Sherlock Holmes: A Drama in Four Acts Part 10

Sherlock Holmes 
A Drama in Four Acts

ACT 3 (Continued..)

[Last dialogue - CRAIGIN (low, deep voice, intense): You’ll ‘ave to wait a bit, Mr. ‘Olmes. We ‘ave a little matter of business we’d like to talk over.]

(HOLMES turning to CRAIGIN.)

(Enter LEARY and glides up side in the shadow and begins to move towards HOLMES. In approaching from corner he glides behind door of cupboard as it stands open and from there down on HOLMES at cue. As HOLMES turns to CRAIGIN, ALICEleans against wall of cupboard .)

HOLMES: All right, Craigin, I’ll see you to-morrow morning in your cell at Bow Street.

CRAIGIN (threateningly):  Werry sorry sir but I cawn’t wait till morning Its got to be settled to night.

HOLMES (looks at CRAIGIN an instant): All right, Craigin, we’ll settle it to-night.

CRAIGIN:  It’s so werry himportant, Mr. ‘Olmes — so werry important indeed that you’ll ‘ave to ‘tend to it now.

(At this instant ALICE sees LEARY approaching rapidly from behind and screams. HOLMES turns, but LEARY is upon him at the same time. There is a very short struggle and HOLMES throws LEARY violently off, but LEARY has got HOLMES’revolver. As they struggle ALICE steps back to side of room up stage. A short deadly pause. HOLMES motionless, regarding the men. ALICE’S back against wall. After the pause LEARY begins to revive.)

(Low voice to LEARY.) ‘Ave you got his revolver?

LEARY (showing revolver): ‘Ere it is. (Getting slowly to his feet.) 

HOLMES (recognizing LEARY in the dim light): Ah, Leary!  It is a pleasure indeed. It needed only your blithe personality to make the party complete. (Sits and writes rapidly on pocket pad, pushing lamp away a little and picking up cigar which he had left on the table, and which he keeps in his mouth as he writes.) There is only one other I could wish to welcome here, and that is the talented author of this midnight carnival. We shall have him however, by to-morrow night.

CRAIGIN: Though ‘e ain’t ‘ere, Mr. ‘Olmes, ‘e gave me a message for yer. ‘E presented his koindest compliments wished yer a pleasant trip across.

HOLMES (writing — cigar in mouth): That’s very kind of him, I’m sure. (Writes.)

LARRABEE (sneeringly): You’re writing your will, I suppose?

HOLMES (writing — with quick glances at the rest) No (Shakes head.) Only a brief description of one or two of you gentlemen for the police. We know the rest.

LEARY:  And when will you give it ‘em, Mr. ‘Olmes? 

HOLMES (writes): In nine or nine and a half minutes, Leary.

LARRABEE:  Oh, you expect to leave here in nine minutes, eh?

HOLMES: No. (Writing.) In one. It will take me eight minutes to find a policeman. This is a dangerous neighbourhood.

LARRABEE:  Well, when you’re ready to start, let us know. 

HOLMES (rising and putting pad in pocket): I’m ready (Buttoning up coat.)

(CRAIGIN. McTAGUE and LEARY suddenly brace themselves for action, and stand ready to make a run for HOLMES.LARRABEE also is ready to join in the struggle if necessary. HOLMES moves backward from table a little to ALICE — she drops down a step towards HOLMES)

CRAIGIN: Wait a bit. You’d better listen to me, Mr. ‘Olmes. We’re going to tie yer down nice and tight to the top o’ that table.

HOLMES: Well, by Jove! I don’t think you will, That’s my idea, you know.

CRAIGIN: An’ you’ll save yourself a deal of trouble if ye submit quiet and easy like — because if ye don’t ye moight get knocked about a bit — 

ALICE (under her breath): Oh — Mr. Holmes! (Coming closer to HOLMES.)

LARRABEE (to ALICE): Come away from him! Come over here if you don’t want to get hurt.

(Love music.)

HOLMES (to ALICE, without looking round, but reaching her with left hand): My child, if you don’t want to get hurt, don’t leave me for a second.

(ALICE moves closer to HOLMES.)

