STRANGE PARADISE- Episode 149

Strange Paradise: Episode 149

Episode 149: Slideshow

Laslo: “Evening at Desmond Hall and as darkness begins to engulf the Great House new tensions and conflicts develop within it. For Ada Thaxton has come to an important decision. For she and her son Cort will leave Desmond Hall and seek a new life elsewhere. There is one who is opposed to this plan. One who will do anything to stop it from happening. On this night she must seek a new course of action and many lives will be forever altered.”

Raxl has told Cort he will die if he leaves Desmond Hall. “Mark my words if you leave this house you will invite destruction.” “What are you talking about?” Cort ask. “Forces of evil will pursue you. With my help you can overcome them but you must not leave me.” Cort smiles. “What are these mysterious forces?”

“Forces of evil. They have always pursued the Desmonds.” “Oh nonsense.” Cort says to her. “You will be their next victim.” “Nonsense.” Cort says as he turns away. “It is not nonsense and you must listen to me.” Cort glances at her then stands. “I’ve heard enough. You’re trying to frighten me with your superstitions.”

Raxl stands. “There are more than superstitions. And I am not trying to frighten you. I am frightened for you.” “Well don’t be. You might believe in what you are saying but I don’t.” “You must not go away. You must not leave here. Listen, please listen to me.” “You may go.” Cort tells her. “Do not ignore my warnings.”

“I said you may go.” Cort tells her. Walking to the door Raxl stops and looks back at Cort. “Ask your mother what happened to her father.” “What?” “Ask her.” Raxl says to him then walks out of the room. Laslo enters the mansion and hangs up his coat. Cort enters the foyer when he hears the front door. “I thought you had left.” Cort says to Laslo. “I went out for a walk. I had to think.” Cort steps towards the staircase. “You no longer live here. Mother told you to get out.”

Laslo walks through then foyer. “I am still her husband. This is still my house.”

“All right Laslo stay, it doesn’t matter to me.” “Doesn’t it?” “No, stay here all you want. Mother and I are leaving.” Laslo turns towards him. “Leaving?” “That’s right; we’re flying to South America.” “What?” “We are leaving early this morning.” Cort says as he steps up to him. “We will be gone for a long time. We might never come back, but is we do Mother will have divorced you. And then you won’t have any right here.” “We will see about that.” Laslo says as he walks around Cort and rushes up the staircase. “Go on talk to Mother. See if you can talk her out of it.” Laslo stops on the stairs and glances at Cort. “Why do you hesitate? Because you know it won’t do any good, because you know you have lost.” Cort says as he looks up at him. Laslo steps down. “You little monster!” He passes Cort and grabs his coat. Cort smiles as he watches Laslo walk out of the house.

Raxl tells Jean Paul about Ada and Cort’s plans. “You must stop them.” She says to Jean Paul. “How can I?” “Talk to Mrs. Thaxton she will listen to you. Persuade her that they must not go.” Jean Paul looks at her. “And if I can’t?” “You must, Cort must not leave this house.” Raxl tells him as she walks across the room. “You know what can happen if he does.” “Raxl I don’t know anything for certain.” Raxl walks up to him. “The Mark of Death may leave you and pass on to him.” “It may not happen.” “And it might.” She turns away. “Here we can help him, protect him. If he leaves this house he is beyond our protection.” She says as she glances back at Jean Paul. “You must keep him here Master.” Raxl says as she touches his arm. There is a knock at the door. “Come in.” Jean Paul calls out. Raxl releases his arm and steps back. Ada stands in the doorway. “Ada.” Jean Paul calls out to her. “May I speak to you Jean Paul?” “Well of course.” “Would you leave us Raxl?” Ada asks. “Yes.” Raxl says with a bow.

Ada closes the door behind her. ”I have something to tell you. Something unpleasant.” Ada says as she leans against the chair. “Perhaps you have guessed what it is.” Jean Paul steps closer to her. “It’s you and Laslo.” Ada nods. “I’m divorcing him.” Jean Paul touches her hand. “I’m sorry.” He looks away. “So am I. Divorce isn’t pleasant but in this case it’s inevitable.” “Well I suppose the best thing is to do it as soon as possible.” Jean Paul says to her.

“That’s what I intend to do.” Ada says as she steps away from Jean Paul. “Cort and I are leaving for South America in the morning. That’s what I wanted to tell you. We are going to be gone for a very long time, we may possibly never return.” “Ada must you go?” Jean Paul asks as he walks towards her. “Oh Cort wants to go and I want to go too.I want to get out of this house.” She says as she turns her back to him. “It is full of too many unhappy memories. I want to go as far away as possible.” “Now listen you’ve made up your mind very suddenly about this. Don’t you think you’re acting rather impulsively? Running away isn’t the best solution especially when you act this way instead of thinking about it slowly and rationally.” He says as he walks towards her. She looks at Jean Paul. “I would still come to the same decision. I’ve got to get out of this house. If I’m here another day longer I’m going to lose my mind. A rest, that’s what I need a rest.” Ada says as she steps away. “All right if that’s the case then of course you should go. Ah Listen I think you should go alone Ada. "Why don’t you leave Cort with us, we’ll look after him Philip and I.“ “Well he’s not a child. And besides he wants to come. It was his idea.” Ada says as she looks at him. “Yes but do you think it’s a very good idea?” “But I want him to come. I need him. He’s all I have now.” Ada says as she looks away. “Ada I really don’t think you should depend on Cort. I don’t think it’s a healthy idea or a good idea for either of you.” Jean Paul says as he walks around her. Ada looks at him. “We’re leaving Jean Paul, I’ve made up my mind and I’m not going to argue with you.”

