Sherlock Holmes-E35: The Case Of The Haunted Gainsborough
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
Malcolm MacGregan will lose his family's Scottish castle if he can't make the mortgage payment, by midnight.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
Malcolm MacGregan will lose his family's Scottish castle if he can't make the mortgage payment, by midnight.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:30♪ And God so loved, and God so loved, and He loved me.
00:47♪
00:53And God so loved, and God so loved, and He loved me.
01:02You're welcome.
01:07Come in.
01:08Are you Mr. Sherlock Holmes?
01:10Yes, I am.
01:11Well, take mine. Shut the door. She's after me.
01:16Aye, there she is. The wild, mischievous creature.
01:20Look at that. Did you ever see anything so brazen?
01:24But the state's empty.
01:25Nay?
01:27Oh, she's gone. She faded away the moment you looked out.
01:30Excuse me, sir, but who faded away?
01:33Oh, the ghost of my ancestors. Hear that?
01:35Her ghost?
01:36Aye, her ghost.
01:38And a more impudent, saucy ghost you won't find in the whole of Scotland.
01:43Oh, I'm in need of a stimulant.
01:46A cup of tea, perhaps?
01:48No, thank you. Not that habit.
01:51But maybe you have a wee drop of Scotland's gift to civilization.
01:56Bring him on.
01:58You know, it's upsetting being followed by a ghost.
02:02Oh, forgive me. Allow me to complete the introductions.
02:05Dr. Watson, Mr. McGregor.
02:08How did you know I was Malcolm McGregor, Lear de Brayhalloch?
02:13I didn't, sir. Only that your name is McGregor.
02:17I am, sir. And I wish to sell it.
02:20But she won't let me.
02:23Heather?
02:24Yes. Every time a buyer is handing over the money, she whisks in and scares them off.
02:33Thank you, doctor. It was necessary.
02:35Yes. You say she scares them off?
02:38Money, Mr. McGregor?
02:40I am, Mr. Holmes.
02:42The mortgage on my castle is due at midnight tomorrow night.
02:46Mr. Holmes, I have one last chance and you've got to help me.
02:50An American is coming to look at the painting at the castle tomorrow.
02:53You must stop Heather from scaring him off.
02:56If you don't, I lose my castle.
02:59You know, Holmes, she's a very pretty ghost.
03:03We'll take her case, Mr. McGregor.
03:07I cannot thank you enough, Mr. Holmes.
03:09Not at all.
03:10Now, you will take the Royal Scots train from the London-Euston station.
03:16At nine o'clock tonight.
03:18Three minutes past nine.
03:20As you say, Dr. Watson.
03:22You will take that to Glasgow, and at Glasgow, you will change to Buchanan Street to the Highland railway there.
03:29Ask them to put you off at Bray-Halach Holt.
03:32Thank you, Mr. McGregor.
03:35There is just one more thing, Mr. Holmes.
03:38Will the price of your railway fare be included in your fee,
03:43or will I have to give you that out of my own pocket?
03:46No, it's included, sir.
03:48You're a gentleman, Mr. Holmes.
03:50You are a great gentleman.
03:57They tell me there's very good brass shooting up at Bray-Halach.
04:01Hello, Holmes, what have you found there?
04:05A woman's glove.
04:07Mid-18th century.
04:10Curious place to find it, Watson.
04:12Very curious.
04:14Very curious.
04:34I've been in, Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson.
04:40I see that your bags are put in your rooms.
04:43Yes.
04:51Now, that's an experience I never thought I'd have, being piped into a Scottish castle.
04:56I wonder who he was announcing us to.
04:58Oh, the ghost, perhaps.
05:06I forgot to tell you, sirs, the McGregor has gone to the village this afternoon.
05:11He intends to remain there until this evening, when he fetches the American from the station.
05:17He begs your pardon.
05:23Knew me old place, this.
05:25Damn, too. I shouldn't wonder if the laird has Rupertism.
05:33Now, they're 8.30. He hasn't got much time till midnight.
05:42You know, it's odd, Watson, that portrait.
05:46Do you notice that the...
05:50My Holmes!
06:12Why, it's... it's... it's...
06:14Shh, shh, shh.
06:15Better come closer.
06:18Reflect, and then you'll plainly see
06:22the McGregor fortune hung with me.
06:26A curse on all who dare conspire
06:30to take me down from all the fire.
06:42Watson, the cannon labyrinth.
06:50This is the only way she could have come.
07:03There's no way she could have come.
