Original subtitles

There's a gentleman downstairs.

you

Now, easy.

I must apologize.

I have been a little overwrought. I am a doctor, and I must insist that you

relax yourself and say nothing until you have eaten.

Thank you.

If I might have a biscuit and a glass of milk, I have no doubt I should soon be

better. Mrs. Hudson is preparing something at this moment.

Please, please forgive this weakness.

I really must.

Mr. Holmes.

At your service.

Master of arts.

Doctor of philosophy.

Principal of the priority school.

It is not every day, Dr. Huxtable, that so distinguished a castaway as yourself

is beached upon the hearthrug.

In speculating what storm had blown you hither, I took the liberty of searching

your person. I hope you will forgive me.

Yes. Yes, of course.

Please.

Sit down.

Your watch.

Unblemished for at least 30 years.

Suddenly... This morning, scratched.

When you thrust those coins unthinkingly into your waistcoat pocket, the stern

habit of a lifetime trampled underfoot.

A small occurrence, perhaps, but only small, I think, in the way that a

vibrating needle may signal an earthquake.

The state of your beard demonstrates a considerable disruption to your routine.

Three days ago?

Just so. Just so.

Mr. Holmes, I beg you.

to accompany me north to Mackleton immediately.

A matter of the utmost importance. Ah, I regret.

Dr. Watson and I are extremely pressed just at the moment.

I'm retained in the case of the fellow's documents, and Dr. Watson tells me that

he's run off his feet by this recent epidemic of the scarlet fever. And then,

course, with the Abergavenny murder coming up, only a very important issue

call us away at the present.

Important, sir.

Important.

I don't say you've heard of the Duke of Holderness.

The former cabinet minister.

More than that, Watson.

The letters after his name. Almost half the alphabet.

One of the greatest subjects of the crown.

Eh, Dr. Huxtable? One of the greatest, and probably one of the wealthiest.

He is also, I am proud to say, my neighbor.

Holderness Hall, his country seat, is across the valley from the Priory

Duke is an intensely solitary man.

He abhors the prospect of public scrutiny.

But such is his anxiety in this matter that His Grace is prepared to write a

cheque for £5 ,000 to see the business solved and another £1 ,000 to see

visited upon the buildings.

That is how important it is.

The Prince Leof, Dr. Huxtable.

You have failed only in describing the villainy.

Forgive me.

Lord Salter, the Duke's son, his only child, has been abducted.

From the priory school?

Yes.

Where he was in your care?

Quite.

And this abduction?

Happened three days ago?

Last Saturday night.

Why have you waited so long before consulting me?

His Grace has a deep horror of his family unhappiness being dragged before

world. The police have been requested by the Duke to proceed with such caution

that they... I see.

This affair has been deplorably handled.

I feel it and admit it.

What form did the demand for ransom take?

There has been none.

You see... No demand for ransom?

None.

It is one of the most perplexing aspects of the business, for the boy was not

alone in his flight.

Herr Heidegger, the German master, is also missing.

As, indeed, by the way, is his bicycle.

If he has abducted the boy, why has no demand for money been received?

Heidegger came to me from Switzerland with the very best references.

Was any other bicycle missing?

Oh, no.

You're certain? Quite. Mr. Avering checked all the bicycles.

Dr. Huxtable, do you really mean to suggest that this German master rode off

upon his bicycle in the dead of night, bearing the boy in his arms?

No. Then what is this theory in your mind?

The bicycle may have been a blind.

He may have hidden it somewhere and the pair gone off on foot.

Surely he would have hidden a couple of bicycles if he desired to give that

impression.

Yes, I suppose he would.

Stop! Of course he would, Doctor Huxtable. This blind theory of yours

do.

All right.

It is an admirable starting point for an investigation.

Watson, would you send for the cab immediately?

Now, Holmes.

Set and pack!

We have just enough time to catch the overnight train from St. Pancras.

Dr. Huxtable, I should do a little work at your doors.

Perhaps the train is not so cold, but the two old hounds like Watson and

may get a sniff on it.

I imagine the arrival of Lord Salton at your school must have been quite a

feather in your hat. My proudest moment, Mr. Holmes.

Ever since Blackwell's published Huxtable Sightlights on Horace.

A notable little success in his day. You may have heard of it.

Now, how old is the boy?

Nine. And he's been with you how long?

Since the beginning of the winter term.

An unusual boy. He seemed to be fitting in well.

He, uh... Yes?

I was about to say, he was not entirely happy at home.

The Duke's marriage had not been a peaceful one.

It ended in separation by mutual consent last year.

