STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 186

Episode 186a: Slideshow

Episode 186b: Slideshow

“That’s right Philip choke me. Take my life. Free me forever.” Susan cries out.

“See it is what you want isn’t it.” Philip releases her as her eyes close and she stops breathing. Susan falls back on the bed. Philip glances at Susan then his hand as the Mark of Death disappears. The mark appears upon the document. Philip is released from the control of the star and looks down. “Susan no, Susan I didn’t want to do that believe me!” He turns towards the dressing table and picks up the box with Philippe’s ashes in it and backs away from the bed.

“It is done. The first step is accomplished.” Julian says to Raxl as they stand in the Drawing Room. “Do you know where you are leading us?” Raxl asks.

“There is only one way to go.” Raxl turns away. “But the girl should be with us not against us. We do not have the book or the document.” She says then turns towards him. “Nothing will be done correctly.” “We do not determine how to do it. We merely do what we must.” “But I do not trust...” Raxl starts to say as she glances at the doorway. “Someone is coming.” Raxl walks to the door as Philip rushes down the staircase. Philip stops at the bottom of the stairs and glances around then runs towards the door to the outside. Raxl rushes into the foyer. “Mr. Philip where are you going?” Philip has his hand against the door with his back to Raxl. “I killed her!” He looks at her. “Is that what you wanted?” he asks angrily. “Is that why you let me go to her room with the document?” He says as he walks towards her. “She cannot be!” Raxl says to him. Julian stands in the doorway of the Drawing room. “You will come in here with me Philip Desmond.”

“Oh no I won’t! I’m leaving this house. I don’t want anything to do with this house or anyone in it!” Philip says as he walks towards Julian. Julian takes out his watch. “This watch protected you before. It will do it again.” “Well where was it when I needed it a few minutes ago?” “Don’t mock it.” Julian says to Philip.

“Why didn’t you protect me from the Mark of Death as you promised you would?”

“The night is not over. Come inside.’ Julian says to him as he holds the watch in front of Philip. “We will plan our next step.” Philip stares at the watch becoming calm. “That is better. Julian says as he touches Philip on the shoulder. “We will now proceed.” Philip walks into the Drawing Room as Julian puts his watch in his pocket then follows Philip. Raxl walks to the doorway then turns and glances up the staircase.

Susan lies on the bed as Cort walks into her room. He walks over to her bed. ‘Susan, Susan?” He calls out as he kneels down and touches her arm. “Susan what happened?” He shakes her. “Oh my God!” he says as he touches her face and neck. Susan stirs. “Susan can you hear me!” Susan opens her eyes then closes them. “I heard church bells ringing. I felt the flames on my flesh but I wasn’t afraid. I do not fear to die.” “What are you talking about?” Cort holds her by the shoulders as she sits up. Susan glances around. “Then I’m not dead.”

“Of course you’re not dead.” Susan puts her hand up to her head and moans. “But I was prepared for death.” Susan says as she stands with Cort’s help. Susan looks at Cort. “When he came for me I was eager to receive him.” “What so you mean when he came for you? Who came?” Susan looks away. “I’ve been cheated again.” “Who tried to kill you?” “Philippe he was going to save me from...” Susan says then sits in a chair. “Philip? Oh of course the star.” “No not Philip, Philippe.” She says looking at Cort. “Who’s Philippe?” Susan stands and steps closer to Cort. “Never mind you don’t understand. I was so tired.” Susan says as she touches her neck. “I was reading about the execution and then everything happened so quickly. Something went wrong.” “Well what went wrong?” Cort asks. With a look of panic Susan sits on the floor. “They’re going to punish me Cort! You’ve got to hide me please! They’re going to punish me!”

Cort squats on the floor next to her. “Who’s going to punish you?” “My enemies!”

“Well who are they?” Susan looks away. “The world is full of enemies. They come upon you in the dark. They bribe you with promises of happiness that never comes true. And then they make threats!” Susan says then looks at the floor. “If you don’t do what they say they’ll hurt you.” Susan says looking at Cort.

“Yes of course. You’ll be all right. Can you stay here for just a minute?” Cort asks as he pulls her to her feet. “No, no I can’t, they’ll find me!” Susan says as she grabs Cort’s hand. “I’m going down to get my mother and she’ll put you to bed.”

Susan pulls away from him. “I don’t want to go to bed Cort.” “Now listen to me Susan, you’ve had a frightening time.” Susan shakes her head. “No that’s not true! You don’t understand.” She looks away from Cort. “For the first time in my life I’m free. And if I don’t hide from them they will take me back again.” “But if you are free you don’t have to hide.” Susan looks at him. “But I do! If they know that I’m free they’ll take me back.” She says as she touches his arm. “But I’ve got to find a place to hide Cort. You must know a place I can hide.” “Well I could take you to the tower room.” Cort says to her. “Nobody must see us. Nobody!”

“Wait a minute.” Cort pulls away as he looks out the door into the hallway.

