First broadcast 13th April 1988.
Holmes investigates the disappearance of a champion racehorse and the murder of its trainer on a lonely moor.
Jeremy Brett ... Sherlock Holmes
Edward Hardwicke ... Dr Watson
Peter Barkworth ... Colonel Ross
Barry Lowe ... John Straker
Jonathan Coy ... Fitzroy Simpson
Rosalie Williams ... Mrs Hudson
Malcolm Storry ... Inspector Gregory
Manda-Jayne Beard ... Edith Baxter
David John ... Ned Hunter
Sally Faulkner ... Mrs Straker
Russell Hunter ... Silas Brown
Nicholas Teare ... Dawson
Marcus Kimber ... Bookmaker
Geoffrey Banks ... Race Official
Derek Pykett ... Gipsy
Holmes investigates the disappearance of a champion racehorse and the murder of its trainer on a lonely moor.
Jeremy Brett ... Sherlock Holmes
Edward Hardwicke ... Dr Watson
Peter Barkworth ... Colonel Ross
Barry Lowe ... John Straker
Jonathan Coy ... Fitzroy Simpson
Rosalie Williams ... Mrs Hudson
Malcolm Storry ... Inspector Gregory
Manda-Jayne Beard ... Edith Baxter
David John ... Ned Hunter
Sally Faulkner ... Mrs Straker
Russell Hunter ... Silas Brown
Nicholas Teare ... Dawson
Marcus Kimber ... Bookmaker
Geoffrey Banks ... Race Official
Derek Pykett ... Gipsy
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYS
00:30Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
01:00oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
01:30Oh
02:00Oh
02:21It's no good I shall have to go go go go where
02:25Kings Pylon
02:27Kings Pylon
02:29Kings Pylon
02:31Last evening Inspector Gregory of the Devonshire Constabulary arrested well-known racing personality Fitzroy Simpson
02:37and charged him with the murder of trainer John Straker
02:41Oh come in
02:43Two more telegrams Mr. Holmes
02:47Thank you Mrs. Hudson
02:49You've been bombarded with these the last couple of days
02:51Another one from Inspector Gregory
02:53And one from Colonel Ross
02:55Ah, that's the horse's owner
02:57Thank you my dear
02:59Watson
03:01I have made a blunder
03:03Which I am afraid is a more common occurrence than anyone would think
03:07Who only knew me through your memoirs
03:09But the fact is that I could not believe that so remarkable a horse as Silverblades could disappear
03:15Especially in the seclusion of somewhere like the north of Dartmoor
03:19I'm expected to hear that the abductor was the murder of John Straker
03:23And the horse had been found but that doesn't seem to be the case
03:25I should be happy to go with you
03:29Ah, Tavistock
03:31If I should not be in the way
03:35Oh my dear Watson
03:37You would confer a great favour upon me by coming
03:41I'm sure your time will not be misspent
03:43The case promises to be absolutely unique
03:45We can just catch our train from Paddington
03:47And Watson, would you be so kind as to bring your field glasses
03:51Ha!
04:01Mrs. Watson, we're off to Dartmoor
04:17Thank you
04:29Tickets, please
04:33Thank you, Inspector
04:35Thank you
04:37Thank you
04:47Watson, we're going well
04:49Our speed at present is 53 and a half miles an hour
04:55I have not observed the quarter mile posts
04:59Nor have I
05:01But the telegraph posts on this line are 60 yards apart
05:05Calculation is a simple one
05:15Has that remarkably coloured sporting paper anything to say on the subject of our horse?
05:19Huh?
05:21Oh, yes
05:23Yes
05:29Here we are
05:31Silver Blaze
05:33Silver Blaze is from Isonomy stock
05:35Isonomy
05:37And holds as brilliant a record as his famous ancestor
05:41He's now in his fifth year
05:43And has bought in turn each of the prices of the turf
05:46To Colonel Ross' fortunate owner
05:49At the time of the catastrophe
05:52He was first favourite for the Wessex Cup
05:55The odds quoted being two to one against
05:58He's always been a prime favourite with the racing public
06:01And has never yet disappointed them
06:04In spite of the unfavourable price
06:06A great deal of money has been placed upon it
06:09So it is obvious, therefore, that there are
06:11Many people with the strongest interest in preventing Silver Blaze
06:16From being there at the fall of the flag
06:31All right, Blaze, will you stop here, please?
