The Norwood Builder

[prof_pangaea]

This is long and pointless, but it struck me for some reason.

Holmes: "My dear fellow, I'm sorry to say... No more stories."
Watson: "Holmes?"
Holmes: "For the present at least. No more adventurous exploits in the Strand magazine. It has to stop."
Watson: "...I don't know what to say. I mean, ah, I know you've never liked my writing, but uh... I didn't --"
Holmes: "No, no, no, no, Watson -- your merits as a purveyor of romantic fiction have nothing to do with this."
Watson: "Then why, for heaven's sake?"
Holmes: "I... no longer... seek, the applause."
Watson: [long breath]
Holmes: "I'm sorry."
Watson: " 'I have it in me to make my name famous.' "
Holmes: "The Jefferson Hope case. The words of a different man--"
Watson: "Oh surely not. Well, younger of course --"
Holmes: "Different. Different. I have other goals now."
Watson: "And they lie in different directions."
Holmes: "They do."
Watson: "The inner world rather than the outer."
Holmes: "Exactly." [breathy laugh] "Perceptive of you."
Watson: "Well I've been reading up. The Far East. Tibet. Buddhism."
Holmes: "Yes of course."
Watson: "You knew?"
Holmes: "No, no, but I'm not surprised. Always thorough, eh, Watson?"
Watson: "Ah, I try. And I've had a good teacher."
Holmes: "Always thorough. And so you'll understand my desire. No more public pronouncements about myself, my methods, and my successes."
Watson: "You said, 'For the present'."
Holmes: "Mm. I did."
Watson: "Then... when?"
Holmes: "Well, possibly when I retire."
Watson: "Retire? That will be years away."
Holmes: "Well, perhaps. But for now, no more publicity."
Watson: "Well, if that is truly what you want..."
Holmes: [hopeful] "You agree?"
Watson: "I agree."
Holmes: "Thank you, my friend. [pause] You... will continue to assist me?"
Watson: "Well, if I'm permitted --"
Holmes: "Watson, you're invaluable to me in ways far beyond the literary."

[on finding their client's bloody thumbprint in the hall]:
Lestrade: "And that, I think, is final.
Holmes: [resigned] "Yes, you're quite right, Lestrade. It is final. [slight laugh] Hmm. [starts to lay it on a bit thick] Well, who would have thought it -- such a nice young man to look at. Well it's a lesson to us not to trust our own judgement, isn't it, Lestrade?"
Lestrade: "Yes, some of us are a little to inclined to be cock-sure, Mr. Holmes."
Holmes: "What a providential thing, that he should press his right thumb against the wall as he took his hat from the peg -- what a very natural action, too..."

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