- 6 years ago
Sherlock Holmes-E37: The Case Of The Unlucky Gamble
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
A young boy shows up at Baker Street, asking for Holmes' help in finding his missing father. Holmes' investigation reveals that the man is a gambler on the run from his creditors, and the team begins to make the rounds of the seedy gambling underworld in search of the boy's father.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
A young boy shows up at Baker Street, asking for Holmes' help in finding his missing father. Holmes' investigation reveals that the man is a gambler on the run from his creditors, and the team begins to make the rounds of the seedy gambling underworld in search of the boy's father.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
Category
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Short filmTranscript
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00:57.
01:04.
01:13I believe we're about to have a visitor.
01:15Oh, interesting type.
01:17And most unusual, I'd say.
01:24I don't see anyone.
01:26My dear Watson, the street is hardly deserted.
01:37I don't mean that I see one or two people, of course,
01:39but nobody appears to be interested in this flat.
01:42Watson, for the past five minutes,
01:44this young man's been summoning up courage to call on us.
01:47He's vacillated between doubt and decision,
01:50fear and fortitude.
01:52Ah, at last, fear is conquered.
01:55Fortitude is the victim.
01:59Well, I suppose you've deduced the whole thing,
02:01who he is, what he wants, where he comes from.
02:04As a matter of fact, I haven't the slightest idea,
02:06but with so unusual a client,
02:08I fully expect a most unusual case.
02:10If he comes here.
02:11Wait.
02:15Ah, the first step.
02:24Is this Mr. Holmes' flat?
02:25It is.
02:26Won't you come in?
02:34Hello.
02:35Are you Mr. Sherlock Holmes?
02:37Yes, and that is Dr. Watson.
02:39How do you do?
02:43Anything the matter?
02:45No, it's just that...
02:48Yes?
02:49Well, I thought you'd be much stronger looking.
02:54Oh, well, I'm really quite strong, you know.
02:56I can tear dictionaries in half.
02:58Can you really?
03:00Yes, of course, and I'd show you if I had a dictionary handy.
03:04Well, what I've come to see you about will take brains.
03:08Well, I think Mr. Holmes has an ample supply of those.
03:13Now, wouldn't you like to sit down?
03:15Oh, thank you.
03:19Well, there, my boy.
03:20Cup of tea?
03:21No, thank you, sir.
03:22I'd like to get right down to business.
03:25Oh, good.
03:27Well, my name is...
03:28My name is Andrew Fenwick.
03:30I'm 11 years old, and I live at number 17 Dudley Court,
03:34up at Spearman Street.
03:36Spend it.
03:37Now, what appears to be your difficulty?
03:39Mr. Holmes, my father's disappeared.
03:42Disappeared?
03:43Yes, sir.
03:44His name is Herbert Fenwick.
03:46He's a bookkeeper at Rondale Industries.
03:48He's tall and wears glasses.
03:50Will you find him for me?
03:52I'll do my best, Andrew, but first you'd better tell me the whole story,
03:55and anything else that may matter.
03:57Well, sir, Dad's always been the happiest and most wonderful person in the world.
04:02Each night he'd come home and joke and tell funny stories.
04:06And every Sunday we'd take bicycle trips or fly our kites or something like that.
04:11You might see he was a pal of mine instead of just a father.
04:14I understand.
04:15Go on.
04:17Well, sir, starting a few months ago, Dad began to act in a very peculiar manner.
04:24You mean he stopped being your pal?
04:26It was more than that, Mr. Holmes.
04:28Dad began to leave the house for days at a time.
04:31He wouldn't tell Mum and me where he was going or when he'd come back.
04:35He just acted mysterious and was as jumpy as a cat.
04:39When was the last time you saw your father?
04:41Over three weeks ago.
04:43That's why I'm so worried.
04:45Usually he'd be gone for a day or two.
04:47Mr. Holmes, I'll give odds he's in some sort of trouble,
04:51and I bet Jack Driscoll is behind it all.
04:54Jack Driscoll?
04:55Yes, sir.
04:56Just before Dad left, the last time, he told Mum and me what to say
05:00in case this Jack Driscoll came round the house looking for him.
05:04We were to say that Dad had gone to Scotland to visit his brother.
05:08And that's got me worried too.
05:10Why?
05:12Because Dad hasn't got a brother.
05:14Have you ever seen this Mr. Driscoll?
05:16No, sir, I haven't.
05:17I don't know a thing about him, but I don't like him.
05:21Why hasn't your mother been to the police about this?
05:23I suppose that's because Dad told her not to do a thing about it.
05:27Not that no matter what seemed to happen,
05:29she was just to wait and have faith.
