Sherlock..........Who?

The Reichenbach Fall Part One

John Watson sits in a chair as rain pours down outside the window and thunder rumbles. He looks tired and his face is full of pain.

ELLA (offscreen): Why today?

(John frowns enquiringly. His therapist is sitting opposite him.)

JOHN: D'you want to hear me say it?

ELLA: Eighteen months since our last appointment.

JOHN (his voice becoming quietly angry): D'you read the papers?

ELLA: Sometimes.

JOHN: Mmm, and you watch telly? You know why I'm here.

(There's a pained groan in his voice as he ends the sentence.)

JOHN: I'm here because ...

(His voice breaks and he can't continue. He looks down, swallowing hard while he fights not to weep. Ella leans forward sympathetically.)

ELLA: What happened, John?

(John closes his eyes, trying to get control of himself, then looks up at her again, his eyes full of loss. He clears his throat and breathes heavily.)

JOHN (his voice breaking): Sher...

(He can't continue and he clears his throat again, swallowing hard.)

ELLA (gently): You need to get it out.

JOHN (softly, his voice full of pain and tears): My best friend ... Sherlock Holmes ...

(He sniffs, forcing his voice through the anguish.)

JOHN: ... is dead.

(He breaks and begins to cry.)

THREE MONTHS EARLIER. In an art gallery, the Director of the gallery is finishing his speech as he stands near a painting.

GALLERY DIRECTOR: Falls of the Reichenbach, Turner's masterpiece, thankfully recovered owing to the prodigious talent of Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

(The patrons applaud. Sherlock, Jenny and John are standing nearby. The Director gives a small gift-wrapped box to Sherlock.)

DIRECTOR: A small token of our gratitude.

(Sherlock takes the box and looks at it.)

SHERLOCK: Diamond cufflinks. All my cuffs have buttons.

JOHN (to the Director): He means thank you.

SHERLOCK: Do I?

JENNY : Just say it.

SHERLOCK (insincerely to the Director): Thank you.

(He starts to walk away but John holds him back.)

JOHN: Hey.

(Sherlock unwillingly stops and the press start taking photographs. Later, one of the photographs appears in a newspaper article headed"Hero of the Reichenbach". The straplines read "Turner masterpiece recovered by 'amateur' ; "Scotland Yard embarrased [sic] by overlooked clues". The text of the article reads: "A Turner masterpiece worth £1.7million that was stolen from an auction house ten days ago has been recovered by an amateur detective from North London. Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street has been investigating the art crime simply as a hobby, and yet he was able to follow the trail that lead  him to the famous work – a trail that Scotland Yard missed completely. Sherlock Holmes has gained cult following following the publication of his website – The Sci- ..." at which point the text disappears offscreen.
A new newspaper article reads "Top Banker Kidnapped" and the text reads: "Sherlock Holmes was last night being hailed a hero yet again for masterminding the daring escape of the kidnapped man. // Scotland Yard had to secretly bring in their special weapon (in the form of Mr Holmes) yet again. The case has drawn a huge amount of attention as the nation became divided about the outcome of the kidnapping. Bankers are certainly not the nations [sic] sweethearts any more, but Mr. Holmes certainly seems to be. As huge crowds gathered for the press conference, Mr Holmes was presented with a gift from ..." and then the text disappears offscreen.
Outside the banker's house, the rescued man is standing with his arms around his wife and young son and the press film and photograph them while Sherlock , Jenny and John stand uncomfortably nearby.)