The Strange Adventure of the Doomed Sextette

by Leslie Charteris and Denis Green

Sherlock Holmes and The Saint

An Introduction by Ian Dickerson

Everyone has a story to tell about how they first met Sherlock Holmes. For me it was a Penguin paperback reprint my brother introduced me to in my pre-teen years. I read it, and went on to read all the original stories, but it didn’t appeal to me in the way it appealed to others. This is probably because I discovered the adventures of The Saint long before I discovered Sherlock Holmes.

The Saint, for those readers who may need a little more education, was also known as Simon Templar and was a modern day Robin Hood who first appeared in 1928. Not unlike Holmes, he has appeared in books, films, TV shows, and comics. He was created by Leslie Charteris, a young man born in Singapore to a Chinese father and an English mother, who was just twenty years old when he wrote that first Saint adventure. He’d always wanted to be a writer - his first piece was published when he was just nine years of age - and he followed that Saint story, his third novel, with two further books, neither of which featured Simon Templar.

However, there’s a notable similarity between the heroes of his early novels, and Charteris, recognising this, and being somewhat fed up of creating variations on the same theme, returned to writing adventures for The Saint. Short stories for a weekly magazine, The Thriller, and a change of publisher to the mainstream Hodder & Stoughton, helped him on his way to becoming a best-seller and something of a pop culture sensation in Great Britain.

But he was ambitious. Always fond of the USA, he started to spend more time over there, and it was the 1935 novel - and fifteenth Saint book - The Saint in New York, that made him a transatlantic success. He spent some time in Hollywood, writing for the movies and keeping an eye on The Saint films that were then in production at RKO studios. Whilst there, he struck up what would become a lifelong friendship with Denis Green, a British actor and writer, and his new wife, Mary.

Fast forward a couple of years... Leslie was on the west coast of the States, still writing Saint stories to pay the bills, writing the occasional non-Saint piece for magazines, and getting increasingly frustrated with RKO who, he felt, weren’t doing him, or his creation, justice. Denis Green, meanwhile, had established himself as a stage actor, and had embarked on a promising radio career both in front of and behind the microphone.

Charteris was also interested in radio. He had a belief that his creation could be adapted for every medium and was determined to try and prove it. In 1940, he commissioned a pilot programme to show how The Saint would work on radio, casting his friend Denis Green as Simon Templar. Unfortunately, it didn’t sell, but just three years later, he tried again, commissioning a number of writers - including Green - to create or adapt Saint adventures for radio.

They also didn’t sell, and after struggling to find a network or sponsor for The Saint on the radio, he handed the problem over to established radio show packager and producer, James L. Saphier. Charteris was able to solve one problem, however: At the behest of advertising agency Young & Rubicam, who represented the show’s sponsors, Petri Wine, Denis Green had been sounded out about writing for The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a weekly radio series that was then broadcasting on the Mutual Network.

Green confessed to his friend that, whilst he could write good radio dialogue, he simply hadn’t a clue about plotting. He was, as his wife would later recall, a reluctant writer: “He didn’t really like to write. He would wait until the last minute. He would put it off as long as possible by scrubbing the kitchen stove or wash the bathroom - anything before he sat down at the typewriter. I had a very clean house.” Charteris offered a solution: They would go into partnership, with him creating the stories and Green writing the dialogue.

But there was another problem: The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes aired on one of the radio networks that Leslie hoped might be interested in the adventures of The Saint, and it would not look good, he thought, for him to be involved with a rival production. Leslie adopted the pseudonym of Bruce Taylor, (as you will see at the end of the following script,) taking inspiration taking inspiration from the surname of the show’s producer Glenhall Taylor and that of Rathbone’s co-star, Nigel Bruce.

The Taylor/Green partnership was initiated with “The Strange Case of the Aluminum Crutch”, which aired on July 24th, 1944, and would ultimately run until the following March, with Bruce Taylor’s final contribution to the Holmes canon being “The Secret of Stonehenge”, which aired on March 19th, 1945 - thirty-five episodes in all.

Bruce Taylor’s short radio career came to an end in short because Charteris shifted his focus elsewhere. Thanks to Saphier, The Saint found a home on the NBC airwaves, and aside from the constant demand for literary Saint adventures, he was exploring the possibilities of launching a Saint magazine. He was replaced by noted writer and critic Anthony Boucher, who would establish a very successful writing partnership with Denis Green.

Fast forward quite a few more years - to 1988 to be precise: A young chap called Dickerson, a long standing member of The Saint Club, discovers a new TV series of The Saint is going in to production. Suitably inspired, he writes to the then secretary of the Club, suggesting that it was time the world was reminded of The Saint, and The Saint Club in particular. Unbeknownst to him, the secretary passes his letter on to Leslie Charteris himself. The teenaged Dickerson and the aging author struck up a friendship which involved, amongst other things, many fine lunches, followed by lazy chats over various libations. Some of those conversations featured the words “Sherlock” and “Holmes”.

