07x02 - The Dying Detective

[bunniefuu]

Mr. Savage, sir,

I didn't know, sir.

Sir, I didn't know.

It's all right, Benson,

last minute decision.

Oh, there you are.

Adelaide, good morning.

Where has Victor gone?

Victor?

Victor.

Please don't pretend you
are ignorant of where he is.

Am I my cousin's keeper?

I shall be obliged

that you would tell
me where he has gone.

I know what he's gone to do.

Where has he gone?

You have the advantage
of me, my dear.

I was expecting
to walk over

to home farm with
him this morning.

Have you no pity for us?

You encouraged him into
this nightmarish life.

I pity for you

at Somerleigh House

with your lovely children,

the love you have
for each other.

Where has he gone?

I can see I am unwelcome,

some unwitting fault I fear.

I shall return to town

and leave you in peace.

Oh, Mrs. Hudson.

Oh, Dr. Watson.

We have been missing you.

Oh yeah,
only another days.

Yes.

Morning, Holmes.

Don't ask me to
comment on your new tie.

Quite heartless, Holmes.

That woman is
undoubtedly coming here.

She's been staring
up at this window

for the past three minutes.

Oh, I do wish she'd
make up her mind.

I could ask Mrs. Hudson
to bring up an extra cup.

Handsome, isn't she?

Who?

It must be something
of importance

to make her
hesitate so long,

A client?

Alright, Polly?

There's a good girl.

Mr. Savage, John Gedgrave.

Where the devil
have you been?

Two pounds,
Mr. Savage, in advance

and three for
the establishment,

five in total.

Hope it's worth it.

Oh, anonymous was
the word you used.

Where we're
going is as anonymous

as you'll ever find.

Every compartment

has a curtain even.

No one will see you,

oh good Lord,

you're not taking
these with you, are you?

No?

Oh, no, no, no, no.

May as well tear them up

and drop them in the Thames.

Forty pounds,

I'll give you a receipt.

Holmes!

(Knock on door)

That will be
our fair visitor.

Please, do sit down.

This receipt Gedgrave.

What about it?

What are you playing at?

You signed it Carter.

You don't expect me
to use my real name

doing this sort
of work, do you?

Carter's my real name.

I could have
signed anything

but I entrusted you with
my real name, Mr. Savage.

Please don't complain.

I need your help.

I am...

Anything you say
here will of course

be treated in the
strictest confidence.

We have kept the
secrets of kings, madam.

I...

My husband...

My husband is a financier.

You have heard of the
Oxford and Lombard Bank?

Yes.

The chief shareholders
are the Conyers?

My husband's family
on his mother's side.

He is one of the directors.

The job is well within
his powers, only...

Victor has found the work
increasingly irksome.

He entertains an
ambition, you see,

which none of his family
would begin to understand.

What is that?

He wishes to be a poet.

He's come to believe

that opium
heightens his powers,

intensifies the
evidence of his senses.

This may be so temporarily,

but as I'm sure you know

the effect only survives

the first few times
the drug is taken.

That is so, is it not?

Oh, yes, indeed.

Addiction quickly follows,

very often for life.

The infernal substance

soon offers the
addict nothing

except relief from
the terrible effects

of its absence.

I believe Victor stands on
the threshold of addiction.

He left a note for
me this morning

which suggests he knows
what danger he's in.

You are going?

Well clearly
Dr. Watson is the person

to consult for the matter.

No, Mr. Holmes, no,

there is much more
to it then that.

There is
Mr. Culverton Smith.

Culverton Smith?

Victor's cousin.

He's a malign influence.

I am sure he's
driven Victor to this

and I am certain he's
done it for his own ends.

Holmes?

The cab's on the corner.

I do hope this is not
a wild goose chase.

How can it be?

Well,

I think you've had your head

turned by a pretty
woman, thank you.

Oh yes, what about
Culverton Smith?

I looked him up.

Culverton Smith did some
important medical work

while he was in the east.

