"My name's Marlowe." "The general wanted to see me." "Yes, Mr. Marlowe." "Will you come in, please, sir?" " I'll tell the general that you're here." " Thank you." "Good morning." "You're not very tall, are you?" "Well, I tried to be." "Not bad-looking though you probably know it." "Thank you." "What's your name?" "Reilly." "Doghouse Reilly." "That's a funny kind of name." "You think so?" "What are you?" "A prizefighter?" " No, I'm a shamus." " What's that?" "A private detective." "You're making fun of me." "You're cute." "The general will see you now, sir." " Who's that?" " Miss Carmen Sternwood." "You ought to wean her." "She's old enough." " This is Mr. Marlowe, general." " How do you do, sir?" " Sit down, sir." " Thank you." "Brandy, Norris." " How do you like your brandy, sir?" " In a glass." "I used to like mine with champagne." "Champagne cold as Valley Forge with about three ponies of brandy under it." "Come, come, man!" "Pour a decent one." "I like to see people drink." "That'll do, Norris." "You may take off your coat, sir." "Thank you." "Too hot in here for any man who has any blood in his veins." "You may smoke too." "I can still enjoy the smell of it." "Nice state of affairs when a man 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." "Little I can eat, and my sleep is so near waking it's hardly worth the name." "I seem to exist largely on heat, like a newborn spider." "The orchids are an excuse for the heat." " Do you like orchids?" " Not particularly." "Nasty things." "Their flesh is too much like the flesh of men." "Their perfume has the rotten sweetness of corruption." "Tell me about yourself." "There isn't much to tell." "I'm 38." "I went to college." "I can still speak English, when my business demands it." "I worked for the district attorney's office." "Bernie Ohls, the chief inspector, said you wanted to see me." "You didn't like working for the district attorney?" "I was fired for insubordination." "I seem to rate pretty high on that." "I always did, myself." "What do you know about my family?" "Well, you're a widower, a millionaire." "You have two daughters." "One unmarried and one married to a man named Rutledge, but it didn't take." " Both living with you and both..." " Go on, sir." "Both pretty and both pretty wild." " Why'd you want to see me?" " I'm being blackmailed again." "Again?" "About a year ago, I paid a man named Joe Brody $5000 to let my younger daughter alone." "What does that mean?" "It means, "Hm!"" "It didn't go through the DA or I'd have heard." "Who handled it for you?" "Shawn Regan." "There must be some reason why he isn't handling it this time." "Shawn has left me." " I thought I hadn't seen him lately." " A month ago, without a word." "I had no claim on him." "I was only his employer." "But I had hoped that he'd come to regard me as something more." "And that at least he'd have said good bye." "That's what hurt." "You knew him too?" "Yes, in the old days when he used to run rum out of Mexico and I was on the other side." "We used to swap shots between drinks or drinks between shots." "My respects to you, sir." "Few men ever swapped more than one shot with Shawn Regan." "He commanded a brigade in the Irish Republican Army." "But you knew that." "No, I didn't." "I know he was a good man at whatever he did." "No one was more pleased than I when you took him on as your whatever he was." "My friend." "My son, almost." "Many an hour he sat with me, sweating like a pig drinking brandy and telling stories of the Irish Revolution." "Well, enough of that." "Here." "Read the other side." "These her signatures?" " Who's Arthur Geiger?" " I haven't the faintest idea." " Did you ask her?" " No, and I don't intend to." "If I did, she'd just suck her thumb and look coy." "I met her in the hall and she did that to me." "Then she tried to sit on my lap while I was standing up." "Well?" "Your other daughter, Mrs. Rutledge." "She mixed up in this?" "They alike?" "They're alike only in 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 hold on life is too slight to include any Victorian hypocrisy." "I need hardly add that any man who has lived as I have and who indulges, for the first time, in parenthood at my age deserves all he gets." "Well?" "Pay him." "Why?" "She signed these notes, didn't she?" "Who's this Joe Brody you paid the $5000 to?" "I can't recall." "My butler, Norris, would know." "I think he called himself a gambler." "Geiger says these are gambling debts." "They may be." "Think they are?" "You want me to take this Geiger off your back." "Is that right?" "Want to know anything?" "I just want to get rid of him." "Might cost you a little." "Thanks for the drink." "I enjoyed your drink as much as you did, sir." " You'll hear from me." " Good luck." "Mr. Marlowe, Mrs. Rutledge would like to see you before you leave." "About the money, the general has instructed me to give you a check for whatever you require." "Instructed you how?" "I see, sir." "I forget that you're a detective." "By the way he rang his bell, sir." " You write his checks?" " I have that privilege." "Good for you." "I don't need any money now but when I do, I get $ 25 a day and expenses." " How did she know I was here?" " She saw you through the window." "I was obliged to tell her who you were." "I don't know as I like that." "Are you attempting to tell me my duties, sir?" "Just having fun trying to guess what they are." "This way, sir." " Go right in." "Say you're expected." " Thanks." "You wanted to see me?" "So you're a private detective?" "I didn't know they existed, except in books." "Or else they were greasy men snooping around hotel corridors." "You're a mess, aren't you?" "I'm not very tall either." "Next time I'll come on stilts, wear a white tie and carry a tennis racket." "I doubt if even that would help." "Now, this business of Dad's, think you can handle it for him?" "It shouldn't be too tough." "I'd have thought it took a little effort." "Not too much." "What will your first step be?" " The usual one." " There's a usual one?" "Sure there is." "It comes with diagrams on page 47 of How to be a Detective in Ten Easy Lessons and your father offered me a drink." "You must've read one on being a comedian." " Hear what I said about the drink?" " I'm serious." "My father's..." " I said your father..." " Help yourself!" "Now, look, Mr. Marlowe, my father's not well." "I want this case handled with the least worry to him." "That's the way I was going to handle it." "I see." "No professional secrets?" " I thought you wanted a drink." " I changed my mind." "Then what..." "How'd you like Dad?" "I liked him." "He liked Shawn." "Shawn Regan." "I suppose you know who he is." "You don't have to play poker with me." " Doesn't Dad want to find him?" " Do you?" "Of course." "It wasn't right for him to go off like that." "Broke Dad's heart, although he won't say much." " Or did he?" " Why don't you ask him?" "I don't see what there is to be cagey about." "I don't like your manners!" "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 either." "I grieve over them evenings." "I don't mind your drinking your lunch out of a bottle." "But don't waste your time cross-examining me." "People don't talk to me like that!" "Do you always think you can handle people like trained seals?" "I usually get away with it too." "How nice for you!" "Just what is it you're afraid of?" "Dad didn't see you about Shawn, did he?" "Didn't he?" "Could you find him if Dad wanted you to?" "Maybe." "When did he go?" "About a month back." "Drove off one afternoon without saying a word." "They found his car parked in some private garage." "They?" "Who's they?" "Dad didn't tell you." "He told me about Regan, but that's not