Strange Paradise:  Episode 95
Episode 95a:  Slideshow
Episode 95b:  Slideshow
Agatha: "Desmond Hall broods in darkness. Within its ghost haunted walls the faithful servant Raxl tries to drive out the new evils that threaten her Master Jean Paul Desmond. While below high on the cliffs in the town below a lone girl fights for freedom among a secret gathering among a coven of witches. And in the Great House Jean Paul sleeps fitfully hearing a voice from his tortured past."
 
"Jean Paul. Jean Paul my darling, Jean Paul I'm calling you. Calling you."
"Erica." Jean Paul says tossing in his sleep.  "Why did you leave me husband?"
"Erica?"  "Come back. Come back to Maljardin."  "No, no!"  "I wait for you Jean Paul. Come back to me."  "Erica, your dead!" Jean Paul awakens and sits up. "YOU'RE DEAD!"
 
Laslo closes the door after the coven members leave. He turns towards Agatha and Irene. "Your death dear Agatha, your death is next on the agenda." "Your parents are gone. They could not help you if they chose to. You have witnessed a gathering of the Servants of the Evil One. And you have refused our offer to join the circle." Irene tells her.  "I see only one way for you little Agatha. The final way, death." Laslo tells her. "I see no other alternative do you Agatha?"  "My dear child, our secrets must be kept. Have you any other solution?" Irene asks her.
"Yes. I won't tell anyone. I never have you know. For most of my life I knew my mother and father were witches but I never told."  Irene walks across the room. "Your loyalty is very impressive but where was it when we asked you to join us and help us?" Irene stops at a table and picks up a decanter.  Agatha walks up to her. "I won't do that! I'll never join you! But let me go home and I swear I will never tell anyone."  "You have no home my dear. Have you forgotten that Jean Paul doesn't want you." Laslo tells her.  "He may change his mind." Agatha says as she glances back.  "And then you’ll be able to tell him won't you? Mr. Desmond would be very happy with you if you listed the resident witches of Desmondton." Laslo says walking up behind Agatha. "You see we have no choice my dear. Laslo should I release Quito from his room and give him the assignment?"  "When I've left Irene. That's in a good enough time. Good by Miss Pruett, I doubt we will meet again."  "I don't think I want to meet you again even if I live."  "Oh after all I tried to do for you. No loyalty, no loyalty at all." Laslo says as he walks to the door. "You will attend to everything Irene?"  "To everything. Goodnight."  "Goodnight. Pleasant dreams Miss Pruett." Laslo says as he walks out the door.  Irene finishes her drink and turns towards Agatha. "Now my dear."
Agatha walks away from Irene.   "Are you crying?" Irene asks.  "No but I'm sorry for so many things. I'm sorry I ever met Jean Paul Desmond." she says as she sits down and looks at Irene. "He wasn't kind to me at all you know. And I'm sorry I ever went to that house and listened to Mr. Thaxton. I was much happier alone with my only friend Peter."  "Your only friend can not help you now. Do you know what you've done Agatha?" Irene asks as she walks over to her. "Tonight you have destroyed my plans. You've injured your parents. You caused them to leave and destroyed our gathering. Well such things can not be taken lightly! Don't try to leave; all the doors will be locked. It's time for me to call Quito now. Be patient Agatha." Irene says as she walks away from her.  "I don't want to die. Not now. I want Mr. Jean Paul Desmond to see what he's done to me." Agatha says then she stands and rushes to the window. She walks around window to window but they are all sealed shut. Agatha starts to sob. "It isn't fair, and I made my beautiful dress for a party and a dance and violins and candles. Oh Peter why didn't I stay alone with you? Why didn't I know enough to stay alone?"
 