The Duchess has returned to her father's palazzo in Venice.

This picture of the Duke's marriage...

How did you come by it? Is it common knowledge?

I've had some confidential talks with Mr. Wilder, the Duke's secretary.

He's been most helpful.

And I suppose it has been established that the boy has not returned to his

mother in Italy.

Oh, yes, he has.

I cannot tell you, Mr. Holmes, what a relief it is to me. Watson!

Your picnic, sir.

Mr. Holmes!

How did you guess?

Experience, Mr.

Holmes. Well, that means the two doctors can picnic away to their heart's

content on the train.

Even I may find my appetite is keener for a few days in the breaking

of the king country.

I think I will do myself no injustice when I say that the Priory School is the

most select preparatory school in England.

Lord Leverstoke?

The Earl of Blackwater?

Sir Cathcart Soles?

They've all entrusted their sons to me.

You can't see Holden at all from here, but there's a very fine view from the

chapel tower.

I will begin with the boys' room.

From his father.

It arrived on the morning of his disappearance.

Had you received one from Italy?

Not recently.

Where is the letter now?

It cannot be found.

It must have been on the boy's person when he was abducted.

Whose feet?

In the adjoining room.

Shall we? Did you keep your name?

I always know the chap, my dear.

He would sleep through a thunderstorm.

I don't think he would, sir.

Really? And why is that, do you suppose?

There's a mouse, sir, in the wainscot, sir.

And it wakes us both up, sir.

Sometimes, sir. Mouse?

So any noise from Lord Salter's room?

Well, the door creaks, sir.

We always hear the door.

On the night of the disappearance, did you hear anything there?

No, sir.

We couldn't even hear the crying.

Cry?

Yes, sir.

He sometimes cries, sir.

Sometimes, sir.

Thank you, boy.

You have found nothing in the grounds?

There's no knowing what I have found.

The trail is cold.

Headmaster!

Headmaster, the Duke of Holden is here, Headmaster.

Thank you, Mr. Avery. Mr.

Holmes?

Yes. The Duke is waiting, Mr. Holmes.

That will never do.

Great.

Mr. Wilder? I called yesterday, Dr. Huxtable.

But I was too late to prevent your starting for London.

His Grace is surprised, Dr. Huxtable, that you should have invited Mr. Holmes

undertake an investigation without consulting him first.

Well, I learned that the police had failed. It is by no means certain that

police have failed.

Oh, but surely, Mr. Wiley... You are well aware, Dr. Huxtable, how anxious

Grace is to avoid all public scandal.

He prefers to take as few people as possible into his confidence.

I'm sorry, Mr. Wiley.

The matter is easily remedied. Mr. Sherlock Holmes can return to London by

morning train. Oh, hardly that.

Hard with that.

I enjoy your invigorating northern air.

I shall spend, at any rate, a few days upon your moors.

Who knows, I may at least find Herr Heidegger's bicycle, if nothing else.

is not a trivial matter, Mr. Holmes.

I am gratified that you think not, Your Grace.

If there was meaning in that remark, Mr. Holmes, I'm afraid it escaped me.

Your only child has disappeared.

Your hopes, your future, your noble family itself is threatened with

dissolution. Your point, sir. I ask your grace.

What is modesty to this?

To your child's life?

What is reputation?

But then it might be replied, what is continuance?

Without...

However,

I believe you are largely in the right, Mr. Holmes.

If you refer to the constraints I have placed upon the activities of the

then perhaps I have imposed too much.

I have a morbid fear of the public gaze.

It would be foolish not to avail ourselves of Mr. Holmes' services,

that he is here.

Mr. Holmes.

Your Grace.

Perhaps you would like to come and stay with us at Holderness Hall.

I thank your grace, but I think for the purposes of my investigation, it would

be wiser for me to remain here at the scene of the mystery.

As you wish.

Mr. Wilder or myself will be available to provide you with any assistance that

you might require.

Might I ask whether you have formed any explanation as to the mysterious

disappearance of your son?

No, sir, I have not.

He is a fine boy, Mr. Holmes.

And how long has he been in your class?

Since his arrival here.

Did he speak much of his family?

Not much.

It's my belief that he missed his mother. There's something of his

reticence in him, you understand?

The separation between the Duke and the Duchess, did he talk about that?

Not really. It's a little mysterious.

The boy insisted that they loved each other very much. You don't think that

could be whistling in the wind to cheer him so up?

No, he's a very realistic child.

Ah, but not a very realistic family.

My research shows they once provided a member of the Hellfire Club.