It was when Leslie died, in 1993, that I really got to know his widow, Audrey. We often spoke at length about many things, and from time to time discussed Leslie and the Holmes scripts, as well as her own career as an actress.

When she died in 2014, Leslie’s family asked me to go through their flat in Dublin. Pretty much the first thing I found was a stack of radio scripts, many of which had been written by Bruce Taylor and Denis Green.

I was, needless to say, rather delighted. More so when his family gave me permission to get them into print. Back in the 1940’s, no one foresaw an afterlife for shows such as this, and no recordings exist of this particular Sherlock Holmes adventure. So here you have the only documentation around of “The Strange Adventure of the Doomed Sextette”...

Ian Dickerson

February, 2018

The Strange Adventure of the Doomed Sextette

BILL FORMAN: Petri Wine brings you...

(Announcer)

MUSIC: THEME. FADE ON CUE:

FORMAN: Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

MUSIC: THEME ... FULL FINISH

FORMAN: The Petri family - the family that took the time to bring you good wine - invites you to listen to Doctor Watson as he tells us about another exciting adventure he shared with his old friend, that master detective - Sherlock Holmes. You know, there’s something I wish you could share with me one of these evenings - and that’s a good spaghetti dinner - the real old-fashioned kind with lots of tomato sauce and cheese and served with big thick slices of French bread. And of course, the best part - glasses of Petri California Burgundy. Don’t forget that Petri Burgundy whatever you do - because Petri Burgundy is the best friend a spaghetti dinner or any dinner ever had. Petri Burgundy is a hearty wine - rich and red and full-bodied. And boy, that Petri Burgundy is sure a delicious wine - there’s no doubt about that. One taste and you know it’s your favourite wine from here on out. Just try Petri Burgundy with any meat or meat dish... you’ll find that good Petri Wine really makes your good cooking taste better.

MUSIC: “SCOTCH POEM” by Edward MacDowell

FORMAN: And now let’s look in on the genial Doctor Watson. Good evening, Doctor.

WATSON: (FADING IN) Evening, Mr. Forman.

SOUND EFFECT: EXCITED BARKING OF PUPPIES

WATSON: Quiet, fellas! Quiet!

FORMAN: A couple of daschund puppies... Are they new members of your household, Doctor?

WATSON: Yes, my boy. They were given to me last week, as a matter of fact.

SOUND EFFECT: PUPPY BEING PATTED. ECSTATIC YELPING

WATSON: I’ve christened this one “Monty” - after Sir Bernard Montgomery.

SOUND EFFECT: FURTHER PATTING AND YELPING

WATSON: And this little fella’s “Winnie”.

FORMAN: After Winston Churchill, I suppose?

WATSON: That’s right, Mr. Forman.

FORMAN: Very distinguished guests, I must say, Doctor.

WATSON: Yes, although they’re not as dignified as their names imply. Winnie’s favourite occupation is chewing at Monty’s tail! However, scoop them off that chair and settle yourself down, and I’ll get on with my story.

FORMAN: Last week you told us you called it “The Doomed Sextette”.

WATSON: That’s right, young fella-me-lad.

FORMAN: I suppose it began in Baker Street, as usual, Doctor?

WATSON: No. it began in my own house in Paddington. I had been married some months before and in consequence had seen very little of my old friend, Sherlock Holmes.

FORMAN: He and your wife never did quite hit it off, did they?

WATSON: No, Mr. Forman - a fact that caused me no little unhappiness, I may say. But to get back to my story... My wife was away staying with some relatives, and I was alone. It was on a Sunday morning, I remember, that I was reading in front of my fire, when to my delight the door opened and my old friend strode into the room.

SOUND EFFECT: DOOR OPEN

HOLMES: (OFF) Watson, my dear fellow, how are you?

SOUND EFFECT: DOOR CLOSE

WATSON: I’m delighted to see you, Holmes!

HOLMES: (FADING IN) And how is Mrs. Watson? I trust that the little excitements connected with our adventure of The Sign of Four have not been too much for her?

WATSON: What d’you mean, Holmes?

HOLMES: I understand that she’s in the country, staying with relatives.

WATSON: (CHUCKLING) How on earth did you know that?

HOLMES: My Mrs. Hudson and your cook are close friends. You’d be surprised at the amount of second or even third-hand information I get about you.

WATSON: (LAUGHING) Just the same as ever, Holmes. Sit down. You can stay for a while, I hope?

HOLMES: Certainly, old fellow.

WATSON: It’s a funny thing you should drop round here this morning. I was coming to see you later on... and bring a friend with me. A friend who sounds as if he’s a potential client for you.

HOLMES: Splendid. I’m glad to see that marriage and the cares of your medical practice have not entirely obliterated your interest in our little deductive problems. Who is the friend - and what is his problem?

WATSON: His name is Taylor. Major Taylor... We used to be in the same regiment together in India. He’s a stockbroker now and seems to be in some kind of trouble. I received a telegram from him this morning saying that he was calling on me... and that he needed your help. He should be here any moment.