Raxl, Emily and Cort are in the Drawing Room. "You thought Miss Blair the answers to everything came from these books." Raxl says as she runs her hands over the books in the bookcase. "That is not so. I know of things that do not exist in books. These are the mysteries that you have invaded."  "But I didn't intend to." Emily tells Raxl.  "The worse for you. Your innocence has placed you under the power of the Serpent God. An evil force which others have learned to control, but which now controls you." Raxl says as she stands next to Emily who is sitting on the couch. "By your own action you have been cursed."  "But I don't believe in things like curses." Emily tells her.  "Well now you know." She turns and looks at Cort. "And you Cort."  "Yes Raxl. What is your diagnosis for me?" He asks sitting in a chair near the fireplace.  "You are a rash, unthinking young man. You believed you could play a game that has destroyed men older and wiser than yourself." Raxl says as she walks over to Cort.  "I just took action that's all. Philip told me some magic and I used it."  "Childish magic." Raxl tells him.  Cort stands. "It's not childish at all. I confronted the Serpent, I went to the secret room and I told him I was not afraid. It threatened, so I killed."  "Cort?" Emily calls his name looking at him.  "I killed a serpent. I crushed its head."  "Was it you?" Emily asks as she stands and steps towards Cort. "I felt it, I felt it happening. It was a pounding in my head as if someone was crushing it." she says touching her temples.  "Well you can thank me. I've set you free." Cort tells her.  Raxl shakes her head. "It's not as simple as that. You have destroyed a snake not the Serpent God."  "I know it's gone!  I know it!" Cort says to Raxl.  "You did away with a servant. One small creature that served the God himself. You have done little good and now you will suffer. As does anyone who offends the powerful God of my ancestors."  "Raxl help us. Help us both." Cort says.  "I can not."  "You must."
Raxl looks at Emily. "What about you Miss Blair? Do you not wish to be saved?"
"I don't know." Emily says turning away from Raxl.  "You enjoy the feeling of power!" Raxl says walking over to her.  "No!"  "Oh don't try to fool me Miss Blair. But I will not allow you to mislead my Master."  "Please leave me alone! Stop torturing me and leave me alone." Emily says as she rushes from the room.
Raxl turns towards Cort. "The pain you felt. The seizure you took when you returned this evening that was the result in meddling in what you do not know."
Cort walks towards Raxl. "I don't know what happened to me. All I know is I felt this black spirit of the Serpent wrap itself around me, squeeze me, crush me."
"At that moment you were cursed. Someone was seeking revenge for that little snake."  "Agatha! It was her pet. She was the one who brought it to Desmond Hall."  "And with it came an unwelcome visitor. The dark power of the Great Serpent itself. Yes, yes now it's all clear." Raxl looks at Cort and puts her hand on his shoulder. "The girl Agatha, only she can release you."  Agatha hides behind the couch huddling near the wall.  "Quito." Irene says to him as they walk into the room.  Agatha huddles closer to the couch.  "There is the girl Quito, do as I commanded you."  Agatha stands and runs around the couch to the table. "No you can't do that. You wouldn't dare to have him kill me Mrs. Hatter. Not this way, not in your own house." She sits in a chair. "They will find me you'll see. And they'll know that you ordered this." Agatha says huddling down in the chair.
"It isn't very likely my dear. You see the townspeople already suspect Quito of murdering a lady named Crystal. So when another young lady's body is found in the river well they won't connect any of that monstrous behavior with a widow named Irene Hatter."  "They'll know! They'll know, my mother and father will tell them."  "That bewitching couple. They serve me." Irene walks over to Quito. "So come my servant, my good and loyal servant. You know your job. Now do it!" "No!" Agatha cries out.  "Good by Agatha." Irene says as she walks from the room.  Quito walks towards Agatha extending his hands towards her.  "No!" Agatha cries out in terror. "Quito, Quito listen to me." Agatha touches Quito and stands next to him. "You don't want to kill me. You don't want to obey that woman. You are loyal to Jean Paul Desmond, and he is my friend Quito. He's my friend Quito, listen to me. Listen to me; I will take you back to Jean Paul because he misses you. They've been looking for you everywhere." Agatha touches his hands. "Help me and I'll take you back there. The woman is a witch."  Quito shakes his head and pulls away from Agatha.  "She lies, do you believe me?"
Quito nods his head.  "She can't make you do anything you don't want to do. Take my hand Quito. Take it."  Quito clasps Agatha's hand.  "Now be silent, be silent." she whispers. Quito nods. "Till she comes again."
 
