The Dying Detective

Setting: London

Characters: (Roles to be finalized, change if you want)

1.      Sherlock Holmes 

2.      John Watson 

3.      Culverton Smith

4.      Dr. Ainstree

5.      Inspector Morton

6.      Driver of the Taxi 

7.      Victor Savage

Entrance – Holmes

(The whole dialogue is to be spoken in a sleeping position and like a murmur but should be audible audience)

Holmes: - Alas! Nobody knows where fate brings them! Not a single man is spared from the intricate structure if circumstances. Not a single one - Not a single one. The bitter most truth of life! Accept it or not!

Scene - 1

Entrance – Watson

(Should look utterly confused)

Watson: Hello-Hello… Plea me!

(With a mere shock)

Holmes: Oh…Oh you-you’ve arrived right in! You look completely mystified. Tell me what’s the matter with you?

Watson: My dearest chum, for my sake, please have some breakfast. It’s been killing you.

Holmes: But I... (Is being interrupted by Watson)

Watson: Okay, Okay leave it. Tell me, do you really trust me, adore me? (Watson has to cut Holmes in the previous dialogue)

Holmes: I’ve no doubt in your intellect, nor anyone could similarly do you?

Watson: You are just like a stubborn mule.

Exeunt of Watson and Holmes

Scene -2

Entrance of Watson

Watson is walking through streets, finding for a taxi. Here 1 taxi driver has to ignore Watson and other one has to give him a lift. Finally one of the taxi drivers sees Watson and so does Watson, and then he thumbs ahead in the straight direction. Watson gets down and pays the driver some amount. The taxi goes on. (There is no conversation between any characters, just plane acting to make the audience understand the concept)

Then after all Watson comes to his destination and strikes the doorbell.

Dr. Ainstree: Coming….

(After Dr. Ainstree says coming, Watson has to ring the doorbell once more)

(Now after Watson rings the bell once more, Dr. Ainstree has to open the door)

Dr. Ainstree: Come in.

Watson: No, no. It’s exigent please listen to me very carefully. I’m myself John Watson, the assistant cum friend of the famous detective, Mr. Holmes, Sherlock Holmes. He has been seriously ill through a couple of days. As per his understanding some fatal South-Asiatic Disease has cursed him. Doctor, you’re an ingenious expert of Asiatic Diseases. Please come to our help. The world demands justice!

Dr. Ainstree: I can never even imagine in my wildest dreams to refuse a patient who is at my mercy and this is Sherlock Holmes! I am bounded by the Hippocratic oath! In fact it’ll be a great honor as well as a deed to assist Mr. Holmes. It’s not possible for each man to go and fight on the border but at least he can serve them whenever need be! Watson, let’s not waste a second, Time and Tide wait for none.

(Both of them have to catch a taxi and start away.)

Scene – 3

(Holmes has to be on the stage now. He is listening to a music track, which will be ‘Nightangle’, which I’m to bring.  If you all have some other idea, then include that and remove Nightanle. Meanwhile Holmes decreases the volume of the volume and calls Watson. Watson and Holmes are in the taxi during the conversation)

Holmes: Watson, where the hell are you? Just shut up and listen to me and mind if you interrupt. Hadn’t I instructed you not to leave me? Are you off for a doctor? Dash it all!  Don’t dare to bring anyone, or else I’ll drag you and your companion out! Answer me what goodness you’ve done.

(Watson has to go blank, that is he doesn’t have to speak anything, he simply has to look dumbfounded.)

(After a few seconds Holmes has to speak the following dialogue)

Holmes: God Damn it! Why don’t you speak?

Watson: Aa Aa I really beg your pardon had no intensions to disrespect you or your commands but it was just for your own betterment.

Holmes: Okay, look Watson I’m sorry I understand your feelings but you know I can’t control my anger. Don’t feel low.

Watson: I’m sorry but Dr. Ainstree and I are on the way, I can’t help it.

(Conversation is finally over. Watson and Ainstree after a few seconds enter the stage where Holmes is sleeping and listening to the music. Then, Ainstree has to start checking up Holmes. 


