All language subtitles for Sherlock Holmes The Sign of Four 1983 animation

♪

(clock chiming)

♪

♪

Oh!

(crash)

♪

♪

Well, Watson, I should say
this watch belonged

to your eldest brother
who inherited it

from your father.

Your brother was untidy
and careless.

He was left with good prospects.

Lived for some time in poverty
with occasional bursts

of prosperity.

Then finally taking to drink,
he died.

Holmes, this is unworthy of you.

You must've already made
inquiries into the history

of my unhappy brother.

Surely, you don't expect me
to believe

you have read all this
from his old watch.

My dear, Doctor,
pray accept my apologies.

I was merely stating
what I had deduced

from an examination
of the watch.

I never even knew
you had a brother

until you handed
the watch to me.

Then how in the name
of all that is wonderful

did you get those facts?

I could only say what was
the balance of probability.

You wish to test my powers
of observation and deduction

in relation to the watch,
so I will tell you

why I reached my conclusions.

On the back
are the initials H.W.

and the year 1830.

The second initial suggests
the owner's name was Watson

and the date would indicate
that the watch

was originally given
to your father.

As jewelry is usually left
to the eldest son,

the watch has no doubt been
in the hands of your brother

who was a careless man
as is evidenced

by the dents in the case.

A man invariably winds his watch
at night before going to bed

and the number of scratches
near the keyhole

indicate to me that he had
difficulty inserting the key,

which in turn suggests that he
was frequently drunk

when he tried to do so.

Your brother
also suffered hard times

with occasional bursts
of prosperity.

As you open
the back of the watch,

you will see a number
of pawnbrokers' marks

scratched on the inside.

That is truly remarkable
and quite true.

Well, it amazes me how you can
learn so much from so little.

♪

Elementary, my dear Watson,
elementary.

♪

A young lady
has called to see you, sir.

Miss Mary Morstan.

Ask the lady to come in,
Mrs. Hudson.

Don't go, Doctor,
I would prefer that you remain.

Oh, well,
if I can be of any help.

(knocking)

Mr. Sherlock Holmes?

Yes, Ms. Morstan.

Allow me to present
my colleague, Dr. Watson.

Mr. Holmes, I need your help.

And how can I be
of service to you?

Briefly, the facts are these:

My father was an officer
in an Indian regiment.

And when my mother died, I was
sent home to a boarding school

where I stayed
until I was 17 years old.

That was ten years ago.

And in that year,
my father returned to England

for a year's leave
from the Army.

He arrived safely then
telegraphed me to join him.

On reaching London,
I drove to the Langham Hotel

where I was informed
that although Captain Morstan

was staying there,
he had gone out

the night before
and had not returned.

I presume you talked
with the manager of the Langham.

Yes, I did.

He advised me to wait
for one more day

to see if Father returned.

If there was still no news
of him after that time,

to contact the police.

And you did that.

Yes, they made their inquiries

and advertised
in the newspapers,

but to this day,
no further word has been heard

of my unfortunate father.

He came home
in need of rest and peace.

And instead...

(sobbing)

And what of his luggage
and his papers?

Was there nothing
which would give a clue

as to what
could have happened to him?

No, his belongings didn't help.

All I found in his room
were his clothes

and some curiosities
from the Andaman Islands

where he had served as an
officer in the convict guards.

Andaman Islands, eh?

When I was a surgeon
in the Indian Army,

I once went there.

If my memory serves me
correctly,

they are about 350 miles north
of Sumatra in the Bay of Bengal.

Oh, oh, they are indeed, Holmes.

♪

Was there nothing
to throw any light on why

or how he disappeared?

No, it's as much a riddle today
as it was then.

Did your father
have any friends in England

on whom he might have called,
a fellow officer, perhaps?

There was one, a Major Sholto
who had been with Father

in the East.

♪

And I suppose you contacted him.

Indeed, I did,
but he knew nothing.

He didn't even know
Father was back in England.

And your father
has disappeared without a trace.

How very strange.

I had given up all hope.

Then six years ago,
I read this advertisement

in the Times.

♪

If Mary Morstan, daughter
of the late Captain Morstan,

will let this advertiser
know her address,

it will be to her advantage.

And what did you do?

Did you contact the person?

