STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 192

Episode 192a: Slideshow

Episode 192b: Slideshow

“Tears from canvas and paint?” Cort says as he walks to the portrait and touches the canvas. “Cort? What on earth are you doing? Were you talking to that portrait?” Ada calls out from the doorway. Cort turns and looks at his mother. “Of course not.” “I heard you Cort.” “I was talking to myself.” “Have you seen Daddy?” Ada asks as she walks into the room. “I suppose he’s in bed.” Cort says as he walks towards his mother. “That’s where you should be.” “Well I went to his room and he wasn’t there. And his bed hadn’t even been slept in.” “I saw him earlier his evening. He said he was going out for a walk.” “In the middle of the night? Now why would he do that?” Ada asks. “Well he often went out alone at night.” “Oh he never told me that before.” “It’s his business.’ Cort says to her.

“Well he might get hurt in the dark. He might stumble and fall and no one would find him until daylight.” “He can look after himself. You worry too much.” “I want you to go find him for me.” Ada says as she touches his arm. “Leave him alone mother.” “Cort I can’t sleep if I’m worried about him. You go and bring him back please.” “All right, all right if you go back to bed and go to sleep.” Cort tells her as he touches her arm and leads her across the room. “I don’t like to see you wondering around the house alone.” Ada stops and turns towards him. “You make me feel that something is going to happen to me in the corridors.” Ada says as she reaches up and kisses Cort on the cheek. “You are a silly boy.” Cort smiles at her. Ada turns and walks from the room. Cort turns and walks back to the portrait. ‘What are you trying to tell us? Philip said to tell him if anything odd happened to you.’ Cort thinks silently to himself then turns from the portrait. ‘But he told me not to leave the room too didn’t he?’ Cort turns and looks at the portrait.

“Is that all you remember?” Philip asks Jean Paul. “There was more but I can’t recall it.” Philip stands and walks across the room. “Perhaps I can help.” Emily says as she picks the book up from the bed where Philip had dropped it. She opens it. “In the crowd that morning when all the Noble men of Paris come to make sure their secrets were burned with the martyr.” Emily reads then looks at Jean Paul. “Does that seem familiar?” Jean Paul glances away. “There was an enormous crowd. Many were my friends.” Emily turns back to the book. “One of them a tall elegant young man watched without expression until the smoke and flames obscured the sight of the tortured saint.” Jean Paul nods. “I was the observer. And the burning man was you.’ he says as he looks at Philip. “Who are we?” Jean Paul asks. “We’ll we will soon find out.” Emily says as she walks over to Philip. “Take this book, go downstairs and confront the portrait with it. Read that passage out loud.” Emily says as she points out the passage. “Now if anything happens send Cort up to get me.” Philip nods and closes the book.

“Emily go with him he needs help.” Jean Paul says to her. “Oh no I won’t leave you.” “No I’m all right now.” “I’ll stay with you. I’ve got the document I'll be all right.” She says as she turns and walks to Philip. “Go on you won’t need me. Cort can help you.” Philip walks from the room closing the door behind him. Ada is walking down the hallway and stops next to Philip. “Is my father in there with Jean Paul?” “No he isn’t.” “Well have you seen him?” “Well not since early this evening.” “He isn’t in his room.” Ada says to him. “Well if I see him I’ll tell him you are looking for him.” Philip says as he walks away from Ada. Ada steps forward and knocks on Jean Paul’s door. Emily opens the door. Ada steps inside. “Oh I can’t sleep. I thought maybe Julian might be in here with Jean Paul.”

“No he isn’t.” Emily says then glances back at Jean Paul. “Come in Ada.” Jean Paul says to her. Emily touches Ada’s arm. “Jean Paul isn’t feeling well.” “Oh what is it?” Ada asks as she walks to Jean Paul and stands at the end of the bed.

“Oh just a little dizziness that’s all. It’s over now.” Emily walks up and stands next to Ada. “Emily now that Ada is here and can stay with me why don’t you go down and do what you wanted to do.” Ada smiles. “Of course I’ll stay with you.”