There is a knock on Irene’s door. She carries a candelabra and opens the door. Laslo enters the cottage. “Well I thought you would be back.” Irene tells him with a smile. “You’re coming with me.” “Where are we going?” “To see my wife.” “Really, what for?” Irene asks. “To tell her the truth. You’re going to tell her you blackmailed me into coming here today.” “All right Laslo I’ll tell her that.” “You better.” “Poor Ada deserves to know the truth, the whole truth.” she says with a smile. “What do you mean?” “I’ll tell her where you were today and I’ll also tell her why you were here on other occasions.” “She knows about us, she knows it’s over.” “Does she know about the coven?” Irene asks. “Of course not.” “Well she should know.” Irene says to him. “Why?” “Well as you said Ada should know the truth, the whole truth.” “The coven is broken. Why bring that up now?” Laslo asks. “Because it is part of your past. You do want Ada to know everything don’t you?” “I don’t want her to know about that. You know I don’t.” “Laslo I thought you finally decided to be truthful. Now you want her to know part of the truth. The part that won’t incriminate you. Well if I must have a little chat with Ada I’m afraid I will have to tell her the whole truth not just part of it.” “You scheming, deceitful...!” He steps closer to her. “Yes that’s what I am all right. I’ll tell her that as well if you like, all right Laslo? Well?” Laslo turns and walks out of the cottage. Irene turns and walks across the room carrying the candelabra when there is another knock at the door. She walks back and opens the door. “Laslo.”

Raxl stands in the doorway. She enters the cottage closing the door behind her.

“What do you want?” Irene asks. “You need my help once again.” “Do I?” “I’ve already helped you and you’ve gotten part of what you wanted.” “Your suggestions were very helpful. I did appreciate them.” Irene says as she walks away from Raxl. “And Cort did everything you said he would do. And now dear Laslo has lost his wife.” “You wanted more than revenge and I can help you get it.” Raxl tells her. “What else do I want?” “Laslo Thaxton.” Raxl says to her. “How do you know that?” Irene asks. “I know and you shall have him.” “How do you plan to arrange it?” “I know there was a coven of witches.” Irene turns away. “You heard me talking to Laslo. You were eavesdropping.” She says as she sets the candelabra on the mantel of the fireplace. “No matter how I know I know.” “What are you going to do about it?” “Ask you to join forces with me.”

Irene looks away. “Join forces?” “I too had powers, they have been denied me.”

“Then we’re in the same position. My powers are gone.” Irene says to her.

“Alone we are helpless but together we can call out to the Powers of Darkness. And perhaps they will answer us.” “Why do you want to call out to the Powers of Darkness? What do you want from them?” Irene asks as she steps closer to Raxl. “I want to help you.” “You must want something for yourself.” “I do.”

“What is it?” Irene asks. “It doesn’t matter. Would you join forces with me?”

Irene looks away. “I don’t know.” “You are helpless without me. Do you want your powers back?” Raxl asks. Irene looks at her. “Yes.” “Then you must join forces with me and together we will both get what we want.”

Ada stands in the Drawing Room drinking. Cort walks in. “I made the reservations to Rio. We’ll be leaving tomorrow at noon.” “Good.” Ada says with a smile. “No second thoughts?” Cort asks. “No I want to go.” “So do I.” Cort says as he walks around the room. “This place is starting to get to me. All its legends and ancestors and superstitions. Raxl told me something tonight.” “What?”

“She said if I leave Desmond hall I will die.” Ada steps closer to him. “Why would she say a thing like that?” “Oh it’s one of her million superstitions.” Cort says as he turns away and sits on the couch. “Oh I’ll be glad to leave it all behind.” “So will I.” Ada says as she glances around then looks at Jacques portrait. She raises her glass and finishes the drink. “She said something else that was strange.” Ada looks at him. “She said ask your mother about her father.” “My father?” Ada asks as she walks to the brandy decanter. “What did she mean?” Cort asks. “I don’t know.” “Well you never talk about him.” “He disappeared.” “Disappeared?” “Yes one day he was here and the next day he was gone. We never heard from him again.” “Well maybe he walked out like Gregory.” “No he and my mother were very happy.” She tells him as she takes a drink. “He had no reason to walk out.” Cort looks away. There must be some explanation.” Ada walks across the room. “They said he died mysteriously and that his ghost haunts this house.” Cort stands and looks at his mother. “Now you’re sounding like Raxl.” Cort says as he walks closer to his mother. “There are no such things as ghosts.” Ada glances at him. “No of course not.”