07:05Ah!
07:10Fifty feet straight down from here.
07:12Oh, nothing here, Watson. Let's go and have another look in the hallway, shall we?
07:16I hope.
07:19Is it me you're looking for?
07:21Yes, Heather, it's you we're looking for.
07:24Ha, ha, ha.
07:28Your glove?
07:29Did I drop my glove somewhere?
07:31I think you remember.
07:33Would you care to have it back?
07:35Are you sure it's only the glove you want to give me?
07:38What else, then?
07:40A kiss, maybe?
07:42Ha, ha, ha.
07:47All right, come on.
07:55Master!
07:56What's that?
07:57Holmes!
07:58Oh, that's Mr. Strawberry, Watson.
08:04Well, I'm afraid we must score one for Heather.
08:07And a very neat one.
08:12Now, Holmes, I don't want to seem ridiculous, you know, but...
08:15I know, old chap, it's quite inexplicable for the moment, anyway.
08:19Yes, but...
08:21Well, I mean, it makes the chills run up and down your spine.
08:24And those tinkling bells, what do they all mean?
08:28I wonder who owns the mortgage on this castle.
08:32A Mr. Ross, the lad.
08:34Said, though, I can't like the things he wants the place for.
08:37After all, it can't pay for itself, and it's in very poor condition.
08:41Well, undoubtedly, Watson, we could uncover something if we worked in that direction.
08:45But I'm afraid we haven't got the time to investigate.
08:48We must attempt to deal more directly with our attractive ghost.
08:53Have you got a scheme, Holmes?
08:55Let's just say I have a notion.
08:57Oh?
08:59Well, the ghost is bound to appear for the benefit of Mr. McGregor's American client.
09:03When she does, we'll be quite prepared for her.
09:06And how does one prepare for a ghost?
09:09By first deciding if she is a ghost.
09:13Well, Holmes, what's your plan?
09:15There are two tiny alcoves at the end of the stairs.
09:18Oh, just a few feet after the turn.
09:21Each of us hides either side of the stairway.
09:23We can see in ourselves.
09:25And when Heather comes down to make her appearance, she has to pass by one of us.
09:28And as she passes one of us, one of us will take her.
09:31No, no, no, no. Let her come down and give her performance.
09:33That will establish her guilt.
09:35Then when she goes to make her exit back up the stairway, we jump out and nab her.
09:39Brilliant, Holmes!
09:41And since the laird should be returning shortly, we won't have very long to wait.
09:50You take the right, Watson. I'll take the left.
09:52Right you are.
09:59THE END
10:09I pin in the McGregor and Mr. Samuel Scott.
10:14Thank you, partner. That's right nice.
10:19I thought there was a couple of gents here.
10:21Well, MacLeish said they were here.
10:24They'll be taking the air, maybe.
10:27That's a great work of art I'm going to take back home.
10:30Yes, Mr. Scott, that's a portrait of my ancestors, Heather.
10:34That's the work of a master, Mr. Scott.
10:42Away with you, you heartless beast!
10:44Begone with you!
10:46Don't you see you'll lose my castle!
10:49Reflect, and then you'll plainly see
10:53the McGregor fortune hung with me.
10:56A curse on all who dare conspire to take me down from o'er the fire.
11:05Come back here!
11:07Come back, you brazen warlock, and have it out with me!
11:11You cannot do this to me, Heather!
11:13You cannot do it! Come back!
11:17Gone!
11:18Well, I didn't see her go, MacLeish!
11:22Oh, didn't you get her?
11:23No, didn't she pass you?
11:24No, I thought she'd passed you.
11:25Well, I thought the same thing.
11:26Why, Holmes, is it?
11:27Yes, I know.
11:29It's impossible.
11:31It's impossible.
11:32It's impossible.
11:33It's impossible.
11:34It's impossible.
11:35It's impossible.
11:36It's impossible.
11:37It's impossible.
11:38It's impossible.
11:39It's impossible.
11:48And now we return to the case of the haunted Gainsborough.
11:55Coyotes and rattlesnakes.
11:58That's all we got where I come from.
12:02Never heard tell of a ghost.
12:05Why does she do this to me, Mr. Holmes?
12:08It's not her castle, no.
12:10It'd suit me if you'd give me the picture and let me ride out of here, lad.
12:15You mean, Mr. Scott,
12:18do you mean that you still want the painting?
12:22Well, I wouldn't want it said I got scared out of a deal by an old lady.
12:26Even if she wasn't an old lady.
