Strange Paradise:  Episode 115
Episode 115a:  Slideshow
Episode 115b:  Slideshow
Philip: "Desmond Hall the lonely mansion high on the bluff overlooking the sleepy village of Desmondton. It is here within the walls that the Desmond family has kept its secrets for centuries. And now outside forces threaten to reveal the hidden terrors of the house. For in the town a witch gains power as Jean Paul Desmond reaches for a last thread of hope. The hope that resides in the lovely Helena, a living replica of his dead wife."
 
Helena stands in front of the fireplace facing Jean Paul. "I'm sorry for threatening you. I want to make life happy for you. To remove every threat overshadowing Desmond Hall. But you mustn't call me Erica again. I'm not Erica and I won't be Erica." Helena says as she walks towards Jean Paul stopping in front of him and gripping his jacket.  "Helena I am sorry. It was accidental, a mistake."  "Was it? Or am I becoming like Erica?"  "No. No not at all! I love you. I'm not in love with a memory. It's you I need, it's what you are."  "I don't know what I am Jean Paul. Just now I felt as if a knife had went through my hand. That's a warning that someday a knife will plunge into my heart."  "Helena, Helena please you mustn't be afraid. Nothing will harm us nothing. We're together now and I won't let anything hurt you." Jean Paul says holding her. You've given me new strength."
"Jean Paul, when Erica returned she came to you as a demon didn't she?"
"You've got to forget about Erica." Jean Paul tells her.  "Yes Helena. Forget Erica, forget me if you can." Erica's voice tells her.  "Did you hear anything my darling?" Helena asks Jean Paul.  Jean Paul pulls back. "Hmm no nothing. What do you mean?"  Helena pulls away from him and walks to the window. "Oh I don't know. The wind sighing like a lost lady. Or footsteps on the walk approaching."
"No nothing." Jean Paul tells her.  "I do love this house you know. It's rustling with all sorts of secret enchantments. You made a mistake believing that the secrets must be deadly. They're not you know I'm going to change all that, you'll see." Helena says as she looks at Jean Paul with a smile.  Jean Paul walks towards her. "You have already changed that my darling. I've never felt so light hearted since...well I can't remember when."  "Can't you? Since Erica you meant to say. Since the real Erica gentle Erica. Sweet, submissive Erica before she died. But we weren't going to speak of that were we." Helena says as she turns her back to Jean Paul and looks out the window. "Oh look there is someone coming up the walk with Quito."  Jean Paul reaches for the curtain and glances out. "It's Philip!" Jean Paul says then rushes from the room. Walking to the door he opens it. "Philip."  "Good morning Mr. Desmond." Philip says as he walks into the foyer.
"We've searched for you half the night. Thank God Quito found you."  "Actually I met Quito coming up the drive. There was no need to search for me."  "Oh nonsense, you scared half the life out of us. We thought you got lost in the fog and had gone over the cliffs."  "I didn't even notice the fog."  "Oh come in, come in. You must be exhausted."  "No, not a bit." Philip says as they walk through the foyer.  "Quito would you fetch Raxl for me." He looks at Philip. "Raxl will fix you something to eat. You must be starving."  Philip stands in the doorway of the Drawing Room. "No I'm not hungry. I had some chocolate with me."  "Well the missing stranger returns." Helena says as she walks across the room. "Not looking like he was missing at all. You had everyone worried."  "Philip I would like you to meet Helena Raleigh a guest."  "Good morning Miss Raleigh." Philip shakes her hand.  "What happened?" Jean Paul asks Philip.  "I went for a walk."
"Through the entire night? Well your branch of the Desmond family must be hardy indeed." Helena says to him.  "We are." Philip tells her.  "You walked the entire night?" Jean Paul asks.  "No I spent part of it sleeping."  "Sleeping?" Helena says.  "Yes I found some sort of Grotto a sort of cranny in the cliffs and I sat for a while to look at the view. The town from there looks like a toy village at night. I guess I fell asleep."  "You didn't hear us calling you?" Jean Paul asks.
"No but I had dreams. I was in a dark place locked up. And I heard a girl calling me. I clearly heard her calling Philip."  Holly stands in the doorway. "I called Philip. But I wasn't calling you. You're not Philip Desmond are you?" Holly says walking up to him.  Raxl is straightening Philip's room when Quito pulls on her arm. "Yes Quito, I know the Master wants me and I will go as soon as I'm finished here. Oh a young man, he's as messy as a child." Raxl says as she picks up the cloths from the floor. She lifts his bag and something falls out to the floor. Looking at it she picks it up. "Quito a totem. A totem in which the Indians ensnare their spirits. No one must know that I found this Quito. Especially the young man who calls himself Philip Desmond." Quito nods. Raxl quickly put the totem back in Philip's bag and sets it on a chair.
 
