Episode 36: Slideshow
"I'm going to have to put my foot down no séance." Alison
tells Jean Paul. "It's already
settled Alison." "It may be in your
mind but not in mine. It's to
dangerous."
"I'm ready for the risk." says Jean Paul. "I'm thinking of Vangie as well." Raxl walks up to them. "But the Conjure
Woman did not see her death only him."
"I know, a man possibly me." says Jean Paul. "As a doctor I feel her nervous system
has had to many shocks for one day."
Vangie stands up. "Thank you, but I'm quite able to handle myself." Matt walks over to Vangie. "You better
take Doctor Carr’s advice. Why risk unnecessarily." "This is not your concern Reverend."
says Jean Paul. "Jean Paul is
correct. My father the Conjure Man passed the duty on to me. I must
proceed." "But remember the
prophesy which you yourself foretold." says Matt. "That I will die here on
Maljardin." Matt nods. "So be it, the prophesy did not say
when." "Vangie you yourself told us
that the dark shadow did not point at you." Jean Paul says to her. Raxl walks to Jacques portrait. "But the
Master takes the greatest risk. Or him, the devil Jacques Eloi Des Mondes. Oh
Great Serpent grant it be him." Raxl says.
"Only who can tell you apart. Except by your manner of dress." says
Matt. "Oh don't chance your life
Master, I beseech you." "I will
chance anything to contact Erica!" Jean Paul says walking away from Alison and
Raxl. "I will talk with my darling in order that I may learn the secret by which
I may bring her alive again. Now lets begin!" says Jean Paul. Vangie walks over to the séance table.
Jean Paul is standing behind her. Raxl and Quito stand in the background. "We will need the chairs arranged for
the séance. All seven of them." Vangie tells Jean Paul. Jean Paul turns. "Raxl, Quito, I'll help
you." Vangie turns and looks at the
table. Raxl and Quito come up to help arrange the chairs as Vangie gives
directions.
Holly and Elizabeth are watching from the top of the
staircase. "It looks like they are getting ready for the séance. I better get
Tim and Mr. Forrest." Holly says turning around to walk back to their
rooms. "I doubt that any of you are
invited, but as you wish." Elizabeth tells Holly, then walks down the
staircase. Matt is talking to
Alison. "Are you that seriously concerned about Vangie. She seems all right
now." "She's in hysteric as all
mystics. Mental strain is not only mental it can have serious physical
results." Matt looks over at
Vangie. "Right now she seems resilient enough to take care of herself." "I'm concerned with later. I feel this
is research perhaps I should stick with it but since I've been on this Island I
feel I'm becoming psychic. I have this ugly premonition of impending doom." "Doctor, you're to sensible to start at
shadows." Matt says with a smile.
"Well I see the excitement is about to begin." Elizabeth says as she
joins Matt and Alison. "We've
already had excitement." says Alison.
"You mean Miss Abbott. Well she seems well enough now to conduct her
séance of table tapping or rapping or what ever a medium does."
Jean Paul stands behind a chair gripping the back in his
hands. "All right Vangie, Quito straighten that chair. Now is everything as you
wish it?" He asks Vangie. "Just one
thing." "Ask." says Jean Paul. "It must be dark immediately before we
begin. Just candle light.." says Vangie.
Jean Paul glances up at the chandelier above the table. "Quito, I want
you to go and make sure all the lights are turned off." Quito nods. He stops
when he hears Alison. "And I don't
think what is happening tonight is a social exercise. Perhaps you do." Quito turns as Holly rushes down the
staircase. "Oh on the contrary, I'm
rather nervous about the whole idea. I used to follow the wei-gee boards and
horoscopes and things like that. But a séance." Elizabeth tells them. "Well I'm scared too. Are we all suppose
to attend?" Holly asks walking up to them.
"I don't know. Jean Paul hasn't said." Alison tells her. Holly walks over to Jean Paul and
Vangie. "Excuse me Mr. Desmond. Could I speak with you for a moment?" "All right but quickly." "Mr. Forrest and Tim want to know if
they are part of the action too?"
"They were not going to be invited, right Vangie." asks Jean Paul. Vangie nods. "Disrupting influences,
it's not advisable to have too many at the table. Five and seven are the best
numbers." Vangie tells Holly. "What
about me?" "You had enough fear and
terror Holly. I don't want you part of this." Vangie says taking Holly by the
shoulder and leading her away from the table. Holly stops and turns back to the table.
"I am afraid but if it will help."
"No! I want you out of it."
Holly glances at Jean Paul then Vangie, then turning she leaves the
table. Elizabeth walks up to Jean
Paul and Vangie. Holly stops on the steps to listen. "Well it seems the
arrangements are about to start. Where do I sit?" "Nowhere." says Vangie. "The seats are
arranged for the best results."
