All language subtitles for 1986-08-20 - Sherlock Holmes - The Six Napoleons - 50min

THE SIX NAPOLEONS

What are you doing
down there Beppo?

[speaking Italian]

S tand back

we have him at last.

[speaking Italian]

[speaking Italian]

Anything remarkable
on hand, Lestrade?

No.

Nothing in particular.

Then tell us about it.

Now you've come to
mention it, Mr. Holmes.

There's no denying there
is something on my mind.

It first came to my
notice four days ago.

A certain Morse
Hudson has a shop

for the sale of
pictures and statues

in the Kennington Road.

But what happened last
night was more serious

and also more singular.

Burglary?

Exactly.

A house of a Doctor
Barnicot was broken into.

Now this bust was
one of a pair

purchased from
Morse Hudson

by Doctor Barnicot.

He had put it
in his house.

The other he put two
miles away in his surgery.

Later that same night.

This is certainly
very novel.

Yes, I thought it
would please you.

Though in my opinion
it comes more into

Doctor Watson's
line than ours.

Disease?

I should say madness.

Queer sort of madness too.

You wouldn't think there
was anybody living,

nowadays would you,
have such a hatred

for Napoleon Bonaparte.

Actually there
are no limits

to the possibilities
of monomania.

You see there is
the condition

that the modern
French psychologists

have called an 'idée fixe, '

if someone became
obsessed with say,

an injustice committed
to an ancestor

during the
Napoleonic wars,

he might form
'idée fixe',

and under its influence

he might be capable of
any fantastic outrage.

My dear Watson,
that won't do.

How do you
explain it then?

I don't attempt to do so.

There you see.

I would simply observe

that there's a
certain method

in this gentleman's
eccentric madness.

I mean for example,

in Dr. Barnicot's house,

where a sound might have

aroused the
sleeping family,

the bust was
taken outside

before being broken,

whereas in his surgery,

where there was less
danger of alarm,

it was smashed
where he stood.

I only mentioned it

because you usually
have a taste

for all that is
out of the common,

no matter how trivial.

I dare call nothing
trivial, Lestrade.

Some of my most
classic cases

have had the least
promising commencement.

Yeah.

That dreadful business
of the Abernetty family.

I hardly call the
dismemberment

of an entire
family trivial.

Well Watson, would you
be so kind as to explain?

What?

Well the point is that

it only came to
Holmes' notice

because the depths which
the parsley had sunk

into the butter
on a hot day.

Awe.

Awe.

So you see I cannot
afford to smile

at your three
busts, Lestrade.

However, I would
be obliged

if you would
keep me informed

as to developments.

Listen to this Holmes:
Come instantly,

131 Pitt Street,
Kensington.

Lestrade.

What's it about?

Well it could be anything

but I suspect
it's a sequel

to his story
of last night,

you know my 'idée fixe. '
Finish your coffee

there's a cab at the door.

Two minutes.

It's attempted
murder at least.

Nothing less will hold
the London message boy.

There's a deed
of violence

in that young fellow's
round shoulders

and outstretched neck.

Well, Lestrade
will soon tell us.

Look at this, Watson.

The bottom steps swilled
down and the others dry.

Footsteps enough, anyhow.

Yes, but whose?

It's the Napoleon bust
business again, gentlemen.

They smashed another?

I 'm afraid the affair

has taken a graver turn.

This way.

Mr. Harker, allow
me to present,

Mr. Sherlock Holmes
and Doctor Watson.

Mr. Horace Harker, of the
Central Press Syndicate.

Good of you to
come, gentlemen.

Please forgive
my agitation.

No apology necessary,
Mr. Harker.

A body on one's
front doorstep

is always unsettling.

You've told him then?

Not a word.

Now tell us exactly
what occurred.

It's an
extraordinary thing.

All my life I 've been

collecting other
people's news,

and now I have a real
life story of my own

and I can't put
two words together.

If I had been
a journalist

and walked in
through that door

I would have
interviewed myself

and had two columns in
every London newspaper.

And here I am giving
away valuable copy

by telling my story

over and over again

to a string of
different people.

However, I 've
heard of your name,

Mr. Sherlock Holmes,

so if you could explain
this queer business

I 'd be more than
paid for my trouble

in telling
you my story.

A great deal of my
journalistic work

is done at night
in my den,

in that room
adjacent to this one.

At some time

in the small hours
of this morning.

[scream]

I shall live that moment

over and over again
in my dreams.

