Spider Woman, The (1944) Movie Script
Read all about it,
pajama suicide.
Here you are, governor.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you.
Read all about it,
another pajama suicide.
Here you are,
governor, paper.
Read all about the
pajama suicide.
Dash it all Susan,
its as crime,
suicide is a crime.
Where are the police?
Where is Sherlock Holmes?
That's what I've been
thinking, Robert.
Where is Sherlock Holmes?
I've got one, Watson.
Play him,
Holmes, play him.
Its a beauty.
Don't let him get away.
Blast.
I've lost him.
I'm sorry you
lost him, old man.
What are you
doing, old fellow?
Changing the fly.
Don't be
mendacious, Watson.
Me mendacious?
Yes, when a
man slips away
four times in an hour
to change his fly
and still has the
same fly on his hook
I call that being
mendacious.
Yes, it is, as a matter of
fact I felt a bit faint.
a touch of the sun.
Humbug.
Humbug?
Yes, your hat
is on backwards.
Hmm?
Ah, just as I thought,
you've been reading
about those
filthy pajama
murders again,
and you gave me your
solemn word of honor.
Did you, did
you say murders?
I did.
The paper says suicide.
Nonsense Watson.
Suicides invariably
leave notes behind them.
Not one of these men
left so much as a word.
After all a fellow
hasn't got time
to dash off a note
before throwing himself
in front of a bus.
But these people didn't
throw themselves
under busses.
Each and every one of
them went quietly to bed
behind locked doors.
And each and
every one of them
rose up suddenly
in the night
and killed himself.
I never thought of that.
Obviously, either
did Scotland Yard.
You know, Watson,
there's something
uncanny about it.
Something monstrous
and horrible,
something that drives
these poor fellows
to their
so-called suicide,
and when you drive a man
to suicide that's murder.
You amaze me, Holmes.
I'd say haven't we better
get back to London at once
with all this
murder afoot?
I'm sorry, Watson,
the pleasures of the chase
are no longer for me.
I'm through with crime
now and forever.
You, you don't mean that.
Yes, unfortunately.
But why?
Watson, I have a
confession to make to you.
I'm no longer equal to it.
Lately I've been subject
to the most alarming
dizzy spells.
Not a swimming sensation.
Difficulty maintaining your
balance when you stand upright?
Precisely, and you know
what that leads to.
Cerebral hemorrhages
if you don't look out.
Exactly.
That means get back to
London as quick as we can.
I'll take you
to see Armitage.
Not until we've had
our fun, old boy.
If this is to be our
last holiday together
I'd like to get
my fill of it.
Oh, so I, I'm
sorry I upset you
reading the newspaper.
Oh, think nothing of it.
At least you know now why
I left London amidst
the most shocking
crime wave
since Jack the Ripper.
Watson!
Holmes!
The name of
Ronald Boyce Carter
must be added to
the list of suicides
that have shocked
London in recent months.
It is indeed regrettable
that Mr. Sherlock Holmes...
You know Susan,
that fellow Holmes had no
business dying just now.
It's an outrage,
a dashed outrage.
Poor man,
I hear they're going
to send all his things
to the British Museum.
Things, what do
you mean things?
You mean his old boots
and discarded weskits?
No, Robert.
What would the
British Museum
do with his weskits?
It's his scrapbooks
they're going to exhibit
and all his records.
The strange death of
ex-President Murillo.
The Giant Rat of Sumatra,
ghastly affair.
You know in some
ways, Mrs. Hudson,
those were the
happiest days of my life.
Now, now, Dr. Watson.
Don't get down
in the dumps.
What can't be cured must
be endured, you know.
You're right, my
dear, you're right.
(unintelligible)
Oh, dear.
That must be the
van from the museum
and his things aren't
taken half packed.
You go down, my dear,
and hold them off
for 15 minutes.
And then they can come up
and take it all away.
But I don't want them
to take it all away.
It's like tearing a
piece out of my heart.
Oh, there, there, my dear.
I know, I know.
What's she
sniffling about?
Oh, you know
how woman are,
no control.
I didn't expect to
see you here, Lestrade.
British Museum, you know,
had to have protection.
They rang up
Scotland Yard.
I just happened
to be there.
Hmm?
All right, well
I didn't want every
Tom, Dick and Harry
handling his things.
No, no, of course
not, of course not.
Ratty old chair, ain't it?
Repulsive.
Well, sir,
there's nothing
ratty about it.
Perhaps you're
right, doctor.
Many a times I seen
him sprawled out in it.
Funny duck he was.
I was saying to my old
woman only this morning
if it hadn't been for him
I'd still be a sergeant.
Pity you didn't mention
it when he was alive.
Perhaps we
understood each other
better than you
think, doctor.
All these old pipes.
What'd you let him fall
in that blasted river?
Why didn't you
jump in after him,
you big blunderhead.
Blunderhead, that's very
offensive, Lestrade.
Me jump in?
I wasn't there.
When I got there
he wasn't there.
He had gone.
He'd gone.
Oh, sorry, doctor.
Take no notice, I'm...
Lestrade,
would you like to have
one of his pipes?
I wouldn't mind.
Well, help yourself.
Thank you, doctor.
You picked a very old one.
Its the one I want.
Its the one
I remember best.
I'll be
stepping downstairs
to the van, doctor.
Take your time with
the packing, doctor,
there's no
hurry, you know.
British Museum
will still be there.
What's the row about?
A registered package
for Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
Oh, he'll sign for it.
Thank you, sir.
Bring it here.
Mind signing here, sir.
Pencils these days,
not worth the
paper they write on.
That's right.
You got a knife?
No, I ain't.
Well, wait a minute.
All right.
So this is where
he hung out.
These were his rooms.
Not much of a room
if you ask me.
Well, who's asking you?
Here, that's mine.
I've lost things
like that before.
Oh, well, I suppose
it suited him all right,
all right,
all right, all right.
He was no great detective
from what I heard.
Just one of them
easy chair Johnnies.
Would sit on his tail
and let everybody else
do the dirty work.
That'll be enough.
Mind you, I ain't saying
he didn't get the credit.
But newspapers can be
bought, can't they now?
You insect.
You dare to imply...
All right, all right,
all right, Governor,
keep your shirt on.
I got a right
to my opinion
and it's my opinion
that Mr. Sherlock Holmes
was nothing more but
an old herring gut.
You, you say that again.
An herring gut,
and old herring gut.
Get up you worm.
We'll see whose
a herring gut.
It's all right, Watson.
I take it back.
Call off your dogs.
Holmes!
Holmes!
It's all right, old boy.
Don't look like that.
Get a hold of yourself.
Here, have a drink.
My word, you made a
shambles of this room.
How could you play
such a trick on me?
You brought it on
yourself, old man,
throwing open my
records to the public,
tipping off every
criminal in the country.
The shear eggleheadness,
you've surpassed yourself.
Don't you realize
the dynamite
that's in those records?
I had to stop you,
even if I had to
come back from
the dead to do it.
I'll never forgive
you for this, Holmes,
not until my dying day.
It was a cruel
trick I grant you,
but I had to see you.
No one every looks twice
at a postman, you know.
If the books are
ready, doctor...
You can put them under
lock and key at the
yard, Inspector.
But I'm seeing things.
How are you, Lestrade?
Well, strike me
up a gum tree.
Just when we
thought we had you
nicely dead and buried.
What a sell.
My return from the dead
was absolutely
necessary, Inspector?
Necessary me Aunt
Dinahs bustle.
You'd give yourself a treat
acting about all over the place.
What's the game anyway?
Very briefly this?
It's obvious that the so-called
pajama suicides are really murders,
brilliantly conceived
and executed.
They're very near to
being perfect crimes.
Where's my calabash?
Oh well, never mind.
Indubitably these murders
are the work of a
well-organized gang
and directing them
is one of the most
fiendishly clever minds
in all Europe today.
Any notion who?
I suspect a woman.
Do you have tobacco around
this place, Watson?
In the packet.
A woman?
You amaze me, Holmes.
Why a woman?
Because the method,
whatever it is,
is peculiarly
subtle and cruel.
Feline, not canine.
Poppy-cock.
Canine, feline, quinine,
when a bloke does
himself in that's suicide.
Unless the bloke is
driven to suicide
and then that
case it's murder.
Driven, that sounds like
a woman doesn't it?
Definitely,
a female Moriarity
clever, ruthless,
and above all cautious.
Therefore my first step
was to give
her enough rope
by passing
out of the picture.
I see.
When the cat is away,
mice begin to play.
Precisely.
Posh, you and
your theories.
Anyone would
think you had
eyes in the
back of your head.
You can keep the
pipe, Lestrade.
Sorry, old man.
I gave it to him.
Well, you're right
and proper, Watson.
Thank you, Mr. Holmes.
Now, what features
have these pajama
suicides in common?
Poor fellows just died in
the middle of the night.
Nobody near them.
Behind locked doors.
And they're all
well-to-do more or less.
Right, and each and every
one of 'em it seems
was fond of the pleasures
of the gaming table.
Keep that in mind,
it's highly significant.
It gives us our
one and only lead.
Lead to what?
My dear Lestrade,
if we are to set a trap
for this femme fatale
I see no reason why
we shouldn't bait it
with the kind of
food she likes?
Got a pencil, Watson?
No, I gave it back
to the postman.
Here, take this one.
Don't break the
point this time.
Now, write
what I dictate,
and you Lestrade,
I trust you'd see
that it gets into
the newspapers.
Murders.
Ready Watson?
Go ahead.
The distinguished native
Officer, Rajni Singh,
Colonel of the
(unintelligible)
just arrived in London.
Rajni Singh, I never
heard of the gent.
He was just born, Watson.
Oh, I see.
Huh?
Carry on, old boy.
In spite of his
well-known devotion
to the Goddess
of Chance...
In spite of his
well-known devotion
to the Goddess of Chance,
Rajni Singh insists that
his visit to our shores
in solely in the hope
that British surgeons
may restore his left arm
paralyzed in the
service of the Empire.
