Sherlock Holmes- Blue

7/29/2019 Sherlock Holmes- Blue

1/23

Audio Play


2/23

AUDIO PLAY

Scene: 1

(OPENING MUSIC)

PETERSON

SOUND: LAUGHINGAh Hamish! Youre a card you are!

HAMISH...so then she looks at me and says, is that yourcat? And I says, Yes mum it be mine sure as yerDaddys beard And she says...

VOICE: (DISTANT) "HEY!"

PETERSON

Hullo, what have we here?

SOUND: SCUFFLING AND GRUNTING

HAMISHNo, no, thats not what she said...

PETERSONIt appears that poor fellow is in a spot of trouble.

HAMISHTis quite the kerfuffle at that.

SOUND: WHISTLE BLOWING

PETERSONPolice!

HAMISHBreak it up now, Im warnin ye.

SOUND: BREAKING GLASS

SOUND: FLEEING FOOTSTEPS

PETERSONGet out of here ya ruffians!

HAMISHWell, that was odd now wasnt it?

PETERSONHe ran off!

(CONTINUED)


3/23

CONTINUED: 2.

HAMISHRan off an left his bird behind at that, and a finebird it is too.

PETERSONWe must have spooked the poor gent. He forgot his hat

as well. Its initialed H.B.

HAMISHIt appears the bird was bein delivered to a Mrs. HenryBaker. Why there must be a thousand Henry Bakers inthis city.

PETERSONI dont suppose we have much chance of finding the poorfellow and returning it do we?

HAMISHNay, but I think I might be knowin a gent who could be

of some assistance.

SCENE: 2

SOUND: KNOCKING

SOUND: DOOR CREAKING OPEN

HOLMESWhy come in gentlemen?

PETERSONEvenin Mr. Olmes

HOLMESAnd what brings you gentlemen here this evening?

HAMISHA bird.

PETERSONA goose to be precise.

HOLMESI gathered.

HAMISHWell, Mr. Holmes, a few days ago we were on our wayhome after work. We stopped for a bitof...jollification ye might say.

HOLMESYoud been drinking, yes, yes...continue.

(CONTINUED)


4/23


5/23

CONTINUED: 4.

HOLMES (contd)course, obvious, and also that he was fairly well-to-dowithin the last three years, although he has now fallenon evil days. He had foresight, though less now thanformerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which,when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to

indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at workupon him. This may account also for the obvious factthat his wife has ceased to love him.

WATSONHolmes!

HAMISHHow does he do that?

HOLMESHe has, however, retained some degree of self-respect.He is a man who leads a sedentary life, goes out

little, is out of training entirely, is middle-aged,has grizzled-hair which he has had cut within the lastfew days, and which he anoints with lime cream.

PETERSONSweet mother of lime cream!

HAMISHHes a magician.

WATSONHolmes, you cant be serious!

HOLMESI most certainly am! Is it possible that even now, whenI give you these results, you are yet unable to see howthey were attained?

WATSONI have no doubt I am very stupid.

PETERSONIf hes stupid, Im a mutton-head!

HAMISHThat is true.

PETERSONWell, at least I dont drink like a dying fish.

HAMISHAt least I dont smell like a dying fish.

(CONTINUED)


6/23

CONTINUED: 5.

WATSONGentlemen, if youre quite done...Holmes, perhaps youdbest start from the beginning.

HOLMESQuite right. First, the man is highly intellectual.

WATSONHow can you deduce that from a hat?

HOLMESIts quite simple, Watson, its a question of cubiccapacity. As you can easily see, this batteredbillycock is quite large. A man with so large a headmust have something in it.

WATSONActually, Holmes, the medical profession confirms thatthere is no direct link between the size of ones brainand intelligence.

HOLMESThat is a dreadfully American notion, Watson. Beenreading again have you?

WATSONWhat about the decline of his fortunes?

