SHERLOCK HOLMES

 

                              THE DOUSED BULLET

 

                         Radio and Television Project

 

          

 

          

 

          Writing and Direction   - Suraj Vyas
          Editing and direction   - Kushal Desai
          Costumes and Direction  - Paloma Thakeria
          Director of Photography - Titiksha Gandhi
          Props and locations     - Aanchal Ojha and Divya Phatarpekar           

 

          

 

          

 

          

 

          Characters- 1. Sherlock Holmes

 

                      2. John Watson 

 

                      3. Abhiraj Rajadhyaksha

 

                      4. Aashna Jhaveri 

 

                      5. Coroner

 

                      6. Divya(Victim)

 

          

 

          

 

          

 

          (Blank Screen)

 

          Kutchi: Daya akdi bhet aay, maadej maange pan koikej     

          male;badle thi hanji bhar paaye thye. Voice over: Daya eka

          bheta che. Bhagyej Maade, mangi layaka vera gepa bhare

 

          Subtitles: Mercy is a gift, often sought, rarely deserved;

          Revenge fills the gap.

 

          SCENE 1: SETTING:(SECLUDED STREET IN THE NIGHT.)

 

          

 

          (Divya halts her car, feeling that her GPS navigation is

          deceiving her. She turns and frantically starts fidgeting

          with it. At the same time, a gun pokes into her window.

          *sound of gunshot*. Divya is dead.)

 

          Diary Shot 1: (We see a diary being sifted through with

          gnarled hands. The focus is on but a few words)

 

                              I BOUGHT A GUN.

 

          

 

          SCENE 2:SETTING: (EARLY MORNING, SECLUDED STREET)

 

          CRIME SCENE, THE AREA AROUND THE CAR IS CORDONED OFF BY THE

          LOCAL POLICE. AASHNA JHAVERI, A NEWLY APPOINTED DETECTIVE IS

          SURVEYING THE CAR.

                    

                    (sound of approaching vehicle.

                    Abhiraj, a veteran of the

                    department walks upto her and she

                    quickly hands him some documents.)

 

                              

 

                              AASHNA: SIR AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO BE

                              RESTING ON YOUR MEDICAL LEAVE?

                    

                    Abhiraj: A pin prick for me, never

                    mind. Ahh! I see you've managed to

                    secure the coroner's report

                    already. I won't forget this while

                    making your monthly one this time.

 

                              AASHNA: THANK YOU! THERE'S A PROBLEM

                              WITH THE REPORT COMING OUT. THE CASE IS

                              NOT AS CONVENTIONAL AS WE THOUGHT IT TO

                              BE.

                    

                    Abhiraj: (checking the report) What

                    does it say?

 

                              

 

                              AASHNA: IT SAYS THAT THE VICTIM WAS

                              DROWNED BEFORE SHE WAS SHOT.

                    

                    Abhiraj: But, that is impossible...

                    all the more reason for me to be

                    here. This could be just the break

                    through case I need to curb my dry

                    spell. Why don't you...

 

                              

 

                              (ABHIRAJ'S PHONE RINGS) ABHIRAJ:

                              HMM...HMM... HMM...(FLINCHES) YES SIR,

                              NO PROBLEM SIR. (HE CUTS THE CALL AND

                              ANGRILY SHOVES THE REPORT AT AASHNA)

                    

                    Aashna: Who was it sir? Abhiraj:

                    The secretary of defence. Tell me

                    one thing, the report didn't come

                    to me first hand, did it? (Aashna

                    bows down reprimanded)

 

                              ABHIRAJ: WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO LAY OFF THE

                              CASE, UNTIL SOME HIGH PROFILE

                              INDIVIDUALS, PROBABLY BRITISH ARRIVE

                              HERE TO LEAD US. BECAUSE THAT BODE SO

                              WELL FOR OUR ANCESTORS THE LAST TIME IT

                              HAPPENED.

