In this second chapter, Basil misses Ratigan with the song Without Him There Can Be No Me. I changed the lyrics in the song. The cases Dawson mentions are from the Disney comics or the Basil books. The Bohemian Scandal is when they encountered The Woman, Relda. Cyril the stoolpigeon is from the Basil books. I created a backstory for how Basil and Ratigan became enemies. The backstory is similar to Young Sherlock Holmes.
Enjoy!
The horse carriage arrived at Baker Street. Basil and Dawson hop off the carriage footstep and walk towards Basil's home, which is behind the bushes.
Dawson: It sure is wonderful to be popular, isn't it, Basil? Uh, Basil?
Basil wasn't listening. He looked sad. Earlier today he was happy by what the civilians thought of him, and now he looks down in the mouth. But hours ago, he just had a bad dream. Dawson nudged Basil's arm, which gets his attention.
Basil: Oh! Um, yes Dawson. It's wonderful.
When they entered the room, Mrs. Judson is dusting the furniture.
Mrs. Judson: Did you enjoy your morning walk, gentlemen?
Dawson: Of course we did, Mrs. Judson. It's such a beautiful day outside, I wish you could've joined us.
Mrs. Judson: I would if I could, but I had tidy the house, and to see if any clients arrive to see Mr. Basil.
Basil took off his Inverness cape and deerstalker cap and he put on his purple and black robe. He sits on his red chair, looking depressed.
Mrs. Judson: What's wrong with him? Do you think he's ill?
Dawson: I don't think so. Earlier before we left, he was sleeping and then he woke up screaming. He must've had a bad dream. And he mentioned Ratigan. He probably had a bad dream about him. I'll try and talk to him. Why don't you make him some tea and cheese soufflé to cheer him up?
Mrs. Judson nods, and then goes into the kitchen. Dawson approaches Basil.
Dawson: Basil, are you feeling alright?
Basil: Hmm? Oh, I'm fine, Doctor. Perfectly fine. Where's my violin? I intend to play it.
Dawson: Basil, I know something's wrong with you. Before we left the house, you were sleeping and then woke up screaming. Is this bad dream you're having the reason why you're upset?
Basil: Upset? Who's upset? I'm not upset! I'm just bored that we haven't had a case in weeks!
Dawson gave him a look. Basil sighed, Dawson knew he was lying.
Basil: Oh, very well. The truth is….I regret Ratigan's death.
Dawson: What?! But why?
Basil: Whenever I got a case that involved Ratigan, I was able to use my all my intellectual abilities, but now he's dead. I tell you, Doctor, London has become a singularly, uninteresting, dull city since the death of the nefarious Professor Ratigan.
Dawson: But Basil, you rid society of its greatest enemy and everyone is happy about it.
Basil: And rid myself of the one man worthy of my steel and intelligence.
Dawson: Oh come now, Basil. Your genius for solving the unsolvable is legendary.
I mean I'm speaking of the one who solved the Hauntings of the Hathaway Hotel at the Grand Canyon, and the Bohemian Scandal, and the case of the Missing Emerald Ring
Basil: Dawson, please.
Those mere memories make me numb
Dawson: The Mystery of the Inca Treasure
Basil: Dreary case.
Dawson: The case of the Missing Twins Angela and Agatha, and the Missing Mousa Lisa in Mexico
Basil: Enough, Dawson!
Dawson: Then what about the Flaversham case
Basil: Now there my friend perhaps you're getting slightly more selective
Dawson: The case of the Pygmy Cats, the Missing Colony, the Kidnapped Maharajah, and the Counterfeit Cheese too.
Basil: I must confess, dear Dawson, this implisted list of cases on which you place my reputation proves its true
Dawson: What is?
Basil: I am missing Ratigan!
Dawson: You miss that fiend Ratigan?!
Basil: Without the perfect criminal, Dawson, there can be no perfect detective.
Without fire there can be no flame
Without players there can be no game
Without Shakespeare there'd be no to be or not to be
Without him there can be no me
Dawson: Oh, come now, Basil. I think your overestimating the villain.
Basil: By no means, Dawson.
Without day there can be no night
Without wrong there can be no right
Without evil there can be no good of great degree
Without him there can be no me
Dawson: Rubbish, Basil. You're achievements are second to none. Even excluding your encounters with Ratigan.
Basil: Without light no dark
Without Noah no Ark
Without him no spark to relieve my gloom
Without hope no chance
Without Paris…
Dawson: No France.
Basil: Precisely.
Without it no romance in life I assume
Dawson: Oh, really Basil.
