Sherlock Holmes - The Speckled Band

0:00This episode from the life of Sherlock Holmes will be transmitted to our men and women overseas by shortwave and through the worldwide facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service. Petri Wine brings you... ...as a left-bone and Nigel Bruce in the new adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The Petri family, the family that took time to bring you good wine, invite you to listen to Doc Watson tell us another exciting adventure he shared with his old friend, that master detective Sherlock Holmes. And if you don't mind, I'd like to suggest something that you might share with your friends. And that's something is a glass of Sherry before dinner, naturally a glass of Petri California Sherry. I said Petri Sherry because it's the perfect before dinner wine. You couldn't think of a better way to begin a meal. That Petri Sherry has a beautiful and viking color like dark amber and for flavor, well you've heard Sherry describe many times as having a rich, nut-like flavor, but if you want to learn for the first time with those words rich and nut-like really mean,

1:10you just taste Petri Sherry. It's wonderful. Serve Petri Sherry by itself or serve it with hors d'oeuvres or those little cocktail sandwiches. And incidentally if you prefer a Sherry dry, you know not sweet. Just ask your wine merchant for Petri pale dry Sherry. Well the important thing to remember is if you want Sherry, you want Petri Sherry because that means good Sherry. And now let's look in on our genial friend and good host, Dr. Watson. Good evening Dr.. Good evening Mr. Bartel, punctual to the minute because usual. Never keep a doctor waiting I always say, particularly Dr. Watson. Draw up a teleboy. Thank you. That's it, that's it, that's it. Already to tell us the Sherlock Holmes adventure of the speckle band. Yes, I'm already Mr. Bartel. Say Dr. just what does the speckle band mean? You wait until I've told you the story young filamalad.

2:10You find out, you're sorry. The floor is all yours Dr. The adventure of the speckle band began on a rainy April morning in 1883. An urgent call from one of my patients had kept me up most of the night before. And in consequence, I came down to my breakfast rather later than usual to find that Holmes was already left out some hours earlier. And I sat there reading the morning paper and consuming my two likely bird eggs. It was a knock at the door. It opened and disclosed a typical example of the British working man. A bag of tools at one hand and a grimic cap in the other. But he spoke to me from the door there. Yes, and for me Mr. Ames. I'm not Mr. Holmes. How big a pardon, Governor. But I've come them in the guest bracket over the mantelpiece. Huh? What's wrong with it? I can't leak in it. Oh, leak? Well, well, what's wrong? Will you work? Yes, sir. Oh, but I won't be disturbing you then. No, no, no, that's all right. The man don't mind me, don't mind me. I'll do it. Very untidy, ma'am, Mr. Holmes. What do you mean by that?

3:10Well, you can't help not just in the mistress rooms in Harvard. Say, you was as tidy as anybody started. But you don't bad habits from a bloke what lived with him. Dr. Watson, all of his name? Are you impotent, Bob? I hear you talk to me like that. I've got a good... Oh, ladies, you go to. Here, you come out of there. That's Mr. Holmes' room. I'd be angry with him, Watson. What? Stepping out of these grimy rags into her dressing gown? Oh, crazy. So you, um... Bon Missola, I've never recognized you. But why in the disguise? A case, my dear, Watson, a case. One of those small problems which are trusting public occasionally confides to my investigation. Uh-huh. The British Whitman O'Chap, all doors are open. His costume is unauthentitious and his habits are sociable. Toolbag is an excellent passport and a plenty of stars would secure the... ...cooperation of bays. And what's the case, Holmes? A modest little drama of life in the kitchen. One of those seemingly inconsequential affairs. And yet Watson, the owner of a duchess, is at stake.

4:12A bad world, my master. A bad world. Ah! Now, again, a little more comfortable. Let's return to the sitting room, shall we? Strong cup of tea would be just acceptable. Oh, you tell me about the duchess? Life in the kitchen, Holmes? Another time of the lesson of a time. At the moment, suppose you tell me what you know about Miss Helen Stoner. I received a letter from her this morning in which she informed me that she would be calling here at 11. And also that she was a friend of yours. Helen Stoner? Oh, yes, yes, sir. Charming girl, indeed. Want me a cup of tea, Watson? And tell me about her. Well, I'd befriended her to the time of the tragic death of her sister two years ago. I told you about the case. Remember? The sudden death of Violet Stoner at an old house in Stokeland? Yes, yes, yes. It all comes back to me now. There was an inquest, wasn't there? With a string of stupid, ineffective witnesses. I was one of them. Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, then you were the exception, of course. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Let me see. I docketed the evidence on the case. Where is it? Oh, my scrapbook.

