The pistol fires, and pillow feathers fly as they cautiously peek out. Mrs. Judson rushes back out at the stentorian report.
Mrs. Judson: (Panicking) What in heaven's name?
Soon, she discovers her pillows are nothing but feathers.
Mrs. Judson: (Distraught) Oh! Oh! My...
She spits out several feathers.
Mrs. Judson: MY GOOD PILLOWS!
She glares angrily in Basil's direction. He is kneeling in the chair, tossing the feathers aside.
Mrs. Judson: MR. BASIL!
He pops his head above the chair as she spits out more feathers.
Mrs. Judson: How many times have I told you not to...
Basil interrupts Mrs. Judson
Basil: There, there, Mrs. Judson, it's quite all right.
Basil smells cheese crumpets from the kitchen.
Basil: Ah...(Sniffs) Mmm! I believe I smell some of those delightful cheese crumpets of yours.
He gently pushes Mrs. Judson back to the kitchen.
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Basil: Why don't you fetch our guests some?
Mrs. Judson: But, ah, but, but...
Basil shuts the door, silencing her.
Basil: Now... (He gets on his hands and knees and searches on the floor) I know that bullet's here somewhere.
Maria had found it and was holding it up for him. He gently takes it.
Basil: (Still staring at her) Thank you, Miss...
Maria: Todd. Maria Todd.
Basil: (Smiled softly) Thank you, Ms.Todd.
Maria: (Returning the smile) Please, call me Maria.
They stare at each other, until Dawson cleared his throat thous breaking the trance.
Olivia: Mr.Basil, you don't understand--
Basil: Shhh!
Basil opens a small box and pulls out another bullet. Taking the one he just fired, he puts them under a microscope and compares their markings.
The first reading matches...
Basil: Yeah...
...so does the second one.
Basil: Yes!
However, from the third direction, the markings go off in separate directions.
Basil: (Yells) NOOOOOOOOOO! Drat! (Depressed) Another dead end.
Dejected, Basil tosses the extra bullet aside and slowly walks over to his chair.
Basil: He was within my grasp.
He flops into his chair and slowly reaches for the violin sitting beside him. As Basil plays a mournful tune, Maria nudges Olivia encouragingly, and she walks towards him, determined to make him listen now that Basil was unoccupied with his detective work.
YOU ARE READING
My Great Mouse Detective
FanfictionMaria is a young mouse who is filled with pain and sorrow, caused by Ratigan and his goons, making her move away from London, When she returns home, she must help a little girl find her father, and she must work with the famous Basil of Bakers Stree...
