Page 344 - SHERLOCK transcripts
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a mirror, he ruffles his flattened hair back into position, then heads off across the parade
ground.
Inside the barracks, he walks across the entrance hall towards one of two flights of stairs. Two
Guards wearing standard khaki army attire walk down the other flight and Sherlock turns his
head away from them and apparently instantly becomes invisible, because they take no notice
of him. He trots up the stairs, employing the “I’m invisible if I don’t look at you” trick again
partway up when two more soldiers walk across the landing, then he goes up onto the landing.
Several voices can be heard talking and laughing from a nearby room, and he walks across and
opens the door. Inside is a rec room where many soldiers are sitting and chatting. Two are
playing table tennis and others are watching them. Sherlock must have gone into invisibility
mode again, because nobody looks at him or reacts in any way. He closes the door again and
moves on.
Outside the barracks, a new Guard has come to relieve Bainbridge. He marches over, turns to
stand at Bainbridge’s side and shuffles sideways until their shoulders touch. Bainbridge marches
forward a few paces, then turns and marches into the barracks.
Inside, now holding his bearskin under his arm, he walks up the stairs. His face appears to be
rather sweaty. He walks into the shower room, puts the bearskin down and undoes his white
webbing belt, grimacing a little. Putting the belt down, he starts to unbutton his jacket.
In an office nearby, an officer called Major Reed is sitting behind his desk and looking at John’s
military ID card. He looks up at John who is sitting opposite him.
REED: Can I ask what this is in connection with?
JOHN: Private Bainbridge contacted us about a personal matter, sir.
REED: Nothing’s personal when it concerns my troops. What do you really want?
JOHN: I’m here on a legitimate enquiry.
REED: Press? Digging for some bloody Royal story or something?
JOHN (pointing at his ID card): No, sir, I’m Captain John Watson, Fifth Northumberland
Fusiliers.
REED: Retired. You could be a used car salesman now, for all I know.
The duty sergeant walks into the shower room. One of the showers is running and steam billows
across the floor.
DUTY SERGEANT: Bainbridge! Gentleman here to see you!
(He walks across towards the cubicle.)
DUTY SERGEANT: Bainbridge!
(He raps on the closed door of the cubicle, then looks down. Through the almost-opaque door,
Bainbridge can be seen slumped on the floor with his back against the door, and bloodstained
water is pouring out of the cubicle.)
REED’S OFFICE. Major Reed looks closely at John.
REED: I know you, don’t I?
JOHN: Hmm?
(Reed tosses John’s card across the table. John picks it up and puts it back into his wallet.)
REED: I’ve seen you in the papers.
(John clears his throat uncomfortably.)
REED: Hang around with that detective – the one with the silly hat. What the hell does
Bainbridge want with a detective?
JOHN: I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to say.
REED: You’re not at liberty to say?! He’s a soldier in my regiment – I’ll be damned if he’s going
to get up to cloak and dagger nonsense like this.
(The duty sergeant hurries into the room.)
DUTY SERGEANT: Sir ...
(He stops when he realises that Reed isn’t alone in the room.)
DUTY SERGEANT: Sir.
REED: What’s going on?
DUTY SERGEANT: It’s Bainbridge, sir. He’s dead.
(Looking horrified, Reed gets up and follows the sergeant out of the room. John hurries after
them.)
Transcripts by Ariane DeVere (arianedevere@livejournal.com)