Sounds rather a nice
person to know,
doesn't he?
Exciting.
I have to get a new
line of small talk.
What do they do
in India, Norman?
Oh, ride elephants.
Oh, how cumbersome.
You must see that he gets
a card to the Urban Casino.
Number 20,
black, even, pass.
Make your bets, ladies and
gentlemen, make your bets.
Make your bets,
ladies and gentlemen.
Pardon me, may I?
By all means, madam.
You changed my
luck I hope.
Make your bets,
ladies and gentlemen,
make your bets.
Number 7,
red, odd, miss.
How ghastly.
The fortune of war, madam.
So sorry I didn't
bring you luck.
But you have brought me
the charm of your
presence madam.
Excuse me.
Blank check please,
Name please?
Rajni Singh.
One hundred pounds.
Excuse me.
How's your luck, my sweet?
I think it will cut
up rather large.
Make your bets,
ladies and gentlemen.
Oh Norman, you have
this gentleman's place.
So sorry.
Thank you.
Sixteen.
Oh, not sixteen again.
You play?
Nineteen.
I feel lucky.
I almost wish that you...
Would play 19.
Wish me luck.
It's kind of you to be
concerned for a stranger.
But no one
from your country
is like a stranger to me.
Make your bets.
You see, my father was
Captain Spedding
of the Bangle Lancets.
I was born at Trinocca.
In the Casmia.
It is there the most
beautiful women
in the world are born.
That's all now, no more.
Number 16, red,
even, miss.
If only I'd let you alone.
It is fate, Madam.
One cannot fight it.
If you wish to
take my place, sir.
Thank you.
Goodnight, madam,
and good-bye.
Make your bets,
ladies and gentlemen,
make your bets.
Don't.
Oh, you mustn't.
A struggle would be
unseemly, madam.
Another time.
If you'll excuse me.
No, please.
Things will look very
different in the morning,
I assure you.
That is easy to say.
Oh, but I know.
I've been in the same
situation myself.
You?
Sometime ago I
lost all my money.
Nasty jolt, isn't it?
The money, madam,
it is nothing.
But honor, that
is everything.
Honor?
'Tis not easy to confess.
I am as you
may not know
a soldier of
some distinction.
Could you believe that
just now I drew a check.
It is worthless.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
Haven't you any
funds at all?
Nothing, not even enough
to pay my bill
at the hotel.
No friends?
Not here in London.
Well, haven't you anything
you can raise
money on, jewels or...
You think of native
princes, madam.
Such is not my
good fortune.
Perhaps an
insurance policy.
No, nothing,
only a little five
thousand pounds.
I cannot borrow on it.
It has not been long
enough in force.
Nonsense, it's
perfectly simple
if you know
the right people.
I can send you to
someone if you wish?
Is it possible?
Of course you have
to pay interest,
a mere five percent.
All you do is take your
policy over to the man
who accommodates you.
Make him your beneficiary.
In the event of my death?
Yes, but you're not
going to die, are you?
It would
impertinent, madam,
to take my life
out of your hands.
How strange that
a man's life
should lie in
such little hand.
So soft.
I may come
tomorrow and see you
to thank you,
madam, please.
Your flowers are
lovely Rajni Singh.
So fragrant.
It is your room that
is fragrant, madam,
with memories of
my native land.
It is all so real,
so nostalgic.
Mother India.
Mother of Mysteries.
May I...
By all means.
They're just some
photographs
my uncle picked
up years ago.
I have them out to keep
my memories of
India fresh.
These mountain peaks,
I do not seem
to place them.
They're Coracurons
in the northeast.
The pillars of Paravati,
the natives call them.
Oh yes, I
recognize them now.
This low,
rambling structure,
what is it?
The shrine of
the sacred cow.
Oh yes, a place of
holy meditation.
Do you take
milk and sugar?
Neither, thank you.
Tea should be
taken pure, I think
so as not to
disguise its flavor.
I quite agree with you.
I do not like disguises.
Biscuit?
Thank you, thank you.
It's so tiresome only
to have one hand.
I'm so sorry.
I should have remembered.
It is not my poor hand
I wish you to
remember madam,
it is I.
Oh, but I shall always.
Ladies have been known
to forget, you know.
That is why I have
brought you this.
Oh, you shouldn't
Why not, the man you
sent me to advanced me
five hundred pounds
on my worthless policy
and all I could
think of was you.
Please.
I really shouldn't,
but I must see it.
Oh, how simply
breathtaking.
You like it?
Why I'm mad about it.
You must let me take it
back to the jeweler,
have it properly marked.
AS or just Andrea?
Just Andrea,
but do let me wipe it.
My finger marks
are all over it.
No, no, they are
precious to me.
Your tea must be cold.
Do let me.
Thank you.
Oh, how horrible of me.
'Tis nothing I
assure you, madam.
But your poor hand.
I shall never
forgive myself.
It is I who am
clumsy, madam.
Hello you nice people.
My half-brother
Norman Locke.
Rajni Singh.
I'm delighted.
How do you do?
I'm so sorry,
we have nothing in
the house for burns.
I so seldom get burned.
Please, I shall
go to the Chemist.
au revoir, Madame,
'til we meet again.
Soon I hope.
Don't bother
to see me out.
Thank you.
I say,
I never burn anyone
unintentionally.
Neither do I.
I wanted to see him use
that left arm and he did.
He's no more a
cripple than you are.
He's onto us, Norman.
Does he know that
you're onto him?
He does if he's the
man I think he is.
Don't be cryptic, darling.
Look at that.
What of it?
It's Rajni Singh.
Now look at this.
It can't be
Sherlock Holmes.
He's dead.
Is he, Norman?
I doubt it.
But if you were to
say to me tomorrow
Sherlock Holmes is dead.
Here we are.
All right and tight.
Nothing can get
through there.
I don't understand.
If you want to
keep them out
how do you expect
them to get in?
My dear Lestrade, my
purpose is fairly simple.
I merely wish to
duplicate the conditions
under which the so-called
pajama murders occurred.
Locked doors
sealed windows,
and no opening through
which any human agency
could possibly
enter this room.
I don't go with that.
Where there's a murder
there's got to
be a murderer.
That's the way
I look at it.
Precisely, but it's the
murderer I'm after.
It's the means of murder.
The secret and terrible
machinery of these crimes.
Now you don't expect
anyone to pop out of that?
I expect nothing
and everything.
Keep your eye
on that alley.
I may be coming down
sudden-like see.
Right.
Now if you'll be so
good as to wait outside
I'll put Sherlock
Holmes to bed.
I'd feel a lot easier...
Goodnight, Lestrade.
Just give a call.
It happens awful quick
when it happens.
Goodnight.
Lestrade quick.
Mr. Holmes.
It's all right,
old boy, here I am.
That's just a
mask I had made.
There's your killer.
Quick, down the
backstairs
to the alleyway.
Stop anyone that
tries to leave,
and I'll cover the roof.
Stay where you are.
You winged him
proper, Mr. Holmes.
He's dead as a doornail.
Not a mark
identification on him.
Too bad, I wish
we had him alive.
What do you make of these?
Air holes, aye?
Looks like he
must have carried...
Something but what?
The instrument of
death was a spider.
There's no doubt
about it Lestrade,
and the bite
of the creature
drove these
pajama suicides
to kill themselves.
How did he get
into your room?
Through this ventilator.
Now don't tell me
that, that spider
had your name and
address in his pocket?
Hardly.
This screen was removed
from the mouth
of the ventilator,
obviously
to emit something
much larger than a spider.
We only know half of the
machinery of these crimes.
Have a light.
Great scott.
Little, ain't it.
The footprint of a child.
Thank you sir,
read all about it
Sherlock Holmes, he
ain't dead, no not at all.
Dr. Watson would
neither confirm nor deny
the report that he
had seen his friend
since his startling
disappearance.
The good Doctor maintains
a profound silence.
Come in.
Good morning.
Good morning, sir.
Mr. Holmes I presume?
Dr. Livingston,
is the name.
How are you, Mr. Stanley?
I am very happy to meet
you, Dr. Livingston.
My name is Adam Gilflower
from the Bureau
of Entomology.
Oh, a bug hunter,
let me take those.
Won't you sit down
Mr., Mr. Gilphilly.
Gilflower is
the name, sir.
Oh, Flower, yes, yes.
Goes with insects,
flora and fauna.
I see you don't like
to face the light
Mr. Philgillet.
My eyes give me a great
deal of trouble, sir.
Oh, I'm sorry
to hear that.
That's too bad,
that's too bad.
They're useful
things, eyes.
They rest the glasses.
I have an appointment
with Mr. Holmes.
Will he be here soon?
Will he?
He certainly will,
Mr. Wallflower.
As a matter of
fact, he's here now.
You're sitting
on him.
Don't bother to get up.
You tell
ducky-wucky all about.
I don't understand.
Not half you don't
you old herring gut.
I beg your pardon?
Of all the transparent old
fakers I ever saw, Gilflower,
what a name to pick,
Gilflower, Do Flower,
Bull Frog, Diggle
Waggle, Wiggle Waggle.
Well, you can do
better than that.
A child can see
through you.
Those dark glasses,
that preposterous wig,
come out from behind
those silly whiskers.
I know you.
Watson.
Holmes!
My dear fellow, you've
surpassed yourself.
I think you owe Mr.
Gilflower an apology.
He's stark mad.
But not dangerous
I assure you.
My name is Holmes.
I know your
time is precious
but my business is urgent.
Thank you for
coming so promptly.
I believe you know
more about spiders
than any man in London.
Oh, I shouldn't say
quite that, Mr. Holmes.
Do you believe you could
identify this specimen
and tell me something
of its manners
and its morals.
Hmm, this poor fellow has
been very roughly handled.
Have you a
magnifying glass?
Yes, sir.
Oh.
There it is.
I'm sorry.