                    Aashna: Who do you think it could

                    be? (Abhiraj sighs)

 

          SCENE 2:

 

          (IN LONDON, AROUND DUSK, WATSON IS WORKING ON HIS COMPUTER

          WHILE SHERLOCK IS PLAYING HER GUITAR. ONLY SILHOUETTES OF

          WATSON AND SHERLOCK ARE SEEN)

 

                              

 

                              WATSON: SHERLOCK... (SHERLOCK IGNORES

                              AND IS LOST IN PRACTICE)

                    

                    Watson: Sherlock... ( A little

                    louder this time. Still no

                    response)

 

                              WATSON: SHERLOCK! (SHOUTING)

                    

                    Sherlock: What is it now?

 

                              WATSON: COME HERE. SOMETHING THAT'LL

                              INTRIGUE YOU. AND MAYBE MAKE YOU WANT TO

                              GO SHOPPING FOR TROPICAL WEATHER. (

                              CAMERA ZOOMS ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN

                              REVEALING AN E-MAIL FROM THE INDIAN

                              GOVERNMENT)

 

          

 

          Title screen:

 

                              SHERLOCK- THE DOUSED BULLET

 

          Scene 3: Setting:(India, Mumbai, Next morning)

 

          (Abhiraj and Aashna are in an elevator)

                    

                         Aashna: So Sherlock and Dr.

                         Watson. Man this is a

                         privilege. )

                    Abhiraj: You call our job being

                    taken over by outsiders a

                    privilege? Say that to every local

                    businessman who lost his livelihood

                    to international corporates.

 

                              AASHNA: (BEFUDDLED) BUT SIR, HOW DID OUR

                              GOVERNMENT HAPPEN TO COME IN CONTACT

                              WITH THEM?

                    

                    Abhiraj: Ms. Holmes happens to be

                    in their debt as they gave her

                    shelter when she wanted to stay

                    dead in the eyes of the world.

                    Without blowing the cover at that.

 

                              AASHNA: HMM... SO OUR FIRST TASK IS TO

                              RECEIVE AND ACCOMODATE THEM IN A PLUSH

                              HOTEL SUITE WITH THE GRANT THAT THE

                              SECRETARY HAS HANDED US.

                    

                    Abhiraj: Receive and accomodate

                    them we will, but no 5 star

                    treatment. They want to come to

                    India and genuine India is what

                    they should get. (smirks)

 

                              AASHNA: OH I SEE SIR, AND THEN WE SPLIT

                              THE REST?

                    

                    Abhiraj: Yes. But it is not about

                    what we get out of it. It is about

                    what has been snatched from us by

                    them.

 

                              AASHNA: (TAPPING HIS SHOULDER AND

                              POINTING TOWARDS THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF

                              THE STREET) THEY'RE HERE ALREADY.

                              (SHERLOCK AND WATSON WALK TOWARDS

                              AASHNA)

                    

                    Watson: Excuse us lady, but could

                    you direct us to Mr. Abhiraj's

                    office, we are to meet him

                    concerning a particular case.

 

                              ABHIRAJ: I HAPPEN TO BE MR. ABHIRAJ. YOU

                              MUST BE JOHN WATSON AND THIS MADAM RIGHT

                              HERE, THE GREAT...

                    

                    Sherlock: You can stick to calling

                    me just Sherlock or Ms. Holmes,

                    whichever you feel appropriate.

 

                              WATSON: WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LEG?

 

                              

 

                              ABHIRAJ: A MEMENTO FROM A SILLY SHOOT

                              OUT WITH LOCAL SCOUNDRELS.

                    

                    Watson: I've had my share of those

                    in plenty. (Both of them shake

                    hands)

 

                              AASHNA: YOU MUST BE TIRED, WE'LL ESCORT

                              YOU TO YOUR ACCOMMODATION.

                    

 

          SCENE 4: SETTING: (AFTERNOON, HOTEL ROOM, A SMALL ROOM WITH

          ONE BED, IN A DINGY STATE)

 

          ( SHERLOCK AND WATSON ENTER THEIR HOTEL ROOM WITH THE

          OFFICERS)

                    Aashna: (To Sherlock) So are you

                    and John a thing?

 

                              SHERLOCK: A THING WHAT? AASHNA: A THING,

                              YOU SEE, LIKE ARE YOU A COUPLE?

