The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1991–1993): Season 1, Episode 5 - The Illustrious Client - full transcript

Oh, my dear.

My dearest.

I warned you, I said,

do not go to
near the edge.

Why did you
push me Baron?

Dear wife,
you're dreaming.

You're lying.

Oh, my darling.

Anything stirring Holmes?

I know no more than this.

There may be some fatty
self-important fool,



it may be a matter
of life or death.

Mmm, you grant
this interview?

I've already confirmed it.

Do you know
anything of the man?

Only that the name
Colonel Sir James Damery

is a household
word in society.

I can tell you a little
bit more than that.

He has rather
the reputation

for arranging
delicate matters,

which are to be
kept out of the papers.

He's a man of the world

with a natural
turn for diplomacy.

And then,
therefore to hope

it is not a false scent,



that he has some real
need of our assistance.

Our?

If you'll be
so good Watson.

I shall be honored.

Then until
four-thirty o'clock

we can put the
matter out of our heads.

Mr. Holmes, we are
dealing on this occasion

with the most
dangerous man in Europe.

I've had several
opponents to whom

that flattering term
has been applied.

A man to whom
violence is familiar

and who will literally
stick at nothing.

Do you smoke?

Excuse my pipe.

But if your man
is more dangerous

than the late
Professor Moriarty,

he's indeed worth meeting.

May I ask his name?

Have you ever
heard of Baron Gruner?

The Austrian murderer?

So you've already sized
him up as a murderer?

It is our business

to follow the details
of Continental crime.

I'm sure that
he killed his wife

when that so called
accident happened

at the Splugen Pass as
if I'd seen him do it.

Just as I am certain

that he disposed
the only witness,

that innocent
shepherd boy.

Baron Gruner is
now in England.

Residing near
Kingston I'm informed?

That is so.

Might I also suppose

you will have heard
of General Merville?

Khyber Pass fame.

Indeed,

General Merville
has a daughter, Violet.

Young, rich,
accomplished,

a wonder woman
in every way.

It is she an innocent

we are endeavoring to save

from the clutches
of this fiend.

He has some hold over her?

The strongest of all

where women are
concerned, Mr. Holmes.

Ah, love.

Exactly.

In marrying
you, my darling,

all my past sins
shall be absolved.

These aren't sins
you've told me of.

These are slanders.

My angel.

You were seduced,
as are all great men.

Yet I am determined you
shall know my history,

every part of it.

Thus shall
I come to the altar

purified in
soul and spirit

and worthy at
last of your love?

Just six weeks,

Oh Adelbert.

I cannot pretend my
past is without stain.

No man born in poverty

who has created
his own fortune

can say that and speak
the truth, oh, no.

I have been forced

to many a
ruthless act, my dear.

Where shall I begin?

To observe, Mr. Holmes,

an atrocious event,

preparing itself
before your very eyes

and yet be
powerless to avert it.

Could anyone,
any human being

be placed in a
more trying position?

Perhaps not.

Well then you will
sympathize with the

client in whose
interest I am acting.

I did not understand

that you were
merely an intermediary,

who is the principal?

I beg of you not to
press that question.

His name cannot be
dragged into this matter.

His motives are to the
last degree honorable

but he prefers
to remain unknown.

I need not say

that your fees will be
assured, Mr. Holmes.

And you will be
allowed a free hand.

Surely the actual name of
your client is immaterial.

I must decline to act,
Sir James, I'm sorry.

I'm accustomed
to having mystery

at one end of my cases

but to have it at both
ends is too confusing.

No.

You place me in the
most serious dilemma.

Dare I say, Mr. Holmes,

you hardly realize the
affect of your own action.

I have given my
word not to reveal

the identity of my client.

May I at the least lay
all I can before you?

It is understood.

I commit myself
to nothing.

But of course, yes, yes.

A perfect likeness.

Who painted it?

Hans of Innsbruck,

a descendant of
Claus the sculptor

famous for his bronzes

such as this.

I shall commission Hans

to attempt your
likeness, my precious.

I love this room.

It breathes of you.

What's this?

Your diary?

No, no, it is,

it is my
commonplace book.