Oh, come, come,
old fellow.
Don't look so
down in the mouth.
The game is afoot
and I shall need you.
Will you really, Holmes?
Naturally.
Here you are, sir.
Hmm, extraordinary.
Mr. Holmes, where did
you find this creature?
You recognize it?
The deadliest insect
known to science.
It is the
lycosa carnivora.
Habitat the upper regions
of the Obongo River.
Its bite is fatal?
Hideously.
Human beings are
its chosen prey
and its venom once injected
into the blood stream
causes such
excruciating agony
that the victim is driven
to self-destruction.
Does the bite of this
creature leave any trace?
Only if you know
what to look for,
two small punctures
hardly visible
to the naked eye.
And its venom disappears
in the bloodstream.
Completely.
Tell me, sir,
could one get hold
of a live specimen
of the lycosa carnivora
in London?
Oh, I doubt it.
Now hold on.
Ordway might help.
Matthew Ordway,
of Vernon Villa.
Write it down, Watson.
Matthew Ordway, Vernon Villa,
New Road, Chipping Wharton.
Mr. Ordway is
slightly eccentric
but that shouldn't
trouble you.
He has a remarkable
collection of spiders.
You might tell him
that I sent you.
Thank you, Mr. Gilflower.
That's very kind of
you and very helpful.
Oh, don't mention, sir.
I'm a law-abiding citizen
always willing to
help in any hazard.
Good-day Mr. Totson.
Totson, that's
not very funny.
I think it's
understandable Watson.
Now to work.
Where's my schedule?
Here it is.
Look up the trains
to Chipping Wharton
That's a good fellow.
(unintelligible) spiders
has indicated.
If Ordway has disposed
of any lycosa carnivora
in the last few months
and he can tell
us who took them.
Found that train to
Chipping Wharton yet, Watson?
The wretched train
start and they go.
They never seem to arrive.
My case precisely.
I know the means
of these murders,
I know the motive,
I know the woman who
directs the murder ring.
Then it is a woman?
A fiend, Watson.
She selects her
victims from those
desperately
in need of money.
Persuades them to pawn
their insurance policies
with her various
accomplices
and then kills them,
by means of
lycosa carnivora.
Incredible.
No more incredible
than nature herself.
Here, let me have that.
After all, nature
provides the means
our spider woman
merely uses it.
You amaze me, Holmes.
Hasn't she some difficulty in
realizing these policies later on?
Not she.
In due time, two years
under English law,
her victims'
beneficiaries
come forward and cash in,
never the same
man twice mind you.
Do you know
that for a fact?
As well as I
know my own name,
and yet I haven't one
shred of evidence
to connect this woman
with her crimes.
You're in my
light, old boy.
Oh, sorry.
Here we are,
Chipping Walton.
Arrive...
Come in.
There's a lady outside
to see you, Mr. Holmes.
A Ms. Spedding.
Oh.
Ask her to come in.
All right, sir.
Mr. Holmes, oh yes,
I recognize you now
from your picture
in the papers.
I was so relieved to
hear you were alive.
How very kind of you.
My name is
Adrea Spedding.
Won't you come in?
Thank you.
My little nephew,
Mr. Holmes.
How are you my lad?
I'm playing nurse today.
I'm sure you'll give an
exceptional performance,
Ms. Spedding.
Poor child, he's a mute.
Vocal chords
paralyzed from birth.
Oh, how unfortunate.
Say, he's scratched
his hand, hasn't he?
Yes, he's always climbing
into the most
unlikely places.
Run along, dear, and
sit in that chair.
There's a good boy.
Right over there.
What are you
doing, my boy?
That's me.
Sit down.
Oh, I beg your pardon.
My colleague, Dr. Watson.
Ms. Adrea Spedding.
How do you do?
It's a great pleasure.
Mr. Holmes, my business
is of utmost privacy.
I assure you, Dr. Watson,
is the very cell
of discretion.
Won't you sit down?
Thank you.
And now, Ms. Spedding,
how can I be of
service to you?
Well, I hardly know
where to begin.
Perhaps I'm unduly
alarmed but
you see a friend of
mine has disappeared.
Indeed.
I've tried to get in
touch with him
in his room but
he's not there,
and he seems to
have left no word.
His name?
Rajni Singh.
He was from India.
Rajni Singh.
I seem to have
heard of him.
Now, Mr. Holmes,
I'm terrible afraid
I shall never
see him again.
Oh, come now,
Ms. Spedding.
I'm sure you won't
have to look far.
Look at all the
pretty butterflies.
Perhaps you're right.
Larry, stop that.
Oh, you naughty boy.
Put on your
shoes and socks.
Oh, let him go barefoot.
Boys like to.
Didn't you, Watson?
Do I?
Like to go barefoot?
Yes, I always fancied
the dewy grass
in the early morning.
They used to call
me twinkle toes.
I'm sure you were a
beautiful baby, Watson.
Now, tell me,
Ms. Spedding,
just why are
you so concerned
about this Rajni Singh?
Well, you see, he pawned
his insurance policy
to get a loan.
The minute I found
he was missing
I went to the loan shark
and redeemed
the policy?
Why?
I didn't want to put
temptation in the way
of people who might
profit by his death.
How very
thoughtful of you.
If you could
find Rajni Singh,
you might return
this policy to him
with the compliments
of a friend.
Of course you're going to
be paid for your trouble.
I have every confidence,
Ms. Spedding,
that you're not one to
leave a score unsettled.
Larry, let it go.
Come here.
He seems possessed
to catch flies.
Now, if you'll put on
your shoes and socks,
Auntie will give
you a nice sweet.
You have quite a
way with children.
Oh, I bribe him
shamefully.
This will be third today,
would you believe it?
American candy,
hard to get.
There.
Now mind you don't get
your fingers sticky.
Cunning little beggar.
One could almost tuck
him into a suitcase.
He must be a great
comfort to you.
Oh, he is.
Cigarette?
Thank you.
Oh, what a lovely case.
Yes, isn't it?
I picked it up
quite by accident.
Wasn't a mark on it
except some
negligible fingerprints
that the police
couldn't identify.
You may have it,
Ms. Spedding.
Why give it to me?
Should we call it a
trophy of the chase?
Oh, I really shouldn't.
Breathtaking, isn't it?
I owe you a great deal
for this, Mr. Holmes.
Larry?
Don't drop the paper
on the floor, dear.
Put it in the fire.
There's a good boy.
Come along, dear, we
must be going now.
Good-bye, Dr. Watson.
Good-bye.
So please to have met you.
I do hope he hasn't
been a nuisance.
Not at all.
He's a dear little fellow.
Mr. Holmes, 'til
we meet again.
Soon I hope.
Good-bye.
Good-bye.
Fine figure of a
woman, aye, Holmes?
You think so?
Yes.
She reminds me
of a little nurse
I used to know in
Withmore Street.
Very attractive girl.
What would you
say if I told you
she was the spider woman?
I wouldn't believe you.
If she was she'd have
at least eight legs,
wouldn't she?
Oh, a bit of a cough.
Blasted impertinent.
What, Holmes?
Bringing that policy here.
Getting me in my own den.
What about that
train, Watson?
I don't know.
The place where
we're going?
Going to see a man,
Ordway about something.
Breathe Watson,
breathe deeply.
What, what was it, Holmes?
Death, my dear fellow.
We've been entering
Ms. Adrea Spedding.
The most
diabolically clever way
of administering
a lethal dose
I've ever encountered.
I still don't understand.
Look here, Watson.
This little confection
has two wrappers.
The inner one
made of wax paper,
the outer with
silver paper.
It was between
these two wrappers
Ms. Spedding
concealed the powder
that nearly cost
us our lives.
I can taste those
beastly fumes still.
What powder?
Redix pedis diabolus,
in other words,
devil's foot,
a very rare
vegetable poison
from Central Africa.
Devil... I remember that,
The Cornish horror.
That's right, Watson.
I feel like a cup of tea.
By Jove, we're lucky
we're still alive, huh?
For how long I wonder.
Here we are, Watson.
What do you mean
here we are Watson?
Here we are where?
Miles away from anywhere.
Well, I fancy a
collector of spiders
might not be too welcome
in a crowded neighborhood.
I think you're, Holmes.
Matthew Ordway can
identify the person
to whom he sold
these spiders.
Who's there?
What do you want?
You Matthew Ordway?
Never you mind who I am.
Who are you?
My name is
Sherlock Holmes.
This is my friend,
Dr. Watson.
How do you do, sir?
How do I know you're
what you say you are?
Who sent you here?
Adam Gilflower.
Why didn't you say so.
I'll be right down.
He seems a bit
frightened, Holmes.
Yes, I don't like the
look of it, Watson.
Come in, Mr. Holmes,
you're right in the
line of fire, hurry.
Line of fire?
'Twas providence
sent you, Mr. Holmes.
They're after me.
Who are after you?
The men to whom he sold the
lycosa carnivora, of course.
How do you know?
Elementary my dear sir.
Who else would
threaten a man
of your proprietary
and standing.
Mr. Holmes,
I'll swear to you
when I first sold
him those spiders
I had no idea the use
they'd put them to.
Then you read about
the pajama suicides?
That's it.
And putting two
and two together
refused to sell
them any more.
That's right, but only
the day they were here.
I was afraid for my life.
The truth now, Ordway,
did you or did you not
sell them any more
of these creatures?
I swear I didn't,
Mr. Holmes.
I've got all that's
left of the shipment
downstairs now.
I'll show them to you.
I hope you don't mind,
the heat I mean.
Have to keep it this way.
Tropical creatures,
you know.
Must be kept comfortable.
Same temperature as
where they come from,
humid, very humid.
Come along, gentlemen,
don't be afraid.
Everything is
perfectly safe.
Now,
here's where we
keep the live,
the big fellows, you know.
Quite so.
These glass cages
get all steamy.
There we are.
Ugly looking brutes
aren't they?
Positively obscene.
But they're poison
is very valuable
to doctors and the like.
