Original subtitles

Oh, my dear.

My dearest.

I warned you, I said,

do not go to near the edge.

Why did you push me Baron?

Dear wife, you're dreaming.

You're lying.

Oh, my darling.

Anything stirring Holmes?

I know no more than this.

There may be some fatty self-important fool,

it may be a matter of life or death.

Mmm, you grant this interview?

I've already confirmed it.

Do you know anything of the man?

Only that the name Colonel Sir James Damery

is a household word in society.

I can tell you a little bit more than that.

He has rather the reputation

for arranging delicate matters,

which are to be kept out of the papers.

He's a man of the world

with a natural turn for diplomacy.

And then, therefore to hope

it is not a false scent,

that he has some real need of our assistance.

Our?

If you'll be so good Watson.

I shall be honored.

Then until four-thirty o'clock

we can put the matter out of our heads.

Mr. Holmes, we are dealing on this occasion

with the most dangerous man in Europe.

I've had several opponents to whom

that flattering term has been applied.

A man to whom violence is familiar

and who will literally stick at nothing.

Do you smoke?

Excuse my pipe.

But if your man is more dangerous

than the late Professor Moriarty,

he's indeed worth meeting.

May I ask his name?

Have you ever heard of Baron Gruner?

The Austrian murderer?

So you've already sized him up as a murderer?

It is our business

to follow the details of Continental crime.

I'm sure that he killed his wife

when that so called accident happened

at the Splugen Pass as if I'd seen him do it.

Just as I am certain

that he disposed the only witness,

that innocent shepherd boy.

Baron Gruner is now in England.

Residing near Kingston I'm informed?

That is so.

Might I also suppose

you will have heard of General Merville?

Khyber Pass fame.

Indeed,

General Merville has a daughter, Violet.

Young, rich, accomplished,

a wonder woman in every way.

It is she an innocent

we are endeavoring to save

from the clutches of this fiend.

He has some hold over her?

The strongest of all

where women are concerned, Mr. Holmes.

Ah, love.

Exactly.

In marrying you, my darling,

all my past sins shall be absolved.

These aren't sins you've told me of.

These are slanders.

My angel.

You were seduced, as are all great men.

Yet I am determined you shall know my history,

every part of it.

Thus shall I come to the altar

purified in soul and spirit

and worthy at last of your love?

Just six weeks,

Oh Adelbert.

I cannot pretend my past is without stain.

No man born in poverty

who has created his own fortune

can say that and speak the truth, oh, no.

I have been forced

to many a ruthless act, my dear.

Where shall I begin?

To observe, Mr. Holmes,

an atrocious event,

preparing itself before your very eyes

and yet be powerless to avert it.

Could anyone, any human being

be placed in a more trying position?

Perhaps not.

Well then you will sympathize with the

client in whose interest I am acting.

I did not understand

that you were merely an intermediary,

who is the principal?

I beg of you not to press that question.

His name cannot be dragged into this matter.

His motives are to the last degree honorable

but he prefers to remain unknown.

I need not say

that your fees will be assured, Mr. Holmes.

And you will be allowed a free hand.

Surely the actual name of your client is immaterial.

I must decline to act, Sir James, I'm sorry.

I'm accustomed to having mystery

at one end of my cases

but to have it at both ends is too confusing.

No.

You place me in the most serious dilemma.

Dare I say, Mr. Holmes,

you hardly realize the affect of your own action.

I have given my word not to reveal

the identity of my client.

May I at the least lay all I can before you?

It is understood.

I commit myself to nothing.

But of course, yes, yes.

A perfect likeness.

Who painted it?

Hans of Innsbruck,

a descendant of Claus the sculptor

famous for his bronzes

such as this.

I shall commission Hans

to attempt your likeness, my precious.

I love this room.

It breathes of you.

What's this?

Your diary?

No, no, it is,

it is my commonplace book.

In it I record things I've seen,

read,

admired,

occasionally perhaps

a thought or two of my own.