He pushed back the
boundaries of science.

However, he was obliged
to publish his findings

at his own expense.

Why?

He's an amateur

and the
professionals are jealous.

Well I can see why
he interests you.

Ah, your mystery guests.

Who are they?

I couldn't let
Colonel Carnac

be the only celebrity.

I don't want
him at our table

because he's a
celebrity, my darling.

It's just that
he's horribly rich,

or rather his wife is,

and they bank with
the Oxford and Lombard.

Personally I can't
think of anything worse

then hunting stories
all through dinner.

Nor I.

So I've persuaded a

rather more interesting
hunter to join us.

Who is it?

Don't tease, Addy.

Sherlock Holmes.

I say, that is
something of a coup,

well done.

Oh look, Culverton
Smith's here too.

I'm so glad you felt
able to invite him again,

Addy darling.

Look at him.

Anyone would think
Somerleigh was his.

I do dislike it.

Mr. Sherlock Holmes?

Yes.

Culverton Smith.

Dear Adelaide promised
me a surprise guest.

I feared it
might be somebody

who was famous
for being famous.

Someone of your distinction

I had not expected at all.

Nor I one of yours.

Mine?

I make no claims to
distinction, Mr. Holmes.

You are too modest.

Your account
of the pathology

of the Sumatra
and River Fever

is a masterpiece.

Thank you,

thank you.

For a lure to
work, of course,

you have to make the
animal believe it's safe.

Now that's all very well.

The animals
involved, however,

have a highly developed
sense of danger.

I'm sure Mr. Holmes
must have that sense,

do you Mr. Holmes?

Yes, I see it.

Yes, you mean
that the detective

could be said to move

in a world of
predators and victims.

Oh, we all do that Colonel.

Even humble
family solicitors.

Yes, and you would have
enemies, Mr. Holmes,

would you not?

Yes, yes, it would take
something I dare say

to bring
Mr. Holmes onto a lure

and dispatch him.

It would take careful
study of his habits

and half-light
sh*t or worse.

It might even be
necessary to follow him

up to his lair even.

Bertram, be quiet.

You're not eating,
Mr. Holmes.

With so much to observe,

food becomes of
secondary importance.

What have you
observed so far?

Courage,

fever,

gluttony,

acute irritation,

envy,

wit, intelligence,

I mean just the usual
vices and virtues

with any large
English country house.

This is very good.

Do you know the game

of "shove ha'penny?"

Well it's similar.

I call this one
"Rug skatery".

My more serious
gambling friends,

the stock broking
fraternity that is to say,

have introduced it
to their establishments

to the fury of their wives.

It is agreed, however,

that the authentic
Somerleigh version is best.

And she never
wore them at all.

Will the men be mortified

if we don't cheer them
on at their silly game?

I dare say they will.

It's almost a
reason for not doing it.

But for the sake of harmony

We indulge little boys.

Our host has again
out jumped all estimates.

So the lawyer takes the pot.

Thank you.

Well done, Charles,

my turn now.

Faites vos jeux, gentlemen

I should halve your
estimates of last time.

Mama.

It's quite all right.

My children do that too.

Mama.

What is wrong with papa?

When he hugged me

he felt horrid.

He felt all
cold and shivery.

What do you mean
by that, darling?

He felt as if he was dead.

Oh don't be silly.

Doctor!

Smith.

Poor fellow.

I could do nothing
for him, Mr. Holmes,

not even I.

The nursing was
all right, too,

a tragic business.

Will you satisfy
me upon one point?

Of course.

This disease,
do you know what it was?

All the signs point to
that class of fevers,

of which the Sumatran River
Fever is the most deadly.

It was not necessarily
that however.

Something very like it.

I have advised that the
poor fellow's body

is handled with
extreme care.

It is a disease transmitted
through broken skin you see.

They cannot be too careful.

How did Savage
come by such a thing?

Ah, I can rely on
your discretion?

Of course.