So I hear.
Now, over here we
have some fine,
healthy specimens
of the Black Widow.
You've heard of them?
Frequently.
Happy little devils,
aren't they?
Female of the
species, aye?
They eat their
mates I'm told.
What an unpleasant habit.
Oh, yes.
Tell me Ordway, have
you any specimens
of a mendexsplagrante?
Of what?
The mendexsplegrante.
Oh, no, I'm sorry.
I sold the last one
we had yesterday,
but I can get you one.
Wait a minute, Ordway.
I think I see one
on your shoulder.
Take it off, take it off.
Wait man, steady.
Yes, a perfect specimen.
What is this?
I'll tell you.
The mendexsplegrante is
let in for flagrant liar.
When you told me you
could get me one
I knew you for what you
were, a flagrant liar.
Here Watson, take
care of this.
You call these
glass cases cages.
Any scientist would
call them terrariums.
You said the poison
of the lycosa carnivora
was valuable to doctors.
Any scientist would say
the virus was valuable
to toxicologists.
You said you were told
the Black Widows
eat their mates.
Any scientist
would know it.
Obviously, you're
not Matthew Ordway.
Who are you?
Wouldn't you like to know?
Look out, Watson,
those insects are deadly.
Look out, Holmes.
He's gone.
Blast his eyes.
Come along.
Our job now is to find
the real Matthew Ordway,
if he's still alive.
It's Ordway
beyond a doubt.
Poor chaps been
dead for some time.
Clever devils.
They knew he
was the one link
between them
and the spiders.
Now that link is broken.
What have you
found, Holmes?
Some sort of
record Ordway kept.
Looks like a journal
of his travels,
dates, places,
all in Central Africa.
Look here.
Obongo,
Liko, Ka
poisoned,
immune,
little dogl
faithful to.
Obongo, Lyco, Ka, immune,
little dog, faithful.
Sounds like a
crossword puzzle.
Little dog faithful.
Whose little dog I wonder.
The word isn't
dog, Watson,
it's dog with
an L after it.
Now what word
begins with d-o-g
and has an L after it.
Dogle has a g and an e.
No, dog-like,
that's it, dog-like.
Now what it is that
Ordway could have
had with him in
the jungles of
Central Africa
immune to the virus
of the lycosa carnivora
that was both
dog-like and faithful?
Oh, why not a little dog?
No, no, no, a dog
wouldn't be immune.
Never mind, we'll
go into that later.
Ring up the local police.
Have them take
charge here.
Why sure.
Don't see a
phone anywhere.
Try that door.
No, sign of
one in there.
Looks as if old Ordway
must have gone in for
anatomy on the side.
That's curious.
His main interest was
invertebrates, not vertebrates.
And why chart the
skeleton of a child?
Cause it isn't.
What's that?
It isn't a child.
Are you sure?
Look at all these teeth.
No, no, no the skull of a
normal child of this size,
five or six-years old,
would be much
larger in proportion
to the circumference
of the chest.
Watson, I've got it.
Got what?
That devil of a woman,
bringing that child to Baker
Street to throw me off the track.
What track.
She knew I had found
that tiny footprint.
She wanted me to think it
was the footprint of a child.
I don't follow
you, Holmes.
Watson, I've been blind.
Mole an owl or bat.
Look here, a Obongo,
lycosa carnivora, poison,
immune, little, dog-like,
faithful to their masters.
What on earth are
you talking about?
Able to creep through
the smallest openings.
The perfect instrument
for the spider murders.
Watson, if you ever see
me getting too sure again,
fancying myself more
clever than Adrea Spedding.
Just whisper
one word to me.
What word, Holmes?
Pigmy.
No good, old man,
it's like looking for
a pigmy in a haystack.
Patience, Watson.
Of all places we
may find a pigmy.
A side show is
the most likely.
Hello, I've found it.
Found what?
That place is closed.
That's the most
significant thing about it.
In an arcade where
space is so valuable.
A booth like that
wouldn't remain
empty a single day
therefore, I'd say
the place has been closed
within the last 12 hours,
and for good reason.
Our friends have
got the wind up.
They're trying
to get away.
Or perhaps are
gone already.
I don't think so.
Over here quick,
don't look back.
What's the matter,
Holmes, what's up?
Don't ask questions.
Go ring up Lestrade.
Tell him to come
on the double
and wait for me here
in front of this
shooting gallery.
Where you going?
I don't quite know.
Oh Watson,
while you're waiting,
don't attract attention.
Try to be as
inconspicuous as possible.
Right, Holmes.
Hurry.
Try your luck on Mussolini,
Hiro Hito, or Hitler
Hit'em where their
hearts ought to be
and listen to
the hollow sound.
Come on,
ladies and gentlemen,
step up here and
see the great Wanda,
the gypsy fortune teller.
She'll tell you
(unintelligible).
I say governor, come
on, come on over,
take a chance.
How about you lady?
Come on.
One of those little dolls.
Yes, sir.
They're cute, ain't they?
Oh, very.
Thank you, sir.
Line up, ladies and
gentlemen, and see Wanda,
the great gypsy
fortune teller.
Come on, she won't
(unintelligible).
Give me one of
those dolls please.
Yes, sir.
Just to think that they're
going to the kiddies, sir.
I'm sure it will
be appreciated.
Thank you, sir.
Come on, ladies
and gentlemen,
come on and see
the great Wanda,
the gypsy fortune teller.
Come on, she'll give you
a look into the
future now, she will.
Come on, governor,
bring the Mrs. in.
Afraid of the truth?
Come on.
Your future is in
your own hands, sir.
How fortunate.
This way, sir.
Down that passage to
the door at the far end.
Thank you.
He's on his way.
Come in, Mr. Holmes.
Don't stand in the
drafty corridor.
I should hate to
have you take cold
and die of natural causes.
That would defeat the
ends of injustice,
wouldn't it?
You see, we've been
expecting you.
Obviously.
But what you think
I come here alone?
You're somewhat
over-developed
sense of drama,
Mr. Holmes.
Oh?
Yes.
If we permitted
you to trail us here
there was always a chance
you might bring
along reinforcement.
So I took steps
to make things
a little more dramatic.
Melodramatic is the word.
The business with the doll
was a little overdone.
Yet it intrigued
your interest
and brought
you here alone.
You're an exceedingly
clever woman, Ms. Spedding.
Elementary my
dear Mr. Holmes.
On the other hand,
if I hadn't
come here alone
I should never have got in
and you would have
been on your way.
A sensible idea under
any circumstances.
On the contrary.
It'd be such a bore
living the rest of my life
looking back
over my shoulder.
So you decided to let
me catch up with you.
Precisely.
One of us had
to be eliminated.
The choice was
not too difficult.
You know, Ms. Spedding,
I find it
hard to believe
that anyone clever enough
to use the lycosa carnivora
and that creature
in the suitcase
for the purpose of murder
should be
reduced to anything
as conventional
as a bullet
even though the use of a
backroom of a
shooting gallery
shows a certain
amount of imagination.
Thank you.
However, it will be
nothing so trite
I assure you.
The difficulty,
of course,
was to liquidate you
without seeming to have
a hand in this business.
An interesting problem.
You have, of course,
arrived at the solution.
Naturally.
A positive inspiration,
Mr. Holmes.
We shall allow
the British public
to be your executioner.
Ingenious, isn't it?
Ingenious but uninspired.
If you don't
mind my saying so
it lacks the
personal touch.
Taylor?
Him and his meet me
here or meet me there.
Where is he anyhow?
Blessed if I know.
He said wait here by
the shooting gallery
and look inconspicuous.
Inconspicuous?
Oh.
He said
inconspicuous, Lestrade,
not half-witted.
Watch out there.
Dr. Watson and Lestrade
are out in front.
What luck.
The perfect irony.
The personal
touch you said
the whole thing lacked.
Perhaps Dr. Watson will
be your executioner.
Turn it off Taylor.
Hit'em where their
hearts ought to be
and hear the hollow sound.
What do you say, Doctor,
just while we're waiting?
My dear fellow, you're
playing the hands
of one of the best rifle
shots in England.
I say, the target stopped.
All right, grandpa,
keep your hair on.
Just a minute
mechanical problem.
My dear fellow, one can't
shoot at a sitting bird
can one?
No, doctor.
Remove that gong.
You see, when this steel
plate is removed
there's nothing to prevent
the bullets from going
straight into your heart.
Do you mind, Mr. Holmes?
We'll stop
up front long enough
to see the job is done.
Bradley, don't
forget the suitcases.
All right, Taylor,
start the machinery.
I say, I wonder
where Holmes is.
He's been a long time.
Well, if he said he'll
be here he'll be here.
There's no good
saying he won't.
Hmm.
I guess I'll get
Hitler the next time.
Not bad,
Doctor, not bad.
I'm even better with
an elephant gun.
Hmm, he's gone again.
I'll get him this time.
Elementary, my
dear Ms. Spedding.
I replaced the gong.
Don't move anyone.
Sergeant, take care
of that suitcase.
There's valuable evidence
inside it and it's alive.
I'll take care of it, sir.
Needn't put those
things on, Lestrade,
she'll go quietly.
Thank you, Mr. Holmes.
I say, Holmes,
where have you
been all this time?
I've been going 'round
and 'round in a circle.
Circle?
Yes, but my
heart wasn't in it.
Remarkable woman.
Audacious and deadly as
one of her own spiders.
Audacious.
Stupid I call it.
Fancy trying to
commit a murder
in a place like this
with all these
people about.
That's where you're
wrong, old boy.
In an isolated place
a cry for help
or a single shot
might very well
arouse the curiosity
of at least one
casual witness.
But in an
arcade like this
people are bent
only on pleasure
and will
instinctively disregard
any deviation
from the normal
that doesn't
immediately concern them.
Yes, Watson,
Ms. Spedding
deserves credit
for picking the most
logical spot in the world
to commit my murder.
Oh, where is that?