Yes, I did.

I advertised my address
in the same paper.

And immediately,
a plain cardboard box

was delivered to me.

No sender's address
was enclosed,

but the box contained a very
large and lustrous pearl.

Since then, every year,
on the same date,

there's appeared a similar box
containing a similar pearl

with never any clue
as to the sender.

♪

What beautiful pearls.

As a matching set,
they must be worth a fortune.

And there was no other word?

Not until today,
when I received this letter.

That's why I've come to you.

Be outside the Lyceum Theater,
seven P.M. tonight.

Bring no police.

Mr. Holmes, I cannot go alone.

And I wondered if you...
and perhaps Dr. Watson

would come with me.

Well, I certainly will
and Dr. Watson...will also.

It is now 3:30
and I must make some inquiries

before we leave to meet
this unknown benefactor tonight.

I shall return here
at six o'clock then.

Goodbye, gentlemen,
and thank you.

I'm so pleased
that you'll help me.

Perhaps then
I can solve the mystery

of my father's disappearance.

♪

♪

What an attractive lady
Ms. Morstan is.

Is she?

I can't say I really noticed.

I shall make it my business
to get to know her better.

♪

This afternoon, I spent some
time reading back copies

of the Times newspaper.

Ms. Morstan,
when your father disappeared,

his friend, Major Sholto,
said he had not seen him.

Four years later,
Sholto died and within a week,

you received a valuable present.

Does that not seem strange
coincidence?

It most certainly does.

I'd never thought
of that before.

I should have shown this
to you earlier.

I discovered it
in my father's suitcase.

It's drawn on paper
of Indian manufacturer

and it appears to be
a plan of a building.

And underneath is written
"Sign of Four."

Jonathan Small, Mahomet Singh,
Abdullah Khan, Dost Akbar.

What can it mean?

It is a plan of what could be
an Indian fortress

and this X could suggest
something is hidden there

perhaps by the four whose names
are on the plan.

I begin to suspect
that this matter may turn out

to be much deeper
and more subtle

than I first supposed.

♪

(clock chiming)

Are you the parties
that accompany Miss Morstan?

I am Miss Morstan and these two
gentlemen are my friends.

I hope neither of you
police officers.

I was told
to be absolutely certain

that you bring
no police with you.

Neither is a police officer,
I can assure you of that.

And I will definitely not go
without them.

I must accept your word then.

♪

♪

I could swear we've been round
this corner before.

And this church,
I'm sure we've passed it

at least twice already.

You are both right.

It is a crude attempt to ensure
that even if we wanted to

we could never find
our way here again.

An attempt, which I may say,
has failed for we are present

in Coldharbour Lane.

We are heading for some most
unfashionable districts.

♪

♪

Would you follow me, please?

♪

Follow me, please.

♪

Ah, Miss Morstan,
I, I see you are not alone.

These gentleman
are Sherlock Holmes

and Dr. Watson.

I am Thaddeus Sholto.

Pray step
into my little sanctum,

an oasis of art in the howling
desert of South London.

♪

Dr. Watson, eh?

A medical man.

Had your father heeded
his doctor's advice

and looked after his heart,

he might still
have been alive today.

(gasp)

I suppose I always knew
in my heart that he was dead.

What can you tell me
about my father?

How can you be certain
he is dead?

I will tell you everything.

And after that,
I must take you

to meet my brother, Bart.

Although he'll not
be glad to see you

for it's against his wishes
that I'm talking to you now.

My father told me the story
on his deathbed.

Your father and mine
were in the Indian Army together

working on convict guard duty.

When my father retired,

he returned to England with
a treasure in precious stones.

Ten years ago,
your father came to London

to claim his half
of the treasure.

An argument developed as to how
the treasure was to be divided.

Your father had
a heart attack and fell,

hitting his head
on the treasure chest.

Noise of the argument
had been heard by others

and my father became afraid
that if the body were found,

he would be charged with murder.

So helped by a trusted servant,
he buried the body nearby.

No one ever suspected the truth.

And my father lived
for years with his secret.

Eventually,
he summoned me to tell me

where he'd hidden the treasure.

Just as he opened his mouth,
a bearded face

appeared at the window.

He screamed,
"Keep him away, keep him away!"

