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The Eligible Bachelor (1993)
Yelling No.
No. No. No. No. It's as if the asylum had vanished. The misery that must behind those walls. There's no escape from the terrors of the mind. Indeed. Well another case concluded. [unintelligible] An observant child could have solved it. Good Luck with the seminar and thank you. It's a privilege my dear fellow if it's a successful case after all. And Holmes, don't be bored. Glovin castle. Glovin. It's so beautiful Robert. I never expected it to be so beautiful and it's really always belonged to your family? For about 4 or 5 hundred years or so. I want to see it. No Hettie. Why can't I see it? My darling girl you don't understand, I can't just drop in at Glovin. Neither can you. You maybe utterly divine and impossibly rich but you can't. But why can't I? You own it, you're Lord St. Simon, it's your house. It's an ancestral home, which is mine. You see it's the servants who really live there. Actually every one of them has spent more of their life in Glovin than I have. And I won't have them put out. I see, so even when we're married if I want to visit I have to send on ahead? Yes, preferably a day or two ahead. Oh, I didn't realize, like royalty. Yes. Will it be all right Robert? What my darling? That I mind about me at what I am and where I come from, the servants I mean and your family? They already think of you as being one of the exotic. But I'm a miner's daughter from a mining camp. Pa might have been digging gold out there but it still makes me a miner's daughter. Doesn't matter. Perfect education for the country life, you'll have the whole county at your feet, as you have me. Oh my, will you look at that. What's it doing here? There's always been some sort of zoo at Glovin. My latter fellow's interest to keep it going. You know I have a fancy that cat's from the Americas like you. Actually he's come to welcome here. You wild and beautiful thing. Not half as wild and beautiful as you. Water. Water into dust. Come on. Amelia why don't you let her give the dog to me? No, no, she stays with me. She might get under the horses. It's a wonder we got here at all. Its arrived and so have they. How much did you say? What did you say? They sent the child to Paris. What for? To school. Yes Americans do send their daughters to Paris, that's what I was given to understand. You know in my experience Paris breaths either triviality or philosophy. Neither helpful companion in life. No I suppose not. Well at least the child is not an actress. Oh Florence Ours, ours, ours. Now, now Hettie, they're your future family. They want to like you. They want to like Lord Robert's future bride. Stop being so silly Hettie. Oh Alice, but Alice have you seen those women? Now Hettie Doran I'd like to remind you of a certain incident which occurred in Tompkins Gulch not 2 years ago. The bear. Alice I was scared to death. Awe, you faced that bear down you did. I couldn't move I tell you. You faced him down. You believed in yourself and you did it. Now you get down those stairs. My dear Henrietta you cannot live at Glovin. Why not? Because Glovin isn't fit for habitation. But it's just perfect. We'll soon get it round. I say it's the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Don't you remember how lovely it was when all the men came with their scythes to mow the hay in the park and the summer parties? Every lamp in the house was lit and outside the smell of the hay in the moonlight, you remember? Yes, yes. I remember. Dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, my father has run away. Please will you help me find him? Timothy. My cat Boswald is missing. Money no object. Well I'll tell you what I actually think. I think she's extraordinarily pretty that's what I think. And I think Robert is head over heels in love. I agree. That's what I think. And Bella thinks so too don't you my angel? Bella says Miss.Doran is very [unintelligible]. Very [unintelligible]. Dear Henrietta you mustn't take what Amelia says too seriously. I didn't hear a word of all that. Robert so deserves you my dear. He's been unlucky in love and he's business... Hush, Mary, remember? Why can't I finish what I was going to say? When do we dine? Exquisite. Exquisite. Get off me. Come here you. Get off me. Get off me. No. You've merely imagined all these dreadful things Oswald. It was your imagination. This agony's been too much for you. Hello Mr. Holmes. May I? Yes but there rehearsing... At home with your own mother. My blessed boy. Everything is yours for the asking just like when you were a little child. The fit is over now. Mother, give me the suns. Oswald what is the matter? Look at me. Do you not know