Page 107 - SHERLOCK transcripts

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SHAN (still aiming her pistol towards the shadows): Well?
SHERLOCK’s VOICE (from the darkness): Well ...
(The thug has reached a large storage container standing at the side of the tunnel. Sherlock
runs out from behind it and thwacks the man across the stomach with a metal pipe. The man
grunts and collapses to the ground. Sherlock immediately ducks back into the shadows.)
SHERLOCK’s VOICE (quick fire, from the darkness): ... the radius curvature of these walls is
nearly four metres. If you miss, the bullet will ricochet. Could hit anyone. Might even bounce off
the tunnel and hit you.
(He bursts out of the darkness and runs to the nearby burning dustbin, kicking it over. John
flinches at the loud crash and Shan’s eyes widen when she realises that it’s now even more
impossible to see that area of the tunnel. John peers into the darkness, trying to see how close
his friend is. Sherlock reappears just behind Sarah and squats down behind her, starting to
untie her bonds. However, the other man – who turns out to be Liang, Soo Lin’s brother – runs
over to him and loops a long red scarf around his throat a couple of times. Sherlock cries out
and stands up, tugging at the part of the scarf around his neck as Liang pulls it tight. While they
struggle, Sarah looks at them for a moment and then turns back to stare at the arrowhead
pointed directly at her. She lifts her gaze to the sandbag, which is just passing the
counterbalanced weight on its way down towards the metal cup on the crossbow.
Behind her, Sherlock has shaken off Liang for a moment and again crouches to Sarah’s bonds.
Liang hurries forward and swings another loop of the scarf around Sherlock’s neck and again
starts pulling him away.
As the men continue to struggle, John realises that Sherlock isn’t going to get free in time. He
struggles to stand, which is almost impossible with his hands tied in front of him and attached
tightly to the underside of the chair, and his ankles tied to the legs of the chair. Nevertheless he
manages to stumble forward a couple of paces, half-carrying and half-dragging the chair with
him, before he loses his balance and falls onto his side.
Liang swings yet another loop of the scarf around Sherlock’s neck. Sarah gazes up at the
descending metal ball while the men behind her continue to struggle and John thrashes on the
floor. Her eyes drop to the arrowhead again as the ball continues relentlessly downwards. Her
eyes full of tears, her gaze locks onto her imminent death and all hope begins to fade from her
expression.
Flailing and groaning with the effort, John manages to squirm around on the floor and finally
gets one foot free enough to kick it upwards and connect with a part of the crossbow. The
crossbow shifts position, twisting slightly to the left just as the ball connects with the cup. The
arrow is released and flies across the tunnel ... and buries itself in Liang’s stomach. He grunts,
then straightens up, his face full of shock. He groans breathily for a moment, then slowly
topples to the floor.
Gasping for breath, Sherlock stands up and looks around. Distant running footsteps can be
heard – General Shan is leaving the building. He looks in the direction of the sound as if
considering following, but Sarah’s anguished muffled sobs distract him and he unloops the red
scarf from around his neck and then drops to his knees beside her.)
SHERLOCK (soothingly): It’s all right.
(On the floor, John groans as he struggles to get up onto his elbows. Sherlock unties Sarah’s
gag and takes it from her mouth.)
SHERLOCK (softly): You’re gonna be all right. It’s over now. It’s over.
(Stroking his hands comfortingly down her arms, he then bends down to untie the ropes. She
begins to sob as John looks up at her from the floor. He smiles wearily.)
JOHN: Don’t worry. Next date won’t be like this.
(She continues to sob as Sherlock straightens up and stands behind her, putting a reassuring
hand on her shoulder. [And, seriously, can we just love this man for doing that instead of taking
off after Shan?] He looks down the tunnel wistfully.)

Later, the police have arrived to clear up the mess. Dimmock is waiting beside a police car just
outside the tunnel as John puts his arm around Sarah’s shoulders [she’s wearing a shock
blanket, John; she’s fine] and walks her away. Sherlock is just behind them and stops to talk to
the inspector.
SHERLOCK: We’ll just slip off. No need to mention us in your report.
DIMMOCK: Mr Holmes ...
SHERLOCK: I have high hopes for you, Inspector. A glittering career.
DIMMOCK: I go where you point me.
SHERLOCK (walking away): Exactly.

Transcripts by Ariane DeVere (arianedevere@livejournal.com)