Episode 54:
Slideshow
Matt: “Morning on
Maljardin. When new sunlight seems to have chased away much of the evil and
pestilence of the past. But shadows still remain and
in the shadows the Master of Maljardin and his guests find fear and doubt . Fear
that the curse of the past can never be erased from
the Island. And Jean Paul awakens to doubt that his dead wife has returned to
him at all.”
Jean Paul awakens, he's alone in his bed. He reaches out for
Erica, then sits up. "Erica?" (Jean Paul is thinking to himself silently) 'Is
she gone? Was it a dream?' Jean Paul climbs out of bed and grabs his robe.
Opening the door he looks in the hallway, closing his door he looks around the
room. "Darling?" Jean Paul call out. He walks to the bed. 'Empty, not a sign.
But she was here. She returned from the dead. And she was alive and warm and
slept at my side once again.' Jean Paul says to himself silently as he walks
over to the dressing table and grips the top of the mirror. 'It couldn't have
been a dream' Jean Paul covers his face with his hands and sits in a chair. "Are
they right? Am I losing my mind? Am I insane!" Jean Paul says out loud. He picks
up a comb from the top of the dresser. 'Could it be true? Have I gone mad. No!'
Jean Paul slams his fist on the dresser after dropping the comb. "No!" he says
out loud. "Jacques and I made a pact! Jacques you demon, you shall hold your
half of the bargain. The devil may have my soul but I must have my Erica." Looking down he sees a note with a
flower laying upon it. He picks up the flower and smells it, then picks up the
note. He reads. 'My dearest love good morning. Though I hesitate to leave you
for even a moment I must. This morning the sun is shining and I picked this
flower from the vine at our window. And I must go and gather more flowers for
you my darling. Your nightmare is over for now and forever, you have me. My
devoted, my darling. Erica.' Jean Paul lays the note down, he is very overjoyed
as he stands up. "Oh yes, oh yes my Erica. She was so close to me. We held so
close last night. It was so real, so deliciously real. My love, my wife." Jean
Paul turns with a laugh of happiness. "Oh you can take me you devil, have my
soul, you're welcome to it because my Erica is my
soul."
In the Dining Room Alison looks at the table. "Beautiful." She
says reaching for the flowers. Raxl
stops her hand. "I would not touch those flowers." Alison smiles. "I see. You've arranged
them so perfectly Raxl." "I did not
arrange them." "Well they are
lovely aren't they?" Alison says sitting at the table. "They are flowers." says Raxl standing
next to Alison. "Strange, I thought
there was nothing but poisonous weeds that grow on this Island. Not these." "There are such things as flowers of
evil." "Raxl, I am not going to
listen to you this morning. The sun is shining. I have never seen the Island
look so pleasant." Raxl pours
Alison a cup of coffee then walks to the window. She turns and looks at Alison.
"I take it the doctor enjoyed herself last night at the dinner party?" "It was unbelievable. I was so happy to
see my sister again. But I don't know how it could have happened? She was back
from the grave." "Did she seem the
same to you?" asks Raxl. "Same? How
do you mean?" "You are a
doctor and a scientist. You tried to restore your sister to life by using the
wisdom of science. You failed. You can believe she lives?" Raxl asks. "Raxl, I know she lives. I say he, I
touched her. I heard her voice. But I can't tell you how it could have
happened." Alison says looking away from Raxl. "I would study Doctor Menkin’s notes
again." Raxl says to her. "Why?
They haven't proved helpful." "I
would study them." says Raxl.
"Why?" Raxl starts to walk
away. Alison grasps her arm. "Raxl, Why?" Alison asks. "Why should I?" "In memory of the sister you knew long
ago." Raxl says then leaves. Matt
and Dan are walking down the staircase.
"Well good morning." Jean Paul says from the top of the staircase. He
walks down to them. "And what a fine morning it is." "I've seen finer." says Dan. "Oh come on now Dan, no more gloom. It's
not allowed. Reverend don't you think neglecting oneself and a negative attitude
is bad for ones spirit." "I would
say ones outlook depends on the circumstances." "Oh not at all, ignore the bad and enjoy
the good" He reaches out to them. With his hands on their backs he escorts them
down the stairs. "Now that should always be ones attitude. Now I'm sure that you
often preach that to your congregation."
"I advise them to do battle against evil not to ignore it." Matt says to
him. "I see. Well gentlemen I hope
you don't display your discontent to my Erica. She was so impressed by all of
you that she wants you all to stay on Maljardin." Jean Paul says smiling. "Jean Paul, why does she want us to
stay?" Dan asks as he crosses his arms and looks at Jean Paul. "Out of love, she has been alone in
darkness. She needs people. People to love." "For how long? How long will you force
us to stay here?" Dan asks angrily.
