We open in Holmes and Watson finding Irene alive in the mansion Moriarty led Holmes to. Holmes screams Irene’s name then runs to her. They embrace but then Irene scratches Holmes. Then, they both start to cry and embrace again.
Shoot to a flashback, in London, a little over two years ago. Holmes meets Irene in her flat. He was referred to her to help a friend of his who “procures items” at auctions at Christie’s. Irene introduces herself then complements Holmes on the “symmetry” of his face. She then tells Holmes to tell his friend that the pictures he sent for her to look at aren’t originals. He asks if she’s sure. She then explains, in detail, why they are forgeries, explaining that the colors used weren’t the right hue, etc. Holmes then admires Irene’s restoration work. Holmes then points out, using his keen deductive reasoning, that Irene has given museums her forgeries of original paintings and kept the originals for herself. She explains she did so because the museum director wanted to alter imperfections in the paintings and when she said she wouldn’t because it would damage the paintings’ integrity, the museum director disagreed so she switched them. Holmes replies that he won’t turn her in if she spends the day with him. She agrees then says they “don’t need to leave this apartment to enjoy each other’s company.”
Shoot back to the present. Irene is in a hospital bed talking to a doctor while Holmes watches from outside the room. The doctor tells Irene that the year is 2013 but she replies that the man who held her captive told her differently. Meanwhile, Watson comes in with some coffee as they sit on a bench outside Irene’s room. “I’m here if you need to talk,” Watson tells Holmes, who just sits stoic watching Irene talk to the doctor. Then, Gregson arrives. Watson asks him if they found anything at the house where they found Irene. Gregson replies that Bell and other officers are going through it as they spoke. Then, the doctor comes out of Irene’s room. He tells Holmes that Irene is fine physically but she’s suffering from “severe post-traumatic stress.” Watson then asks what happened to Irene. The doctor replies that she doesn’t remember everything clearly “but she was abducted, moved from place to place. There were five that she told me about. And then she was subjected to advanced psychological pressure tactics. Seems that somebody set out to systematically destroy this young woman’s personality” and the doctor adds that he can’t give them a reason why. Watson then asks the doctor if Irene talked about “the people who took her?” The doctor replies that Irene said she only dealt with one person, who called himself Mr. Stapleton. He adds that this Mr. Stapleton played with Irene’s mind and left white peonies by her bed every night all that of his tactics were “designed to make Ms. Adler psychologically dependent” on him. Gregson then asks the doctor if Irene gave him a description of Mr. Stapleton. The doctor replies that Irene said he was “white, about five-ten” then the doctor showed Gregson and Watson Irene’s drawing of Mr. Stapleton. It looks like a perverse clown. He says the man wore a mask every time he spoke to Irene. The doctor then tells Holmes that he gave Irene a sedative and she needs to be in the psych hold of the hospital for a few days. Watson thanks the doctor. Holmes then says it was ‘weird” for the doctor to wonder why this happened to Irene and says it was because of him. He adds that Moriarty wanted him to believe Irene was dead and to mourn her, “get addicted to heroin” then as he inched towards recovery, “he sends her back to me. Well…part of her.” Holmes then wonders out loud how he didn’t know she was really alive. Watson then asks Gregson if she can be alone with Holmes and Gregson excuses himself. Watson then sits down next to Holmes and tells him that Irene can get better. Holmes replies that he’s going to help her all that he can. Watson then suggests going back the house where they find Irene to look for clues to her captor’s identity but Holmes says “I shan’t be consulting on Irene’s case,” that he needs to look after her and doesn’t think he’ll be of much use. Holmes then says Moriarty is smarter than him and has beaten him.