                    

                    Sherlock:(exchanging awkward

                    glances with Watson) Oh no! I'm

                    practically married to my work.

                    Besides it's not a good idea to

                    indulge with colleagues. Things

                    could go awry at work.

 

                              WATSON: (EMBARRASSED)SO DROWNING BEFORE

                              ONE DRIVES UP THEIR CAR TO A SECLUDED

                              SPOT ONLY TO BE SHOT DEAD. SMELLS A

                              LITTLE FISHY DOESN'T IT?

                    

                    Abhiraj: Hmm... it's your

                    responsibility now to trace the

                    fish causing the stench. I'll leave

                    the report and other details here.

 

                              SHERLOCK: I WANT TO SEE THE BODY.

                    

                    Abhiraj: But you have all the

                    details in the report.

 

                              SHERLOCK: I WANT TO SEE IT FOR MYSELF.

                    

                    Abhiraj: (looks at Aashna

                    passively, sighs) Arrange to get

                    Ms. Holmes and Mr. Watson to the

                    coroner's office in an hour.

 

                              SHERLOCK: LET'S RIDE RIGHT AWAY. WATSON,

                              GOOD TO GO RIGHT? WATSON: BUT I NEED

                              TO... SHERLOCK: GOOD TO GO IT IS.

                    

                    Abhiraj: Alrighty then. Out of here

                    we go. Ms. Holmes why don't you

                    join me for a cup of coffee at my

                    office after Aashna takes you to

                    show the body? Sherlock: Hmm...

                    Abhiraj: (beholding the dingy state

                    of the room) This is how staying on

                    the other side of the bars must

                    feel like, correct Aashna?

 

                              AASHNA: (LOOKING AROUND NODS) I'LL START

                              THE CAR.

 

                              

 

          SCENE 5: SETTING: (THAT AFTERNOON, THE CORONER'S OFFICE)

 

          (AN ESTABLISHED SURVEY OF THE OFFICE THROUGH SHERLOCK'S

          PERSPECTIVE FOCUSING ON VARIOUS OBJECTS. THE BODY LIES CLOSE

          TO THE FLOOR. THE CORONER EMERGES FROM BEHIND A STACK OF

          FILES AND DOCUMENTS.)

                    Coroner: Ms. Jhaveri, I just got

                    off the phone with Detective

                    Abhiraj. Ms. Holmes and Dr. Watson

                    (cursory nodding), wasn't my report

                    satisfactory?

 

                              WATSON: MS. HOLMES LIKES TO GET THE

                              DIAGNOSIS BY HERSELF. (EVERYBODY

                              WRINKLES THEIR NOSE EXCEPT SHERLOCK)

                    

                    Aashna: This smell is razing my

                    nostrils.

 

                              CORONER: YOU COME TO SURVEY A 48 HOUR

                              DEAD BODY AND WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? IT

                              WOULDN'T BE FLOWERY FRAGRANCES EXACTLY.

                              HERE HELP YOURSELF WITH HIS. (OFFERS

                              THEM A BALM. AASHNA AND WATSON HASTILY

                              APPLY IT. SHERLOCK LOOMS INDIFFERENT)

                    

                    Sherlock: Why don't you get on with

                    making your observations army

                    officer?

 

                              WATSON: (WALKS TOWARDS THE BODY AND

                              STARTS INSPECTING IT) THE OBVIOUS, THERE

                              ARE NO WATER MARKS ANYWHERE ON THE BODY

                              TO SUGGEST A DROWNING STRUGGLE. YOU SAY

                              THAT YOU FOUND THE BODY DRY?

                    

                    Aashna: Yes. Nothing but blood and

                    minor sweat patches on the clothes.

                    Besides she had driven her car to a

                    spot where there is no waterbody

                    for leagues around.

 

                              WATSON: AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THESE

                              CONTUSIONS ARE FROM?

                    

                    Coroner: Impact of the bullet

                    piercing her chest perhaps.

 

                              SHERLOCK: THE AREA AROUND THE BULLET

                              WOUND IMMEDIATELY DROPS INTO TRAUMA,

                              OFTEN LEAVING BRUISES.