05:32But it's over three weeks ago.
05:34I just couldn't wait any longer.
05:36Then your mother doesn't know you're here.
05:38Oh, no.
05:39If I told her, she'd try to tart me off for sure.
05:42Besides, she's been quite ill, and I wouldn't want to upset her.
05:46Your mother hasn't been well?
05:48No, sir.
05:49The doctor said she had pleurisy or something like that.
05:52She's been very sick.
05:54I really wouldn't want her to know I've come here.
05:57Your visit will be held in the strictest confidence.
06:00Thank you, sir.
06:01And you will take the case?
06:02I'll look into it immediately.
06:09I hope this will be enough to retain your services.
06:11Oh, no, that won't be necessary, Andrew.
06:14But I insist.
06:15It's two pounds six shillings.
06:17It's all my own money, and I saved every bit of it.
06:20No, I think you'd better hold on to it.
06:22Perhaps you can do me a good turn someday.
06:24No, sir.
06:25A business deal is a business deal.
06:27Pay on the line and no welching on depths, I always say.
06:30Very well, Andrew.
06:32It's a deal.
06:33But two pounds six shillings is far too much.
06:35I'll settle for a pound.
06:37Really?
06:38One pound's enough.
06:39Quite enough, Andrew.
06:45Thank you, sir.
06:48I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything, Andrew.
06:53Goodbye, my boy.
06:54Bye, sir.
06:59Well, Watson, we'll find that boy's father
07:01if we have to search every gambling den in England.
07:03Gambling den?
07:04Yes, didn't you notice his clothing?
07:06Well, I suppose so.
07:07Nothing extraordinary there?
07:08On the contrary.
07:09The shoes were most expensive, but the coat was threadbare.
07:12The trousers came from the best haberdashery.
07:15And the cap was ancient,
07:17attesting to the father's streaks of good luck and bad luck.
07:21Yes, but that's not sufficient evidence
07:23to label Fenwick a gambler.
07:25Quite right, but there were other indications.
07:27Young Andrew's speech, if you may recall,
07:29was sprinkled with the peculiar jargon of the gambler.
07:32Such terms as touted off, I'll give you odds,
07:35and welching on a debt.
07:37The boy obviously learned from his father.
07:39Hmm, I see.
07:41Further, I'd say the man's mysterious trips
07:43were to various sporting events held outside of London.
07:46Horse races, dog races, and so on.
07:48Yes, Holmes, but why should an apparently contented man like Fenwick
07:52suddenly turn to gambling?
07:54Well, my guess is that the mother's serious illness
07:57created a heavy drain on Mr. Fenwick's slender financial resources.
08:01He probably hoped for the gambler's classic killing.
08:04Well, Holmes, you've certainly answered everything.
08:07I'm afraid not, Watson.
08:09Two questions yet remain unanswered.
08:11Where is Mr. Herbert Fenwick,
08:13and who is the shadowy Mr. Jack Crystal?
08:16Who are you, Holmes?
08:17Inspector Lestrade's office.
08:19In this particular case, he may be just the chap to help us.
08:24Now, that's what a gambler would call a long shot.
08:32Crystal.
08:33Jack Crystal.
08:37Oh, yes, I remember him.
08:39He was, um...
08:41He was in the coal business.
08:43Oh, no, no, Lestrade.
08:45I don't believe that Crystal you're referring to
08:47has any bearing on this case.
08:49Stockbroker?
08:51No, I don't think so.
08:52Parliament?
08:54No.
08:55Railways?
08:56No.
08:57Musician?
08:58What?
08:59If you'll excuse me, sir.
09:01Now, what is it? What is it, Wilkins?
09:03Jack Crystal, sir.
09:05Alias Jack Hennessy, alias Gerald Jackson, sir.
09:08Arrested 1891, suspicion of murder, released.
09:11Arrested 1892, burglary, convicted and served one year.
09:15Arrested 1894, suspicion of forgery, released.
09:19At present believed involved in illegal bookmaking practice.
09:23Whereabouts unknown, sir.
09:26Now, that unsavoury brew sounds much more like our cup of tea.
09:30Tell me, Lestrade, in which of the various sporting spheres
09:33is Mr. Driscoll most active?
09:35Uh...
09:37Well...
09:40Rumour has it that Mr. Driscoll is concentrating his efforts
09:44on prizefight matches, sir.
09:48Well, thank you very much for your assistance, Inspector.
09:55And you too, Wilkins.
09:57Good afternoon, gentlemen.
10:01Well, if I know you, Holmes,
10:03I suppose now we'll be attending a prizefight.
10:05Quite right, Watson.
