STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 86

Episode 86: Slideshow

Cort: "Night of terror ended at Desmond Hall and yet with the dawn comes not relief but other darker fears. For Jean Paul Desmond has not returned from his night of battle with the Mark of Death. And to the door of this ancient mansion comes an unwelcome guest bringing further threats to all who dwell within."

At the door of the mansion comes a frantic pounding. Emily walks out of her room and stands at the top of the staircase. "Raxl! Raxl!" she calls walking down the stairs. The knocking at the door had woken her up. Emily is in her robe. "There's somebody at the door.” Emily calls looking around the foyer. She answers the door. Agatha stands in the doorway." Mr. Jean Paul Desmond please." "No. He's not here. I'm sorry but I can't find anyone. Mr. Desmond is not here." Emily says. "May I wait for him then?" She holds her hand out to shake Emily's hand. "Agatha, Agatha Pruett." she says walking into the foyer as Emily closes the door. "Is Mr. Desmond expecting you? Emily asks as she walks towards Agatha. "Oh I hope so. I hope so very much. He's such a generous man Mr. Desmond. Are you Mrs. Desmond?" Emily smiles. "No I'm not." "Oh I hope she will be as nice as he is. Because you see Mr. Desmond has to help after last night’s accident." "Accident?" Emily asks. "Yes. Yes see he tried to kill me." Agatha says with a smile. Emily opens the doors to the Drawing Room. "Won't you wait in here Miss?" "Pruett, Agatha Pruett." she says looking around the room. "My family used to call me Aggie but I didn't like that very well. It didn't sound very you know proper enough." "Sit down Miss Pruett." Emily says.

"Oh I don't dare do that. It's such an impressive place. Hardly the sort of place for someone like me." Emily walks towards Agatha. "Tell me about the accident."

Agatha sits on the couch. "Oh I couldn't do that. I promised Mr. Desmond I wouldn't speak of it again." "Well then you must keep your word to Mr. Desmond by all means." "Yes. I thought he'd be home by now." Agatha looks up at Emily. "He was so tired and everything and very disturbed by me." "Oh yes I'm sure that if he asked you to drop by he'll be here. May I get you some coffee Miss Pruett?" "That would be very nice of course but I'd prefer tea with just a drop of milk and three sugars." She glances up at Emily with a smile. "I'm very fond of sugar." "Well excuse me." Emily says with a smile. "I'll be right back." Emily walks out closing the doors. "Oh no hurry. No hurry." She says looking around the Drawing Room as she walks over to the fireplace. "I had no idea." She walks around the room and stops at the table with the wine decanters. "I had no idea at all." She raises her hand to her cheek. "So it won't be my fault any of it. Will it?" she says. Emily stands at the Drawing Room doors listening to Agatha. She glances at the staircase. "Cort, Cort will you help me?" Cort walks down the staircase and walks over to Emily. "Why should I help you?" "There's a young girl in there. A stranger." "Well tell her to leave." Cort says. "I can't. I promised to bring her some tea." "Well bring her tea." He tells her then steps away. "Cort I can't find anyone. Jean Paul isn't home and I wandered the house and I haven't seen a soul." "You were wandering the house last night." "What do you mean?" Emily asks. "You took Laslo to the secret room." "No I didn't." "He said you did." Cort tells her. Emily glances away. "I can't remember." "You must remember it. It's important. Laslo said it was coincidental. But he was in that secret room and he said you wanted to take him to the secret room!" Cort tells her. "No. It, it was Jean Paul. I remember Jean Paul asked me... Asked me to hide him." Emily says bewildered. "You've had to much champagne." "I must have because I can't remember anything. I must have dreamed. I woke up this morning feeling drugged." Emily says to Cort. "Or drunk." Cort says as he turns way. "Cort, wait." He stops. "Let me get some rest and think. I'll try to remember. And I'll try to tell you what you want to know. I'll be honest with you."

Cort looks at her. "Well that will be exceptional behavior for a resident of Desmond Hall. I'll bring you your tea my lady." Cort says with a bow. He shakes his head as he walks away. Before he leaves he turns and looks back at Emily. "You know I almost said inmate, inmate of Desmond Hall." Cort walks away.

