Strange Paradise: Episode 164
Episode 164:  Slideshow
 
“Don’t let her come near me!” Cort cries out.  “You’ll never be free of me.” Raxl tells him.  “You lied to me! You lied to me from the beginning!” Cort says to her.
“You invited your own death.”  “I don’t want to die!” Cort cries out turning away from Raxl.  Raxl walks towards him. “You asked me to help you to get what you wanted. I did so and now you defy me. Death is the price for defiance!”   “You sent Emily Blair to me to be killed!” Cort shouts.  “The star sent her to you!”  “The star follows your orders!” Cort says to her.  Jean Paul sits on Cort’s bed and watches Raxl.  “You killed Emily Blair. Do not try to escape that fact by blaming the star on me!” Raxl says to Cort.  “You promised me I’d be Master of Desmond Hall!”  Jean Paul stands. “How many Masters do you serve Raxl?”  “He lies to you. I did not promise him anything. He wants to take your place, inherit your fortune.” Raxl says to Jean Paul.  “You encouraged him in that.”  “Master I serve only one.”  “Who ever it is it isn’t me, it isn’t Cort. Jean Paul turns towards Cort. “It’s all right Cort she won’t harm you now.”  “You can’t stop her. She has powers!” Cort cries out and turns away in fear.  “I know all about her powers. She used them against me for years.”  Cort shakes his head. “Look.”  Raxl stands with her hands together. “Demons of the Dark hear me. Powers of the night hear me. Bring down upon these two your ancient wrath. Flay them in torture. Send them to their doom. Oh Demons that have finally returned to me do your work now!”  “No! No!” Cort cries out and rushes from the room.  Jean Paul walks to the door and closes it. “I’m not a frightened boy Raxl. Your powers no longer harm me.” He walks to the dresser and uncovers the mask. “Gagossa kindred spirit look upon this woman here before you.” He lifts the mask as Raxl rushes to the door in fear. “Hold her in your gaze Gagossa, do not let her leave.” Jean Paul faces Raxl with the mask. Raxl backs away from the door in fear. “Here is the source of the curse that has followed your tribe for many seasons. Release her from evil with your benign powers.” Jean Paul turns towards Raxl as she back away. Raxl sits in a chair and looks at the mask in fear. “Now you will tell the truth.” Jean Paul says to her as Raxl pulls back in fear.
 
Cort walks into Susan’s room and kneels next to her. Susan is sitting at her dressing table. “You’ve got to help me. No one else can.”  “Cort what is it?” she asks turning towards him.  “You’ve got to break the spell that Raxl has put upon me.”  “But I don’t know anything about such things.”  “Oh you must! You heard the laughter from the portrait. You’ve seen the star and you’ve heard the heartbeat.”  Susan stands and turns away from Cort. “Well I hear and see strange things but I don’t know what they mean.”  “Someone is telling you to save me!”  “Cort the voices I hear don’t tell me what to do.”  Cort stands and grabs her arm. “Listen to me. Go downstairs to the portrait; find out what it wants of me.”
“But Cort it’s trying to reach you. It’s you who must go to it not me!”  Cort walks to the door then looks back at Susan. “I never want to see it again, nor the star. And I never want to hear the heartbeat again. Oh help me!” Cort cries out. “You’re the only one I can turn to.”  Susan walks over to him and touches his shoulder. “All right Cort I’ll try. I can’t promise you anything. Look you wait here okay.”  Cort nods as Susan walks out of the room. He closes the door behind her and leans against it in fear.
 
Ada and Irene enter the mansion. Ada turns towards Irene. “Of course I realize all the idle gossip that goes on in Desmondton but how could a story like that have been started?”  “Well people feel envious that you live in this great big house, they imagine all sorts of things.”  Ada hangs up her coat and follows Irene through the foyer. “Well you know I shouldn’t talk because I guess I’ve done my share of spiteful backbiting too. But not anymore I assure you.”  “My dear don’t think about it anymore. All I want is to be friends with all of you again at Desmond Hall. That’s why I want to see Emily. She’s been somewhat remote the few times I’ve seen her since she stayed with me.” Irene says as she walks towards the staircase.  “Well I’ll see if she’s upstairs. You just make yourself comfortable in the Drawing Room.” Ada tells her then rushes up the staircase.
 
