Mr. Holmes Page #4

You had love in your heart

for someone...

No, for more than one person.

But they have left you, and your love

for them has nowhere to go.

You're in pain.

But you must not allow your pain

to guide your actions.

Where that leads...

The lines are not so distinct.

- Why?

- I beg your pardon?

You see so much.

Why can't you see what happens next?

- The lines...

- Yes, you said.

Ply your parlour tricks elsewhere,

Mr Holmes.

"Wait."

I can't...

I can't remember.

Mum! Mum!

Mr Holmes!

- Was it the smoke knocked him out?

- Could have done.

Most likely he stood up too quickly

and lost consciousness.

It isn't the first time.

The last housekeeper

didn't know what to do.

He must have decided

to take it subcutaneously.

Well, now we can't leave.

No. Made sure of that, didn't he?

Where's the Hire Sansho?

- The Prickly Ash.

- If it's not there, I'm sure I don't know.

- Did you throw it out?

- Why would I do that?

For spite and malice.

- Where'd you get words like that?

- The dictionary.

Like as not, he took the muck himself.

Got burnt up with the rest of it.

Those can go on the fire.

Did Mr Holmes say you were to do this?

- He always disposes of that sort.

- How do you know what sort these are?

You want to know who writes to him?

Pensioners who think

they've solved Jack the Ripper.

Widows who've lost their cats

and just know he's the only

man on Earth who can find them.

He's the last resort

for every lunatic out there.

- It's not your decision.

- It is...

If I'm to be a full-bore medical staff

at cook's wages.

He's an invalid.

Needs a nurse, not a housekeeper.

All he did was took a fall.

Your granddad was hale and hearty

60 summers then he took a fall.

It was three weeks to the day he died.

Should be in hospital.

That or one of them places.

- He'll get better!

- And the day he does is the day we go.

Is that clear?

- Oh.

- Got a letter from Japan.

It's from Mr Umezaki.

- Have you read it?

- No. Wanted to.

Sin of desire. You're a Catholic.

Mum says you throw out

most of the letters you get.

And why do you think that is?

The people who write

want you to solve things.

If you read their letters,

you'd want to help.

Oh, no. You give me too much credit.

It's just if I were to read them,

I'd feel obliged to respond.

Perhaps Mr Umezaki's

asking you to go back to Japan.

Oh. I'll never go back to Japan.

- Why not?

- Long journey, old man.

- You made it before.

- That was before.

Maybe you could get more Prickly Ash.

The Prickly Ash hasn't made

a bit of difference to my memory,

any more than the Royal Jelly did.

Yes.

The only inspiration for any sort

of recollections has been you.

Go on. You open it.

He's writing to say his mother is dead.

How could you tell?

Mr Umezaki swore

that he would never contact me again.

The only thing that would

make him change his mind

would be a deathbed instruction

from his mother.

A good son always does

what his mother asks.

Mr Holmes!

You're not to be out of bed!

Mrs Munro, I have counted the steps

from the bed to the window,

- from the window to the...

- You're not to do anything on your own.

You're to ring.

I thought it was an imposition.

It will be an imposition

if you lose your bearings

and end up on the floor

for me to collect!

I hadn't realised that this

had become an industrial dispute.

I've been trying to calculate

the likelihood

that we should find Hire Sansho

in a place so utterly devoid of life.

Perhaps it is life re-asserting itself.

Hire Sansho.

How does it taste?

It isn't for the taste

that we sought it.

Ah, now, before we leave,

there's something that I mustn't forget.

I've signed it, as you requested.

Oh.

Not certain you can read my scrawl.

"To Mr Umezaki,

who has not owned this book for long."

You haven't had this book for 20 years.

It came from the library.

The glue mark shows

where you removed the card jacket.

You know nothing about bees

or Royal Jelly or Prickly Ash.

Enough to bring you here.

During our correspondence

over the last few months...

Was my name not familiar to you?

- No.

- My father's, then?

Masuo Umezaki?

- I never knew your father.

- He was a diplomat in London, years ago.

He loved all things English.

The first gift he gave to me

was a cricket bat.

The second was this.

In English,

so as to "assist my education."

"After consulting with the

very great detective Sherlock Holmes,

"I realise

it's in the best interests of us all

"that I remain in England indefinitely.

"You will see from this book that

he is a very wise and intelligent man,

"and that his say in this matter

should not be taken lightly."

We never heard from him again.

- I'm sorry.

- My mother is dying.

She grew old without a husband.

All because of you.

I understand.

The last time you heard from your father

was the first time you heard about me.

Masuo vanished from your life

and I arrived... In the form of a book.

One replaced the other, as it were.

I suggest you and your mother

take whatever time you have

to come to terms

with the facts of the case.

A man abandoned his family

and wrote his son a story.

He wouldn't be the first to cloak

his cowardice in a flag of sacrifice.

I'm sorry.

But I never knew your father.

I shall not bother you

any longer with my questions.

But if the Prickly Ash succeeds,

you will let me know?

Help.

Help.

Thank you.

I look like I've been attacked

by the Hound of the Baskervilles.

- Can't let Mum see you wearing that top.

- No.

- It's evidence.

- Yes.

What of? A murder?

Oh... I've something for you.

No.

Apis cerana Japonica.

- They have bees in Japan?

- Yes. Just like our bees.

Only they're Japanese.

No, it's for you. It's a gift.

Oh. Thank you.

Arigato, as they say in Japan.

Something the matter?

You lost another dozen bees today.

- A dozen?

- What do you think it is?

An outbreak of mortality.

Could be a disease we've not seen before,

or a sudden mutation.

You bring up some corpses

and we'll examine them.

- Yes, sir!

- And my glass.

Study. Should be in one of the drawers.

Roger?

Roger?

- Mr Holmes feels better today.

- Is that so?

Hm.

Mr Holmes feels so much better,

we're about to start an investigation.

Of what?

The crime wave that has done away

with a number of our apiary's

most prominent residents.

Well. If you need suspects,

you know where to find me.

Mum, wait.

I bet if we asked,

Mr Holmes would... Do his thing.

The thing he does where he tells people

who they are and where they've been,

just from looking.

Do Mum for her.

I'm sure your mother doesn't need

to be told where she's been.

Let's not bother Mr Holmes

with any foolishness.

It's not foolishness. Here.

You come and stand in front

of Mr Holmes. Just like that.

And he will tell you where you've been.

Do it.

- You want her to turn in a circle?

- No, that won't be necessary.

Turn in a circle.

You've been away most of the day.

Rate this script:4.0 / 2 votes