Emilia.
The strange case of the Red Circle
started in New York
and ended in the Antipodes.
But first I should explain
how two men with the initial G
came to be in London.
Gennaro was the hero,
Black Gorgiano, the villain
and both men loved Emilia.
(Knock on door)
Oh.
Yes, what can I...
You have a room to let?
Well you see I don't...
Who is it, Albert?
The wife, she usually sees to this, you see.
A visitor my dear,
wanting a room.
All right, Albert,
you go into your boat building.
Now, sir, what do you require?
Is it a room for the night,
or for a longer stay?
Well, Mrs. Warren,
I cannot think you have
any particular reason for uneasiness
and you note I have other things to engage me.
Holmes, the matter of a lodger
remaining unseen in his room for more than a week
is surely of some passing interest.
If I were a lodger
she wouldn't see me for weeks on end.
That doesn't trouble you, does it Mrs. Hudson?
Nothing troubles me
where you're concerned, Mr. Holmes.
But if you remember
you arranged an affair for a lodger
of Mrs. Warren's a year ago.
Yes, you did, sir,
an Italian gentleman,
Mr. Firmani.
Enrico Firmani.
Mr. Firmani never stopped
talking of your kindness, sir.
How you brought light into the darkness.
It was a Wagner night I think.
Let us hear about this lodger.
It frightens me, Mr. Holmes.
I can't sleep for fright
hearing his footsteps moving here and moving there
from early morning to late at night
and I never, never catch so much
as a glimpse of him.
Mr. Warren is as nervous as I am.
What's the fellow hiding from, Mr. Holmes?
What has he done?
You see except for the maid
she's all alone in the house with him.
No, I can't stand it.
My, nerves can't stand it.
Watson, cope.
Smelling salts, Mrs. Hudson,
if you have them.
Take time to consider, Mrs. Warren,
the smallest point may be the most essential.
He came 10 days ago
and he asked me my terms
so I told him 12 shillings a week.
There's a small sitting room and a bedroom
all complete all at the top of the house
and he said he'd pay me three pounds a week for it.
Three pounds?
Yes, sir, three pounds a week
as long as I kept his terms.
What terms?
Well, he wanted a key to the house.
That's all right most of my lodgers have them
but he was to be left entirely to himself
and never on any account to be disturbed.
Well, there's nothing very wonderful about that.
Well, not in reason
but this is out of all reason.
He's been in there 10 days
morning, noon and night
and neither she nor Mr. Warren
nor the maid has once set eyes on him.
And apart from the first night,
he's never once gone out.
Oh, he did go out on the first night?
Oh, yes, he did,
he returned very late,
I'd gone to bed
but Mr. Warren saw him.
It was after midnight he'd come back.
These meals,
I mean surely he eats.
Well he rings when he wants them.
We put them on a chair outside his door.
If he wants anything else
he writes it on a bit of paper,
this just in pencil,
just the one word nothing more.
Here.
The maid leaves the Daily Chronicle with him
every morning at breakfast.
Why is it printed?
Well, to conceal his handwriting.
Watson, deduce.
Me?
Well, the pencil is broad tipped and violet tinted.
And it's used with,
well it's used with considerable pressure
and the paper's been torn off at the side
before the printing was done.
You can see the S of soap is partly gone.
Suggesting?
Haste.
Or caution.
The man's age and appearance?
Oh, he's under 30, sir,
he's very dark,
middle height,
clean-shaven.
Oh, has an accent like Mr. Firmani.
Of course no name?
No, sir.
No letters or callers.
None, sir.
His luggage?
Labels?
Stickers?
White Star.
Ten days ago.
New York.
I think that we must wait
until we have a little more material.
Please vanish both of you.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Holmes.
Oh, thank you, Doctor.
Leave it to me, Mrs. Hudson.
You must admit, Holmes,
there are some points of interest.
Only that the man in the rooms
may not be the one who engaged them.
Yes, of course,
I hadn't thought of that.
And he went out immediately after taking the rooms
and returned at midnight.
Why a substitution?
Well, opens up a pleasurable feel
for intelligent speculation
and there is one line of investigation.
Mrs. Warren's former lodger.
Enrico Firmani of Naples.
