Sherlock Holmes - E19: The Case of the Vanished Detective
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
When Sherlock Holmes disappears, Dr. Watson and Inspector Lestrade begin a search that leads them to a small shop.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
When Sherlock Holmes disappears, Dr. Watson and Inspector Lestrade begin a search that leads them to a small shop.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:30I don't know why it is that often the weather seems to
00:59match a man's moods, but this day in particular it had run a perfect parallel to mine.
01:05But at last the storm broke and so did I.
01:08The only way to ease my mind was to turn to action.
01:12Scotland Yard was the perfect place to begin.
01:21Inspector Lestrange, Wilkins.
01:22I must see him right away.
01:23I'm very sorry, Doctor.
01:24Inspector Lestrange is very busy.
01:25Will you tell him I'm here?
01:26I must see him.
01:27I'm very sorry, Doctor, but we're in Inspector Lestrange's encampment.
01:30Oh!
01:31Doctor Watson.
01:32Ah, Doctor Watson, I'm very pleased to see you.
01:37Just having a cup of tea.
01:38Lestrange!
01:39Something's happened to Holmes.
01:40He's disappeared.
01:41He's vanished.
01:42I haven't seen him for two days.
01:43Well, calm yourself, Doctor Watson.
01:44Calm yourself.
01:45I tell you he's disappeared.
01:46He may have been kidnapped for all I know.
01:47Oh, kidnapped, eh?
01:48Or worse.
01:49Now, look here, Doctor Watson.
01:51Just because you haven't seen him for a couple of days doesn't necessarily mean to say that
01:54he's been kidnapped.
01:55No, right.
01:56You can have him.
01:57There's no charge.
01:58Doctor Watson.
01:59It is positively infuriating to know that something is wrong and to find a man whom
02:05you can't convince.
02:07I don't mind saying that there are times when I find myself hard put to keep my patience
02:12with Inspector Lestrange.
02:16What more evidence do you need?
02:17What man going under his own volition would leave his razor behind?
02:19Oh, he probably has another one.
02:21No, he hasn't.
02:22Come on, I'll show you something else.
02:25Look.
02:26His violin out of its case.
02:27Well, what's that got to do with it?
02:29But he'd never leave his violin like that if he thought he'd be gone long.
02:31Treats it like a baby.
02:34And these concert tickets.
02:35We meant to have gone last night.
02:38Look here, Lestrange.
02:39I've been a friend of Holmes' too long not to realize the brutal truth behind all this.
02:42Well, the evidence certainly does seem to point to...
02:44Now, look.
02:45We've got to track him down as he'd track down somebody else.
02:48Do you mean use his own methods of deduction?
02:50Exactly.
02:51Now, the odds are that he's disappeared on some case.
02:55So the best thing we can do is to go through his correspondence
02:57and see who might have employed him.
02:58Oh, look at this.
02:59Bills, bills, advertisements, bills.
03:00It'd have to be at the end of everything, wouldn't it?
03:01Ah.
03:02Ah, what have we here?
03:03The chap wants Holmes to investigate his neighbour.
03:04He says a lot of people go into the house and nobody ever comes out.
03:05What do you make of that?
03:06Hmm.
03:07Well, uh...
03:08Now, look.
03:09You see that the left-handed man is the one who's got the money.
03:10He's got the money.
03:11He's got the money.
03:12He's got the money.
03:13He's got the money.
03:14He's got the money.
03:15He's got the money.
03:16He's got the money.
03:17Hmm.
03:18Well, uh...
03:19What do you make of that?
03:20Hmm.
03:21Well, uh...
03:22Now, look.
03:23You see that the left-handed writer and that the feel of the paper,
03:24I'd say, was in pretty good circumstances.
03:25Yes, well, uh...
03:26Well, uh...
03:27Attention to details.
03:28That's the secret of Holmes's success.
03:29You see?
03:30We already know something about the writer before we meet him.
03:35Yes, there's only one thing, though.
03:37Hmm.
03:38Showing Holmes disappeared was had nothing to do with him.
03:40Oh, why?
03:41This letter's dated two years ago.
03:43What?
03:44Well, where else would he keep his correspondence?
03:47Oh, anywhere.
03:48On the chandelier, if it wasn't too much effort to get up there.
03:50Well, let's have a look around.
03:52Well, going through Holmes' things would take a month.
03:55No, no.