HOLMESThis hat is three years old. These flat brims curled atthe ends came in then. It is a hat of the very bestquality. Look at the band of ribbed silk and theexcellent lining. If this man could afford to buy soexpensive a hat three years ago, and has no hat sincethen, then he has assuredly gone down in the world.

WATSONWell, that is clear enough.

PETERSONHow about the foresight?

HOLMESDo you see this hat securer here? There is theforesight. They are never sold upon hats. If this man

ordered one, it is a sign of a certain amount offoresight, since he went out of his way to take thisprecaution against the wind. But see how he has brokenthe elastic and has not troubled to replace it? It isobvious that he has less foresight now than previously,which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On theother hand, he has endeavored to conceal some of thesestains upon the felt by daubing them with ink, which isa sign that he has not entirely lost his self-respect.

(CONTINUED)


7/23

CONTINUED: 6.

HAMISHAmazing! Tis truly amazing.

HOLMESThe further points, that he is middle-aged, that hishair is grizzled, that it has been recently cut and

that he uses lime cream, are all to be gathered from aclose examination of the lower part of the lining. Lookclosely and you will see a number of loose hairs, cleancut by the barber. They all appear to be adhesive, andthere is a distinct odor of lime cream. This dust too,you will observe, is not the gritty, gray dust of thestreet but the fluffy brown dust of the house, showingthat it has been hung up indoors most of the time;while the marks of moisture upon the inside are proofpositive that he perspired very freely, and thereforecould hardly be in the best of training.

WATSON

But surely you cant be serious that his wife ceased tolove him...

HOLMESThis hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I seeyou, my dear Watson, with a weeks accumulation of dustupon your hat, and when your wife allows you to go outin such a state, I shall fear that you also have beenunfortunate enough to lose your wifes affection.

WATSONPoint taken.

PETERSONe could be a bachelor.

HOLMESYou will recall the card on the leg of the bird. He wasbringing it as a peace-offering for his wife.

WATSONYou have an answer for everything.

HOLMESWell, gentlemen, thank you for bringing this matter tomy attention. However, it appears that the bird willsoon be spoiled. Why dont you take it home and shouldthe fellow return for his goods, we will replace it.

PETERSONAye, Mr. Olmes. Thank you for your time, sir.

(CONTINUED)


8/23

CONTINUED: 7.

HAMISHA pleasure Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson.

HOLMESGoodnight, gentlemen.

SOUND: DOOR CLOSING

SOUND: AUDIO TRANSITION

SCENE: 3

SOUND: DOOR BURSTING OPEN

HAMISHMr. Holmes! The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose!

HOLMESWhat of it then? Has it returned to life and flapped

oof through the kitchen window?

HAMISHSee here, sir! Look what I found in the birds crop.

HOLMESBy Jove Peterson! This is a treasure trove indeed! Isuppose you know what youve got there.

HAMISHA diamond, sir? A precious stone maybe?

HOLMES

More than a precious stone. It is the precious stone!

WATSONNot the Countess of Morcars blue carbuncle!

HOLMESPrecisely so. I ought to know its size and shape,seeing that I have read the advertisement about it inThe Times every day lately. It is absoluteluy unique,and its value can only be conjectured, but the rewardoffered of one thousand pounds is certainly not withina twentieth part of the market price.

HAMISHA thousand pounds! Great Lord aMercy.

WATSONIt was lost, if I remember correctly, at the HotelCosmopolitan.

(CONTINUED)


9/23

CONTINUED: 8.

HOLMESPrecisely so, on December twenty-second. John Horner, aplumber, was accused of having abstracted it from theladys jewel case. The evidence against him was sostrong that the case has been reffered to the Assizes.As I remember it, the upper-attendant at the hotel, a

Mr. Ryder, gave evidence to the effect that he hadshown Horner up to the room of the Countess of Morcaron the day of the robbery. Ryder went to attend toother business and when he returned, Horner haddisappeared and the jewel with him. Horner was arrestedlater that day. Our little deductions have suddenlyassumed a much more important and less innocent aspect.

