Episode 79: Slideshow
Emily: "Darkness over Desmond Hall but a blacker darkness
lives in the heart of Jean Paul Desmond. A man cursed to bring death and sorrow
wherever he goes. And yet now as he searches for the missing Quito Jean Paul is
unaware that in the Great House someone plots to end his life. The forces of
evil spin webs around the inhabitants of Desmond Hall. Webs more devious and
destructive than any of them can know."
Holly is asleep in her room. She starts talking in her
sleep. "Yes. I hear." "Holly."
Irene's voice calls out to her. "Do you remember me? And what I am to you?" "Yes. I remember, you are my
friend." "Yes Holly your good
friend and I want you to open your eyes and to relax and listen to me." Irene
tells her. Holly opens her eyes. "I
will listen." "I want you to help
us again where you failed last time. Repeat what I say. Jean Paul must
die." "I, I don't understand."
Holly says. "You mustn't question
but believe what I say to you. We are friends Holly." "Yes." Holly says. "And you will do what I ask you." "Yes. Jean Paul Desmond must die." "And you Holly must help us. Listen to
me and I will teach you many things." Irene says to her. "I want to learn." Holly says as she
closes her eyes. "And you will obey
these lessons." "Yes I will
obey." "No Holly." A mans voice
calls out to her. "Open your eyes."
Holly opens her eyes. "Holly? Holly." Irene calls to her. "Look at me Holly." The man’s voice
tells her. An outline of a man appears. "You must not obey. You can't. Jean Paul
must live." Holly sits up. The man
is standing near the bed. "Who are you?" Holly says fearfully. "I'm Philip Desmond, his brother." Holly stares at him in shock. "I must reach you Holly. I must protect
Jean Paul." "I can't see you
clearly." Holly says to him. He
walks closer. "Better?" "Are, are
you dead?" "Shall we say I'm here
in spirit. But I am far away. Far away from the people I love Holly." "How do you know me? How do you know my
name?" "I've been watching you
Holly." Philip squats next to Holly's bed. "I must reach Jean Paul. And I can
only reach him through you because you're enchanted." "Enchanted?" "You've been bewitched Holly and put
into a state receptive to all psychic powers." "By whom? You?" Philip smiles and shakes his head no.
"You're under the influence of evil forces that will destroy Jean Paul." "No!" Holly cries out. "And you're helping them Holly." "No. I don't understand you. I can't
hear you! I don't know what you are saying!" Holly cries out covering her ears
with her hands. Philip sits on the
edge of her bed. "I'm telling you this so you can help me save Jean Paul. Now
you must resist the dark powers."
Holly shakes her head. "No!" She starts to cry. "No Holly don't cry. You're too pretty
to cry." "No! I don't want Jean
Paul to die! I don't know anything about any evil powers!" "Please don't! Don't cry. I'll help you.
We'll work together. I'll give you strength." "How?" Holly asks. "Well I've tried to make my brother
aware of the dangers. You don't know how I've tried to warn him of the dangers
that lie ahead.' "Who is it? Who
wants to hurt him?" "They are full
of evil and greed and they crave powers and money. They will destroy any lives
that lie in front of them. Aren't you aware that someone who pretends to care
for you has deceived you?" Holly
looks away from Philip. "Erica. She's dead now. The evil was destroyed on
Maljardin." Holly looks at him.
"Not Erica but a woman who this family trusted. Irene Hatter." "I don't believe you." "You must." Philip says standing. "Not Irene she's my..." Philip backs away. "Holly listen, don't
leave me in darkness." There is a
knock on the bedroom door. "Miss Holly?" Raxl calls out opening the door. "Is
there anything wrong? I heard you cry out." Raxl enters then closes the door
behind her. "He's gone." "What do you mean." Raxl asks. "He's disappeared." "Oh you've been having a nightmare."
Raxl says touching Holly's shoulder.
"Jean Paul! I've got to see Jean Paul!" Holly cries out. Raxl sits on the edge of Holly's bed.
"When he returns I will send him to you. But you must promise me this one thing.
