STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 177

Episode 177a: Slideshow

Episode 177b: Slideshow

Ada looks at Laslo. “What do you mean?” Laslo puts the fireplace poker back in the rack. ”My dear Ada I have no desire to bring disgrace on the family name.” He says as he stands next to her. “Oh but we must help him. Someone must save him.” “Oh I’m sure you and I can come to some agreement to save Jean Paul.” Laslo says as he walks around Ada. “What sort of agreement?” “I brought you the power of attorney for you to sign.” He takes papers from the inside of his jacket. “I said I’d rather not do that.” She says as she glances at Laslo. “Oh yes but the situations not quite the same is it?” Ada turns and faces him. “You’re blackmailing me.” “Oh come now Ada that’s a rather harsh word between husband and wife.” “And if I refuse to sign it?” She asks as she steps away from Laslo. “Jean Paul’s crime will become known; he will be tried and convicted.” He says as he holds the papers out to Ada. She glances at the papers then at Laslo. Reaching out she takes the papers from Laslo, opens them and starts to look them over. Laslo walks around her. “There’s no need to read it. It’s in perfect order.” He says as he steps closer to Ada. Ada sits at a table. “Well what will keep you from sending Jean Paul to jail even if I do sign it?’ “Well you see if my information can force you to do this then it would be more useful to keep your cousin alive.” “Then I’m just the first step in the series.” “Well first steps are always the hardest Ada.” Laslo says as he hands her a pen. “Sign the paper.”

Ada takes the pen and signs her name. “There that wasn’t so difficult was it?” He says as he takes the paper from her. “Now life will be much simpler for the both of us.”

Raxl and Susan stand next to Philip in the secret room. Philip sits as Susan walks up to him. “Philip it’s morning now.” Susan says to him. “The heartbeat hasn’t come back nor the Mark of Death.” He says as he looks at his hand. “I know, you’re free of them until tonight.” Susan tells him. “Do I have to go through this every night?” Philip asks as he looks away. “Well until we find a way to release you forever.” Susan tells him. “We first must discover why the star has chosen you.” Raxl says to Philip as she walks around him.” “What is it that you wanted so badly that it chose you to do its bidding?” “There was nothing I wanted that badly.” “It will reveal itself eventually. It always has.” Raxl says to him. Philip stands and faces Raxl. “Isn’t there a way to force it?” “No but we must be prepared.” “I still don’t understand...” “Why you were safe with us?” Raxl asks.

“No I was going to say why you were safe with me.” “Well we cannot tell you that yet. Now I must go and speak to Master Cort. Try to make him understand that he and I now are both working for the same purpose.” Raxl tells him as she leaves the room. Philip turns towards Susan. “What did she mean she couldn’t tell me yet?” Susan walks away from him. “Well there are certain things that you can’t know until, well until the danger they contain are past.” “You and Raxl are linked together. The same way that I am linked to Orendo. That’s what it was.”

Susan turns towards him. “What?” “Well I wanted so badly to lift the curse from my people that I fell under the curse of the star. I’ve offended Orendo. And now he is punishing me.”

In his room Cort stands brushing his hair. Raxl knocks then walks into the room. “What do you want?” Cort asks. “Don’t be angry with me. You have nothing to fear from me anymore.” Cort laughs. “Well I’ve heard that before.” “I’ve wronged you I admit it. But it will never happen again.” Cort turns away from her. “How can I trust you?” “Don’t trust me. Trust what happens. Did you see the star tonight?” Raxl asks as she walks towards him. “No.” “Well did the heartbeat come to you or the Mark of Death?” Cort walks away from her. “Nothing happened to me last night. My Grandfather protected me.” Raxl steps up to him. “He drove the star away from you.” Cort turns towards her. “And now I’m free from it?” “It never returns once it has left.” “It’s gone forever?” “It left you to go to Philip Desmond.” “Philip! What’s happened to him?” Cort asks as he steps closer to her. “We kept him safe.” “You did that?” “Susan and I, and tonight when the star appears we shall guard him.” Raxl says as she glances at the window. She glances away. “As he guarded you.”

