(Horses' hooves)
(Telephone rings)
Countess of Morcar's... Thanks.
My God. She's back.
She's getting out of the carriage. Come on, Ryder, get a move on.
All right, Horner. Look lively. Her Ladyship won't want workmen here.
All right. I've finished. Don't worry. Quick job, like you said.
Hurry up.
Oh, yeah. Nice.
- Nice. - Oi.
Come on.
Countess? I'll get "By Appointment" on me barrow!
- Come on, mate, out. - All right.
All right.
(Whistling)
Over there will do.
Here. For the three of you.
Thank you, m'lady. And a merry Christmas, m'lady.
- Ring for tea, Cusack. - Yes, m'lady.
I need something to sustain me.
I do find preparing for Christmas quite an ordeal.
Yes, m'lady.
And then...
a bath, I think.
(Bell rings)
(Screaming)
M'lady?
The blue carbuncle. (Sobs)
The blue carbuncle!
It's stolen.
Open them up. There.
Oh, John. She'll love it.
- It's beautiful. - Just like her mother.
- Can we afford it though? - I told ya.
I made a bob or two lately
Even if I hadn't, it's Christmas.
- You're a good man, John Horner. - I'm a lucky man.
Wife and kids like I've got - man's as good as a king.
So it's the doll for the girl and the boat for the boy, right?
Right.
Spending the loot already, are we, Horner?
What do you mean? I've done nothing.
John Frederick Horner,
I arrest you on the charge of stealing the valuable gem, the blue carbuncle,
the property of the Countess of Morcar.
- I didn't do it, I tell ya! - It's no use, Horner.
We have a very good description of you. Constable.
I didn't do it! I tell ya!
Let me go! I didn't do it!
(Barrel organ plays God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen)
- (Knocking) - Mr Holmes?
- (Grunts)
Mr Peterson, the commissionaire from opposite, he'd like a word.
- Please go away. - Oh.
Huh!
(Wheezing)
I'm sorry to disturb you, Mr Holmes.
Peterson.
Put down your goose.
(Holmes) And... your... your hat.
It's a fine purchase. I myself favour a goose for Christmas dinner.
Well, that's part of the problem, Mr Holmes.
The bird is not mine. You might say I come by it.
Oh.
"For Mrs Henry Baker." Obviously not your hat.
No, sir. Well, there were peculiar circumstances.
It hardly seemed a matter for the police.
So I talked to the wife and she suggested you.
The wise Mrs Peterson.
Sit down, dear fellow, and describe these "peculiar circumstances".
Well, sir, it was like this.
Last night, I was on my way home from a little, er, celebration.
At this time of year, us commissionaires meet to...
- To exchange season's greetings. - Exactly.
- The season's greetings. - Oh, you're a toff, sir.
Oh.
Your good health, sir.
Well, as I was saying... I was on my way home
when I came across what you would only describe as a fracas.
(Men singing drunkenly)
(Singing continues)
'Ere!
(Laughing)
'Ere, look, boys!
Look at his hat, look!
Where did you get that hat? Where did you get that hat?
(lndistinct jeering)
(Glass shatters)
Oi!
- What's happening? - It's a copper! Scarper!
Get out of here!
I'm trying to help you, man!
(Clock chiming)
'The roughs ran off one way and the drunk fellow the other.'
He no doubt thought I was about to apprehend him
for breaking the window.
So you left with the spoils of victory in the shape of that hat and a goose.
Both of which I would have returned to their rightful owners,
but I didn't know how.
My dear Peterson, I do see your problem.
Anyway, as I say, I discussed the matter with the good lady
and we decided I would bring the goose and the hat to you, Mr Holmes.
Seeing as how the slightest problem is of interest to you in your...
particular line of occupation.
I hope you don't think I'm wasting your time.
Not in the least.
- Have you purchased your own bird? - No, not yet.
Then I suggest you carry off this goose so it may fulfil its ultimate destiny
while I retain the hat of the gentleman who has lost his Christmas dinner.
- If you think I should, Mr Holmes. - I do indeed.
