The Sign of Four (1987) - full transcript

There's a very pretty young
woman crossing the street

and I think she may be coming here.

Incidentally, I have glanced over
your latest account of my work.

Oh yes.

Honestly I cannot
congratulate you upon it.

Detection is, or ought
to be, an exact science.

Observation, deduction,
a cold and unemotional subject.

You have attempted to
tinge it with romanticism,

which has much the same effect
as if you worked a love story

or an elopement into the fifth
proposition of Euclid.

Who can match that?



There's a young lady
to see you, Mr. Holmes.

It's Mary Morstan.
I have no recollection of the name.

Don't go Doctor, I may need you.

I was right.

Thank you.

Miss Morstan.

Good afternoon.

I have come to you Mr. Holmes,
because

you once enabled my employer,
Mrs. Cecil Forrester,

to unravel a minor
domestic complication.

She was much impressed
with your kindness and skill.

Thank you.

I can hardly imagine anything more
strange, more utterly inexplicable

than the situation in
which I find myself.



State your case.

If you will, I am sure, excuse me.

If your friend would be
good enough to remain,

he might be of inestimable service
to me.

Of course.

Briefly the facts are these-

My father was an officer
in an Indian regiment.

My mother died
when I was still quite a child, and,

and he was forced to send me home,

despite the fact that
had no relatives here.

I was placed in a comfortable
boarding establishment

at Edinburgh, and I remained there
until I was 17 years of age.

In that same year, my father who
was a senior captain of his regiment

obtained 12 months' leave
and returned home.

He telegraphed to me from London
to say that he had arrived all safe,

and directed me to come down at once,
giving the Langham Hotel as his address.

His message, as I remember,
was full of love and kindness.

On reaching London, I drove
straight to the Langham Hotel,

and was informed that Captain
Morstan was staying there, but

that he had gone out the night
before and had not returned.

So I waited-

all day without news of him.

And that night, on the advice
of the manager of the hotel,

I communicated with the police.

The next day, we advertised
in all the newspapers.

Our inquiries led to no result

from that day to this.

No word has ever been heard
of my unfortunate father.

He came home with his
heart so full of hope-

to find some peace,
some comfort and instead...

The date?

The 3rd of December,
exactly 10 years ago.

His luggage?

Remained at the hotel.

Oh, there was nothing in it to suggest
a clue. Some clothes, some books,

and a considerable number of
curiosities from the Andaman Islands.

My father had been one of the officers
in charge of the convict-guard there.

Watson, this place is a mess.
Had he any friends in town?

Only one that we know of.

Major Sholto, of his old regiment,
the 34th Bombay Infantry.

We communicated with the Major,
of course, but,

he did not seem to know that
his brother officer was in England.

It's a singular case.

I have not yet communicated
to you the most singular part.

4 years later, an advertisement
had appeared in the Times.

Asking for the address of
Miss Mary Morstan, and stating

that it would be to her advantage
to come forward.

There was no name appended.

I had at the time just entered
the family of Mrs. Cecil Forrester

in the capacity of governess,

and on her advice I published my
address in the advertisement column.

That same day there
appeared through the post

a small cardboard
box addressed to me

which I found to contain a
very large and lustrous pearl.

No word of writing was enclosed.

And since then every
year upon the same date,

there has always
appeared a similar box,

containing a similar pearl,
with no clue as to the sender.

They have pronounced by been
an expert to be of a rare variety-

of considerable value.

You can see for yourself
that they are very handsome.

Your case is most interesting.

Something else has occurred to you?

Yes, and no later than today.
That is why I have come to you.

This letter arrived through
the post this morning,

which you will perhaps
read for yourself.

Envelope please.

London postmark, October 7th.

Man's thumb mark on corner,
probably the postman.

Best quality paper, six-pence a packet.
Particular man in his stationery.

Watson.

"Be at the third pillar from the left,"

"outside the Lyceum Theatre
tonight at seven o'clock."

"If you are distrustful,
bring two friends,"

"you are a wronged woman
and shall have justice."

"Do not bring the police. If you do, all
will be in vain. Your unknown friend."

Well, really, this is a
very pretty little problem.

What do you intend
to do Miss Morstan?

Well, that is exactly
what I want to ask you.

Well then, you and I
shall go together.

Dr. Watson is the very man.
Your correspondent says two friends.

But would he come?

I shall be proud and happy
if I can be of any service.

You are both very kind.

I have led a retired life and have
no friends whom I could appeal to.

If I am here at 6, it will do, I suppose?

Yes, but you must not be later.
Goodbye Miss Morstan.

Goodbye Mr. Holmes.

Au revoir.

Au revoir.

Buy a flower dearie.

Buy a flower.

Aw, come on, dearie.

Excuse me.

What a very attractive woman.

It is of the first importance
not to allow your judgment

to be biased by personal qualities.

A client to me is a mere unit,
a factor of the problem.

Holmes, you are an automaton
and a calculating machine.

There's something positively
inhuman in you at times.

I assure you, the most
winning woman I ever knew

was hanged for poisoning three little
children for their insurance money.

And the most repellent
man of my acquaintance

is a philanthropist who has spent nearly a
quarter of a million upon the London poor.

However, in this case...

I never make exceptions.

An exception disproves the rule.
I'm going out. I'll see you in an hour.

Had he any friends in town?

Only one that we know of,
Major Sholto of his own regiment.

There is no great
mystery in this matter.

The facts appear to admit
of only one explanation.

