STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 166

Episode 166: Slideshow

“I’m sorry I startled you. I’m looking for the room Ada’s preparing for me. Forgive me.” Julian says to Susan as he turns towards the door. “Wait a minute please. What did you mean our star?” Julian walks towards her. “We all have a special star. I hope yours brings you better fortune than mine has.” “Our star brings us what suits our nature.” “I hope not, mine must be a particularly wicked nature.”

Susan smiles at him. “I’d like to apologize for my bad manners when I first saw you.” “Oh that’s quite all right my child.” He steps towards the door and looks back. “Oh my daughter tells me that you think we might have met before.” “Well I’m not sure now.” “If we have you obviously don’t care for me.” “No there are just certain things that I don’t care to remember that’s all.” Susan says as she steps closer to Julian. “I know the feeling. Many is the time I’ve walked into a hotel room and came face to face with a man I’ve known in a clinic in Zurich.” Julian says as he walks towards the window and glances back at Susan. “Or a woman I’ve seen in a hospital in Rome. Such encounters bring back disturbing memories.” He says as he steps closer to Susan. “Have you spent much time in institutions?” Susan asks. “Until recently yes. I’ve known all kinds of institutions, all sorts of medical men.” He says as he walks past Susan and looks back at her. “Perhaps we have that in common you and I.” “No I’ve never been in a place like that ever.” “Well there is no other places that you could have met me my dear.”

“Well it might have been someone who resembles you I guess. But I do remember it was an institution of some kind.” “It will come back to you I’m sure.” He says as he steps closer to her touching her arm. “It’s like trying to remember a long forgotten name, and suddenly it comes to us.” Julian says then walks to the door. “Where are you going?” “To find my room.” He says glancing back at her. “Look why don’t you wait here. I’ll go get Mrs. Thaxton.” Susan says holding his arm and leading him back into the room. “And she’ll show you to your room. This house is enormous.” “I’m used to enormous houses.” “Why don’t you sit down and relax and I’ll bring back Mrs. Thaxton okay.” Susan tells him with a smile then she turns and walks from the room.

Philip stands in front of the mask. “Why don’t you answer me Gagossa? I must know the identity of the stranger. Speak to me; tell me by your tears if he is your emissary.” (The mask shows no response.) “You didn’t answer me. To whom do I turn for guidance? What have I done to offend you Gagossa?” Ada steps into the Drawing room. “Well I’ve made your room up for you.” She glances around. “Daddy?” Susan rushes down the staircase and enters the Drawing Room. “Have you seen my father?” Ada asks. “Yes I came to get you. He’s up in my room, he was looking for you.” “Have you two really known each other before?” Ada asks. “No I think I must have been mistaken. He reminds me of a schoolteacher I once had that’s all.” Susan says with a smile. “Well I’m glad that is settled. You shouldn’t jump to conclusions too quickly my dear.” Ada says as she touches Susan’s arm. “I know it’s a bad fault.” “Well you could have many worse faults.” Ada says as she leads Susan from the Drawing Room.

Philip steps out of Jean Paul’s room, he turns and walks down the hallway leading to the tower. Julian steps out of Susan’s room and glances down the hallway. He knocks on Jean Paul’s door then enters the room. Glancing around the room Julian walks to the dresser and takes out the mask uncovering it.” “There you are Gagossa. I’ll find a better hiding place for you.” Tears run down the mask’s cheeks. “You thought you would never see me again didn’t you?”

Ada and Susan walk into Susan’s room. “I thought you said he was in here.” says Ada. “Well he was.” “You shouldn’t have left him alone.” “Well he looked so tired to me that I just told him to wait here until I found you. Look I’ll help you look for him.” Susan says as she turns towards the door. Ada grabs her arm. “No, no don’t bother. I’ll go and find him.” Ada says then walks out of the room.

