Sherlock Holmes Page #9

(CONTINUED)

24A.

22 CONTINUED:
22

HOLMES:

Look at this. If you play a

chromatic scale, they move

clockwise. As soon as you switch

to a pentatonic scale --

Holmes plays a different scale, the flies all stop

moving, stick to the glass.

WATSON:

(faking interest)

Really? What about when you --

oops --

Watson picks up the glass, lets loose the flies. Holmes

looks up; Watson's already moving for the door, pissed.

(CONTINUED)

25.

22 CONTINUED:
(2) 22

WATSON:

Let's go. Lestrade wants you at

Pentonville Prison.

HOLMES:

That's your job, not mine.

WATSON:

You're Blackwood's last request.

Says he has information he'll give

only to you.

But Watson's already out the door.

23 EXT. LONDON - DAWN 23

Watson and Holmes ride in a cab, passing familiar

landmarks as the city comes to life. They sit in

silence, tension hanging between them. Finally Holmes

grabs Watson's bag, rummages around and pulls out a clean

white shirt.

Watson looks out the window, frustrated. He sees THE

HALF-CONSTRUCTED MASS OF TOWER BRIDGE. Near ground

level, workers take down a large BLACKWOOD STEEL sign.

HOLMES:

Look at that structure. What has

it been? Five years' work

already? Are you aware that is

the first combination of bascule

and suspension bridge. Very

innovative.

No reply.

As Holmes is taking off his jacket, he reaches into his

pocket and pulls out a wad of money.

(CONTINUED)

26.

23 CONTINUED:
23

HOLMES:

Oh, I have your cut from last

night, by the way. You weren't

there so I laid your customary

bet --

Silence. Holmes takes off his shirt.

HOLMES:

You're right... I'll keep it with

your check book, locked safely

away in my drawer.

Silence. Holmes pulls on the clean shirt.

HOLMES:

The opera house is featuring Don

Giovanni and I could easily

procure two tickets if you had

some cultural inclination this

evening.

Silence.

HOLMES:

You have the grand gift of

silence, Watson. It makes you

quite invaluable as a companion.

Watson punches him square in the face.

WATSON:

And your grand gift is the uncanny

ability to demoralize people. I

was aware she'd been engaged. She

told me.

Holmes rubs his jaw.

HOLMES:

So that's a `no' to the opera

then?

Watson's steaming. Holmes puts on his vest.

WATSON:

That's my waistcoat.

HOLMES:

It's too small for you.

WATSON:

Well, it's my property and I want

it back.

(CONTINUED)

26aA.

23 CONTINUED:
(2) 23

Holmes hands him the waistcoat which he promptly tosses

out of the carriage window. Holmes frowns, looks out the

opposite window.

26A.

24 EXT. PENTONVILLE PRISON - EARLY MORNING 24

Already a CROWD is gathering outside the jail, papers are

for sale, Blackwood's death is the headline. Religious

zealots and occultists swarm. Police keep them away from

the entrance. Holmes heads inside, Watson stops.

WATSON:

You go ahead. I've no business

with him while he's alive.

25 OMITTED 25

27.

26 INT. PENTONVILLE PRISON - CORRIDOR - DAWN 26

A pale, nervous GUARD leads Holmes down the shadowy

corridor. All the cells are now EMPTY.

HOLMES:

Where are all the other prisoners?

GUARD:

We had to move `em, sir, otherwise

we were going to have a riot on

our hands. There's something

about him... it's like he can get

inside your head.

Holmes can see how spooked the Guard is.

HOLMES:

I'm sure I can find my own way

from here, if you have other

duties to attend to.

GUARD:

Much obliged, sir. Thank you,

thank you.

The Guard high-tails it out of there.

27 27

INT. PENTONVILLE PRISON - BLACKWOOD'S CELL - DAY

Holmes approaches Blackwood's cell, strolling

insouciantly. No way this creep's getting to him. In

the shadows he can barely make out Blackwood, who's

reading aloud to himself. Holmes listens, getting

closer.

BLACKWOOD:

QUOTE from Revelations tbd...

Blackwood pauses, turns, sees Holmes.

They share a smile -- two heavyweights sizing each other

up.

HOLMES:

Love what you've done with the

place.

BLACKWOOD:

Thank you for joining me.

(CONTINUED)

28.

27 CONTINUED:
27

HOLMES:

A small point of concern.

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