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.
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 with 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.
Inspector Bernie Ohls 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 goodbye.
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 swapped 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 any 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, 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. 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 comedy.
- Hear what I said about the drink? - I'm serious. 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?
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.
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.
Gonna 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 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. - Is Mrs. Rutledge in?
- No, sir. - The general?
- He's asleep. - Good. I got something in the car.
She's all right. Is the maid around?
Yes, I'll get Matilda.
Now wait a minute. Not as I'm leaving.
I haven't been here. You haven't seen me at all.
Kid hasn't been out of the house.
I understand. May I get you a cab?
No, I'm all right. Put her car away.
- Hello, Bernie. Come in. - Hello, Phil.
Don't you ever 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, right?
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.
Couldn't be Regan, could it?
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. Wanna 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.
I see he's 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 because 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.
- 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, 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.
- 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 starting 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 him 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 phoned 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. She was sick last night.
- She go out at all? - Servants say she didn't.
You?
I was out all evening. Police already checked that.
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?
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 any 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 it.
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.
Since you're going to pay five grand for these...
...you'd better take this.
Goodbye, Mr. Marlowe.
Well, it wasn't intentional.
Try it sometime.
- 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?
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?
I've got two boys out in the car.
It's like that, eh?
Run along, angel.
Your story doesn't sound right.
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? - 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.