Jean Paul faces Raxl. “So all the time I thought you were serving me you were really seeking a new Master. What a fool I was to trust you!”  Raxl stands. “You were a fool to turn from me for that mask. You deceived me with your cousin.”
Jean Paul laughs. “You talk to me about deception.” He walks over to Raxl. “I put my life in your hands and you have made me a criminal!”  “It was not I who made the pact with Jacques Eloi Des Mondes on Maljardin. I warned you that you would suffer but you would not listen to me.”  “You could have stopped me.”  “No one stops the Desmond curse.”  Jean Paul nods and walks to the window. “I see so wherever it goes you follow.” Jean Paul glances back at her. “That’s how you have lived those three hundred years. The keeper of the Desmond curse, a handmaiden to the devil.” He says then walks to the dresser and sets the mask down.  Raxl turns towards him. “Take care what you say. You no longer have allies in the Spirit world. They are not as patient as I am. They demand payment for defiance.” Raxl tells him as she walks up behind him.  “Let them.” He walks away from Raxl. “I will not leave this evil behind as a legacy for other Desmonds. It will die with me.”  “It dies with no one.”  “Not even you?” Jean Paul asks. Raxl looks away. Jean Paul walks over to her. “So it does die with you.”  “I do not choose to die.” Raxl says.  “What is your life compared to all the others who have lost theirs? Compared to Emily Blair?”  “My life is not to give. It belongs to the Desmonds.”  “Does it matter which Desmond your life is bound to?”  Raxl glances at him. “If you should die tomorrow another will take your place.”  “And if we all refused then what would happen to you?”  Raxl smiles and walks across the room. “Each Desmond has his own price. Yours was the return of your wife. Cort wants to be Master of Desmond Hall.” Raxl says as she stands in front of the window. She turns towards Jean Paul. “You cannot alter the plans that fate has put in motion centuries ago.”  Jean Paul nods. “And would you send me to my death as you sent Emily Blair to hers?”  “You know too much. We cannot have that my Spirit and I.”  “Would you really kill me?”  “I do not kill; I am only the guardian of the star.”  Jean Paul shakes his head and steps away from her. “Am I to wake in the middle of the night wondering if the footsteps I hear will bring my death? If the woman I love or the friend I trust carries your instruction!” Jean Paul shouts.  “Your death, the matter of your death is immaterial to me.” Raxl says as she walks to the door and looks at Jean Paul. “Your Indian mask cannot help you now nor can it stop me.” Raxl says as she steps closer to Jean Paul. “Nothing has ever saved a Desmond from death once he has defied me. And nothing will stop me from fulfilling my duty to my Master who gave me eternal life.” Raxl turns towards the dresser. “So call upon your mask.” She looks at Jean Paul. ‘It is no longer any use to you now that you have made me tell you the truth. And now that Cort has fulfilled his pact by killing Emily Blair your part in life is coming to a close.”
 
Susan rushes down the staircase and stops in the doorway of the Drawing Room. “Oh excuse me I didn’t know you were here.” Susan says to Irene.
“Come in. Its Susan isn’t it? I saw you here once before I think.”  “Yes the first day I arrived.” Susan walks past Irene and stands in front of Jacques portrait.
“Mrs. Thaxton went up to get Emily. I’ve been looking at the Desmond portraits, the family portraits. I forgot how distinguished a family the Desmonds really are. Although everybody talks about then we always have.” Irene walks up to Susan. “There’s nothing else to do in Desmondton except gossip about those around us. Of course you young people aren't interested in tradition or family histories.”
Susan stands and stares at Jacques.  “You haven’t heard a word I said.” Irene says to her.  Susan glances at her. “Oh excuse me I think I hear someone coming down the stairs.”  “Oh that must be Emily.” Irene says then walks away to the foyer.  Raxl is coming down the staircase. Irene steps up to her. “Raxl? I didn’t expect to see you.” “What are you doing here?”  “I came to see Emily.”
“You know very well that Miss Blair is dead.”  “Yes I know that’s what you think but Ada Thaxton came to me when you left and it seems you’re wrong. There’s been some mistake.”  Raxl looks away.  “Mrs. Thaxton, I told her I had come to see Emily but really I came to find out why it is so vitally important that you believe the girl has died.”  Raxl turns and rushes up the staircase.  “Gossip starts from little rumors.” Irene says.  Raxl stops at the top of the staircase and glances down at Irene. Irene turns and walks back into the Drawing room.
 
