Sherlock Holmes Page #24

Thomas blinks and sees that BLACKWOOD now sits in the

corner of the bathroom, lit in a sinister fashion.

Sir Thomas' eyes widen, the muscles stand out in his neck

as he fights paralysis. He slides back down, slowly.

BLACKWOOD:

You can't fight it. It comes from

a power greater than yours. You

can only surrender.

The water flows over Sir Thomas, as Blackwood steps

closer and takes the sacred RING from his rigid finger.

BLACKWOOD:

I've been imagining this moment

for a long time...

The water closes over his face. Sir Thomas stares up at

Blackwood, who watches him drown, slowly and surely.

BLACKWOOD:

... I must admit, it's better than

I thought it would be.

78 78

INT. THE GRAND HOTEL - CORRIDOR - DAY

Carrying an armful of laundry, a MAID slips a pass-key

into a lock and opens the door...

... to be confronted by the snoring form of Holmes, still

handcuffed to the bed. Clothes in total disarray. Her

shriek wakes him. He looks down at himself and reacts

with shock, then grim recognition sets in.

HOLMES:

Don't take this the wrong way, but

might I borrow your hand?

78A INT. POLICE CARRIAGE 78A

Holmes sits beside a COP, and opposite CONSTABLE CLARK.

HOLMES:

Chambermaids were once such a

liberal breed. Besides, she

misinterpreted my intention

entirely.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

65.

78A CONTINUED:
78A

HOLMES (CONT'D)

This is why I find this modern

religious fervor so troubling,

there is no latitude for

misunderstanding.

He looks out the carriage window and sees signs of a

spiritualist gathering.

HOLMES:

Faith runs riot over reason.

CONSTABLE CLARK:

Well, it's a good thing she was

offended or we'd never have found

you. The inspector's been over to

Baker Street himself this morning.

The coach stops.

78B 78B

EXT. SIR THOMAS' HOUSE - DAY

Holmes steps out of the coach, and is escorted inside by

Constable Clark.

78C INT. SIR THOMAS' BATHROOM 78C

Holmes is briefed by Constable Clark as they enter. As

Constable Clark continues in, Holmes swivels away --

CONSTABLE CLARK:

We've checked everything. No sign

of a break-in. The Butler didn't

hear anything. The body was in

the tub, eyes wide open --

-- so that Const. Clark ends up talking to thin air.

CONSTABLE CLARK:

(realizing Holmes

isn't there)

-- only his ring was missing.

He turns, puzzled, looking for Holmes, finds him right

back at the doorway, in full virtuoso detective mode.

Right now, right here is where Holmes is at his very best

-- this is, in fact, why he exists.

Holmes is satisfied by what he sees or finds, continues

into the bathroom, where a POLICE OFFICER stands over the

tub and Sir Thomas' body (covered with a blanket).

The tub has been drained. The kind of crime scene

violation that Holmes cannot get them to stop doing.

(CONTINUED)

65A.

78C CONTINUED:
78C

HOLMES:

Why did you drain the water?

POLICE OFFICER:

Out of common decency.

HOLMES:

(incensed)

Crime is common, logic is rare.

The decent thing to do is catch

the killer, not provide comfort to

the corpse.

Neither the officer nor Clark have a response. Holmes

swivels, sees a JAR OF BATH SALTS on the table next to

the chair Blackwood sat in, leans over, scoops it up,

opens it, sniffs it.

HOLMES:

Hmm...

Holmes thrusts the open jar under the Officer's nose.

HOLMES:

What is that?

POLICE OFFICER:

(smelling)

Uhhhh... jasmine?

HOLMES:

Superb. I suspect this comes from

a larger cannister. It'll either

be in the pantry, high up where

it's warm and dry, or in a linen

closet with a vent. And,

Constable, you could check the

ground under the rear windows for

any footprints not your own.

Both cops hesitate -- Holmes is not their boss.

HOLMES:

Data, data, data! I cannot make

bricks without clay!

The cops hurry away. Now Holmes can really get down to

work. This may mean he gets on his belly for a floor's-

eye-view, it may mean he looks down from a window sill.

Sometimes he hums or sings to himself.

Holmes is happy.

He glances around the room, sees the chair where

Blackwood was perched, sits in it himself.

(CONTINUED)

65B.

78C CONTINUED:
(2) 78C

His eyes keep moving, noticing something on a wall. He

steps toward it, runs his hand along a layer of dust.

The dust has a line down it, as if the wall cracked open.

Holmes steps to the sink, grabs a handful of TALCUM

POWDER and tosses the powder against the wall, revealing:

(CONTINUED)

66.

78C CONTINUED:
(3) 78C

FINGERPRINTS on one of the panels.

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