(Angry shouting)
- Get that lot out of here! - Who's gonna pay for this lot?
I ain't gonna bleedin' pay for it! If you don't give me the money...
Get out of it, will you?
(Church bell)
Roll up! Roll up! Freshest fish in England!
Come on, ladies, get your fresh fish over here! Roll up, roll up!
Roll up! Get your fresh fish here!
Hm.
- Oh. Sorry, Holmes. - No, no!
You couldn't have come at a better time.
- I was afraid you were engaged. - I am, very much so.
Dr Watson shares my love of all that is bizarre
and outside the routine of everyday existence.
It is at present impossible to say whether this is a crime or no.
I know as little about Mr Jabez Wilson as you do yourself,
beyond the obvious facts.
That he has done manual labour, takes snuff, has been to China
and has done a lot of writing lately.
How in the name of good fortune did you know that, Mr Holmes?
True as gospel I once did manual labour.
I started off as a ship's carpenter.
The muscles of your right hand are more developed than your left.
And the writing?
What else could be indicated by the right cuff so very shiny?
And the left sleeve with the smooth patch near the elbow where you lean.
But China?
The fish tattooed immediately above his right wrist.
I have made a small study of tattoo marks
and even contributed to the literature.
That trick of staining the scales a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China.
And when I see a Chinese coin on his watch chain,
it becomes even more simple.
I thought at first it was something clever,
but now I see there's nothing in it after all.
I begin to think that my reputation, such as it is,
will suffer shipwreck if I am so candid.
"Omne ignotum pro magnifico."
"Everything becomes commonplace by explanation."
That is a very loose translation.
Please show the Doctor that advertisement.
There. You can read it for yourself, sir.
"To the Red Headed League..."?
"On account of the bequest of the late Ezekiah Hopkins
"of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA,
"there is a vacancy which entitles a member of the League
"to a salary of £4 a week for purely nominal services.
"All red headed men sound in body and mind
"and above the age of 21 are eligible.
"Apply in person on Monday at 11 o'clock to Mr Duncan Ross
"at the League offices - 7 Pope's Court, Fleet Street."
Is this serious?
It is a little off the beaten track, eh?
Would you make a note of the paper and the date?
Evening Standard of Saturday 27th April.
- Two months ago. - Do... Try the settee.
Now, Mr Wilson...
Off you go at scratch and tell us all about yourself.
Oh. Well, gentlemen...
I have a small pawnbroking business in Saxe Coburg Street near the City.
It's not a very large affair. It just gives me a living.
I used to keep two assistants but now I just keep the one.
To tell you the truth, I'd have a job to make it pay
but that he's willing to come at half wages so as to learn the business.
- About two months ago... - What is the name of this youth?
Vincent. Vincent Spaulding.
He's not such a youth either, Mr Holmes.
It's difficult to say his age, but I couldn't wish for a smarter assistant.
You are remarkably fortunate in having an employee under the market price.
Your assistant is as remarkable as your advertisement.
He does have his faults. Never was there such a fellow for photography.
Always snapping away with his camera when he should be learning
and then diving into the cellar to develop the wretched things.
Still, he's a good worker and no vice in him.
It was he who first showed me the advertisement.
I wish to the moon I was a red headed man, Mr Wilson.
Why is that?
There's another vacancy in the League of Red Headed Men.
Ha! I've never heard of it.
Well, I wonder at that.
You being so eligible yourself.
Nice money too.
A couple of hundred a year and the work slight.
There'd be thousands of men apply.
Well, I doubt that, sir.
Not with such a fine fiery colour as you are blessed with.
(Bell jangles)
I suppose it's hardly worth your while to put yourself out
for the sake of a few hundred pound.
Yes, sir?
Well, I'm very much of a stay-at-home person.
Sometimes weeks without putting my foot over the doormat.
But this looked interesting.
I was intrigued and young Vincent said he'd come with me,
so on Monday morning we shut up the shop and off we went.
Vincent, I can't abide the crowd.
Courage, Mr Wilson. We're so near and so much at stake.
You pull your collar up and come along with me.
