As always, the characters are not mine but belong to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I hope you enjoy and please R&R! Thanks!

London, England 1914

John H. Watson’s Study-night

WATSON, 65, is seated at his desk

feverishly writing in a battered

notebook. Enter ANNE, 50.

ANNE

John, dear, it is nearly ten o’clock.

(WATSON nods but does not look up.)

ANNE

Are you going to bed?

WATSON

Soon. I need to finish this by morning.

ANNE

You’ve been in here all afternoon. What is it you’re working on?

(WATSON smiles but continues to write.)

ANNE

I suppose you think I should leave you to your work?

WATSON

I would finish much more quickly dear without interruption.

(ANNE obstinately sits in the wing backed chair across from

WATSON’s desk.)

ANNE

I thought once you retired I would see you more. But now that you have, I see you even less.

WATSON

Anne, if you could give me but an-

ANNE

Have you spoken to Arthur? We haven’t seen him in some weeks.

WATSON

No, he hasn’t. But I haven’t seen him calling on us either.

ANNE

Do you know why that is?

(WATSON shrugs and continues to write. Silence stretches

between the couple. Beat.)

ANNE

John!

(WATSON turns and for the first time ANNE sees

the black arm band adorning his bicep)

ANNE

Honestly John, are you still wearing that?

WATSON

Wearing what?

(WATSON follows ANNE’s gaze. His expression

darkens for the first time.)

WATSON

Yes, I am.

ANNE

How long are you going to continue this ludicrous behavior?

WATSON

As long as I see fit. I am grieving.

ANNE

For another man.

WATSON

For my dearest friend.

ANNE

Who died three months ago.

WATSON

There is no time restraint on grief.

ANNE

You are acting as though you have lost one of the children.

WATSON

(He was as dear to me as they are.

ANNE stares at her husband. Beat.)

ANNE

I am not surprised people are starting to talk.

WATSON

Let them.

ANNE

Why the deuce do you think Arthur hasn’t called? He’s embarrassed of what people are saying about his father.

WATSON

I care not for public opinion. If I learned nothing else from him, I learned that.

ANNE

What about me John? I am not the public. Surely you care how these vicious words affect me.

(WATSON does not respond but continues to write. Angrily, Anne

leaps to her feet and tares the papers from Watson’s desk. Watson

is too shocked by her gall to react.)

ANNE

(mockingly)

It is with a heavy heart that I set down the last adventure I had the privilege to share with the best and wisest man I have ever known.

(Watson retrieves the papers before she can read anything further.

Husband and wife stare at one another. Beat.)

ANNE

He is dead and yet he still haunts me. Even beyond the grave he has you tethered to him. Do you not realize you are still his puppet?

WATSON

You vile woman! How can you say such a thing?

ANNE

Because it is the truth! You are the only person who does not realize the lecherous hold he still has on you. Arthur was forced to defend your honor a fortnight ago he heard a reader of your precious Strand Magazine refer to your stories as maudlin tales written to laud your deceased beloved. If it was not for Arthur you would, now, be standing on the dock.

WATSON

I did not ask for anyone to defend me. You, your ungracious son and the adoring public do not know and cannot begin to comprehend the heaviness within my heart.

ANNE

I wonder John, did you ever grieve this much for your late wife?

(Beat. Watson rises angrily and slaps Anne across the mouth.

Anne staggers backwards and stares at her husband in disbelief.)

WATSON

Never again will I ever hear you speak ill of her. You will never be half the woman she was.

ANNE

And why do you say that? Is it because she did not care that she was married to the great Sherlock Holmes’s human puppet?

WATSON

She was as good and loving a woman as any God ever created. Her compassion knew no boundaries and, to this day, I miss her still.

ANNE

This is the very reason Arthur and you are estranged and the reason our marriage has a chasm running through it wider then that of your precious Reichenbach Falls.

WATSON

How can you-

ANNE

You refuse to release the demons of your past. Instead of forgetting them, you allow them all to control your every action.

WATSON

I will not forget my dear Mary and Holmes.

ANNE

Fine then. (beat) You must make a choice John H. Watson. Either you want to salvage your life with me or you’d rather live in your past, forgetting about me and about our children.

WATSON

You ask me to do the impossible.

