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“SHERLOCK HOLMES THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER – INFAMY CASE” BY LUKE OPENSHAW

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“SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER”

“INFAMY” CASE OUTLINE

BY LUKE OPENSHAW

© 2014-2016 Frogwares Games, © 2014-2016 Luke Openshaw

Used With Permission

“This is an early draft proposal for the Infamy case covering

story, scheme, narrative, characters and other abstractions.

Further consideration, iteration and polish required. Not all

of this content made the final game.”



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BACKGROUND

THE ACTOR

ARNOLD WALSH (or other fun name, Oscar Wells, Orson Wilde etc), is a down on his luck ACTOR who has a terribly ill MOTHER (blind and suffering dementia) to care for in the family home, a GRAND HIGH-HOUSE IN ST’JOHNS WOOD LONDON (also called a Town House, which is a very narrow and very tall multiple story type of home in England). A bit of a mummy’s boy dreamer.

The mother, FANNY WALSH, resided in the bottom floor bedroom of the town house, blind and surely suffering dementia, while the next 3 floors were living quarters and others, with an ATTIC stashed with family goods and heirlooms. Mother refused to go to an Old-Peoples Care Home because she wished to die in her beloved family home.

But with the acting roles drying up fast for Arnold and with no source of income he cannot support the house or his mother’s Care Home requirements.

THE NURSE

A few months ago Arnold met a beautiful and charming woman, ABIGAIL YORK, a Nurse, and they became very close friends. Abigail was a strong supporter of Arnold’s talents and gave him the confidence to never give up on his dream as well as showing great sympathy and help for his Mother.

A whirlwind romance and Abigail’s tender care of Arnold’s mother saw Abigail move into the high-house with Arnold. A few weeks later, Abigail discovered a newspaper advertisement for an ACTING JOB requiring a man of very specific physical attributes and talents such as a similarity to Oscar Wilde himself, which Arnold does, to attend auditions at Backwater Theatre, with immediate substantial payment for the right candidate.

THE ROLE OF A LIFETIME

With the loving support of this exceptional new girlfriend, Arnold attended the auditions at the WEST END SQUARE THEATRE, LONDON, where he won the role of Dorian Grey in The Picture of Dorian Grey, “the perfect role for the perfectly suited actor” so said the play DIRECTOR, an eccentric man by the name of JOHN SMITH, in this rare conversion of Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Grey book to stage play.

Arnold threw himself into the acting opportunity for the next few weeks, and was impressing the Director and earning the money. It was a dream come true.



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While Arnold attended the play rehearsals and received the grand weekly payment of £5 per week, Abigail cared for Arnold’s ill mother, FANNY WALSH. The play consumed most of Arnold’s life, and Abigail took a back seat for his success.

THE HONOURABLE FOOL

Arnold Walsh met his best friend, BARRY HAMIL, who works on the turn-style gate at the LORD’S CRICKET GROUND IN ST’JOHN’S LONDON, a lifetime friendship of complete trust. Barry was shocked at Arnold’s casting in the play and especially the fantastic £5 per week payday. IMPOSSIBLE SAYS BARRY, IT MUST BE A SCAM, BECAUSE YOU (ARNOLD) ARE A TERRIBLE ACTOR. SOMEONE IS TRYING TO MAKE A FOOL OF YOU.

BRIEF HISTROY OF THE ANARCHISTS

Starting around 1900, Indian “anarchists” (labeled as such by the newspapers and British government authorities, but actually nationalists) assassinated many people and bombed many locations, killing many, in India and London. One called The Viper would rise to lead them and his nationality remained unknown. Real or alleged anarchist incidents also occurred in other countries at the time.



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THE INVESTIGATION

221B

HOLMES

And so it was Barry’s jealous remarks that put a seed of doubt in Arnold’s mind and brought him to Sherlock Holmes’s home of 221B. Because despite the high wage for the play, despite what his beloved Abigail and the other actors and the Director say, Arnold is a TERRIBLE ACTOR surely unworthy of such a theatrical role. Arnold doesn’t see why Barry would lie to him or be cruel. Holmes’s reputation is for helping poor people in distress. Arnold did not want to be MADE A FOOL OF.

