Young Sherlock
Season 1 – Episode 5
Episode title: The Case of Young Sherlock Holmes
Original release date: March 4, 2026
Starring: Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Dónal Finn, Zine Tseng, Joseph Fiennes, Natascha McElhone, Max Irons, Colin Firth
Opening theme: “Days Are Forgotten” by Kasabian
Episode plot: With Silas’s return, the Holmes family reunites and Cordelia – now on adjusted medication – enjoys a rare family dinner. Silas reveals that Professor Malik had been recording multiple asylum patients as supposed scientific research, and that solicitor Jaggers took his own life when the scheme faced discovery. Sherlock and Moriarty investigate Silas’s finances and uncover that four of his companies went bankrupt in 1858, only for his fortunes to reverse dramatically the following year – the year his daughter Beatrice died. They learn Silas took power of attorney over Cordelia when she was committed, seizing control of the estate, and that he paid off the groundskeeper’s debt shortly after Beatrice’s death. The family doctor confirms he was never summoned to examine Beatrice’s body, an outside doctor having been called instead. Growing suspicious that his sister’s death was staged, Sherlock exhumes her grave and discovers the skeleton lacks the broken arm Beatrice sustained in childhood – the body is not hers, raising the possibility that Beatrice is still alive.
* * *
Transcript
Note for Students & Writers: This transcript is archived here for educational purposes, critical analysis, and screenwriting study. All rights belong to the original creators.
[“Days Are Forgotten” playing]
♪ Hey, son I’m looking forwards ♪
♪ You’re aiming backwards Of this I’m sure ♪
♪ Have you had enough? Are you feeling rough? ♪
♪ Does your skull hurt? Well, if it’s war ♪
♪ I’m waiting ♪
♪ Right here now I’m waiting ♪
♪ For someone or something ♪
♪ To take me To take me over ♪
♪ Days ♪
♪ Days are forgotten ♪
♪ Now it’s all over ♪
♪ You’ve simply forgotten How to disappear ♪
[music ends]
[ominous music plays]
[chuckles]
[Cordelia] Beatrice!
Beatrice!
Bea!
[rescue team] Beatrice!
Beatrice!
[bangs on door]
My boy. I heard you had a spot of bother.
Father.
[Silas sighs]
You’re almost getting as handsome as me.
[both chuckle]
Who told you?
Oh, Crowle wired me. Don’t be cross.
Be thankful.
There she is.
Silas.
My love.
[groans]
[sighs]
[chuckles]
[door closes]
Let me look at you.
[sighs]
Yes, you look well.
I feel better. I-I feel stronger.
Dr Maltby has changed my medication. And I feel less foggy.
That’s wonderful news. Wonderful news.
Although, it does rather appear I’m playing catch-up.
They just let you out?
Not exactly.
How not exactly?
[stammers]
He… [chuckles] …waltzed in, broke down a wall, and waltzed me straight back out again.
Broke down a wall?
They’ve been recording her at the asylum…
Mmm.
…listening to every word she’s been saying, effectively spying on her.
I’m sorry. Recording? Spying?
I really had–
Mmm.
Who are you? Who’s he?
Sorry, Father, this is…
Uh, James Moriarty.
[Cordelia] This is Sherlock’s friend.
[James] It’s an honour to meet you, sir.
Yes.
What on earth were you thinking? They’ll come back for her.
As a matter of fact, they already have. And we drove them away.
At gunpoint.
Gunpoint. [chuckles]
Sherlock, um…
My dear boy, perhaps we might adjourn to the study and you can do me the kindness of explaining to me
what the hell has been going on.
Not now.
Mother, I do feel it’s rather important–
[Cordelia] It can wait.
I want to do something I-I haven’t been able to do for a very long time.
I want to sit down and have dinner with my family.
Your mother’s right.
[kisses]
[Cordelia chuckles]
Family first.
Mrs Crowle.
Mr Holmes! Welcome back, sir.
Now, what’s in the pantry?
Uh… A little leftover roast. I-I wasn’t anticipating visitors.
Never mind, never mind.
We shall make do.
Now then, shepherd’s pie it is.
You two, get peeling. Chop, chop.
[James] This looks delicious, sir.
Silas, please.
Silas it is.
Oh, and Sherlock was telling me that you’re a scientist.
