Sherlock Holmes - E20: The Case of the Careless Suffragette
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
A zealous suffragette acquires a bomb shaped like a croquet ball, intending only to draw attention to her cause, but it is switched with a real croquet ball and explodes, killing a member of Parliament.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
A zealous suffragette acquires a bomb shaped like a croquet ball, intending only to draw attention to her cause, but it is switched with a real croquet ball and explodes, killing a member of Parliament.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:30♪ Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪
00:41♪ O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? ♪
00:47♪ Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪
00:53♪ O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? ♪
00:59♪ Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪
01:05♪ O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? ♪
01:11♪ Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪
01:17♪ O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? ♪
01:23♪ Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪
01:29♪ O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? ♪
01:35Pimpleton? Why, he's a member of Parliament, lives just round the corner.
01:38That's him, sir. We were getting them to move on, and this young lady broke loose and chained herself here, sir.
01:44But why did you do it, miss?
01:46Because we want equal rights for women. That's why.
01:49Yes, but I don't see how chaining herself to iron railings is going to obtain for you.
01:53You wouldn't understand. You're a man!
01:56She probably wants to wear trousers, too!
02:00If I wanted to, I would.
02:02Mr. Holmes, can you get her loose?
02:05She slipped the key of the handcuffs down her...
02:09We're waiting for a hacksaw now, sir.
02:11That's right, a hacksaw. Hack me to pieces while you're at it!
02:14I'm only a woman.
02:16I believe I can help you.
02:18I don't want any help!
02:19She wants to vote.
02:21Now go on home and cook your old man his supper!
02:27No, Reggie, I insist upon it.
02:30I'll leave her in your hands, if I may, Mr. Holmes.
02:34Coward! You'd arrest me if I was a man!
02:37Mr. Holmes, may we impose upon you?
02:39I somehow have the impression you already have.
02:42Won't you come up?
03:00Let me introduce ourselves.
03:02This is my fiancée, Miss Doreen Meredith.
03:04First Secretary of the Gibberwim in the Baltic.
03:06I'm delighted to meet you, Miss Meredith.
03:08And I'm Henry Travers, personal secretary to Mr. Pimpleton.
03:12Oh, yes, yes, I seem to remember that it was Mr. Pimpleton
03:15who led the attack on the suffragette bill in the house
03:18the other day when it was defeated.
03:20And very importantly,
03:22it was Mr. Pimpleton himself
03:24who ordered the attack on the suffragette bill
03:27the other day when it was defeated.
03:29And very, very resoundingly defeated.
03:32Yes, that old stuffed shirt.
03:35He'll be sorry.
03:36I wish you'd get out of this
03:38Gibberwim in the Vote League, Doreen.
03:40It's dangerous.
03:43Yes, I can see that it has its inconveniences, Mr. Travers,
03:46but I don't really believe that it's dangerous.
03:50Would you call bombs dangerous, Mr. Holmes?
03:53Good heavens, are they using bombs now?
03:55Oh, just a teeny one.
03:57Boris and I made it to blow up a lion.
04:00My dear young lady, you don't blow up a lion, you shoot it.
04:06Who is Boris?
04:08An anarchist.
04:09An anarchist.
04:11He's an old deer who wouldn't hurt a fly.
04:13Blowing up lions.
04:15Anarchists.
04:17Sometimes I don't know where modern England's going.
04:20Well, perhaps Miss Meredith might be good enough
04:23to indicate that direction for us.
04:25Well, it all began at the meeting of the
04:27Gibberwim in the Vote League.
04:29Miss Agatha Axton, our president, was presiding.
04:36Quiet, ladies, quiet.
04:38I've called this meeting of the council
04:41in order to consider our next step
04:43in view of the defeat we suffered last week.
04:49As you know, the Honourable...
04:53The Honourable.
04:54Gosh, even if he is my cousin.
04:57Well, anyway, Chauncey Pimpleton rallied
05:00the anti-women forces in Parliament
05:03and defeated our bill by the narrow margin
05:06of 347 to 1.
05:11Boo!