10:06This very evening, hulking Harry Thornton
10:08meets Powerhouse Percy O'Noonan at Londonderry Gardens.
10:10Powerhouse happens to be a personal friend of mine.
10:12You know Fighter Percy?
10:14My dear fellow, I once blackened his eye for him.
10:37My boy will take it, Mr. Holmes, because he thinks
10:40that's the kind of fighter I like.
10:42A fighter with brains.
10:44A very good combination, Mr. Finnegan.
10:46The best.
10:47Sometimes you make some mistake.
10:49You sees a fighter when it's hard
10:51and you think maybe you got a champion.
10:53But if you don't think, nothing.
10:56You understand?
10:57Oh, yes, yes, perfectly.
10:58Tell me, Mr. Finnegan, have you got...
11:00Excuse me. It's time Percy got started now.
11:02You can take him up now.
11:04You can take him up now.
11:18Brains?
11:19Oh, no, Watson.
11:20Just a comparative judgment, you know.
11:22Well, I'll have to say goodbye to you now, Mr. Holmes,
11:24but thanks for dropping in.
11:25Not at all.
11:26Your boy was highly recommended to me.
11:28Who told you about him?
11:31Herbert Finney?
11:35Who?
11:37Herbert Finney.
11:39Herbert Finney?
11:40You know him?
11:41Of course.
11:42I was just saying that...
11:44Excuse me, Mr. Holmes.
11:45I've got to be going now.
11:50Curious reaction.
11:52Perhaps not so curious, Watson.
11:54The proper use of that name may open
11:56several tightly barred doors.
11:58Proper use? What do you mean, Holmes?
11:59Well, if I'm correct, you'll soon see for yourself.
12:02Just let's continue to drop the name.
12:08Keep your eyes open.
12:09Watch your chin.
12:17That's it now.
12:18Hold it.
12:21Hold it.
12:22Keep your eyes open.
12:25Right.
12:26Right.
12:27Right.
12:33Watch it now, Percy.
12:34Watch it.
12:38That's it.
12:42That's it.
12:47Hold it now.
12:48Hold it.
12:53That's the boy.
12:57Keep your eyes open.
12:59Keep your eyes open.
13:00Now!
13:06I tell you to keep your eyes open.
13:08Get up!
13:17Good old Herbert Finney.
13:18I must remember to get his advice on next week's card.
13:21You know, it's a pity poor old Bert Finney
13:23couldn't come with us this evening.
13:25Yes.
13:26Do you know what old Herbert Finney told me this morning?
13:28No, what did Herbert Finney tell you this morning?
13:31Did you hear that?
13:32You know, Watson, it's not every day you can meet a man...
13:35Sounds like just what Driscoll's been looking for.
13:41What are you waiting for?
13:43I don't like taking him either.
13:45They might get roughed a bit later
13:47then somebody says they saw him leave with us.
13:50Do you think the street would be any better?
13:52You know him?
13:53You know him?
13:55Mr. Holmes, the big one, is.
13:57He knew Percy.
13:59Didn't catch the other bloke's name.
14:01But he looks like a fighter I used to know.
14:04Got the sack for using unfair tactics.
14:07I figured he was a bad one.
14:09Got a nasty look about him.
14:11Well, if he tries anything,
14:12don't expect any markers of Queensberry out of him.
14:15Use some of your own tactics.
14:16Brother.
14:18Get to it now before the Upson leaves.
14:21Let him know we mean business right from the outset.
14:24Stand by, Watson.
14:26I think we shall have company in a moment.
14:37I beg your pardon?
14:38Ever panic a friend of yours?
14:40Yes, but I don't see why he'd come with us.
14:45Certainly not.
14:46Who are you?
14:47It will be much easier on you if you don't make a fuss.
14:52Where are we going?
14:54To see a gentleman who would like to talk to you about Mr. Fenwick.
15:03All I want to know from you is where you saw Fenwick last.
15:06Well, I believe it was at Murgatroyd's Saloon.
15:09You're lying.
15:10Here, I say, look.
15:11Fenwick wouldn't go to Murgatroyd's.
15:13Maybe the green man or the houndstooth of a brass goblet,
15:15but never Murgatroyd's.
15:16There isn't too much money.
15:18Well, Mr. Driscoll, you've been to a lot of places today.
15:21Perhaps it was one of the others.
15:23How do you know my name?
15:24Well, I...
15:27Well, you were pointed out to us.
15:29It seems you're quite a well-known figure in certain circles.
15:33Mr. Driscoll, if we should see Mr. Fenwick again,
15:36is there any message you'd like us to give him?
15:38He knows what I want, that Wilshire.
15:40Oh, he's in debt to you, is he?