Emily walks forward thinking. 'The secret room Laslo? Impossible. I would never reveal a secret like that. Oh Jean Paul come home.' "Please hurry home." she says aloud.

In Philip's secret room Laslo is pulling books from the bookcase and throwing them on the floor. "Diary." He looks at the table. "He concealed it from me. He kept a diary and told of everything he knew." The candle blows out leaving Laslo in the dark. The skeleton starts materializing against the back wall. "Who is it? I'll leave, I'll leave at once. Don't touch me. I feel your presence." Laslo looks at the skeleton. "I wish no one harm! I don't wish you harm! Don't touch me! No!" Laslo screams.

Agatha walks around the Drawing Room touching the books and furniture. "It's like a castle." She says smiling. "A castle in a story book." Cort enters the room carrying a tray. "I brought you some tea." He sets the tray on the table and turns to leave. "Wait." Agatha says. "Excuse me but who are you?" Cort turns and looks at her. "I've seen you in Desmondton. I work in a little dress makers shop...” Agatha says to Cort. "I spend so very little time in little dress maker shops." "You're a Desmond aren't you?" "Desmond of sorts." Cort answers.

Agatha walks across the room. "I knew it. I could tell. There is a certain way they have of speaking the Desmonds. A style that is very educated and proper. Oh but very nice. Very nice." "I'm Cort." "Cort. Yes why I was just saying before you came in that this is just like a castle in a story book." Agatha says with a smile.

"What kind of storybooks do you read?" Cort asks. "Well now you know my name. Unless you want to make up a little conversation?" "Oh no. No I wouldn't delay you." Agatha glances around the room. "You do what ever you have to do. My name is Agatha Pruett." "Well now that we know each other..." Cort turns to walk out the door. "I'd be very content waiting." Agatha says. Cort turns and looks at her. "I'll just sip my tea and amuse myself and dream that I live in a place like this. So I'll be very content while I wait for Jean Paul Desmond."

Cort steps towards Agatha. "Is Jean Paul expecting you?" "Well he should be shouldn't he seeing as he nearly choked the life out of me last night. See the mark on my neck here." Agatha says as she shows him her throat. Cort stares at her. "I think he owes me something don't you? The marks aren't gone are they?"

"No I can see the scar. Would you please go over that again." "It's all very complicated but I don't want to cause any more trouble. I promised Mr. Desmond that I wouldn't talk about it. "Well good for Mr. Desmond." Cort says. "But the fact remains he saved my life." "What, by almost choking you to death?"

Agatha laughs. "No no. What a silly thing to say. By sparing me. You see we all but saved each others life." "Are you sure you have the right house Miss Pruett? I mean my cousin isn't in the habit of choking young ladies." Cort says. Agatha smiles and laughs. "I wouldn't be too sure." "And what are you saying?" "Oh I'm not saying anything." Agatha says turning away from Cort. "I promised Mr. Desmond I wouldn't talk about it." "Well then I'd keep closer to your promises."

Agatha looks at him. "If you pick on me I won't like you." she says leaning against the arm of the couch. "And I wouldn't like that very much but you see we're not going to be seeing much of each other." Agatha smiles. "Oh I think we will." She stands up straight. "This can't be the wrong house. Otherwise why would I feel so at home here?" Laslo stands in the doorway of the Drawing Room. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" "I've answered so many questions this morning." Agatha says. "Is this another of your doxies Cort?" Laslo asks walking towards Cort. "No I thought she was one of yours." "I am not a doxy. You better tell him who and why and so forth." Agatha says to Cort as she turns away. "You better tell him nothing." Cort says. "What are you saying?" Laslo asks. "Mr. Desmond I think would be very unhappy with you." Cort says to Agatha as she sits on the couch. "I'd like to know what's going on here. What's all this talk of Mr. Desmond? Do you know Philip Desmond? Is that why your here, to make trouble?" Laslo says standing in front of Agatha. "I didn't even know there was a Philip Desmond. Besides I'm not allowed to answer any questions." "Then please leave Miss?" "Pruett, Agatha Pruett." she says holding out her hand.

Laslo looks at her. "She has the little dress making shop down in the village." Cort says. "Well my wife doesn't need any dresses at the moment Miss Pruett. So I must ask you to leave." Agatha looks at Cort. "Should I?" "That's up to you. But if you’re expecting Jean Paul I'd advise you to stay here." Cort says to her.