me? The sun. The sun. No. No. No. We are being watched? I will not rehearse in front of strangers. Get over there. Go on your way. Come on. What are you looking for then? Mind your own business. It's not Lord Robert's. It's our 7th anniversary isn't it? 7 years. Your damned anniversary not his. You know it, he knows it and the cat knows it. What's the matter with you? Get out. Go and get me another bottle go on. I'm not his whore to be paid off. He trusted me. I'm not your whore my Lord. No. Come and use your whore my Lord. You'll never have anyone who'll do what you want like me. Thank you. You'll pardon me mam if I don't join you in drinking that French chateau wine. I guess it's too refined for my taste. Some would say too civilized. I'll drink you're health but it'll be in Samuel Markoolin's rye. Smoky kind of whiskey. I travel it with me all over. How very wise Mr. Doran. Very wise. If one has an established taste why then... just say...just say. The wine sir is magnificent. Bless you. You know don't you I've settled a considerable amount on Hettie for when she's married? She's very conscious of your generosity sir. She's mentioned it more than once. Sure. Now tell me about this house of yours. Great house, sad looking they tell me. I'll accept that but I'm not prepared to lay out more for the time I spend there. Hettie has told me how beautiful it is. I think she'd like it to be one of her homes. I would want to please Hettie in any way I can but I'm not sure that living in Glovin is possible. Why not? You've always been very frank with me so I'll admit something to you. When I was much younger and barely had a grasp of affairs I was very badly advised, financially I mean. In what way? I was persuaded to sell off outlying parts of Glovin until there wasn't enough income from the estate to sustain the house. Then mortgages were taken out to repair things which left even less income. And nobody warned you of the consequences? I trusted my advisors. They were my father's advisors. When you grow up in a place a Glovin it seems eternal. Sure I see that? I'll be off then Miss Miller and I hope you'll do the same. Cause there's no point in you doing otherwise. Well rid me of this troublesome woman. Are you my savior? I do say get out. Here this should kick things off for you to make a start at Glovin. How very generous sir. You look after my girl. I'll look after your house. The Park Club. The Park Club. Vincent. Thank you. Go. Go. Remember our agreement my Lord. This quarter's payment or I will foreclose the mortgages. I have to be married later this morning Callahan. The bride's father is the richest man on the Pacific slope. Anything she wants he'll give her as long as I keep her happy. Oh yes keep her very happy man. My partner and I have no wish to own Glovin. Please don't force us to take it. Rest assured that you will never come to that. You'll excuse me gentlemen. Thank you Mrs. Hudson. Is that look of reproach? No. No I'm often up at this hour. I don't really sleep these days. Scale. The scale of the chair and the sense of the stain of the chair. Thank you. May all the best to you. Good luck. Awe, leave the goddamn thing alone. Thank you for coming Doctor. Why didn't you call me earlier? Well I didn't what to... oh dear, oh dear. He won't admit it of course, but he's not well. I'm very worried about him. You should have called me earlier. But he wouldn't have it. Do you know how masterful he is? I didn't dare disobey him. Oh dear. Holmes? Holmes? What do you know about dreams? Why do you ask? Why? I'm walking through infernal territory and you ask why? I only meant. I don't know what I meant. Well there's a group in Vienna Iead by a young doctor called Freud, a psychologist, [speaking German]. Please don't look at them. They are merely scribbles for reference. Does he seek to explain dreams? To interpret them I believe so. There relationship to the life a dreamer. They aim to be scientific I gather. The science of dreams, well, well, well. My dream is horrible. I'm fighting with Moriarty at the Falls and suddenly I'm overwhelmed with a sense of loss, fear. Yes fear. Empty rooms, I've no sense of scale. A huge chair, which diminishes. It's upholstery torn to shreds. I'm starting to escape from a marsh, a mire, a quagmire. The Grimpen Mire and it appears than an androgynous creature, witch like, hag like, with claws, talons, which reach out to me, through me and I'm trapped in a mesh of cobwebs. And I awake. Hum, are you eating? You sleep badly, you have bad dreams, you sleep even worse. I don't have bad dreams; I have one dream more than once. Well let's see how you really are. Please don't start that. And I'll tell you something else I regret Moriarty's