The Big Sleep 1946, MGM, Directed by Howard Hawks Screenplay by William Faulkner DOOR KNOCKER READS Sternwood MARLOWE My name is Marlowe. General Sternwood wanted to see me. NORRIS Yes, Mr. Marlowe. Will you come in, please, sir? I'll tell the General that you're here. MARLOWE Thank you. (to Carmen) Good morning. CARMEN You're not very tall, are you? MARLOWE Well, I try to be. CARMEN Not bad. You probably know it. MARLOWE Thank you. CARMEN What's your name? MARLOWE Reilly, Doghouse Reilly. CARMEN (laughing) That's a funny kind of name. MARLOWE Do you think so? CARMEN Ah huh. What are you, a prizefighter? MARLOWE No. I'm a shamus. CARMEN What's a shamus? MARLOWE A private detective. CARMEN You're making fun of me. MARLOWE Uhuh. CARMEN You're cute. NORRIS The General will see you now, sir. MARLOWE Uh, who's that? NORRIS Miss Carmen Sternwood, sir. MARLOWE You ought to wean her. She's old enough. NORRIS Yes, sir. (to General Sternwood) This is Mr. Marlowe, General. MARLOWE How do you do, sir? GEN. STERNWOOD Sit down. MARLOWE Thank you. GEN. STERNWOOD Brandy, Norris. How do you like your brandy, sir? MARLOWE In a glass. GEN. STERNWOOD I used to like mine with champagne. The champagne cold as Valley Forge and with about three ponies of brandy under it. Oh, come, come, man. Pour a decent one. I like to see people drink. That'll do, Norris. You may take off your coat, sir. MARLOWE Thank you. GEN. STERNWOOD It's too hot in here for any men who has blood in his vein. You may smoke, too. I can still enjoy the smell of it. Hum, nice state of affair a man who has to indulge his vices by proxy. You're looking, sir, at a very dull survival of a very gaudy life, crippled, paralyzed in both legs, barely I eat and my sleep is so near waking it's hardly worth a name. I seem to exist largely on heat like a new born spider. MARLOWE Yeah. GEN. STERNWOOD The orchids are an excuse for the heat. You like orchids? MARLOWE Not particularly. GEN. STERNWOOD Nasty things. That flesh is too much like the flesh of men. Their perfume has a rotten sweetness of corruption. Mmm... Tell me about yourself, Mr. Marlowe. MARLOWE There's not much to tell. I'm thirty-eight. I went to college. I can still speak English when my business demands it. I used to work for the District Attorney's office. It was Bernie Ohls, Chief Inspector, who sent a word you wanted to see me. GEN. STERNWOOD You didn't like working for the District Attorney, eh? MARLOWE (laughing) I was fired for insubordination. I seem to rate pretty high on that. GEN. STERNWOOD I always did myself. What do you know about my family, Mr. Marlowe? MARLOWE You're a widower, a millionaire, have two young daughters. One unmarried, one married a couple of years ago to a man named Rutledge but it didn't take. Both living with you and both... GEN. STERNWOOD Go on, sir. MARLOWE Both pretty and both pretty wild. What did you want to see me about? GEN. STERNWOOD I'm being blackmailed again. MARLOWE Again? GEN. STERNWOOD About a year ago I paid a man named Joe Brody five thousand dollars to let my younger daughter alone. MARLOWE Mm. GEN. STERNWOOD What does that mean? MARLOWE (laughing) It means "Mm." It didn't go through the District Attorney's office, or I'd have heard about it. Who handled it for you? GEN. STERNWOOD Shawn Regan. MARLOWE Shawn Regan. There must be some reason why he isn't handling it this time. What is it? GEN. STERNWOOD Shawn has left me. MARLOWE I thought I hadn't seen him around lately. GEN. STERNWOOD About a month ago, without a word. I had no claim on him. I was only his employer. But I had hoped he'd come to regard me as something more than that. At least he would have said, "goodbye." That was what hurt. You knew him, too? MARLOWE Yes. In old days, when he used to run rum out of Mexico, I was on the other side. We used to swap shots between drinks or drinks between shots, which ever you like. GEN. STERNWOOD (laughing) My respects to you, sir. Few men ever swap more than one shot with Shawn Regan. He commanded a brigade in the Irish Republican Army.. You knew that. MARLOWE No, I didn't. GEN. STERNWOOD Oh. MARLOWE But I knew he was a good man at whatever he did. Nobody was more pleased than I when I heard you had taken him on as your... whatever he was. GEN. STERNWOOD My friend, my son almost. (laughing) Many an hour he sat here with me, sweating like a pig, drinking the brandy I could no longer drink, telling stories of the Irish revolution. No, enough of that. Here. MARLOWE (reads)Mr. Arthur Gwynn Geiger. Rare books and... GEN. STERNWOOD Read the other side. CARD READS Dear Sir, In spite of the uncollectibility of the enclosed, which frankly are gambling debts, I assume you might wish them honored. Respectfully, A.G.Geiger MARLOWE Mmm... Respectfully... These are her signatures? GEN. STERNWOOD Yes. MARLOWE Who's Arthur Gwynn Geiger? GEN. STERNWOOD I haven't the faintest idea. MARLOWE Did you ask her? GEN. STERNWOOD No, and I don't intend to. If I did she'd just suck her thumb and look coy. MARLOWE Yeah. I met her in the hall and she did that at me. Then she tried to sit down in my lap when I was standing up. GEN. STERNWOOD Well? MARLOWE Your other daughter, Mrs. Rutledge, is she mixed up in this? GEN. STERNWOOD No. MARLOWE They are alike, they run around together? GEN. STERNWOOD They are alike only having the same corrupt blood. Vivian is spoiled, exacting, smart, and ruthless. Carmen is still a little child who likes to pull the wings off flies. I assume they have all the usual vices, besides those they've invented for themselves. If I seem a bit sinister as a parent, Mr. Marlowe, it's because my whole darn life is too slight to include any Victorian hypocrisy. I need hardly add that any man who lives as I've had and who indulges for the first time in parenthood at my age deserves all he gets. Well? MARLOWE Pay him. GEN. STERNWOOD Why? MARLOWE Because she signed these notes, didn't she? GEN. STERNWOOD : Yes. MARLOWE Who's this Joe Brody you paid the five thousand dollars to? GEN. STERNWOOD I can't recall. My butler, Norris would know. I think he called himself a gambler. MARLOWE Like it says, these are gambling debts. GEN. STERNWOOD They may be. MARLOWE Think they are. GEN. STERNWOOD No. MARLOWE I guess you want me to take this Geiger off your back. Is that right? GEN. STERNWOOD Yes. MARLOWE You wanna know anything, or just get rid of him? GEN. STERNWOOD I just wanna get rid of him. MARLOWE It might cost you a little. GEN. STERNWOOD (shrugs) MARLOWE Thanks for the drink, General. GEN. STERNWOOD I enjoyed your drink as much as you did, sir. MARLOWE You'll hear from me. GEN. STERNWOOD Good luck. NORRIS Oh, Mr. Marlowe. Mrs. Rutledge would like to see you before you leave, sir. And about the money, the General has instructed me to give you a check for whatever you require. MARLOWE Instructed you how? NORRIS Oh, I see, sir. I, I forget you are a detective. By the way he rang his bell, sir. MARLOWE Oh. You write his checks? NORRIS I have that privilege. MARLOWE Good for you. I don't need any money now. When I do, I get twenty-five dollars a day and expenses. NORRIS Yes, sir. MARLOWE How did Mrs. Rutledge know I was here? NORRIS She saw you through the window, sir, and I was obliged to tell her who you were. MARLOWE I don't know that I like that. NORRIS Are you attempting to tell me my duty, sir? MARLOWE No. Just having fun trying to guess what they are. NORRIS This way, sir. Go right in, sir. You are expected. MARLOWE Thanks. (to Vivian) You wanted to see me? VIVIAN So you're a private detective. I didn't know they existed except in books, or else they were greasy little men snooping around hotel corridors. My, you're a mess, aren't you? MARLOWE I'm not very tall, either. Next time I'll come on stilts, wear a white tie, carry a tennis racket. VIVIAN I doubt even that would help. Now this business of Dad's, you think you can handle it for him? MARLOWE It shouldn't be too tough. VIVIAN Really. I would have thought a case like that took a little effort. MARLOWE Not too much. VIVIAN What will your first step be? MARLOWE The usual one. VIVIAN I didn't know there was a usual one. MARLOWE Oh, sure there is. It comes complete with diagrams on Page forty- seven of "How to be a Detective in Ten Easy Lessons", correspondence school textbook, and your father offered me a drink. VIVIAN You must have read another one on how to be a comedian. MARLOWE Hear what I said about the drink? VIVIAN I'm quite serious, Mr. Marlowe. My father is not... MARLOWE I said your father... VIVIAN Help yourself! Now look, Mr. Marlowe. My father is not well, and I want this case handled with the least possible worry to him. MARLOWE That's just the way I was going to handle it. VIVIAN I see. No professional secrets. MARLOWE No. VIVIAN I thought you wanted a drink. MARLOWE I changed my mind. VIVIAN Then what... How did you like Dad? MARLOWE I liked him. VIVIAN He liked Shawn, Shawn Regan. I suppose you know who he is? MARLOWE Mm-hum. VIVIAN You don't have to play poker with me, Mr. Marlowe. Dad wants to find him, doesn't he? MARLOWE Do you? VIVIAN Of course I do! It wasn't right for him to go off like that. Broke Dad's heart, although he won't say much about it. Or did he? MARLOWE Why don't you ask him? VIVIAN I don't see what there is to be cagey about, Mr. Marlowe. And I don't like your manners. MARLOWE Well I'm not crazy about yours. I didn't ask to see you. I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like it myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings. And I don't mind your ritzing me, or drinking your lunch out of a bottle. But don't waste your time trying to cross- examine me. VIVIAN People don't talk to me like that. MARLOWE Oh! VIVIAN Do you always think you can handle people like trained seals? MARLOWE Ah