Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
(A large living room in Baskerville Hall, a manor house located in the English mountains. Dr. Mortimer is on stage reading
a diary.)
Dr. MortiMer: (Reading.) “March, 27th 1892. of the origin of the hound of the Baskervilles there have been many
statements. hugo Baskerville was murdered by a big black beast. it was the biggest hound i had ever seen before.”
(Someone knocks at the door. Watson enters.)
Dr. MortiMer: oh no! you’ll never know how grateful i am that you are here, Watson! Where is Mr. holmes?
Watson: he will be here soon. (Looking at his watch) in five… four…. three… two… (Holmes enters.)
Dr. MortiMer: a pleasure to meet you Mr. holmes. i’m Dr. Mortimer. i was a very close friend of sir. charles
Baskerville; he used to be the owner of this house.
HolMes: nice to meet you too, Dr. Mortimer. i hope you enjoyed your walk around the Grimpen Mire.
HolMes: Because i can see some mud on your shoes. and that kind of mud is only found at the
Grimpen Mire.
Dr. MortiMer: (Clapping his hand.) oh! Bravo! Bravo! you certainly live up to your reputation!
HolMes: Judging from the colour of the mud, you were there within the last three hours.
Dr. MortiMer: amazing!
HolMes: i must advise you that next the time you come, you shouldn’t take your little dog with you.
HolMes: teeth marks on your walking stick. the space between the marks is not large so it must be a small dog.
HolMes: elementary.
Watson: curse?
Dr. MortiMer: the curse says that all the Baskerville descendants will be murdered by a big black hound.
Watson: you don’t believe this mumbo jumbo. Do you? it’s a fairy tale.
1
HolMes: as i recall, sir charles was only lived here for a few years.
Dr. MortiMer: Mrs. Barrymore, the housekeeper. she was the one who found the body.
Dr. MortiMer: None… But the expression on his face showed panic.
Mrs. BarryMore: excuse me Dr. Mortimer. it’s sir henry, i saw him from upstairs.
Dr. MortiMer: thank heavens! i’m going to tell him that Mr. holmes and Mr. Watson are here! (Pause) Mr. holmes will you take the
case?
HolMes: Mmm…..
HolMes: excuse me Mrs. Barrymore, may i ask how long you have been in service at Baskerville hall?
Mrs. BarryMore: i’ve been in service here most of my life.
HolMes:in fact, you appear in sir charles’ will.
Mrs. BarryMore: correct.
HolMes: interesting.
Watson: Butterflies?
Mrs. BarryMore: (Avoiding the question.) i’d better go to the kitchen, i must check the pudding.
HolMes: What about that house? i asked you about the person who lives in that house.
Mrs. BarryMore: (Nervous.) Her name is Laura Lyons. She’s been going trough great financial problems
since her husband left her.
2
decor! (Enter a good looking young man, Sir Henry Baskerville.) oh! here you are! (He sees Holmes and
Watson.)
Mrs. BarryMore: he has recently arrived form the united states. now that his uncle is no longer with us, he is the new
owner of the estate, including the house.
Watson: Watson!
HolMes: i’m Mr. sherlock holmes, and this is my colleague John Watson.
sir Henry: i still don’t understand who the father is and who the son is. anyway nice to meet you Mr. holmes and
son.
HolMes: Whatever. May i ask you something, where have you been this morning? sir Henry:
sure, today the sun is shining so i went for a walk around the mountains. Watson: all alone?
sir Henry: no, i was with kathy stapleton. Why?
sir Henry: Yes, but I don’t believe in those stupid fairy tales. But the other day I received this letter…
(Shows him the letter.)
HolMes: Words cut out of the London Times and stuck to the paper. (Reading.) “If you value your
life, keep away from the Baskerville Hall”. someone trying to keep you away from Baskerville hall. no
envelope? no stamp?
HolMes: Hmmm…. Interesting. (Looking at his watch.) i’d better hurry up, my train to london will depart in twenty
minutes. But, before i go, i must give you some advice.
HolMes: you will communicate any news to Watson. and under no circumstances must you walk alone around
the mountains at night. i must stress the importance of this advice.
Scene 2
sir Henry: Good morning Mr. son! Did you have a good rest in your beautiful, wonderful and comfortable bedroom?
Watson: not really, i heard someone crying, did you hear it too?
3
Watson: the sound wasn’t coming from the mountains; it was most certainly inside the house. i thought it might have
been Mrs. Barrymore.