what he wants to see me about." "That's what you wanted me to say." "I'm sure I don't care what you say, Mr. Marlowe." "I'm wasting your time." "Goodbye, Mrs. Rutledge." "Oh, Norris." "You made a mistake." "Mrs. Rutledge didn't want to see me." "I'm sorry, sir." "I make many mistakes." " Did you find what you wanted?" " Yes, thanks." "You don't look like a man who'd be interested in first editions." "I collect blondes in bottles too." "Can I be of any assistance?" "Would you happen to have a Ben Hur, 1860?" " A what?" " Do you have a Ben Hur, 1860?" "A first edition?" "No, no, the third, the third!" "The one with the erratum on page 116." "I'm afraid not." "How about a Chevalier Audubon, 1840, full set?" "Not at the moment." "You do sell books?" "What do those look like?" "Grapefruit?" "Well, they look like books." "Maybe I'd better see Mr. Geiger." " He's not in just now." " That's a pity because..." "I said, Mr. Geiger is not in!" "I heard you." "You needn't yell at me." "I'm late for my lecture on Argentine ceramics, so I won't wait." "The word is "ceramics. "" "And they ain't Argentine, they're Egyptian!" "You did sell a book once, didn't you?" "I'll run along to the library." "Or I could go to that bookstore across the street, couldn't I?" "Do so." "Thank you." "Is there something I can do for you?" " Would you do me a small favor?" " It depends on the favor." " You know Geiger's bookstore?" " I think I may have passed it." "You know Geiger by sight?" "What's he look like?" "Wouldn't it be easier to go and ask to see him?" "I've already done that." "I know anything about rare books?" "You could try me." "Do you have a Ben Hur, 1860, third edition with a duplicated line on page 116?" "Or a Chevalier Audubon, 1840?" "Nobody would." "There isn't one." "The girl in Geiger's bookstore didn't know that." "I see." "You begin to interest me vaguely." "I'm a private dick on a case." "Perhaps I'm asking too much although it doesn't seem too much to me." "Geiger's in his early forties medium height fattish soft all over, Charlie Chan mustache well-dressed wears a black hat affects a knowledge of antiques and hasn't any and I think his left eye is glass." "You'd make a good cop." "Thanks." "Going to wait for him to come out?" "They don't close for another hour or so." "And it's raining pretty hard." "I got my car and..." "That's right, it is, isn't it?" "It just happens I got a bottle of pretty good rye in my pocket." "I'd a lot rather get wet in here." "Well!" "Looks like we're closed for the rest of the afternoon." "Tell me more about this business." "There isn't much to tell." "What's the matter?" "I'm just wondering if you have to..." "Not necessarily." "Little things like that make an..." "Hello!" "I hate to tell you, but that's Geiger's car driving up." "Who's the man getting out?" "Geiger's shadow." "His name's Carol Lundgren." "Thanks." " If you ever want to buy a book..." " A Ben Hur, 1860?" "With duplications." "So long." "So long, pal." "You're cute." "And you're higher than a kite." "Come on, wake up." "I know you." "Doghouse Reilly." "You're cute." "What do you know about this?" "Mr. Geiger, here on the floor." "He's cute too." "You got a dead man at your feet." "How did it happen?" "You talk a lot, Reilly." "Come on!" "Lie down there and be quiet." "All right, Reilly." "Come on, we're going." " Good evening, sir." " Good evening, Norris." " I'd like to see General Sternwood." " He's asleep." "What about Mrs. Rutledge?" "Is she..?" "Good evening, Mrs. Rutledge." "I've got your sister outside." "She's all right." "But she's not walking very well." "I'll need some help." "Are you sure..?" "Yes, she'll be all right in the morning." "Did you do this?" "That?" "Oh, yes, that's a little special service I always provide all my clients." "Including being insolent." "Where did you find her?" " I didn't find her." " Then how..?" "I haven't been here, and she hasn't been out all evening." "That bad?" "Just what did happen?" " You're fond of your sister." " Yes, I am." " Do anything for her, wouldn't you?" " Anything." "Then drop this." "I still think I should know..." "Don't even ask her." "She never remembers, anyway." "Just what did she forget about Shawn Regan?" "What'd she tell you?" "Not half as much as you did." "Take it easy." "I don't slap so good around this time of the evening." "You go too far, Marlowe." "Harsh words to throw at a man when he's walking out of your bedroom." "Good night, Mrs. Rutledge." "Thanks, Norris." "I've put her car away." "If anybody asks, she's been in all evening." " Forget about my being here." " I understand." "May I call a cab?" "It'd be better if you didn't." "Good night." " Hello, Bernie." "Come in." " Hello, Phil." "Don't you go to bed?" "What you been doing?" "Just sitting around." "All evening?" "What is it?" "Does it have to be something?" "You're a friend, but when a man from Homicide just drops in at 2 A.M., I kind of..." "Working on cipher, huh?" "Just fooling around." "You're working for the Sternwoods, aren't you?" "Thanks to you." "Done anything for them yet?" "I started today." "Then the rain came." "All right." "They seem to be a family that things happen to." "There's a Packard belonging to them washing around in the surf off Lido Pier." "And there's a guy in it." " Could it be Regan?" " Who?" "Shawn Regan." "That Irish ex-legger old Sternwood hired to do his drinking for him?" "What would he be doing down there?" "What would anybody be doing down there?" "That's what I'm going to Lido to find out." "Want to come?" "Yeah, I do." " How's the weather?" " Clearing up." " What time did that call come in?" " About 15 minutes ago." " What kind of car you say it was?" " Packard." " Hello, Bernie." " Hi, Ed." "You got him out." "Who is he?" "Owen Taylor." "Sternwood's chauffeur, according to his license." " What's the story?" " You can see it from here." "There's where he went through the railing." "The rain stopped here about 9 P.M." "The broken rails are dry inside." "That would put it about 9:30." "Let's have it, doc." "His neck's broken and something hit him across the temple." "What made the bruise?" "Steering wheel?" "Whatever it was, it was covered." "The wound had bled under the skin while he was alive." " Blackjack?" " Could be." "Bernie, funny thing." "The hand throttle is set halfway down." "Thanks, Jim." "So long, doc." "All right, boys." "Take him away." " Could be drunk or a suicide." " Yeah, but it isn't." "You know anything about Owen Taylor?" "Only that a few Sternwood chauffeurs lost their jobs on account of the younger daughter, Carmen." "Tell me what you're working on, Phil." "They told me blackmail." "Who were they after?" "Carmen?" "This doesn't look like the way you'd handle it." "You know, I got a feeling that..." "Me?" "I didn't do this." "What were you going to say, Phil?" "Give me another day, Bernie." "I may have something for you." "Okay." "Let's go home." "Good morning." "You do get up." "I was thinking you worked in bed, like Marcel Proust." " Who's he?" " A French writer." "Come into my boudoir." "You don't put on a front." "Not much money in this work if you're honest." "Are you honest?" " We're going to start that again?" " I'm sorry." "Also, about yesterday." " Perhaps I was rude." " We were both rude." "You want to see me about Taylor?" "So you know about that?" "Poor Owen." "The DA's man took me down to Lido." "He knew more about it than I did." "He knew Owen Taylor wanted to marry your sister." "Perhaps it wouldn't have been a bad idea." "You see, he was in love with her." "But I didn't come here about Owen." "You still can't tell me what my father wants you to do?" "Not without his permission." "You can't even tell me if