Without another word,
dropped dead from fright.

♪

For years we searched
for this mysterious treasure,

but all we discovered
was some pearls

which Father must have removed
from the treasure chest.

I felt obliged to share
our find with you, Miss Morstan.

And after some persuasion,
my brother reluctantly agreed

that I send a pearl
to you each year.

Unbeknown to me,
Bart had been measuring

the house carefully.

♪

He found there were
some four feet unaccounted for.

So yesterday we broke
a hole in the ceiling

above the laboratory.

There we found a secret room.

In the middle, covered in dust,
we found the treasure.

I helped Bart
lower the treasure chest

into his laboratory
late yesterday.

I told Bart that I would contact
Miss Morstan immediately

and that I would bring her
to the house to claim

her father's share
of the treasure.

♪

Bart was forced to agree.

We are, therefore, expected,
although as I mentioned earlier,

we may not be too welcome.

Shall we go?

♪

The face at the window,
was your father

the only one to see it?

Oh, no, Bart and I
both saw it too.

It was black-bearded
and fierce looking.

The next morning, I discovered
a single footprint

in the garden under the window.

Just one footprint,
how very strange.

♪

Oh...oh!

♪

Why, Mrs. Burnston,
what's the matter?

Oh, thank heavens
you've come, Mr. Thaddeus.

It's your brother!

He's locked himself
in his laboratory

and neither his Indian servants
nor I can get any reply

when we knock!

I think he may be ill.

♪

Come on, we've no time to lose.

Direct me to the laboratory.

Come on, Watson, we may need
to break down the door.

♪

♪

Give me a hand, Watson,
we must smash it in.

♪

♪

Holmes, look at this.

There's a thorn in his head
just above his ear.

Don't touch it.

It is almost certainly poisoned.

It would seem that Bart Sholto
has been murdered.

Oh, no!

Heavens, no!

Bart murdered!

And he's been robbed too!

The treasure's gone!

You, Mr. Sholto, go at once.

Take the carriage
and get the police.

Tell them your brother
has been murdered.

And you, Miss Morstan,
have this good lady show you

the way to her room.

I suggest you go
and stay with her.

She has had a nasty shock.

Come on, Watson,
we have at least half an hour

to ourselves before Mr. Sholto
will return with the police.

Let us see what we can discover.

First, Watson, did you notice
these round marks on the floor?

It would appear
that the murderer,

or one of them,
had a wooden leg.

Good heavens.

Did you see this?

"The Sign of Four."

Holmes, you surely don't think
there were four murderers?

Anyway, how did they get in?

The door and window
were both locked on the inside

and the chimney is too small.

How often have I said to you,
that when you have eliminated

the impossible,
whatever remains,

however improbable,
must be the truth?

♪

Ah!

You mean the roof.

Exactly, Watson.

You will perceive
from the position of the dart

in that poor fellow's head
that it was fired from up here.

We know that a man
with a wooden leg

cannot clamber onto the roof,
so he must have had a helper.

Pass up that lantern.

I want to see this secret room.

I can see where the treasure box
stood for ten years.

There are a lot
of naked footprints nearby.

There are small prints
here also.

Apparently a child
had spilled some creosote

and then walked in it.

Look closely at the prints.

Notice how widespread
the toes are?

So they are.

These are the prints of feet
which have never worn shoes.

The owner came across the roof
in through the skylight

and across the rafters
to the opening above.

And he murdered Bart Sholto.

And then he came over
to this window

and he let in the one-legged man

who climbed up here,
probably on that rope

tied to this hook.

There are fresh marks on it.

That must be Thaddeus Sholto
with the police.

(footsteps approaching)

Oh, good evening,
Superintendent.

Why, it's Mr. Sherlock Holmes,
I think.

And what is your theory
about this man's death?

Oh, this is hardly a case
for me to theorize over.

But I promise you,
I will deliver

the two intruders to you.

One of them is Jonathan Small,

a middle-aged,
sunburned and bearded man,

poorly educated,
but active with his leg off.

And he was once a convict.

And what can you tell us
of the other intruder?

The other man is indeed
a curious person.

Come, Watson, first we must
take Miss Morstan home

and after that
we have more work to do.

What other work must we do?

