Justin Playfair is an eminent
judge who retreats into
fantasy after his wife's death, imagining himself to be
Sherlock Holmes, the legendary fictional detective. Complete with
deerstalker hat, pipe and violin, he spends his days in a homemade criminal laboratory obsessing over plots hatched by his (Holmes's) archenemy,
Professor Moriarty, and pursuing clues throughout the city. Justin's brother Blevins tries to commit Justin to a mental institution run by his friend Dr. Strauss so he can get
power of attorney and control Justin's finances. The criminal to whom Blevins owes money is more than willing to get it by killing Justin so Blevins can inherit. Psychiatrist Dr. Mildred Watson's signature is needed on the commitment papers. She insists on doing a proper interview and is immediately fascinated by Justin, who demonstrates a knack for
what Holmes describes as "deduction" (technically better categorized as
abductive reasoning) as well as for hand-to-hand combat. He walks out of the institution during the ensuing confusion, and Watson comes to his home to attempt treatment. Justin is initially dismissive of Watson's attempts to
psychoanalyze him. He knows Justin Playfair, who tried to make the world the kind of place it might have been and went mad. “I am not that man,” he declares, and tests his logic on her with a scathing analysis of her lonely life, down to the fact that her suit is 10 years old. But when he hears her name, he enthusiastically incorporates her into his life as
Doctor Watson, the sidekick to his Holmes. Watson accepts the role of “chronicler”. They begin an enigmatic quest for Moriarty, following all manner of bizarre and (to Watson) unintelligible clues and encountering a rich tapestry of people in assorted urban situations. Eventually he takes her to Wilbur Peabody, who thinks Dr. Watson is deluded until she identifies herself. He has known Justin for more than 30 years. She leaves Justin there. The next morning, Wilbur wakes Justin, who fell asleep reading about himself in
Who's Who. He asks Wilbur which is his life, since he has no memories. Wilbur wishes he were the
Scarlet Pimpernel. Watson rushes in declaring that Blevins wants Justin's money. They'll find Moriarty first and then deal with his brother. Justin is energized: “I'm very glad you're here. I like you very much.” At an abandoned building, they find an older couple who retired from the world in 1939 to grow magnificent topiaries. The crook and his henchman appear. Holmes and Watson escape by different exits. They are to meet as prearranged at Watson's small apartment at 7 pm. Holmes arrives late, by the fire escape, bearing flowers. Watson is wearing a white organdy dress with short puff sleeves and a pink satin sash. Her dinner preparations have been disastrous. They have a drink and he talks about going out together after this is over. She agrees. They are dancing when a bullet smashes the window, grazing his forehead and knocking him to the floor. Distraught, she calls him “my Holmes.” The two head to the midnight rendezvous with Moriarty. Wilbur and the other fascinating people they met earlier join in a brisk parade past New York City landmarks. They stop by a kiosk covering a manhole. He tells his friends that Earth is shining under the soot. He takes Watson's hand and they descend into a tunnel. The others do not follow. A giant supermarket is a dead end. Then Watson comes up with their next stop, the Riding School just off Central Park. She means to walk with him. She is not afraid. They express their love for each other, and Holmes hears Moriarty coming, on horseback. Watson hears nothing—and then she does, and we do, the sound of hoofbeats approaching from the darkness beneath a bridge. They hold hands. The camera zooms in and a bright light shines on and around them, growing brighter until it almost fills the screen. ==Cast==