12:29What do you want for the picture?
12:33Five thousand pounds.
12:37What'll you take?
12:38One thousand.
12:39It's a deal.
12:40You're a gentleman, Mr. Scott, a great gentleman.
12:47Well, let's go and have our supper.
12:50My appetite's returning.
12:51It'll be like a feast to me now.
12:54Will you be so kind as to follow me, gentlemen?
13:06Come on.
13:37But that man, it can't be.
13:40Would I invent such a tale?
13:42Oh, no, what has she done to me?
13:45Now, listen, MacLeish, you must go back to Mr. Scott, keep him entertained,
13:48keep him out of here as long as you can, but by no means tell him about this.
13:51I'll do my best.
13:52As long as there's food, he'll stay, I think.
14:03Heather, Heather, give it back to me.
14:05It is my own portrait, and you will not sell it, Malcolm McGregor.
14:13Have you no consideration for pity's sake?
14:23She's gone.
14:24You cannot catch a ghost.
14:36You find anything, Holmes?
14:38Our first material evidence.
14:41The tinkling sound.
14:42Hmm.
14:44It's pursuant to something.
14:46Probably a glove.
14:48Well, I must say, Holmes, I'm very relieved.
14:51Well, I'm not relieved.
14:53It's 11.15 already.
14:56My painting's gone, and soon I'll lose my castle.
14:59I'll lose my castle.
15:02My painting's gone, and soon I'll lose my castle.
15:05Now, listen, you must say nothing about this to Mr. Scott.
15:08If he comes in here, tell him that you're having the painting packed.
15:12He must be kept willing to buy until midnight.
15:15But that's nothing to buy now.
15:18There will be.
15:22That Holmes runs like an antelope.
15:26I've told you before, take no chances.
15:30I've fed up the same old routine again and again.
15:33I didn't like your variations.
15:35What do you mean? I read my lines straight.
15:38I'm a professional actress and talented.
15:41You're a distressful man.
15:44I didn't know that you don't.
15:46I'll tell you better of that when I go to collect my castle.
15:50Can't see what you want with this tumbledown old place.
15:53There's more in it than meets the eye.
15:57I appreciate you having the picture crated for me.
16:01If it's ready in time, I might break camp and ride out of here tonight.
16:05Mr. Archibald Ross.
16:13I take note of the fact that I'm not piped into the castle.
16:17Only welcome guests of the lair are piped into McGregor Castle.
16:21Well, if you want my opinion, I didn't like the way you blew the pipes anyway.
16:24You wouldn't know good piping from bad. Your mind's too full of mortgages.
16:28And if we're passing opinions, Archie,
16:31it is mine that you're a disgrace to the whole of your clan.
16:38Pack your pipes, MacLeish. They're leaving soon.
16:42Well, where's my money, Laird?
16:45You'll get your money before midnight, Archibald Ross.
16:49I've still half an hour left.
16:52And where do you hope to find it in that space of time?
16:56I've sold the portrait of my ancestors Heather to Mr. Scott here.
17:01You've sold it?
17:03I see no portrait there to be sold.
17:06I've taken it down to be packed.
17:09You're lying.
17:11I can pay you now, Laird.
17:13Might save you a little trouble.
17:16Besides, I'd like to settle the deal and get out of here
17:19That goose lady turns up again.
17:22I'll be back at midnight, or a wee bit before.
17:27Again?
17:30And it's got to be the most frightening performance of your life.
17:34What, now?
17:35No. I want to see it.
17:38Give me ten minutes to get down the passage and out the door.
17:41I've got to return by the front door again, you know.
17:43I'll give you a performance, Dunks. It'll scare even you.
17:47It's a fine loss.
17:52I can see the news spreading like a prairie fire.
17:57All the way to El Paso, most likely.
18:00Sam Scott just trudged in from Europe,
18:04lugging a genuine Gainsborough.
18:08A what?
18:10A Gainsborough picture.
18:13See? Mr. Archibald Ross again.
18:20Well, McGregor?
18:22You're lacking breath, Archibald Ross.
18:24You needn't have run. There's still time.
18:27I wasn't sure of the time.
18:29Oh, I can't see the clock from here, but there is time, I'm telling you.
18:44A curse.
18:46A curse upon one that is here.
18:50A curse upon him who defies my wish,
18:56my word, and my will.
19:00His deed will be done at midnight.
19:04So I lay my curse upon him
19:08So I lay my curse upon him
19:12to commence at that hour.