HOLMES: I shall be glad to help any friend of yours, old chap.

SOUND EFFECT: KNOCK ON DOOR

WATSON: That’s probably him now. Couldn’t have timed it better. (CALLING) Come in!

SOUND EFFECT: DOOR OPEN

WATSON: Taylor, my dear chap. How are you?

SOUND EFFECT: DOOR CLOSE

TAYLOR: (FADING IN) (ABOUT FORTY FIVE) Hello, Watson. It’s very good to see you again.

WATSON: This is my old friend, Sherlock Holmes.

HOLMES: How d’you do, Major Taylor.

TAYLOR: (SURPRISED) Sherlock Holmes! Just the man I want to see. This is splendid.

WATSON: Let me take your coat... that’s it. And now settle down and make yourself comfortable. Hear anything of the old crowd?

TAYLOR: A few of them.

WATSON: Taylor and I were in the same regiment, you know, Holmes.

HOLMES: (DRYLY) Yes, you told me that just now, Watson.

WATSON: What happened to “Grumpy” Jackson?

TAYLOR: He’s down at Bournemouth - grumpier than ever.

WATSON: And Geoffrey Hill? Ever hear of him?

TAYLOR: Married. Very unhappily, I’m told.

WATSON: How about Ronnie Russell?

TAYLOR: He broke his neck last year - hunting.

WATSON: I’m sorry to hear that - though I never did like the fella. Ever see “Pinky Little”?

TAYLOR: No. (CHANGING HIS TONE) Watson, old chap, I don’t want to seem rude, but d’you mind if we postpone the reminiscences until later?

HOLMES: Just what I was about to suggest myself, sir.

WATSON: (MUMBLING) Only natural that when a couple of old army men get together they should...

HOLMES: (INTERRUPTING) Just what is your problem, Major Taylor?

TAYLOR: I’m afraid for my life, Mr. Holmes.

HOLMES: Why?

TAYLOR: Perhaps I’d better tell you the story from the beginning.

HOLMES: That would be the most logical starting place, sir.

TAYLOR: Well... Twenty years ago - or more - half-a-dozen of us were stationed on a pretty dangerous Indian outpost. We were discussing the chances of us all getting out of the place alive. Somebody - I forget who - produced an insurance advertisement, and suggested we all take out a policy. The proceeds of each policy were to go in to a trust fund which would eventually be paid to the last survivor. I suppose it was rather a schoolboy-ish idea. In fact we called ourselves, as I remember, “The Doomed Sextette” or something equally melodramatic.

HOLMES: How many of the original half-dozen of you are still alive?

TAYLOR: Only four. I’d practically forgotten the whole thing - until one of our members dropped dead of heart failure on a Scottish golf course last year. I was reminded of the agreement when I received a notification from the lawyers handling the trust fund that the insurance money had been duly credited.

HOLMES: Hmm. Who was the other member who died?

TAYLOR: Jerry Marshall. He was murdered in his flat six months ago here in London.

HOLMES: Jerry Marshall? Yes, I remember the case. The police discovered nothing. So there are four of you left, eh? Who are the other three?

TAYLOR: Oddly enough, they’re all comparative neighbours of mine. I live in Virginia Water, you know. Bob Allen, the lawyer, has a house nearby. And Doctor Glendinning, another member of the “Doomed Sextette”, has a practice at Egham, which is only an hour’s drive from my place.

HOLMES: That accounts for three of you. How about the fourth?

TAYLOR: Colonel Robinson. And as it happens, he’s staying with Doctor Glendinning for the summer. Yesterday he was out shooting and narrowly escaped death when his gun exploded. It had been tampered with. Mr. Holmes, I feel that it’s liable to be my turn next. I was hoping, perhaps, that you and Watson would come down and stay a few days with me in Virginia Water, and keep an eye on things?

HOLMES: What d’you say, Watson? A few days in the country might do you the world of good, you know.

WATSON: Yes. I’d like to go down there very much.

HOLMES: Good. This is quite like old times. Pack an overnight bag, old chap. Oh - perhaps you had better scribble a line to your wife, and then we’ll be on our way to Virginia Water.

MUSIC: BRIDGE

SOUND EFFECT: CARRIAGE ON GRAVEL

WATSON: ‘Pon my soul, Taylor, you don’t give us much chance to look at your place. We just have time to unpack our bags and then you whisk us off in your carriage to call on Doctor Glendinning.

TAYLOR: It was your friend’s idea, Watson.

HOLMES: Why waste time, old fellow? Major Taylor feels that his life is in danger... and I think that he has every reason to believe it. Two other people concerned - Doctor Glendinning and his guest, Colonel Robinson, are practically neighbors... and remember that the Colonel narrowly escaped death yesterday when his gun exploded. It seems obvious that we should waste no time in calling on them.

SOUND EFFECT: CARRIAGE STARTING TO SLOW DOWN

TAYLOR: Here’s Glendinning’s house now.

WATSON: Charming. His practice must be a lot more remunerative than mine. I couldn’t afford a place like this.

