Sherlock Holmes Page #16

Holmes spots something glinting in the man's dirt-filled

pocket. He uses the pen to fish out: a POCKET WATCH.

HOLMES:

All yours, Inspector.

Holmes hands the pen back to Lestrade. Lestrade looks at

it with dismay, takes it in Holmes' handkerchief -- a

small measure of revenge.

(CONTINUED)

42.

42 CONTINUED: (5) 42

Holmes and Watson begin walking away from the crypt.

Lestrade follows, anxious. Holmes shows him the dusty

pocket watch.

HOLMES:

Scratches around the keyhole where

the watch is wound. Most drunks

are the same, and pawnbrokers

scratch the ticket number and

their initials inside the lid.

This one has five, so the owner --

GROUNDSKEEPER (O.S.)

He was walking.

They all stop, suddenly. The old Groundskeeper stands in

front of them, ready to unburden himself.

GROUNDSKEEPER:

(quivering voice)

He was walking but his feet didn't

touch the ground. And I'm not

daft, I know what I saw and I know

Lord Blackwood. He was as alive

as you or me. It's not right.

It's not natural.

(turns, leaves)

Our Father Who art in heaven...

(etc.)

All three men watch the Groundskeeper go. A sudden gust

of wind moans eerily. They all want to get the hell out

of there.

HOLMES:

Now the game is afoot, Watson.

42A-50 OMITTE 42A-50

51 EXT. LONDON STREET - DAY 51

Holmes stands in the middle of the street contentedly

observing humanity. Watson ENTERS FRAME and hands Holmes

a bundle wrapped in newspaper.

WATSON:

I fail to see how these fish and

chips are different from the three

other places we passed along the

way.

HOLMES:

Trust me.

(CONTINUED)

42A.

51 CONTINUED:
51

WATSON:

Just eat.

Holmes complies hungrily and they start to stroll along.

Watson appears preoccupied.

WATSON:

You know, I've seen things in war

that I couldn't explain. I once

heard a man predict his death,

down to the number and placement

of the bullet holes that killed

him. You have to admit that a

supernatural explanation is at

least theoretically possible.

(CONTINUED)

43.

51 CONTINUED:
(2) 51

HOLMES:

(mouth full, near

indecipherable)

Never theorize before you have

data. Invariably, you end up

twisting facts to suit theories,

instead of theories to suit facts.

Adler's midget is the key to this.

Holmes pulls out a JEWELER'S LOUP, screws it into his

eye, and flips Reordon's watch open. He examines the

lid.

HOLMES:

Hmm... scratches around the

keyhole, what does that tell you?

WATSON:

The owner was most likely a drunk.

Each time he wound the watch his

hand would slip, hence the

scratches.

HOLMES:

Very good, Watson! You've

developed considerable powers of

your own.

Watson looks quite chuffed.

HOLMES:

Let's see now, there are several

sets of initials scored into the

lid.

WATSON:

Pawnbroker's marks.

HOLMES:

Excellent.

Watson looks extremely pleased with himself until they

turn a corner into a street where EVERY SECOND SHOP IS A

PAWN SHOP. His face falls.

HOLMES:

The most recent is M.H...

Watson shakes his head.

WATSON:

Maddison and Haig.

(CONTINUED)

43A.

51 CONTINUED:
(3) 51

HOLMES:

Oh my Lord, here we are. They

should give us an address.

WE SEE MADDISON & HAIG, PAWNBROKERS, RESPECTABLE,

DISCREET, ahead of them there on Bow Street.

WATSON:

There's one thing you've missed.

On the watch.

HOLMES:

I think not.

WATSON:

The time. Which leads me to

deduce that I'm already late for

my appointment with Mary. You

remember, the one I was leaving

for before you talked me into

coming to dig up dead bodies with

you.

A GYPSY PALM READER approaches Watson as he turns to

leave.

PALM READER:

Reckon your future, sir?

HOLMES:

Perhaps we do need a little help

from the beyond.

WATSON:

No, thank you.

She grabs his hand anyway.

PALM READER:

You need to hear what I have to

tell you.

Watson is so taken aback by the urgency and gravity of

her tone that he doesn't pull away.

PALM READER:

I see two men, brothers. Not in

blood but in bond. I see the

letters S and an L, no... wait, a

J.

Holmes and Watson look at each other. She has their

attention.

(CONTINUED)

Rate this script:3.5 / 2 votes