Shoot to three days later. Holmes and Watson take Irene to Holmes’ brownstone. They show Irene her room. Watson then gives her some clothes to wear. Then, Holmes goes into the kitchen to put on some tea. Watson follows and asks him how he thinks Irene is doing. He notes that she’s disoriented and asking questions about Moriarty. Watson then asks Holmes if he’s heard from Irene’s family yet. “The uncle who raised her died shortly before we met. Her brother was enjoying an extended adolescence in Thailand the last we’d heard of him,” Holmes replies. Watson then asks about their “plan.” Holmes replies that he’ll look after Irene. Watson says she wants to help in any way she can then asks Holmes if he even wants her around. Watson then adds that she can look for her own place but Holmes insists that the brownstone is her home and adds that they’ll figure things out as they go along. He then tells Watson that if she wants to help she can aid the police in finding those responsible for abducting Irene. Watson then reminds Holmes that she’s “never consulted without you before.” He replies that he’s confident that Gregson and Bell will help her. Watson then says, “I’m not your sober companion anymore but I know a relapse trigger when I see one” and asks Holmes if he’s talked to Alfredo, his sponsor. Holmes replies that there’s no need. He then tells Watson to go and investigate with Gregson and Bell.
Shoot to Watson and Gregson at the house. Gregson is surprised Holmes didn’t come too. Watson tells him that Holmes wants to take care of Irene. Watson tells Gregson that Holmes “is really thrown by all of this.” Gregson replies that he is too. He then asks Watson if she believes Moriarty is real. Watson replies that she does. Bell then appears also surprised not to see Holmes. He then says that they found the owner of the house but “he’s nine and lives in Austria. He’s never seen the place. He inherited it from his uncle when he was three years old.” Bell then adds that the house’s caretaker saw nothing suspicious. Bell says they didn’t find much in the house because Stapleton must have known they’d be coming. Watson then sees a jar of Gamboge, a yellow color paint. She says in the readings Holmes gives her as part of her detective training she learned that the components to make the color are found in “Southern Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand,” that it takes a long time harvest and is rare so the jar of it must be a brand. Watson guesses that only a handful of shops in New York carry a jar of that color and somebody had to buy it for Irene to paint. “If we find out where it came from, maybe we can find out who was watching her,” Watson suggests to Gregson and Bell.
Shoot to another flashback, in London, two years ago. Holmes finds Irene leaving her flat. She’s happy to see him. He mentions its been weeks since “their meeting turned interrogation turned sexual marathon” he mentions how memorable it was and how he’s been “politely but unmistakably rebuffed” for an encore ever since. Irene agrees their afternoon was “one of the most unique and memorable of my life. It can’t be repeated. We can try but that’s just a game of diminishing returns, isn’t it?” Irene asks Holmes. She then adds that she’d rather remember it the way it was. He finds her denying any further encounters in favor of preserving the original one interesting. Irene suggests Holmes try treasuring more things in life then she gives him a peck on the cheek and walks away. He follows her saying she isn’t boring. She replies that she tries not to be. Holms then offers her the promise of an “another entirely unique experience.” He adds that if she’s not worried about keeping her clothes clean, his suggestion “would fit the bill.” Irene stops and turns around, noticeably intrigued.
Shoot to Holmes and Irene exploring the tunnels under Camden Market with a flashlight. Holmes told Irene that a case brought him down there and he became convinced there are undocumented tunnels down there. Holmes finds a hidden tunnel and Irene cheeringly follows. They find a canal that Holmes says dates back to the Roman occupation of Britain. They find ancient prayer tablets. “They’re messages from Roman citizens to their G-ds,” Holmes tells Irene. He then notes that they are the only two people who know about them.
Shoot back to the present, at Holmes’ brownstone. Irene shrieks, “NO!!!” Holmes runs to her room. He finds her crying and saying that “Mr. Stapleton changed the rules again and he didn’t tell me. “ Then, she pushes Holmes away. Holmes moves to get Irene some water but she asks him to sit with her on the bed. She asks him how’s he’s been and what the last year and a half of his life has been like. She asks him why he moved to New York. He hears Watson come in and doesn’t answer Irene as he sees if Watson has learned anything. Watson asks Holmes how Irene is and he replies, “Maybe a hair better.” He then asks if Watson has learned anything. She tells him they’ve learned nothing. Then, Gregson calls Watson saying that the jar of Gamboge paint came from a specialty supply store.
