STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 181

Episode 181a: Slideshow

Episode 181b: Slideshow

As Ada becomes unconscious the tin of ashes falls to the floor and spills. Laslo looks at the floor as the ashes burst into flames and disappears. The door starts to open and Laslo rushes to Ada side and hides the syringe under a book. “Ada my God what have you done to yourself?” Laslo asks as he touches her shoulder. Ada moans as Julian enters the room. “What’s the matter with her?” Julian asks. “She tried to kill herself.” “She couldn’t have.” Julian says as he places his hand on her back. “There is the note.” Julian picks it up as Ada moans. “Ada, Ada why would you do such a thing?” Laslo says to her. Ada cries out. “It’s all right, everything is all right.” Laslo says to her. “We’ll get a doctor.”

Ada glances at him. “Stay away from me. Get away!” Julian sets the note on the table then sees the tin on the floor. He bends down and picks it up as Ada sobs.

Susan and Jean Paul stand and look at Jacques’ portrait. “If Laslo says the clock ticking came from the portrait he must be telling the truth.” Susan says to Jean Paul. “But why would the portrait want to contact Laslo? It doesn’t make any sense.” Jean Paul says as he looks away. Susan glances up. “Listen.” “What is it?” Jean Paul asks as he turns towards Susan. Susan turns and rushes towards the door. “Where are you going?” Jean Paul asks. Susan stops and looks back at him. “I don’t know yet.” She rushes from the room closing the door behind her.

Cort rushes down the staircase. “Susan where’s my Mother?” Susan rushes past him.

In the secret room Julian puts his arm around Ada. “Ada how could you do such a dreadful thing? Why didn’t you come to me?” Julian says to her as he helps her to her feet. “Do. Do what? What are you talking about?” She asks and she starts to sob as Julian holds her. “Daddy!” She glances at Laslo. “Daddy take me away from here please.” Susan rushes into the room. “Julian did you call me?” “Take Ada to your room. Laslo and I have some unfinished business here.” Susan places her arm around Ada’s shoulder and walks with her out of the room. Julian picks up the bottle of poison and looks at Laslo.

Cort rushes into the Drawing Room and stands next to Jean Paul. “What’s the matter with Susan?” Cort asks. “I don’t know what it is. She just left the room suddenly.” Jean Paul says as he glances at the door then away. “Where is my Mother?” “She’s up in my room with her father. She wasn’t feeling well.” “There’s no one up in the room.” Jean Paul stands and faces Cort. “Are you sure?” “I just looked, it’s empty.” “I suppose it’s all right if she’s with your Grandfather.” “She’s not all right. I know that and so does Raxl.” Cort says to Jean Paul. “Raxl?” “She just sent me down from the tower room “She said there was something going wrong.” “Is Philip all right?” Cort looks away. “Philip is all right. He’s upstairs with Raxl.” “She’s going to need your help. The star is out again tonight.” “I don’t care about the star.” Cort says then turns away. “I’m worried about my mother. Laslo threatened her with something, I know that.”

“Julian will take care of Laslo. You stay out of it.” “I can’t leave them alone, not with Laslo.” Cort says as he turns and rushes towards the door. Jean Paul grabs his arm. “If anything happens tonight in this house Julian will take care of it because it’s between your mother and Laslo. Now if Julian needs us he will call for us.”

Julian swings the watch in front of Laslo’s face. Laslo sits with his hands over his ears. “Make it stop please!” Julian stops the watch. “I want the truth out of you.”

“I don’t know anymore than you do.” Laslo says as he lowers his hands. “Why should my daughter attempt to kill herself?” Julian asks. “Her note explains it.”

Julian picks up the note. “Not sufficiently. Who is Annie Harrigan?” “She was a girl who lived in the town. She disappeared.” “And the others, Agatha Pruett, Holly Marshal?” “They were girls Jean Paul knew. They were here for a time.”

“Is it true that Jean Paul killed them?” Julian asks. “That’s what Ada’s note said.”

