STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 113

Episode 113: Slideshow

Laslo: "A dark night of danger shrouds Desmond Hall. Beneath the mansion the fields that lie beneath the moonless sky stop at the cliffs above the river. Here the Master of Desmond Hall searches for the missing house guest. On such a night one could take one step forward into darkness and plunge to his death. But there is another darkness that threatens Desmond Hall. A witch woman leads the innocent Emily to the edge of destruction."

Irene stands at the altar. The black candles are lit. Emily kneels next to her. "It is time to enter the abyss. Time for vows which will unite you with the Prince of Darkness." Irene says to Emily. Emily wears a yellow robe and veil over her face. "Move forward to his altar." Irene tells her, then helps her to stand. Emily steps forward. Waving her hands over the candles Irene chants. "Power of darkness, give ear to your servant. Grant me the strength to enlist this girl in the circle of fire. She knows your will and will follow without question." Irene raises her hands over Emily with the sign of the witch. "It is understood. It is agreed." Emily says.

Irene lowers her hands. "Oh Prince of Darkness grant me this request. Oh hear me." Irene says then turns and lifts the veil from Emily's face. "As your promised bride." She picks up a ring from the altar. "With this ring she pledges her troth. Receive it as a sign of your union with him." Irene says to Emily. "I do receive it."

Thunder and lightening crash outside. "He has answered." Irene tells Emily as she looks at her. "Make the promise of your service." Emily stands with her eyes closed. "Oh Master controller of my fate from this day forward I promise complete obedience. Grant me vengeance on him that took me to his heart and then betrayed me. Give me the power to extinguish life and death from him and the woman he loves." Emily opens her eyes. "I promise in return for the death of Jean Paul Desmond. It is done." "No there is a disturbance. I feel it. A power at Desmond Hall. A power which was not there before." Irene closes her eyes and concentrates. "Oh all seeing eye. You who sees the hidden wickedness of man reveal to me the image of my enemy." Irene opens her eyes. "It can't be." She glances at Emily. "The ceremonies must end! Philip Desmond has returned from the dead."

Cort walks into the foyer from the outdoors. He lays his flashlight down and takes off his coat. Ada hears him from the Drawing Room. "Who is it? Who's there?"

Cort walks into the Drawing Room. "It's me Mother." "Cort?" "Your son. Who else would call you Mother?" He says angrily. Ada turns away. "Did you find him?" "Not a sign of him." "Jean Paul is still searching. He hasn't come back yet." Ada says as she pours a cup of coffee. "'I've made some coffee, it will warm you then you can go out again." She brings him a cup as Cort sits on the couch.

"I don't think I will go out again." "Philip must be found." "Must he?" Cort says.

Ada hands him the cup. "Drink this it will warm you." Cort takes it. "I'm quite warm and very well and quite content really." "Cort the man may be dead."

"Well there is no use in searching for him is there?" "Sometimes I look at you and I hear you speak and I'm frightened. Cort what are you!" Cort looks up at her. "Your son Mother." He hands the coffee back to her. "I'm going to bed." He stands and walks to the doorway. "Cort?" Cort turns and looks at her. "This man who calls himself Philip Desmond isn't Philip. He doesn't belong here! And if he's going to be foolish enough to wander around in a strange land in the darkness and makes the wrong step it isn't my fault!" Cort shouts then leaves the room.

Ada follows him calling his name. "And if he dies?" Cort smiles. "He dies Mother."" Cort turns and walks up the staircase. There is a knock at the door, Ada walks over and answers it. Irene stands outside. "Good evening Ada. Yes it's late I know but I couldn't resist stopping by to see Jean Paul. If you'll announce me."

"Jean Paul isn't in." "Well then his visitor. You do have a visitor?" There's no one here. I'm quite alone Irene." Laslo stands at the top of the staircase when he hears Ada talking." "I suggest you stop by another time." Laslo walks down the staircase, then walks through the foyer to the door. "Ah Mrs. Hatter what a pleasant surprise at this time of the night." Irene walks into the room. "Your not alone anymore dear Ada. It's never too late to call on friends. I do hope I'm welcome." Irene says as she walks over to Laslo as Ada closes the door. "Some tea for Mrs. Hatter Ada if you will please." "Oh it's to late fro tea." Irene says as she takes Laslo's arm. "Come along, we'll talk and I'll catch up on the news." Irene says as they walk into the Drawing Room leaving Ada in the foyer. Ada watches them then walks away. Laslo closes the Drawing Room doors. "You shouldn’t be here." "Aren't you going to offer me a drink?" Irene says to him.

"You left Emily alone?" "She's quite harmless. I'll have a drink please." Irene says as she takes off her coat, throws it over the couch then sits down as Laslo pours her a glass of brandy. "You have a visitor. Who is he?" "I'm not sure." Laslo says to her. "You've seen him? "Very briefly. He says he's Philip Desmond." "Is he Philip Desmond?" "Philip was taken care of a long time ago."