Yes, a modest one. [chuckles]
Tuck in. Tuck in.
Darling, where are you going? [chuckles]
Just a moment.
I’m so sorry.
[Silas] Talk amongst yourselves.
Please.
Here we are. Sorry.
[chuckles]
Now, I brought this back, and…
I want you to have it.
Really?
I finished travelling.
I doubt that very much.
I’m staying here to look after you.
I don’t need looking after. I–
So she can stay?
Of course she can stay. Look at her.
She’s radiant. She has a new lease of life.
This place is clearly working its magic.
I am here, you know.
Oh, sorry.
[chuckles] Sorry.
Please can we eat?
[chuckling] Of course.
Do you mind?
That is the weapon that will tame the frontier, mark my words.
I mean, who’s to say that there isn’t an undiscovered miracle?
A genus, perhaps.
With the natural resources to fight tuberculosis or cancer even.
I mean… [stammers] …we think we know all of nature’s laws, but we’ve barely scratched the surface.
Well, then, a toast to the great minds like yourself who endeavour to scratch beneath the surface.
Hear, hear.
Sherlock was an explorer before he could even walk.
Desperate to follow in his father’s footsteps.
One day, it would be Africa, the next, Newfoundland.
Barely made it past the end of the drive.
Once, he proudly announced he was leaving home.
He was gone
all of two hours.
[laughing]
[Cordelia] We… We found him in the coal shed very soon…
[tense music playing]
Darling?
[Silas] Dear boy, is everything all right?
[chuckles] Sorry.
Where’s Mycroft?
Uh… He’s in Oxford.
He should be with us. He should be here.
You’re quite right. I’ll… I’ll wire for him first thing tomorrow.
[Silas] And now, James.
[Cordelia laughing]
You are about to witness a time-honoured Holmes’ family tradition.
Mrs Crowle!
[piano music plays]
[Silas speaking indistinctly]
[Cordelia chuckling]
[Cordelia] James.
Sherlock. [laughs]
[Silas] I have missed this.
That’s my boy.
So this professor Malik, the man with the…
With the bird’s claw.
Bird’s claw, that’s it.
He’s the one who’s been recording her?
Yes.
And Jaggers is the poor wretched soul who… [clicks tongue]
I haven’t quite managed to figure out his involvement yet. [sighs]
It must have been a horrible sight.
We’re gonna find out why they were doing this to your mother, Sherlock, why they were recording her.
We’re going to solve this. Together.
And then we’re going to make this home again.
A new start.
What do you say?
I say I’d like that very much.
[laughs] Settled.
[chuckles]
Oh, you couldn’t fetch another bottle, could you?
Of course.
And when I’m back, I’d love to hear about Vienna.
Absolutely, my boy.
[grunts]
[sighs]
[exhales]
[ominous music plays]
[Silas] Sherlock!
[gasps]
Coming.
[Silas] Ah, there he is.
[chuckles] Thought you got lost.
[groans] Yes.
Good lad. Good lad. Sit.
Now, I’ve been considering a teaching post at Oxford, just to be closer to home.
My dear boy, it looks like you’ve taken a turn.
I expect you’re tired.
I am.
I’m so sorry, Father. I would love to hear about Vienna some other time.
I’ve had a rather long day. I think I will say goodnight.
Absolutely. Another time. Of course.
Night, night, my boy.
Goodnight.
[door closes]
This sun-powered steam engine of yours, this would have never worked.
I’ll forgive you. I suppose you were only a child.
You would have needed a solar cell demonstrated by Edmond Becquerel, 1839.
What’s that?
I found it in Jaggers’ study, underneath his body on the floor.
And my father’s coat is missing the very same button.
I see.
I’m sure there’s an innocent explanation for all of this.
I’m sure there is.
Maybe the explanation’s in here.
I was flicking through these.
The diaries of Mr Lawson Jaggers, Esquire.
I hate to speak ill of the dead, but he was a desperately dull man.
Kept a record of everything he bought.
In the space of a single week, he bought himself a new coat, hat, shirt, tie and cane.
Perhaps he got bored of being boring.
[eerie music plays]
And then the following week, he had appointments with a Mrs Shaw, Mrs Turner and Mrs Morgan.
Any mention of your father in his appointments?
What do you want?
