READERS THEATRE SCRIPT

Copyright © 2021 by Make A Dramatic Difference/MRB

 ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, on May 22, 1859
and is widely acclaimed the world world over for creating the fictional detective
Sherlock Holmes. His novels and stories that are centered around the Sherlock
Holmes character are generally considered milestones in the genre of crime fiction.
He originally created the character in 1887 for “A Study in Scarlet”, the first of four
novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. Other than the
Sherlock stories, his works include fantasy, science fiction stories, humorous
stories, plus plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels. Doyle was a
prolific writer. He died on July 7, 1930

© 2021 by Make A Dramatic Difference/MRB

 PREFACE
In an early 20th Century interview, Doyle elucidates on his Sherlock Holmes
character and crime-mystery stories. The transcript of which follows:

“There is one thing that people always want to ask me. That is, how I ever came to
write the Sherlock Holmes stories. First of all, about the Sherlock Holmes stories, I
credit a young doctor at the same, with a head of course, with scientific training. I
used to, occasionally, read detective stories. And it often annoyed me how in the old-
fashioned detective stories, he detective seemed to always get at his results either
by some lucky chance or fluke. Or else it was quite unexplained how he got there. He
got there, but he never gave an explanation how. That didn’t seem to me quite the
playing game.

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They began to buy the magazine, and it began to prosper and so may I say did I. We
both came along together. And from that time Sherlock Holmes fairly too root. I’ve
written a good deal more about him than I ever intended to do, but my hand has been
rather forced by kind friends who continually wanted to know more. And so it is that
this monstrous growth has come out of what’s really a comparatively small seed. But
the curious thing is how many people around the world are perfectly convinced that
he is a living human being. I get letters addressed to him, I get letters asking for his
autograph, I get letters addressed to his rather stupid friend, Watson, I’ve even hae
ladies writing to say that they’ve be very glad to act as his housekeeper. One of
them, when she’d heard that he’d turned to the occupation of keeping bees, wrote
saying that she was an expert a segregating the queen. Whatever that may mean.
And that she was evidently predestined to be the housekeeper of Sherlock Holmes.
People ask me will I write any more Sherlock Holmes stories, I certainly don’t think it’s
at all probable. Nonetheless, of course, I haven’t abandoned writing, one has to ear
one’s living . . .”

~Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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 CHARACTERS

SHERLOCK HOLMES
JOHN H. WATSON
HILTON CUBITT
STATION MASTER
DRIVER
SURGEON
INSPECTOR MARTIN
SAUNDERS
ABE SLANEY/THE MAN
 ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE’S
“THE DANCING MEN”
A Readers Theatre Script
Adapted and Dramatized by
MICHAEL RULIN BLEVINS

WATSON
Holmes had been seated for some hours in silence with his long, thin back curved
over a chemical vessel in which he was brewing a particularly malodorous product.
His head was sunk upon his breast, and he looked from my point of view like a
strange, lank bird, with dull gray plumage and a black top-knot.

SHERLOCK
So, Watson, you don not propose to invest in South African securities?

WATSON
I gave a start of astonishment. Accustomed as I was to Holmes’ curious faculties,
this sudden intrusion into my most intimate thoughts was utterly inexplicable. I
asked: “how on earth do you know that? He wheeled round upon his stool, with a
steaming test-tube in his hand, and a gleam of amusement in his deep-set eyes.

SHERLOCK
Now, Watson, confess yourself utterly taken aback.

WATSON
I am.

SHERLOCK
I ought to make you sign a paper to that effect.

WATSON
Why?

SHERLOCK
Because in five minutes you will say that it is all so absurdly simple.

WATSON
I am sure that I shall say nothing of the kind.

SHERLOCK
You see my dear Watson –

WATSON
– he propped his test-tube in the rack, and began to lecture with the air of a
professor addressing his class –
 2

SHERLOCK
“it is not really difficult to construct a series of inferences, each dependent upon his
predecessor and each simple in itself. If, after doing so, one simply knocks out all
the central inferences and presents one’s audience with the starting-point and the
conclusion, one may produce a startling, thought possibly a meretricious, effect.
Now, it was not really difficult, by an inspection of the groove between your left
forefinger and thumb, to feel sure that you did not propose to invest your small
capital in the goldfields.

WATSON
I see no connection.

SHERLOCK
Very likely not; but I can quickly show you a close connection. Here are the missing
links of the very simple chain: 1. You had chalk between your left finger and thumb
when you returned from the club last night. 2> you put chalk there when you play
billiards to steady the cue. 3. You never play billiards except with Thurston. 4. You
told me, four weeks ago, that Thurston had an option on some ;South African
property which would expire in a month, and which he desired you to share with
him. 5. Your checkbook is locked in my drawer, and you have not asked for the key.
6. You do not propose to invest your money in this manner.

WATSON
How absurdly simple!

SHERLOCK
(A little nettled)
Every problem becomes very childish when once it is explained to you. Here is and
unexplained one. See what you can make of that, friend Watson.