WATSONBut how did the Blue Carbuncle go from being rifledfrom a jewel case to the crop of goose in TottenhamCourt Road?

HOLMESThat is the question of the hour. We must now set ourminds more seriously to finding Mr. Henry Baker andascertaining what part he has played in this littlemystery. Hand me a pencil and paper.

WATSONWhat are you going to do?

HOLMESWe must try the simplest means first, that being anadvertisement in the evening paper. Now, lets see,"Found at the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a

black felt hat. Mr. Henry Baker can have the same byapplying at six thirty this evening at two-twenty-one BBaker Street." There, that is clear and concise.

WATSONYes, but will he see it?

HOLMESWell, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since,to a poor man, the loss was a heavy one. Theintroduction of his name will also cause him to see it,for everyone who knows him will direct his attention toit. Here you are, Mr. Mulroy, run down to theadvertising agency and have this put in the eveningpapers.

HAMISHIn which, sir?

(CONTINUED)


10/23

CONTINUED: 9.

HOLMESOh in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. Jamess, EveningNews Standard, Echo and any others that occur to you.

HAMISHVery well, sir. And the stone?

HOLMESAh, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And I say,Mulroy, just buy a goose on your way back and leave ithere with me, for we must have one to give to thisgentleman in place of the one your family is nowdevouring.

HAMISHYes, sir.

SOUND: DOOR CLOSING

HOLMESIts a bonny thing, Watson. Just see how it glint andsparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and focus of crime.Every good stone is. They are the devils pet baits.This stone is not yet twenty years old and alreadythere have been two murders, a suicide and severalrobberies brought about for the sake of thisforty-grain weight of crystallized charcoal. Who wouldthink that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to thegallows and the prison. I shall lock it away in mystrong box and drop a line to the Countess to say thatwe have it.

WATSONDo you think this man Horner is innocent?

HOLMESI cannot tell.

WATSONWell, then, how do you imagine this other one, HenryBaker, had anything to do with the matter?

HOLMESIt is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is anabsolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the birdwhich he was carrying was of considerably greater valuethan if it were made of solid gold. That, however, Ishall determine by a very simple test if we have ananswer to our advertisement.

WATSONAnd you can do nothing until then?

(CONTINUED)


11/23

CONTINUED: 10.

HOLMESNothing.

WATSONIn that case, I shall continue my professional round.But, I shall come back in the evening at the hour you

have mentioned, for I should like to see the solutionof so tangled a business.

HOLMESVery glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is awoodcock, I believe. Though, in view of recentoccurences perhaps I ought to ask Mrs. Hudson toexamine its crop.

WATSON(LAUGHING)I shall see you at half-past six then.

SOUND: DOOR CLOSING

SOUND: CLOCK TICKING

SCENE: 5

SOUND: KNOCKING


HOLMESMr. Baker, come in. Oh and youve brought Dr. Watsonwith you. Right on time, Doctor.

WATSONWe met just outside.

HOLMESPray, take the chair by the fire Mr. Baker. It is acold night and I observe that your circulation is moreadapted for summer than winter.

BAKERThank you, Mr. Holmes.

HOLMESIs this your hat, Mr. Baker.

BAKERIt most undoubtedly is my hat!

HOLMESWe have retained these things for some days because weexpected to see an advertisement from you giving your

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


12/23

CONTINUED: 11.

HOLMES (contd)address. I am at a loss to know why you did notadvertise.

BAKERWell, Mr. Holmes, shillings have not been so plentiful

as they once were. I had no doubt that the gang ofroughs who assaulted me had carried off both my hat andthe bird. I did not care to spend more money in ahopeless attempt in recovering them.

HOLMESVery naturally. By the way, about the bird, we ate it.

BAKERYou ate it!

HOLMESQuite. It would have been of no use to anyone had we

not done so. But, I presume that this other goose uponthe sideboard, which is about the same weight andperfectly fresh, will answer your purpose equally well?

BAKEROh, certainly, certainly.

HOLMESOf course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop andso on of your other bird, so if you wish...

