Scene1

(HolmesstandsoverWatsonashewakesup)
Holmes:SorrytowakeyouWatson,butMrs.Hudsonhaswokenmeup.
Watson:(alarmed)Whatisit?Afire?
Holmes:No.Aseeminglydistressedyoungladyinneedofadetectiveisatourdoor.Atthis
hour,shemusthavesomethingtosayofgreatimportance.YouwouldliketobethereIassume.
Watson:Ofcourse.Iwouldnotmissitfortheworld.
(WatsonputsonclothesasHolmesleaves)
SittingRoom
(Mrs.Hudsonstartsafireinthefireplace)
Holmes:Goodmorning.IamSherlockHolmes,andthisismycolleagueDr.Watson.Youmay
speaktohimasfreelyasyouwouldspeaktome.Oh,IseeMrs.Hudsonhaslitthefire.
Mrs.Hudson:Yes,isthereanythingelseyouneedyounglady?Ifthereis,tellme.
(Helenshivers)
Helen:Thankyou,butthecoldisnotwhatmakesmeshiver.Itisfear.
(Mrs.Hudsonleaves)
(HolmesandWatsonsitdown)
Holmes:Madam,whatcouldmakeyousoafraid?Whateveritis,weshallfixitsoon.Hmm,
youhavereachedherebytrain.
Helen:Howdoyouknow?
Holmes:Well,Icanseepartofaticketinyourleftglove.Ialsoknowyoureachedthestationby
dogcart.Itwasnotthathardtofigureout.Yourjackethasatleastsixmudstains,whichlook
veryfresh.Onlyadogcartwouldthrowsomuchmudontoyou,andonlywhenyousitnextto
thedriver.
Helen:Well,maybeyouwillbeabletohelpmeafterall.Iamindireneedofyourhelp.Ihave
heardgoodthingsaboutyoufromMrs.Farintosh.Wouldyoubeabletohelpmeasyouhelped
her?Iwillbeabletoprovidepaymentwithinamonthortwo.
Holmes:Ahyes,IrememberMrs.Farintosh.Watson,doyou?
Watson:No,Ithinkitwasbeforewemet.
Holmes:Inanycase,IwillbehappytohelpyouasIhelpedher.Butarewardisunnecessarya
goodmysteryisrewardenoughforme.So,tellmeallthathashappened.
Helen:WhatIhavetosaymayseemvague,itmayseemtrivial,butIthinkyou,Mr.Holmes,
willbeabletohelpme.
Holmes:Madam,ifitisinmypowertodoso,Iwill.
Helen:MynameisHelenStoner.Iamlivingwithmystepfather.HeisthelastoftheRoylotts,
oneoftheoldestSaxonfamiliesinEngland.
(Holmesnodsinrecognition)
Holmes:Ahyes,IhaveheardoftheRoylotts.
Helen:TheRoylottsusedtobeoneofthewealthiestinallofEngland,butnowbarelyanything
isleftfrombeinggambledaway.However,mystepfatherbecameaverygooddoctorinIndia,
untilhebeathisbutlertodeathandcamebacktoEnglandsullenandgloomy.
Watson:DidanythingelseimportantoccurinIndia?
Helen:Yes.Healsometmymother,whomhemarriedwhenmysisterJuliaandIweretwo.My
motherhadagoodamountofmoneywhichbecameusefullateron.Yousee,soonafterwe
returnedtoEngland,mymotherdied.Thishappenedaroundeightyearsago.

Watson:Howdidshedie,ifyoudonotmindmyasking?
Helen:(sad)ItwasarailwayaccidentnearCrewe.
Holmes:Andthemoneyshehadcouldkeepyoucomfortable?
Helen:Yes,butitcouldnothelpmystepfather.Heisolatedhimselfinthehouseandcameout
onlytofightwhoeverwalkedby.
Holmes:Hedoesnotsoundlikeapopularman.
Helen:Hewasnot.Everyonebegantofearhim,exceptforthegypsies.Heallowedthemtostay
uponourlandsandinreturnstayedamongthemforawhile,sometimesforweeks.
Watson:Otherthanthegypsies,doeshespendtimewithanythingelse?
Helen:TheonlyotherthinghecaresaboutisIndiananimals.Hehasacheetahandababoon,
whichwandertheestatefreely.
Holmes:Whataboutyouandyoursister?
Helen:YoucanimaginefromwhatIsaythatmypoorsisterandIhadnogreathappinessinour
lives.Wehadtowork,fornoservantwouldstayatthemanor.AtthetimeofherdeathJuliawas
only30,butherhairhadbeguntowhiten.
Holmes:Yoursisterisdead,then?
Helen:Yes.Shediedtwoyearsago,onlytwoweeksbeforeherwedding.ThatisalsowhyIam
here.
(Holmesleansforwardinhischair)
(Watsontakesoutbookfornotes)
Holmes:Beaspreciseaspossibleaboutwhathappened.Iwouldnotwanttomissanydetails.
Helen:Irememberitvividly.Weonlyuseonewingofthemanor.Therearethreebedrooms,
whichareallonthegroundfloor.Weeachhaveourownrooms,whichopentothesame
hallway,butdonotconnect.Eachroomhasawindowthatopenstothelawn.Andonthatfateful
andfatalnight(Inatoneslowlysinkingaway)
FLASHBACKTOSCENE2