The heartbeat starts as Jean Paul sleeps. "No, no!" he says tossing in his sleep. "NO! Jean Paul sits up. "It must have been a dream. It was a dream." He gets up from his bed and walks to the window. Looking out he sees the star, then turning he leans on the bed post. There is a knock at his bedroom door.  "Jean Paul? Jean Paul are you awake?" Emily asks.  "Go away!" Jean Paul says as he fights against the influence of the curse.  "Please I want to talk to you." she says to him.
"Emily?" Jean Paul asks as he grabs his robe and puts it on. "Emily what is it?" he asks at the door.  "Please open the door."  "Emily I thought you were asleep. Are you all right?" he asks as he opens the door.  "Oh I'm so afraid." she says throwing herself into his arms.  "You should be sleeping, resting."  "I couldn't. Raxl was talking to me about the Serpent and about all those things I can't believe happened to me. And she says there is nothing I can do. That I am helpless."  "No, no, you're not. Listen we'll find a way I promise you." Jean Paul says pushing her back so he can look at her. He glances up. "No’, no! Leave me!" Jean Paul steps away from Emily. "Go!"  "Jean Paul!"  "Do as I say! Leave me! I can't help you! I can't help you ever!" He tells her as he pushes her out of his room and closing the door behind her. Jean Paul stumbles across the room to the window. "Please! If I must kill, let it not be Emily. Not Emily!" He says as he turns away from the window and bends over in pain.
 
Irene walks into the room. "Quito you've done such a silent job I..."  Quito moves across the room quickly and grabs Irene from behind. He has his arm around her neck. Irene screams.  Agatha steps out from behind a chair and walks over to them. "I'll have the keys please dear Mrs. Hatter."   "Quito what have you done?" Irene asks.  "The keys." Agatha repeats.  Irene struggles against Quito.  "Tighter Quito for Mrs. Hatter."  "He'll choke me!" Irene cries out.  "No he won't Mrs. Hatter. Not if you do as I say. You see we don't intend to kill you my new friend Quito and I. We want our freedom is all. If you'll give me the keys."  "Quito she's tricking you." Irene says.  "Tighter Quito. I will ask you again very politely and then if you won't play nicely I will show you there are other ways to leave your pretty little house."  "You mustn't leave. If Laslo finds out he'll..."  "Last chance, the keys."  "If you stay I promise."  "I learned to never trust a witch’s promise. Upon my word you are going to suffer for what you did to me. All of you, including my devoted ma and pa. Quito!"  "No, don't no!" Irene cries out.  "Or should I behave as you did and say kill Quito kill."  Irene hands Agatha the keys.  "I thank you for everything. For your very nice little party and my chance to meet your classy friends." Agatha says as she walks to the door. "Quito."  Quito releases Irene as Agatha opens the door. "Come Quito. We've got a lot to do."  Irene leans on the table. "Stay, stay. Stay where you are." In her hand is the pendant, lowering it she falls into a chair. "Laslo!" she calls out holding her neck.
 
Jean Paul walks swiftly down the staircase dressed to go out.  "Master it is not yet morning. Where are you going?" Raxl asks him. In her hand is a hurricane lamp.  "To anywhere but here." he says walking towards the outside door.
"I saw the star from my window. I came to guard you."  "No one can guard me!" He shows her his hand. Upon it is the Mark of Death.  Raxl grasps his hand.
"If I must kill I shall leave this house. Anyone but not Emily." "Oh Master I beg you. Do not leave; the town will be on the alert now."  "Do you hear me! I said not Emily!" Every time I have to kill why is the victim always the one I want to help, to protect? The one that I love and I do love Emily." He turns and rushes for the door.  "Master let me help you!" Raxl cries out rushing after him.  Jean Paul turns in the doorway. "Tonight I heard strange sounds, the voice of Erica. My wife calling me to my dreams. Asking me to come back to her. Well perhaps this is the night, this is the night when I am found and I die and come back to Erica!" He rushes out the door.  "Master before I allow you to die, I will die. If you must kill again let it be me. Let it be me." Raxl tells him as she stands in the doorway. Jean Paul stands outside listening to Raxl.
 