“Make sure he stays here and rests.” Emily says to Ada then walks across the room and picks up the document and walks from the room.

Cort sits near the portrait as Philip rushes into the Drawing Room. Cort stands. “He cried.” “Who did?” Philip asks. “The portrait, he was weeping.” Philip looks at the portrait then looks at Cort. “Did anything else happen?” “My mother came in. She was worried about Julian. I think she suspects something.” “What did you tell her?” “Oh I made us some story about him going out for a walk.” Philip opens the book and turns towards the portrait. Cort walks up to him. “What are you doing?” “Now watch the portrait when I read this out loud.” Philip says as he looks at the portrait. “And tell me if anything unusual happens. In the crowd that morning were all the Noble men of Paris who came to make sure that...”

Jean Paul sits staring ahead as Ada stands at the window looking out. She turns and walks across the room. “Why would Julian go out in the darkness?” She asks as she walks around the bed. “Cort tell me he often goes out for a walk at this time of the night.” Jean Paul smiles. “Don’t worry Ada he’ll be alright.” “Oh I can’t help it. Of course I worry. It’s my nature. I worry about my father and I worry about Cort. I found him talking to that portrait.” Jean Paul stiffens and looks at Ada. “Oh are you sure?” “Yes he said he was talking to himself but I don’t believe that. He’s hiding something from me.” “I don’t think that’s true Ada.”

“Yes that is true! Everyone hides things from me. Even you and Emily.” Jean Paul glances at Ada. “Well we’re not hiding anything.” “Well I heard a scream. Now that’s what woke me up.” Jean Paul looks away. “You pretend that nothing is happening here. Who screamed?” “It was Emily. When she opened the door and found me lying here I was unconscious.” “Oh dear and here I am going on and on” Ada touches his shoulder. “All about my worries. Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Just a little weak but that’s to be...” Jean Paul sits still and stares straight ahead. Ada steps around the bed and stops as she looks at Jean Paul. He has tears streaming down his face. “Jean Paul! What is it? Tell me!”

“Until the smoke and the flames obscured the sight of the tortured saint.” Philip reads. Cort is watching the portrait. “Look, Philip look.” Philip glances up at the portrait. Tears run down the cheeks of the portrait. “He’s weeping.” Cort says.

“So that’s what is was.” Philip says as he closes the book. He turns and rushes towards the door. “What?” Cort calls out. Emily walks into the room. “Emily you shouldn’t leave Jean Paul alone not now.” “He’s not alone. Ada is with him.”

“Emily you were right. I don’t understand it but you’re right.” “What happened?” Emily asks. “Well the portrait wept when I read to it.” Philip says with a smile as he glances at the portrait then back at Emily. “It did the same thing earlier when I was alone with it.” Cort says as he walks up to them. Philip looks at Emily. “When you read it to Jean Paul upstairs.” “Philip it’s happening.” Emily says with a smile as she walks towards the portrait. “I know it; we’re about at the end of our search.” Philip walks up to her. “Everything we do from now on will affect Jean Paul.” “He will be all right with Ada. Won’t he?” Emily asks. “Well if she doesn’t overdue it.” Emily turns and looks at Cort. “Cort stay with him just in case.” Cort nods and rushes from the room.

Jean Paul sits and stares straight ahead. “Jean Paul what is it?” Ada asks. Jean Paul stands and walks across the room. Ada watches him as he walks to the door. “Where are you going?” He opens the door. “Don’t leave me here alone all by myself Jean Paul!” Ada cries out. Jean Paul walks from the room. “Jean Paul!” Ada cries out as she rushes to the door. She steps into the hallway closing the door behind her. Cort walks down the hallway. “Mother?” Ada turns towards him and covers her face with her hand. “Where are you going?” Cort asks. “After Jean Paul, he just left his room!” “He couldn’t have. He can’t see.” Cort says to her. “That’s ridiculous.” “I tell you he’s blind.” “No he’s not.” “He can’t speak either.” Cort says to her. “But he can.” “Emily told me he can’t see nor speak.” “Have you seen him?” Ada asks. “Well only briefly. He was lying on Susan’s bed when I came by earlier.” “And did you talk to him?” “Emily wouldn’t let me.” He says to his mother. Ada turns away. “Well he can see and he can speak. But he’s acting very strangely.” She says as she steps away from Cort.