06:33Because this is rather a good view
06:35Now that's King's Highland
06:38Over there, Mr Holmes
06:40My training stable where the missing horse was kept
06:42What exactly does your establishment consist of, Colonel Ross?
06:45Well, uh
06:47There's a trainer's house
06:49Where poor Straker lived with his wife and a maidservant
06:52How long had he been with you, sir?
06:54Oh, five years as jockey
06:57Until he got too heavy for the weighing chair
06:59Then seven years as my trainer
07:02As he was a first-class man
07:05And I presume the stables are beyond
07:07Yes, yes, it's not a big yard
07:09It's a good one
07:11My son is a quality, not quantity
07:13As anyone connected with the turf will tell you, Mr Holmes
07:16Yes, thank you, Inspector
07:17You see, at the moment I've only five horses in the yard
07:21I see you have two of them entered for the Wessex Cup, Colonel Ross
07:25That's right, yes
07:26Silver Blaze and Bayard
07:28But between ourselves, Bayard is intended for a pacemaker
07:32Well, with such valuable animals under his charge
07:35I imagine your trainer, Mr Straker, must have taken some precaution
07:38Oh, yes, indeed
07:40Three stable lads lived with the horses
07:43And, uh, after dark
07:45One of the lads was always on duty in the stables
07:47While the other two sleep above in loft
07:51Is that another training stable over there?
07:53Yes, that's Mapleton
07:55Lord Backwater's yard
07:57Oh, Lord Backwater
07:58Lord Backwater owns Desborough
08:00The second favourite for the Wessex Cup
08:02This is not a bad horse
08:04Not in the same class as Silver Blaze
08:07Fellow called Silas Brown trains for Backwater
08:12I can't stick the fellow himself
08:14Nor could Straker come to that
08:16It's a natural rivalry, I presume
08:18Rather more than that
08:21Shall we drive on?
08:22Yes, indeed
08:23All right, uh, Baines
08:28Inspector Gregory
08:30Are there any further developments as to the whereabouts of the horse?
08:33Nothing at all
08:35We have made very little progress in that direction
08:38I can't imagine how a horse like Silver Blaze
08:41Could go missing for so long in a place like this
08:43Nor can I
08:45I must tell you, Mr Holmes, that at first
08:47I was not at all taken with Inspector Gregory's suggestion
08:50That you should be asked to come down here
08:52Because I don't like amateurs, you see
08:58Huh!
09:00But you did send me a telegram, Colonel
09:02Well, no one else seems to be able to find my horse
09:05If you ask me, it's these damned gypsies
09:08Wandering all over the moor
09:10It's a perfect scandal, I've said so for years
09:12My men have seen every group of gypsies on Dartmoor
09:15In the last two days, Colonel
09:17And searched every stable yard, quarry and cave in South Devon
09:21It's an absolute mystery
09:27Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:29Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:31Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:33Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:35Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:37Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:39Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:41Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:43Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:45Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:47Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:49Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:51Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:53Woof, woof, woof, woof
09:55I expect a miracle from you, Mr. Holmes
10:15Inspector Gregory, my friends at Scotland Yard tell me that you're rapidly making a reputation for yourself in the English detective service
10:22I'm a keen student of your methods too, Mr. Holmes
10:25I have the two principal witnesses waiting for you
10:27Thank you
10:33Woof, woof, woof, woof
10:35Woof, woof, woof, woof
10:37Woof, woof, woof, woof
10:42Woof, woof, woof
10:44Woof
10:53Woof
11:01Woof
11:22Here, Mr. Holmes
11:23Who are they?
11:24Edith Baxter, the maid, and Hunter, the stable boy, who was on duty on Monday night
11:38It was just a few minutes after nine o'clock, sir
11:42I was carrying Mr. Hunter's supper across from the house
11:45But, Miss Baxter, what did the supper consist of?
11:50It was a dish of curried mutton, sir
12:21Woof, woof, woof
12:34Suddenly I heard a man's voice
12:36Dinaf, give me a turn, I can tell you, sir
12:41Excuse me, miss
12:42What do you want, sir?
12:45Can you tell me where I am?
12:47I'd almost made up my mind to sleep on the moor when I saw the light
12:50This is King's Pylon Training Stable, sir
12:55What a stroke of luck
13:00I understand there's a stable lad who sleeps here at night
13:04No doubt that's his supper you have there
13:08I'm sure you wouldn't be too proud to earn yourself the price of a new dress, would you?
