Page 274 - SHERLOCK transcripts

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JOHN: Taxi!
(A cab begins to pull over on the other side of the road. John chases across the road towards
it.)
JOHN: Taxi!
(A man is standing at the side of the road having also just hailed the cab. As he leans into the
front window to tell the driver his destination, John runs around the cab and pulls open the rear
door, talking even as he scrambles inside.)
JOHN: No, no, no, no, police! ... Sort of.
MAN (walking away angrily): Oh, thanks, mate – thanks a lot(!)

BART’S ROOFTOP. The two men have turned towards each other at the edge of the roof.
SHERLOCK: I can still prove that you created an entirely false identity.
JIM (wearily exasperated): Oh, just kill yourself. It’s a lot less effort.
(Sherlock turns away, pacing distractedly.)
JIM: Go on. For me.
(He makes his voice into a high-pitched squeal for the next word.)
JIM: Pleeeeeease?
(In a sudden movement, Sherlock grabs him by the collar of his coat with both hands and spins
him around so that Jim’s back is to the drop. He stares into his face and then shoves him back
one step nearer the edge. Jim looks at him with interest as Sherlock’s breathing becomes
shorter.)
SHERLOCK: You’re insane.
(Jim blinks.)
JIM: You’re just getting that now?
(Sherlock shoves him further back, now holding him over the edge. Jim whoops almost
triumphantly and gazes back at him with no fear in his eyes, holding his hands out wide and
committing himself to Sherlock’s grasp.)
JIM: Okay, let me give you a little extra incentive.
(Sherlock frowns. Jim’s voice becomes more savage.)
JIM: Your friends will die if you don’t.
(Fear begins to creep into Sherlock’s eyes.)
SHERLOCK: John.
JIM: Not just John. (In a whisper) Everyone.
SHERLOCK: Mrs Hudson.
JIM (in a whisper, with a delighted smile): Everyone.
SHERLOCK: Lestrade.
JIM: Three bullets; three gunmen; three victims. There’s no stopping them now.
(Furiously, Sherlock pulls Jim back upwards to safety. Jim stares into his face.)
JIM: Unless my people see you jump.
(Sherlock gazes past him, breathing heavily and appearing lost in horror. Jim shakes himself
free of his grasp and smiles triumphantly.)
JIM: You can have me arrested; you can torture me; you can do anything you like with me; but
nothing’s gonna prevent them from pulling the trigger. Your only three friends in the world will
die ... unless ...
SHERLOCK: ... unless I kill myself – complete your story.
(Jim nods and smiles ecstatically.)
JIM: You’ve gotta admit that’s sexier.
SHERLOCK (his gaze distant and lost): And I die in disgrace.
JIM (in a matter-of-fact tone): Of course. That’s the point of this.
(He looks over the side and sees that someone has stopped at the benches near the bus stop
below them, and several other people are in the vicinity.)
JIM: Oh, you’ve got an audience now. Off you pop.
(He rolls his head from side to side on his neck.)
JIM: Go on.
(Sherlock slowly steps past him and up onto the ledge.)
JIM: I told you how this ends.
(Sherlock’s breathing becomes more shaky as he looks down.)
JIM (not even looking at him): Your death is the only thing that’s gonna call off the killers. I’m
certainly not gonna do it.
(Now he turns his head and looks up at his enemy expectantly. Sherlock blinks anxiously.)
SHERLOCK: Would you give me ... one moment, please; one moment of privacy?

Transcripts by Ariane DeVere (arianedevere@livejournal.com)