Do we know who the
murdered man was?

Not yet but you can see
the body at the mortuary,

if you wish.

Where did you purchase
your bust, Mr. Harker?

From Mr. Hudson of
Kennington Road.

Do we know what
became of it?

The officer at the door

tells me it's been found

in the front garden

of an empty house
on Campden House Road.

I was just going
round to see it.

Will you come?

In a moment, Lestrade.

Well the intruder either
had very long legs

or was a most active man.

With that area beneath
it was no mean feat

to climb up to this ledge,

let alone to
open the window.

Mr. Harker, will
you come with us

to see the remains
of your bust?

I must make
something of it,

although I have no doubt

that every
newspaper in London

will be on the streets

with a full and
detailed account.

Just my luck.

Do you remember when
the stand fell down

at the Downcaster Races?

I was the only
journalist in that stand,

and my journal
was the only one

that didn't have a
published account

because I was too
shaken to write a word.

Now I should be too late

with a murder on
my own doorstep.

Well?

We have a long way to go

but there is one
suggestive fact.

He didn't smash
this in the house

or immediately outside it.

Well perhaps he was so
rattled and bustled

by meeting this
other fellow

that he hardly knew
what he was doing.

That's likely enough.

But why did he
choose to destroy it

outside this
particular house?

It's empty,

so he knew he
wouldn't be disturbed.

Yes, but there's
another empty house

further up the street

he must have passed.

Why not destroy it there?

The lamp!

By Jove, you're right.

What are we to
make of that?

Holmes?

Remember it.

Docket it.

We may come on
something later,

which will bear upon it.

Meanwhile, before we
go our separate ways

I suggest we make one
last concerted visit.

Where to?

The morgue.

They made nothing of
his identity up to now.

He was poorly dressed

but doesn't seem to
have been a laborer.

Whoever's responsible

did a nasty job on
the fellow's throat.

Oh that was the
murder weapon,

had a serrated blade.

But whether it belonged
to the murderer

or the dead man we
don't yet know.

Anything in his pockets
to help identify him?

Precious little.

If it might interest
you, Mr. Holmes.

Forgive me, Lestrade,

I was just contemplating

the one mystery that
not even I can solve.

Death itself.

Pray continue.

As you can see he
carried very little.

An apple, some string,

shilling map of London

and a photograph.

Well on part
one it's torn.

Look.

Odd looking devil.

Positively simian.

What steps do you
propose ne xt, Lestrade?

Well the most practical
way of getting at it,

in my opinion, is to
identify the dead man.

Once we know who he is

and who his
associates are,

we should have a good
start in learning

who killed him
on the doorstep

of Mr. Horace Harker.

Don't you think
so, Mr. Holmes?

No doubt.

It is not the way that I
would conduct the case.

And what would you do?

Oh, don't let me
influence you, Lestrade.

I suggest that you follow
your line of inquiry

and I mine.

And we can compare notes,

and each supplement
the other.

But if you are returning
to Pitt Street,

I would be grateful if
you would tell Mr. Harker

that I have quite
made up my mind,

in this matter.

And so there was a

dangerous and
homicidal lunatic

with Napoleonic delusions

at his house last night.

It will help him
in his article.

You don't seriously
believe that, Holmes?

Don't I?

Well, perhaps not.

I 'm sure it will please
Mr. Horace Harker

and the subscribers to
the Central Press Agency.

I would be
grateful, Lestrade,

if you could make
it convenient

to come around
to Baker Street

at six o'clock
this evening.

And until then

I would like to
keep this photograph

found in the dead
man's pocket.

Oh, Mr. Holmes that
might be a vital clue!

I trust it is, otherwise
it's of no interest to me.

Good luck, Lestrade.

What we pay our taxes
for, I don't know!

When any ruffian
can walk in

and break one's goods,

under one's nose.

A superb bit of
craftsmanship it was too.

Taken from a marble copy
of the Emperor's head

by Dupré.

Are you familiar,
by chance,

with that great artists.

Yes indeed.

Speaking in familiarly,

do you recognize the
man in this photograph?

Man in the photograph?

Yes indeed I
do, Mr. Holmes.

The name's Beppo.

Beppo?

Yes he was a sort of,

Italian piecework man,

who made himself useful
here in the shop.

Oh, he could carve a bit,

and frame, and guild.

I took him on
about ten days ago

but he only stayed a week

and then just disappeared.

Didn't even
collect his wages.