“If Ada had been found dead with this note Jean Paul would have been held for the murders.” “Yes I suppose he would be.” “Why would Ada want that to happen to Jean Paul?” Julian asks him. “You’ll have to ask her. She’s the only one that knows.” “No we will go up and see Jean Paul and see what he has to say about it.” Julian says as he picks up the note and puts it in his pocket then turns towards the door. “I’m not coming with you.” “Do you want me to take you by force?” Julian asks as he takes out the watch and swings it behind Laslo.

Laslo picks up a knife from the desk. He stands and turns stabbing Julian again and again. He looks at Julian and drops the knife. “Who are you? What are you? Are you human?” Laslo then sits down and covers his face with his hands.

Julian picks up the bottle of chloroform and the cloth. He covers the cloth in chloroform and grabs Laslo placing the cloth over his face. Laslo loses consciousness; Julian lays his head upon the table. Julian picks up the bottle of poison and the chloroform and places them in his pocket. He walks around Laslo and takes the syringe from under the book and also places it in his pocket. Julian then walks towards the skeleton and disappears.

Ada lies in Susan’s bed. “Do you feel better now?” Susan asks her. “Oh Susan, I don’t know what happened.” “Try not to think about it.” Susan says touching Ada’s hand. “It’s the second time I’ve been in that room and both times dreadful things have happened.” “Well you shouldn’t have gone there alone.” Susan says to her. “My father took me there. He said it was the safest place for me.” “How did Laslo find you?” “Oh I don’t know. I’m just so frightened and tiered. I don’t understand what is happening to me.” “Look you try and sleep and I’ll stay with you.” Ada closes her eyes.

Julian walks down the staircase and walks into the Drawing Room. He walks over to Jean Paul. “I’m returning this to you. Please don’t give it to anyone else without letting me know.” “Well I gave it to protect Ada.” Jean Paul says to Julian as he takes it from Julian. “She doesn’t need it now.” “Where is she?” Cort asks.

“She’s in Susan’s room.” Julian tells him. “Is she all right?” “She’s in a bit of a shock. She’s not feeling very well.” Cort stands. “Go and see her Cort but try not to alarm her.” Cort walks from the room. Jean Paul puts the tin of ashes into his pocket. “There is something I want to show you.” Julian says to Jean Paul as he takes out a sheet of paper from his inside pocket and hands it to Jean Paul. Jean Paul opens it. He stands and walks across the room as he reads it. He turns towards Julian. “What does this mean? I don’t understand.” “I thought perhaps you could tell me.” “Did Ada give this to you?” Jean Paul asks as he holds out the note. “It was beside this bottle in the secret room.” Julian says as he takes the bottle of poison from his pocket and hands it to Jean Paul. “She apparently tried to kill herself. Laslo was reviving her when I got there.” “I don’t believe it.” “Laslo claims she did.” “But why?” Jean Paul asks. “Well the note explains it perfectly. Who are these girls? What does she mean? Did you kill them?” Jean Paul walks away from Julian. “Holly Marshal was somehow able to reach my brother.” “Your dead brother?” “She was in love with him. She went to him of her own free will. One night she just disappeared.” “What about the others?” “I may have killed them. My mind has blanked out what had happened.”

Julian walks up to him. “Tell me the truth Jean Paul. We have no way of ending the Desmond curse if you don’t.” Jean Paul turns towards him. “If I knew the truth I would tell you.” “Ada seems to know.” “Can you really believe that Ada tried to kill herself?” Jean Paul asks. “No of course I don’t. But someone wants you to think she did.” “Where’s Laslo?” Jean Paul asks. “I left him unconscious in the secret room.” “Unconscious?” “I found this on the table in the room.” Julian says as he takes the bottle of chloroform from his pocket. “I used it on him to keep him quiet so I could get away.” Julian says as he hands the bottle to Jean Paul. Jean Paul smells it. “Chloroform.” He looks at Julian. “I’m sure that Ada didn’t have it. I brought her there myself.” Julian takes the syringe from his pocket. “This wasn’t there when I left.” He says then hands the syringe to Jean Paul. Jean Paul sets it down and picks up the chloroform and the note and places them in his pocket checking to be sure the lid is on tight first. “I’ve got to talk to her.” “I’m sure she doesn’t know what happened but there is one thing I am sure of. You and I have to find a way to free her from Laslo.”