In the Drawing Room Ada sits at a table as she drinks a cup of coffer. Laslo enters and walks up to her. “Good morning.” he says to her. Ada doesn’t answer him. “Oh really Ada there’s no point in going on like this. You and I can have a perfectly happy life together if you try.” “Do you really expect life to continue as before?” Ada asks but she still will not look at him. “I expect you to accept the inevitable as we all have to.” “I don’t want to discuss it. I signed your paper. You have what you wanted.” Laslo steps closer to her. “No not yet.” He sits at the table next to her. “Not quite.” “I have nothing left to give. You have the money you married me for.” She says glancing at him. “There is one thing more.” “What’s that?” “You will name me Cort’s legal guardian.” “I will do no such thing.” Ada tells him as she stands. “Oh I think you will. Talk to him, tell him soon he will inherit a great deal of money.” Laslo says as he stands and faces her. “And he should have expert guidance in its management.” Ada turns away from him. “I refuse to do it.” “Oh I think you will after you consider it.” He says as he walks away from her. “I will never hand Cort over to you the way I handed myself!” Ada says as she looks away. “Not even for Jean Paul, not for anyone. I would rather die than have to sacrifice Cort for you!” Ada says then walks from the room.

In the secret room Philip sits and holds the totem. “The totem has served me well. But no more. Gagossa has abandon it and with it me.” He lowers the totem. “I’m doomed forever.” He says looking at the floor. “No don’t say that. I won’t let it happen to you.” Susan says to him. She is standing next to him. “You’re powerless to stop it.” Susan hears music as her vision blurs. “I’m doomed forever.” Philippe says to Susanna. “No I won’t let it happen to you.” She says as she touches his arm. “My sweet Susanne there’s nothing you can do about it. That’s why they have let you come to see me for the last time.” “No I won’t let them take you to the stake.” She says throwing herself into his arms. “I won’t let them light the fire beneath you, I won’t.” She sobs. “Oh my Susanne don’t think of that. Think of our love and remember me.” He says as he sets her back from him. “I will remember and so will you.” “I’ll keep you in my heart though out eternity.” Philippe tells her. “And I shall spend eternity searching for those that betrayed you. And I’ll find them one by one and I will avenge you.” She leans towards him and kisses him. Pulling back Philippe says to her. “Susanne you must promise me only one thing, don’t keep hatred in your heart only love. Because if you don’t we will never be able to meet again where there is no evil and no pain.” “I’ll force them to retract their accusations. I’ll clear your name through Jacques if it takes me forever.” “Not through hatred promise me now. Only through love.” “Oh he doesn’t recognize love.” She says turning away from him but still in his arms. “Because he’s never known it. Even now I’m the luckier of the brothers because I’ve known it. Susanne it’s time to go now.” He says as he turns her towards her and holding her hands. “Tomorrow don’t come to the market place.” He kisses her hand. “I’d rather you go to the cathedral and pray that we will be together again and find eternal happiness.” She looks at him sadly as her vision blurs. “I’m doomed forever.” Philip says to Susan. “No I won’t let it happen to you.” “There’s nothing you can do to stop it.” Philip says as he stands then walks across the room. “I’ve offended my Gods!” He shouts as he has his back towards her. He turns and looks at her. “I’ve called on evil in Orendo’s name!” Susan walks towards him. “Well if you knew it was wrong then why did you do it?” “I tried to save Jean Paul and Cort from the star.” He says as he turns from her. “You sacrificed yourself just as you did once before.” She says looking away. Philip looks at her. “What do you mean by that?” “Once before a long time ago you gave up your life so someone else could keep theirs.” “No.” Philip says turning away. “Don’t deny it. I know you did, I was there.”