Shoot to Bell and Gregson tracking down the man, Duane Proctor, who bought the jar of Gamboge paint but Irene doesn’t recognize him when they take Duane to the station for questioning. Duane also says he’s never heard of Moriarty, and that he bought the paint for his brother, Isaac, who disappeared after a policeman was shot at the house. Duane then says Isaac was asked for a favor for Moriarty. Irene doesn’t recognize Isaac either. After Irene and Holmes leave, Gregson tells Watson that the policeman, Detective Muldoon, was shot with modified weapons and that Isaac could have killed Muldoon but didn’t. Gregson then tells Watson that they’ll continue to dig into Isaac’s past for clues.
Shoot to Isaac in a hotel room. He gets a call from a man who asks him to run an errand for Moriarty that involves Holmes.
Shoot to another flashback, 22 months ago in London. Holmes is reading his files on a case to Irene in bed in her flat. The case is about “M.” Holmes is perplexed as to how “M” kills his victims, by hanging them on a tripod and draining their blood, as he looks at crime scene photos. Then, Holmes puts down the photos and kisses and talks to Irene about his supposed “rudeness” and her honesty. Holmes then comments that the birthmarks on Irene’s back resemble a certain constellation. As Irene’s getting dressed, Holmes asks her about her new project. He notes that her guest bedroom has been locked the last few times he’s stayed over so he’s deduced that’s where her new work is. He asks her if it’s an “Irene Adler original.” Holmes asks to see it and Irene replies that he’ll see it when it’s ready.
Shoot back to the present. Irene is watching television in Holmes’ brownstone. He asks her if he can get her anything. She says she’s fine and adds that having her there must be difficult for him. He reminds her that she’s the only one he’s ever empathized with. At hearing that word, she says he’s changed. Holmes then answers Irene’s previous question of what his life has been like. He reminds her how during their relationship, he “dabbled with the occasional narcotic. They were a hobby and…after your demise, they became…a good deal more than that.” He goes on to say he was “broken” and that the drugs helped him then they stopped helping when he couldn’t find who was responsible for her death. He adds that he’s going to try to make it up to her. Irene notes that Holmes says he “was broken” and that if he can fix himself, she has hope for herself. Irene then leaves Holmes alone to go to her room. Then, she screams. He runs to her room and sees her staring at a flower on her bed. Irene says that Stapleton was there and left it for her.
Shoot back to another flashback, in London, 21 months earlier. We hear Irene’s voice as Holmes exits a cab, pay the cabbie and heads to her flat. She explains in her message to him that her original work is finally ready for him to see. Irene says she’ll be out of town for a few days but will return that Friday and Holmes has “an exclusive invitation” to see it and that Holmes should meet her at her at her flat at 5:00. Holmes goes into Irene’s flat, champagne in hand, apologizing for being late but has “the most dazzling excuse.” Holmes then finds a large pool of blood and a note from “M” asking Holmes if he likes his work of art (the blood.)
Shoot back to the present. Holmes is taking Irene somewhere else to keep her safe. Irene notes that it’s an old garage but Holmes assures her that it’s more than that. As they look around, Holmes tells Irene that Moriarty can use her against him. He adds that she’s the strongest person he knows but next to Moriarty, she’s weak and because he (Holmes) cares for her, he’s weak as well. Holmes then says that is why he needs to let Irene go. He then says she needs to be sent far away to be truly safe from Moriarty and when Holmes has dealt with him, “I’ll come find you.” He then adds that “causing you additional hardship pains me to the core.” Irene then tells Holmes that she’s afraid and Holmes says he sees no other way to protect her. But, Irene replies, “What if I see another way?”
