Episode 27:
Slideshow
Holly rushes down the staircase heading for the dining
room. She stops when she sees Quito, he helps her be seated. He signals the sign
for eating. "Just coffee, thank
you." Holly says quietly. Quito
pours it for her. He walks behind Holly, reaches out his hands and touches
Holly's head. Holly cries out,
jumping to her feet she tries to get away from Quito. Jean Paul is at the bottom of the
staircase. "Quito!" Holly runs to
Jean Paul. He puts his arm around her. "Quito, that was foolish and childish. I
don't want to see it happen again!"
"I thought he was going to strangle me." Holly tells Jean Paul. "It's all right, it's all right. I can
assure you he meant no harm." Jean Paul looks at Quito. "You can go." Quito leaves the room covering his mouth
with his hand. He is upset. "I
guess I lost my cool didn't I?" Holly asks. Jean Paul releases her. "He's really
like a child, but I don't blame you for being upset. I was beginning to get that
way myself." Jean Paul says then pulls a chair out for Holly. "Until I acquired
a few house guests." "Is that why
you're keeping us here?" Jean Paul
takes a seat. "Well I would rather it was otherwise." "You mean you wish we weren't
here?" "I'd rather you were all
here under happier circumstances." says Jean Paul. "The loss of your wife must have been a
real blow to you." "My wife is
still with me,” says Jean Paul."
"Oh yes of course, but it's quite not the same
thing."
Quito walks down to the crypt. He checks the gauges of the
capsule. He then arranges the flowers and kneels down next to the capsule,
leaning on it he cries.
Jean Paul says. "I have the past to look back on and the
future to look forward to." He reaches for the coffee pot and pours a cup. "When my father was alive I'd get up
practically at the crack of dawn to be with him." "You were very fond of your
father." "We were very fond of each
other. We used to do so many things together. We used to have a language all our
own. Mother couldn't understand it and it used to make her so furious." Holly
says with a smile. "Yes and that
special language, you still have all your own." "You only think that way because you're
over thirty. I talk that way because it's the in thing to do and if I didn't I'd
be a real drag." "Then your
childhood isn't all as terrible as you suggested." Jean Paul says. "The part with my father was great, but
my mother was a witch and will always be."
"Well may I join this tet a tet?" Elizabeth asks as she is coming down
the stairs. "An extra head in a tet
a tet deserves to get bumped." Holly says.
Jean Paul stands as Elizabeth walks to the table. "My it's nice to have company at this
hour." Says Elizabeth. "My
sentiments exactly." Says Holly.
"May I assume that you'll be..." says Jean Paul. "Clear the decks for action or that
witch will make a clean sweep even without her broom." Jacques says. Jean Paul glances toward the Great Hall
then back at Elizabeth. "Did you
say something Jean Paul?" Elizabeth asks.
"After a fashion yes, you see I have a secret of my own too,” says Jean
Paul still standing. "Well someone
let me in on the secret." says Elizabeth.
"Then it wouldn't be a secret,” says Jean Paul. "You make it sound ominous." "Sometimes things happen beyond ones
control." Jean Paul tells her.
"Like a man and his conscious or a woman who has no conscious at all."
says Jacques. Jean Paul again
glances to the Great Hall. He turns and stares at Elizabeth, then taking his
seat they serve themselves breakfast.
"It's a lovely morning,” says Elizabeth. "Yes, I think it will be when the sun
breaks through the haze." Jean Paul says then rings the bell. "I used to love to walk in the morning
mist." Elizabeth tells him. "You
were generally staggering on your way home." Holly tells her mother. Quito comes into the room walking up to
Jean Paul. "Have the cryonic gauges
been checked for order?" Jean Paul asks Quito. Quito nods. "Make sure they are checked again in two
hours. And take the mail to the Main Island and make sure to see if we have mail
to pick up." Quito nods and walks
away. "He's just like a faithful
puppy dog." Elizabeth says. "He
loved my wife as I do." "I meant no
harm Jean Paul, you know that." "It
just comes out that way doesn't it naturally?" Holly says. "Holly behave yourself please."