Julian holds the mask. “If we wait long enough Gagossa we meet old friends and old enemies.” Julian hears someone talking outside the door so he covers the mask and places it back in the dresser. He glances around the room then hides behind the drapes. Jean Paul, Cort and Philip walk into the room, “I think you should go downstairs.” Philip says as they enter the room. “I think you are right. I think we do have to go down and see Uncle Julian. And then I’ll take you back again Cort.” Jean Paul says. “Do I have to stay in the secret tower tonight all alone?” Cort asks. “We’ll see.” Jean Paul says to him. “We’ll ask Orendo what we should do later when we come back upstairs.” Philip says to them. Jean Paul nods. “Fine.” He walks towards Cort. “You don’t seem very excited to see your Grandfather.” “Well I don’t even feel like I’ve had a Grandfather.” Jean Paul smiles. “Well we will soon prove that you have.” He puts his arm around Cort’s shoulder and walks with him to the door. Cort walks from the room. Jean Paul stops in the doorway and turns towards Philip. “Is Emily all right?” “Yes I persuaded her to go to bed. There’s no telling what can happen tonight.”

They step from the room and Philip closes the door behind them. Jean Paul looks at him. “Is she safe in her room?” “Well yes, the totem will protect her. But I did tell her to lock the door.” Julian steps out from behind the drapes... He walks to the door and listens to their footsteps as they walk down the hallway. He turns and takes the mask from the dresser and carries it from the room.

Jean Paul walks down the staircase and meets Cort who is standing in the foyer. He enters the Drawing Room then looks back at Cort. “Well after that urgent summons there doesn’t seem to be anyone here.” says Jean Paul. “He’s probably gone to bed.” Cort says as he follows Jean Paul into the room. Ada walks in behind them. “Oh there you are. Where on earth have you been? I’ve looked all over for you.” “We went out.” Cort says to her.” “Well Philip told me that but he didn’t say why.” She looks at Cort. “Cort you wouldn’t believe who came back.” she says touching his arm. Cort smiles. “Well let me see, Grandfather Desmond.” “How did you know?” Ada asks. Cort laughs. “Philip told us when we came in.” Jean Paul says to her. “I wanted to surprise you. Everybody else has seen him but now that you are here I can’t find him.” “Mamma you mean to say that this Grandfather that I have never seen that suddenly appears suddenly disappears.” Julian walks through the doorway. ”Are you talking about me young man?” “Daddy where have you been?” “I’ve been roaming the corridors of this vast mansion looking for you my dear. And a place to lay my exhausted head.” “Well your room is all ready for you...” Ada says as she gives him a hug. “And it’s right next to mine. Now this is Jean Paul Desmond, Armand’s son.” Ada says leading him over to Jean Paul. Jean Paul shakes his hand. “Welcome back to Desmond Hall Uncle Julian.” “I hope you are more pleased to have me here than your father ever did.” “Oh Daddy let’s not renew ancient feuds now promise. After all we’re here because we want to live in the present, we don’t want to live in the past anymore. And here is the future.” Ada says as she points to Cort, then walks him over to him. “I never thought I’d live to see a Grandson.” Julian says as he shakes Cort’s hand. “And I thought I’d never live to see a Grandfather.” Julian glances at Ada. “He has the Desmond quickness. I like him. May I talk to him for a few minutes alone?” Julian asks. “Oh of course you may, as long as you like. But you remember now when you’re through Cort bring your Grandfather up to my room because I want to get him settled for the night.” Ada says as she walks towards Jean Paul. “Come along Jean Paul.” she says. Jean Paul follows her from the room. Julian closes the doors behind them. “Let me look at you young man.” Cort walks over to him.

“So you are the last of the Desmond line?” he says gripping Cort by the arms.

“Not really, Jean Paul’s getting married and he’ll have children. I will too someday.” Julian turns away. “Don’t be too sure. Children are a burden on a family already burdened with unusual problems.” “What do you mean?” Cort asks. Julian looks at him. “The Desmond line is always been on the brink of extinction. I had two brothers, Jean Paul’s father Armand and Benjamin, they both died. Benjamin had no children.” “Why do you say of course?” Julian walks across the room and stands next to Cort, touching Cort’s arm. “We’ll go into that another time. As your mother said we should be talking about the future.” “I wonder sometimes if I ever will have a future at all?” “We all wonder that at your age.” He steps around Cort. “I often thought I’d never be able to be 30 and here I am double that and more hail and hearty. I have a feeling that I will live for hundreds of years.” Jacques starts to laugh. Cort looks at the portrait then glances away upset. “What’s the matter young man? You’re nervous as a cat.”