"For as long as Erica wants." Jean Paul says then walks away. Matt and Dan glance at each other. "Well is Erica not here yet?" Jean Paul
asks Alison. Alison is standing looking out the window in the Dining Room. She turns and looks at him. "She's
out gathering flowers." Jean Paul
joins Alison at the window pulling back the curtains. "Ah like a little girl. I
can imagine her as a girl, picking flowers in a spring morning." Alison looks at him as she says. "Yes,
that's how she was." Jean Paul
looks at Alison. "Alison, she's back. She's with us again." he says taking
Alison's hands. Alison gives him a
kiss. "I'm very happy for you Jean Paul." She turns away. "And yourself." Jean Paul says. "Yes." Alison says with a smile. "Alison you mustn't be distressed by
this. You mustn't question it, but accept it as a saint would accept a
miracle.” Matt and Dan enter the
dining room. "Speaking of saints, here they come marching in." Jean Paul says
with a small laugh. "Gentlemen it looks like you need to fill your stomachs. I
insist that we dine." The men take
their seats. Alison still stands at the window. "Good morning." Dan says to Alison. "Good morning Dan." Alison replies. Jean Paul looks at them. "I think Raxl
has prepared a specially delicious breakfast. Even the sunshine has managed to
permeate her perpetual gloom which is rather a miracle." Jean Paul says
happily. Erica walks in carrying a
basket of flowers. "Good morning. It is a heavenly morning. The Island seemed to
burst into bloom with flowers everywhere."
All three men stand to their feet as Erica walks in. "They have come out
for you my love." Jean Paul says as he walks with Erica away from the table. He
kisses her. "Good morning." He says to her as he reaches for a rose. "Do be careful darling the roses have
thorns." Erica says to him. Quito
walks into the room. "Take
them Quito." Erica says holding out the roses. "Take them to Raxl for me." Quito shakes her head no. "A big fellow like you are afraid of a
few thorns. I said to take them." She throws them to Quito. He catches them and throws them
down. "Quito!" Jean Paul shouts at
him. Quito looks up at them in
anger. Erica gets upset and walks
away. Alison joins Dan and Matt who
are standing behind Jean Paul.
Quito steps forward and smashes the roses with his
boot.
In the lab Alison is working on slides under the microscope. She
thinks to herself silently. 'The Doctor's six week of notes. I must study them
again.' She looks at the notes then writes in a notebook. Trying to mix
different chemicals she picks up a test tube. She think back to what Raxl had
said to her. 'In memory of the sister you knew long ago.' Again she looks at
Doctor Menkin’s notes.
"Alison?" "Erica." Alison
says when her sister walks into the lab.
"Oh your working, on such a lovely day." "Well there are a few things I have to
do." Alison says pouring liquid from the test tube into a beaker. Erica looks around the lab she turns to
Alison. "An entire laboratory all for you. Isn't Jean Paul kind." she says
leaning on Alison's shoulder. Jean
Paul is kind but the laboratory is for you." "For me? I wouldn't have any idea what
to do with it." Erica says walking around the lab table. "Not the slightest
notion. You're the clever one Alison. Well admit it darling I've always said so.
I was the pretty one. Pretty but it was really you who had the real beauty."
Erica says touching Alison's face. "And the brains. I was always pretending to
be pretty, intelligent and what ever was required of me. But it was always
pretending, but with you it was always real. Your attributes are your own, not
false. And I was always afraid, what if Jean Paul found out I wasn't what he
thinks I was. " "Oh Erica, this
laboratory is for you. I was only working here. Doing everything in my power to
sustain your life, for Jean Paul. Because he loves you." Erica smiles. "And did you succeed? Did
you bring me back to life with your chemicals and test tubes and your..." Erica
sees the flame under the Bunsen burner. "Little fires, I hate fires." "This one is safe and controlled."
Alison tells her. "No!" Erica says
looking away. "No put it out. I'm afraid of fire. Terrified!" Erica cries
out. "Erica you've never been
terrified of anything." "Please,
please put it out!" Erica begs. "Of
course." says Alison. She turns the burner off, then walks towards Erica.
"Erica? Can you tell me what happened to you while you were away? How did you
come back?" "I don't know. I don't
remember." "Well try to
remember." "I can't." Erica turns
to Alison. "It hurts to much to think about it. Something I'd rather
forget." "Well I want to know!"
says Alison. "Why?" "Because I'm a doctor, a scientist and I
have to analyze things. Explain things."
"I'm your sister Alison not an experiment. Your sister! Please don't ask
me to explain something I know nothing about." "You mean you don't remember
anything?" "Nothing I was
dead." "Well there must have been
some life in you or otherwise."
"Otherwise?" Erica asks.
