(Fire roaring)
(Bells ringing)
Thank you, George.
From the point of view of the criminal expert,
London has become a singularly uninteresting city.
I hardly think you'll find many decent citizens to agree with you.
Well, one must not be selfish.
The community is the gainer and no one the loser,
save the poor, unfortunate specialist whose occupation has gone.
(Watson) The last few months haven't been totally uneventful, surely?
There was the case of the papers of ex-President Murillo.
And the most shocking affair of the Dutch steamship, Friesland,
which very nearly cost us both our lives.
Both of them, great successes.
- I am sorry, Mr Holmes is not at home. - If I fail to see him now, it will be too late.
- But I am sorry, I cannot help. - But it is a matter of the utmost urgency!
I have already told you...
Mr Holmes, I must see you!
- I told the young man you weren't here. - I'm sorry but I'm nearly out of my mind.
I am the unhappy John Hector McFarlane.
Now, tell us quietly and slowly who you are and what it is that you want.
You mentioned your name
but beyond your being a bachelor, a solicitor, a freemason and an asthmatic,
I know nothing about you whatever.
Your... untidy clothes, sheaf of legal papers, watch chain
and your somewhat irregular breathing.
Why, yes, Mr Holmes, I am all these things.
And in addition, I am at this moment the most unfortunate man in London.
- Have you not read your newspaper? - Not yet.
Then, if you would allow me.
"At 12 o'clock, an incident occurred at Lower Norwood
"which points, it is feared, to a serious crime.
"A small timber yard caught fire at the back of a house
"belonging to Mr Jonas Oldacre, a builder.
"Surprise was expressed at Mr Oldacre's absence
"and it became apparent he had disappeared.
"Examination of his room revealed a safe which was open,
"signs of a murderous struggle,
"and a heavy walking stick with stains of blood upon the handle."
All I ask is that you don't abandon me.
A man followed me from London Bridge station.
If they arrest me before I've finished,
make them give me time so that I may tell you the truth.
I could go to jail happy if I knew you were working for me.
Arrest you? This is really most gratifying.
On what charge?
Murdering Mr Jonas Oldacre of Lower Norwood.
Dear me.
"As we go to press, sensational developments have been reported.
"Charred remains have been found among the ashes of the fire.
"The police theory is that the victim was clubbed to death and the body ignited.
"It is known that Mr Oldacre received a visitor last night,
"and the stick has been identified as belonging to that person,
"a young London solicitor by the name of John Hector McFarlane."
May I ask why you are still at liberty, Mr McFarlane?
As there seems to be enough evidence to justify your arrest?
I live with my mother in Blackheath.
But last night, having late business with Mr Oldacre,
I stayed at an hotel in Norwood.
Mr Holmes, I knew nothing of this affair
until I was on the train to my office this morning
and read what you have just heard.
I saw at once the terrible danger of my position
and hurried to put the case in your hands.
(Horse neighing)
Ah! Inspector Lestrade!
We have been expecting you.
Mr Holmes, Dr Watson.
- Mr John Hector McFarlane? - Yes.
I arrest you for the murder of Mr Jonas Oldacre of Lower Norwood.
One moment, Lestrade. Half an hour can make little difference,
and the gentleman was about to give an account which might clear up this affair.
There will be no difficulty in clearing it up.
Nevertheless, with your permission,
I would be much interested in hearing his account.
Mr Holmes, there's no denying
that you have been of use to the force once or twice in the past.
But I must insist...
All I ask is that you should hear and recognise the absolute truth.
I'll give you half an hour.
Sit down, McFarlane.
Thank you, Lestrade.
We must warn you that what you say now will appear in evidence against you.
Pray, continue.
I must first explain that I knew nothing of Mr Jonas Oldacre,
although his name was familiar to me.
Years ago, my parents were acquainted with him but they drifted apart.
So it came as a surprise when yesterday afternoon, at about three o'clock,
he walked into my office in the City.
Mr Oldacre? Good afternoon.
I'm Mr McFarlane.
Would you care to come through?
Please, won't you sit down?
How can I help you?
This is a draft of my will.
I want you, Mr McFarlane, to cast it into proper legal shape.
I shall sit here while you do so.
