Subject: 19th Dec Prompt 2018

From Hades Lord of the Dead: Watson is threatened by scandal. Can Holmes help?

Written in the form of a play, all words are part of the poem

An original character returns...

Scandal!

The cast

Sherlock Holmes, a consulting detective,

Watson, his Best Friend Forever,

Mrs H, a redoubtable landlady who

Is stalwart and canny and clever.

Lestrade, an inspector, and close by his side

Young Hopkins; impulsive, distracted.

Young Arthur and

Wiggins and

Benson the dog and

Another, whose name is redacted...

Act One

This is set in the Baker Street flat;

The parlour in great disarray,

Papers and journals are scattered around.

It's dark, as it's late in the day

A bookcase is toppled, a plate has been smashed

Into pieces spread out on the floor.

The sound of quick footsteps

On seventeen steps...

Then somebody opens the door...

~0~

Holmes-( looking over his shoulder behind him)

"A shame Mrs Hudson's not here.

The fire isn't lit and cold supper awaits.."

(Then he stops as the scene becomes clear)

"Watson, dear chap, I believe we've been burgled!

The room's in a terrible mess!

A more terrible mess than we left it this morning.

Your files have been ransacked, no less!"

~0~

An interlude while all the gas lamps are lit,

And the fire's set to burn in the grate,

And Watson and Holmes check what damage is done

To papers and journals and plate.

~0~

Dr Watson-( quite worried, a frown on his face)

"Holmes! My red journal has gone!

The one where I put my most sensitive work,

With the label TOP SECRET stuck on!"

~0~

Holmes- (who is closely inspecting a hinge,

Puts chisel and microscope down)

"But those are the cases you vowed not to share!

No wonder you're wearing a frown.

Don't worry old chap, I will check every inch

Of this house, for the slightest of clues

And will track down the burglar, whoever he is.

Dear Watson, there's no time to lose..."

~0~

Act Two

The next morning, the Baker Street parlour,

Both men have been working all night.

They both sip their tea ( Mrs H has returned)

Quite dejected in harsh morning light.

~0~

Mrs H-( with an ominous missive in hand)

"This was slipped through the back kitchen door.

Wiggins just heard a malevolent laugh;

Looked outside, could observe nothing more."

~0~

The envelope; cheap, with a commonplace glue,

Is studied by Holmes for a while,

Then the letter extracted, and carefully read,

Full of venom and blackmailer's bile...

~0~

-Doctor Watson, I have your most precious red book,

With scandalous exploits galore,

Just think of the damage so easily done,

And the shameful responses in store.

The Strand will receive all those tales one by one,

If you don't send the funds I request.

Please don't tell the Yarders,

They get in the way.

You'll hear from me soon.

All the best.-

~0~

Dr Watson- (now pale and perspiring) "Dear Holmes,

Whoever could wish me such ill?

Apart from the many we've put behind bars,

Who's out there, and hating me still?"

~0~

Holmes-(as he studies the words and the blotting,

The thickness of paper, the ink)

"A person with such a vindictive ambition

Should stick in my mind, let me think."

~0~

That moment, young Arthur slips in with the paper;

The latest edition, fresh news.

A glance at the headline, and all becomes clear;

The most startling and shocking of clues...

~0~

-A DARING ESCAPE FROM A TOP WOMEN'S PRISON-

~0~

Holmes: "Elsie is out on the loose!

A grudge she has harboured through five past attempts;

She truly needs no more excuse."

~0~

Just then, as expected, a knock on the door.

Lestrade and young Hopkins appear.

~0~

Lestrade:-"I have tidings which bring us no joy.

And might spoil your Christmas, I fear."

(He pauses and looks at the chaos, the headlines,

The note, and the shards of smashed plate)

"We were hoping to warn you of Elsie's return

I perceive that our news is too late.

And I'm really not happy at Elsie's remark

That the Yarders just get in the way.

It's such an insensitive comment to make

And could easily ruin my day."

~0~

Mrs H- ( in a soothing, placating,soft tone)

"Lestrade and young Hopkins, don't fret.

We had no real intention of leaving you out

We shall need all the help we can get.."

~0~

Act Three

A remote and unlabelled location;

A warehouse, a grim looking place.

A figure in black peering out from a window,

A weird gloating smile on her face.

She checks all around, any danger in sight?

There is nothing suspicious at all.

Just two scruffy urchins, a newspaper seller,

Two thugs rolling round: a street brawl.

~0~

A woeful, defeated physician approaches,

A package of paper held tight.

His shoulders are slumped as he heads for the steps,

Unhappy, unarmed, a sad sight.

~0~

Mad Elsie-( voice muffled...as though that would help)

"Please place all that cash on the floor

Then back away slowly, I'll bring your file down

You can trust me, I've done this before."

~0~

Dr Watson sighs softly, but does as he's told,

Lets go of his neatly wrapped cash,

Retreats from the bundle and waits for his file,

Mad Elsie appears, grabs the stash.

~0~

Mad Elsie-( with pistol and triumphant laugh)

"I'm sorry, I'm keeping your file;

And London will shun you, once tales are released,

For sharing their secrets, so vile.

And I'll disappear with your cash and good name,

And buy a nice place on the coast.

Please tell Mrs Hudson, whenever you meet,

That truly, I hate her the most!"

~0~

The brawlers brawl closer, and one stands straight up;

Mrs Hudson, now covered in dust.

~0~

Mrs H:-"If you really have something to say

Say it straight to my face, if you must."

~0~

Mad Elsie's jaw drops as her nemesis speaks,

She swings her small pistol around.

The newspaper seller, young Hopkins, darts up,

And wrestles her down to the ground.

Holmes then appears from behind, on the steps,

Top secret red book in his hand.

~0~

Holmes:-"These adventures won't ever be seen

By the public, writ large in The Strand!"

~0~

Lestrade-(dusted down) "I will read you your rights,

Then, Mad Elsie, we'll take you away;

And I'll check all the locks on your next prison cell

In the hope that this time, there you'll stay!"

~0~

Mad Elsie:-"I think I would like to announce

That I'm not very happy at all!

You cheated, I cannot believe you did that!

Or believe Mrs Hudson can brawl!

This isn't the last that you'll see of me yet!

That's six times you've foiled me!

I'll never forget!"

~0~

Epilogue

Back in the Baker Street parlour,

The heroes are gathered for tea, cake and tart;

Young Arthur and Wiggins are sat on the floor

With Benson the dog, fast asleep ( a small part)

~0~

Lestrade-(who regards Mrs H with some awe

Since the brawl) "Doctor Watson, your very good health!

I'm delighted mad Elsie, has failed in her scheme

And not stolen your fine reputation and wealth."

~0~

Holmes-"My dear Watson, I've something to say;

It's time to declare, as I told you, just so.

Your top secret journal which caused so much fuss

Is now in the vaults of the firm, Cox and Co."

~0

Dr Watson-"Dear Holmes, it was foolish of course,

And I'm sorry for causing distress to a friend.

And I'm grateful to all; with this team on my side,

Mad Elsie could never defeat us."

~0~

The End

A/N: Mad Elsie first appeared in the drama section of "A study in genres" and has reappeared in four December challenges since.