STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 184

Episode 184a: Slideshow

Episode 184b: Slideshow

Jean Paul looks at Susan. “Who is Philippe?” “I don’t know!” Susan cries out as tears run down her face. “Then why did you call out his name?” “I didn’t!” Susan shouts as she looks at Jean Paul. “I heard it. Is it Philip?” Susan stares at him.

“Susan tell me. Who is Philippe?” “Don’t badger the girl Jean Paul.” Julian says to him. Jean Paul looks up; Julian is in the room with them. “I won’t go through with this.” Susan says. Julian walks over to them. “I tell you I won’t! I just can’t!” Susan cries out as she stands and faces Julian. “You cannot refuse, you know it.” “Well won’t go through with what? What’s this all about?” Jean Paul asks.

“The girl is hysterical you obviously frightened her.” Julian says to Jean Paul. “I was only trying to help.” “Leave us alone.” Julian says to Jean Paul. “I will deal with the girl.” Jean Paul looks at Julian then the floor. Bending down he reaches for the tin of ashes. “These ashes had spilled out before.” He says as he looks at the full tin and picks it up. “That box is never empty. The day there are no more ashes is the day we leave life.” Julian says to him. Jean Paul closes the tin and hands it to Julian. “No you keep it.” “I’d rather not.” “Those ashes are your’s until I need them again. Keep them for me.” Jean Paul straightens and faces Julian as he tries to give them back again to Julian. “I don’t want them I tell you.”

“Don’t argue. Tell Raxl to come up to us please.” Julian tells Jean Paul. Jean Paul walks from the room. “I’m sorry.” Susan says to Julian. “You’ll defeat everything we are trying to accomplish.” “But I can’t endure this, I just can’t...” Susan says with a sob as she walks across the room and sits down. “Those bells ringing in my ears and the flames blinding me. And the ashes of that poor man’s flesh and bones.” Susan says as she looks up at Julian sobbing. Julian steps closer to her. “You’ve endured it before.” “Oh please release me I beg you!” Susan says as she grabs him by the arms. “I can’t. Don’t think of the past we are living in the present.” “I know but the present is mad!” Susan says as she turns away from Julian. “Don’t you remember what the past was like? Superstitions, intrigues and executions.” Susan turns towards him and touches his hand. “It wasn’t always like that.” Julian grips her hands and pulls her on to her feet. “It’s over now. You must remain calm. We have much to do.” Susan stands and again starts to cry.

Jean Paul sees Raxl in the hallway. In his hand he carries the tin of ashes. “Oh Raxl Mr. Desmond would like to see you. He’s in Susan’s room. Raxl steps towards the door. “Raxl just a moment. Have you ever seen this before?” Jean Paul asks as he holds out the tin. “Why yes its Mr. Desmond’s snuffbox. It’s a precious antique.” “Do you know what’s in it?” “Some kind of powder isn’t it?” Raxl says to him. “Julian says these are the ashes of a saintly man.” “That very well may be.” Raxl says as she turns away. “And that they will protect us from all harm.” Jean Paul says to her. “Why are you asking me about them?” Raxl asks as she turns towards Jean Paul. “When Susan dropped the box she screamed out a name.” “What name?” Raxl asks. “The name of Philippe.” Raxl gasps and puts her hand to her face and steps away from Jean Paul. Jean Paul follows her. “Who is Philippe?” “Those are his ashes.” “Who was he then?” Jean Paul asks.

“Mr. Desmond will have to tell you that.” She says as she glances at Jean Paul then away. “I don’t want any part of this snuffbox.” Jean Paul says as he hands it to Raxl. “Give it back to him.” Jean Paul says as he walks away from Raxl. Raxl glances at the tin.

Philip stands angrily with his arms crossed. “If you insist on holding me to my promise then I have no choice but to stay.” Philip says as he turns towards Emily.

“I do hold you to it.” Philip steps away from her. “But not for my sake or for Jean Paul’s, for your own.” Emily says as she turns and looks at Philip. Philip has his back towards her. He turns and looks at her. “What do you mean?” “Well you wouldn’t go back to your people with the Mark of Death. You would take to them what was brought to us.” “Orendo is calling me back, I’m sure of that. He can’t speak to me in his own voice so he uses the bells.” Philip says as he steps away from Emily. “Well if he is calling you back then I’m sure he would want you back pure in heart. Not tainted with the Desmond curse.” Philip looks at Emily. ”I’m being warned to go back before it’s too late.” “I give you my solemn oath that I’ll release you from your promise just as soon as we’re certain that the Mark of Death is no longer upon you.” Philip nods in agreement. Jean Paul enters the Drawing Room. Emily turns and walks into his arms. Jean Paul smiles at her and kisses her forehead. He then looks up at Philip. “Philip I want you to do something for me.” “Certainly. What is it?” Philip asks. Jean Paul releases Emily and walks towards Philip. Could you make certain that Susan isn’t alone tonight?” Philip nods. “She’s afraid of something but she won’t confide in me. She thinks she is going mad.” Emily walks up to them. “Did she tell you that?”