In the middle of a crowd.
pajama suicide.
Here you are, governor.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you.
Read all about it,
another pajama suicide.
Here you are,
governor, paper.
Read all about the
pajama suicide.
Dash it all Susan,
its as crime,
suicide is a crime.
Where are the police?
Where is Sherlock Holmes?
That's what I've been
thinking, Robert.
Where is Sherlock Holmes?
I've got one, Watson.
Play him,
Holmes, play him.
Its a beauty.
Don't let him get away.
Blast.
I've lost him.
I'm sorry you
lost him, old man.
What are you
doing, old fellow?
Changing the fly.
Don't be
mendacious, Watson.
Me mendacious?
Yes, when a
man slips away
four times in an hour
to change his fly
and still has the
same fly on his hook
I call that being
mendacious.
Yes, it is, as a matter of
fact I felt a bit faint.
a touch of the sun.
Humbug.
Humbug?
Yes, your hat
is on backwards.
Hmm?
Ah, just as I thought,
you've been reading
about those
filthy pajama
murders again,
and you gave me your
solemn word of honor.
Did you, did
you say murders?
I did.
The paper says suicide.
Nonsense Watson.
Suicides invariably
leave notes behind them.
Not one of these men
left so much as a word.
After all a fellow
hasn't got time
to dash off a note
before throwing himself
in front of a bus.
But these people didn't
throw themselves
under busses.
Each and every one of
them went quietly to bed
behind locked doors.
And each and
every one of them
rose up suddenly
in the night
and killed himself.
I never thought of that.
Obviously, either
did Scotland Yard.
You know, Watson,
there's something
uncanny about it.
Something monstrous
and horrible,
something that drives
these poor fellows
to their
so-called suicide,
and when you drive a man
to suicide that's murder.
You amaze me, Holmes.
I'd say haven't we better
get back to London at once
with all this
murder afoot?
I'm sorry, Watson,
the pleasures of the chase
are no longer for me.
I'm through with crime
now and forever.
You, you don't mean that.
Yes, unfortunately.
But why?
Watson, I have a
confession to make to you.
I'm no longer equal to it.
Lately I've been subject
to the most alarming
dizzy spells.
Not a swimming sensation.
Difficulty maintaining your
balance when you stand upright?
Precisely, and you know
what that leads to.
Cerebral hemorrhages
if you don't look out.
Exactly.
That means get back to
London as quick as we can.
I'll take you
to see Armitage.
Not until we've had
our fun, old boy.
If this is to be our
last holiday together
I'd like to get
my fill of it.
Oh, so I, I'm
sorry I upset you
reading the newspaper.
Oh, think nothing of it.
At least you know now why
I left London amidst
the most shocking
crime wave
since Jack the Ripper.
Watson!
Holmes!
The name of
Ronald Boyce Carter
must be added to
the list of suicides
that have shocked
London in recent months.
It is indeed regrettable
that Mr. Sherlock Holmes...
You know Susan,
that fellow Holmes had no
business dying just now.
It's an outrage,
a dashed outrage.
Poor man,
I hear they're going
to send all his things
to the British Museum.
Things, what do
you mean things?
You mean his old boots
and discarded weskits?
No, Robert.
What would the
British Museum
do with his weskits?
It's his scrapbooks
they're going to exhibit
and all his records.
The strange death of
ex-President Murillo.
The Giant Rat of Sumatra,
ghastly affair.
You know in some
ways, Mrs. Hudson,
those were the
happiest days of my life.
Now, now, Dr. Watson.
Don't get down
in the dumps.
What can't be cured must
be endured, you know.
You're right, my
dear, you're right.
(unintelligible)
Oh, dear.
That must be the
van from the museum
and his things aren't
taken half packed.
You go down, my dear,
and hold them off
for 15 minutes.
And then they can come up
and take it all away.
But I don't want them
to take it all away.
It's like tearing a
piece out of my heart.
Oh, there, there, my dear.
I know, I know.
What's she
sniffling about?
Oh, you know
how woman are,
no control.
I didn't expect to
see you here, Lestrade.
British Museum, you know,
had to have protection.
They rang up
Scotland Yard.
I just happened
to be there.
Hmm?
All right, well
I didn't want every
Tom, Dick and Harry
handling his things.
No, no, of course
not, of course not.
Ratty old chair, ain't it?
Repulsive.
Well, sir,
there's nothing
ratty about it.
Perhaps you're
right, doctor.
Many a times I seen
him sprawled out in it.
Funny duck he was.
I was saying to my old
woman only this morning
if it hadn't been for him
I'd still be a sergeant.
Pity you didn't mention
it when he was alive.
Perhaps we
understood each other
better than you
think, doctor.
All these old pipes.
What'd you let him fall
in that blasted river?
Why didn't you
jump in after him,
you big blunderhead.
Blunderhead, that's very
offensive, Lestrade.
Me jump in?
I wasn't there.
When I got there
he wasn't there.
He had gone.
He'd gone.
Oh, sorry, doctor.
Take no notice, I'm...
Lestrade,
would you like to have
one of his pipes?
I wouldn't mind.
Well, help yourself.
Thank you, doctor.
You picked a very old one.
Its the one I want.
Its the one
I remember best.
I'll be
stepping downstairs
to the van, doctor.
Take your time with
the packing, doctor,
there's no
hurry, you know.
British Museum
will still be there.
What's the row about?
A registered package
for Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
Oh, he'll sign for it.
Thank you, sir.
Bring it here.
Mind signing here, sir.
Pencils these days,
not worth the
paper they write on.
That's right.
You got a knife?
No, I ain't.
Well, wait a minute.
All right.
So this is where
he hung out.
These were his rooms.
Not much of a room
if you ask me.
Well, who's asking you?
Here, that's mine.
I've lost things
like that before.
Oh, well, I suppose
it suited him all right,
all right,
all right, all right.
He was no great detective
from what I heard.
Just one of them
easy chair Johnnies.
Would sit on his tail
and let everybody else
do the dirty work.
That'll be enough.
Mind you, I ain't saying
he didn't get the credit.
But newspapers can be
bought, can't they now?
You insect.
You dare to imply...
All right, all right,
all right, Governor,
keep your shirt on.
I got a right
to my opinion
and it's my opinion
that Mr. Sherlock Holmes
was nothing more but
an old herring gut.
You, you say that again.
An herring gut,
and old herring gut.
Get up you worm.
We'll see whose
a herring gut.
It's all right, Watson.
I take it back.
Call off your dogs.
Holmes!
Holmes!
It's all right, old boy.
Don't look like that.
Get a hold of yourself.
Here, have a drink.
My word, you made a
shambles of this room.
How could you play
such a trick on me?
You brought it on
yourself, old man,
throwing open my
records to the public,
tipping off every
criminal in the country.
The shear eggleheadness,
you've surpassed yourself.
Don't you realize
the dynamite
that's in those records?
I had to stop you,
even if I had to
come back from
the dead to do it.
I'll never forgive
you for this, Holmes,
not until my dying day.
It was a cruel
trick I grant you,
but I had to see you.
No one every looks twice
at a postman, you know.
If the books are
ready, doctor...
You can put them under
lock and key at the
yard, Inspector.
But I'm seeing things.
How are you, Lestrade?
Well, strike me
up a gum tree.
Just when we
thought we had you
nicely dead and buried.
What a sell.
My return from the dead
was absolutely
necessary, Inspector?
Necessary me Aunt
Dinahs bustle.
You'd give yourself a treat
acting about all over the place.
What's the game anyway?
Very briefly this?
It's obvious that the so-called
pajama suicides are really murders,
brilliantly conceived
and executed.
They're very near to
being perfect crimes.
Where's my calabash?
Oh well, never mind.
Indubitably these murders
are the work of a
well-organized gang
and directing them
is one of the most
fiendishly clever minds
in all Europe today.
Any notion who?
I suspect a woman.
Do you have tobacco around
this place, Watson?
In the packet.
A woman?
You amaze me, Holmes.
Why a woman?
Because the method,
whatever it is,
is peculiarly
subtle and cruel.
Feline, not canine.
Poppy-cock.
Canine, feline, quinine,
when a bloke does
himself in that's suicide.
Unless the bloke is
driven to suicide
and then that
case it's murder.
Driven, that sounds like
a woman doesn't it?
Definitely,
a female Moriarity
clever, ruthless,
and above all cautious.
Therefore my first step
was to give
her enough rope
by passing
out of the picture.
I see.
When the cat is away,
mice begin to play.
Precisely.
Posh, you and
your theories.
Anyone would
think you had
eyes in the
back of your head.
You can keep the
pipe, Lestrade.
Sorry, old man.
I gave it to him.
Well, you're right
and proper, Watson.
Thank you, Mr. Holmes.
Now, what features
have these pajama
suicides in common?
Poor fellows just died in
the middle of the night.
Nobody near them.
Behind locked doors.
And they're all
well-to-do more or less.
Right, and each and every
one of 'em it seems
was fond of the pleasures
of the gaming table.
Keep that in mind,
it's highly significant.
It gives us our
one and only lead.
Lead to what?
My dear Lestrade,
if we are to set a trap
for this femme fatale
I see no reason why
we shouldn't bait it
with the kind of
food she likes?
Got a pencil, Watson?
No, I gave it back
to the postman.
Here, take this one.
Don't break the
point this time.
Now, write
what I dictate,
and you Lestrade,
I trust you'd see
that it gets into
the newspapers.
Murders.
Ready Watson?
Go ahead.
The distinguished native
Officer, Rajni Singh,
Colonel of the
(unintelligible)
just arrived in London.
Rajni Singh, I never
heard of the gent.
He was just born, Watson.
Oh, I see.
Huh?
Carry on, old boy.
In spite of his
well-known devotion
to the Goddess
of Chance...
In spite of his
well-known devotion
to the Goddess of Chance,
Rajni Singh insists that
his visit to our shores
in solely in the hope
that British surgeons
may restore his left arm
paralyzed in the
service of the Empire.