For there are signs, in spite of the frost,
that this bird should be prepared without delay.
If that's all right.
I will keep you in touch with developments.
Very good, sir. Oh. May I wish you the compliments of the season?
And to you and your good wife.
But you still haven't found the jewel!
Not yet, no, m'lady. But we do have the man Horner...
Or have a clue as to its whereabouts.
And I think we may assume that he had one accomplice.
If not more.
Well, what of that?
Contrary to popular fiction, there is little honour amongst thieves,
and even less with the right inducement.
Inducement?
Do you mean a reward?
Er... yes.
Why should I offer a reward?
In my experience, and it is considerable,
I have found that the offer of a reward
soon sets the greedy cat amongst the criminal pigeons.
Well?
I should be very surprised if I did not gain a result within 24 hours.
How much?
Holmes? Oh, you're up.
The Countess of Morcar's offering £1,000
for the return of the blue carbuncle.
"Inspector Bradstreet is in charge of the case
"and has arrested a Mr John Horner, a plumber aged 36,
"who protested his innocence in the strongest terms.
"Evidence was so strong that the case has been referred to the assizes.
"Horner, who showed signs of intense emotion during the proceedings,
"faded away at the conclusion and was carried from the court."
Oh, excuse me. You are engaged.
I am interrupting your study of that hat.
No, no, no. The matter is a perfectly trivial one.
But there are points in connection with it which are not devoid of interest.
Even of instruction.
I suppose that homely as it looks, that has some deadly story linked to it.
The clue that will guide you in the solution of a mystery
and the punishment of a crime.
No, no, no. It's just one of those whimsical incidents that will occur
when you have four million people jostling
within the space of a few square miles.
So what do you gather from that battered old felt?
You know my methods.
What do you yourself gather as to the individuality of the man
who has worn this particular article?
It was accompanied by a goose, Watson.
"For Mrs Henry Baker" was printed on a card attached to the bird's left leg.
Oh.
Well, apart from the initials inside - HB -
presumably Henry Baker...
I can see nothing.
Watson, you can see everything, but you fail to reason from what you see.
You are too timid in drawing your inferences.
Then, pray, tell me what it is that you can infer from that hat.
That the man is highly intellectual is, of course, obvious.
And that he was fairly well-to-do within the past three years,
although he has fallen upon evil days.
He had foresight, but less now than formerly,
pointing to a moral retrogression...
which, when taken with the decline in his fortunes,
seems to indicate an evil influence.
Probably drink.
This may explain why his wife has ceased to love him.
My dear Holmes...
He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect.
He leads a sedentary life. He's out of training entirely.
He's middle aged, has grizzled hair,
which he's had cut within the last few days
and which he anoints with lime cream.
It is also highly improbable that he has gas laid on in his house.
Well... Now you are certainly joking.
Not in the least.
I have no doubt that I am very stupid.
How do you deduce that he's intellectual?
It is a question of cubic capacity.
A man with so large a head must have something in it.
Well...
The decline in his fortunes then.
These flat brims came in three years ago.
It is a hat of the very best quality, Watson.
Look at the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining.
If this man could afford this hat and has had no hat since,
then he has gone down in the world.
What of the foresight and the moral retrogression?
Here is the foresight. These securers are never sold upon hats.
If this man ordered one, it is a sign of a certain amount of foresight
to take precaution against the wind.
But as you see, he has broken the elastic and not troubled to replace it.
(Holmes) A weakening nature? Mmm.
The point is that he is middle aged,
that his hair has been cut and that he anoints it with lime cream
can all be gathered from the lining.
Witness the moisture. Obviously a free perspirer.
Therefore not in the best of training.
But... But his... His wife.
You said she had ceased to love him.
This hat has not been brushed for weeks.
When I see a man with a week's accumulation of dust upon his hat,
and his wife has allowed such a state,
I fear that he might have lost her affections.
- He might be a bachelor. - Nay.
He brought a goose as a peace offering to his wife.
Remember the card attached to the bird's leg.
Yes. Well, you have an answer to everything.
