Original subtitles

(dramatic orchestral music)

There is a tavern in the town, in the town

And there my true love sits him down, sits him down

And drinks his wine 'mid laughter free

And never, never thought of me

Fare thee well, for I must leave thee

Do not let this parting grieve thee

And remember that the best of friends J

Must part, must part

Adieu, adieu kind friends, adieu, adieu, adieu .

I can no longer stay with you, stay with you

I'll hang my harp on the weeping willow tree J

And may the world go well with thee

(lively music) (crowd clamoring)

-What do you think you're doing?

I ought to break you in half for a thing like that!

-What ya talking about? Let go.

Let go of me!

-This here is what I'm talking about.

This chicken claw with a ribbon around it

which you hung over my table!

-You're crazy!

Why, what would I ever want to do a thing like that for?

Let go of me!

-Don't lie to me. You did it while I was singing.

-Let go of me, I tell ya! You're hurting me.

-I'll do more than that if you don't tell the truth.

Spit it out!

(pub falls silent)

Alright.

Maybe I need some air.

That's right, maybe I need some air.

-Jocko Farraday? -Yeah?

(Jocko groans)

(ominous music)

(operatic singing)

-Holmes! See who that is, will you?

I'm in the tub!

(operatic singing)

Holmes!

Holmes, are you there?

Oh, confound that fellow!

He might at least say when he's going out.

Just a minute, I'll be right with you.

-Hey, how are ya, Doc? The gang'II be here any minute.

Yeah, and you better get the instruments ready.

-Instruments? What are you talking about?

-Yes the surgicals, the forceps, and all that lark.

Poor ol' Squirrel got a bullet in the arm!

-What? -In the arm.

-Squirrel? -Yes.

You know Squirrel, the mousey-lookin' fella

with the long sideburns. -Huh?

-What was with us in Liverpool

when we did that safe in that pickle factory.

-Squirrel? Pickle factory?

I don't know what you're talking about!

-Hey, are you trying to squeeze out of the gang, Doc?

'Cause if you are,

you're going to be knocked off just like that.

-Now you look here,

I'll give you til' I count three to get out of that door

or I'll throw you and your Squirrel into the street!

-Now listen, Doc. Is this 221 B Baker Street or ain't it?

-Yes!

-And are you Doc Watson or ain't ya?

-Yes! -Then you're the bloke.

-Alright, you asked for it! (knock at door)

-Come off it, Doc! That's probably the rest of the gang.

(playful music)

-Come in.

Arrest that man.

-Rather an effective disguise, eh, Watson?

-Holmes!

This time you have finally gone too far!

I shall go straight out now and find another flat.

-Watson, haven't you forgotten something?

-Very well, I shall go and get dressed,

but when I return it's goodbye.

-I've never seen him in such a temper.(chuckles)

-[Holmes]Oh he'll get over it.

Won't you sit down, Inspector Lestrade?

-Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.

-[Holmes]Well, is there anything unusual on hand?

-No.

Well, nothing in particular.

-I see. -No, urn...

Crime is on the wane in London.

-Yes, I suppose it is.

-Well, I suppose you have read

about the killing outside a Riverside pub.

The victims name was Jocko Farraday.

-Oh yes, I remember there were some strange circumstances

connected with his death.

-Yes, strange indeed. A chicken claw, to be exact.

Course, I never dreamed for a moment

we'd end up discussing this case, but...

Well, it just so happens that...

Well, I have it here with me.

-Ah.

-Yes, would you like to take a look?

-Oh, thank you.

Hmm.

Is this the first time that a chicken claw

has appeared in connection with a death?

-[Lestrade]No, the second.

-Hmm. What was the first victim's name?

-Shackle. Howard Shackle.

-Was there any connection between him and Farraday?

-None as far as I could trace.

Now, Shackle was in textiles up in Manchester,

all very respectable.

Farraday was the first mate aboard a cargo ship

called the Gloria North.

-Hmm. Yet they both seem to have Trinidad in common.

-Trini-what?

-Trinidad.

Only a person who had lived some time in Trinidad

would understand such a warning.

-What warning?