huh. I usually get away with it, too. VIVIAN How nice for you! MARLOWE Just what is it you're afraid of? VIVIAN Dad didn't wanna see you about Shawn at all, did he? MARLOWE Didn't he? VIVIAN Could you find him if Dad wanted you to? MARLOWE Maybe. When did he go? VIVIAN About a month back. He just drove off one afternoon without saying a word. They found his car parked in some private garage. MARLOWE They? Who's they? VIVIAN Dad didn't tell you then. MARLOWE Oh, yes. He told me about Regan. But that's not what he wanted to see me about. That's what you have been trying to get me to say, isn't it? VIVIAN I'm sure I don't care what you say, Mr. Marlowe. MARLOWE I'm wasting your time. Goodbye, Mrs. Rutledge. (to Norris) Oh, Norris. You made a mistake. Mrs. Rutledge didn't want to see me. NORRIS I'm sorry, sir. I make many mistakes. SIGN READS HOLLYWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY LIBRARIAN You find what you wanted? MARLOWE Yes. Thanks. LIBRARIAN You know, you don't look like a man who would be interested in first editions. MARLOWE I collect blondes in bottles, too. MARLOWE Uh... AGNES Can I be of any assistance? MARLOWE Uh, yes. Would you happen to have a Ben Hur eighteen sixty? AGNES Of what? MARLOWE Would you happen to have a Ben Hur eighteen sixty? AGNES Oh. A first edition? MARLOWE No, no, no, no, no. Third, third, the one with the erratum on page one-sixteen. AGNES I'm afraid not. MARLOWE How about a Chevalier Audubon eighteen forty the full set of course? AGNES Not at the moment. MARLOWE You do sell books, humm? AGNES What do those look like, grape fruit? MARLOWE Of course from here they look like books. Maybe I'd better see Mr. Geiger. AGNES He's not in just now. MARLOWE That's a pity because I... AGNES I said Mr. Geiger is not in. MARLOWE I heard you. You shouldn't yell at me. Now I'm already late for my lecture on Argentine cera-micks. I guess I won't wait. AGNES The word is cerAMics. And they ain't Argentine. They are Egyptian. MARLOWE You did sell a book once, didn't you? Well, I guess I'll run along to the public library or I could go to that bookstore across the street, couldn't I, humm? AGNES Do so. MARLOWE Thank you. PROPRIETRESS Something I can do for you? MARLOWE Would you do me a very small favor? PROPRIETRESS I don't know. It depends on the favor. MARLOWE You know Geiger's bookstore across the street? PROPRIETRESS I think I may have passed it. MARLOWE You know Geiger by sight? PROPRIETRESS Well, I... MARLOWE What does he look like? PROPRIETRESS Wouldn't it be easy enough to go across the street and ask to see him. MARLOWE I've already done that. PROPRIETRESS Oh. MARLOWE Know anything about rare books? PROPRIETRESS You could try me. MARLOWE Would you happen to have a Ben Hur, eighteen sixty, Third Edition, with the duplicated line on page one-sixteen? ...Or a Chevalier Audubon eighteen forty? PROPRIETRESS Nobody would. There isn't one. MARLOWE The girl in Geiger's bookstore didn't know that. PROPRIETRESS Oh, I, I see. You begin to interest me, vaguely. MARLOWE Uh, I'm a private dick on a case. Perhaps I'm asking too much. Although it doesn't seem too much to me somehow. PROPRIETRESS Well, Geiger is in his early forties, medium height, fattish, soft all over, a Charlie Chan moustache, well dressed, wears a black hat, affects a knowledge of antiques and hasn't any. Oh yes, I think his left eye is glass. MARLOWE You'd make a good cop. PROPRIETRESS Thanks. You're gonna wait for him to come out? MARLOWE Yeah. PROPRIETRESS They don't close for another hour or so. It's raining pretty hard. MARLOWE I got my car. That's right. It is, isn't it? You know, it just happened I got a bottle of pretty good rum in my pocket. I'd rather get wet in here. PROPRIETRESS Well. It looks like we're closed for the rest of afternoon. Tell me more about this business. MARLOWE Uh, there isn't much to tell. I... PROPRIETRESS What's the matter? MARLOWE Just wondering if you have to... PROPRIETRESS Oh. Not necessary. MARLOWE I don't think like that making a... Hello! PROPRIETRESS Hello... I hate to tell you but that's Geiger's car driving up. MARLOWE Who's the man getting out? PROPRIETRESS Geiger's shadow. His name is Carol Lundgren. MARLOWE Well, thanks. PROPRIETRESS If you ever want to buy a book... MARLOWE A Ben Hur eighteen-sixty... PROPRIETRESS With duplications. So long. MARLOWE So long, pal. STREET SIGN READS Laverne Terrace CARMEN (screaming) CARMEN You're cute. MARLOWE You're higher than a kite. Come on. Wake up. CARMEN I know you. Doghouse Reilly. You're cute. MARLOWE What do you know about this? CARMEN What? MARLOWE Mr. Geiger here on the floor. CARMEN He's cute, too. MARLOWE Look, you've got a dead man lying right under your feet. How did it happen? CARMEN You talk a lot, Reilly. Yak, yak, yak. MARLOWE Come on. Come on. Lie down there and be quiet. CARMEN All right, Reilly. MARLOWE Come on. Get going. NORRIS Good evening, sir. MARLOWE Good evening, Norris. I'd like to see General Sternwood. NORRIS He's asleep, sir. MARLOWE No. Well, what about Mrs. Rutledge? Is she... NORRIS Yes. MARLOWE Oh. Good evening, Mrs. Rutledge. VIVIAN Hello. MARLOWE I got your sister outside. She's all right but she's not walking very well. I'll need some help. VIVIAN Look. Are you sure that she's going to... MARLOWE She should be all right in the morning. VIVIAN Did you do this? MARLOWE That? Oh, yes. That's a little special service I always provide all my clients. VIVIAN Including being insolent. Where did you find her? MARLOWE I didn't find her. VIVIAN Well, how did you... MARLOWE I haven't been here. You haven't seen me. She hasn't been out of this house all evening. VIVIAN That bad? MARLOWE Uh huh. VIVIAN Just what did happen, Mr. Marlowe? MARLOWE You're pretty fond of your sister, aren't you? VIVIAN Yes, I am. MARLOWE Anything for her, wouldn't you? VIVIAN Anything. MARLOWE And drop this whole thing. VIVIAN But, I still think I should know what... MARLOWE Ah ah. Don't even ask her. VIVIAN She never remembers anyway. MARLOWE Just what did she forget about Shawn Regan? VIVIAN What did she tell you? MARLOWE Mm-hum. Not half as much as you just did. Take it easy. I don't slap so good around this time of evening. VIVIAN You go too far, Marlowe. MARLOWE Woo, those are harsh words to throw at a man. Especially when he's walking out of your bedroom. Good night, Mrs. Rutledge. (to Norris) Thanks, Norris. NORRIS I put her car away, sir. MARLOWE That's fine. Anybody asks if she's been in all evening, forget about my being here. NORRIS I understand, sir. May I call a cab for you, sir? MARLOWE That'll be better if you didn't. I'll be all right. NORRIS Good night, sir. SIGN READS Philip Marlowe, Private Investigator MARLOWE Oh, hello, Bernie. Come on in. OHLS Hello, Phil. MARLOWE Don't you ever go to bed? OHLS What you been doing? MARLOWE Just sitting around. OHLS All evening? MARLOWE Yeah. What is it? OHLS Does it have to be something? MARLOWE No. You're a friend of mine. When a man from the Homicide Squad just drops in at two o'clock in the morning, I kind of... OHLS Working on cipher, huh? MARLOWE Just fooling around. OHLS You're also working for the Sternwoods, aren't you? MARLOWE Yeah. Thanks to you. OHLS Done anything for them yet? MARLOWE I just started this afternoon and the rain came. OHLS All right. They seem to be a family that things happen to. There's a big Packard belonging to one of them is washing around in the surf off Lido pier. MARLOWE Mmm. OHLS I almost forgot there's a guy in it. MARLOWE Couldn't it be Regan, could it? OHLS Who? MARLOWE Shawn Regan. OHLS You mean that Irish ex-legger old Sternwood hired to do his drinking for him. MARLOWE Yeah. OHLS What would he be doing down there? MARLOWE What would anybody be doing down there? OHLS That's what I'm going to Lido to find out. Do you wanna come along? MARLOWE Yeah, I do. How's the weather? OHLS Clearing up. MARLOWE What time did that call come in? OHLS About fifteen minutes ago. MARLOWE What kind of car did you say it was? OHLS Packard. UNIFORMED DEPUTY Hello, Bernie. OHLS Hi, Ed. I see you got him up. Who is he? UNIFORMED DEPUTY His name is Owen Taylor, General Sternwood's chauffeur according to his driver's license. OHLS What's the story? UNIFORMED DEPUTY You can see most of it from here. Went through the railings. It must have hit it pretty hard. The rain stopped down here about nine P.M. The broken ends of the rails are dry inside. That would put it about nine-thirty. MAN Slow down. OHLS All right, Doc. Let's have it. MEDICAL EXAMINER His neck was broken. Something hit him hard across the left temple. OHLS What made the bruise? Steering wheel? MEDICAL EXAMINER Mm-Mmm. Whatever it was, it was covered. Because the wound had already bled under the skin while he was still alive. MARLOWE A blackjack? MEDICAL EXAMINER Could be. PLAINCLOTHESMAN Hey, Bernie. The funny thing is the hand-throttle of the car was set halfway down. OHLS Thanks, Jim. So long, Doc. MEDICAL EXAMINER All right, boys. Take him away. Yes, sir. OHLS Could be drunk or suicide. MARLOWE Know what it is? Do you know anything about this Owen Taylor? OHLS Only two or three for the Sternwoods' chauffeur he lost his job and kind of younger daughter Carmen. MARLOWE Mmm. OHLS You've gotta tell me what you're working on, Phil. MARLOWE They told me blackmail. OHLS Are they after Carmen? MARLOWE Yeah. OHLS It doesn't look like the way you handle it. MARLOWE You know, I got a feeling... Me? I didn't do this. OHLS What are you gonna say, Phil? MARLOWE Give me another day, Bernie. I might have some for you. OHLS Okay. Let's go home. MARLOWE Good morning. VIVIAN So you do get up. I was beginning to think perhaps you work in bed like Marcel Pullst. MARLOWE Who's he? VIVIAN You wouldn't know him. A French writer. MARLOWE Come into my