In it I record
things I've seen,

read,

admired,

occasionally perhaps

a thought or
two of my own.

But it's locked.

It is a
little part of me,

besides a
servant might pry.

One day, perhaps,

we shall look
at it together.

No, I respect your
privacy, my darling.

We must all keep
something of our own,

however much
else we share.

You are perfect.

You must teach me about
porcelain, Adelbert.

I shall.

Collecting is
such a pleasure,

such a delight,

it is a passion with me

just as you are,
my precious.

The villain has attached
himself to a lady

with such effect
that he has

completely and
absolutely won her heart.

She will not hear
one word against him.

To sum up, she proposes
to marry him next month.

As she of age
and has a will of iron

that's hard to know
how to prevent her.

Does the
infatuated young woman

know of the Swiss episode?

The cunning
devil has told her

every unsavory
scandal of his past life

but always in such a way

as to make himself out to
be the innocent martyr.

She accepts his version

and will listen to no one,

not even her fathers.

Dear me, Sir James, have
you not inadvertently

let out the name
of your client?

The General?

Oh no, Dr. Watson,

that strong
soldier has been

utterly demoralized
by this incident.

Mrs. Hudson.

You rang, sir?

Will you deliver this
to the butcher's boy

around the corner?

That young rascal
with the funny eye?

The other is invaluable,
so is his bicycle.

Sir.

How may I keep in touch
with you, Sir James?

You accept my commission?

Let us just say that
your problem interests me.

The Carlton Club
will find me.

And the Baron's exact
address in Kingston?

Vernon Lodge,

the large house,

he's a rich man.

Uh-huh, speculators
when successful

frequently are, Sir James,

what further information

can you give us
about the man?

He has expensive tastes.

Collects books, pictures,

oh, and Chinese pottery.

He's a recognized
authority,

written a book
upon the subject.

Well, Sir James, you
may tell your client

that I'm turning my
attention towards
Baron Gruner.

I have no doubt,
Mr. Holmes,

you can easily
trace my client.

But I must ask you
as a point of honor

to refrain from doing so.

Do not, I beg you, break
in upon his incognito.

I think I can
safely promise that.

Thank you.

Dr. Watson.

You're wasting
your time, Watson.

Now the career
of General Merville

might well give us a
pointer as to our client.

He's clearly illustrious.

But did you not
hear, Sir James?

His request was
to you, Holmes.

But that is shameful,
Watson, shameful

besides our minds

should be more gainfully
employed, desist.

Any views?

Have you none?

Not yet.

Beyond the one I've
already acted upon.

The butcher's boy.

More discreet
than any telegraph.

Well, I shall think

you better see the
young lady yourself.

Start with her.

Well, if her poor
broken down father
cannot move her,

how can I, a complete
stranger prevail?

Well, if all else fails,

Perhaps.

But first, the underworld.

For it is among the
dark roots of crime

that we must hunt
for Gruner's secrets.

You've sent for
Shinwell Johnson.

I have but one insight,

that Ms. Merville might
well condone murder

yet some smaller
affair that might
(unintelligible)

We shall see.

They have engaged
the very best.

Show him in.

Mr. Sherlock Holmes, sir.

I rather thought
I should see you

sooner or later,
Mr. Holmes.

You've been retained no
doubt by General Merville

to prevent my marriage
with his daughter, Violet?

That is so, is it not?

Let me advise you very
strongly, Mr. Holmes,

to draw off at once.

Draw off?

My dear man,

you'll only ruin your
well-deserved reputation.

This is not
a case in which

you can possibly hope
to succeed, draw off sir.

It is curious but that
is the very advice

that I've come
to give you.

Let me put it
to you man to man.

If you persist
in this marriage,

you will raise such a
swarm of powerful enemies,

England would be
too hot to hold you.

Surely you will be
wiser to draw off.

Excuse my amusement,
Mr. Holmes,

but it really
is very funny

seeing you trying
to play a hand

with no cards in it.

Not a color
card there, sir,

nothing but the
smallest of the small.

So you think.

So I know, sir, so I know.

Let me make the
thing clear to you.

You consider
your hand so strong

that you could
afford to show it?