05:12Down with Pimpleton!
05:13Boo!
05:15We've got to do something, ladies.
05:18We're not making enough noise in the world.
05:22What would Joan of Arc do?
05:25What would Catherine of Russia do?
05:28They would attack.
05:29They would blow up something.
05:31Blow up something?
05:33How do you do that?
05:35I don't know, but they would do it.
05:38Don't bombs blow up things?
05:40I think they do.
05:41Let's buy a bomb.
05:43Where can you buy one?
05:44I've never heard of a bomb shop.
05:46We could make one.
05:48I'll make one.
05:49Can you?
05:50Can you?
05:52I don't know.
05:53I've never tried.
05:56I'll get a book.
05:58Good.
05:59But what shall we explode?
06:02Let's explode a lion.
06:04Wonderful.
06:06We'll explode a lion.
06:08A very small one, of course.
06:12Well, anyway, I didn't know how to make a bomb.
06:15So I...
06:16So she advertised in the Times.
06:18She wanted a person who knows how to make a bomb.
06:22Oh, yes, yes.
06:23Dr. Watson and I read the advertisement.
06:25We tried to decipher it under the impression that it was a code.
06:28It never occurred to us for a moment that it meant what it said.
06:32Well, anyway, Boris answered it.
06:37Yes, that's right.
06:40I am the person who makes a bomb.
06:44Sit down.
06:46Please, it is you advertised?
06:49Yes, it's me.
06:51I'm so glad you answered, Mr... Mr...
06:53Turgov! Boris Turgov!
06:56Do you really know how to make a bomb, Mr. Turgov?
07:00All over the world I have made bombs.
07:04Big ones.
07:06And little ones.
07:08Bombs that go...
07:12And bombs that go...
07:16Well, you must understand, we don't want to hurt anyone.
07:19We just want to blow up one of the lines in Trafalgar Square.
07:22I think a little bomb would do.
07:24One that goes...
07:26One that goes...
07:29Do your bombs make a lot of noise?
07:32Not those that go...
07:36Oh, I must ask you just another question.
07:38It's a matter of principle.
07:40Do you believe in the equality of the sexes?
07:43Please, I'm an anarchist.
07:45All I believe in is nothing.
07:50Oh, excuse me. That sounded funny.
07:53Have you the ingredients for the bomb, please?
07:58Well, I'm afraid you'll think me an awful amateur.
08:01But I don't know what ingredients go into a bomb.
08:04It's nothing.
08:05We will go to the chemist and buy them.
08:14THE CHEMIST
08:25Here you are, sir.
08:26Everything you ordered.
08:28Glycerol, Tolerene, Nitrate, and Sulfuric Acid.
08:33Oh, yes, I've got a copy.
08:35Yes, ma'am.
08:36Be careful, though. You could make a bomb with what you have here.
08:41Good day.
08:43THE CHEMIST
08:48Glycerol.
08:51Tolerene.
08:54Nitrate.
08:56Sulfuric.
08:58Acid.
09:01Gunpowder.
09:03Good lord, that's all they can make with the stuff.
09:05A bomb!
09:13THE CHEMIST
09:22It's clever, no?
09:23A green croquet ball.
09:25Who would suspect a green croquet ball?
09:28Well, I'm sure I wouldn't.
09:30Like this, it unscrews in half.
09:33Are you sure it'll work?
09:35With a trigger, yes.
09:37With no trigger, no.
09:39A trigger I must put in.
09:41Have you brought some wire, please?
09:44Oh, no, I'm afraid I forgot.
09:48Oh, I...
09:50Would a hairpin be all right?
09:52It's possible.
10:01Hello, darling.
10:07Guess what this is.
10:08A croquet ball, of course.
10:10No, it isn't.
10:11Here, let's put it back into the garden.
10:14But, darling!
10:20Well, fortunately, Boris made the wrong formula.
10:24It was only a small explosion.
10:26And so you made another bomb out of a croquet ball.
10:29Oh, yes, we went to work on it right away.
10:32Where is it?
10:34Here.
10:35Tolerene!