Raxl and Irene stand in front of the altar. “Let us join hands.” Raxl says raising her hand. Irene reaches out and holds it. “Spirits of the night. Spirits that exist in the heart of darkness hear us.” Raxl call out. “Hear us.” Irene repeats. “Show us that you hear us. Give us a sign.” “A sign, give us a sign.” Irene adds. A breeze blows through the room. “Together we would join you, we would serve you. You who exists in darkness we pledge ourselves to you.” Raxl calls out. “We pledge ourselves.” Irene says... “Tell us that you accept us. Let us hear your voices. Voices that exist in the heart of the fire. Call out to us. Call out to us!” “Call out to us.” Irene repeats. The room darkens and moans and shrieks fill the room. Thunder rumbles and the candles blow out. “They have heard us and accepted us.” Raxl says to Irene.

Cort sits on the couch and looks at his mother. “Tell me more about my grandfather.” “I don’t want to talk about him.” “Don’t tell me you believe those ghost stories about him?” “No of course not.” She says as she pours another drink. “Then why are you trembling?” “Cort, it’s time you went to bed, it’s getting very late.” “What about you? Are you going to stay down here drinking all night?”

“I’m going to have one more brandy and then I’m going on up to bed. I promise.”

Cort stands. “All right, goodnight.” Cort says as he walks from the room.

“Goodnight darling.” Ada calls out to him.

“Why must we do this?” Irene asks. “Do not ask questions.” Raxl says to her.

“But I don’t understand.” “You will in time.” Raxl says to her. She lights the candles at the altar. “Spirit of the night.” Raxl calls out. “Spirit of the night.” Irene repeats. “Hear us.” Raxl says. “Hear us.” Irene repeats. “Release a voice, let it be heard. Heard beyond the grave.” Raxl calls out.

Ada stands at the table filling her glass from the decanter. “Ada.” a voice calls out to her. Ada lowers the glass and glances around. “I thought I heard... But I couldn’t have. “ADA, ADA!” the voice has a ghostly sound to it. “I know that voice. It’s my father’s voice.” “ADA, ADA” “Where are you!” Ada calls out. She leans against the table. “I must be imagining things. It’s the brandy, I’ve had too much brandy.” “ADA” “Who are you?” Ada cries out. “ADA” “Where are you!”

“Follow my voice, my voice Ada.” Ada walks from the Drawing Room into the foyer. The voice calls from the staircase. She turns and walks up the staircase.

In Jean Paul’s room Laslo discusses Cort and Ada’s plans. “But traveling halfway around the world with that boy is preposterous.” Laslo says to Jean Paul. “I know it’s not a good idea. I already told her so.” “That neurotic adolescent can’t take care of anybody.” Laslo says as he walks across the room. “Himself included. He certainly can’t take care of Ada; she’s drunk half of the time. She can’t take care of herself. Somebody has got to take responsibility for this situation and that somebody is you.” “Well what do you expect me to do?” Jean Paul asks. “Remind Ada you are still head of the family. Tell her she cannot go.” Jean Paul walks up to Laslo. “Ada is a full grown woman I can’t give her orders.” “If something happens to Ada and Cort it will be your responsibility.” “Perhaps but...” The door opens and Cort rushes in. Jean Paul...” He sees Laslo. “What are you doing here?” “Do I constantly have to justify myself in this house?” Laslo asks. “What do you want Cort?” Jean Paul asks. Cort steps closer to him. “I’m looking for my mother.” “Well she must be asleep by now.” “No she’s not n her room.” Cort tells Jean Paul. “Then she must be downstairs.” Laslo says to him.

Cort turns towards Laslo. “She’s not there either. She’s been drinking a lot tonight.” “That’s not unusual.” Laslo says to him. “See I got worried about her so I went to see if she was alright. But she isn’t anywhere.” “She must be somewhere in the house. Why would she go out?” Laslo asks as he steps closer to Cort and Jean Paul. “I don’t know but we’ve got to find her.” Cort says as he rushes from the room. He rushes down the hallway calling out for his mother.

Raxl walks up to him. “Why do you call out to your Mother?” “I can’t find her. She’s not in her room.” “It cannot be true. Has she disappeared as her father did before her?” Raxl says to him. “No she hasn’t disappeared. She has to be in the house somewhere!” Cort says as he steps away from Raxl. “Your mother could be in great danger.” Cort glances back at her. “Danger? From what?” Raxl steps up to him. “You defied the ghosts of Desmond Hall. Tried to leave here, they may try to seek revenge.” “I told you I don’t believe in your ghosts!” “Your mother is in danger, it is real danger. I will help you. Come with me.” Raxl leads the way through the hallway. Cort rushes after her.

The voice leads Ada to Philip’s secret room. “Ada, Ada.” the voice still calls out to her as the door opens and Ada enters carrying a candle. The voice calls her name again and again. The door closes and Ada turns and looks at it as the voice calls to her.

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

~Ron/Bella~
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