A STUDY IN SCARLET SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE (1887) PART 1: BEING A REPRINT FROM THE REMINISCENCES OF JOHN H. WATSON, M.D., LATE OF THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT

CHAPTER 1: MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES n the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of came to myself and became convalescent, I was so weak Medicine of the University of London, and and emaciated that a medical board determined that not Iproceeded to Netley to go through the course a day should be lost in sending me back to England. I prescribed for surgeons in the Army. Having completed was despatched accordingly, in the troopship Orontes, my studies there, I was duly attached to the Fifth and landed a month later on Portsmouth jetty, with my Northumberland Fusiliers as assistant surgeon. The health irretrievably ruined, but with permission from a regiment was stationed in India paternal government to spend at the time, and before I could the next nine months in join it, the second Afghan war attempting to improve it. had broken out. On landing at I had neither kith nor Bombay, I learned that my corps kin in England, and was had advanced through the therefore as free as air— or as passes, and was already deep in free as an income of eleven the enemy’s country. I followed, shillings and sixpence a day will however, with many other permit a man to be. Under such officers who were in the same circumstances I naturally situation as myself, and gravitated to London, that great succeeded in reaching Candahar cesspool into which all the in safety, where I found my loungers and idlers of the Empire regiment, and at once entered are irresistibly drained. There I upon my new duties. stayed for some time at a private The campaign brought hotel in the Strand, leading a honours and promotion to many, comfortless, meaningless but for me it had nothing but existence, and spending such misfortune and disaster. I was money as I had, considerably removed from my brigade and more freely than I ought. So attached to the Berkshires, with alarming did the state of my whom I served at the fatal battle finances become, that I soon of Maiwand. There I was struck realized that I must either leave on the shoulder by a Jezail bullet, the metropolis and rusticate which shattered the bone and somewhere in the country, or grazed the subclavian artery. I that I must make a complete should have fallen into the hands alteration in my style of living. of the murderous Ghazis had it Choosing the latter alternative, I not been for the devotion and courage shown by began by making up my mind to leave the hotel, and Murray, my orderly, who threw me across a packhorse, take up my quarters in some less pretentious and less and succeeded in bringing me safely to the British lines. expensive domicile. Worn with pain, and weak from the prolonged On the very day that I had come to this hardships which I had undergone, I was removed, with conclusion, I was standing at the Criterion Bar, when a great train of wounded sufferers, to the base hospital at someone tapped me on the shoulder, and turning round Peshawar. Here I rallied, and had already improved so I recognized young Stamford, who had been a dresser far as to be able to walk about the wards, and even to under me at Bart’s. The sight of a friendly face in the bask a little upon the veranda when I was struck down great wilderness of London is a pleasant thing indeed to by enteric fever, that curse of our Indian possessions. a lonely man. In old days Stamford had never been a For months my life was despaired of, and when at last I particular crony of mine, but now I hailed him with