This is an opportunity for more mystery, curiosity and doubt, and amusement, because Arnold turns up at Holmes’s door, DRUNK and with this corker of a story, which amuses Watson and Holmes, as well as intrigues.

*The Red Headed League had an element of buffoonery and amusement in the form of the victim Jabez Wilson.

THE SHAME OF IT

And so, Arnold gives Holmes a description of the play Director John Smith, his lover Abigail York and his friend Barry Hamil, and pleads with Holmes to investigate so that he is not made a fool of either by his jealous friend or this sham play (just like the sham in Red Headed League).

And so, while Holmes investigates, Arnold continues about his rehearsals at the theatre and receives the £5 paydays because he has no choice if he is to raise the money to put his mother into a GREAT CARE HOME.

WELL PAID

Watson suggests that there is no real case to be heard because Arnold was paid very well for his ‘acting’ skills and his friend Barry is probably just jealous. Holmes sympathises with Arnold in what is undoubtedly fishy circumstances, what with such an exceptional sum of money, £5 per week, being paid to an unknown actor of zero credibility.



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THE GIRLFRIEND

Arnold had mentioned that it was his newly beloved girlfriend, Abigail York, who came across the advertisement in the newspaper. Couldn’t wish for a smarter and more optimistic partner, who he met a few months ago Abigail York.

WALSH HIGH-HOUSE

THE HOUSE

Holmes and Watson pay a visit to Arnold Walsh’s family home, a remarkable high-house (town house) in St’Johns London.

MOTHER, FANNY

Holmes and Watson meet the ILL MOTHER, FANNY WALSH, who is mumbling incoherently in her bed, devoid of eyesight, poor woman. Watson keeps the mother company and tries to make head or tail of her MUMBLING.

ABIGAIL YORK

Meanwhile Holmes speaks with the girlfriend, Abigail York, who is a very charming, fond of Arnold and sad that his chance to show his acting talents and earn money could be a scam. Surely not she says, the theatre, play and money is all perfectly real and legitimate.

Abigail was a strong supporter of Arnold’s talents and gave him the confidence to never give up on his dream as well as showing great sympathy and help for his Mother. Abigail soon moved into the high-house with Arnold and his mother where Abigail cared for his mother.

Abigail is fully aware of Arnold’s lack of confidence in his ability as an actor, and she was very angry when she heard about Barry’s jealous attack on Arnold. She personal forbids Barry from ever stepping foot in the house.

Holmes notices SLIGHT WEARING AND DUST ON ABIGAIL’S DRESS KNEES. Suspicious. She says she has been on her hands and knees cleaning the large house up after messy mother and Arnold because he is always away on play rehearsals. A beautiful family home, been in the Walsh family for five generations, but a nightmare to clean.



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MOTHERS SYMPATHY

Watson, sympathetically examines Arnold’s the frail mumbling mother, Fanny, and hears her speak all manner of STRANGE PHRASES, seemingly gibberish, almost like a foreign language. How very curious thinks Watson.

UPSTAIRS

Abigail allows Holmes to explore the impressive house, floor by floor. Remember, these types of houses have many floors and are very narrow and tall.

In the mid-level dining room Holmes finds spilt tea and MULTIPLE FACING TEA RINGS on the table suggesting two people had been meeting here in private, away from Mother. Must be Arnold and Abigail. Curious.

Nothing else of interest here. Homes and Watson leave.

THEATRE

THE PLAY

Holmes and Watson visit the West End Square Theatre (AKA The WES Theatre, or the WEST) and meet the 3 OTHER ACTORS rehearsing with Arnold Walsh, and the flamboyant director, JOHN SMITH.

Smith’s play is an adaptation of Dorian Grey with Arnold in the title role of Dorian Grey. The play seems very authentic and real. When Holmes visits they are all very impressed and when Holmes speaks to each of the individually they are an interesting varying set of personalities, showing off to Holmes.

Holmes inquires and all seems normal, so leaves.

There is a storage room with the actor’s non-performing cloths, luggage, scripts, wigs, costumes, packed lunches and newspapers.