Perhaps he was responsible

for the breakages.

Responsible for
the breakages?

Huh, responsible
for the breakages?

My dear sir, this is an
international conspiracy.

A nihilist plot.

Red republicans
I call them.

Yes.

No one but an anarchist

would go about
breaking statues.

Did they break every
one that you sold?

Break every one I sold?

No hardly that.

Just the two bought
by a local doctor

and the one left
here in my shop.

If anything happened
to the other three

I know nothing of it.

Three?

So there was six
to begin with?

Six to begin
with, yes, yes.

A batch of six.

I ordered them especially

from Gelder &
Company of Stepney.

They do excellent
molding work.

Do you happen to know
the names and addresses

of the other customers?

My ledgers, Mr. Holmes,

are confidential.

Mr. Hudson,

if you're
theory's correct,

ought we to warn
these people of this...

this most dangerous plot?

And who better to do that

than Mr. Sherlock Holmes?

Mr. Sherlock Holmes?

Yes, quite right.

Quite right, sir.

Yes, the country slumbers

but we shall
remain vigilant.

Huh?

Follow me, sir.

Here we are.

Mr. Josiah Brown
of Chiswick

and Mrs. Sandeford
of Reading.

- Mrs?
- Yes.

Mr. Hudson?

Huh?

Did your two busts
differ in anyway

from the other four?

Differ from
the other four?

No, no they were
all identical.

They're all with a
beautiful decoration,

which I ordered
especially.

Apart from the decoration

were your six busts

the same as all
the others?

The same as
all the others?

Well I suppose so.

But you'd have
to apply direct

to Gelder & Company
to find that out.

In person.

Excellent idea.

Gentlemen?

Gentlemen?

When you meet the manager

would you be good enough

to warn him of
the conspiracy?

With all the busts they
have on the premises

the Red republicans
could have a field day.

Normally we sell the
bust without decoration

but Mr. Hudson ordered

that the whole
uniform be painted.

It was extra detail

and made it a very
special statue.

In times of the
construction, however,

there is no reason

why the six napoleons
we sold to him

should be different from
hundreds of others.

You see the two molds
are put together

and filled with plaster

to make the complete bust.

Are they solid?

Solid?

Yes of course

Then they are placed in
a special room to dry

and afterwards stored.

The wholesale price
is six shillings

but we would get
twelve or more.

I can think of no reason

that someone should
wish to destroy them.

Or murder for them.

Murder?

So,

your interest in
the molding process

had ulterior motives.

Mendelstam, I wonder if
you happen to recognize

the man in this
photograph.

Yes indeed.

Very well.

This has always been a
respectable establishment

and the only time we ever
had the police in here

was over this fellow.

About a year ago

he knifed another
Italian in the street

and ran in here

with the police
on his heels.

Was his name Beppo,
by any chance?

Beppo, yes!

His second name,
I never knew.

Served me right

for employing a man
with such a face.

But he was a good workman,

one of the best.

Do you happen to remember

exactly when he
was arrested?

I could check
the pay list.

According to Morse
Hudson's records

you sold him
six Napoleon's

on June 3,
of last year.

Now let me see.

That is correct

Now Beppo, last
collected his wages

on May 27,

of that same year.

Then he must have
been arrested

sometime the
following week.

Well no doubt the police
have the exact details.

The young
Italian survived so

Beppo only went to
prison for one year.

We have a cousin of
his work in here,

perhaps you would wish
to speak with him?

No.

Not a word to the
cousin, I beg of you.

The matter is
very important

and the further
I go with it

the more
important it seems.

And so yeah.

I merely thought
his cousin

might know when Beppo
is to be released.

Mendelstam,

if my surmises
are correct,

our friend Beppo has
been out of jail

for at least eleven days.

Hey, hey, Watson.

Harker has
baited the traps.

The press is a very
valuable institution

if one knows
how to use it.

Read all about it.

Very cunning, Holmes!

Thank you, Watson.

Lestrade!

Mr. Holmes.

Doctor.

Please sit down.

Thank you.

Well uh,

what luck,
Mr. Holmes?

We've had a very busy day.

Not entirely wasted.

I can trace each
of the busts

now from the beginning.

The busts!

Well of course you
have your own methods,

Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

Not for me to say
a word against them

but I think I 've done a
better days work than you.

I 've identified
the dead man.

Splendid!

Who is it?

Pietro Venucci,

son of a respectable
Italian tradesman

that involved with a
secret political society.

