is much more of a match for a simple
sip of brandy. Take it. Take it!" Laslo commands. Quito reaches out and holds the glass. "You see Quito your Master and I had an argument
tonight, bitter, unnecessary. I came to make my peace with Jean Paul despite the
fact he all but accused me of murdering his brother Philip." Quito stands and the brandy spills. He again
hides on the side of the dresser.
"Oh you spilled your drink. Just because I mentioned the word Philip."
Laslo says walking closer to Quito. "Do you know Philip Desmond? Oh come on
Quito at least
you can nod. Or has the cat got your tongue permanently."
Quito
cringes. He looks down and away from Laslo. "Have you seen Philip Desmond? Look at
me when I talk to you." Quito looks up. "Have you seen him, is that it? Give me
your glass." Laslo says holding out his hand. Quito doesn't move. Laslo reaches for the decanter. "We will
sit. We will have a drink you and I and we will talk about Philip Desmond."
Laslo pours brandy into Quito's glass as
Quito holds
it. Holly is sitting in a chair
staring straight ahead. "You have
been trying to resist me haven't you Holly? I asked you to cooperate with me and
my friends. Do you remember the circle of friends who gathered together in my
cottage and formed the ring of fire?" Irene bends down to Holly's chair. "Think
of it. Recall each detail and the promises you made. Remember it now. But never
when you're fully awake. Are you awake Holly?" "Yes." "But not fully?" Irene asks her. "No. I feel warm and comfortable as if
my hands and arms and legs were sleeping. But I can
hear and see." Irene glances down.
"Then listen to me." She looks back at Holly. "I have something for you, a
present. You will like this gift and you will use it." Irene holds a red
cloth. "I will." Holly says. "When I called you to help me you agreed
with me that Jean Paul must die. But you weren't quite convinced were you?" That
you would cause the death of a good and noble man. Well now I'll tell you what I
heard with my own ears. Jean Paul says he is a murderer. Holly do you believe
me?" "I don't know." "He is a murderer Holly. He said so in
this very house. He said because of his brother he has killed." "Philip?" "Do you understand?" Irene asks
Holly. Holly nods. "Yes." "Good, now listen to me. You will take
this gift and you will use it." Irene hands the red cloth to Holly. "You will
use it when Jean Paul is asleep because any man who is a murderer must
die." Holly unwraps the cloth.
Inside is a jeweled dagger.
"Beautiful isn't it? Jeweled and pointed and sharp. It will be easy. In
the dead of night when Jean Paul is asleep you will go to his room and see his
sleeping form. Lift your arm. Lift your arm!" Holly holds the dagger and lifts
it. "And with all your strength you will plunge the dagger down!" Holly lowers the dagger striking
downward. "That's right but not
now. But when the murderer sleeps." Irene takes the dagger from Holly. "I will
put the dagger beneath your pillow." Irene walks over to Holly's bed and puts
the dagger under the pillows. Holly
starts to stand. "Wait." Irene
tells her. "Beneath my pillow."
Holly turns and looks at Irene. She walks over to her. "Other voices have been trying to reach
you. You must not listen to them. You must say there is no time. No time to
listen because you will kill tonight." Irene says to Holly. "No time to listen, it must be tonight."
Holly says. "Tonight." Irene
repeats with a smile.
Laslo pours Quito another drink. "There now. That's better
isn't it my friend." Laslo says to Quito. Quito sits in a chair holding his glass. Laslo
sets down the decanter and turns back to Quito. "Listen to me Quito. You're well known
for obedience so obey me now. I have been kind to you haven't I?" Laslo asks
walking around Quito's chair. "Yes I have. The people down
there, the people in Desmondton are interested Quito in you at a time we do not need
interference by prying into our private affairs. So you must run Quito. Run. If you do not
they will come, men who intend to harm you and therefore harm your Master. Do
you understand? I respect you Quito as an obedient servant. A servant who
would die if need be for his Master. So you must go. Far away from here and they
will forget. If they find you Quito, if men follow you as you cross through
the forest then you will become the loyal scapegoat for your Master. And the
disturbance because of the killings in Desmondton will end." Laslo leans on
Quito's chair looking down at Quito. "Do you see what
you can do for your Master Quito if you die?" Quito looks up at Laslo.
Jean Paul stands at the window looking out. "The fire is dying Master. It is time to
sleep." Jean Paul stands staring at
the sky. "Master?" Raxl says as she
steps closer to him. "I've been
looking up at the sky Raxl. Looking for one star that would bless me somehow."
He turns away from the window. "I have suffered enough of curses." "We will end it." Raxl says. Jean Paul nods with a slight smile. "Yes
we will try. Now go to bed Raxl I want to stay here alone." Raxl stands looking at Jean Paul. "Take the gun with you. I promise my
life won't end tonight." Raxl walks
away carrying the gun. At the door she turns and looks back at Jean Paul.
