“SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER”

CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISTRIBUTE“SHERLOCK HOLMES THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER – INFAMY CASE” BY LUKE OPENSHAW“SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER”“INFAMY” CASE OUTLINEBY LUKE OPENSHAW 2014-2016 Frogwares Games, 2014-2016 Luke OpenshawUsed With Permission“This is an early draft proposal for the Infamy case coveringstory, scheme, narrative, characters and other abstractions.Further consideration, iteration and polish required. Not allof this content made the final game.”1

CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISTRIBUTE“SHERLOCK HOLMES THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER – INFAMY CASE” BY LUKE OPENSHAWBACKGROUNDTHE ACTORARNOLD WALSH (or other fun name, Oscar Wells, Orson Wilde etc), is a down on his luckACTOR who has a terribly ill MOTHER (blind and suffering dementia) to care for in the familyhome, a GRAND HIGH-HOUSE IN ST’JOHNS WOOD LONDON (also called a Town House,which is a very narrow and very tall multiple story type of home in England). A bit of amummy’s boy dreamer.The mother, FANNY WALSH, resided in the bottom floor bedroom of the town house, blindand surely suffering dementia, while the next 3 floors were living quarters and others, withan ATTIC stashed with family goods and heirlooms. Mother refused to go to an Old-PeoplesCare Home because she wished to die in her beloved family home.But with the acting roles drying up fast for Arnold and with no source of income he cannotsupport the house or his mother’s Care Home requirements.THE NURSEA few months ago Arnold met a beautiful and charming woman, ABIGAIL YORK, a Nurse, andthey became very close friends. Abigail was a strong supporter of Arnold’s talents and gavehim the confidence to never give up on his dream as well as showing great sympathy andhelp for his Mother.A whirlwind romance and Abigail’s tender care of Arnold’s mother saw Abigail move into thehigh-house with Arnold. A few weeks later, Abigail discovered a newspaper advertisementfor an ACTING JOB requiring a man of very specific physical attributes and talents such as asimilarity to Oscar Wilde himself, which Arnold does, to attend auditions at BackwaterTheatre, with immediate substantial payment for the right candidate.THE ROLE OF A LIFETIMEWith the loving support of this exceptional new girlfriend, Arnold attended the auditions atthe WEST END SQUARE THEATRE, LONDON, where he won the role of Dorian Grey in ThePicture of Dorian Grey, “the perfect role for the perfectly suited actor” so said the playDIRECTOR, an eccentric man by the name of JOHN SMITH, in this rare conversion of OscarWilde’s Dorian Grey book to stage play.Arnold threw himself into the acting opportunity for the next few weeks, and wasimpressing the Director and earning the money. It was a dream come true.2

CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISTRIBUTE“SHERLOCK HOLMES THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER – INFAMY CASE” BY LUKE OPENSHAWWhile Arnold attended the play rehearsals and received the grand weekly payment of 5per week, Abigail cared for Arnold’s ill mother, FANNY WALSH. The play consumed most ofArnold’s life, and Abigail took a back seat for his success.THE HONOURABLE FOOLArnold Walsh met his best friend, BARRY HAMIL, who works on the turn-style gate at theLORD’S CRICKET GROUND IN ST’JOHN’S LONDON, a lifetime friendship of complete trust.Barry was shocked at Arnold’s casting in the play and especially the fantastic 5 per weekpayday. IMPOSSIBLE SAYS BARRY, IT MUST BE A SCAM, BECAUSE YOU (ARNOLD) ARE ATERRIBLE ACTOR. SOMEONE IS TRYING TO MAKE A FOOL OF YOU.BRIEF HISTROY OF THE ANARCHISTSStarting around 1900, Indian “anarchists” (labeled as such by the newspapers and Britishgovernment authorities, but actually nationalists) assassinated many people and bombedmany locations, killing many, in India and London. One called The Viper would rise to leadthem and his nationality remained unknown. Real or alleged anarchist incidents alsooccurred in other countries at the time.3

CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISTRIBUTE“SHERLOCK HOLMES THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER – INFAMY CASE” BY LUKE OPENSHAWTHE INVESTIGATION221BHOLMESAnd so it was Barry’s jealous remarks that put a seed of doubt in Arnold’s mind and broughthim to Sherlock Holmes’s home of 221B. Because despite the high wage for the play, despitewhat his beloved Abigail and the other actors and the Director say, Arnold is a TERRIBLEACTOR surely unworthy of such a theatrical role. Arnold doesn’t see why Barry would lie tohim or be cruel. Holmes’s reputation is for helping poor people in distress. Arnold did notwant to be MADE A FOOL OF.This is an opportunity for more mystery, curiosity and doubt, and amusement, becauseArnold turns up at Holmes’s door, DRUNK and with this corker of a story, which amusesWatson and Holmes, as well as intrigues.*The Red Headed League had an element of buffoonery and amusement in the form of thevictim Jabez Wilson.THE SHAME OF ITAnd so, Arnold gives Holmes a description of the play Director John Smith, his lover AbigailYork and his friend Barry Hamil, and pleads with Holmes to investigate so that he is notmade a fool of either by his jealous friend or this sham play (just like the sham in RedHeaded League).And so, while Holmes investigates, Arnold continues about his rehearsals at the theatre andreceives the 5 paydays because he has no choice if he is to raise the money to put hismother into a GREAT CARE HOME.WELL PAIDWatson suggests that there is no real case to be heard because Arnold was paid very wellfor his ‘acting’ skills and his friend Barry is probably just jealous. Holmes sympathises withArnold in what is undoubtedly fishy circumstances, what with such an exceptional sum ofmoney, 5 per week, being paid to an unknown actor of zero credibility.4

CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISTRIBUTE“SHERLOCK HOLMES THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER – INFAMY CASE” BY LUKE OPENSHAWTHE GIRLFRIENDArnold had mentioned that it was his newly beloved girlfriend, Abigail York, who cameacross the advertisement in the newspaper. Couldn’t wish for a smarter and more optimisticpartner, who he met a few months ago Abigail York.WALSH HIGH-HOUSETHE HOUSEHolmes and Watson pay a visit to Arnold Walsh’s family home, a remarkable high-house(town house) in St’Johns London.MOTHER, FANNYHolmes and Watson meet the ILL MOTHER, FANNY WALSH, who is mumbling incoherently inher bed, devoid of eyesight, poor woman. Watson keeps the mother company and tries tomake head or tail of her MUMBLING.ABIGAIL YORKMeanwhile Holmes speaks with the girlfriend, Abigail York, who is a very charming, fond ofArnold and sad that his chance to show his acting talents and earn money could be a scam.Surely not she says, the theatre, play and money is all perfectly real and legitimate.Abigail was a strong supporter of Arnold’s talents and gave him the confidence to never giveup on his dream as well as showing great sympathy and help for his Mother. Abigail soonmoved into the high-house with Arnold and his mother where Abigail cared for his mother.Abigail is fully aware of Arnold’s lack of confidence in his ability as an actor, and she wasvery angry when she heard about Barry’s jealous attack on Arnold. She personal forbidsBarry from ever stepping foot in the house.Holmes notices SLIGHT WEARING AND DUST ON ABIGAIL’S DRESS KNEES. Suspicious. Shesays she has been on her hands and knees cleaning the large house up after messy motherand Arnold because he is always away on play rehearsals. A beautiful family home, been inthe Walsh family for five generations, but a nightmare to clean.5

CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISTRIBUTE“SHERLOCK HOLMES THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER – INFAMY CASE” BY LUKE OPENSHAWMOTHERS SYMPATHYWatson, sympathetically examines Arnold’s the frail mumbling mother, Fanny, and hearsher speak all manner of STRANGE PHRASES, seemingly gibberish, almost like a foreignlanguage. How very curious thinks Watson.UPSTAIRSAbigail allows Holmes to explore the impressive house, floor by floor. Remember, thesetypes of houses have many floors and are very narrow and tall.In the mid-level dining room Holmes finds spilt tea and MULTIPLE FACING TEA RINGS on thetable suggesting two people had been meeting here in private, away from Mother. Must beArnold and Abigail. Curious.Nothing else of interest here. Homes and Watson leave.THEATRETHE PLAYHolmes and Watson visit the West End Square Theatre (AKA The WES Theatre, or the WEST)and meet the 3 OTHER ACTORS rehearsing with Arnold Walsh, and the flamboyant director,JOHN SMITH.Smith’s play is an adaptation of Dorian Grey with Arnold in the title role of Dorian Grey. Theplay seems very authentic and real. When Holmes visits they are all very impressed andwhen Holmes speaks to each of the individually they are an interesting varying set ofpersonalities, showing off to Holmes.Holmes inquires and all seems normal, so leaves.There is a storage room with the actor’s non-performing cloths, luggage, scripts, wigs,costumes, packed lunches and newspapers.221BTHE NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTHolmes searches archives for a copy of the newspaper with the ACTING ADVERTISEMENTfor the specific role of Dorian Grey, which describes a very specific type of male actor andappearance is required for the lead role (that is a spitting image of Arnold).6

CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISTRIBUTE“SHERLOCK HOLMES THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER – INFAMY CASE” BY LUKE OPENSHAWLORDS CRICKET GROUNDTHE BEST FRIENDHolmes pays a visit to Arnold’s best friend BARRY HAMIL who works on the gates of LORDSCRICKET GROUND. Holmes questions Barry regarding the harsh opinion that Arnold is aterrible actor and should in no way have been cast in such a lavish well-paying play.Something must be up, a scam to make his friend look like a fool.Barry, as the gate man, has a BIG BUNCH OF KEYS.Barry comes across as an aggressive/jealous type, a big bully stuck guarding a gate andtaking tickets as opposed to living for his dreams like Arnold. Barry could quite easily beenvious of Arnold’s windfall luck.Barry says he didn’t mean to upset his friend but has always been honest with him, or so hesays. Barry even asks Holmes and Watson if they had even seen Arnold act!!! He is terrible,more like a comedy act!And so, with Abigail, the other actors and the Director swearing by Arnold’s performanceability and ‘potential to be great’, Holmes is faced with a simple deduction of Barry’s jealousgossip damaging the lucky and affable Arnold Walsh’s confidence. It seems that the case isover, with no more leads or mystery to solve.Watson keeps stating that there is no real case to be answered, because a crime was notcommitted against Arnold Walsh, and he was paid handsomely.221BNO CASEHolmes invites Arnold to 221B to conclude the investigation. Arnold is happy that Holmeshas concluded that Barry Hamil, the jealous friend, appears to be guilty of envy and a bullymanner perhaps, but there APPEARS TO BE NO SCAM.CUP OF TEAWhile present, MRS HUDSON, offers Arnold a cup of tea but ARNOLD SAYS HE DOES NOTDRINK TEA OR COFFEE, just water, because of his allergies. A simple thing that makesHolmes curious, because earlier he saw multiple fresh facing and counter-facing tea rings onthe table at the Walsh High-House.7