LARRABEE:  Aren’t you coming?

ALICE (breathlessly): No!

CRAIGIN: You’d better look out, Miss — he might get killed.

ALICE:  Then you can kill me too.

(HOLMES makes a quick turn to her, with sudden exclamation under breath. For an instant only he looks in her face — then a quick turn back to CRAIGIN and men.)

HOLMES (low voice — not taking eyes from men before him): I’m afraid you don’t mean that, Miss Faulkner.

ALICE:  Yes, I do.

HOLMES (eyes on men — though they shift about rapidly, but never toward ALICE): No. (Shakes head a trifle.) You would not say it — at another time or place.

ALICE:  I would say it anywhere — always.

(Music stops.)

CRAIGIN:  So you’ll ‘ave it out with us, eh?

HOLMES:  Do you imagine for one moment, Craigin, that I won’t have it out with you?

CRAIGIN: Well then — I’ll ‘ave to give you one — same as I did yer right-’and man this afternoon. (Approaching HOLMES.)

HOLMES (to ALICE without turning — intense, rapid): Ah!

(CRAIGIN stops dead.)

You heard him say that. Same as he did my right-hand man this afternoon.

ALICE (under breath): Yes! yes!

HOLMES: Don’t forget that face. (Pointing to CRAIGIN.) In three days I shall ask you to identify it in the prisoner’s dock.

CRAIGIN (enraged): Ha! (Turning away as if to hide his face.)

HOLMES (very sharp — rapid): Yes — and the rest of you with him. You surprise me, gentlemen — thinking you’re sure of anybody in this room, and never once taking the trouble to look at that window. If you wanted to make it perfectly safe, you should have had those missing bars put in.

(HOLMES whispers something to ALICE, indicating her to make for door.)

(Music till end of Act.)

(CRAIGIN, LEARY, McTAGUE and LARRABEE make very slight move and say “Eh?” but instantly at tension again, and all motionless, ready to spring on HOLMES. HOLMES and ALICE motionless, facing them. This is held an instant.)

LARRABEE: Bars or no bars, you’re not going to get out of here as easy as you expect.

(HOLMES moves easily down near table.)

HOLMES: There are so many ways, Mr. Larrabee, I hardly know which to choose.

CRAIGIN (louder — advancing): Well, you’d better choose quick — I can tell you that. 

HOLMES (sudden — strong — sharp): I’ll choose at once, Mr. Craigin — and my choice — (quickly seizing chair) — falls on this. (On the word he brings the chair down upon the lamp frightful crash, extinguishing light instantly.)

(Every light out. Only the glow of HOLMES’ cigar remains where he stands at the table. He at once begins to move toward window keeping cigar so that it will show to men and to front.)

CRAIGIN (loud sharp voice to others): Trace ‘im by the cigar. (Moving at once toward window.) Follow the cigar.

LARRABEE: Look out. He’s going for the window.

(LEARY goes quickly to window. McTAGUE goes and is ready by safety lamp. HOLMES quickly fixes cigar in a crack or joint at side of window so that it is still seen — smash of the window glass is heard. Instantly glides across, well up stage, and down side to the door where he finds ALICE. On crash of window CRAIGIN and LEARY give quick shout of exclamation — they spring up stage toward the light of cigar — sound of quick scuffle and blows in darkness.)

LARRABEE: Get that light.

CRAIGIN (clear and distinct): The safety lamp. Where is it?

(Make this shout for lantern very strong and audible to front. McTAGUE kicks over box which concealed the safety lamp — lights up. HOLMES and ALICE at door. ALICE just going out.)

HOLMES (turning at door and pointing to window): You’ll find that cigar in a crevice by the window.

(All start towards HOLMES with exclamations, oaths, etc. He makes quick exit with ALICE and slams door after him. Sounds of heavy bolts outside sliding quickly into place, and heavy bars dropping into position. CRAIGIN, McTAGUE and LEARY rush against door and make violent efforts to open it. After the first excited effort they turn quickly back. As McTAGUE crosses he throws safely lamp on table. LARRABEE, who has stopped near when he saw door closed, turns front with a look of hatred on his face and mad with rage.)