                    

                    Watson: All of this just doesn't

                    add up. No bleeding way have I ever

                    heard a drowned person being able

                    to walk a few paces let alone drive

                    leagues away. Only to be shot dead

                    afterwards.

 

                              CORONER: AND THAT;S EXACTLY WHY THE TWO

                              OF YOU ARE HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

                    

                    Sherlock: Thank you so much. We'll

                    be out of here now. I'll call on

                    you if I need any other details.

 

                              CORONER: PART AND PARCEL OF MY

                              PROFESSION. PEOPLE CALL UPON ME MORE

                              OFTEN TO ASK AFTER DEAD PERSONS THAN

                              THEY DO TO ASK AFTER ME. IT IS AN HONOUR

                              TO MEET YOU MS. HOLMES. AND YOU TOO DR.

                              WATSON. (SHAKES HANDS WITH THEM)

                    

                         (  Aashna, Watson and Sherlock

                         leave the office) (Watson gets

                         a phone call),

                    

                    Watson: Yes I'll be there right

                    away. Ask Naseer to pick me at

                    Leopold's, the rest of this city

                    seems strange to me after all these

                    years. Thank you. (turns to

                    Sherlock) I'm going to catch up

                    with the fellows I worked with

                    during my service time in this

                    city. I'll meet some buds and grab

                    some perhaps.

 

                              SHERLOCK: THIS ISN'T AN ARMY REUNION

                              TRIP WE ARE HERE FOR WATSON. BESIDES

                              YOU'LL BE OF EVEN LESS PURPOSE TO ME IF

                              YOU GET WASTED.

                    

                    Watson: What can I say? Not

                    everyone is committed just to their

                    work. I'll see you in the hotel

                    room later!

 

                              SHERLOCK: (FEIGNING INDIFFERENCE)

                              ALRIGHT THEN, AASHNA, TAKE ME TO

                              ABHIRAJ.

 

          

 

          SCENE 6:

 

          SETTING: (EVENING, ABHIRAJ'S OFFICE) ( AASHNA GETS SHERLOCK

          TO ABHIRAJ'S OFFICE. ABHIRAJ IS SITTING THERE GOING THROUGH

          THE CASE FILE.)

                    Abhiraj: Aashna, leave us alone

                    please will you? (Aashna promptly

                    agrees and leaves) Hello Ms.

                    Holmes, did you find what you were

                    looking for, at the coroners

                    office?

 

                              SHERLOCK:(LOOKING AROUND) WHY AM I

                              BROUGHT HERE?

                    

                    Abhiraj: (Contemptuous demeanour)

                    Exactly. Why have you been brought

                    over here, when this is supposed to

                    be my case?

 

                              SHERLOCK: BECAUSE YOUR AUTHORITIES FELT

                              THE NEED. I DON'T SEE A REASON FOR YOUR

                              ANGER.

                    

                    Abhiraj: Felt the need? There is a

                    whole department of individuals,

                    hard working individuals whose

                    livelihood depends upon this work.

                    You think we cannot solve cases by

                    ourselves? Oh it's amusing how you

                    brits still feel the need to meddle

                    with our affairs, to assert your

                    aristocracy over us. These driven

                    individuals here are willing to do

                    anything, and I mean ANYTHING as

                    per my command. And you are taking

                    that away from them? As the saying

                    goes around here, "Never poke a

                    pandu in Mumbai!" (Slams his fist

                    on the table)

 

                              ( AASHNA RUSHES IN)

                    Aashna: Is everything alright sir?

 

                              ABHIRAJ: YES. IT'S ALL PEACEFUL. WHAT

                              ABOUT 'LEAVE US ALONE' IS IT THAT YOU

                              DON'T UNDERSTAND?

                    

                    Aashna: Sorry sir (leaves the room)

 

                              SHERLOCK: WOW! THEY INDEED ARE WILLING

                              TO FOLLOW ANY COMMAND.

                    

                    Abhiraj: Keep your condescension to

                    yourself, Ms. Holmes. It is hard,

                    you know. You give your blood,

                    sweat and tears to the functioning

                    of this department. You risk your

                    life for its reputation. And you

                    are rewarded with mistrust and two

                    goras at your doorstep, all set to

                    teach you the things you've been

                    doing for years. This was supposed

                    to be my break through, for all the

                    time I've waited for it. Hence I

                    even showed up for it inspite of

                    gun shot injury!