10:36Good lord, get it away from her, Holmes!
10:38Well, it won't go off unless it's hit very hard.
10:40Might I see it, Miss Meredith?
10:44Take care, my dear chap.
10:45That's no croquet ball, you know.
10:47That's precisely what it is, Watson.
10:49Just a very ordinary croquet ball with a crest on it.
10:52Why, that's Mr. Pimbleton's favorite croquet ball from his garden set.
10:56And the crest?
10:57The family's.
10:58His uncle's the Earl of Clareborough.
11:00His favorite croquet ball, did you say, Mr. Travers?
11:03Does he always use a green one?
11:05Always.
11:06He plays every afternoon at five.
11:08He's as regular as the clock.
11:10Then if that's his croquet ball, then someone must have...
11:14Exactly, Watson.
11:16Well, then he'll go and play croquet with a bomb.
11:18What time is it now?
11:23Five o'clock.
11:25He only lives just around the corner.
11:28If he's as punctual as Mr. Travers says he is...
11:36He is.
11:42He is.
11:51He was standing here when it happened.
11:54It was his first swing at it.
11:56And that's the first time in the history of Scotland Yard a man's been killed that way.
12:00Oh, really, Mr. Strait, was there anyone else with him at the time?
12:03Fortunately, no.
12:04Mr. Pimpleton had invented a game where he played alone.
12:07He always won that way.
12:12Tell him that ball, Holmes, might be another bomb.
12:14Oh, it won't be soon, though, will it be, Watson?
12:18Any other leads, Mr. Strait?
12:20Well, he received a delegation here in the garden.
12:23Oh, yes, yes, I seem to have heard something about that.
12:25Yes, a girl named Doreen Meredith presented him with a suffragette's petition.
12:30Doreen Meredith.
12:32That's a lovely name.
12:33Yes, it is, rather.
12:35Mr. Strait, do you believe the ladies blew him up because he defeated their petition in the house?
12:39Here, let me have a go at this.
12:41Well, you know these suffragettes, they're capable of anything.
12:45These wickers aren't a liner, though.
12:47No, it's not that, Mr. Strait. Your swing is wrong, look.
12:52But nevertheless, bombing seems a bit drastic, even for suffragettes.
12:55So is this business of their wanting a vote.
12:58Well, why not give them the vote? They couldn't do any worse with it than we have.
13:01Oh, hello, sir. This is Mr. Travers, Mr. Pimpleton's private secretary.
13:06Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson.
13:08Oh, I've already met...
13:09How do you do, Mr. Travers? You were already what?
13:11Oh, I've already seen Mr. Holmes down from the window.
13:13I understand that Mr. Pimpleton was the heir of the old Earl of Clareborough.
13:17Yes.
13:19Tell me, who is next in line to the title?
13:21Well, possibly I am. I'm a remote cousin of the Earl's.
13:25Yes, I understand that you were in the garden with Mr. Pimpleton...
13:29when the delegation from the suffragette movement called on him.
13:32Yes, I was.
13:33Interesting. Do you play croquet, Mr. Travers?
13:36No, I prefer lawn tennis.
13:39Quite so, quite so. But you really ought to try croquet, you know.
13:42Under normal circumstances, it's a fascinating and completely harmless game.
13:49From the Pimpleton, Holmes suggested a stroll in Hyde Park.
13:53I suspected what he hoped to find there.
13:59Here in Hyde Park, where vast multitudes of people can gather to hear us...
14:04under the banner of free speech...
14:07I call on the women of England to demand equal rights with men.
14:13We cook, we sew, we scrub.
14:17Why shouldn't we vote?
14:21Throughout the ages, women have been the pawns of men.
14:25Men of England, hold your ground.
14:28Keep women where they belong, in the kitchen.
14:32Women of England, keep out of the kitchen.
14:36Give them the vote now, and in five years' time, they'll be running the country.
14:41Sir, I ask you, are women slaves?
14:44Sir, I ask you, are they capable of voting?
14:48Are they capable of voting?
14:54I no speak English.