'You can understand my astonishment, Mr Holmes,
'when I found that, with some minor reservations,
'his entire estate had been left to me.'
But I... I simply don't understand.
Oh, well, then let me explain.
I am a bachelor, Mr McFarlane, with few relatives,
and none who deserve my consideration.
- That may well be so but... - Let me finish.
I beg your pardon.
For many years now I have withdrawn from my business.
I was a builder and, though I say it myself, an extremely successful one.
Successful enough to have gained considerable wealth
and thus live out my life in complete, if solitary, comfort.
Many years ago, I knew your mother.
Knew her and hoped to marry her.
Then she met and married your father.
- I had no idea. - Why should you?
Three months ago, I read of your father's death in the Daily Telegraph.
My mind was turned to your mother
and to the son who might very well have been my own.
This is my way of securing your future.
I know that whatever I leave will be in worthy hands.
What can I say? But thank you.
There are documents you should see -
building leases, title deeds, mortgages and so on.
I shan't rest easy until the whole thing's settled.
- Of course. - I beg you to come to my house tonight.
- What shall we say? Nine o'clock? - Why, yes, I...
Bring the finalised will and we can settle the matter.
- Of course. - Thank you, my boy.
Oh, one last thing.
Not a word to your dear mother until everything is settled.
I want it to be a little surprise.
- Little? - You promise?
You have my word.
I left in good time for my appointment but had difficulty in finding the house,
so that it was nearly half past before I reached it.
Good evening. I have an appointment with Mr Oldacre.
- Mr McFarlane? - Yes, that's right.
'It was not the warmest of receptions
'and the house itself had a peculiar, unloved feeling.'
- Sorry to keep you waiting. - Not at all, sir. I'm a little late.
- You've brought the papers? - Yes, indeed.
'The bedroom was on the ground floor, where there was a large safe.'
(CIock chiming)
Bring the rest of those papers, my boy.
Now... to business.
- All done? - Yes, sir, all done.
I've just seen the time. You must get home.
Oh, thank you.
- I had a stick. - I wonder where she put it?
A heavy stick. It belonged to my father.
I'll take care of it until we meet again.
After all, I shall be seeing a great deal of you, I hope.
Indeed you shall, sir.
I left him there.
The safe was open and the documents were on his desk.
It was too late to go back to Blackheath and so I stayed at an hotel in Norwood.
I knew nothing more of this affair until this morning.
Do you have the original draft of the will that Oldacre brought to you?
Why, yes. I have it here.
- May I retain this for 24 hours? - If it would amuse you.
Well, anything more you'd like to ask, Mr Holmes?
- Not until I've been to Blackheath. - You mean Norwood.
No doubt that is what I must have meant.
Now, Mr McFarlane,
my constable's at the door and there is a four-wheeler waiting.
- Good morning, gentlemen. - Good morning.
There are certain points about this document, are there not, Watson?
Well, I can read the first two lines.
And these in the middle of the second page, and one or two at the end.
But the writing in between is very bad, and there are parts I can't read it at all.
What do you make of that?
Well, what do you make of it?
That it was written on a train.
The good writing represents stations,
the bad writing, movement.
- And the very bad writing... - Passing over the points.
A scientific expert would pronounce that it was drawn up on a suburban line,
since nowhere save in the vicinity of a great city
could there be so quick a succession of points.
Granting that his whole journey was occupied in drawing up the will,
then the train must have been an express,
stopping only once between Norwood and London Bridge.
But it's curious, is it not,
that a man should draw up so important a document in so haphazard a fashion?
It suggests that he thought it was going to be of no practical importance.
Well, he drew up his death warrant at the same time.
This case is not clear to me.
Come, Watson!
- Where are we going? Norwood? - No. Blackheath!
Cab!
My son is the gentlest creature on God's earth.
It is inconceivable he could even contemplate such a terrible crime.
He didn't even know the man, Mr Holmes.
But you did, Mrs McFarlane.
Years ago. I'd forgotten that he ever existed.
Tried to forget.
It is impossible to quite forget a man like Jonas Oldacre.
Yes, I knew him well. At one time we were engaged to be married.
Thank heaven I had the sense to turn away and marry a better, if poorer, man.
Oh... Please.
Your husband died recently?
He was a kind man.
A gentle man.
