Sherlock Holmes Page #6

WATSON:

Then you're free this evening.

HOLMES:

Absolutely.

WATSON:

For dinner.

HOLMES:

Wonderful.

WATSON:

The Royale.

HOLMES:

My favorite.

WATSON:

Mary's coming.

HOLMES:

Not available.

WATSON:

You're meeting her, Holmes.

HOLMES:

Have you proposed yet?

WATSON:

I'm still looking for the right

ring.

A little smile from Holmes.

HOLMES:

Then it's not official.

(CONTINUED)

16.

14 CONTINUED:
(4) 14

WATSON:

It's happening, like it or not.

Half past eight. The Royale.

The dog wakes up and runs out.

WATSON:

And wear a jacket.

Watson exits, leaving Holmes alone in his own chaos.

For the first time, we see a hint of fear in his eyes.

CUT TO:

15 INT. THE ROYALE - DINING ROOM 15

Holmes sits in the center of a booth waiting for Watson

to arrive. He is quite uncomfortable in this setting.

WE SEE HIS OBSERVATIONS -- he picks up little pieces of

information from the other guests. He notices the

details on a pair of gentleman's cufflinks, the name on a

bottle of wine, a surreptitious argument between waiters.

It all becomes quite overbearing.

And then Watson and Mary arrive, talking, intent on each

other -- surprised when they realize Holmes is already

there.

WATSON:

Holmes! You're early.

HOLMES:

Fashionably.

WATSON:

May I present Miss Mary Morstan.

Holmes looks at MARY MORSTAN -- looks again. She's

beautiful, 30s, and clearly a woman worth marrying.

Holmes stands. She extends her hand.

HOLMES:

My pleasure. For the life of me I

don't know why it's taken him so

long to get us properly

introduced.

Holmes gestures politely, they sit, Mary and Watson on

either side of him. There is a decanted bottle of wine

on the table.

MARY:

The pleasure's mine. It really is

a thrill to meet you, Mr. Holmes.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

16A.

15 CONTINUED:
15

MARY (CONT'D)

I've a whole stack of detective

novels at home. Poe, Wilkie

Collins...

WATSON:

(proudly)

It's true.

(CONTINUED)

17.

15 CONTINUED:
(2) 15

MARY:

They can seem a bit far-fetched

sometimes, though. Making these

grand assumptions out of tiny

details.

HOLMES:

(livening up)

Oh, no no. The little details are

by far the most important. Take

Watson...

MARY:

I intend to.

Watson likes that, Holmes less so -- a forced chuckle.

HOLMES:

... see that walking-stick? A

rare African snakewood hiding a

blade of high-tensile steel. A

few were awarded to veterans of

the Afghan war, so I can assume

he's a decorated soldier. Strong,

brave, born to be a man of action.

And neat, like all military men.

Then I check his pockets... ah. A

stub from a boxing match. Now I

can infer he's a bit of a gambler.

(a wink)

I'd keep an eye on that, by the

way.

WATSON:

Those days are behind me.

HOLMES:

Yes, right behind you.

(leaning in to Mary)

He's cost us the rent more than

once.

Mary laughs.

MARY:

With all due respect, Mr. Holmes,

you know him. But what about a

perfect stranger? What can you

tell about me?

Holmes and Watson exchange a glance -- not a good idea.

WATSON:

I don't think that's necessary --

(CONTINUED)

17A.

15 CONTINUED:
(3) 15

HOLMES:

Yes, I doubt --

MARY:

No, it'd be wonderful. I insist.

HOLMES:

You insist?

(at Watson)

She insisted.

(instantly)

You're a governess.

MARY:

Well done.

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