(Man) Hi, Jimmy. What's the job all about?
Waste of time. I wasn't in there two minutes.
(Man) Been here since eight o'clock this morning, me.
Oi! Oi! A little less noise, please, gentlemen!
'Ere, what's your game?
Hey, get out of it!
(Angry shouting)
Off you go. You're next. Get in.
Oi, where are you going? This way out.
- Next! - This is Mr Wilson.
In you go, Mr Wilson.
(Angry shouting)
Admirably suited.
Every requirement.
Very fine.
Congratulations, Mr Wilson.
It would be injustice to hesitate.
You will, I am sure, excuse me if I take an obvious precaution?
Aagh!
Tears in your eyes.
I perceive all is as it should be.
We have to be careful.
Twice deceived by wigs, once by paint.
I could tell tales of cobblers' wax that would disgust you with human nature.
My name is Duncan Ross.
I am a pensioner upon the fund left by our noble benefactor.
Ah! I see you're about to question me about Mr Ezekiah Hopkins.
He was himself red headed.
In his youth he left London for America where he made many millions.
On his death, he'd instructed the trustees of his will to...
make life easier for the red headed men in the town of his birth.
Wonderful colouring.
Now, what's your full name, Mr Wilson?
- Jabez Wilson. - Jabez Wilson.
Are you a married man, Mr Wilson? Do you have a family?
No, I'm a widower. I never had any family.
Oh, dear. I'm sad to hear you say that.
The fund is for the propagation and spread of red headed men
as well as their maintenance.
In another case the objection might be fatal.
But we can stretch a point in favour of a man with such a head of hair.
The vacancy has been filled.
(Angry shouting)
The vacancy is filled!
All right. Off you go.
Sorry about that. Go on, off you go!
Ah!
Now, when would you be free to start upon your new duties?
It is rather awkward as I do have a business already.
- What would be the hours? - Ten till two.
Well, the mornings are quiet and I do have an assistant.
Yes, that would suit me very well. And the money - £4 a week?
- Correct. - And the work?
- Purely nominal. - But what do you call purely nominal?
You have to stay in the office or in the building the whole time.
If you leave, you forfeit your position for ever. The will is quite clear.
- I wouldn't leave. - No excuses.
Neither sickness or business. Here you will remain.
Or else lose your ability.
I am quite clear on that point, but what exactly is the work?
It is to copy out the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
There is the first volume.
You supply the ink, paper and pen. We supply this desk and chair.
Now, would you be free to start next Monday morning?
Oh, yes. Certainly.
Then once again, my congratulations, Mr Jabez Wilson,
on the most important position you've been fortunate enough to gain.
Wonderful head of hair. Goodbye, Mr Wilson.
Well done, Mr Wilson! Well done indeed!
This is the quickest way out, sir. This way.
Congratulations.
When I got home, the whole thing seemed to be quite ridiculous.
Quite. Who would make such an extraordinary will?
Not a generous millionaire to make you buy your own pen, ink and paper.
Exactly, Mr Holmes.
I soon persuaded myself it was some great hoax or fraud.
Then when Monday morning came along
it did seem stupid to turn down a good job,
so off I went and bought a penny bottle of ink and a pen
and seven sheets of foolscap paper
and I set off for Pope's Court.
Good morning, Mr Wilson, and welcome.
'Well, to my surprise and delight,
'everything was as right as possible.
'The table was set out ready for me
'and Mr Duncan Ross was there to see I got fairly to work.
'My employment had truly begun.
'The schedule never varied.
'My work started at ten o'clock and ended at two o'clock.
'With a small break for my lunch at half past 12.
'Every Saturday at two o'clock'
'Mr Ross would come in and give me my money,
'compliment me upon the amount that I'd written and we'd leave -
'Mr Ross locking the door after me.'
Artichokes I found simply fascinating. They have a kind of bloom on them.
'Annibal I also thought was A, but it was H after all.
- I thought that was very... - Yes. Good morning.
'Oh, the work was very interesting.
'Abacus, Abbey...
'Architecture...