Cort sits at the end of the bed in Susan’s room. “Mother are you all right?” “Cort where were you tonight?” Ada asks. “I’m sorry, I was only thinking of myself. I should have never left you alone.” Ada looks over at Susan. “Susan I want to talk to Cort alone please.” Susan is sitting on the bed across from Cort. She looks at Cort with a smile. “Okay. Don’t leave her alone Cort please.” She stands and walks from the room. “What is it?” Cort asks his mother. “I nearly did a very foolish thing tonight.” “What did you do?” “I allowed Laslo to trap me and I nearly paid for it with my life.” “I’ll kill him if he tries to hurt you.” Ada sits up. “No he insinuated himself into secrets that could destroy you and Jean Paul and even me. And we have to protect the Desmonds from what he knows.” There is a knock at the door. Cort stands and walks towards the door. “Oh please don’t let anyone in.” Ada says. Cort opens the door. Jean Paul stands in the doorway. “Cort I have to talk to your mother fro a moment.” “She’s not feeling very well.”

“I won’t stay long.” “She doesn’t want to talk to anyone.” “Will you tell her, or ask her why she tried to kill herself!” Cort swings around and faces his mother. “What!” “What is it? What does he want?” Cort looks at Jean Paul. “Would you leave us alone please Cort?” Jean Paul says to him. “It’s all right Cort, let him come in.” Ada says to him. Jean Paul nods to Cort and walks into the room. Cort walks out closing the door behind him. “Now what do you mean I tried to kill myself?” Ada asks. Cort starts to walk away then turns back and listens at the door. Jean Paul walks to the bed and takes out the suicide note and sits down next to Ada. He hands the note to her. “Ada why would you try to do such a thing?” Ada reads the note and looks at Jean Paul. “What is this? Where did you get it from?” “Your father gave it to me. He found it left with you in the secret room. Ada glances at the note then back at Jean Paul. “I didn’t write it. I couldn’t have, I would have remembered if I had wouldn’t have I Jean Paul?” “Ada did you drink any of this?” Jean Paul asks as he shows her the bottle of poison.

“What are you talking about? Why would I try to take my own life? I have everything to live for.” Cort still stands listening at the door. He stands straight turns and walks away.

Susan rushes into the Drawing Room to the window and looks into the sky. She sees two stars. Julian stands in the doorway watching her then walks up to her. “At last the stars are in their promised conjunction.” “What does it mean? Tell me.” Susan asks, “Your star is now linked with the Desmond star. We are entering the final phase.” Susan looks at him. “I’m frightened. I don’t want to stay here. The Desmond star will destroy me. I can’t stay here!” She cries out and rushes from the room. Julian takes a step towards the doorway then turns to Jacques portrait. “How long Jacques Eloi Des Mondes have you waited for this day. The star that followed you will either fade away or drive us all to destruction.”

In the secret room Laslo still has his head on the table unconscious as Cort enters the room. He walks to Laslo and looks at him. He picks a book and drops it on the floor. Laslo doesn’t move. Cort picks up another book and drops it on the floor, then picks up a third book and drops it on the floor. When Laslo doesn’t move he grips his shoulder and shakes him. “Laslo? Laslo my God what’s the matter?” He starts shaking him harder. Laslo starts to stir and groan. He starts to sit up and grabs his head. “Who is it?” “What happened to you?” Cort asks him.

“Where am I?” “Right here. You’ve been here for a long time. Laslo stands and leans on the table. “Where’s your Mother?” “She’s asleep.” Cort says. “And your Grandfather?” Laslo asks as fear shows on his face. “He’s gone to bed too. Everyone’s asleep except you and me.” Laslo stares straight ahead. “He tried to kill me.” “Who did?” “Your Grandfather. He came into this room and tried to stab me with a knife.” “Oh I think you’ve had a little too much brandy.” Laslo turns towards him. “I tell you he did.” Laslo says then looks around and picks the knife up from the floor. “He tried to stab me with this knife.” “Why would he do a thing like that?” Cort asks. Laslo looks away. “He’s not human. He’s...” Laslo starts to say as he stares straight ahead. “What do you mean he’s not human?” Cort asks as he crosses his arms over his chest. “I stabbed him and he didn’t bleed.” Laslo says as he looks at the knife. “Go on. “ Cort says. “I took the knife away from him to protect myself but the knife didn’t even cut him. He put something over my face and I passed out.” Laslo says then he looks at Cort. “You don’t believe me do you?” “Well I think your imagination has run away with you.” “I tell you the man who calls himself your Grandfather will destroy us all.” Laslo says ass he turns away from Cort. Cort stares at Laslo.