270-01 Study in Scarlet-text.lwp “A Study in Scarlet” Chapter One p. 2 enthusiasm, and he, in his turn, appeared to be much noise or excitement. I had enough of both in delighted to see me. In the exuberance of my joy, I Afghanistan to last me for the remainder of my natural asked him to lunch with me at the Holborn, and we existence. How could I meet this friend of yours?” started off together in a hansom. “He is sure to be at the laboratory,” returned “Whatever have you been doing with yourself, my companion. “He either avoids the place for weeks, Watson?” he asked in undisguised wonder, as we rattled or else he works there from morning till night. If you through the crowded London streets. “You are as thin like, we will drive round together after luncheon.” as a lath and as brown as a nut.” “Certainly,” I answered, and the conversation I gave him a short sketch of my adventures, drifted away into other channels. and had hardly concluded it by the time that we As we made our way to the hospital after reached our destination. leaving the Holborn, Stamford gave me a few more “Poor devil!” he said, commiseratingly, after he particulars about the gentleman whom I proposed to had listened to my misfortunes. “What are you up to take as a fellow-lodger. now?” “You mustn’t blame me if you don’t get on “Looking for lodgings,” I answered. Trying to with him,” he said; “I know nothing more of him than I solve the problem as to whether it is possible to get have learned from meeting him occasionally in the comfortable rooms at a reasonable price.” laboratory. You proposed this arrangement, so you must “That’s a strange thing,” remarked my not hold me responsible.” companion; “you are the second man today that has “If we don’t get on it will be easy to part used that expression to me.” company,” I answered. “It seems to me, Stamford,” I “And who was the first?” I asked. added, looking hard at my companion, “that you have “A fellow who is working at the chemical some reason for washing your hands of the matter. Is laboratory up at the hospital. He was bemoaning this fellow’s temper so formidable, or what is it? Don’t himself this morning because he could not get someone be mealymouthed about it.” to go halves with him in some nice rooms which he had “It is not easy to express the inexpressible,” he found, and which were too much for his purse.” answered with a laugh. “Holmes is a little too scientific “By Jove!” I cried; if he really wants someone for my tastes— it approaches to cold-bloodedness. I to share the rooms and the expense, I am the very man could imagine his giving a friend a little pinch of the for him. I should prefer having a partner to being latest vegetable alkaloid, not out of malevolence, you alone.” understand, but simply out of a spirit of inquiry in order Young Stamford looked rather strangely at me to have an accurate idea of the effects. To do him over his wineglass. “You don’t know Sherlock Holmes justice, I think that he would take it himself with the yet,” he said; “perhaps you would not care for him as a same readiness. He appears to have a passion for constant companion.” definite and exact knowledge.” “Why, what is there against him?” “Very right too.” “Oh, I didn’t say there was anything against “Yes, but it may be pushed to excess. When it him. He is a little queer in his ideas— an enthusiast in comes to beating the subjects in the dissecting-rooms some branches of science. As far as I know he is a decent with a stick, it is certainly taking rather a bizarre shape.” fellow enough.” “Beating the subjects!” “A medical student, I suppose?” said I. “Yes, to verify how far bruises may be “No— I have no idea what he intends to go in produced after death. I saw him at it with my own for. I believe he is well up in anatomy, and he is a eyes.” first-class chemist; but, as far as I know, he has never “And yet you say he is not a medical student?” taken out any systematic medical classes. His studies are “No. Heaven knows what the objects of his very desultory and eccentric, but he has amassed a lot of studies are. But here we are, and you must form your out-of-the-way knowledge which would astonish his own impressions about him.” As he spoke, we turned professors.” down a narrow lane and passed through a small “Did you never ask him what he was going in side-door, which opened into a wing of the great for?” I asked. hospital. It was familiar ground to me, and I needed no “No; he is not a man that it is easy to draw out, guiding as we ascended the bleak stone staircase and though he can be communicative enough when the made our way down the long corridor with its vista of fancy seizes him.” whitewashed wall and dun-coloured doors. Near the “I should like to meet him,” I said. If I am to farther end a low arched passage branched away from it lodge with anyone, I should prefer a man of studious and led to the chemical laboratory. and quiet habits. I am not strong enough yet to stand

