to offer to work or help
Enola Holmes · 2020 — Chapter 5 of 12 · 2'52" · B1
Enola Bluffs Her Way Into Basilwether, Explained: prepare the ground
A stranger walks into Basilwether claiming to work for Sherlock Holmes. The household is unmoved: "You do not know Sherlock Holmes," and the interrogation turns into a duel over who really knows him. Enola's defence is her competence, not her story.
What happens
Enola arrives at Basilwether posing as Sherlock Holmes's assistant. Sir Whimbrel sees through her and orders her out. When Inspector Lestrade turns up chasing the same case, the two outsiders argue about who truly knows the great detective, and the household ends the scene by throwing them both out.
Listen for
offer one's servicesprepare the groundthank you for having mea worthy opponent
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Phrase of the scene
prepare the ground
to do the groundwork in advance
伊诺拉解释自己是福尔摩斯的助手，被提前派来打点前站，为主子上门铺路。
The visit prepared the ground for a later deal.
Also in this scene
- offer one's services
to offer to work or help
- thank you for having me
a polite thanks when leaving a host
- a worthy opponent
an opponent equal in skill and worth taking seriously
Everything marked in this scene
20 notes across 54 lines
time clause with causative make
He sends me ahead of time to prepare the ground.to do the groundwork in advance
He sends me ahead of time to prepare the ground.sent along a widow to fleece his path.May have overthought my outfit.Widowhood doesn't impact on my ability to do my job.liaison
Widowhood doesn't impact on my ability to do my job.I'm sorry, but I've heard enough.Sherlock Holmes always works alone.He's changed his ways since you claim to have known him.since-clause with present perfect
He's changed his ways since you claim to have known him.liaison
Impossible. Ask me three questions about him.embedded question
He has proven useful, Mama.a polite thanks when leaving a host
Thank you for having me.liaison
How do you know Sherlock Holmes?an opponent equal in skill and worth taking seriously
But only with a worthy opponent.Enola Bluffs Her Way Into Basilwether, explained
What's really going on
The scene is a comedy of credentials. Enola has the skills but not the references, and Lestrade has the title but not the knowledge, so the argument becomes a quiz: tobacco, dessert, composer, favourite case. What is really being tested is not trivia but authority — who is allowed to be a detective. "Widowhood doesn't impact on my ability to do my job" is Enola's answer to being judged by her appearance, and it is the film's thesis in miniature. Lestrade's bluff collapses because he can repeat a name but not a single fact about the man; Enola, who has never been officially anyone, answers everything. The household's impatience — "I'm sorry, but I've heard enough" — is aimed at both of them, and the joke is that the two people fighting over the case are equally unwelcome.
Theme
IdentityEnola is judged by her widow's clothes and has to prove her skill against a titled man's bluff.
DeceptionShe invents an assistant's role and a connection to Sherlock that the household immediately doubts.
What you'll learn
- 'prepare the ground' carries more than its dictionary gloss.
- 'works alone' changes the pressure of the reply.
- The surrounding lines set the social temperature.
Listen for
- impact on — liaison
- Ask me three — liaison
- do you know — liaison
Widowhood doesn't impact on my ability to do my job.Enola's reply to being dismissed as a widow: her marital status has nothing to do with whether she can solve a case.
You do not know Sherlock Holmes.The household's challenge, aimed at Enola: her claim to know the detective does not survive a few questions.
I don't care if you're from the Houses of Parliament. Leave this house this...The lady of Basilwether ends the argument by cutting off Lestrade's official standing and ordering him out.
I'm sorry, but I've heard enough.The polite refusal to hear any more from the visitors, said just before the room is cleared.
Questions about this scene
Why does Enola pretend to be Sherlock's assistant?
It is her way in. She has the skills of a detective but no name or licence, so she borrows her brother's reputation to get through the door at Basilwether.
Is Lestrade really a friend of Sherlock Holmes?
He claims to be, but he cannot answer the simplest questions about him, so the film makes his friendship look like empty boasting and official standing.
What does 'prepare the ground' mean?
It means to do the groundwork in advance so that something can succeed later. Enola says Sherlock sends her ahead of time to prepare the ground for him.
Why is Enola thrown out of Basilwether?
The household sees both visitors as intruders — Enola as a fake and Lestrade as a nuisance. The lady of the house has them both leave.
Who wins the contest of questions?
Enola. She answers every question about Sherlock, while Lestrade can only assert that he knows him, which is why the scene treats her as the real detective.
Enola Holmes · 12 chapters
All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 6for better or worseA Talk of Power Over Tea
Chapter 1one's own companyEnola Confronts Her Brothers
Chapter 2unpickEnola Decodes Her Mother's Message
Chapter 3leave someone strandedEnola Hides on the Train
Chapter 4the game is afootSherlock and Mycroft Argue Over Enola
Watching · Chapter 5prepare the groundEnola Bluffs Her Way Into Basilwether
Chapter 6for better or worseA Talk of Power Over Tea
Chapter 7lead someone astrayEnola Meets the Dowager
Chapter 8do funny things to someoneTewkesbury Finds Enola's Hideout
Chapter 9fend for oneselfEnola at Miss Harrison's School
Chapter 10pick my brainsSherlock Visits Enola
Chapter 11see right through someoneEnola Sneaks into the Finishing School
Chapter 12right a wrongEnola and Tewkesbury Flee the SchoolChapter 5 of 12 · about 24 min to go