The Great Game: Transcript

MINSK, BELARUS. In a prison visitors’ room, Sherlock is sitting at one of the many tables in the room. Sitting at the other side of the table is Barry ‘Bezza’ Berwick, a young Englishman who is wearing an orange jumpsuit and who is obviously a prison inmate. With the exception of a uniformed guard, they are the only people in the room. It’s very cold in the room, as shown by their steaming breath when they speak. Sherlock sounds bored.
SHERLOCK
Just tell me what happened, from the beginning.
BERWICK
We’d been to a bar – a nice place – and, er, I got chattin’ with one of the waitresses, and Karen weren’t ’appy with that, so ... when we get back to the ’otel, we end up havin’ a bit of a ding-dong, don’t we?
(Sherlock sighs out a deliberate and noisy breath.)
BERWICK
She was always gettin’ at me, sayin’ I weren’t a real man.
SHERLOCK
Wasn’t a real man.
BERWICK
What?
SHERLOCK
It’s not “weren’t”; it’s “wasn’t.”
BERWICK
Oh.
SHERLOCK
Go on.
BERWICK
Well, then I dunno how it happened, but suddenly there’s a knife in my hands. And, you know, me old man was a butcher, so I know how to handle knives.
(Sherlock’s gaze lowers to look at Barry’s hands which are resting on the table.)
BERWICK
He learned us how to cut up a beast.
SHERLOCK
“Taught.”
BERWICK (starting to get angry)
What?
SHERLOCK
Taught you how to cut up a beast.
BERWICK
Yeah, well, then-then I done it.
SHERLOCK
“Did it.”
BERWICK (losing his temper)
Did it! Stabbed ’er ... (he repeatedly slams his hand down on the table) ... over and over and over, and I looked down and she weren’t ...
(Sighing out a loud breath through his nose, Sherlock turns his head away. Getting control of his temper, Barry immediately corrects himself.)
BERWICK
... wasn’t movin’ no more.
(Sherlock, who had just turned his head back towards Barry, now turns it away again with an annoyed look.)
BERWICK
... any more.
(He lets out a shaky breath and lowers his head.)
BERWICK (softly)
You’ve gotta help me. I dunno how it happened, but it was an accident. I swear.
(Sherlock gets to his feet and starts to walk away. Barry calls after him frantically.)
BERWICK
You’ve gotta help me, Mr Holmes!
(Sherlock stops.)
BERWICK
Everyone says you’re the best. Without you, I’ll get hung for this.
(Sherlock looks over his shoulder at the young man.)
SHERLOCK
No, no, no, Mr Berwick, not at all.
(He looks away thoughtfully for a second.)
SHERLOCK
Hanged, yes.
(He quirks a smile at the man, then turns and walks away.)
Category:Transcripts