03:56We'd best get another approach.
03:57Well, have you any ideas?
03:59Wait.
04:04Dear sir, please call upon the undersigned
04:08in the correspondence.
04:10Dear sir, please call upon the undersigned
04:13at the earliest convenience on a matter of extreme urgency.
04:16Signed, John Smithson,
04:19Ye Quaint Old Curiosity Shop,
04:227 Bachelor Lane.
04:23It's dated three days ago.
04:25You know, this might be it.
04:26You're right.
04:27It is.
04:28Come on, Lestrade.
04:29Holmes' life may depend on our speed.
04:41Sinister-looking place.
04:43Well, it looks just like any other old curiosity shop to me.
04:46You think so?
04:47Then why was this Smithson so keen to get Holmes here, eh?
04:51Yes, interesting.
04:53Well, do you mean all this stuff in the window?
04:55I mean the stuff that isn't in the window.
04:58Look, I don't understand you, Dr. Watson.
05:01What do you mean?
05:02Well, it's perfectly obvious, isn't it?
05:04No.
05:05No, isn't it?
05:07Well, we won't get anywhere standing here. Come on.
05:09Wait a minute, Dr. Watson.
05:11I still don't know what you mean by all this stuff that isn't in the window.
05:15Come along, Lestrade.
05:33Good afternoon, gentlemen.
05:35Good afternoon.
05:36You, I presume, are the proprietor, John Smithson.
05:39Yes, yes, that is correct, sir.
05:41That is correct.
05:42Well, I'm Dr. Watson, and this is Inspector Lestrade.
05:45We've come to inquire about Sherlock Holmes.
05:48Sherlock Holmes?
05:51Yes, a tall fellow, thin.
05:53Where's the deerstalking cap?
05:55I'm afraid I've never met the gentleman, no.
05:58But you wrote him a letter saying you wished to see him on a matter of extreme urgency.
06:03You must be mistaken, sir.
06:05I'll take a look at this letter.
06:15Is that your handwriting?
06:17Oh, it isn't anything like my handwriting.
06:19Here, I'll show you what my handwriting is like.
06:27Do you notice any resemblance between the two?
06:34Well, well, well, no.
06:36Well, then, who could have written it?
06:37I couldn't say. Perhaps a practical joke.
06:40At any rate, all is well here, and I'm fortunately in no need of help.
06:46Oh.
06:47Well, do you mind if we browse around a bit?
06:50Do browse, browse indeed, gentlemen.
06:52I like to think of my shop as an oasis of tranquility in life's busy fanfare.
07:04What are you doing?
07:06I'm looking for evidence that Holmes was here.
07:08Well, you heard what he said.
07:10Yes, yes, I don't believe a word of that.
07:12There's something about him. I don't trust him.
07:15It's as if I'd seen him before somewhere.
07:17Well, that's not very scientific.
07:19Ah, perhaps not, but I'd like to have a look round anyway.
07:23Here we are.
07:24We are here at the center of the London Upper East Side.
07:27And this is a oasis of truth.
07:30I don't believe anything he says.
07:32Well, what do you have to say?
07:35I don't believe a word of it, sir.
07:37I believe that, for this reason,
07:40this is the center of this country,
07:43and that's where we are.
07:45I don't believe a word of it, sir.
07:47Oh, I do beg your pardon.
08:02Quite all right.
08:03Oh, how clumsy of me.
08:04Not at all.
08:05It was all my fault.
08:06I wasn't looking where I was going.
08:07Yes, of course.
08:09Not at all.
08:10Excuse me.
08:11Oh, charming.
08:12Charming.
08:13Yes, all right.
08:14To business.
08:19I don't know.
08:24I must remind myself to read that again sometime.
08:27What's this?
08:28Proper Deportment of Young Ladies in Polite Society.
08:32Fabulous title.
08:33I'm afraid that that book is not for sale.
08:36What do you mean, not for sale?
08:37I understand everything in this shop is for sale.
08:39Yes, everything except the books on that shelf, sir.
08:43Now the shop is closing.
08:44Merely at two o'clock in the afternoon?
08:45Yes, for repairs.
08:46I have the decorators coming in.
08:47I'm afraid I must ask you to leave, young man.
08:53Cunning old rascal.
08:57Does he try to get rid of us this trade?
08:59Perhaps he has got some repairs to be done.
09:02Ah, nonsense.