Just a minute.
How do you deduce that there is no gas laid on in his house?
One tallow candle stain might come by chance,
but when I see no less than five...
He never got candle stains from a gas jet, Watson.
- Are you satisfied? - It's all very ingenious.
Mr Holmes!
The goose, Mr Holmes.
What of it? Has it come back to life and flapped off?
No, sir. But see...
See what the wife found in its crop.
By jove, Peterson.
This is a treasure trove indeed. You know what you've got?
A diamond, precious stone. Cuts glass like it was putty.
It is more than a precious stone.
It is the precious stone.
The Hotel Cosmopolitan robbery. The blue carbuncle!
The blue carbuncle indeed.
Your reward, Peterson, of £1,000 is not a twentieth of its market price.
£1,000? Oh, Lord have mercy.
You must admit, Watson, that my deductions in regard to this hat
now have a more important aspect.
Yes. Point taken, Holmes.
The question for us now is to trace the sequence of events
from a rifled jewel case at the one end, the crop of a goose at the other.
There is the stone. The stone came from the goose.
The goose came from Mr Henry Baker, the gentleman with the shabby hat.
So now we must set ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman
and to ascertaining what part he had to play in this little mystery.
"Found, at the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat.
"Mr Henry Baker can have same by applying at 6:30
"at 221 b, Baker Street."
- Clear and concise. - Yes, very, but will he see it?
He will read the evening papers. For a poor man, the loss was heavy.
Peterson, nip down to the agency and have this put in the evening papers.
Which ones, sir?
The Globe, Star, Pall Mall, Echo, Evening News, Standard and others.
Right away, sir. And the stone?
I shall keep the stone. Thank you, Peterson.
Oh, and Peterson?
Pick up a goose. Give him the money, Watson.
We must give something to Henry Baker
to take the place of the one your family will be devouring.
Thank you, sir. £1,000?
£1,000.
£1,000, eh?
£1,000.
Erm...
What will you do with the stone?
I shall keep it...
in my museum.
Well, Horner...
Her Ladyship is not at all pleased with me.
You're under lock and key but she'd rather her blue carbuncle was.
I never took it, Inspector.
Well, tell me what you did with it
and I'll put in a good word at your trial, but if you don't...
I've been on the straight since I married Jennie.
If you don't, and when the judge hears about your previous conviction,
you might never see your pretty wife again.
I've got you, Horner, but I need that jewel!
It's a bonny thing.
Just see how it glints and sparkles.
It is a nucleus and focus of crime.
Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet baits.
In the larger and older jewels, every facet may stand for a bloody deed.
"It was found in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China
"and is remarkable in having every characteristic of the carbuncle
"save that it is blue instead of ruby red.
"This stone is not yet 20 years old."
(Holmes) Hmmm.
In spite of its youth, it already has a sinister history.
Two murders, a vitriol throwing, a suicide and several robberies
brought about by this 40-grain weight of crystallised charcoal.
Who would think that so pretty a toy
could be a purveyor to the gallows and the prison?
- (Knocking) - Quickly.
Come in.
(Holmes) Mr Henry Baker, I believe.
Please... draw near the fire.
I observe your circulation is more adapted for summer than for winter.
Do sit down.
- This is my colleague, Dr Watson. - How do you do, sir?
Mr Baker.
Is that your hat?
Oh, yes. It is undoubtedly my hat.
Thank you, sir.
I would have advertised its loss,
but shillings have not been so plentiful as they once were.
I had no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me
had carried off both my hat and the bird.
I did not care to spend more money in an attempt at recovering them.
That is very understandable. By the way...
About your bird.
We were compelled to eat it.
To eat it?
It would have been of little use to anyone had we not done so.
But we have another goose which will answer your purpose equally well.
It is about the same weight and perfectly fresh.
Yes, most certainly.
We have kept the feathers, legs, crop and so on of your own bird.
They might be useful as relics of my adventure,
but I can hardly see what use the "disjecta membra"
of my old acquaintance could possibly be to me.
