Sherlock Holmes
John Watson
Hilton Cubitt
Elsie Patrick
Abe Slaney
Gwenie Brook
Inspector Martin
Inspector Wood
Stable Boy

Scene 1

(Sherlock is measuring chemicals together and Watson is going over papers. They obviously haven't said anything to each other in a while)

Sher: Watson, I think it's a bad idea.

Wat (looking up from his papers in surprise): What?

Sher: Getting a dog. We have no room. Besides, I have very nice shoes that I wish to keep in good condition.

Wat: However did you know I was considering it?

Sher: You have a scratch on your finger that looks to be a paper cut. Possibly a playing card? There is only a few card games violent enough to give you paper cuts and Uno is your favorite one. I haven played Uno with you for ages-.

Wat: Because I gave you the draw four card right as you were about to win?

Sher: Let's not bring up past bruises. But anyway, the only other friend you could have played Uno with is Trenton and his dog just had a batch of puppies. There's some puppy fur on your shirt which means you played with one of them. John, you're a softy and will most definitely want one.

Wat: Well, you hit the nail right on the head!... Sherlock, can we get the puppy?

Sher: Absolutely not!

Wat: But, Sherlock, he's so cute! I have a picture!

Sher (protesting as Watson pulls out a picture): John, no, we are not getting a puppy! [Sees the picture and is shocked by how cute it is. Stares at the picture until there's a knock on the door] We'll talk about this later.

(Sherlock goes and answers the door while Watson admires the puppy picture. Sherlock comes back with Hilton Cubitt. Watson quickly puts away the picture as they sit down)

Hil (handing Sherlock a piece of paper): I mailed you a copy of this earlier. Did you get it?

Sher: Indeed.

Hil: What do you think?

(Sherlock studies the paper. It is torn from a notebook and has pictures of dancing men on it)

Sher: Why don't you tell Watson the story?

Hil: I'm not much of a storyteller but alright. [We can have scenes acting out what he is saying] I got married to Elsie Patrick about a year ago. I know nothing of her past and she wishes to tell me nothing. Leading up to our marriage she kept saying I could back out at any time because she had a past she wished to forget. I told her I didn't care.
Everything was fine until about a month ago when she got a letter with a foreign stamp. She read it and tossed it in the fire before I could see it and I decided not to ask her about it. A few days later I saw a picture like this doodled on our windowsill and scrubbed it off. I thought the stable boy did it but he says he didn't. I told Elsie about it and she grew pale and told me to please let her see if it ever popped up again.
Later we found one one the wall. She read it and instantly fainted. I have no idea why these drawings are doing this to her!

Wat: Does Elsie have any friends she might confide in?

Hil: I've talked to Elsie's friend Gwenie and she has no idea why Elsie would act like this.

Sher: Hm. If it is alright with you we will come over to your house and investigate.

Hil: That sounds fine.

Scene 2

(Hilton walk in with Sherlock and Watson. Gwenie comes up to them)

Gwen: Oh, good. You're back. (To Sherlock and Watson) I'm Elsie's best friend Gwenie.

(Stable boy walks in)

SB: I don't wish to bother you, sir, but I found this under a pebble in the garden. [Hands Hilton yet another note]

[Watson gets bored and wanders off]

Sher: Did you see who left it?

SB: Actually, I did. It was a strong looking man.

Sher: I see. [He takes the note and starts to examine it]

Wat: What's this?

[Everyone goes over to him to see that he has found another dancing men drawing pinned to a wall]

(Elsie rushes in)

Els: You've been looking at them?

Hil: I have to, Elsie.

Gwen: Can't you tell us what they mean?

Els: No, I can't! Let me see them! (She reads over them and starts to walk away)

Sher: If I may, ma'am, I would like to keep those.

Els (looking defiant): Fine, you won't be able to read them anyway. (She walks away)

Wat: Notice she said "read". It's a coded message.

Sher: Right you are, John. (To Hilton) It's getting late. We'll be at the hotel. I should have these decoded by morning.

Hil: Thank you.

Scene 3

(At the hotel. Sherlock is studying the notes while Watson lounging around. There's a knock)

Wat: Come in.

(The Stable Boy walks in)

SB: Sirs, my master says that another one has been found. [Hands Sherlock a note]

Sher: Thank you.

(Stable Boy leaves. Sherlock studies the note for a few minutes and then jumps up)

Sher: Watson! We have to get back to Hilton and Elsie!

(Sherlock runs off and Watson grumbles about how he just got comfortable)

Scene 4

(Sherlock and Watson run up to Inspectors Martin and Wood and the Stable Boy)

Wat: What happened?

IW: Hilton and Elsie Cubitt were shot at.

Sher: Was anyone hurt?

IM: Mrs. Elsie was hurt and we're not sure if it's fatal or not.

IW: We're trying to figure out who did it.

Sher: Well, no need to figure. I know.

IM: What?

(Instead of answering Sherlock pulls out a piece of paper and pen and quickly draws a dancing man message. He hands it to the Stable Boy)

Sher: Quickly, take this to the hotel.

(Stable Boy runs off)

Wat: Mind sharing the secret?

Sher: I wouldn't say it's simple. I deduced that the dancing men used more than once were vowels and then by common sense filled the rest in. The first message says:  AM HERE ABE SLANEY.

Wat: Abe Slaney?

IW: He's a well known American criminal.

Sher: Indeed. The second note stated: AT HOTEL.

Wat: The hotel we were staying at?

Sher: The very same. The third says: COME IMMEDIATELY.

IM: What would he have to do with Mrs Elsie?

Sher: That is the question. The fourth message reads PREPARE FOR RECKONING. When persuasion didn't work he started to threaten.

IM: Well, then. Let's go arrest him.

Sher: No need to go anywhere. He'll come to us.

IW: What do you mean?

Sher: You'll see. In fact, here he come now.

(Abe Slaney is walking up to the house)

Sher: Now, gentlemen, if you'll hide you'll be able to spring upon him.

(Everyone hides. Abe Slaney walks in confidently. The inspectors pounce and catch him. He struggles. Everyone comes out of hiding and helps cuff him to a chair)

Abe: Did Elsie set this trap for me? I got her letter.

Sher: No, she is actually very injured.

Abe: Injured? Liar!

Sher: I'm afraid not. Any idea how it happened?

Abe: I meant to shoot at Hilton. I would never hurt Elsie. She's always been such a gentle creature. Her father was a leader of the mob I was in. He created the ingenious Dancing Man code. Elsie didn't want anything to do with our crimes so she ran away. I've been trying to track for about a year.

IM: That's a good enough confession for me.

IW: Same here. Let's take him away.

Abe: But will Elsie be okay?

Sher: We'll send word once we know ourselves.

(The inspectors take Abe Slaney away. Gwenie, Elsie, and Hilton walk in)

Sher: Elsie, we have gotten rid of Abe Slaney. He will never talk to you again.

Els: Wonderful!

Hil: Thank you, Mr Holmes. [Shakes Sherlock's hand]

Sher: Well, we have to get back to 221b Baker Street.

(They leave. As they walk along Watson not so coyly brings up the puppy again)

Wat: Y'know that puppy is really cute.

Sher (pauses to look at him): Well, then let's go get it.

Wat: We can get the puppy!

Sher: That's what I said.

(As Sherlock walks off Watson does a quick victory dance and then runs after him)