(JuliaandHelenarebothwearingnightgowns)
(JuliawalksinHelensbedroomandthensitsonbedbesidewhereHelenisalsosittingonthe
bed)

Julia:(Excitedbutdistracted)Icannotwaituntilmymarriagewithmyfianc!Heissucha
wonderfulman!Wewillwalkthroughtheaisletogether,hishandinmyhand,hishandsomeface
gazingatmine.Iwillbewearingagorgeous,silky,whitedressaccompaniedwithelegant
slippersofthesamecolour.Theweddingtakesplaceinabouttwoweeks,andIwillbethe
happiestwomanalivethatday!
Helen:Thatsoundsamazing!ButIhavebeennoticingsomethingnotquiterightaboutyou.The
weddingsoundsexcitingandall,howeverrecentlyyourmoodhasnotbeenmatchingyourtone.
Istheresomethinggoingon?

(Suddenmoodchange)

Julia:(LooksHelenintheeye)Tellme,Helen,haveyoueverheardanyonewhistleinthedead
ofthenight?
Helen:(Payingcloseattention)Never.

Julia:(Confused)Isupposethatyoucouldnotpossiblywhistle,yourself,inyoursleep?
Helen:(Alsoconfused)Certainlynot.Butwhy?
Julia:(Deepinthought)BecauseduringthelastfewnightsIhavealways,ataboutthreeinthe
morning,heardalow,clearwhistle.Iamalightsleeper,andithasawakenedme.Icannottell
whereitcamefromperhapsfromthenextroom(gestures),perhapsfromthelawn.Ithought
thatIwouldjustaskyouwhetheryouhadheardit.
Helen:No,Ihavenot.Itmustbethegypsiesintheplantation.
Julia:(unsatisfied):Verylikely.Andyetifitwerethem,Iwonderthatyoudidnothearitalso.
Helen:Ah,butIsleepmuchmoreheavilythatyou.
Julia:(stillunsatisfied)Well,itisofnogreatconsequence,atanyrate.
(JuliasmilesatHelen,closesHelensdoor,thenlocksitwithherkey)

3amatnight(whistlingsound)

Julia:(scream)HELEN!Helen!
(Low,clearwhistlefollowedbyaclangingsound)
(Juliasdoorisunlockedandopensslowlybyitself)
(Bythelightfromacorridorlamp,HelenlooksinJuliasbedroomseesJuliasfacefilledwith
fear,herwholebodyswayingbackandforthlikethatofadrunkard,andthenwrithingand
convulsinglikesomeoneinterriblepain)

Helen:(terrified)Julia!
Julia:(infear)OhHelen!Itwastheband!Thespeckledband!
(Juliawasabouttosaysomethingelse,butshejustpointstodoctorsroomandconvulsesagain)
Helen:(panicking)Stepfather!Stepfather!Come!Come!
(Dr.Roylottcomes,poursbrandy[awine]downJuliasthroat,andsendsforhelpfromthe
village,allwithoutsuccess)
Dr.Roylott:Ohmy!
(Juliasinksanddieswithoutregainingconsciousness)
Dr.Roylott:Itistoolate.Sheisdead.

BACKTOSCENE1

Holmes:Ihaveafewquestionsforyou.Areyousureitwasametallicwhistlingsound?Was
yoursisterdressed?Andthelast,whatdidthecoronerthink?
Helen:IthinkIheardthewhistle,butitcouldhavebeenthewindorthecreakingofthehouse.
Mysisterworeonlyanightdress,butshehadamatchboxandtheremainsofamatchinher
hand.Thecoronerwasuseless.HewasunabletodetermineacauseofJuliasdeath.Therewas
nowaytogetinsidetheroom.Theyevencheckedforpoison,buttheresultswerenegative.
Holmes:Howdoyouthinkshecouldhavediedthen,ifitwasnotpoisonandtherewasnoway
togetintotheroomwithher?
Helen:Ithinkshediedoffear,butIdonotseewhatcouldhavescaredher.