But it's locked.

It is a little part of me,

besides a servant might pry.

One day, perhaps,

we shall look at it together.

No, I respect your privacy, my darling.

We must all keep something of our own,

however much else we share.

You are perfect.

You must teach me about porcelain, Adelbert.

I shall.

Collecting is such a pleasure,

such a delight,

it is a passion with me

just as you are, my precious.

The villain has attached himself to a lady

with such effect that he has

completely and absolutely won her heart.

She will not hear one word against him.

To sum up, she proposes to marry him next month.

As she of age and has a will of iron

that's hard to know how to prevent her.

Does the infatuated young woman

know of the Swiss episode?

The cunning devil has told her

every unsavory scandal of his past life

but always in such a way

as to make himself out to be the innocent martyr.

She accepts his version

and will listen to no one,

not even her fathers.

Dear me, Sir James, have you not inadvertently

let out the name of your client?

The General?

Oh no, Dr. Watson,

that strong soldier has been

utterly demoralized by this incident.

Mrs. Hudson.

You rang, sir?

Will you deliver this to the butcher's boy

around the corner?

That young rascal with the funny eye?

The other is invaluable, so is his bicycle.

Sir.

How may I keep in touch with you, Sir James?

You accept my commission?

Let us just say that your problem interests me.

The Carlton Club will find me.

And the Baron's exact address in Kingston?

Vernon Lodge,

the large house,

he's a rich man.

Uh-huh, speculators when successful

frequently are, Sir James,

what further information

can you give us about the man?

He has expensive tastes.

Collects books, pictures,

oh, and Chinese pottery.

He's a recognized authority,

written a book upon the subject.

Well, Sir James, you may tell your client

that I'm turning my attention towards Baron Gruner.

I have no doubt, Mr. Holmes,

you can easily trace my client.

But I must ask you as a point of honor

to refrain from doing so.

Do not, I beg you, break in upon his incognito.

I think I can safely promise that.

Thank you.

Dr. Watson.

You're wasting your time, Watson.

Now the career of General Merville

might well give us a pointer as to our client.

He's clearly illustrious.

But did you not hear, Sir James?

His request was to you, Holmes.

But that is shameful, Watson, shameful

besides our minds

should be more gainfully employed, desist.

Any views?

Have you none?

Not yet.

Beyond the one I've already acted upon.

The butcher's boy.

More discreet than any telegraph.

Well, I shall think

you better see the young lady yourself.

Start with her.

Well, if her poor broken down father cannot move her,

how can I, a complete stranger prevail?

Well, if all else fails,

Perhaps.

But first, the underworld.

For it is among the dark roots of crime

that we must hunt for Gruner's secrets.

You've sent for Shinwell Johnson.

I have but one insight,

that Ms. Merville might well condone murder

yet some smaller affair that might (unintelligible)

We shall see.

They have engaged the very best.

Show him in.

Mr. Sherlock Holmes, sir.

I rather thought I should see you

sooner or later, Mr. Holmes.

You've been retained no doubt by General Merville

to prevent my marriage with his daughter, Violet?

That is so, is it not?

Let me advise you very strongly, Mr. Holmes,

to draw off at once.

Draw off?

My dear man,

you'll only ruin your well-deserved reputation.

This is not a case in which

you can possibly hope to succeed, draw off sir.

It is curious but that is the very advice

that I've come to give you.

Let me put it to you man to man.

If you persist in this marriage,

you will raise such a swarm of powerful enemies,

England would be too hot to hold you.

Surely you will be wiser to draw off.

Excuse my amusement, Mr. Holmes,

but it really is very funny

seeing you trying to play a hand

with no cards in it.

Not a color card there, sir,

nothing but the smallest of the small.

So you think.

So I know, sir, so I know.

Let me make the thing clear to you.

You consider your hand so strong

that you could afford to show it?

Certainly, since it becomes plain

that in this instance

you are clearly out of your depth, Mr. Holmes.