boudoir. VIVIAN You don't put on much of a front, do you? MARLOWE There isn't much money in this business if you're honest. VIVIAN Are you honest? MARLOWE Are we gonna start that again? VIVIAN I'm sorry. Also about yesterday, perhaps, I was rude. MARLOWE We were both rude. You wanna see me about Taylor? VIVIAN So you know about that. Poor Owen. MARLOWE Yeah. The D.A.'s man took me down to Lido last night. Turned out he know more about it than I did. For instance, he knew Owen Taylor wanted to marry your sister once. VIVIAN Perhaps it wouldn't have been such a bad idea. You see, he was in love with her. But I didn't come here about Owen. I... Do you still feel you can't tell me what my father wants you to do? MARLOWE Not without his permission. VIVIAN You can't even tell me if it was about Carmen? MARLOWE No. VIVIAN You'd better look at this. A messenger brought it this morning. MARLOWE Eight-thirty-five? VIVIAN That's right. MARLOWE It takes a nice picture. VIVIAN They want five thousand for the negative and the rest of the prints. MARLOWE The demand came how? VIVIAN A woman telephoned me shortly after this thing was delivered. MARLOWE What else was there? VIVIAN Does there have to be something else? MARLOWE This thing isn't worth five thousand dollars to anybody. VIVIAN They think it is. MARLOWE Why? VIVIAN The woman said if they didn't get the money today, I'd be talking to my sister through a wire screen. She said there was a police jam connected with it. MARLOWE What kind of a jam? VIVIAN I don't know. MARLOWE Do you know where this picture was taken? VIVIAN I haven't the slightest idea. MARLOWE When? VIVIAN No. MARLOWE Did you talk to Carmen about it? VIVIAN She was asleep when I left. MARLOWE You figured out the story? VIVIAN Norris fixed that. MARLOWE How? VIVIAN She was in all evening. The police already checked that when they called about Owen. MARLOWE Go ahead and scratch. What was Owen doing with your car last night? VIVIAN Nobody knows. He took it without permission. Why? Do you think that... MARLOWE He knew about this picture? I don't rule him out. Outside of what the woman said, you don't know any reasons why they want five thousand dollars for it. VIVIAN That's why I came to you. MARLOWE Usually, five fingers are any glove. Why don't you go to the police? VIVIAN Because I thought of... MARLOWE You're afraid I might turn up something I couldn't sit on and then where would the Sternwoods be? Isn't that right? VIVIAN May I use your phone, Mr. Marlowe? VIVIAN Hello. Police headquarter, please. This is Mrs... MARLOWE Hello. What do you want, please? SERGEANT (over phone) You called me. MARLOWE What? SERGEANT (over phone) You called me. MARLOWE I called you? SERGEANT (over phone) Right. MARLOWE Who is this? SERGEANT (over phone) Sergeant Reilly at Headquarter. MARLOWE Sergeant Reilly? There isn't Sergeant Reilly here. SERGEANT (over phone) I know. (in inaudible voice) MARLOWE Wait a minute. You've gotta talk to my mother. SERGEANT (over phone) I don't wanna talk to your mother. Why should I wanna talk to your mother? She didn't call me... VIVIAN Hello. Who's this? SERGEANT (over phone) This is the police. VIVIAN The police. This is no police station. SERGEANT (over phone) I know that. VIVIAN If you know, why did you... Look! This is not a police station. SERGEANT (in inaudible voice over phone) VIVIAN What was that you said? SERGEANT (in inaudible voice over phone) VIVIAN My father should hear this. SERGEANT : (over phone) I don't wanna talk to your father and his mother. MARLOWE Hello. Who is this? SERGEANT (over phone) This is the police talking. MARLOWE Well, she just told you that... SERGEANT (over phone) ...ain't the police. MARLOWE You're the police. So he's the police. Oh, that's different. What can I do for you? SERGEANT (in inaudible voice over phone) MARLOWE I can do what? Where? Oh, no. I wouldn't like that. Neither would my daughter. I hope the Sergeant never traces that call. VIVIAN You like to play games, don't you? MARLOWE Mm-Hum. VIVIAN Why did you stop me phoning? MARLOWE Because I'm working for your father. VIVIAN Or? MARLOWE Or because I think I'm beginning to like another one of the Sternwoods. VIVIAN I prefer the second reason. MARLOWE Let's get back to business. Have you got five thousand dollars in cash? VIVIAN No. MARLOWE Can you get it? VIVIAN I think so. MARLOWE Where from, your father? VIVIAN I'd rather not. MARLOWE Where would you get it? VIVIAN Well, Eddie Mars. MARLOWE The gambler? Oh, that explains why you haven't got five thousand dollars in cash. VIVIAN I like gambling. MARLOWE So do I. How do you know he would give it to you? VIVIAN Oh, I can get the money. I've been a good customer of Eddie Mars. Another reason, there's a bond between Mr. Mars and the Sternwoods. You see, Shawn Regan ran off with Eddie's wife. It doesn't interest you? MARLOWE It might make it easy for me to find him. That is why I'm looking for him. Is Regan mixed up in this? VIVIAN No. Shawn is not in any cheap blackmailing scheme. MARLOWE I'm glad you said that. You wanna tell me now? VIVIAN Tell you what? MARLOWE What is it you're trying to find out? The funny thing, you're trying to find out what your father hired me to find out. I'm trying to find out why you wanna find out. VIVIAN You could go on forever, couldn't you? Anyway it'll give us something to talk about the next time we meet. MARLOWE One other thing, Mrs. Rutledge. You wanted me to do something about this, didn't you? VIVIAN Mm-Hum. MARLOWE That woman called. How did you leave it? VIVIAN She'd call me back at six this evening with instructions. MARLOWE Would you phone me as soon as you've heard from her? VIVIAN All right. MARLOWE Mrs. Rutledge, or you're gonna pay five grand for the rest of these you'd better take this one with you. VIVIAN Goodbye, Mr. Marlowe. MARLOWE It wasn't intentional. VIVIAN Try it sometimes. MARLOWE Well, I'm back again. Remember me? AGNES I'm afraid I... MARLOWE Remember me now, hum? AGNES Now, see. What's the big idea? MARLOWE Take it easy, sister. That was only a stall about the first edition. AGNES What do you... MARLOWE I have something to sell, something Geiger wanted for a long time. Is Geiger in? AGNES No. No, he isn't. You might come back tomorrow. MARLOWE Not the..., sister. I have a business myself. I haven't got all day. Is he sick? I can go to his house. AGNES No. That wouldn't do. Perhaps you come back tomorrow and I... LUNDGREN Say, Agnes, you... BRODY Come on, Carol. LUNDGREN Hurry up, will you? AGNES Perhaps you come back... MARLOWE His name is Lundgren, isn't it? AGNES Just what do you want? MARLOWE Who's the other guy? AGNES You'd better come around tomorrow. MARLOWE In the morning, early? AGNES Yes, Early. MARLOWE But it looks like you're moving today. (to cabby) All right, driver. Let's go. CABBY Okay. MARLOWE Around the corner. Then take it easy. CABBY Where are we going? MARLOWE Follow a car. Tail job. CABBY I'm your girl, bud. MARLOWE You bet. That's the station wagon coming out of the alley. That's the one. MARLOWE Here you are, sugar. Buy yourself a cigar. CABBY But you can use me again sometime. Call this number. MARLOWE Day and night? CABBY Ah, night's better. I work during the day. CARMEN What, What are you... MARLOWE Remember me? I'm Doghouse Reilly, the man didn't grow very tall. CARMEN (laughing a little) MARLOWE What's the matter? Couldn't you get in the house. Come on. I've got the key. Where did you leave your car? CARMEN Around the back. MARLOWE Looking for something? CARMEN I don't... MARLOWE How much do you remember about last night? CARMEN Remember what? I was sick last night. I was home. MARLOWE I mean, before you went home. In that chair there. CARMEN Oh, I... MARLOWE You remember all right. Quit your stalling and stop biting your thumb. CARMEN You were the one who was here last night? MARLOWE How much do you remember? CARMEN Well, I... Are you the police? MARLOWE No. I'm a friend of your father's. Who killed Geiger? CARMEN I... Who else knows about it? MARLOWE That he is dead. I don't know. Certainly not the cops, or they'd be camping here. Joe Brody? CARMEN Joe Brody? Who's he? MARLOWE Now look, sister. I don't know how much trouble you are used to, but I hope you've had plenty of practice dodging it. Did Brody kill him? CARMEN Kill who? MARLOWE Uh. CARMEN Yes. Yes. Joe did it. MARLOWE He did? Why? CARMEN I don't know. MARLOWE But you're all ready to tell the police he did it, huh? That is, if we can get the photograph he's got. CARMEN You mean... MARLOWE Oh, yes. It's gone. I looked for it last night. Brody took it with him. CARMEN I've got to go home now. MARLOWE All right. But I wouldn't say anything to the police about Brody just yet. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't say anything about anything. As you were ever here last night or today. Not even to your sister. Just leave it to Reilly. CARMEN Your name isn't Reilly. MARS Excuse the casual entrance. The bell didn't answer. Is Mr. Geiger around? MARLOWE No. We don't know just where he is. We found the door open and we just stepped in. MARS Friends of his? MARLOWE Business. We dropped in for a book. But we missed him. MARS Any message if he comes back? MARLOWE No. I don't think so. We won't bother you. MARS Just a minute. The girl can go. I'd like to talk to you for... MARLOWE I suppose I don't wanna talk to you. MARS I've got two boys outside in the car. MARLOWE Oh. It's like that, eh. Mm-hum. Run along, angel. MARS Your story didn't sound quite right. MARLOWE Oh, that's too bad. You've got a better one? MARS Maybe I can find one. Blood. Quite a lot of blood. MARLOWE Is that so? MARS You mind? MARLOWE No. I'm used to it. MARS I think I let the police get on this. We'll have some law. MARLOWE Why not? MARS Who are you, soldier? MARLOWE Marlowe's my name. I'm a private detective. MARS Who's the girl? MARLOWE A client of mine. Geiger's trying to throw a loop on her. We came up here to talk things over. MARS Convenient. The door being open when you didn't have a key. MARLOWE Yeah. Wasn't it? By the way, how did you happen to have one? MARS Is that any of your business? MARLOWE I could make it my business. MARS And I could make your business mine. MARLOWE You wouldn't like it. The pay's too small. MARS All right. I own this house. Geiger is my tenant. Now what do you think of it? MARLOWE You know some nice people. MARS I take them as they come. Got any good ideas, soldier? MARLOWE One or two. Somebody gunned Geiger. Somebody got gunned by Geiger, who ran away. Or he had meat for dinner and likes to do his butchering in the parlor. I don't like it, either. You'd better call your friends downtown. MARS I don't get it. I don't get your game here. MARLOWE Don't you, Mr. Mars? MARS One thing, you didn't ask me who I was. You seem to be telling me Geiger was in a racket of some kind. MARLOWE Ah huh. MARS What racket? MARLOWE I wouldn't know. I'm not his landlord. And I'll tell you something else you missed. Somebody cleaned out the back of Geiger's store today. MARS You know, you talk too much. MARLOWE You've really got those boys outside? MARS Open the door. MARLOWE Open it yourself. I've already got a client. MARS All right, boys. I'm just proving something. Now you're here. Look him over. MARLOWE Pardon me? MARS Who is he? MAR'S BOY1 Philip Marlowe. Hoverdam, Franklin street, special license, deputy badge and all. MARS All right. Outside. MAR'S BOY2 A shamus. MARLOWE The man said outside. MAR'S BOY2 He said that. That's what the man said. He said that. MAR'S BOY1 He kills it. MARLOWE Is he any good? MARS Who? Sydney? He's company for Pete. All right. Now you talk. MARLOWE Not to you. I told you I already got a client. MARS Who was it cleaned out the back of Geiger's store? MARLOWE That's the weather we're having. Rain over Las Olindas? MARS I might even make it worth your while to talk to me. MARLOWE I might even make it worth yours. What do you care who cleaned out the back of Geiger's store? MARS I could make you talk. MARLOWE It's been tried. MARS And. MARLOWE Why don't you call the cops like you said you would? MARS I think you'd better get out here. MARLOWE Oh, by the way, how's Mrs. Mars these days? MARS You take chances, Marlowe. MARLOWE I get paid to. MARLOWE Yeah. VIVIAN (over the phone) Marlowe? MARLOWE Oh, hello, Mrs. Rutledge. I've been waiting to hear from you. VIVIAN (over the phone) I'm sorry. I have nothing to tell. MARLOWE Oh. She didn't call, eh? VIVIAN (over the phone) No, she didn't. MARLOWE Well, did you get the money in case she does? VIVIAN (over the phone) Yes. I have the money. I'll get touch with you just as soon as she calls. MARLOWE Uh huh. All right. I'll stay right here until you call. (to Brody) Geiger? BRODY You said what? MARLOWE Geiger. Arthur Gwynne Geiger. The fellow with the blackmail racket. BRODY I don't know anybody by that name. MARLOWE You're Joe Brody? BRODY So what? MARLOWE So you're Joe Brody and you don't know anybody named Geiger. That's very funny. BRODY So you've got a funny sense of humor, maybe. Take it away and play it somewhere else. MARLOWE Joe. You got Geiger's stuff. I got his sucker list. Don't you think we ought to talk things over? Now! BRODY All right. If you think you got something. MARLOWE You alone, Joe? BRODY Yeah. Except for this. MARLOWE Except... My, my, my. Such a lot of guns around town, and so few brains. You know, you're the second guy I've met today who seems to think a gat in the hand means the world by the tail. Put it down, Joe. The other guy's name is Eddie Mars. You ever hear of him? BRODY No. MARLOWE If he ever gets wise to where you were last night in the rain, you'll hear of him. BRODY What would I be to Eddie Mars? MARLOWE I don't know if you don't. BRODY Look. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a tough guy, just careful. MARLOWE But you're not careful enough, Joe. That play with Geiger's stuff was terrible. I saw that, you know. BRODY Don't kid yourself. I will use it if I have to. What's your story? MARLOWE Why don't you ask your friends with pointing toes to come out of there? She must have gotten awfully tired of holding her breath. BRODY Come on out, Agnes. MARLOWE Hello, sugar. AGNES I knew you were trouble. I told Joe... MARLOWE Ask Mrs. Rutledge to come out, too. VIVIAN What did you come up here for? MARLOWE Why did you lie to me on the telephone? VIVIAN I don't need you, Marlowe. BRODY Just what is this? VIVIAN Keep out of this. I don't know how you got here, but I don't want you. Will you get out? MARLOWE But the man with the gun won't let me. Look at him. He's all curious and bothered, wondering about stuff. BRODY You bet I'm wondering about stuff. I'm gonna find out about it. All right. Sit down. VIVIAN Stop waving that gun around. I didn't have anything to do with him coming up here. BRODY How did he... VIVIAN Can't you talk without pointing the gun? MARLOWE Don't argue with the man. Do as he says. Sit down. VIVIAN Marlowe, you're ruining everything... MARLOWE I'm not ruining anything. You just... BRODY Hey, look! What are you up here for? MARLOWE To keep her from paying you off and take the cops off your neck. I'm not... BRODY What cops? MARLOWE The cops that wanna find out where all that lead in Geiger's body came from. Look, Joe. You shot Geiger. VIVIAN I didn't know that... MARLOWE The cops don't yet. The trouble is he wasn't alone when he shot him. Either you didn't notice that and I think you did. You got scared and ran away. But you had nerve enough to take the film out of the camera, and you had nerve enough to come back later and hide the body. AGNES You're crazy. Joe... BRODY Shut up. MARLOWE So you could clean out Geiger's store before the law knew it had a murder to investigate. BRODY You take chances, mister. It's lucky for you I didn't shoot Geiger. MARLOWE But you can step off for it, just the same, Joe. You made the order for the rap. BRODY You think you've got me framed. MARLOWE Positive. BRODY How come? MARLOWE Because somebody will tell it that way. I told you there was a witness. Now don't go simple on me, Joe. BRODY You mean, Carmen. She what? She'd say anything. MARLOWE So you have got that picture. BRODY I guess you think I'm dumb. MARLOWE Just average for a grafter. You see, Joe, I think you were there last night and you got the picture from somebody who was there. You know Carmen was there because you had your girl friend here threatened Mrs. Rutledge with the police. Are there only way you could have known enough to do that, is by being there and seeing what happened. Or having the picture knowing when and where it was taken. That makes sense, doesn't it? BRODY Who are you? And what do you get out of this? MARLOWE Just a guy paid to do other people's laundry. And all I get out of it is that picture. BRODY : How about a little dough? I got a nickel. MARLOWE Not from my client. BRODY But... MARLOWE Get the picture, Joe. BRODY Stay right there. Here. Watch him. Take it easy, Carmen. CARMEN I want my picture, Joe. BRODY Now listen. I... CARMEN I want my picture. AGNES Shot Geiger. No... MARLOWE Hold it! Get up, angel. You look like Pekinese. Now since I'm collecting guns. Sit down, sugar. Now let's see, where were we? Oh, yes. You were just about to get something. Better not be any more prints. BRODY They won't be. CARMEN Can I have my picture now? MARLOWE No. CARMEN Can I have my gun back? MARLOWE Later. CARMEN You're cute. I like you. MARLOWE What you see is nothing. I had a barony's dancing girl tattooed across my chest. You'd better take her home. VIVIAN I suppose I should thank you. MARLOWE No. Just don't lie to me next time. VIVIAN Come on, Carmen. MARLOWE Hold it, Joe. You got off easy, Joe. AGNES Hum. MARLOWE What's the matter, sugar? AGNES He gives me a pain in my... BRODY That goes with me, too. Well, now you got your picture, get out. MARLOWE Where did he give you a thing? AGNES Right in my... BRODY Look! Get out! MARLOWE Not yet. We got a few things to straighten out. BRODY I told you to get out. AGNES Go on, Joe. What difference does it make now? MARLOWE Why did you put...on Mrs. Rutledge? BRODY Hurray. I tapped the old man once six to seven months ago. I figured it might have worked twice. MARLOWE What made you think Mrs. Rutledge wouldn't tell him about it? BRODY How well do you know her? MARLOWE We'll pass that. BRODY Well, she gets around. I figured she might have a thing or two she wouldn't want the old man to know. MARLOWE That's a little weak. But we'll pass that, too. Say, Joe. How did you get that picture? BRODY Look! You got what you came for and you got it cheap. I don't know anything about the picture. Do I, Agnes? MARLOWE But, Joe, you just gave me the picture. AGNES No. I have a smart guy. That's what I always draw. Never once a man who's smart all the way around the course. Never once. MARLOWE I hurt you much, Sugar? AGNES You'll be every other men I've ever met. MARLOWE Say, Joe. Where did you get that picture? BRODY It fell out of somebody's pocket. MARLOWE You got an alibi for last night? BRODY I was right here with Agnes. AGNES Ha! MARLOWE That's a great witness. Okay, Joe. You can only die once, even for a couple of murders. BRODY Wait a minute. What do you mean, a couple of murders? MARLOWE I mean two murders. Where were you about seven-thirty last night? BRODY Well, I... MARLOWE Where were you? BRODY All right. I was watching Geiger's place. MARLOWE Why? BRODY Get something on him. MARLOWE Try looking at me while you're talking? BRODY It was raining hard when I was sitting in my car. There