Jean Paul turns towards Emily. “No but that is why she didn’t tell you about the bells that she heard ringing last night. She was afraid that you would think her insane.” Jean Paul says as he walks away from Emily. “Is that why she fainted?” Emily asks. Jean Paul glances at her. “She denies fainting.” “She’s blanked it out of her mind but for what reason?” Emily asks. Jean Paul walks over to Philip. “When I went to help her she screamed out the name Philippe twice as if she was crying for help.” “She called for me?” Philip asks. “And then when I had said that you had heard the bells too she said no it mustn’t happen to you.” Jean Paul says as he turns away from Philip. “That you must be safe.” “Safe from what?” Philip asks as he steps closer to Jean Paul. Jean Paul shakes his head and turns towards Philip. “Look, don’t leave her alone tonight. Find out what it is, I’m sure she is the clue we are looking for.” Philip glances away.

Raxl enters Susan’s room. “Jean Paul said you wanted to see me.” “Yes stay with Susan. I have arrangements to make.” Julian says to Raxl. Raxl steps closer to him. “Shouldn’t I help you?” “It’s not necessary. I will make sure this house is free of interfering people tonight. We must work in absolute peace.”

“There will be no peace tonight. The star will be out again.” Susan says. “The star was out last night but it did not work its evil.” Raxl says. “Susan stands. “That’s why it returns again and again until its evil is done.” “We will oppose it.” Raxl says to her. “Don’t concern yourself with the star tonight. We have our own work to do. I will make sure we won’t be interrupted.” Julian says then disappears like a ghost. Raxl turns to Susan. “I have something for you.” “What is it?” Raxl walks close to Susan. “Last night in the secret room you asked me to bring you this.” Raxl tells her as she takes the tin of ashes from her pocket. “Did Jean Paul give you that?” “Why did you drop it on the floor?” Raxl asks Susan. “I didn’t want it.” “But why?” “I don’t know.” Susan says as she glances away then sits back down. “It was an impulse. I couldn’t explain it or resist.” “Jean Paul said he does not want to have anything to do with these ashes now.” Raxl says as she holds out the tin to Susan. “They are your’s.” “Mine? Why mine?” Susan asks.

“Last night you begged me to bring them to you.” “I don’t remember asking you that.” Raxl kneels next to Susan. “Last night in the secret room when you were calling out to the Gods to save Philippe from burning.” Susan looks away. “Philippe.” “You begged me to collect his ashes and bring them to you so they would not scatter in the gutter.” “That was only a dream Raxl.” “Who is to say what is a dream and what is real. Certainly not you or I. We live in both the dream and the reality. Take these ashes, you have longed for them all your life.”

Susan reaches out and takes the small box from Raxl. She opens the tin and looks at the ashes. “Philippe, Philippe why have they kept us apart all these years?”

Julian faces Jacques’ portrait as Jean Paul stands in the doorway of the Drawing Room. He turns towards Jean Paul. “I was hoping you would come. I want something from you. I’d like you to return the snuffbox to me.” Jean Paul walks into the room. “Well I’m sorry but why didn’t you ask for it when I offered it to you?” “Well I didn’t need it then.” “I’m very sorry but I don’t have it any longer. I gave it to Raxl.” “For three hundred years these ashes have been refused to the girl who wanted them the most. They’ve been passed on from hand to hand but never into hers. No I think you put them where they were never intended to go.” Julian says as he steps closer to Jean Paul. “Well if I had known what they were when you gave them to me I really would have been more cautious.” “If you knew what they were they would have been no value to you.” Philip walks into the Drawing Room. “Susan’s locked herself into her room. I knocked on the door but she wouldn’t answer.” Jean Paul walks over to Philip. “She’ll change her mind.” Julian tells them. “But in the mean time she is not to leave this house today or tomorrow. Now that they...” “Now that they what? What were you going to say?” Jean Paul asks. “Nothing.” Julian says as he turns towards the portrait. “It was just a thought.” Julian walks to the desk. He glances down and sees the book and lifts it from the desk. “Why was this passage marked?” Jean Paul and Philip glance at each other then at Julian. “The sun filled the square. The Cathedral bells rang and thousand of Parisians...” Julian starts to read. Jean Paul walks over to Julian walking around him so he is close to the book. “I think you would have to ask Emily about that. I’m sure she’s the one who probably marked it I presume.” “Odd that she chose that particular passage.” Julian says as he looks at Jacques portrait. Jean Paul reaches out and takes the book from Julian. “Yes especially odd.” He closes the book. “That Susan claims that she hears those Cathedral bells.” Julian turns towards Jean Paul. “Well if that’s true it’s decidedly odd as you say.” “I think I should ask her myself.” Jean Paul says to Julian. “And return the memento I gave you from Raxl if you don’t mind.” Jean Paul nods and walks from the room carrying the book with him. Philip looks at Julian. “Julian does Susan really hear those bells?” “I think it’s quite likely my dear fellow.” “Then why do I hear them too?” Philip asks as he crosses his arms.