"Jean Paul?" Laslo asks. "Yes I agree." Agatha says to Cort. "What has this girl to do with Jean Paul?" Laslo asks Cort. "Have some tea." Cort says handing her a cup and signaling Laslo by point his arm toward the door. "I want to speak to you in the hall." Laslo walks into the foyer, Cort follows closing the door behind them. Agatha looks at the closed door. "They are really very nice, some of them." She sets her tea cup on the table. "But I don't like the older one. Do you Peter." She opens her bag. "I think without the older one we could be very happy here. Don't you think so Peter?" Agatha takes a small snake out of her bag and holds it against her face. "What ever Jean Paul's business is it has nothing to do with you." Cort tells Laslo. "Everything that happens in this house is my business." "At least you would like to think it should be." "I'm going to see that girl." Laslo walks past Cort. Cort grabs his arm and spins him around. "You're not going to see her at all!" Cort says angrily. "Get your hands off me! Before I knock you down." Ada rushes down the staircase. "Laslo! Cort! What are you doing?" She pulls them apart. "It seems your son wants to take command of Desmond Hall." Laslo says. "That's not true. I'm only protecting Jean Paul. When I take command of Desmond Hall it will be for a lot stronger reason than this."

"Please stop it. Both of you!" Ada says. "Oh." Laslo stare at Cort. Cort looks at Ada. "And I would like to tell you Mother that I can't stop it. I can't stop it because he has no business getting in Jean Paul's private matters!" "Now you're protecting Jean Paul are you? I find that surprising since you defend nobody but yourself!" Laslo says. "Laslo I can't stand these arguments! And I won't take them." "What did you say my dear Ada?" Laslo asks. "I said I won't take this attitude anymore! From you or from Cort." "I’m afraid you have no choice. I will deal with this young man as I see fit. Nobody will stand in my way. Not even you." Laslo says to her. Cort turns and starts to leave. "Where are you going?" Laslo asks him. Cort looks at Laslo. "I'm going to find Jean Paul. Something happened last night and I want to find out what it is. But you two can continue the argument. I'm so glad to see Mother out of her unhappy state. And I have a feeling that if the argument gets any more fierce she's going to save me the task of killing you myself. So good by." Cort turns towards the door. "Come back here!" Laslo shouts. "On whose orders!" Cort shout angrily and walks towards Laslo. "You’re my son and I want you as well as Laslo to hear this. All my life I've lived in the shadows. Loving people and serving them. Suffering when they were angry and afraid always afraid. And I'm tired of that. Last night when I lay alone in my bed the fog blanketing the window and the dogs howling in the woods I knew surely that cruelty and hatred are crawling in Desmond Hall consuming us all. And I will not put up with it. You see I, I've been living in the past wasting my time. Living for innocent days that will no longer return and all that time evil like a snake has been crawling in your hearts, both of you! Look at me Laslo, Cort!"

They both were glancing away from Ada now they look at her. "Destroy each other if you will but I am out of it!" Ada says angrily "I think you better go back to your quarters my dear. You don't know what you're saying." Laslo says. "I think she does." Cort says. "Ada do as I say!" Laslo tells her. "No Laslo not anymore. I'm sorry but not anymore." "We'll see about that." Laslo raises his hand to strike Ada. Cort grabs his arm and twists it behind Laslo’s back. "Don't ever touch her again!" Cort tells him. "Enough! I've had enough!" Ada says rushing out of the room. "Don't move!" Cort says as Laslo struggles. "Take your hands off me!" Laslo says pulling away from Cort. Cort falls back and hits against the wall and table. He knocks a dagger used as a letter opener to the floor. "I thought you knew who had the more power. Remember it in the future." Laslo starts to walk towards the drawing Room. "Laslo!" Cort says picking up the dagger. "Don't drive me to kill you because I have a terrible compulsion." Cort says as he walks over to Laslo and holds the dagger against Laslo’s throat. "Don't move; don't move one step or I'll give in to that compulsion!" Cort says angrily. "When I kill you it will be without any guilt or compassion because I know dear stepfather that you committed some murders in your own time." "Cort! Get away from him!" Emily says rushing down the staircase. "This is my business and no one else’s!" Cort tells Emily. "You don't know what your doing!" Emily says standing next to Laslo and Cort. "He's going to kill me." Laslo says. "Not yet." Cort shoves him down. "That would be too easy. Not yet, not yet." "Cort what is it? Look at me. Look at me!" Cort turns his head and looks at Emily. "It's Emily." She says brushing her hand over his cheek. "Emily." Cort says. "You didn't know what you were doing did you?" "He knew. He's a child of the devil like his father." Laslo says from the floor. "What about my father!" Cort says looking at Laslo.