He works backstage at the Royal Opera House.
I helped him find a close relative once.
A simple matter.
37 Catchpole Street.
You added something?
A friend to his fellow countrymen in need.
Do you suppose
he could've recommended his former lodgings
to a fellow countryman in need?
Possibly.
Well, it doesn't explain the lodge's behavior.
Behavior?
What behavior?
How do you know this address?
Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
Mr. Holmes?
He always keeps a record of his past clients.
But if Holmes has something to ask
why does he not come himself,
why send you, Dr. Watson?
Well, I do on occasion act for myself.
Well, I cannot help you I'm afraid.
I know nothing of this lodger of Mrs. Warren's.
Is he perhaps a fellow countryman of yours
recently arrived from America in need of help?
Then tell him I'm here if he needs me.
That is all I can say.
Excuse me,
I must go to work now.
It may be that Mrs. Warren needs help.
The man is disturbing her household.
Why, what does he do to them?
Well, it's more a case of what he doesn't do.
He doesn't appear from dawn till dusk.
He has his meals on a tray left outside the door.
If he's a fugitive from justice
we should turn him over to the police.
Police?
No, no.
Caio Mama.
(Speaking Italian)
If there is a problem,
Holmes knows where to find me
at the theatre not here,
never here Doctor,
do you understand?
You have enemies in your line of work.
Everyone has enemies
whatever they do,
is that not true of life.
But some are more at risk than others
with their beliefs
and their courage.
I do what I do, Doctor,
don't make me out to be a saint.
Now please excuse me.
Signor Zamba, senior partner
in the firm of Castallote and Zamba,
chief fruit importers of New York
was stabbed repeatedly on the steps of his mansion.
Now this is dated eight weeks ago.
Detective Rimmer of the Pinkerton Agency,
Abe Rimmer.
Said at the scene of the slaying
we believe this is the work of a Neapolitan society
allied to the old Carbonari known as the Red Circle.
Famous throughout Europe
a branch is now being planted in Brooklyn.
Detectives are anxious
to question a Giuseppe Gorgiano.
Now, Firmani was hiding something else.
I can't describe the feeling
but there was an old woman who I took to be his mother.
His mother?
You went to his home?
Yes.
A face full of sorrow and secrets.
Is this the person that you helped, Holmes?
If you're holding something back
I should like you to tell me.
By going to his home
you may have put Firmani's life in danger.
What?
He's a point of refuge
for the Italian community in London,
a beacon of light if you will
in a dark web of devilry.
The Red Circle.
God.
And this Gorgiano?
Black Gorgiano,
he's earned the name of death,
La Morte in Southern Italy and far beyond.
He's red up to the elbows in murder.
Is it possible that this Black Gorgiano
is the man at Mr. Warren's?
No, but there may be some connection.
Watson, we have work to do.
The opera house.
And then Charing Cross
to send a telegram to my friend Abe Rimmer.
(Singing)
Wonderful, Miss. Laven,
just once more, please.
Enrico Firmani.
(Speaking Italian).
You have been troublesome to me for a long time.
But now you help me
in return for your life,
Gennaro Lucca,
where are you hiding him?
Will you tell me, Enrico?
(speaking Italian).
(Scream)
Nobody's allowed in here.
Oh, it's you, Mr. Holmes.
Mr. Holmes.
Hawkins, what brings you here?
Same thing that brings you I expect.
How you got onto it so fast I can't imagine.
Different threads
leading up to the same tangle.
We've come to see Enrico Firmani.
But Firmani's dead.
He was found with his throat cut
less than two hours ago up here.
Murderer got clean away I'm afraid.
Watson.
You're right, Holmes,
I should not have gone this morning.
Might have saved a life.
I don't think you can blame yourself for that.
Golden boys and girls all must
as chimneysweeps come to dust.
A person arrives alone in London.
He seeks help from Firmani,
his fellow countryman
who places him for safety in Mrs. Warren's lodgings.
And then Firmani is murdered
rather than give away the hiding place.
No, no.
Of that we can't be sure.
But who killed him?
Gorgiano?
Is Gorgiano in England?
What does he want with this lodger?
The person in that room
is entirely alone and at risk,
I mean even a letter might be intercepted.