Elizabeth turns to Jean Paul. "Jean Paul am I excluded?" "Please, let Vangie run this." "Come on mother, lets both of us listen
for a change." Holly calls out to Elizabeth. Elizabeth looks at Jean Paul. "But
I..." "Mother, it's important to
Mr. Desmond." Elizabeth turns to
Holly. "Don't be rude." "I thought
Holly was being just the opposite." Jean Paul tells her. Elizabeth looks at Jean Paul then
Vangie. "Very well, I suppose I'm adult enough to be aware when I'm not
welcome." She turns and follows Holly up the staircase. Jean Paul walks behind Vangie. "Vangie
we've waited long enough. In the name of my darling wife Erica, let the séance
begin." Vangie raises her hands
over the table. "Soon we will reach beyond the veiled curtain." Vangie stands at the table behind her
chair. Seated at the table are Quito on her right side then Alison, Jean Paul,
Matt and Raxl. "I will sit here facing east. Opposite to me, Jean Paul. I don't
want to frighten anyone, you must all listen to me with your full attention.
First place your hands fingertips down on the table, not the palms just the
fingertips resting on the table." They all follow Vangie’s directions. "Now will
each of you place your right hand over your neighbors left hand as I do now."
Again they follow her directions. "Now we have made the chain. Once I reach
beyond the curtain, it must not be broken." "You can trust all of us Vangie." Jean
Paul says. "I hope we can find the
same cooperation beyond the pale." Vangie says. "Now you must listen to me,
however strange and unfamiliar this may seem to the rest of you to me there is
no question but that it is life and death. I am literally placing Jean Paul's
life in your hands." "We will not
lose touch." says Matt. "You can
count on us." Alison tells Vangie.
"And I understand and I speak for Quito." says Raxl. "Then I ask you to blank your minds, to
thoughts, to dreams to aspirations. Make the cavity in your skull an empty
chamber. An area of nothingness. No feelings, sounds. Give me your silence until
we meet beyond the pale." Everyone sits silently. "Your loved one calls upon you
Erica from across the Great Divide. If you can hear come, come. Meet him across
the barrier. Hear me lost phantom, wonderer in the void. Speak to the one who
loves you, watches and waits for only you. Erica!" "Erica." Jean Paul whispers.
"Erica" "Yes, bridge the gap."
Vangie says. Jean Paul clutches his
temple in pain. He tries to fight off Jacques possession, but the ring appears
on his hand. "Jean Paul don't break
the chain." Alison tells him.
"What's the matter Jean Paul?" asks Matt. "Everything is under control now." says
Jacques. Vangie cries out. "No, no
not now! Not now!" Lightening flashes and thunder booms through the room. The
chandelier starts swaying. The
Reverend looks up. "Look out!" he yells pushing away from the table. Everyone
jumps up to get away as the chandelier crashes through the table. Vangie is knocked down. Alison and
the Reverend kneel next to her.
"Quito check the fuse box. I'll light the candles." Jacques says. Raxl
carries in a candelabra. Dan
rushes down the staircase carrying a candle. "What happened?" Apparently we've had a power failure.
The storm no doubt" He turns away. " Quito! How's the fuse box?" Jacques
asks. Quito has a match trying to
check it out. "It looks like he
needs some light Raxl." He takes Dan’s candle, he hands it to Raxl. "Wei Msieu." Raxl says then walk over to
Quito.
Holly and Elizabeth come out of their rooms they are
standing on the upper landing. Elizabeth has a candle. "What's going on?" Elizabeth asks. "Maybe the Gods got a little tired of
the shenanigans down here and decided to pull the plug!" Dan tells them. Holly starts down the staircase. "Holly, where are you going?" asks
Elizabeth. "Downstairs, somebody
may be hurt." Holly could be right.
You better come down Mrs. Marshal. Dan says to her. Holly and Elizabeth walk down the
stairs, at the bottom they see Alison and Matt trying to help Vangie. "Her life is in danger." Alison says
working on Vangie’s head. "Let's
get her to the couch." Matt says as he starts to lift her. "No Reverend. I'd rather she wasn't
moved, until I determine what injuries have occurred." Holly starts getting upset when she sees
Vangie. Jacques walks over to her, then puts his arm around her. "Now, now it's
just a little subtropical storm that came up around the corner and threw a
thunderbolt down at a power station. A flick of a circuit breaker and the world
comes alive again." "One of these
days you're going to pull the failsafe switch and blow us all up!" Dan says to
Jacques. "You have an overly vivid
imagination Dan. As rich as I am even I can't afford a nuclear weapon." "Well when you want them I'm sure you'll
find a way to have them!" Dan says angrily , he then glances over at Vangie.
"What do you think is the matter with Vangie?" "Ask Alison, she's the doctor." says
Jacques. "Well you look like
someone who couldn't care less!" Dan says then walks over to Vangie. Elizabeth walks down the steps. "Holly,
there's no need to cling to Mr. Desmond. The danger is over." Jacques releases Holly, walking away he
joins the others that are around Vangie.
"Is there anything I can do?" Dan asks. "Dan perhaps it would be better..."
Alison starts to say as Vangie sits up "Please don't move, I would rather you
didn't move." Alison tells Vangie.