“In what way?” “Well when I was talking to him tears rolled down his cheeks.”

“When?” Ada turns back towards Cort. “Just a moment ago. And then he walked out of the room without a word.” Cort touches her arm. “Go to my room and wait there until I come back.” Cort says then turns and rushes through the hallway.

“Cort be careful.” Ada calls out to him then turns and walks away.

Emily holds the document as Philip holds the book. “You read that passage out loud while I read this. And don’t stop reading until you come to the end of the lines I’ve marked. All right?” Emily says to Philip... As they both read together Emily from the document and Philip from the book Ada steps into the room. “I demand to know what you are doing?” Ada shouts.

Jean Paul enters the secret room. He walks over to the skeleton and stands on the side of it. Then turning he looks around the room. “Julian, Julian Desmond are you in here? What are you doing to us? Are you trying to save us or destroy us?” Jean Paul asks angrily. “Release me from this bondage. Let me live my own life.” He steps forward then sits down and lowers his head against his arm leaning on the table. The door opens and Cort enters. “Jean Paul are you all right?” Cort asks as he walks across the room and touches Jean Paul’s arm.

Jean Paul sits up. “Can you see me?” Cort asks. Jean Paul glances at Cort. . “Of course I can see you Cort.” Jean Paul glances around. “What am I doing here?” “Don’t you know?” “I remember being in my room.” “Emily said that you were blind and that you could not speak.” Cort says as he places his hand on Jean Paul’s back. Jean Paul nods. “Perhaps I was but only for a time then it passed.’ “Mother said that you wept.” Cort says as he touches Jean Paul’s arm as he looks at him. “Why did you weep with my mother?” Jean Paul shakes his head. “I don’t know.” “The portrait wept when you did.” Jean Paul stiffens and stands. “No I didn’t!” he shouts. “But you did.” Jean Paul turns and stares straight ahead. “I couldn’t weep! I couldn’t pray! I watched him and I felt like it was my flesh that was burning! As if it were my soul that was reaching for the heavens! He died in my place. I couldn’t weep. I couldn’t pray!” Cort walks up to him. “Jean Paul, Jean Paul what are you saying?” Jean Paul shakes his head. “I’m not, I’m not who you think I am Cort.” “Then who are you?” Jean Paul steps away. “I’m possessed by someone else.” “Well who is it? Cort asks as he steps closer to Jean Paul. “Can you tell me?” “No! No I can’t tell you that.” he says as he glances at Cort then looks up. “Keep me away from him! Protect me from him Cort. Keep him away! Help me, Cort help me!” Jean Paul shouts as he backs away. Cort watches Jean Paul in horror.

Ada sits on the couch. “I won’t leave this room until you tell me what you are doing.” Emily walks in front of her. “Ada I’ve told you before I can’t tell you.”

“It’s magic you’re dealing with isn’t it?” Emily looks at Ada. “Yes some people might call it that.” “Well that’s what destroyed my Uncle Benjamin and that’s what made my father disappear for all these years.” Ada says as she looks at Emily. “It’s not the same thing.” Ada looks away. “They summoned the evil spirit and it led them to disaster. You mustn’t do it.” She says as she looks at Philip then back to Emily. “I won’t let you! I won’t let Cort go the way of my father and the other Desmonds.” Emily sits next to her. “Listen Ada don’t you understand what we are trying to do is rid Desmond Hall of all the evil.” “It will only bring more evil.” Ada says to her. “Emily let me try to explain.” Philip says as he sits on the couch next to Ada. He takes the box of ashes from his pocket. Ada glances at it. “Why that’s the box that Jean Paul gave me. And it was to protect me if I...” “Did it protect you?” Philip asks. “Yes it did. I was terrified.” Ada says then glances away. “But I can’t remember what about now. But it passed.” She says as she looks at Philip. “Then you do trust this box?” Philip asks. “Yes I do.”