Helena puts her arm around Holly's shoulder. "Come along Holly. Sit down. You don't know what you’re saying."  Holly sits and looks at Philip. "I do know that he's not Philip Desmond."  Jean Paul walks to the couch and sits next to Holly.   "No not your Philip Desmond. Not Jean Paul's brother. I never said I was." Philip says as he stands next to the couch.  "Holly, Philip is my cousin. He carries the same name that's all.' Jean Paul says looking at Holly.  "He said he wasn't Philip but I didn't believe him. I do now,"  "I'm glad Holly. Now you can get to know me the way I really am."  "No I don't want to know you."  "Holly." says Jean Paul.  "He looks like Philip doesn't he? Exactly like him." Holly says to Jean Paul.  "Yes."
"Then he's got no right to be here. Philip is here, the real Philip."  Jean Paul glances away from Holly.  "He spoke to me last night. Jean Paul he said he wants to be the only Philip. That's what he told me."  Jean Paul glances back at her.  "Philip Desmond is dead." Philip tells Holly.  "He isn't!"  "How do you know that may I ask? Well you said you were from far away. The disappearance of Philip is a mystery. How do you know what's become of him?" Helena asks.  "He doesn't, he couldn't." Holly tells them.  "Jean Paul would you please take Holly to her room. I want to talk to your cousin alone." Helena asks.  "Helena I don't think you should be involved." Jean Paul tells her.  "But you’re involved and therefore so am I. We'll have an intimate chat won't we Mr. Desmond?"  "What ever you like.' Philip answers her.  "Very well Helena. Holly." he says to Holly then looks at Helena. "If that’s what you want." He glances at Philip before leaving the room.
Philip takes his jacket off then looks at Helena. Helena turns and looks at the flames in the fireplace then looks back at Philip "Well Mr. Desmond who are you? You fooled the others but not me.'  Philip laughs and walks towards her. "I'm Philip Desmond."  "From Canada?"  "Yes." He leans on the fireplace next to Helena.  "And you've never been to Desmond Hall before?"  "Never."  "Never met Jean Paul or his brother Philip?"  "No."  "And yet you know that Philip is dead. How?"  "I try to keep in touch with what ever is going on with my cousins.' Philip says with a smile.  "Are you a cousin?"  "Well look at me. Do I look like a Desmond or a pretender?" Philip asks as he sits in a chair then looks up at Helena. "I know my ancestry. I know the history of the Desmond family and I know who you are Cousin Erica."  Helena laughs. "You're mad. Now I know why you confused them all you're stark raving mad." Helena says as she turns away from him.  Philip stands and grabs her arm. "You didn't deny what I said."  "Why should I? It's too incredible." She says looking at him. "Now be a good little pretender and let me go.'  "Are you Erica Desmond?"  The voice of Erica speaks to Helena. "Yes are you?"  "No!" Helena shouts. She looks at Philip. "Now let me go."  Philip releases her arm then stares at her.  "You're the stranger here and you have no right asking questions."  "It's the only way I know to find answers. I want answers, that's what I came here for.'  "Could there be other reasons? Such as the Desmond fortune."  "I don't want their fortune. They can keep it."  "Very generous, then what do you want besides answers?"  "Acceptance Miss Raleigh. Acceptance will be enough for a start." he says angrily then walks from the room.
Erica starts laughing. "Ridiculous isn't it. Incredible, he thought that you were me."  Helena stares ahead in horror.
 
In her bedroom Jean Paul talks to Holly. "You said that Philip speaks to you."
"And appears to me right here in this room." Holly says as she sits on her bed.
Standing near the bed Jean Paul asks. "What does he say to you?"  "That he loves me."  "Holly?"  "He used to ask me to help him. I think he came to me because he was trying to reach you and somehow I was receptive to him." She says as she turns her back to Jean Paul. "He never speaks very clearly to me. He never said where he was or whether he was dead or alive."  "But you insist that he is alive."  Holly turns and looks at Jean Paul. "Because I love him. Don't you understand I want to be with him no matter where he is.'  "But what if he is dead?"  "How can you say that?" Holly cries out.  "Holly I'm just trying to look at the facts and I want you to also. Now what if Philip is dead?"  Holly turns away. "I don't know. He can't be. But if he is then life is so cruel that I'll never see alive, touch him or be near him. Then I think I would rather be with him in death."
Jean Paul stares at her.
 