Shoot to the station. Bell is looking at a video of Isaac with Watson and Gregson. Bell then says that Isaac changed his appearance and how there’s no doubt he’s responsible for Irene’s abduction. Watson doesn’t understand Isaac’s motive for messing with Irene’s head, “He’s a professional not a psychopath,” Watson says to Gregson and Bell. Bell thinks Isaac is following orders. Gregson then asks Watson if she’s heard from Holmes. She says that she’s left him messages and texts but no answer. Then, another cop comes in and tells Gregson that Holmes is on the phone for him but when Gregson picks up no one is on the line. Meanwhile, Holmes texts Watson to meet him. Watson then excuses herself to get some coffee. She then meets Holmes in another part of the station. She asks him where Irene is and he tells her she’s safe. Watson asks about the secrecy. Holmes replies that he trusts Gregson and Bell but the fewer people who know his whereabouts the better given Moriarty’s reach. Watson then tells Holmes that they learned the “think tank” Isaac worked at was really a CIA front, that Isaac was really an interrogator working for them and his specialty was “psychological pressure tactics.” Holmes thinks Isaac is Stapleton and Watson agrees and says he was the one who left the flower on Irene’s bed, because he was caught doing so on one of Holmes’ security cameras. Watson also tells Holmes how he got into the brownstone, showing that he knew what room Irene was staying in. Watson asks Holmes how he could know that and if Moriarty has his own cameras in the brownstone. “Anything is possible,” Holmes replies. Watson wants to figure it out. Holmes then tells Watson that he’s leaving New York. He explains that he told Irene she had to disappear but she’d only do so if he’d accompany her. Holmes then tells Watson he came to say goodbye. Watson doesn’t understand and asks Holmes how long he’ll be gone. Holmes replies, “That’s difficult to say. “ He adds that if Watson can “dismantle Moriarty’s empire and ensure Irene’s safety, that would go a long way in expediting my return.” Watson then asks Holmes if he wants to go or does he think he owes Irene to go. “I don’t think I owe anything. I know it. Her life was ruined because of me,” Holmes replies. Watson insists that if they find Isaac it could lead them to Moriarty but Holmes moves to leave, saying his mind is made up. Watson then says that is what Moriarty wants “and if it’s what he wants, it’s a mistake.” Holmes hesitates but leaves anyway.
Shoot to Isaac going to a truck. The back of the truck opens, two men pull Isaac up and pat him down. Another man asks Isaac if he was followed. Isaac says he wasn’t. The man throws Isaac a set of keys, then says there is $30,000 and a burner cell phone in the glove compartment. He then tells Isaac to drive to Calgary and wait and that the next instructions he’ll get on the burner cell phone. Then, police sirens sound. Isaac pulls out a gun and kills the two men and then points the gun at the other man. Isaac pulls out another phone he found in the metal drum they were going to put his body in. Isaac then shoots the other man in the hand when he tells him Moriarty said he was sloppy for letting the cops find him. Isaac then mentions how Moriarty is obsessed with Holmes and doesn’t want him harmed but Isaac tells the man he’s still alive so he can tell Moriarty that Holmes is a dead man.
Shoot to Holmes returning to where he’s hiding Irene. It seems she’s just gotten out of the shower and tells him he didn’t think he’d take so long. Holmes then tells Irene about a Greyhound bus to Maine, that he has a friend there who can get them passports and that they’ll never be found. But, as Holmes explains his escape plans, he notices a missing mole on Irene’s back as she gets dressed. He then asks her, “How long have you been working for Moriarty?” She tells him he’s being paranoid but he says she’s had one of her birthmarks surgically removed. Then, Holmes grabs Irene and screams, “Was everything a lie?” Irene insists to Holmes that she never lied to him and he’s seeing things that aren’t there. He then tells Irene how Watson wondered how Isaac knew what room Irene was staying in the brownstone to leave the flower. “And now we know. Because you told Moriarty,” Holmes says as he pushes Irene away from him. Irene then says that Holmes is “inventing” a reason not to come with her because he doesn’t really want to. Irene then packs up and tells Holmes that she never wants to see him again.