Jean Paul faces the mask. “Gagossa face of Orendo do not allow the evil one to leave this house. Do not allow the evil one to follow her intentions. Bring her back to me. Retrace her steps back to us Orendo.” Jean Paul lowers his hand.  The door opens and Raxl enters. “So Emily Blair is not dead after all.”  “How did you find that out?”  “Mrs. Hatter came to visit her.”  Jean Paul nods and turns away. “She will not be seeing her I think.”  “You pretended that Cort had killed her. You both tricked me. You have brought the ultimate evil upon yourselves.”  “I told you that I would do anything to prevent that star from going to Cort.”  “You fool!” Raxl steps up to him. “The star can not be interfered with and now it belongs to no one. And all Desmonds will suffer needlessly because of you.” Raxl says then turns and walks to the door.  “Where are you going?”  “I will save myself. But you will perish.” Raxl walks from the room.  Jean Paul rushes after her.  “Jean Paul?” Ada calls to him in the hallway.  He stops and turns towards her.  “What is it? What’s the matter?” Ada asks him.  He steps up to her. “Nothing. Where’s Emily?”  “Well I just knocked on her door but she won’t answer. Mrs. Hatter is downstairs; she wants to talk to her.”  Jean Paul looks away. “She would pick today of all days.” Jean Paul says as he steps away from her.  Ada follows him. “Well you know it’s my fault because I went over to her place about a personal matter and she told me some strange story about Emily being dead. I told her it just wasn’t true.”  Jean Paul turns and looks at her.  “Then she insisted on coming up here with me to find out for herself.”  Jean Paul stares at her.  “What’s the matter? What have I done?”  Jean Paul shakes his head. “No it’s not your fault. You didn’t know.” He says as he looks away.  “Is Emily all right?”  “Yes of course she’s all right.”  Ada steps into the doorway of Cort’s room. “Well where is Cort?”  Jean Paul puts his hand on her shoulder. “Listen I’ll send him up to you.”
“I don’t understand.”  “I know you don’t but please don’t worry about it. I’ll go down and talk to Irene and I think you better wait here for Cort.” Jean Paul tells her then walks off as Ada enters Cort’s room.  Raxl enters Philip’s secret room carrying a candelabra. She sets it on the table and clasps her hands together. “Spirit of Jacques Eloi Des Mondes wherever you are come to me. Leave the portrait. We have been betrayed. They are closing in on us. Come to me here with the bones of your descendant. Tell me what I must do or you will burn in the fires of hell forever and so will I.”
 
Irene looks at Jacques’ portrait. “That man is a typical Desmond. Devil may care, self-assured.”  Jacques’ laughter fills the room.  Susan turns towards the portrait and stares at it.  Irene steps closer to Susan. “My dear what’s the matter? You look so pale suddenly.” Irene asks as she touches Susan’s arm.  “No it’s nothing. Nothing at all excuse me.” Susan says then rushes from the room.
 
Cort straightens his cloths as Ada stands next to him. “I want to know what that mask is?” Ada says.  “I told you Mother it belongs to Philip.”  “I want to know what you are hiding from me.”  “I’m not hiding anything Mother.” Cort says angrily as he glances away.  “Then why did Irene Hatter think that Emily was dead? What are you hiding from me?”  Cort turns towards Ada. “Mother there are terrible things happening in this house. But they do not concern you. So do me a favor and stay out of this Mother please!”  Ada grabs his arm. “Won’t you even let me try to help you?”  “You can’t, Susan can and Jean Paul perhaps but you can’t!”
“Let me try!” Ada says then looks away. “I won’t let you follow in the footsteps of my father. I won’t let you suffer the way Benjamin Desmond suffered! I can find a way to help you.”
 