Ada stands in the Drawing room crying at Raxl walks up to her. ”Mrs. Thaxton what is it? What’s happened? Perhaps I can help.” Ada shakes her head. “No it’s a matter between my husband and myself.” Ada says as she sobs and sits at the table. “It concerns no one else?” Raxl asks. “Oh but it does. Yes.” “Who! Tell me I must know.” “Mr. Thaxton has some information about Jean Paul and he is using it.” “What kind of information?” “Terrible things. Things that I just wouldn’t believe.” Ada says as she sobs. “You must not allow him to use them against you!” Raxl says to Ada. “He wouldn’t threaten me if I could prevent it.” She says bowing her head in misery. Raxl walks around Ada. “You see you can’t help me either. No one can.” “I will stop him.” Raxl says to Ada. “There’s no way.” “Leave it to me. There is nothing about Jean Paul Desmond that I do not know.”

Laslo walks into Cort’s room. “Why aren’t you at the office today?” Cort asks him.

“Because I have more important business matters to conduct here.” “Really. As long as they have nothing to do with me.” Cort says as he walks towards the door. Laslo holds out his hand and stops Cort from leaving the room. “I’m afraid they do.” “We have nothing to talk about. You’ve caused enough trouble between Jean Paul and me. Now stay out of my way and stay out of my life!” Cort says as he tries to walk forward. Laslo grabs his shoulder and forces Cort to face him. “I don’t like to be talked to that way.” “I don’t care what you like.”

“Before you go any further I think you should read this document.” Laslo says as he takes it from the inside of his jacket. “What is it?” “It’s a power of attorney signed by your mother.” He says as he shows it to Cort. “It gives me full control of her affairs.” “What did you do to make her give in to that consent? She knows better.” “Now don’t get excited. I told you we had business matters to discuss. Such things should be talked about calmly.” “Well I don’t want to discuss business matters.” “I’m afraid you’re going to have to. You see I have a duplicate document here in my pocket that I want you to sign. It’s all drawn up; all it need is your name on the last page.” Laslo tells him as he takes the papers out of his pocket. “I don’t have any money to sign over to you.” “You will have. I need this paper when you come into your inheritance.” “You won’t be here then.” Cort says with a smile. “In the mean time I will be executive of your trust fund.” “That can only be changed by the courts.” “Exactly that’s why I need your name on it.”

“Do you think I would sign such an agreement with you?” Laslo folds the paper. “Well I’m afraid my dear Cort that you have no other choice.” “Oh I have numerous choices.” “Name one.” Laslo says to him. “I’ll go to Jean Paul.” “Oh do, do go to him and recite these names to him. Annie Harrigan, Crystal, Agatha Pruett then ask him how far you should go in defying me.” “Is that how you trapped my mother?” “Oh I have proof of the accusations and a witness who will swear to them.” “And do you think your witness; do you think she will stand up to you?” Cort asks with a smile. “How do you know it’s a woman?” “You are blinded by your greed to the fact of Raxl. You might have trusted her yesterday but she is undependable today. I thought you were a shrewd man at least but I don’t know what kind of a man you are.” “What do you mean?” Laslo asks. “If I am ever going to exchange the executor of my will it will be my Grandfather who will assume the responsibility. Now get out of my room and stay out!” Cort says as he grabs Laslo by the shoulder and pushes him from the room closing the door behind him.

Philip sits in a chair in Susan’s room. Susan sits on the window seat. “Look don’t close your mind to what the past is trying to tell you.” Susan says to him. “Susan I know you have a kind of insight or perception into certain things that are hidden from the rest of us but I’m just not that lucky.” Susan stands and walks closer to him. “Well go back in time. Think about the life you lived before you entered this one.” Philip smiles. “My life was under the stars, woods, and my people’s life. I should never have left.” “But that’s only part of it. The Desmond family weren’t roaming around in the woods three hundred years ago.” “Desmonds are one thing, my people are another. I belong with them.” He says as he looks at Susan.