Red anarchist?

Oh you've been talking to
Morse Hudson haven't you?

Do go on, Lestrade.

I refer, of course,
to the mafia,

which, as you may know,

enforces its decrees
by assassination.

Obviously our murderer

broke the rules
in some fashion

and Pietro is put
on his track.

Possibly with
that photograph

to aid identification.

They meet

but Pietro receives
his own death wound

in the scuffle.

Excellent, Lestrade, but
I don't quite follow

your explanation of the
destruction of the busts.

Dear Holmes, the busts!

You can never get those
busts out of your head.

The busts are nothing.

Petty larceny, six
months at most.

No, no, no.

It's murder we're
really investigating,

and I tell you

I 'm gathering all the
threads into my hand.

And the next stage?

Awe, well now.

We have an inspector
who's made a specialty

out of the
Italian quarter.

I shall go down
there with him,

find the man in
that photograph
you're carrying,

arrest him for murder.

What you say, Mr. Holmes?

Will you come with us?

I think not.

I fancy Chiswick
as the address

most likely to find him.

Chiswick?

If you and some
of your men

will come with us
to Chiswick tonight,

I will go to the Italian
quarter with you tomorrow

and there will be no
harm in the delay.

I suggest you dine with us

and then you're
welcome to the sofa.

A few hours sleep
will do us all good.

I don't intend to leave
the house before 11.

It is unlikely
that we shall

be home before morning.

But Mr. Holmes...

In the meantime,

I have a letter to send
by express messenger.

Mrs. Hudson?

Mrs. Hudson?

Chiswick?

[speaking Italian]

Pa Pa!

Eleven o'clock.

Gentlemen on your feet.

Come along Lestrade.

Watson, I think
you've been

overgenerous
with the port.

You've been frugal enough
with your information.

Awe that will be
our four-wheeler.

Don't forget the
revolver, Watson,

and bring the rugs.

This outing wouldn't be

inspired by your
'idée fix, ' would it?

'Idée fixe. ' Yes.

The plaster bust.

I have great
hopes, Lestrade.

In fact, I bet it's
exactly two-to-one

that if you come
with us tonight

you'll have the
murderer in custody

before the sun rises.

I 'm not a betting
man, Mr. Holmes.

Then you have nothing
to lose by it do you?

Except a good
nights sleep.

Watson, if you've caught
a cold it's your fault.

You left the rugs behind.

Sorry, Holmes.

Is that two o'clock?

I don't suppose we
can smoke, can we?

Nope.

Thought as much.

Are your men in position?

Oh yes.

Have a humbug, Lestrade.

Watson,

this is no time
for humbugs.

Look!

Is that who you expected?

His name's Beppo.

Good name for a monkey.

He'll leave by
the back door.

How do you know that?

Cause all the other
doors are locked.

Oh dear, it's smashed.

Mr. Josiah
Brown, I presume?

Yes sir.

And you, no doubt, are
Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

I had the note you sent
by the express messenger

and I did e xactly
as you told me.

Following your
instructions,

we locked every door

so as to lead him
into the back.

And I 'm very glad to
see you have the rascal.

Now I hope, gentlemen,

you will come and partake

in some refreshment.

Thank you, Mr. Brown.

The hour is rather late.

Good night.

Oh good night.

Come, Watson, we
have work to do.

Work?

What work?

Lestrade, if you will come
around to Baker Street

tonight at six o'clock.

I hope to be
able to show you

that you still
have not grasped

the full meaning
of this business.

Oh, I think you'll find
my theory of the mafia

will work out all
right, Mr. Holmes.

Good night, Lestrade.

Come along now.

Baker Street please.

And now, Watson,
I commend to you

the universal answer to
almost all the problems.

What's that, Holmes?

Sleep.

[speaking Italian]

[speaking Italian]

[speaking Italian]

Morning Watson.

And since the manager
of Gelder & Company

was mainly responsible for
Beppo's initial arrest,

we see the breaking
of the busts

as a pathetic attempt
to revenge himself.

And it was possibly

the senseless
acts of violence,

which transgressed the
mafia's code of behavior

and lead to the murder
of young Venucci.

There, I think
that takes care

of those details you
mentioned last night.

Don't you, Mr. Holmes?

Holmes!

Yes Watson?

Well what do you think
of Lestrade's theories?

I 'm sure that they are
of the greatest interest

but I regret to say

I 've not listened
to a word of them.