13:13See, the boy has this tonight
13:15And you shall have the prettiest frock money can buy
13:17I couldn't
13:21Ned! Ned!
13:24Ned!
13:25There's a man, stop me out there
13:27I'm ever so frightened
13:29What did he want?
13:30He asked after you
13:31He asked me to give you something
13:33What was it?
13:34I don't know
13:35It was white
13:36Where is he now?
13:37He's gone
13:39You best cut back up the house quick
13:41Tell the governor
13:42Yes, sir
14:02Good evening
14:03I want a word with you
14:05What business have you here?
14:07It's a business that may put something in your pocket, my lad
14:11Now, you've two horses entered in the Wessex Cup
14:14Silverblaze and Bayard
14:16Let me have the straight tip and you won't be the loser
14:20Is it the fact that at the weights Bayard can give the other 100 yards in five furlongs from the stable?
14:25We don't want any damn touts round here
14:27Get out!
14:37Wait!
14:43The governor and the others came down soon enough
14:46We found neither sight nor sound of the man
14:48One moment
14:49When you let the dog out, did you leave the door open behind you?
14:53Excellent, Watson, excellent
14:54It's just a pint I was going to make
14:56I locked the door behind me, sir
14:58I swear it
14:59Good lad
15:01Does Fitzroy Simpson admit to all this?
15:03He denies nothing
15:08He says he came for information
15:11What about the white paper?
15:12He says it was a five-pound note
15:14Thank you, sir
15:20What happened next?
15:22Well, sir
15:24It was a mistake
15:26What happened next?
15:28Well, sir
15:30It was about dawn when the mistress came into my bedroom and told me to come with her
15:35Well, wouldn't she, Walt?
15:36She'd found Mr. Straker's bed empty
15:49Heavens!
15:51The horse is gone
15:54And the bridle
15:56Ned!
16:02Ned!
16:03Wake up!
16:04Wake the boys
16:05Ned!
16:06Ned!
16:07Wake up!
16:08Wake up, Ned!
16:10Bill! Nubby!
16:11Come quick!
16:12Silver Bliss is gone!
16:27Come on
16:40Over here!
16:57No!
16:58No!
17:26He was dead, sir
17:29He's dead
17:33It's all knocked in
17:39It was terrible
17:58It was the terrible blow on the head from some blunt instrument that had killed him
18:03It was clear that he had defended himself most vigorously
18:07The blood-stained knife
18:10As to the wound on the thigh, who can tell?
18:12Well, it is possible that the wound on the thigh could have been caused as Straker fell
18:17The lad here was drunk
18:19Appreciable quantities of alcohol were taken from him
18:21And he was taken to the hospital
18:23It's possible that the wound on the thigh could have been caused as Straker fell
18:25The lad here was drunk
18:27Appreciable quantities of powdered opium were found in his curry
18:32Did all the household eat the same dish?
18:34Yes, sir
18:35I made it myself and served it
18:41This black and red scarf
18:44The gentleman was wearing that scarf when he talked to me
18:46I'd swear that on the Bible, sir
18:50Thank you, Watson
18:51Thank you
18:53Thank you
19:02Stop it, boy! Stop it!
19:15My theory is that Simpson was under some strong obligation to nobble or otherwise incapacitate this horse
19:20So that he would be unable to run in the Wessex Cup
19:23Clever move that, putting opium in the boy's food and easy enough through that window
19:26Yes
19:27Then it was simple
19:29He'd obtained a duplicate key, led out the horse
19:32It was his bad luck that Straker was alert enough to catch him up on the moor
19:36In the struggle, the horse bolted
19:38There's no proof that Simpson killed Straker, is there?
19:42The evidence against him is very strong
19:43He was undoubtedly here that night on some devious business
19:46He poisoned the stable lad
19:47He had in his hand a heavy stick weighted with lead
19:49And his scarf was found in the dead man's hand
19:52And he went pale as death when I confronted him with that fact
19:54I really think we have enough to go before a jury
19:57No, no, no
19:59Inspector!
20:00A clever counsel would tell it all to rags
20:04Has a duplicate key been found in his possession?
20:06No
20:07But what chemist?
20:08Sold him the pounded opium
20:09And above all, how could he, a stranger in this district, hide a horse?
