The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (TV Series)

The Speckled Band (1984)

Jeremy Brett: Sherlock Holmes

Photos 

Quotes 

• Sherlock Holmes : Ah, Watson, it's a wicked world. And when a clever man turns his brain to crime, it's the worst of all.

• Sherlock Holmes : When a doctor goes wrong, he is the first of criminals. He has nerve. He has knowledge. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession; this man strikes even deeper.

• Dr. John Watson : You evidently saw more in those rooms than was visible to me, Holmes.

  Sherlock Holmes : No. But I probably deduced a little more.

• Sherlock Holmes : Do not fall asleep. Your very life may depend on it.

• [last lines] 

  Sherlock Holmes : Last night when I attacked the snake and drove it back through the ventilator, I roused its snakish temper, causing it to turn upon the next person that it saw.

  Dr Watson : Doctor Grimesby Roylott. So you, Holmes, were indirectly responsible for his death.

  Sherlock Holmes : I cannot say that it is likely to weigh very heavily on my conscience.

• Sherlock Holmes : Mrs. Hudson, do you think you could bring this young lady a hot cup of coffee, for I observe you are shivering.

  Helen Stoner : It is not cold which makes me shiver.

  Sherlock Holmes : What, then?

  Helen Stoner : It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror!

  Sherlock Holmes : Well, you must not fear. We shall set matters right; have no doubt.

• Dr. Grimesby Roylott : You scoundrel, sir. I've heard of you before! You are Holmes the meddler, Holmes the busybody, Holmes the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!

  Sherlock Holmes : [short burst of laughter]  Your conversation really is most entertaining. If you would close the door, on your way out, as there is a decided draught.

  Dr. Grimesby Roylott : I shall go when I have had my say: don't you dare to meddle in my affairs!

  [He seizes the poker from the fireplace and bends it into a "u" with his bare hands] 

  Dr. Grimesby Roylott : I am a dangerous man to fall foul of.

• Dr. Grimesby Roylott : Which one of you is Holmes?

  Sherlock Holmes : My name, sir, but you have the advantage of me.

• [after Dr. Roylott storms out, Holmes picks up the poker he bent and laughs] 

  Sherlock Holmes : What a very amiable person. I am not quite so bulky, but...

  [With a sudden effort, he straightens the poker out again] 

  Sherlock Holmes : Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official detective force. This incident gives zest to our investigation.

• Sherlock Holmes : Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another.

• Sherlock Holmes : You have come by train, I see, this morning.

  Helen Stoner : You know me, then?

  Sherlock Holmes : No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm of your left glove. You started early, but you had a drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the station. There is no mystery, my dear lady: the left arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven places, the marks are fresh. There is no vehicle save a dog-cart which throws up mud in that particular way, and then only when you sit on the left-hand side of the driver.

  Helen Stoner : You are perfectly correct.

• Sherlock Holmes : [while examining Miss Stoner's window, Holmes turns and sees Watson examining the ground]  What are you doing, Watson?

  Dr. John Watson : Well, I'm using your methods, Holmes; seeing whether the ground has been disturbed.

  Sherlock Holmes : And what have you come up with?

  Dr. John Watson : Your footprints, I believe,

  [Holmes laughs] 

  Dr. John Watson : and mine and Miss Stoner's. And this.

  [points to pawprint of a leopard] 

• Sherlock Holmes : Miss Stoner, it is very essential that you absolutely follow my advice in every respect. Your life may depend on it.

  Helen Stoner : I assure you that I'm in your hands.

• Sherlock Holmes : You will excuse me while I satisfy myself as to this floor.

• Sherlock Holmes : These are very deep waters.

• [Holmes and Watson cross the grounds of the Roylott estate at night, heading towards the house when Holmes stops] 

  Sherlock Holmes : Down!

  [Holmes and Watson crouch in the tall grass as an animal crosses their path] 

  Dr. John Watson : My God, what's that?

  Sherlock Holmes : It's the baboon. This is a nice household.

• Sherlock Holmes : Let us meet again at one, under the clock at Waterloo Station. That is, if you've finished your breakfast by then. Oh, and your revolver. I would be obliged if you would slip it into your pocket; an Eley No. 2 is an excellent argument against gentlemen who can twist steel pokers into knots.