Certainly, since
it becomes plain

that in this instance

you are clearly out of
your depth, Mr. Holmes.

Could it be that
your capabilities

have been subject
to hyperbole?

Your hand, show it.

Won't you sit down?

I think I shan't.

Please yourself.

Well, sir,

it happens I have
been fortunate enough

to win the entire
affection of Ms. Merville.

This in spite of the fact

that I have
informed her clearly

of all the unhappy
incidents in my past.

I have warned her that
certain designing persons

would come to her.

I hope you recognize
yourself in this

and would tell her
of these things.

I have instructed her
how to treat them.

She is well
prepared for you.

She will no doubt
give you an appointment

and she will listen.

It will be to no
avail, however.

If you wish to speak,

now is your moment.

No,

this is not the moment.

Oh, by the way,
Mr. Holmes,

did you know the
French Agent Labrun?

Of course.

So you know
what befell him?

He was beaten in the
Lamont District of Paris

and crippled for life.

Quite so.

By an odd coincidence

he had been
inquiring into my affairs.

Don't do it, Mr. Holmes,
it's not a lucky thing.

My last word to you
is you go your way,

let me go mine.

Mind you Gruner,

because if you
aspire to be accepted

into English Society

you'll do well
to remove the band

from your Havana
before lighting it

otherwise you'll be
put down for a bounder.

Mrs. Hudson,
has Holmes returned?

Not yet, sir, but there
are two visitors waiting.

Thank you, Mrs. Hudson.

Why Johnson.

Evening, Doctor,

Mr. Holmes
sent word to me.

I know, Johnson, I know.

And I brought
Kit here because...

That's when I was
delayed at the museum

and then the traffic,

an omnibus overturned
on Great Russell Street,

two dead a horse
had to be put down.

Gentlemen forgive me,

I was absorbed by
the mysteries of me,

I quite forgotten
the hour, madam.

This is
Ms. Winter, Mr. Holmes,

Kitty we call her

and what she don't
know about Gruner.

Of course, please.

Well, Kitty can
speak for herself.

Anyway I put me
hand right on her

within an hour of
your message, sir.

I'm easy to find.

Hell, London gets
me every time,

same address
goes for Porky.

Porky, is that your
nom-de-guerre Johnson?

You have never
revealed that.

Porky, well.

We're old mates,
Porky and me.

But there's someone

who ought to be down
in a lower hell than us

and that's the man
you're after, Mr. Holmes.

I gather we have your
good wishes, Ms. Winter?

If I can help put
him where he belongs,

I'm yours to
the rattle, sir.

Do you know
what he intends,

how the matter stands?

Porky tells me he's after
some other poor fool

only this time he
wants to marry her

and you want to stop it?

Yes.

Surely you know enough
about this devil

to prevent any decent
girl in her senses

wanting to have
anything to do with him.

But she's not in her
senses, Ms. Winter,

she's madly in love

and she has been
told all about it.

She cares for nothing.

Told about the
murder of his wife?

Yes.

My lord, she
must have a nerve.

She has.

Can't you lay
proofs before her?

Can you help us do so?

I am proof,

living proof.

If I was to
stand before her

and tell her
how he used me.

Would you do this?

Would I,

would I not.

It might be
worth the trying.

Oh no he didn't
tell her all, sir.

All?

He collected me,

he collects women.

I was an artist's model,

a respectable
artist's model.

Of course, you sat for
that painting in his study.

You've been to Kingston,

then you'll have
seen all his crocks.

Women and china,

they're his twin passions.

Gruner commissioned
that painting

and afterwards,

and after...

well, let's just say

I can never work again.

Never.

Never.

I am exceedingly obliged
to you, Ms. Winter,

we shall indeed
interview you

and Ms. Merville together.

My client will compensate
you most liberally.

Oh, none of
that, Mr. Holmes.

I'm not out for money.

Just let me see
this man in the mud,

in the mud with my
foot in his face

that's my price.

From Kingston.

Thank you,
Mrs. Hudson, no reply.

Shall we dine?

This is a death
threat, Holmes.

Did you expect
anything less

from Baron Gruner.

Holmes, have a care.

Oh, Watson, come along.

We must eat.