BAKER(LAUGHS HEARTILY)

They might be useful to me as relics of my adventure,but beyond that I can hardly see what use the dijectamembra of my late acquaintance are going to be to me.No, sir, that bird will do just fine.

HOLMESThere is your bird then and there your hat. By the way,would it bore you to tell me where you got the otherbird from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier and I haveseldom seen a better grown goose.

BAKERCertainly, sir. There are a few of us who frequent theAlpha Inn. This year our good host, Windigate by name,instituted a goose club, by which, on consideration ofsome few pence every week, we were each to receive abird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid and the restis familiar to you. I am much indebted to you goodsirs. A merry Christmas to you.

(CONTINUED)


13/23

CONTINUED: 12.

WATSONAnd you Mr. Baker.

SOUND: DOOR CLOSING

HOLMES

Well, so much for Mr. Henry Baker. It is quite certainhe knows nothing whatever about the matter. Are youhungry, Watson?

WATSONNot particularly.

HOLMESThen I suggest we turn our dinner into a supper andfollow up on this clue while it is still hot!

WATSONBy all means.

HOLMESThen grab your coat.

SOUND: DOOR OPENING


SCENE: 6

HOLMESAh! There it is, Watson. The Alpha Inn.

SOUND: DOOR OPENING

HOLMESMr. Windigate I presume.

WINDIGATEAt your service, gentlemen.

HOLMESYour drinks should be excellent if they are as good asyour geese.

WINDIGATEMy geese!?

HOLMESIndeed. I was speaking only a half an hour ago with Mr.Henry Baker, a member of your goose club.

(CONTINUED)


14/23

CONTINUED: 13.

WINDIGATEAh, yes, I see. But, thems not our geese.

HOLMESIndeed! Whose then?

WINDIGATEWell, I got two dozen of them from a salesman in CoventGarden.

HOLMESIndeed? I know some of them. Which was it?

WINDIGATEBreckinridge is his name.

HOLMESIndeed!

WINDIGATEIndeed.

WATSONIndeed.

HOLMESI dont know him. Well, heres to your good health andprosperity. Good-night.

SOUND: DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING

SOUND: RUSHING WIND

HOLMESNow for Mr. Breckinridge. Remember, Watson, that thoughwe have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of thischain, we have at the other a man who will certainlyget seven years penal servitude unless we canestablish his innocence. It is possible that ourinquiry may only confirm his guilt; but, in any case,we have a line of investigation which has been missedby the police, and which a singular chance has place inour hands. Let us follow to the bitter end. Faces tothe south, then, and quick march!

SOUND: FOOTSTEPS



15/23


16/23

CONTINUED: 15.

BRECKINRIDGEWarm! Youd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pesteredas I am. When I pay good money for a good article thereshould be an end of the business, but its, "Where arethe geese?" and, "Who did you sell the geese to?". Onewould think they were the only geese in the world, to

hear the fuss that is made over them.

HOLMESWell, I have no connection with any other people whohave been making inquiries. If you wont tell us, thebet is off, that is all. But, I am always ready to backmy opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver onit that the bird I ate is country bred.

BRECKINRIDGEWell then youve lost your fiver. Its town bred.

HOLMES

Its nothing of the kind.

BRECKINRIDGEI say it is.

HOLMESI dont believe it.

BRECKINRIDGEDyou think you know more about fowls than I, who havehandled them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, allthose birds that went to Alpha were town bred.

HOLMESYoull never persuade me to believe that.

BRECKINRIDGEWill you bet, then?

HOLMESIts merely taking your money, for I know that I amright. But, Ill have a sovereign on with you, just toteach you not to be obstinate.

BRECKINRIDGEEh, Bill! Bring them books out ere...Now then mister,I thought that I was all out of geese, but before Ifinish youll find that there is still one left in myshop.

WATSONI think he means you.

(CONTINUED)


17/23

CONTINUED: 16.

HOLMESYes, Watson, I gathered.