How does a message reach him from the outside?
Except by that most valuable hunting ground
ever given to the student of the unusual.
Agony columns.
We need only concern ourselves
with the Daily Chronicle.
For the past two weeks,
which our lodger collects every morning
after his breakfast.
Oh, dear me,
what a chorus of cries and groans.
What a ragbag of singular happenings.
Lady with a feather boa
at Prince's Skating Club.
Holmes, listen to this,
Be patient,
will find some means of communications,
meanwhile this column G.
Can you pick up a trace again?
Ah, here we are.
I'm making successful arrangements,
patience and prudence,
the clouds will pass G.
No, nothing.
Here, here, the path is clearing.
If I find chance to signal message
remember code as agreed,
that's two days ago.
Mrs. Hudson?
What is it, Mr. Holmes?
I'm washing curtains.
The Daily Chronicle yesterday and today,
if you'd be so kind.
Patience and prudence.
Now the affair begins to grow more intelligible.
(speaking Italian).
I've found it.
House with porch and black door, first floor,
window right, after dusk, G.
There you are.
G, Black Gorgiano.
Could it be a trap,
to draw the person out?
Unlikely.
Well should we not tell the police
what we know about the Red Circle?
Tell the police,
they find it difficult enough to deal with the facts
without confusing them with our suppositions.
Oh, listen to this,
motiveless murder.
According to Inspector Hawkins, really.
Mr. Holmes, Doctor,
you must come quickly,
there's been a kidnapping.
This is a police matter, Mr. Holmes.
I'm throwing that lodger out.
I'd have gone straight up and told him so...
But she thought it only right
to ask your opinion first, Mr. Holmes.
A large pot of tea please, Mrs. Hudson.
I'm at the end of my patience
when it comes to knocking my old man about.
Who knocked him about?
I wish I knew that.
It happened this morning, sir.
Mr. Warren
he's a timekeeper at Norton & Waylight's
on Tottenham Court Road.
He has to leave the house
before seven in the morning.
It would greatly help me
if I could speak to him myself.
All right.
Take care, Holmes, his heart.
Can you speak, Mr. Warren?
Well, I hadn't gone ten paces
before two men crept up behind me.
And threw a coat over his head,
bundled him into cab
and drove off and shot him out on Hampstead Heath.
Hampstead Heath.
Dreadful, what did you observe?
I took a bus home.
Before the bus,
these men,
did you observe their appearance?
No, sir, I was picked up as if by magic
and dropped as if by magic.
Three of them at least was in on it,
maybe four.
Did you hear them talk?
One of them swore some oaths in Italian.
Money is not everything.
I'll have him out of here
before the day is done.
I should like to meet this lodger of yours.
What time does he take his lunch?
One o'clock sharp.
Is there anywhere where we might conceal ourselves?
Yes, there's a box room upstairs.
Is there a looking glass?
Yes, there's one on the chest of drawers
outside on the landing.
Excellent, come, Watson.
What about me, then?
We've got forty minutes.
It's clear now that his enemies mistook their man.
What they would've done if they'd got him
bears no thinking.
But they didn't.
Do you see what I see?
A house with a porch and black door.
With a room to let
to which G could have access.
Holmes, I feel very strongly
that we should inform Scotland Yard.
Not yet.
We are on watch,
and may be being watched.
Let's see what lies behind these lodgings.
How's he feeling?
Oh, he's all right.
He just likes a fuss made of him.
Mr. Holmes.
Bolt your door.
And let no one in until we return.
Did you see him?
Mrs. Warren, trust me.
I don't know when he's coming back.
He gave me some money
and I haven't seen him since.
A foreign gentlemen, you say.
Definitely and I don't care for foreigners.
Oh really.
So if you want it gentlemen,
I'm sure we can come to an arrangement.
I'll be in the hall sir, when you've finished.
Thank you.
Nothing in here.
Perfect.
Look, Watson,
the first floor window of the lodgings,
our agitated lady.
Only a few more hours to wait
before the signal.
After dusk, G.
It has all the makings of some love escapade.
Love?
Love may be at the root of it
but her face,
oh, Watson her face
She fears for her life,
I consider a couple,
seek refuge in London
from some instant and terrible fear.