death. Tell me how would you describe Moriarty? Evil. A giant of evil. Giant, yes quite so. Without him I have to deal with distressed children, cat owners, pygmies, pygmies of triviality. You see, Moriarty combined science with evil. Organization with precision. Vision with perception. I know of only one person that he misjudged. Me. Put away your medicines. How was your seminar? Lively. There's something wrong with the child. She is as nervous as a cat. Hat? Oh yes. Amelia does look curious in a hat. I never thought of it before. Even you were nervous as a bride. Oh it's not that, there's something wrong. I was about to announce my lady. Oh give me 2 or 3 minutes would you? Very well my lady. Get that girl for me. Get her. Get her! Where is your timidity Miss Miller? In the cold gutter of your heart Lord Robert. Trampled in the gutter. But why? I wish the child joy of you. Look Bella there's the famous Flora Miller, she used to be a friend of Robert's but I don't think she likes him anymore. I can explain everything. It was a it was a long time ago. Who are you? She's not upstairs. Go away. The house has been searched now top to bottom. Not a sign of Hettie anywhere. Nothing. Alice? One of Mrs. Doran's cloaks is missing sir. Nothing else. No sir not even a purse. Thank you Alice. Sir. We must call the police. What about this woman of yours, this actress, could she have anything to do with it? I don't know. I don't know. I'll get the police. Do you have any objection? No. Where are you? Oh my darling. Well, well, well. Hmm. I've told you what you should be doing is eating properly. Come in. This has come. It is marked 'Most Urgent.' Mrs. Hudson I can still see. Are you all right Mr. Holmes. You know I wish I'd never unlocked the door. No. Well it's got a personal autograph. That's an improvement. This morning's mail was from a fishmonger and a tidewaiter. Well that's a fashionable epistle indeed. My dear Sherlock Holmes, Lord Blackwater tells me that I may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. Scotland Yard is already acting in this matter and there is no objection to you It's about that Lord St. Simon wedding. Yes dull, dull, dull. Azure, 3 caltrops in chief over a fess sable. That's him alright. It's Lord St. Simon, he's early. Watson I'm trying to sleep. You know my methods. Leave the door open. Where is Holmes huh? Mr. Holmes is indisposed my Lord. He has entrusted the preliminaries to me. I know his methods. Very well. Very well. Apart from the distress this has caused me you understand the delicacy? Indeed. Indeed. Lord Blackwater said that Mr. Holmes has handled cases of this sort before though hardly I imagine from the same class of society. He would in fact be descending. Sir. On Mr. Holmes' last client to the sort was a King. Very well Watson. Huh, I had no idea. Which King? Well you can understand my Lord that he extends to the affairs of other clients the same secrecy, which he's promised you in yours. Of course. How are we to find her sir? How can she of disappeared? Where is she? I must have her back. A woman obscured. It was after the ceremony outside the church that first noticed that something was wrong. As you came out and not before? No. And as she came in? She appeared a little apprehensive but she looked quite lovely and very happy. If I remember rightly the newspapers implied that Miss Miller was drunk when she made the scene at your front door. As far as I could judge yes it was likely. My Lord would it be in order to ask the nature of your relationship with Miss Miller? Yes. If somewhat naive she was my mistress. We parted some months ago. I was I believe generous. And that is when you met Miss Doran? Before in fact. Miss Miller's drinking had already led to some scenes. She was becoming very unreliable. Do you think... Do you think Miss Miller's the sort of person to seek revenge on you beyond embarrassing you a bit? Drink affects people unpredictably. But the chap at Scotland Yard also believes Miss Miller to be implicated in Hettie's disappearance. Hadn't you better answer the door sir? What? I know I know Mr. Holmes, the circumstances are odd though. I felt you should see this. The woman was lady no doubt about it. There was something about her, compelling I call it, most compelling. Thank you Mrs. Hudson? Never mind her clothes and her veil it was her voice. She was a lady. Did you say she wore a veil? Yes sir. Mrs. Hudson I have a faint, cold fear runs through my veins. Oh sir. Would you put a match to the fire? Of course. Thank you Mrs. Hudson. Now Lord Robert. If I were to mention the names Maud and Helena to you would they mean anything? Certainly they would. They are names of the 2 women to whom Lord