 

                              SHERLOCK: OH IF I WERE YOU, I WOULDN'T

                              HAVE BEEN SPREADING THAT LIE SO

                              CONFIDENTLY.

                    

                    Abhiraj: A lie?

 

                              SHERLOCK: ANYBODY IN THEIR SET MINDS CAN

                              SEE RIGHT THROUGH IT. A CAST FOR A GUN

                              SHOT IS JUST ABSURD, LET ALONE SUCH A

                              LONG ONE. THE ANGLE AT WHICH YOU HOLD

                              YOUR LEG SCREAMS A MINOR LIGAMENT

                              BRUISE. A HOUSE HOLD MISHAP PERHAPS?

                    

                    Abhiraj: (baffled) You think you

                    know everything don't you?

 

                              SHERLOCK: ACTUALLY YES. I KNOW QUITE A

                              LOT. I KNOW THAT THE BULLET FOUND ON THE

                              BODY DIDN'T MATCH THE WEAPON FOUND ON

                              THE SCENE. THE GOOD OL' LEAVE THE GUN,

                              TAKE THE CANNOLI MENTALITY. BUT THE

                              BULLET FOUND ON THE BODY IS A 0.3 MM

                              REVOLVER, AN OLD COMPANION, ONLY USED BY

                              THE INDIAN POLICE THESE DAYS. CAN YOU

                              SHOW ME YOUR WEAPON?

                    

                    Abhiraj: I... I... You can't be

                    possibly saying...

 

                              SHERLOCK: I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING BUT IF

                              YOU WANT ME TO THINK AND PROVE

                              OTHERWISE, YOU WILL STOP BEING THE

                              GRUMPY LITTLE PRICK THAT YOU ARE.

                    (Fade out)

 

          SCENE 7: SETTING: (LATE EVENING, HOTEL ROOM)

 

          (WATSON IS LYING ON THE FLOOR, DRUNK. SHERLOCK WALKING

          TOWARDS HIM.) WATSON:( ALL DAZED) I CANT FIND MY KEYS.

          SHERLOCK:( TAKING THE KEYS FROM HIS HANDS. OPENS THE DOOR,

          WALKS IN INDIFFERENTLY) WATSON (STUMBLING AND TRYING TO GAIN

          SOME BALANCE)

                    Sherlock: Stop acting like a child

                    Watson, make yourself useful.

 

                              WATSON:(DUSTS HIMSELF, AND FIXES HIS

                              EXPRESSION) I'LL SHOW YOU HOW USEFUL I

                              CAN BE.(STARTS FIXING THE BED) HERE YOU

                              CAN HAVE THE BED NOW.(PICKS UP SOME

                              CLOTHES AND SPREADS THEM EVEN MORE IN AN

                              ATTEMPT TO CLEAN, UNDER THE IMPRESSION

                              THAT HE'S SECURED IT. HE NOW TURNS HIS

                              ATTENTION TO A CROOKED PAINTING ON THE

                              WALL)

                    

                    Sherlock:FREEZE!!

 

                              WATSON:( STARTLED) WHAT? (FIXES TO ONE

                              POSITION)

                    

                    Sherlock: Don't you sense someone's

                    been into the room.

 

                              WATSON:(TRYING TO SENSE) WHO? WHERE?

                              WHAT....

                    (Sherlock walks towards the

                    painting and peeks behind it. The

                    camera shows a bomb hidden behind

                    the painting)

 

                              (FADE OUT)

                    Outside the hotel,

 

                              AASHNA: ITS A GOOD THING THAT NOTHING

                              UNFORTUNATE HAPPENED.

                    

                    Sherlock:(Chuckles) Its a good

                    thing in your department that

                    people are willing to do anything.(

                    Glances at Abhiraj.)

 

                              WATSON:(TO SHERLOCK) SEE SHERLOCK, I

                              TOLD YOU I COULD BE USEFUL.