I understand Savage
sometimes frequented,

well let's to say his
affairs took him

to a part in Rotherhithe

inhabited mostly by
Chinese and Lascars.

He must have
picked it up there.

The authorities
in Rotherhithe
must be informed.

They will be.

Whether the
measures they take

turn out to be appropriate
is another matter.

Most institutions I'm afraid

are run by the
criminally lazy.

I know Penrose Fisher
and the director a little,

I'll do what I can.

I'm grateful for you
interest, Mr. Holmes.

Poor Adelaide,

this will hit her very hard.

Leave Somerleigh?

I must leave Somerleigh?

As soon as will is proved,

Culverton Smith is within
his rights to ask you to go.

I'm very sorry, Adelaide.

All this has its origins
in Sir Bernard's will.

And partly I blame myself.

This entailment
to Victor's oldest
cousin of the house

and the rest of it is...

The rest of it?

The income from
the Berkshire estate.

That will go to him, too?

Yes.

Dear God, what is left?

Enough for you to live,

modestly and respectably.

You will not be able to
continue as you have done.

No, I see.

As I say, I had asked
Victor many times

to change the
terms of the entail

to favor you
in your lifetime.

It would have been
legal of course,

easily done but,

Victor was young.

Surely, Culverton Smith

will not exercise his
right to evict Mrs. Savage?

He might.

Why do you think that?

He's been in touch.

He seems to know the main
dispositions of the will.

He talked of
the estate income

being put to a proper use,

whatever that meant.

He seemed to think
that Adelaide

would be able to
rely on her family.

They have no means.

When he knows
that he must relent.

I doubt it.

He's wanted something
like this to happen

ever since he
came into our lives.

He encouraged all that
was weakest in Victor

in the hope
of some disaster.

This is a triumph for him.

It may be worth talking
to him, Adelaide.

I suppose so.

If you could bring
yourself to plead with him.

For the children

I will do even that.

Oh, Percy,
do blow your nose.

Now remember all this
happened nine days ago.

That was the day when

the Queen entertained
the Sultan of Kallipur

and Frivolous won
the Birkenhead Stakes.

At Goodwood.

Right.

Harry, where
are your boots?

Oh I see.

Well then off
to Rotherhithe.

Good luck,

good luck.

There Holmes,

that is a list
of every blemish

I could find on
the skin's surface.

I presume you're seeking
the means of transmission?

Yes.

Through broken skin.

That is how Culverton Smith
believes it was transmitted.

Well his opinion is
worth knowing certainly.

What do you think
of him, Fisher?

He is a friend of yours?

Not at all,
I hardly know him.

I have read a couple of
his papers, that's all.

Well I think his work,

in parts, brilliant.

If he has a fault it is

that he can accept
no criticism whatsoever.

I did find an insect bite

but no other
punctures of skin at all.

I even looked
inside the mouth.

It seems clear that no
human agency was involved.

I assume you're
investigating

the possibility
of this disease

having been passed
on deliberately.

Well what a unique delight

to meet a man with a
mind as logical as yours?

Is this him?

Uh, yes, Mr. Holmes?

Ah, bravo Ben.

You are?

Gedgrave,

John Gedgrave.

Holmes.

This way.

Recognized him as soon
as I seen the newspaper.

That's him all right.

How did you come to
be acting for him?

Advert, gentleman
of discretion required

with knowledge
of dock etiquette.

Dock etiquette?

For knowing your way around
the poppy houses, opium.

Well I knew one or two
of the better places.

Was the advertisement
placed by Savage?

No.

Who then?

I don't know.

Mr. Gedgrave, you wouldn't
lie to me would you?

Oh no.

It was some fellow
I met in a rented office.

Describe him for me?

Well I can't.

Well what I mean is,

I never saw the fellow.

He didn't mean me to.

He kept a light shining
in my eyes all the time.

Indeed.

When was this?

The th.

He paid all right.

He told me I was to be
contacted and I was,

to meet him.