As soon as Miss Morstan
is safely home,

we must return here
with a tracking dog

to follow the trail left
by the one-legged intruder

and his fellow
barefooted assistant.

♪

♪

Do you remember the small,
naked footprint

in the creosote near the body?

I took the precaution
of putting some creosote

on my handkerchief.

Toby will have
no trouble tracking them

once we find where they climbed
over the wall.

♪

♪

How did you know so much
about the one-legged man?

You even told Mr. Jones
his name,

what he looked like and even
that he'd been in prison.

How did you know all that?

Really, Watson,
it is simplicity itself.

Mr. Sholto told us
that his father, Major Sholto,

and Mary's father,
Captain Morstan,

had been in command
of a convict guard

in the Andaman Islands.

Whilst there, they learned
where a treasure chest

had been hidden.

We know this
because Mary Morstan

found a plan
among her father's papers.

You will recall that the plan
was marked dramatically

"The Sign of Four."

The same as the note
found upstairs on the desk

next to Bart Sholto's body.

The three other names
on the plan are those of Indians

leaving Jonathan Small
as the only white man.

I assume, therefore,
that as the words on the plan

are in English,
then Jonathan Small wrote them.

The only valid explanation
as to why the four

did not collect the treasure
is that they could not

because they were being held
as convicts.

So, Major Sholto
collected the treasure

and brought it to England

intending to keep it
for himself.

And then his friend,
Captain Morstan, arrives,

that was ten years ago,

before collecting
any part of the treasure.

And then all is peaceful
for about four more years

until the night Sholto died
when he and his sons

all saw a bearded face
at the window.

It could only have been
Jonathan Small.

But how did he get there?

Sholto was shocked
and terrified.

He was shocked
because he knew Jonathan Small

was not due for release
and must have escaped.

And he was terrified
because he feared

that Jonathan Small
had come to kill him.

How did Jonathan Small
learn that the Sholto brother

had found the treasure
yesterday?

I can only guess
how that was done.

He had probably
made secret contacts

with one of Sholto's
Indian servants

who had told him
of the discovery.

♪

♪

We're out of luck.

This is where the trail ends.

It suggests that our quarry
boarded a boat in this wharf.

♪

♪

Toby can find no trace
of them on these other boats.

So they must have done
as you say

and left on a boat from here.

♪

It looks as though
the boat owner lives here.

Let's ask and see what help
he can give.

Mordecai Smith, boats for hire
by the hour or the day.

It would appear
that one of those boats

is a steam launch
and its absence from the wharf

would suggest our quarry
has taken it.

Let us inquire within.

Uh, Mrs. Smith?

I'm sorry to disturb you
so early.

I wonder if your husband
could spare us a few minutes.

Oh, I'm afraid he's away, sir.

He left yesterday on the Aurora.

My friend and I were interested
in hiring your steam launch

for a few days.

The only steam launch we own
is the Aurora.

My husband's out on her now.

But he shouldn't be long

'cause he hasn't
enough coal aboard her

to take her more than
a few miles.

He doesn't like buying
it along the river

because of the high prices
they ask.

What bad luck
I missed your husband.

Was he alone?

Oh, sir, he's not alone.

He's under hire
to a one-legged man

and another party I didn't see.

What does she look like,
the Aurora?

I'll keep an eye open for her
when next I'm on the Thames.

She's as trim a little thing
as any on the river.

She's been fresh painted
black hull with two red streaks.

♪

Tell me, Holmes,
if we cannot advertise

seeking the whereabouts
of the Aurora for fear

of arousing suspicion,
and you don't wish

to involve the police,
then how do you intend

to find the boat?

♪

(approaching footsteps)

The Baker Street Irregulars.

Good morning, Wiggins.

I want you to check
the waterfront

on both sides of the river.

We are looking for a boat
called the Aurora.

She is a steam launch
with a black hull

with two red streaks.

You'll each be paid for the time
you spend searching

with a gold coin
to the boy who finds her first.

Let me know the moment
you find her.

We surely have the easiest job
in London.

After all, there are not
many men about

who have a wooden leg
whilst the other man

is even more distinctive.

One could say
he's absolutely unique.

The other man again?

What do we know of him?

At the Sholto residence,
we both saw

small naked footprints.

And I drew your attention
to the fact

that the toes were widespread.

