Episode 16: Slideshow
In his room Quito makes up his bed, then uncovers his bird.
Jean Paul and Reverend Matt Dawson come down the stairs into the
crypt. "Even with the electrical
connections and cryonics capsule, I think this probably will be the best place
for the service. Don't you think Reverend Dawson?" Jean Paul asks. "Yes I suppose." Matt replies looking
around. "You have no objection to a
service without a burial?" "No, I
have officiated at many a service where the body is usually placed in the family
crypt," "But none I think quite
like this one." Jean Paul says.
"That's true, but as strange as it may be I do recall you did caution me
last night,” the Reverend tells him.
Jean Paul leads the Reverend through the crypt. "Yes I did but I don't think I told you
about a service without a corpse." Jean Paul shows him the cryonics
capsule. Quito stands in an archway
watching them. "Mr. Desmond, you
did say your wife has died?"
"In a sense that's true."
"In a sense? If the remains are in this capsule,” question the
Reverend. "In a cryonics capsule
where the remains remain undisturbed, inside an electronically controlled
environment insures an absolute temperature. Now even if movement ceased the
life is still in a state of suspension. Do you see my point?" Jean Paul
explains. Quito is still listening
to his Master Jean Paul and the Reverend."
"Frankly no, a person is either alive or dead according to God's
will." "Except on this Island."
Jean Paul tells him. The Reverend
looks up at Jean Paul. "I'm not with you Mr. Desmond." "You will be and so will Erica when she
returns to me. Even though you and God consider her dead." "You mean you deny God, as well as
scientist fact? You're wife was declared dead." says the Reverend. "I read sometime ago a body of a man was
found frozen to death after a blizzard. No heartbeat, no respiration and no
blood pressure. Clinically he was dead. But when the body was thawed out and
artificial respiration was applied the man's heart began to beat again." "God's will Mr. Desmond, and a medical
miracle." "In that order?" asks
Jean Paul. "Exactly." says the
Reverend. "I'm after the medical
miracle. It wasn't until thirty years later that the man died for a second time.
Thirty years Reverend Dawson a soulless corpse like a zombie." "I have no belief in zombies,” the
Reverend says. Quito is still
listening and slowly turns away.
"And I have every belief that Erica will one day be returned to me." Jean
Paul says. His face shows pain as he puts his hand to his forehead. The Reverend is watching him. "Are you
all right Mr. Desmond?" Upon Jean
Paul's hand is Jacques ring. With a smile he lowers his hand. "Couldn't be
better. Suddenly I feel like a load was lifted from my mind." "Don't let a miracle become a fact in
your mind. They seldom occur."
"Reverend you are a theologian, trapped by your own logic and
teachings." "And you are a man
chained by your lack of logic." the Reverend tells him. "Those chains can be easily melted. When
you want answers look to the Fire God, he has some new ones. New even for you."
Jacques tells him. "The devil?
Surely you’re not advocating a satanic belief?" With a smile Jacques says. "I don't
advocate or procrastinate. I live and let live. Fair enough?" "May we get back to what we were
discussing?" the Reverend asks. "Oh
yes life, death which we touched on both."
"Your wife's burial service. I'm not sure I can conduct it for a husband
who refuses to accept her death." says the Reverend. "Reverend Dawson, if God builds a stone
that even too for him to lift that is called a mountain. Why make a molehill out
of it?" Jacques says with a smile.
The Reverend turns away in disgust, then leaves the crypt. Jacques laughs quietly then walks to
Jean Paul's hiding place where the diary is kept. Taking it out Jacques grins.
"Erica's death diary." he says to himself. Jacques glances through it then
replaces it. He then walks to Erica's capsule. "You know for an immobile soul, a
lovely woman and a dearly departed, you sure cause a lot of action around here.
Well keep it up my sweet." he kisses his fingers then touches her capsule. "I
haven't had so much fun since one of my colleague fiddled while Rome burned.
Well let's see, who gets burned next?"
Holly is sitting in the Great Hall reading a book when the
Reverend walks up from the crypt. As he heads up the staircase to his room he
sees Holly, he turns and walks back down.