Sounds rather a nice
person to know,
doesn't he?
Exciting.
I have to get a new
line of small talk.
What do they do
in India, Norman?
Oh, ride elephants.
Oh, how cumbersome.
You must see that he gets
a card to the Urban Casino.
Number 20,
black, even, pass.
Make your bets, ladies and
gentlemen, make your bets.
Make your bets,
ladies and gentlemen.
Pardon me, may I?
By all means, madam.
You changed my
luck I hope.
Make your bets,
ladies and gentlemen,
make your bets.
Number 7,
red, odd, miss.
How ghastly.
The fortune of war, madam.
So sorry I didn't
bring you luck.
But you have brought me
the charm of your
presence madam.
Excuse me.
Blank check please,
Name please?
Rajni Singh.
One hundred pounds.
Excuse me.
How's your luck, my sweet?
I think it will cut
up rather large.
Make your bets,
ladies and gentlemen.
Oh Norman, you have
this gentleman's place.
So sorry.
Thank you.
Sixteen.
Oh, not sixteen again.
You play?
Nineteen.
I feel lucky.
I almost wish that you...
Would play 19.
Wish me luck.
It's kind of you to be
concerned for a stranger.
But no one
from your country
is like a stranger to me.
Make your bets.
You see, my father was
Captain Spedding
of the Bangle Lancets.
I was born at Trinocca.
In the Casmia.
It is there the most
beautiful women
in the world are born.
That's all now, no more.
Number 16, red,
even, miss.
If only I'd let you alone.
It is fate, Madam.
One cannot fight it.
If you wish to
take my place, sir.
Thank you.
Goodnight, madam,
and good-bye.
Make your bets,
ladies and gentlemen,
make your bets.
Don't.
Oh, you mustn't.
A struggle would be
unseemly, madam.
Another time.
If you'll excuse me.
No, please.
Things will look very
different in the morning,
I assure you.
That is easy to say.
Oh, but I know.
I've been in the same
situation myself.
You?
Sometime ago I
lost all my money.
Nasty jolt, isn't it?
The money, madam,
it is nothing.
But honor, that
is everything.
Honor?
'Tis not easy to confess.
I am as you
may not know
a soldier of
some distinction.
Could you believe that
just now I drew a check.
It is worthless.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
Haven't you any
funds at all?
Nothing, not even enough
to pay my bill
at the hotel.
No friends?
Not here in London.
Well, haven't you anything
you can raise
money on, jewels or...
You think of native
princes, madam.
Such is not my
good fortune.
Perhaps an
insurance policy.
No, nothing,
only a little five
thousand pounds.
I cannot borrow on it.
It has not been long
enough in force.
Nonsense, it's
perfectly simple
if you know
the right people.
I can send you to
someone if you wish?
Is it possible?
Of course you have
to pay interest,
a mere five percent.
All you do is take your
policy over to the man
who accommodates you.
Make him your beneficiary.
In the event of my death?
Yes, but you're not
going to die, are you?
It would
impertinent, madam,
to take my life
out of your hands.
How strange that
a man's life
should lie in
such little hand.
So soft.
I may come
tomorrow and see you
to thank you,
madam, please.
Your flowers are
lovely Rajni Singh.
So fragrant.
It is your room that
is fragrant, madam,
with memories of
my native land.
It is all so real,
so nostalgic.
Mother India.
Mother of Mysteries.
May I...
By all means.
They're just some
photographs
my uncle picked
up years ago.
I have them out to keep
my memories of
India fresh.
These mountain peaks,
I do not seem
to place them.
They're Coracurons
in the northeast.
The pillars of Paravati,
the natives call them.
Oh yes, I
recognize them now.
This low,
rambling structure,
what is it?
The shrine of
the sacred cow.
Oh yes, a place of
holy meditation.
Do you take
milk and sugar?
Neither, thank you.
Tea should be
taken pure, I think
so as not to
disguise its flavor.
I quite agree with you.
I do not like disguises.
Biscuit?
Thank you, thank you.
It's so tiresome only
to have one hand.
I'm so sorry.
I should have remembered.
It is not my poor hand
I wish you to
remember madam,
it is I.
Oh, but I shall always.
Ladies have been known
to forget, you know.
That is why I have
brought you this.
Oh, you shouldn't
Why not, the man you
sent me to advanced me
five hundred pounds
on my worthless policy
and all I could
think of was you.
Please.
I really shouldn't,
but I must see it.
Oh, how simply
breathtaking.
You like it?
Why I'm mad about it.
You must let me take it
back to the jeweler,
have it properly marked.
AS or just Andrea?
Just Andrea,
but do let me wipe it.
My finger marks
are all over it.
No, no, they are
precious to me.
Your tea must be cold.
Do let me.
Thank you.
Oh, how horrible of me.
'Tis nothing I
assure you, madam.
But your poor hand.
I shall never
forgive myself.
It is I who am
clumsy, madam.
Hello you nice people.
My half-brother
Norman Locke.
Rajni Singh.
I'm delighted.
How do you do?
I'm so sorry,
we have nothing in
the house for burns.
I so seldom get burned.
Please, I shall
go to the Chemist.
au revoir, Madame,
'til we meet again.
Soon I hope.
Don't bother
to see me out.
Thank you.
I say,
I never burn anyone
unintentionally.
Neither do I.
I wanted to see him use
that left arm and he did.
He's no more a
cripple than you are.
He's onto us, Norman.
Does he know that
you're onto him?
He does if he's the
man I think he is.
Don't be cryptic, darling.
Look at that.
What of it?
It's Rajni Singh.
Now look at this.
It can't be
Sherlock Holmes.
He's dead.
Is he, Norman?
I doubt it.
But if you were to
say to me tomorrow
Sherlock Holmes is dead.
Here we are.
All right and tight.
Nothing can get
through there.
I don't understand.
If you want to
keep them out
how do you expect
them to get in?
My dear Lestrade, my
purpose is fairly simple.
I merely wish to
duplicate the conditions
under which the so-called
pajama murders occurred.
Locked doors
sealed windows,
and no opening through
which any human agency
could possibly
enter this room.
I don't go with that.
Where there's a murder
there's got to
be a murderer.
That's the way
I look at it.
Precisely, but it's the
murderer I'm after.
It's the means of murder.
The secret and terrible
machinery of these crimes.
Now you don't expect
anyone to pop out of that?
I expect nothing
and everything.
Keep your eye
on that alley.
I may be coming down
sudden-like see.
Right.
Now if you'll be so
good as to wait outside
I'll put Sherlock
Holmes to bed.
I'd feel a lot easier...
Goodnight, Lestrade.
Just give a call.
It happens awful quick
when it happens.
Goodnight.
Lestrade quick.
Mr. Holmes.
It's all right,
old boy, here I am.
That's just a
mask I had made.
There's your killer.
Quick, down the
backstairs
to the alleyway.
Stop anyone that
tries to leave,
and I'll cover the roof.
Stay where you are.
You winged him
proper, Mr. Holmes.
He's dead as a doornail.
Not a mark
identification on him.
Too bad, I wish
we had him alive.
What do you make of these?
Air holes, aye?
Looks like he
must have carried...
Something but what?
The instrument of
death was a spider.
There's no doubt
about it Lestrade,
and the bite
of the creature
drove these
pajama suicides
to kill themselves.
How did he get
into your room?
Through this ventilator.
Now don't tell me
that, that spider
had your name and
address in his pocket?
Hardly.
This screen was removed
from the mouth
of the ventilator,
obviously
to emit something
much larger than a spider.
We only know half of the
machinery of these crimes.
Have a light.
Great scott.
Little, ain't it.
The footprint of a child.
Thank you sir,
read all about it
Sherlock Holmes, he
ain't dead, no not at all.
Dr. Watson would
neither confirm nor deny
the report that he
had seen his friend
since his startling
disappearance.
The good Doctor maintains
a profound silence.
Come in.
Good morning.
Good morning, sir.
Mr. Holmes I presume?
Dr. Livingston,
is the name.
How are you, Mr. Stanley?
I am very happy to meet
you, Dr. Livingston.
My name is Adam Gilflower
from the Bureau
of Entomology.
Oh, a bug hunter,
let me take those.
Won't you sit down
Mr., Mr. Gilphilly.
Gilflower is
the name, sir.
Oh, Flower, yes, yes.
Goes with insects,
flora and fauna.
I see you don't like
to face the light
Mr. Philgillet.
My eyes give me a great
deal of trouble, sir.
Oh, I'm sorry
to hear that.
That's too bad,
that's too bad.
They're useful
things, eyes.
They rest the glasses.
I have an appointment
with Mr. Holmes.
Will he be here soon?
Will he?
He certainly will,
Mr. Wallflower.
As a matter of
fact, he's here now.
You're sitting
on him.
Don't bother to get up.
You tell
ducky-wucky all about.
I don't understand.
Not half you don't
you old herring gut.
I beg your pardon?
Of all the transparent old
fakers I ever saw, Gilflower,
what a name to pick,
Gilflower, Do Flower,
Bull Frog, Diggle
Waggle, Wiggle Waggle.
Well, you can do
better than that.
A child can see
through you.
Those dark glasses,
that preposterous wig,
come out from behind
those silly whiskers.
I know you.
Watson.
Holmes!
My dear fellow, you've
surpassed yourself.
I think you owe Mr.
Gilflower an apology.
He's stark mad.
But not dangerous
I assure you.
My name is Holmes.
I know your
time is precious
but my business is urgent.
Thank you for
coming so promptly.
I believe you know
more about spiders
than any man in London.
Oh, I shouldn't say
quite that, Mr. Holmes.
Do you believe you could
identify this specimen
and tell me something
of its manners
and its morals.
Hmm, this poor fellow has
been very roughly handled.
Have you a
magnifying glass?
Yes, sir.
Oh.
There it is.
I'm sorry.
Oh, come, come,
old fellow.