221B

THE NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT

Holmes searches archives for a copy of the newspaper with the ACTING ADVERTISEMENT for the specific role of Dorian Grey, which describes a very specific type of male actor and appearance is required for the lead role (that is a spitting image of Arnold).



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LORDS CRICKET GROUND

THE BEST FRIEND

Holmes pays a visit to Arnold’s best friend BARRY HAMIL who works on the gates of LORDS CRICKET GROUND. Holmes questions Barry regarding the harsh opinion that Arnold is a terrible actor and should in no way have been cast in such a lavish well-paying play. Something must be up, a scam to make his friend look like a fool.

Barry, as the gate man, has a BIG BUNCH OF KEYS.

Barry comes across as an aggressive/jealous type, a big bully stuck guarding a gate and taking tickets as opposed to living for his dreams like Arnold. Barry could quite easily be envious of Arnold’s windfall luck.

Barry says he didn’t mean to upset his friend but has always been honest with him, or so he says. Barry even asks Holmes and Watson if they had even seen Arnold act!!! He is terrible, more like a comedy act!

And so, with Abigail, the other actors and the Director swearing by Arnold’s performance ability and ‘potential to be great’, Holmes is faced with a simple deduction of Barry’s jealous gossip damaging the lucky and affable Arnold Walsh’s confidence. It seems that the case is over, with no more leads or mystery to solve.

Watson keeps stating that there is no real case to be answered, because a crime was not committed against Arnold Walsh, and he was paid handsomely.

221B

NO CASE

Holmes invites Arnold to 221B to conclude the investigation. Arnold is happy that Holmes has concluded that Barry Hamil, the jealous friend, appears to be guilty of envy and a bully manner perhaps, but there APPEARS TO BE NO SCAM.

CUP OF TEA

While present, MRS HUDSON, offers Arnold a cup of tea but ARNOLD SAYS HE DOES NOT DRINK TEA OR COFFEE, just water, because of his allergies. A simple thing that makes Holmes curious, because earlier he saw multiple fresh facing and counter-facing tea rings on the table at the Walsh High-House.



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AWFUL ACTOR

Holmes asks Arnold to perform a quick excerpt from the play script of Dorian Grey as an example of his valuable talent. Holmes and Watson are shocked at how AWFUL AN ACTOR ARNOLD IS. Who on earth would cast him? Toby could act more convincingly! But Arnold is somewhat oblivious to his terrible acting talents, brainwashed by his own ambitions and delusions.

And so, Arnold leaves, thinking all is well.

But Holmes and Watson are now terribly suspicious of the situation. Something just doesn’t add up. To pay a man £5 per week for a masterful serious acting role is one thing, but to cast an absolute buffoon and terrible actor like Arnold in such a role, reeks of incredulity, not to mention the blatant dislike of tea or coffee.

This case is not over!

WALSH HIGH-HOUSE

TEA RINGS

Holmes and Watson return to the Walsh residence and speak with Abigail over a cup of tea, where Holmes notices the same OLD TEA RINGS and an EVEN FRESHER PAIR OF TEA RINGS and a LORDS CRICKET SCHEDULE.

Lots in common and yet you did not know that Arnold disliked tea or coffee? How queer, or

a flagrant lie.

Watson distracts Abigail downstairs with Mother, while Holmes ‘goes to the loo’ but of course sneaks upstairs.

STUDY

Holmes finds a copy of the newspaper that held the DORIAN GREY ACTING ADVERTISEMENT (perhaps in the rubbish bin), and upon that newspaper also finds several copies of the DAILY/WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, which upon closer inspection shows that some of them have strange INKED SYMBOLS on pages. Whatever could this be? Holmes sketches the symbols.

When questioned about the pile of newspapers, Abigail says she prepares beloved Arnold a packed lunch and newspaper each morning for his long day.



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LORD’S CRICKET GROUND

CRICKET SCHEDULE

Holmes heads to the cricket ground and speaks briefly with BARRY at the gate about the upcoming cricket schedule, and Barry reveals that there is of course the 5 DAY TEST BETWEEN ENGLAND and INDIA.