270-01 Study in Scarlet-text.lwp “A Study in Scarlet” Chapter One p. 3

This was a lofty chamber, lined and littered “Ha! ha!” he cried, clapping his hands, and with countless bottles. Broad, low tables were scattered looking as delighted as a child with a new toy. “What do about, which bristled with retorts, test-tubes, and little you think of that?” Bunsen lamps, with their blue flickering flames. There “It seems to be a very delicate test,” I was only one student in the room, who was bending remarked. over a distant table absorbed in his work. At the sound “Beautiful! beautiful! The old guaiacum test of our steps he glanced round and sprang to his feet with was very clumsy and uncertain. So is the microscopic a cry of pleasure. “I’ve found it! I’ve found it,” he examination for blood corpuscles. The latter is valueless shouted to my companion, running towards us with a if the stains are a few hours old. Now, this appears to act test-tube in his hand. “I have found a re-agent which is as well whether the blood is old or new. Had this test precipitated by haemoglobin, and by nothing else.” Had been invented, there are hundreds of men now walking he discovered a gold mine, greater delight could not the earth who would long ago have paid the penalty of have shone upon his features. their crimes.” “Dr. Watson, Mr. “Indeed!” I murmured. Sherlock Holmes,” said “Criminal cases are Stamford, introducing us. continually hinging upon that “How are you?” he said one point. A man is suspected of cordially, gripping my hand with a crime months perhaps after it a strength for which I should has been committed. His linen or hardly have given him credit. clothes are examined and “You have been in Afghanistan, I brownish stains discovered upon perceive.” them. Are they blood stains, or “How on earth did you mud stains, or rust stains, or fruit know that?” I asked in stains, or what are they? That is a astonishment. question which has puzzled many “Never mind,” said he, an expert, and why? Because chuckling to himself The question there was no reliable test. Now now is about haemoglobin. No we have the Sherlock Holmes’s doubt you see the significance of test, and there will no longer be this discovery of mine?” any difficulty.” “It is interesting, His eyes fairly glittered chemically, no doubt,” I as he spoke, and he put his hand answered, “but practically?” over his heart and bowed as if to “Why, man, it is the some applauding crowd conjured most practical medico-legal up by his imagination. discovery for years. Don’t you see “You are to be that it gives us an infallible test congratulated,” I remarked, for blood stains? Come over here considerably surprised at his now!” He seized me by the enthusiasm. coat-sleeve in his eagerness, and “There was the case of drew me over to the table at which he had been Von Bischoff at Frankfort last year. He would certainly working. “Let us have some fresh blood,” he said, have been hung had this test been in existence. Then digging a long bodkin into his finger, and drawing off there was Mason of Bradford, and the notorious Muller, the resulting drop of blood in a chemical pipette. “Now, and Lefevre of Montpellier, and Samson of New I add this small quantity of blood to a litre of water. You Orleans. I could name a score of cases in which it would perceive that the resulting mixture has the appearance have been decisive.” of pure water. The proportion of blood cannot be more “You seem to be a walking calendar of crime,” than one in a million. I have no doubt, however, that we said Stamford with a laugh. “You might start a paper on shall be able to obtain the characteristic reaction.” As he those lines. Call it the “Police News of the Past.”” spoke, he threw into the vessel a few white crystals, and “Very interesting reading it might be made, then added some drops of a transparent fluid. In an too,” remarked Sherlock Holmes, sticking a small piece instant the contents assumed a dull mahogany colour, of plaster over the prick on his finger. “I have to be and a brownish dust was precipitated to the bottom of careful,” he continued, turning to me with a smile, “for I the glass jar. dabble with poisons a good deal.”

270-01 Study in Scarlet-text.lwp “A Study in Scarlet” Chapter One p. 4

He held out his hand as he spoke, and I noticed “It depends on the player,” I answered. A that it was all mottled over with similar pieces of plaster, well-played violin is a treat for the gods— a badly and discoloured with strong acids. played one— “ “We came here on business,” said Stamford, “Oh, that’s all right,” he cried, with a merry sitting down on a high three-legged stool, and pushing laugh. another one in my direction with his foot. “My friend “I think we may consider the thing as settled— here wants to take diggings; and as you were that is if the rooms are agreeable to you.” complaining that you could get no one to go halves with “When shall we see them?” you, I thought that I had better bring you together.” “Call for me here at noon to-morrow, and we’ll Sherlock Holmes seemed delighted at the idea go together and settle everything,” he answered. of sharing his rooms with me. “I have my eye on a suite “All right— noon exactly,” said I, shaking his in Baker Street,” he said, “which would suit us down to hand. the ground. You don’t mind the smell of strong tobacco, We left him working among his chemicals, and I hope?” we walked together towards my hotel. “I always smoke “ship’s” myself,” I answered. “By the way,” I asked suddenly, stopping and “That’s good enough. I generally have turning upon Stamford, “how the deuce did he know chemicals about, and occasionally do experiments. that I had come from Afghanistan?” Would that annoy you?” My companion smiled an enigmatical smile. “By no means.” “That’s just his little peculiarity,” he said. “A good “Let me see— what are my other many people have wanted to know how he finds things shortcomings? I get in the dumps at times, and don’t out.” open my mouth for days on end. You must not think I “Oh! a mystery is it?” I cried, rubbing my am sulky when I do that. Just let me alone, and I’ll soon hands. “This is very piquant. I am much obliged to you be right. What have you to confess now? It’s just as well for bringing us together. “The proper study of mankind for two fellows to know the worst of one another before is man,” you know.” they begin to live together.” “You must study him, then,” Stamford said, as I laughed at this cross-examination. “I keep a he bade me good-bye. “You’ll find him a knotty bull pup,” I said, “and I object to rows because my problem, though. I’ll wager he learns more about you nerves are shaken, and I get up at all sorts of ungodly than you about him. Good-bye.” hours, and I am extremely lazy. I have another set of “Good-bye,” I answered, and strolled on to my vices when I’m well, but those are the principal ones at hotel, considerably interested in my new acquaintance. present.” “Do you include violin playing in your † † † category of rows?” he asked, anxiously.