Irene walks into the Drawing Room as Jean Paul walks into the room. “That girl Susan is decidedly odd. Of course many odd things happen at Desmond Hall.”
Jean Paul stands next to Irene. “Ada should not have brought you here today.” He says to her.  “Well it’s not her fault, I persuaded her.”  “Look Irene we’re old friends and I know you won’t take offense.”  “Are you asking me to leave?”  “Look why don’t you come back tomorrow. I’ll explain everything then.”  “I came to see Emily.” Irene says as she walks away and sits down.  “I’m afraid Emily won’t be seeing anyone today.”  “Jean Paul why do the Desmonds put themselves so far above the rest of us?”  “What do you mean?”  “The village is full of gossip. They say that Emily is dead and that Cort killed her. The entire town is gossiping.”  Jean Paul sits next to her. “There are only two people in town who knew about it. Now if the whole town is gossiping then that would mean that only one of those people could have started this rumor. And Raxl never left the house.”  “You led me to believe that Emily was dead. And Philip came to say that Cort was at the police station confessing the crime.” She stands and faces Jean Paul. “And Cort himself came to my house as if pursued by demons. Now what could the purpose be behind all this?”  Jean Paul stands. “Whatever the purpose was it has been accomplished. Raxl is back.”  “Where you can keep an eye on her?” Irene asks.
“She belongs at Desmond Hall.” Jean Paul says as he steps away from her.
“What’s the matter, afraid she’ll unleash the family ghosts?”  Jean Paul turns and looks at her.  “Oh please Jean Paul can I see Emily?”  “No she is not feeling well. And when she is I shall bring her down to you.”  “Don’t bother; I know she’s not fond of me.” Irene says as she turns and walks to the doorway. She glances back at Jean Paul. “But I suppose a girl who is marrying into the Desmond fortune doesn’t need those who helped her when she had no friends.”  Jean Paul steps closer to her. “You can think whatever you like but we will live as we wish.”
“When you didn’t want Emily here I took her in. This is how I am being repaid.”
“You’ve made your point.”  “There will come a time again when you’ll need friends in this town, when that time comes don’t turn to me.” Irene says angrily then walks from the room and out the front door.
 
Susan rushes into her room. And sees Ada sitting in a chair. “Oh Mrs. Thaxton I thought Cort was here.’  “He’s in his room.” Ada says to her.  “Oh I must talk to him.” Susan says as she turns towards the door.  “Oh wait please I beg of you.” Ada says as she stands.  Susan stops and turns to look at Ada.  “I need your help.”  Susan walks up to her. “I’m powerless to help you.”  “I implore you, if you care for any of us.”  Susan’s vision blurs.  “I am powerless to help you Madame Lacontese.” Susanna says.  “I implore you, if you care for any of us.”  “No one will listen to me.”  “Oh we Des Mondes are an old family. Our pride blinds us from the lives of young people and I beg your forgiveness on my knees.” She kneels before Susanna.  “Do not humble yourself before me Madame.” She helps her to her feet.  “But only you know why Jacques is so dreadful to his brother.”  Susanna walks away from her. “He is an evil man.”  “I refuse to believe that.”  “He’s turning the King against his own brother.”  “I can not listen.” She turns away.  Susanna turns and grabs Madame Lacontese’s hands. “Oh please go to Madame Des Mondestan, tell her your younger son accuses his brother of witchcraft so that he will inherit the Des Mondes fortune.”  “I certainly cannot degrade myself before that courtesan.” She pulls away from Susanna and turns away.  “When she engaged the pleasure of the King you did not object.”  “You forget your place Mademoiselle O’Clair.”   “And you forget your son Madame. There is still time to intercede with the King. You can save your family from a scandal that will stain his life forever.”  “Do you really think that a Des Mondes would confess to looting? That a brother is turning against another one. You do not understand the pride of family which has made us what we are.” Madame Lacontese walks away.  “Philippe's life is more important than your pride. Listen to me please Listen to me!” She cries out. Susan vision clears.  “I need your help.” Ada says.  “I’m powerless to help you.”  “I implore you; if you care for any of us help Cort from this tragedy that has been following the family for generations.” Ada says then stares at Susan.  “Why are you looking at me like that?”  “Who are you? Ever since you came to Desmond Hall I have been wondering who you really are.”  Susan walks to the window. “I’m not anyone. Not anyone important.”  “But you carry echoes.” Ada steps up behind her. “From the past, from my father.”  “I don’t know what you are talking about.”  “You’ve come here to help us haven’t you? Because you knew Cort was in danger. Isn’t that the truth?”  “No.” Susan turns and sits down. “The truth is I am here because there is a murderer in this house.”   Ada glances away in fear.
 
Jean Paul and Cort stand in front of the mask. “Gagossa face of Orendo look upon us and give us the shelter of your shield. Give us a sign that we are all under your protection now.” Jean Paul glances at Cort then looks back at the mask as tears run down its cheeks.
 
Raxl stands in front of the skeleton with her arms held out from her side. “Jacques Eloi Des Mondes, Jacques Eloi Des Mondes your servant beseeches you. Send me an ally, send me an envoy. I can no longer serve you without assistance. Send me the ancient one. The one who knows us all. The one who lives at the heart of the Desmond secret.”
 
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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 165

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