When asked about if Barry and Arnold ever went to the cricket matches together, Barry laughs and says that Arnold hated cricket, even when there were free tickets. Disliked it and yet met his Abigail here.

Holmes gains access to the pavilion stand inside the grounds and looks around.

THE PAVILION VIEW - HOLMESIAN SENSE

Holmes notices that from where he is standing he looks across the street between other houses and can see the ELEVATED ATTIC WINDOWS OF ARNOLD WALSH’S HIGH-HOUSE. A direct line of sight. Holmes does not believe in coincidence.

221B

MAP OF ST JOHNS LONDON

Holmes rummages through his archives to find a map of St’John’s London, which shows Lord’s Cricket Ground and the surrounding residences and buildings. Holmes notices that the Cricket Ground does have a close proximity to the Walsh High-House, only separated by one street and row of basic housing.

WALSH HIGH-HOUSE

ATTIC

Holmes returns to the High-House and insists on venturing up the floors again, only this time Abigail is very watchful and follows, asking why Mister Holmes is pestering them.

As Holmes looks out each window of the house between the street and Lords Cricket Ground, he notices that the HOUSES OPPOSITE BLOCK THE VIEW. And so Holmes knows there must be a HIGHER WINDOW, he must climb higher, the ATTIC! But the ATTIC DOOR is very high and PADLOCKED. There is no ladder and Abigail says she has not been up there and DOES NOT HAVE THE KEY. And so Holmes must speak with Arnold at theatre.



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THEATRE

WHERE IS THE ATTIC KEY

Holmes attends the theatre and finds Arnold and his fellow actors rehearsing while the Director is taking a break in the waiting room with the coats and items, reading a newspaper.

When asked about the High-House attic Arnold says he has not been up the attic for years, it’s just full of junk and family heirlooms. Holmes insists on looking in the attic but Arnold says the last person to place things up there was in fact BARRY HAMIL, his best friend, who needed to store an OLD CHEST. Barry still has the ONLY KEY. Find him and you can have it. Tell him I want the key back.


BARRY HAMIL

Holmes cannot find Barry Hamil at his usual place in the cricket grounds because they are now preparing for the 1st day of the major test match. Barry is inside the pavilion preparing with the LORDS EVENT MANAGER.

WATSON AND THE STRANGER

As Watson is mulling around the cricket pavilion, a STRANGER greets him, who says he is a fan of Watson’s work. I couldn’t resist saying hello to you, and now good day. An autograph. They part ways.

PAVILLION

Inside the grounds Holmes meets the LORDS EVENT MANAGER, who is a nasty piece of work, arrogant, and does not have any respect for the ‘amateur detective’ that is Sherlock Holmes. Watson is outraged.



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A ROYAL VISIT

The Event Manager reveals that the surprise star attendee of tomorrows test match will be DUKE DAVID WINCHESTER, who will sit in the gold seat in the VIP Box to watch the match ON DAY 1 and DAY 5 ONLY.

221B

WHO IS DUKE DAVID WINCHESTER?

Holmes returns home to 221B and archive researches Duke David to discover that he is a major mover and shaker in the Empire, especially the British Raj and Colonies of the Indian Sub-Continent.

THE STRANGE PHRASE

Watson has a ‘eureka’ moment at the revelation of INDIA being involved. Watson reveals that Arnold’s ill mother had been mumbling various things to him as he tended to the first visit, but in particular a STRANGE PHRASE in a FOREIGN LANGUAGE, which Watson now recognises as an INDIAN DIALECT.

The mother, Fanny Walsh, must have over heard something being spoken in that dialect inside the house. Holmes uses various language archives to translate the phrase to “BLOOD AT MIDDAY!”

WALSH HIGH-HOUSE

RETURN TO THE HIGH HOUSE

Holmes returns to the Walsh high-house and speaks with Abigail and tries to get meaning out of mother, but she seems incoherent and Abigail is very distraught at Holmes’s terrible bullying of this poor ill old lady.

Watson distracts Abigail downstairs with Mother, while Holmes sneaks upstairs. Looking out the windows as he climbs the levels, Holmes sees that the houses in the street opposite, between the street and Lords Cricket Ground, block the view. And so Holmes knows he must climb higher, the ATTIC!