(The doorbell rings. Enter Kathy Stapleton. She is an attractive young woman.)
KatHy: is it safe?
sir Henry: Barrymore’s left, if that is what you mean.
KatHy: (She is holding a boquet of flowers.) We should put these in water. this place looks awful, it’s so old
fashioned.
Watson: i will introduce myself to your young and beautiful friend. My name is Watson, John Watson.
sir Henry: Do you know what? Mrs Barrymore wants to leave the house.
Watson: What?
Watson: if you’ll excuse me, i want to have a word or two with Mrs. Barrymore.
KatHy: i thought Mrs. Barrymore came with the wallpaper. (Kathy laughs.) (Exit Watson.)
sir Henry: it’s been seen again.
KatHy: What?
KatHy: i wouldn’t pay attention to village gossips. they are very superstitious.
sir Henry: i’ve heard about the beast ever since i was a little boy. i never thought about taking it too seriously...
sir Henry: this business with my uncle confuses me. the whole thing seems to be boiling up inside my head and i can’t
get it clear yet.
KatHy: there’s always a rational explanation for everything. (She takes a smart pocket watch out of her pocket.)
here! For you, i couldn’t resist it.
KatHy: i saw the watch in the jeweller’s window. there’s a letter “B” written on the back. (He takes her hand and
moves closer to her.)
sir Henry: your presence here is a gift in itself, since i met you, these past months have been wonderful. i don’t have
anything to give you, but i could offer you something special. (He turns the radio on, music is playing. He invites her to
dance.)
raDio BroaDcaster: “… Newsflash¡ Attention all local residents. The paid assassin Sheldon McAllister
escaped from prison a few hours ago. all local residents are advised to take extra precautions. he is extremely
dangerous”
4
(Sir Henry turnsoff off.)
sir Henry: Don’t be frightened. no one is going to harm you, not while i’m around.
JacK: you stay away from her, she is not for you!
JacK: Just because you are rich and you have a title, you think you can do whatever you want.
sir Henry: it’s no concern of yours. i shall see her as often as she wishes.
JacK: i won’t warn you again. stay away from my sister! (He turns and both exit.)
sir Henry: Who do you think you are? i’ll thank you to stay away from Baskerville hall too!
Scene 3
(Later in the week. Night. There is the sound of wind. Enter Mrs. Barrymore carrying a lamp. She points it at the
mountains. She is making light signals. Sir Henry enters.)
sir Henry: What are you doing here in the dark? Mrs.
BarryMore: (Nervous.) Actually Sir… The truth is…
(Watson enters.)
Watson: What’s going on here?
sir Henry: i just found Mrs. Barrymore here sending light signals through the window!
sir Henry: you’d better tell me what’s going on here if you want to stay in this house!
Mrs. BarryMore: Well… I’d better explain. My poor brother is starving out there in the mountains.
Mrs. BarryMore: the escaped convict sir. sheldon Mcallister, but he is my younger brother. he has the
Devil in him. he is quite insane, but he still is my brother.
Mrs. BarryMore: yes, a few days ago he came here asking for help and food. every night i come up here and i send him light
signals to check that he is all right and take him something to eat. it’s
cold out there, so i also gave him an old coat that belonged to sir henry. (Crying.) somehow i still feel quite responsible for him.
Mrs. BarryMore: (Taking out a letter.) this letter came the morning of your uncle’s death.
Watson: (Reading.) “ please, please, as you are a gentleman, burn this letter after you read it, and meet me by the
mountain gate at ten o’clock”
Watson: no name.
Mrs. BarryMore: only the initials “L.L.” if you don’t have any more questions i’d rather go to bed. (Exit Mrs.Barrymore.)
sir Henry: (Reading the letter again.) “ Please, please, as you are a gentleman, burn this letter after you
read it, and meet me by the mountain gate at ten o’clock. L.L” L.L, what does it mean?
(Enter Holmes.)
sir Henry: I’ve never been happier to see anyone in my whole life. But… If you were not in London,
where were you?
HolMes: Correct. How did it go here? What did you find out?
Watson: The first thing we did when you left was to find out who lived nearby. There are two houses less than 500
metres away. one belongs to Jack stapleton and his sister kathy. Jack is rather eccentric; he is obsessed with butterflies and
botany. His sister Kathy is a charming and attractive lady. (Under his breath.) and it seems that our friend here sir henry gets
on particularly well with her.
HolMes: i see.