Come on girl.

They ain't
following no more.

Don't you believe it.

What'd I say.

Now you stand
over there, Kitty,

there's a good girl.

Right, who's
first, you or you?

Amateurs,

they've done no time,

don't know nothing,
come on girl.

There's two persons
wish to see you sir.

Persons?

I couldn't in honesty
term them gentlemen, sir.

I'll come.

Was he armed?

No, sir.

Go through to
the kitchens,

clean yourselves up

and clear out.

I have agreed
to this visit

out of respect for
my father, Mr. Holmes,

rather than for you.

My fiancé assures me

you are no longer
what you were,

a spent force.

And you, Ms. Winter,

surely you must
also be superfluous.

Our intentions
are the best.

We are here to aid you.

Really?

When you call
to malign my fiancé?

I am not renowned,
Ms. Merville,

for the warmth
of my affections

but I can appreciate
them in others.

Had I a daughter,

I should,

I hope feel for you
as the General does,

nor is our concern
without foundation.

There, the slander begins.

No, I do not readily
call upon anyone

to beg or to plead

but in Baron
Gruner, please,

I never speak idly.

You've chosen not only
unwisely but dangerously.

Marry him, Ms. Merville,
and I assure you

with all the
knowledge I have

of the criminal mentality,

you will be
in mortal danger.

Just as the
former baroness was,

she too was infatuated,

and paid the fatal price,

her life for a fortune.

That's a lie.

You are of course aware

that the Splugen Pass

where your
predecessor died

runs between
Italy and Switzerland?

What does the
geography matter?

A great deal,

when you plan to
hurl a helpless woman

off a cliff
in one country

to break her
neck in another.

But it was an accident.

Then why did
the shepherd boy

who saw the baroness fall

die of arsenical poison?

His murderess whom
Gruner had seduced

confessed at her trial

that he'd obliged her

to administer
the fatal substance

or risk
disfigurement for life

by oil of vitriol.

Those are the
facts, Ms. Merville.

I beg you,

picture the
awful situation

you will find yourself in

if you only wake to your
fiancé's true character

after you have
married him.

I have listened to you
with patience, Mr. Holmes.

I am aware my fiancé
has had a stormy life

in which he has incurred
most unjust aspersions.

Possibly you mean well

though I learn you
are a paid agent

but in any case
I love Baron Gruner

and he loves me.

You have told me this
young lady's name

and that there is a
reason for her presence.

I'll say there is.

And what exactly
are you, Ms. Winter?

Me, I'll tell you.

I'll tell you what I am.

I was his
mistress that's who,

one of a hundred more.

He's tempted, used,
ruined and thrown aside,

as he will you too.

Please.

You marry this man it'll
be the death of you.

It may be a broken
heart or a broken neck

but he'll have you.

Oh really.

You may think
yourself different.

Thank you, Kitty,

you've made yourself
admirably clear.

I'm aware of
three occasions

in my fiancé's life

when he has
become entangled

with designing women.

And I'm assured by him
of his hearty repentance.

Him?

Repent?

And only three?

Oh, you fool,

you stupid fool.

Mr. Holmes,

I have obeyed
my father's wish
in seeing you

but I'm not
compelled to listen to

the slanderous ravings...

Ravings?

Ravings!

Oh my god,

I'll show you.

Look,

look.

You see that?

And here, oil of vitriol.

He did it.

Oh, yes, he did it,

your fiancé.

That's a lie.

It's a lie.

Thank you, Kitty.

You can tell the Baron

that I shall not rest

until I bring
him to justice.

Ms. Winter.

Why Kitty, why?

No please.

Why did Gruner
treat you so?

Because...

no, I can't tell
you, Mr. Holmes.

You must at this instant.

You said that he
collects women,

what did you mean by that?

It's a book he has.

A book?

Brown leather with a lock

and his coat of
arms in gold on it.

No, I can't speak of it.

He keeps a
record of his women?

We're all in there.

Photographs,
names, details,

everything about us.

He tried to make me
read it while he...

oh, no, I can't.

And when you refused?

He went berserk.

He ran out of the room.

I was trying to dress,

he come back in
with this bottle.