I shall confine my attentions
to the excellent bird which I perceive upon your sideboard.
I would like to know where the other bird came from.
I am somewhat of a fowl fancier
and I have seldom seen a better grown bird.
It would be of interest to me to know how it came into your possession.
It was the goose club.
The goose club?
(Holmes) The exact circumstances. (Baker) I...
I am not a rich man, as you see,
but I make a humble and respectable living in the British Museum.
Erm... Studying?
Studying, you might say.
Helping others with their studies. I have a certain knowledge of books.
That day, sir, I had finished work early and left the museum in the afternoon.
'I had business to attend to before calling in at the Alpha public house.
'Several of us who work in the museum frequent that establishment
'and this year our good host, Mr Windigate,
'had instigated a goose club,
'by which, on consideration of some few pence each week,
'we were to receive a bird at Christmas.'
There we are, Mr Baker, a very fine bird, as promised.
A magnificent specimen indeed, landlord.
Put you back in the wife's good books, eh?
Yes. Well, she is still somewhat irked with me, I'm afraid.
However, things will doubtless improve
when I am once more in gainful employment.
Of an academic nature, of course.
I have expectations.
Now, I owe you one last payment of eight pennies, eh?
Struck it rich, have we?
I chanced upon an acquaintance of sympathetic disposition.
That is to say, I sold some of my books.
Ah.
Not your books, Mr Baker?
Needs must, Mr Windigate, and at this season of the year
we must not deprive those we love.
Or even those to whom we are married.
So if you will set aside this impressive peace offering,
I shall fortify myself
with a large glass of whisky and a pint of your excellent beer.
A merry, merry Christmas to you.
Same to you, Mr Baker.
- Here we are, my dear. - Gawd bless ya, sir.
Come on. Inside. Come into the warm.
Well, sir, on my way home, I was attacked by the gang of roughs
who I believed had stolen the goose.
My hat came off in the scuffle.
I remember little of it save that a uniformed officer appeared
and we all made off...
- We quite understand. - In the circumstances.
Well, all's well that ends well.
I am most indebted to you, sir, for your trouble.
A Scottish bonnet, I fear, is fitted neither to my years nor to my dignity.
My compliments of the season to you, sir.
And to you too, sir.
Oh, thank you, sir.
Oh, by the way, do you have gas laid on in your house?
Gas? Alas, no.
Jolly good. Merry Christmas.
And to you both, gentlemen.
So much for Mr Henry Baker. He obviously knows nothing of the matter.
Ah, Mrs Hudson. Watson, do you need nourishment?
- Not particularly. - Splendid.
We shall turn dinner into supper and follow up this clue while it is still hot.
Which is more than the supper will be.
(Voices)
Good evening, gentlemen. And a very cold one.
It is indeed, landlord.
- What shall be your pleasure? - Beer, Watson?
- What? Oh, yes. - Two of your best glasses of beer.
Right away, sir.
Your beer should be excellent if it's as good as your geese.
Geese, sir?
Yes, we were talking half an hour ago to Mr Henry Baker,
a member of your goose club.
- Yes, but them's not our geese. - Whose then?
I got the whole two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden.
- Who might that be? - Name of Breckendridge.
A purveyor of the finest quality.
If it's a bird you're after, I'd get to him as soon as poss.
It's a very busy time of year.
Well, thank you so much for your advice.
Will you have a glass of beer with us?
Well... God bless you for a gentleman.
- Now for Mr Breckendridge. - Can't it wait?
We have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police
and chance has placed in our hands.
- Let us follow it to the bitter end. - Extremely bitter.
Faces to the south, then, and quick march!
- Please... - I want to believe you, John.
I do, really.
But how can I with what the police are saying?
They're only saying that cos I was there on the day.
- It's a put-up job. - Is that really the truth?
I promised when I married ya I'd never tell you a lie.
I've kept my promise and I always will.
I want to believe ya.
- (Band plays badly) - God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember...
Come and get your turkey.
Here you are, turkeys. The last few.
Fresh this morning. Gotta clear 'em by tonight.