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THE ATTIC

Holmes uses a series of objects and jury-rigs a mechanism (gameplay) to reach the attic door which he opens with the KEY provided by Barry/Arnold.

INSIDE THE ATTIC seems typical, dusty and full of heirlooms and chests with various trinkets and clothes, but somewhat tranquil. A chest labelled Hamil is present as per Barry’s statement, and when Holmes opens it he discovers it is EMPTY and has a HOLE IN THE SIDE.

THE WINDOW

The attic has RECENTLY BEEN FITTED WITH SOME PLANKING (across the beams) where much of the dust and sawdust has been disturbed, to reach a single window in the corner of the highest point of the house, which looks out across the street and directly upon LORDS CRICKET GROUND.


LINE OF SIGHT

With the situation seeming rather audacious but threatening, Holmes and Watson head back to Lords Cricket Ground. Day 1 of the test match begins tomorrow at midday.

Here Holmes notices that the VIP BOX (where Duke David is to sit) is perfectly aligned with the attic window of Arnold Walsh’s high-house opposite, although the distance is 200-300 yards (range to be verified). Holmes map of St John’s district verifies the considerable distance.

221B

BIGGER DEDUCTION

Holmes puts the pieces of the puzzle together, the high-house, the cricket ground, Duke David’s visit and the Duke’s political views in India, the Indian phrase spoken by Abigail’s mysterious guest (perhaps the assassin) which ill mother Fanny overheard, the convenient removal of Arnold Walsh with delusions of acting despite his awful acting ability, the convenient love and support of Abigail York and the freshly placed planks in the attic.



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EVIDENCE

Holmes recalls seeing Abigail’s dusty dress knees and the same dusty attic planks, where she had clearly been active. The newspapers in the bin and being provided to Arnold, some with those curious puzzle-like symbols on them? The multiple tea rings, suggesting another visitor because Arnold does not like tea or coffee. Finally the translated Indian phrase ‘BLOOD AT MIDDAY’, which can be no mistake. Holmes deduces that it is Abigail who is preparing something significant in the attic. But something much bigger and political is at play here.

DIOGENES CLUB

MYCROFT

Holmes pays a rare visit to the Diogenes Club and interacts with his brother Mycroft, where they intellectually spar for a moment before getting down to business. Holmes reveals the potential threat against Duke David, the Indian/Hindi dialect statement of ‘BLOOD AT MIDDAY‘.

Mycroft explains that there is indeed a vaporous criminal dwelling within the British Raj who goes by the name, THE VIPER, and whose aim is to throw the Indian Sub-Continent into anarchy. Duke David's volatile personality and political moves in the Raj, is shall we say, not welcomed by all parties. But Queen Victoria likes Duke David, so he can get away with it.

This is how Holmes learns of the anarchist called The Viper and a more genuine threat to Duke David.

MYCROFT: Very little is known of The Viper, male or female, old or young, they have only recently come into our field of view. But what is known, is that The Viper uses a form of substitution cypher using a series of symbols, rather like the Dancing Men from that case you mentioned to me one time.

Unfortunately the political situation is too abrasive at the moment and requires Mycroft’s full attention, and such threats are nothing new to Duke David, and so far there has been no major moves by this Viper, to rank him anywhere near the government’s top… problems.

Mycroft reminds Holmes that finding a person to make such a shot of almost 300 feet requires a very special type of villain, which you do not have yet. And so Holmes leaves, without Mycroft’s support.



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221B

THE SHOOTER ARCHIVE

Taking Mycroft’s queries and recommendations seriously regarding the exceptional shooting required for such an assassination is almost ludicrous. Almost. Holmes uses his archives to piece together that a range of 200-300 feet would require a precision marksman with the necessary equipment of the finest quality, cold of heart in order to execute a man in an audience.

Holmes’s archives provide just one man capable of such a feat: SEBASTIAN MORAN!

SEBASTIAN MORAN?