(ANNE
Nothing is impossible if you love me.

Exit Anne. Beat. Watson attempts to fix his scattered papers

but gives up and stares at the audience.)

WATSON

She asks me to forget. And yet, I know that I cannot. She was not there when Mary breathed her last and begged me to live. She did not hold him in his death throes of agony while listening to him begging to die. His screams do no pierce her ears and her pain filled blue eyes are not burned into Anne’s mind. (beat) Do they truly control me? Is my soul really not my own? She called him my lecherous puppet master who still pulls my strings from beyond the grave Has he always done that?

SCENE TWO

This scene, and the following, take place in

Watson’s mind. Enter Anne, dressed in

black, who sits downstage, acting like a jury.

Enter Sherlock Holmes, clad in his typical black tweed suit. He is

followed by a younger John Watson. Watson stands down stage in

shadow, watching the scene unfold.

HOLMES

Honestly Watson, are you truly that dense?

YOUNG WATSON

No Holmes, I-

HOLMES

I obviously requested your company because I need your assistance. Do you honestly believe I would make a social call in an establishment such as this?

YOUNG WATSON

My wife did not appreciate your telegram 'come if convenient, if inconvenient come all the same.’

HOLMES

I would not have wrested you from her side if I did not need my Boswell. Surely you can make the honorable Mrs. Watson nee Morstan understand that fact.

YOUNG WATSON

I am here, am I not?

HOLMES

Excellent! I know I can always depend on you.

YOUNG WATSON

Where you like and when you like.

HOLMES


Even if I request you to break the law?

YOUNG WATSON

I’m sure it is for a noble cause.

HOLMES

Yes, an extremely noble one.

YOUNG WATSON

Then I am your man.

HOLMES

In that case, come Watson come, the game is afoot!

(Exit Young Watson and Holmes. Lights rise on Watson)

WATSON

I was merely doing what any good friend would have done. He needed help to bring about justice and I was able to help him. There is no crime in that. (beat) Besides, there were several times he aided me. (beat) During Mary’s funeral, for one.

(Enter Holmes and Young Watson clad in black suits.

Young Watson looks haggard and is wearing a black

armband.)

YOUNG WATSON

I can’t believe she is gone.

HOLMES


Remember Watson, work is the best antidote for sorrow. Sell your practice and throw in your lot with me once more. There will be enough work to keep your mind from focusing too heavily on your grief.

(Exit Holmes and Young Watson. Watson stares at Anne who

remains impassive.)

WATSON

If he did not tell me how to overcome my grief, then I never would have met you. I was in pain Anne!

(Beat. Anne stares at Watson.)

WATSON

Of course I grieve for Mary, but she kept her failing health hidden from me until it was too late to help her.

ANNE

Did she really hide her illness or were you too busy to notice?

WATSON

As a doctor I-

(A cough O.S. interrupts Watson. Enter Mary and Young Watson.

Mary is pale and looking sickly. Young Watson is holding a

telegram, eyes filled with surprise.)

YOUNG WATSON

It seems as though there is a dangerous criminal organization after Holmes. I have never-

(Mary coughs and clutches Young Watson’s sleeve.)

YOUNG WATSON

I say Mary, are you all right?

MARY

Yes.

(Beat. Mary wipes her mouth with a white handkerchief and

it is stained with blood. Young Watson is staring at the telegram

and does not notice.)

YOUNG WATSON

I know I have just returned dear, but it appears that Holmes needs me to accompany him to Switzerland. It is urgent.

MARY

Yes, of course it is.

YOUNG WATSON

Will you be all right?

MARY

Of course. Go with Mr. Holmes, I know how important he is to you.

(Young Watson smiles and pecks Mary’s cheek.)

YOUNG WATSON

You rest and take care of that cold. I shall be home before you know it.

(Exit Young Watson. Mary coughs and slowly collapses. Beat.
Enter Young Watson, looking greatly saddened. He walks past

Mary as though he is in a fog. His steps are extremely heavy.

He reenters from the opposite side of the stage in a different suit

jacket denoting another day. He walks towards Mary but doesn’t

see her.)

YOUNG WATSON

Mary, how could he have left me? Didn’t I mean anything to him? (beat) How could I have let him die? Mary, I was so stupid…I was so-

(Young Watson sees Mary for the first time. He pales and hurries

over to her, clutching her hand.)