The man desires
her utmost safety
and arranges to communicate
in such original fashion
for not even the landlady
knows of the substitution.
And there's printed messages
to prevent the fact that she's a woman
being revealed by her handwriting.
Look.
A candle and matches,
Their signal.
But there's no need for this now surely,
can't we just simply bring them together?
And guarantee that we'd protect them forever
from the Red Circle?
No.
We must let them play this thing out.
I must return briefly to Baker Street.
Do you have reason enough
to stay in the lodgings?
Mr. Warren's health
gives me every excuse.
It might be advisable
for me to bring back your revolver.
No need to man, I have it.
Good, splendid.
I'll see you within the hour.
Hawkins, journey's end with lover's meeting.
I'll do you this justice, Mr. Holmes.
I was never in a case yet
I didn't feel stronger
for having you on my side.
Fugitives may be Gennaro and Emilia Lucca
if so in grave danger,
expect agent imminently.
Regards, Abe Rimmer.
The agent's here,
he arrived from New York this morning.
His name is Leverton.
Leverton I know of him.
The man he's after is Black Gorgiano,
leader of the Red Circle.
Do we score over you for once, Mr. Holmes?
You must give us best some of the time.
I think that we should pool our resources.
There's someone up there.
Mrs Warren.
Holmes.
Keep the peace downstairs.
I must have a word with Senora Lucca.
(Knock on door)
Senora Lucca,
its Sherlock Holmes.
I must speak to you.
Oh no.
Your husband Gennaro, will be safe, and so will you
if you will place yourself in our hands.
Scotland Yard is watching the house
and Mr. Leverton is on his way from New York.
Mr. Leverton?
We shall not let any harm come to you.
Please let me in.
Please.
I'm not going up there again.
Never.
Oh don't be silly dear,
don't be silly.
You know what the doctor said,
it was just a cat scratching.
No, it wasn't, it lifted.
Mrs. Hudson, would you make Vera a cup of tea, please?
What is going on in this house?
Noises, lights going off,
it'll be the death of me.
Oh my god.
I was born in Posillipo near Naples.
My father was chief lawyer.
Gennaro had no money
and no position,
nothing but his beauty,
his strength and energy.
My father forbade the match
and we run away.
We were married in Bari.
I sold my jewels to bring us to America.
Fortune smiled at first,
Gennaro saved a rich Italian
from some ruffians in the Bowery.
He was Signor Castallote
of Castallote and Zamba the fruit importers.
Gennaro became like a son to him.
Tell me about this visitor,
this friend of your husbands from Posillipo?
Oh, is no friend.
Gennaro brought him home one day.
They had met in the street.
He came again and again.
He talked and raved
about politics and social questions
and what he meant to do, whirling his great arm.
His voice was like thunder in our little house.
And your husband?
He sat pale and listless.
At first I thought it was dislike
but then I understood
it was a deep secret fear.
I implored him out of love for me,
by all we held dear
to tell me why this man overshadowed him.
In his wild, young days
when all the world seemed against him
he had joined a brotherhood,
El Chicaroso
the Red Circle.
He thought its purpose
was to put right the injustice of life.
Once you've taken its dreadful oath.
Tell me about you,
and Gorgiano.
I had noticed for some time
when he came to us
his eyes were always turned upon me
his terrible glaring eyes.
And one evening,
I had awakened what he called love in him.
Emilia, mio solo grande.
It was the love of a brut,
a savage.
(Speaking Italian).
A few days later,
there was a Red Circle meeting.
Signor Castallote had been approached for money
and had refused them.
Now they planned to kill him,
they drew lots.
It was fixed.
It was Gorgiano's revenge for my rejecting him.
(Speaking Italian)
My dearest friend,
in all the world.
And then you both went to the police?
I went alone.
That was brave.
Yes, but what has it done?
They got us away but friends still die.
We shall never be rid of that beast, never
and now you must go.
I've said too much,
I've broken my promise to my husband,
go please, go.
(Speaking Italian)
Enrico would have wished it.
Go sail to a new life.
Gracias.
He can't stay here all night.
Well if he has to won't you, Doctor?
Well, in that case
I wouldn't mind a game of whist.