09:07I insist on buying that book.
09:10I've been looking for it for years.
09:14Proper Deportment of Young Ladies in Polite Society.
09:17Precisely.
09:18I've been meaning to read that since I was a lad.
09:21Very well, young man.
09:39One shilling, please.
09:44You're understood.
09:49I'll have it.
09:50Excuse me, Governor.
09:51Not at all.
09:58There's something about that Smithson I don't like.
10:02Look.
10:03This isn't the book I bought.
10:04It's much smaller.
10:09Safari through darkest Africa? Why, the chap's nothing but a crook.
10:14Oh, this is much more interesting than that other one.
10:17Look here, you and I going straight on back in.
10:20Now listen, while I keep you in conversation, you skit around a bit.
10:23Well, he'll suspect we're up to something.
10:25No, of course he won't. Holmes and I did this in that red-headed league affair.
10:28Worked perfectly. Come on.
10:30You've sold me the wrong book.
10:39My dear sir, I...
10:40Deliberately, if you ask me.
10:42But I assure you, Safari through darkest Africa...
10:44This is the book I wanted.
10:45No, that's not for sale.
10:46It happens to be a first edition, of which there are only three copies in existence.
10:49Proper Department of Young Ladies and Polite Society.
10:52Now that's the book I bought, and that's the book I...
10:54Dr. Watson.
10:57Holmes is close.
10:59I found them in an old pilot's chest.
11:02Oh, good Lord.
11:08With bloodstains.
11:10You thief! Why did you get rid of him?
11:12You're under arrest, son.
11:13I warn you, anything you say will be taken down, or maybe you'll be...
11:16Go stop him! Don't let him get away!
11:18Oh, no, you don't!
11:19Watson, Lestrade, you idiots!
11:21Get out of the way!
11:23Oh, Holmes!
11:29He's gone with the message.
11:31Who's gone with what message?
11:32An escaped convict with the message that woman left for him in the book.
11:35And it won't be easy to find him now that you two gentlemen have completely ruined my beautifully laid little trap.
11:40Naturally, I left my razor at home. I hardly needed it here, did I?
11:44The bloodstains, Holmes.
11:47Red ink, Lestrade.
11:48I've been helping Earl Smithson make up his ledgers.
11:51And this escaped convict, who is he?
11:54John Carson. I expect you've had a report on him.
11:57Carson?
11:58Why, he got a life sentence for killing a man with a cleaver.
12:01That's him.
12:02He was using this shop as a message center.
12:04Planting and picking up messages here from that book that you were so intent on buying.
12:09Oh, yeah.
12:10Proper deportment for young ladies in polite society.
12:14Hmm.
12:15Smithson recognized him when he first came in.
12:17It seems that Carson was once employed here.
12:20But the old gentleman was afraid to go to the police.
12:23Why?
12:25Because Carson threatened to kill him if he did.
12:27So he sent for me instead.
12:29Hence my little disguise.
12:32You were waiting to nab Carson when he came in here for a message?
12:35Exactly.
12:37Oh, and we ruined it all.
12:39Oh, that's all right, Watson. The best laid plans of mice and men you'll know.
12:43However, if we can trace the girl, then I...
12:45That'll be as hard as tracing Carson himself.
12:49Oh, I don't think it'll be all that difficult.
12:52It seems the good doctor has something up his sleeve.
12:55Hmm.
12:56Only the name and address where the girl works.
13:00Well, how did you know that?
13:03Well, when I knocked her handbag out of her hand, I found a piece of paper.
13:08And on it was her hours of work and salary due to her.
13:13With the letterhead of the shop on the paper?
13:15Well done, Watson!
13:17Oh, nothing really.
13:20Pierre's Dress Shop, 17 Cottington Street.
13:23You know, I'd say that girl had the look of a mannequin about her.
13:28Don't you agree?
13:31Well, you know, Watson, I'm almost afraid not to.
13:34Oh.
13:44And now, mesdames et messieurs, you will see the supreme creation of Pierre, with me, myself.
13:52And your niece, monsieur, she will find this ensemble irresistible.
13:57You did say your niece, n'est-ce pas?
13:59Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
14:01Returning for the holidays from school in Switzerland, sir.
14:04Yeah.
14:05Oh.
14:06Oh, it's exquisite, no?
14:09Such symmetry, such subtle lines.
14:12That's the girl we're looking for.