Oh, so you've solved it already?

I have found on consulting
the back files of the Times,

that Major Sholto,
of Upper Norwood,

late of the 34th, Bombay Infantry,
died just 6 years ago.

Mrs. Hudson you're
dreadfully under foot.

Maybe very obtuse, Holmes,
but I fail to see what this suggests.

Really?

You surprise me. Now, look at it this
way then, Captain Morstan disappears,

the only person in London whom he
could have visited is Major Sholto.

Major Sholto denies having heard
that he was even in London.

4 years later, Sholto dies.
Within a week of his death,

Captain Morstan's daughter
receives a valuable present

which is repeated from year to year
and now culminates in a letter,

which describes her
as a wronged woman.

Now what wrong can it possibly refer to
except this deprivation of her father?

Tape measure, gun.

And why should these presents begin
immediately after Sholto's death?

Unless it is that Sholto's heir
knows something of the mystery,

and desires to make compensation.

Are you ready, Watson?

And waiting.

Have you any alternative theory
that will meet the facts?

What a strange compensation
and how strangely way.

What time is it?

It's a quarter past the hour.

Good evening, Roberts.

Good evening, sir.

Why should somebody write her a
letter now, rather than 6 years ago?

Again, the letter speaks of giving her
justice. What justice can she have?

It is too much to suppose
that her father is still alive,

and there's no other injustice
in her case that you know of.

There are difficulties but
there are always difficulties.

Good evening, Mr. Holmes.
I do hope I'm not...

Good evening.

By the way, a curious paper was
found in Papa's desk,

which nobody could understand.

I don't suppose it is of
the slightest importance,

but I thought you might like to
see it so I brought it with me.

The paper appears to be
of Indian manufacture.

At some point, it's
been pinned to a board.

The diagram upon it appears to be
the plan of part of a large building

with numerous halls,
corridors, and passages.

There's a cross in red ink,

and on the side is
written "3.37 from left."

There is a curious hieroglyphic,

the sign of four...

Kartar Singh, Inderjit Singh,
Jagodish Singh, Jonathan Small.

The paper has been kept
carefully in a pocketbook,

for the one side is
as clean as the other.

It was in his pocketbook
that we found it.

Preserve it carefully, Miss Morstan.

I begin to suspect
that this case may be-

much deeper and more subtle
than I had at first supposed.

Hey, are you the parties
who come with Miss Morstan?

I'm Miss Morstan, and these
two gentlemen are my companions.

I must ask you to give me your word

that neither of your companions
is a police officer.

I give you my word.

Sahib awaits you.

Show them in, Khitmutgar,
Show them straight in to me.

Your servant, Miss Morstan.

Your servant, gentlemen.

Come in, come in, come in.
Come in to my little sanctum.

I trust you have no
objection to tobacco smoke?

The balsamic odor of Eastern tobacco?

I am a little nervous,

and I find my hookah
to be an invaluable...

sedative.

If you will excuse me, Mr. Sholto,

but I am here at your
request to learn something

which you desire to tell me?

It is getting very late and should wish
the interview to be as short as possible.

Well, it must take some time

for we have to go to Norwood
to see brother, Bartholomew.

We must all see,

if we can get the better-

of brother, Bartholomew.

He is angry with me for-

taking the course that
has seemed right to me.

You cannot imagine what
a terrible fellow he is,

when he is angry.

If we are to go to Norwood,
it would-

perhaps be as well
if we were start at once.

No.

No, that would hardly do.

I don't know what he would say if
we came upon him in that sudden way.

No, I must prepare you by
showing you where we all stand-

to each other.

I must lay the facts before you,

as I know them myself.

My father, the late Major John Sholto,

came to live at Pondicherry
Lodge in Upper Norwood.

Some 11 years ago.

And he had prospered in India
and brought back with him-

a considerable sum of money,
a collection of valuable curiosities,

and a staff of native servants.

With these advantages,
he lived in great luxury.

My brother and I were at
university at the time.

We did know, however,
that some mystery,

some positive danger
overhung our father.

He was very fearful of
going out alone

and he employed two
prizefighters to guard him.

Williams, who drove you
here tonight, was one of them.

For some reason,
he never told anyone,

my father had a marked aversion
to men with wooden legs,

On one occasion, he actually fired
his revolver at a one-legged man.

A harmless tradesman as it turned out.

I remember we have to pay
a considerable sum to hush it up.

Then suddenly,

my father received a letter.

It was obviously
a great shock to him.

Out. Out of the room!

Out of the room!

What was in the letter?

We could never discover.

For years, my father had suffered
with an enlarged spleen.

And from that moment on
he became rapidly worse.

But one night, the doctor
informed us there was no hope,

and that he wished to make
a last communication to us.

My dear sons.

When we were in India,

my friend, Morstan and I,

came into possession of
a considerable treasure.

I brought it home
with me to this house,

where it's still alive.

On the day, Morstan,

arrived home from the East,

he came straight to this house

to claim his share.

We gave our word Sholto, a promise.

We gave our word and our oath!

Damn with them.

The life in another world is...

A solemn promise.

If you try to betray me, Morstan.
If you dare to cross me...

My God!

The man is dead, Altada.

You have nothing to fear Sir.
I will arrange everything.

And soon it was done, Miss Morstan,

in secrecy of course,
but with respect.

This is disgraceful, Mister Sholto.

Your father's behavior
was quite unforgivable.

Please, Doctor.

I knew in my heart that he was dead.

My father was not worm man

And I'm glad he didn't suffer.

You're Miss very brave, Miss Morstan.

What concerns me now is
the reason for this quarrel.

I cannot imagine how my father came
to be involved with that treasure.

I'm afraid that is not clear,
Miss Morstan. I can only tell you,

my father's instructions
concerning it...

My... my treatments against
the poor Morstan's orphan.

The greed,

accursed greed that has been my
besetting sin throughout my life,

has robbed her of the treasure.

Half of which, at least, should be hers.

You see that chaplet there,

on the green bottle.

I had the design of sending it to her,

but could not bear to part with them.

You, my sons,

will see that Miss Morstan
gets her share of the treasure.

Promise.

Treasure...

It is hidden...

Get him away!

For Christ's sake, get him away!

We've run to the window
and out into the garden,

but the intruder was gone.

My father was dead.

We soon had more striking
proof that there were-

secret agencies that work all around us.

The next day, my father's
bedroom was broken into

and this was fixed to his chest.

Remarkable.

It is the Sikkh symbol for the numeral 4.

What the paper means and who our
secret visitor or visitors were,

we never found out.

And my brother and I were much excited
as you could imagine of the treasure

that my father had spoken but
try as we might we couldn't find it.

It was maddened to think that the hiding
place was on his very lips when he died.

We could judge the
splendor of the riches-

by the chaplet which he had taken out.
The pearls were evidently of great value.

And my brother was averse to part
with them. For between friends,

he was a little inclined
to my father's fault, and it was,

all I could do was to persuade him
to allow me to send Miss Morstan-

a detached pearl at regular intervals
so that she would not feel destitute.

It was a kindly thought.

No, it was very good of you.

We were your trustees
that was the way I looked at it,

although my brother did not
altogether see it in that light.

We had plenty of money ourselves.

It would have been in such
bad taste to have-

treated a young lady
in so scurvy a fashion.

Yesterday, an event of
extreme importance occurred.

We, found the treasure.

Hence my instant communication
to you, Miss Morstan,

now, all we have to do
is to drive to Norwood

and claim our share.

We shall be expected,
if not entirely welcome visitors.

You have done well from
first to last, Mr. Sholto.

My health is somewhat fragile.

I am compelled to be a valetudinarian.

Please?

We dug up every inch of the garden
without discovering anything.

Brother Bartholomew is
such a clever fellow.

Do you know how he found
out where the treasure was?

Tell me.

He made measurements everywhere,

all along the top.

Along the side, inside, and he found
out he was 4 foot out at the top.

We found our father had
made a false room.

So he smashed through
the lath and the plaster,

and there was the treasure
chest lying across the rafters.

He has computed the
value of the treasure

to be more than one
half million sterling.

It's Mrs. Bernstone.

Mrs. Bernstone is the
only lady in the house.

Wait here.

Oh, Mr. Thaddeus,
I'm so glad you've come.

I'm so glad you've come, sir.

What a strange place.

It looks as if all the moles in
England have been let loose in it.

There's something amiss
with Bartholomew...

Into the house.

Bless your sweet, calm face.

Oh, but I have been sorely
tried this day.

How Mrs. Bernstone?

Mr. Bartholomew shut himself in his room
and I can't get a word out of him.

His bed hasn't been slept in and
he hasn't been down for any food.

I dare not disturb him at his work. You
know what he's like when it's his work.

Look after her, Miss Morstan.

There, there do try to calm down. Look,
I'm sure everything will be all right.

I do hope you are right, Miss.

Sit down over there.

Come.

Which is the door?

There's something devilish
in this, Watson.

The sign of the four again.
What in God's name does it mean?

It means murder.

We brought the treasure down there
last night and we put it there.

Now its gone.

What time is that?

I don't know. Six, or seven o'clock.

I heard him lock the door after I left.

I must have been the last
person to see him alive.

And now he's dead.

Do you think I did it?
You think it's me. I wouldn't.

Why should I? I wouldn't
have asked you to... I'll go mad.

Now gently, gently, gently, Mr. Sholto.

I suggest that you go down
to the police station,

and tell them everything that you know.
We shall wait here until you return.

Holmes, look at this.

Careful. Forgive me, its poisoned.

Well, Watson we have a little
time. Let's make the most of it.

Now this is an insoluble mystery to me.
It grows darker instead of clearer.

No, no, no, no it clears every instant.

I only require a few missing links
to have an entirely connected case.

Simple as the case seems. Now, there
may be something deeper underlying it.

Now, how did these people come
and how did they go?

People?

Well it takes more than
one, perhaps more than two

to remove a heavy treasure
chest from a place like this.

The door has not been
opened since last night.

So, how about these windows?

Snibbed on the inside.

No hinges. Roof quite out
of reach. No drainpipe near.

Now, yet someone has entered
this way look, Watson.

See that scuff on the sill.

Look at this, Watson.

And this and this. This is
a very pretty demonstration.

But that's not a footmark.

Something much more valuable to us.

This is mark of a boot and this and
this is the mark of timber toe.

This is a wooden-legged man.

And someone else.

A very able and efficient ally.

Could you scale that wall, Watson?

Absolutely impossible.

I aid it is so but suppose
you had a friend

who lowered you this good
stout rope

securing to this it first ring.

I think if you were an active man,

you'd be able to swarm
up, wooden leg and all.

You would depart, of course, in the
same fashion and then your friend-

would pull up the rope,

close the window,
snib it on the inside,

and depart in the manner
he originally came.