“Do you hear them?” Philip walks closer to Julian. “I did earlier when I read the very same passage.” “Well in that case you can not leave this house tonight either. Do you understand?” Philip stares at Julian.

Susan sits in her room looking at the ashes. Raxl sits near her when there is a knock at the door. “Put the box away Miss Susan.” Raxl says to her. Closing the box Susan puts it in her pocket. “Come in.” Susan calls out. The door opens and Jean Paul walks into her room. “Raxl Mr. Desmond would like the box returned to him.” “I do not have it any longer.” Raxl says to him. “Well I gave it to you. Who did you give it to?” “I don’t know where it is.” Raxl says as she looks away. “Oh don’t lay Raxl please.” “She’s not lying.” Susan says to Jean Paul. “Then where is the box?” Susan stands. “It’s where it belongs. Jean Paul sighs as he looks at Susan. “Raxl would you kindly leave us alone for a moment.” “I told Julian I would stay with Miss Susan.” Raxl says as she puts her arm around Susan’s shoulder. Jean Paul walks closer to Raxl and Susan. “What made you drop the ashes on the floor this morning?” Susan turns away. “Don’t ask me that please.”

“Please I want to know the truth.” Raxl faces Jean Paul. “The child does not know the truth.” “I have asked you to leave Raxl! Now go!” He walks over to Susan and opens the book. “Don’t read that to me! I won’t listen to it!” Susan says as she turns away. Raxl rushes from the room as Emily is walking down the hallway. Raxl rushes up to her. “Is Susan all right now?” Emily asks. “Oh Miss Emily you must stop him.” “Stop who?” “Jean Paul, he’s in there with Miss Susan.” “Well what’s he doing?” “Do not leave him alone with her I beseech you.” Raxl says as she rushes away.

“Why do you torture me like that?” Susan cries out as she turns away from Jean Paul. “Because I want the truth.” “But I can’t tell it to you!” Susan says as she looks at him then away. “All right then I shall have to read it again.” Jean Paul says as he steps closer to Susan. “The sun filled the square. The sound of the Cathedral bell rang out.” “NO!” Susan screams covering her ears. “I won’t listen to it!” Susan starts to sob as the bells are heard in the room. Emily rushes into the room and takes the book from Jean Paul. “Jean Paul leave her alone!” “Emily she is the one who knows the secret of the curse!” “I won’t allow you to torture her.” “I am not torturing her.” He says as he tries to step towards Susan.

Emily steps in front of him. “Look, take this book downstairs for me will you please.” She holds the book out to him. Jean Paul grabs the book and walks across the room. He turns back towards Emily. “I didn’t mean to upset her. I only wanted to find out what she knew.” “Leave her with me. When she understands what she knows she will tell us.” Jean Paul turns and walks out of the room.

Susan lies on her bed crying. Emily walks over to her. “Susan you can stop crying now. Emily says as she puts her hand on Susan’s back. “Jean Paul is gone. It’s all over.” Susan sits up. “No it’s never over.” She says sobbing as she looks at Emily. Susan looks away. “I can feel the heat of the flames on my flesh when I hear those words and the sting of the smoke in my eyes. I die each time he dies.” Susan says as she pulls herself down to the floor as she sees the flames in her mind.

Susan has fallen asleep and Emily has pulled the blanket over her. Night comes and Susan stirs. “Are you awake now Susan?” Emily asks. Susan sits up as Emily turns on the lamp. “What time is it?” Susan asks. “It’s evening. You’ve been asleep for hours.” Emily tells her as she sits on the edge of the bed. “Oh I made you miss your picnic. I’m sorry.” Emily shakes her head. “It’s all right. The sleep probably did you good. Susan smiles and climbs from the bed. “I had such peaceful dreams. I was dreaming that...” Susan stands and rushes to the window and looks at the sky. She then turns towards Emily. “I must see Philip.” “He’s probably downstairs. Come with me and we’ll have some supper.” Emily says a she touches Susan’s arm. “No, no I don’t want to see anyone else. Just send Philip up to me please.” Jean Paul is speaking to Raxl in his room. “You’re lying. You gave her the ashes.” Raxl turns away. “I could not say that in front of her.”