Susan disappears. Cort turns back towards Susan. “There’s no one out there.” Cort says then stares at the spot he had last seen Susan. Walking across the room he looks around, then he goes to the bed and picks up the document. He lays it back on the bed. “Susan?” Cort calls out as he looks around the room.

Philip stands at the window in the Drawing Room. He looks at the sky then turns towards Julian. “The star is gone.” “Of course it has. You have done what you came here to do.” Julian says to him. “What do you mean?” “What was your purpose in coming to Desmond Hall?” Philip turns away from Julian. “To remove a curse from my people.” “It is done.” Philip gives a laugh. “It can’t be.” Julian steps up to him. “Summon your friend the mask. Send him your signal. He will know.” Philip shakes his head and walks away from Julian. “He doesn’t hear me anymore.” “Try him, or shall I?” Julian says as Philip stands and looks out the window. “He won’t answer you.” Julian stares at Philip. The sound of the drum echoes in the room. “Orendo?” Philip calls out. “Ask him.” Julian says to Philip.

“Orendo are my people content? Is their suffering over? Have they been freed?” Philip listens to the drum. “Thank you Orendo.” He says then closes his eyes and bows his head. Raising his head he turns towards Julian. “How did you do that?”

“That is my secret and yours.” “My secret? What do you mean?” “You freed your people just now when you went upstairs.” “Oh that can’t be! That’s too high a price to pay!” Philip says to Julian. “The price has been paid. You and your people are free.” “But I killed her!” “Do not say that again to anyone. The price you paid to free your people is the secret you carry to your grave.”

Raxl walks up to Cort. They are in Susan’s room. “What are you doing in here?” Raxl asks. “I heard a noise and I came in to...” “Well where is Miss Susan?”

“I don’t know. “ Cort says as he looks away. “But she was here?” Raxl asks.

“Where?” Cort asks as he looks at her. “When you brought the book up to her.” Raxl says as she turns towards the bed. “Here it is.” Raxl says as she picks up the book. “This is the book you brought up to her isn’t it?” “Yes.” Raxl glances back at the bed. “And here’s the document.” She says picking it up and looking at Cort, “Where’s Miss Susan?” “I don’t know.” Raxl walks up to him. “But you did speak to her.” Cort steps away. “She said she wanted to hide from her enemies.”

“Did she seem strange in any way?” Cort turns towards her. “She said she was free now for the first time in centuries. I don’t know what she said; I couldn’t understand what she was talking about.” Raxl steps closer to Cort. “These enemies, did she say who they were?” “She just said that they are all around us. In the corridors, everywhere watching for us.” Cort says as he looks at Raxl. “Did she name them?” “She mentioned someone by the name of Philippe.” “What did she say about him?” “She said he wasn’t an enemy. That he was going to protect her from them.” “And then she left?” Raxl asks. “No I went to the corridor to see if anyone was there and when I turned around she was gone.” Cort says as he walks to the door then turns and faces Raxl. “But she couldn’t have.” Raxl says stepping across the room. “I tell you she was. I don’t know where she went!” Raxl walks to him and touches his arm. “Search for her. She cannot wander around the corridors of this house in her condition.” “Raxl what’s wrong with her?” “Find her, we will talk later. Go to the secret room, she may be there.”

Cort nods to Raxl then walks from the room. “The box.” Raxl says to herself as she looks around the room. “The box it’s gone! She must have taken it with her.” Raxl says then looks away.

Susan stands in front of the skeleton in the secret room. “Oh Philippe the years of our separation are coming to an end. We will be face to face again as we were promised.” Susan turns. “But you must help me. I don’t know how to come to you. Guide my hand, lift my spirit to you. Don’t keep me waiting any longer. I welcome you, I welcome death. I embrace my fate.” The door begins to open. Susan turns towards it. “Philippe? I am waiting.” “Susan are you in there?” Cort calls out. Susan disappears as Cort enters the room carrying a candle. “Susan?”

Philip sits on the couch as he hears the church bells ringing and glances up.