Irene sits in her rocker with her arms crossed angrily. "Why did you come back?" she asks Laslo.  "To see if the job was done."  Irene stands and walks across the room. "Well it is not done. She's gone."  "Gone?" Laslo says as he turns to look at Irene.  "Quito helped her."  "Oh you and your Quito. He was to serve us like he served Jean Paul. He is very strong you said. He will serve us."  "Don't you think it's a little late for ridicule? I tell you she's gone."  "Yes to tell the whole township that she could lead them to a coven of witches. Oh you’re a fine High Priestess you are. Everything in ruins, all my plans for my dear cousin Jean Paul."  "You could have stayed. You could have helped me instead of running away for your own protection." Irene sits down.  "And you could have called me the minute they left. What were you planning? A hot toddy and off to bed." Laslo says as he turns away from Irene.  "Laslo. I'm frightened, so frightened if that girl were to tell."
"If she tells this will be our reaction. She's mad. Living as she did with a pet snake. Working on a secret wardrobe every night alone to make her a grand lady. Totally mad don't you agree."  "And clever as a cat." Irene says.
"Nonsense my dear. A group of leading citizens gathered together for a quiet evening of conversation." Laslo says as he pours himself a drink. "This girl bursts in with a speechless monster who can't even tell a story and accuses Desmondton’s most prominent citizens of being witches." Laslo turns to Irene. "Dear Irene tomorrow there is a new play at the Desmondton Palace of Music. We will attend that play and so will our friends in all our pride and glory."
 
Jean Paul wanders around Desmondton and end up at the train station. "Perhaps, yes perhaps a train to take me to someplace somewhere where nobody knows the name Jean Paul Desmond. Where he can fulfill his desire, seek out the answers of the drumbeat of the throbbing heart of the Mark of Death." He looks at his hand and glances up when he hears someone coming.
"Quito come along. I'm liable to freeze to death with no coat and a ruined dress." Agatha says to Quito.  Jean Paul moves back into the shadows.  Agatha leans against the wall of the train station. "This skimpy dress. This lovely dress which I was to wear to a ball."  Quito glances around.  Agatha walks over to him. "You've lost your way haven't you? Lost your way in the fog my stupid Quito. We were supposed to go to Desmond Hall and we are not even beyond the town."  Jean Paul steps out. "Agatha."  "Jean Paul!"   "Well what a happy surprise. And you too Quito. How pleasant to see you my long lost Quito. My evening is complete, almost complete that is."  Quito touches Jean Paul's coat and hand.  "I know you're happy to see me but you needn't fondle me." Jean Paul says pulling his hand from Quito. "I want to see the young lady alone."  Agatha looks at Jean Paul. "No. No I don't want to talk to you. Not like this."  "Quito to whom do you owe your loyalty? To the lovely lady Miss Pruett or me?"  Quito shakes his head.
"No. Quito you promised me. You said you would guard me and take me back to Desmond Hall. You promised."  "Poor Miss Pruett. My poor lovely lost." He walks towards her touching her face with his hand.  "Quito!" Agatha shouts.  Quito looks at Agatha.  "Quito." Jean Paul says to him as he closes his hand into a fist. "Take the young lady home. Here." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper handing it to Agatha. "Raxl will know what to do. Tell her; tell her that I am well." Jean Paul turns away from Agatha "That I am almost well."
Agatha steps towards Jean Paul. "Thank you, thank you Mr. Desmond very much. I'll find my way. I'll find my way alone." Agatha walks away.  Quito walks up to Jean Paul putting his hand on Jean Paul's shoulder. "Follow the lady Quito; see that she gets home safely."  Quito nods and walks away.  Jean Paul glances at the sky. "We must count our blessings Quito our blessings that the star will disappear soon because it is almost morning. Fade curse you! Fade!" He hears someone coming and steps back into the shadows.   A woman walks up to the building carrying a suitcase. She looks at the poster that is on the pole. "Another waste of time in another tawdry town."  Jean Paul starts walking towards her. He hands come up as she turns and lifts her face towards him.  "Erica!" Jean Paul shouts.
 
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Summaries written by Debby Graham .  The slide presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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Episode 96