270-01 Study in Scarlet-text.lwp A STUDY IN SCARLET From the Novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Adapted by Ian Abrams FADE IN: 1 EXT. DESERT -- DAY 1 A wasteland-- sand and scrubby bushes stretch to the horizon. SUPER: AFGHANISTAN, 1880 Dozens of Ghazis-- Afghan warriors-- advance stealthily towards-- A FORT. In the middle of nowhere, lonely and battle-scarred.

2 INT. FORT -- DAY 2 An improvised hospital-- a dozen wounded men on straw pallets. Close on: HANDS, dressing a wound-- quick, competent. Reveal: JOHN H. WATSON. Age 28, an Army doctor, solidly built but weak with fever. He's bloody to the elbow, with a REVOLVER on his hip. He looks up as-- MURRAY, his orderly, bursts in. MURRAY They'll be through our lines any moment! WATSON Hand me that bottle of carbolic. MURRAY There's no sign of the relief column! What are we going to do? WATSON Our duty. MURRAY (whisper) Should we... shoot them? Meaning: the wounded men. Watson is shocked.

(CONTINUED) p. 2 MURRAY (CONT'D) If they fall into the hands of the Ghazis-- WATSON We shall not allow that to happen. Carbolic acid, if you please. Murray takes the bottle from a shelf. MURRAY I tell you, Dr. Watson, we-- The bottle EXPLODES in his hand. Watson spins-- In the doorway: three GHAZIS, fierce and terrible, with long rifles. The one in front FIRES--

Murray is blown across the room. The Ghazi grins through a mouth of discolored teeth before-- His THROAT is ripped open by a bullet. Watson steadies his revolver, takes aim, and-- BLAM! The SECOND Ghazi falls. But the fourth gets his rifle up and-- BLAM! Watson careens back, a huge wound in his right shoulder. He CRASHES to the ground in a pool of blood. The FOURTH GHAZI advances on the wounded men. The closest one struggles feebly to get off his pallet but can't move. The Ghazi lifts a glittering dagger, presses the point against the wounded man's throat, almost lovingly begins to apply pressure-- BLAM! His HEAD EXPLODES. Reveal: Watson, across the room, where he fell, holding the revolver in his left hand. He collapses, semi-conscious. Close on his face as: From O.S.: A BUGLE. A volley of gunfire. The cavalry has arrived. Watson smiles, very slightly, as-- He blacks out.

DISSOLVE TO: p. 3 3 EXT. LONDON PIER -- EVENING 3 A thick fog swirls around the dock. Down the gangplank of a ship comes-- A parade of wounded men. Carried on stretchers, rolled in chairs, limping on crutches. Among them: Watson. A wreck. Tottering on a cane, his right arm in a sling, thin and sickly. At the foot of the gangplank, Watson pauses to take in the scene. WATSON'S POV: London. Gaslights flicker feebly through the fog. Freight wagons and hansom cabs clatter past on the cobblestones. Dark, mysterious, unwelcoming. Watson steps off the curb and makes his way slowly into the fog. 4 INT. CRITERION BAR -- DAY 4 Watson at the bar of a middle-class hotel, right arm still in its sling. A BARTENDER pushes a pint of beer towards him. BARTENDER Tuppence. Watson counts out the coins, carefully eyes what he has left, pushes another small coin towards the bartender. With the beer in his good hand, he turns away from the bar and into-- STAMFORD. Rising young professional, about Watson's age. WATSON Pardon me. STAMFORD Pardon me. I-- (beat) Watson? John Watson? Watson stares at him. STAMFORD (CONT'D) Stamford-- Don't you remember me? I was two classes behind you, at Barts. For God's sake, man-- what happened to you?

