- 6 years ago
Sherlock Holmes-E34: The Case Of The Royal Murder
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
As payment for solving a case, Holmes and Watson are invited to spend a weekend at an estate in the Balkans. However, their vacation is cut short when another guest, Prince Stefan, is poisoned and their host is accused of the murder. Holmes must find the real killer before he himself becomes the next victim.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
As payment for solving a case, Holmes and Watson are invited to spend a weekend at an estate in the Balkans. However, their vacation is cut short when another guest, Prince Stefan, is poisoned and their host is accused of the murder. Holmes must find the real killer before he himself becomes the next victim.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:30Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
00:59Move it, move it, moving this.
01:00Uh, this.
01:01Move it, moving this.
01:02Uh, this, here.
01:03Uh, this, here.
01:04Uh, this, here.
01:05Uh, this.
01:06Uh, this.
01:07Uh, this.
01:08Uh, this.
01:09Uh, uh.
01:10Yeah, yeah.
01:11That still too versucht to populate you.
01:12Try it again, get some bushes at this stage.
01:18party at the Sovereign's Lodge, deep in the forest of his Balkan kingdom.
01:48Wait. Tell the King's fortune. Not mine. Let's hear Prince Stefan's. Afraid of your future,
02:08cousin? I'll tell you that when I've heard yours. Don't worry, Conrad. I'm going to have
02:14a long, peaceful life. Tell them, girl. Come now, Stefan. Don't take it so seriously. No,
02:34just a bit unnerving, that's all. Not some sort of joke of yours, was it? I'm afraid
02:40not. I imagine the girl is genuinely frightened, Prince Stefan. She's rushed out, leaving her
02:44money on the floor. Let's forget all this. Let's drink a toast to... I can't think of
02:55anything. We've drunk to our guests and to everybody's country. To beauty, Your Highness.
03:03You were as thoughtful as ever, Count Magor. Your second payment, Count Magor. Stefan!
03:15Remind you of the wonderful times at Monte Carlo? Stefan? Stefan! Stefan! Stefan! Stefan!
03:32Conrad! Conrad! He's dead. No!
04:03Yes, poison. But you can't tell what kind without a post-mortem. Watson, do you think
04:17it could have been in this wine glass when we drank that last toast? Yes, could have
04:21been. Have to be very quick acting. Indeed, it seems almost incredible that one could
04:27murder so quickly and so smoothly in front of so many witnesses. You know, Holmes, I've
04:32come to the conclusion these people are raving mad. I haven't had a quiet minute since we
04:36first came here. The question, Watson, is who had the greatest motive? Even the King
04:42is capable of it, if the reason were great enough. Come in. Won't you sit here, sir?
04:49Please sit down, gentlemen. Great shock. Terrible. But I'm afraid the consequences
05:09will be still more tragic. War? Stefan came here at my request. As a representative of
05:19his father, King Johann. I had hoped to reach a non-aggression agreement to relieve the tension
05:29between our two countries. However, it seems that King Johann is more interested in finding
05:38an excuse for war than in preventing one. And now, of course, he has his excuse. Plus
05:45a genuine fury. King Johann is arriving tomorrow to take his son's body back home. I must be
05:53cleared of all suspicion before he leaves this lodge tomorrow. Mr. Holmes, will you
06:00help me? I can only promise to try, Your Majesty. But I believe I should warn you that the speed
06:05and cunning of our murderer may place other lives in jeopardy before we see the end of
06:10this affair. Why was Prince Stefan's wine glass taken to the kitchen and washed? I set
06:18it aside, but the servants picked it up with the other glasses. An analysis will serve
06:22no purpose now, Your Majesty. Have you any more questions to ask Count Magor, Mr. Holmes?
06:28No, Your Majesty, and I'm at present. You may go, Count Magor. Magor is an excellent
06:36equerry, Mr. Holmes. He's rash, but faithful. I see. Tell me, Your Majesty, what do you
06:43know of Princess Antonia? She was a friend of Stefan. And her background? She's a member
06:51of an impoverished royal house. Have you known her long? A few years. We met at Monte Carlo.
06:59In fact, I fell in love with her there. No surprise. Everyone did, including Stefan.
07:08She was attached to another man, whom I respected, and I was discreet. Stefan used no such discretion
07:16and swept her away from us all. You weren't angry, sir? No, not really. Stefan and I never
07:23really fought about anything except politics. That's a lie. Or can't you remember as far
07:34back as this morning? What do you mean, Antonia? Perhaps I was mistaken. You've made an accusation.
07:41I apologize. If you should require me again, Mr. Holmes, I'll be in my rooms. I'm leaving
07:49too, Your Majesty. I wouldn't want you to think I spoke behind your back. Good night,
07:59gentlemen. Perhaps you should go and have your palms read tonight. There's a gypsy who
08:06tells amazing things. I say, Holmes, what's she getting at? Well, you know, Watson, it
08:13might be interesting to find out. Yes, it might be very interesting.