Basil: Don't you see, Dawson. Ratigan and I were totally independent! One simply doesn't exist without the other!
Without love there can be no hate
Good at will both decide our fate
Without him no mystery to which I am the key
Without him no moment only he can guarantee
So all in all as far as I can see
Without him there can be no me
The housekeeper comes back with the tea and cheese crumpets.
Mrs. Judson: Is everything alright, gentlemen? I heard you two going on about something.
Basil: We're alight, Mrs. Judson, we're just having a little conversation.
Dawson: Little conversation? We were talking about Ratigan!
Mrs. Judson: About that monster?! Why?
Dawson: You might not believe this, but Basil misses him.
Mrs. Judson: I see. But I don't blame you, Mr. Basil. He used to be a brilliant teacher at Ratcliffe University,and you two were very-
Basil: (harshly) Mrs. Judson, I have asked you never to bring the matter up again! Understood?!
Mrs. Judson: Eh, yes Mr. Basil. I won't mention it again. Well, here's your tea and soufflé, gentlemen.
As she set down the tray and then left the room, Dawson was a bit curious. What was Mrs. Judson going to say before Basil interrupted her? She only mentioned that Ratigan used to be a teacher at Ratcliffe University, but there was something else she was going to say which Basil will not hear of.
Moments later, Dawson comes into the kitchen while Mrs. Judson is sweeping the floor.
Dawson: Mrs. Judson?
Mrs. Judson: Yes, Doctor?
Dawson: I know it's not my business, but I wanted to ask you. What were you going to say before Basil interrupted you? If it's absolutely secrecy, I promise not to say a word.
Mrs. Judson: But if I speak of it, Mr. Basil will be-
Dawson: Never mind him. You let me worry about that. I just want to know.
Mrs. Judson: Oh, very well.
They both sat at a table in the center of the kitchen where they could talk.
Mrs. Judson: I hadn't mentioned this in years, nor has Mr. Basil, but he never forgets it. You see, Doctor, Mr. Basil used to be a student at Ratcliffe University and Professor Ratigan was his teacher.
Dawson: (disbelief) His teacher?
Mrs. Judson: Exactly.
Flashback….
A teenage Basil is in class writing something on paper while a young Professor Ratigan is speaking to his class on what he is teaching.
Mrs. Judson: Mr. Basil was seventeen years of age and was the smartest boy in the University. Professor Ratigan was a teacher at the University, and a brilliant one.
Minutes later, Ratigan is teaching Basil fencing and later chemistry. They both seemed to be enjoying it and each other's company.
Mrs. Judson: He taught Mr. Basil fencing and science and other things. Mr. Basil learned them quickly. And they were both impressed with each other's intelligence that they became close friends.
Dawson: But what happened?
Mrs. Judson: Mr. Basil discovered that his mentor and friend was not what he seemed. There was the theft of the Crown Jewels. Mr. Basil was investigating the case, until he discovered the criminal's hideout and the missing jewels.
The scene changes to Basil following a dark passage to a secret underground hideout in a sewer. He sees a light at the end of the tunnel. Basil peers through the door and gasps to what he sees. He sees thugs and criminals dumping out the loot they've stolen, the missing Crown Jewels. Suddenly, a gold pistol is pointed at Basil's neck, which startles him. Basil turns around and is shocked to see….
Basil: Ratigan!
Ratigan: (smiles deviously) Ah Basil, I've been expecting you. Although it took you longer than I thought to find me.
Basil: You knew I was coming?
Ratigan: Yes. All those little clues my men left behind were for you. I wanted you to come here because I have a proposition for you. I admire your great mental powers and your genius. You're just like me, we both have powers of intelligence. If you and I should pool our brains, we'd rule the entire world. What do you say, boy?
He holds out his hand expecting a handshake, but Basil scowls at him and refuses.
Basil: Never! I am dedicating my life to fighting evil for which you now stand! I am nothing like you….you lying, despicable sewer rat!
Ratigan: (glares) You will regret those words, Basil! And second….I AM NOT A RAT! But now that you've discovered my hideout and the Crown Jewels, I shall have to kill you!
Basil: (smirks) Very well. Kill me.
When Ratigan pulls the trigger, Basil quickly dodges the bullet. He runs up a staircase to get away as Ratigan alerts his henchmen.
Ratigan: We have an intruder! Seize him!