He was everything Jonas Oldacre was not.
Yet at one time you were prepared to marry him.
I said that I knew him well.
But the more I knew of him, the more I came to realise that I knew him not at all.
He would change... suddenly,
and what I saw frightened me.
There was a dark side to his character, Mr Holmes, a desire to cause pain.
My own photograph.
It was my first present to him.
Good heavens!
That was how it was returned to me on my wedding day.
With a vile note urging a curse upon my house,
and saying he'd never forgive me.
And yet he does seem to have forgiven you.
After all, to leave his entire estate to your son...
Neither my son nor I want anything from that wicked man, dead or alive.
Ah, Mrs McFarlane.
The fact remains that the will was made.
I simply can't understand it.
Why?
Have you ever spoken of Oldacre to your son?
Perhaps told him what you've just told me?
- No, never. - Never?
He found the photograph.
My husband tried to make light of it but he insisted.
My husband told him something of the truth.
That's all.
And the boy was...
disturbed?
He was upset. Naturally.
You see, Mrs McFarlane, what the police might say is...
that if he had heard of Oldacre's behaviour toward you,
it would predispose him toward hatred and violence.
Their case against him will be strengthened.
No!
There is a God in heaven, Mr Holmes.
God, who has punished that wicked man, will show in His own good time
my son's hands are guiltless of his blood.
(Boys arguing)
(Boy) Come on, boy, come on!
Wait here, please.
Ah, Mr Holmes,
Dr Watson.
We are just clearing up.
The will, as promised.
Look.
Buttons - trouser buttons.
No doubt you've brought your glass with you?
The name is Hyams. According to Mrs Lexington, the housekeeper,
Hyams was the name of Mr Oldacre's tailor.
Presumably the organic remains have been removed to the laboratory.
They have, Doctor. Though they'll be of little use, I suspect.
The poor devil was no more than bone and cinder.
How very convenient for the murderer.
Not, I might venture, for Mr Oldacre.
Nevertheless, Inspector, bone and cinder!
(Watson) Thank heavens he was wearing his trousers.
The stick belongs to the accused. He's never denied it.
He says he could not find it when he left.
Says, Mr Holmes, says!
My experts made out footmarks of both men on the carpet.
Too much subsequent traffic to make any examination on my part worthwhile.
Two sets of footmarks, Mr Holmes. None of any third person.
Another trick for your side.
- All these papers are from the safe? - Correct.
- Absolutely nothing has been removed? - Nothing whatsoever.
We have opened one or two, as you can see, to check the contents.
May I check them?
By all means.
I myself have business at the Yard.
I would like to see the housekeeper. Mrs Lexington?
She'll add nothing more to what you already know.
- Nevertheless... - I'll send her in.
Could it be that for once Lestrade is on the right track?
All my instincts are one way and all the facts are the other.
(Knocking on door)
- You wish to see me, sir? - Yes.
Mrs Lexington, this is my friend and colleague, Doctor Watson.
- Erm... do sit down. - I'll stand, if I may.
This room has no comfort for me.
You let young Mr McFarlane into this house at 9:30.
Yes, and I wish that my hand had withered before I had done so.
- And you retired to bed at? - Twenty minutes past eleven.
Twenty past eleven.
And you heard nothing?
My room is at the far end of the house. I heard nothing until the alarm sounded.
It was then, only then, that I realised my poor master had been murdered.
Mrs Lexington, to your knowledge, did your master have any enemies?
Every man has his enemies.
And a businessman like Mr Oldacre more than most, perhaps?
He was a well-respected gentleman who kept himself very much to himself.
Do you know about these papers?
I know nothing of Mr Oldacre's private affairs.
The buttons the police found in the fire?
My master had three suits made by Mr Hyams.
Two are in that wardrobe. The third he was wearing that night.
Thank you, Mrs Lexington. You have been most cooperative.
What do you make of her?
Tight as wax, if you ask me. But then, perhaps that's her usual manner.
It's all wrong.
I feel it in my bones. Something...
Something has not come out and that woman knows it.
Holmes, would you like me to have a look at these papers?
Well, a man's bank account can tell us as much as his diary.
Correct.
Thank you, Watson.
Go on, get out!
It's all right, Constable. I'm just stretching my legs. I'll watch them.