TAYLOR: He has a private income. Ah, there he is now. (RAISING HIS VOICE) Hello, Glendinning!

SOUND EFFECT: CARRIAGE DRAWING TO STOP

GLENDINNING: (OFF) Taylor! Good to see you. (FADING IN) (ABOUT FIFTY, PLEASANT) And you’ve brought visitors. Fine. Perhaps we can have a four at bridge.

SOUND EFFECT: CARRIAGE DOOR OPEN. CRUNCH OF FEET ON GRAVEL

TAYLOR: Glendinning... I want to introduce Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson.

AD LIB: HOW D’YOU DO’S

SOUND EFFECT: DOOR CLOSE

TAYLOR: They came down with me from London today.

GLENDINNING: Sherlock Holmes? The great detective?

HOLMES: The adjective is yours, Doctor Glendinning.

GLENDINNING: Well, Taylor, you threatened to call in a detective, but I didn’t know you’d aim as high as this. Come on. Let’s go into the house.

SOUND EFFECT: FOOTSTEPS ON GRAVEL

TAYLOR: By the way Glendinning, Watson’s an old army medico too.

GLENDINNING: Really? What regiment?

WATSON: Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers.

GLENDINNING: Is that so. Were you with ’em in India?

WATSON: Yes, I was wounded in the Battle of Maiwand.

GLENDINNING: Bad luck. Seriously?

WATSON: Shattered the clavicle and grazed the sub-clavian artery.

GLENDINNING: You’re lucky to be alive. Well, here we are...

SOUND EFFECT: DOOR OPEN AND CLOSE

GLENDINNING: Let’s go in to the library... I suppose you know the story of the “Doomed Sextette”, Mr. Holmes?

SOUND EFFECT: DOOR CLOSE

HOLMES: Yes, and the more recent developments to the story. That’s why I’m down here.

WATSON: What d’you think about it yourself, Glendinning?

GLEDINNING: (CHUCKLING) As I told Taylor yesterday, I think he’s becoming an old woman. Two of us dead, and one has an accident, and he thinks we’re all marked men!

TAYLOR: How d’you account for Robinson’s gun exploding yesterday?

GLENDINNING: I don’t. But even if it has been tampered with - that doesn’t mean to say it’s anything to do with our agreement years ago.

HOLMES: I wonder if I might examine that gun?

GLENDINNING: Certainly. It’s over there in that corner.

HOLMES: (FADING) Thank you.

WATSON: By the way, where is Colonel Robinson now?

GLENDINNING: Out rabbit shooting. He should be back any minute.

TAYLOR: Seems to me that after yesterday’s experience, he ought to be very careful. Something might happen again.

GLENDINNING: Rubbish, Taylor. He is carrying a .22. What could happen to him with that?

HOLMES: (OFF A LITTLE) Interesting. Very interesting.

WATSON: What have you found out, Holmes?

HOLMES: (FADING IN) Doctor Glendinning... is Colonel Robinson a keen sportsman? Someone that would cherish a fine weapon like this?

GLENDINNING: He’s a good shot, but I don’t know that he’s too particular about his guns.

TAYLOR: Come now, Glendinning. You know he worships them. Why, Mr. Holmes?

HOLMES: The barrel of this gun is badly scarred. No one that had any love of guns could let it get this way. Look at it.

WATSON: (AFTER A MOMENT) By Jove, yes. What could have caused those marks?

HOLMES: From a cursory examination, I should say that someone has tampered with the cartridges and substituted a steel plug for the charge of bird shot. The plug jammed in the choke barrel, causing the gun to explode.

TAYLOR: You see, Glendinning? What did I tell you?

HOLMES: Where did these cartridges come from, Doctor Glendinning?

GLENDINNING: I imagine Robinson bought ’em in the village.

HOLMES: I wonder if there are any more of the left.

GLENDINNING: I’ll soon find out. (FADING) He keeps his tackle in the hall cupboard.

WATSON: Holmes, if there was a steel plug in the barrel - why isn’t it there now?

HOLMES: It must have been extracted, subsequently.

TAYLOR: But who would have had an opportunity to do that?

HOLMES: That, Mr. Taylor, is what we have to find out. (RAISING HIS VOICE) Any luck, Doctor Glendinning?

GLENDINNING: (FADING IN) Here’s the box... It’s empty. Robison must have filled his pockets yesterday with the last of ’em.

HOLMES: Hmm. How did Colonel Robinson arrive back here yesterday, after the accident?

GLENDINNING: Taylor found him wandering along the road - with a slight case of shock - and drove him back here.

TAYLOR: That’s right, Mr. Holmes. And when we got here, he put the gun in that corner where you just found it.

WATSON: Could anyone else have had access to it since?

GLENDINNING: A dozen people. (LAUGHING) I never lock doors - even when my housekeeper goes down to the village to market. Patients and friends simply walk in and wait for me to come back if I’m out.

HOLMES: So that anyone could have had an opportunity of reaching the gun and removing the incriminating evidence?