Watson: the other house is home to a lady named laura lyons. initially it didn’t seem she had have anything to do with
Mr. charles’ murder, but now Mrs Barrymore has given us a letter, that seems to have been signed by laura lyons. if the
evidence is proven correct, it will make her a direct suspect of sir charles’ murder.
Sir Henry: We found Mrs Barrymore sending light signals through the window. it seems that sheldon Mcallister, the
murderer who escaped from prison, is her brother. that’s the reason why she was crying every night.
Watson: Mrs. Barrymore. Some nights we could hear weeping sounds, coming from the second floor.
sir Henry: after pressurising her into talking, she confessed everything. she also told us about the night Sir Charles died, how
she had found a letter in his office asking him to leave the house at ten o’clock and wait by the garden gate.
Watson: no.
sir Henry: What about you? What did you learn out there?
6
HolMes: i will answer that question when the time comes. But remember my warning: you must
not venture out alone into the mountains at night.
sir Henry: What’s out there, Mr. holmes? you know, don’t you?
HolMes: there is more evil surrounding Baskerville hall than i have ever seen before.
HolMes: listen!
HolMes: i fear it is. the horror that killed sir charles is haunting the mountains once again.
Scene 4(Two days later. Laura Lyons enters the living room, trying not to be seen by anyone, looking desperately for
something.)
(Enter Holmes.)
HolMes: laura lyons?! i was planning to see you tomorrow. What are you doing here?
laura: i’ve been spending some time with a friend who lives near by.
HolMes: no, no. your arrival is most opportune. Won’t you sit down?
HolMes: oh?
laura: the police are looking for a dangerous convict in the mountains.
laura: yes.
laura: i wrote to him once or twice to thank him for his kindness.
laura: i’ve already explained as much as i can. he gave me money several times.
HolMes: Did you ever write to sir charles asking him to meet you?
HolMes: one i intend to repeat. Did you ever write to sir charles asking him to meet you?
laura: no.
7
HolMes: surely, your memory deceives you. “Please, please, as you are a gentleman, burn this letter and be at the gate
by 10 o’clock”.
laura: all right, i wrote it. i needed his help once again, so i asked him to meet me.
HolMes: Why?
HolMes: Ýou admit you made an appointment with sir charles at the hour and place he met his death.
laura: i do.
laura: that is all i’m going to tell you. Good evening Mr. holmes. (Exits.)
sir Henry: Mr. Holmes! I can’t find my old boot! Why would someone want to steal an old boot? I’ve been looking for it all
day long, it’s silly. I can’t find it. My favourite pair! Just see if you can find the other one.
10
(We see Laura and Jack Stapleton through the window in an affectionate pose.) (Enter
Jack.)
JacK: hello sir henry! i should have come back sooner.
sir Henry: (Distant.) is there anything you wish to tell me? JacK:
there is.
sir Henry: anything you have to tell me, you may say it in front of Mr. holmes.
JacK: First of all, i must apologize for my temper. you must understand the thought of losing my
sister is hard for me. she’s my only family. i suspected you of using your title and position to impress her.
sir Henry: i must tell you that i have every intention of marrying your sister. Did she tell you?
JacK: she did. i’ve seen one unhappy marriage here in the mountains, i have no desire of seeing another one. My
sister’s happiness is my only concern.
JacK: let’s say at seven o’clock. i must run along now, to get everything ready.
sir Henry: I can’t find my boot either… Maybe they are together!
HolMes: listen, i found this letter under the door, sir. i heard someone outside but when i looked i
couldn’t see anyone.
HolMes: one moment sir henry. are you used to receiving mail in this manner?
HolMes: Unless I’m mistaken, this is the same message used in your first letter.
HolMes: (Reading.) “If you value your life, leave Baskerville Hall tonight. There will be no further
warning.”
.Scene 5
(Sir Henry is getting dressed for the dinner with the Stapletons. As he exits we see Watson following him outside.)
Watson: (Stopping Sir Henry.) Where do you think you are going?
sir Henry: (Unsure.) Humm…. Err. I just needed some fresh air.
(Sir Henry walks towards the door but when Watson isn’t looking, he changes direction and heads for the Stapleton
house.)
HolMes: Where were you? i’ve been looking for you. there are been many important matters that we
need to talk about.
Watson: i’m a human being, i need to sleep, and relax, sometimes i need a break. Dash it holmes!We
haven’t even sat down for dinner.
HolMes: My apologies.