20:12And such a horse as Silverblaise?
20:14I agree, the evidence is circumstantial
20:16But I think the net is drawn pretty tightly around Fitzroy Simpson
20:19And I believe he is our man
20:23What sort of a fellow is he?
20:25And why would he do such a thing?
20:27Fitzroy Simpson is a man of excellent birth and dedication
20:30Unfortunately, he has squandered a fortune on the turf
20:33Which has put him in the hands of moneylenders and unscrupulous bookmakers
20:37Plenty of those sharks in the racing world
20:38I didn't know that you were betting, man
20:40What's that?
20:41Oh, just the occasional flutter
20:45I presume an inventory has been made
20:48Of what Straker had in his pockets at the time of his death?
20:51I have the things themselves in the sitting room, if you would care to see them
20:54Hmm
21:16Vice and Co. London
21:19Hmm
21:20For the bloodstains, I presume this is the knife that was found in the dead man's grasp
21:23Yes, indeed
21:24This is more than your line, Doctor
21:27Yes, it's what we call a cataract knife
21:30Very delicate blade, devised for very delicate work
21:34Strange thing for a man to take on so rough an expedition, Holmes
21:38Especially as it wouldn't shut in his pocket
21:40The tip was guarded by a disc of cork, which we found beside the body
21:43You impress me, Inspector
21:45Thank you
21:46Mr. Straker said it was found on the dressing table
21:48It was probably the nearest thing to hand at the time
21:50I see
21:51Now, let's see
21:53Corp Merchants' Bill
21:56Instructions from Colonel Ross
21:59And what have we here?
22:02A milliner's account
22:03For £37.15 from a Madame de Zurier of Bond Street, London
22:08To a Mr. William Derbyshire
22:10Now, Mrs. Straker tells us that Derbyshire was a friend of her husband's
22:12And occasionally had his letters addressed here
22:14Hmm
22:1622 guineas
22:18Somewhat heavy for a single costume
22:22Mrs. Derbyshire had rather expensive taste
22:24Yes
22:25Well, there appears to be nothing more to learn here, Inspector
22:28Shall we move on to the scene of the crime?
22:29Yes, of course
22:42Have you got them, Inspector?
22:45Is there any more news?
22:48I'm afraid not, Mrs. Straker
22:50But Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson have come down from London to help us
22:55I assure you, we are doing everything possible
22:58I wish you good luck, Mr. Holmes
23:00Well, thank you, Madam
23:01And I come with viserations on your great lot
23:04Surely we met
23:07At a garden party
23:09In Plymouth, some time ago
23:12No, sir
23:13You are mistaken
23:14No, do you know, I could have sworn it
23:17You are a costume of
23:19Five-coloured silk
23:21With ostrich feather trimming
23:24I never had such a dress, sir
23:29That quite settles it, thank you
23:37That is the bush where the coat was hanging
23:39What was the weather like?
23:40Oh, calm
23:41Bit of rain about
23:43And the coat was not blown against the bush, but placed there?
23:46Yes, it was placed there
23:47Inspector
23:48No, no, no
23:52So many people have trampled around this land
23:59There have been many people here
24:01That piece of matting has been placed there and we have all stood upon that
24:04Not the general public
24:06I have in this bag
24:08One of the boots John Straker wore
24:11One of Fitzroy Simpson's shoes
24:15And a cast horseshoe of silver blaze
24:18Thank you, inspector
24:48Thank you
25:19Oh
25:30A burnt wax vest
25:32Campbell it
25:35I cannot understand how I came to overlook them
25:38They were invisible, buried in the mud
25:41I only saw them because I was looking for them
25:43What?
25:44You expected to find them?
25:46I thought it not unlikely
25:49I am afraid there are no more tracks
25:51I have examined the ground for a hundred yards in every direction
25:55What a pleasant evening
25:57I think I'll take a walk, stretch my legs
25:59Watson?
26:00Yes, indeed
26:01I'll take this, for luck
26:02I have some work to do in the house
26:04Then Colonel Ross is coming to take us back to Tavistock
26:09Good evening, constable
26:18Good evening
26:49I suppose his silver blaze broke away
26:52I mean, where would he have gone?