5:12Ah, here we are. Here we are. Let me see. Yes, yes, yes. Sol's free hatchet murder, lord's and sight. Here we are. Here we are. Stokeland. Yes. I remember the affair. Well, how? The little piece was Dr. Grimsby Violet, wasn't it? Yes. It's a full fuller. He's a stepfather with girls. Violet, the one that died so mysteriously. Helen, the one who's coming here to see you. Dr. Violet is a pretty record. 55 years of age, killed his kid McGahn India. Once in an unsailable silent, married money. Wife died. Distinguished surgeon. Well, Watson. Hmm. I wonder what the distinguished surgeon has been up to now. You know some devil to hear of her. Why do you say that? You remember that this violet stoner's death followed close upon the announcement of her engaged. Yes. Well, I met Miss Helen in the stoner on the streets a few weeks ago. She told me that she just became engaged with a young fella in the army who was leaving for the far east. She was very upset with the thought of being alone with her stepfather. That stuporant unnatural it was.

6:13Hmm. Dr. Violet stands to lose a considerable sum of money in the event of his stepdaughter's marriage. Yes. They both had a trust fund which she administered only as long as the girls were unleared. That fact was brought out of the coroner's inquest two years ago. But if Violet did poison the other stepdaughter, and I'm pretty convinced that he did, it seems unlikely that he'd tried again. Two sudden deaths in the same household could hardly pass the coroner. Oh, no, my dear Watson. You're making the mistake of putting your normal brain into a royal yet abnormal being. Oh, that's...that was being a stoner now. Yes, let me see. It's precisely 11 o'clock. Well, let's see what we can do for that. Well, I hope you can help her, Holmes. She's extremely nice girl. Captain? Yes, Mrs. Hudson? There's a Miss Helen stoner to see you, sir. She says she hasn't a point. So, I'll go ahead and please, Mrs. Hudson. Aye, sir. Come in, my dear. Thank you. Oh, I'm a stoner. I'm so glad it's here again. How do you do, Dr. Watson?

7:13And this must be your friend. Yes, Mr. Honour, I'm Sherlock Holmes. Sit down at five, won't you? Yes, this is the three of you, my dear. Hello, you're crumbling with cold. It's not cold, it must be shiver. Tell me, Mr. Holmes. Has my stepfather, Dr. Grimsby Royal, it's been here? No, he hasn't. He saw me in the street. I dashed by him in a handsome care, but he saw me. Our eyes met and he waved me just up, but I came here as fast as I could. Very sensible move. Dr. Watson has already given me several hints as to your present problem. As well as having refreshed my memories to the circumstances of your sister's death. My problem is a simple enough one, Mr. Holmes. I'm... I'm waiting to be murdered. No, no, no, no, my dear. Have you seen a phymonics visit, Mr. Honour? Very well, Mr. Holmes. My sister is leaving for the far east today. When he leaves, I shall be alone with my stepfather at Stoke Moran. He plans to murder me just as he murdered my sister. What makes you say that, Mr. Honour? Many strange things have happened recently. For instance, he's just moved me at the bedroom in which my sister died. What reason did he give for changing our room? That my old one needed repainting.

8:13It didn't need it. But Dr. Rollett did need to move me into that horrible room and other things have happened. I... I've heard the music again. Is it quite music? My sister first heard it a few days before she died. I heard it myself on the... Godful night she breathed her last. Who, Mr. Honour, I'm terrified. My dear, please do body anymore. Your friends, they help you now. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? No. Of course not. Not music. Does it seem to come from inside the house or outside? Well, it... it's hard to say it. It sounds a faint. What's it like? A sort of soft-growning sound. Like a flute or a pipe? Yes, it... it reminds me of native music I heard during my childhood in India. India! There's one other thing that puzzles me, Mr. Honour. No, what's that? My sister's dying words. I delay in my arms, gasped out two words. No, what were they? Band and speckled. Do you remember that evidence from the inquiry? Don't you talk to Walter? Yes, yes, yes, I do. I couldn't make her to tell. Band speckled.