Cort walks to the portrait and stares at it. “I never did like that portrait. But I suppose someone around here must or it wouldn’t be hanging there.” Julian says looking at the portrait. Jacques continues to laugh. Cort turns away covering his ears with his hands. He stumbles to the couch and sits down holding his hands over his ears. “What’s the matter?” Julian asks as he sits next to Cort touching his leg as Cort lays his forehead on the arm of the couch. “Nothing, yes there is something.” “I think you better tell me about it.” “Sometimes I think I’m going insane.” Cort says to him. Julian sits back from him. “Well that’s hardly a novelty in this family.” “Don’t joke about it. I’m serious, I keep hearing voices all the time.” “What do these voices say to you?” “Nothing really they just keep laughing.” “Did you hear someone laughing just now?” Julian asks. “I hear it every time I come into this room. It comes from that portrait.” Cort says looking at it. Julian stands and walks up to Jacques portrait. “I wouldn’t worry about it. We all hear voices every now and then.” Julian says as he turns back towards Cort.

Cort stands and faces Julian. “You hear it too?” “No I heard nothing.” Julian says then turns and walks to the table with the wine decanters and pours a drink. Cort walks towards Jacques’ portrait. “But you don’t seem surprised.” “When you’ve lived as long as I have very little surprises you anywhere.” Jacques continues to laugh. Cort closes his eyes and cringes. He turns and looks at his Grandfather then looks back at the portrait. As Jacques’ laughter continues Cort rushes from the room. Julian looks at the portrait then takes a sip of his drink.

Susan sits facing the window when Philip enters her room. “You wanted to see me.” “Oh Philip yes. Come in and close the door.” Susan tells him as she stands and walks over to him. Philip closes the door and turns towards her. “What is it?”

“You know that old man.” “Julian Desmond?” Philip asks. “Yes, he came here.”

“What did he want?” Philip asks smiling at her. “Well he made some excuse about looking for his bedroom.” “Well I guess it’s just because he doesn’t know the house.” “No listen, I was looking out the window right and all of a sudden he just opened the door and stepped in and said is our star out tonight.” Philip glances at the window. Cort walks through the hallway as his mother walks up to him. “Cort where are you going?” Cort turns away from her. “Do you hear me?” Ada asks. Cort leans against the bedroom door. “I’m going to bed.” “Cort I asked you to bring your Grandfather up here.” “He said he was going to have another glass of brandy, he’ll be up shortly.” Cort says then rushes away from her.

Jean Paul walks across his bedroom; he turns and looks out the window. Glancing into the sky he sees the star. Turning he walks to the dresser and looks through the drawers but he doesn’t find the mask. He rushes to the door and opens it. “Philip, Philip!” he shouts then turns back to the dresser and looks through the drawers in a panic. Philip stands in the doorway. “What is it?”

“It’s gone.” Jean Paul says as he turns towards Philip. “What’s gone?” “The mask, someone has taken it. It was right here when we came back with Cort from the tower room.” Jean Paul says as Philip walks to the dresser and looks through it. Philip turns towards Jean Paul. “Well perhaps he took it.” “No he’s down with his Grandfather now.” “Well what about Raxl?” “I’ve locked Raxl in the secret room. Let me think for a minute. I came back from the Drawing room and went to the window.” Jean Paul says as he steps up to the window. “Cousin the star has come out again.” Jean Paul says as he walks towards Philip. “We can’t let Cort out of our sight.” Philip says to Jean Paul. “Look I’ll go down and get Cort and take him back up to the secret room.” Jean Paul says as he steps towards the door. Philip grabs his arm. “No it won’t do any good. I’m lost without Gagossa. I’ve got to find some other way to help us. Something is working against us.”

“What am I going to do with Cort?” “Stay with him and help him. You’re both victims of the star now. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Philip says then rushes from the room. Jean Paul turns and looks at the window as thunder booms outside.

Cort is with Susan in her room. “I heard it again. The laughter when I was talking to my Grandfather.” “Did he hear it?” Susan asks. “I don’t think so.” Cort says as he closes his eyes. “Well did you ask him?” Cort opens his eyes and looks at her. “Yes. He said he hears things too, everyone does.” “Cort did he tell you the star was out?” “No!” Cort says then rushes to the window. “It isn’t!” He glances out the window and sees the star. He turns and sits down on the window seat.