Robert was previously married. Married? You were married? Forgive my friend's surprise my Lord. Why didn't you tell me? You said you wanted to sleep. Well I'm wide-awake now. But your known. Even celebrated as one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. I never chose to be celebrated Mr. Holmes. I have always been very contented that my marriages be kept from the public gaze Mr. Holmes. Why? They were not comfortable experiences. Hum, comfortable? Painful indeed. Painful? That is what I said Mr. Holmes. They have no bearing on the matter in hand. Would you oblige me then by telling me how your marriages ended? The first, ended in my wife's death. The second by annulment. I see. And the grounds of the annulment. It was annulled Mr. Holmes. Watson will you fetch Mrs. Hudson? Mrs. Hudson? Yeah. I want you to describe to me the lady who delivered the note. Thank you. But I'll try sir. No you must do more than try Mrs. Hudson. You must succeed. Well...she...Iook...Iook sir, on the other side of the street that's her. Come Watson. Drive on. Oh. Stop. Stop. Holmes Damn! Damn! I despair. What is it? A tram tickets and an accounts book. Its just figures. No address. Lady Hettie gone what of Maude and Helena. Out of the way Mrs. Hudson. Oh Doctor. [unintelligible] something about losing a relative. To lose one's parents maybe considered unfortunate. That's it. that's what the veiled lady was trying to advise. To lose one wife maybe considered unfortunate but to lose 3? Begins to look like carelessness. Rank carelessness Watson. Freaky. Who is this woman? I must read your notes on Lord Robert. Oh be reasonable Watson I will eat. You're not Leaving this room you need rest. Rest? Well then you'll have to interview Doran tomorrow morning. All right. The science of dreams. What an undiscovered language. Like our ancestors thought of them. Prophetic. Yes you may look. Precognisense. This little book, we must wait until it dries. The woman with the veil she must be found. I'm sorry to disturb you sir. Inspector Montgomery, I wonder if you could identify this. I understand the young lady was wearing her wedding dress when she left the house. Yes that's Hettie's wedding dress. I'm grateful to you for your time. Not at all. I've been told a visit to Mr. Holmes is always entertaining if nothing else. Levington Spa? What's Lastrad doing at Levington Spa? Taking the waters. Oh sorry to see you laid up Mr. Holmes. Must cramp your style no end. Never mind. We've not been idle. I've arrested Miss Flora Miller for questioning. But Miss Miller is playing a leading role in the West End. Why? Flora Miller was seen at the wedding. Then she came looking for the victim. She attacked Lord Robert and then she was seen with Miss Doran shortly after she left her house but she'll tell us nothing about it, nothing. And there's this Mr. Holmes, You know where to come as soon as you can. I will wait all day. And its signed 'F.M.' Fairly conclusive wouldn't you say? Where'd you find this? In the pocket of the wedding dress. You're looking at the wrong side. I know what's on the other side. Excuse me what is your name? Montgomery. Inspector. Oh an inspector. This is torn from a hotel bill. Rooms 8 shillings breakfast 2 and 6. Cocktails a shilling luncheon 2 and 6 a glass of sherry, 8 pence. I have looked at that, there's nothing in it. I know very few hotels that would dare to charge 8 pence for a glass of sherry, however inspector I would like to interview please, Miss Miller. You're welcome to her. Good day Mr. Holmes, Doctor Watson, Inspector. Oh and good luck. Good luck to you. The thought of a Lastrad, Ioose at Levington Spa I do hope his wife went with him. I need your hip flask and a small bottle of gin. Gin? That hotel bill, the message, it must have been passed some how to Miss Doran in the church. Question one, how? Question two, by who? Clearly by the person she went to meet. With the initials 'F.M.' Flora Miller. I wonder. Mr. Holmes, the evidence is looking increasingly good against Miss Miller. I now have this gentlemen's evidence. May I introduce Mr. George Tidy? How do you do sir? He's the senior porter at the Park Club. He's prepared to testify that Miss Miller took a shot with a pistol at Lord St. Simon on the night before his wedding. If true, its most intriguing. Oh it's true all right. Oh it's true all right. Mr. Tidy has the proof. The bullet. There. A pocket gun wouldn't you say but not Miss Miller's. Not Miss Miller's? No it's certainly not. The gun is yet to be invented that can shoot around corners Inspector. Well someone took a shot here. Of course they did now Mr. Tidy who do you think attempted this murder. I've no idea sir. But there were several other people