Well, the thing grows
more unintelligible than ever.

How about this mysterious ally?
How did he get into the room?

Yes, this ally,

he lifts this case from the
regions of the commonplace.

Well, the door is locked,
the window inaccessible.

The grate's too small. How then?

You will not follow my precept.

How often have I said to you that once
you have eliminated the impossible-

whatever remains? However
improbable must be the truth?

He must of come in through the roof.

Excellent, Watson. Hold this lamp. Let
us carry our research to the room above,

the secret room in which
the treasure was found.

The skylight.

Holmes, a child has done
this horrid thing?

My memory failed me, or I
should have been able to foretell it.

There is nothing we can
learn from here. Let us go down.

What is your theory
about those footmarks?

My clear Watson,
try a little analysis yourself.

You know my methods, apply them.

I cannot conceive of anything
that will cover the facts.

You will soon.

We're in luck.

Our little ally...
has trod in the creosote.

Boy, fond of animals, I see here.
Very good. I believe...

Well, well, well, well, quite a nice
little place you got here, indeed.

Holmes.

That is a creative representatives of the
law unless I'm very very much mistaken.

Now Watson, before they come,
what do you make of this poor fellow?

The muscles are stiff as a board.
A state of extreme contraction,

far exceeding the usual rigor mortis.

Quite so.

Coupled with this distortion of
the face, the Hippocratic smile.

Risus sardonicus, as the
old writers called it,

What would suggest to your mind?

Death from a powerful
vegetable alkaloid,

some strychnine-like substance
that produces tetanus.

To the right,
come on gentleman, to the right.

Up these stairs.

This thorn.

Not an English thorn.

I think it is not right that Miss
Morstan remains in this stricken house.

I suggest you slip away and
take her home Watson,

and then go to 3 Pinchin Lane,
Lambeth and ask for Toby.

3 Pinchin Lane.

I'd rather have Toby's help than that
of the whole detective force of London.

Well, here's a pretty business.

Place is as full as a rabbit-warren.

I think you may recollect me,

Mr. Athelney Jones.

Why? Of course, I do.

Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the theorist.

I'll never forget that you lectured us
all about the Bishop Gate jewel case.

True, you set us on the right track
then but I think you'll own now,

it is more by good luck
than good guidance.

It was very a piece of simple reasoning.

Oh, calm now, calm.
Never be ashamed to own up.

But what is all this?

It's a bad business. Bad business.

Stern facts here.

No room for theories.

It's lucky I happened to be
up at Norwood

on another case
when I got the message.

How do you think this man died?

This is not a case
for me to theorize over.

No, no, no.

Still, we can't deny, you hit
the nail on the head sometimes.

Door locked, I understand.

Jewels worth a fortune missing.
How were the windows?

Fastened but there was
a footstep on the sill.

Windows fastened. Nothing to
do with it. It's common sense.

Man could have died in a fit I suppose.

Ha, I have a theory.

These flashes come to me sometimes.

Sergeant, outside with me.

And you too, Mr. Sholto.

What do you think of this, Holmes?

Sholto has confessed he was
with his brother last night.

The brother died in a fit. Sholto walks
off with the treasure? How about that?

Whereupon a dead man very
considerately gets up and

locks the door from the inside.

There's a flaw there somewhere.

Let us apply common sense
to the matter.

They were brothers.
There was a quarrel.

Brother Bartholomew dead.
Jewels gone.

And master Thaddeus evidently
in a disturbed state of mind.

His appearance well not attractive.

You see,

I'm weaving a web
around Thaddeus.

The net begins to close upon him.

Jones,

that splinter,

which firmly believe to be poisoned.

That card and that curiously shaped
instrument were lying there on the table.

Confirms my theory
in every respect.

The house is full of Indian
curiosities. All point to Thaddeus.

But,

how did he escape?

There is a trapdoor in the roof,
Sergeant.

Pray ask Mr. Sholto
to step this way?

You see, facts are better
than theories after all.

My view of the case is confirmed.

There is a trapdoor
communicating with the roof,

and it is partly open.

It is I who opened it.

Mr. Thaddeus Sholto, it
is my duty to inform you

that anything you say
will be taken down

and maybe used
in evidence against you.

I arrest you in the Queen's name

as being concerned
in the death of your brother.

I didn't. I tell you.

Don't trouble yourself, Mr. Sholto.

I think that I can engage
to clear you of this charge.

Don't promise too much,
Mr. Theorist.

You may find it a harder
matter than you think.

Not only will I clear Mr. Sholto,

but I will give you a description
of the two men

who were in this room last night.

One was a poorly educated
man, strong, active,

with his right leg off, wearing
a stump worn away on the inside.

His left boot has a
coarse, square toed sole.

It has an iron band around the heel.

He's much sunburned, middle-aged,

and has a certain amount of skin
missing from the palm of one hand.

And the other one?

He's rather a curious person.

I hope before long to be able to
introduce you to the pair of them.

Watson, go to three Pinchin
Lane, London and ask for Toby.

I'd rather have Toby's help than that
of the whole detective force of London.

Mr. Toby?

Mr. Toby? Mr. Toby?

Get out of it.
You drunken hooligan.

Go on, get out of it or
I'll turn my dogs on you.

All forty three of them.

I'm looking for Mr. Toby.

I have a viper in this bag, and I'll tip it
out over your head if you don't hoof it.

It's urgent that I find him.