26:54If he'd run loose on the moor
26:55He'd have surely been seen by now
26:58Perhaps the gypsy theory is correct
26:59No, no, no, no, no
27:01A horse
27:03Is a most gregarious creature
27:08A horse
27:10Is a most gregarious creature
27:13A horse
27:15Is a most gregarious creature
27:18Now, he did not go back to King's Pylent
27:20To his own stable
27:21So he must have gone
27:24To Melton
27:27Now, let us use that as a working hypothesis
27:31The ground around here is very hard and dry
27:33But over there
27:34In that hollow
27:35It must have been very wet on Monday night
27:39If our supposition is correct
27:43He must have crossed it
27:48What's that?
28:01What's that?
28:12Why, George, look at that
28:14You see
28:15The value of imagination
28:17Is the one quality which Inspector Gregory lacks
28:20We imagined what might have happened
28:22Acted upon the supposition
28:23And find ourselves justified
28:25Let us proceed
28:35Ah
28:37Yes
28:38Yes
28:52Look
28:53Look
29:09Horse
29:11And man
29:15Turned
29:39No loitering around here
29:42Haven't you got eyes in your head?
29:44I only wanted to ask you a question
29:46Should I be too early to see Mr. Silas Brown
29:48If I was to call around here at 5.30 tomorrow morning?
29:51I shouldn't be speaking to you by rights
29:57Here, lad
30:08Mr. Brown's the only bird around here, all right?
30:11Dawson
30:12What are you doing gossiping with strangers?
30:14Be about your business
30:18Now, what the devil do you two want round here?
30:20Just a few minutes of your time, Mr. Brown
30:22Be off with you
30:23Or you'll find the dog on your heels
30:27Why should I talk every gad about stranger on the moor?
30:31It may save you
30:32Instant dismissal
30:35From Lord Backwater's service
30:37And a stiffish prison sentence
30:49Keep guard
31:00Early
31:02Tuesday morning
31:04You were about the yard as usual
31:08When you saw a horse
31:11On the moor
31:14When you approached it, you realized that it wasn't a strange horse at all
31:17But one that you knew
31:19Very well
31:22Your first instinct was to lead Silver
31:26Silver Blaze
31:28Back to King's Pylon
31:29But then the devil put other ideas into your head
31:34Here's a chance to make a great deal of money
31:38It occurred to you that if you were to hide the horse
31:46You've been watching me, haven't you?
31:52You've been spying on me, sir
31:54You've been spying on me, sir
32:03Look, sir
32:08I do what you want
32:20If it's money you want
32:24You shall have it
32:35You will do exactly as I tell you
32:48A more perfect compound of the bully, coward and sneak
32:51Than Master Silas Brown I've seldom met with
32:53He has the horse, then?
32:54Of course
32:55But his stables have been searched
32:57An old faker like him knows many a dodge
33:02Watson, I don't know whether you observed
33:03But Colonel Ross's manner to me has been somewhat cavalier
33:07I'm inclined to have a little amusement at his expense
33:09Say nothing to him about the horse
33:11I shall say nothing without your permission
33:13Splendid
33:16We have found traces which show that a party of gypsies
33:18Encamped on Monday night within a mile of where the murder took place
33:22Fitzroy Simpson may well have an understanding with them
33:25Over hiding the horse
33:27Nevertheless, I think I owe it to the public
33:31To remove Silver Blaze's name from the entrance for the cup
33:34No, certainly not
33:35Colonel, I should let the name stand
33:37But I've already withdrawn by art
33:39But I have every hope that Silver Blaze
33:42Will start on Saturday
33:43Have your jockey in readiness
33:45I'm very glad to have your opinion, sir
33:49That is a minor point, of course
33:51Compared with the question of who killed John Straker
33:55Doubtless you will be devoting yourself to that problem
33:57On the contrary
33:58Doctor Watson and I are taking the night express to London
34:03We've had the most charming little breath of your country air
34:09So you've despaired already of arresting the murderer of poor John Straker
34:14There are certain grave difficulties
34:17Do you have the photograph of Straker?
34:20Thank you, Inspector
34:21I am quite ready now for Tavistock
34:24Linger
34:28I must say I'm rather disappointed in our London consultant
34:33I don't see that we're any further than when he came
34:35At least you have his assurance, Colonel, that your horse will run
34:38Oh, yes, I have his assurance
34:40I should prefer to have the horse
34:42I think you should heed Mr. Holmes' advice, Colonel
34:46Well, I shall have a seat
35:00Excuse me, who looks after these sheep?