was a car parked out front and another parked way down the hill. I was in the back. MARLOWE Who else was back there? BRODY Nobody. It was a big Packard near where I was. So I took a look at it. Those registered to the Sternwoods. MARLOWE Then? BRODY Well, nothing happened. So I got tired of waiting and went home. MARLOWE Mm-hum. Do you know where the Packard is now? BRODY How should I? MARLOWE In the Sheriff's garage. It was fished out of twelve feet of water off Lido pier early this morning. There was a dead man in it. He'd been sapped and the car was pointed toward the end of the pier and the hand throttle pulled out. BRODY Well, you can't pin that on me. MARLOWE I can make an awful good try. BRODY Well, I... MARLOWE Sit down, Joe. You see, the dead man was Owen Taylor, Sternwood's chauffeur. He went up to Geiger's place because he was sweet on Carmen and he didn't like the kind of game Geiger was playing. He let himself in the back way with a jimmy and he had a gun. And the gun went off, as gun's will Geiger fell down dead. Owen ran away taking the film with him. You went after him and got it. How else did you get it? BRODY All right. All right. I heard the shots and slamming down the back steps and the Packard run away. MARLOWE Yeah. BRODY I followed him. He turned west on Sunset and beyond Beverly he skidded off the road and came to a stop. So I came up and played copper. He had a gun and he was rattled. So I sapped him down. I figured the film might be worth something, so I took it. That's the last I saw of him. MARLOWE Mm-hum. So you left an unconscious man in a car way out in Beverly some place. You want me to believe somebody conveniently came along, ran that car all that way down to the ocean, pushed it off the pier and then came back and hid Geiger's body. BRODY Well, I didn't... MARLOWE Somebody did. You wanted time to take over. BRODY You can't prove I did it. MARLOWE I don't particularly want to. All I wanna do is find out what Geiger had on the Sternwoods. BRODY Well, then. Maybe you and I can make a little deal. MARLOWE Go ahead. BRODY (clearing his throat) MARLOWE Ah ah. BRODY Maybe she's back. MARLOWE If she is, she hasn't got her gun. AGNES (screams) MARLOWE You got a match, bud? What would it be, kid, me or the cops? LUNDGREN What do you want? MARLOWE Get in that car. Back of the wheel. You drive. As soon as this police car goes by, we're going to Geiger's house. Oh, by the way, Carol, you shot the wrong guy. Brody didn't kill Geiger. Let's go. You got the key. Let's go in. LUNDGREN Who said I got the key? MARLOWE Come on. Come on. Maybe you need this. OHLS (over phone) Hello? MARLOWE Hello, Bernie? OHLS (over phone) Yeah. This is who I think it is? MARLOWE Yes, it's Marlowe. How you fixed for red points? OHLS (over phone) I haven't got any. MARLOWE Who has? The reason I asked was I got some cold meat set out might interest you. OHLS (over phone) What are you talking about? MARLOWE You boys find a gun on Owen Taylor when you fished him out of the drink last night? OHLS (over phone) It come on to the heading of the police business. MARLOWE Yeah, I know. It come on to the heading of the police business. But if they did, it three empty shells in it. OHLS (over phone) How do you know? MARLOWE You come up to seven-two-four-four Laverne Terrace off road Canyon Road. I'll show you where the slugs went. OHLS (over phone) I'll be right out. MARLOWE I'll be waiting for you. OHLS What did you hide Geiger's body for? You admit shooting Brody, do you? LUNDGREN Take a jump, Jack. MARLOWE He doesn't have to admit it. Here's his gun. OHLS Come on. VIVIAN Hello. MARLOWE Well. VIVIAN I'm late. I'm sorry. MARLOWE How are you today? VIVIAN Better than last night. MARLOWE I can agree on that. VIVIAN Hello, Max. WAITER Good afternoon, Mrs. Rutledge. VIVIAN You got a table for us. WAITER Certainly, madam. This way, please. VIVIAN I'll have scotch... WAITER Yes, sir. MARLOWE Scotch and plain water. WAITER Yes, sir. MARLOWE How did you happen to pick out this place? VIVIAN Maybe I wanted to hold your hand. MARLOWE Oh. That could be arranged. What did you wanna see me about? VIVIAN Well, one thing, my father was very pleased when he saw the morning paper. So was I. MARLOWE Yes. We were lucky. I managed to keep the Sternwoods out of it. VIVIAN He hopes you didn't involve yourself too deeply. MARLOWE You tell him it was no fault of yours? VIVIAN No. He asked me to give you a check. MARLOWE I don't need any money yet. VIVIAN He considers the case closed? MARLOWE Oh? VIVIAN It is, isn't it? MARLOWE As far as Geiger's concerned, yes. VIVIAN Then it's completely closed. I hope this is satisfactory. MARLOWE Five hundred! Woo, that's a lot more than I expected but welcome just the same. VIVIAN I'm very grateful to you, Mr. Marlowe. I'm very glad it's all over. Tell me, uh, what do you usually do when you're not working? MARLOWE Mm. Play the horses, fool around. VIVIAN No women? MARLOWE Well, I'm generally working on something most of the time. VIVIAN Would that be stressed to include me? MARLOWE I like you. I told you that before. VIVIAN I liked hearing you say it. MARLOWE Mm. VIVIAN But you didn't do much about it. MARLOWE Neither did you. VIVIAN Well, speaking of horses, I like to play them myself. But I'd like to see them work out a little first to see if they are front runners or come from behind, find out what's their whole card is, what makes them running. MARLOWE Find out mine? VIVIAN I think so. MARLOWE Go ahead. VIVIAN I'd say you don't like to be rated. You'd like to get out in front, open up a lead, take a little breather in the backstretch and, and come home free. MARLOWE You don't like to be rated yourself. VIVIAN I haven't met anyone yet who could do it. Any suggestions? MARLOWE Well, I can't tell till I've seen you over distance of ground. You got a touch of class but...I don't know how, how far you can go? VIVIAN That depends on who's on the saddle. ..., Marlowe. I like the way you work. In case you don't know, if you're doing all right. MARLOWE There's one thing I can't figure out. VIVIAN What makes me run? MARLOWE Uh huh. VIVIAN I give you a little hint. Sugar won't work. It's been tried. MARLOWE What did you try it on me for? Who told you to sugar me off this case? Is it Eddie Mars? All right. Don't answer me. Somebody put you up to it. It wasn't your father. He didn't tell you to pay me off, did he? VIVIAN No. He's not well. I use my own judgement. MARLOWE Are you sure? VIVIAN Of course I know it hasn't worked so well up to now. MARLOWE What's Eddie Mars got to do with this case? VIVIAN Nothing. He runs a gambling house. I play horses. I play the wheel. MARLOWE Playing something else, too. VIVIAN What makes you think... MARLOWE I don't mind talking. Let me do it. Did you know Eddie Mars's blonde wife, Shawn Regan were supposed to run off with. VIVIAN Who doesn't. MARLOWE Did you know he owns the house Geiger operated and he's mixed up in that racket, too? VIVIAN No. I don't believe that. MARLOWE Why does that bother you so much? What's Eddie Mars got on you? Oh, come now, angel. Stop shaking. I don't wanna hurt you. I'm trying to help you. Well, you'd better run along. But you made a deal. You're gonna stick to it right or wrong. Take a question of you and I when the race are over. The only trouble is we could have... CUSTOMER Pardon me? VIVIAN Yes. The only trouble is we could have had a lot of fun if you weren't a detective. MARLOWE We still can. VIVIAN So long, Marlowe. MARLOWE Oh, wai...waiter. WAITER Sir? MARLOWE You got a phone around here? WAITER Yes, sir. Right over there. MARLOWE Thanks. WAITER You're welcome. OPERATER (over phone) Deposit fifty, fifty-five cents, sir. MARLOWE How much is that? OPERATER (over phone) Fifty-five cents. MARLOWE Thank you. OPERATER (over phone) It's your party, sir. MARS (over phone) Hello? Hello? MARLOWE Oh, Hello. May I speak to Mr. Mars, please? MARS (over phone) This is Mars talking. MARLOWE Oh, hello, Eddie. I didn't know how to recognize your voice. This is Marlowe. I called you up casue I wanna see you. MARS (over phone) Sure. MARLOWE Uh, I'd like to drive up this evening. MARS (over phone) Okay. Come ahead. DOORMAN Good evening. MARLOWE Good evening. Is Mars around? My name is Marlowe. He's expecting me. WAITRESS1 Just wait here and I'll find out. VIVIAN&BANDMEN He was spending on the morning. He was spending on the girls. Buy his mother lovely roses. For her dear old...girls. But when his wife said sweetie. What did you get for me. He sat her and chap her. Such a sweet, sweet guy was he. VIVIAN And her tears flow like wine. BANDMEN Yes, her tears flow like wine. VIVIAN She's a real sad tomato. BANDMEN She's a foster valentine. VIVIAN Knows her VIVIAN&BANDMEN My mom don't hurt her. VIVIAN The man is dying on time. I'm telling you, mister. BANDMEN Telling you, mister. VIVIAN She was sub, sub sister. BANDMEN Sub, sub sister. VIVIAN Lying on a pillow. BANDMEN Weeping like a willow. VIVIAN&BANDMEN My, oh, my...baby could cry. BANDMEN And her tears flowed like wine VIVIAN Yes, sir. Tears flowed like wine. BANDMEN She's a real sad tomato. (singing continues in the background) MARLOWE I'll have a boy. MAR'S BOY1 Oh, stop it. He's waiting to see you. MARLOWE Thanks. (to Mars) Oh, hello, Eddie. MARS Hello, Marlowe. Glad you came. Never been here before, have you? MARLOWE Of course the first time. I wouldn't be here now if you hadn't told me on the phone I can come up here if I needed help. MARS Sure. Drink? MARLOWE Yeah. MARS I liked the way you handled this whole thing. You made me sore at first. But I see now you knew what you were doing. You and I could get along. I like to pay my bills as I go. How much do I owe you? MARLOWE For what? MARS Still careful, huh? MARLOWE All right, then. I want