I’m sorry?
My mind is…
[sighs]
I’m shattered, James.
Do forgive me. I’m turning in.
[bagpipe plays]
[wind howling]
[Cordelia crying]
[Sherlock] This is your fault.
[breathes deeply]
[eerie music plays]
[wind blows]
[tense music plays]
[gasps]
[panting]
[birdsong]
Sherlock, my dear boy. Hmm.
How did you sleep?
[sighs]
Rather fitfully, if I’m honest with you, Father.
I’m sorry to hear that.
Have you seen James?
Mmm. Left first thing.
Asked Crowle for a horse.
Really?
Mmm.
Know where he was going?
Not a clue.
Well, I’m off to the asylum.
Give that bastard director a piece of my mind.
Well, perhaps I’ll come with you.
Yes! Wonderful idea.
Uh, no, on second thought, stay here with your mother.
She needs you.
[door opens, closes]
Hello, sir. I was wondering would Mrs Turner be at home?
And you would be?
Oh, if I could be anyone at all, I’d be James Moriarty, so isn’t it lucky for me that I am.
So perhaps you might announce me.
Mrs Turner is not at home.
[Mrs Turner] I told you not to tell people that, Nobbles.
Tell them I’m otherwise occupied.
[grunts] She is otherwise occupied.
Well, when Mrs Turner is finished being otherwise occupied, you might tell her that I come on the business of Lawson Jaggers, Esquire.
Well, what I would have… Ah. [grunts]
I was wondering why I hadn’t heard from him of late.
Yes, well, for that, we send our apologies.
For he himself is otherwise occupied.
Are you his new clerk?
Indeed I am, Mrs Turner.
Far more dashing than the last one if I may say.
You may say, Mrs Turner.
Well, let the man in, Nobbles.
[chuckles]
Yes.
Let the man in, Nobbles.
[Sherlock] Good morning.
Morning.
And where have you been?
Seeking answers.
You smell of perfume.
Well, you wouldn’t believe what I had to do to get them.
A married woman’s property act?
Yes.
It’s not exactly thrilling, I know.
And this is why Lawson Jaggers, Esquire, visited Mrs Turner?
Yes. Indeed it was.
Because this act allows married women to own their own property
for the first time.
Revolutionary.
So Jaggers was out chasing the work.
Hence the new glad rags.
Exactly. Because now he could offer these wealthy married women the chance to regain financial independence from their husbands as newly provided by this act.
Absorbing as this is, I struggle to see the connection between this and my father.
You’re not going to like what I have to say.
Then I suggest you don’t say it.
I’m going to say it.
You’re going to say it.
Your mother was a woman of wealth before she met your father.
I now see where you’re going with this, and I’m going to save us both the time.
You’re on the wrong track.
You are getting agitated.
I am not getting agitated. You are getting this wrong.
Humour me. What do we know for certain?
We know that your mother met with Jaggers, and we know that they discussed business.
Now, let us just say that your father finds out about this meeting, and now he needs to know what your mother is planning with Jaggers because he needs to protect his financial interests.
Conjecture.
So he pays the asylum director
to have them recorded. But now these recordings are discovered,
and Jaggers has become a liability.
So he needs to be silenced.
And so my father has…
[sighs]
And so my father has Lawson Jaggers killed?
Well, it would explain the button ripped off in the struggle.
That is really your theory?
When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, Sherlock, that must be the truth.
But you are overlooking one rather obvious fact.
Please illuminate things for me.
My father is an eminent scientist who has been awarded grants from some of the finest universities in the world.
The idea he needs my mother’s money is plainly ridiculous.
How do you know that?
Because I know my own father.
Do you?
This man who has been mostly absent from your life for the last 12 years?
He had his reasons, James.
He lost his daughter for Christ’s sake, and I a sister.
I do not wish to make light of your pain, Sherlock.
No. But you do wish to turn this into a game.
Just like everything else.
If you really want to solve this beyond any reasonable doubt, I suggest we take a look at your father’s financial records.
I really thought you were going to help me.
I am helping you, Sherlock, as you seem incapable of helping yourself where your father’s concerned.
I am trying to help you by showing you the truth, no matter how distressing it is.
I know why you’re doing this.
I pray you’ll enlighten me.
You are doing this because you have no family of your own, so you seek to destroy mine.