HolMes: you make too much of food Watson. you should follow my example. i am perfectly
content with a roast beef sandwich and a sudoku.
9
Watson: Unfortunately I can’t eat Sudokus. I don’t want a dry sandwich… I want… I want… a steak
and an apple pie… doughuts… Ice-cream with chocolate and cream….
HolMes: i’ve got some fresh news for you. sir henry received another letter warning him to stay away
from Baskerville hall. But this time it was signed.
Watson: ouch! (Looking at the stars.) it’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?
HolMes: there’s something terrifying about this place. now i have to call your friend Dr. Mortimer. i’m sure he’s got
something to tell us. (Holmes leaves.)
(Watson stays outside looking at the stars. Suddenly we hear the hound howling outside the house and he runs back
in.)
(Black out.)
(Dr. Mortimer is sitting in the living room. Holmes and Watson look quite serious and distant.)
Dr. MortiMer: have you found out something important, Mr. holmes?
(Dr. Mortimer gets a pen out of his pocket and starts writing on a piece of paper.)
Dr. MortiMer: (Reading as he writes.) “If you value your life leave Baskerville Hall tonight.” Whoever
used my signature has no idea of what my handwriting is like.
Watson: Why would anyone sign Dr. Mortimer’s name and not pay attention to his handwriting? HolMes: to
delay the investigation. But i’m sure that the writer is someone who knows you very well. Dr. MortiMer: You mean….
Laura?
HolMes: Maybe. Were you aware she was in correspondence with sir charles?
HolMes: you forgot to mention one important point. you appear in sir charles’ will.
10
HolMes: We know about your recent bad financial difficulties. Watson told me.
Watson: i protest!
Mrs. BarryMore: Mr holmes! Mr Watson! have you seen sir henry? he is not in his room.
Dr. MortiMer: are you worried, Mrs. Barrymore? about sir henry?
Mrs. BarryMore: Not for Sir Henry… (Crying.) My brother… He’s been out there for weeks.
Dr. MortiMer: oh my god! you knew he was out there and you didn’t do anything?
Watson: i’ve never heard screams like that from any man or woman.
Watson: you’ll have to excuse my nerves. i’ve never seen anything like this before. the supernatural is quite beyond
me. the beast is out there, it really exits!
Mrs. BarryMore: (Crying.) oh! My brother! My brother is out there in the mountains!
HolMes: Don’t worry about your brother. We just saw the beast trying to attack another person!
11
Mrs. BarryMore: What could have made him go into the mountains after all the warnings?
Watson: i don’t know. he tried to escape, but the creature was too fast.
Watson: no! if we open the door the beast will kill us all.
HolMes: We promised to protect sir henry, Watson! a man’s word of honour goes beyond his own life.
(The beast can be heard just outside the door. A man screams, followed by a deadly silence. They are all in shock.
Silence.)
sir Henry: Why are you all looking at me like that? is it my hair?
(Holmes slowly opens the door, we can see part of a man’s corpse covered in blood, lying face down. Holmes looks at
his face.)
sir Henry: i know but i had something important to do. i’m engaged! aren’t you going to congratulate me?
HolMes: there’s no time for celebration. Mrs. Barymore, you must prepare yourself for another shock. the man out
there is your brother. he is dead.
Mrs. BarryMore: Oh no! it was my fault, I refused to open the door… it’s my fault… I want to see him!
(Holmes stops her.) i want to see him!
HolMes: i fear it is not a good idea, Watson, please take Mrs. Barrymore upstairs to rest.
sir Henry: poor Mrs. Barrymore. (Amazed.) so, the curse doesn’t only apply to the Baskervilles.
12
HolMes: i wish that were true.
HolMes: Mrs. Barrymore gave him the coat. the hound smelled your scent.
(Enter Watson.)
Watson: When you deal with the supernatural, ordinary explanations are worth nothing.
Watson: (Imitating him.) elementary. after what i saw tonight i think i can believe in anything.
HolMes: By tomorrow Sir Henry, the Curse of the Baskervilles will either be broken. Or…
Watson: or?
(Black out.)
Scene 6
sir Henry: actually, i never did trust her. there was something strange in the way she looked at me.
Hmm…. But I’m used to that, people always look at me, I’m beautiful, handsome, and almost
perfect. Don’t you think “Son”?
Watson: What.
Watson: Watson
sir Henry: you’re Watson. Watson: i am Watson sir Henry: i am henry. (Enter Laura.)
sir Henry: and who are you?
laura: i’m laura! and i must see Mr. holmes, it’s important.