BRECKINRIDGEThats the list of the folk from whom I buy. Dyou see?Well then, here on this page are the country folk andthe numbers after their names are where their accounts

are on the big ledger. Now then! You see this otherpage in red ink? Well that is a list of my townsuppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just read itout to me.

HOLMESMrs. Oakshott, one seventeen Brixton road - two fournine

BRECKINRIDGEQuite right, now turn there in the ledger.

HOLMES

Here you are, Mrs. Oakshott, one seventeen Brixtonroad, egg and poultry supplier.

BRECKINRIDGENow then, whats the last entry?

HOLMESDecember twenty-second.

BRECKINRIDGEQuite so. And underneath?

HOLMES

Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha.

BRECKINRIDGEWhat do you have to say now?

HOLMESA bet is a bet, my dear man. Here is your sovereign.Come, Watson.

SOUND: FOOTSTEPS

HOLMES(LAUGHING)Watson, when you see a man with whiskers of that cutand the "Pink un" protuding out of his pocket, you canalways draw him by a bet. I daresay, that if I had puta hundred pounds down in front of him, that man wouldnot have given me such complete information as wasdrawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on awager.

(CONTINUED)


18/23

CONTINUED: 17.

WATSONShall we continue on to Mrs. Oakshotts?

HOLMESPerhaps we should reserve it for tomorrow. Though it isclear from what that surly fellow said that there are

others besides ourselves who are anxious about thematter...

BRECKINRIDGE(SHOUTING)Ive had enough of you and your geese! If you comepestering me anymore with your silly talk Ill set thedog on you! You bring Mrs. Oakshott here and Illanswer her, but what have you to do with it? Did I buythe geese off you?

RYDERNo, but one of them was mine all the same.

BRECKINRIDGEWell, then ask Mrs. Oakshott for it.

RYDERShe told me to ask you!

BRECKINRIDGEWell, you can ask the King of Proosia for all I care.Ive had enough of it!

SOUND: DOOR SLAMMING

HOLMESThis may have saved us a visit to Brixton road. Comewith me, Watson, and we will see what is to made ofthis fellow.

SOUND: FOOTSTEPS

RYDERWho are you then? What do you want?

HOLMESYou will excuse me, but I could not help overhearingthe question which you put to the salesman just now. Ithink that i could be of assistance to you.

RYDERYou? Who are you? How could you know anything of thematter?

(CONTINUED)


19/23

CONTINUED: 18.

HOLMESMy name is Sherlock Holmes, it is my business to knowwhat other people dont know.

RYDERBut you can know nothing of this?

HOLMESExcuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavoringto trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott,of Brixton road, to a salesman named Breckenridge, byhim in turn to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, and by himto his club, of which Mr. Henry Baker is a member.

RYDEROh, sir! You are the very man I have longed to meet. Ican hardly explain to you how interested I am in thismatter.

HOLMES

In that case we had better discuss it in a cozy roomrather than in this wind-swept marketplace. But, praytell me, before we go farther, who it is I have thepleasure of assisting.

RYDERMy name is...John..John Robertson.

HOLMESNo, no, the real name. It is always awkward doingbusiness with an alias.

RYDER

(STAMMERING)Well, then, my real name is James Ryder.

HOLMESPrecisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan.Pray step into the cab and I shall soon be able to tellyou everything which you would wish to know.

SOUND: HORSES HOOVES


SCENE: 8

HOLMESHere we are! The fire looks very seasonable in thisweather. You look cold, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basketchair. I will just put on my slippers before we settleinto this little matter of yours. Now then! You want toknow what became of those geese?

(CONTINUED)


20/23

CONTINUED: 19.

RYDERYes, sir.

HOLMESOr rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, Iimagine, in which you were interested - white, with a

black bar across the tail.

RYDEROh sir! Can you tell me where it went to?

HOLMESIt came here.

RYDERHere?