15:42Over a thousand pounds.
15:44I'm not winning any longer to collect.
15:46If I get my hands on Fenwick, that'll be the last of him.
15:49And that goes for you, too, if I ever find out you helped him in any way.
15:52Now, get out of here.
15:59Good evening, gentlemen.
16:06People just don't have any manners anymore.
16:08Hmm, and this is not the time to instruct them.
16:10Come, Watson.
16:11Well, I only hope we're going to a place where they appreciate proper behavior
16:14in the finer things of life.
16:33I'm sorry, Governor.
16:34Not at all, sir. Not at all.
16:38Oh, really, Holmes, we've been to the coach and horses.
16:40A green man.
16:41The king said we'd interview dozens of disreputable characters.
16:44Must we go through all this process again?
16:47I'm afraid so, Watson.
16:48It's the only place that we can obtain some further information as to Fenwick's whereabouts.
16:52Yeah.
16:53Oh, Barman.
16:55Yes, sir?
16:56Two pints of mild and bitter, please.
16:58Oh, and some information.
17:03Mild and bitter is cheap, sir.
17:05But not the information, eh?
17:07Oh, no, sir.
17:08Oh, no, sir.
17:14Herbert Fenwick.
17:16Oh, then poor chap.
17:18What do you mean?
17:20It was a long year, not a few weeks ago.
17:22We were talking in confidential light.
17:24He told me he'd booked a passage to America.
17:26Too bad he won't be able to use it now.
17:28Well, why not?
17:31Can we say you haven't heard?
17:32No.
17:33Fenwick's dead.
17:34Suicide a few hours ago.
17:36But how?
17:37Where?
17:40He rented a room not far from here.
17:43And he went down to the Thames and threw himself in.
17:46Left a note saying he was in trouble.
17:48Couldn't go on.
17:49Let's see.
17:50Have they found his body?
17:51Oh, no.
17:52Not yet.
17:53Only his hat floating in the water.
17:55Poor chap.
17:56Wasn't the best sort of a chap, you know.
17:58But gambler.
18:00Had to run a bad luck.
18:02Come, Watson.
18:03Come, Watson.
18:04We must hurry or Fenwick's luck may turn from bad to worse.
18:11Bad to worse.
18:12He's dead.
18:28Well, there you are, Holmes.
18:30What more do you want?
18:31The body.
18:32Oh, we'll soon find that.
18:33There's no doubt about that.
18:35The river patrol's dragging the Thames already.
18:41I assure you, Inspector, Herbert Fenwick is still alive.
18:45Then why should he write a suicide note?
18:48Surely the question is, why should Fenwick write a suicide
18:51note in such explicit detail?
18:54Listen.
18:55This is a terrible thing to do.
18:57But I have made up my mind.
18:59It is the only way to end my difficulties.
19:01Today at 6 PM, I'm going to the Thames.
19:05I will jump from the Hartford Bridge.
19:07Forgive me, but have faith.
19:09Signed, Herbert L. Fenwick.
19:12Now, Holmes, I can't follow that line of reasoning.
19:16Then perhaps this may convince you.
19:18Take a look at that hat band with Fenwick's name on it.
19:21You'll notice that it's absolutely brand new.
19:23Whereas the hat, of course, is unmistakably old.
19:26You mean then, Holmes, that Fenwick here
19:28had his name put into his band in the last two or three days?
19:30Exactly.
19:31Merely a ruse to make people believe that he committed suicide.
19:34Yes, but why should a man say he's dead if he isn't?
19:37Well, to avoid his muscular creditors, for one thing.
19:40If they believed the reports of his death,
19:42they'd have no choice but to write him off as a total loss.
19:45Yes, but if he's still alive, somebody's
19:47bound to see him sooner or later.
19:49Not if he's made plans to go to America.
19:52All right, then.
19:53I'll have an alarm sent out to all the ships and port.
19:56I'm afraid, Lestrade, that'll be too late.
19:58Why, what do you mean?
20:00Because he has no money.
20:02He needs it badly, and he needs it quickly.
20:04And there's only one way in which he can cover both his needs.
20:07What way is that, Holmes?
20:09Robbery.
20:11What, do you think he'd take the chance?
20:13Of course he would.
20:14Fenwick's desperate.
20:15And in any case, there's very little chance
20:17when one considers that no one would suspect a dead man
20:19of committing the crime.
20:20Now, Holmes, what am I supposed to do?
20:23Warn everybody in London that a robbery's going to take place?
20:27Oh, I wouldn't go as far as that, Lestrade.
20:29I judge that Fenwick will strike at one of three places.
20:32The wagon and horses, the green man, or the king's head.