-The chicken's claw, of course.

In certain areas of Trinidad,

a chickens' claw bound with a black ribbon

is a death warning.

-Holmes, are you sure?

-Holmes?

I've decided to give you one more chance.

-Oh, good!

Then perhaps you'll come with us,

as soon as I've got out of this and had a wash.

There.

-Oh, for my days in Afghanistan.

Ambushes, poison spears, bloodcurdling screams...

Peace.

It was wonderful.

-I had just returned to my office

after making a tour of the wards.

I reached into the top drawer of my desk

for a prescription slip.

And there it was.

I must admit it gave me quite a start.

Of course I notified Superintendent Pitt immediately.

-And I notified you, of course.

-Yes, an understandable reaction

for anybody who's ever lived in, ah...

Trinidad.

-Trinidad?

-Yes, Scotland Yards reputation for deduction

isn't entirely groundless, you know.

-But I've never lived in Trinidad.

-You haven't?

Well, how did you know the claw was a death warning?

-Then it is? I told you it was.

-Dr. Jonas, you must have known that,

or you wouldn't have reacted as you did.

-It was my decision to call the police.

-Well, I knew about the chicken claw.

I had read about the Farraday killing in the morning paper

and when the same symbol showed up here in my desk,

naturally it gave me quite a jolt.

But why did you think I had been in Trinidad?

-Dr. Jonas, did you ever by any chance

meet a man called Howard Shackle?

Never, at least not that I can recall.

-Hmm. And Farraday?

Had you ever heard of him?

-Not before I had read this mornings paper.

-And you've never traveled in a ship

called the Gloria North?

-Well, despite the fact that I'm employed

here at the marine hospital,

I've had actually very little experience at sea.

Tell the truth, I've never even been

on a cargo boat of any kind.

-I see.

-This whole thing seems to me like a practical joke.

A bad one, I admit, but it doesn't make sense otherwise.

-Either that or a maniac.

-Why should anybody want to kill me?

-I've got to get back to headquarters, Doctor,

but I've assigned you a 24-hour guard.

Unless you've got any more wild theories, Holmes,

I think we can leave the Doctor to get on with his work.

-Don't jump to conclusion, Inspector.

The chicken claw may still have

something to do with Trinidad.

-Ha.

I suggest you don't leave your office

until my men are posted outside, Doctor.

Of course he won't try anything in a crowded hospital,

but I'd rather not take any chances.

-Well, neither would I, Inspector.

Thank you very much and good day, sir.

-Good day.

-If you'll excuse me, Inspector,

I'd better return to my office.

If you should want me for any reason,

please don't hesitate to call on me.

-I'll do that.

Thank you very much for your cooperation, Mr. Pitt.

Good day. -Good day, gentlemen.

-Good day. -Good day.

-Chicken claws. This thing doesn't make sense!

-I believe Superintendent Pitt was right.

This is the work of a maniac.

-I said that.

-Yes, you said that.

-But Trinidad.

-Trinidad. Why not Istanbul?

-In Istanbul they don't use the claw of a chicken,

they use the ear of a pig.

-Chickens.

Pigs!

I'm going back to headquarters.

I'll see you later if you're still here.

-Do you still think this has something to do

with superstition in Trinidad?

-Well, then we must find the link Watson.

There is always a link in the histories of all murdered men,

one bond which ties them all together.

-Dr. Jonas? -Yes?

What can I do for you? Do you have an appointment?

-[Blind Man]Yes. In a way, I have.

-I'm sorry, I don't seem to find your-

[Blind Man]No, you won't find it there, Doctor.

This appointment was made a long time ago.

-I beg your pardon?

-[Blind Man]Five years ago.

-Five years ago? What are you trying-

-[Blind Man]On board a ship, Dr. Jonas. The Gloria North.

Five years ago, remember?

-Who are you? (cane taps)

-[Blind Man]My name won't mean anything to you, Doctor.

-What do you want?

-[Blind Man]I'm going to kill you.

(cane taps)

You must remember, Doctor,

the last voyage you took on the Gloria North,

the last voyage so many people took on that ship.

-But it...