'Acts of the Apostles,
'Adulteration...
'Anatomy, Apes...
'Aqueducts.
'After eight weeks I'd dealt with the letter A and was hoping to get onto B
'when suddenly today, the whole business came to an end.
'I went to work as usual, but the door was locked
'with a little square of cardboard on the panel.'
Excuse me!
Have you seen Mr Duncan Ross this morning?
Ross? Ross... Never heard of a gentleman of that name, sir.
- My memory's infallible for names. - At number seven.
- The gentleman who is red headed? - Yes.
- Yes. Gone. - Gone?
A Mr William Morris. Using my room as a temporary convenience.
- Moved out yesterday. Paid in full. - Where can I find him?
At his new offices.
William Morris?
17 King Edward Street.
- Near St Paul's. - Thank you.
(Wilson) I don't see there's anything funny.
If all you can do is laugh, I can go elsewhere!
No, Mr Wilson! Please! Please, sit down.
I wouldn't miss this case for the world.
It is most refreshingly unusual.
I was so incensed at the fraudulent deceit that I came straight to you, sir.
Having heard of your reputation for helping poor people in distress.
Mr Wilson, forgive me.
Mr Wilson, I don't think you've got any great grievance against this league.
You've been very well paid,
to say nothing of the detailed knowledge you've acquired
on every subject under the letter A.
But what's the object of them playing this prank on me?
That's what I want to know.
Your assistant - how long has he been with you?
About three months.
- How did he come? - An advertisement.
- Was he the only applicant? - No. I had 12 others.
- Why did you pick him? - Well, he...
He was handy and would come cheap.
- (Watson) At half wages, in fact. - Yes.
What's he like, this Vincent Spaulding?
Eh?
Oh. Well, he's tall... slightly built.
He's very quick in his ways.
He's got no hair on his face.
He's got a white splash of acid on his forehead.
Have you ever observed whether his ears have been pierced for earrings?
Yes. He told me a gypsy had done it for him when he was a lad.
- He is still with you? - Yes. I've just left him.
Mr Wilson... you will be at your shop if I should need you?
I had thought of shutting up shop at dinner time.
Vincent suggested I spend the weekend with my sister in Barking.
This whole business has upset my nerves very much.
You enjoy a restful weekend in Barking.
Today's Saturday... By Monday we should have a conclusion for you.
In the matter of your fee...
Don't worry about that. I believe it will be paid for by another.
Good day to you, Mr Wilson.
- What do you make of it all, Watson? - I make nothing of it.
It's a most mysterious business.
Yet there are graver issues hanging from this affair
than at first sight appear.
What are you going to do?
To smoke.
It is quite a three-pipe problem.
And I beg that you won't speak to me for 50 minutes.
The business of the Red Headed League is concluded, sir.
Satisfactorily, I trust?
Most satisfactorily, Professor, I'm pleased to report.
Good.
Come. Watson.
(Echoing taps)
Excuse me? Can you tell me the way to the Strand from here?
- Er... Third right, fourth left, sir. - Thank you.
Holmes? I could have told you that.
- No doubt, Watson. - What is it?
Why did you beat the pavement with your stick?
Watson, we are spies in an enemy's territory.
Now.
It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of London.
- There is Mortimer's the tobacconist... - The newspaper shop.
- The City and Suburban Bank. - McFarlane's carriage building depot.
The vegetarian restaurant.
Commit to memory. It is just possible that we're being observed.
A considerable crime is in contemplation.
Today being Saturday somewhat complicates matters.
But now, Doctor... Our work is done. It is time we had some play.
Sarasate is playing at the St James' Hall.
A sandwich and a cup of coffee?
Then off to violin-land where all is sweetness, delicacy and harmony.
And no red headed clients to vex us with their conundrums.
Cab!
(Violin plays)
(Watson) 'AII the afternoon he sat rapt in the most perfect happiness,
'while his gently smiling face
'and his languid dreamy eyes
'were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth hound
'as it was possible to conceive.
'When I saw him so enwrapped in the music,
'I felt that an evil time might be coming upon those
'whom he had set himself to hunt down.'