9:13Indian music. Mr. Honour, do you sleep at the odd door in Windows Passend? Yes, Mr. Honour, but so did poor Violet. It didn't save her though. Why don't you gather from your sister's dying illusion to the band? The speckled band. Well, sometimes I thought it was merely the wild talk of delirium. And sometimes it referred to a band of people. I remember that there were some gypsies and camped quite nearers at the time of Violet's death. Gypsies, eh? Yes. And it occurred to me that these spotted, galey-colored kirt chips, which so many of them were, but their heads might have suggested the unusual adjective which my sister used. Mr. Honour, how long has it since heard this strange music that you've told us about? I heard it last night. Your dance air lives to day per se. Yes, to homes. Well, Mr. Honour, I should do everything I can to help you. If we were to come to Stoke Moran today, would it be possible to see over your rooms without the knowledge of your stepfather? Well, I think so. It told me this morning that he intended to take a late train home tonight. Ah, it's splendid. Watson, up at the time table, oh, hello, and look up the trains to Stoke Moran. Right, your home.

10:13That's my stepfather. I know it is. Oh, yes. Yes, there he is on the doorstep. Oh, it's a homely style of me. What shall I do if he finds me here? Don't worry, Mr. Honour, please don't worry. There's a private exit through that room there. Watch him. Come along with me, my dear young lady. And you will come down today, Mr. Honour. Certainly, my dear Mr. Honour, I'll telegraph you the entire time of our little. Goodbye and courage, my dear. Goodbye, Mr. Honour, and thank you. Come along, Mr. Honour, quickly. Come in. Yes, Mrs. Hudson? It's a gentleman, sir. I told him you wouldn't see anyone without an appointment, but he... Out of the way, woman! Now, push me like that. I'm sorry, Mr. Holmes. That's all right, Mrs. Hudson. You can leave us. What kind of gentleman will he call himself, pushing an old lady? Sir, you are Sherlock Holmes. You have the advantage, sir. Your name is... My name, sir, is Royalette. Dr. Grimsby, Royalette of Stoke Marra. Yes, yes, of course. The charming place I hear, and obviously, good for the lung. You won't cycle with me if you know what's good for you.

11:13Oh, what's in there, you are? And how was the... the experiment? Very successful, Holmes. Who gave you, Dr. Royalette? I haven't seen you since I gave evidence of your step-daughter's inquest. Yes, yes, I remember you, Dr. Watson. Now listen to me, you two. My step-daughter's been here. I've faced her. But she's been saying to you. Little Holmes, at this time of the year, isn't it? You answer me! I hear that the cook is his promise well. You dare to try and put me after you? I know you, you scoundrel. Your Holmes, the medler. Am I? Holmes, the busy buddy. I believe that a man should occupy his time. Holmes, the scutton, John, check in office. When you go out, close the door, won't you? There's a draft. I don't go when I've had my seat. Keep your nose out of my affairs, you hear? Oh, yes, my hearing is excellent. Thank you, and your diction, and delivery, most forceful. But time flies, my dear, Dr. Time flies. And life has its duties as well as its pleasures. Goodbye. The insurance for rascal? Here. See this, poker?

12:13Oh, the pie doesn't keep poking, thank you, doctor. But I, I should be obliged if you'd put some more co-op on it. You laugh at me. You don't know my strength. Look. There. Your poker's bent double. That's what I do to both of you. If you don't keep out of my affairs. I had a presentment that he'd slammed the door. Phew. He's an ugly customer, huh? This player's well as figuratively. What's not that much obliged if you get your of bother? It may prove to be an excellent argument for the gentleman who prists. I am focused on the nuts. The film is amazingly strong. Just look at it. I don't want to appear fan-buyant, but, uh... Ah. Ah. There we are. Great. He's got homes, you straightened the poker out again. Yes, but it's utterly useless in its former shape. And now what's in the table will catch the next fast paint to stoke my arm.