Don't look so
down in the mouth.
The game is afoot
and I shall need you.
Will you really, Holmes?
Naturally.
Here you are, sir.
Hmm, extraordinary.
Mr. Holmes, where did
you find this creature?
You recognize it?
The deadliest insect
known to science.
It is the
lycosa carnivora.
Habitat the upper regions
of the Obongo River.
Its bite is fatal?
Hideously.
Human beings are
its chosen prey
and its venom once injected
into the blood stream
causes such
excruciating agony
that the victim is driven
to self-destruction.
Does the bite of this
creature leave any trace?
Only if you know
what to look for,
two small punctures
hardly visible
to the naked eye.
And its venom disappears
in the bloodstream.
Completely.
Tell me, sir,
could one get hold
of a live specimen
of the lycosa carnivora
in London?
Oh, I doubt it.
Now hold on.
Ordway might help.
Matthew Ordway,
of Vernon Villa.
Write it down, Watson.
Matthew Ordway, Vernon Villa,
New Road, Chipping Wharton.
Mr. Ordway is
slightly eccentric
but that shouldn't
trouble you.
He has a remarkable
collection of spiders.
You might tell him
that I sent you.
Thank you, Mr. Gilflower.
That's very kind of
you and very helpful.
Oh, don't mention, sir.
I'm a law-abiding citizen
always willing to
help in any hazard.
Good-day Mr. Totson.
Totson, that's
not very funny.
I think it's
understandable Watson.
Now to work.
Where's my schedule?
Here it is.
Look up the trains
to Chipping Wharton
That's a good fellow.
(unintelligible) spiders
has indicated.
If Ordway has disposed
of any lycosa carnivora
in the last few months
and he can tell
us who took them.
Found that train to
Chipping Wharton yet, Watson?
The wretched train
start and they go.
They never seem to arrive.
My case precisely.
I know the means
of these murders,
I know the motive,
I know the woman who
directs the murder ring.
Then it is a woman?
A fiend, Watson.
She selects her
victims from those
desperately
in need of money.
Persuades them to pawn
their insurance policies
with her various
accomplices
and then kills them,
by means of
lycosa carnivora.
Incredible.
No more incredible
than nature herself.
Here, let me have that.
After all, nature
provides the means
our spider woman
merely uses it.
You amaze me, Holmes.
Hasn't she some difficulty in
realizing these policies later on?
Not she.
In due time, two years
under English law,
her victims'
beneficiaries
come forward and cash in,
never the same
man twice mind you.
Do you know
that for a fact?
As well as I
know my own name,
and yet I haven't one
shred of evidence
to connect this woman
with her crimes.
You're in my
light, old boy.
Oh, sorry.
Here we are,
Chipping Walton.
Arrive...
Come in.
There's a lady outside
to see you, Mr. Holmes.
A Ms. Spedding.
Oh.
Ask her to come in.
All right, sir.
Mr. Holmes, oh yes,
I recognize you now
from your picture
in the papers.
I was so relieved to
hear you were alive.
How very kind of you.
My name is
Adrea Spedding.
Won't you come in?
Thank you.
My little nephew,
Mr. Holmes.
How are you my lad?
I'm playing nurse today.
I'm sure you'll give an
exceptional performance,
Ms. Spedding.
Poor child, he's a mute.
Vocal chords
paralyzed from birth.
Oh, how unfortunate.
Say, he's scratched
his hand, hasn't he?
Yes, he's always climbing
into the most
unlikely places.
Run along, dear, and
sit in that chair.
There's a good boy.
Right over there.
What are you
doing, my boy?
That's me.
Sit down.
Oh, I beg your pardon.
My colleague, Dr. Watson.
Ms. Adrea Spedding.
How do you do?
It's a great pleasure.
Mr. Holmes, my business
is of utmost privacy.
I assure you, Dr. Watson,
is the very cell
of discretion.
Won't you sit down?
Thank you.
And now, Ms. Spedding,
how can I be of
service to you?
Well, I hardly know
where to begin.
Perhaps I'm unduly
alarmed but
you see a friend of
mine has disappeared.
Indeed.
I've tried to get in
touch with him
in his room but
he's not there,
and he seems to
have left no word.
His name?
Rajni Singh.
He was from India.
Rajni Singh.
I seem to have
heard of him.
Now, Mr. Holmes,
I'm terrible afraid
I shall never
see him again.
Oh, come now,
Ms. Spedding.
I'm sure you won't
have to look far.
Look at all the
pretty butterflies.
Perhaps you're right.
Larry, stop that.
Oh, you naughty boy.
Put on your
shoes and socks.
Oh, let him go barefoot.
Boys like to.
Didn't you, Watson?
Do I?
Like to go barefoot?
Yes, I always fancied
the dewy grass
in the early morning.
They used to call
me twinkle toes.
I'm sure you were a
beautiful baby, Watson.
Now, tell me,
Ms. Spedding,
just why are
you so concerned
about this Rajni Singh?
Well, you see, he pawned
his insurance policy
to get a loan.
The minute I found
he was missing
I went to the loan shark
and redeemed
the policy?
Why?
I didn't want to put
temptation in the way
of people who might
profit by his death.
How very
thoughtful of you.
If you could
find Rajni Singh,
you might return
this policy to him
with the compliments
of a friend.
Of course you're going to
be paid for your trouble.
I have every confidence,
Ms. Spedding,
that you're not one to
leave a score unsettled.
Larry, let it go.
Come here.
He seems possessed
to catch flies.
Now, if you'll put on
your shoes and socks,
Auntie will give
you a nice sweet.
You have quite a
way with children.
Oh, I bribe him
shamefully.
This will be third today,
would you believe it?
American candy,
hard to get.
There.
Now mind you don't get
your fingers sticky.
Cunning little beggar.
One could almost tuck
him into a suitcase.
He must be a great
comfort to you.
Oh, he is.
Cigarette?
Thank you.
Oh, what a lovely case.
Yes, isn't it?
I picked it up
quite by accident.
Wasn't a mark on it
except some
negligible fingerprints
that the police
couldn't identify.
You may have it,
Ms. Spedding.
Why give it to me?
Should we call it a
trophy of the chase?
Oh, I really shouldn't.
Breathtaking, isn't it?
I owe you a great deal
for this, Mr. Holmes.
Larry?
Don't drop the paper
on the floor, dear.
Put it in the fire.
There's a good boy.
Come along, dear, we
must be going now.
Good-bye, Dr. Watson.
Good-bye.
So please to have met you.
I do hope he hasn't
been a nuisance.
Not at all.
He's a dear little fellow.
Mr. Holmes, 'til
we meet again.
Soon I hope.
Good-bye.
Good-bye.
Fine figure of a
woman, aye, Holmes?
You think so?
Yes.
She reminds me
of a little nurse
I used to know in
Withmore Street.
Very attractive girl.
What would you
say if I told you
she was the spider woman?
I wouldn't believe you.
If she was she'd have
at least eight legs,
wouldn't she?
Oh, a bit of a cough.
Blasted impertinent.
What, Holmes?
Bringing that policy here.
Getting me in my own den.
What about that
train, Watson?
I don't know.
The place where
we're going?
Going to see a man,
Ordway about something.
Breathe Watson,
breathe deeply.
What, what was it, Holmes?
Death, my dear fellow.
We've been entering
Ms. Adrea Spedding.
The most
diabolically clever way
of administering
a lethal dose
I've ever encountered.
I still don't understand.
Look here, Watson.
This little confection
has two wrappers.
The inner one
made of wax paper,
the outer with
silver paper.
It was between
these two wrappers
Ms. Spedding
concealed the powder
that nearly cost
us our lives.
I can taste those
beastly fumes still.
What powder?
Redix pedis diabolus,
in other words,
devil's foot,
a very rare
vegetable poison
from Central Africa.
Devil... I remember that,
The Cornish horror.
That's right, Watson.
I feel like a cup of tea.
By Jove, we're lucky
we're still alive, huh?
For how long I wonder.
Here we are, Watson.
What do you mean
here we are Watson?
Here we are where?
Miles away from anywhere.
Well, I fancy a
collector of spiders
might not be too welcome
in a crowded neighborhood.
I think you're, Holmes.
Matthew Ordway can
identify the person
to whom he sold
these spiders.
Who's there?
What do you want?
You Matthew Ordway?
Never you mind who I am.
Who are you?
My name is
Sherlock Holmes.
This is my friend,
Dr. Watson.
How do you do, sir?
How do I know you're
what you say you are?
Who sent you here?
Adam Gilflower.
Why didn't you say so.
I'll be right down.
He seems a bit
frightened, Holmes.
Yes, I don't like the
look of it, Watson.
Come in, Mr. Holmes,
you're right in the
line of fire, hurry.
Line of fire?
'Twas providence
sent you, Mr. Holmes.
They're after me.
Who are after you?
The men to whom he sold the
lycosa carnivora, of course.
How do you know?
Elementary my dear sir.
Who else would
threaten a man
of your proprietary
and standing.
Mr. Holmes,
I'll swear to you
when I first sold
him those spiders
I had no idea the use
they'd put them to.
Then you read about
the pajama suicides?
That's it.
And putting two
and two together
refused to sell
them any more.
That's right, but only
the day they were here.
I was afraid for my life.
The truth now, Ordway,
did you or did you not
sell them any more
of these creatures?
I swear I didn't,
Mr. Holmes.
I've got all that's
left of the shipment
downstairs now.
I'll show them to you.
I hope you don't mind,
the heat I mean.
Have to keep it this way.
Tropical creatures,
you know.
Must be kept comfortable.
Same temperature as
where they come from,
humid, very humid.
Come along, gentlemen,
don't be afraid.
Everything is
perfectly safe.
Now,
here's where we
keep the live,
the big fellows, you know.
Quite so.
These glass cages
get all steamy.
There we are.
Ugly looking brutes
aren't they?
Positively obscene.
But they're poison
is very valuable
to doctors and the like.