Watson mentions the STRANGER he briefly met at the cricket pavilion earlier, who paid him such compliments, asked for an autograph and was a little suspicious. Holmes and Watson discuss this ‘strangers’ physical description and mannerisms, need to observe the cricket match, as well as the prey (Duke David), and even the need to greet you personally Doctor Watson, so that he could further rub salt in the wound of our soon to be failure should we not thwart the crime. All these are traits of Sebastian Moran.


BARRY HAS A CLUE

Holmes and Watson return to speak with Barry Hamil who DOES NOT RECOGNISE the description of the STRANGER given by Holmes and Watson. BARRY IS VERY NERVOUS.

Holmes demands to know what Barry has done because otherwise he will be arrested. Now the terrified Barry says that the STRANGER BRIBED BARRY £10 for a WEEK VIP PASS, which allows him access to the grounds, even during practice. The man really liked his sport, he was here most days watching, even during practice.

Holmes is now sure that Sebastian Moran is in disguise and surely to be the shooter, even daring to sit opposite his prey, Duke David, watching his target, soon to be dead. Even daring to talk to Watson!



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221B

THE NEWSPAPER SYMBOLS

Holmes discusses the newspaper symbols with Watson found on the newspaper at the High-House in Abigail’s possession and also on the newspaper at the theatre (possibly taken there by Arnold in his packed lunch).

Rather like ‘The Dancing Men’ Holmes tries to decipher the symbol code to get more information on the case, using two simple rules of frequency analysis, that A: E is the most common letter in the English language, and B: The name of the recipients/involved will be present such as Abigail or Duke David.

Holmes cracks a portion of the code but still requires a few more symbols to be 100% accurate and Holmes knows he has seen more of these newspapers at the Theatre.

THEATRE

MORE SYMBOLS (Dancing Men style)

While the Director is taking the Actors and Arnold through rehearsals, Holmes examines the off-stage wardrobe and waiting area (this can be the part where Watson is involved with the acting – because an actor is ill perhaps). Holmes searches the coats, packed-lunches, newspapers and luggage and finds nothing of interest.

DIRECTORS ROOM

Holmes searches further and sneaks around the performance to get to the Director, Smith’s, office where he finds various meaningless items but also newspapers. Holmes examines the newspapers and discovers that some of them feature NEW CODE SYMBOLS and also many of them have SQUARE PAPER SEGMENTS CUT OUT.

ARNOLD AND THE NEWSPAPERS

Holmes privately questions Arnold about the contents of his newspaper, the symbols. Arnold is defensive saying he just likes to read the newspaper and his beloved Abigail packed his lunch and newspaper for him. Arnold says that each day when he finishes the newspaper he shares it with the group or places it in the bin.

Holmes deduces that Abigail packed the lunch like clockwork especially for Arnold to bring here with fresh code symbols hidden inside, knowing that SOMEONE ELSE (SMITH the DIRECTOR) would read it.



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DIRECTOR AND THE NEWSPAPERS

Holmes questions the Director over why he removed Arnold’s newspapers from the rubbish and keeps them in his office? The Director sincerely explains that he likes to read the paper and especially collect the CRICKET COUPONS inside, which is what has been cut out of each paper. Smith shows Holmes the collected coupons, which if you collect them all you get a free ticket to the Lord’s Cricket Ground test match! It’s true.

THE SYMBOLS

When questioned, the Director and Arnold say they do not know what the symbols inked on the corners of some of the newspaper pages mean. They could both be lying of course.

221B

NEW SYMBOL

Holmes evolves his replacement cypher using the NEW SYMBOLS found on the newspapers at the theatre and deciphers “BLOOD MIDDAY 1 NOT 5”. How intriguing. Holmes deduces that this refers to the shot being brought forward from DAY 5 of the test match to DAY 1. Surely expedited because of Holmes’s unexpected investigation.

DEDUCTION BOARD

Holmes now believes that The Viper plans to have Duke David assassinated as a political statement at precisely midday tomorrow during the 1st day of the test match, which still proposes several suspicious characters at the theatre (actors/director, along with Abigail York), all who could be party to a crime against Duke David, not to mention Moran. *Holmes can make arrests now, if the evidence is deemed correct, but with repercussions.