Do you play whist, Doctor?
Mr. Holmes?
Emilia.
Emilia, mi amore.
(Speaking Italian)
Hawkins.
I've set my men on watch, Mr. Holmes.
What are you expecting to happen?
Well, there are times
when the art of detection is of little use.
We must wait upon the unpredictable.
I've had some experience of that in my time.
I can say only that
we are expecting Signora Lucca's husband.
You must let him pass.
Your men must not distract him.
They know that. Fine.
And our murderer?
Oh, he is about.
Somewhere,
waiting his chance.
I have a good description from the American Leverton,
we'll be ready.
Look.
Watson.
Signora Lucca,
you must give me the signal.
Go away, I don't trust you.
I trust no one but my husband.
I'm obliged to you, Doctor.
The main thing is just to keep this still as possible.
Fine.
Mr. Holmes.
Holmes.
This is Mr. Leverton of the Pinkerton Agency.
Leverton, of the Long Island Cave mystery
I'm honored to meet you.
The honor is mine, sir.
Well, well, well.
I'm sorry we had to meet like this.
You're a brave man,
I saw you on the roof.
When you're on the trail of a lifetime, Mr. Holmes,
you put all thoughts of personal safety
out of your mind.
The brute got away I suppose?
Yes, but he'll be back soon.
There's something in this house
that he wants badly.
Oh, yes, I know.
Thank you, Doctor, I'm fine, just fine.
Is the lady upstairs, safe?
Yes, but trusting no one.
And so we must wait
for her husband's signal.
What signal, Mr. Holmes?
Leverton, the lamp.
So Gennaro Lucca is over there now?
Not yet but he will be I hope.
I couldn't find Lucca when I got to London.
My contact was Enrico Firmani
but the brute reached him first
and he must have made him talk before killing him.
Shall we not go upstairs to reassure Mrs. Lucca?
She won't admit us, Watson.
She'll only answer to her husband.
Oh, look, Hawkins
not too conspicuous.
Yes, Inspector Hawkins,
he seems an able fellow.
One of Scotland Yard's finest.
He knows his business.
Gentlemen,
Gennaro Lucca has just gone in.
So far so good.
Mrs. Lucca came to us
the night the Red Circle planned to kill Castallote.
They'd already murdered his partner Zamba.
We managed to round up most of the gang
but Black Gorgiano slipped the net.
When we heard he'd left for England,
I followed after him fast as I could.
I got in touch with Scotland Yard
but he'd gone to ground.
There's a single light,
what does it mean?
Two lights.
Gone.
No, no, there it is again.
Three lights measured slow.
What's he saying,
what does it mean?
Nothing,
nothing.
But his next actions must confirm it.
He must come here to collect her.
It's gone.
The message received.
But what message?
Gennaro.
My dearest friend in all the world,
and betrayer of the brotherhood.
There's no message there's somebody with him.
Watson?
Did you hear that, Holmes?
Yeah, danger.
My God, look she's out there on the street.
Watson.
Hawkins Your murderer is up there.
Impossible, there's only one entrance.
Just a minute he's mine, Hawkins,
I'll take responsibility.
No you won't sir,
London dangers are up to the London force.
Gennaro.
Emilia.
(speaking Italian).
Watson, take them away from this horror.
(Speaking Italian).
I'll take those tickets, sir.
Please, our ship sales at dawn.
What are you going to do with him, Inspector?
He'll be arrested and tried
for the murder of Gorgiano,
that is the law.
Well, I don't know what your British law may be
but I guess that in New York,
this lady's husband will receive
a pretty general vote of thanks.
There's not a judge on earth
that will condemn this man.
I don't think Mr. And Mrs. Lucca
have too much to fear
but we have to go through the procedures.
Take them downstairs.
No doubt if you'd been here on your own, Mr. Holmes,
you'd have found a different solution.
The law is what we live with, Inspector.
Justice is sometimes harder to achieve.
What I still don't understand
is how you came to be mixed up
in all this in the first place.
Good night, Inspector.
Good night, Mr. Holmes.
English justice looked kindly on the young couple
and soon afterwards
they left for Australia.
There they found a new and happier life
free from the threat of the Red Circle.