14:29Shh.
14:30Observe how it hints.
14:32But with such discretion.
14:34Oh, la jeunesse, like youth.
14:36I say, it's a bit daring, isn't it?
14:40But there are years, monsieur, and those are 20th century.
14:50I wonder, sir, if I might have a word with a young lady in private.
14:53But, but...
14:55Officially, monsieur, I'm Inspector Lestrade de Cotillon.
14:58But, but...
15:01Stop her! Stop her!
15:20It really isn't any use, you know.
15:22Even if you ran away?
15:42Well, I do not understand.
15:43Never before has one of my girl acted so...
15:51Would you mind telling me where he's hiding now, miss?
15:53I don't know.
15:54I swear I don't.
15:55And yet you left a message for him.
15:57A gentleman friend gave me the message and told me to leave it in the book.
16:00Probably a pal of Carson's, if she's telling the truth.
16:04What was in the message?
16:06There was just a name and an address.
16:10I see.
16:11And what was the name?
16:13Jeremiah Westlake.
16:15I forget the address.
16:17Jeremiah Westlake.
16:20There was once a judge called Jeremiah Westlake.
16:22He retired several years ago.
16:24Yes, and I think we'll discover that Jeremiah Westlake was the judge who gave Carson his life sentence.
16:31And now Carson is looking for him.
16:33And now Carson is looking for him.
16:50Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson and Inspector Lestrade.
16:59Who is she talking to?
17:01This is what you want.
17:03The court is now in session.
17:04State your case.
17:08Speak up! Speak up, Mr. Holmes!
17:11Or has the cat got your tongue?
17:15Judge Westlake, I presume?
17:17Former Judge Westlake.
17:20Ned Sherlock Holmes.
17:22Ever hear of him, little man?
17:24No, no, no.
17:26You're confusing him with the other Sherlock Holmes.
17:28The famous pastry chef.
17:30Oh, I never eat pastry.
17:32Disagrees with me.
17:34Of course, there's still another Sherlock Holmes.
17:37The third one.
17:39The famous detective.
17:41Oh, that one.
17:43Well, young man, state your case.
17:45Court adjourns in exactly one minute.
17:48Ten years ago, you sentenced a man called John Carson to a term of life imprisonment for murder.
17:54Carson? Carson?
17:56Good night, little man.
17:58And that would be the Butcher Cleaver case.
18:01Murdered a man with it.
18:03Oh, yes.
18:05Unpleasant chap, Carson, if I remember correctly.
18:09Well, Mr. Holmes?
18:11When you sentenced him, he swore to kill you.
18:14Did he?
18:15Well, what of it?
18:17They all do.
18:19Routine.
18:21Well, he's just escaped from prison and has learned your address.
18:24Nonsense.
18:26Bluff.
18:27Sheer bluff.
18:28Yes, little man?
18:29They all bluff, young man.
18:31I wouldn't sleep a wink if I believed everything they swore to do to the judge.
18:35Sleep like tops, the two of us.
18:37In bed at ten and up at six.
18:41This man represents a very real threat, sir.
18:45That's all.
18:47Court adjourned.
18:49See you next year.
18:52And that, gentlemen, means postpone indefinitely.
19:03Do forgive us our little whimsy, gentlemen.
19:06How do you know?
19:08They're our children, really.
19:09We have no others, you see.
19:11It's a delightful hobby, Mrs. Wesley.
19:13About this man, Carson, sir.
19:15With your permission, I'd like to place a guard in the house.
19:18Until we apprehend him, of course.
19:20Oh, dear me, no.
19:21Can't think heaven knows what all over the place.
19:23I wouldn't hear of it, Inspector.
19:26We appreciate it, though.
19:28Speaking as a medical man, sir, knowing this murderous mentality,
19:31I must advise you to...
19:33Sorry, Doctor, but we can't get into idle threads,
19:35but it wouldn't have any law if we did.
19:37Won't you gentlemen join us for tea?
19:39Thank you, Mrs. Wesley, but perhaps another time.
19:43No, you mustn't take these things so seriously.
19:48Good day, Mrs. Wesley, and thank you.
19:50Good day, Mr. Holmes.
19:51Do come again sometime.
19:53You must see our pungent duty.
19:55With pleasure.
19:56All the same, sir, I'm going to station my man outside the house.
20:00Well, all right, but tell him not to step out of my petunias.