WATSON
He tossed a sheet of paper upon the table, and turned once more to his chemical
analysis. I looked with amazement at the absurd hieroglyphics upon the paper.
Why, Holmes, it is a child’s drawing.

SHERLOCK
Oh, that’s your idea!

WATSON
What else should it be?

SHERLOCK
That’s is what Mr. Hilton Cubitt, of Riding Thorpe Manor, Norfolk, is very anxious to
know. This little conundrum came by the first post, and he was to follow by the next
train. There’s a ring at the bell, Watson. I should not be very much surprised if this
were he.
 3

WATSON
A heavy step was heard upon the stairs, and an instant later there entered a tall,
rudd, clean-shaven gentleman, whose clear eyes and florid cheeks told of a life led
frar from the fogs of Baker Street. He seemed to bring a whiff of his strong, fresh,
bracing, east-coast air with him as he entered. Having shaken hands with each of
us, he was about to sit down, when his eye rested upon the paper with the curious
markings, which I had just examined and left upon the table.

WATSON
Well, Mr. Holmes, what do you make of these? They told me that you were fond of
puzzling mysteries, and I don’t think you can find a more puzzling one than that. I
sent the paper on ahead, so that you might have time to study it before I came

SHERLOCK
It is certainly rather a curious production.

WATSON
At first it would appear to be some childish prank. It consists of a number of absurd
little figures dancing across the paper upon which they are drawn. Why should you
attribute and importance to so grotesque an object?

SHERLOCK
I never should, Mr. Holmes. But my wife does. It is frightening her to death. She
says nothing, but I can see terror in her eyes. That’s why I want to sift the matter to
the bottom.

WATSON
Holmes held up the paper so that the sunlight shone full upon it. It was a page torn
from a notebook. The markings were done in pencil, and ran in this way: –

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SHERLOCK
I dare say you are right. But if you could have stopped, I might possibly have been
able to return with you in a day or two. Meanwhile you will leave me these papers,
and I think that it is very likely that I shall be able to pay you a visit shortly and to
throw some light on your case.

WATSON
Sherlock Holmes preserved his calm professional manner until our visitor had left
us, although it was easy for me, who knew him so well, to see that he was
profoundly excited. The moment that Hilton Cubitt’s broad back had disappeared
through the door my comrade rushed to the table, laid out all the slips of paper
containing dancing me in front of him, and threw himself into an intricate and
elaborate calculation. For two hours I watched him as he covered sheet after sheet
of paper with figures and letters, so completely absorbed in his task that he had
evidently forgotten my presence. Sometimes he was making progress and whistled
and sang at this work sometimes he was puzzled, and would sit for long spells with
a furrowed brow and a vacant eye. Finally he sprang from his chair with a cry of
satisfaction, and walked up and down the room rubbing his hands together. Then
he wrote a long telegram upon a cable form.

SHERLOCK
If my answer to this is as I hope, you will have a very pretty case to add to your
collection, Watson. I expect we shall be able to go down to Norfolk tomorrow, and to
take our friend some very definite news as to the secret of his annoyance.

WATSON
I confess that I was filled with curiosity, but I was aware that Holmes liked to make
his disclosures at his own time and in his own way, so I waited until it should suit
him to take me into his confidence. But there was a delay in answering telegram,
and two days of impatience followed, during which Holmes pricked up his ears at
every right of the bell. On the evening of the second there came a letter from Hilton
Cubitt. All was quiet with him, save that a long inscription had appeared that
morning upon the pedestal of the sun-dial. He enclosed a copy of it, which is here
reproduced: –
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 26

SHERLOCK
(With a smile)
See if you can read it, Watson.

WATSON
It contained no word, but this little line of dancing men: –

SHERLOCK
If you use the code which I have explained, you will find that it simply means “Come
here at once.” I was convinced that it was an invitation which he would not refuse,
since he could never imagine that it could come from anyone fut the lady. And so,
my dear Watson, we have ended by turning the dancing men to good when they have
so often been the agents of evil, and I think that I have fulfilled my promise of giving
you something unusual for your notebook. Three-forty is out train, and I fancy we
should be back on Baker Street for dinner.

WATSON
Only one word of epilogue. The Man, the American Abe Slaney, was condemned to
death at the winter assizes at Norwich, but his penalty was changed to penal
servitude in consideration of mitigating circumstances, and the certainty that Hildon
Cubitt had fired the first shot. Of Mrs. Hilton Cubitt I only knew that I have heard
she recovered entirely, and that she still remains a widow, devoting her whole life to
the care of the poor and to the administration of her husband’s estate.

THE END
 Readers Theatre Series: THE DANCING MEN
Readers Theatre Based on the Story by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
Adapted and Dramatized by Michael Rulin Blevins

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THE DANCING MEN

Readers Theatre Based on the Story
by
Arthur Conan Doyle
Adapted and Dramatized by
MICHAEL RULIN BLEVINS
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