15:04Haven't you got anything better to do? You... you...
15:07Inna, don't you talk to me like that.
15:10No rioting, please, or I'll have to ask you to move along.
15:14I was moving along anyway.
15:16I'm very particular whom I speak next to.
15:22Ah, free speech.
15:24You say something men don't like, they tell you to move on.
15:27Well, of course, Miss Meredith, like all prophets, you're ahead of your times.
15:30And, uh, without honor in your own country.
15:34Oh, Miss Meredith, we'd like to ask you a few questions about Boris Turgov.
15:38Oh, poor Boris. He'll never forgive me for getting him in this fix.
15:43He's so gentle, really.
15:46He's so gentle, really.
16:08Is who there?
16:10Sherlock Holmes.
16:12You want what?
16:14Come in.
16:23This is my good friend, Dr. Watson.
16:26I'm told you manufacture bombs, Mr. Turgov.
16:29All kinds. Long fuse, short fuse.
16:33Did you make only one bomb for Miss Meredith?
16:36Oh, you know of that one.
16:38Well?
16:40Two bombs I make for her, but one her young man sets off.
16:44Accidentally.
16:46He says.
16:48Do you know where this other bomb blew up?
16:51Yes. In Mr. Pimpleton's garden.
16:54Not the first time that the Turgov bomb goes off in the wrong place.
17:00Can you explain how the bomb became substituted for the croquet ball?
17:05No. I do not go inside the house.
17:08I wait outside.
17:10Then the police come.
17:12And when the police come, Turgov goes.
17:15Always.
17:17Without exception.
17:20I see.
17:21Miss Meredith tells me that you sent it to someone who makes little bags in which to carry bombs.
17:27Yes.
17:28A friend of mine I have who makes bomb bags.
17:32Who is he and where does he live?
17:34A Greek named Chantenion.
17:37He lives in Soho, 22 Flower Street.
17:41A Greek named Chantenion?
17:44He says he's a Greek. Am I to call him a liar?
17:49Thank you very much, Mr. Turgov. Come, Watson.
17:56Mr. Turgov.
17:58I wouldn't manufacture any more bombs if I were you.
18:01Scotland Yard's looking for you.
18:07What?
18:13What?
18:14No more bombs?
18:16What am I to make then?
18:18Paper bags filled with air, maybe?
18:23Paper bags.
18:35Now we're home.
18:36Well, now a visit to Mr. Chantenion, and then a bit of research at the College of Heralds.
18:41College of Heralds? You mean where they keep all the records of the Title VII?
18:44Precisely. This case started with the theory that women would get the vote, and I believe that one day they will.
18:49Oh, nonsense.
18:50And the solution of the crime lies in the theory.
18:53You mean some hidden factor we may have overlooked?
18:56Some subtle factor, Watson.
18:58Like a bomb?
19:07Ah, Holmes.
19:09Dr. Watson.
19:10Good morning.
19:11Isn't it a wonderful day?
19:12Ah, Mr. Strait, you look very pleased with yourself.
19:15I am, Holmes, I am.
19:17I'm going to give you a sample of Scotland Yard at work.
19:20No magnifying glasses, just plain, ordinary police routine.
19:25I'm going to give you a sample of Scotland Yard at work.
19:28No magnifying glasses, just plain, ordinary police routine.
19:33Excuse me, Dr. Watson.
19:37Send him in, Wilkins.
19:38Very good, sir.
19:40Send who in?
19:41All the people connected with this bomb business.
19:45Miss Hexton, will you sit here, please?
19:47Miss Meredith, will you sit over there?
19:50Mr. Tooker.
19:56This, Mr. Holmes, is Miss Doreen Meredith, the young lady who was killed by a bomb.
20:01This, Mr. Holmes, is Miss Doreen Meredith, the young lady who presented the suffragette's petition to Mr. Pimpleton.
20:07We found set up in her kitchen a laboratory.
20:10She's been making bombs.
20:12I do not deny it.
20:13I told you we were going to blow up a lion.
20:15A lion?
20:16Oh, come now, Miss Meredith.