                    

                    Abhiraj: (Uncomfortably) The bomb

                    squad should clear your room within

                    a few minutes.

 

          Dairy Shot 2: ( I learnt how to load and operate a gun)

 

          SCENE 8: SETTING: (NIGHT, HOTEL ROOM)

 

          ( SHERLOCK AND WATSON ARE BACK IN THE HOTEL ROOM, SHERLOCK

          SITTING ON THE BED, WITH HER LAPTOP. WATSON IS LINGERING

          AROUND.)

                    Watson: Who do you think must have

                    planted the bomb?

 

                              SHERLOCK: THATS NOT NECESSARY RIGHT NOW,

                              WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE CASE AT HAND.

                    

                    Watson: All I'm saying is the bomb

                    could've been planted by the

                    murder.

 

                              SHERLOCK: THATS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN

                              TRYING TO DO ALL DAY, FINDING THE

                              MURDER, WHILE YOU'VE FOOLING AROUND WITH

                              YOUR BUDS.

                    

                    Watson:( Sitting cross legged on

                    the floor)(Mumbling) I need to

                    sleep for a bit, not much, just 10

                    mins.. I promise I wont pass out, I

                    won't... pass out..... wont.....

 

                              SHERLOCK: ( HAS AN EPIPHANY) GRAB YOUR

                              COAT WE NEED TO LEAVE AT ONCE.

                    

                    Watson: My legs are asleep, I need

                    to sleep.( STARTS SNORING)

 

                              (SHERLOCK WALKS OUT IN DISGUST.)

 

          

 

          SCENE 9: SETTING: (LATE NIGHT, RANDOM STREET)

 

          ( A woman's shadow is seen walking under a street lamp, on

          set of car headlight from behind, shadow disappears. We hear

          a *thud*.)

 

          SCENE10: SETTING: ( NEXT MORNING,AT THE HOTEL)

 

          (WATSON IS RUDELY WOKEN UP BY HEAVY KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. HE

          SQUINTS AND LOOKS SHERLOCK'S BED, AND NOTICES SHERLOCK'S

          ABSENCE.HE OPENS THE DOOR AND ABHIRAJ AND AASHNA BARGE IN.)

                    Aashna: Dr. Watson there seems a

                    situation, could you please sit

                    down? Watson: Now what?

 

                              ABHIRAJ: WE'VE FOUND A BODY, RUN OVER BY

                              A CAR, JUST 3 BLOCKS AWAY FROM HERE.

                    

                    Aashna: And we think it might be

                    Ms. Holmes.

 

                              ABHIRAJ: WHEN IN MUMBAI, YOU SHOULD

                              CROSS THE ROAD CAREFULLY.

                    

                    Watson: (Stumbles and sits down)

                    (Sherlock walks in the room, pushes

                    through the officers and halts near

                    Watson)

 

                              SHERLOCK: WHY'RE YOU SITTING CROSS

                              LEGGED AGAIN, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?

                    

                    Watson: They just said that you

                    were dead.

 

                              SHERLOCK: WELL I'M NOT LAZARUS, SO THEY

                              DEFINITELY GOT THE WRONG PERSON.

                    

                    Watson: But what in the bleeding

                    hell were you doing all night?

 

                              SHERLOCK: SOLVING THE CASE, MOTHER DEAR!

 

                              

 

                    Watson: Well?

                    Sherlock: I think I might have

                    solved the case, (Turns to Abhiraj

                    and Aashna) Pick us up in an hour.

 

          SCENE 11: SETTING: (THE THIRD MORNING, THE CORONER'S OFFICE)

 

          ( SHERLOCK, WATSON, ABHIRAJ AND AASHNA ARE STANDING AROUND

          THE CORPSE. THE CORONER IS SITTING ON A CHAIR BEHIND THEM

          GOING-THROUGH DOCUMENTS. SHERLOCK IS MEDITATIVELY LOOKING AT

          THE BODY.)

                    Watson: Sherlock, will you please

                    let us in on what you're thinking?