"Well hello Holly." Holly
jumps to her feet. "Good by.” She tries running up the staircase. "You can't keep running Holly. Please
don't." "Reflex action whenever I
see you, the friendly warden." Holly says turning around and comes back down the
stairs. "You make Wesley House seem
like the black hole of Calcutta,” the Reverend says. "Do you want to see my bruises, I have a
heart full of them." "I know how
difficult it was for you,” he tells her.
"Was? It is and always will be until you and my dear mother of mine leave
me alone." Holly tells him. "I
thought what we were doing was for your own good. To keep you out of
trouble." "And what have you
planned now, an extended vacation on Devils Island! Holly is standing with her
back to the Reverend holding her book.
"Holly. You've made mistakes and so have I. I'm ready to admit mine.
That's why I followed you down here. I think you owe me the courtesy of five
minutes, that's not asking to much." Matt is leaning over the banister, standing
on the first landing. "Okay, I'll
give you five minutes, from...now." she says as she snaps her fingers. The Reverend walks down the stairs.
"First your mother and I are not in a conspiracy. In fact she hates me, almost
as much as you do." He says walking behind her. "I don't hate you Reverend, I just hate
the things you do." Holly looks at the Reverend. "She hates you, oh come on
Reverend I thought she and you pipe the same tune." "We are completely out of harmony, I
assure you." "Then what brought you
to Maljardin?" Holly asks. "You. I
told you." "What for? To set me
straight or send me straight back to Wesley House?" Holly asks. "Because I thought you might need
me." "Need you, what for?" Holly
asks. "For protection, guidance,
maybe even comfort. You can use all three Holly." "I can use freedom, which gives me the
right to find my own comfort." Holly says as she walks away. "You're right of course. Why it was so
difficult wrestling with my own conscience." "Obviously your conscience lost the
bout." Holly tells him. "Let's call
it a draw, to ease the wrong you think I forced upon you. I've to correct it
would be the only way to show you how you have misjudged me." "No contest, come on Reverend go back
and fleece your flock." Holly tells him.
'Perseverance is a ministers stock and trade. Perseverance for good, I
mean." The Reverend tells her. "And
what about finding out for self gain? Where does that come into it?" Holly
asks. "Now you sound like your
mother." "She beat you to it. I
didn't think she had it in her. What did she do? Use that as a threat to get you
to tell her where I was?" "Your
mother didn't learn anything from me," the Reverend tells her. "Well I learned minute by minute. I
almost feel sorry Reverend Davidson."
"The Reverend gives her an odd look. "That's right, Dawson. That other fellow
he was a minister, a lecherous minister in a play called Rain. Wasn't that the
title Reverend?" "Yes and I don't
like the comparison." the Reverend says angrily. "That's enough Holly!" "I've had enough to. I don't care if
you're here solo or in cahoots with my mother all I want is for you to leave me
alone and get out of my way." Holly turns away. "Perhaps my timing is bad." The Reverend
looks down. "I'll wait until you calm down,” he says looking away from her. "How about a life time Reverend." "A lot sooner than that Holly. Before
you ruin your life for good!" he looks at her. "That will be my pleasure because that's
all I want from life a little bit of happiness." "Let me help you Holly." "Why, how do you mean that
Reverend?" "You'll know where I'll
be when you are ready to apologize." The Reverend leaves the room upset. Holly sits back in her chair and covers
her face with her hands crying.
Alison comes walking down the stairs. "Holly, what's wrong with Reverend
Dawson? He passed me on the stairs and barely acknowledged me. He was as white
as a sheet and angry as a..." She notices how upset Holly is. "You're
crying." "The story of my life.
Reverend Dawson and I had a rumble."
"From the looks of things and the sound of it, it was more of a
revolution." Alison walks around Holly's chair to the other side. "Modern age, except it's the good
old establishment." Holly says.
"Except Reverend Dawson isn't that old. And in reality you're not
that rebellious." Alison tells her.