Holmes:Andwhatdoyouthinkofthesocalledspeckledband?
Helen:Ihonestlydonotknow.Itcouldhavebeendelirium,butperhapsitreferstoagroup.The
gypsieswerepresentthatnight,andsomewearspottedhandkerchiefsontheirheads.
Holmes:Goonwithyourstory.
Helen:Justamonthago,afriendaskedtomarryme.Mystepfatherdidnotdisapprove,sowe
weretoproceedwiththemarriageinspring.
Watson:Whatwasyourfriendsname?
Helen:Armitage,PercyArmitage.Justtwodaysago,myroomwasbeingrepairedandIwas
relocatedtomysistersroom.AsIlayinbed,thinkingofJulia,Iheardthewhistlingnoisethat
hadprecededherdeath.Ijumpedupinfearandlitalamp.ThoughIsawnothing,Iwastoo
afraidtogobacktobed.Idressedquicklyandcameoverhere.
Watson:Areyousureyoudidnotseeanythingthatcouldhavemadethatwhistle?
Helen:No,Iamcertainthatnothingwasthere.
Holmes:Haveyoutolduseverything?
(Helennods)
Holmes:No,youhavenot.
(HolmespullsbacklaceonHelensglove,showingabruiseasWatsongaspsinshock)
Holmes:Youhavenotyetincludedyourstepfather.Youhavebeencruellyused.
Helen:Hedoesnotknowhisownstrength.Itisnothisfault.
Watson:(frowning)Harmingapersoninsuchamannerisnotsomethingtobetakenlightly.
Helen:Thisisnothingserious.Wehavemoreimportantthingstodiscuss.
Holmes:Youhavegivenmemuchtothinkabout.WouldIbeabletovisityourestatetoday?
Helen:Ofcourse.Mystepfathershouldbeawayallday.
Holmes:Superb.Watson,youarenotaversetothistrip?
Watson:Ofcoursenot.Infact,IthinkIwillratherenjoyit.
Helen:Ishallexpectyouintheafternoon.Goodbye.
(Helenleaves)
(HolmesandWatsonstandupandbeginwalkingaround)
Holmes:Watson,whatdoyouthink?
Watson:Ithinkthisisdarkbusiness.Butiftheroomcouldnothavebeenbrokeninto,thenJulia
hadtohavebeenalonewhensheperished.
Holmes:Whataboutthestrangewhistlingsounds?
Watson:Idonotseewhattheycouldbeorhowtheyfitintothisatall.
Holmes:Well,whenalltheevidenceiscombined,thewhistle,gypsies,thespeckledband,the
stepfatherwhodoesnotwantamarriage,andthemetallicclang,Ithinkthemysterywillbe
clearedupsoon.
Watson:Soyouthinkitwasthegypsies.
Holmes:No.Infact,Idonotthinktheydidanything.
Watson:Holmes,youdorealizemanywoulddisagreewiththat.
Holmes:Well,thatiswhywearegoingtothemanortoinvestigate.Wemustfindoutifthese
objectionsholdanytruth.

(DoctorRoylottburstsinwithMrs.Hudsonbehindhim)
(HolmesandWatsonstandupsurprised)
(RoylottglaresatbothWatsonandHolmes)

Mrs.Hudson:(nervous)Itriedtokeephimoutbutheforcedhiswayin.
Roylott:WhichoneofyouisHolmes?
Holmes:Sir,itseemsyouknowme,butIdonotknowyou.
Roylott:Yousurelyhaveheardofme.IamDr.GrimesbyRoylott.
Holmes:Ofcoursedoctor.Pleasesitdown.
Roylott:(getlouderasyouprogress)Iwillnot.Iknowmystepdaughterishere.Ihavetraced
herhere.Whathasshebeensayingtoyou?!
Holmes:(calmly)Theweatheriscoldthisforthistimeofyear.
Roylott:(loudly)Whathasshesaidtoyou?
Holmes:ButIhaveheardthatthecrocusesaredoingquitewell.
Roylott:Iseewhatyouaredoing.ButIhaveheardofyou.Youwillnotmeddlewithme.Iama
dangerousman.
(Roylottgrabsapokerfromthefireplaceandbendsit)
(Roylottthrowsthebentpokeronthegroundandleaves)
Holmes:(laughing)WhileIamnotquitesobulky,mygripisnotmuchmorefeeblethanhis
own.
(Holmespicksupthepokerandbendsitbackintoshape)
Holmes:Inanycase,IwillgototheDoctorsCommonstofinddatathatmayhelpusonthis
case.Afterward,wewillvisitthemanor
Watson:(waving)GoodbyeHolmes.Iwillseeyousoon.
(Holmesleaves)