Watson: Good, so now that everyone knows each other’s names, I will go and find Mr. Holmes.
13
(Exit Watson.)
laura: i’ve heard about you, sir henry. you are quite famous around the village.
sir Henry: am i?
laura: Oh yes! Everybody is talking about you and the hound…. Aren’t you afraid of travelling
through the mountains alone? Did you see the beast?
laura: you are brave sir henry, just like your uncle. (Flirting) i want you to know sir henry,
that i respected your uncle greatly, he was kind, generous and most thoughtful. his death upset me…
sir Henry: i expected to see you earlier than this, Mr. holmes.
HolMes: i think you’d better stay, sir henry. What Mrs lyon is about to reveal concerns you.
HolMes: you don’t look like the kind of woman who could live comfortably with such a serious lie.
HolMes: the evidence may implicate not only your friend Jack stapleton, but his wife as well.
HolMes: the person who passed herself off as his sister. she is really his wife.
HolMes: He is. I made some investigations and I found this marriage certificate (He gives a note to Laura.)
14
laura: (She takes it.) It’s true! He lied to me! Bastard… we were going to get married.
HolMes: stapleton asked you to write the letter to tempt sir charles out of the house.
laura: (She nods.) he... promised to marry me once my problems were settled.
sir Henry: now i know why kathy lives in fear of her “brother”.
Watson: that’s why he went mad when he saw you and kathy getting close. he couldn’t control
the instincts of a jealous husband.
HolMes: i understand. now, let’s go back a bit and take a look at all this that’s been going on.
First of all, Jack promised to marry you but as he is very poor and doesn’t have any money he
persuaded you to ask Sir Charles for financial help, and maybe pay for your wedding.
laura: true.
HolMes: then you sent him the letter arranging to meet him at 10 o’clock.
(Laura nods.)
HolMes: immediately after that he persuaded you not to go to your appointment, and the next
thing you knew was that sir charles was dead.
laura: oh my god, you’re right. that’s how it all happened. Jack told me that he’d died in
mysterious circumstances and that i could be a suspect if it came out. he was pressurising me to keep me
quiet, but i can’t do it for much longer... (Crying.) can i go home now, Mr holmes?
HolMes: as you have been honest with me i shall be honest with you. you are still in danger.
Watson: I’ll go with you, my dear. You can trust me to protect you…
HolMes: actually i asked Watson to walk with her to make sure that she wouldn’t say anything to
Jack stapleton.
HolMes: i will be nearby, don’t worry. (He looks at his watch.) oh! We are running out of time!! i must get
everything ready!
15
HolMes: Just trust me!
sir Henry: Wait a minute Mr. holmes! Mr. holmes! holmes? Mrs. Barrymore? Barrymore! Mr. son?Mr. What? (Silence)
they are all gone. (A clap of thunder. He is frightened.) okay, don’t panic…. I need to keep my mind busy.
(Enter Kathy.)
sir Henry: What’s wrong with you? i told holmes i was scared something bad might happen to you.
he knows you are married to Jack.
KatHy: (Evil laugh.) Jack? Don’t be such a fool, he is weak. i had it all planned.
KatHy: Jack is your cousin; he is the son of roger Baskerville, sir charles’ brother! now everything
will belong to Jack and that means… it will be mine!
sir Henry: he is my cousin?
KatHy: the hound is just outside the front door. it’s tied up. i waited until the house was empty, until the mountains
were dark.
KatHy: You’ll see. He’s hungry; I haven’t fed him for days…but now… I’m going to let him go.
SirHenry: no!
KatHy: you only have one chance, run for your life, to the mountains, henry! run, run, run. Get away from him if
you can! it’s your only hope! run!
(Confused, Sir Henry walks around the room in panic. There is the sound of gunfire from outside. Enter Holmes.)
HolMes: you don’t have to worry, sir henry. the house is completely surrounded by the police.
16
sir Henry: then there really was a hound.
HolMes: an enormous dog. Gigantic. half Doberman, half wolf. By the way, here’s your missing boot. kathy used it to
make the hound follow your scent.
HolMes: he did, in his own way. he sent you the warning letters.
(Enter Watson.)
Watson: Mr holmes! the police have arrested her. can we go for dinner now? i’m hungry!
HolMes: no, Watson! We have no time to waste if we want to catch the late train.
sir Henry: come back whenever you like! you will always be welcome!
17