Those feet have never been
fettered by boots.

Now, consider the owner's
agility and the poison dart.

What does this add to?

Some sort of native, a savage.

A poisoned dart would only be
shot in one way,

through a blow pipe.

The Aborigines
of the Andaman Islands

are perhaps the smallest race
on earth.

Their average height
is less than four feet.

They are fierce, morose,
and intractable people,

but capable of forming
the most devoted friendship

once their confidence
has been gained.

They have always been a terror
to shipwrecked crews,

frequently shooting survivors
with poisoned darts.

Such massacres are invariably
concluded by cannibal feasts.

We have already concluded
that Jonathan Small

was a convict
on the Andaman Islands.

Surely it is not so very strange
that an islander

would come with him to London.

Although I fancy that Small
will wish he had returned

to England alone if, as a result
of Bart Sholto's murder

he doesn't already do so.

♪

Now that the, uh,
Baker Street Irregulars

are all out looking
for the Aurora,

this seems like a good time
to get some sleep.

And I heard him
playing his violin

and pacing half the night.

He didn't go to bed at all.

He's gone out
and left no message.

(knocking)

Oh, this must be him now.

I am Chief
Superintendent Jones, madame.

A Mr. Sherlock Holmes requested
that I meet him here

and wait if he is not at home.

Ah, Dr. Watson,
Mr. Holmes not here?

Hello, Mr. Jones.

No, he isn't.

Oh, oh, do sit down.

Would you care
for a drink of something?

Thank you, I don't mind if I do.

I'll have a whiskey and soda.

I've just received this telegram
from your friend, Holmes.

"Go to Baker Street at once.

Wait for me there.

Am close on the track
of the Sholto murder gang.

To be in at the finish,
come with us tonight."

(approaching footsteps)

What in blazes is he doing here?

You might offer me a cigar too.

Well, we'll discuss it.

I thought my disguise
was pretty good,

but I hardly expected
to fool you gentlemen.

(laughing)

You had us fooled for a moment.

Now, I thought
I recognized the eyes.

Why are you
in disguise anyway, Holmes?

When Wiggins and his Baker
Street Irregulars failed

to find the Aurora--

They are a gang of boys
which Holmes has used

to look for the launch on which
the murderers got away.

I was puzzled.

The boat could not have gone far
before daylight

and she would have been seen.

Yet it had vanished.

Then in the middle of the night,
it came to me

where the boat must be hidden.

So this morning I got up early

and so as not
to arouse suspicion,

I dressed as an old seaman
and went out looking for her.

The question
we must ask ourselves is

where can one hide a steam
launch on the Thames

and still have it available
for immediate use?

The answer is
in a boat builder's yard

into which you deliver the boat
for some minor repairs.

I confirmed that today
after I visited 15 of them.

Not only did I see the Aurora,
black hull with red streaks,

just as Mrs. Smith had said,

but I also saw
her elusive husband.

(footsteps)

We must all go out
this evening, Mrs. Hudson.

I have a cab picking us up
at 6:30.

Would you mind giving us
a very early dinner?

I saw Smith go aboard the Aurora
where she's tied up

at Jacobson's yard.

I heard him tell
the shipyard workers

that they needed her
at 8 o'clock tonight.

Can you have a fast
unmarked launch ready to sail

at 7 o'clock tonight?

She must be very fast as we are
going to be in for a chase.

I'll organize one to be ready
at Westminster Bridge,

and I'll meet you there
at 7 o'clock.

One thing more, gentlemen,
for our own protection,

we must each take
a revolver tonight.

♪

(clock chiming)

(boat whistle)

♪

♪

Cruise gently up
and down here under the cover

of this string of barges.

We are hidden by these barges
so we can see them,

but they cannot see us.

We must be ready to give chase
as soon as they appear.

♪

♪

A boat is leaving now.

♪

Stop!

Police here!

Stop!

♪

♪

What's with that bundle
they have on the deck, Holmes?

Surely it's not a dog?

No, it is not a dog, Watson.

Gentlemen,
we will be alongside shortly.

I suggest that you have
your revolvers ready

and if that black bundle moves
then shoot it.

♪

I'm sorry, Mr. Small,
they're nearly on us.

I did me best.

The game's up.