"I saw a vision of your visitor, if it was Philip?" "Philip is dead." Laslo says as he hands Irene the brandy. Irene takes the glass. "Ah your hands tremble Laslo. This visitor looks like Philip Desmond doesn't he?" "Yes. But he can't be Philip. He's not Jean Paul's brother. He says he is his cousin. In fact he says that Philip is dead." Laslo says as he stands in front of the fireplace. "How does he know that?" "If he is Philip Desmond..." "If?" asks Irene. "Yes I said if this is Philip Desmond we are in great danger. He know all about us, everything." "That's why he was dispatched." Irene says. "Or was he dispatched?" "You're afraid, Laslo. You are shaking like a coward. You demanded charge of the coven, why do you think I came here in the night to protect us? Because you have no faith. " Irene says as she stands and walks over to Laslo. "You know I'm not afraid of Philip Desmond whether he's come back to life or whether he's a ghost. We will remove him."

Ada gets a flashlight then puts on her coat. She's going out to help look for Philip. Stepping outside she hears something. "Who is it?" She hears footsteps. "Who's there? Answer me." Quito walks up to her. "Oh Quito." Ada says with relief. "Have they found him?" Quito shakes his head no. "Have you seen your Master?"

Again Quito shakes his head no. "Then we must continue the search. I'm going to look for Philip." Ada tells him. And starts to walk away. Quito grabs her shoulder. "Quito what is it?" Quito puts his hand to his ear. Ada looks off into the distance. "The fog? The fog is coming in." Quito nods. "Then he's lost isn't he?" Ada says. Quito nods. "He's lost and what if he is Philip? What if he is?"

Emily stands looking out the window. Closing the curtains she walks to the fireplace and leans against the mantel. She touches her face. "I don't know how it happened. Or what I am. A servant, yes to the Serpent God. No, no that was before. The Serpent wrapped its mystical coils around me and I looked into his fiery eyes and I didn't have any choice. Did I?" Emily says as flames outline her face from the fireplace. "But I didn't, I didn't want any of this. I am myself but I'm not myself. I'm controlled by something I cannot see or touch. Oh if I could only be the way I was when I came to Desmond Hall. If only I could be!" Irene's voice calls to her. "You're lonely Emily, alone. You must sleep Emily dear. I will return to you soon. You must forget, you must sleep, sleep." Irene's image shows up in the flames of the fire. Emily closes her eyes. "I am your servant." "Yes Emily. Now sleep." "I'm obedient to your wishes." Emily's eyes open. "But why? Why!" she calls out.

Ada walks through the foyer. "Quito, Quito?” Quito approaches from another doorway into the foyer. "Mrs. Hatter is in the Drawing Room. I'm going to make some supper for her and I want you to stay with her." Quito looks at the Drawing room doors and shakes his head no. "You don't want to see the woman? Well neither do I. She's trying to rule my house and control my husband. I don't want her roaming the house Quito. Stay with her." Again Quito shakes his head no.

"She can't harm you! Watch her." Quito stares at the Drawing Room doors. "Quito Jean Paul would want you to do as I say. Go on." Quito walks towards the Drawing Room then looks back at Ada. Ada rushes to him. "Quito I'm not a woman who gives commands! I'm not but I ask you please!" Ada cries out grabbing his arm. "Don't let that woman bring destruction to this house!" Quito moves away from Ada and enters the Drawing Room." Irene stands at the fireplace. She turns around. "Quito how nice. You mustn't be afraid of me." She walks over to him. "I never meant to hurt you. It was you who did me harm. You disobeyed my orders. You took Agatha Pruett from my house and look what happened to the girl. Her body was discovered in the river. Was that your work Quito? If only you would trust me." Quito looks at Irene angrily. "No. Well what ever you think about me you are not to behave in this way!" Irene angrily tells him. "You will smile and bow because what ever you think you know about me, about the coven of witches or about our plans you can't speak!" Quito clenches his hands angrily. "Do you know what I could tell your Master about you? Be sensible Quito and grovel and I shall trust that you will." There is a knock at the door of the Drawing Room. "Come in." Irene calls out. Cort enters. "Well, well, what a charming couple to find at this time of the night." He says putting his arm around Quito's shoulders. "Do join us." Irene says to him. "No thank you I just came down for a book." Cort says as he walks to the bookcase. Quito and Irene watch Cort. Cort walks over to them carrying a book. "They found him?" "The man on the cliffs? I don't think so." "How sad." Cort says. "Oh I take it you're not too fond of this Philip Desmond?" "Because he isn't Philip Desmond." "Then I don't blame you Cort for being hostile." "Hostile? Yes I suppose I am." "I could help you Cort." "You've never helped me before." "You've never allowed me to."