GLENDINNING: Certainly.

WATSON: And yet, why didn’t Colonel Robinson notice the steel plug himself - before it was removed?

HOLMES: A very pertinent question, old chap. Why, indeed?

GLENDINNING: Remember, he was suffering from mild shock.

SOUND EFFECT: SUDDEN POUNDING ON DOOR, OFF

GLENDINNING: (FADING) Now who the devil’s that?

SOUND EFFECT: DOOR OPEN, OFF

GLENDINNING: (OFF A LITTLE) Yes, O’Flaherty, what is it?

O’FLAHERTY: (ELDERLY IRISHMAN. EXCITED) It’s Colonel Robinson, sorr. I just found him down by the brook. He’s dead!

GLENDINNING: Dead?

O’FLAHERTY: That he is, sorr. You’d better all come with me right away. Shot through the head, he is... and if you ask me, sorr, it looks as if he committed suicide!

MUSIC: BRIDGE

HOLMES: Suicide, eh? I think not. You’ll notice that the .22 bullet hole in his head entered above the right ear and came out under the left eye.

WATSON: I don’t see what that proves.

HOLMES: He’s still clutching the rifle, Watson. If it had been suicide, how could he have shot himself from that angle?

TAYLOR: Why not, Mr. Holmes?

HOLMES: Mr. Taylor, the usual gun suicide pulls the trigger with his thumb.

GLENDINNING: Surely it’s perfectly possible to fire a gun into your own head with a normal trigger grip, Mr. Holmes.

HOLMES: It is, Doctor Glendinning - from certain positions - but it would be next to impossible to aim and fire a shot slightly downwards and from the rear.

WATSON: In any case, why would a suicide choose such an awkward position?

HOLMES: Precisely, Watson. Also you’ll observe there are no powder burns on the scalp, and it would not be possible to hold a gun far enough away to avoid that.

GLENDINNING: Then what do you think, Mr. Holmes?

HOLMES: (OFF A LITTLE) That we should examine the surrounding underbrush... Ahh... (FADING IN) Look here, gentlemen.

WATSON: It’s only a piece of string.

HOLMES: But let us follow it... across the gully here... up the bank... and where does it leads us to?

WATSON: A tree! (EXCITEDLY) Good Lord! A .22 rifle - lashed to the branches - and aimed at where poor Robinson fell.

HOLMES: Exactly. And this end of the string is still attached to the trigger.

TAYLOR: You mean it was a deliberate trap, Mr. Holmes?

HOLMES: Yes - and a more than usually subtle one. You see, the string was stretched across the path over there. It was thin enough to be broken by anyone walking into it. As the string broke, it would dislodge the weight here, which would in turn pull the trigger on this rifle. A much superior method to the rather obvious trip-wire attached directly to the trigger. A fine string such as this would recoil like a whip when snapped, and might easily remain undiscovered.

WATSON: Good Lord, Holmes! You mean it’s...

HOLMES: I mean, old chap, that it’s a clear case of murder!

MUSIC: UP STRONG TO MIDDLE CURTAIN

FORMAN: Doctor Watson’s story will continue in just a few seconds - which gives me time to ask you if you’ve ever tasted Petri California Sauterne. You know, Petri Sauterne is a white wine - a very famous white wine with a very rare delicate flavour... a flavour that comes right from the heart of luscious, hand-picked grapes. The next time you try to stretch your ration points by serving chicken or fish... don’t forget to get a bottle of Petri Sauterne. Boy, that Petri Sauterne was just made to go with chicken and all kinds of seafood. Like all Petri wines... Petri Sauterne can make even the simplest wartime meal taste like a feast. It’s a fact - you can’t go wrong with a Petri wine!

MUSIC: “SCOTCH POEM”

FORMAN: And now, back to tonight’s new Sherlock Holmes adventure. The great detective and his friend Doctor Watson have been called in to investigate the strange adventure of “The Doomed Sextette” - a secret society of English army officers. Two members have already died when Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson are brought onto the scene. A few hours later, a third member is murdered. As we rejoin our story, the famous pair are discussing the strange affair with Doctor Glendinning and Major Taylor, (FADING) two of the three remaining survivors...

WATSON: You know, Holmes, I still don’t understand why the murderer didn’t remove all the evidence of his crime - the string, the fixed rifle, and so on.

TAYLOR: Just what I was going to say, Mr. Holmes.

HOLMES: He had no opportunity. Anyway, it might easily have remained undetected for a long time if I hadn’t become suspicious and looked for it. A man-trap of this kind could easily have been set up several hours - or even days - in advance, and of course alibis won’t mean much in this case. By the way, you and Doctor Glendinning examined Colonel Robinson’s body - in your opinion, how long had he been dead?

WATSON: About three hours, eh, Glendinning?

GLENDINNING: Between three or four.

WATSON: What I don’t understand gentlemen, is how the murderer knew that Colonel Robinson would pass along that particular path.