- Two pence a pound. - Where else can you get that, eh?
(Sellers continue shouting)
- (Holmes) Good evening. - Good evening.
- Sold out of geese, I see. - Yeah.
- Can let you have 500 in the morning. - Too late.
See the stall with the gas fire? Try him.
But I was recommended to you.
Oh? Who by?
The landlord at the Alpha.
Oh, yeah. He had a couple of dozen off me.
Very good geese too.
Where, may I ask, did you get them?
Mister, what are you driving at? Let's have it straight now.
It's straight enough.
Who sold you the geese that you supplied to the Alpha?
Well, I'm not gonna tell you, so now!
Well, it really is of no matter.
But I fail to see why you should get so warm over a trifle.
Warm? You'd be as warm if you were as pestered as I am.
When I pay good money for a good article that should be it,
but it's "Where are the geese?" "Who have you sold 'em too?"
You'd think they was the only geese in the world.
I have no connection with anybody else who's made enquiries.
Enquiries? It's more like the Inquisition. I'm not telling you.
Ah. Well, then... the bet's off.
What bet?
- No matter. - Ah... what bet?
Well, I'm always ready to back my opinion in the matter of fowls
and I have a fiver with my friend here
that the bird that I chose is country bred.
- Right, Watson? - What? Oh. Yes, absolutely.
You've lost your money then, cos it's town bred.
- It is nothing of the kind. - I say it is.
- I don't believe you. - Come on. Pay up, Holmes.
You think I wouldn't know? I've been handling fowl since I was a nipper.
All the birds that went to the Alpha were town bred.
I'll never believe that.
- Come on. Do the decent, Holmes. - Will you have a bet then?
It'd be just taking your money.
A sovereign just to teach you not to be obstinate.
Done!
Right.
Now then, Mr Cocksure. You see these books here?
This is a list of all the folk what I buy off.
On this page is all me country folk
and these in red ink are all my town suppliers.
Now you read out that third name down to me.
"Mrs Oakshott, 117 Brixton Road..."
Yeah. Account number 249. Go on, then. Turn it up in the ledger.
"Mrs Oakshott, egg and poultry supplier."
What's her last entry?
"24 geese at seven and sixpence.
"Sold to Mr Windigate, the Alpha public house."
So... what have you got to say now?
(Sighs)
- (Coin jangles) - What about this gentleman's fiver?
(Man) Charlie, give us a hand! (2nd man) Hang on a minute.
I'm busy at the moment.
Well done, Holmes. Shall we see this Mrs Oakshott tonight?
Not you again! I've had enough of you. I told you before, clear off!
There were two grey-headed geese...
I've had enough of you and those geese. I wish you was all at the devil.
If you come pestering me, I'll set the dog on you.
Look here. Mrs Oakshott told me...
You bring Mrs Oakshott here and I'll answer her,
but did I buy the geese off you?
No, but one of them was mine all the same.
Go and ask Mrs Oakshott for it.
She told me to ask you.
You can ask the King of Prussia for all I care. I've had enough. Go on!
This may save us a trip to Brixton.
Excuse me, but I could not help overhearing the conversation you had.
I think I can be of assistance to you.
You? Who are you?
My name is Sherlock Holmes. I know what other people don't know.
- You know nothing of it. - On the contrary. I know everything.
I know that you are trying to find some geese,
sold by Mrs Oakshott of Brixton Road to our friend Mr Breckendridge there,
who then sold them to Mr Windigate of the Alpha public house.
Sir, you are the very man I've longed to meet.
I can hardly explain to you my interest in the matter.
Then I suggest that we carry on this conversation in rather more comfort.
Cab!
Come in. Take my chair.
I will just put on my slippers.
We should know the name of the gentleman
whom we have the pleasure of assisting.
- John Robinson. - Oh, no, no. Your real name.
It is awkward doing business with an alias.
Well, then, my real name's Ryder. James Ryder.
Yes, Mr Ryder. Upper attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan.
Yes.
You would like to know what happened to these geese?
Or rather one goose in particular. White with a grey head?
