Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror

Germany broadcasting,

Germany broadcasting.

People of Britain, greetings from the Third Reich.

This is the voice you have learned to fear.

This is the Voice of Terror.

Again, we bring you disaster, crushing humiliating disaster.

It is folly to stand against the mighty wraith of the Fuhrer.

Do you need more testimony of his invincible might

to bring you to your knees?

Very well.

Are you ready Operative Number 7?

This is the Voice of Terror.

The secret airplane factory somewhere in England.

Listen, screams of the dying can still be heard.

This is the Voice of Terror.

Are you there people of Britain shivering in your cellars?

Listen Operative 41.

The fuse is lighted.

Oil to fuel your Navy, to feed your tanks,

there it goes up in smoke by the millions of gallons.

This is the Voice of Terror.

Do you still believe that there are secrets unknown to the Fuhrer?

Listen, tonight at 7:10

an important diplomat boarded a train at a little station outside Liverpool.

Each split second is accounted for.

The rails divide,

the train hurtles through the air,

the diplomat will make no report in London.

This is the Voice of Terror.

Englishmen, do you still await your doom

in your stupid, stuffy little clubs?

It will come, I promise you.

Operative 23, the time is now.

We strike you on the high seas as well as on the land.

This is the Voice of Terror.

Englishmen, the Fuhrer strikes you now as he pleases.

Water pours through your greatest dams smashing everything before it,

even as our invincible armies roar toward their objectives.

"Despite the effective work done by the Intelligence Inner Council,

Jailing fifth columnists and saboteurs,

despite their efficiency in coordinating military strategy

based on information of enemy movements,

they seem unable to cope with the Voice of Terror.

"Already six military catastrophes have occurred."

The unmitigated nerve of the press.

Now they're attacking us.

Blast the fellow to kingdom come.

If only we could keep this insidious stuff off the air.

I'm not sure that I agree with you.

What purpose would that serve?

Well, the people wouldn't have to listen to it.

I've been talking to Crosbie, the radio technician,

if we want him jammed off the air Crosbie can do it.

I've been working along other lines.

I've asked Mr. Sherlock Holmes to come here.

- What? - Sherlock Holmes?

This isn't a case for a private detective. It's a matter of state.

In this emergency we should take advantage of everyone's peculiar gifts.

Mr. Holmes is the most subtle and extraordinary

private Investigator of our time.

Are you intimating that the army and navy intelligence plus Scotland Yard

are not equal to the occasion, Sir Evan?

I'm sure they're equal to any occasion.

They've done a marvelous job of lining up fifth columnists,

saboteurs, and keeping us informed of the enemy's movements.

But the Voice of Terror seems to have them stumped.

Sherlock Holmes may have a new approach that will solve the problem.

What's happened inside these walls has always been secret.

We don't want any outsiders here.

I'm positively and irrevocably opposed to calling in Sherlock Holmes.

Perhaps you'll change your mind.

I see nothing whatever to make me do so.

Prentiss is right.

For ordinary criminal investigation Holmes is excellent but not for this.

He's unorthodox and theatrical. I can tell you all about him.

Gentlemen,

perhaps I can throw some light on the subject myself.

Holmes, how are you? So good of you to come.

Good afternoon, Sir Evan.

Your card opened all doors.

Blauser,

you've put on a little weight since you left school.

You don't look any younger yourself, Dimples.

How are you?

Fine. Come in, would you.

You know these gentlemen?

I think so. How do you do?

I haven't had that pleasure.

May I introduce my friend and associate, Dr. Watson?

- Hello. - How do you do?

I'm afraid I've arrived at an embarrassing moment.

Not at all.

- This gentleman here... - Admiral Sir John Prentiss,

Admiral Prentiss objects most strongly to my being called in.

- How could you possibly infer that? - From the carpet.

Carpet?

A man who rises from his chair

and digs his heels sternly into the carpet is violently opposed to something,

and the Admiral being quite distressed by the criticisms of the Press

would be most apt to resent my intrusion.

Well.

You've just arrived from Seven Oaks.

Yes, of course. I...

How on earth did you know that?

Pardon my mentioning it but adhering to your left boot heel

is a type of clay known only in Seven Oaks.

An amazing piece of deduction.

Elementary, my dear Barham.

Here's a broadcast of the Voice of Terror.

Greetings from the Third Reich.

Are you listening stout fellows across The Channel?

Are you listening you little body of incompetent men

known as the Inner Council?

Today a new thrill,

a new proof of the invincibility of the Fuhrer.

Right now a packed express train laden with British troops and nurses

is speeding across England.

In just one moment it will leave the rails forever,

crashing twisted metal, the cries of the dying...

They can't, they wouldn't dare.

It's impossible. They couldn't have...

men are laughing, joking.

That one in the third car reads a letter from home.

It is the last letter he will ever receive.

The train is rounding a curve.

Its whistle is screaming.

Farewell it is saying, farewell.

You have just heard an exact reproduction of the way it sounds,

the way it must actually be.

The hearts of the German people bleed

that innocent men and women have to be killed

because your stupid...

Shore speaking.

Have you any news of the Liverpool Express?

Time and time again offered in peace.

But if you're blundering war cabinet cannot see that England is already lost,

that it is our sacred German duty to prove it to them

over and over and over

until they are on their knees begging, pleading, groveling

for the exquisite mercy of our Fuhrer.

Each night the Voice of Terror will announce...

Shut it off.

Stop it.

Even as you listen and you...

I'm sorry.

Do what you can, Holmes.

This frightful thing has got to be stopped.

His son was on that train.

How did they find out about the troops?

It was an absolute secret.

Gentlemen, something must be done about this thing at once.

Yes.

First of all then, the voice must not be blocked off the air.

But he's a menace.

All over the empire this horrible news is broadcast,

blown up out of all proportions.

The world is beginning to believe it.

Even our allies are counting England out.

People are frightened, panicking.

The British people are not so easily panicked.

It's dangerous I tell you to let this thing go on.

Dangerous, yes, Captain Shore,

but we must continue to listen.

What for, so that we can keep on guessing who it is?

His identity is not important.

The important thing is

the purpose behind this campaign of terror.

The purpose indeed.

Isn't it enough that our most secret plans are known,

our ships are being destroyed, our trains wrecked?

I'm convinced that these disasters are only a prelude,

a smoke screen,

to cover up a more diabolic plan,

and I intend to find out what that plan is.

This Council and Scotland Yard will give you all the aide you require.

Thank you.

Gentlemen, my connection with this case must remain absolutely secret.

- You understand that, of course? - Why certainly.

You will let the council know at all times just what you're doing.

I shall give you such information as I think wise to disclose

in the interests of safety,

both the public's and your own.

The Inner Council has never shared its secrets with anyone.

I demand that you keep us informed of your activities and progress.

Come along, Watson.

Mr. Holmes,

I want to apologize for your rather lukewarm reception here.

Well, thank you, Sir Evan.

I'm used to the chilly atmosphere of high places.

- Of course, you recognize the importance of time. - Quite.

And results.

Mr. Lloyd, I'm quite sure that Mr. Holmes can be trusted not to fail.

He never has, you know.

Why thank you, Watson. The word is seldom.

- Good-bye, Sir Evan. - Good-bye, sir.

- Good-bye, Barham. - Good-bye, Watson.

Holmes, should we walk from here or take a taxi?

I'm afraid we have no choice.

Huh?

You know, Watson,