You can not fight evil alone. You must come to me when you feel weakened and
afraid. When the powers of darkness threatens you must come to me. You
promise." "Oh Raxl!" Holly throws
herself into her pillows,
"Promise." Raxl says looking down at Holly. Holly turns her head and looks back at
Raxl. She nods her. "I promise."
Raxl stands. "Rest now. Try to sleep." She pulls the blankets up to cover
Holly. "It's almost dawn." Raxl says as she walks to the door and out of the
room. Holly looks across the
room. "Philip?" She sits up. "Philip Desmond are you here?" Philip appears. "I'm here Holly. I will
always be with you when you need me."
"I know." Holly lays back. "Tell me what I must do." "Go to sleep my little friend and I will
guard you." "Philip?" "Yes." "Goodnight." Holly says as she falls
asleep. Philip smiles as he fades
away.
The next morning Emily sits at the table in the Drawing
Room. She's looking through a book with her head propped up on her hand. She
keeps falling asleep and jerking herself awake. Raxl opens the doors. "Jean
Paul?" Emily calls out. "It is I
Raxl, Miss Blair." "I've been
waiting for him to return. Has he found Quito?"
"You seem weary. Hadn't you better go to your room and rest and leave
these matters to the Master." Raxl says to her. "I can't help feeling involved Raxl. I
stayed up most of the night."
"You're a houseguest and I feel responsible for your well being.
Therefore I advise sleep." "But I
just can't stand by. A murder has been committed and somehow this house is
involved." Emily glances up at Raxl. "Quito couldn't have killed anyone could
he?" "He's gentle when he's told to
be gentle." Raxl says to Emily.
Emily closes her book. "I'm tired of riddles. Why can't you talk to me!"
Emily stands. "Why?" Emily sways on her feet. "Miss Blair?" Raxl says grabbing Emily's
arm. "I feel faint." Emily
says. "Sit down rest." Raxl says
helping her to sit back in the chair. "Since the roses. It's happened to
me since those flowers have come."
"I shall destroy them." Raxl says grabbing the vase. "Oh no don't take them away because of
me. They're beautiful." "Beauty can
not always be trusted." Raxl says holding the vase. "But they belong to Holly. Maybe we
should..." Emily starts to say as she reaches for the vase. "I shall attend to Miss Holly. Excuse
me." Raxl walks away with the vase.
"No! No I want them! Don't take them away." Raxl looks at Emily. "I'm sorry Miss
Blair." She turns and leaves the room. Someone is knocking on the outside
door. "Hello. Is anybody home?" Irene calls out as she opens the door and walks
into the foyer. She is carrying a bouquet of roses. "Mrs. Hatter?" Raxl says entering the
foyer. "Ah good morning Raxl. I
knocked but the inhabitants of Desmond Hall are absolutely somnolent. My
flowers?" Irene says to Raxl looking at the vase of roses. "They are wilted." "Then it is good that I brought
some more. I was taking an early morning walk and I decided that I should drop
by and see dear Holly. So I returned and picked more roses for her. For all of
you. Aren't they lovely." Irene says walking around Raxl. "Miss Holly can not see anyone." "Come now Raxl, I am not an ogre. Just a
brief visit and I promise I will not eat her up." Irene turns and looks at
Raxl. "She is asleep." "Well then I'll just leave these in her
room." Irene turns to the staircase.
"No!" Emily stands in the
doorway of the Drawing Room. "Oh Mrs. Hatter we haven't met, but I'm Emily
Blair." "Well hello." Irene says
turning towards Emily. "I've
admired your roses." "Oh I'm so
glad. You must have one." Irene says walking over to Emily. She hands her a
rose. "Thank you. I'm sorry but I
haven't slept for most of the night. I really must rest." Emily says walking up
the steps of the staircase. "Don't
just rest my dear, sleep. Sleep peacefully." Irene tells Emily. "Yes I will. I'll try. And thank you for
this." Emily has stopped on the steps and looks at Irene lifting up the rose.