"Goodnight Master." Raxl turns and leaves the room. Jean Paul watches her go. "Goodnight
friend Raxl." He walks around the room, stretches and rubs his eyes tiredly. He
stops at the wine table. Picking up the white wine decanter he opens it and
holds it up. "So clear, so luminous." He laughs. "Be grateful Jean Paul that
there is something on this earth that is clear." He picks up an empty glass and
pours the wine into it. The wine turns red. "Blood red. Blood." He looks at the
decanter then sets it down. "White wine turned to blood. From my touch." Jean
Paul walks caring it in his hand looking at it. "Why is it that everything I
touch turns to ..." He hurls the glass at the fireplace. Holly's name appears on
the inside wall dripping in blood.
"Beware Jean Paul. Jean Paul!" Philip tries to call out to him. "Holly!" Jean Paul cries out seeing her
name. "Holly, Holly!" he shouts and rushes from the
room.
Holly is lying in bed. Irene bends over her swinging the
pendant. "You will sleep now Holly. Sleep until the darkest hour before the
dawn." Irene sits back laying the necklace on the nightstand. "Then you will
take the dagger and you will go to Jean Paul's chamber and you will..." The door flies open. Jean Paul stands in
the doorway. "Irene what are you doing here?" "Shhh. She's almost asleep." Irene says
putting her finger to her lips.
Jean Paul looks at Holly then back at Irene. "What are you doing to this
girl? Tell me?" Jean Paul sits on the edge of Holly's bed and awakens her.
"Holly?" "Yes." Holly sleepily
looks at Jean Paul. "Yes." "What is
it? What has been happening to you?"
"Go away Jean Paul. It's not time yet." Holly says then turns her face
away. "She's delirious. She has a
fever and is badly in need of sleep." Irene says to Jean Paul. Jean Paul stands. "Why are you here this
time of the night Irene?"
"Ada
telephoned. She was concerned about Holly and she thought everyone in the house
was asleep." "I was not asleep. And
I could have been awakened." Jean Paul glances at Holly. "You were saying
something to this girl when I came in. What was it?" "To sleep." Irene answers. Jean Paul notices the pendant and picks
it up. "What were you doing with this?"
"That? That's something from an old wives-tail." Irene says with a smile.
"My mother used it to sooth me as a child. Goodnight Holly dear. Goodnight I'm
glad you sent for me." Irene says stroking Holly's face. "I'm very tired now." Holly says "Holly are you sure there is nothing
wrong?" Jean Paul asks bending over her.
"Nothing Jean Paul nothing at all."
"I'll stay with her and make sure nothing disturbs her." Irene says to
Jean Paul. "No I want you to leave
this room." He walks to the door. "You have an explanation Irene." "Very well." Irene walks to Jean Paul.
She turns. "Remember Holly to rest." she says then walks out the door with Jean
Paul. Holly starts falling asleep.
"Holly. Holly its Philip." "I don't
want to see you." "You mustn't do
this. You must forget what Irene told you!" "Go away Philip. You can't touch me now.
You can't touch me now." Philip
fades away. "Holly, Holly!" Philip's voice calls to
her.
Laslo takes the glass from Quito. "Please. Go now Quito. Go before it's too
late to save your Master." Laslo helps him up from the chair. "Go Quito and never
return." Quito backs away from
Laslo. "Go you stupid ape! Do as I
say!" Quito becomes angry and
grabs Laslo around the throat.
"Quito
I'm your friend. Stop it!" Laslo gasps.
Raxl walks in. "Quito stop it!" She tries to pull Quito off of Laslo.
"Stop!" He backs away. "What are you doing? What are you doing to us all?" Raxl
shouts. Quito opens and closes his
hands. He then brushes Raxl's cheek then walks out of the room. Laslo stands
against the wall holding his throat.
Raxl rushes from the room shouting.
"Master!"
Jean Paul kneels next to the fireplace. "The wine turned
the color of blood." Jean Paul says reaching towards the back wall of the
fireplace. "Here." He runs his hand close to the back wall. Irene looks at him. Jean Paul stands. "It was a
warning." "Your superstitions are
getting the better of you Jean Paul. You live too much in the past. Nobody is
going to be harmed here. Not Holly not anybody and certainly not by me." "Master! Master!" Raxl shouts. Jean Paul walks to the doorway. Raxl
rushes up to him. "He's gone! Quito!"
Jean Paul rushes to the open outside door. "He's gone mad! He tried to kill me!"
Laslo says rushing down the staircase.
Jean Paul looks at Laslo then turns to the open door. "Quito! Quito!" he shouts. Irene rushes up to Jean Paul. "He'll
return. Go to bed Jean Paul. Laslo will take me home, go to
bed."
The clock strikes four in the morning. Jean Paul is asleep
but restless. "Jean Paul my brother. Do not sleep. Hear me Jean Paul." Philip
calls to him. Jean Paul's bedroom door opens and Holly enters. She walks over to
the bed and raises the dagger.
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Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide
presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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