about. But I noticed that the door of his Lordship's carriage banged at the same time as the gun went off. But what really alerted me was the chips coming out of the stone. Well naturally after that I had to turn and there she was, Miss Miller I mean, staring at me furious. As though you thought it was she who had fired the shot? Very natural, however it was not. Person or persons unknown. And who the devil are you? Miss Miller? I am acutely aware that you should not be here. I'm glad to hear it. I'm Sherlock Holmes at your service. Only service you could do me is to be carrying a bottle. Watson. Well, well what an extraordinary civilized citizen you turn out to be then. I am here to investigate the disappearance of Lady St. Simon. The child simply had the common sense to see what she was letting herself in for. And what was she letting herself in for? A life with Lord Robert St. Simon. Can you describe what that might entail? I told the child all about it. I can't quite remember. It's been a long day. I was very tired. God knows what I said to her. I don't remember. Dear Mr. Holmes, I Agnes Northcote, being of sound mind and body... You observed Miss Hettie Doran leave the house, you introduced yourself to her. You walked together in the park. You warned her against Lord St. Simon. Yes. Did she try to defend Sir Simon to you? No. Not at all? All she said was thank you that has decided me. Oh, go on. You took her back to the theatre and sent out for some clothes? Yes. Had she money with her? No, I bought the clothes and I gave her a couple of sovereign. That was very good of you. Not at all. She told me her father would reimburse it all. She wrote a note to him for me. Ah a note. Now can you tell me anything about Lord St. Simon's previous marriages? Nothing. Nothing? Nothing. I live for the present and nothing else is a waste of time. You know nothing about his first wife's death? Nothing. The second marriage was annulled, do you know why? No. Well an annulment usually takes place when there's unfitness in one of the partners. Do you know what that might be? No. No? Nothing? You're not permitted to discuss anything? No. May I ask why? No. Not any a man should be worthy of such love. Is it passion? Fear? Oh I see Miss Miller it's both. I apprise you I shall do my best to see that you are released from this nonsensible confinement. Miss Miller? I'll do it. It is nearly ready You know the disappearance of Doran's daughter ought to be a simple matter. It should solve itself without further assistance. But what about Lord Robert? What has he done to warrant 3 avenging angels, witches? Witches? Well a woman obscured. Perhaps time is shaped. We cannot dream the future. Oh maybe the future is all around us, I'm ready. Coming. It's a pity there's so little in this. Just a few figures and initials. No doubt you'll find more. Oh look. It's like a delicate membranes of a butterfly. Oh the poor woman is destitute. Destitute. Ah their's rage on this page. Look how she's torn the paper. Oh what have we here? A thread. A seamstress? Lace maker? Web maker? Ah she reads. Bronte, Jane Austen and Sophocles. Coming. The woman with the veil, she's back. Mr. Sherlock Holmes? Yes I am he. We've met before. I am Agnes Northcote. Miss Northcote. What have you to say to me? Before I can tell you that I must know your connection with Lord St. Simon. None. Watson? We are investigating his wife's disappearance. Oh you must not find her. Such an edict requires justification. No woman with a fortune is safe from him believe me. Believe me. Really? Well I'm afraid I am burdened with a rational turn of mind, I need proofs. Miss Northcote I need proofs. I have no proof only my conviction and experiences not just my own. Conviction well that's a luxury that I have almost forgotten. You clearly have much to tell us Miss Northcote please, please sit down. I have about my sister. Shall I tell you what happened to her? That is why I came. Helena was more alive than anyone I've ever met. She had her fortune she was in charge of her fate, as few women are, until she met Lord Robert St. Simon. He destroyed her. He took her fortune, he married her and he destroyed her. How? He had her committed to a mad house. It required only the signature of 2 doctors and the deed was done. When was this? It could not happen today, we have the Lunacy Act. Oh could it not? Well that's as maybe but the act came too late for my sister and when the Lunacy Act became enforced he still had her put away. People can't just be put away. They can if you're uncle is a Duke. If you're handsome and plausible under the terms of your precious act I demanded that conditions of her confinement were inspected and so they were. A