it was about Carmen?" "You better look at this." "A messenger brought it today." ""Eight thirty-five. "" "That's right." "She takes a nice picture." "They want 5000 for the negative and prints." "The demand came how?" "A woman telephoned me after it was delivered." " What else?" " There has to be something else?" "This thing isn't worth $5000 to anybody." " They think it is." " Why?" "She 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." "What kind of a jam?" "I don't know." "You know where this picture was taken?" " I haven't the slightest idea." " Or when?" " Talk to Carmen about it?" " She was asleep when I left." "Figure out a story?" " Norris fixed that." " How?" "She was in all evening." "Police checked when they called about Owen." "Go ahead and scratch." "What was Owen doing with your car last night?" "Nobody knows." "He took it without permission." "Why?" "You think..." "That he knew about this picture?" "I don't rule him out." "Outside of what the woman said you don't know why they want $5000 for it?" "That's why I came to you." "There's five fingers on a glove." "Why didn't you go to the police?" "You were afraid they'd find something I couldn't sit on." "Then where would the Sternwoods be?" "May I use your phone, Mr. Marlowe?" "Police headquarters, please." "Hello, this is Mrs..." "Hello." "What do you want, please?" "What?" "I called you?" "Say, who is this?" "Sergeant Reilly?" "There isn't any Sergeant Reilly here." "Wait a minute." "You'd better talk to my mother." "Hello." "Who's this?" "The police?" "This isn't a police station." "If you know it, why did..." "Look, this is not a police station!" "What was that you said?" "My father should hear this." "Hello." "Who is this?" "Yeah, but she just told you that..." "You're the police!" "He's the police." "Well, that's different." "What can I do for you?" "I can do what?" "Where?" "Oh, no!" "I wouldn't like that, and neither would my daughter." "I hope the sergeant never traces that call." "You like to play games, don't you?" "Why did you stop me phoning?" "Because I'm working for your father." "Or because I think I'm beginning to like another one of the Sternwoods." "I prefer the second reason." "Well, let's get back to business." "Have you got $5000 in cash?" " Can you get it?" " I think so." " Where from, your father?" " I'd rather not." "Where would you get it?" "Well, from Eddie Mars." "The gambler?" "That explains why you haven't got $5000 in cash." " I like gambling." " So do I." "How do you know he'll give it to you?" "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." "That doesn't interest you?" "It might make it easier for me to find him." "If I were looking for him." "Is Regan mixed up in this?" "No." "Shawn's not in any cheap blackmailing scheme." "I'm glad you said that." "Do you want to tell me now?" " Tell you what?" " What you're trying to find out." "You know, it's a funny thing." "You're trying to find out why I was hired." "And I'm trying to find out why you..." "You could go on forever, couldn't you?" "It'll give us something to talk about next time." "Among other things." "Oh, Mrs. Rutledge." "You wanted me to do something about this, didn't you?" "That call, how'd you leave it?" "She's to call me at 6 p. m." "With instructions." "Phone me when you've heard from her." "As long as you're going to pay $5000 for these you'd better take this." "Goodbye, Mr. Marlowe." "Well, it wasn't intentional." "Try it sometime." " I'm back again." "Remember me?" " I'm afraid I..." "Do you remember me now?" "Now, see here!" "That was only a stall about those first editions." "I got something to sell." "Something Geiger wants." "Is he in?" "No, he isn't." "You might come back tomorrow..." "Drop the veil." "I'm in the business myself." "Is he sick?" "I could go to his house." "No, that wouldn't do." "If you'd come back tomorrow..." "Say, Agnes, you..." "Come on, Carol." "Hurry up, will you?" " Perhaps..." " His name's Lundgren, isn't it?" " What do you want?" " Who's the other guy?" "You'd better come tomorrow." "In the morning?" "Early?" "Because it looks like you're moving today." "All right, driver." "Let's go!" "Around the corner, then take it easy." " Where are we going?" " Follow a car." "A tail job." "I'm your girl, bud." "It wouldn't be bad." "That station wagon coming out of the alley." "That's the one." "Here you are, sugar." "Buy yourself a cigar." "If you can use me again sometime, call this number." "Day and night?" "Night's better." "I work during the day." " What are you..." " Remember me?" "I'm Doghouse Reilly." "The man that didn't grow very tall." "What's the matter, couldn't you get in the house?" "Come on." "I've got a key." " Where'd you leave your car?" " Around in back." "Looking for something?" "How much do you remember about last night?" "Remember what?" "I was sick last night, I was home." "Before you went home." "In that chair there." "You remember, all right." "Quit your stalling and stop biting your thumb!" " Were you the one who was here?" " How much do you remember?" "Are you the police?" "No, I'm a friend of your father's." "Who killed Geiger?" "Who else knows about it?" "What, that he's dead?" "I don't know." "Not the cops, or they'd be camping here." "Was it Joe Brody?" "Joe Brody." "Who's he?" "I don't know how much trouble you're used to but I hope you've had plenty of practice dodging it." "Did Brody kill him?" "I kill who?" "Yes, Joe did it." "He did?" "Why?" "I don't know." "But you're ready to tell the police he did it?" "That is, if we can get the photograph." "You mean..?" "It's gone." "I looked for it." "Brody took it with him." "I've got to go home now." "I wouldn't say anything to the police about Brody just yet." "I wouldn't say anything about anything." "That you were ever here." "Not even to your sister." "Just leave it to Reilly." "Your name isn't Reilly..." "Excuse the casual entrance." "The bell didn't answer." "Mr. Geiger around?" "We don't know where he is." "We found the door open and just stepped in." " Friends of his?" " Business." "We dropped in for a book." "Any message if he comes back?" "No, I don't think so." "We won't bother you." "Just a minute." "The girl can go." " I'd like to talk to you." " Suppose I don't want to talk to you?" "I've got two boys out in the car." "It's like that, eh?" "Run along, angel." "Your story sounds wrong." "That's too bad." "Got a better one?" "Maybe I can find one." "Blood." "Quite a lot of blood." "Is that so?" "Do you mind?" "No, I'm used to it." "I think we'll let the police in on this." " We'll have some law..." " Yeah." "Why not?" "Who are you, soldier?" "Marlowe." "I'm a private detective." " Who's the girl?" " A client." "Geiger tried to throw a loop on her." "We came to talk." "Convenient, the door being open." "Wasn't it?" "How'd you have a key?" " That your business?" " Could be." "I could make yours mine." "You wouldn't like it." "The pay's too small." "All right, I own this house." "Geiger's my tenant." " Now what do you think of it?" " You know some nice people." "I take them as they come." "Got any good ideas?" "One or two." "Somebody gunned Geiger." "Or somebody got gunned by Geiger who ran away." "Or he had meat for dinner and likes to butcher in the parlor." "No, I don't like it either." "Maybe you'd better call downtown." "I don't get it." "I don't get your game." "Don't you, Mr. Mars?" "Wondered why you didn't ask me who I was." "You're telling me Geiger was in a racket of some kind." "What racket?" "I wouldn't know." "But I'll tell you something you missed." "Somebody cleaned out Geiger's store today." "You talk too much." "You really got those boys outside?" "Open the door." "Open it yourself." "I already got a client." "It's all right." "Just proving something." "While you're here, look him over." " Pardon me." " Who is he?" "Philip Marlowe, Hobart Arms, Franklin Street." "Special license, deputy badge and all." "All right, outside." "A shamus." "The man said, outside." "He said that." "That's what the man said." "He kills me." "Is he any good?" "Who?" "Sidney?" "He's company for Pete." "All right, talk." "Not to you." "I already got a client." "Who cleaned out Geiger's store?" "Lots of weather we're having." "Did it rain at Las Olindas?" "I might make it worth your while." "I might make it worth yours." "What do you care who cleaned out Geiger's store?" " I could make you talk." " It's been tried." "And?" "Why don't you call the cops?" "I think you'd better get out of here." "By the way, how's Mrs. Mars these days?" "You take chances, Marlowe." "I get paid to." "Mrs. Rutledge." "I've been waiting to hear from you." "I'm sorry." "I have nothing to tell you." " She didn't call?" " No, she didn't." "Did you get the money, in case she does?" "I have the money." "I'll get in touch with you as soon as she calls." "All right, I'll stay right here until you call." "Geiger?" "You said what?" "Arthur Geiger." "The guy with the blackmail racket." " I don't know anybody by that name." " You're Joe Brody?" " So what?" " So you're Joe Brody." "And you don't know Geiger." "That's very funny." "You've got a funny sense of humor." "Take it somewhere else." "Joe, you got Geiger's stuff." "I got his sucker list." "Don't you think we ought to talk?" "Now!" "All right." "If you think you got something." "You alone, Joe?" "Except for this." "My, my, such a lot of guns around town and so few brains." "You're the second guy today that thinks a gat in the hand means the world by the tail." "Put it down, Joe." "The other guy was Eddie Mars." "You ever hear of him?" "If he gets wise to where you were last night, you'll hear of him." "What would I be to Eddie Mars?" "I don't know if you don't." "Look, don't get me wrong." "I'm not a tough guy." "Just careful." "You're not careful enough." "That play with Geiger's stuff was terrible." "Don't kid yourself I won't use this if I have to." "What's your story?" "Why don't you ask your friend to come out?" "She must get tired of holding her breath." "Come on out, Agnes." "Hello, sugar." "I knew you were trouble." "I told Joe..." "Ask Mrs. Rutledge to come out too." "What did you come for?" " Why'd you lie to me?" " I don't need you." "I keep out of it!" "I don't want you here." "Will you get out?" "But he won't let me." "He's curious, bothered and wondering." "You bet I'm wondering and I'll find out." " Sit down." " Stop waving that gun." "I didn't do anything." "Can't you talk without that?" "Don't argue with the man." " You're ruining things." " I'm not." "If you'd..." "Say, look!" "What are you up here for?" "To keep her from paying you off, and to take the cops off your neck." "What cops?" "The cops that want to know where the lead in Geiger came from." "Look, Joe, you shot Geiger." " I didn't know..." " The cops don't yet." "But he wasn't alone when you shot him." "Either you didn't notice that or you got scared and ran away." "But you had nerve enough to take the film." "And you had nerve enough to come back and hide the body." " You're crazy!" " Shut up!" "So you could clean out the store before the law knew there was a murder." "You take chances." "It's lucky for you I didn't shoot Geiger." "But you can step off for it anyway." "You're made-to-order for the rap." "You think you've got me?" " Positive." " How come?" "I told you, there was a witness." "Now don't go simple on me." "You mean Carmen." "She'd say anything." "So you have got that picture." "I guess you think I'm dumb." "Just average, for a grafter." "You see, either you were there last night or you got the picture from somebody who was." "You knew Carmen was there because you had your girlfriend threaten Mrs. Rutledge." "The only way you could have known was by being there and seeing what happened." "Or having the picture." "Make sense?" "Who are you?" "A guy who gets paid to do people's laundry." "And all I'll get out of it is that picture." "How about some dough?" "I'm down to nickels." "Not from my client." "Get the picture, Joe." "Stay right there." "Here." "Watch him." " Take it easy." " I want my picture." " Now..." " I want my picture." "You shot Geiger." "Hold it!" "Get up." "You look like a Pekinese." "And since I'm collecting guns..." "Sit down, sugar." "Now where were we?" "Oh, yes, you were just about to get something." "There better not be any more prints." "There won't be." "Can I have my picture now?" "Can I have my gun?" "Later." "You're cute." "I like you." "This is nothing." "I got a Balinese dancing girl tattooed on my chest." "You better take her home." "I suppose I should thank you." "No, just don't lie to me next time." "Come on, Carmen." "Hold it, Joe." "You got off easy, Joe." "What's the matter, sugar?" " He gives me a pain..." " Goes for me too." "You got your pictures." "Get out." " Where's the pain?" " In my..." "Get out!" "Not yet." "We got a few things to straighten out." "I told you to get out." "What difference does it make now?" "Why'd you put the bee on Mrs. Rutledge?" "I tapped the old man six months ago." "I figured it might not work twice." "What made you think Mrs. Rutledge wouldn't tell him?" " How well do you know her?" " We'll pass that." "I figured she might have a thing or two she wouldn't want him to know." "That's a little weak, but we'll pass that too." "Say, Joe, how'd you get that picture?" "You got what you came for, and you got it cheap." "I don't know anything about it." "Do I, Agnes?" " But you just gave it to me." " A half-smart guy." "That's what I always draw." "Never once a man who's smart all the way around the course." "Never once." "Did I hurt you much?" "You and every other man." "Where'd you get that picture?" "It fell out of somebody's pocket." " Got an alibi for last night?" " I was here with Agnes." "That's a great witness." "You can only die once, even for a couple of murders." "A couple of murders?" "I mean two murders." "Where were you about 7:30 last night?" "Where were you?" "All right, I was watching Geiger's place." "Why?" " To get something on him." " Look at me while you're talking." "It was raining hard and I was in my car." "There was a car out front and another down the hill." "I was in back." " Who else was back there?" " Nobody." "There was a big Packard near where I was, so I took a look." "It was registered to the Sternwoods." "Nothing happened, so I got tired of waiting and I went home." "I Know where that Packard is now?" "It's in the sheriff's garage." "It was fished out of 12 feet of water off Lido Pier this morning." "There was a dead man in it." "It was pointed toward the end of the pier and the throttle pulled out." " You can't pin that on me." " I can try." "Sit down, Joe." "The dead man was Owen Taylor, Sternwood's chauffeur." "He went up to Geiger's because he was sweet on Carmen." "He didn't like the games Geiger was playing." "He let himself in the back with a jimmy and he had a gun." "The gun went off, as guns will, and Geiger fell down dead." "Owen ran with the film." "You went after him and got it." "All right, you're right." "I heard the shots and saw him run out and enter the Packard and away." "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." "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." "So you left an unconscious man in a car way out near Beverly." "And you want me to believe somebody came along ran that car to the ocean, pushed it off the pier then hid Geiger's body?" " Well, I didn't..." " Somebody did." "You wanted time to take over." "You can't prove I did it." "I don't particularly want to." "All I want to do is find out what Geiger had on the Sternwoods." "Maybe you and I can make a little deal." "Go ahead." "Maybe she's back." "If she is, she hasn't got her gun." "You got a match, bud?" "What will it be, kid?" "Me or the cops?" "What do you want?" "Sit in that car, back of the wheel." "You drive." "As soon as this police car goes by, we're going to Geiger's house." "By the way, Carol, you shot the wrong guy." "Brody didn't kill Geiger." "All right, let's go." " You got a key." "Let's go in." " Who said I got a key?" "All right, come on!" "Maybe you need this." " Hello." " Hello, Bernie?" "Is this who I think it is?" "It's Marlowe." "How are you fixed for red points?" "I haven't got any." "Who has?" "I got some cold meat set out, might interest you." "What are you talking about?" "You boys find a gun on Owen Taylor when they fished him out of the drink last night?" "That's police business." "I know it's police business." "But if they did, it had three empty shells in it." "You come up to 7244 Laverne Terrace off Laurel Canyon Road, and I'll show you where the slugs went." " I'll be right out." " I'll be waiting for you." "What did you hide Geiger's body for?" "Do you admit shooting Brody?" "Take a jump, Jack." "He doesn't have to admit it." "Here's his gun." "I'm late." "I'm sorry." "How are you today?" "Better than last night." "I can agree on that." " Hello, Max." " Good afternoon." " Got a table for us?" " Certainly, madam." "This way, please." "I'll have a scotch, mixed." "A scotch and plain water." "How'd you happen to pick out this place?" "Maybe I wanted to hold your hand." "That can be arranged." "Why'd you want to see me?" "My father was very pleased when he saw the morning papers." "So was I." "We were lucky." "I managed to keep the Sternwoods out of it." "He hopes you didn't involve yourself too deeply." "You tell him it was no fault of yours?" "No." "He asked me to give you a check." "I don't need any money yet." "He considers the case closed." "It is, isn't it?" "As far as Geiger is concerned, yes." "Then it's completely closed." "I hope this is satisfactory." "Five hundred!" "It's a lot more than I expected, but welcome just the same." "We're very grateful to you, Mr. Marlowe, and I'm very glad it's all over." "Tell me, what do you do when you're not working?" "Play the horses, fool around." "No women?" "I'm generally working on something, most of the time." "Could that be stretched to include me?" "I like you." "I told you that before." "I liked hearing you say it." "But you didn't do much about it." "Neither did you." "Speaking of horses, I like to play them myself." "But I like to see them work out a little first." "See if they're front-runners or come from behind." "Find out what their whole card is." "What makes them run." "Find out mine?" "I think so." "Go ahead." "I'd say you don't like to be rated." "You like to get out in front open up a lead take a little breather in the backstretch and then come home free." "You don't like to be rated yourself." "I haven't met anyone yet that could do it." "Any suggestions?" "I can't tell till I've seen you over a distance of ground." "You got a touch of class, but I don't know how far you can go." "A lot depends on who's in the saddle." "Go ahead, Marlowe, I like the way you work." "In case you don't know it, you're doing all right." "There's one thing I can't figure out." "What makes me run?" "I'll give you a little hint." "Sugar won't work." "It's been tried." "What did you try it on me for?" "Who told you to sugar me off this case?" "Was it Eddie Mars?" "All right, don't answer me." "But your father didn't tell you to pay me off, did he?" "No." "He's not well." "I used my own judgment." "Are you sure?" "I know it hasn't worked so well up till now." "What's Eddie Mars got to do with this case?" "Nothing." "He runs a gambling house." "I play horses." "I play the wheel." "You're playing something else too." "Never mind talking." "Let me do it." "Did you know Shawn Regan was supposed to run off with Mars' wife?" "Who doesn't?" "Did you know he owned the house and was mixed up in that racket too?" " I don't believe..." " Then why does it bother you so much?" "What's Eddie Mars got on you?" "Come now, angel." "Stop shaking." "I don't want to hurt you, I'm trying to help you." "You better run along." "But you made a deal and you're going to stick to it, right or wrong." "We'll take up the question of you and I when the race is over." " The only trouble is, we could've..." " Pardon me?" "The only trouble is, we could have had a lot of fun if you weren't a detective." "We still can." "So long, Marlowe." " Waiter?" " Sir?" " Have you got a phone?" " Over there." "Deposit 55 cents, sir." " How much is that?" " 55 cents." "Here's your party, sir." "Hello?" "Hello!" "May I speak with Mr. Mars, please?" "This is Mars." "I didn't recognize your voice." "This is Marlowe." "I want to see you." "Sure." "When?" "I'd like to drive up this evening." "Come ahead." "Mr. Mars around?" "I'm Marlowe." "He's expecting me." "Wait here and I'll find out." "He would spend it on the ponies" "He would spend it on the girls" "Buy his mother lovely roses" "For her dear old hennaed curls" "But when his wife said "Sweetie what did you get for me?"" "He socked her in the choppers" "Such a sweet, sweet guy was he" "And her tears flowed like wine" "She's a real sad tomato" "She's a busted valentine" "Knows her mama done told her" "That a man is darned unkind" "I'm a telling you, mister" "She was a sob, sob sister" "Lying on a pillow" "Weeping like a willow" "My, oh my, how that baby could cry" "And her tears flowed like wine" "Yes, her tears flowed like wine" "Hello, boys." "Stop it!" "He's waiting to see you." "Thanks." " Hello, Eddie." " Hello, Marlowe." "Glad you came." "You never been here before?" "My first time." "I wouldn't be here now if you hadn't told me I could come up here if I needed help." "Drink?" "I like the way you've handled this whole thing." "It 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?" " For what?" "Still careful, huh?" "All right, then." "I want some information about Shawn Regan." "You got that already from the Bureau of Missing Persons." " You get around." " My boys do." " Where is he?" " I haven't any idea." "You didn't bump him off, did you?" "No." "You think I did?" " That's what I came here to ask you." " You're kidding?" "All right, I'm kidding." "You didn't do it and your boys aren't good enough to." "I used to know Regan." "I thought you told me you weren't looking for Regan." "I wasn't then." "Maybe I just got curious." "I finally got it through my skull that the general was worried Regan might be mixed up in this blackmail business." "Sternwood can turn over now and go back to sleep." "It was Geiger's own racket." "I did some inquiring myself today." "When Geiger and Brody got gunned, that washed the whole thing up." " That, I'm sure of." " It's finished then." "The general thinks like you do." "He paid me off today." "I'm sorry to hear that." "I wish he'd hire you to keep that daughter of his home." " She's out there now." " I know, I heard her." "She's not very popular here." "When she loses, she doubles and I wind up with a fistful of paper." " If she wins, she takes my money home." " Don't you get it back next time?" " She spends it somewhere else." " Oh, she goes on the cuff." "I'd keep her out of here then." " I took the trip for nothing." " Sorry I can't help you." "You mind if I look the place over before I go back?" "Go ahead." "Take that door, it comes out behind the tables." "No, thanks." "I'll go out with the other suckers." "Maybe someday I can do you a real favor." "Maybe." "There's one thing that puzzles me." "You don't seem in a hurry to find that wife of yours." "I hear she's not the kind of wife a guy wants to lose." "Could it be you know where she is, and maybe Regan too?" "Stop being curious." "What's between me and my wife is between us." "Sorry." "Oh, Eddie, you don't have anybody watching me, do you?" "Tailing me in a gray Plymouth coupe?" "No." "Why should I?" "I can't imagine, unless you're worried about where I am all the time." "I don't like you that well." "So long, Eddie." " Mr. Marlowe?" " Mr. Marlowe?" " Mrs. Rut..." " Mrs. Rut..." "You better take it." "Mrs. Rutledge asked if you'd look her up before you went." "She's at the center table." "Thank you both." "Mr. Marlowe?" "Mrs. Rutle..." "Mrs. Rutledge wants to see me." " How did you know?" " He told me." "She sure is picking them tonight." "She won eight bets in a row." " I didn't hear him tell you anything." " He didn't." "What kind of game is this?" "Spin the wheel." "I want another play." "I'm sorry." "You have more than $ 14,000 there and the table cannot cover your bet!" "It's your money." "Don't you want it back?" "I sent for Mr. Mars." " Look, lady, you know..." " Do you want to cover it?" " Hello, Marlowe." " Hello." "The lady." "Something the matter, Mrs. Rutledge?" "I'd like one more play." "All this on the red." "Cover her bet in even thousands." "If no one objects to this turn of the wheel being for the lady alone." "Wish me luck, Marlowe." "You wanted to see me." "The people I came with want to stay so I thought maybe you'd like to drive me home." " Sure." " Are you ready, lady?" " Yeah, I'm ready." " So am I." "Number five, red!" "You did all right." "I'll get my car while you collect and meet you outside." "Good night." "This is a gun, lady." "I want that money." "Yell, and I'll cut you in half!" "Give me that bag!" "Hello, pal!" "Easy!" "Somebody's always giving me guns." "You can turn around now." "I don't like people who play games." "Tell your boss when you wake up." "I'm glad I asked you to take me home." "So am I." "Shall we go now?" "Why are you trembling?" "Don't tell me you were scared." "I won't believe it." "I'm not used to being hijacked." "Give me a little time." "Hijacked?" "Is that what it was?" "What else?" "You're still shaking." "What's the matter?" "You weren't worried about me?" "Afraid I'd get hurt?" "When did you begin to feel that way about me?" "Why are we stopping?" "To settle something." "All right let's begin with what Eddie Mars has on you." "If he had anything, would it be any of your business?" "You've already been paid, haven't you?" "Yeah, by you." " Are you after more money?" " I guess you've got a right to ask." "No, I've already been well-paid." "I've got another reason." "You like my father, don't you?" "Why don't you stop?" "Remember I said I was beginning to like another Sternwood?" " I wish you'd show it." " That should be awful easy." "I liked that." "I'd like more." "That's even better." "All right." "Now that's settled." "What's Eddie Mars got on you?" " So that's the way it is." " That's the way it is." "I kissing you is all right." "I'd like to do more of it." "But first I want to find out what Eddie Mars has on you." " If you say that again..." " I'll keep saying it till I find out." "I told Eddie Mars I was coming up to see him." "When I arrived, you were there." "You two staged an act." "He let you win a lot of money and then sent a man to take it away from you to prove there was nothing between you." "You're shaking again." "Take me home." "Sure I will." "But first, open that bag." "If there's 28 grand in it, I'll eat every word I've said." "Open it and make a sap out of me or else stop playing me for one." "Take me home." "All right, but that's as far as I'll carry you." "From now on, you can take care of yourself." "What does the hat check girl get for a tip?" "I'm trying to think of something appropriate." "How'd you get in here?" "Bet you can't guess." "I'll bet I can." "You came in through the keyhole, like Peter Pan." "Who's he?" "A guy I used to know around a poolroom." "You're cute." "I'm getting cuter every minute." "How did you get in?" "I showed the manager your card." "I stole it from Vivian." "I told him you said to come up and wait." "I want..." "See, I remembered." "What do you remember about Shawn Regan?" " I didn't like him." " Yeah, why?" "He didn't pay any more attention to me than you do." "Treated me like a baby all the time." "How's Eddie Mars treat you?" "I don't know him." "You sure?" "You know who he is, don't you?" "He's always calling Vivian up." "Why?" "Is he cute?" "I think you're telling the truth, for a change." "Is he as cute as you are?" "Nobody is." "I've had a long day." "You'd better be going." " Come on, Carmen." " I don't want to." " You can't..." " Shut up!" "Hello, Phil?" "Hello, Bernie." "What's up?" "I want to see you down here, right away." "I just woke up." "I haven't had breakfast." "It's 2:00." "If you're not here in 30 minutes you'll be eating on the county." "I'd rather buy my own." "I know that food the county puts out." "All right, I'll be there." "Don't you know better than to wake a man at 2 p. m?" " What's up?" " I got some orders for you." "You're to lay off the Sternwood case." " Who says so?" " The DA" "The DA, huh?" "He must have changed his mind." "Who changed it for him?" " General Sternwood." " Personally?" "All right." "Between you and me, he didn't talk to the general." "He talked to the daughter, Mrs. Rutledge." " Any reason given?" " Not that I know of." "There's no law says a man can't work on a case without a client." "You know, just to keep his hand in." "I'm just supposed to tell you to lay off." "I know, you just work here." "Put yourself in my shoes for a minute." "A nice old guy has two daughters." "One of them is "wonderful. "" "The other is not so wonderful." "As a result, somebody gets something on her." "The father hires me to pay off but before I can, the family chauffeur kills him." "But that didn't stop things." "It just starts them." "And two murders later, I find out somebody's got something on "Wonderful. "" "Who's somebody?" " I think it's Eddie Mars." " Why?" "For one thing, he owns the house Geiger was killed in." "He did." "The day after the murder, he transfers the deed to a dummy." "What have you got that hooks Mars up with Mrs. Rutledge?" "Last night, the two of them I don't want to bore you with the whole story but they went to the moon to prove there was nothing between them." "I think there is, and it's got something to do with Shawn Regan." "Who's missing and supposed to have run off with Eddie Mars' wife?" "What does the general think about all this?" "I don't know." ""Wonderful" won't let me get to him." "You still want me to lay off?" "The DA does, but you do all right following your own hunches." "Thanks, Bernie." "I'm going out to get breakfast." "You want a cup of coffee?" "I can't afford to be seen with you." "So long, Bernie." "Sternwood residence." "Hello, Norris?" "This is Marlowe." "Yes, Mr. Marlowe." "I..." "I'd like to come out and see General Sternwood." "I don't think it would be possible tonight." " Why not?" " I've been trying to call you." "Mrs. Rutledge is very anxious to talk to you." "If you'll wait just a minute, I'll put her on." "Hey, sugar, you got a match?" "Sure thing." "Hello, Marlowe?" "Thanks." "Hello, Mrs. Rutledge." "I wanted to tell you you can stop worrying and call off your bloodhounds." "We found Shawn." "What's that?" "You've found Shawn?" "Yes." "He's been in Mexico." "He hasn't been very well." "What happened?" "An accident of some kind." "We didn't get all the details." "I'm leaving at once to meet him." "I see." "I suppose the general's quite pleased." "We haven't told him yet." "We thought it best to wait." "Thanks for telling me." "Have a nice trip." "I will." "Goodbye." "Goodbye." "Say, mister would you please..." "This is just our way of saying, "Lay off. "" "You the guy that's been tailing me?" "Yeah." "My name's Jones." "Harry Jones." "I want to see you." "Swell!" "Did you want to see those guys jump me?" "I didn't care one way or the other." "You could've yelled for help." "A guy's playing a hand, I let him play it." "I'm no kibitzer." "You got brains." "Get my hat, will you?" "Help me up to my office." "That working over they gave you was the best I've seen." "And I've been around too." "Used to run a little liquor." "Rode the scout car with a Tommy gun in my lap." " Tough racket." " Terrible!" "Sit down." "You make me nervous." "Maybe you don't believe me." "What do you want?" "That's better." "I've got something to sell, cheap." "For a couple of C's." "Don't let me stop you." " Don't you want to even know who I am?" " 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?" "How'd you know that?" "She's a nice girl." "We're talking about getting married." "She's too big for you." "That's a dirty crack, brother." "I suppose you're right." "Maybe I've been running around with the wrong people." "Cut the babble." "What do you want?" "If you're looking for something, will you pay for it?" " If it does what?" " Helps you find Regan." "This is getting funny." "I'm supposed to 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." "Do you want to know what I've got, or don't you?" "I don't know." "200 buys a lot of information in my circle." "Would you pay it to know where Eddie Mars' wife is?" "Would you pay $ 200 for that, shamus?" "I think I might." " Where?" " Agnes found her." "She'll tell you, when she has the dough in her hand." "You might tell the cops for nothing." "I ain't so brittle." "Agnes must have something I didn't notice." "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." "I am." "200 it is." " Have you got the money?" " Where's Agnes?" "You know Puss Walgreen's office?" "Fulwider Building?" "428 in the back?" "No, but I can find it." "Will you be in shape to meet me there in an hour?" " I guess so." " You bring the dough." "I'll take you to Agnes." "Who are you?" "What do you want?" "I wanted to see you." "Who are you?" "I work for Eddie Mars." "My name is Canino." "Canino?" " Sure!" " I thought you would remember." "What do you want?" "Why have you been following that detective, Marlowe?" " Who says I've been?" " I do!" "That was a mistake, your mistake." "Eddie Mars don't like it." "Sit down and quit stalling!" "Why are you tailing Marlowe?" "All right, there's no harm telling." "It was for Joe Brody's girl." "She's got to get out of town, that takes dough." "She figured she could get it through Marlowe." "Why would he pay?" "You know about the night the kid bumped Brody?" "The young Sternwood girl was there." "Only Marlowe didn't tell the cops that." "Agnes figured it was railroad fare as soon as she could get hold of him." " You get it?" " Sure I get it." " Where's this Agnes?" " What do you care?" "What do you want with her?" "What's she got..." "What's the matter, Jones?" "Ain't you ever seen a gun before?" "Where's the girl?" "You want me to count to three, like a movie?" "Where's Agnes?" "You win." "She's in an apartment at 28 Court Street." "Apartment 301." "I guess I'm yellow, all right." "You just got good sense." "I ain't going to hurt her." "Not if everything's like you say." "You're nervous, ain't you?" " I think maybe you need a drink." " I don't think so..." "You got a glass?" "At the water cooler." "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." "No, I'll bet she wouldn't." "What's funny?" "Nothing's funny." "So long, Jonesy." "Information, give me the phone number of apartment 301, 28 Court Street." "Thank you." "One moment, please." "Courtview Apartments." "Office, this is Police Identification Bureau, Wallace speaking." "You got a girl living there named Agnes Lowzier?" "Nobody by that name here." "Have you got a brunette with green eyes, kind of slanted either alone or with a little guy, weighs about 115 pounds wears a gray hat and gray suit?" "Sorry." "Nothing like that." "Somebody just gave out the wrong address." "Thanks." "You did all right, Jonesy." "But you left me high and dry." "Who is this?" " What did you say?" " I said, "Who is this?"" "Hello, Agnes." "This is Marlowe." "Marlowe, the man you want to see." "Is Harry there?" "Yeah, he's here." " Put him on, will you?" " He can't talk to you." " Why?" " Because he's dead." "Your little man died to keep you out of trouble." "I got your money for you." "Do you want it?" " Yeah, I want it." " Have you got a car?" "Where can I meet you?" "Rampart and Oakwood." "I'll be there in half an hour." "What happened to Harry?" "There's no use going into that." "You don't really care anyway." "Just put it down your little man deserved something better." "Here you are." "Here's your 200." "Joe and I were riding on Foothill Boulevard a couple of 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." " I know him." "Some people you don't forget, even if you've only seen them once." "We got curious and Joe tailed them." "Do you know where Realito is?" "About 10 miles east, there's a side road." "Off the highway, there's a garage and paint shop 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." " You sure of that?" " Why should I lie?" "Art Huck's, 10 miles east of Realito." "Is that right?" "So long, copper." "Wish me luck." "I got a raw deal." "Hey, your kind always does." "What do you want?" "Open up." "I got a flat back here on the highway." "Sorry, mister." "We're closed for the night." "Better try Realito." "All right." "Come on in." "You'd scare off a lot of trade with that." "You can get yourself hurt, kicking on doors." "Cut it out, Art." "The guy's right." "You run a garage, don't you?" "Go ahead." "Give him a hand." "Thanks, mister." "I suppose you can fix flats?" "Good as you can make them, but I'm busy working on a spray job." "It's too damp for a good spray job, Art." "You got time to fix his tires." " But I don't..." " Get moving!" "Sure." "Here's the key to the back." "Put the spare on." "That'll make it easier." "Yeah, I took a skid up at the corner." "A front tire went." "Lucky to find some help." "You live around here?" "Just drove in from Reno and Carson City." "Came the long way around, huh?" "Business trip?" "Partly." "Having your car painted?" "Just a spray job." "Art's pretty slow." "He should've been finished by now." "All right, Art." "Take him in the house." "You'd be Mrs. Eddie Mars the blonde Regan was supposed to have run off with." "That's right." "Where is Shawn Regan?" "I'd like to know that myself." "Hello, angel!" "I thought I'd find you here." "But you don't seem to be running in front today." "Remove that light, will you, or move me?" "I suppose we're in the house, in back of the garage." "That's right." "The boys don't take any chances, do they?" "Where are they, out digging a grave?" "You had to go on with this, didn't you?" " Where are they?" " They've gone to telephone." "To call up Eddie Mars, huh?" "To find out what to do with me." "I could've told them that." "Why did you have to go on?" "Too many people told me to stop." "Light me a cigarette, will you, angel?" "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." "If I hadn't hidden here when Shawn disappeared the police would've been certain he killed him." "Maybe he did kill him." "Eddie's not that kind." "You mean, Eddie Mars never kills anybody?" " You really believe that, don't you?" " Yes, I do!" "How do you suppose I found out you were here?" "How did you?" "A little man named Harry Jones told me." "A funny little guy, harmless." "I liked him." "He sold me the information because he found out I was working for General Sternwood." "How he found out's 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 that little man is dead." " But Eddie Mars didn't do that." " You're lying." "Eddie Mars never kills anybody." "He just hires it done." "You think he's just a gambler, don't you?" "I think he's a blackmailer, a hot-car broker." " Stop talking!" " A killer by remote control." "Anything with money pinned to it!" "Anything rotten!" "Ask him when you see him." "Well, that got rid of her." "She's okay." "I like her." "You like too many people." "Never mind, angel." "The water feels good." "I wonder if you'd do what she did for a man." "I was wondering that myself." "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?" "He'll beat my teeth out and then kick me in the stomach for mumbling." "That's just a start." "It won't be pretty." "Please don't talk like that!" "You should have gone to Mexico..." "Stop!" "Please!" "Then, you couldn't have gone, could you?" "The border patrol would've checked you through alone." "Too many people would've seen you without Regan." "It was much safer to come here with her, especially for Eddie Mars." "Will you get out of this and stay out if I let you go?" "Take this thing out of my mouth, will you?" "That's better." "Get a knife and cut these ropes." "Watch your fingers." "Don't cut toward your hand." "Who's got a key to these handcuffs?" "Canino." "I don't suppose there's a gun around here?" "None that I know of." "The boys made a fast trip." "What can you do?" "Look, angel." "I'm going to leave you in a tough spot." "That's all right with me." " How do I get out of here?" " That door leads onto a side porch." "All right, as soon as I've gone, you count to 20 slowly and then scream your head off." " I will!" "All right." "Start counting." "Get going, Art." "You heard what I said!" "There!" "Behind the wheel!" "Over here, Canino!" "That looks like the key." "We'll have to take his car." "How far is it from back there to the nearest telephone?" "About eight or 10 miles to Realito." "Why?" "When Mars' wife gets my car fixed, and he finds out what happened there'll be plenty of trouble." "You'll be in it just as much as I will." "I don't mind, as long as you're around." "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 anymore." "I guess I'm in love with you." "Will you go to the police with me?" "I can't." "Why not?" "What if I told you I killed Shawn Regan?" "Would you tell the police that?" "I will if you take me there." "I'm not going to." "Look, angel, I'm tired." "My jaw hurts, my ribs ache, I killed a man back there and stood by while a harmless guy was killed." "I can't say all that happened because Geiger tried to throw a loop over Carmen." "They'll swarm over your house so fast that every closet your family's been in for the last six years will look like a police convention." "They'll all ask the same question:" ""Where's Shawn Regan?" "Why did Mars hide his wife out to make it look like she ran off with Regan?"" "Why did you hide out there?" "You're playing with dynamite." "Don't ask any more questions." "I won't even ask you how you got into this mess." "I'll ask Eddie Mars if I can get there quick enough." "Why are you doing that?" "I guess I'm in love with you." "Hello." "Let me talk to Mr. Mars." "Hello, Eddie." "This is Marlowe." "Yeah, Marlowe, or what's left of him." "That Canino's a pretty good boy." "You'll have trouble getting another as good." "What's the matter, Eddie?" "Can't you talk?" "I'm in Realito, the same place Canino called from." "Only now, it's me that's calling." "I want to see you." "Why don't you go to the police?" "I just killed your best boy." "Do you want to see me or don't you?" "All right." "Where?" "Las Olindas is too far." "Not your apartment either." "Your house?" "You mean the one that Geiger lived in?" "All right." "When?" "How long will it take me to get there?" "I'll be there just as quick as I can." " That worked." " You're taking an awful chance." "He'll be here in 10 minutes." "Go through there, and make sure that back door is locked and then close all these curtains." "I'll get rid of the car." "You're the one who's shaking now." "I'm scared, angel." "I'm sore too." "Mars has been ahead of me all the way." "Way ahead!" "If I don't get the jump on him this time, we're cooked." "There they are." "Watch the back." "If you see anybody coming, yell like you did before." " What is it?" " The curtain!" "Stop it swinging." "I got here first, Eddie." "Put those scissors down." "Put them down!" "Turn around." "Over there." "Sit down." "There's two men out in back, behind some trees." " Watch them." " Hello, Mr. Mars." " You double-crossing..." " I told you to sit down." "And leave her out of it." "She's all right, Eddie." "She kept her deal with you." "She didn't tell me a thing except that she killed Regan." "But I didn't believe that." "Regan's dead, all right, but she didn't do it." "It was Carmen, wasn't it?" "How'd it happen?" " She didn't tell..?" " I asked you how it happened." " Carmen liked Regan." " But he liked your wife." "And he said no to Carmen." "She gets mad when anybody says that." "I've seen her that way." "Go on." "She was high." "By the time it was over, she couldn't remember much about it." "I've seen her that way too." " Then you hid the body." " You can't prove that." "It'll be just as bad for you if I prove it to myself." "Then you started to blackmail Mrs. Rutledge by telling her what Carmen had done." "How did you prove to her that Carmen had done it?" "Prove it to me." "You've seen Carmen when she's that way." "Sure I have." "Have you?" "Why didn't you know her when you walked in that day?" "You're pretty smart, but I've been waiting for this one." "What are you going to do?" "I said you were smart." "You walked in without a gun." "You were going to agree to everything, just like you're doing now." "When I went out, things would be different." "That's what those boys are doing out there." "But everything's changed now, because I got here first." "Angel, get on the floor!" "Don't get excited, Marlowe." "If anything happens, if there's any shooting, you'll just..." "What do you think will happen now?" "What will your boys think?" "What will they do to the first one out that door?" "Who's it going to be, you or me?" " Look, Marlowe..." " You look at this!" "Haven't you ever seen a gun before?" "You want me to count to three, like they do in the movies?" "That's what Canino said to little Jonesy." " Don't go crazy!" " Jonesy took it better than you." " That's one, Eddie!" " Don't, Marlowe!" "That's two, Eddie!" "Don't shoot, it's me!" "Mars!" "Bernie?" "This is Marlowe." "I've got some more red points for you." " Who is it this time?" " Eddie Mars." "His boys got him." "There's more to it than that." "He killed Regan." "I'll tell you about it when I see you." "Where are you?" "The same place, Laverne Terrace." "Come up and get me out of here." "And watch yourself." "They may still be outside." "Right away." "It won't take him long." "Wait, let me do the talking." "I don't know what I'll tell him, but it'll be pretty close to the truth." "You'll have to send Carmen away from a lot of things." "They have places for that." "Maybe they can cure her." "It's been done before." "We'll have to tell your father about Regan." "I think he can take it." "You've forgotten one thing." "Me." "What's wrong with you?" "Nothing you can't fix."