20:35I say, Holmes, how can you narrow it down to that?
20:38Because Fenwick can feel certain that everyone in those places
20:41has heard the news of his death.
20:43Therefore, no suspicion could be directed at him.
20:46I don't know why I let you talk me into these things.
20:49Then you'll assign men to cover the wagon and horses
20:51and the green man?
20:52Yes, yes.
20:53Good, but there isn't much time.
20:54You'll have to get on with it immediately.
20:56All right.
20:58You know, sometimes you're worse than the commissioner.
21:05Tell me, Holmes, what about the king's head?
21:07Ah, that will be our little project, Watson.
21:09But first, I want you to carry out a mission
21:11of the utmost importance.
21:12Now, listen to me closely.
21:27Yes, I've seen them come and go, big and small, happy and sad.
21:33And I tend to my business and keeps my hands clean.
21:37Ah, well, that's a splendid philosophy.
21:40Yeah.
21:42It's getting near closing time.
21:44Oh, yes, sir.
21:45So it is.
21:51Put your hands up.
21:57I'll take that if you don't mind.
21:59I'm sure he does.
22:00But, uh, Benny has very little choice, has he?
22:03You, get over there.
22:04Go on, hurry up.
22:07You too.
22:09Go on.
22:14I'm sorry, Holmes.
22:15We had a bit of difficulty.
22:16Oh.
22:17Oh, no.
22:19I've got him, Fennec.
22:21What?
22:22Brilliant job, Fennec.
22:23Absolutely brilliant.
22:24Brilliant job, Fennec.
22:25Absolutely brilliant.
22:26Dad.
22:28What's the game?
22:29Let me go.
22:30Oh, sit down, you villain.
22:32Here, give me the gun.
22:34Come on.
22:36Now, not a word out of you.
22:38Not a word.
22:40Dad, is it really you?
22:42Of course it is, Andrew.
22:43Your father has been working on a special assignment
22:45for the Secret Service, haven't you?
22:47I, I, oh, Andy, my Andy.
22:53Now, you don't need to say anything, Mr. Fennec.
22:55Your behavior is the model of a hero.
22:59Holmes, take this man away.
23:01No, you listen to me.
23:02We'll have plenty of time for listening to you later.
23:04Well, who is he?
23:05What's he done?
23:06Who is he?
23:07Why, he's a spy working for a foreign government.
23:09Spy?
23:10Yeah.
23:11Foreign government?
23:13And these, let's trade, are the secret documents
23:15he was stealing from our navy.
23:17Hey, that's my account book.
23:19A likely story, indeed.
23:20Here, let me see them.
23:22You certainly can't see them.
23:23They're even too secret for you.
23:24In a half minute, Governor.
23:25There's been a mistake here somewhere.
23:27I'm just, uh...
23:28Wilkins, do as the trade orders.
23:30Take this man away.
23:31Yes, Mr. Holmes.
23:33I'll be standing up behind the bar all day, all right?
23:35Now, wait a minute.
23:36Let me say something.
23:38This is a crime.
23:40You see, Andrew, your father has been working
23:42on the most dangerous case.
23:44During the secret investigations, quite naturally,
23:47he couldn't tell you anything about his activities.
23:50However, I think that he can now remove his disguise.
23:54Yes, yes, of course.
24:00Gosh, Dad, Mama Mae was so worried.
24:05Your father is really to be congratulated, Andrew.
24:08You see, the foreign office chose him
24:10especially for this very important task
24:12because no one in the underworld
24:16would have suspected him of being connected with the law.
24:19Mr. Holmes, I don't quite know how to thank you.
24:22Well, Fenwick, now the job is done.
24:24Of course, you'll have to return to your old job
24:26and take up the strings of your old life again.
24:28But if I know you, you'll work hard,
24:31meet all your obligations,
24:33and carry on like the splendid citizen you are.
24:36That's just what I'm going to do.
24:39I'll never leave my family again.
24:41Then good luck, Mr. Fenwick.
24:43And good luck.
24:45Come on, Andrew. Let's go home.
24:47Oh, Andrew, I've just remembered something.
24:52Here's your bound bag.
24:56Golly.
24:58Come on, sir.
25:03Mr. Trey, I just had a sudden thought.
25:05I think perhaps you'd better release that bartender.
25:07He must be getting rather upset by now.
25:09Holmes, either you've gone insane or I have.
25:13No, no more insane than usual.
25:16After all, everyone is entitled to make a mistake.
25:20Scotland Yard does sometimes, you know.
25:23I'm at least entitled to one.
25:25Good night, Inspector.
25:46Good night.
26:16© BF-WATCH TV 2021
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