“But you can’t desert us.” “The mask has gone back to my people and where it goes I must follow.” “But the star will follow you.” “If it does we will fight it in our own way. With our own beliefs. The way we fought evil in the past.” “Look don’t carry the Desmond curse back to your kinsmen. Don’t take the Mark of Death to hand down to your children and theirs.” “If that is my fate I have to bear it with their help.” “But you’ll die and I won’t let that happen to you. I promised once that I would avenge you.” “What did you say?” “You’re beginning to remember aren’t you?” Philip looks away. “Yes in a vague sort of way.” Philip stands. “Like there is an echo in my head. I’ve heard you say that before.” He says as he looks at Susan as she stands. Susan walks over to him. “Do you remember your brother?” “I don’t have a brother!” Philip says as he walks to the window. “Yes you did.” Susan says as she rushes over to him and touches his arm. “Look try and remember.” Philip pulls his arm away and faces her. “He was older than you. He was handsome and carefree, and dangerous.” Susan says to him.

“Now you’re only confusing me. I just don’t belong here in this house with all these people! I must go back to my own life where I have familiar sights and people who share my life.” He says as he walks across the room then turns towards Susan. “But the path back to your people will take you too many strange places.” Susan says as she walks up to him. “Never the less I must return.”

“You will I promise you that.” Susan says as she touches his arm. “But not until you keep the pledge we made.”

Cort walks into the Drawing Room. He walks up to his mother. “I wish you had come to me then Laslo wouldn’t have made you sign that paper.” “What do you mean?” Ada asks. “I would have taken the teeth out of his flap.” “You know what he said?” Cort looks at her. “We all know except you Mother.” “What do you know?” “The Desmonds are under a curse. They are under the influence of an evil star.” Ada turns and walks across the room. “No we’re plagued by bad luck that’s all.” “I wouldn’t say that. Your father knows and Jean Paul knows and Philip and so do I.” Ada walks towards him. “Then Jean Paul is guilty of the things Laslo accuses him of.” “I didn’t say that.” Ada puts her hand on Cort’s neck. “Why do you hide things from me?” “All you would do is worry and I don’t want that. The Desmond men must deal with it. And I don’t want to see Laslo bullying you into any...” “Into what Cort?” Laslo asks as he stands in the doorway. “If I wanted to speak to you I’d seek you out.” “But I came to you. You still haven’t put your name on this piece of paper.” Laslo says as he takes it from his pocket holding it out to Cort. “I would die first before I would see you get what you want.” Cort says then walks out of the room. Ada walks up to Laslo. “How long have you been out there listening to us?” Laslo turns towards her. “Long enough. Don’t plot with your son against me my dear Ada he’s a young foolish man. It could be he will break your heart.” “How dare you speak to me about someone breaking my heart! You have turned my dreams of happiness into misery! You’re a liar, a cheat and a blackmailer!” “Call me what you will, you signed the paper and Cort will do the same thing.” Laslo says as he takes the paper from his pocket. “You heard his answer didn’t you?” “He has worse things ahead of him than he realizes.” Laslo says as he walks across the room. “He will have the same fate as Jean Paul. They are in this together and they will swing from the same gallows.” Ada turns and runs from the room. Raxl is walking through the foyer. “Mrs. Thaxton can I...” Ada runs past her and up the staircase. Raxl watches her then turns towards the Drawing room. She walks into the room and grabs the papers from Laslo putting them behind her back. Laslo turns towards her. “Give me that.” “You’ve gone to far Mr. Thaxton. You cannot step between the Desmonds and their destiny.” “But you gave me the means to do it. You told me about the murders.” “Why do you think I did that?” Raxl asks as she walks around Laslo. “What are you up to?” He asks as he turns and looks at her.

“You think I did not know what purposes that you used it for?” “It doesn’t matter what your reasons are, you are too late now it’s been done. Now give me that paper.” Raxl tosses it into the fire. “It is never too late to correct a mistake.” “She will sign another.” “You fool! Do you really think that I would betray Jean Paul to you?” “You did you told me...” “I told you lies!” “Then who murdered those girls?” “Perhaps you did.” “You’ll have a very hard time proving that.” “Would you risk that?” Raxl asks. Laslo turns and walks from the room. Raxl turns to Jacques’ portrait. “So Jacques Eloi Des Mondes the tables turn again. I am free of you at last. Now the truth will come out and you will burn as you should have long ago.”

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

~Ron/Bella~
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