Bit of a risk, wasn't it? You took me away under the noses of about half a dozen policemen - they're not that stupid. And Mrs. Hudson will remember you.
Call that a risk? Nah. This is a risk.
[sets a pill bottle from his pocket on the table between them. Sherlock frowns at the bottle, not understanding]
Oh, I like this bit. 'Cos you don't get it yet, do you? But you're about to. I just have to do... this!
[a second identical bottle is put on the table between them. Sherlock stares at both bottles.]
Weren't expecting that, were you? Oh, you are gonna love this.
Love what?
Sherlock Holmes! Look at you. Here in the flesh. That website of yours! Your fan told me about it.
My fan?
You are brilliant, you are - you are a proper genius. "The Science of Deduction". Now that's proper thinking. Now between you and me, sitting here, why can't people think? Doesn't it drive you mad? Why can't people just think?
Oh, I see. So you're a proper genius too.
Don't look it, do I? Funny little man, driving a cab. But you'll know better in a minute. Chances are, it will be the last thing you ever know.
[Sherlock's gaze lowers to the bottles on the table]
Okay, two bottles. Explain.
There's a good bottle and there's a bad bottle. Take a pill from the good bottle, you live. Take a pill from the bad bottle, you die.
Both bottles are, of course, identical.
In every way.
And you know which is which.
Course I know.
But I don't.
Wouldn't be a game if you knew. You're the one who chooses.
Why should I? I've got nothing to go on. What's in it for me?
I haven't told you the best bit yet. Whatever bottle you choose, I take the pill from the other one. And then together, we take our medicine.
[Sherlock stares at him, surprised.]
I won't cheat. It's your choice. I'll take whichever pill you don't. Didn't expect that, did you, Mr Holmes?
This is what you did? To all of them? You gave them a choice?
And now I'm giving it to you. Take a moment. Get yourself together. I want your best game.
It's not a game - it's chance.
I've played four times. I'm alive. It's not chance, Mr. Holmes. It's chess. It's a game of chess, with one move, and one survivor. And this - [moves one of the bottles towards Sherlock] is the move. Did I just give you the good bottle, or the bad bottle? You can choose either one. You've got to admit - as serial killers go, I'm verging on nice.
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