She turns and walks up the rest of the stairs. Irene looks at Raxl. "Ah Raxl if I were
you I'd be much kinder to all guests. Desmond Hall can't afford to insult its
friends right now." Irene says walking up to Raxl. "What are you saying?" Raxl asks. "My dear constantly suspicious Raxl. The
town is in a frenzy over your mysterious strong man Quito. I want to help you
and I know you can't believe me but I do want to help you however I can. From
what I gather Desmond Hall itself is in danger. The best I can do is to take
Holly away for a time." "But Miss
Holly does not want..." "Irene! How
wonderful of you to come and see me." Holly says happily as she walks down the
staircase. "Ah there you are and
looking as fit as can be and Raxl had you all but expiring." Irene says to
Holly. "Raxl worries about me to
much." Holly says with a smile as she glances at Raxl. "I brought you more roses my dear."
Irene tells Holly. "This is not the
time of the year for roses." Raxl says carrying the vase from the room. "Goodness Raxl, you nosy mouse." Irene
says walking across the foyer. She turns and looks at Holly. "No matter what the
time of year I just wave my magic wand and poof." She hands Holly the
roses. "Thank you." Holly holds the
roses. She gasps and drops the roses then looks at her fingers. "What is it?" Irene asks. "They burned. They burned my hand." "Well there are thorns." "No, no, no! They burned me like
fire." Irene cautiously reaches for
the flowers. Picking them up she looks at them. Holly looks away and whispers.
"Philip."
Instead of going to her room Emily goes to Philip's secret
room. She looks at the books in the bookcase using a candle after laying her
rose on a table. She sets the candle on the bookcase shelf. Her rose bursts into
flames. Emily turns and looks at it. "My flower!" The flames die out and the
flower blackens. Emily walks over to the table and pick up the rose, then she
drops it back on the table. "I'm tired. I need to go to sleep." On the bookcase her candle moves across
the shelf. Emily catches its movement as she turns and looks at it. Walking over
to the bookcase she lifts the candle. Looking at the book behind it she pulls it
off the bookcase. "The River Caves Of Desmondton." Emily reads the
cover as she carries it to the table. Opening the book she starts looking
through it. Against the wall Philip appears watching
Emily.
Holly and Irene are in the Drawing Room. Holly is sitting
as Irene pours tea. "Tea. My very own mixture. That's what you need Holly my
dear. You seem so distant so disturbed."
Holly turns her head looking at Irene. "No. No I'm fine." She turns away
from Irene. "You were saying
something my dear about the flowers. The flowers burning you." "Did I?" Holly asks. "I don't
remember." "You're a very tired and
upset young girl. Drink your tea my dear." Irene says handing a cup to Holly.
"Drink your tea." Holly sits but
doesn't touch the cup. Irene stands up straight holding the cup of
tea.
Emily walks down the staircase carrying the book. Raxl is
walking through the foyer and sees Emily. "You were to sleep." Raxl tells
her. "Oh I couldn't." Emily stops
next to Raxl. "I found this book. It's about the caves." "The caves?" asks Raxl. "The river caves of Desmondton. I didn't
even know they existed. Do you think anyone does?" Emily asks her. "May I have the book please. The book!"
Raxl says to Emily. "No then I
wouldn't be able to put it back where I found it." Emily says walking away from
Raxl. "Miss Blair the caves were
closed long ago and forgotten. There is nothing you can learn." Raxl says
walking up to Emily. "They are dangerous. The wind down and down and no one can
follow the winding of them. Forget the river caves. The book Miss Blair." Raxl
says holding her hand out. Emily
hands it to Raxl. "May I go? Am I dismissed?" Emily says angrily then walks up
the staircase. Raxl watches her go
then looks down at the book. She sets it down on the table in the foyer. The
book opens. It turns to a page with a picture of a wall with a panel pushed
upward and a skeleton arm hanging out.
In Holly's room Irene looks out the window. She closes the
drapes. "Now you must sleep." Irene says to Holly. "Really I'm not at all sleepy." Holly
says laying back in her bed. Irene
turns and looks at her. "Relax, rest."
"Irene it's very kind of you to take an interest in me." Irene walks over to Holly. "My dear it's
the least I can do. Holly where is your locket?" She asks sitting on the edge of
Holly's bed. "The gold chain with the red jewel that you wear constantly. Where
is it?" "I don't know. I think I
gave it to someone." "Why on earth
would you do a thing like that?" Irene asks. "Gave it to whom?" Holly looks at Irene. "I don't
remember." Irene looks away. "Well
never mind. I have one of my own which I shall give to you." Irene holds a
pendant in front of Holly. "For you."