"My mother will cut out your tongue." Holly smiles at her. "Holly, may I offer you a piece of
advice?" "Now you've joined the
help Holly club." "Help yes, not
hurt." Quito comes up from the
crypt. "Quito could you find
Reverend Dawson for me please." Alison asks him. Quito nods and heads up the staircase to
the bedrooms. "Are you calling a
revival meeting Doctor?" Holly asks. "I warn you the Reverends tune is always
out of key." Alison sits down on a
bench next to Holly. "So you have an ear for music have you?" "I've had it up to here with soap suds
and sympathy." Holly tells her as she stands up. "Holly if you just really listen instead
of just hearing you might benefit."
"I better cool it. The Reverend is coming." Holly says. "Run, run, run is that your solution.
You can talk to me. I'll listen." Alison tells her. "Well what it boils down to is me, my
mother and money, with Matt Dawson as the middle man." Holly says. Reverend Dawson is coming down the
staircase with Quito walking behind him. "I couldn't help hearing that Holly."
He walks over to Holly. "You know that an inheritance is a family matter and
that excludes me, understand." "And
I exclude you do you understand!" Holly tells him then rushes upstairs to her
room. Alison stands and walks over
to Matt. "She has her problems doesn't she Reverend?" "This house abounds with them
Doctor." "Oh I don't know. You're
here for the service aren't you?" Alison asks. "For Mrs. Desmond, yes if I decide to
stay to perform it." "Do you
really think you have a choice?" Alison asks. "That decision is mine. To me a woman
whose heart stopped minutes before she is frozen is still quite dead." "But not to Jean Paul, Reverend he
thinks Erica is still alive." says Alison. "By all religious concepts the soul
has fled the body. There only remains for God to decide if a miracle is
deserving here." "Well it seems
Jean Paul considers himself as powerful as God." Alison says as she takes a seat
on the couch. "But all miracles aside Reverend, I'm not sure I understand the
meaning of the word soul. Although medically speaking I'm sure my sister is
dead." "Perhaps we should be
dedicating ourselves to convincing your brother in-law of that. You're a doctor,
you should certainly be able to show him that cryonics is too new, too uncertain
and who knows it may never work." The Reverend says sitting next to Alison. "On the other hand, it may someday."
Alison tells him. "Saving souls. It
seems like were both in the same business." Matt says. "I asked you if you thought you had a
choice. Whether you realize it or not the answer is no." "About the service? Why? Matt asks. "Once you set foot on this Island, at
Maljardin you become a prisoner."
"But Mr. Desmond asked me to come and not by force." Matt tells her. "Yes but you'll be detained if you try
to leave." "Have you tried?" Matt
asks. Alison nods. "And you were prevented from
going?" Again Alison nods.
"Only Quito and Jean Paul himself can maneuver a boat in that channel. For
anyone else it's certain death. So we are all guests here until Jean Paul
considers otherwise." "Now Quito I
certainly wouldn't tussle with but suppose we speak with Raxl?'' asks Matt. "Raxl is as loyal to her Master as you
are to God,” replies Alison. "But
if we can prove to her that what he is doing is wrong. Certainly it's worth a
try." "I have tried. You'll
see for yourself." Alison pulls the cord to summon Raxl. "Perhaps these tarot cards will persuade
her. Vangie Abbott asked me to deliver them." The Reverend takes out the tarot
cards and walks over to Alison. "Perhaps if I spoke to Raxl alone." Raxl walks through the side door. "You
rang Doctor." "Reverend
Dawson has a message for you." Alison looks back at Matt then at Raxl. "Now if
you will excuse me." Alison leaves the room. Raxl looks at the Reverend. "A message.
From whom?" Matt hands her
the tarot cards. "Evangeline Abbott. Are they familiar?" "The tarot, it's been a long, long
time." Raxl glances at the cards.
"And the message?" she asks looking at the Reverend. "She says that you should use them for
everyone’s good." Raxl looks
away. "Do I make myself clear?"
asks the Reverend. "Too clear and
yet you a man of God? How much did the daughter of the Conjure Man tell you
sir?" "Enough to let me know that
only you can help all of us here." Matt replies. "Dark and ancient magic." Raxl
says. "Vangie says you are
surrounded by them." "There is no
other way." Raxl bows her head.