HOLMES: A question I was just about to ask myself, Watson. Can either of you gentlemen answer it?

TAYLOR: I think I can answer that. We all had dinner with the Squire last night. He owns the woods where Robinson was shot.

GLENDINNING: That’s right, Taylor. I remember now. Robinson asked his permission to go rabbit shooting today, and the Squire told him the best spot was down by the brook - the place where we found his body.

HOLMES: I see. Who was present at the dinner?

TAYLOR: Apart from myself and Glendinning here, there was Robinson, of course... And Bob Allen, and...

WATSON: Bob Allen? He’s the lawyer, isn’t he - the other remaining member of your “Doomed Sextette”?

GLENDINNING: That’s right, Watson.

HOLMES: So that the three remaining members of the pact were all present when Colonel Robinson was told the best place to go rabbit shooting today. Was anyone else present at the dinner?

TAYLOR: Yes. Half-a-dozen other people. It was quite a large party.

SOUND EFFECT: KNOCKING ON DOOR, OFF

GLENDINNING: (CALLING) Come in! The door’s open.

SOUND EFFECT: DOOR OPEN AND CLOSE, OFF

TAYLOR: (SOTTO VOCE) Talk of the devil! Here’s Bob Allen now.

ALLEN: (FADING IN) (AGITATEDLY) I just heard the news about poor Robinson and rushed right over here. What happened?

GLENDINNING: He was murdered, Allen.

ALLEN: Murdered?

TAYLOR: Yes. These two gentlemen are Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson... Bob Allen.

AD LIB: HOW D’YOU DO’S

ALLEN: Robinson murdered, you say? How?

HOLMES: He was shot with a .22 rifle fired by means of a trap. By the way, Mr. Allen, where were you about four hours ago?

ALLEN: I went out for a long walk through the woods this afternoon. Why?

HOLMES: I was just curious. (TO HIMSELF) Through the woods, eh?

GLENDINNING: What do you think we ought to do now, Holmes? I’ve already sent for the police.

WATSON: Seems to me that with the three remaining survivors of this pact all together like this, we should take advantage of the occasion and discuss the whole thing.

TAYLOR: I quite agree. (SUDDENLY) How about all having dinner at my house tonight? I’ll organise one of those red hot curries we used to have in the old days... and Sherlock Holmes and Watson can solve the case for us. What d’you say?

HOLMES: An excellent idea, Major Taylor... though I hope you’re not over-estimating our abilities.

MUSIC: BRIDGE

SOUND EFFECT: CLICK OF TABLEWARE

WATSON: Magnificent curry! Nearly burnt my tongue off - but that’s the way I like it!

TAYLOR: Good. You scarcely touched yours, Holmes.

HOLMES: I’m afraid that curry has never been one of my favourite dishes, Taylor.

WATSON: (EXPANSIVELY) I remember when I was stationed at Madras, my “bobberchi”, a fellow by the name of Saila, used to cook a wonderful fish curry. The secret of it, he told me, was sliced apples and raisins in with onions. Tied it myself once but can’t say I was very successful.

HOLMES: And now might I suggest we consider the real purpose of our gathering - an analysis of this problem.

GLENDINNING: An excellent idea Holmes.

HOLMES: You see, I’m trying to find the pattern. The first death was a natural one, and when the five survivors were notified that the dead man’s insurance had been paid into the trust fund - It probably gave one of them the idea of killing the others.

WATSON: Yes, Holmes, if there is any connection between the deaths, it must be concerned with the trust fund.

TAYLOR: Only one of the club members could benefit, and all the survivors are here now.

GLENDINNING: Therefore it must be one of the three of us. By the way Holmes, during dinner you mentioned that engineering knowledge must have played a part in Robinson’s murder. It might interest you to know that our host, Taylor, was in the Royal Engineers when he was in the army.

TAYLOR: (BLANDLY) True, Glendinning, but though you yourself are a doctor - you’re also quite an amateur mechanic. It’s a very nice workshop you have in your house. You’ve probably got just the right tools for making a steel plug that would jam in a gun barrel - and other tools that would extract it afterwards.

GLENDINNING: (DANGEROUSLY) Taylor... if you don’t take that back I’ll...

HOLMES: Gentlemen, gentlemen. I had no idea that my simple remark would stir up a hornet’s nest.

ALLEN: Yes, it’s ridiculous. If it comes to that, I wanted to be an engineer myself when I was young. But I’m a lawyer and I don’t see any evidence to justify our accusing each other.

WATSON: Of course there isn’t. My friend was only theorizing, weren’t you, Holmes?

HOLMES: Certainly. There were no personal implications.

TAYLOR: I’m sorry, Glendinning. (FADING A LITTLE) Look, let’s have some smokes and talk this thing over dispassionately. (COMING BACK ON) Tobacco and cigars. I can strongly recommend the ’baccy. It’s a new blend I got in London today. Care for some, Mr. Holmes?

HOLMES: Thank you, I think I’ll stick to my ship’s plug.

TAYLOR: How about you, Watson?