13:15Oh, Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson, I'm so relieved that you've come. But don't you think my stepfather might have followed you down here? Let's take that chance, Mr. Stoner. A few hours delay might mean the difference between our life and death. It was imperative that we examine this room of yours before Dr. Royal returns. Anyway, my dear, you mustn't worry anymore. We're here in your house. We're going to take good care of you. No matter what harm before you. Thank you, Dr. Watson. No, this is the room in which our sister died, is it? Hmm. It's much as I predicted it. And Dr. Royal's room adjoins this one, you say, Mr. Ler. Yes, Dr. On that side, the room which I joined just on the other side is my right to the bedroom. I'm not being so convenient to paint today. Yes. Well, let's examine this room. No trap doors or sliding tunnels, I suppose. Sounds solid enough, huh? Yes, I think it is. Oh, what's it? I don't know that this bed is trapped to the floor, Mr. Stoner. Why? No, no, Mr. Holmes, I did so that. You're stored in the ring. Was the bed in your other room anchored also?

14:16I know, I don't think it was. Very illuminating. And this bell-pull hanging against the wall above your bed. Oh, that, it doesn't work. It doesn't work if you want to ring. There's another one on the other wall over there. Now, why this one? Well, I don't know. My stepfather made a number of changes after we came here. Yes, quite a burst of activity, apparently. And it took some spring shapes. Why are you standing on the bed, Holmes? I'm curious, my dear fellow. Aha. It may interest you to know that this bell rope is passing to a brass hook. There's no wild attachment. It's a dummy. A dummy? Why? There's a small screen above it. It's a ventilator, I suppose. Yes, Mr. Holmes. Yes. A ventilator leading into your stepfather's room. Curious. I noticed there's no means of opening the ventilator on this side. You can only be operated through your stepfather's room next door. I wonder if you'd mind taking us in there. Of course, Mr. Holmes. Follow me. What do you make of it, Holmes?

15:16This devil's work of what old chap? Here we are, Mr. Holmes. What's the same as the other room? Big, bigger, perhaps? At large, safe. The wall seems to be an unusual piece of bedroom furniture. What is it, Mr. Holmes? My stepfather's business papers. Oh, you've seen inside it, then. Only once, some years ago. I remember that it's full of documents. What's this saucer of milk doing on top of it? Does Dr. Roller keep a cat? No, but he does have a cheetah and never burn his pets. He brought them with him from India. Well, home, cheetah is just a big cat. True, but I doubt it. A saucer of milk would go very far in satisfying the appetite of a cheetah. Well, I think I've seen enough. This matter is too serious for hesitation. Your life may depend upon your following of my instructions, Mr. Holmes. I'll do anything you say, Mr. Holmes. Anything. Hmm. Is that village in I see through the trees from this window? Yes, the Queen's arms. Your bedroom window is with the visible from there. Yes, Mr. Holmes? Very well then. What's in the eye will go there now and obtain accommodations.

16:16When your stepfather returns, you must confine yourself to your room on the pretence of a headache. You follow me? Perfect. And Dr. Roller returns for the night. You must open your bedroom window and put your lamp on the sill as a signal to us at the end. Then, with your quiet, let your usual bedroom, the one that's being painted. I'm sure that you could manage to have one night. Of course. But what will you do? When we get your signal, Dr. Watson and I will come here and spend the night in your dead sister's room. We are going to solve this mystery of the dummy bell rope and the unusual ventilator and the strange music in the night. You'll hear the remainder of Dr. Watson's story in just a second, so I'm just going to point out that at any really important dinner. You know, like when diplomats get together, you'll find wine on the table. Because for years, it's been a known fact that good wine makes good food taste better. Prove that to yourself tomorrow night by having your dinner together with a glass of petri wine. If you prefer a red wine for any meat or meat dish, try a petri California burgundy.

17:19That rich, hearty red tree burgundy is really out of this world. Now, if you'd rather have a subtle intriguing white wine, let's say to go with chicken or fish, then try petri California's sotern. But sotern or burgundy, to make sure it's good. Make sure it's petri, won't you? Well, Dr. it's a rattling good story so far. What happened next? You went to the local inn, I guess, and waited for that lantern to appear in the bedroom window. Dr. Royalert's house. That's right, Mr. Bartell. We had an early dinner at the Queen's Arms, and then retired to our upstairs bedroom. And set aside by side, popping away at our pipes, our eyes, trainings with the darkness. And that telltale lantern to give us a signal that there was endless work ahead for us. As we sat there discussing the various aspects of the case, I remember that Holmes was very concerned about my own safety. What's my... I really have some scruples about taking you with me tonight.