Oh, sir, can you tell me where it went to?
It came here.
- Here? - Sadly it is no longer here.
But it laid an egg... after it was dead.
The bonniest, brightest little blue egg you have ever seen.
Come.
I have it here.
Here. You see?
The game's up, Ryder.
Stand up, man! You'll be in the fire.
What a wretched little shrimp it is.
There's not enough blood in him for felony.
I have almost every link in the chain, Ryder. You need tell me very little.
Catherine Cusack put me up to it.
- Her Ladyship's maid. - (Holmes) Exactly.
You knew Horner had been concerned in some matter before,
so what did you do?
You made some small job in my lady's room.
You and your confederate Cusack.
You then managed that Horner should be sent for,
but you...
you stole the jewel.
You raised the alarm and had this man arrested...
For God's sake, Mr Holmes, have mercy.
Think of my father, think of my mother. It'll break their hearts.
I will never go wrong again. I swear it on the Bible.
Oh! Don't bring me to court, Mr Holmes, for God's sake. Don't do that to me.
Get back into your chair. You may cringe and crawl now.
What of the man you sent to the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing?
I'll fly, Mr Holmes. I'll leave the country.
Then the charge against him will all break down.
Hm.
We'll talk about that later. Now, tell me...
How came the stone into the goose
and how came the goose to the market?
Tell me the truth for that is your only hope.
I'll tell it to you just as it happened.
I thought it was best to get away with the stone quickly.
I didn't know at what moment the police might not decide to search me.
'There was nowhere safe in the hotel,
'so I went out as if on some commission
'and made for my sister's house to think things over.'
Why, Jem, whatever is it? You look terrible.
I've had a bit of a turn, Maggie. There's been a robbery at the hotel.
You'd better come in.
'I went through into the backyard where she kept the geese.
'I smoked a pipe and wondered what to do.
'I knew my stomach wouldn't stop feeling like a bag of ferrets
'till I found somewhere to hide the stone.
'When, suddenly, I looked at the geese huddling in the corner of the yard.
'My sister told me I might have the pick of her geese for Christmas.
'I picked out one of the birds - a fine big one with a grey head.
'I pushed the stone down its throat as far as I could reach.
'I thought all my troubles was over, when... '
Whatever are you doing with that bird, Jem?
Oh, er...
You said I might have one, so I was feeling which was fattest.
We already set yours aside. "Jem's bird", we call it.
Er, yeah. If it's all the same to you, I'd rather have that one I was handling.
That one's three pound heavier. We fattened it up expressly.
Yeah. Never mind. I'll take the other and I'll take it now.
Just as you like. Which one is it?
- That grey-headed one. - Very well.
Kill it and take it with you.
I did what she said, Mr Holmes, and carried the bird to my pal.
We got a knife and opened it up...
and my heart turned to water.
There was no sign of the stone
and I knew some terrible mistake had occurred.
- Where they all gone? - To the dealer's.
- Which dealer? - Breckenridge of Covent Garden.
Tell me, just tell me, was there another one which had a grey head?
That's right. Two. I could never tell 'em apart, I couldn't.
Well, what's the matter? What's all the hurry?
I ran as hard as my feet would carry me to Breckenridge,
but he'd sold the lot and not one word would he say as to where they'd gone.
I thought I'd go mad.
And now I'm a branded thief...
without ever having touched the wealth
for which I sold my character.
God help me.
(Ryder sniffs)
Get out.
What?
Heavens bless you, sir.
No more words.
Get out.
I must confess, Holmes, to being a little surprised.
I am not retained by the police to supply their deficiencies!
Maybe I am committing a felony but I may be saving a soul.
Send him to jail, he'll be a jailbird for life.
- (Bells peal) - It is the season of forgiveness.
Midnight.
- Merry Christmas, Holmes. - And to you, my dear friend.
Just a minute.
Holmes, I cannot contemplate eating while John Horner is still on remand.
Do you suppose that Bradstreet or one of his colleagues might be there?
Well... You're quite right, Watson. Come, let's go.