Shoot to Holmes returning to the brownstone. He tears down all of Irene’s drawings. He then leaves a voicemail for Watson saying that his plans have changed and that he’s not going anywhere. He starts to tell Watson that he’s at the brownstone but he turns and is shot by Isaac. As Holmes writhes in pain on the floor, Isaac says he wasn’t supposed to see him shoot him. Homes tells Isaac that he was wondering when they would meet. Isaac starts to tell Holmes that they’ve met before when Holmes jumps up and starts going after Isaac with a crowbar. They struggle but an injured Holmes gets away and barricades himself in another room of the brownstone. Holmes then opens a window but sees it’s too far down to jump, especially injured. Meanwhile, Isaac starts shooting the door. Through the door, Isaac says he saw Holmes once before through a sniper scope. Holmes then asks Isaac, as he knocks down the door, why he didn’t kill him then. Isaac tells Holmes that Moriarty ordered him not to harm Holmes that day but “a few hours ago, she tried to have me killed. “She?” replies Holmes. Then, more gun shots are fired. Isaac is dead and it’s Irene who shot him! In a British accent, Irene says to an injure Holmes, who’s lying on the floor, “Bet now you wish you’d run away with me when you had the chance.” “Moriarty,” replies Holmes. She then tells him that he spoke to one of her lieutenants on the phone pretending to be Moriarty. As Irene rummages through Isaac’s pockets, Holmes asks her why she seduced him and then him think she’d been murdered? She replies that he interrupted some well -planned assassinations of hers when he was working at Scotland Yard. She goes on to say that she had planned to kill him but that she saw his intellect rivaled her own and it was “something too complicated and beautiful to destroy. So, I devised a way to study you…in your own environment.” She then adds that’s why she let him live. When he asks her why she resurfaced in New York, she tells him that she wanted to see how far he’d come in his recovery. He doesn’t believe her and thinks she resurfaced because he was close to “undermining another of your plots.” She replies that Holmes is a “game I’ll win every time.” Holmes then tells Irene that she should kill him because he plans to stop whatever her newest scheme is. “I would never kill you because you’re a work of art and I appreciate art,” chuckles Irene. She then promises to hurt Holmes, worse than she did before and tells him to let her win…for his own good. Then, she leaves
Shoot to Watson coming back to the brownstone some time later. Holmes is in a chair and tells Watson that he has much to tell her. Then, Watson takes out the bullet from Holmes’ shoulder while saying he should go to the hospital. He says there isn’t time but she insists he needs to be treated for the pain. He reminds her is a recovering drug addict and she replies that there are non-addictive painkillers. “If they’re non-addictive, how good can they be?” Holmes replies as he insists that he needs to be in top form to figure out Irene’s scheme. Watson then tells Holmes that she’s sorry about Moriarty/Irene. Holmes says that he found the truth quite “liberating” and that now he has the answers he’s sought for so long, he has “perfect clarity.” “You’ve never seen me with perfect clarity,” Holmes tells Watson.
Shoot to the morgue with Isaac’s body on the slab and Gregson questioning Holmes about Isaac shooting him. It seems Holmes has told Gregson that Irene is really Moriarty/Irene and she’s “some kind of mastermind.” Gregson says he’ll tell his people to be on the lookout for Irene Adler as an alias. Watson chimes in that she goes by Moriarty/Irene too but they might not be her real name either. Holmes then says her own crime at the moment is killing Isaac, who was trying to kill him. Gregson then asks Holmes where to look for her. Holmes says they need to know what she’s been doing in New York. Watson then reiterates about the speakeasy, Sutter being set up to kill the wrong man but that none of it adds up. Holmes notes that Irene…Moriarty rather, took Isaac’s phone and wallet. Holmes sees another cell phone belonging to another dead person. He notes that the phone was modified with an “open-source operating system.” Two of Moriarty/Irene’s other victims, Moran and Gottlieb, had similar cell phones. Holmes tells Gregson that the other dead men brought in worked for Moriarty/Irene but Gregson has his doubts until Holmes shows Gregson the same code is on both phones. Gregson breaks the code, which spells out “Macedonian Sun.” Holmes doesn’t know.
Shoot to Holmes pouring over Post-It notes with clues. Meanwhile, Gregson and Watson are watching him through a two-way mirror. Gregson is telling Watson how devastated Holmes must be after learning he was betrayed for so many years and refusing medical attention for a gunshot wound. “The NYPD doesn’t do vendettas,” Gregson tells Watson. Watson tells Gregson that she understands his concerns but she knows Holmes well enough that if he doesn’t work through this, he could relapse. Watson then promises Gregson that she’ll watch Holmes. Holmes then jumps up, turns and looks into the two-way mirror and says he knows what “Macedonian Sun” means.