You wouldn't know, I suppose, what time Heidegger retired from his room on the

night of the disappearance.

Not really, but...

Quite late. After 11.

He was duty roundmaster that night.

There are quite late, I believe.

Yes. Oh, yes.

Did Lord Salter ever accompany you?

No, he is not yet able to retain his balance.

You wouldn't, I suppose,

happen to know the make of tyres on Herr Heidegger's bicycle?

Certainly. A lovely bicycle, by the way. Made in Bremen.

The tyres were Palmer.

You know, the ones with longitudinal tread.

I know them well.

Thank you.

Doubly helpful.

Pleasure, Mr. Holmes.

Dinner will be at eight.

I beg your pardon?

grows upon me, Watson, there are decidedly points of interest in

it. Here, look at this map.

There are certain geographical features which may have a good deal to do with

our investigation.

This dark square is the Priory School.

This, the main road, with no side -turning for a mile either way.

To the north of the school, the land rises slowly.

To the south, a large district of arable land with high walls and hedgerows.

Impossible territory for a bicycle.

What did you discover at Oakbourne?

Well, the police had reports from all over the place on a man and a boy seen

together. They completed their investigation on the sightings only this

What result?

Beautiful. None more the sightings resembling the boy or the German master.

This mass of mistaken sightings, Watson. It confirms my suspicion.

I don't believe they used the road.

That powerful curiosity of quiet places would surely have found them out.

I don't think they used the road at all. Yes, but the bicycle.

A good cyclist does not need a road, Watson.

The moor is intersected with path.

I remember the moon was at the full.

Now it is to the north that our quest must lie.

You have done well, Watson.

Dinner soon, you'll be happy to hear.

But I do have just one point on which I need to be satisfied.

Here, hide in this room.

Ten minutes.

Dr Holmes has been delving into the origins of the Holderness family.

Like many ancient minds, it sprang from a very muddy source.

Muddy, Doctor?

Well, not to be too delicate about it, there were cattle thieves.

A warrior class, ingenious, daring, but the basis of their wealth was running

off with other people's cows.

Holmes even tells me that the Holderness has furnished one of the madder members

of the Hellfire Club.

What is the matter, Dr Huxtable?

It is nothing.

Well, it's clearly something.

I expect too much, I'm sure.

It is a fault, I'm sure. Tell us your expectations.

I do not expect miracles.

I think I am not a man who demands the miraculous.

But you have discovered nothing.

We have advanced not a jot since the moment we left London.

Although, indeed, that is not true.

You have discovered two things, both falsehoods.

One, a squalid piece of gossip.

And the other, an apocryphal and insulting fancy about the origins of my

patron.

I did not implore you to come here to blacken the name of the Holdernesses,

Holmes.

Calm yourself, Dr. Huxtable.

We have, in fact, advanced some way.

I can, for example, describe to you in some detail what took place at this

school on that fateful night.

Also the behaviour of your excellent and faithful German master.

Faithful? Heidegger?

What, sir?

Herr Heidegger retired to his room soon after 11 o 'clock.

He was the duty master that night.

Now my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson, will impersonate.

Heidegger has till two hours' work ahead of him, and it's been a long day.

He allows himself the comfort of removing his jacket.

He moves across to the chest by the door and pours himself a glass of sherry.

badly needed fortification for the task that lies ahead.

He collects the candle and moves to his desk to correct 22 exercise

books, which contain not only grammatical exercises, but also a

composition.

You see my point, Dr. Huxtable.

It would have been well after midnight if he had done nothing else.

When his candle failed him.

The candles are kept in the chest by the door.

He rises from the desk to fetch another one, but he cannot see to find them.

So he turns to the window to draw the curtains to see better by the moonlight.

Across the rooftops in the gate tower.

The boy has been waiting for darkness, knowing that his flight must not be

observed.

Herr Heidegger watches as the boy hurries across the Leves to keep his

prearranged meeting by the river.

Fencing the enormity of what was taking place, Heidegger runs to the door,

knocking over what remains of his glass of sherry and his gold.

I see.

Thank you.

It seems I misjudged him. The wisdom of his choice to pursue the boy is

questionable. I believe his fate may be sealed.

You'll love him, Mr. Holmes.

Do you mean... I hope not, but if my reasoning is correct, then I do fear for

him.

And the boy?

The key to that, Dr. Huxtable, remains right there.

Beyond the driver's brink.

Poor beast.

Carrying crows.

They've earned their name.

So we're assuming the boy was taken away on horseback, are we not?

Certainly. Otherwise, Heidegger would not have needed a bicycle to pursue

The only track we found, a cattle herd.

