The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (TV Series)

A Scandal in Bohemia (1984)

David Burke: Dr. John Watson

Photos 

Quotes 

• Sherlock Holmes : She is a lovely woman, Watson, with a face that a man might die for.

  Dr. John Watson : "A face a man might die for?" Unusual language for you, Holmes.

  Sherlock Holmes : A metaphor, Watson, nothing else.

• Sherlock Holmes : You don't mind breaking the law?

  Dr. John Watson : Not in the least.

  Sherlock Holmes : Nor running the chance of arrest?

  Dr. John Watson : Not in a good cause.

  Sherlock Holmes : Oh, the cause is excellent.

  Dr. John Watson : Well, then I am your man.

• Dr. John Watson : The best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were beaten by a woman's wit. He used to sneer much at the cleverness of women but I have not heard him do it of late. And when he speaks of Irene Adler or when he refers to that woman, it is always under the honourable title of *the* woman.

• Sherlock Holmes : My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems; give me work. Give me the most abstruse cryptogram, the most intricate analysis, and I'm in my proper atmosphere. Then I can dispense with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave mental exultation. That is why I have chosen my own profession, or rather, created it, for I am the only one in the world.

  Dr. John Watson : The only unofficial detective?

  Sherlock Holmes : The only unofficial consulting detective.

• [first lines] 

  John : [surprising two burglars]  Got you!

  [Irene enters with a gun, and gestures with it for the burglars to drop their knives] 

  1st Burglar : Now look here!

  [Irene gestures for the burglars to leave] 

  John : But, ma'am...

  [the burglars leave by the window] 

  Irene Adler : Close the window, John.

  Dr. John Watson : [narrating]  To Sherlock Holmes, she was always The Woman, the beautiful Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory.

• [last lines] 

  Dr. John Watson : [narrating]  There is but one woman to him: the beautiful Irene Adler of dubious and questionable memory.

• Dr. John Watson : [Watson and a disguised Holmes travel by hansom cab to Irene Adler's home to retrieve a compromising photograph]  Well, the question is, where to find the photograph? I mean, the house has twice been burgled.

  Sherlock Holmes : Ah, she was too clever for them. She is a remarkable woman.

  Dr. John Watson : Well, they must have searched very thoroughly.

  Sherlock Holmes : *They* did not know how to look.

  Dr. John Watson : And how will you look?

  Sherlock Holmes : I shall not look.

  Dr. John Watson : What, then?

  Sherlock Holmes : I will allow her to show me.

  Dr. John Watson : [bursts out laughing]  But she'll refuse!

  Sherlock Holmes : She will not be able to. Ah, we draw near the scene of action. We had better walk from here.

  [knocks on the ceiling of the cab]