some information, about Shawn Regan. MARS I heard you got that already from the bureau missing person. MARLOWE You get around, huh? MARS My boys do. MARLOWE Where is he? MARS I haven't any ideas. MARLOWE You didn't bump him off, did you? MARS No. You think I did? MARLOWE That's why I came up here to ask you. MARS You're kidding. MARLOWE All right. I'm kidding. You didn't do it yourself and none of your boys are good enough to do it. I used to know Regan. MARS I thought you told me you weren't looking for Regan. MARLOWE I wasn't then. Maybe I just got curious. See, I finally got through my thick skull half the General's worry where Regan might be mixed up in this blackmail business. MARS Well, Sternwood can turn over now and go back to sleep. It was Geiger's own racket. I did some inquiring myself today. Geiger and Brody got gunned that washed the whole thing up. That I'm sure. MARLOWE It's finished then. General thinks like you do. He paid me off today. MARS I'm sorry to hear that. I wish he'd hire you on a straight salary to keep that daughter of his home. She's out there now. MARLOWE I know. I heard her. MARS She's not very popular around here. If she loses, she doubles. I wind up with a fist full of paper. If she wins, she takes my money home with her. MARLOWE You get it back the next time, don't you? MARS She's spent it somewhere else by then. MARLOWE You only see she's on the cuff, huh? MARS Yeah. MARLOWE Keep her outta here then. Well, it looks like I hit a long trip for nothing. MARS Sorry I can't help you. MARLOWE Do you mind if I look the place over before I go back? MARS No. Go ahead. Take that door, comes out behind the tables. MARLOWE No, thanks. I'll go out here with the rest of suckers. MARS Maybe someday I can do you a real favor. MARLOWE Maybe! There's one thing puzzles me. You don't seem in much of a hurry to find a wife of yours. From what I hear she's not the kind of a wife a guy wants to lose. Could it be that you know where she is, maybe Regan too? MARS Better stop being curious, soldier. What's between me and wife is between us. MARLOWE Sorry. Oh, Eddie, uh, you don't have anybody watching me, do you? Tailing me in a gray Plymouth coupe maybe. MARS No. Why should I? MARLOWE I can't imagine unless you're worried about where I am all the time. MARS I don't like you that well. MARLOWE (laughing) So long, Eddie. WAITRESS1 Oh, Mr. Marlowe. MARLOWE Yeah. WAITRESS2 Mr. Marlowe. MARLOWE Yeah. WAITRESS1&2 Mr. Rut... Mrs. Rut... MARLOWE You'd better take it. WAITRESS2 Well, Mrs. Rutledge asked you to look her up before you went. WAITRESS1 She's in at the center table. MARLOWE Thank you both. MAR'S BOY1 Oh, Mr. Marlowe. Mrs. Rutledge... MARLOWE Yeah. Mrs. Rutledge wanted to see me. MAR'S BOY2 How did you know? MARLOWE He told me. MAR'S BOY1 She sure is picking them tonight. MAR'S BOY2 He didn't say. MAR'S BOY1 That's won eight bets in a row. MAR'S BOY2 I didn't hear him tell you anything. MARLOWE He didn't. VIVIAN What kind of game is this? Go on. Spin the wheel. I want another play. CROUPIER1 I'm sorry. You have more than fourteen thousand dollars there. The table cannot cover your bet. VIVIAN It's your money. Don't you want it back? CROUPIER1 I sent for Mr. Mars. MAN Look, lady. You know... VIVIAN Do you wanna cover? MAN No. VIVIAN Hello, Marlowe. MARLOWE Hello. CROUPIER1 The lady. MARS Something the matter, Mrs. Rutledge? VIVIAN Yes. I'd like one more play, Eddie. All of this on the red. MARS Cover her bet in even thousands. If no one objects to this turn of the wheel being for the lady alone. VIVIAN Wish me luck, Marlowe. MARLOWE You wanted to see me. VIVIAN Yes. The people I came with wanted to stay. So I thought maybe you'd like to drive me home. MARLOWE Sure. CROUPIER1 Are you ready, lady? VIVIAN Yeah. I'm ready. MARLOWE So am I. EVERYBODY Oh! CROUPIER2 Number five. Red. EVERYBODY (talking at the same time) MARLOWE Well, you did all right. I get my car while you collect them. I'll meet you outside. DOORMAN Good night. VIVIAN Good night. THUG This is a gun, lady. I want that money. Yell, and I'll cut you in half. Give me that bag. MARLOWE Hello, pal. Easy. Somebody is always giving me a gun. You can turn around now. I don't like people who play games. Tell your boss when you wake up. VIVIAN Well, I'm glad I asked you to take me home. MARLOWE So am I. VIVIAN Shall we go now? MARLOWE Uh huh. What are you trembling for? Don't tell me you're scared, because I won't believe that. VIVIAN I'm not used to being hijacked. Give me a little time. MARLOWE Hijacked? Is that what it was? VIVIAN What else? MARLOWE Still shaking. What's the matter? You weren't worried about me, were you? Afraid I'd get hurt? When did you first begin to feel that way about me. VIVIAN Why are we stopping? MARLOWE To settle something. All right. Let's begin with what Eddie Mars is on you. VIVIAN If he had anything, it would be any of your business? You've already been paid, haven't you? MARLOWE Yeah, by you. VIVIAN Are you after more money? MARLOWE I guess you got a right to ask that. No. I'm not after more money. I've already been well paid. I've got another reason. VIVIAN You like my father, don't you? MARLOWE Mm-hum. VIVIAN Why don't you stop? MARLOWE Remember I told you I was beginning to like another one of the Sternwoods? VIVIAN I wish you show it. MARLOWE That should be awful easy. VIVIAN I like that. I'd like more. That's even better. MARLOWE All right. Now that's settled. What's Eddie Mars got on you? VIVIAN So that's the way... MARLOWE That's the way it is. Kissing is all right. That's nice. I'd like to do more of it. First, I wanna find out what Eddie Mars is on you. VIVIAN If you say that again... MARLOWE I'll keep on saying it until I'll find out. Look, angel. I called Eddie Mars to tell him I was coming up to see him. When I arrived, you were with him. Two of you staged an act. He let you win a lot of money and send a man around to take it away from you. This proved nothing between you. You're shaking again. VIVIAN Take me home. MARLOWE Sure I will. First, open that bag. There's twenty-eight grand in it. I'll eat every word I've said. Come on, open it! Make a snap out of it or stop playing with one. VIVIAN Take me home. MARLOWE All right. I'm afraid this is as far as I'm gonna carry you. From now on, you take care of yourself. CARMEN Well, what does the hatcheck girl get for a tip? MARLOWE I'm trying to think of something appropriate. How did you get in here? CARMEN Bet you can't guess. MARLOWE But I can. You came through the keyhole like Peter Pan. CARMEN Who's he? MARLOWE Mm. A guy I used to know around the poolroom. CARMEN You're cute. MARLOWE And getting cuter every minute. How did you get in? CARMEN I showed your manager your card. I stole it from Vivian. I told him you said I come up here and wait for you. I want... See, I remember. MARLOWE What do you remember about Shawn Regan? CARMEN I didn't like him. MARLOWE Yeah, why? CARMEN He didn't pay any more attention to me than you do. Treated me like a baby all the time. MARLOWE How does Eddie Mars treat you? CARMEN I don't know him. MARLOWE Are you sure? CARMEN Mm. MARLOWE You know who he is, don't you? CARMEN He's always calling Vivian up. Why? Is he cute? MARLOWE You know, I think you're telling the truth for a change. CARMEN Is he as cute as you are? MARLOWE Nobody is. All right, kid. I got a long day. You'd better be going. CARMEN Mm-Mm. MARLOWE Come on, Carmen! CARMEN I don't want... MARLOWE Come on! CARMEN I... You can't... MARLOWE Shut up! MARLOWE Yeah? OHLS (over phone) Hello, Phil? MARLOWE Oh, hello, Bernie. What's up? OHLS (over phone) I'll see you down here right away. MARLOWE I just woke up. I haven't had breakfast. OHLS (over phone) It's two o'clock. MARLOWE Two o'clock? OHLS (over phone) If you're not in my office in thirty minutes, you'll be eating it on the county. MARLOWE Ah, I'd rather buy my own. I know the food the county puts out. All right. I'll be there. OHLS (over phone) Okay. MARLOWE Don't you know any better than to wake a man up at two o'clock in the afternoon? What's up? OHLS I got some orders for you. You lay off the Sternwood case. MARLOWE Who says so? OHLS The D.A.. MARLOWE The D.A., huh? Must have changed his mind. Who changed it for him? OHLS General Sternwood. MARLOWE Personally? OHLS All right. Between you and me, he didn't talk to the General. He talked to the daughter, Mrs. Rutledge. MARLOWE Oh. Any reason given? OHLS Not that I know of. MARLOWE There's no law that says a man can't work on a case without a client. You know, just keep his hand in. OHLS Look, fellow. I'm supposed to tell you to lay off. MARLOWE I know. You just work here. Bernie, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. A nice old guy has two daughters. One of them is well wonderful, the other is not so wonderful. As a result, somebody gets something on her. The father hires me to pay him off. Before I get to the guy, the family chauffeur kills him. That doesn't stop things. That just starts them. Two murders later, I find out somebody's got something on wonderful. OHLS Who's somebody? MARLOWE I think it's Eddie Mars. OHLS Why? MARLOWE For one thing, he owns the house Geiger was killed in. OHLS He did. The day after the murder he transferred the deed to a dummy. What have you got that hooks Mars's up with Mrs. Rutledge? MARLOWE Last night the two of them... I don't wanna bore you with the whole story. They went to the moon that proved to me there's nothing between them. But I think there is. I think it's got something to do with Shawn Regan. OHLS Who's missing and supposedly ran off with Eddie Mars' wife. MARLOWE Uh huh. OHLS What does the General think about all this? MARLOWE I don't know. Wonderful won't let me get to him. Do you still want me to lay off? OHLS Well, the