Could it be that your capabilities

have been subject to hyperbole?

Your hand, show it.

Won't you sit down?

I think I shan't.

Please yourself.

Well, sir,

it happens I have been fortunate enough

to win the entire affection of Ms. Merville.

This in spite of the fact

that I have informed her clearly

of all the unhappy incidents in my past.

I have warned her that certain designing persons

would come to her.

I hope you recognize yourself in this

and would tell her of these things.

I have instructed her how to treat them.

She is well prepared for you.

She will no doubt give you an appointment

and she will listen.

It will be to no avail, however.

If you wish to speak,

now is your moment.

No,

this is not the moment.

Oh, by the way, Mr. Holmes,

did you know the French Agent Labrun?

Of course.

So you know what befell him?

He was beaten in the Lamont District of Paris

and crippled for life.

Quite so.

By an odd coincidence

he had been inquiring into my affairs.

Don't do it, Mr. Holmes, it's not a lucky thing.

My last word to you is you go your way,

let me go mine.

Mind you Gruner,

because if you aspire to be accepted

into English Society

you'll do well to remove the band

from your Havana before lighting it

otherwise you'll be put down for a bounder.

Mrs. Hudson, has Holmes returned?

Not yet, sir, but there are two visitors waiting.

Thank you, Mrs. Hudson.

Why Johnson.

Evening, Doctor,

Mr. Holmes sent word to me.

I know, Johnson, I know.

And I brought Kit here because...

That's when I was delayed at the museum

and then the traffic,

an omnibus overturned on Great Russell Street,

two dead a horse had to be put down.

Gentlemen forgive me,

I was absorbed by the mysteries of me,

I quite forgotten the hour, madam.

This is Ms. Winter, Mr. Holmes,

Kitty we call her

and what she don't know about Gruner.

Of course, please.

Well, Kitty can speak for herself.

Anyway I put me hand right on her

within an hour of your message, sir.

I'm easy to find.

Hell, London gets me every time,

same address goes for Porky.

Porky, is that your nom-de-guerre Johnson?

You have never revealed that.

Porky, well.

We're old mates, Porky and me.

But there's someone

who ought to be down in a lower hell than us

and that's the man you're after, Mr. Holmes.

I gather we have your good wishes, Ms. Winter?

If I can help put him where he belongs,

I'm yours to the rattle, sir.

Do you know what he intends,

how the matter stands?

Porky tells me he's after some other poor fool

only this time he wants to marry her

and you want to stop it?

Yes.

Surely you know enough about this devil

to prevent any decent girl in her senses

wanting to have anything to do with him.

But she's not in her senses, Ms. Winter,

she's madly in love

and she has been told all about it.

She cares for nothing.

Told about the murder of his wife?

Yes.

My lord, she must have a nerve.

She has.

Can't you lay proofs before her?

Can you help us do so?

I am proof,

living proof.

If I was to stand before her

and tell her how he used me.

Would you do this?

Would I,

would I not.

It might be worth the trying.

Oh no he didn't tell her all, sir.

All?

He collected me,

he collects women.

I was an artist's model,

a respectable artist's model.

Of course, you sat for that painting in his study.

You've been to Kingston,

then you'll have seen all his crocks.

Women and china,

they're his twin passions.

Gruner commissioned that painting

and afterwards,

and after...

well, let's just say

I can never work again.

Never.

Never.

I am exceedingly obliged to you, Ms. Winter,

we shall indeed interview you

and Ms. Merville together.

My client will compensate you most liberally.

Oh, none of that, Mr. Holmes.

I'm not out for money.

Just let me see this man in the mud,

in the mud with my foot in his face

that's my price.

From Kingston.

Thank you, Mrs. Hudson, no reply.

Shall we dine?

This is a death threat, Holmes.

Did you expect anything less

from Baron Gruner.

Holmes, have a care.

Oh, Watson, come along.

We must eat.

Come on girl.

They ain't following no more.

Don't you believe it.

What'd I say.