small but learned committee went to Glovin eventually. Helen. Knowing what they wanted to find and of course they found it. Charmed by the compassionate Lord Robert who had kept his wife a profoundly depressed person. Once beautiful now sadly destructed in conditions that can only be wondered at for their cleanliness, they're orderliness, their quality of nursing and so on. Only one thing was amiss, it was not my sister. Helena was not mad. It was not her. He'd hired someone. Flora Miller. Robert! It was not my sister. It was not her. And where is she now? I went to Glovin myself. I had to find the truth. My reward was this. Miss Northcote? Did you discover the truth? No. I did not know how to. I was blind with anger and grief. I have no recollection of even how I got there. I only know that I found myself one day walking through the gates of that accursed place. I was left in part of the wood where the animals are kept so it might look as though I had been attacked by one of them after ignoring notices not to. I was found by some cottagers. And kept alive. I would thank you to find out whether my sister was alive or not. I only live a half-life for not knowing. Nothing seems to break the gray cycle I live in. Nothing I do. Nothing. I walk the streets at night, Iooking for danger. Sometimes I think I'm asking the world to hurt me so I can feel alive. Good God what else may I've dreamt? The laundry? Miss Northcote will you satisfy me upon one point? If I can. You're meanderings, nocturnal meanderings, do they ever take you past the Park Club? Lord St. Simon was shot at on the night before his wedding that was you? Couldn't bear to see another life destroyed. Lord Robert's wife, first wife, was murdered. Murdered? She also had a fortune. She was robbed and killed shortly after their honeymoon in France. By who? A man called Thomas Floutier. Was he convicted? Yes but he escaped and where is he now? Where do you think he is? Any idea? Glovin. No I don't know... I don't know. I have no proof. Just the strength of your convictions. Yes. Miss Northcote I'm afraid the sound of your shot never reached the ears of our noble bachelor. The thrice married Lord St. Simon. I cannot expect you to understand how much I envy you. A delight it must be to face an opponent of some worth. Excuse me. Mrs. Hudson? Is he really going to help? Oh yes. He already is. Bella was in the church. Weren't we my sweetness, I smuggled Bella in. She was as good as gold. Did anything occur? Oh nothing occurred out of the ordinary. I'll assure you. Please try to remember. Oh yes, sweet little Hettie dropped her bouquet you know. And had it picked up for her. Dropped her bouquet. He was quite an attractive, the one who picked it up I mean. One of the Doran's I suppose. He looked American at any rate. Thank you. Duarte. You don't I suppose have another heiress up your sleeve? Damn you Callahan. The newspapers you see reported a scene of disgusting vulgarity on your father in-law's doorstep. I wonder how you'll explain that to him? Doran doesn't think me uninnocent. He accepted my story. It was clear to everyone that Miss Miller was drunk. And managed to obtain from my partners a temporary stay of execution. That's all a day or two? You must have proof. Proof of what for God's sake? Proof that the Californian goose remains willing to lay its golden eggs at Glovin that's all. Nothing was jeopardized that? Nothing? No of course not. What about Miss Miller? If she's capable of a scene like that. What else is she capable of? I hope she has nothing else to reveal. Trust me. Not an inch my Lord. I just discovered a Mr. Francis Hay Moulton is in room 26. An American gentleman whose wife only joined him yesterday. His initials are F.H.M., F.M. Ah excuse me, One moment please sir. And how can I assist you sir? How much is a glass of sherry? That would be 8. Thank you. I personally promise Mr. Moulton that you will both be free to return to California. It will be as if you're wife had never entered that church. How did you find us? That is unimportant. If I may give you my opinion I think there's been a little too much secrecy already. May I speak to Mrs. Moulton? Not before you tell who the devil you are. We're been engaged by Lord St. Simon to find his wife. Mr. Moulton, her father will take it very hard I think that she did not communicate with him. But she did damn it, she did. And yes the note from Flora Miller he would have received it by now. Good. Her father never approved of me. Oh really. You see up in the Gulf Shores... Surely these are explanations for her father. You made criticism of Henrietta's duties towards her father if you'll hear me out. I promised old man Doran I'd go away and not