The Valley of Fear: Stagecraft x 3

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Valley of Fear
Title: Stagecraft x 3
Author: spacemutineer
Rating: PG
Author's Note: This week's idea is based on repeated wording that caught my eye. I've been in a weird brain-space, so I wrote and rewrote and rewrote some more. Eventually I ended up with three complete 60s, each beginning the same but ending differently, and I thought I might as well post them all as an experiment. Next week, likely back to our regularly scheduled programming.


"Badly stage-managed" is what Holmes called Douglas' first death. The ring was missing, as were Mrs. Douglas' tears. Douglas' second death, the real one, he termed "well stage-managed", and it was, the set dressed perfectly in a driving gale on a distant shore. It was the work of a genius. In my life, I only witnessed such expert stagecraft twice.


"Badly stage-managed" is what Holmes called Douglas' first death. The ring was missing, as were Mrs. Douglas' tears. Douglas' second death, the real one, he termed "well stage-managed", and it was, set perfectly in a driving gale, convincing in every detail. The work of a genius. Holmes' own stagecraft never earned a mention. I've often wondered at his assessment.


"Badly stage-managed" is what Holmes called Douglas' first death. The ring was missing, as were Mrs. Douglas' tears. Douglas' second death, the real one, he termed "well stage-managed", and it was, set perfectly in a driving gale, the work of a genius. Holmes' own stagecraft never earned an assessment from him, although I think I know what he'd say.

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of Douglas stage managing his death twice; and Watson's comment in the first version.

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Douglas stage manages the first time he "dies", but Moriarty works the next one, poor guy.

I'm glad you liked it, thank you!

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

This is neat! I loved to compare the different versions and nuances in these three very intriguing texts, and all the further developments they hint at.

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Oh, good! It was a bit weird, so I wasn't sure how it would come off, but I'm glad you were intrigued! Thanks! :)

[methylviolet10b]

Fun experiment! I think I like the first version the best, but they're all intriguing.

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

The first one is my favorite as well, I admit. I can never resist a good Reichenbach reference. It's a hopeless addiction. ;)

[shadowycat.livejournal.com]

They're all excellent, but I think the second one flows the best. :D

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Why, thank you! It was fun to come up with different angles to take the same idea.

[debriswoman]

I am pleased you posted all three; interesting variations. I liked the first one best, I think, with the reference, I presume, to Holmes' own "stagecrafted" death.

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I can never resist a Reichenbach reference. :) Thank you for the kind words! This little experiment turned out well, I think -- it's been fun to hear which one different commenters prefer.

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all three. Favorite is number one but really, all are great and tomorrow, in a different mood, I might find two or three my favorite :P

What I want to know, how would Holmes know Douglas' second death was staged?

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you very much! I'll just go ahead and say all three are your favorite. ;)

Well, Holmes knew Moriarty was after Douglas, so when he turned up conveniently dead at sea, the implication seemed pretty clear to him, I think.

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

all three it is then! :-P

[tweedisgood.livejournal.com]

One for me: Reichenbach reference always tips it :-) But they are all interesting.