SCOTLAND YARD

SOMETHING IS AFOOT

Holmes meets with Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard and the Lord’s Event Manager, and warns them of the foreboding situation and precautions that must be taken! The Event Manager apologizes to for his earlier disrespect of Holmes, because Mycroft has since ‘had a word’ to put him straight. But the cricket match WILL NOT BE CANCELLED. Holmes promises



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Lestrade a very special criminal collar (arrest) of one known as ‘THE VIPER’, a criminal of great deviousness and whose methods are shrouded in mystery.

MEETING ARNOLD (perhaps at 221B instead)

Arnold surely is not the criminal – all evidence points away from him now. So Holmes meets Arnold at the Yard and privately explains the situation regarding Abigail’s suspicious activity, and offers Arnold a chance to help solve the mystery and be royally rewarded. Arnold is distraught that his beloved Abigail could do such a thing.

*Barry Hamil (the best friend) could even be a suspect, who has easy access to the Lord’s grounds? If arrested this could have repercussions on the outcome of the case.

WALSH HIGH-HOUSE

THE TRAP

Holmes has Watson observe the Arnold high-house until Abigail York leaves in the early hours of the morning (to meet ‘a friend’). While Abigail is absent, Lestrade is hidden outside in the street alleyway with police backup, Watson is planted downstairs in the house with the mother (perhaps under the bed), while Holmes is in the ATTIC hiding in Barry’s empty chest with a spy hole so he can witness events.

LORDS CRICKET GROUND – CUT SCENE

DUKE DAVID ARRIVES

Opposite in the cricket ground, Duke David arrives, waving at crowd, and is sitting in his VIP Box chair ready for the match (we only see a small necessary element of this, so no big budget resources required – Lord’s Cricket Ground at this era was actually quite succinct and small but no less prestigious).

WALSH HIGH-HOUSE

A CRIMINAL ASSOCIATE ARRIVES

From his spying position beneath mother’s bed, Watson sees TWO PEOPLE ENTER the house (only sees shoes and legs) and go upstairs. Could this be Abigail, but then who is the other person in the boots?



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ATTIC ATTACK

Upstairs, Holmes watches from his hiding spot as indeed Abigail York arrives with SEBASTIAN MORAN, who prepares his trademark SNIPER RIFLE at the attic window. Holmes deduced Moran correctly.

Moran takes aim at Duke in the VIP box at midday and fires, BUT HITS/CRACKS A MIRROR (deliberately positioned by Holmes/Lestrade near the VIP Box, to reflect the Duke’s image so that Moran would miss). The positioning of the mirror and reflection is so that the bullet passes harmlessly through open space and imbeds in a water trap or bale of hay etc (for evidence later). The test match continues obliviously.

*Only now do we see that ARNOLD IS DRESSED AS THE DUKE, a DECOY (crap actor’s greatest performance).

SPRING THE TRAP

Holmes springs the trap with Watson and Lestrade’s help. ABIGAIL YORK IS CAPTURED AND ARRESTED but Moran manages to escape out the window and across the rooftops.

ROOFTOPS

Holmes pursues for an exciting chase, QTE’s jumping from building to building and climbing and dropping, precarious roof tiles, when the tiles break away and Moran falls off the edge to his doom. But Holmes manages to grab hold of Moran’s wrist as he falls off the roof, and they hang there, barely holding on, with Moran’s life in Holmes’s hand.

QUESTIONING MORAN

In the tense situation hanging off the edge of the roof, Holmes (player) has time for only a few questions to get more information on who hired Moran and Abigail.

MORAN: We meet again Holmes… just let me go and have it over with once and for all!

HOLMES: You and Abigail are just pawns in this game, who is The Viper?

Moran laughs.

MORAN: I suggest you get your eyes tested…

Moran slips out of Holmes grip and plunges to the hard cobbles below, surely dead.



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SCOTLAND YARD

DEDUCTION BOARD - ARRESTS?

With the assassination attempt of Duke David thwarted and Moran dead/incapacitated, Holmes must now deduce the final evidence to conclude who else was part of The Vipers criminal scheme, accomplices, and why. Most importantly, if the Viper is still in the vicinity, having masterminded the scheme?