Elizabeth says. "Why don't we
both." says Holly. Jean Paul
stands. "If you'll excuse me." He leaves the room. "Have you been making a pest of yourself
with Mr. Desmond? Elizabeth stands and asks. "He made no move to cut out until you
arrived on the scene." Holly says standing up and rushing away. "Holly, I'm talking to you." Elizabeth
follows Holly to the Great Hall. "Holly do you hear me? I'm talking to you!
Well?"
Jean Paul walks into his room and closes the
door.
Holly and Elizabeth both glance up the staircase. "You must not bother him with your silly
talk. The man is grieving and needs to confide in adults." Elizabeth tells her
daughter. "Like you maybe." "Well I've known grief,” says
Elizabeth. "Ha, your mascara didn't
even get damp at Dad's funeral. Only time you felt grief is when you found out
you lost out on the money." "You
have a nasty, mean little mind!"
"It runs in the family,” says
Holly.
In his bedroom Jean Paul looks out his window. Putting his
hand to his head he rubs his forehead. Walking over to his bed he lies down
closing his eyes. "Thinking of
Erica? Hmm ok she is charming beyond belief, but also temporarily beyond your
grasp." Jacques says to Jean Paul.
"She will live and she will be with me again." Jean Paul says. "If you do as I say, since I'm forced to
live my life in your body. Allow it some of the pleasures of the flesh. I feel
stilted,” says Jacques. "What part
of my life you control, you'll live my way." Jean Paul tells him. "Why torment us both, Elizabeth Marshal
has charm. And you would have to be blind not to see that she's willing. I might
even say eager." "You want me
to substitute a woman like Elizabeth Marshal for my beloved Erica? Never!" says
Jean Paul. "Then may I remind you
that Erica's blood flows in Alison Carr’s veins." Jacques tells him. "You disgust me,” says Jean Paul. "You disappoint me. So many blossoms to
be plucked and you lie there dreaming while the whole world goes by. I can't
have that." Jacques portrait goes blank.
Jacques in Jean Paul's body sits up and stretches.
Standing he walks over to a chair and sits down smiling. Looking at the bookcase
Jacques stands and walks over to it. On the third shelf down he removes the last
three books. He pushes a button that is against the side of the bookcase. The
bookcase swings inward and with a smile Jacques puts the books back. Stepping
inside the door closes.
Holly walks up the staircase, she walks up to Jean Paul's
bedroom door and knocks. "Mr. Desmond? Mr. Desmond it's me Holly." She opens the
door and enters. Walking in she looks around. She sees a small table with a
globe on it, the bed, and a chair sits next to the bed. She glances at the
bookcase, turning she leaves closing the door. Standing outside the door she
says out loud. "But I saw him go in there." "All right lady, you're under arrest."
Tim comes up and grabs Holly's arm.
Holly jumps and pulls away. "Tim that isn't funny! There are enough
creepy things around here already." She turns and rushes down the steps. She
stops on the first landing. "Wait,
clue me in. What's wrong?" Tim asks following Holly down the steps. "Well I saw Mr. Desmond go into his room
not more than ten minutes ago. He couldn't have left without me seeing him Tim,
he isn't in there now." "Well maybe
there's another entrance." Tim says.
"There isn't, I wasn't just spinning my wheels when I said there was
something creepy about this place." Holly says walking down the rest of the
staircase. "Come on, I'll protect
you. You can watch me have breakfast. How about that for an attraction?" "No thanks; I'll skip that one. My
mother is probably in there. You're welcome to her if you’re that hard up for
company." "Doesn't that continual
cat fight you keep carrying on make you both miserable." Tim asks. "If you have any advice, give it to Lady
Macbeth." Holly says turning away from Tim. Elizabeth is sitting at the dining room
table when Tim walks in. "Oh I thought you were Mr. Desmond." she says to
him. "So your fading smile told me.
Is he upstairs?" Tim asks taking a seat.