Holmes?

Holmes?

A track, Watson!

A track!

A bicycle?

Certainly a bicycle, but not the bicycle. I'm familiar with 42 different

impressions left by tyres.

This is a Dunlop with a patch upon the outer cover.

Heidegger's tyres were Palmer's.

This is not Heidegger's track.

Who's that?

Who's indeed?

These are parma tracks.

There has been this way.

Absolutely extraordinary.

Dunlop tracks, for 150 yards, they vanish.

And parma tracks, quite clear, leading to these rocks, they vanish too.

Not a sign of a horse anywhere.

Blazing talent for observing the obvious.

Should have bought some luncheon.

Anyway, what was Herr Heidegger cycling after? Cows?

Presumably they didn't abduct the child on the back of a cow.

All traces of horses obliterated.

With much evidence, the two bicycles have vanished into thin air.

Impossible.

Precisely. It is impossible as we have stated it. Therefore, in some respect,

must have stated it wrong.

Ah.

There's a... There's a hostelry marked on the further edge of the moor.

Holmes?

There's a hostelry on the Chesterfield Road.

Yes, if we keep on this line, we should come up to it.

Well, that's where I'm going to try my luck.

I'm hungry.

Lunch!

Of course, my dear fellow, you must be starving.

Now, observe that map.

You will see that there is a hostelry about three miles in this direction.

We'll need some food if we're going to face the Duke of Holden this late.

Nothing?

I must tell it great.

Nothing?

Nothing.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

It's locked.

Primitive, but forceful.

As sporting portraits go.

Mr. Reuben Hayes?

How do you know my name? It's painted over the door.

We were looking for some refreshment.

Were you?

And would be obliged if you could furnish it.

Would you?

We would.

You're but that woman.

If we're going all the way to Holderness Hall this afternoon, let us try to hire

those rumpeters that can be.

What do you say?

How far are you taking them?

Just to the hall and back.

You know the way, I'd say.

I worked there for 15 years.

Yeah,

you can take them.

My word, Mr. Hayes, you avenged yourself.

No.

I am a doctor, sir, and I assure you it is. You should have it attended.

How did you come by it?

One of me dogs did it.

What about them?

Well, to judge's expense, they were that far apart.

What animal would make such a scrap?

Probably a descendant of champion jerk.

Cockfighting is forbidden by law and has been for 50 years.

Many things are forbidden by law. What law is there in such places as these?

Ah, excellent, Mrs. Beckett. Thank you. What have you called?

White pudding, sweet, and this.

How is it, what?

It is disgusting, Holmes.

That woman, she's frightened of something, and more than that husband of

Deception upon deception.

What is it intended to hide?

That's odd.

Old shoes, new nails.

Gentlemen, His Grace will see you now.

Ah, Mr.

Wilder. Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson.

Welcome to Holderness Hall.

His Grace will be joining us shortly.

We are placing high hopes on your skills, Mr. Holmes.

Do you bring news?

There is just one point on which I need to be satisfied.

Yes, Mr. Holmes?

It concerns the Duke's private correspondence.

Earth of Grace's private secretary. Perhaps I can be of some assistance.

I believe His Grace wrote to his son upon the day this incident occurred.

No, I believe he wrote on the day before. Yes, but he would have received

upon that day.

Yes, quite probably.

Might there have been anything in that letter which would have prompted the boy

to run away?

Oh, I hardly think so.

Anyway, he would have run here, if anywhere.

Or to his mother in Italy.

No, sir.

Lord Salter would realise the impossibility of achieving such a goal,

if abetted by this German.

He is an intelligent and practical child.

And yet he cries in his sleep.

Did his grace post the letter himself?

His Grace is not in the habit of posting letters.

The letter was laid with others upon the study table, and I myself put them

there. The only other person who would handle them would be Rivers, who

the daily post to the Lord.

And you're sure this letter was among them?

Oh, yes.

I observed it.

And what have you observed, Mr. Holmes?

How does your investigation progress?

Are you to disappoint me?

I hope still to render your dress a happier and myself a richer man.

But what have you discovered?

It was mostly a matter of clarification.

My belief is that the boy was tempted out of the school by a prearrangement,

I suspect that his mother may have been the bait.

The German master observed his departure and set off in pursuit.

We tracked the passage of his bicycle across the moor with much difficulty.

It is almost as if the tracks were deliberately expunged by someone...

Mr Holmes?

Someone driving cattle. You don't happen to know if the cattle on the moor...

What about them?

I hope you have seen none.

We cannot winter cattle outside in our upland climate.