(CONTINUED) p. 4 WATSON (beat) Afghanistan. Off Watson's face-- CUT TO: 5 INT. WATSON'S ROOM -- DAY 5 Watson touches a match to the GAS JET, adjusts the flame. A shabby little place. Stamford sits on the only chair, Watson carefully seats himself on the bed. WATSON The wound and the fever between them nearly finished me.

STAMFORD But you're getting better. Surely you've thought of resuming your practice. WATSON How? He touches his sling. WATSON (CONT'D) There's little call for a doctor who can't use his right hand. STAMFORD But surely you can-- I mean-- He looks around the dismal room. WATSON My wound pension is eleven shillings a day. This is what eleven shillings will buy me. Stamford has a sudden thought. STAMFORD I say, Watson-- would you consider sharing digs with someone? CUT TO: p. 5 6 INT. ST. BART'S HOSPITAL -- DAY 6 Stamford and Watson make their way through an echoing back corridor of the huge hospital. STAMFORD Just this morning he was bemoaning that he couldn't find someone to go halves in rooms he had found. WATSON What sort of man is he? STAMFORD Well, to be honest, he's... unusual. WATSON In what way?

STAMFORD He's a bit old for a student, and no one seems to know what he's studying towards. He takes the oddest assortment of classes, earns the highest marks, but-- Ah, Russell-- RUSSELL, a gloomy, ancient porter, is perched on a stool beside a staircase. STAMFORD (CONT'D) Have you seen Mister-- RUSSELL Dissectin' room. (beat) 'E's at it again. STAMFORD Ah. Yes. Thank you. They make their way down the staircase. WATSON "At it"? STAMFORD You'll see. Here we are. They're at a door: DISSECTING ROOM. From within: WHACK!

Stamford grins at Watson and opens the door. p. 6 7 INT. DISSECTING ROOM -- CONTINUOUS 7 A tall, lean man stands with his back to Stamford and Watson. As they watch, he carefully raises a POKER and-- WHACK! Strikes a CADAVER, lying face-down on a gurney, naked except for a towel draped across its midsection. He bends forward to examine the point of impact. Watson turns to Stamford, disbelieving. Stamford shushes him. STAMFORD Hello-- The tall man spins: bright, alert eyes glitter in a lean face. He's about 25. STAMFORD (CONT'D) Dr. John Watson, may I present Mr. Sherlock Holmes? HOLMES Delighted. He extends a hand-- Watson takes it after a moment. HOLMES (CONT'D) You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive. He whips around back to the corpse. WATSON How did you-- Stamford motions him quiet. Watson stares at-- The cadaver's hand. A lit cigarette is wedged between two fingers. Holmes pulls it loose and takes a drag. STAMFORD Dr. Watson is here about the rooms you mentioned. HOLMES Excellent flat. Two bedrooms, front sitting room. Breakfast included. He SMASHES the poker down on the cadaver.

HOLMES (CONT'D) Just slightly beyond my own purse.

(CONTINUED) p. 7 WATSON What are-- HOLMES Posthumous bruising. You'd be surprised how often the question arises. WATSON Arises in what-- HOLMES Have you any bad habits? WATSON My nerves are a bit rattled at present but-- HOLMES Do you object to violin playing? WATSON Well, that depends on the player. A well-played violin-- HOLMES Oh, that's all right, then. Meet me tomorrow at ten and we'll look at the rooms. The flat is in Baker Street. 221B. He raises the poker again. Watson winces. He turns to leave, turns back. WATSON How did you know I'm just back from Afghanistan? WHACK! Holmes prods the cadaver's flesh experimentally, examines it through a magnifying lens. HOLMES (not looking up) Medical gentleman but of a military bearing, face burnt dark by the sun but with fair wrists. Has undergone hardship and injury. Where in the world could an English army doctor have had these experiences? Afghanistan, clearly. Close the door on your way out, that's a good fellow. Watson and Stamford close the door after them.

(CONTINUED) p. 8 STAMFORD I said he was unusual. From inside: WHACK! Watson winces. DISSOLVE TO: