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