So I hear.
Now, over here we
have some fine,
healthy specimens
of the Black Widow.
You've heard of them?
Frequently.
Happy little devils,
aren't they?
Female of the
species, aye?
They eat their
mates I'm told.
What an unpleasant habit.
Oh, yes.
Tell me Ordway, have
you any specimens
of a mendexsplagrante?
Of what?
The mendexsplegrante.
Oh, no, I'm sorry.
I sold the last one
we had yesterday,
but I can get you one.
Wait a minute, Ordway.
I think I see one
on your shoulder.
Take it off, take it off.
Wait man, steady.
Yes, a perfect specimen.
What is this?
I'll tell you.
The mendexsplegrante is
let in for flagrant liar.
When you told me you
could get me one
I knew you for what you
were, a flagrant liar.
Here Watson, take
care of this.
You call these
glass cases cages.
Any scientist would
call them terrariums.
You said the poison
of the lycosa carnivora
was valuable to doctors.
Any scientist would say
the virus was valuable
to toxicologists.
You said you were told
the Black Widows
eat their mates.
Any scientist
would know it.
Obviously, you're
not Matthew Ordway.
Who are you?
Wouldn't you like to know?
Look out, Watson,
those insects are deadly.
Look out, Holmes.
He's gone.
Blast his eyes.
Come along.
Our job now is to find
the real Matthew Ordway,
if he's still alive.
It's Ordway
beyond a doubt.
Poor chaps been
dead for some time.
Clever devils.
They knew he
was the one link
between them
and the spiders.
Now that link is broken.
What have you
found, Holmes?
Some sort of
record Ordway kept.
Looks like a journal
of his travels,
dates, places,
all in Central Africa.
Look here.
Obongo,
Liko, Ka
poisoned,
immune,
little dogl
faithful to.
Obongo, Lyco, Ka, immune,
little dog, faithful.
Sounds like a
crossword puzzle.
Little dog faithful.
Whose little dog I wonder.
The word isn't
dog, Watson,
it's dog with
an L after it.
Now what word
begins with d-o-g
and has an L after it.
Dogle has a g and an e.
No, dog-like,
that's it, dog-like.
Now what it is that
Ordway could have
had with him in
the jungles of
Central Africa
immune to the virus
of the lycosa carnivora
that was both
dog-like and faithful?
Oh, why not a little dog?
No, no, no, a dog
wouldn't be immune.
Never mind, we'll
go into that later.
Ring up the local police.
Have them take
charge here.
Why sure.
Don't see a
phone anywhere.
Try that door.
No, sign of
one in there.
Looks as if old Ordway
must have gone in for
anatomy on the side.
That's curious.
His main interest was
invertebrates, not vertebrates.
And why chart the
skeleton of a child?
Cause it isn't.
What's that?
It isn't a child.
Are you sure?
Look at all these teeth.
No, no, no the skull of a
normal child of this size,
five or six-years old,
would be much
larger in proportion
to the circumference
of the chest.
Watson, I've got it.
Got what?
That devil of a woman,
bringing that child to Baker
Street to throw me off the track.
What track.
She knew I had found
that tiny footprint.
She wanted me to think it
was the footprint of a child.
I don't follow
you, Holmes.
Watson, I've been blind.
Mole an owl or bat.
Look here, a Obongo,
lycosa carnivora, poison,
immune, little, dog-like,
faithful to their masters.
What on earth are
you talking about?
Able to creep through
the smallest openings.
The perfect instrument
for the spider murders.
Watson, if you ever see
me getting too sure again,
fancying myself more
clever than Adrea Spedding.
Just whisper
one word to me.
What word, Holmes?
Pigmy.
No good, old man,
it's like looking for
a pigmy in a haystack.
Patience, Watson.
Of all places we
may find a pigmy.
A side show is
the most likely.
Hello, I've found it.
Found what?
That place is closed.
That's the most
significant thing about it.
In an arcade where
space is so valuable.
A booth like that
wouldn't remain
empty a single day
therefore, I'd say
the place has been closed
within the last 12 hours,
and for good reason.
Our friends have
got the wind up.
They're trying
to get away.
Or perhaps are
gone already.
I don't think so.
Over here quick,
don't look back.
What's the matter,
Holmes, what's up?
Don't ask questions.
Go ring up Lestrade.
Tell him to come
on the double
and wait for me here
in front of this
shooting gallery.
Where you going?
I don't quite know.
Oh Watson,
while you're waiting,
don't attract attention.
Try to be as
inconspicuous as possible.
Right, Holmes.
Hurry.
Try your luck on Mussolini,
Hiro Hito, or Hitler
Hit'em where their
hearts ought to be
and listen to
the hollow sound.
Come on,
ladies and gentlemen,
step up here and
see the great Wanda,
the gypsy fortune teller.
She'll tell you
(unintelligible).
I say governor, come
on, come on over,
take a chance.
How about you lady?
Come on.
One of those little dolls.
Yes, sir.
They're cute, ain't they?
Oh, very.
Thank you, sir.
Line up, ladies and
gentlemen, and see Wanda,
the great gypsy
fortune teller.
Come on, she won't
(unintelligible).
Give me one of
those dolls please.
Yes, sir.
Just to think that they're
going to the kiddies, sir.
I'm sure it will
be appreciated.
Thank you, sir.
Come on, ladies
and gentlemen,
come on and see
the great Wanda,
the gypsy fortune teller.
Come on, she'll give you
a look into the
future now, she will.
Come on, governor,
bring the Mrs. in.
Afraid of the truth?
Come on.
Your future is in
your own hands, sir.
How fortunate.
This way, sir.
Down that passage to
the door at the far end.
Thank you.
He's on his way.
Come in, Mr. Holmes.
Don't stand in the
drafty corridor.
I should hate to
have you take cold
and die of natural causes.
That would defeat the
ends of injustice,
wouldn't it?
You see, we've been
expecting you.
Obviously.
But what you think
I come here alone?
You're somewhat
over-developed
sense of drama,
Mr. Holmes.
Oh?
Yes.
If we permitted
you to trail us here
there was always a chance
you might bring
along reinforcement.
So I took steps
to make things
a little more dramatic.
Melodramatic is the word.
The business with the doll
was a little overdone.
Yet it intrigued
your interest
and brought
you here alone.
You're an exceedingly
clever woman, Ms. Spedding.
Elementary my
dear Mr. Holmes.
On the other hand,
if I hadn't
come here alone
I should never have got in
and you would have
been on your way.
A sensible idea under
any circumstances.
On the contrary.
It'd be such a bore
living the rest of my life
looking back
over my shoulder.
So you decided to let
me catch up with you.
Precisely.
One of us had
to be eliminated.
The choice was
not too difficult.
You know, Ms. Spedding,
I find it
hard to believe
that anyone clever enough
to use the lycosa carnivora
and that creature
in the suitcase
for the purpose of murder
should be
reduced to anything
as conventional
as a bullet
even though the use of a
backroom of a
shooting gallery
shows a certain
amount of imagination.
Thank you.
However, it will be
nothing so trite
I assure you.
The difficulty,
of course,
was to liquidate you
without seeming to have
a hand in this business.
An interesting problem.
You have, of course,
arrived at the solution.
Naturally.
A positive inspiration,
Mr. Holmes.
We shall allow
the British public
to be your executioner.
Ingenious, isn't it?
Ingenious but uninspired.
If you don't
mind my saying so
it lacks the
personal touch.
Taylor?
Him and his meet me
here or meet me there.
Where is he anyhow?
Blessed if I know.
He said wait here by
the shooting gallery
and look inconspicuous.
Inconspicuous?
Oh.
He said
inconspicuous, Lestrade,
not half-witted.
Watch out there.
Dr. Watson and Lestrade
are out in front.
What luck.
The perfect irony.
The personal
touch you said
the whole thing lacked.
Perhaps Dr. Watson will
be your executioner.
Turn it off Taylor.
Hit'em where their
hearts ought to be
and hear the hollow sound.
What do you say, Doctor,
just while we're waiting?
My dear fellow, you're
playing the hands
of one of the best rifle
shots in England.
I say, the target stopped.
All right, grandpa,
keep your hair on.
Just a minute
mechanical problem.
My dear fellow, one can't
shoot at a sitting bird
can one?
No, doctor.
Remove that gong.
You see, when this steel
plate is removed
there's nothing to prevent
the bullets from going
straight into your heart.
Do you mind, Mr. Holmes?
We'll stop
up front long enough
to see the job is done.
Bradley, don't
forget the suitcases.
All right, Taylor,
start the machinery.
I say, I wonder
where Holmes is.
He's been a long time.
Well, if he said he'll
be here he'll be here.
There's no good
saying he won't.
Hmm.
I guess I'll get
Hitler the next time.
Not bad,
Doctor, not bad.
I'm even better with
an elephant gun.
Hmm, he's gone again.
I'll get him this time.
Elementary, my
dear Ms. Spedding.
I replaced the gong.
Don't move anyone.
Sergeant, take care
of that suitcase.
There's valuable evidence
inside it and it's alive.
I'll take care of it, sir.
Needn't put those
things on, Lestrade,
she'll go quietly.
Thank you, Mr. Holmes.
I say, Holmes,
where have you
been all this time?
I've been going 'round
and 'round in a circle.
Circle?
Yes, but my
heart wasn't in it.
Remarkable woman.
Audacious and deadly as
one of her own spiders.
Audacious.
Stupid I call it.
Fancy trying to
commit a murder
in a place like this
with all these
people about.
That's where you're
wrong, old boy.
In an isolated place
a cry for help
or a single shot
might very well
arouse the curiosity
of at least one
casual witness.
But in an
arcade like this
people are bent
only on pleasure
and will
instinctively disregard
any deviation
from the normal
that doesn't
immediately concern them.
Yes, Watson,
Ms. Spedding
deserves credit
for picking the most
logical spot in the world
to commit my murder.
Oh, where is that?
In the middle of a crowd.