HOLMESYes, and a remarkable bird it proved. I dont wonder

that you should take an interest in it. It laid an eggafter it was dead - the bonniest, brightest little blueegg that was ever seen. I have it here in my museum.

RYDERYou...you know.

HOLMESThe game is up, Ryder. My good man, are youalright? Hold up, man or youll be into the fireplace!Watson, help Mr. Ryder back to his chair. Give him adash of brandy. - Ah, now he looks a sight more human.- I have almost every link in my hands, and all the

proofs which I could possibly need, so there is littlewhich you need to tell me. Still, that little may aswell be cleared up to make the case complete. You hadheard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Countess ofMorcars?

RYDERIt was Catherine Cusack who told me of it.

HOLMESI see. Her ladyships waiting-maid. Wel, the temptationof sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much foryou, as it has been for better men before you, but youwere not very scrupulous in the means you used. Itseems to me, Ryder, that there is the making of a verypretty villain in you. You knew that this man, Horner,the plumber, had been concerned in some such matterbefore, and that suspicion would rest the more readilyon him. What did you do then? You made some small jobin my ladys room - you and your confederate Cusack -and you managed that he should be the man sent for.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


21/23


22/23

CONTINUED: 21.

RYDER (contd)My sister had told me some weeks before that I couldhave the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, andI knew that she was always as good as her word. I wouldtake my goose now and in it I would carry my jewel toKilburn. I drove one of the birds behind a shed in the

yard, a fine big one, with a barred tail. I caught it,pried its bill open and thrust the jewel down as faras my finger would reach. The bird gave a gulp and Ifelt stone pass along its gullet and down into itscrop. But, the creature fluttered and flapped and outcame my sister to see what was the matter. As I turnedto speak to her, the bird broke loose and fluttered offamong the others. Whatever were you doing with thatbird, Jem?, says she. Well said I you said youdgive me one for Christmas, and I was feeling which onewas the fattest. Oh, says she, weve set yoursaside for you - Jems bird we call it. Its the bigwhite one over yonder. Thank you, Maggie, says I,

but if its all the same to you, Id rather have theone I was handling just now. But the other is a goodthree pound heavier said she, and we fattened itexpressly for you. Never mind, Ill have the other,and Ill take it now said I. Oh very well she saidkinda huffy-like, kill it and take it with you. Well,I did what she said, Mr. Holmes and I took it toKilburn, but when we went to open the goose my heartturned to water - there was no stone. I hurried back tomy sisters and into the yard, no birds. I asked mysister where they were and she said at Breckenridges inCovent Gardens. I asked my sister if there was anotherwith a barred tail and she said there were two, she

could never tell them apart. Well then, of course, Isaw it all and I ran off as hard as my feet would takeme to this man Breckenridge, but he had sold off thelot at once and not one word would he tell me aboutwhere they went. You heard him yourself tonight. Well,hes always answered me like that. My sister thinks Iam going mad. Sometimes I think that I am myself. Andnow - and I am myself a branded theif, without everhaving touched the wealth for which I sold mycharacter. God help me! God help me! (sobbing)

SOUND: FOOTSTEPS


HOLMESGet out.

RYDERWhat, sir?! Oh Heaven bless you!

(CONTINUED)


23/23

CONTINUED: 22.

HOLMESNo more words, get out!

SOUND: CLAMMERING STEPS

SOUND: DOOR SLAMMING

WATSONYou let him go.

HOLMESAfter all, Watson, I am not retained by the police tosupply their deficiencies. If Horner were in danger itwould be another thing; but this fellow will not appearagainst him, and the case must collapse. I suppose thatI am commuting a felony, but it is possible that I amsaving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong again; heis too terribly frightened. Send him to jail now, andyou make him a jail bird for life. Besides, it is the

season of forgiveness.

WATSONYoure a good man, Holmes.

HOLMESNay, Watson. I suppose we are all but a temptation awayfrom being just as that man. I am no exception. Now, ifyou will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor,we will begin anoth investigation, in which, also abird will be the chief feature.

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Sherlock Holmes- Blue

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