YOUNG WATSON

Mary darling, what’s-

MARY

James…?

YOUNG WATSON

I’m right here darling. What’s the matter?

MARY

Doctor…not…time…

YOUNG WATSON

What? (beat) Mary what has happened? I need to—Ivy! Ivy come here at once! Where is that blasted girl? Ivy!

(Enter Ivy carrying a basin of water and a white cloth. She sets the

basin down and turns to Young Watson.)

IVY

Doctor, this is a surprise! You’ve been in your study for the past week and-

YOUNG WATSON


What the deuce has happened to her?

IVY

You don’t know?

YOUNG WATSON

Know what? Ivy tell me what’s wrong with my Mary!

(Ivy motions to Young Watson. They stand downstage right. Young Watson stares at Mary nervously throughout the following exchange.)

IVY

Shortly after—no, it was shortly before you left fore the continent. She began coughin’ blood.

YOUNG WATSON


Why the devil wasn’t I informed?

IVY

‘Pon my soul Doctor, I thought you knew.

YOUNG WATSON

If I knew, do you bloody think I would have left?

IVY

I wouldn’t know sir, Mr. Holmes did need you and-

YOUNG WATSON

Tell me what the devil happened!

IVY

‘Pon my soul, I don’t know. I was downstairs an’ I ‘eard a crash comin’ from this room. I ‘urried to see what ‘ad ‘appened and I found ‘er on the floor, bloody. I swear sir, I didn’t know what to do, so I sent the boy ‘round for Doctor Anesthruther. ‘E called on us immediately. The missues, she ‘as…

(Ivy begins to sob)

YOUNG WATSON

Has what?

(Mary moans. Ivy rushes to her and begins to gently wipe her face

with the damp cloth.)

IVY

It’s all right Missus Watson.

MARY

James, where-

(Young Watson goes over to her and takes her hand. She does not

acknowledge his presence.)

YOUNG WATSON

I’m here darling.

MARY

(to Ivy)

Did-did you…tell-

IVY

Not yet.

MARY

Too…much…death…he’ll be…des-troyed.

YOUNG MARY

No, darling. You’re not going to die.

MARY

First Mr. Holmes…now me…John…he won’t-

YOUNG WATSON

God Mary! You’re not going to die, do you hear me? I won’t let you. I love you.

MARY

Love John…

(Mary’s eyes close and she is unconscious. Ivy strokes her hair and

then looks at Young Watson who is trying to keep his composure.)

IVY

She-she ‘as consumption.

(Beat. Young Watson’s face falls. Both he and Watson start to sob.

Ivy goes to comfort Young Watson, but he shakes her off.)

YOUNG WATSON

When?

IVY

The doctor, ‘e said she’s ‘ad it for some time now.

YOUNG WATSON

How?

(Ivy shrugs. Young Watson hugs Mary tightly.)

YOUNG WATSON


Mary darling, I love you!

(Lights fade for a few moments. When lights rise, Watson is

kneeling where Young Watson was, his head is bowed.)

WATSON
Mary, I am so sorry.

ANNE

You were so distraught over Sherlock Holmes’s death that you didn’t even realize your wife’s deteriorating condition.

WATSON

Stop please I-

ANNE

You what John? You don’t want to face the truth? Your life is nothing without your demons.

WATSON

Stop! Enough please! (beat) I can’t…my life is not mine…I make no decisions.

SCENE THREE

Watson’s study

Exit Anne. The following scenes take place in reality, not in

Watson’s mind. Watson crosses to his desk and removes his

old service revolver. He caresses it.

WATSON

My old friend, you’ve been a dear companion to me since our time together in Afghanistan. You’ve mitigated justice many times on the battlefield, you’ve given mercy to many. Will you not end the suffering of one more tortured soul?

(With a shaking hand, Watson raises the gun to his temple.)

WATSON

Others have controlled my life for so long, I’ve forgotten what it is like to make my own decisions. Old friend, will you not help me reclaim my life and help me make my final decision? Help me to be free.

(Lights fade as a gun fires. Enter Anne.)

ANNE

John what was-

(She sees his dead body and lets out a blood curdling scream.)

Black out.

End.