“Your Grandfather saw it too.” Susan says as she walks over to him. “Where?”

Susan sits next to him. “Right here, he came in when I was looking at it.” “He saw the portrait too. Are you sure he saw it?” “I don’t know, even if he didn’t see it he knew all about it.” Cort looks away. “He said he didn’t like the portrait and then it started to laugh.” “You mean it laughed at him?” “That’s what it sounded like.” He says looking at her then he glances away. Susan looks away also. “Maybe it was laughing with him.” Cort stands. “I’ve got to go to Jean Paul. I’ll do whatever he says.” Susan stands and looks at him. “He’ll take care of me.” Cort says as he walks from the room.

Julian is standing holding a drink when Jean Paul rushes into the Drawing Room. “Oh I beg your pardon I was looking for Cort.” Jean Paul says nervously. “My Grandson has probably gone up to his bed.” Jean Paul turns to rush from the room. “You are very much like your father after all aren’t you?” Julian says as he turns away. Jean Paul stops in the doorway and turns back towards Julian. “I beg your pardon?” He says as he steps towards Julian. “He always left the room whenever he saw me there to.” Jean Paul steps towards him. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to be rude.” Julian turns. “Well that’s certainly a big improvement over your father.” Jean Paul smiles. “Do you mind if I join you?” “My pleasure indeed.” Jean Paul walks to the wine decanter and pours a drink as Julian sits on the couch. Jean Paul walks around the couch and sits next to Julian. “You know I feel I should remember you but I don’t.” “You were hardly more than a toddler when I left. I remember your brother too, a handsome lad.” Jean Paul nods. “Yes I never saw much of my brother once we were grown up.” “Well that’s the usual Desmond trait.” Jean Paul nods. “He died by the time I came here from Maljardin.” “Maljardin? That was to have been mine after Armand died.” Julian says to him. “My father willed Desmond Hall to Philip and Maljardin to me.” Jean Paul says as he glances away. “I envy you. It’s a very beautiful place.” Jean Paul glances at Julian then stands. “It’s a hateful place.” He says as he walks to the fireplace then glances back at Julian. “I’m sorry I had a great unhappiness there.” “Ah that portrait you have there?” Jean Paul glances at Jacques’ portrait then looks at Julian. “Yes?” “That hung in Maljardin didn’t it? I remember seeing it when I was visiting there with my brother when we were boys.” Julian stands. “You know your Uncle Benjamin used to think it talked to him. Jean Paul looks at Julian then away. Julian walks across the room. “But then Benjamin was rather odd even as a boy I’m afraid.” Jean Paul glances at his brandy glass nervously. “I’m boring you with all this chatter about the family aren’t I?” Jean Paul glances away. “Quite the contrary.” “It’s extraordinary how places bring back memories.” Julian says as he pours himself another drink. “I forgot all about that portrait. My father wouldn’t have it in the house. He thought it had a baleful influence on Benjamin.” Jean Paul glances up then spins around facing the portrait; he stares at it as he hears the heartbeat. Setting his glass down he backs away in fear. “I’m boring you after all. Why didn’t you say so?”

“No, no it isn’t you. Excuse me I must go.” Jean Paul says as he looks at the portrait then rushes from the room. Julian raises his glass looking at the portrait as he takes a drink.

Jean Paul rushes into his room. He sees Cort standing in the room. “Cort! Get out of here! Leave me! If you value your life you will lock yourself in your room before it is too late! For your own safety get away from me!” Cort steps towards him. “You promised me you would take me to the tower room.” “I can’t now.” He says as the heartbeat becomes louder. Cort stands behind him. “The heartbeat it came again.” Jean Paul turns and looks at him. “Do you hear it too?” “I heard it when I was talking to Susan. That’s when it started. It was all I could do to pull myself away from her and come to you. I’ve got to stay with you so I won’t hurt anyone.” “All right you can stay.” Jean Paul says looking away. “Orendo will protect us won’t he?” “Orendo is gone!” Jean Paul shouts then walks away from him. “You and I are alone with the star and the heartbeat and the Mark of Death.”

Cort walks to the window and glances at the sky. Julian walks down a hallway and in his hand is the mask.

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

~Ron/Bella~
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