Helena walks around the Drawing Room in agitation when Raxl enters. "The Master sent for me."  "He isn't here Raxl that's obvious." She walks away from Raxl.   Raxl walks up to her. "You seem upset Mademoiselle."  "How perceptive of you Raxl. That's rather obvious too."  "Is there anyway I can help?"  Helena turns and looks at Raxl. "Do you want too? Do you really want too?"  "Whatever will help my Master Miss Raleigh."  "Oh come now you don't place me in that category do you? Well you never believed that I would help him. As you don't now."  "I'm not here to judge only to follow orders." Raxl says as she looks away from Helena.  "I find that a little incredible. Let me look at you Raxl as I see you." Helena circles Raxl. "Sweet, bubbling personality that you are. You are the major force of Jean Paul's actions. And look where it got him so far." Helena says as she walks way from Raxl.  "You do not know of what you speak."  "I know of Jean Paul's tragedy Raxl. I've seen the Mark of Death on his hand."  Raxl looks at her. "You must never speak those words again!" Raxl says angrily.  "And you're very thorough too aren't you Raxl? Keeping his secret. Keeping him separated from the world." Helena walks towards Raxl. "Alone with his suffering and you haven't stopped his suffering. You haven't tried to set him free!"  "You don't know what I've tried"  "You have made him a prisoner."  "Are you going to set him free? Will you take him out into the world and tell him to forget the curse that is upon his soul? And when he is forced to kill and he will be forced neither you nor I can help him. And when he does the world will know, the police will know. What will he be then if not a prisoner? Is that how you plan to save him? Miss Raleigh my Master has been cursed for the rest of his life because he loved a woman. His love for you may end his life."
 
Philip takes his shirt off and throws it on the dresser. He then walks to the wardrobe and takes out a robe. "You won't mind if I borrow this will you Philip? It's a perfect fit." He puts the robe on. “But I wouldn't pick the same cloths as you Philip. Too fancy, I need something tougher. I'm not an aristocrat Philip. I'm a wonderer with a mission." He walks to his bag and takes out the totem. "A deadly serious mission." (The totem has a shape of an otter or some other animal)
 
Jean Paul closes the drapes in Holly's room as she lies in her bed. "There now rest Holly. Promise me." Jean Paul says as he walks over to the bed. "I’ll try."
"Good.” Jean Paul says then sits on the edge of the bed. "Holly I love my brother as much as anyone could and I know why you are feeling the way you are feeling. But you must remember life is for the living and this young man this Philip Desmond who is here with us is alive. So please don't reject him." Jean Paul touches Holly's hand then stands and leaves the room.  Holly turns her face away from the door. "See Philip no one understands. No one."  "I understand Holly. They will try to keep us apart Holly. They will try to stop you from loving me." Philip materializes next to Holly's bed. "But before they do you must come to me Holly. You must join me." Philip fades away.
 