You know nothing about my family!
And you’re losing your mind.
But I’ll forgive you because that clearly runs in your blood.
[grunts]
[James laughing]
Now the man decides to throw a real punch.
Get out of my house.
[James] Gladly.
[Silas] Morning, James. How are you?
[both speaking indistinctly]
[sombre music plays]
[Silas] Your mother needs to rest.
You failed her.
[Silas] Sherlock!
[knocks on door]
Ah, Sherlock, there you are.
Do you know I just bumped into James storming off down the drive?
Yes, he can be difficult sometimes.
Well, listen, I brought you here because I have news.
It turns out you weren’t the only one Professor Malik was recording, all part of some supposedly scientific research, which that dreadful director in the asylum was paid handsomely for.
Malik made human guinea pigs of you all.
How does Jaggers fit into the equation?
Malik’s lawyer. Provided legal cover for the whole infernal project.
When he found out they were discovered, that he was facing scandal and ruin, well, the rest you saw.
I’ve wired the police. You’ll need to make a statement.
Of course. Anything I can do to help.
One positive to come from this wretched business is that we have your mother home.
That’s all that matters now.
Did you ever think to bring her home sooner?
Excuse me?
I just… I just wondered, if it was within your power.
[Silas] I…
I followed medical advice, Sherlock.
I believed the director at the asylum was keeping your mother there because I was told it was best for her.
You don’t think I don’t blame myself for not realising what was happening?
Oh, Silas, you couldn’t possibly have known what was going on in there.
I’m so sorry.
Thank you, my love.
I do want that director punished for everything he did to me.
I will see him ruined.
[ominous music plays]
[sighs]
[grunts]
Whatever the truth may be, I need to know.
Is that your idea of an apology?
Well?
Well, it doesn’t sound like an apology.
Well, I apologise.
Ah. Is that all?
I sincerely apologise?
Still think you can do better.
I, Sherlock Holmes, sincerely apologise to you, James Moriarty.
Oh, well done.
I rather enjoyed all that.
[Sherlock] I do have a thought as to how we might gain access to my father’s financial records.
[Silas] I think a tad more sugar.
[Cordelia] Yes. Sugar.
Don’t you think?
[speaking indistinctly]
[Silas] I’ll leave that with you.
[suspenseful music plays]
Yes, I think it’s in the hallway. I’ll go find one right now.
It’s by the brandy. Um…
Ah, yes.
Here it is.
Found it.
What are you doing in my study?
The Kaiser-iHind.
Oh. The swallowtail?
Yes, the monograph you wrote on butterflies.
I was telling James about it, and he’s rather interested.
Oh.
He’d like to read it?
Mm-hmm.
Sorry, I sh-should’ve asked.
Well, you should’ve, yes. But nothing would give me greater pleasure.
It’s somewhere here.
Now I’d be very interested to know what he thinks.
Bright young fellow. Hmm.
Bound for great things.
I can always tell.
[chuckles]
Uh, now, your mother and I are making elderflower cordial.
Be good to keep her spirits up.
Care to join us?
Sure. Why not?
[suspenseful music plays]
Sherlock?
Forgetting something.
Ah, dearest Cordelia, we have a helper.
Would you like to sample the finest cordial?
Cordelia’s vintage cordial.
[chuckles]
Oh. Chin chin.
Chase it down with that.
The white flowers have a heady fragrance.
Deliciously sweet.
[chuckles] The young leaves by contrast smell rancid.
It’s one of the few seedlings that rabbits have no interest…
[kisses] …in nibbling.
[laughs]
[Silas imitates nibbling]
Did you wire Mycroft?
[Silas] Hmm.
Father.
Did you wire Mycroft?
I just assumed that you would have when you wired the police.
I was just wondering.
No, I have been rather preoccupied. But, um… you’re right. I’ll do it right away.
Where’s my wallet?
My love, it’s in your study.
Shan’t be long.
Would you like some more elderflower first?
Uh, no. Thank you.
You sure?
[both chuckle]
Move aside.
I can only imagine it’s a strain for you being back here.
[Sherlock] Yes.
Yes, uh, yes, I have. It has been rather difficult.
Memories in every corner.
The happy and… and the unwelcome.
Thank you.
Sherlock.