"Then you will do as she asks?"
Raxl nods her head. "Oh
there is one other thing. She said the third hour is best for her. Does that
mean anything to you?"
"Everything." Raxl says raising her head looking at the Reverend. "I too
must know what or who it is that roams the corridors of this house! Or the paths
of Maljardin."
"It sounds like you are talking of ghosts." Matt says. "Three hundred years ago that man died."
They both turn and look at the portrait of Jacques. "But did he really?" Raxl
asks. "After three hundred years I
would say most assuredly, yes." Matt tells her. "The power of the Great Serpent made him
an eternal prisoner, until the Master interfered." Raxl says. "The Great Serpent?" "My belief as you have yours." Raxl
tells him. "And your Master set
free a three hundred year old man?"
"Well somebody roams here. The Master found the conjure doll with a pin
driven through it's head. He withdrew the pin. Jacques Eloi Des Mondes, it must
be he who walks. It must be!"
"That's impossible!" the Reverend says loudly. "You believe in God, but what about his
work? I trust the tarot cards, but what about the words of the woman who reads
them?" Raxl asks. "I'm a messenger,
not a convert." Matt tells her.
"One conjure doll, one silver pin. If that pin were still driven into
that doll's head we would all be safe."
"Raxl, that is witchcraft!"
"Do you feel safe Reverend?" Raxl walks away. Matt turns and looks at the portrait of
Jacques.
Jean Paul comes into the Great Hall walking quickly. "I'm sorry
for keeping you for so long Reverend Dawson, but I had many things to say to
Quito. He's been hurt." "I thought
he was impervious to pain." "No I
don't mean physically. He overheard our earlier conversation." "In the crypt. I didn't see him,” the
Reverend says. "Well that is his
lodging place." Jean Paul says.
Matt gives a shocked look.
"Yes that is where he is happiest, close to my ancestors and his beliefs.
Now about tomorrow, ashes to ashes etc. Have you prepared your text for the
service?" "No, that is the least of
it. I'm not even sure whether or not I can conduct the service." Matt tells
him "Still undecided? Look how can
I persuade you?" Jean Paul is getting angry. "I'm undecided about you too, Mr.
Desmond. I've heard some very strange things!" "In due time Reverend things will adjust
themselves. Look, I am not accustomed to being questioned. Ordinarily I ask and
others do!" Jean Paul walks away.
"And what you are asking me to do is to pay lip service to a sacrilege."
Matt says as he walks over to Jean Paul.
"We both believe in immortality, you in the soul and I in the body.
Erica's sister wants this service and in consideration for Alison's feelings I
agreed. Now you will do it my way or there will be no service at all!" Jean Paul
says angrily. Quito walks up from
the crypt. "Quito, secure the
boats. There will be no further trips to the Mainland, and no trips even for the
mail. Until a matter between the Reverend and his conscience has been resolved"
Jean Paul looks at Matt. "Now I will be in my room until you are ready." "What kind of a man are you?" Matt asks
walking over to Jean Paul. "A man
who is in love, Reverend. You have met them before. You know love of course,
you're a minister you are permitted are you not?" he says angrily. "After marriage certainly." "Erica and I are man and wife. We took
the marriage vows. Now I want to share with her my life, that is part of the
marriage vows!" "To death do us
part. That is also in the ceremony!" Matt says angrily. "Events have been rewritten. And events
have rewritten the pages of history. Such events are propagated by circumstances
and by the people. We are now facing an unusual event." Jean Paul says. "And a very strange man." the Reverend
adds. "You are a very stubborn
one." Jean Paul says. "But a very
determined one Mr. Desmond." "No
more determined than I am Reverend."
Raxl is in Quito's room laying the tarot cards down on a table.
Quito signs to her. "I know the
dangers, if you are afraid go stand in the protection of the pentagram." Quito nods and walks away. Raxl holds her arms out over the cards.
"In the name of tarot I bid you follow the true paths and read with me Conjure
Man before we are all doomed."
Quito pushes the door to the temple
open.
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Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide
presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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