“Why did you give them to her?” “Last night when I found her in the secret room she begged me to bring to her the ashes of her...” Raxl start to say as she walks across the room. Jean Paul walks up behind her. “Don’t stop; go on with what you were going to say.” “They belong to her. She has searched for them all her life.” Raxl says as she glances at Jean Paul then away. “Then why is she so terrified of them?” “Ask Julian Desmond only he knows the truth.” “And will he tell it to me?” “If you follow his instructions he will.” Jean Paul turns away. “And if I don’t?” Raxl walks up behind him. “Then everything he has worked for here will be destroyed and you will become again what you were when we left Maljardin.” Jean Paul has turned to face her but Raxl steps away. “You must put your future in Julian Desmond’s hands.”

Philip looks at Julian. “You seem to be dominating life here at Desmond Hall lately.” Philip says from the couch. “Would you prefer your lives to be as they were before I arrived?” Julian asks as he sits next to Philip. “No I only wish to be free to pursue my own life the way I used to.” “If you are to pursue your own life, if you want Jean Paul and Emily to be happy you must do what is necessary to achieve that.” Emily walks into the Drawing Room. Julian glances up and he and Philip stand. “My dear, Philip and I were just talking about your future and Jean Paul's.” Julian says to her. Emily looks at Philip. “Susan would like to see you, she’s in her room.” “She didn’t want to see me earlier.” “She was upset then, she’s much better now. Jean Paul said something to upset her.” “All right I’ll see what I can do.” Philip says as he walks from the room. Emily watches Philip then sighs and pushes her hair from her face. “You seem distressed my dear. Is there anything I can do?” “It’s just that Jean Paul was so anxious to get then truth from Susan that he was very cruel to her.” Julian turns away. “Would you take the advice of an old man who has survived innumerable dangers?” He asks Emily as he walks to Jacques portrait then glances back at Emily. “I’d take advice from any one right now.” She says as she looks away. Julian walks towards her. “Tonight is going to be very difficult for all of us.” “Are you trying to alarm Emily?” Jean Paul asks from the doorway. “I’m glad you came. I want to talk to both of you.” Jean Paul walks over to the desk and sits the book on it. Emily holds out her hand to him as he walks towards her. “I’m sorry I was so hard on you earlier.” Emily says to Jean Paul as he takes her hand and stands next to her. “It’s just that it isn’t like you to bedevil Susan like that.” “I want you both to go upstairs. Go to your room and lock the doors. I want you to leave this house tonight in the hands of those of us who can assure your future only by avenging the past.”

“But this is my house.” Jean Paul says to him. “This is the Desmond House. Desmonds wander unseen through the corridors from room to room. Unless you want to join this ghostly crowd take my advice.” “But?” “No we will do what you ask Julian.” Emily says as she looks at Jean Paul. “Please Jean Paul for my sake. For our happiness.” Jean Paul stares at Julian. “Very well Julian. Tonight is in your hands.” With his arm around Emily he walks with her out of the room.

Julian turns towards Jacques' portrait. “Jacques Eloi Des Mondes I summon the envoys that time has lent you. One by one I summon them to me.”

Susan is looking out the window as Philip walks into her room. She turns and looks at her. “Your star is out again.” Philip glances out the window. “There are two stars?” He says as he looks at Susan. “It won’t be alone any longer.” “What’s the other one?” Philip asks. “Well the star is...” Susan stares ahead.

“What’s the matter?” Philip asks. Susan steps away from him then glances back at him. “I’ll be right back. Now you stay here. Promise me Philip. Will you promise me that?” Don’t leave this room until I come back!” “All right I promise.” Philip says to her. Susan turns and rushes from the room. Julian stands facing Jacques’ portrait. “Send me your envoys. Lend me their hands. One by one call them to my side so they can do the work they have neglected for so many years.”

Raxl enters the room and walks towards Julian. “Oh Madame Len Waire you are welcome.” Julian greets her. Raxl bows. Susan walks into the Drawing Room and joins them. “Mademoiselle O’Claire you heard me.” Julian says to her. Susan nods. “Good now we three are met. Tonight is ours; we will uncover the secret that has been denied us.” Julian says then bows his head. Raxl also bows her head while Susan stares at the portrait of Jacques then bows her head.

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

~Ron/Bella~
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