Thugs chase Basil up the staircase, but Basil manages to break the broken part of the staircase before the thugs could reach him. More thugs down below try to shoot at Basil, but they miss. Basil makes his way to the chandelier hanging from the ceiling. He gets an idea and leaps onto the chandelier, making it swing from side to side. Basil takes out his pocket knife and begins to cut the rope holding the chandelier. The rope snaps and the chandelier falls. Basil manages to hold on to the rope hanging from the ceiling.
The thugs run out of the way as the chandelier crashes down on the floor. A thug carelessly drops an oil lamp, and when a fallen candle from the chandelier lands on the oil, it starts a fire. Everyone runs out of the hideout to escape the flames. Basil swings the rope to the safety of a ledge. He climbs down the staircase and picks up the bag containing the Crown Jewels. But as he emerges from the burning hideout, Ratigan confronts him.
Ratigan: You imbecile! Look what you have done!
Basil: Your life of crime is over, Professor! I'll see you behind bars yet!
Ratigan: We'll see about that!
They tackle and wrestle one another on the street. It seems Basil has gained the upper hand when he takes Ratigan's pistol and points it in his face. Suddenly, a mysterious hooded figure, holding a wooden plank, hits Basil over the head, knocking him into a stupor.
Flashback ends….
Mrs. Judson: Mr. Basil regained consciousness when found by the police. Ratigan had escaped them, but the Crown Jewels were returned to their rightful place.
Dawson: That's a very interesting story. But there's one thing I don't know. Who was it that knocked out Basil and allowed Ratigan to escape?
Mrs. Judson: Nobody knows who it was. But ever since that night, Mr. Basil swore he would capture that horrid rat and put him in prison, and Ratigan became the most dangerous criminal in all Mousedom.
Dawson: And Basil became the greatest detective in all Mousedom.
They both peered out from the kitchen door and watched as Basil sat in his red chair, playing a sad tune from his violin.
Mrs. Judson: I'm a little worried about him, Doctor. Sometimes I think he needs a woman in his life, but you know him. He's a proud bachelor and he never has time for relationships.
Dawson: The only woman I think he ever showed love for was Miss Relda. But let me try to cheer him up.
Mrs. Judson: Good idea, Doctor. I'd best leave you two alone.
She closed the door as Dawson left the kitchen and sat in his green chair in front of Basil.
Dawson: Now Basil, I know you're upset on missing Ratigan, but you must try to cheer up. Ratigan was a criminal, and you know it.
Basil: I know that, old man. But without him, I'm never the same. It was my goal to capture Ratigan and put him behind bars. Then would come the greatest criminal trial of the century and the greatest moment in my career.
Dawson: But you have saved London from that wicked villain and everyone is happy for you. Perhaps it is best for you to forget Ratigan, now that he is gone for good, no matter how much you miss him, like you miss the old days when he was your teacher and-
Hearing those words, Basil struck a wrong note on his violin and he his face was grim.
Basil: How did you know he was my teacher? Have you been talking to Mrs. Judson?
Dawson: Uh…well…sort of. But I was only curious. I haven't known you for long and I wanted to know about you, and how you and Ratigan became enemies. Why didn't you say anything about this?
Basil: It is best to forget the past and focus on the future.
Suddenly, they heard a loud thump outside. Basil and Dawson went outside to see what it was. There was nothing, until a stoolpigeon plopped down from the wall, right in front of Basil and Dawson, startling them. It was Cyril, the mail delivering stoolpigeon. He wore a blue cap on his head and was carrying a brown bag of letters on his left wing.
Cyril: Sorry to be "dropping" in on 'ya, guvnor. Lovely day.
Dawson: Oh dear. Are you hurt, Cyril?
Cyril: Nope. I was just on my way to deliver this letter for you when that wall jumped out in front of me.
Basil: (humors him) Does that happen often to you?
Cyril: Blimey! It happens all the time, guvnor.
Basil: That's just what I thought. Now, the letter if you please.
Cyril took a white envelope and handed it to Basil.
Basil: It's from Inspector Lawless of Scotland Yard. It reads, "Basil, come at once to the Yard. It's urgent. Signed, Lawless."
Cyril: It sounds like you have a case, guvnor. Good luck trying to solve it.
He tries to fly off, but he hits his head on the iron fence. Basil and Dawson look away when Cyril hits his head. When Cyril regains himself, he flies off. Basil and Dawson go back inside, and Basil changes out of his robe and into his Inverness cape and deerstalker cape.
Dawson: What do you suppose Lawless wants?
Basil: I don't know, but I'm eager to know. I've been in this house for weeks, and if I stay here any longer, I shall go mad! I need problems, I need work, I need a case!
He continues ranting as he goes out the door. Dawson shrugs his shoulders and follows him.