GOTOSCENE3

Holmes:Wehavehadthepleasureofmakingthedoctorsacquaintance.
(MissStonerturnsaroundandflinches)
Helen:MercifulHeavens!Hehasbeenfollowingme!WellthenSoitappears,heissocunning
thatIneverknowwhenIamsafefromhim.Whatwillhesaywhenhereturns?
Holmes:Hehastoguardhimself,forhemightfindsomeonemorecunningthanhimselfupon
histrack.Youmustlockyourselfupawayfromhimtonight.Ifheisviolent,weshalltakeyouto
yourauntshouseinHarrow.Weneedtomakegooduseoftime.Weneedtogoexaminethese
chambers.
(HolmesandWatsonexa,inethesechambers)
Holmes:(drawsachairover)Towheredoesthatbellcommunicateto?(pointstothebellrope)
Helen:Itgoestothehousekeepersroom.
Holmes:Itlooksnewerthanalltheotherthingsinroom.
Helen:Thatisbecauseitwasinstalledaboutafewyearsago.
Watson:Yoursisteraskedforit,Isuppose?
Helen:No,Ineverheardofherusingit.Weusedtoalwaysgetwhatwewantedforourselves.
Holmes:Indeed,itseemedunnecessarytoputsuchanicebellpullthere.PleaseexcusemeasI
examinethefloor).(Examineseverycrackinthewallcloselyandthenfinallystopsatthebed.
Hefinallytakesthebellropeandyanksit.)Whywillitnotring?Itsnotattachedtowire.Very
interesting
Helen:Youcanseenowitisfastenedtoahookabovewhereanopeningtoaventilatorwould
be.

Holmes:Howvery...absurd.Inevernoticedthat.(againpullingtherope)Whobuildsa
ventilatortoanotherroom?Hemighthavecommunicatedwithoutsideair!
Helen:Thatisalsoquitemodernthesedays.
Watson:Wasitdonearoundthesametimewiththebellrope?
Helen:Yes,therewerelittlechangescarriedoutaboutthattime.
Holmes:Thisseemsveryintriguing.LetusgotoRoylottsroom.Shallwe?
Helen:Yes,Mr.Holmes.(LeadsHolmestoDr.RoylottschamberandHelendepartsthemand
returnstoherroom)

Watson:Thanksagain,Helen

(Theysneakintothedoctorschamberandexamineitwhensuddenlysomethingcatches
Holmesseye)

Holmes:Hereissomethinginteresting.WhatdoyoumakeofthatWatson?
Watson:Thatisreallynotthatcommon.Thislashissortofcommon
Holmes:Ithinkwehaveseenenough.MissStoner,letsescortyoutoyourroomnowbefore
anythingelsehappens.
Watson:Goneartheventilator.
(Thetwoscurrytotheroom)
Holmes:Notonesoundorthisplanisruined...
(Theclockstruck12,1,2,and3,andstillnosignalofRoylott.Afewminuteslatertheysawa
light,Helenexitstoherownroom)
(HolmesandWatsongobacktoJulia'sroom)
Holmes:DoyouseethatWatson?
Watson:(whispers)Yes,Iseeit.
Holmes:Wait,Ihearsomething.
(Hehadheardthesoundofawhistle.Assoonasheheardit,Holmessprangfrombed,lita
matchandslashedatitfuriouslywithhiscaneandbellrope.)
Holmes:(yells)YouseeitWatson?
Watson:NoIdonot.
(countstofiveforthesnaketogobackthroughttheventilator)
(Suddenly,ascreamofpainscreechedthroughtheventilator)
Watson:Whatcouldthismean?
Holmes:Itmeansitisallover.
Watson:Takeyourpistol!
Holmes:Okay.Itisalwaysloaded.
(TheyhadbreachedintoDr.Roylottschamberonlytoseehiscorpselaydead.However,there
wasasurprisewaitingforthem.)
Watson:(stepsforwardandseeheadgearbegintomoveonlytoseetheneckofasnake)The
speckledband!Itisaswampadder!
Holmes:ThedeadliestsnakeinallofIndia!
(Holmeslashesatitwiththedogwhipandrepelleditallthewaytoanironsafe)

(Thenextday)

Holmes:HelloMs.Stoner,howareyoutoday?
Helen:Iamfine,howeverIstillcannotseemtodeterminewhathappenedlastnight.Youkilled
mystepfatherthen?
Holmes:IamnodoubtindirectlyresponsibleforDr.Roylottsdeath,andIcannotsaythatitis
likelytoweighveryheavilyonmyconscience.
(BothMissStonerandSherlockHolmeswalkaway)