Vangie stands up. Alison and Matt grab her arms. Alison then walks in
front of Vangie. "Vangie, Vangie." she says to her then waves her hand in front
of Vangie's face. Vangie doesn't react.
"What's the matter with her Alison?" Matt asks. Alison slaps Vangie. Everyone watches in
shock. "She's still in a trance."
Matt says. "Cataleptic." Alison
tells him. "Can't you bring her out
of it?" Jacques asks snapping his fingers in front of Vangie's face. "Jean Paul! Leave her alone. One false
move and she could be destroyed."
Raxl and Quito glance at each other. "Locked into a world of darkness , less
living than dead." Alison says.
Holly covers her face crying out with a sob. "Raxl, help me upstairs with her."
Alison says. Matt walks over to
her. "Exactly what can be done?" "I
don't know, I can't help thinking what happened to her is so like..." Alison
looks back at Quito. "You mean she
can remain like Quito?" Matt asks Alison quietly. Alison shakes her head. "I don't know
what I mean." Alison says, then she and Raxl help Vangie up the staircase. Jacques walks over to Holly after he
watches Vangie, Alison and Raxl climb the stairs. "Is it. Is he going to be like..." Holly
says then turns and looks at Quito. "Like him?" Quito covers his face with his
hands. Holly covers her mouth with her hands. "He knows, he knows she is going
to be like him." Holly cries out.
Quito is sweeping glass from the damaged table. Sitting in
the Dining Room is Jacques, Holly, Dan and Matt. Raxl is serving coffee.
Elizabeth walks down the staircase.
"Perhaps a little brandy will help sweeten it. I think we could all use
some." says Jacques. Dan
holds his hand over his coffee cup. "The only way you can sweeten anything
around here is to explain what happened." "A storm came, other than that
nothing." Jacques replies. "You
call a chandelier crashing down nothing, and what happened to Vangie nothing."
Dan asks. "An unfortunate accident
at the height of the séance." As
Raxl pours Jacques coffee she says. " The spirits were not willing Master." "Raxl you have too great a
superstition." "She has
superstition. You asked for the séance, a man of your intelligence." Matt
says. "Accidents just don't happen
around here. They look for somewhere to take place." says Dan. "You should know better than any of us
Dan." Jacques says to him. "May I offer you some brandy Reverend Dawson?" "No thanks." "Holly?" She nods her head. "The answer for Holly is no also."
Matt tells Jacques. Jacques stands
and picks up two glasses then leaves the room. Elizabeth is standing next to the
staircase. Jacques walks up to her. Elizabeth walks away. Jacques follows. "But
you will." Jacques says to her handing her a glass. "I thought I was out of favor." "Because Vangie left you out of the
séance. That was her decision not mine." Jacques looks at the broken table.
"Judging from this, I think we were quite fortunate you didn't show up." he says
touching the table. "It's bad luck
for you. You didn't reach your Erica."
"No but there was a moment that I was about to. Some perverse fate
intervened." Holly and Dan are
sitting at the Dining Room table. Reverend Dawson is standing. "The séance had
just begun. Jean Paul was reacting to some stimulus. And then part of the
chandelier fell down. It might have killed any one of us or all of us." Matt
tells them. Dan looks at him. "But
who was it aimed at?" "Aimed? It
was an accident." Dan looks at
Holly then back at Matt. "I'm not so sure." Jacques is holding his glass running his
finger tip across the top. "It's fortunate no one was touched." "Except Miss Abbott." Elizabeth
says. "Yes, Vangie. But she wasn't
really seriously injured. I trust." He looks at Elizabeth and touches her back.
"Well why don't you run along like as good little girl. I'll join you
later." Elizabeth leaves the room.
Jacques finishes his drink as Raxl walks down the staircase. He turns and steps
in front of her. "How is Vangie?"
"She's still is a trance. What did the devil do to her?" "The devil?" says Jacques. "You know the shadow of death clouded
that séance." says Raxl. "But the
shadow didn't point at Vangie. You said that yourself." "Oh I don't know any longer? Or what I
know." Raxl says then steps away.
Jacques grabs her arm. "See to our guests. That is your place." Raxl looks at him then walks away
Jacques walks into the Great Hall, after walking past
Quito he stops. Pain makes him grip his temples, Jean Paul has taken control, as
he turns he sees the séance table. He gasps in shock, then he walks over to
Quito. Quito is pointing to a box on a table. It has a design drawn in the sand.
They both stare at it. Elizabeth
joins the others in the Dining Room. "So nothing happened in the séance." The Reverend looks up. "Up until now."
he says. Raxl joins Jean Paul and
Quito, looking in the box she gasps covering her cheeks with her hands. "What is it? Raxl tell me!" Jean Paul
says as he steps over to her. "A
message in the sand from the Conjure Man. But it needs the Conjure Woman to
translate it. And she's still in a trance." "But you have some idea. Tell me!" Jean
Paul demands. Raxl looks at Jean
Paul then away. "Very well. It tells of more accidents. The spirits are very
angry. At you." Raxl says turning towards Jean
Paul.
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Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide
presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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