D. A. does. But you generally do all right following your own hunches. MARLOWE Thanks, Bernie. I'm gonna get some breakfast. You want a cup of coffee? OHLS Uhuh. I can't afford to be seen with you. MARLOWE Well, so long, Bernie. NORRIS (over phone) Sternwood resident. MARLOWE Hello, Norris. This is Marlowe. NORRIS (over phone) Oh, yes, Mr. Marlowe. I... MARLOWE Norris, I'd like to come up and see General Sternwood. NORRIS (over phone) I don't think that would be possible, sir, tonight. MARLOWE Yeah, why not? NORRIS (over phone) Well, I've been trying to call you, Mr. Marlowe. Mrs. Rutledge is very anxious to talk to you. Wait just a minute. I'll put her on. MARLOWE Mm-hum. Hey, sugar. You got a match? WAITRESS Sure thing. VIVIAN (over phone) Hello, Marlowe? Hello? Hello? Hello? MARLOWE Hello, Mrs. Rutledge. VIVIAN (over phone) Hello, Marlowe. I wanted to tell you can stop worrying and call off the bloodhounds. We've found Shawn. MARLOWE What's that? You found Shawn? VIVIAN (over phone) Yes. He's been in Mexico. He hasn't been very well. MARLOWE What happened? VIVIAN (over phone) Oh, an accident of some kind. We didn't get all the details. I'm leaving at once to meet him. MARLOWE Oh, I see. I suppose the General's quite pleased. VIVIAN (over phone) We haven't told him yet. We thought it best wait. MARLOWE Well, thanks for telling me. Have a nice trip. VIVIAN (over phone) I will. Bye. MARLOWE Goodbye. THUG Say, Mister. Would you please? This is just our way of saying, lay off. MARLOWE You're the guy that's been tailing me. JONES Yeah. My name's Jones. Harry Jones. I wanna see you. MARLOWE That's swell. Did you wanna see those guys jump me? JONES I didn't care one way or the other. MARLOWE You could have yelled for help. JONES A guy's playing a hand, I let him play it. I'm no kibitzer. MARLOWE You got brains. Get my hat, will you? Help me up to my office. JONES That working over they gave you is about the best I've ever seen. I've been around, too. MARLOWE Yeah. JONES Used to run a little liquor. Rode the scout car with a tommy gun in my lap. A tough racket. MARLOWE Terrible. Sit down. You make me nervous. JONES Maybe you don't believe me. MARLOWE What do you want? JONES That's better. I got something to sell, cheap, for a couple of C's. MARLOWE Don't let me stop you. JONES Don't you even want to know who I am. MARLOWE I already know. You're not a cop. You don't belong to Eddie Mars because I asked him. So you must be one of Brody's friends. So Agnes is loose again, huh? JONES How'd you know that? She's a nice girl. We're talking about getting married. MARLOWE She's too big for you. JONES That's dirty crack, brother. MARLOWE Yeah. I suppose you're right. Maybe I've been running around with the wrong people. Let's cut the babble. What do you want? JONES You're looking for something. Will you pay for it? MARLOWE If it does what? JONES Helps you find Regan. MARLOWE It's getting funny. I suppose I pay you two C's for telling me I'm looking for Regan. People have been telling me that for days. I don't even pass out cigars anymore. JONES Do you wanna know what I got, or don't you? MARLOWE I don't know. Two hundred buys a lot of information in my circle. JONES Would you pay it to know where Eddie Mars' wife is? Would you pay two hundred bucks for that, Shamus? MARLOWE I think I might. Where? JONES Agnes found her. She'll tell you when she has the dough in her hand. MARLOWE You might tell the cops for nothing. JONES I ain't so brittle. MARLOWE Agnes must have something I didn't notice. JONES I ain't tried to pull anything. I came here with a straight proposition, take it or leave it, one right guy to another. You start waving cops at me. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. MARLOWE I am. Okay. Two hundred it is. JONES Have you got the money? MARLOWE Where's Agnes? JONES You know Puss Walgreen's office, Fulwider building four-twenty- eight in the back? MARLOWE No. But I can find it. JONES Will you be in shape to meet me there in an hour? MARLOWE Yeah. I guess so. JONES You bring the dough. And I'll take you to Agnes. MARLOWE Okay. JONES Okay. JONES Who are you? What do you want? What are you looking for? CANINO ... JONES Who are you? CANINO I work for Eddie Mars... JONES Canino? ... Sure. What do you want? CANINO I wanna know why you have been following the detective, Marlowe. JONES Who says that, then? CANINO I do. JONES That was a mistake. CANINO Your mistake. Eddie Mars don't like it. JONES (in inaudible voice) CANINO Sit down. Quit stalling. Why are you tailing Marlowe? JONES All right. There's no I'm telling. It's for Joe Brody's girl. She's gotta get out of town. That takes dough. She figured she could get it through Marlowe. CANINO Why would he pay? JONES You know about the night the kid bumped Brody? Well, the young Sternwood girl was there. Only Marlowe didn't tell the cops that. So Agnes figures it's railroad fare as soon as she get hold of him. You get it? CANINO Sure I get it. Where's this Agnes? JONES What do you care? What do you want with her? What's she got... CANINO What's the matter, Jones? Ain't you ever seen a gun before? Where's the girl? JONES Listen! CANINO You want me to count three or something like a movie? Where's Agnes? JONES All right. You win. She's in an apartment at twenty-eight Court Street. Apartment three-oh-one. I guess I'm yellow, all right. CANINO You just got good sense. I ain't gonna hurt her. Not if everything's like you say. You nervous, ain't you? Maybe you need a drink. JONES Never mind. CANINO I think you need one. JONES I don't think so. CANINO You got a glass? JONES Yeah. There at the water cooler. CANINO There you are, pal. Drink her down. Well, drink it. What do you think it is, poison? I bet that Agnes of yours wouldn't turn it down. JONES No. I bet she wouldn't. (choking and laughing) CANINO What's funny? JONES Nothing's funny. CANINO So long, Jonsie. OPERATER (over phone) Information. MARLOWE I want information. Give me the telephone number of apartment three-oh-one twenty-eight Court Street. OPERATER (over phone) Thank you for... MANAGER (over phone) ...Apartment. MARLOWE Offices. Police Identification Bureau, Wallis speaking. You got a girl living there named Agnes Roger? MANAGER (over phone) Nobody by that name. MARLOWE Well, you've got brunette with green eyes, kind of slanted, either alone, or with a little guy that weighs about a hundred fifteen pounds with gray hat, gray suit. MANAGER (over phone) I'm sorry. Nothing like that. MARLOWE Oh. Somebody just gave out the wrong address. Thanks. You did all right, Jonsie. But you left me high and dry. Yeah? AGNES (over phone) Who is this? MARLOWE What'd you say? AGNES (over phone) I said who is this? MARLOWE Oh, hello, Agnes. This is Marlowe. AGNES (over phone) What? MARLOWE Marlowe, the man you want to see. AGNES (over phone) ...Is Harry there? MARLOWE Yeah. Yeah. He's here. AGNES (over phone) Put him on, will you? MARLOWE He can't talk to you. AGNES (over phone) Why? MARLOWE Because he's dead. Your little man died to keep you out of trouble. I got your money for you. Do you want it? AGNES (over phone) Yeah. Yeah, I want. MARLOWE Have you got a car? Where can I meet you? AGNES (over phone) Rampart Road. MARLOWE I'll be there in half an hour. AGNES What happened to Harry? MARLOWE I'm amazed you're going into that. You don't really care anyway. Let's put it down your little man deserves something better. Here you are. Here's your two hundred. AGNES Joe and I were out riding Foothill Boulevard a couple weeks ago. We passed a brown coupe, and I saw the girl who was driving. She was Eddie Mars' wife. There was a fellow with her, Canino. MARLOWE I know him. AGNES Yeah. Some people you don't forget even if you've only seen them once. So we got curious and Joe tailed them. Do you know where Realito is? About ten miles east there's a side road. Just off the highway there's a two-bit garage and paintshop run by a guy named Art Huck. Hot car drop, likely, and a frame house right behind it. That's where Eddie Mars' wife is holed up. MARLOWE Are you sure of that? AGNES Why should I lie? MARLOWE Art Huck, ten miles east, Realito. Is that right? AGNES Yeah. So long, copper. Wish me luck. I got a raw deal. MARLOWE Your kind always does. HUCK What do you want? MARLOWE Open up. I got a flat back here on the highway. HUCK Sorry, mister. We're closed for tonight. Better try Realito. All right. Come on in. MARLOWE Scare off a lot of trade with that. HUCK You can get yourself hurt kicking on doors. CANINO Cut it out, Art. The guy's right. You run a garage, don't you? Go ahead. Give him a hand. MARLOWE Thanks, mister. I suppose you can fix flats. HUCK As good as you can make them, bud. But right now I'm busy working on a spray job. CANINO It's too damp for a good spray job, Art. You got time to fix his tires. HUCK Yeah. But I don't... CANINO Get moving. HUCK Sure. MARLOWE Here. Here's the key to the back. Put the spare on and make it easier. Yeah. I took a skid up at the corner. A front tire went. Lucky to find some help. CANINO Yeah. You live around here? MARLOWE No. Just drove in from Reno and Carson City. CANINO Came long way round, huh? Business trip? MARLOWE Partly. Have your car painted? CANINO Just a spray job. Art's pretty slow. He should have finished by now. All right, Art. Take him in the house. MARLOWE Ah. You'd Mrs. Eddie Mars, the blonde Regan was supposedly ran off with. MONA That's right. MARLOWE Where's Shawn Regan? MONA I'd like to know that myself. MARLOWE Oh. Hello, angel. I thought I find you here. VIVIAN Yeah. But you don't seem to be running in front today. MARLOWE (laughing) Move that light, will you, or move me? I suppose we're in a house in back of the garage. VIVIAN That's right. MARLOWE Boys don't take any chances, do they? Where