Forgive my
inattention Lestrade,

I had a rather late night.

Look, what do
you think I had?

Come in.

Is Mr. Sherlock
Holmes here?

Ah,

I fear I am
a little late

but the trains
were very awkward.

No matter, no matter.

Have you brought the item?

Oh these are my
friends and colleagues,

Doctor Watson and
Inspector Lestrade

of Scotland Yard.

You may speak freely
in front of them.

Gentlemen, you said
in your telegram

that Mr. Hudson had
given you my address.

Mr. Sandeford, of Reading?

The same, sir.

How do you do?

It's those busts again.

Correct, Lestrade.

Did he also tell you

just how much my
wife paid for it?

No he did not.

Well sir, I am
an honest man

and not a very rich one

and she only gave
fifteen shillings for it

and I think you
ought to know that

before I take the
ten pounds from you

that you offered
in your telegraph.

Oh your scruple
does you much honour,

Mr. Sandeford but I
have stated my price

and I shall stick to it.

Oh thank you, Mr. Holmes,

that's very
handsome of you.

You're bust sir.

You know my wife has
always maintained

there is a marked
resemblance between

myself and the Emperor.

I can't say I
see it myself.

Sixth Napoleon.

I contacted Mrs. Sandeford

by telegram this morning.

Now,

if you will
sign this paper

in front of witnesses,

it is simply to say

that you transferred
every possible rights

that you would ever
have in the bust to me.

Happy to, Mr. Holmes,
happy, happy, happy.

I am a methodical man
and one never knows

what turn of events
my take afterwards.

Here is your
ten-pound note sir.

Good evening,
Mr. Sandeford.

Thank you very
much, Mr. Holmes.

It's good evening,
gentlemen.

And it's very,
very kind of you

and thank you so much.

Now gentlemen,

if you will give me your
undivided attention.

Gentlemen, allow me to
introduce you to one of

the most precious
objects in the world.

The famous black
pearl of the Borgias!

Bravo, Holmes, bravo!

Oh you're a legend to man.

Rivals that
[unintelligible]

This surpasses it.

The Borgias pearl's
been missing

since it disappeared

from the Prince of
Colonna's bedroom

in the Dacre Hotel,

over a year ago.

As you may
remember, Lestrade,

I was consulted upon
the case at the time.

Observe and learn.

The moment the
name Venucci

surfaced to this case

I immediately
became intrigued.

The Princess of Colonna's
maid, for some time,

had been one,
Lucrezia Venucci.

Suspicion fell on her

and it was proved that she
had a brother in London

but we failed to trace

any connection
between them.

Beppo was the connection.

He had been courting
Lucrezia Venucci

for some time.

Where did you get that.

Pietro Venucci.

Oh, I see.

When the Venucci family

planned to steal
the black pearl,

they used Beppo
as a go between

for Lucrezia
and her brother.

Beppo gleaned
enough information

to execute the
robber himself

and make off
with the pearl.

Pietro Venucci,
the brother,

caught up with him
outside Gelder's workshop,

Beppo stabbed him,

he then fled into
the warehouse

and took refuge in
the drying room.

He knew he only
had moments

in which to
conceal the pearl,

which would otherwise
be found on him

when he was searched.

Among all the plaster
casts drying that day,

he made for the
batch of six

that had been ear
marked for Morse Hudson

and the base
of one of them

was still soft.

It was an admirable
hiding place.

As soon as Beppo
got out of prison

he managed to
find employment

with Mr. Morse Hudson

and set about tracking

the six Napoleons down.

He found and destroyed
three of them

but the night he
located Harker's,

Pietro Venucci,
intent on vengeance,

accosted him
and this time

Beppo slit his throat.

With only two busts left

it was likely he would

try the London one first.

Hence our visit
to Chiswick.

Exactly, Watson.

That left only
the Reading bust.

I bought it in your
presence from the owner

and there it lies.

Well, Mr. Holmes.

I 've seen you handle a
good many cases in my time

but I don't know
that I ever knew

a more workmanlike
one than this.

We're not jealous
of you, you know,

at Scotland Yard.

We're proud of you.

And if you come
down tomorrow

there's not a man

from the oldest inspector

to the youngest constable,

who wouldn't be glad

to shake you by the hand.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Would you get down the

Conk-Singleton
forgery case,

please Watson?

Goodbye, Lestrade

and if any little
problem comes your way

I shall be
happy, if I can,

to give you a hint or
two as to its solution.