trouble Henrietta until I'd made my way but we got married in secret before I went. Then I was reported dead up in the high northwest so Henrietta told him then about our secret marriage. He sent someone out to check I was dead like they said. That man never found me so Henrietta gave me up for dead. And so Mr. Francis Harry Moulton presumably you have made your way. I'm in hotels sir. Hotels? Really? Really? How much do you charge for a glass of sherry? The same as this hotel, 8 pence. Robert? Robert? Flora? My darling. It's too late Robert. I told the child everything. Anyway Lord St. Simon may as well of saved his money from employing you. Why do you say that? Because Henrietta has gone to see him. I wish she had not done that. Hello Hettie my darling. Where have you been? Where you'd disappear to? Where is she? Where is your wife? You're my wife. I don't know what I am anymore. What are you saying? Robert why didn't you tell me? Tell you what? Everything. Everything about your wives. It's the past. Unimportant. I don't want to relive the past. the past is dead. You, you are the future. Where is she? Who? Your wife. I have only you. My darling the marriage was annulled. Have you been talking to Flora Miller? I know you have. Oh my darling I beg you not to listen to that woman. She is a drunk she has no sense of decency or truth left. Where is Lady Helena now? How should I know? Being cared for. Do you care for her Robert? I pay for her care. Seeing her is to painful. The poor creature is afflicted with self-persecution and instilled with delusions every time I have been... the authorities have asked me not to go anymore. The authorities? Is she alive Robert? What are you saying? I don't believe you. I believe Flora Miller. I believe what she told me and it makes me ill to think it. And I thought she was a drunk just another drunk but it didn't mean anything. You took Lady Helena away from a private hospital, you took her away, where is she Robert? This is no good. And brought her here. Where is she? It's no good damn it! Oh God, what does it matter? Why did the murderer of your first wife escape Robert? Why did the murderer of your first wife escape? Where to? Do you have a servant here Robert? Is his name Thomas Floutier? Quit! What do you think you could do? For God's sake. When...when I let you go. Hettie, Hettie what I did I did for you. With you the world changed. Hettie, Hettie you must believe me, say you believe me. Never. Never. Not this side of hell. Very well. That's it. It's over. Yes. Yes. It's Floutier the man who works for me here. Amongst other things he looks after the needs of Lady Helena. It may give you some satisfaction to know that your stubbornness will be the inevitable cause of her death now. Yours too of course. Floutier will arrange an accident for you. Money will revert to me. And after a suitable period of morning I'll leave. And you think Pa would Iet you just walk off with my money? You can't argue with the law. You're my wife. No. I'm not. What do you think happened to me in the church Robert? When I dropped my bouquet. I saw the man I married. A ghost. I thought he was dead. But that's where I've been. With my husband. No! Empty rooms. The scent. Thomas Floutier. Watson take care of her. How I've waited. How I've cried again and again in the darkness for this moment. I know. I know. Who are you? Emissaries of your sister Agnes. Tell me how did you do it? I spent 7 long years insuring the chapel's utter instability. Any attempt I made to escape was thwarted so I recreated the entrance brick by brick, timber by timber. I made a science of instability and I succeeded. 7 years. It was unique in my experience to serve a sentence before committing the crime. Nurse? And so it was that we discovered the true Mistress of Glovin. A woman so far from madness who had survived so...no... who had so triumphantly, triumphantly survived 7 years of captivity that Holmes was pleased to call her one of the finest minds he had ever encountered. In meeting her I believe Holmes solved the riddle of his dreams. It only troubles him now in so far as he cannot deny the possibility that it was prophetic. The new owner of Glovin was none other than Lady Helena St. Simon. Lady Helena wisely decided to sell it and redeem the mortgages upon it. I cannot conceive of a happier prospect than to imagine Glovin restored for the enjoyment of the Moulton's and their future family. How dare you. How dare you make a record of this case. Rec...no, no, no, no. I'm merely answering an invitation to another seminar. Really? Well be quick, we leave in an hour. What for? For heavens sake what's in the performance? |
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