19:15He will live his days in the misery of loneliness.
19:20He will live his nights in the horror of fear.
19:24Terror will follow him like a shadow
19:27through both day and night.
19:39Quickly, Watson!
19:45Is she all right, Watson?
19:47Yes, only fainting.
19:50Mr. Holmes, is it really you?
19:52Yes, Mr. McGregor, and would you look after the girl?
19:54Dr. Watson and I must go after the painting.
20:05Good heavens!
20:07Through here, Watson.
20:11There, you'll be all right now.
20:13I suppose you got what you deserved,
20:15but I must admit that you did the worst of the scaring business.
20:19Come, lassie, and I'll take you upstairs
20:21and find a room where you can rest.
20:28Well, Watson, when our first trap failed,
20:30there was only one answer, a secret passageway.
20:33But I wanted the ghost with it.
20:38I say, Holmes, the painting.
20:40Ah, good, Watson.
20:42Well, what have you got there?
20:44Well, it appears to be the flams of McGregor Castle.
20:48Ah, yes, of course.
20:50This would explain Heather's fantastic exits.
20:53This whole place is honeycombed with passageways.
20:55And here's something that would interest you, Watson,
20:57an entrance to the passageway
20:59through the stone floor of the battlements.
21:01So that's how she found the painting.
21:05So that's how she first disappeared on us.
21:08I feel much better now.
21:13Well, we must get the portrait back to Mr. Scott
21:15and close the sale before midnight.
21:21Well, what are you going to do now, Laird?
21:24You have five minutes left by your own clock.
21:31You couldn't be mistaken.
21:33You're quite sure.
21:34Well, Mr. McGregor, here's your portrait.
21:38Well, you might just as well take it back where you found it.
21:42The buyer's gone and he won't come back.
21:45Thanks to your wild theatricals, Mr. Holmes.
21:49Watson, take the picture and hold it up in front of the fireplace.
21:52All right.
21:54Like this?
21:55That's it.
21:57The McGregor fortunes hang with me.
22:01Is it a curse?
22:03Or is it a clue as to where the treasure is stored?
22:10Now, let us imagine that she is above the fireplace.
22:14Which way is she pointing?
22:19Well, I'd say that blank wall over there.
22:21Well, you're ignoring the most significant part of the portrait.
22:24Note the wedding ring on the right hand,
22:26the sash on the left shoulder,
22:28the clan badge on the wrong side of the bonnet.
22:30In fact, everything in reverse.
22:33Well, I've never noticed that before.
22:36Well, Gainsborough painted her reflection.
22:38Reflect with me and you will plainly see that she is actually pointing over there.
22:48But that's actually about that mule post.
22:59Pound notes. Real pound notes.
23:02Let me have them.
23:04This treasure I swear to keep until a McGregor has saw need of it.
23:08And may this Bible guard it well.
23:10Heather McGregor, A.D. 1746.
23:14Oh, Heather, I could hug you.
23:17Oh, Heather, I could hug you.
23:19Oh, Heather, I could hug you.
23:21Oh, Heather, I could hug you.
23:23Oh, Heather, I could hug you.
23:25Oh, Heather, I could hug you.
23:29Scraps of paper, every one of them.
23:33The pound notes. The real pound notes.
23:37Aye, worthless ones issued by Bonnie Prince Charlie before he fled.
23:42The McGregor treasure.
23:48I'll take the deed to my castle.
23:50One moment, Mr. Ross.
23:52I've had enough of your tricks.
23:54This happens to be an original Wettenberg Bible.
23:57Unappreciated in 1746.
23:59It is worth approximately 5,000 pounds today.
24:03That makes no difference.
24:05The castle's mine and the Bible goes with it.
24:08And conspiracy to defraud.
24:10And also sufficient witnesses.
24:14Not alone with your accomplice.
24:16And above all, the enormous sums that I personally can sue you for.
24:21For the shock to my nervous system because of that dreadful false ghost.
24:26What a mind could invent such a diabolical thing?
24:29You, sir, are probably liable to spend the rest of your life in prison.
24:34Huh?
24:47Thank you for all you've done, Mr. Holmes.
24:49You're very welcome, Heather.
24:51Thank you for finding the treasure and saving the castle.
24:54You're too good an actress for this kind of work, Heather.
24:57But I was up to your tricks all along now.
25:00It will be very difficult for a woman to fool a strong and intelligent man like you, Dr. Watson.
25:05Good day and good trip.
26:19THE END