18:19This is an infinitely dangerous business. What about that poor girl, a lone in the house with that fiend, Royalert? I can handle the case by myself, old chef. I'm coming with you, Holmes. You speak of danger. We haven't just seen more in those rooms than was visible to me. No, but possibly I've deduced a little more, and I imagine you saw all that I did. No, I saw nothing remarkable. It's at the bell rope, and my purpose, that could on-site confesses more than I could imagine. It's all a ventilator, too. Yes, but I don't think such an unusual thing to have an opening between two rooms. So all the mouse could hardly pass through it, too, but at least you will admit there was a curious sequence of coincidences. A ventilator is constructed. A bell cord is hung from it. A lady sleeps in a bed directly below the ventilator. A bed that is anchored to the floor. A lady dies. I'll begin to see what you're driving at, Holmes. Look, look, look. There's a lantern in Mr. Thomas' window. It's our signal, all right? Come on, Watson. Our night's digital begins.

19:32What a foul night. Our night's a foul business, Watson. Come on, three of his lower bushes. It's only another 50 yards to the house. The lantern's still burning away in the bedroom window. Yes, all the other lights are out. Including the one in Dr. Royalert's room. We must have gone to sleep. The dead possibly, Watson, but not I think, to sleep. Quick heavens, Holmes. Look at that frightful creature leaving out the moonlight. It looks like some hideous child. Dr. Royalert's pet the boom. It looks positively human. Yes, probably a great deal, more so than its master. A directly below the window now. His eye could provide the most convenient ladder. I've got first. Careful, Holmes. Careful. Wait a minute. I hope the things are strong enough to hold us both. Please look, what is stupid little objects in the mud? Get your hands me, Holmes. I can't quite get my leg up over this window, Holmes.

20:33Thanks a boy. Oh, say, shoot. Now close the window, shall I? This room looks exactly the same as it is. It's our solution. At least sound with the fidget of our plans. Keep the lamp covered. So that if the ventilator is open from Dr. Royalert's room, no light will show. And then there, I said, why are you carrying that stick home? I prepared for visitors that I expect for the night is over. At this door, he had all his entrance with thick music from an Indian pipe. You mean the music is a signal? Exactly, I'll follow. The signal to an accomplice who can enter a room with locked doors, and accomplice who kills and leave no trace. You mean, shhh, and we're talking Watson. I'll sit on the edge of the bed here. You sit on that chair. Have you all available ready in case you shouldn't get hurt? The lamp is ready too. When I shout now, turn the light from the top of the bell rope. You understand? It's perfect. Good.

21:34Now we must wait. Perhaps for some time. We don't want to sleep outside, we've got to sleep. If I didn't, it might depend on us. That's you? Yes. You're not smoking, are you? No, I'm not. I smell tobacco smoke. Must be drifting through the ventilator. Exactly. You have to roll it yourself. No, no, no, no. It's a kind of shot of light showing up in the ventilation. Listen. There's the music. Yes. Heralding on the messenger of death. Have your lantern ready watching?

22:34Now what's up? Great heavens, this is sleeping down the bell rope. You can't tell it's going to stick out of the way. Let me get a shell at it. I said, write it back away. Change. Get out. This is dope. Take through the ventilator. What a penis band. What's that? I think the devil has turned on his master. Come on, Watson. And tell Dr. Roller Trump. Dr. Roller! Dr. Roller! Dr. Roller! Dr. Roller! Good Lord Holmes. Look at him spot on the bed. Look at his eyes. Yes. And see what his coil rod is for it. It's the snake. Yes, the band. The speckled band. He's dead, Holmes. Yes. He's been bitten by the deadly snake in the world. The Indian swamp error. Deadly fangs produce death within 10 seconds. Well, Watson. Violence does inflict recoil upon the violent. And the schemer falls into the pit, which he digs for another.