Shoot to Holmes showing Watson and Gregson that the “Macedonian Sun” is a container ship licensed to operate out of the Port of New York and New Jersey. It’s part of an exporting company owned by Christos Theophilus. Gregson knows him by his nickname, “the Narwhal.” Holmes then says in the late 80s-early 90s Interpol thought he was a top maritime smuggler but he eluded them. Holmes adds that since then he’s reinvented himself as the head of this legitimate company. Watson then asks Holmes if he thinks “the Narwhal” is really working for Moriarty/Irene. Holmes says with all of his boats, he could move weaponry, whatever Moriarty/Irene wanted, undetected. Then, he says the boat is due to make port that very night.
Shoot to Bell, Holmes and Watson watching the port from a nearby car. Watson leaves the car to get food and coffee for Bell. Bell then asks Holmes how he’s doing given everything that’s happened. Holmes says it might be a good thing for him in the long run because he’s never had a “proper nemesis before. Quite looking forward to it. I imagine it to tremendously energizing.”
Shoot to night time as they watch the ship being unloaded. Bell says they haven’t seen anything unusual and they should go home. Holmes says he’ll stay watching alone. Then, Bell sees a car and a van drive up. “The Narwhal” gets out of the car and Holmes thinks he’s there to pick up the boat’s contents for Moriarty/Irene. Then, the cops show up and Bell tells everyone to put their hands up. “The Narwhal” says he doesn’t understand what they want. Bell orders the crates in the van be opened. He looks inside and shows Holmes and Watson that the crates are filled with animals.
Shoot to “The Narwhal” being questioned at the station. “The Narwhal” denies being a smuggler despite Bell pointing out how he was smuggling two lemurs into the country. “The Narwhal” says his daughter and her husband have become animal preservationists. “The Narwhal” insists he was saving them from poachers who would strip them for parts like an old car. “So, you’re running an underground railroad for endangered species?” Watson asks “The Narwhal.” Bell then asks “The Narwhal” if his daughter can corroborate his statement. He replies that she’s on vacation in Kenya but her husband can. Bell, Watson and Holmes leave “The Narwhal” as Bell says he’s going to call the local cops to speak to the husband while they’re on their way. Watson wants to check Holmes’ wound before they leave. Watson says the wound isn’t infected but doesn’t believe Holmes when he says his pain score from one to ten, is Pi, which is equal to 3.14… As Watson is patching Holmes up, she gets a call from Oren, her brother. He tells her that their mother slipped and fell but just bumped her head. He’s in a conference in Barcelona and was hoping Watson could check on her at Chandler Memorial hospital. Watson says she can and will call him when she gets there. Watson then says she’ll meet Holmes and Bell in an hour.
Shoot to the street as Moriarty/Irene intercepts Watson saying she called Oren so he’d call Watson and get her away from Holmes. Watson asks what Moriarty/Irene wants with her. Moriarty/Irene opens a car door and says she wants “the pleasure of your company of course.”
Shoot to Moriarty/Irene and Watson at a restaurant. Moriarty/Irene sees Watson isn’t afraid of her. Watson replies that she’s too angry to be afraid. Moriarty/Irene insists that she could kill Watson if she wanted to, even in a crowded restaurant, but that isn’t what she wants. Watson then asks why she’s there. Moriarty/Irene says she wants to know why Holmes has taken an interest in her. Moriarty/Irene then asks Watson why Holmes was questioning “The Narwhal.” Before she can answer, Moriarty/Irene gets a call. Moriarty/Irene tells Watson it’s “business,” pays the bill and gets up to leave. She then tells Watson to tell Holmes that she’ll only be in town a few more days. “After that, he can have his city back.” As she walks away, Watson says, “You’re afraid of him. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have gone to such trouble.” Moriarty/Irene replies that she’s afraid of what Holmes might force her to do. Then, Moriarty/Irene leaves the restaurant.