35:02I do, sir
35:04Have you noticed anything amiss of late?
35:07No, sir
35:08Well, it's not of much account, but three of them have gone lame
35:17A long shot, Watson, a very long shot, after you
35:21Inspector, I'd like to recommend to you the singular epidemic among the sheep
35:26You rarely consider that to be important
35:29Exceedingly so
35:32All right, Bairns
35:33All right, Bairns
35:45Is there any other point to which you wish to draw my attention, Mr. Holmes?
35:51To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time
35:55But the dog did nothing in the night-time
35:58That is the curious incident
36:03Yes
36:16Yes
36:22Good afternoon
36:24Yes
36:30Where the devil is my horse, Holmes?
36:32No, no, no, no, no, where the devil is he?
36:34I suppose, Colonel, that you would recognise him if you saw him
36:38No, my own horse
36:40You know, I've been on the turf for 20 years
36:42And I've never been asked such a damnful question before
36:45By triumph and no silver blaze
36:47With a white star on his forehead and mottled hind leg
36:52I suppose you realise that if my horse doesn't run
36:55Quite apart from being lynched by the crowd
36:57I shall be up before the stewards
36:59Probably warned off every race course in England for life
37:02Reputation ruined
37:03Ah, let us hope it does not come to that, Colonel
37:06Here's Dr. Watson
37:11And this
37:14Colonel
37:16Is your horse
37:17My horse
37:19But that's not my horse, Holmes
37:22Good God, man, what have you done?
37:33Thank you
37:48There, Colonel
37:51Is your silver blaze
37:55I found him in the hands of a faker
37:57And brought him to the course just as he was
38:04Good heavens
38:08You take my breath away, Mr. Holmes
38:18Why didn't you give it to him?
38:22Like this
38:30Why isn't it working?
38:396 to 4 to 5
38:416 to 5 to 4 to 5
38:436 to 1 Duke
38:44Courtesy of 6 to 1 Duke
38:47Silver blade, if he runs, my lord, to win or play, my lord?
39:01To win, of course.
39:05Any more like you and I?
39:17Come on, Silver blaze! Come on!
39:28What's the matter with the damn horse?
39:31What have you done to him, Holmes?
39:33He's heavily missing his pacemaker.
39:36I'll never withdraw him, Bayard.
39:38He's breaking through!
39:43Come on, Silver blade!
39:45Come on, Silver blaze!
39:47Come on, Slytherins!
39:49Go on, go on, go on!
39:51He's going to win, he's going to win, he's going to win!
39:57He's won!
40:02Silver blade!
40:16Oh, you've done wonders, Mr. Holmes.
40:20And I owe you a thousand apologies for having doubted your ability.
40:25Now, you've done me a great service by recovering my horse.
40:30You'd do me a greater still if you could lay your hands on the murderer of John Straker.
40:35I've done so.
40:37What? What's all this about? If you've got him, where is he then?
40:41He's here.
40:42Here? Where?
40:44Someone who's in our presence at this very moment.
40:48Yes, I quite recognize that I'm under obligations to you, Mr. Holmes,
40:52but this is either a very bad joke or an insult.
40:55The real murderer, Colonel, is standing immediately behind you.
41:00The horse?
41:01Yes, the horse.
41:04And it may lessen his guilt if I say
41:07that it was done entirely in self-defense
41:11and that John Straker was a man quite unworthy of your trust.
41:26Number four, sir. Winner.
41:41Thank you.
41:50Colonel Ross.
41:52Yes.
41:54Yes, thank you very much.
42:02I hit the glass door.
42:05Thank you very much.
42:06Thank you.
42:12Thank you very much.
42:19Number 12.
42:20Number 12.
42:33Very proud of you. Very proud.
42:36Thank you very much.
42:37Thank you.
42:42Thank you very much.
42:55I confess, Colonel, that when we came down to King's Pile
42:57that I was convinced that Fitzroy Simpson was the true culprit.
43:00All the newspaper and police reports seemed to point to it.
43:04It was only when I entered the trainer's house
43:07that the immense significance of the colored mutton occurred to me.
43:11I confess, even now I cannot see how it happens.
43:16Powdered opium, Colonel, is by no means tasteless.
43:20I am correct.
43:21Oh, quite correct.
43:22The flavor is not distasteful, but it is perceptible.