23:36What should we do now, Holmes? We must remove the macabre gear from the dead doctrine, return the snake to its den. Ah. And I suggest to be telling Ms. Turner that there's no more danger under this roof. Not to that. We can turn the matter over to the local police. Our kid's done. Holmes, Dr. Watson. I can't tell you how grateful I am that you brought me back to the baby. My goodness, Turner. You've been a human to leave you in that house of horror and death. We have a spare bedroom and Mrs. Hudson is a motherly and understanding woman. And I can assure you that Dr. Watson and I will be delighted to have you stay with us here. And if you've decided on your future plan. Of course we will, my dear. As a matter of fact, we're all refreshing to have a touch of youth about the place. You're both so kind. Mr. Holmes, I think it's wonderful how you foil my stepfather's devilish plan. Yes. Wasn't it a remarkable example of logical deduct. No, it wasn't. No, no.

24:36At first, your mention of the gypsies, Ms. Turner, and the use of the word Ben put me on an entirely wrong scent. However, when we examined the fatal room, I drew the obvious conclusions. It means the dummy bell rope, the ventilator, and the movable bed. Yes, all fellow. It instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was there as a bridge for something coming through the ventilator and travelling to the bed. I once thought of a snake. When I saw the sorcerer look on top of the safe, my suspicions crystallized into certainty. Ah, it was a fiendish plan. Yes, extremely clever one too. Exactly. My stepfather must have trained the state to return to him when he played the music. Yes, he put it through the ventilator with a certainty that it would crawl down the rope and land on the bed. It might all might not bite the occupant. Perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but sooner or later she must fall a victim. Thank heaven I came to you, Mr. Holmes. Amen to that, Mr. Holmes. You know, Holmes, if you were in the last of the snake with your stick, I bet it wouldn't have turned back on its master. True, O chap. In that way, I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Grimsby-Rollett's death. But I can't say it's a fact that slightly too heavily on my conscience.

25:42Dr. that was quite a fascinating story. You know something, I'm not exactly a coward, but no kidding. My toes really curl when I get mixed up with the snake. I don't know how to learn in that respect with Sparkle. I must admit that I like to have it available at least 30 feet to me in any snake. It wants to cross my bow. Well, if you want to revolver in 20 feet, I'll take a cannon and 20 miles. I think it's fortunate that you're a wine expert, Mr. Battel. Not a detective, I'm afraid you wouldn't say fine detecting to your liking. We certainly shall say it. Incidentally, I'm not a wine expert, Dr. All I know about wine is that it either tastes good or it doesn't. And I also know that Petri wine always tastes good. The Petri family sees to that. The name Petri on the label is the personal assurance of the Petri family that every drop of wine in that bottle is good wine. And they know how to make it good because they've been making fine wine for generations. Handing down from father to son, from father to son, every secret, every skill of the wine makers art.

26:47Yes, the Petri family took time to bring you good wine. That's why I know what type of wine you wish. You can't go wrong with a Petri wine. Well, Dr. Watson, what new Sherlock Holmes story are you planning to tell us next week? Mr. Bartel, I'm... I think I'll tell you an adventure that took place at a gambling casino in South France. A strange story of sudden tragedy of death. I call it the adventure of the double zero. Sounds well. We'll all be listening. You know, Mr. Bartel, before I go, I want to say that everyone of our friends bought war bonds to help our boys win the war. Now let's all buy victory bonds to help bring our boys back home again. Yes, and let's buy victory bonds to make sure the men who were wounded look at the finest possible hair. Those same victory bonds will help make the GI Bill of Rights a success too. And they'll help provide for the families of those men who gave everything, including their lives.

27:47The men of our armed forces finish their job. Now let's finish ours. Buy victory bonds. Tonight Sherlock Holmes Adventure is written by Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher and is an adaptation of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story, The Adventure of the Speckle Band. Music is by Dean Fossler. Mr. Rathbone appears through the courtesy of Metro Golden Mayor and Mr. Bruce through the courtesy of Universal Pictures, where they are now starring in the Sherlock Holmes series. The Petri wine company of San Francisco, California invites you to tune in again next week, same time, same station. This is Halt Bartel saying good night for the Petri family. Sherlock Holmes comes to you from our Hollywood studios. This is the mutual broadcasting system.

28:51Thank you very much.