It wasn’t my idea to send your mother away after your sister.
It was her idea.
She thought it would help her recover.
[sighs]
[chuckles]
I appreciate you being understanding.
Ah. James.
Well, it’s good to see you’re back. [chuckles]
[chuckles] I couldn’t stay away.
Devil makes work for idle hands.
[chuckles] Wise words.
[Sherlock] All right.
What have you found?
Just tell me, James.
All right.
Your father had several business interests.
In fact, he’s doing quite, quite well.
You didn’t know this.
A scientist.
That’s all he ever told us.
Well, here is the thing, Sherlock.
[sniffs] There was a time when he was not doing quite so well.
Four of his companies declared bankrupt in the space of a single year, 1858.
And then the following year, he had quite a drastic improvement in his fortunes.
1859.
The year my sister died.
There’s no evidence to prove the fact that these two events are linked.
This is the deed to this house.
It was put into a trust by your grandfather for you and for Mycroft.
It was administered by your mother until 12 years ago, when your father took power of attorney over her.
He took control of this entire estate.
‘Cause my mother was committed to the asylum.
Declared insane and driven mad with grief.
Sorry, Sherlock.
Either my father took advantage of circumstance.
Or what happened that day wasn’t an accident.
[emotional music plays]
Mother?
Yes?
I need to talk to you about that day.
Sherlock! Come on, Sherlock. Come play. Come play with me.
In a minute.
Not in a minute. Now.
Beatrice!
I play this scene over in my head…
Don’t come in a minute! Play with me now!
…over and over and over.
You know what I wonder more than anything else in this world?
I wonder what would have happened if I’d played with her.
If she’d still be here.
[Beatrice] Sherlock! Catch it!
[giggling]
[Cordelia] Sherlock, I have been punishing myself for years, thinking somehow it would be enough, but it’s never enough.
[giggling continues]
Sherlock, it wasn’t your fault, my love.
What happened next?
I wasn’t watching.
She went to talk to your father.
[Beatrice] Daddy, Sherlock won’t play with me.
It’s all right, my love.
What’s he saying?
[muttering]
Where’s she going?
What did Father say to Beatrice to make her go?
What did he say to her?
Mother. What did Father say to Beatrice?
[stammering] I don’t know, darling. You’d have to ask him.
Maybe you were right.
Maybe this wasn’t an accident.
My father said something to Beatrice to make her go into the woods, but he stayed by the river the entire time.
So someone else was involved?
Well, then, Sherlock, who found the body?
The groundskeeper.
Where does he live?
In the village.
[tense music plays]
[speaking indistinctly]
Is there anyone at home?
[person] You’re on private land!
Sorry to disturb you.
We’re looking for Nathan Burford.
That’d be me dad.
Yes. Might we have a word with him, please?
Well, you’d have a job.
Why is that?
[person] You’d have to dig him up first.
[sighs]
Um… Forgive me.
My name is Sherlock Holmes.
[sighs] Well, haven’t you grown up?
You don’t remember me?
I do apologise.
Me and your sister used to play squeak piggy squeak.
You’d be the farmer, me and Bea would be the piggies.
You really don’t remember that?
I don’t.
Well, I don’t blame you.
We used to tease you something rotten.
We used to dress him up in Bea’s clothes. [chuckles]
[chuckles] Is that so?
Yeah.
I am learning so much about you, Sherlock.
Yeah, your father would throw us tea parties.
Mrs Crowle would make us all fresh macaroons…
Your family were always really good to us.
I’m sure your father was loyal in return.
The horses would have been his ruin if it hadn’t been for your father.
What makes you say that?
He forgave him his whole debt.
All of it.
He cleared your father’s entire debt?
It was the one day the cloud lifted from my mother’s face.
When did this happen?
It’d be the year you lot left. Couple of months after your poor sister passed.
[James] Your father paid off the groundskeeper.
It’s not proof. I need proof.
It doesn’t prove it wasn’t an accident.
I appreciate this isn’t easy for you, Sherlock.
Follow the evidence, don’t be blinded by emotion.
Your words, James. It’s not conclusive.
All right.
What do you need, Sherlock?
What would convince you?
[emotional music plays]
[doctor] I’m afraid there’s nothing more I can do, Mr Holmes.
[Silas] Thank you, Doctor.