Jean Paul is coming down the staircase as Raxl leaves the Drawing Room. "Oh Raxl Holly is resting and is not to be disturbed."  "Yes Master." "Where is Miss Raleigh?"  "She is in the Drawing Room." Raxl says, bows and walks away.
Jean Paul walks into the Drawing Room. "Helena what is the matter? Are you crying?"  Helena sits on the couch and looking away she wipes her eyes. "No, no I'm not. It's just smoke from the fire."  Jean Paul sits next to her. "You are crying darling, why?"  "No reason. Just a little shower of tears that's all. “Well did Raxl do anything to upset you?” No nothing, nothing at all.' She says as she gently touches Jean Paul's face. "And you're here now and God is in heaven and all is right with the world. “Helena did Philip do anything or say anything to hurt you?"
"He confused me with Erica." Helena says as she looks away. "Strange don't you think. “He’s never known Erica. He's never ever seen her. “He knows a lot more than you think your cousin. “Indeed I do." Philip says as he stands in the doorway.  "Philip?" Jean Paul catches himself then laughs. "I'm sorry but for a moment you looked like my brother."  "I am wearing his robe. I hope you don't mind?" Philip says as he walks through the Drawing Room.  "Oh not at all. It's just that you startled me for a moment." Jean Paul says as he stands up.  Philip leans on the mantel of the fireplace.  "If it isn't too early for a drink I could use one." Helena says. "Of course." Jean Paul says as he walks around the couch.
"You were saying Miss Raleigh that I know too much." Philip says with a smile.
"No I didn't say too much Mr. Desmond. I said a lot."  "Well either way you were right. I know for instance that somebody has been going through my things. Someone went through the knapsack I left in my room."  "Are the contents so secret Mr. Desmond?" Helena asks.  "Does it really matter?" Philip asks.  "Well any guest in Desmond Hall has a right to privacy Philip. I'll make certain it doesn't happen again." Jean Paul says as he hands a drink to Helena. Philip nods.
"Perhaps it's too late. Perhaps your cousin's secret has been discovered. Would you join me in a glass of sherry Mr. Desmond?"  "No thank you."  "A virtuous man. Well then you have nothing to hide at all."  "We all have thing we want hidden."  "Philip you mentioned that you knew Erica. You knew what she looked like. How is that?" Jean Paul asks as he steps closer to Philip.  "Well I read the papers Mr. Desmond."  "Research the papers it would seem." Helena says to him.  "Well the Desmonds are a very famous family. Especially you Jean Paul. There were stories and pictures from all over the world. On a safari, on a polo pony. Skiing in Switzerland and marrying a very famous actress." Philip says as he walks around the couch and leaning on the back of it to look at Helena. "It didn't take much research did it Miss Raleigh?"  "Such extensive reading must have caused envy Mr. Desmond."  "I don't play polo. I don't ski and I'm not married."   "Helena I think you've teased Philip long enough."  "I wasn't teasing." Helena says as she takes a sip from her drink.  "Well Philip you've explored the cliffs by night how about exploring them by day? Why not take a walk with me and this time you may not get lost." Jean Paul says with a laugh."  "Don't worry about losing me. Is it all right Miss Raleigh if I take him away from you for a while?"  "As long as you bring him back."  "I wouldn't think of doing anything else."  "I wouldn't have it any other way."  "Now we will just be a little while darling." Jean Paul gives her a kiss on the head.  "I'll go get my jacket." Philip says as he leaves the room.  "Jean Paul?"  He turns and looks at Helena.  Helena stands and walks over to him and holds his hand. "Don't go along the cliffs."  "Helena I know the path by memory."  "Not too near the edge."
He touches her face. "Would I risk my life when I have so much to live for?"
"Jean Paul I'm afraid."  Jean Paul laughs. "That I haven't got a firm footing?"
"Of him."  Jean Paul turns and looks at the foyer. "Of Philip?"  "Well you don't know who he is. You didn't know what he wants here."  "Philip is a relative visiting another part of the Desmond family that's all. In the past we had a misunderstanding. I want to forget all about that. If Desmonds use to hate other Desmonds it's in the past. Now Helena please welcome him. Trust him for me." He says holding her.  "I'll try, for you." Helena says as she pulls back from him. He kisses her then touching her face he turns and walks away.  "But not too near the edge." Helena says then turns and walks to the window. She stands and looks out.
 
Holly is asleep in her room when Philip calls to her. "Holly, I know now that I must have you with me." He materializes. "Before you fall in love with another man. How can I give you the courage to join me? How can I tell you what it will mean? Sleep and dream that we are together because when you come to me it will be as easily as sleep." Philip fades away.
 
Helena pours a glass of wine as Erica's voice calls out to her. "No Helena. It was never one of my vices."  "Where are you Erica?"   "Oh you hear me."  "You're not subtle; you’re not subtle at all." Helena says.  "Oh but neither are you. You set out to get what you want and then you get it. I admire that really."  Helena glances around the room.  "A woman after my own heart." Erica tells her.  "What do you want with me? What do you want?" Helena shouts.  "A friend."  "You are not my friend. Where are you?"   "I think you know my dear. Sometimes near, sometimes far away. Sometimes in the very words you speak."  "Go away!"  "Ungrateful girl when I'm giving you a husband."  "Jean Paul isn't yours to give! He's mine!"  "You and I are almost one Helena. And we shall become closer as time goes on, until we are all but the same person."  "Go away! Get out of here!" Helena screams and smashes the glass into the fireplace.  Erica starts to laugh.
 
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Summaries written by Debby Graham .  The slide presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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Episode 116