The Keeper of 221B Baker Street

by MissLadyMB

There is a new member of Sherlock's inner circle-the housekeeper. American Isabell 'Mae' Mayson is just as unique and rare of a character as her boss. She may be the one person who understands him. Will she get under his skin and chip away at his concrete heart? But Mae's secret past and enemies may find her before Sherlock and John can find out who she really is. COMPLETE!

14. Part 14

THE KEEPER OF 221B BAKER STREET

SCENE 14a: INT. DRUEY'S FUNERAL HOME – LATE MORNING

Viewpoint: You see the backs of JOHN and MARY standing right in front of an opened casket. Bouquets of flower arrangements are on both sides. Off to the right, in the front seats, you see MR. & MRS. HOLMES, SHERLOCK's parents sitting, clearly grieving. MAE is sitting beside MRS. HOLMES, holding and comforting the sobbing woman.

There is a sparse crowd of various mourners in the room, some standing, some sitting. One in particular, a LADY, fashionably decked out in all black with a stylish hat with draping mesh, veiling her face. She is sitting silently, towards the back, in the corner seat.

You cannot see who is inside the casket. JOHN puts his arm around MARY as they pay their last respects to the deceased person.

MARY
(whispering)
He's not coming.

JOHN
(confidently)
He'll show. Just wait.

MARY
(glancing back at the parents and Mae, frowning)
If he doesn't, I'm going to—

JOHN
(interrupting)
He'll be here.

Jump ahead in time—new viewpoint: MARY and JOHN are now sitting towards the back of the funeral parlor room. They see MR. & MRS. HOLMES is now standing towards the front and off to the side. MR. & MRS. HOLMES is talking to the unknown LADY in black and veil, who is giving her condolences. MAE is standing close to the casket with slumped shoulders.

You have a sense that some time has passed; there are more people in room.

JOHN
(leaning to side, whispering)
He's not good with crowds and mingling. (beat) He'll be at the gravesite for sure. (nodding) Yes, he wouldn't miss that.

MARY
(doubtful)
He better. It's his own brother.

Jump to MAE's face as she stares down at MYCROFT in the casket. Her face is expressionless except for a great sadness in her eyes. The LADY in black appears by her side. The contrast between the two women is very apparent. The LADY is clearly sophisticated and confident while MAE is conservative and unpretentious.

LADY
Did you know him well?

MAE nods slightly but doesn't say a word.

LADY
I barely knew him but I know his brother, Sherlock. (pause) Do you know him?

MAE slowly looks up at the LADY. MAE's lips purse tightly as she draws in a deep breath to try to restrain a sudden wave of anger.

MAE
(defiantly)
I'm only his housekeeper. (under breath) But not for much longer.

LADY
(taken aback)
Oh, forgive me. I had no idea.

MAE turns to the LADY.

MAE
(letting out deep sigh)
No, I am sorry. You may be a friend of his but if you are waiting for him to show up, you will be disappointed. He's not coming.

LADY
(surprised)
But it's his own brother!

MAE
This all would be a sentimental waste of time. Apparently, death is a wager to be won and the book on his brother is officially closed. Unless, of course, he had a morbid reason to exhume the body. (eyes watering looking down at Mycroft) Sherlock Holmes doesn't care for people in life, why should he care for them in death?

LADY
(upturn of lip)
Yes, it takes a very extraordinary person to appreciate him. But even I didn't like my brother and I wouldn't have missed his funeral. He'll surely come later.

MAElooks back down at MYCROFT and touches his arm then she looks back up at the LADY.

MAE
Don't hold your breath. (sad smile forms on her face) Mr. H would chuckle at that one. If you will excuse me.

LADY
Of course.

MAE steps away from the casket but then she stops as the funeral director comes in carrying a rather large, ornate flower arrangement, setting them down right where she was standing. MAE reads the exposed card and gasps out loud. The LADY reads the card as well and her hand flies up to her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

Cheerio, old chap! S.H.

MAE snatches up the card and discreetly slips it into her pocket, then leaves to shadow SHERLOCK's distraught parents as they move to greet newcomers, LESTRADE, DONAVAN and MOLLY Brown.

The LADY in black turns back to look at MYCROFT once more and then moves to stand at the back of the room.

Jump ahead in time—new viewpoint: At the gravesite, MAE is now standing right behind MR. & MRS. HOLMES, again acting as surrogate custodian, while also trying to comfort the wailing MRS. HUDSON. MAE's eyes are tear-filled, red-faced and visibly angry now.

LESTRADE, DONAVAN and MOLLY are standing on the other side. LESTRADE is staring across the way at MAE. His hands folded together respectfully in front, He leans over to whisper to DONAVAN.

LESTRADE
Arrest me.