are they, out digging a grave? VIVIAN You had to go on with this, didn't you? MARLOWE Where are they? VIVIAN They're gone down the road to telephone. MARLOWE They call up Eddie Mars and find out what to do with me. Hum, I could have told them that. VIVIAN Why did you have to go on? MARLOWE Too many people told me to stop. Light me a cigarette, will you, angel. MONA Why did you have to make trouble? Eddie never did you any harm. Besides I was never in love with Shawn. We were just good friends. I hadn't hid out here when Shawn disappeared. The police would have been certainly he killed him. MARLOWE Maybe he did kill him. MONA Eddie's not that kind. MARLOWE You mean Eddie Mars never kills anybody. MONA No. MARLOWE You really believe that, don't you? MONA Yes, I do. MARLOWE How do you suppose I found out you were here? MONA I don't know. How did you? MARLOWE Well, a little man named Harry Jones told me. A funny little guy, harmless. I liked him. Came to sell me the information because he found out I was working for General Sternwood. How he found out is a long story. Anyway, Canino, your husband's hired man got to him first while I stood around like a sap. I was in the next room. Now the little man is dead. Eddie Mars didn't do that. MONA You're lying. MARLOWE Oh, no. Eddie Mars never kills anybody. He just hires it done. MONA I don't believe you. MARLOWE You think he's just a gambler, don't you? I think he's a blackmailer, a hot car broker, a killer by remote control. Anything that looks good to him, anything with money pinned to it, anything... Ask him when you see him. MARLOWE Well, I get rid of her. She's okay. I like her. VIVIAN You like too many people. MARLOWE Never mind, angel. Water feels good. I wonder if you do what she did for a man. VIVIAN I was wondering that myself. MARLOWE There's nothing to do but wait for Canino to come back. He doesn't know I was in the other room. You know what he'll do when he finds out, don't you? Beat my teeth out and then kick me in the stomach for mumbling. Oh, that'll be just a starter. It won't be pretty to watch. VIVIAN Please don't talk like that. MARLOWE You should have gone to Mexico. VIVIAN Stop! Please! MARLOWE Then you couldn't have gone, could you? The border patrol will check you through alone. Too many people would have seen you without Regan. It was much safer to come here with her, much safer especially for Eddie Mars. VIVIAN Will you get out of this and stay out if I let you go? MARLOWE No! Take this thing out of my mouth, will you? Oh, that's better. Get a knife and cut these ropes. Watch your fingers. Don't cut toward your hands. Who's got the key to these handcuffs? VIVIAN Canino. MARLOWE I don't suppose there's a gun around here? VIVIAN None that I know of. MARLOWE Well, boys made a fast trip. VIVIAN What can you do? MARLOWE Look, angel. I'm gonna leave you in the tough spot. VIVIAN That's all right with me. MARLOWE How do I get out of here? VIVIAN That door leads to an outside porch. MARLOWE As soon as I'm gone, you count to twenty slowly and scream your head off. VIVIAN I will. MARLOWE All right. Start counting. VIVIAN (screaming) CANINO Get going, Huck. HUCK Look. CANINO You heard what I said. VIVIAN There! There behind the wheel! MARLOWE Over here, Canino. Yeah. That looks like the key. We'll have to take his car. MARLOWE How far is it back there to the nearest telephone? VIVIAN About eight to ten miles to Realito. Why? MARLOWE Eddie Mars' wife gets my car, fixes it and he finds out what happened. It'll be plenty of trouble. You'll be interested as much as I will. VIVIAN I don't mind as long as you're around. MARLOWE I didn't have a chance to thank you for what you did back there. You looked good, awful good. I didn't know they made them like that any more. VIVIAN I guess I'm in love with you. MARLOWE You go to the police with me? VIVIAN I can't. MARLOWE Why not? VIVIAN What if I told you I killed Shawn Regan? MARLOWE Would you tell the police that. VIVIAN I will if you take me there. MARLOWE I'm not going to. Look, angel. I'm tired. My jaw hurts. My ribs ache. I killed the man back there. I had to stand by when a harmless guy was killed. Do you think I can tell them all that happened because Geiger tried to throw a loop over Carmen. If I tell them that, they'll swarm over your house so fast that every closet you and your family been in for the last six years will look like a police convention. I'll ask the same question, "Where's Shawn Regan? Why did Eddie Mars hide his wife and try to make it look like she ran off with Regan? Why did you hide out there, playing with dynamite?" VIVIAN I can tell you what I... MARLOWE I don't ask any more questions. I did wanna ask you. Now I got into this mess. Ask Eddie Mars, I can get that quick enough. VIVIAN Why are you doing that? MARLOWE I guess I'm in love with you. MARS (over phone) Hello? MARLOWE Hello. Let me talk to Mr. Mars. MARS (over phone) This is Mars. MARLOWE Oh, hello, Eddie. This is Marlowe. MARS (over phone) Marlowe? MARLOWE Yeah. Marlowe. What's left of him. Canino is a pretty good boy. You'll have trouble getting another as good. What's the matter, Eddie? Can't you talk? MARS (over phone) Where are you now? MARLOWE I'm in Realito. I've been in the same place Canino called from. Only now it's me that's calling. I wanna see you. MARS (over phone) Why don't you go to the police? MARLOWE Why don't you go to the police? I just killed your best boy. Now you wanna see me, don't you? MARS (over phone) Yeah. MARLOWE All right. Where? MARS (over phone) How about Las Olindas? MARLOWE Las Olindas is too far. Not your apartment, either. MARS (over phone) ... MARLOWE Your house? You mean that one Geiger lived in. MARS (over phone) Yeah. MARLOWE All right. When? MARS (over phone) It's up to you. MARLOWE How long will it take me to get there? MARS (over phone) About twenty minutes. MARLOWE I'll be there just as quick as I can. It worked. VIVIAN You're taking an awful chance. MARLOWE He'll be here in ten minutes. Hum, go through there, make sure the back door's locked and close all these curtains. I'll get rid of the car. VIVIAN You're the one who's shaking now. MARLOWE I'm scared, angel. I'm sore, too. Mars has been ahead of me all the way, way ahead. If I don't get a jump on this time, I'm cooked. Here they are. Well, watch the back. If you see anybody coming, yell like you did before. Angel! VIVIAN What is it? MARLOWE Curtains. Stop them swinging. MARLOWE I got here first, Eddie. Put those scissors down. Put them down. Turn around. Over there. Sit down. VIVIAN Phil. Phil, there're two men out in back behind some trees. MARLOWE Watch them. VIVIAN Hello, Mr. Mars. MARS Double cross... MARLOWE I told you to sit down. Leave her out of it. She's all right, Eddie. She made a deal with you and she kept it. She didn't tell me a thing except that she killed Regan. But I didn't believe that. Regan is dead all right. But she didn't do it. It was Carmen, wasn't it? How did it happen, Eddie? MARS You mean she didn't tell you. MARLOWE I asked you how it happened. MARS Well, Carmen liked Regan but... MARLOWE But he liked your wife. He said no to Carmen. She gets mad when anybody says that. I've seen her that way. Go on. MARS She was pretty high. When the time was over, she didn't remember much about it. MARLOWE Yeah. I've seen her that way, too. Then you hid the body... MARS You can't prove that. MARLOWE It's just bad for you if I prove it myself. And you started blackmailing Mrs. Rutledge by telling what Carmen had done. How did you prove to her that Carmen had done it? Go ahead, prove it to me. MARS You've seemed Carmen was at her wish. MARLOWE Sure I have. Have you? MARS How do you suppose... MARLOWE Why didn't you know when you walked in here that day? Tell me that. You're pretty smart, Eddie. But I've been waiting for this one. MARS What are you gonna do about it? MARLOWE I told you you were smart. You walked in here without a gun. You're gonna sit there and agree to everything, just like you're doing now. When I'm out that door, things were gonna be different. That's what those boys doing out there. Everything changed now, Eddie, because I got here first. All right, angel. Get down on the floor. MARS Don't get excited, Marlowe. If anything happens in here, is there any shooting, you'll just... MARLOWE Do you think it happen now? Now what are your boys gonna think? They'll do to the first one goes out that door. Who's gonna be, Eddie? You or me? MARS Hey, look, Marlowe! MARLOWE You look at this! What's the matter? Haven't you seen a gun before? What do you want me to do? Count three like doing in a movie? That's what Canino said to little Jonsie. MARS Don't go crazy. MARLOWE Jonsie took better than your take. That's one, Eddie! MARS Don't, Marlowe! Don't! Don't! MARLOWE That's two, Eddie! MARS Don't shoot! It's me! Marlowe... OHLS (over phone) Yeah? MARLOWE Bernie, this is Marlowe. I've got more red points for you. OHLS (over phone) Who is it this time? MARLOWE Eddie Mars. His boys got him. It's more than that. He killed Regan. I'll tell you about it when I see you. OHLS (over phone) Where are you? MARLOWE The same place, Laverne Terrace. You've got to come up and get me outta here. Watch yourself. They may still be outside. OHLS (over phone) Right away. MARLOWE We'll take them on. VIVIAN What are you going to do? MARLOWE Wait a minute. Let me do the talking, angel. I don't know yet. But I'm gonna tell them it would be pretty close to the truth. You'll have to send Carmen away. ... a lot of things. They have places for that. They maybe can cure her. It's been done before. I'll have to tell your father about Regan. I think he can take it. VIVIAN You forgot one thing. Me. MARLOWE What's wrong with you? VIVIAN Nothing you can't fix. The End