I was half-naked

and he threw it
straight at me.

Where is this book?

I don't know.
Think.

No, no.

In the study
in the bedroom?

It's more than a year
since I was there.

Than you can
remember Kitty think.

In the study,

back of the bureau.

Thank you,
Kitty, thank you.

Ms. Winter's scars could
not move Ms. Merville?

She was shocked but
recovered instantly.

Good heavens,

it seems inhuman.

I confess that part of me

could wish her
joy with Gruner.

Abandon her to her
fate after all this?

When I compare
Ms. Merville with Kitty

whose spirit is as fine

as her body is
blemished, yes.

You wouldn't
withdraw from the case?

Have no fear, Watson,

my disgust
with Ms. Merville

counts as nothing against

my determination
to foil Gruner.

One thing irks me,

that I've not
paid more regard

to Kitty's deportment
when we first met,

the manner in which
she dressed her hair.

Huh, it's late.

We must be gone.

I've got a mountain
of work to do

at the surgery Holmes

so I'll see you
in the morning.

Until tomorrow then.

All right,
Sherlock Holmes,

let's be having you.

Ah and I can guess to
whom I owe this pleasure.

Read all about it.

Murderous attack
on Sherlock Holmes,

murderous attack
on Sherlock Holmes,

read all about it.

Murderous attack
on Sherlock Holmes,

read all about it,

read all about it.

Murderous attack
on Sherlock Holmes.

It's all right, Watson,

don't look so scared.

You mustn't talk.

Nonsense, I need to.

What can I do, Holmes?

Of course it was
that damned Austrian.

Give me the word

and I'll go and
thrash the hide off him.

Good old Watson,

no, no, no, no.

Was it the same pair

that attacked
Johnson and Ms. Winter?

One may have been,

the other I doubt it

but (unintelligible).

We must send
a note to Johnson.

Tell him to find a
quiet suburb for Kitty.

She should stay there

until the
danger has passed.

And then,

then we must
exaggerate my injuries.

There's no need for that.

Even so we must lay it
on thick for the press.

I might not live
the week out,

concussion, delirium,

I don't care what
would you like?

They must receive
the gravest bulletins.

Anything more?

Yes.

Put my pipe on the table
and the tobacco slip.

You must rest not smoke.

Very well, Doctor.

Oh my dearest

every day you become
more precious to me.

What is it?

It's just that,

must you really
go to America?

Oh, my darling,

it's only a short trip.

I have important
financial business,

certain interests to
regulate in Chicago

but I shall
be back so soon,

in the twinkle of an eye.

The late editions, sir.

Thank you.

Have you seen the papers?

That poor man Holmes,

he sinks daily.

I'm afraid you
cannot expect me

to have very much
sympathy with Mr. Holmes

and his misfortune.

Mmm, encephalitis
has set in.

Have you seen the news?

No.

Gruner sales for America

on the
Ruratania on Friday.

News hits hard.

Friday, that means he
sails from Liverpool

not from Southampton.

That little rascal means
to get away from us

but he won't.

By the Lord
Harry he won't.

Watson, I need you to
do something for me.

I'm here to be used.

Then spend
the next 24 hours

in an intensive study
of Chinese pottery.

Wow, 1368-1390,

He's sleeping now, sir.

That would be
the morphine.

You won't let the
lamp smoke, will you?

No, no, no, you
locked up below?

I did that a while back,

there's murderous
folk about.

True, true.

Don't drive yourself
too hard, sir,

you'll be good for
nothing in the morning.

No, I shan't be long.

Dr. Hill Barton,

369 Half Moon Street,

Mayfair West, who's this?

You.

Me?

That is your name this
evening, Dr. Hill Barton.

It is?

Yes, and you'll call
upon Baron Gruner

about half past eight.

He'll be disengaged.

I sent a note telling
him that you'll call.

Also, that
you're bringing this.

It is the real eggshell
of the Ming Dynasty.

The complete set would
be worth a king's ransom.

You are a collector.

The set has come your way.

You've heard of the
Baron's interest

and an investor is
selling at a price.

What price?

We will not exaggerate

if you say it would hardly
matched in the world.

Sir James got it for me.