 

                              SHERLOCK: HMM... YOU WERE INDEED USEFUL

                              WATSON, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. YOU WERE

                              CORRECT. THE BOMBING AND THE ASSAULT ON

                              SOME WOMAN WHO LOOKED SIMILAR TO ME,

                              THEY WERE INDEED CONSPIRED BY THE

                              MURDERER OF THIS GIRL.

                    

                    Watson: Alright, a pat on my back,

                    but who was it?

 

                              SHERLOCK: I COULDN'T EXACTLY POINT MY

                              FINGER TO IT UNTIL I SMELT SOMETHING IN

                              THE ROOM. SOMETHING FAMILIAR FROM NOT

                              LONG BEFORE. THE BALM. IF YOU NEVER MADE

                              IT TO THE ROOM BEFORE I LET YOU IN, HOW

                              WAS THE SMELL OF IT PRESENT AROUND THE

                              CURTAINS? SOMEBODY WITH ACCESS TO IT

                              BARGED THROUGH THE WINDOW. THEN WHO

                              COULD IT HAVE BEEN? ABHIRAJ AND AASHNA,

                              THE OTHER TWO PEOPLE WHO APPLIED THE

                              BALM, WERE BOTH PRESENT WITH ME THROUGH

                              OUR TIME IN AND OUT OF THE HOTEL ROOM.

                              THAT LEAVES US TO ONE PERSON.

                    

                    Abhiraj: You mean her? (pointing at

                    the coroner) but why would she want

                    to kill this girl?

 

                              SHERLOCK: TO GET TO ME. TO SETTLE AN OLD

                              SCORE.

                    

                    Watson: What score?

 

                              SHERLOCK: YOU MAY NOT RECALL BUT I'D

                              ONCE SOLVED A KIDNEY RACKET FOR THE

                              GOVERNMENT OF INDIA OVER THE PHONE. IT

                              INVOLVED A MIDDLE AGED WOMAN FROM THE

                              BHIL TRIBAL COMMUNITY, WHO WENT ON TO

                              BECOME A DOCTOR, THE FIRST IN THE TRIBE.

                              SHE LEVERAGED HER POSITION WITH THE

                              PEOPLE AND LURED THEM INTO SELLING OFF

                              THEIR KIDNEYS TO A DEALER HERE IN

                              MUMBAI, TRANSFERRING A MEAGRE AMOUNT OUT

                              OF THE HUGE CHUNK SHE GOT TO THEM. IT

                              WASN'T DIFFICULT AT ALL TO TRACE IT BACK

                              TO HER WHEN THE D.G. TOLD ME THAT PEOPLE

                              TURNED UP WITH YOUNG CHILDREN IN IMMENSE

                              PAIN DUE TO CARELESS EXTRACTION OF

                              KIDNEYS. SURELY, IT WOULD NEED SOMEONE

                              THEY HAD ENOUGH FAITH IN TO MAKE THEM

                              WANT TO AGREE TO HARM THEIR CHILDREN

                              THAT WAY. IT COULD'VE BEEN EITHER

                              RELIGION OR HER AND GIVEN THE SCIENTIFIC

                              INVOLVEMENT, IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WASN'T

                              THE LATTER. SHE GOT CONVICTED TO TWO

                              YEARS IN PRISON AND HER LICENSE WAS

                              CANCELLED FROM WHAT I HEARD IN THE

                              FOLLOW UP. AND HENCE SHE BECAME A

                              CORONER...

                    

                    Abhiraj: Wait, wait... you figured

                    she was her, the tribal woman you

                    got convicted over the phone, how?

 

                              SHERLOCK: THERE IS A BHILI ART PAINTING

                              HANGING ON THE WALL THERE AND SHE SPEAKS

                              IN HEAVILY ACCENTUATED ENGLISH, SIMILAR

                              TO HOW A TRIBAL WOMAN WOULD SPEAK IT.

                    

                    Coroner: But how did the victim

                    drown and then reach that street

                    and get shot? It seems a little too

                    fable-esque for a minimum wage

                    employee like me.