Shoot to Holmes and Bell questioning “The Narwhal’s” daughter, Alethea’s husband, in Westchester. He corroborates “The Narwhal’s” story. Holmes then tells the husband that he’s concerned for Alethea. Holmes finds it strange to undertake a Kenyan safari and leave your spouse behind. Holmes then begins searching the home. Holmes notes that Alethea left her “gear” behind and asks why. Holmes then finds a bunch of pills, a synthetic hormone used to treat thyroiditis. The prescription was filled a month ago but only 18 pills are left. Holmes then notes that Alethea failed to take her crucial medication for almost a week. “Where’s your wife, Mr. Lerberg?” Holmes asks. Lerberg then says a week ago two masked men broke into the house and took Alethea. He adds that “The Narwhal” told him the kidnappers contacted him and that he was handling it. “No cops or she’s dead,” Lerberg says. Bell then asks Lerberg about the two men. He says they were covered up but one guy’s sleeve rode up and he had tattoos in Cyrillic. Bell whispers to Holmes that they could be the guys in the morgue. Bell leaves to call Gregson. Holmes also sees a bottle of Vicodin in the cabinet. He puts it back then takes a call from Watson. He pauses and says, “What?”
Shoot to Holmes and Watson at the station. Holmes tells Watson that she shouldn’t have gotten into the car with Moriarty/Irene. They start to argue until Gregson ends it and says their both getting their old security detail until “this blows over.” Gregson then adds that “The Narwhal” made bail after they left but he’s not at his apartment and no one knows where he is. Holmes notes that he could have told them about Alethea’s kidnapping but didn’t. Gregson doesn’t understand why Moriarty/Irene is targeting “The Narwhal.” Holmes insists that there’s more to it than just Alethea’s kidnapping. Holmes then excuses himself. Watson follows and asks him if he’s okay. He insists that he is. Bell then tells them they tracked a new email account of “The Narwhal’s” with emails from the kidnappers. They also found a picture of a man Moriarty/Irene sent to “The Narwhal.”
Shoot to Moriarty/Irene, with a small bag “The Narwhal” in a park. She pushes the bag over to him. It has a handgun in it. He says he never handled a gun despite all his years of smuggling. He then looks at the picture of the man she sent him and tells him to think of Alethea. “The Narwhal” then asks for Moriarty/Irene’s word that she will release Alethea once he’s done what she’s asking. “Of course,” she replies. “Then, you have my word. This man and his family will be dead by tomorrow night,” “The Narwhal” answers back then gets up with the bag and leaves.
Shoot to Watson responding to Holmes screaming downstairs at the brownstone. He’s slamming his hand into his bullet wound. He tells her that he’s trying to stay awake through corporal punishment. He then tells Watson that he’s figured out Moriarty/Irene’s plan. He explains that the man in the photo is Andrej Bacera, his mother is a speaker of the Parliament for the Republic of Macedonia and a noted reformer and Bacera himself is a favorite in his homeland. Watson then asks why Moriarty/Irene is interested in them. Holmes explains that Bacera is a currently a vascular surgeon working in New York but serves as an unofficial diplomat when needed. He then points to the Republic of Macedonia on a map, noting it has a fledgling democracy and an applicant to the European Union, but its biggest obstacle is its ongoing dispute with neighboring country, Greece, over the name “Macedonia.” He explains Greece’s “chagrin” when Yugoslavia fell apart and formed a new nation, since that area is part of Greece. Holmes then shows Watson that Bacera’s mother recently brokered a compromise on Greece’s opposition to the Republic of Macedonia being admitted to the EU. They’ll just be called “The Republic of New Macedonia.” Watson doesn’t see why Moriarty/Irene would care. Holmes then says it about currency. He shows her a Macedonian denar. If the vote passes, the nation’s currency will switch to the euro making the denar worthless. Holmes then tells Watson a Swiss bank, under a large investor just bought a ton of denars. Watson doesn’t understand why someone would buy a ton of soon to be worthless currency. Holmes says they would if they plan to manipulate the vote and prevent “The Republic of New Macedonia” from joining the EU. So, Watson deduces that Moriarty/Irene kidnapped “The Narwhal’s” daughter to force him to kill Bacera so that the country’s currency stays the same and she makes a ton of money. “Nearly a billion dollars,” Holmes replies. “Let’s go stop this bi**h,” Watson answers back.
Shoot to the Bacera home. Gregson calls the Baceras to warn them that someone is coming to kill them. Gregson speaks to Jordan Conroy, the head of the Baceras’ security. Gregson briefs him on the situation. Conroy doesn’t believe Gregson.