But it's not true.

I don't know who you are,

but I had nothing whatever to do with it.

I was only the ship's doctor, I didn't issue the orders!

I didn't even know about it until it was too late.

-[Blind Man]And you didn't do anything about it.

-But what could I do?

-[Blind Man]You could've tried to stop it!

You could've reported it!

You could've done so much you didn't do, Doctor!

-It's not true. It's not true!

You've got to listen to me. You've got to listen to me!

I swear to you! You've got to listen to me!

(ominous music)

(dramatic music)

-[Watson]Holmes, you've got something up your sleeve.

-[Holmes]What a graphic expression. What does it mean?

-You know exactly what it means: you're up to something.

-Well, yes, yes, you might put it that way.

-And why didn't you let Inspector Lestrade in on it?

-Well, I want to do a little investigation on my own first

and the good inspector mightn't approve of my methods.

-I'm not sure that I shall either.

If you think I'm going to become an accomplice in some...

Now what are you doing?

-Were going in.

-Were what? What are we going to do?

-I'll show you when we get inside.

And this is our records and personnel office.

Here we keep all the records of all our employees.

They're strictly confidential, of course,

and may only be seen by...

What's the meaning of this?

Why, this wastepaper basket is half full of...

What's your name?

Nevermind. Take it outside and empty it.

This is a hospital, not a college for the development

of backward bacteria. -But-

And don't argue.

And fetch a pail of water and clean up the ink stains

all over this floor, it's perfectly disgusting.

And what did you say your name was?

No, don't tell me. I may remember it and dismiss you.

Now hurry up, quickly. Go on, go on.

-Yes, sir.

-Holmes! What do you think you're doing?

What on Earth?

-Well, that was the quickest way of getting rid of her.

I want to have a look at the records of Dr. Jonas.

-Now, why do you want to have a look

at the records of Dr. Jonas?

-Trinidad, Trinidad.

-Ah, we're back on Trinidad, eh?

-Yes, I'm always there. I'm always in Trinidad.

Wait a minute. Trinidad is the link.

Now you must find the bond.

-But Dr. Jonas told us he'd never lived in Trinidad.

-Mm-hmm, he also told us he'd never sailed

aboard the Gloria North.

If he lied about that, he could also lie about Trinidad.

-But you say he lied, how do you know he lied?

-Did you notice that he had a tattoo

on the back of his hand? -No.

-Hmm.

He had tried to eradicate it,

but there was still the faint trace of an anchor

with the initials G.N., Gloria North.

I believe that it is a fair assumption

to assume he sailed aboard the Gloria North

with Mr. Farraday.

-Well now, that's sheer presumption, Holmes.

G.N. could stand for some lady's name, Gertrude Nelson, or-

Here it is. I thought so.

He was a ship's doctor for five years.

And here's a letter of recommendation

from the ship's chief officer, Howard Shackle.

-Good heavens! Then they were all members of the same crew.

-Yes, Watson.

Come on, quickly. -Where are we going?

-To have another chat with Dr. Jonas.

(dramatic music)

-Holmes!

Just like the others. Victim number three.

-Hmm. That leaves one more to go.

-What do you mean?

-An able-bodied seaman,

the ships chief petty officer,

the ship's doctor,

and one more remaining. -Who?

-The captain, of course. The captain.

(ominous music)

(clock ticking)

(rhythmic taps and metallic clangs)

(taps and clangs approaching)

(taps and clangs draw near) (floorboards creaking)

-Yes?

-Is Superintendent Pitt at home?

-I'm terribly sorry, but I'm afraid he isn't...

Mr. Pitt isn't in at the moment.

I was waiting for him myself.

-Well, just tell him that Sherlock Holmes called.

-Mr. Sherlock Holmes?

-[Holmes]Yes, that's right.

-I've heard a great deal about you, Mr. Holmes.

-Really?

-I've read a great deal about you in the newspapers,

about your work with Scotland Yard.

Or rather, of course, it's been read to me.

I should very much like to talk to you, Mr. Holmes.

Only if you have the time, of course.

-Oh, yes. Yes, I have the time.