What happened to him?

I don't want any trouble.

That's why I come to you.

Where did you take him?

A house in Duke's Alley.

It's a good place.

Good?

Well, never had any
problems there, good place.

What happened to him?

Holmes!

I'm sorry I didn't...

Thank you, Mr. Gedgrave,
for your trouble.

Anytime,
Mr. Holmes, anytime.

Generous of you,
sir, generous.

I will need a
guide in Rotherhithe.

If you want the best
places, I'm your man.

Look no further.

Tomorrow morning,

: ?

Done.

The Red Slipper Club.

Ask for Carter,

Frank Carter.

Will that be you,
Mr. Gedgrave?

Mrs. Hudson,

Dr. Watson may be
staying for dinner.

Now Watson.

Culverton Smith means to

throw Mrs. Savage
and her children

out of Somerleigh House.

How is he able to do that?

The house is entailed
to him an old will,

which has never
been revised.

Well that is interesting.

You know what this means?

It means that Culverton
Smith had a motive

for doing away
with his cousin.

Savage is dead,

k*lled by a disease in
which Culverton Smith

was the acknowledged expert.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

Are you deliberately
trying to misunderstand me?

You have pointed out a
remarkable coincidence,

that is all.

No inferences can
be drawn from it.

We cannot allow Mrs. Savage

to be thrown into the
street by this fellow.

We may have to.

It must have been
Culverton Smith

who rented the office.

I dare say but
it proves nothing.

There must be a way
of stopping him,
Holmes, surely.

Oh, I doubt it
more and more.

Suppose you were
convinced of his guilt.

What would you do then?

You know my methods,

I would gain
entry to the house.

Then that's what I shall do.

You don't have to come.

Nevertheless, I shall.

You already had
your head turned.

I must make sure

you don't get your
neck broken as well.

Once poor Savage
had been convinced

that opium would
open the door

to the mysteries
of the poetic craft,

Culverton Smith
would have had him

in his power, wouldn't he?

He traded on Savage's
sense of guilt.

He knew that Savage

would want to continue
experimenting with the drug

far away from Somerleigh.

What you have
to face, Watson,

is that Savage's catching
the disease in Rotherhithe

is entirely plausible,

The coincidence,

that Smith's expertise in
the matter is exactly that,

a coincidence.

You can't hang a
man on coincidence.

Ma'am,

ma'am.

We have reason
to believe that,

well as a matter of fact

you are trespassing.

Sergeant,

I'm sure you're
as aware as I am

the laws of trespass
in this country

are most curious
not to say odd.

I should know.

I have responsibility
for hundreds of acres

which are about to
be stolen from me

through legal trickery,

by that man,

a man who preyed
on my husband

like some bloated parasite,

corrupted him and
drove him to his death.

And now,

now he will not
speak to the woman

he has widowed.

Of course he won't,

he knows he has no
justice on his side.

Merely cold legality.

Benson,

Mrs. Savage should now
return to Somerleigh House.

Yes, sir.

Ma'am, you have
my assurance,

I will pursue
Culverton Smith.

I will not rest

until he's renounced
his plans to ruin you.

And Mr Holmes?

I see.

I do not blame him.

He only sees it as
the world sees it,

unfortunate
and cold hearted

on Mr. Smith's part perhaps.

But no case to answer,

no case to answer.

Smith!

Smith!

It is a singular
coincidence, is it not,

that you should
inherit so much

from a man who
dies of a disease

upon which you
are the sole expert.

Why!

Coincidence, bordering
upon the unbelievable.

Let me tell you

the doors of
your profession,

which had been
closed to you,

will now be locked

and bolted against you.

It is my mission.

Yes.

The post, Mr. Holmes.

Rhodesian tobacco,

Jeremiah Carlisle.

Mrs. Savage,

I know you'll
be sensible enough

not to come to rely on this

but it will help you through
these difficult days.

Thank you doctor.