08:43Well, you know, Watson, it might be interesting to find out. Yes, it might be very interesting.
09:14The prince is dead. I know. I saw it in his hand. Did you see anything that wasn't written
09:28in the hand? I see the two men quarrel. The king and the prince? I was waiting in the
09:35kitchen for the time when I would be told to dance. But as I go to a door, I see them
09:43the two men preparing to fend. Counts by gore. Ten gold florins on Prince Stefan. Take
09:50ten, princess, and as good as won. Quick with your parries, Stefan.
10:21Touche! You're it, Stefan. Miss Crutch. You'd better have it dressed. Count McGaw.
10:29Your Majesty. Fetch your napkin from the table. You need fencing lessons, Stefan. Your reflexes
10:40have slowed down. I may need fencing lessons, but at least I need no lessons in sportsmanship.
10:47What do you mean? I was off guard. A true sportsman doesn't repose when his adversary
10:52is off balance. I won't forget that remark, Stefan. And I'll see that you remember it
10:58too. Gentlemen, Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson will be back from their walk any moment. Then,
11:08I did not look any more. Thank you. You've been very helpful. I think that friendly match
11:15this morning warrants some close investigation. Come, Watson. Tell me, Your Majesty, who suggested
11:23the fencing match between yourself and Prince Stefan? Princess Antonia. And where are the
11:29effets? There. Would you mind if I had a look at them? No. Thank you.
11:46Is this the epee Your Majesty used? Yes. Did you have the choice of weapons? Yes. I note
12:04that the tip of this epee has been dipped in poison. You perhaps misunderstood me earlier,
12:12Mr. Holmes. My request and your orders are to clear me, not convict me.
12:35But it's conclusive evidence. King had the choice of epees, so he was sure to be the
12:40one who gave him the poison. It's evidence, Watson, but fortunately for our own safety,
12:44it isn't conclusive. What do you mean? Well, we must continue our investigations until
12:49we have a decision, one way or the other. Then we must let the facts speak for themselves.
12:53Yes, but if you prove him guilty, he'll start a war. My dear Watson, I can only disclose
12:57the facts. I can't answer them. Oh, well. Let's go to breakfast. Even if we are condemned
13:04men, we might as well have a hearty meal. Right you are, Watson. Yes, that's true. Thank
13:17you. Do you remember what you called me in Monte Carlo? A vagabond princess. An ambitious
13:24royal tramp. You wanted just one thing for yourself, a throne. I still want one. Conrad,
13:32I saw you with the epees yesterday morning, before you fenced with Stefan. Oh, the hilt
13:40of one of them was loose, and I... I haven't told Mr. Holmes yet, and I won't. If... If
13:48what? Your throne's an attractive throne, and I've been told I'm not an unattractive
13:54woman. You could have had it without blackmailing me. I was ready to marry you at Monte Carlo
14:01when you chose Stefan. I've loved you ever since. You... You love... Tell Mr. Holmes
14:10anything you want. Conrad, I didn't know... Get out! Get out! Mr. Holmes. Princess? It poses
14:18a dilemma for you, doesn't it? You Englishmen are so honorable. Are you willing to sacrifice
14:26your honor for him? You have? Yes, Your Majesty. I did not want to marry you. I did not want
14:47to kill Prince Stefan. And yet the circumstantial evidence could convict you in a court of law,
14:52you know. Mr. Holmes, you're a very dangerous man. Have I your word that when King Johann
15:02arrives, you will suppress any evidence you may have against me? No, Your Majesty. You're
15:10placing yourself and Dr. Watson in jeopardy. I realized that before I started my investigations.
15:28Count Magon. Your Majesty? See that Princess Antonia is confined to a room. Mr. Holmes
15:36and Dr. Watson are under arrest. But look here, Your Majesty. We're British subjects.
15:42At the moment, that is not too important. Interesting situation, eh, Watson? Quite fantastic.
15:49Why, blasted Holmes, they can't throw us into prison like this without a charge or a reason.
16:06I'd wager they could. Well, they have. That's what I mean. Why else should he ask you to
16:13investigate the case for him, Holmes? You couldn't help but find him guilty. We haven't
16:18found him guilty, Watson. It's only circumstantial evidence. Yes, but you yourself said that was
16:23enough to convict him. Yes, but we've missed the most significant point, the motive. Well,
16:30perhaps you just isn't obvious. Who gains the most by Stefan's death? Um, well, no one.
16:39Exactly. And who loses by it? Well, now, let me see here. Princess Antonia loses the throne
16:46and King Conrad throws his whole nation into a war for which he is totally unprepared. That
16:51brings us to Count Magor. Magor? Well, he loses nothing. It would appear so, wouldn't
16:58it, Watson? What have you got on your mind, Holmes? Watch for the guard, Watson. I'll
17:04tell you when he comes this way. Right. Watson, do you remember what Stefan said just before
17:11he collapsed? No, I don't remember except that he... Well, he was rather overshadowed
17:15by the death. But he threw the gypsy's money to Magor and then said something about a second
17:20payment. Guard. What's that in your nose, Watson? Eh? Ah, very neat, eh? Oh, look, and
17:28another one behind your ear. That's two. Really, Holmes, this is no time for palm tricks.