I won't be argued with.
1, 2, 3 and down comes the viper.

I've come from Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

Well, who'd have thought it?

Mr. Sherlock Holmes, why
didn't you say so. Come in.

Oh no. mind there, mind there,
because he bite sometimes he wishes.

Oh yes, he does. Now Naughty.
Naughty, don't you bite the gentleman.

Because this gentleman is a
friend of Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

And any friend of Mr. Sherlock
Holmes is a friend of mine.

Don't mind him. He'll just give
you a nice friendly squeeze.

I've give him the run of the room

because he keeps down the
beetles something beautiful.

Now, what did you say
Mr. She Hock Holmes wanted?

Toby.

Toby?

Yes, Toby.

Awe, well Toby's No. 7
there along on the left.

Here, you give him these and
Toby will go along with you

as quiet as a lamb.

Hey, Toby wake up, come on.

There's work for you to do.
A gentleman's come here to see you.

Toby, come on.

He makes me laugh sometimes, Toby.

Come on, Toby. Come on.
Come here, son.

Watson.

It's all right officer, its Mr. Holmes.

Coach around. Come on, Toby.

Well done, you've got Toby.

Here comes London, I'm coming down.

Holmes.

Look at these, Watson.

I found them in the gutter.

Oh, thank you, Mrs. Bernstone.

Do you smell the creosote?

Athelney Jones arrested
not only Thaddeus

but also the gamekeeper,
the gatekeeper,

and two of the Indian servants,
I was lucky to escape myself.

What...

Watson, are you on
for a bit of a trudge?

Of course.

You and Toby, game as they come
when it's a good holding scent.

Now, find him. Go Toby.

Seek Toby, seek.
Yes, you can.

Steady Watson, steady.

Lucky the rain has stopped.

The scent will lie on the road
in spite of their start.

Ah, how sweet the morning air is.

Have you brought your pistol, Watson?

No, I have my stick.

In a minute, we're get to the men,
the peg leg guy I'll leave to you.

Leave the ally to me, come.

What the deuce is the
matter with the dog?

They took a boat,

except they didn't take
a cab or a balloon.

They must have been met
at the water's edge.

Toby!

Toby!

Toby!

Toby!

Toby!

He's lost his character
of infallibility.

No, no, no. Toby's not to blame.

Those barrels are filled with creosote.

The scent was divided.
So like good huntsmen, Watson.

We the must cast dog again
and find the true one.

Toby.

Toby.

We're out of luck.
They've taken the boat from here.

These people are cleverer
than I thought.

Now Watson, these people show
preconcerted management here.

Mordecai Smith.

You come back here and get your
face washed.

Jack. Oh, you young man.

I'll get your Dad to give you a
proper item when he gets back.

My what a rosy-cheeked
young rascal.

Is there anything you'd like, Jack?

I'd like a shilling.

A fine young lad you
got there, Mrs. Smith.

Lord bless you, sir,
he is that and forward.

He gets almost too much
for me to manage.

Especially when my man
is away days at a time.

Awe, it's a pity about that. I was hoping
to hire a boat from him, a steam launch.

Why, bless you, sir. It is in the
steam launch that he has gone.

I didn't like the bloke who did the hire.

Not at all, very rough with a wooden
leg, come tapping at our window-

in the middle of the night, and away
they went without a word to me.

Now this man with the
wooden leg, was he alone?

I think he might have
had an animal with him.

A dog?

Didn't look like no dog to me sir. More
like something that you find in the zoo.

So tell me about the launch. It's the
old green bird with the yellow line.

Oh no, no, sir. The Aurora
has just been fresh painted.

Black with a gold trim.

Ah yes, of course.
With a white funnel?

No sir, black funnel.

Ah yes, of course.

Well, thank you Mrs. Smith.
Goodbye Jack.

Bye.

The main thing with people
of that sort is

never to let them think that information
is of the slightest importance to you.

If you do, they will instantly
shut up like an oyster.

Well, our course seems
pretty clear now.

What would you do then?

Get on the track of the Aurora.

It would take days, if not months to
search every wharf and landing place

on the pier between here
and Greenwich.

What do you propose?

As our query has no reason
to fear that he's being hunted.

I propose first of all a bath.

And shave. And then a good meal
then some hours of sleep.

At the same time,

mobilizing the Baker Street division
of the detective police force.

In other words, the irregulars.

Ah the energetic Jones,
the ubiquitous reporter,

fixed up the case between them.
Watson, look at this.

Here.

Mr. Jones is trained and
experienced faculties

were at once directed towards
the detection of the criminals.

His well-known technical knowledge
and powers of minute observation...

Well it gets better still.

The prompt and energetic action
of the officers of the law-

shows the great advantage for the
single vigorous and masterful mind.

Isn't it gorgeous?

We had a close shave of
being arrested ourselves.

I wouldn't answer for our safety now it
it he has another of his attacks of energy.

Good heaven who.

Mr. Holmes said nothing of this.

You can't possibly go in there.

I'm sorry Mr. Holmes.

It's all right, Mrs. Hudson,
they are my guests.

Look, hats off.

I've got your message.
I brought 'em up sharp.

Three bob and a tenner for the tickets.

Now Wiggins, in future, they
can report to you and you to me.

I cannot have the house
invaded in this way.

Oi! Stop that.

Sorry.

Now, I want you to find
the steamboat Aurora.

Aurora?

Owner, Mordecai Smith.

Black with gold trim.

Richmond to Gravesend,
both sides of the river.