"Your father was a weak and vicious man." "Don't speak about my father that way." Cort says holding the dagger as he bends down towards Laslo. "Who all but ruined your mother. And you are his son, believe me you are his son."

Cort holds the dagger in his hand near Laslo. Laslo brushes Cort's hand away and stands up and walks away. Cort stands. "I'm going to kill him! Believe me someday I will kill him!" "No you won't. Cort you're angry because he came to Philip's secret room last night. You're right I remember now. I took Laslo to the room and I showed him the secret door." "Why?" "I don't know. He forced me to do it somehow. Cort I know Laslo isn't a very nice man but you mustn't threaten him like that again ever. There is enough hatred already at Desmond Hall." "I thought I was removed. I forced myself to be removed from it all. From my stepfather, Jean Paul and Philip. I thought I was the only one in the Desmond family who was free from it all. And now, now I'm obliged to kill!" Cort says holding the dagger. "Obliged? No one is obliged." Emily tells him. "I am, I am!" He looks at Emily. "I'm like Hamlet Emily I must obey the ghost of my father."

Agatha is bending down looking under the furniture and around the room. "Peter? Peter you mustn't be afraid. Peter this is a very nice place, really. And it's very wrong to run away." Emily opens the Drawing Room doors and enters. "You've already had your tea." Emily says with a smile as she walks over to Agatha.

"Yes. It was very good tea. I guess I should have asked for some cake to go with it but I didn't want to seem too demanding." "I'll get you some if you like."

"Actually I'm very content." Agatha says sitting on the couch. "What could anyone need in this place? Although it's very noisy. There were some shouts outside the door." Emily walks to the couch. "Oh I'm sorry. We had a rather long and trying night and everyone's upset." "It frightened Peter." "Peter?" Emily asks as she sits next to Agatha. "I'm sorry, I talk too much. Peter is a friend, an imaginary one. Does that sound crazy? Well it's isn't. When you've lived alone as long as I have you need someone. Something even if you have to imagine it." Agatha says lowering her head. "I understand." Emily says to her. Agatha glances up at Emily. "I think you do. Do you live here?" "No. I'm a house guest that's all."

"I wish I were a house guest. You see I left my mother and my father to live alone. I had to. They were witches." "Witches?" Emily says. "Yes. Oh there are witches in Desmondton. They seem to be people like you and I but they meet when the moon is full and do dreadful things. And cause people to die. I couldn't live with witches. I try to be as good as I can. Not hurt people. Which is why Jean Paul Desmond liked me I think." Agatha says looking at Emily. "I'm sure it was Miss Pruett." "You're a very kind person. So why don't you call me Agatha instead of Miss Pruett." "Agatha." Emily says. Agatha laughs happily. "There now were friends. I do have a friend don't I?" "Yes you do." "Well, will you come with me?" Agatha says as she puts her bag over her shoulder as she stands.

"Where?" Emily asks. "Come." Agatha holds out her hand to Emily. Emily grasps it. "Not far'" Agatha says leading Emily from the Drawing Room. "Agatha I'd like to come with you but." Emily says letting go of Agatha's hand. "It's not far really. Just as far as the door." Agatha says as she walks across the foyer and opening the door. She steps out and walks back in carrying a suitcase. "And my suitcase. You see I'm staying here at Desmond Hall." She sets her suitcase on the floor. "You see Jean Paul Desmond wouldn't have it any other way." Emily stares at Agatha.

In Philip's secret room Agatha's pet snake is coiled inside the skull that is sitting on the table.

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Summaries written by Debby Graham . The slide presentation is the work of Ron Janick.

~Ron/Bella~
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