Now you stand over there, Kitty,

there's a good girl.

Right, who's first, you or you?

Amateurs,

they've done no time,

don't know nothing, come on girl.

There's two persons wish to see you sir.

Persons?

I couldn't in honesty term them gentlemen, sir.

I'll come.

Was he armed?

No, sir.

Go through to the kitchens,

clean yourselves up

and clear out.

I have agreed to this visit

out of respect for my father, Mr. Holmes,

rather than for you.

My fianc� assures me

you are no longer what you were,

a spent force.

And you, Ms. Winter,

surely you must also be superfluous.

Our intentions are the best.

We are here to aid you.

Really?

When you call to malign my fianc�?

I am not renowned, Ms. Merville,

for the warmth of my affections

but I can appreciate them in others.

Had I a daughter,

I should,

I hope feel for you as the General does,

nor is our concern without foundation.

There, the slander begins.

No, I do not readily call upon anyone

to beg or to plead

but in Baron Gruner, please,

I never speak idly.

You've chosen not only unwisely but dangerously.

Marry him, Ms. Merville, and I assure you

with all the knowledge I have

of the criminal mentality,

you will be in mortal danger.

Just as the former baroness was,

she too was infatuated,

and paid the fatal price,

her life for a fortune.

That's a lie.

You are of course aware

that the Splugen Pass

where your predecessor died

runs between Italy and Switzerland?

What does the geography matter?

A great deal,

when you plan to hurl a helpless woman

off a cliff in one country

to break her neck in another.

But it was an accident.

Then why did the shepherd boy

who saw the baroness fall

die of arsenical poison?

His murderess whom Gruner had seduced

confessed at her trial

that he'd obliged her

to administer the fatal substance

or risk disfigurement for life

by oil of vitriol.

Those are the facts, Ms. Merville.

I beg you,

picture the awful situation

you will find yourself in

if you only wake to your fianc�'s true character

after you have married him.

I have listened to you with patience, Mr. Holmes.

I am aware my fianc� has had a stormy life

in which he has incurred most unjust aspersions.

Possibly you mean well

though I learn you are a paid agent

but in any case I love Baron Gruner

and he loves me.

You have told me this young lady's name

and that there is a reason for her presence.

I'll say there is.

And what exactly are you, Ms. Winter?

Me, I'll tell you.

I'll tell you what I am.

I was his mistress that's who,

one of a hundred more.

He's tempted, used, ruined and thrown aside,

as he will you too.

Please.

You marry this man it'll be the death of you.

It may be a broken heart or a broken neck

but he'll have you.

Oh really.

You may think yourself different.

Thank you, Kitty,

you've made yourself admirably clear.

I'm aware of three occasions

in my fianc�'s life

when he has become entangled

with designing women.

And I'm assured by him of his hearty repentance.

Him?

Repent?

And only three?

Oh, you fool,

you stupid fool.

Mr. Holmes,

I have obeyed my father's wish in seeing you

but I'm not compelled to listen to

the slanderous ravings...

Ravings?

Ravings!

Oh my god,

I'll show you.

Look,

look.

You see that?

And here, oil of vitriol.

He did it.

Oh, yes, he did it,

your fianc�.

That's a lie.

It's a lie.

Thank you, Kitty.

You can tell the Baron

that I shall not rest

until I bring him to justice.

Ms. Winter.

Why Kitty, why?

No please.

Why did Gruner treat you so?

Because...

no, I can't tell you, Mr. Holmes.

You must at this instant.

You said that he collects women,

what did you mean by that?

It's a book he has.

A book?

Brown leather with a lock

and his coat of arms in gold on it.

No, I can't speak of it.

He keeps a record of his women?

We're all in there.

Photographs, names, details,

everything about us.

He tried to make me read it while he...

oh, no, I can't.

And when you refused?

He went berserk.

He ran out of the room.

I was trying to dress,

he come back in with this bottle.

I was half-naked

and he threw it straight at me.

Where is this book?

I don't know. Think.

No, no.

In the study in the bedroom?

It's more than a year since I was there.

Than you can remember Kitty think.

In the study,

back of the bureau.

Thank you, Kitty, thank you.

Ms. Winter's scars could not move Ms. Merville?

She was shocked but recovered instantly.

Good heavens,

it seems inhuman.

I confess that part of me

could wish her joy with Gruner.

Abandon her to her fate after all this?

When I compare Ms. Merville with Kitty

whose spirit is as fine

as her body is blemished, yes.

You wouldn't withdraw from the case?

Have no fear, Watson,

my disgust with Ms. Merville

counts as nothing against

my determination to foil Gruner.

One thing irks me,

that I've not paid more regard

to Kitty's deportment when we first met,

the manner in which she dressed her hair.

Huh, it's late.

We must be gone.

I've got a mountain of work to do

at the surgery Holmes

so I'll see you in the morning.

Until tomorrow then.

All right, Sherlock Holmes,

let's be having you.

Ah and I can guess to whom I owe this pleasure.

Read all about it.

Murderous attack on Sherlock Holmes,

murderous attack on Sherlock Holmes,

read all about it.

Murderous attack on Sherlock Holmes,

read all about it,

read all about it.

Murderous attack on Sherlock Holmes.

It's all right, Watson,

don't look so scared.

You mustn't talk.

Nonsense, I need to.

What can I do, Holmes?

Of course it was that damned Austrian.

Give me the word

and I'll go and thrash the hide off him.

Good old Watson,

no, no, no, no.

Was it the same pair

that attacked Johnson and Ms. Winter?

One may have been,

the other I doubt it

but (unintelligible).

We must send a note to Johnson.

Tell him to find a quiet suburb for Kitty.

She should stay there

until the danger has passed.

And then,

then we must exaggerate my injuries.

There's no need for that.

Even so we must lay it on thick for the press.

I might not live the week out,

concussion, delirium,

I don't care what would you like?

They must receive the gravest bulletins.

Anything more?

Yes.

Put my pipe on the table and the tobacco slip.

You must rest not smoke.

Very well, Doctor.

Oh my dearest

every day you become more precious to me.

What is it?

It's just that,

must you really go to America?

Oh, my darling,

it's only a short trip.

I have important financial business,

certain interests to regulate in Chicago

but I shall be back so soon,

in the twinkle of an eye.

The late editions, sir.

Thank you.

Have you seen the papers?

That poor man Holmes,

he sinks daily.

I'm afraid you cannot expect me

to have very much sympathy with Mr. Holmes

and his misfortune.

Mmm, encephalitis has set in.

Have you seen the news?

No.

Gruner sales for America

on the Ruratania on Friday.

News hits hard.

Friday, that means he sails from Liverpool

not from Southampton.

That little rascal means to get away from us

but he won't.

By the Lord Harry he won't.

Watson, I need you to do something for me.

I'm here to be used.

Then spend the next 24 hours

in an intensive study of Chinese pottery.

Wow, 1368-1390,

He's sleeping now, sir.

That would be the morphine.

You won't let the lamp smoke, will you?

No, no, no, you locked up below?

I did that a while back,

there's murderous folk about.

True, true.

Don't drive yourself too hard, sir,

you'll be good for nothing in the morning.

No, I shan't be long.

Dr. Hill Barton,

369 Half Moon Street,

Mayfair West, who's this?

You.

Me?

That is your name this evening, Dr. Hill Barton.

It is?

Yes, and you'll call upon Baron Gruner

about half past eight.

He'll be disengaged.

I sent a note telling him that you'll call.

Also, that you're bringing this.

It is the real eggshell of the Ming Dynasty.

The complete set would be worth a king's ransom.

You are a collector.

The set has come your way.

You've heard of the Baron's interest

and an investor is selling at a price.

What price?

We will not exaggerate

if you say it would hardly matched in the world.

Sir James got it for me.