"Well otherwise you couldn't have come back." "But I have cone back and I'm standing
here talking to you, and remembering how much I loved you. Remembering the years
when we were young and you took my doll away. And I always had to play the mean
witch and you were always the good mother." "That's not true! I was always the mean
witch and you were the mother." says Alison. "Your memories are fading dear.' "Erica I've always loved you, I was
never unkind to you!" "Is that the
way you remember it? As long as it comforts you." Erica says walking out of the
lab. Alison stares straight ahead,
she's worried. Raxl's voice comes back to her. 'I would study them in memory of
the sister you knew long ago.'
Holly and Elizabeth walk down the staircase. Jean Paul walks
through the Great hall and meet them at the staircase. "Holly, Elizabeth you
slept late. I'm glad." "Good
morning Jean Paul." Elizabeth says.
"I was exhausted. I slept so peacefully because I had such a lovely time
last night." Holly tells Jean Paul.
"Oh I'm so pleased Holly." Jean Paul says putting his hand over
Holly’s. "Erica is wonderful and
she's just as beautiful as you said she was." Holly tells Jean Paul. "I knew you're a sensitive girl Holly.
Able to appreciate Erica.' Jean Paul helps Holly down the stairs. Elizabeth walks in front of Holly. "And you Elizabeth?" "I found it a rather bizarre evening.
After all us lesser mortals are accustomed to dealing with the living rather
then the dead." "Erica is alive as
you saw." says Jean Paul. "Yes I
saw." says Holly. "I assure you
both appreciate the wonders of being alive. Now come and have breakfast on the
new Maljardin. I think Raxl has kept things warm for you." They walk towards the Dining Room.
Elizabeth stops and turns to Jean Paul. "Jean Paul I want to talk to you." "Yes Elizabeth?" "Alone." says Elizabeth. "Very well." Holly looks at Jean Paul. "If you'll
excuse me." Holly says then leaves to go to the Dining Room. "You and I have at least been honest
with each other." Elizabeth says with her back towards Jean Paul. "I have been honest Madam." says Jean
Paul. Elizabeth looks at him. "So
have I. So you must know what else I am above all, a mother." "A touching sentiment." "Don't mock me. I'm concerned for Holly
and everything that happens to her. Last night, last night I felt that Erica
alive or dead had a singularly upsetting influence on Holly." "Strange, I thought they had a good
rapport." says Jean Paul. "A very
strange rapport. What is her interest in Holly?" "Holly is young and stimulating. That is
all Madam. I assure you that is all."
Holly stands at the breakfast buffet. Erica walks into the Dining Room. "Hello
Holly." "Good Morning Mrs.
Desmond." "Oh Erica, not Mrs.
Desmond. I'm Erica your friend."
"Yes Ma'am." "Oh, Ma'am? You
make me feel so old. Call me Erica."
"Erica." Holly says. "Now
come, we must search the Island for flowers. All sorts of flowers that grow on
Maljardin. Maybe some orchids." Erica says taking Holly's hand. "Nothing grows on this Island."
Elizabeth says walking into the room followed by Jean Paul. "I am afraid you are mistaken. The
Island has become an explosion of flowers. And Holly must help me. Won't you?"
she asks Holly. "I'd love to." says
Holly smiling. "You will stay here
with me." says Elizabeth.
Holly looks at Elizabeth. "But Mother?" "Don't mind. Mothers are always fearful
of what we do. I remember my mother. Do this Erica, don't do that Erica. All I
was going to do was quite harmless and innocent." "Holly will not go." Elizabeth
says. "Jean Paul?" Erica looks up
at him. "Holly cannot be deprived
of whatever beauty Erica can offer." Jean Paul says. Raxl enters the room. "Good then it's
settled. Raxl what do you want?" Erica asks her. Raxl stands at the table. "I've come for
the flowers Madam." "The flowers do
not need freshening." says Erica.
"But they do Madam. Surely you can see that they are wilted." Erica walks over to Raxl, she glances at
the flowers. "May I suggest Madam
no more flowers be picked on Maljardin." Raxl tells her holding the basket of
flowers.
In the lab Dan shakes his head. "Why didn't we see it before, the
warnings." "It's as if I read
Doctor Menkin’s notes for the first time. That's why I called you Dan. Look
biochemical instructional changes within the cells of the body and the brain
give evidence of changing personality of the subject who has been diagnosed as
dead. Therefore I conclude that in my experiments to restore the so called dead
to life." Alison reads the notes out loud.
"The subject restored to life maybe a force of evil." Dan finishes
reading. "Strange term for a doctor
to use. Evil." says Alison. "Maybe
that's what he saw, evil. What do you see?" "I don't know. I don't know!" says
Alison. "But Erica has changed."
says Dan. "Yes. She said strange
things about the past, as if she hated me. But I couldn't say that she was
evil." says Alison. "But you read
the Doctor's notes. Alison I still tell you we got to get away from here." "I can't. I can't leave, she's my
sister." "Well I can leave. I'm
going to the Mainland and get help for all of us." says Dan. "Dan, no matter what you do I have the
feeling none of us will leave this Island alive." Alison tells
him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide
presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