Right, sir. How much?

Old scale of pay, a guinea
to the boy who finds the boat.

Here is a day in advance.

If the launch is above water,
the irregulars will find her.

They can go everywhere,
see everything.

If our man had an easy task
just as ours ought to be.

One-legged men are not so common,
and this other man must be unique.

The aborigines of the Andaman Islands

may perhaps claim the distinction of
being the smallest race upon this earth.

They are a fierce, morose,
and intractable people.

Though capable of forming
the most devoted friendships

when their confidence
has once been gained.

They have always been a terror
to shipwrecked crews.

Braining the survivors with
their stone-headed clubs,

or shooting them with...

with poisoned arrows.

These massacres are
usually concluded

by a cannibal feast.

Nice, amiable people.

And what time would you like
your dinner, Mr. Holmes?

Half past eight,
the day after tomorrow.

You'll wear yourself out, old man.
I heard you marching about all night.

You really must get some rest.

I can't sleep. This infernal
problem is consuming me.

No news?

None. None, whatsoever.

The whole river has been
searched from both sides.

Mrs. Smith has not heard from
her husband, It's too much.

To be balked by some petty obstacle
when all else has been overcome.

See anything?

No, nothing.

Shove off or you'll feel
the back of my hand.

I'm not going to tell you again, boy.

A nice little craft.

Aye, she's a good boat this.
We built her right in this yard.

Fastest boat on the river.

What's she in for?

Repairs to her rudder.
That's the order.

I can't find anything amiss with it.

I want her in the water
by six o'clock tonight

Fully coaled and steam up.

Right Mr. Smith, she'll be ready.

Six o'clock sharp, mind-

for two gentlemen that'll
not be kept waiting.

Right.

It's this Norwood case, Doctor. I have
a great deal to worry and try me.

And this case is
a very dark one, too.

Thank you. I shall be most
grateful for Mr. Holmes' help.

Your friend is a wonderful man
and not to be beat.

Well, you maybe in for a long wait.

No, I don't think so.

Go to Baker Street at once.
If I've not returned, wait for me.

I am close on the track
of the Sholto gang.

Come with us tonight if you
want to be in at the kill.

Good. So, he's on the scent again?

He's been at fault too, has he?

Even the best of us are
thrown off sometimes.

Sherlock Holmes?

Are you Mr. Sherlock Holmes?

No, but I'm acting for him.

I've come about this article.

If you have any information
you may give to me.

There's a reward.

Is it about the steam launch, Aurora?

I'm telling no one but
Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

No, no, come. Come inside.

I'm a police officer.

You look like one.

No, you will be recompensed
for your loss of time.

You will not have long to wait.
Sit down.

Cigar, Mr. Jones?

Oh, thank you very much.

As I was saying, Doctor,

I consider your friend, Mr. Sherlock
Holmes is a man not to be beat.

He would have made the most promising
police officer, I don't care who knows it.

With a little more discipline,
and a lot less theory.

Thank you.

You might offer me one.

Oh, you rogue.

You would have made an
actor and a rare one.

You had the proper workhouse cough.

And those weak legs of yours,
there worth 10 pounds each.

A police officer, I'm flattered.

Jones, I shall need a police
launch at the Westminster steps.

The fastest you have. Two stout men,
yourself, myself, Watson all of us armed.

That is easily arranged.
I will telephone the local station.

When we get to the tower, stop
opposite of Jacobson's Yard.

How did you find the Aurora then?

I have reasons that the launch couldn't
be far off, despite of its invisibility.

So gentlemen, where could it be?

Well, out of the water, I suppose.

In a repair or boat builders yard.

Exactly.

One of my boys is waiting by
the yard to give us the signal.

You planned it all very
neatly, Mr. Holmes,

but if the affair were in my hands, I
should have a body of police in the yard,

and arrested them
when they came down.

Which would have been never. This
man, Small, is a pretty shrewd fellow.

Anything suspicious, and he
would lie snug for another week.

Sir? We're opposite
Jacobson's Yard now.

Shall we move downstream a little?

No. This mist maybe
of an advantage to us.

We must lie low and wait.

Your boy's signaling,
I can see it plainly.

There's the Aurora,
going like the devil.

She's very fast. I doubt
if we shall catch her.

We must catch her.
Pile it on, stokers.

I'll never forgive myself
if she proves to have the heels.

Faster, faster. Is this
the fastest boat they've got?

Pile on the coals, stoker.

We must have her. Even
if we burn the boat.

Keep the light steady. I can
almost make out his companion.

We're gaining.

Pile it on, stoker. Give
it all the steam we've got.

I think we gained a little.

I'm sure we shall be up
with the boat in a minute.

Move the light more to the left.

Keep it steady.

What's happening on that boat?

They're fighting among themselves.

Tonga.Tonga.

The peg leg.

Stop! Police!

Cease you.

You can burn in hell.

Stop!

We are the sign of four.

Watson, look.

What a face.

Wait.

Wait. Let him wear himself out.

So, Jonathan Small,

I am sorry it's come to this.

And so am I, sir.

But I give you my word, gentlemen,
I never laid hands on young Mr. Sholto.

Of course, you didn't.

Your little friend's dart killed him
while you were still climbing the rope.

You speak as if you were there, sir.

Well, if it had been old Major Sholto,

I would have swung for
him with a light heart.

But to be lagged over this young Sholto,

it's cursed heart.

You must make a clean
breast of it. If you do,

I maybe of use to you.