They both glance at Quito. "Quito you may go." Cort says to him. Quito stands and looks away from Cort. "I'm a Desmond and you’re a servant of the Desmonds. Obey me!" Quito glances at him then leaves the room. "Well?" Cort says to Irene. "You thought you didn't need help. That you were in complete control isn't that so?" Irene asks as she walks across the room. She glances back at him. "Well Cort what bothers you?" Cort walks towards her. "Bothers me? Nothing. But bore me, they all bore me. The imposter who pretends he's Philip Desmond and Holly, a girl who doesn't even know how to make up her mind." "Oh Holly is it?" Irene says with a smile. "And Jean Paul who doesn't care what happens to anyone." "You want Holly?" Irene asks. "That's not what I said." "She's lovely and I agree with you she should be yours if you love her. I can help you Cort. And if you help me Jean Paul and Philip will never bore you again I promise." Irene says to him with a smile. "Then I'll cooperate. Witch." Irene stares at Cort. "What did you call me?" "What you are a witch. I know that, I've known that for a long time." Irene steps away from him. "Oh how?" "Philip told me just before he disappeared. I also know where Philip Desmond is, the real Philip Desmond and why he disappeared." Cort says as he walks towards Irene. Irene turns towards him... "You know nothing of the kind." "Oh but I do. I just never said anything about the coven. They bored me; they bored Philip too didn't they. Poor Philip he never should have joined." "And what else did Philip tell you?" "No names, no he never identified any of the member of the coven." Cort walks away from her then points at her. "Only you because he said you were amusing. He liked to dabble in your witchcraft. He studied it in these books as a past time, a hobby dear cousin Philip. But then he realized you were taking it seriously. So he decided to drop the whole thing and go to Europe and then you took care of him."

"We did not kill Philip." "But he died didn't he?" "I don't know. I never went there. I don't know what happened to him in the caves." "I went there. Philip called me using witchcraft. I tried to save him Irene. Fancy that, all his money and all his inheritance comes down to me and I tried to save him. But he was lost in the caves. I never told anyone. Well who would believe me and what does it matter. Another Desmond goes to his doom mysteriously. Oh but I hated you Irene!"

"Without reason Cort believe me. It was never my idea to spirit Philip away. And when I prayed I never thought he would die. Believe me." "Well what does it matter if I believe you or not. What does matter is... Do you have the power to get me what I want?" "Yes, yes I do." "I want Holly. I want Holly to love me." "I see, love." "Can you? Witches do good as well as evil." Cort says as he puts his arm around Irene's shoulder. "Can you create love?" Irene smiles at him. Cort turns away from her. "I shouldn't do this? Can I trust you?" Irene walks up behind him and lays her hand on his shoulder. "Cort, my dear Cort. Holly will be yours."

Laslo enters the foyer from the outside door. Ada is walking through the foyer carrying a large tray. "Ah Ada, nothing at all. No sign of the young man or Jean Paul." Laslo says as he hangs up his coat. "Well perhaps they have taken shelter somewhere near the caves till the fog lifts. In any case there is nothing more that I can do." He looks at the tray. "Ah what a delicious snack for the weary traveler. Come along and we will share it by the fire." "Mrs. Hatter is waiting." Ada says as she follows him carrying the tray. Irene walks out of the Drawing Room. "Mrs. Hatter is leaving. I'm sorry my dear Ada it's much too late for me. Cort will show me home." Cort walks out of the Drawing Room. "Yes of course." "Oh no, no. Let me escort you Irene." Laslo says to her. "Oh Laslo really I..." Irene starts to tell him. Laslo looks at Ada. "You don't mind do you my dear. This is a very foggy and windy night Irene. You need a man to protect you." Irene looks at Cort. "Cort you will come to see me soon?" "Yes." "Good night." Irene walks towards Ada. "Good night Ada you've given me a much more pleasant evening than you know." Irene says then follows Laslo outside. Ada sets the tray down and looks up. "Cort what happened between you and Irene?" "Mrs. Hatter wanted a friend and some company." "Well I do not enjoy her company. You must avoid her; she's trying to ruin my family." "Well I wouldn't worry about it Mother." Cort says as he walks up the staircase. He stops and looks down at her. "Your family was ruined a long time ago." Cort turns and rushes up the staircase. "Cort!" Ada calls then looks away.

In the Drawing Room the book that Cort had been holding opens. On the page is a picture of a witch and a young man. "I want Holly. I want Holly. Can you create love?" A voice that sounds like Cort’s echoes quietly in the room.

Laslo and Irene enter the cottage. "I could tell Irene you are keeping something from me." Laslo says to her. "It doesn't concern you at the moment." Irene says taking off her coat and placing it on a chair. "Tell me!" "When the time comes. Go to your home dear Laslo. Go to your dear stepson." Irene tries to push him towards the door. "Irene?" "Good night Mr. Thaxton." Laslo walks out the door. Irene closes it behind him. Emily is in a chair curled up on her side. Irene walks over to her. "Emily? Still awake?" She brushes the hair from Emily's face with her hand. "Yes." "And depressed I can see. Well be of good cheer my child. The coven of witches will soon be completed and the circle of fire will blaze once more. All of our wishes will be answered. All of them."

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

~Ron/Bella~
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