DONAVAN
What?

LESTRADE
Arrest me. Put the cuffs on me now.

DONAVAN
(confused)
Why?

LESTRADE
Because I am going to kill him.

DONAVAN smirks and MOLLY nods in agreement.

Towards the back of the gathering crowd, the LADY is standing, not too far away from where MARY and JOHN are standing.

JOHN
(dumbfounded and disgusted)
He's not coming. His own brother's funeral!

MARY
(putting finger to lip)
Shhh. . . they will hear you. Maybe he got into an accident on the way.

JOHN
(snorting angrily)
One would hope that would be the reason but I bloody well doubt it!

MARY
And poor Mae. She's taken on the whole lot of mourners. Should've been Sherlock.

JOHN
(nodding)
She's an angel but that will surely change when she gets back. She's been holding it in since I told her after her release from the hospital. Didn't even shed a tear. I tell you, she is going to blow and I am sure Sherlock will be in her path. But she'll have to wait until I am done with him.

MARY
I'll not hold you back, John. If I didn't have to get back to the baby, I would get in line behind you and Mae.

JOHN
This may be the last straw.

MARY
(hopeful)
Do you really mean it?

JOHN takes her hand into his and looks deeply into her eyes, nodding.

JOHN
I do. I'm a family man now. Enough is enough. Let us go find that little cottage by the sea. You and me, our own practice, eh?

MARY flings her arms around his neck and they hug. The LADY turns and walks away from the crowd.

SCENE 14b: INT. 221B BAKER STREET – EARLY AFTERNOON

SHERLOCK opens the door to find IRENE Adler, standing in the doorway. She is the LADY that was at MYCROFT's funeral. She strides in, stopping to place a long, drawn-out kiss on his cheek, leaving a clear lipstick print. She moves to the middle of the room and turns towards SHERLOCK.

IRENE
I'm heartbroken about your brother. I'm so sorry for your loss.

SHERLOCK moves into the room and stands in front of her.

SHERLOCK
(passively)
Yes, tragic isn't it? Now, with that out of the way, you're clients, any leads on Moriarty's family?

IRENE
(shocked)
She was right.

SHERLOCK
Who was right?

IRENE
You're housekeeper. You really do close the book when death occurs. Rather cold.

SHERLOCK
I'm not known for my warmth. I did send a bouquet.

IRENE
Yes, I saw it. Really, Sherlock, you could have thought a bit more on the card.

SHERLOCK
It was a fine sentiment considering he left me to deal with the folks exclusively. (slapping his forehead) Oh, lord, the musicals. There'll be no getting out of attending now.

IRENE
(confused)
Musicals?

SHERLOCK
(eyes lighting up)
The keeper! I'll send her! (pressing palms together) Oh, they like her.

IRENE
If you are talking about your housekeeper, you better prepare yourself. I think she is going to leave you.

SHERLOCK
She's Mrs. Hudson's housekeeper and she's cried wolf before. (grinning) As you know, there is a distinct advantage of having the one-sided affection of another.

IRENE eyes narrow and she throws a quick scowl at him.

SHERLOCK
(shrugs shoulders)
As to why the opposite sex continuously hold me in such high regard, is beyond my comprehension. Might as well, as they say, use before one loses it.

IRENE
You are using her, this housekeeper?

SHERLOCK
(proudly)
Look around, a picture of cleanliness and order. And not a bad cook.

IRENE
Yes, I see that. You've gain weight.

SHERLOCK brows lift as his head drops to look at his frame.

SHERLOCK
Have I? Humm. . .must be all those American casseroles she likes to make.

IRENE
So, you have no regrets on missing your own brother's funeral and dismissing your parent's obvious pain.

SHERLOCK
It would have been worse if I went. Viewing Mycroft's corpse was tolerable at the autopsy, but with all those simpering and sobbing people around, it would have been insufferable. I would probably cause a stir when I crawled into the box with him and close the lid just to get away.

IRENE
Autopsy! (shaking her head in disbelief) You really are selfishly inhuman.

SHERLOCK
(sighing deeply)
Mycroft would understand. Why can't they? The clock is ticking and the best I can do for the dead is to find out who is responsible. Besides, I imagine me not coming to make a show of it will be forgotten in time.

IRENE
(short laugh)
Well, I think that you underestimate the expectations of the ordinary person when it comes to death. I wouldn't be surprised if—

The slamming of door interrupts IRENE and the loud sound of someone rushing up the stairway is heard then the flat's door is pushed open. In the doorway is JOHN.

JOHN
(furiously)
You miserable, soulless, sad excuse for—

SHERLOCK
(holding hands up)
John, hold on. . .

