From mrspencil: Memories
"Holmes, do you remember when...?"
"No."
"Oh, come now, Holmes, you can't possibly know what I was about to say! What do you mean 'no'?"
"I mean I have no interest whatsoever in any maudlin reminiscences you felt compelled to drag me into, last day of the year or not."
"I see... Experiment still going badly, is it?"
"I have been trying for the last week to replicate the results of that first blasted test! You remember, that unusual yellow tincture..."
"No."
"What? But you were here, you saw..."
"Surely you don't expect me to join you in – what was the term? – 'maudlin reminiscences'. Live wholly in the present moment, that's your new philosophy, isn't it?"
"...I beg your pardon, Watson. Perhaps a momentary escape from, er, present frustrations is in order."
"Hm, not to mention a bit more practice in issuing apologies."
"Er, yes. What, ah, did you wish to share with me just now?"
"I was about to ask if you remembered your experiment from the previous week – when you neglected to give one of your beakers more than a cursory rinse before putting it away."
"...Do you mean I've been trying to replicate a contaminated result all this time?"
"That's exactly what I mean."
"Good God..."
"May I suggest a certain resolution for next year?"
"No."
"A double brandy, then?"
"...Yes, please."