43:26Were it mixed with an ordinary dish, the eater would undoubtedly detect it,
43:29but would probably eat no more.
43:31Curry was exactly the medium with which to disguise the taste.
43:35So it must have been Straker or his wife.
43:38Exactly.
43:41Because I remember you spoke of a dog.
43:49Yes, the dog that didn't bark in the night.
43:53Well, someone had been into the stable and taken out the horse,
43:57and the dog had not barked,
43:59so obviously this midnight visitor was someone the dog knew well.
44:02I was already convinced that it was Straker.
44:04But for what purpose should he take out the horse
44:07and drag his own stable boy out?
44:10A dishonest one, obviously.
44:12There have been cases before now where trainers have made great sums of money
44:16by laying against their own horses and then preventing them from winning.
44:20Well, sometimes you get a pulling jockey, I will say that.
44:23Sometimes by shorter and more subtle means.
44:29This...
44:33singular knife,
44:35which was found in the dead man's hand
44:38and which no sane man would use as a weapon.
44:42Right, Doctor?
44:43Yes, only used in the most delicate operations.
44:47It was used for a very delicate operation, that knife.
44:54Excuse me.
44:56Excuse me.
45:02As you know, Colonel,
45:04with your wide knowledge of turf matters,
45:09that it is possible to make a slight nick in the horse's tendon
45:15and do it subcutaneously.
45:26Any slight lameness will be put down to a strain in training
45:30or a bruise never foul play.
45:32A villain, a damn scoundrel.
45:35Not an operation to be done in the stable, no food for me.
45:40So sensitive a creature would arouse the soundest of sleepers.
45:45I've been blind, and Gregory too.
45:47Of course, that's why he needed the candle and struck the match.
45:51When I examined Straker's belongings,
45:53I was fortunate to discover
45:55not only the method of the crime, but also the motive.
46:01Most men do not carry other people's bills in their pockets.
46:05From this I concluded that Straker was leading a double life.
46:09The nature of the bill shows that there was a woman in the case,
46:13and a woman of expensive tastes.
46:16Liberal though you are with yourself,
46:18I'm sure they're not able to afford
46:2022 Guinea walking dresses for their ladies.
46:26Mrs. Straker never had one by her own admission.
46:30When I visited Bond Street the other morning,
46:33I showed Madame Le Zurier this photograph of Straker.
46:42She recognized him,
46:45She recognized him
46:47as an extremely good customer called William Derbyshire.
46:54A very dashing young wife with a partiality for expensive dresses.
46:58Women! Women!
47:01I suppose it was she who plunged him head over heels into debt
47:04and so led him to this miserable plot.
47:07A miserable plot.
47:11Straker let out silver blaze into the hollow
47:17where his light would not be visible from the yard.
47:25Simpson in his flight had dropped his scarf.
47:29Straker picked it up
47:31with the idea, no doubt,
47:33that he might use it in securing the horse's leg.
47:38Straker was able to light his candle,
47:41but just as he had the knife ready,
47:45the horse lashed out
47:47and caught him a fatal blow on the forehead.
48:01Why?
48:02Why did the horse lash out so suddenly?
48:04Why did the horse lash out so suddenly?
48:06Frightened by the candle, the knife?
48:08Well, animals have a strange instinct.
48:12They seem to know when some mischief is intended.
48:25My final shot, I must confess, was a long one.
48:29It struck me that such an astute man as Straker
48:32would not undertake this tender nicking
48:35without a little practice.
48:38Man.
48:44The sheep.
48:46Of course.
48:48Wonderful, my dear.
48:51Now, you've explained all but one thing.
48:56The horse. Now, where was the horse?
48:59Well, I think we must have
49:02a little amnesty in that direction, Colonel.
49:07It bolted
49:09and was looked after by one of your neighbours.
49:24Gentlemen, I give you a toast
49:27to Silverblaze,
49:29coupled with the names of my friends,
49:32Mr Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson.
49:42To Silverblaze.
49:59To Silverblaze.
50:29To Silverblaze.
50:31To Silverblaze.
50:33To Silverblaze.
50:35To Silverblaze.
50:37To Silverblaze.
50:39To Silverblaze.
50:41To Silverblaze.
50:43To Silverblaze.
50:45To Silverblaze.
50:47To Silverblaze.
50:49To Silverblaze.
50:51To Silverblaze.
50:53To Silverblaze.
50:55To Silverblaze.