INTERROGATIONS

ABIGAIL YORK (depending on how competent the players deduction is) to reveal her as a criminal associate of The Viper and Moran. Abigail (if that is even her real name) seduced Arnold Walsh and supported his acting dream (the terrible would-be actor), gained access to the family home for one purpose only, the perfect sniper perch for Moran to shoot from. A mere criminal business woman.

SEBASTIAN MORAN is dead/Incapacitated. Another man in it for the business and prestige.

OTHER SUSPECTS

(Innocent but player could get wrong)

Perhaps the LORD’S EVENT MANAGER is involved with the scam as a third party? Doubtful.

JOHN SMITH, the theatre play director, who had collected a great many of those newspapers, quite possibly The Viper, manipulating the events using his coded messaging system between Abigail and Moran.

BARRY HAMIL, Arnold’s friend, who works on the Lord’s Cricket Ground does provide access to the grounds via the gate but is really just a jealous but honest friend, innocent of any crime. In fact without Barry’s jealousy, the assassination would have probably been successful. Barry could be incorrectly accused by the player.

Even ARNOLD WALSH was set to earn a tidy weekly sum for the fake play, so could be deduced as a member of The Vipers crew, but seems very gullible and innocent. Arnold was no doubt the patsy, to be blamed for the assassination, because Abigail had systematically planted certain clues for the police to find - Lee Harvey Oswald style (if their plan went precisely that is).



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EVIDENCE TRAYS

Holmes examines the evidence trays (bullet, rifle, schedule). A secret pocket of MORAN’S JACKET holds a PUZZLE SYMBOL NOTE, which Holmes decodes to say “MARLYEBONE 3PM”.

THE THEATRE

(optional climax at MARLEYBONE STATION)

SHOWDOWN

Holmes rushes to the Station/Theatre to confront John Smith who is about to leave, (perhaps Lestrade and the police have surrounded the Theatre) when Holmes confronts him. Smith acts innocent until Holmes speaks the Indian phrase ‘BLOOD AT MIDDAY’ which gets a reaction from Smith, unintentionally breaking his cover.

ANARCHIST UPRISING IN INDIA

The Viper is behind the scheme to kill Duke David who is a despised in India by the underground Indian anarchist movement, in its infancy at this point and gaining steam – this is just the beginning!

THE VIPER

JOHN SMITH, acting as the play Director, masterminded the assassination scheme. He was smart and talented enough to arrange the mock play to distract Arnold Walsh, while managing the sniper assassination of Duke David from the Walsh attic using the exceptional marksmanship of Sebastian Moran.

JOHN SMITH, AKA THE VIPER, states ‘This is just the beginning!’

A rollicking showdown between Holmes and Smith occurs and seems Smith is about to escape when a gunshot rings out and SMITH DROPS DEAD. Holmes sees none other than Mycroft walk out of the shadows, smoking gun, and say hello.

MYCROFT: Who would have thought, one of our own, sympathising with these folk determined to bring anarchy to the Empires colonies! Sherlock, let me introduce you to The Viper, AKA John Smith. Couldn’t allow that bad egg to spoil it for the others of the Empire could we now. Good job Sherlock, carry on.



21

*Should Holmes deduce incorrectly or is too slow to act, then The Viper can escape justice and goes on to lead the Indian Anarchist Movement over the next ten years which hits a peak in 1909.

CHARACTERS

ARNOLD WALSH the ACTOR (or other fun name: Oscar Wells, Orson Wilde etc)

ABIGAIL YORK the NURSE

JOHN SMITH the DIRECTOR

BARRY HAMIL the FRIEND

LORDS EVENT MANAGER – WALLY SAMUELSON – the ARSE

SEBASTIAN MORAN the SHOT

DUKE DAVID WINCHESTER the TARGET

OTHER ACTORS

LOCATIONS

WALSH HIGH-HOUSE

LORDS CRICKET PAVILION STAND

WEST END THEATRE

221B

SCOTLAND YARD

DIOGENES CLUB

OPTIONAL MARLEYBONE STATION

THE END

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