Sir Charles Baskerville of Baskerville Hall, located in the foreboding English moors, dies mysteriously. Local townfolk attribute the death to a longstanding curse that has followed the Baskerville family for 200 years: that a monstrous, supernatural hound roams the moors, waiting to attack the latest heir to the Baskerville estate. Holmes and Watson are brought in to solve the case. When they meet Sir Henry Baskerville (Charles's nephew who returned after living abroad) in London, Holmes makes note that one of Sir Henry's old boots has been stolen from his hotel room. Sir Henry also received a letter -- cut from newsprint -- warning him never to return to Baskerville Hall. Holmes instructs Watson to accompany Sir Henry back to Baskerville Hall and stay at his side. Holmes states that he will remain in London to begin the investigation, but his real plan is to hide in an old stone hut on the moor and make observations for there.
Suspects include Sir Henry's neighbors, the Stapletons and Mr. Frankland, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Barrymore, servants at Baskerville Hall. When Sir Henry receives a dinner invitation at the Stapletons' house, Holmes tells him and he and Watson have been called to London, and that Sir Henry should attend the dinner without them. When Sir Henry leaves the Stapleton dinner party, he must cross the moors at night -- alone. Holmes and Watson, hiding out all the while, follow Sir Henry across the moor. The hound attacks! Holmes shoots, and they see that the hound is no monster, but merely a large dog trained to attack at the scent of Sir Henry. Seeing a shadowy figure running away into the moor, they give chase in order to uncover the killer.