Doctor, you must come
quickly, it's Mr. Holmes.

Mr. Holmes?

Yes.

Why didn't you
call me sooner?

He wouldn't give me leave.

So I said permission
or no, I am.

And he said well let
it be Watson then.

I think he's dying.

Now, now, Mrs. Hudson.

I'm sure it's not
as bad as you fear.

But he won't
let me near him.

He hasn't eaten a scrap.

He has had plenty
to drink, right?

Not a drop has past his
lips these three days

and he's been
to Rotherhithe.

He thinks he
caught the fever there.

Good God.

He's dying doctor.

Holmes?

Holmes?

Watson, we have
fallen upon bad times.

My dear fellow...

Stand back,
please stand right back!

I'll have you thrown
out of the house.

I wish to help.

The best thing
you can do to help

is to do what you're told.

Of course.

We were wrong about
Culverton Smith.

Maybe I don't like the man

but he's no m*rder*r.

The River Fever is
abroad in Rotherhithe.

Holmes, we must get you
to a hospital at once.

No, Now keep your distance!

Don't you see this
thing is contagious?

Do you think
such a consideration
weighs with me?

Keep your distance!

This could run
through London.

(Mumbling unintelligibly)

(Screams in pain)

It's cramps.

Holmes?

If I had a doctor at least

let me have someone
whom I have confidence?

You have none in me?

Your friendship, yes.

But you're only a
general practitioner

with mediocre
qualifications.

That remark is
unworthy of you, Holmes.

It shows me very clearly

the state of your nerves.

That demonstrates
your ignorance.

What do you know
about Tapanuli Fever?

What do you know about
Black Formosa corruption?

I have never
heard of either.

That is strange
pathological disorders

in the east.

If you have no faith in me,

let me fetch Jasper Meek.

Penrose Fisher,
Ainstree is here in London.

Let me fetch him.

There's only one
man who can help me.

It's a man we have maligned.

Culverton Smith?

Do you believe
he would help?

He must.

It is my only chance.

Oysters,

they do breed don't they?

I cannot think that the
whole bottom of the ocean

is one solid
mass of oysters.

Holmes, can you hear me?

I'm going for
Culverton Smith
this instant.

Then go.

I'm to bring him
back here with me.

He's the emperor
of river fevers,

of course you
must persuade him

but you must return alone.

Any excuse not
to come with him.

Tell him I apologize, I do.

Don't fail me Watson.

Of course not.

And what of rivers.

Are there no natural enemies

to limit the increase
of these creatures?

It's horrible,

horrible.

It's essential that I
see Mr. Culverton Smith.

Mr. Culverton Smith, sir,

does not appreciate
being disturbed

during his hours of study.

Just a minute sir,
you can't just...

Smith!

Sir!

Smith!

Please sir!

Smith!

Sir, you can't just,

you can't just walk in, sir.

Ah, Smith.

What the devil do you
mean by this, sir?

I've come from
Sherlock Holmes.

He is desperately ill,

and he begs you
to come to him.

Why?

You are a physician,

tend to him yourself.

He believes that you

are the only man
who can save him.

Save him?

I beg you to come.

What has he contracted?

He thinks it is the fever
which k*lled your cousin.

How did he come by it?

He has been in Rotherhithe.

Ah,

I'm sorry to hear this.

I hope you are wrong.

Despite his insulting
behavior the other day,

I have every respect
for his talents.

He's an amateur of crime

as I am of disease.

For him the villain,

for me the microbe.

Here are my prisoners.

Among these gelatin
cultivations,

some of the worst offenders
in the world are doing time.

Please, please, there
is no time to lose.

He is desperately ill.

Of what consequence
is that to me?

He maligned me in the
most outrageous manner.

He, he regrets it,
he was most insistent
upon that point.

He knows that the fever
was abroad in Rotherhithe.

How long has he been ill?

Three days.

Is he delirious?

Sometimes seriously so.

I will come with
you at once.

I have another
appointment, sir.

