A Study in Terror Page #5

Each murder is by the same hand.

What about of the knifework? What?

Does it not show surgical skill?

Hmm...

It's the work of a doctor?

Anyone with a modicum

of medical training could do it.

A medical student, perhaps?

These murders are the work of

a madman, but with medical skills,

intelligence and education.

Intelligence? Education? This?

Yes. Take that letter. The grammar

and syntax, though concealed,

were the work of an educated man.

The writing was

deliberately scrawled. We must not

take the mask for the face.

If you're right, Mr Holmes,

it brings us back to the doctors.

Don't be too sure, Lestrade.

Oh, well, I'd better be off.

I suppose he'll arrest the entire

staff of the London Hospital.

Would YOU look for a doctor,

Dr Murray?

There is one medical student who

will soon be under suspicion. Oh?

Michael Osborne.

What's he got to do with it?

Medical student who lived locally,

had good cause to hate prostitutes,

and has vanished.

He has nothing to do with the

murders. That may have to be proved.

The newspapers will relish the heir

of the Duchy of Shires

denying he is Jack the Ripper.

Consider his family

and tell me what happened.

I have every consideration for

his family, so I must say nothing.

SCRAPING ON VIOLIN

I should have refused

the request to call in my brother.

He was already engaged,

with what result? Stalemate.

I should have realised only one

person could solve this - myself.

I should have ditched the Abyssinian

detente and the Nigerian loan. I...

Stop sawing away on that! It was a

sad day when Mother gave it to you.

A sad day for all of us!

It's his method.

Method?!

This butcher boy has us all on the

edge of a knife! This morning three

more men were attacked in the street.

Carrying bags?

Carrying Gladstone bags!

They say he's a Russian.

Rubbish...!

SCRAPE!

Military intelligence has found

no truth in the rumour.

How long has this been going on?

Hasn't spoken since yesterday.

How long does it usually last?

Sometimes days.

I'm wasting my time!

I shall never understand

why you've had that violin so long

but never learnt to play it!

Act, Sherlock, act! Go to the scene

of the crime! Use your powers!

Interview people! As Mother

used to say, stir your stumps!

Don't bother to see me out, Watson.

Remind my brother

he has never had so great a chance

to serve his country,

or seemed so unaware

of his responsibilities!

Or of the intention of the composer

when he wrote that tune!

He's quite right.

You've rejoined the human race!

I should be in Whitechapel. There

will be another murder tonight. Eh?

Come. We will scour the streets.

What for? The detail that matters.

TWO SETS OF FOOTSTEPS

This is hopeless, Holmes.

If he were ten feet away,

we wouldn't see him.

Fog to the murderer

is like jungle to the tiger.

It conceals him until he pounces.

What do we do? We must continue.

Jack the Ripper will not allow

these conditions to go unused.

He is out now, Watson.

CLOCK CHIMES:

MALE AND FEMALE LAUGHTER

APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS

'Ello, love!

You look like a sport.

Do you fancy coming up?

Couple of shillings'll do it.

'Ang on a minute.

I'll throw you down the key.

Catch!

Shut the door behind you.

Can't take no chances

with Jack the Ripper about.

You know something? I ain't been out

in the dark for a month cos of him!

Come on in, then!

Come on.

'Ere.

That's a lovely coat

you've got on, innit?

Could you make that ten bob

for a special, Mister?

I do want to please you.

I haven't had a real gentleman

like you since I started.

Don't think

I've been on the game that long.

I'm proper new, I am!

SCREAMS:

SCREAM:

Holmes! Quickly, Watson.

Lemon Street Police Station.

Tell Inspector Lestrade

to cordon off the area.

Hello! What are you doing here?

Chasing a shadow. How long

have you been here? Since midnight.

No-one's passed through here?

Here?

Hello, Edward. Sorry I'm late.

Mr Holmes? I came to see your uncle.

Dr Murray is in the surgery. He

asked not to be disturbed. Did he?

I'll take you home.

MOANING:

Just a minute.

Dr Murray?

Oh, Holmes!

I'm sorry. I had a long postmortem

on a poison case. I'm a bit tired.

What are you doing here?

Following Jack the Ripper. Here?

He eluded me in the mortuary.

The mortuary?

He could have got

into the hostel. He did.

We will wait here for the police.

What makes you think

they are coming here?

You are the police surgeon.

They will bring the body.

Another prostitute?

I would welcome the opportunity

of a little chat. What about?

About Michael Osborne. I told

you before... He wasn't wanted

under suspicion of murder before.

What do you mean? It all leads

to his knowledge of surgery.

He could not have murdered anybody!

Prove it!

Tell me about the night he

found out his wife and Max Steiner

were blackmailing his family.

You know about that?

Michael Osborne was one of the

finest young men I've ever met.

In the six months he was here,

I came to respect him

as I've respected few other men.

You've heard about his wife -

vicious, depraved creature!

He stayed with her

in spite of everything.

One night, she brought Steiner here,

to this very room.

Michael heard from his wife's mouth

their plan of blackmail. He was

to be part of it. What happened?

Michael refused to have anything

to do with it. There was a quarrel.

Steiner attacked him.

He had no chance.

The sight of her husband being

beaten wasn't enough for that woman.

She was about to throw a bottle

of acid at Michael. She didn't?

It's hard to know what happened.

Maybe Steiner flung out an arm.

But the acid...

went into her own face.

When Steiner saw the horror of it,

he rushed out to get me.

Her angel face

was a diabolical sight.

I did the best I could for her.

A week later, Steiner took her away.

I've not seen or heard of her since.

Michael Osborne got away?

Then why weren't the family,

the police informed?

He didn't die, Holmes. Not quite.

Go on. Finish your story, Dr Murray.

Come and see, Holmes.

Finish the story yourself.

You wanted Michael Osborne.

Here he is.

Whether it was Steiner's blows

to the head,

or whether his mind could suffer no

more of the world, I don't know.

This is how he's been

since that night.

How can Lord Carfax let his brother

remain here in that condition?

He doesn't know, Holmes. Nobody

could recognise that poor creature.

Why keep it to yourself? You should

inform his father! What father?

He disowned him for wanting to do

good instead of wasting his life in

the pleasures of the aristocracy!

He had a right to know. What about

Michael? He must be happier here

than in a padded cell!

No - his life is over.

Let the world leave him in peace.

That may not be possible. Why?

You can't suspect that

poor lunatic! All possibilities

have to be considered.

Dr Murray? Yes? Inspector Lestrade

sent me for you, sir.

Lestrade, my dear fellow!

Are you not well?

You'll see nothing like it

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