“What is it?” Julian asks. “Those bells again.” “They are ringing out your destiny.’ Julian tells him as his vision blurs. Philippe is sitting in a chair glancing up. “What is it my son?” Monsieur La'Combe asks. “Those bells again.” “Do you fear judgment?” “No I fear death but not judgment. I don’t want to die and I don’t want to leave Susanne.” “Then tell the truth. It’s not too late.” “Grand pe’re La’Combe shall I purchase my happiness at the price of your name.” Philippe says as he stands and looks at his grandfather. “It is your name as well.” “You and I know better than that Monsieur La’Combe. I am not a Des Mondes. I am the son of the King.” “I don’t want to hear it.” Monsieur La’Combe says as he turns away from Philippe. “You see it is to be better to be known as the son of a demon witch rather then the bustard son of the King.” Philippe says as he sits back down. “Jacques knows doesn’t he?” “Forgive my brother Monsieur La'Combe it’s not an easy life to be the older brother of the mysterious favorite of the King. Oh if Jacques has chosen to forget my illegitimacy by embracing corruption it’s my fault.” La'Combe turns back towards Philippe. “Your’s?” He asks holding the top of Philippe's chair. “For being what I am, who I am. My life has been a penance from my birth. I didn’t realize that it is Jacques who is being punished not I.” “Is that why you do not deny his accusations?” “His accusations save me by giving me a martyr’s death.” Philippe says as his vision blurs. “What is it?” Julian asks Philip. “Those bells again.” “They are ringing out your destiny.” Julian says as he looks at Jacques’ portrait. Philip stands and walks to the window and glances up at the sky. “Don’t keep looking at the sky. Your star will not return.” Julian says as he stands behind Philip. Philip turns towards Julian. “There were two stars there earlier tonight.” “The other one was Susan’s. Her part in our lives is finished. You cannot change that.” “But she lies upstairs dead!” “Does she?” Philip glances at the door. Julian turns and sees Raxl standing in the doorway. In her hands are the document and the book. “Where did you get those?” Philip asks. “From Miss Susan’s room.” “Did she see you?” Philip asks her. “She’s not there. She’s gone and she left these behind.” Raxl says as she walks into the room to the desk and sets the book and document down. “She can’t be gone! She’s got to be there!” “Go and see for yourself.” Raxl tells him. Philip glances at Raxl then walks from the room. Raxl turns to Julian. “The girl is gone.” “She waited of this moment for so long and now she cannot face it.” “But we cannot continue without her.” Raxl says to him. “We must try. Give me the document.” Julian tells Raxl. Raxl walks to the desk and pick up the document and carries it to him. Julian takes it and turns towards Jacques’ portrait. He walks up and holds it next to the mantel. “Look upon this covenant sealed by your mark. Look upon it and restore it.”

Philip stands at the window in Susan’s room looking at the sky when Cort walks into the room. “What are you doing here?” Cort asks Philip. Philip turns and looks at Cort. “Where is she?” “She’s disappeared.” “What do you mean?” Philip asks. “I came in and found her unconscious on the bed, she had fainted.” “Is that what she told you?” Philip asks as he walks across the room. “No she said she was reading then everything went black.” Philip turns and looks at Cort. “Then she is not dead.” “Of course she isn’t. Wait a minute she said the same thing.” “What did she say?” Philip asks as he steps closer to Cort. “She said she was ready to die, eager to die but she was cheated again.” “And you let her leave after saying that!” Philip says grabbing Cort by the arm. “I went into the hallway to see if anyone was there and when I had turned around she had vanished.” “Why!” “Because she said she wanted to hide from her enemies.”

Philip shoves Cort away and turns away. “From me. Oh poor Susan.” He says as he walks across the room. “No not from you but she mentioned you.” Cort says from the back end of Susan’s bed where he had fallen. Philip walks back towards Cort. “What did she say?” Cort stands and walks closer to Philip. “I think it was you, she called you Philippe. Is that you?” “No, no it can’t be!” Philip says as he walks away from Cort. “She said it wasn’t you.” Cort says as he looks at him. “I just had to find out if I could believe her.” Philip turns and sits on the window seat. “Why wouldn’t you believe her?” Cort walks across the room and sits next to Philip. “She said some fellow named Philippe was going to save her from her enemies.” Philip stares at the floor. “What’s the matter?” Cort asks him.

Philip looks at Cort. “We’ve got to find her!” “I told her she would be safe in the tower room. She’s not there.” “Are you sure?” Philip asks as he turns towards Cort. “I’ve looked all over for her.” Cort stands. “I can’t find her anywhere!” Cort stands and starts to walks away. “Cort just a minute.” Philip calls as he comes to his feet. “Did she have the book and the document with her?” “No Raxl came up and got them.” Philip turns away. “Then Raxl does know she disappeared.” “Yes, yes I told her the same story.” “She never told me anything about it. Why did she want to keep it a secret from me?”

Julian faces Raxl. “And there was no sign of the snuffbox? Julian asks. “None I looked throughout the room.” Raxl says then turns away. “Only the book and the document remained.” “Then she still has it. Is that possible?” Julian says to Raxl.

“But if she had it with her she could not resist being by our side.” Philip stands outside the door of the Drawing room and listens to Raxl and Julian’s conversation. In his hand is the small box. “May I have the box please?” Susan says to him from the staircase. “It belongs to me.” Philip glances up at her. “Susan then you’re not dead after all.” “You know that better than I do. You should have killed me. That’s why you were sent to mer.” Philip steps closer to Susan. She reaches out for the box, Philip hands it to her. Susan glances at the box then at Philip. “You can have it back later if you still want it.” Philip backs away as Susan disappears. “Susan! Susan come back!” Philip cries out rushing towards the stairs. Julian and Raxl walk out of the Drawing Room. “What’s going on out here?” Julian asks. Raxl looks at Julian as Philip looks at them then back at the staircase.

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

~Ron/Bella~
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