MRS. HUDSON comes storming into the room, past JOHN and right up to SHERLOCK and slaps him solidly on the cheek. He is stunned for a moment, then his face returns back into passiveness.

MRS. HUDSON
I want you out! You are no longer welcome here. Not showing up for your own brother's funeral and your parents. . . when they needed you the most! Disgraceful!

MRS. HUDSON starts wailing and turns and quickly exits the flat. There is a moment of stunned silence. JOHN snaps out of it first and raises a finger at SHERLOCK to continue his tirade.

JOHN
You've gone too far this time! You may have not liked your brother but having no regard for your poor—

MAE storms in and strides right up to SHERLOCK and slaps him hard on the cheek.

MAE
(furious)
That is for Mycroft!

MAE slaps him again on the other cheek.

MAE
And that is for your parents!

MAE then balls her fist up and socks him solidly in the nose, causing it to bleed.

MAE
And that is for me who had to put up with you for all these months!

SHERLOCK's fingers are covering his nose while working out the stinging in his displaced jaw from the slaps. MAE, shaking out the pain in her fist, turns to JOHN.

MAE
(more subdued)
Doc, your phone. I need to call Sally to pick me up. (looking with disgust at Sherlock) I'll pack later. I can't stand to look at you right now.

JOHN shrugs his shoulders.

JOHN
Don't have it on me, Mae. Sorry.

JOHN finally notices IRENE standing off to the side. She has pulled her veil over her face again but JOHN instantly knows who she is.

JOHN
(flabbergasted)
Good god, not you! Aren't you supposed to be—

IRENE
(shaking her head slightly)
Do I know you?

JOHN glances at MAE, to SHERLOCK and back at IRENE.

JOHN
No, my mistake.

SHERLOCK quickly pulls his phone out of his pocket to hand to MAE. MAE's attention is drawn away from the stranger, IRENE, and her anger is renewed and grabs the phone from him. She then walks purposefully over to the sink and you see her shoving it down into it.

SHERLOCK
(angry, moving towards Mae)
Don't—

MAE flicks on a switch on the wall and you hear the garbage disposal come on and you hear the horrible crunching and twisting metal blades destroying the phone in its iron belly. You then hear the disposal machine get jammed and come to a sickening, loud churning halt.

MAE flips the machine off, turns towards SHERLOCK, crosses her arms and smiles smugly at him.

MAE
(sarcastically)
Oops, should have flushed it.

SHERLOCK face is ridged with suppressed anger. He walks over to the sink, picking up a dish towel to hold to his nose as he glares down into the sink with disgust. He turns to MAE. They both face off; staring angrily at each other. MAE's eyes spot the lipstick. Her eyes start watering and her stare is broken first.

MAE
(frustrated)
Oh, damn you, I quit!

SHERLOCK
(scoffing and crossing arms)
Heard that before.

MAE
(stammering, tears falling now)
I . . .I mean it. . .

SHERLOCK
(dropping the towel, sounding bored)
Yes, yes. Do go on, Mayson. And when you're done, call the plumber and then get me the number of my mobile carrier.

MAE makes a considerable effort to control her raging emotions only to burst out in uncontrollable sobs. SHERLOCK rolls his eyes.

MAE
(choking out)
Gregg. . . he asked and I'm going to say yes! He wants me to . . .leave. Stay with Sally. . .

SHERLOCK uncrosses his arms and is alerted by the news. Concern, JOHN moves in closer to MAE.

MAE
(gasping)
How I could have fallen. . .for a man. . .like you. . .

IRENE
(concern)
What's the matter with her?

SHERLOCK's hand grasps MAE's arm but she jerks out of his hold and turns sharply to JOHN with panic in her face. She seems to be starting to hyperventilate. Her palm flies to her chest.

MAE
(rasping)
Doc. . .I can't breathe.

JOHN rushes to her side and draws her away towards the door.

JOHN
Come on, we'll get you away from this. (looks at Irene) She is having one of her episodes. She needs her medication. (beat) Mae, where's your pills?

MAE
My. . .room. Sally, I need to call Sally.

IRENE
Here, use mine.

IRENE quickly pulls her phone out of her small handbag and hands the phone over to JOHN. He gratefully takes it.

JOHN
I'll be right back with it. She needs her meds straight away.

JOHN looks over at SHERLOCK angrily.

JOHN
(continuing)
We're not done, you and I, Sherlock. I'll be back.

SHERLOCK remain silent as the JOHN and MAE leave the room and are heard going up the stairs to MAE's room.

IRENE
Well, Sherlock Holmes. (looking at him with a widening grin) Seems I'm your only ally here.

IRENE strolls to the door, shuts it slowly and locks it. Turning towards him, she approaches him seductively.

SHERLOCK
(brow raises)
So it would seem.