Very well,
I shall go alone.

Staples, you can
rely on my being there

in a half an hour at most.

Did you see him?

Yes, he's coming.

Ah, you're the
best of messengers.

You can disappear
from the scene now.

I should stay to hear
his opinion, Holmes,

I really should.

No reason he is
morbidly sensitive.

We must let him
practice his arts alone.

My dear, Holmes.

That's the front door,

It's him.

Hide.

Hide.

Quick, if you love me.

Holmes?

Holmes?

Oh, Smith,
I hardly dared to hope.

I should imagine not.

Yet you see I'm here.

Coals of fire Holmes,

coals of fire.

It's noble.

Do you know what
is wrong with you?

Yes.

You recognize the symptoms?

Yes, quite well.

Three days with you then?

Yes.

You have lasted well.

With Victor it was
all over by now.

I have noticed this,

the more mature coolies
seems to last longer.

Water please.

Could I have some water?

Oh, the final thirst.

You're near the end.

Please help me,

help me if you can.

I could champion your cause.

My cause?

Your work.

It deserves to be trumpeted.

I could be of service.

I doubt it.

Thanks to you

the damage done to my
reputation is irreparable.

You mean
Victor Savage,

your cousin,

I had forgotten that.

Did you, were you involved?

I couldn't be sure.

The great detective
couldn't be sure.

Well it doesn't
matter to me

if you know how Savage d*ed.

I don't see you in
the witness box,

quite another sort of box.

I put an infected
mosquito to his neck

while he was in
an opiate stupor.

There.

But you,

how did you come
to contract it?

That fellow
who came for me

told me you thought you
caught it in Rotherhithe.

Oh, I can only
account for it, so.

Cast your mind back.

Cramps?

Oh, yes.

Help me.

I will.

The pain.

Yes, the coolies used
to do some squealing

before the end.

Well now.

A few days before
your symptoms began

did you receive
anything by post?

I can't think.

A parcel?

You did.

Yes, samples of tobacco.

That's right.

Did you notice the
construction of the box?

Under the tobacco,

two small tacks stuck out.

You didn't see them?

They were infected?

You fool.

You would tangle with me

and now you are finished.

The box.

Where is it?

Where is it?

Turn up the gas.

Turn up the gas?

The shadows begin to
lengthen, do they?

Yes, I'll do that.

I prefer to see you
die in the light.

There it is,

your last
shred of evidence.

Well, well,

is there any
other little service

I can do you my friend?

A match and a cigarette
would be most welcome.

Three days without food
and water is one thing,

but to be without tobacco

I have found most irksome.

Come in Inspector.

By turning up the gas,

Smith was good enough to
give our signal himself.

This is the self-confessed
m*rder*r of Victor Savage.

You may lie as
you like Holmes.

You have no corroboration
for you insane suspicions.

Watson, he has a
box behind his back.

Treat it very gingerly

and don't open it.

Damn you.

Stop him.

Damn you.

Ahhh...

The best way of acting
a part successfully

is to be it.

What's the vaseline for?

For the forehead.

Belladonna in the eyes.

Um-hum.

Bee's wax.

Incrustation
around the lips.

Why wouldn't you
let me near you,

when in truth there
was no infection?

Do you imagine
that I have no respect

for your medical talents?

At six feet

I could deceive you.

But any closer,

with your astute judgment,

no, no, no, no.

No it was essential,

that you and Mrs. Hudson

believed me to
be at death's door

otherwise Smith would
have smelt a rat.

Rats,

bee's wax,

Mr. Holmes,

you are the very
worst tenant in London.

Georgie says he's going
to guard the house.

Oh they're fine
children, Mrs. Savage.

They're little angels.

For years we're known
as little savages.

Thank you, Dr. Watson,

for letting us
keep our home.

Thank you my dear.

I'd like to take the credit

but it belongs
to Mr. Holmes.

We are very
grateful to you, sir.

My privilege, Miss. Savage.