It comes from a
collection of his client.

Or I could say that

it should be
valued by an expert.

Oh, Watson, you
scintillate today.

I suggest
Sotheby's or Christie.

You're certain
he'll see me?

Oh, yes, it's the
collection mania

in its most acute form.

One last question, Holmes.

Uh-huh.

Why have you made me
a broker in antiques?

To gain time,

the opportunity to acquire
the set such as this

may persuade the Baron

to postpone his visit
to the United States.

Now I understand.

Elementary
psychology, Watson?

Kingston please driver.

Very fine.

Hmm.

Very fine indeed.

And you say you have
a set to correspond?

I know of only one in
England to match it.

Would it be
indiscreet of me

if I were to ask
how you obtained this?

Does it really matter?

Of course it matters

with precious
objects such as these
provenance is all.

Well you can see
the piece is genuine.

As to the value
I'm perfectly content

to take an
expert's assessment.

I had supposed you
were an expert,

Dr. Hill Barton.

I meant an
independent assessment.

Of course.

I have some recently
acquired pieces of celadon

you might care to view?

By all means.

Please.

It's flawless.

Typical 12th Century
Sung, I'd say,

wouldn't you?

You're right.

And this?

That's an
excellent example,

Ching Dynasty
I should say

circa 265 A.D.

Precisely.

And these?

Typical of celadon
would you say?

Give me time,

give me time.

I am giving you time, sir.

Quite so.

I should also be
interested in your views

on the marks
of the Hung Wu.

Marks of the Hung Wu?

That's a vexed question.

Vexed question
indeed, sir.

There are no marks
on the genuine Hung Wu.

This is intolerable, sir.

I came here to
do you a favor,

not to be examined as
if I were a schoolboy.

You came here to spy.

Not so.

You may have found it easy

to inveigle
your way in here

upon false pretenses

but by god sir,

you shall find
it harder to get out.

Raise your hands above
your head, Dr. Watson.

What's that?

Holmes, you.

Don't move.

I shall shoot you
through the head

rather than the heart

and inform the police

I mistook you for
a common burglar.

That is a role that
I've played before

with some success.

Without any doubt, sir,

this will be
your last time.

Baron!

Kitty!

Be done by your debt.

Doctor, doctor,
help me, help me.

Telephone the
Baron's physician

(screaming)

Ah, Sir James,

forgive me for summoning
you at this late hour

but there's no
time to be lost.

You must have this before
Scotland Yard bumbles in.

Scotland Yard?

Baron Gruner's laid a
complaint against us,

Watson as an impostor,

myself as a burglar,

we were both.

I diverted
Gruner's attention

while Holmes
procured that.

You must show it
to Ms. Merville,

she will find herself
one among a hundred.

The account of what sports

Baron Gruner enjoyed
with his female victims

may have perhaps at last

open
Ms. Merville's eyes.

You've done wonders,
Holmes, wonders.

Except for Kitty Winter.

Watson explain,
I must rest.

Ms. Winter is a former
mistress of Gruner's,

she followed
me to Kingston,

concealed about her
was a flask of vitriol.

Which she
unleashed upon Gruner.

Severely damaging
his right hand

and parts of his face.

He will be
disfigured for life.

But surely
if these injuries

are as terrible as
you described them

then our purpose is
sufficiently gained...

She'd love him the more

as a disfigured martyr.

It is his moral
side not his physical

which we have to destroy.

That book will bring
her down to earth

and I knew nothing
else that could.

It's in his own
handwriting,

she cannot get past it.

Neither my
client nor myself

can thank you
enough, Holmes.

Should either Ms. Winter
or even you yourself

be incommoded
by the police

do not hesitate
to telephone me.

Thank you, Sir James,

but to tell the truth,

I rarely if
ever find myself

inconvenienced
by Scotland Yard.

Good night.

Good night.

I would like to
thank you too, Watson.

Thank you, Sir James.

Oh, by the way,

Ming dish

by jove yes.

Worth a king's
ransom I understand.

Holmes.

Holmes,
I've discovered the
identity of our client.

It's none other than the...

A loyal friend and
a chivalrous gentleman,

let that now and forever

be enough for us.