Excellent. You have a future as a cartographer.
- (Knocking) - That'll be Athelney Jones.
I thought it as well to have someone from Scotland Yard.
He's an imbecile at his profession,
but he has the tenacity of a lobster when he gets his claws into someone.
- Good evening, Jones. - So we're in couples again, Mr Holmes.
Our friend's wonderful for starting a chase,
but he needs an old dog to help him do the running down...
Mr Merryweather, my colleague, Dr Watson.
How do you do, sir?
I hope a wild goose is not the end of our chase.
I'm not in favour of amateur criminal investigators.
You may place confidence in Mr Holmes.
If you say so, Mr Jones.
He has methods which, if he won't mind me saying,
are a little theoretical and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective.
Hah!
But the Coburg branch is as well secured as any building in London.
There's no possibility it could be broken into.
Even insurance assessors agree.
And you should know, being both manager and director.
I should know and I do know.
This is the first time for 27 years that I have missed my Saturday night whist
and I find myself extremely inconvenienced.
I think you will find the game tonight more exciting
and the stake will be for many, many thousands of pounds.
What will my reward be, Mr Holmes?
- A young man called Clay. - John Clay?
I'd like to get my hands on that devil.
You shall.
This fellow's a gentleman, but he's turned against his class.
He's cunning, slippery as an eel
and he's turned crib cracking and forgery into a fine art.
His grandfather was a royal duke
and he himself was educated at Eton and Oxford.
So, Watson? Bring the gun.
Come, gentlemen. Our cab is below.
(Keys jangling)
There are only two keys to the vault.
I have one and the chairman holds the other in his personal safe.
You are certainly not vulnerable from above.
Nor from below.
May I ask you to be a little more quiet?
Might I get you to sit on one of those boxes and not to interfere?
There is no way in which a thief could break into this bank.
Is there a special reason why a thief should want to break into this bank?
- Erm... Nothing particularly... - Something in the past few months?
Something that you have concealed from us.
The information I have is confidential.
It is not to be divulged to members of the public.
Not even amateur detectives.
Private consulting detective, Mr Merryweather.
Unique in the annals of crime. Isn't that so, Inspector?
Yes, Doctor. I'd advise you to cooperate with Mr Holmes.
Especially as I am trying to save your skin
and that of your fellow directors.
So what is it?
Our French gold.
We had occasion to strengthen our resources
and borrowed 60,000 Napoleons from the Bank of France.
Therefore, our reserve of bullion is much larger than is usual
in such a branch of the bank.
Where is this gold?
The crates upon which Dr Watson sits
contain 30,000 napoleons wrapped between layers of lead foil.
May we see?
(Faint banging)
This is much larger and bolder in conception than I had at first thought.
- Wouldn't you say, Jones? - I would indeed.
Clay's more of a spur-of-the-moment criminal.
This long planning's not Clay's style at all.
Unless a pawn in a much larger game.
Mr Merryweather, someone has had access to confidential information.
Careful plans have been laid.
A mastermind has been at work.
Are you suggesting that?
I am suggesting that it bears the hallmarks of Professor Moriarty's work.
Moriarty.
And who is this Moriarty?
We don't really know, sir. That is, we've never set eyes on him.
But his name echoes throughout the underworld.
It appears that he's a man of good birth and excellent education.
But...
he has hereditary tendencies of the most diabolical kind.
A criminal strain runs in his blood,
which is increased and rendered more dangerous
by his extraordinary mental powers.
He's the organiser of half that is evil...
and nearly all that is undetected in this great city.
He is never caught.
His agent is caught, but the central power is never caught.
Seldom even suspected.
We shall not see the professor tonight.
(Banging)
The only escape is through the pawnbroker's.
There's an inspector and a constable at the door, sir.
(Faint clattering)
Gentlemen.
We have only a few moments before...
Would you be so kind as to put out this lamp?
- And sit in the dark? - I'm afraid so.
We cannot risk the presence of light.
When I shine the light, close in swiftly.
If they fire, have no compunction about shooting them down.