Entrance of Watson and Ainstree during the same scene)

Dr. Aintree: He is to be immediately hospitalized; he is too weak for anything! Not even treatment!

Holmes: Doctor Ainstree, I have guessed it right if I’m not wrong. Please let me be with myself.

(During the same scene Dr. Ainstree has to take Watson in a corner and act as if he is whispering something in his ears.)

Dr. Ainstree: Okay, as you wish Holmes, but you’ll have to allow me to do a few checkups. I’ll take your blood and saliva samples in the laboratory. I’ll let you know as soon as possible about the results.

Exeunt - Dr. Ainstree

(The following dialogues will continue in the same scene, only Dr. Ainstree is exiting.)

Holmes: Watson, you’ll have to do one last thing for me. Please go and call Mr. Culverton Smith living in 12, Lower Burke Street. He is an expert of Asiatic diseases but is not known. He’ll be able to cure me. But make one thing clear, that you should be here before Mr. Smith reaches here.

Exeunt - Watson

(Meanwhile Holmes again starts to listen to the music track. After a few seconds Watson comes back.)

Scene – 4

Entrance – Watson and Sherlock Holmes


(Sherlock should be lying on the bed before Watson reaches)

Watson: I done as per your commands.

Holmes: Good, now go the room right besides my bed and don’t come out come until I instruct you to, no matter what happens!

(Watson after going back comes back in a few seconds)

Watson: Holmes, Holmes… See someone has gifted you such an extra ordinary box. It is so brilliantly colored with very minute and attractive designs.

Holmes: Watson, just put that thing down.

(Here Watson will have to put that box down)

I’m glad that you haven’t opened it. Now like an obedient student, go to the room and sit silently. And remember don’t touch a single thing.  

Exeunt of Watson

Entrance of Smith

Smith: Hello Mr. Holmes. How are you feeling now?  

Holmes: Just as you’re. Have a seat, relax

(Here smith has to give a sigh, the dialogue continues below)

You ain’t be out with me, like you had been with your nephew Victor or else you’ll be in a thick soup. Are you able to recall all that?

(Now Smith starts recalling what he had done, which is to be showed to the audience)

Sub-Scene Starts (Only acting)

(The stage is empty. Victor enters and then the doorbell rings. Smith enters. Smith gifts a small ivory box to Victor which is accepted by him happily. They sit together for a few seconds and then Smith exits the stage. Afterwards when Smith moves away, Victor opens the box and to his surprise something pricks from it. At that movement he feels dizzy and sleeps. From sides somebody will raise up the sun and moon pictures to depict day and night. After doing this 4 times, Smith has to re-enter and he’ll check the beats of Victor. Victor will be dead by then.)

(Then Smith gains back his consciousness and speaks the dialogues mentioned below)

(Smith throws the ivory box into fire in the fireplace.)

Smith: Here you go, catch me if you can! Every bit of evidence is disposed, Holmes. You can now die with a content heart.

(In between this conversation, Dr. Ainstree has to arrive)

Dr. Ainstree: Mr. Holmes, Mr. Holmes.

(Holmes tries to stop him, but out of uncontrollable excitement he doesn’t)

You are completely safe. There is not a bit to worry about. You are just took weak, have some nutritious food. See I’ve bought a few fruits for you, eat them. And by the way, who is this stranger?

(Smith has to look at him in an awkward manner and so he has to draw back)

(Meanwhile he exists, and that very instance he sees a few cops out there.

Dr. Ainstree: Oh my sainted aunt, the Police is going to pis on me!

(He runs away)

(The cops go behind him and catch him, feeling that he is Smith. After the cops have caught him they go up to Holmes)

(Meanwhile due to the series of incidents, Smith gets furious and tries to stab Holmes but Watson saves Holmes. In that case, Watson is seriously wounded.)

(After this short play the cops arrive at the door of Holmes)

A camera (webcam) will be shown to the audience which will be located around the ceiling, when Mr. Smith and Holmes are talking. (To record all the evidences) One more scene can be added. Watson is watching through the t.v (camera) and thus protecting Holmes, to be more practical. Think upon this scene.