♪

♪

I'm afraid he's done for.

He can't possibly swim
in that overcoat.

He's gone under already.

With that rope around his feet,
he had no chance.

How very appropriate.

He was destined to die
by the rope

for the murder of Bart Sholto.

♪

♪

That murderous little rogue
tried to kill us.

Pull Small out of the mud
and bring him aboard.

There are some questions
I wish to put to him.

♪

Give me the key to this chest.

I threw it into the river.

You threw it into the river?

Well, we'll just have
to break the chest open.

There's nothing in it.

It's empty.

Let us go to Baker Street
where Small can dry

those wet clothes
and we can hear the full story.

Oh, Jonathan Small, I am sorry
it had to come to this.

At least I can offer you
a drink and a smoke

while we hear your story.

Thank you, sir.

I'm sorry too.

I give you my word
that I never raised my hand

against Mr. Sholto.

It was that little hell hound,
Tonga,

who shot one of his cursed
poison darts into him.

I don't see why I should swing
for the job.

And what about the treasure,
what did you do with that?

I put it away where you'll never
be able to lay a hand on it.

It was my treasure and that
of my three Indian friends.

They're still in prison
in the Andaman Islands.

And when I saw
your launch catching us,

I decided that if we four
could not have the treasure,

then no kith or kin of Sholto
or Morstan should have it.

I threw it, piece by piece,
into the Thames.

And why were you
so determined to see

that neither Ms. Morstan
nor Mr. Sholto

should get any of it?

It's a long story.

Soon after I joined the Army,
I was posted to India.

One day I was swimming
in the Ganges...

♪

...when a crocodile took my leg.

Five months in hospital
and I was discharged

as a cripple
and not yet 20 years old.

I got a job as an overseer
on a plantation.

The job consisted mainly
of riding on horseback.

In spite of my leg,
I found I could cope quite well.

Then, with no warning,
a lot of Indians

mutinied against the British.

My house was burned
and my friends

and their families
were slaughtered.

♪

I managed to reach
the city of Agra

where other English people
had gathered.

♪

♪

One night, I was in charge of
the sentry on one of the gates.

Listen to me, Sahib.

There is a Raja
in the Northern Provinces

who has joined forces
with the mutineers.

This Raja has kept his gold
and silver with him.

All his jewels he has put
in a box which his servant

is to bring to Agra.

This servant
will arrive tonight.

If the mutineers win,
the Raja will say

that he has been on their side.

He will share in their success

and will keep
his gold and silver.

If the English win
and the mutiny is defeated,

he has all his jewels
and is still a very rich man.

By joining the mutiny,
the Raja has forfeited

his right to this property.

And the man carrying it
is liable to execution.

Exactly, Sahib!

Now, my half-brother,
Dost Akbar, is bringing the man

with the treasure
to this gate tonight.

Here the man will die
and the jewels

will be forfeited,
all according to the law.

Except that the jewels
will be split four ways.

To him, to Dost Akbar,
to me, and to you,

unless you would prefer
to die now.

In which case, we will split
your share three ways.

I am with you heart and soul.

♪

The deed was done
and we buried the body.

Then, after one look
at the jewels,

we hid the box in a wall.

Unfortunately,
another servant of the Raja

suspected what had happened
and when the body was found,

the four of us were charged
with murder.

We were found guilty
and sentenced

to life imprisonment
on the Andaman Islands.

And there you met Major Sholto
and Captain Morstan,

who are officers of the guard.

Also the murderous little Tonga.

To cut a long story short,
we did a deal with Sholto

who was to get the treasure,
then send back a boat

for Morstan
and we four prisoners.

Sholto robbed us all
and took the whole treasure

to England as his own.

On that day, I swore
to get back our treasure.

I befriended Tonga,
who had been ill.

♪

I nursed him to health.

And in return,
he helped me to escape.

♪

I clubbed a guard
with my wooden leg

in order to get away.

I fear I may have killed him.

♪

I think the rest you know.

I've no doubt you'll be happier
when I'm behind bars.

Well, I've got my prisoner.

What have you two got?

♪

You first, Small.

I don't want my head caved in
with your wooden leg.

♪

I've got my prisoner,
what have you two got?

♪

You first, Small.

♪

♪

♪