Quite a family party.

The reckon I'll pull at flask myself.

Now, where are you going, Small?

The Esmeralda at Gravesend,
outward bound for the Brazils.

And nearly made it.

Another man at the engines,
and you'd never have caught us.

Where's the key, my man?

At the bottom of the river.

Now, look here. We've had
enough of you tonight, Small.

Bring the cuffs in men, I'm warning you.

Its alright, constable,
we're nearly at the steps.

I suggest that we go back
to Baker Street.

Well, I think Miss Morstan
should be there.

Well, that's not the
regulation way Mr. Holmes

Well, I can at least promise
you a nice warming drink.

Very well, gentlemen.

Well, Miss Morstan,

I am pleased and proud to have been
able to bring the thief to justice.

Justice?

Your pretty justice.

Who's loot is this, if it is not ours?

Where is the justice-

that I should give it up to those
who have never owned it?

You forget Small, they know
nothing of this matter.

We cannot tell how far justice may
have originally been on your side.

Well, sir, you have been
very fair spoken to me.

Though I can see that it's
you that I have to thank

for these bracelets on my wrists.

Still I bear no grudge for that.

If you want to hear my story,
I have no wish to hold it back.

And what I say to you is
God's truth every word of it.

When I was a lad,

I took the Queen's shilling, and was
posted out to India with the Third Buffs.

A crocodile snapped this off
when was bathing in the Ganges.

The sawbones had my stump in
the tar barrel nice and quick.

I was young and strong.

We got my discharge and this fellow.

It's been a good support to me.

So, there I was a cripple at twenty.
But I liked it out there.

So I found myself a job as
an overseer on an Indigo farm.

I was on horseback all
day so that was fine.

But I was never in luck for long.

Without a note of warning,
the great mutiny was on us.

I came back to the farm
one evening

to find my master and all his family
be murdered.

I didn't wait. On that same
evening, I was in the Fort of Agra,

the nearest city still
held by the British.

The old Fort of Agra
is a queer place.

Huge.

It's full of passages and rooms,

and more entrances
than you can count.

There were many gates and because
I was an ex-soldier and British,

they put me in charge of one of
them and gave me a couple of Sikhs

who'd stayed loyal to us.

It was a lonely place.

My two Punjabis were
experienced fighting men.

Kartar Singh and Inderjit Singh.

Rebels?

No, saheb. The fort is safe.

There are no rebel
this side of the river.

You must be with us or you
must be silenced forever.

With you, how?

We want you to be rich, which is
why you British came to this land.

Well, I have no objection
of being rich.

Then swear by
the bones of your father

to raise no hand and to
speak no word against us now,

or ever afterwards.

Then you will have
quarter of the treasure.

But there are only three of us.

Jagodish Singh, my foster
brother, he must have his share.

There is no time Sahib. Decide.

Well, provided the fort
is in no kind of danger.

I swear.

What would you have done, Mr. Holmes?

I strongly suspect, I would
have done exactly as you did.

Yes, I know the Sikh.

He's not a man to be trifled with.

One of our local Rajahs,

rich as Croesus of course,
he'd gone in the rebels.

But... he wanted to hedge his bet.

Just in case, British
came out on top.

So he made a plot to get half his
treasure hidden in the Fort of Agra,

sending one of his men with it
in the guise of a merchant,

and Jagodish Singh, Kartar's
brother, to be the guide.

They come challenge him, sahib, in the
usual way, give him no cause of fear.

What then?

If he do, what us has to be done?

Who goes there?

Friends, sahib.

Advance and be recognized.

What have you with you?

A box sahib, old box.
Having some family papers.

No good to nobody sahib
only for myself.

Sahib, I'm no ordinary beggar.

You will have money sahib,
and governor sahib, also.

Take him to the main guardroom.

Never was a man more
compassed round with death.

If Achmet had escaped, the
whole affair would have come out

I should have been shot, most like.

Which of you would have
held back his musket?

Kartar was for burning
him, that's their religion.

But such a fire was impossible.

Jagodish was for throwing him down
into the great ditch below the fort!

Where the jackal's to clean him.

No doubt, he was right.

I was for showing some
respect for the dead.

Then we turned to the box.

This box.

Inside were more gems than I could
have ever even had dreamed of.

143 diamonds of the first water.

Including the Great Mogul,

the second largest stone
in existence.

97 emeralds. 170 rubies.

40 carbuncles. 61 agates.

Jagodish was right.

It was a great mistake you made,
burying the body as you did.

Would you not say so, Watson?

Yes indeed. Bodies not burned
in India are soon discovered.

So you and your three companions
were found guilty and sent away for life

to the penal colony
in the Andaman Islands.

Blair Island, sir.

Hopetown...
Never was a place worse named.

It was a place to sweat.

A place to rot. A place to die.

And I sweated there year
after year,

until your father arrived,
Miss. Morstan.

Corporal.

You will not maltreat
the white prisoner.

If it happens again,
you'll be court marshaled.

He was our administrative
officer and he gave me a nice-

cushy villa in the dispensary.

He was as good and kind a Christian
gentleman as I ever come across.

And I hold no grudge against him,

or you, Miss.

Thank you, Mr. Small.

Well, as I sat thinking
about the treasure,

I could see all the officers
and the prison officials at their,

their drinking and their gambling.

Major Sholto never had much luck.

Night after night, he was the loser.

Some people are born like that.

It's all over for me,
Morstan. I'm ruined.

