The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes

Holmes announces his retirement, and Watson plans to take the rooms full-time with his wife, who remains unseen in the film. Moriarty visits Holmes and congratulates the decision, hinting that he would have to 'take extreme measures' otherwise. The visit signals the coming clash between Holmes's quiet life and Moriarty's schemes.

Holmes leaves for Sussex soon after the visit, traveling with Mrs. Hudson. The move hints at a quieter life, but Moriarty's threat still looms. The departure marks the end of an era for Holmes at Baker Street.

Moriarty and his clerk Colonel Moran meet Ted Balding and lay out a plan to murder Mr. John Douglas of Birlstone Manor for fifty thousand dollars. Balding agrees to follow Moriarty's orders implicitly, leaving the dirty work in Moriarty's hands. The plot ties the American secret society to the Birlstone case.

Holmes receives a cryptic letter from his informant Porlock, containing scattered letters and the words DOUGLAS and BIRLSTONE. Using deductions and Whittaker's Almanac, Holmes and Watson realize something dangerous is about to happen to Douglas. The warning sharpens their focus on Birlstone.

Lestrade arrives to discuss a case and is stunned to learn that Douglas was horribly murdered the previous night. He sees the Birlstone papers and realizes the scale of the crime, confirming Holmes's suspicions about Moriarty's involvement.

Holmes bets Lestrade a beehive that Moriarty is involved, a nod to his bee-keeping hobby. Despite Watson's misgivings, they set off to Birlstone to investigate in person. The excursion marks the transition from deduction to direct pursuit.

They examine Douglas's body and note the sawed-off shotgun and the missing wedding ring. A brand on the arm points to the Scowrers, and Barker and Ettie are questioned as potential suspects. Holmes begins to see that the truth lies beyond the surface tale.

Holmes interrogates Barker and Mrs. Douglas; Ettie is evasive, but Holmes exposes inconsistencies in their stories. The tension grows as he hints at hidden motives tied to the Scowrers and Barker's feelings for Mrs. Douglas. He plans to test the couple's stories further in the tower that night.

Mrs. Douglas narrates a past sequence in which Barker is in love with her and Douglas's murder becomes plausible. The tale aligns with clues like the History of Birlstone and the missing wedding ring, guiding Holmes toward a deeper deception. The flashback deepens the mystery and exposes potential duplicity.

Holmes argues that the unlit candles and inconsistent timings undermine Barker's account, casting doubt on the entire alibi. He concludes that someone close to the case is lying, and orders Watson and Lestrade to accompany him to the tower that night for a final confrontation. The plan pivots on a decisive nighttime reveal.

Moriarty and Moran prepare to move to Birlstone Tower, believing Balding is hiding near the crime, ready to enact the next phase of the plot. They approach the tower with confident intent as Holmes narrows his net. The tension reaches a climactic point.

In the priest-hole of the tower, Holmes reveals the truth: Balding attacked Douglas with a knife, the weapon fell, and a misfired shot killed Douglas. Douglas had used the disguises to set Balding up as himself to escape the Scowers, keeping the wedding ring on as a symbol. Barker and Mrs. Douglas dispose of Balding's possessions in the moat, and Douglas congratulates Holmes on his deductions.

Moriarty arrives at the tower with Moran, determined to confront Holmes. He tries to strangle Holmes, but the others intervene as the stalemate grows dangerous. The confrontation pushes the pursuit toward its violent climax.

Holmes shoots Moriarty from the tower, sending him tumbling into the moat where he drowns. The villains' plan collapses, and Watson notes the length of the fall. Holmes calmly lights his pipe, marking the apparent Triumph of Sherlock Holmes.

With Moriarty defeated, Holmes reflects on the case's deductions and the 'Triumph of Sherlock Holmes.' The confrontation closes, and Holmes's genius is celebrated as the quiet, decisive victory settles over Birlstone.