They will not be out of the yard for at least another two weeks.

I have been as blind as a beetle.

I thank you, Grace.

Old shoes and new nails!

Old shoes and new nails! Oh, there's something you should see!

It is a remarkable car that trots, canters and gallops!

Did you see those horseshoes? I saw them! The roaring parents of Aldous shot

their horses with German horseshoes. Twice late detection.

Reuben Hayes took advantage of the piece of local history.

It's bad, Watson.

Bad.

Those vultures of the north mark the spot.

German master.

What's left of him?

Skin and blood.

Only a microscope would tell if it's human.

Like a fist of that eye to scratch it on Hazy's neck. Oh, yes. Cause of death.

Strangulation. The larynx is quite crushed.

That shepherd can be our messenger to the Friday school with the news of this

tragedy.

We must proceed on foot, Watson. I was warm at that inn.

Warm, as the children say.

The trail grows colder every step I take away from it.

It's all over now, Arthur.

Reuben Hayes.

Let's hope we're not too late.

Adonald! With a patch on the outer cover!

I'm satisfied that you had no liking for this business and that you acted under

coercion.

Someone came for the boy.

The Duke's secretary, Mr. Wilder.

Which way did they go?

Across the moor?

Towards the Chesterfield Road.

Will Buick come then?

You are now the boy's guardian angel.

Come on.

I fancy I see your greatest checkbook upon your desk.

I'd be glad if you'd make me out a check for 6 ,000 pounds.

Perhaps it would be best if you were to cross it.

Capital and Counties Bank, Oxford Street branch are my agents.

I do not possess the temperament, Mr. Holmes, that appreciates the kind of

acidulous pleasantry that clearly amuses you.

I am sorry, but I do not see how James...

Mr. Wilder could possibly be implicated in this business, and you have urged no

proof of it. But I can admit the proof. It is beyond debate.

The mud is scarcely dry upon the cloven horseshoes in your casements. Why do you

doubt my word?

You seem to suffer from a blindness to your own interests, which borders on

madness.

Your Grace, those portraits in the hall

of you and your father as young men,

There your family lineaments are very clear.

How long has Mr. Wilde been in your service?

What is your meaning?

How dare you, sir?

You do not understand. You are a barbarian. You will never... Please

immediately. I will... I...

It is as I suspected.

Mr. James Wilder is your son.

When I was a very young man, Mr. Holmes, I loved

with such a love as comes only once in a lifetime.

I offered the lady marriage, but she refused it on the grounds that

such a match might mar my career.

Had she lived, I would certainly never have married anyone else, but

she died.

and left this one child, James, whom for her sake

I have tended and cared for.

I could not acknowledge paternity to the world, but in all other ways I have

treated him like my son.

He has required, but not warranted, a father's forgiveness many

times.

And I have forgiven.

I have forgiven.

I have forgiven much.

Your Grace, you have done all you can for Mr. Wilder.

You must realize that he is lost to you.

He is conspired to have died, Lord Salter. He is an accessory to a murder,

however unwittingly.

He must be found.

Before he's tempted to a crime even more terrible.

He must be found before you lose the son that is left to you.

Reverse.

You are to organize the search of the moor westwards in a line from the temple

to the pavilion.

You are to employ the entire staff without exception.

You are looking for my son, Lord Poulter.

If you find Mr. Wilder, please see that he is detained and

brought to me.

Wilder intercepted your letter and substituted a note which deceived your

into believing that he was to see his mother.

The murderous Hayes was his paid accomplice, but the police have been

Hayes will not escape.

What?

I tracked them off into the moor, but they disappeared.

I searched the area, but it's as if the earth just swallowed them up.

With my retraction to your family history, I seem to recall mention of a

Limestone cavern, where the fill and cattle were penned.

The cathedral.

I was disposed to love Francesca, not with a boy's passion, but with a man's

love.

My marriage to her founded on James's jealousy.

As long as I could see his mother's faith and manner in him,

James knew he could keep me from the love I owed my wife.

Even his cruelty to Arthur.

I could not send him away even for that.

So I sent Arthur away instead.

What did he hope to achieve by kidnapping his brother?

Money?

Legitimacy? And power.

Power over me.

He delighted in exercising power over me, whom he knew to have

denied him power.

But you suspected that he was behind the abduction.

In my darkest moments, yes.

Yet somehow I hoped to...

Save him.

Well, a long penance it has seemed.

I can only hope that Francesca will forgive me.

Thank you, Mr. Holmes.

You're great.

This is a king's ransom.

You have given me back my future.