"He went up a few minutes ago. Why?" "You would have seen him if he came
down?" Tim asks. "Of course. You make it sound so
mysterious.
Jacques in Jean Paul’s secret room watches Tim and
Elizabeth. He turns the monitor off and picks up the microphone. He turns on the
recorder. "Now hear this Jean Paul. When I hold control over this body of yours
there must be livelier times around here. The choice between Alison, Elizabeth
and yes even that little morsel Holly (he hold up three fingers one at a time)
and all their tricks to win my favor. That must prevail. Why do you have to be
such a dull fellow? Dull and foolish." Jacques smiles and turns off the
recorder. He then turns on the monitor. The crypt shows up on the screen. "
Hello, are you there Erica? Well of course you are. Take heart Jean Paul will be
joining g you after I take what is mortal of him. And lead a merry life in place
of his dreary existence. Aw, poor Erica, all his hopes that I will help him with
all my dark arts to restore you to life on this planet are but or could be but
idle dreams. For he is good and I am not. But I have more fun." Jacques
laughs.
In the Great Hall Tim says. "I've been studying the
snapshots of Erica so long I’m beginning to think of her as living. But I can't
get it down on canvas." he is talking to Elizabeth. Tim is working on the
portrait, Elizabeth is standing near him.
"Could it be your confusing your living model with a dead one? My
daughter isn't exactly the figure of delicate grace, that Jean Paul tells us his
late wife was." "Well there's a
real delicate grace about your daughter Mr. Marshal. It's just a shame you can't
see it that's all." Tim says. "It's
a matter of opinion." Elizabeth says.
"Well there's another opinion I want to pass to Holly. That her mother
isn't quite the monster she thinks she is or I thought she was." "And I have an opinion. That you
show an inclination to meddle where you don't belong." Elizabeth tells him. "Have it your way." Tim says turning
away. "I pretended I didn't know
what you were getting at when you asked about Jean Paul having left his room. I
overheard what Holly told you. And you believed her?" "Believed her about what?" Tim
asks. "About Mr. Desmond not being
in his room when you caught her leaving it." "Yes I believed her." Tim says. "How little you know about my daughter.
Your blind to the brazen way she's been throwing herself at Jean Paul." Jacques is watching Tim and Elizabeth.
"Well it looks like we have to be careful don't we Jean Paul, of one Elizabeth
Marshal. I give you back your body." Jacques says recording the message. Jean Paul covers his face in pain with
one hand; the other is holding the microphone. The recorder is still running.
Jean Paul looks at the monitor then turns it off, then turns and turns off the
recorder. Turning he quickly leaves the secret
room.
Holly is walking by Jean Paul’s room when the door opens.
"Mr. Desmond, you're in your room."
"Is that so amazing?" "Well
you weren't in your room a few minutes ago." Holly tells him. "I wasn't, I of course I must have been
taking a shower." "But I didn't
hear the shower running, or did I? I even called your name. Oh well as long as
you are okay." Holly turns and walks back down the staircase. Jean Paul turns and walks back into his
bedroom. He puts both hands to his temple. Walking over to the table with the
globe he places his hand on it. "Jacques Eloi Des Mondes, don't be encouraged by
these lapses of mine. After each one I discover more about the tricks you use
and soon I'll discover them all."
"We'll find out eventually whose resources are the more numerous."
Jacques says. "We shall see about
that. If science refuses to return my Erica to me I will be perfectly willing to
join her." "In due time, as I wish
it not you. I'm perfectly capable of countering any move you may make. Be sure
of the that." Jacques tells him.
"I'll find the silver pin and the conjure doll, be just as assures of
that." "Not where I hid them." "We'll soon see." "Lie down will you please. I'm
tired." Jean Paul has trouble
keeping his eyes open, he falls onto the bed. "Now who's the boss?" Jacques asks. Jean Paul quickly sits up; he gets off
the bed and runs from the room, down the staircase to Jacques portrait. Jacques laughs. "Did I ring for
you?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide
presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