It comes from a collection of his client.

Or I could say that

it should be valued by an expert.

Oh, Watson, you scintillate today.

I suggest Sotheby's or Christie.

You're certain he'll see me?

Oh, yes, it's the collection mania

in its most acute form.

One last question, Holmes.

Uh-huh.

Why have you made me a broker in antiques?

To gain time,

the opportunity to acquire the set such as this

may persuade the Baron

to postpone his visit to the United States.

Now I understand.

Elementary psychology, Watson?

Kingston please driver.

Very fine.

Hmm.

Very fine indeed.

And you say you have a set to correspond?

I know of only one in England to match it.

Would it be indiscreet of me

if I were to ask how you obtained this?

Does it really matter?

Of course it matters

with precious objects such as these provenance is all.

Well you can see the piece is genuine.

As to the value I'm perfectly content

to take an expert's assessment.

I had supposed you were an expert,

Dr. Hill Barton.

I meant an independent assessment.

Of course.

I have some recently acquired pieces of celadon

you might care to view?

By all means.

Please.

It's flawless.

Typical 12th Century Sung, I'd say,

wouldn't you?

You're right.

And this?

That's an excellent example,

Ching Dynasty I should say

circa 265 A.D.

Precisely.

And these?

Typical of celadon would you say?

Give me time,

give me time.

I am giving you time, sir.

Quite so.

I should also be interested in your views

on the marks of the Hung Wu.

Marks of the Hung Wu?

That's a vexed question.

Vexed question indeed, sir.

There are no marks on the genuine Hung Wu.

This is intolerable, sir.

I came here to do you a favor,

not to be examined as if I were a schoolboy.

You came here to spy.

Not so.

You may have found it easy

to inveigle your way in here

upon false pretenses

but by god sir,

you shall find it harder to get out.

Raise your hands above your head, Dr. Watson.

What's that?

Holmes, you.

Don't move.

I shall shoot you through the head

rather than the heart

and inform the police

I mistook you for a common burglar.

That is a role that I've played before

with some success.

Without any doubt, sir,

this will be your last time.

Baron!

Kitty!

Be done by your debt.

Doctor, doctor, help me, help me.

Telephone the Baron's physician

(screaming)

Ah, Sir James,

forgive me for summoning you at this late hour

but there's no time to be lost.

You must have this before Scotland Yard bumbles in.

Scotland Yard?

Baron Gruner's laid a complaint against us,

Watson as an impostor,

myself as a burglar,

we were both.

I diverted Gruner's attention

while Holmes procured that.

You must show it to Ms. Merville,

she will find herself one among a hundred.

The account of what sports

Baron Gruner enjoyed with his female victims

may have perhaps at last

open Ms. Merville's eyes.

You've done wonders, Holmes, wonders.

Except for Kitty Winter.

Watson explain, I must rest.

Ms. Winter is a former mistress of Gruner's,

she followed me to Kingston,

concealed about her was a flask of vitriol.

Which she unleashed upon Gruner.

Severely damaging his right hand

and parts of his face.

He will be disfigured for life.

But surely if these injuries

are as terrible as you described them

then our purpose is sufficiently gained...

She'd love him the more

as a disfigured martyr.

It is his moral side not his physical

which we have to destroy.

That book will bring her down to earth

and I knew nothing else that could.

It's in his own handwriting,

she cannot get past it.

Neither my client nor myself

can thank you enough, Holmes.

Should either Ms. Winter or even you yourself

be incommoded by the police

do not hesitate to telephone me.

Thank you, Sir James,

but to tell the truth,

I rarely if ever find myself

inconvenienced by Scotland Yard.

Good night.

Good night.

I would like to thank you too, Watson.

Thank you, Sir James.

Oh, by the way,

Ming dish

by jove yes.

Worth a king's ransom I understand.

Holmes.

Holmes, I've discovered the identity of our client.

It's none other than the...

A loyal friend and a chivalrous gentleman,

let that now and forever

be enough for us.