Shoot to Conroy letting “The Narwhal” into the Baceras’ house. “The Narwhal” tells the Baceras to step outside. Bacera says he can have anything he wants but “The Narwhal” doesn’t listen. Bacera and his wife see that Conroy is with “The Narwhal” and has betrayed them. “The Narwhal” calls 911 and leaves a cryptic message with the operator before shooting Bacera and his wife. Then, Conroy texts Moriarty/Irene, then “The Narwhal” gets a call from Alethea saying she’s okay and was released. He says nothing and hangs up. He then says to Conroy, “Do it now please” and Conroy shoots “The Narwhal.”
Shoot to Conroy lying about how the Baceras were murdered and how “The Narwhal” died to Gregson and the other cops at the station. Then, Holmes bursts in and tells Gregson not to believe a word Conroy is saying. He asks Conroy how long he’s worked for Moriarty/Irene. Then, explains to Gregson that Conroy works for one of Moriarty/Irene’s shell corporations. Conroy denies Holmes’ allegations, which prompts Holmes to lunge at him. Holmes is restrained and Watson sees he’s bleeding, which means he ripped his stitches. She then tells him to calm down. Holmes tells Watson that he uncovered Moriarty/Irene’s plan but she still won. Watson tells Holmes that she convinced Gregson not to pull his credentials and vouched for him. Holmes still yells that three people died because of him. Holmes then tells Watson that he didn’t take that bottle of pills from Lerberg’s home because of her because he knew she’d be disappointed in him if he did. Watson then says that Holmes needed to let Moriarty/Irene win, so he wouldn’t be eaten alive. Watson then tells Holmes to let her win.
Shoot to Holmes going home to the brownstone. Bell chides for skipping out on his protective detail. Holmes ignores Bell’s scolding and says he’s going upstairs to shower. Holmes goes into the bathroom, turns on the water and sits down on the closed toilet seat.
Shoot to downstairs. Bell gets a call from Gregson that a drug dealer was mugged a half an hour ago and he said the mugger was British with his arm in a sling, just like Holmes. Bell then runs upstairs but the bathroom door is locked! Bell kicks down the door and finds Holmes on the floor, with a syringe next to him, he OD’d! Bell screams for the other cops to call an ambulance.
Shoot to Holmes in the hospital, recovering. Moriarty/Irene appears in his room. She asks him why he didn’t listen to her warnings. He laughs and says she asked to let her win. She says she didn’t want this and he asks her why she came. She says she wants to help him and asks his forgiveness. He replies that he’d rather she’d killed him. She says she knew her death would keep him occupied while she pursued other projects but I failed to “predict your descent into addiction.” She tells him that he’s the only one would can surprise her. “That’s why you love me, right?” Holmes replies. He then asks if she came to tell him that she loves him. She sits on the bed and tells Holmes that she’s leaving the country that evening and she wants Holmes to come with her. “You’re broken into pieces right now. I can put you back together,” she tells Holmes. Holmes then tells Moriarty/Irene that they’re the same, the made the same mistake, they fell in love. “It made us stupid.” Moriarty/Irene says she made nearly a billion dollars and doesn’t feel stupid. Holmes then tells Moriarty/Irene that Watson “diagnosed your condition earlier this evening. She realized the real reason you could never quite bring yourself to kill me. The reason you came back into my life. The reason you came here. That’s why she encouraged me to let you win. At least, make it look like you won.” “You faked the overdose,” Moriarty/Irene replies. Holmes says that he did and remains “drug-free.” Holmes then says that her repeated claims at having eyes and ears everywhere and that there are two people that can surprise her. Then, the door opens and Watson is standing there along with Gregson and Bell.
Shoot to Holmes outside in front of a huge bees’ nest. Watson appears saying Gregson just called her with a Moriarty/Irene update. She tells him his recording of their conversation at the hospital has her attorney “sweating bullets” and that they’re “treading lightly” since she admitted to using “The Narwhal” to kill the Baceras and the tons of Macedonian demurs she purchased have been frozen pending investigation. Holmes then admits that his nemesis has been defeated. Watson then asks if he needs a new one. Holmes and Watson then watch a new species of bee being born. Holmes then names the new species of bee after Watson. She then sits down with Holmes to watch the new bees being born.