WATSON: I’ll have a cigar, thanks.

ALLEN: I’ll try some of your baccy... Thanks.

TAYLOR: How about you, Glendinning? Oh, I was forgetting. You ever touch anything but cigarettes, do you?

GLENDINNING: Never. Don’t bother... I’ve got some in my case here.

TAYLOR: I’ll stick to my pipe. Pass the tobacco, will you, Allen?

ALLEN: Here you are.

TAYLOR: Thanks. Help yourself to liquor, fellows. There on the sideboard. By the way, Holmes, before we go into this matter any further, it’s just occurred to me... Robinson left his raincoat in the back of my trap when I dropped him off at Glendinning’s yesterday. It’s possible there might still be some cartridges in the pockets.

HOLMES: Where is that raincoat now?

TAYLOR: I think it’s hanging in the hall. Want to come and look with me?

HOLMES: (FADING) Very well.

TAYLOR: (FADING) We’ll be back in a moment.

SOUND EFFECT: DOOR OPEN AND CLOSE

WATSON: While they’re out of the room, I’ve got a story I know you fellows’ll like. You’ve both been stationed in Agra, of course?

GLENDINNING: Oh yes. Know it well.

ALLEN: I’ve been there, too.

WATSON: Well, you’ll love this. There was a charming little nurse over at the Chowrusta Hospital. Little red-headed thing... Elsie something-or-other. We started off one night to look at the Taj Mahal by moonlight, and we were spinning along in our rickshaw when one of the wheels broke. As we tipped over at an angle of... (SUDDENLY) Allen! What’s the matter, man?

ALLEN: (GROANS, THEN SPEAKS THICKLY) I don’t feel... I don’t feel...

GLENDINNING: Great Scott! He looks absolutely green in the face!

ALLEN: (GROANS, THEN) You’re... both doctors... can’t you... (GASP OF AGONY)... do something for me...?

SOUND EFFECT: ANOTHER GROAN, THEN THE THUD OF A FALLING BODY

WATSON: (CALLING) Holmes! Holmes!! Come back here!

GLENDINNING: He’s been poisoned! A hundred-to-one that curry was poisoned!

WATSON: Yes, it was strong enough to disguise the flavour of anything.

GLENDINNING: And yet you and I haven’t felt any ill effects.

SOUND EFFECT: DOOR WRENCHED OPEN

HOLMES: (FAST FADE IN) What’s wrong, Watson?

WATSON: It’s Allen! He’s been poisoned!

GLENDINNING: No wonder your curry was so hot tonight, Taylor.

TAYLOR: You’re being ridiculous. I ate two helpings of it myself.

HOLMES: Hand me that tobacco jar, Watson.

WATSON: What’s tobacco got to do with it? Here you are.

HOLMES: (SNIFFS DEEPLY) There’s your answer. Belladonna has been mixed with this tobacco.

WATSON: Belladonna? There’s only one antidote for that - injections of pilocarpine. D’you have any, Glendinning?

GLENDINNING: No, but I’ll drive over to my house and get some.

TAYLOR: (EXCITEDLY) You mustn’t let him get away! He’s the killer! Who else but a doctor could have made the first death look like heart failure? And he’s the mechanical genius who fixed the trap that killed Robinson today.

GLENDINNING: You’re mad, Taylor!

TAYLOR: Am I? And you’re the one who never smokes a pipe - and yet knows that you can generate a deadly gas by burning belladonna.

HOLMES: You seem to know that yourself, sir... and yet the fact isn’t common knowledge. And may I point out that you had just as many opportunities as the man you are accusing. You knew that Doctor Glendinning’s door was never locked. You knew about this workshop.

WATSON: Yes... and his dispensary. You could easily have stolen some belladonna and mixed it with the tobacco.

TAYLOR: But I feel ill myself. I was smoking a pipe, too, you know.

WATSON: But you put your pipe down after a few puffs - I saw you!

HOLMES: Exactly - and then found an excuse to take me out of the room. You were the man who suggested the curry dinner, which would have made it impossible for your victim - or victims - to detect the smell, or taste, of belladonna in the tobacco. Unfortunately for you - I don’t like curry! (SUDDENLY) Grab him Watson!

SOUND EFFECT: SCUFFLE

WATSON: No you don’t, Taylor!

HOLMES: I’m going to take the liberty of searching you, Taylor.

TAYLOR: You fools! You’ve got the wrong man!

HOLMES: I think not... Ahh... How very stupid of you to have left the bottle of belladonna in your pocket. I was right!

GLENDINNING: I’ll drive over as fast as I can (FADING) and get that pilocarpine.

HOLMES: Splendid. And Doctor Watson and I will entertain our host until the police relieve us of the responsibility.

MUSIC: BRIDGE

HOLMES: What are you scribbling in that book, Watson?

WATSON: Just making a few notes on “The Doomed Sextette”.

HOLMES: An unpleasant case - and it if hadn’t been for your timely injection of pilocarpine, Bob Allen might have died too.