“Ada would you do as it asks you to do?” Ada nods. “All right.” “Then go to your room and stay there until morning and no harm will come to you. And no harm will come to your father or Cort and we will see that they pass the evening safely.” Philip says as he dips his thumb into the ashes and raises his hand in front of her face. Ada stares straight-ahead then stands. She turns and walks across the room. Philip stands holding the box as Ada walks from the room.

Emily stands and faces him. “Philip we’ve got to use those ashes on the portrait.” She says as she points at the box. “I have Emily. I have to tell you something before we proceed.” “What?” “I touch these ashes to the portrait’s lips in order to stop the laughter and that’s when Jean Paul lost his speech.” Emily glances away. “Oh no.” she says touching her throat. “And I put ashes on its eyes so it couldn’t see what I was doing.” Emily looks at him. “And that’s when Jean Paul went blind?” Philip nods. “And then I called on death to come to the portrait.” “And Jean Paul died instead.” Emily says as she glances away. “No not instead.”

Emily looks at him. “You mean they are the same person?” “I’m afraid they are.”

“That can’t be!” Emily says as she walks towards the portrait. “What does it mean?” Philip turns and stands next to her. “Well now that we have started to talk to the portrait through the words in this book and the document perhaps it is too late to turn back.” He glances at Emily. “Now if you want to continue we will.” He walks to the fireplace and picks up the document and the book and glances at Emily. “I want Jean Paul to be free of all of this. I want to live a life like other people. We just have to risk it.” “I leave it up to you.” He says holding the book and the document that is sitting on top of the book. Emily reaches for the document and holds it in her hand. “Open the book and read. I’ll read this.” “In the crowd that morning were the Noble men of Paris who came to make sure...” Philip reads as Emily says at the same time. “My Lord and Master Lucifer I acknowledge thee a Prince and promise to serve and obey thee...”

Jean Paul stands in the secret room. “Put out those flames! Save him! Tie me to the stake in his place. Philippe is innocent! Stop that smiling!” Jean Paul shouts. “Philippe, Philippe my brother.” Cort watches Jean Paul then steps up to him. “Jean Paul what is it? What are you saying?” “I didn't want him to feel any harm! I don't want him to die this way! He’s my brother and I love him. In spite of all our differences I love him.” Jean Paul glances up. “Oh God!” He bows his head. “Forgive me I didn’t want him to die.” Jean Paul sits and bows his head. Cort puts his arm around Jean Paul’s shoulders.

“A tall elegant man watched with out expression until the smoke and flames obscured the sight of the tortured saint.” Philip continues to read, “If I fail in this pledge I give as hostage any male descendant you shall name in perpetuity.” Emily reads at the same time. She lowers the document and looks at the book as Philip finishes. “When the crowd dispersed nothing remained of the anonymous martyr. He took a snuffbox from his pocket and filled it with the still smoldering ashes and disappeared to never be seen again.” Philip glances at Emily then at the portrait. He sits the book on the mantel and holds the ashes in his hand... Opening the box he puts his finger into it then traces the portrait’s face from the eyes to the bottom of the cheeks. He picks up the book. “Jacques Eloi Des Mondes come and face the consequences of your crimes.” Philip says then backs away and stands next to Emily. “Confront those who have paid the price of your freedom.” The portrait’s outline shimmers then sharpens as Jean Paul’s image appears in the frame. “Forgive me Philippe for letting you die in my place.” His body becomes solid as Jean Paul steps forward.

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

~Ron/Bella~
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