20:12He says he's got a message for the judge, sir.
20:15I am Westlake, my man.
20:17Here you are, Governor.
20:19Dear Judge, I'm one of your old court attendants.
20:21I'm on my deathbed, and I've got to make out my will
20:24for my little granddaughter.
20:26Will you come and help me and oblige
20:29John Casket, 67, Clifton Road.
20:32Ever have a court attendant called John Casket, sir?
20:35Well, it's hard to say.
20:36I haven't seen him in a while.
20:38Well, I'm afraid you haven't seen him in a while.
20:40I'm afraid you haven't seen him in a while.
20:43I'm afraid you haven't seen him in a while.
20:45Ever have a court attendant called John Casket, sir?
20:47Well, it's hard to say.
20:48I've had so many court attendants.
20:50Who gave you this note?
20:52A bloke on the street, sir.
20:53But he said to tell the judge he was in bad time.
20:56What did he look like?
20:57About this hour, sir.
20:59Thin face.
21:00Seedy looking, if you know what I mean.
21:02That's personal, all right.
21:04How much did he pay you?
21:05A couple of bob, sir.
21:07There you are, sir.
21:08Just the sort of thing to send you off
21:10in an attempt of mercy to your death.
21:12You see, I never cease to marvel
21:13at the duplicity of human nature.
21:15Can I get the two bob, sir?
21:17Hmm?
21:18Oh, yes, yes.
21:19Oh, thank you.
21:23Well, Holmes, we've got him.
21:2567 Clifton Road?
21:26Yes.
21:27Wilkins.
21:28Yes, sir.
21:29Get the men together.
21:30We're going to Clifton Road.
21:31Not so fast, Lestrade.
21:32This might be a ruse.
21:34Of course it's a ruse.
21:36Of another kind.
21:37To get you to abandon the police cordon around the house.
21:41Oh, I see what you mean.
21:43Oh, well, if that's his idea, he's in for a surprise.
21:46I'm going to keep the cordon here.
21:48Good idea, isn't it?
21:49Now, don't you worry, sir.
21:50Why, I'm not the least bit alarmed, sir.
21:52I'm going to have my tea.
22:04Don't budge from here.
22:05If you let anyone in this house, I'll have your skin.
22:07Yes, sir.
22:08Come on.
22:11Let's go.
22:34Oh, we'll nab him either way.
22:36At Clifton Road or when he tries to break into the judge's house.
22:41Lestrade, who did that messenger describe?
22:43Carson, of course.
22:45And who else?
22:47What do you mean, who else?
22:49Himself.
22:50He described himself, Lestrade.
22:51Cavy, turn around and go back to the house at once.
22:53As fast as you can.
22:56At last, I understood the cause for Holmes' concern.
23:00We had gone off and left the killer with the very man he'd sworn to kill.
23:05John Carson wasn't the kind of man to miss an opportunity like this.
23:09He was there, and we were not.
23:12There was nothing left for us to do but hope.
23:15And every passing second was against us.
23:40Oh.
23:49I'm all right, sir.
23:51Mirabelle.
23:52Mirabelle.
23:53She's coming around, sir.
23:58The maid's all right.
23:59Mrs. Westley.
24:01No, no.
24:02Not too serious.
24:03Only suffering from shock.
24:04It's all right, dear.
24:05It's all over now.
24:07Jeremiah.
24:08Jeremiah, are you all right?
24:09Yes, dear.
24:10Oh, that terrible man.
24:13Oh, dear.
24:15Our poor children.
24:18I don't think they're damaged, dear.
24:21Sometimes I forget they're not real.
24:31Of course we're real.
24:33We're as real as any children.
24:38You were right about John Carson, Mr. Holmes.
24:41You were very right.
24:43You're my life.
24:44Not at all, sir.
24:45Not at all.
24:46Yes, but I must do something to repay you.
24:50I'll teach you to be a puppeteer.
24:52A puppeteer?
24:54Yes, you'll love it.
24:55Greatest relaxation in the world.
24:57Teaches you to forget me like John Carson.
25:00Now, here.
25:01You hold the thing like this.
25:04And with this string, you move ahead.
25:07Move it digitally with the feet.
25:09You'll get your voice up with it.
25:14Thank you, Mr. Holmes.
25:16Pretty good thinking.
25:18Not bad, anyway.
25:34THE END
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