Act 5 – The Adventure of the Seized Niece
Opening scene: An aerial view of Paris. Cut to a plane landing at Charles DeGaulle Airport. Cut to security check. Sherlock and John walk through and meet Sherlock's contact Claude Olivet. They all shake hands.
Olivet: There are developments, Monsieur Holmes. We have recovered Lucy Hannibal.
Sherlock: (Eagerly) Where is she?
Olivet: In Saint-Antoine Hospital.
John: What happened?
Olivet: The vehicle seen in the security film at the airport was spotted in downtown Paris. Our officers gave chase but the vehicle, while attempting to elude them, was struck by a delivery van. The driver was killed. Mademoiselle Hannibal was found, bound gagged and drugged, in the luggage compartment. She was seriously injured, but doctors have every belief that she will recover.
Sherlock: Excellent! Who was the driver?
Olivet: Oh, we know him very well. He is Gjin Bicaku, arrested last year for operating a bordello. He was fined and released.
Sherlock: Where is this bordello?
Olivet: As far as I am aware, it no longer exists.
Sherlock: Then where is his new bordello? Obviously there must be one or he wouldn't be driving around with captive women in the car boot! (Olivet hesitates.) Oh come on, man! Never mind. Just take me to the car he was driving. That should yield some clues.
Olivet: I cannot do that, Monsieur Holmes.
Sherlock: What?
Olivet: You need to go through the British embassy and obtain a warrant to investigate French evidence.
Sherlock: (Impatiently) And how long will THAT take?
Olivet: Perhaps 24 hours…perhaps longer.
Sherlock: All right. (He raises his eyebrows quizzically) Then may I borrow your phone?
Scene 2: A hospital room in Saint-Antoine University Hospital in Paris. John is standing over the girl who lies in the bed, waiting for her to awaken; outside it is raining and Sherlock is gazing out of the window. A misty cameo of Laura Devereux's face is shown screen left, rising as if looking through the rainy window. A second misty cameo, of another girl about the same age who looks remarkably similar rises into sight to the right of it.
FLASHBACK SCENE:
A 14-year-old boy is confronting a beefy, muscular, middle-aged balding man who is wearing disheveled working clothes and heavy, dirty farm boots. The boy is tall, thin, with a tousled mop of curly dark hair and gray eyes. He dodges the man as he attempts to lay his hands on him. Lying on the floor, her clothing torn, lies the girl just seen in the window cameo.
Boy: (In a mocking tone) I even know you've been cheating on mom!
Man: Liar!
Boy: You've been cheating on her for more than a year! I've got your hotel bills!
Man: It's none of your goddamned business, you weird little freak!
Boy: What you were just trying to do to my sister is my business! It's mom's business too!
The man takes a swing at him. He ducks, but the man catches him by the throat with his other hand and rams him up against a great stone fireplace…
Suddenly John's voice breaks into Sherlock's reverie.
John: Sherlock, your ability to work without food and sleep when you are on a case never fails to astound me. As for myself, I wish I had those biscuits Laura brought up yesterday in front of me.
(No response. Sherlock is still gazing out of the rainy window, an odd, distant expression on his face.)
John: You know, Sherlock…
Sherlock: (Finally snapping out of it) Hm?
John: You might have bothered to say goodbye to Laura. We may never see her again.
Sherlock: Do you want to see her again or lecture me on my social etiquette?
(He takes out his smart phone and begins to work it furiously. On the screen is shown the words: Txt to M.H., L. and Interpol.)
Cut to John moving through the hospital cafeteria line.
Cut to John awakening from a nap on a couch in the hospital break room. He sits up, only to find a grizzled old man gazing fixedly at him from another chair. Embarrassed, John rises, moves into the hall, gets his bearings and walks onto an elevator. The doors close on him and we see the elevator lights as it ascends floors.
Cut to the elevator doors opening. John steps out, looks around and heads for a hospital room. Camera follows him. Sherlock still is sitting, furiously working his smart phone.
Sherlock: (Not looking up.) Feel more rested?
John: Not really. I kept dreaming of poor Laura, being victimized by these soulless people.
Sherlock: Fortunately, I've been doing more than dreaming.
They hear moaning noises and both quickly attend Lucy Hannibal's bedside. She is awakening. She blinks around, frightened.
Lucy: Where…where am I?
John: (Pressing her hand) You're safe. You've been rescued. You're in hospital under police guard.
Sherlock: Do you know what has happened to Laura?
John: Sherlock, she's in no condition to be questioned now.
Sherlock: And how much longer, exactly, am I supposed to wait?
Lucy: (Blinking and trying to focus on Sherlock) Who are you?
Sherlock: My name is Sherlock Holmes. I'm investigating your abduction. Did you ever see Laura?
Lucy: Yes, she…ended up in the same van as me and some other girls. They took us to one place, but I really have no idea where. Then they split us up. They drugged me and…and that's the last thing I remember.
Sherlock: Can you describe any of your captors?
Lucy: There was a man with a scar…on his forehead…
Sherlock: All right. Do you know where Laura is now?
Lucy: I…I do not know. I do not know! (Her eyes close and she passes out again.)
S.: (Displaying great frustration and suppressed anger.) It's time to find Olivet.
Scene 3: Sherlock and John are walking down a hospital hallway and spot Olivet coming toward them. Sherlock seizes him violently by the shirtfront pushes him backward into a nearby window alcove and draws the curtains shut.
John: Sherlock, what the HELL are you doing?
Sherlock: (Backing Olivier into a corner, grasping him by the shirt collar and twisting it tight, his eyes boring into his) I have evidence of all of your recent phone records and secret bank accounts, as well as the most obvious clue that you allowed that bordello you claimed doesn't exist to continue to operate after Bicaku was fined. You're being paid off by this gang, aren't you? And it doesn't take twenty-four hours to obtain a warrant through diplomatic channels to search a vehicle. That vehicle could contain evidence to Laura Devereux's whereabouts. Now who do you think you're dealing with, hm? Why are you trying to stall me?
Olivet: Monsieur Holmes, whatever are you talking about? I have done everything within my power to help you!
Sherlock: It really was a mistake you letting me borrow your cell. I have a photographic memory and I memorized your call directory. Does the number 01-82-18-06-12 mean anything to you? Hm? How about this bank account number: 14211351815-221415?
Olivier: (Astounded) How could you get those? Who gave them to you?
Sherlock: Oh I tracked them down. The point is I have them. I know. So make it easy on yourself at your trial and tell me what I want to know!
Olivet: All right, all right! (S. releases him, but doesn't let him out of the corner. Olivier smoothes his uniform.) Your girl is still a virgin. She is worth a lot of money. Thousands.
(John looks disgusted while Sherlock continues to fix Olivet with a steely glare.)
Olivet: She has been sold to a Turk named Abdullah Ediz who lives here in Paris and plans to resell her at auction this morning.
Sherlock: (Grabs Olivet by the collar again) Address! Give me his address!
Olivet: (Struggling) Number 12, Avenue Montaigne!
Sherlock: Good. Now give me your clothes.
Olivet: What! Monsieur!
(John, fed up, knocks Olivet cold with a hard right to the jaw.)
Sherlock: Good work, John.
John: (Rubbing his hand.) That was one of the most satisfying things I've ever done.
Sherlock: My compliments. Now kindly undress him while I call Mycroft.
(Scene ends with John looking put upon, but bending down to comply.)