Ada is sitting next to Jean Paul. “Are you sure you didn’t write this note?” Jean Paul asks. “I’m positive.” Ada says as she looks at Jean Paul. “But it’s in your handwriting.” Ada looks at the note. “It’s a forgery.” “Then how did it get into the secret room Ada?” “Oh that dreadful room. I just don’t understand anything about it.” “You went there to kill yourself.” “No.” Ada says to him. “Then why did you go there?” “My father took me there. He said I would be safe there.” Ada says as she looks away, the glances back at him. “Then he showed me how to use the ashes that you gave me then he left me alone. I heard the clock ticking, Laslo was there and then everything just went blurry.” “You fainted?” “Yes I guess I must of because Daddy helped me get on my feet and then Susan brought me up here to her room.” “Is Laslo still there?” Jean Paul asks. “Oh yes. Daddy wanted to talk to him.” Jean Paul takes the note from Ada, he looks at it then he looks at Ada. “How did you know about these girls?” Ada looks at him. “Then its true isn’t it. Laslo’s right.” “So that’s the threat Laslo’s been hanging over your head. I told you not to believe him Ada.” “I don’t!” Ada cries out. “Do you think he wrote this note?” “No he wouldn’t do that again.” “Again? What do you mean again?” Jean Paul asks. “Well according to rumors his first wife died very suddenly.” “What rumors? From whom?” “Irene Hatter hinted at it and then Cort did too.” Ada says as she looks away. Jean Paul looks at Ada. “Did you tell him you knew that?” “Yes and he was very angry.” “So that’s the weapon you’ve been holding over his head.” “I just wanted to stop him from blackmailing you. I didn’t know he would turn it against all of us. Oh Jean Paul I’m afraid I’ve led you into a trap.” Jean Paul stands. “No I think you may have led him into one.” He says as he walks towards the door. “Don’t go away and leave me alone. I’m afraid.” Ada says as she stands and looks at Jean Paul. Jean Paul walks back to her and takes the tin of ashes from his pocket. He wipes them on her eyelids. “All right there you won’t be alone Ada. You’ll have the spirit of a saintly man to guard you.”

Julian uses a magnifying glass to look over the document from the witch trials. Susan walks down the staircase and enters the Drawing room. “I knew you would return child.” Julian says as he lowers the magnifying glass and document.

“I can’t fight my star. I have to go where it sends me.” “Good girl. Take the document and come with me.” He says as he hands the paper to Susan. Julian then walks towards Jacques’ portrait. He looks at Susan. “Now hold out your hand.” Susan extends her hand palm down. “Now place the document on your hand.” Susan does as he said. Then Julian puts his hand under hers and with his other hand he holds the watch above the document. They look at the portrait. “In the name of Jacques Eloi Des Mondes and the name of his brother Philippe. In the name of Victoire Le Conte Des Mondes and the Le Contessa Gabrielle I entreat you to reveal to us the exact nature of the crimes for which we are being punished.” Julian calls out. The sound of clocks ticking come from the portrait. “With the sound of time show us who we must deliver from our mist. Show us the evil outsider who brings us dissention upon the Desmonds.” “Laslo was right; it does come from the portrait.” Susan says as she turns towards Jacques’ portrait.

“What do you mean?” Julian asks. “He said the sound came from that picture.”

“The star is right, the time is right.” Julian says as he takes the document and smiles at Susan. “We must proceed.” He places the document on the table and holds the watch above it. “Place your hand over mine.” He says to Susan. Susan looks at him nervously. “Come on child. Only the pure in heart could rid us of the evil influence of the portrait.” Susan places her hand on top of Julian’s hand.

On the document the Mark of Death disappears.

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

~Ron/Bella~
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