-Won't you come in? -Thank you.

-I was just helping myself to a drink.

Perhaps you'd care to join me.

-Yes, I should like to. -Whisky?

-Well, have you a brandy? -Yes, of course.

-Thank you.

Tell me, Mr. Vickers, do you often stay here with Mr. Pitt?

-No, not very often.

May I ask why you wanted to see the captain?

Or would that mean divulging

some very important secret of Scotland Yard?

-(chuckles)No, I don't believe it a secret at all.

I merely happen to believe that Captain Pitt

will be the next victim of the mad killer

who is at present terrorizing all London.

-Captain Pitt? -Yes.

-Why?

What possible connection could there be between Captain Pitt

and such a murderer, such a maniac?

-Do you believe that the killer could be such a maniac?

-Well, what else could he be?

-He might be seeking revenge.

-Revenge for what?

-For something that happened on the Gloria North.

-Gloria North?

-Yes. Its a ship, a cargo vessel.

And every man that has been killed to date

was once a member of the crew of the Gloria North,

on that fateful voyage five years ago.

-Amazing, Mr. Holmes.

How did you learn this?

-Oh, it's very simple really, Mr. Vickers.

I happened to look it up in the records

at Lloyds shipping office.

-I see.

Why do you believe that Captain Pitt

should be the next victim?

-Well, it's very simple again.

It's because Captain Pitt

is the one surviving member of the crew

at present living in London.

-What an extraordinary theory, Mr. Holmes.

And have you any idea who this killer is?

-Yes.

-Who?

-May I help myself to another brandy?

-Yes, of course, yes. Let me get it for you.

-Thank you.

-You said you believe you know who the murderer is.

-Oh, thank you. -Yes.

-Well, it's only a little theory of mine but, ah,

I believe I do.

-And do you know the motive for murder?

-You know, it's remarkable, Mr. Vickers,

how well you manage to find your way about,

for one who is blind.

-I beg your pardon?

-I mean find your way about this room, Mr. Vickers.

-(laughing)Oh! Yes.

It wasn't very easy for me at first.

I have come to know this apartment very well.

Oh, not that I come here too often,

but I have an excellent memory for such things.

I have in my mind a picture of this room

as clear as you have now.

-I see, and what if the position of the furniture

should be changed about?

-Well, without my cane, I should be quite helpless.

You were saying you had an idea of who this killer is?

-Yes.

Picture, if you will, a man who lived in Trinidad.

Emotional enough to murder, strong enough to use a knife.

And able to use it with accuracy and dispatch.

-Do you hope to find a man who fits

such a description, Mr. Holmes?

-I have, Mr. Vickers.

-Really? Who?

Who fits such a description, Mr. Holmes?

-You're not blind, you know.

-I beg your pardon?

-When you went to fetch my drink just now,

I moved from there to here,

and you noticed it.

-Oh, because you spoke.

-You spoke first.

Where did you hide the body, Mr. Vickers?

In that cupboard over there?

-Don't!

-Yes?

-You must listen to me.

Captain Pitt and the crew of the Gloria North

were not primarily concerned with their cargo.

Or the cargo as we usually think of it.

They were smuggling natives from Trinidad into England.

I was married to a native, Mr. Holmes.

A beautiful woman.

And we had a beautiful child.

Pitt came to me and offered to take them to England.

Price was 100 pounds, the ship the Gloria North.

He guaranteed their safe arrival.

We concluded the transaction. I paid the money.

But five miles from Southampton,

the Gloria North was approached by a patrol boat.

Pitt became frightened.

The natives were dragged overboard in chains.

They were drowned.

All the natives.

And my wife.

And my child.

Swore then that I would take my revenge.

It has taken me five years, Mr. Holmes.

The men I killed deserved death.

-Perhaps.

But no man has the right to be judge and executioner.

-I had!

And I'm not finished yet, Mr. Holmes.

There are others, and no one is going to stop me.

Not even you, Mr. Holmes.

-Is more killing the answer?

-It is my answer!

-Before you strike, Mr. Vickers,

look in the mirror.

(dramatic music)

(dramatic orchestral music)