20:20We were also able to nab her confederate, this man, Boris Turgoff, an anarchist.
20:27He makes bombs, too.
20:29The Turgoff bomb.
20:30It is famous.
20:32Wilkins, send in Chen Ten-Yang, will you?
20:35Very good, sir.
20:37Chen Ten-Yang is a naturalized Greek born in Brazil of Chinese parents.
20:42He makes little bags for carrying bombs.
20:47Fascinating occupation.
20:53Ah, Chen.
20:54Tell me, Chen.
20:55Did this young lady order a bag from you?
20:58Yes, mister.
21:04Did you make this bag?
21:06Yes, mister.
21:07Five shillings, six pence.
21:09That is all, but on price.
21:11I see.
21:12Well, there it is, Holmes.
21:14There you are.
21:15An open and shut case.
21:17Miss Meredith killed Pimpleton because he was anti-suffragette.
21:22Ingenious, Lestrade.
21:23Really quite ingenious.
21:25You know there's only one thing wrong with it.
21:27What?
21:28Neither Miss Meredith nor Mr. Turgoff are guilty.
21:31Oh, I didn't expect you to agree with me.
21:33You never have.
21:34Not all, Mr. Lestrade, but sometimes, you know, sometimes.
21:39However, in this case, the real murderer killed Pimpleton for one reason.
21:44And one reason only.
21:46To be next in line to the title of the Earl of Clareborough.
21:50Well, who is next in line?
21:52Look here, Mr. Holmes, are you trying to imply that I...
21:55Miss Meredith, after it was decided at your suffragette meeting to blow up a lion,
22:00who invited you to Mr. Pimpleton's house?
22:03Why, uh...
22:04Why, Agatha.
22:06We had to decide about the lion.
22:08Did you carry the bomb?
22:10Yes, in the bomb bag.
22:12Where?
22:15Wait a minute.
22:17This gentleman had access to it, too.
22:20Together with this lady.
22:23What does that mean?
22:25It's an intriguing title, Clareborough.
22:28First created in 1417, it has an unusual clause in its charter.
22:34Once, and only once, may the title pass to a female,
22:38if the female be next in line.
22:40That would automatically make her a countess.
22:44So far, that hasn't happened in the history of the title, until now.
22:49Well, I'm the next male member of the family.
22:52In fact, Agatha, she's older than I am.
22:55I refuse to sit here and...
22:57Watson!
23:04You'll notice, Lestrade, that this bag is identical to Miss Meredith's.
23:12Chen, who ordered this second bag from you?
23:16This woman, mister.
23:18Chen, why didn't you tell me this?
23:23You no ask me, mister.
23:25This man, he ask me.
23:27And you see, the switch was simple and premeditated, of course.
23:32Why, Miss Axton, how could you?
23:37Preposterous!
23:40Anyway, young man, you had no right to come into my house and get that handbag.
23:45It's thieving, and it's against the law!
23:51Detain her, Wilkins.
23:57Mr. Holmes, what ever made you think of Aunt Agatha?
24:00Well, at least I can tell you this much, Mr. Travers.
24:03I didn't use a magnifying glass.
24:05You see, the true deductive mind knows just when to substitute routine investigation for deduction.
24:15Are you going somewhere, Lestrade?
24:22I have crossed the room, Mr. Holmes.
24:25I have put on my hat.
24:27I deduce, therefore, that I am leaving.
24:31I deduce, therefore, that I am leaving.
24:35Routine investigation will reveal the fact, Mr. Holmes.
24:40But I have gone to see the commissioner.
24:43I will ask him to do everything in his power to encourage the suffragette movement.
24:50We will then no doubt have a woman inspector in this office.
24:56And when Boris gets out of jail, Mr. Holmes, I will ask him to make me Little Bob.
25:04I will then go about London blowing up lions!
25:12Good day!
25:19You know, Holmes, I've been worried about his complexion lately.
25:23I think Lestrade needs a rest.
25:25Yes, Watson, yes, I'm inclined to agree.
25:53THE END
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