 

                              SHERLOCK: OH SHE DIDN'T DROWN BEFORE THE

                              DRIVE. FABLE-ESQUE YOU SAY? I'D SAY

                              CUNNING/(CANNY). THE GIRL WAS SUPPOSED

                              TO REACH ELSEWHERE. SHE WAS NEVER MEANT

                              TO BE ON THAT STREET. YOU RIGGED HER GPS

                              SYSTEM THROUGH AN EASILY ENCRYPT ABLE

                              BUG AND LED HER THERE. THEN WHEN SHE PUT

                              HER WINDOWS DOWN TO LOOK FOR SOMEONE WHO

                              COULD GUIDE HER OUT, YOU USED THE GUN,

                              STOLEN FROM MR. ABHIRAJ'S LOCKER AND

                              SHOT HER DEAD. THE SAME WEAPON THAT

                              ABHIRAJ, UPON DISCOVERY, REPLACED FROM

                              THE EVIDENCE STACK IN PANIC. IT WAS EASY

                              ACCESS TO THE GUN FOR YOU AS YOU GOING

                              IN AND OUT OF HIS OFFICE WAS NORMAL.

                              THEIR TEAM'S CASES USUALLY TURN UP AT

                              YOUR MORGUE. AND SO DID SHE, AS YOU

                              CORRECTLY FORESAW. THEN WHEN YOU WERE

                              LEFT ALONE TO PERFORM THE AUTOPSY, YOU

                              FUNNELLED WATER INTO HER LUNGS;

                              EXPLAINING THE CONTUSIONS WATSON HAD

                              POINTED OUT EARLIER. YOU MADE NO MISTAKE

                              ABOUT CREATING A HUGE BUZZ BY DRAWING

                              ATTENTION TO THE AMBIGUITY YOU CREATED,

                              KNOWING SOMETHING OF THE SORT WOULD

                              DEFINITELY BRING ME HERE. A TRICK FOR A

                              TRICK, WASN'T IT? YES IT WAS. IT WAS

                              ELEMENTARY.

                    

                    Coroner: (struggling to her feet)

                    Elementary you say. Do you know how

                    much pain and anguish you stung

                    into my life. Have you any idea

                    what that small, little, brisk

                    phone conversation of yours cost

                    me? I lost my license to practice.

                    I lost my freedom. I lost my little

                    one, the clutch when my legs

                    would've stopped moving? She was

                    only 17 Sherlock! You know what

                    that age is? That age is when you

                    need your mother around the most.

                    She couldn't deal with the tail

                    spin our lives were set upon after

                    your insignificant act of glory. I

                    lost the mortgage on my house in

                    the city. The people back in the

                    village wouldn't take her in. She

                    spent days living in shanties,

                    doing dishonourable jobs when she

                    would've had a bright future, one

                    that could outshine mine. Unable to

                    cope with life, she shot herself.

 

          Diary shot 3: (Grief, what a funny thing. You start missing

          the small traits about that dead loved one, the same ones

          you'd get annoyed with when they were alive, when you

          thought you would watch them grow as you yourself aged. But

          what would a monster like you know about GRIE-----F! )

 

          ( Darts towards Sherlock, held back by Aashna and Adhiraj.

          They take her away to the police car.)

 

          Conclusion one:

                    Adhiraj: (Shouting from outside the

                    room) Geet help Aashna to get this

                    murderer to the station and put her

                    in the lock up. (returning to the

                    room stands in front of Sherlock

                    Holmes) It was an honour to see you

                    work. Very ... very neat...

                    brilliant I mean (Extends hand.

                    Sherlock shakes it. Sherlock and

                    Watson are shown walking; Sherlock

                    puts on her deerstalker hat and

                    fluffs her collar up)

 

          Conclusion 2:

 

          (Adhiraj and Aashna escort the coroner out. Scene fades. Cut

          to Sherlock and Watson loading their bags in a car.) Watson:

          I don't think she could've pulled off all those crimes and

          assaults by herself.

                    Sherlock: Hmm... (busy adjusting

                    the bags)

 

                              

                    Watson: Who do you think networked

                    her? Some Indian Mafia Lord maybe?

                    (Sherlock's phone beeps), Message:

                    Brilliant! Many Congratulations-

                    Jim Moriarty Sherlock: (Chuckles)

                    Yes. That is one thing that you can

                    call him.

 

                              -------THE END---------