WATSON: Don’t underestimate Doctor Glendinning’s share in that. But there are one or two things I still don’t understand, Holmes.

HOLMES: What, for instance, old chap?

WATSON: How did Taylor expect to get away with such a train of crimes?

HOLMES: He realised that a succession of deaths couldn’t be made to look natural - and so he selected a scapegoat.

WATSON: You mean Doctor Glendinning?

HOLMES: Exactly. He was going to make it appear as if Glendinning was responsible for everything. Then Glendinning would be tried and executed, and Taylor would be the last survivor and inherit the trust fund. But you see, someone had to suspect foul play.

WATSON: And so he came to you for help?

HOLMES: Yes. He was afraid that the local police might not be smart enough to find the clues he was deliberately leaving.

WATSON: But supposing you had liked curry - and had taken a fill of his tobacco and been killed?

HOLMES: Then he would still have accused Doctor Glendinning. He would have said that Glendinning was afraid I would detected him and so had poisoned me as well. And I’m afraid, old fellow, that he wouldn’t had had much difficulty convincing you. (LAUGHING) In fact, you’d have ended up as his best witness!

WATSON: I don’t see anything funny about that.

HOLMES: Don’t you? It rather appeals to my warped sense of humor. But one thing I beg of you, Watson.

WATSON: And what’s that, Holmes?

HOLMES: I deplore your rather overdeveloped sense of the melodramatic. If you should have occasion to make this little case a basis for one of your stories... promise me one thing.

WATSON: What is it?

HOLMES: Please don’t title it “The Strange Adventure of the Doomed Sextette”.

MUSIC: UP STRONG TO CURTAIN

FORMAN: Well, Doctor, I guess it was a bit of a shock to learn that an intelligent, respected man like Major Taylor was a killer.

WATSON: Yes... I can’t understand it. Guess he just had a screw loose somewhere in his mental machinery. It was at times like that, I wished I’d never worked with Holmes.

FOMAN: Yes, I know what you mean.

WATSON: Mister Forman... don’t ever be a detective.

FORMAN: Don’t worry... the only detecting I’ll ever do is to find out which one of the Petri Wines is my favourite... and believe me, twelve bottles of Petri Wine make a very interesting case.

WATSON: Incidentally, which Petri wine is your favourite?

FORMAN: Well, I like Petri California Sherry before dinner... and then with dinner I like Petri Burgundy or - well, I (LAUGHS) I guess I like ’em all! They’re all good because the Petri family sure knows how to turn luscious, hand-picked grapes into fragrant delicious wine. They ought to know how, they’ve had enough experience. Why, the Petri family has been making wine for generations... ever since they first started the Petri business back in the eighteen-hundreds. And, since the making of Petri Wine is a family affair - well, everything they’ve ever learned they’ve been able to hand on down from father to son, from father to son. So believe me, no matter what type of wine you prefer... for any occasion... you’ve got to go awful far to beat a Petri Wine... because Petri took time to bring you good wine. And now, Doctor Watson, what adventure d’you have in store for us next week?

WATSON: Next week, Mr. Forman, I have a very weird and unusual story that takes place high on a cliff-top overlooking the English Channel. It concerns an actor, a dead politician, and a... haunted windmill!

FORMAN: Thanks Doctor. And now I’d just like to say a word about the Red Cross. Did you know for instance, that right now the Red Cross is operating over seven-hundred clubs for our fighting men overseas. Each one of these clubs is a bit of America on foreign soil... a place where our boys can get a meal... can listen to music, or read the latest magazines or books. The Red Cross doesn’t forget the boys at isolated posts either. Clubmobiles... little clubs on wheels... go right up to the front with movies and coffee and doughnuts and the little things the boys miss so much. All this is just a part of the work of the Red Cross... work which can only continue if you help the Red Cross meet its 1945 War Fund. Two-hundred-million dollars must be raised... so give a day’s pay and help, won’t you? Your money does so much.

MUSIC: “SCOTCH POEM”

FORMAN: Tonight’s Sherlock Holmes adventure is written by Denis Green and Bruce Taylor and is based on an incident in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story “The Stockbroker’s Clerk”. Mr. Rathbone appears through the courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Nigel Bruce, who is usually heard as Doctor Watson, was unable to be on tonight’s program owing to illness. His place was taken by Mr. Joe Kearns. Mr. Bruce will be back on the program next Monday night.

MUSIC: THEME UP AND DOWN UNDER

FORMAN: (OUT) The Petri Wine Company of San Francisco, California invites you to tune in again next week, same time, same station.

MUSIC: HIT JINGLE

SINGERS: The Petri Family took the time

To bring you such good wine

So when you eat and when you cook

Remember Petri Wine!

FORMAN: To make good food taste better, remember –

SINGERS: Pet - Pet - Petri Wine.

FORMAN: This is Bill Forman saying goodnight for the Petri family. Sherlock Holmes comes to you from the Don Lee Studios in Hollywood. (CUE) THIS IS MUTUAL.