Ah! Constable!
- Are you a local man? - Born and bred, sir.
Excellent.
- I need some local knowledge. - I'll do my best, sir, certainly I will.
Holmes!
Lestrade did say no documents had been removed?
- Yes. - That's what I thought.
- You've found something. - It's what I haven't found.
There are certain cross-references to various deeds, valuable deeds,
none of which I can find.
But one thing is clear.
Oldacre was hardly in affluent circumstances.
His account was practically empty,
because he had made several payments in the past year to a certain Mr Cornelius.
- McFarlane would inherit nothing. - This is of interest.
Why should a retired builder have such large transactions with a Mr Cornelius?
Well, let's take our cab and see what we can find out from his City bank.
- You coming? - I'll stay here for a while.
Norwood station.
(Sniffs)
- So, you are not going back to London? - No. Not yet, anyway.
I do hope my presence doesn't inconvenience you.
I should warn you, I found an undesirable lurking about by the gates.
- I saw him off. - Undesirable?
A tramp, Mrs Lexington. A gentleman of the road.
They'll get nothing here.
Ah. You don't believe in supporting our less fortunate brethren?
I work. So can they.
Quite so.
(Holmes) I'm on my way to Folkestone.
(Tramp) I've done enough walking, I have.
I finds a place and I stays put.
(Holmes) I was to meet a friend of mine here.
Oh, you might know him. He's a seafaring man.
Aye, I know him.
Shared my billet for the last four nights, he does.
And then off he goes, without even a word.
You take my tip.
Steer clear of him.
He's a... He's a liar.
Didn't strike me as such.
He goes up to that big house, he does.
He comes back here, tells some yarn about them putting out with open hands,
telling him to come back tomorrow when they'll give him some grub and cast-offs.
How is that lying?
Because, my friend, I'd already paid my call,
and nearly got the law on my back for my insolence.
Perhaps he told 'em a pleasing tale.
Are you saying that a drunken sailor has more to offer
than a sergeant in the 22nd?
No, no.
He's a liar!
He says...
"Whatever I gets," he says,
"I'll share with you, shipmate," he says.
And off he goes.
And not a sight of him since.
(Doleful violin tune)
(Violin stops abruptly)
Holmes...
You must permit yourself some food. You must eat.
At present I cannot afford energy and nerve force for digestion.
Well, you must, if you intend to pursue this case.
I fear, my dear fellow, that our case will end ingloriously
by Lestrade hanging our client,
which will certainly be a triumph for Scotland Yard.
There is a telegram.
"Important fresh evidence to hand. McFarlane's guilt definitely established.
"Advise you to abandon case. Lestrade."
It is Lestrade's little cock-a-doodle of victory.
Let's have some breakfast
and then go out together and see what we can do.
I feel as if I shall need your company and moral support today.
Ah, Mr Holmes, Dr Watson!
I think you will acknowledge that we are just a little in front of you this time.
Step this way, if you please, gentlemen,
and I will convince you that it was John McFarlane who committed this crime.
You don't like being wrong.
Still, a man can't always expect to have it his own way.
Can he, Dr Watson?
This is where the housekeeper left McFarlane's hat and stick.
This is also where he would have come to collect his hat after the crime.
Now, look at this.
- A thumb mark. - So I observe.
A thumb mark in blood. You are aware that no two thumb marks are alike?
I have heard something of the kind.
Identical!
And that was taken from McFarlane this morning.
Definitely the same thumb mark.
And that is final.
- Quite final. - Who made this discovery?
It was Mrs Lexington here who drew my constable's attention to it.
I suppose there is no doubt that the mark was there yesterday?
Well, McFarlane could have crept out of jail in the night,
to strengthen the evidence against himself.
(Weak laugh)
Have you any objection if I take a stroll upstairs?
No, none at all.
There's nothing up there, though.
I'm sorry things look so bad, Holmes.
But there is a serious flaw in this new evidence.
What's that?
That thumbprint was not there when I examined the hall yesterday.
Inspector Lestrade, I cannot help thinking your evidence is incomplete.
What do you mean?
There is an important witness you have not yet seen.
- Can you produce this witness? - I think I can.
- Then do so. - I'll do my best.
How many constables have you?