17:43I think you're quite right, old man. Here. Come. Oh. Like the trick? Nose? Uh-huh. Yeah?
17:51Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah. See? There's a coin. You take? Hand? Huh? Good. Mm-hmm. Now, huh?
18:06Here? Here? Yeah? Uh-huh. Now. Watson!
18:21What now, Holmes? First we free Princess Antonia. Come on.
18:28Come on. Now, Holmes. Come on. Come on. Now, Holmes. Watch yourself.
18:59Feet, Watson!
19:14Come on. Come on, Holmes. Come on, Holmes. Come on, Holmes.
19:29Now, you'll see. Watch this.
19:40Got you, Watson.
19:43Oh!
19:58They've sighted the King's body, sire, about a mile away. What can I tell him, Magor? Tell him nothing,
20:03Your Majesty. He has no proof against you. He'd start a war merely on suspicion. I need
20:10proof of my innocence.
20:24Count Magor? Yes. But, Holmes, he's not involved in all this?
20:30He could have put the poison on the épée. No. After all, how would he know which épée
20:36the King would choose? Sheer logic eliminates the Count. Hmm. Not if the épée was poisoned
20:42after the duel, Watson. You mean to throw suspicion on the King? The wine glass, perhaps?
20:49Hmm. I think not, Watson. Princess, when Prince Stephan received the scratch, who dressed
20:55the wound? Magor. We must go down to the hall immediately, and we have little time, Your Highness.
21:03But, Holmes, you can't prove anything. All the dressings have been burnt. You have no
21:06scrap of evidence. Well, evidence is an interesting thing, Watson. Sometimes it can be recreated.
21:11Shall we go, Your Highness? Yes. Thank you. Follow me.
21:17Johan has issued secret orders for mobilization to take effect from the moment he recrosses
21:36the frontier. He's determined to have war, and he can't be dissuaded. Are you quite sure
21:41of that, Count Magor? If King Johan had been confronted with the truth, there would have
21:47been no cause for war, would there, Count? Why draw your sword, Count Magor? We are unarmed.
21:55Put up your sword, Count Magor. What truth, Mr. Holmes? They're wasting time, Your Majesty,
22:02so they'll be free when King Johan arrives. Not at all, Count. We happen to have discovered
22:08the last scrap of evidence that we needed. It completely vindicates Your Majesty. What
22:13is it? Will it convince King Johan? I believe it will. We have found the container that
22:19held the poison. What are you talking about, Holmes? We found it, Watson. Haven't we,
22:26Count? Defend yourselves, Mr. Holmes. Return the button or defend yourselves. Put up your
22:30sword, Count Magor. I'll count to three, Mr. Holmes. What is in this button, Count?
22:38Nothing. Oh, nothing, eh? Then you shouldn't mind very much if I do this with it. On guard,
22:50Count. No. What's the matter? I'm defending myself. I say there was poison in that button.
23:00You say there wasn't. If you're right, you shouldn't mind a little dueling scratch. No,
23:06don't, don't. Drop your sword. Well, Count? Yes, you're right. What happened in Monte
23:18Carlo? Monte Carlo? Yes, Your Majesty, that was where Stephan got some sort of hold on
23:23him. What was it, Count? I cheated at cards. He caught me. He took my honor and the woman
23:32I loved. I wanted to forget and start again, but he would never let me. He reminded me
23:43of it every chance he had. And what made it more unbearable, Count, was that you continually
23:50reminded yourself, and yet you couldn't quite escape your conscience, could you? King Johan
23:57and his party are entering the grounds, sire.
24:21Quite frankly, Holmes, I should be glad to go back to London again and work with Lestrade.
24:29Poison, swords and all that caper, I'm just not up to it. I know just what you mean, old
24:35chap. Oh, Holmes, I didn't care to mention this before, but did you know that Count Magor
24:44was noted for his swordsmanship? Oh, yes, yes, I seem to have heard about it somewhere.
24:48Oh, well, no offense, of course, but I mean, I fenced with you, you know, and I mean, oh,
24:55you're good enough, but, well, you're not that good. I mean to stand up to him, I mean.
25:01Well, yes, I knew that, Watson, but fortunately, he didn't. No, but I mean, what would have
25:08happened if he'd called your bluff? How long do you think you could have lasted with him?
25:12Well, let's see now, about 30 or 40 seconds, but then in every game of bluff, of course,
25:18there's a certain element of risk, or it really isn't much fun, is it? Yes, I shall be glad
25:25to see dear old Lestrade again. Well, don't ever tell him, Watson, but so will I, so will I.
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