"Oh no I couldn't take that."
"Oh I insist. It's very much like your own isn't it?" Irene asks swinging
it in front of Holly's eyes.
"Exactly like it." Holly says.
"And you did gain much comfort from your own didn't you." "Yes." Holly says watching the moving
pendant. "It gives me warmth." "As
this one will warm you. Close your eyes Holly. Shut them." Holly's eyes close. Irene sits back
taking the pendant from Holly's face. "Holly can you hear me?" Irene asks. "I hear you." "Last night, last night when I was
speaking to you I tried to teach you what you must do next. Do you
remember?" "Yes I remember. You
tried." "But I was interrupted.
Why?" "I don't remember." Holly
says. "Your spirit withdrew from
me. I couldn't reach you any longer. Why Holly?" "I can't remember.' Holly says starting
to get upset. "But you must
remember. It's very important. Nothing must be allowed to interfere with our
plans must it?" "No." Holly
answers. "Our plans for Jean
Paul." "No." Holly says as she sits
up and awakens from the trance. "Oh
what is it Holly? You were sleeping soundly." "Something happened." Holly says. "Nothing happened my dear. Go back to
sleep. Here is my locket, put it around your neck." Irene reaches towards Holly
with the necklace. Philip's voice
calls to Holly. "Don't let her."
"What?" Holly asks. "I
said..." Irene starts to speak.
"What did you say?" Holly asks.
"I said let me put the locket around your neck." Irene says to
Holly. "No!" Holly says putting her
hand out stopping Irene. "My dear
child what's come over you? You want this locket, you do." "Do I?" Philip appears in the room. "Of course." Irene says. "Holly can't you see. Holly can you see
me?" Philip asks. "Yes." Holly says
looking at Philip. "Yes." says
Irene. "Yes of course you want to wear it. Let me put it on you." "Stop her." Philip says walking towards
Holly. Holly looks at Philip.
"No." "Yes yes." Irene says
slipping the necklace around Holly's neck. "Listen to Irene." "Yes listen to Irene. She's the one that
works evil on you. Can't you see that?" Philip asks Holly. Holly starts shaking her head. "What is it Holly?" Irene asks. "Irene, Irene you are my friend aren't
you? Tell me that you're my friend."
"I am your friend Holly and I want you to be happy at last." "How can I convince you. It's there
before your eyes." Philip says as Holly looks at him. "I am your friend Holly. I want to help
you. I want to give you what ever you want. Now I insist that you sleep. Here
put this to your nose and breath in." Irene says taking out a vial. "What is it?" Holly asks. Philip walks around Holly's bed.
"Something lethal you can bet. Holly reject her. Listen to me, help me to save
Jean Paul." "No! I don't want to
sleep." Holly says pulling away from Irene. "Please leave me alone." "My dear I wouldn't think of it.' Irene
says angrily. "You will not harm
her." Philip says to Irene. "Look
at me." Irene says to Holly. Holly turns towards Irene. "Look at me! Look deep.
We have gone to far you and I for me to lose you now." "Yes Irene." "Holly." Philip calls out to
her. "Now tell me of our plans. We
have plans you and I . Tell me of them." Irene says. "Jean Paul, Jean Paul must." Holly
screams as she sits up. "Holly
don't leave me." Irene calls to her as Holly collapses in the bed. "Witch! Spirit of darkness. Burn witch
burn!" Philip says to Irene. Flames
surround Irene as she cries out. She then starts screaming. "Help! No! No!" "Burn!" Irene collapses to the floor. "And next time my dear Mrs. Hatter the
fire will be reality not spirit." Philip says stepping away from Irene. Holly moves restlessly touching the
pendant. "Irene, I won't leave you."
"Holly!" Philip's voice call to her. "Irene, Irene." Holly calls
out.
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Summaries written by Debby
Graham . The slide
presentation is the work of Ron Janick.
~Ron/Bella~
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