- Three within call. - Excellent.
I assume they are able-bodied large men, with powerful voices?
I have no doubt that they are, yes.
In the outhouse there is a quantity of straw. I need two bundles brought in.
Straw?
And two buckets of water.
- Water? - Ask them to bring it to the top landing.
Place the straw in the fireplace, a little in front.
Two buckets of water to that side, please.
Mr Holmes, I don't know whether you are playing a game with us,
but surely you can tell us without this tomfoolery?
Lestrade, I have an excellent reason for everything I do.
Watson, would you put a match to that straw?
And, Constable, will you sprinkle it with water?
Now, we must see if we can find this witness for you, Lestrade.
Gentlemen.
Would you please join me in the call of "Fire"?
One... two... three...
Fire!
We can do better than that.
Full voice, and together.
(AIl) Fire!
(Coughing)
- Good heavens! - Capital!
Constable, a bucket of water on that straw.
Lestrade, allow me to present your missing principle witness.
Mr Jonas Oldacre!
What's this, then?
What have you been doing all this time?
- I've done no harm. - No harm?
You've only done your best to get an innocent man hanged.
If it wasn't for this gentleman, I'm not sure you wouldn't have succeeded.
Take him.
Let us see where this rat has been lurking.
The advantage of being a builder. He was able to fix up his hiding place
without any confederate, save for that precious housekeeper.
Whom I should lose no time in adding to your bag, Inspector.
And these... are the missing papers, no doubt!
No doubt whatsoever.
(Lestrade) Constable! Find the housekeeper.
How did you know about that place?
I compared the proportions of this room with those of the room below
and deduced that this fireplace wall... was false.
Oldacre clearly had a great deal of nerve.
But not enough, I fancy, to lie quiet before an alarm of fire.
How did you know he was in the house?
The thumb mark. When I examined the hall yesterday, it was clear.
- It was put there during the night. - But how?
After McFarlane had examined the papers that night, he resealed them.
To do so, he used his thumb upon the wax.
Brooding in that den of his, it suddenly struck Oldacre
what use he could make of that thumbprint.
Smearing the wax with a little blood,
he made what appeared to be absolutely damning evidence against McFarlane.
'What was the object of his deception? '
Ah well, Inspector, in order to swindle his creditors, who were pressing him,
Oldacre emptied his bank account
by paying out large sums to a Mr Cornelius.
I have no doubt that Messrs Oldacre and Cornelius are the same person,
the object being to change his name, draw on the money
and then vanish.
We see before us a very deep, malicious and vindictive man.
Did you know that he was once refused by McFarlane's mother?
All his life he has longed for vengeance.
If he was murdered by the only child of his former sweetheart,
what more bitter revenge?
I would never have allowed any real harm to befall Mr McFarlane.
That's for the jury to decide.
You're charging me? For a joke?
- It was nothing more than a joke. - It was nothing less than murder.
The body in the fire.
But whose body was it?
An old sailor, Lestrade, who had fallen upon hard times.
When I examined the ashes of that fire,
I discovered that your experts had missed this.
It is a tooth of the great white shark.
And you see that it has been lightly carved.
It is typical of the work carried out by seamen.
This isn't evidence enough to show who died in the fire.
(Holmes) 'I know that on Monday, the day before the murder,
'a tramp called at this house.
'When I questioned the housekeeper, she assured me no tramp would be welcome.
'Not only was his reception welcoming
'but the man received some of Oldacre's clothing.
'Yesterday, near the front gate, I found the calling card that he left,
'a coded sign advising his fellow travellers of a charitable welcome.
'Last night, with the help of your local constable,
'I talked to one of these travellers,
'who said that the seaman had been asked to call back the following day,
'with the assurance of further hospitality.'
And so, the next morning,
wearing his new clothes, or at least his new trousers,
he returned,
and was never seen again.
You've saved an innocent man's life, Mr Holmes.
And you have also saved me some embarrassment.
Ah, my good chap!
You'll find that your reputation has been enormously enhanced.
Just make a few alterations to that report,
and they will see how hard it is to throw dust in the eyes of Inspector Lestrade.
You don't want your name to appear?
Not at all.
His work is its own reward.
I'll see you hang for this!
That privilege must surely be mine.
(Romantic piano music)