Dr Maltby.
Our family doctor.
He would have seen the body.
[knocks on door]
[Maltby] Come.
Doctor.
Oh, Sherlock.
Oh, how’s your mother doing?
She’s improving.
Could I have a word?
Yes, well, it was, um…
It was a… a horrible business.
Did you notice anything on my sister’s body?
[James] Forgive me for this, Doctor.
But did you find any evidence to suggest that there may have been some foul play?
That what happened wasn’t an accident?
Right, um…
I can’t tell you, I’m afraid.
I do appreciate it’s difficult to recall.
No, it’s… it’s not quite that. I can’t tell you because I wasn’t there.
I was never called to the house.
You were our family doctor.
Well, quite. I was more than ready to assist.
But…
Well, word never came.
I believe a doctor was, uh, duly summoned for from outside the village.
Oxford, I think.
An hour away?
Yes, I did think it strange at the time. But, um…
Well, it wasn’t my, um… it wasn’t my call to make.
[ominous music plays]
[Beatrice] Sherlock, Sherlock!
Come, Sherlock. Come play with me.
[giggling]
[Silas] I still hear her voice.
Do you enjoy it?
Enjoy what, my boy?
When the butterflies stop beating their wings when they die, do you enjoy it?
[scoffs]
It’s simply necessary.
[tense music plays]
Did I wake you?
No.
I was just reading.
I have to ask you something. I’m afraid it’s rather morbid.
Go on.
[sighs]
That night, did you see her?
Beatrice?
Yes.
Yes, of course, darling.
Nathan brought her up from the river.
Bea! Bea! No, no, no!
Please, Bea! No! No! No, no, no!
[Sherlock] Again.
Please, Bea! No! No! No, no, no!
Again.
[crying, shouting]
No!
Again!
No! No! No, no, no!
[crying, shouting]
[screaming]
He wasn’t supporting you. He was stopping you from getting too close.
Darling, are you all right? What… What are you talking about?
After he brought her inside, did you see her?
Your-Your father brought her into the house, and… Yes.
I just… I-I saw her.
I saw her lying on her bed in her bedroom.
[praying]
[Sherlock] No.
She was covered by a sheet.
M-Maybe you’re right.
Before she was taken away, before she was put in her coffin, did you ever see her body?
Why are you asking me these dreadful questions?
I’m so sorry, Mother. I need to know. Did you see her body?
I-I was in a terrible state, and your father had given me something to help me sleep, so I-I… I can’t remember.
[door opens]
Knock knock.
Oh, Sherlock.
Your mother’s had a long day.
[sighs]
She needs to rest.
Time for your medication, my love.
I’ll do it, Father.
Well, I think it’s best if I…
I’d actually quite like to, Father.
[scoffs]
Very well. [chuckles]
I know when I’m not wanted.
Don’t keep your mother up talking.
What is it, darling?
[chuckles]
Nothing. Never mind.
[dramatic music plays]
Are you sure you want to do this?
[thunder rumbling]
[Silas] Sorry. Did I wake you?
[Cordelia groans]
I’m just going to clear this away.
Thank you.
Did you take your medication?
I don’t think Sherlock gave it to me. I sort of nodded off, darling.
Ah, hmm.
Silas?
Yes, my love?
What did you say to her?
Who?
Beatrice.
Before she ran towards the trees, what was the last thing you said?
[Beatrice] Daddy,
Sherlock won’t play with me.
It’s all right, my love.
[giggles]
I don’t really remember.
I suppose I blanked it all out.
[sighs]
Why?
Sherlock asked me.
Sherlock.
[ominous music plays]
Sherlock!
[groans]
Sherlock!
[grunting]
[panting]
[dramatic music plays]
[pants]
That’s not my sister.
They’re just a bunch of bones, Sherlock.
How could you know that?
My sister had a broken arm.
That arm’s not broken.
That’s not my sister.
[thunder rumbles]
[“A Forest” playing]
♪ Come closer and see See into the trees ♪
♪ Find the girl While you can ♪
♪ Come closer and see See into the dark ♪
♪ Just follow your eyes Just follow your eyes ♪
♪ I hear her voice Calling my name ♪
♪ The sound is deep In the dark ♪
♪ I hear her voice And start to run ♪
♪ Into the trees Into the trees ♪