I shall have to send in my paper.

I don't suppose you could manage
another couple of hundred, hey?

I had a pretty nasty facer myself.

And I've got a daughter
back home to support.

Well, I've got two wretched sons.

Ruined hey, damn pity.

So, you decided to approach your
benefactor, Captain Morstan?

He was often in the dispensary. The
tropical climate didn't agree with him.

His heart was weak and
his blood was all poisoned.

Knowing that he would wish to share
any arrangement with his friend,

the officer in command, Major Sholto?

Yes sir, it seemed the safest way.

And it is in your own
private concern over which,

of course, you have the power
of disposing as you think best.

Thank you for that advice,
sir. Thank you indeed.

But the fact is being in the
position I am, I need help.

What sort of help?

I need a partner.

Well, I'm sure Major Sholto and myself
would like to help you, if we could.

We could at least talk about,

that is of course if we
can agree as to terms.

There's only one bargain,
a man in my position can make.

In exchange for my freedom
and that of my three companions,

we shall give you a fifth
share to divide between you.

A fifth? That isn't very much.

50 thousand at the least.

Anyway how can we possibly give you
your freedom? You know it's impossible.

All we need is a boat and provisions.

There are plenty little yachts
and yawls in Calcutta or Madras,

well enough to serve our purpose.

If only there were just one of you.

None.

None or all.

We have sworn it. The four of us
must always act together.

Calm yourself, Sholto.
Calm yourself.

Calm yourself. Think about
it man, think about it.

Small is a man of his word,
he will not abandon his friends.

I think, I think
we may very well trust him.

We met the next morning
in the small hours.

I had our written
agreement in every detail.

We being officers in the Army
of her majesty Queen Victoria.

We being officers in the Army
of her majesty Queen Victoria.

Do swear on the Holy Bible

that this agreement will always
remain sacred and binding to us.

Do swear on the Holy Bible

that this agreement will always
remain sacred and binding to us.

I gave each of them a plan showing
the position of the treasure.

Well, look at that.

Oh, that brings back memories.

Sholto took the next boat
to India, found the treasure,

and took it back with him to England?

Yes.

When we heard the news, Captain
Morstan was as angry as I was.

He swore to me, he would go home
and settle the matter with Sholto.

And so he would if he lived.

But that was not to be.

From that day, I lived only
for vengeance.

I thought of it by day,

I nursed it by night,
to get to Sholto.

Put my hands on his throat,
that was my one thought.

As luck would have it,

one of the islanders had been
brought in to my dispensary.

More than half dead
from a snakebite.

And in common humanity,
I did my best for him.

Somehow he pulled through
and became very devoted to me.

A funny little fellow.

Well, you gentlemen caught a glimpse
of him yourselves, no doubt, last night.

He was staunch and true, little Tonga.

No man ever had more faithful mate.

Being by trade a fisherman,
he had a goodish size native boat,

and he had agreed to
try to escape with me.

After 10 days we were
picked up by a trader,

with a cargo pilgrims
from Malay, bound for Gito.

After many months, we worked our
way across the world to London.

A remarkable account.

And now, I think Miss Morstan might
like to see the Great Agra Treasure,

which will surely make her one of
the richest young ladies in England.

Watson?

There's no key.

I'm sure our iron poker will oblige.

This is your doing, Small?

Yes.

Yes, I put the treasure away where
you shall never lay a hand on it.

No living man or woman
has any right to it,

unless it is the three men in the
Andaman Convict Barracks and myself.

I know now that I cannot have
the use of it, no more can they.

But I have acted all along
for them as much as for myself.

To be in the sign of four
with us always.

Where is it?

Where the key is and
where little Tonga is.

I saw your launch must catch us and
I saw little Tonga go over the side.

I put the loot in a safe place.

You are deceiving us, Small.

If you had wished to throw
the treasure into the Thames,

it would have been easier
to have thrown box and all.

Easier for me to throw and
easier for you to recover.

A man who's clever
enough to hunt me down,

as clever enough to go pick up a
a box from the bottom of the river.

I am sorry.

No, I am glad the treasure is lost.

It's been nothing but a curse
to every man who has owned it.

And early death to my poor farther.

And slavery for life
to me and my companions.

We spent the first half of my life
digging a breakwater in the Andaman's.

And I'm likely to spend the other
half digging ditches on Dartmoor.

Well Holmes, duty is duty and I've
gone rather far in bringing him here.

I shall feel more at ease
when I have our storyteller here

under lock and key.

I am obliged to you
for your assistance.

Good day to you, Doctor
Watson. Miss Morstan.

Awe, after you, Small.

You seem a bit handy with
that wooden leg of yours.

I feel most ashamed that you Mr.
Holmes and you, dear Doctor Watson,

have had to put yourself
into such peril on my behalf.

Oh, that's all over and forgotten.

Mrs. Forrester has sent her
carriage for Miss Morstan.

I'll impose on you no longer,
gentlemen. You must be exhausted.

Yes, I confess the reaction
is already upon me.

I shall be as limp as a rag
for a week.

I'm so very grateful to you
for clearing my father's name.

I'm so very grateful to you both.

Seems so unfair.

You have done all the
work in this business,

and Athelney Jones
gets all the credit...

What remains for you?

For me, the pleasure of having
solved an interesting case

almost single-handed.

And for you no doubt
the pleasure-

of writing it up in your usual
flowery and romantic style.

What a very attractive woman.

Was she? I hadn't noticed.