- (Gun clicks) - Shh.
(Rattles door)
(Digging noises)
Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump!
It's no good, John Clay.
You have no chance at all.
So I see.
Though I fancy my pal is all right.
He is running into the welcoming arms of the police.
You have done it very completely. I must compliment you.
And I you. I'm Sherlock Holmes, a private investigator.
I didn't for a moment suspect you of being a policeman, Mr Holmes.
- Come on, hold out while... - Take your filthy hands off me.
I have royal blood in my veins.
And be so kind as to say "sir" and "please" when you address me.
Would you please, sir, mind marching upstairs
where we'll get a cab to transport Your Highness to the police station?
That's better.
Gentlemen.
Oh, one question, Mr Clay.
Am I right in thinking that Moriarty
was behind the idea of the Red Headed League?
I suggest you keep that name off your lips, Mr Holmes.
If you value your future well-being.
I don't know what to say.
Please forgive me, Mr Holmes, for ever doubting your qualities.
You have detected and defeated
one of the boldest attempts at bank robbery in my experience.
I have been at some small expense which I shall expect the bank to refund.
Of course. Of course.
Oi!
It won't do, you know.
It won't do.
No, Professor.
I'm sorry we failed you. Sherlock Holmes...
Holmes is a mere amateur in the field of detection.
Still, he seems a clever man.
Or a lucky one.
And he has a positive talent for getting in my way.
- Should he be removed? - That may be necessary.
It would be disappointing. I find him interesting.
I believe this is the third time he has incommoded me.
If it continues, something will have to be done
to encourage Mr Holmes either to withdraw
or stand clear.
Thank you.
(Woman) Lavender! Sweet lavender!
- Morning, constable. - Lavender! Sweet lavender!
Lavender! Sweet lavender!
I beg your pardon, Dr Watson. This has all been too much for me.
My clients respect me as a man of confidence.
But where's the confidence here? I'm ruined!
Cheer up. You'll feel better when you've cleared up the mess.
- That's all very well, but... - Mr Holmes asked me to give you this.
50 sovereigns with the compliments of the City and Suburban Bank.
Well, that's fair enough! Dr Watson, this is more than acceptable.
And my compliments to Mr Sherlock Holmes.
He sends the same to you, Mr Wilson, and a word of advice.
Next time you engage an assistant, pay him the proper wage.
Good day to you.
Oh.
Holmes, I trust I am not more dense than my neighbours.
I have seen what you have seen, heard what you have heard
yet you have seen what was about to happen,
while to me the whole business was confused.
But, Watson, recollect.
When I heard that the assistant had come for half wages,
it was obvious that he had some motive for securing the situation.
But how did you know what it was?
Had there been a woman, I would have suspected some vulgar intrigue,
but when I heard about the acid stain and the pierced ears,
I knew that Vincent Spaulding and John Clay were the same.
- But why was Clay there? - The photography gave you the clue.
Exactly. He was working on something in the cellar.
Something which took many hours a day.
For two months on end he was tunnelling.
But where to?
When I tapped my stick on the pavement in the street,
I was ascertaining whether the tunnel stretched in front or behind.
It was in front - towards the bank.
Could you tell me the way to the Strand?
'I recognised Clay and delayed him to have time to examine his knees.
'They spoke clearly of many hours of tunnelling.
'No doubt linking up with the sewers beneath Saxe Coburg Square.'
Closing the Red Headed League was a sign
that they no longer cared about Wilson's presence.
The tunnel was complete.
And that the attempt was on Saturday was a guess.
Watson... you disappoint me.
I never guess.
Saturday's an excellent night for stealing bullion.
It gives you a full day to escape.
- Thank you, gentlemen. - Thank you.
You've reasoned it out beautifully.
It's so long a chain and yet every link rings true.
It saved me from ennui.
Sometimes I think that my whole life is spent in one long effort
to escape from the commonplaces of existence.
No, no. You are a benefactor of the race, Holmes.
Maybe it is of some little use after all.
"L'homme c'est rien, I'oeuvre c'est tout",
as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand.