All language subtitles for Hammett.1982.1080p.WEBRip.x264-RARBG

[ boys shouting ]

[ typewriter clicking ]

[ streetcar bell rings ]

[ softly ]
OH, JESUS.

[ typewriter clicking ]

Man's voice:
THE PEARLS WERE INSURED
FOR $100,000.

SO WHEN THE THIEF OFFERED
TO SELL THEM BACK FOR FIVE,

THE INSURANCE COMPANY
CAME TO US.

THERE WAS JUST ONE HITCH--

THE THIEF INSISTED
ON A WOMAN GO-BETWEEN.

THE OLD MAN SUGGESTED
SUE ALABAMA,

WHO WORKED FOR US
A FEW YEARS BACK.

WHEN HE ASKED ME WHAT
I THOUGHT, I SAID I THOUGHT
SHE'D BE PERFECT.

JUST PERFECT.

THAT'LL STOP A KITTEN
IF YOU'RE LUCKY.

IT'LL STOP A TIGER
IF YOU KNOW HOW TO POINT IT.

Man's voice:
HER NAME WASN'T REALLY
SUE ALABAMA,

IT WAS
SUE SOMETHING-GREEK-
AND-UNPRONOUNCEABLE.

BUT ALL OF US CALLED
HER ALABAMA,

SO SHE HAD IT CHANGED
BACK IN '25.

THAT WAS JUST AFTER
SHE AND I TOOK

"NOWHERE" NICKLETON
AT THE BILTMORE IN L.A.

SHE PRIMED HIM
AND I WENT IN ON THE CLEANUP.

SEX WAS NEARLY ALL
SUE ALABAMA EVER NEEDED.

SHE COULD USE IT THE WAY
SOME GUYS USE A BLACKJACK.

I STILL THINK
SHE WAS PROBABLY THE BEST
I EVER WORKED WITH.

[ gunshot ]

[ foghorn blows ]

THE 5,000 BUCKS?

INSIDE COAT POCKET.

HE NEEDED ONE HAND
FOR THE MONEY

AND THE OTHER
FOR THE GUN.

HE WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH
TO HANDLE BOTH.

IF IT ISN'T
"PEN PAL" MORRISON.

HELLO, PEN PAL.

AT LEAST YOU DIDN'T
HIT THE MONEY.

I DIDN'T AIM
AT THE MONEY.

[ sniffs ]
I CAN'T FIGURE HIM
FOR A CANNON.

THE ONLY THING PEN PAL
WOULD EVER USE IS
THE U.S. MAIL.

EXTORTION.

THAT'S WHY THEY PARKED HIM
IN ATLANTA FOR THREE YEARS.

MAYBE HE JUST GOT
AMBITIOUS.

MAYBE HE DID.

NO PEARLS THOUGH.

NO PEARLS.

IT WAS A CUTE
HEIST, THAT'S ALL.

JUST ONE SMALL STEP UP
FROM EXTORTION.

WHERE WERE YOU GONNA FENCE 'EM, CHICAGO?

CINCINNATI.

IF YOU STILL WANT 'EM,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO USE
THAT SHOOTER.

GIVE ME TWO HOURS.

WHY?

FOR OLD TIMES' SAKE.

I'LL GIVE YOU ONE.

OKAY, ONE.

Man's voice:
I DIDN'T GIVE HER
AN HOUR, OF COURSE.

I DIDN'T EVEN
GIVE HER 15 MINUTES.

[ typewriter clicking ]

THEY PICKED HER UP
AT THE UNION STATION

WITH A TICKET
FOR CHICAGO IN HER BAG.

I WAS ALMOST SORRY
SHE DIDN'T MAKE IT.

BACK IN '26 SUE ALABAMA
AND I NEARLY GOT MARRIED.

I SUPPOSE IT'S JUST
AS WELL WE DIDN'T.

[ coughing ]

[ gagging ]

[ coughing continuing ]

[ faucet running ]

[ water stops ]

[ sighs ]

[ papers rustling ]

RYAN.

JESUS, RYAN.

JAMES FRANCIS XAVIER RYAN.

HIMSELF.

LOOK AT YOU KID,
YOU'RE WHITER THAN I AM.

[ chuckles ]
CLEAN LIVING.

YOU STILL
A LUNGER?

CURED, ALMOST ANYWAY.
THIRSTY?

ALWAYS.

I LOOKED AT THIS
WHILE I WAS WAITING,

EXCEPT HER NAME
WASN'T "SUE ALABAMA."

IT WAS
"BETTY PHILADELPHIA."

AND I DID MARRY HER.
WORSE LUCK.

- YOU EVER HEAR FROM HER?
- YOU EVER HEAR FROM YOURS?

[ chuckles ]

LET ME ASK YOU
A LITERARY QUESTION.

SURE.

I'LL BE SITTING AROUND
WITH NOTHING TO DO

AND I'LL PICK UP ONE
OF THOSE PULP RAGS

JUST TO SEE IF YOU
GOT A STORY IN IT.

WHEN YOU DO, IT'S USUALLY
ABOUT THIS TOUGH OLD BIRD

WHO'S ABOUT TWO AND A HALF
HOPS AHEAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE.

HOW COME HE HASN'T
GOT A NAME?

ARE NAMES HARD
TO WRITE?

SHOOT, I CAN WRITE NAMES.

FOXFIRE McCABE,
BITSY GLASS...

- [ chuckles ]
- ...JOE PICKLES.

YOU THINK
HE'S YOU, RIGHT?

I KNOW HE IS.

HE GOES AROUND DOING
EVERYTHING I USED TO DO.

HALF THE TIME I DON'T KNOW
WHETHER TO BE FLATTERED

- OR EMBARRASSED AS HELL.
- [ chuckles ]

WHAT BRINGS YOU
TO TOWN?

THAT'S WHAT I WANT
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

- I GOT AN M.P. THING GOING.
- WHO'S MISSING?

LITTLE CHINK GIRL,

ABOUT 16-17,

PRETTY.
HER NAME'S CRYSTAL.

CRYSTAL LING.

I NEED SOME HELP, SAM.

YOU KNOW THIS BURG
AND I DON'T.

I'M OUT OF IT.

ONCE IN, NEVER OUT.

HELL, I BET YOU'RE
STILL HALF SNOOP.

I TAUGHT YOU GOOD.

I BET YOU READ
OTHER PEOPLE'S MAIL,

POKE AROUND
THEIR MEDICINE CABINETS.

EAVESDROP.

WHEN I WALK DOWN THE STREET,
KNOW WHAT I STILL LOOK AT?

EARLOBES, NOSES,
EYEBROWS,

SCARS IF THERE
ARE ANY.

SEE WHAT I MEAN?

YEAH, BUT YOU'RE TRYING
TO PUT THEM IN JAIL.

I'M JUST TRYING
TO PUT 'EM IN A MAGAZINE.

LIKE I SAID,
I NEED SOME HELP, SAM.

ESPECIALLY IN CHINATOWN.

I WANT YOU
FOR MY TIN MITTENS.

NO CHANCE.
I DON'T SCREW AROUND
WITH THE COPS ANYMORE,

NOT IN THIS TOWN.

LET'S GO GET
SOME BOOZE.

IN A MINUTE.

LET ME TELL YOU
A STORY FIRST.

YOU LIKE STORIES,
DON'T YOU?

SURE YOU DO.

IT SEEMS LIKE THIS OLD BIRD

IS UP IN SOME PLACE THAT
SOUNDS A HELL OF A LOT
LIKE BUTTE, MONTANA.

HE HAD A SIDEKICK THIS TIME--

A KID THE AGENCY SENT,

GREEN AS GRASS.

SOMEHOW THEY GET
THEMSELVES IN THE SOUP,

AND THE OLD GUY TAKES
A SLUG IN THE SHOULDER

THAT BY RIGHTS SHOULD'VE TAKEN
THE KID IN THE LEFT EYE.

THE GREEN KID FALLS ALL OVER HIMSELF

TELLING THE OLD GUY NO MATTER WHAT HE WANTS,

NO MATTER WHEN,
NO MATTER WHERE,

JUST HOLLER.

YOU REMEMBER THAT STORY.

ANYWHERE, ANYTIME,
IS NOW HAMMETT.

I'M CALLING IT IN.

LET'S GO GET
THAT WHISKEY.

[ knocking ]

Woman: HI, NEIGHBOR.

CAN YOU SPARE A CUP OF BOOZE?

Hammett: HELLO, KIT. I'M ALL OUT.

OHH.

OH, SORRY.

I DIDN'T KNOW
YOU HAD COMPANY.

MISS CONGER,
MR. RYAN.

HOW ARE YOU?

KIT'S A LIBRARIAN DOWNTOWN.

WE WERE JUST
GOING OUT TO MAIL THIS,
BRING YOU BACK SOME BOOZE.

OKAY, LET ME GIVE YOU
THE MONEY.

SO WHERE ARE YOU FROM,
MR. RYAN?

BALTIMORE,
BIRMINGHAM,

BUTTE--
YOU NAME IT.

Conger:
ANY PLACE
THAT BEGINS WITH A "B."

I LEFT OUT BILOXI.

YOUR NEW STORY SET
IN ANY OF THOSE PLACES, SAM?

Hammett:
YEAH, MAYBE.
MAYBE NOT.

Ryan:
SOUNDED LIKE
BALTIMORE TO ME.

- DID YOU MAKE A CARBON?
- NO.

ONE OF THESE
DAYS YOU'RE--

IS THAT WHAT YOU WEAR
TO THE LIBRARY?

THAT'S WHAT I WEAR UNDERNEATH
WHAT I WEAR TO THE LIBRARY.

YOU NEVER SEEN
ANY BEFORE?

COUPLE OF TIMES.
MAYBE THREE.

FOUR COUNTING THE REDHEADED
CONTORTIONIST FROM YAKIMA.

CUTE DISH.

YEAH, VERY.

- [ cat howls ]
- I HEAR YOU LEFT PINKERTONS.

YEAH, THREE OR FOUR
YEARS AGO.

LONG HOURS,
SHORT DOUGH.

ANY MONEY
IN THE WRITING RACKET?

PENNY A WORD.

WRITE A MILLION WORDS,
YOU'LL BE SET.

LIKE "WAR AND PEACE."

BRING YOU BACK
SOME GIN.

GIN'S FOR OLD LADIES.
MAKE IT SCOTCH.

[ men singing ]

CHRIST, YOU'RE
SURE LOOKING FLUSH--

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
A BOOTLEGGER AND A BANKER.

Ryan:
GOT MY OWN AGENCY
UP IN TACOMA NOW.

A LOT OF DIVORCES
IN TACOMA.

NO WONDER.
HELL, IT RAINS
350 DAYS OF THE YEAR.

WHAT'S YOUR TOWN LIKE?
FREE AND EASY?

YEAH, MORE SO
THAN MOST.

WHO RUNS THINGS?

SAME PEOPLE THAT RUN
THINGS EVERYWHERE.

THE COPS, THE CROOKS
AND THE BIG RICH, HUH?

[ chuckles ]
WHO ELSE?

- WHERE?
- A LITTLE TO YOUR RIGHT
AND BACK SIX YARDS.

I'D SORTA
LIKE TO LOSE HIM.

- YOU STILL KNOW HOW?
- YEAH, I THINK I MIGHT
REMEMBER.

CORKSCREW
OR SPLIT AWAY?

CORKSCREW.
LOOKS LIKE I TAUGHT
YOU SOMETHING AFTER ALL.

[ coughing ]

KNOW WHO THAT PUNK
REMINDS ME OF?

- WHO?
- REMEMBER BLACKIE MALCOLM?

- MY GOD, YOU'RE RIGHT.
- WAIT, I GOTTA MAIL THIS.

- MAIL IT LATER!
- WAIT A MINUTE.

- WHAT?
- COME ON, MOVE IT.

- [ coughing ]
- YOU OKAY?

[ coughing ]
YEAH. IF WE
LOSE EACH OTHER,

MEET ME AT COOKIE'S.

- WHAT'S THAT, A SPEAK?
- YEAH, ASK ANYBODY.

[ coughing ]

[ man shouts in Chinese ]

[ shoes tapping ]

[ firecrackers exploding ]

WHERE'S MY STORY?

I LOST MY MANUSCRIPT!

COME ON!

FOR GOD'S SAKE, LET'S GO!

LET'S GET OUT OF THIS MESS!

BUT WHAT HAPPENED
TO MY MANUSCRIPT?

[ people shouting,
screaming ]

YOU SEE WHERE
THE BIG GUY WENT?

- THE GUY WITH THE HAT.
- [ speaks Chinese ]

[ men speaking French ]

SAILOR, YOU SEE
A BIG FELLA COME
THROUGH HERE?

NO, MONSIEUR,
I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYONE
BUT VERY PRETTY GIRLS.

- I DON'T LIKE PRETTY GIRLS.
- PRETTY ONES.

- YOU LIKE PRETTY GIRLS?
- Woman: TWO BIT FOR ME.

NO, THANKS.

I'M TRYING
TO TAPER OFF.

- Woman:
MY DAUGHTER WORK WITH ME.
- [ woman #2 speaking Chinese ]

MISTER?
MISTER?

HAVE YOU TIME?
HAVE YOU TIME?

TWO DOLLAR?

ONE DOLLAR?

JIMMY!

- Woman: JIMMY!
- [ women giggling ]

- Woman: JIMMY!
- Woman #2: JIMMY!

- Woman: JIMMY!
- Woman #2: JIMMY!

HELLO, TOM.

SAMUEL.

Hammett:
I SEE YOU'RE NOT PARTICULAR
ABOUT THE COMPANY YOU KEEP.

THEM THAT WORKS, EATS.

HELLO, O'MARA.

WHAT BRINGS YOU
DOWN TO THE DEPTHS?

CAME DOWN HERE
WITH A FRIEND OF MINE,

BUT HE SEEMS
TO HAVE GOTTEN LOST.

WHAT ARE YOU
OFFERING FOR HIM?
A NICKEL REWARD?

FOR YOU, O'MARA,
I'LL MAKE IT A DIME.

HE WOULD'VE TAKEN
THE NICKEL, SAMUEL.

A LITTLE OFF
YOUR REGULAR PATCH,
AREN'T YOU, HAMMETT?

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD
CHINATOWN ROPED OFF.

I DON'T, BUT SOMETIMES
I THINK IT'D BE A HELL
OF AN IDEA.

SURE YOU DIDN'T SEE
THIS FRIEND OF MINE, TOM?

A GUY ABOUT 50
OR SO, 6', TAN OVERCOAT
WITH A VELVET COLLAR.

- FANCY.
- CERTAINLY HAVEN'T SEEN
THE LIKES OF HIM.

WHAT WOULD YOUR FANCY
FRIEND BE DOING DOWN HERE?

LOOKING FOR
A CHINESE GIRL.

OH, AIN'T WE ALL?

YOUR FRIEND
A PRIVATE COP?

MAYBE.

MAYBE THERE'D BE
A LITTLE...?

COULD BE,
YOU NEVER KNOW.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, TOM?

THAT'S UP
TO YOU, LIEUTENANT.

WHO'S THE GIRL?

NAME'S CRYSTAL LING.

LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING, HAMMETT--

I NEVER HEARD OF ANY CHINK GIRL CALLED CRYSTAL LING.

IF YOU WERE HALF SMART,
YOU NEVER HEARD OF HER.

IF YOUR FANCY FRIEND
WITH THE VELVET COLLAR IS
HALF AS SMART AS YOU--

WHICH WOULD MAKE HIM
ONE-QUARTER SMART--

HE NEVER HEARD OF HER EITHER.

THAT'S A "LAY OFF" SPEECH
IF I EVER HEARD ONE.

GO HOME AND TYPE,
HAMMETT.

SAMUEL,
THAT AIN'T BAD ADVICE.

WHAT'S UP?

HOW YA DOING?

SAY, YOU'RE
DASHIELL HAMMETT,
AREN'T YOU?

THAT'S WHAT MY BIRTH
CERTIFICATE SAYS.

I'M A BIG ADMIRER
OF YOURS.

I'M A WRITER TOO.

- REALLY?
- NEWSPAPERMAN.

SALT--
GARY SALT.

I REALLY LIKED
THAT "YELLOW WOMEN."

I GUESS YOU WERE JUST
FOLLOWING ME IN THIS ALLEY

TO GET MY AUTOGRAPH,
RIGHT?

NO, ACTUALLY...

THE FACT IS,
THE FELLOW WHO WAS
WITH YOU THERE--

YOU MEAN JIMMY RYAN?

THAT'S IT, MR. HAMMETT.

WHAT DO YOU
WANT WITH HIM?

I HAVE SOMETHING
FOR HIM.

OH REALLY?

THAT'S INTERESTING.

HE'S PROBABLY OVER
AT COOKIE'S.

COME ON,
I'LL INTRODUCE YOU.

YEAH, UH,
GEE THANKS,
MR. HAMMETT.

COME ON, SALT.

I WON'T LET 'EM
HURT YA.

- Man: HI, SAM.
- HELLO, MIKE.

I DON'T WANNA HEAR
THIS CRAP!

Woman:
NOT JUST NOW, THANKS.

- HELLO, ELLEN.
- Ellen: HOW YOU DOING, SAM?

- SORRY.
- EXCUSE ME.

- SAM.
- HOW'S TRICKS?

YOU'RE KINDA LATE
TONIGHT, AIN'T YA?

I GUESS.

LOOKING FOR A PAL OF MINE--
CAMELHAIR COAT, BROWN HAT,

ABOUT 6'.

NOBODY HERE TONIGHT
EXCEPT REGULARS.

THANKS ANYWAY.

- WHAT'LL IT BE, PAL?
- NOTHING, THANKS.

HE ISN'T HERE.

DON'T WORRY,
HE'LL BE HERE.

WHY DON'T YOU DO
YOURSELF A FAVOR

AND TELL ME WHAT
YOU WANT HIM FOR?

IT HAS TO DO
WITH CHINATOWN.

Man: MY WIFE LEFT ME. SHE JUST WALKED OUT.

FREELANCE.
IT'S A FREELANCE JOB.

LIKE I SAY,
I BEEN WORKING ON THIS THING

FOR QUITE A WHILE...

[ hoarsely ]
EXCUSE ME.

OH, SORRY.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE
A PAL OF MINE

I USED TO WORK
WITH IN THE CIRCUS.
GOOD EVENING.

ALL RIGHT.

- HELLO, SID.
- HOW YOU DOING, SAM?

LITTLE GEEZER
WITH THE BOW TIE,
YOU SEE WHERE HE WENT?

NOT HERE.

[ man humming ]

[ humming ]

THAT'S GREAT COVER,
KID-- THE NEWSPAPER.
I REALLY LIKE THAT.

I KNEW A GUY ONCE
USED TO DISGUISE HIMSELF
AS A FIRE HYDRANT.

OF COURSE HE DID HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DOGS.

I'M GOING HOME TO GET SOME SHUT-EYE.

WHY DON'T YOU
SKIP THE SHOESHINE
AND TAKE A TAXI?

THERE'S A SWELL DOORWAY
ACROSS FROM MY PLACE.

YOU CAN STAND THERE
ALL NIGHT LONG.

- BRING A GOOD BOOK WITH YOU.
- [ hoarsely ] YOU BETTER GET
YOUR PICTURE TOOK, CREEP.

YOUR MAMA WON'T KNOW YOU
WHEN I'M FINISHED WITH YOU.

SEE YOU LATER, KID.

BY THE WAY,
YOUR PAPER'S UPSIDE DOWN.

LUCK'S GOT NOTHING
TO DO WITH IT, POP.

REMEMBER?

HELLO, SAM.

HELLO, MIKE.

- HOW'S CRISTA?
- Mike: GREAT.

WE NAMED THE BABY
AFTER YOU-- SAMANTHA.

SWELL.

DRINK UP, SON.

SKIP THE GUTTER.

[ shoes tapping ]

AIN'T YOU GONNA ASK ME
ABOUT YOUR LATEST?

IT JUST COME IN
THIS MORNING.

THAT SURE IS
FINE WORK, SAMUEL.

Hammett: GLAD YOU LIKE IT, POP.

Mike: SAM, SAM, SAM.

FOLEY AT THE WINTERLAND
GAVE IT TO ME STRAIGHT.

PUT YOUR MONEY
ON MICKEY WALKER.

Hammett: THAT'S A SUCKER BET, MIKE.

- Mike: THEY'RE
LAYING EIGHT TO FIVE.
- SMART MONEY'S ON POLESKI.

- Mike: HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT?
- Hammett: I'LL GO 50
ON POLESKI.

YOU'VE GOT IT, SAM.

[ shoes tapping ]

[ crashing ]

[ hoarsely ]
WHAT'RE YOU TRYING TO PULL?

NOBODY MESSES
WITH ME LIKE THAT--

NOBODY.
YOU JUST MADE
YOUR BIG MISTAKE.

I'M GONNA FIX YOU,
SUCKER.

[ laughing ]

HOW DO YOU LIKE
TO SAY "I TOLD YOU SO"?

TRY ME.

- I LOST MY MANUSCRIPT.
- I TOLD YOU SO.

WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW?
WRITE IT OVER?

I'LL WRITE
A BETTER ONE.

IT'S BEEN
A FULL EVENING, ANYWAY.

I MISPLACED JIMMY RYAN
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY.

MAYBE HE'S UP
IN YOUR PLACE.

JIMMY?

Ryan's voice:
THE AGENCY AND I TOOK YOU IN
OFF THE STREET, HAMMETT,

TAUGHT YOU DAMN NEAR
EVERYTHING YOU KNOW.

I TAUGHT YOU SURVEILLANCE,
THE FALLBACK,

EVEN HOW TO LIE.

IT TOOK ME YEARS
TO LEARN THAT.

AND I TAUGHT IT
TO YOU FOR FREE.

YOU TAKE IT AND SELL IT
ON THE STREET

IN A CHEAP MAGAZINE.

- [ typewriter clicking ]
- [ boys shouting ]

[ knocking ]

OH, NOW WHAT?

[ knocking ]

HMM.

WHAT DO YOU WANT,
SALT?

CAN I COME IN
FOR A MINUTE?

SALT, I'VE GOT A STORY
THAT WAS DUE DAY
BEFORE YESTERDAY.

SO WHATEVER YOU'VE GOT
TO SAY, MAKE IT SNAPPY.

THE TRUTH IS

I'M REALLY NOT A WRITER.

I JUST COLLECT GOSSIP
FOR THE PAPERS--

FOR "THE POST" AND "CALL."

I WAS TRYING TO WRITE
A REAL STORY FOR ONCE

ABOUT THE SLAVE RACKET
IN CHINATOWN--

12-, 13-YEAR-OLD GIRLS
COMING RIGHT OFF THE BOATS

AND INTO THE CRIBS.

I MET HER THERE.

CRYSTAL.

LOOK.

- OH.
- ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL?

YEAH, SHE IS BEAUTIFUL.
SHE'S VERY BEAUTIFUL.

- SO WHAT?
- A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT
TO TALK TO HER.

I'D LIKE TO TALK
TO HER MYSELF.

WHY IS EVERYBODY INTERESTED
IN THIS CHINESE DAME ANYWAY?

TELL YOUR FRIEND RYAN
I WANT HER BACK.

BACK? WHAT ARE
YOU TRYING TO TELL ME?

THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.
BELIEVE ME,

I'M ALREADY OUT
ON SUCH A LIMB.

TELL YOUR FRIEND RYAN
IF HE DOESN'T WATCH HIS STEP,
HE CAN WIND UP DEAD.

YOU TELL HIM
I MEAN IT.

YOUNG WILD WEST, EH?

[ phone ringing ]

- HELLO.
- Ryan: Sam, it's me.

RYAN, WHERE
THE HELL ARE YOU?

I'm in a jam.
Look in the dictionary.

Your big dictionary.

I can't talk now.

I've got to find
that girl.

[ dial tone ]

SWELL.

WHERE DO YOU WANT ME
TO START?

CAN I GET ANOTHER COPY
OF "THE CHRONICLE"
FOR JANUARY 3rd?

Man:
Coming right up, Sam!

THANKS, HANK.

[ shoes tapping ]

MAN ALIVE,
THIS GUY GOT IT RIGHT.

[ bell rings ]

[ shoes tapping ]

"MR. CALLAGHAN WAS
PROMINENT IN LOCAL BUSINESS
AND CIVIC CIRCLES...

RECENT FINANCIAL REVERSAL...
DESPONDENT...

ACCORDING TO A SPOKESMAN
FOR THE FAMILY ATTORNEY,

E.L. HAGEDORN."

ENGLISH EDDIE HAGEDORN.

[ shoes tapping ]

[ whistling ]

♪ I WISH THAT I...

[ whistling ]

- [ humming ]
- [ clicking continuing ]

- ♪ COULD WRITE A SONG
ABOUT YOU... ♪
- HELLO.

HELLO.

- REMEMBER ME?
- ELLEN.

- ELIZABETH.
- CHRISTMAS EVE, 1924.

THAT'S RIGHT.
I'M MARRIED NOW.

HMM.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

[ pats ]

[ whistling ]

LEE, WHERE WOULD
YOU GO IN CHINATOWN

TO FIND A GIRL
WHO'S RUN AWAY
FROM THE CRIBS?

THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE--

THE MISSION HOUSE
ON SACRAMENTO STREET.

[ horns honking ]

YES, MAY I
HELP YOU?

HOW DO YOU DO?
I'M PETER COLLINSEN
FROM "THE CHRONICLE."

I'D LIKE TO HAVE A WORD
WITH MISS CAMERON IF I MAY.

A NEWSPAPER REPORTER.

YES, MA'AM.
I'M FROM "THE CHRONICLE."

I'VE BEEN WORKING
ON A STORY ABOUT
THE SLAVE RACKETS DOWN HERE.

I'VE GOT A PROBLEM I THINK YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME WITH.

WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME TROUBLE
LOCATING OUR PRIMARY SOURCE.

WHO IS "WE,"
MR. COLLINSEN?

IT WOULDN'T BE FONG WEI TAU,
NOW WOULD IT?

WAIT A MINUTE--
I KNOW WHO HE IS,
BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.

YOUR SOURCE CAME TO US
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

WITH NOTHING
BUT THE CLOTHES ON HER BACK,

CRAZED WITH FEAR.

SHE WOULD ONLY TELL ME
SHE HAD ESCAPED FROM FONG.

FONG PAID $5,000 FOR HER

WHEN SHE WAS
BROUGHT HERE FROM CHINA

AT THE AGE OF 12.

$5,000!

SO HE COULD SELL HER BODY
IN HIS PARLOR-HOUSE.

IF SHE'S CAUGHT,
IT WOULDN'T BE A LIFE
WORTH LIVING,

NOW WOULD IT?

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
WHERE SHE IS NOW?

A YOUNG MAN TRICKED
ONE OF MY STAFF

INTO LETTING
HER LEAVE WITH HIM.

I'LL NEVER FORGIVE MYSELF
FOR BEING OUT THAT DAY.

THANKS,
THAT'S SWELL.

IF I FIND ANYTHING OUT,
I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME,

MR. HAMMETT.

I'VE LIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO
SINCE 1895, YOUNG MAN.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT OUR CITY.

YES, MA'AM,
I SHOULD'VE KNOWN BETTER.

- ELI.
- WHERE TO, HAMMETT?

THE MORGUE.

- YOU BACK ON THE GAME?
- SORT OF.

I WAS WORRIED THERE
FOR A WHILE.

I THOUGHT YOU WAS
GETTING HALFWAY RESPECTABLE,

LIKE ME.

- [ knocks ]
- Man: COME IN.

HELLO, DOC.
I HEARD YOU RETIRED.

I GOT 13 KIDS, HAMMETT.

YOU DON'T EVER RETIRE
IF YOU GOT 13 KIDS.

[ laughs ]
EVER HEARD OF A DOCTOR
WITH 13 KIDS?

[ laughing ]

I WAS SURE I HEARD
YOU RETIRED.

I HEARD YOU QUIT
DRINKING.

I GUESS WE
WERE BOTH WRONG.

[ shoes tapping ]

YOU KNOW WHAT
MY PROBLEM IS?

I'M A HALFWAY HONEST MAN

IN A 9/10s DISHONEST WORLD.

WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?

SUICIDE.

MY ADVICE?
DON'T HESITATE.

[ coughs ]
NOT MINE.

C.F. CALLAGHAN'S.

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK.

HAD A GUY IN LAST WEEK

ASKING ABOUT THE SAME THING.

THE GUY HAD
A FANCY TAN TOPCOAT

AND A HAT TO MATCH.

HE WAS ON THE EXPENSE.

[ shoes tapping ]

- YOU ON THE EXPENSE, HAMMETT?
- NOPE.

WE GO BACK A WAYS,
YOU AND I, DON'T WE?

QUITE A WAYS.

COLCORD THING IN '21.

I WASN'T IN ON THAT ONE, DOC.
WHAT ABOUT CALLAGHAN?

YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT
ON THE EXPENSE LIKE
THAT OTHER FELLOW?

I'M SURE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I GOT?

WHAT?

BAD KIDNEYS.

[ toilet flushes ]

[ chuckles ]

LIKE I SAID,

A MOST INTERESTING CASE.

[ spits ]

THE VICTIM STRUCK
HIMSELF IN THE HEAD

WITH A BLUNT INSTRUMENT,

AND THEN PUMPED
A .38 ROUND INTO HIS HEART.

OR MAYBE IT WAS
VICE VERSA.

SUICIDE...
[ laughing ]

IS OFTEN FASCINATING.

I'LL SAY.

- [ horse snorts ]
- [ siren approaching ]

- [ door closes ]
- [ whistling ]

- [ speaks Chinese ]
- [ gasps ]

CRYSTAL LING, RIGHT?

[ strong accent ]
DO YOU ALWAYS LEAVE YOUR DOOR
UNLOCKED, MR. HAMMETT?

WHY NOT?
NOTHING OF VALUE.

YOU NEVER KNOW
WHO WILL COME IN.

I GUESS NOT.

WHILE WAITING
FOR YOU HERE,

I FELT SO SAFE--

PROTECTED.

IT'S SUCH
A MASCULINE PLACE.

SAFE FROM WHAT?

YOUR FRIEND
MR. RYAN.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT ME AND RYAN?

YOU AND HE WERE
IN CHINATOWN LAST NIGHT.

NOTHING THERE
GOES UNOBSERVED.

WOULD YOU TELL
YOUR MR. RYAN

TO STOP LOOKING
FOR ME?

I AM NOT LOST.

WHAT ABOUT
A GUY NAMED SALT?
GARY SALT.

- [ sighs ]
- HE ALSO SEEMS TO THINK
YOU'RE LOST OR STRAYED.

SALT.

HE'S A EVIL
LITTLE MAN.

HE'S CORRUPT.

HE IS WORSE THAN FONG WEI TAU.

NO, THAT IS NOT TRUE.

NO ONE IS WORSE
THAN FONG--

NOT EVEN SALT.

SO WHY COME TO ME?

IN CHINATOWN,

YOU ARE KNOWN
AS A KIND MAN...

A JUST MAN.

I CAME BECAUSE I NEED

A SAFE PLACE
TO STAY FOR A FEW HOURS.

NO MORE THAN EIGHT.

I NEED A HAVEN.

IF YOU COULD HELP ME...

- I WOULD--
- YOU'D DO WHAT?

ANYTHING.

ANYTHING WHAT YOU WANT.

I BET YOU WOULD
AT THAT.

FIRST YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO DO SOMETHING FOR ME.

AFTER ALL,
I AM A KIND MAN,
A JUST MAN.

ANYTHING.

ANYTHING AT ALL.

TELL ME ABOUT YOU
AND C.F. CALLAGHAN.

I CANNOT.

WHY NOT?

I WAS THERE
WHEN SHE KILLED HIM.

WHO'S SHE?

HIS WIFE.

OH, MRS. CALLAGHAN.

I FLED AND...

LATER THE POLICE CAME

- AND--
- CALLED IT SUICIDE.

SUICIDE.

WHAT THE HELL
WERE YOU DOING THERE?

[ clears throat ]
YOU SEE, MR. CALLAGHAN,

HE BOUGHT ME.

BOUGHT ME FROM FONG.

YOU SPIN QUITE
A TALE, SISTER.

IT'S TRUE, MR. HAMMETT.

IT'S ALL TERRIBLY,
HORRIBLY TRUE.

YOU MUST UNDERSTAND,

I WAS A WHORE--

A VERY VERY SKILLED WHORE--

UNTIL I FOUND CHRIST,
MY REDEEMER.

AT THE MISSION?

YES, AT THE MISSION.

I WAS MADE TO DO SUCH...

TERRIBLY WICKED THINGS.

I THINK MAYBE
I BETTER GO NOW.

MR. HAMMETT--

CAN I STAY?

SURE, OKAY.
LOCK THE DOOR.

DON'T LET ANYONE IN
AND DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE.
I'LL BE BACK LATER.

I WAS SO VERY WICKED.

YEAH, I CAN
BELIEVE THAT.

[ door opens,
closes ]

[ knocking ]

[ footsteps approaching ]

HOW ARE THE WONDERS
OF THE ORIENT?

I SAW HER GO UP.

SHE'S A FAVOR
I OWE RYAN.

SURE SAM, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU BET.

THERE'S A COP I KNOW
WHO IS A LITTLE SHIFTY,

BUT HE'S BASICALLY OKAY.

HIS NAME'S BRADFORD.

TOM BRADFORD.

IF I'M NOT BACK
BY THE TIME YOU GO
TO WORK TOMORROW,

CALL HIM AND TELL HIM
TO COME LOOKING FOR ME
AT FONG'S.

- THAT'S ALL? JUST FONG'S?
- YEAH, HE'LL KNOW
WHAT YOU MEAN.

THAT'S GOOD.

WHAT ABOUT THE LITTLE
FORTUNE COOKIE UPSTAIRS?

YOU'D BETTER STAY
AWAY FROM HER.

WHY, IS SHE TROUBLE?

[ chuckles ]

SHE'S A DISASTER.

Man: HEY!

[ people speaking Chinese ]

THREE FLOWERS.
TWO CRACK, ONE BOUND.

CRAPS, ROULETTE,
BLACKJACK?

I WANNA SEE FONG.

I'LL BE
AT THE BLACKJACK TABLE.

- TWO DOLLAR.
- LUCKY PEOPLE HERE.

EVERYBODY WINS.
GOT THE CARDS?

OKAY.
EXCHANGE, SIR.

ANYONE ELSE?

PLACE YOUR BETS.

DEALER HAS ACE SHOWING.

INSURANCE, ANYONE?

DEALER HAS 21.

YOU, COME WITH ME.

MR. HAMMETT,
I AM HONORED.

YOUR RENOWN
PRECEDES YOU.

YEAH? I'VE HEARD
A FEW THINGS ABOUT YOU TOO.

INDEED?

PERHAPS YOU CAN GET
RIGHT TO THE POINT
OF YOUR VISIT?

I WAS WONDERING
IF A FRIEND OF MINE'S
BEEN AROUND-- JIMMY RYAN.

RYAN.
JIMMY RYAN.

HEARD THE TWO OF YOU
HAVE A MUTUAL FRIEND,

A NIFTY LITTLE GIRL
NAMED CRYSTAL.

PERHAPS WE ARE
A BIT TOO PUBLIC HERE.

PLEASE COME THIS WAY.

Dealer:
PLACE YOUR BETS, EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY WINS HERE.

EVERYBODY WINS.
NO MORE BETS.

VERY NICE.
SIMPLE BUT ELEGANT.

I LIKE YOUR PAINTINGS.

YOUR FRIEND JIMMY
HAS BEEN HERE.

INDEED, HE IS
STILL HERE,

ENJOYING MY HOSPITALITY
WHILE I CONSIDER

A PROPOSITION
HE HAS MADE ME.

WHAT KIND
OF PROPOSITION?

CRYSTAL DID YOU SAY?

AN INTERESTING PIECE
OF WORK, MR. HAMMETT.

MY FIRST ENCOUNTER
WITH THE DETECTIVE GENRE.

IS THIS PURE INVENTION

OR DO YOU DRAW
YOUR MATERIAL FROM LIFE?

REAL LIFE, FONG.

I'LL BE GLAD TO SHOW YOU
SOME OF MY POEMS SOMETIME.

BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND,
I'D LIKE TO HAVE THIS BACK.

NOW NOW, MR. HAMMETT.
COMMON SENSE WOULD DICTATE
YOU LISTEN QUIETLY.

PERHAPS YOUR WORK HAS MADE

THE HABIT OF FANTASY TOO STRONG IN YOU.

YOU WILL FIND THAT I AM
NOT SO EASILY DEALT WITH...

AS YOUR PAPER VILLAINS.

IN THAT CASE,
I THINK I'LL BE LEAVING.

THANKS FOR THE TEA.

[ groans ]

EVIDENTLY YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS

I TALK TO THIS LADY,

SO PLEASE DON'T BE SILLY.

JUST TELL ME WHERE SHE IS.

SURE.

DO YOU REALLY INSIST
ON THIS FOOLISHNESS?

GO TO HELL.

PHYSICAL HEROISM

IS NOT THE WRITER'S
METIER, MY FRIEND.

REMEMBER ABOUT CRYSTAL QUICKLY

AND SAVE YOURSELF A GREAT DEAL OF VEXATION.

[ lock thuds ]

[ man laughing ]

- [ gunshot ]
- YOU GONNA BE ABLE
TO CUT IT, LADDIE BUCK?

OH GOD.

WHY COULDN'T
THEY BE GIANT SPIDERS
AND PINK ELEPHANTS?

WHERE THE HELL IS
THIS SUPPOSED TO BE?

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

IT'S A MEXICAN
CRIB JOINT.

CHRIST,
YOU PICKED IT OUT.

[ horse whinnies ]

Hammett: I DID?

I TOLD YOU
HE WOULDN'T REMEMBER.

Ryan's voice:
THIS IS IT, KID.

THIS IS WHERE
THEY MAKE THE BIG PAYOFF--

GENERAL CALAVERAS
AND HIS BUNCH.

20 CRATES
OF SPRINGFIELD 03s

FOR 85,000 MEXICAN
SILVER DOLLARS.

NOW DO YOU REMEMBER?

Crystal's voice:
WE'LL HAVE TO WORK IT
WITHOUT HIM.

AND YOU WERE SUPPOSED
TO BE MY BACKUP.

JESUS, SOME BACKUP.

AHH.

[ music playing ]

[ mechanized laughter ]

[ girl giggling ]

WHO ARE YOU?

[ giggling continues ]

[ typewriter clicking ]

[ giggling ]

JESUS.

WHERE ARE WE?

[ people chatting ]

[ girl giggles ]

WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME?

CUTE LITTLE DICKENS.

[ women shouting ]

[ scattered screams ]

- [ speaking Chinese ]
- COME ON. NO.

[ speaking Chinese ]

NO, THANK YOU.

[ shouting Chinese ]

Hammett:
GET LOST, KID.

RYAN, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING IN THERE?

GET THE LID OFF, KID.

[ giggling ]

IS IT LOCKED?

WHY THE HELL
SHOULD IT BE LOCKED?
I CAN'T REACH IT.

GIMME YOUR HAND.

[ groaning ]

[ sighs ]

WHOA.

JESUS.

WHAT HAPPENED?

THE DEAL WENT
A LITTLE SOUR.

THAT'S ALL.

- I'LL SAY.
- JUST A LITTLE SOUR.

[ men shouting Chinese ]

LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

DAMN.

[ shouting Chinese ]

[ shouts Chinese ]

[ coughing ]

Ryan:
SADDLE UP!

[ laughing ]

DOWN BELOW!

[ coughs ]

ALL RIGHT, YOU TWO.
LET'S GO.

TOO BAD YOUR GIRLFRIEND
CALLED US.

I COULD'VE TAKEN YOU
OUT OF HERE IN A BOX.

COME ON, GET IN.

[ coughing ]

SO YOU'RE THE FAMOUS
JIMMY RYAN, HUH?

YEAH, I'M RYAN.

YOU AND ME, BUCKO--
YOU AND ME,

WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A LITTLE TALK.

GET IN.

[ coughing ]

[ engine starts ]

KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED
TO YOU, RYAN?

YOU'RE FALLING APART.
YOUR NERVE'S SHOT

AND YOUR BRAIN'S PICKLED.

YOU KNOW
THE ONLY MISTAKE I MADE?
I FELT SORRY FOR YA!

NOBODY HAS TO FEEL
SORRY FOR JIMMY-- NOBODY.

WHY DON'T YOU START
WITH THAT DUMB PHONE CALL

ABOUT THE DICTIONARY
AND GO FROM THERE?

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING, RYAN?
SOME CUTE SHAKEDOWN?

A LITTLE EXTORTION, MAYBE?

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
THAT PHONE CALL WAS?

YOU THE GREAT DETECTIVE
STORY WRITER?

THAT WAS A CLUE, YOU SIMPLE SON OF A BITCH.

THEY WENT AFTER YOU
AND I WENT ABOUT MY BUSINESS.

ALL RIGHT, HAMMETT.

ONE MORE TIME.

WHY HAVE YOU BEEN ASKING
ALL OVER TOWN

ABOUT CRYSTAL LING?

I HAVEN'T BEEN
ASKING ALL OVER TOWN.

YOU ASKED ME.

YOU ASKED TOM.

YOU ASKED FONG.

YOU EVEN TRIED
TO BRIBE ME AND TOM.

AS GOD IS MY WITNESS,
DIDN'T HE TRY TO BRIBE US, TOM?

IF GOD IS YOUR WITNESS,
LIEUTENANT,

HE CERTAINLY TRIED
TO BRIBE US.

WHAT DO YOU DO
WHEN YOU GO HOME
AT NIGHT, TOM?

- THROW UP?
- I DRINK, SAMUEL.

I DRINK A WHOLE LOT,
THEN I THROW UP.

RYAN SAYS YOU'RE
HIS GO-BETWEEN.

- HIS TIN MITTENS.
- RYAN'S LYING.

GET YOUR PAWS OFF ME!

COME ON!

COME ON.

WHERE WERE YOU AT 3:13
THIS MORNING, HAMMETT?

I TOLD YOU I WAS
AT FONG'S. WHY?

BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN
IT HAPPENED, THAT'S WHY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE HELL YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT.

ALL RIGHT.
TAKE HIM DOWN,
SHOW HIM

AND THEN THROW HIM OUT!

COME ON, SAMUEL.

CRYSTAL LING.

SHE GOT IT EXACTLY
3:13 A.M.

IT WAS AT THE END
OF THE LINE

ON THE #19 TROLLEY RUN.

THE MOTORMAN
AND THE CONDUCTOR

BOTH JUST LOOKED
AT THEIR WATCHES

WHEN THEY HEARD
HER SCREAM.

HOW MANY TIMES?

DID SHE SCREAM?

JUST ONCE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO HER FACE?

SHE GOT IT
BASHED IN, DIDN'T SHE?

THEY FOUND A BASEBALL BAT
NEXT TO HER BODY.

SHE WAS STRUCK
ON THE HEAD NINE TIMES,

MAYBE 10.

SEXUALLY ASSAULTED?

WE HAVEN'T RUN
THE TESTS YET,

BUT IF I HAD TO GUESS,
I'D SAY PROBABLY.

Bradford:
WE AIN'T QUITE
THROUGH YET, SAMUEL.

[ film projector clicking ]

[ Hammett chuckling ]

Hammett: HMM.

[ chuckles ]

THINK I GOT
THE IDEA.

THAT'S ENOUGH.

THAT'S ENOUGH,
DAMN IT!

WHERE'D YOU GET IT?

IT'S BEEN MAKING
THE ROUNDS OF THE STAGS

FOR THE LAST
THREE MONTHS.

WHO MADE IT?

HMM, THAT'S WHAT
WE THOUGHT YOU'D BE
TELLING US.

ME?! YOU GOT
THE WRONG GUY.

- YOU SHOULD BE TALKING TO--
- YOU BEEN NOSING AROUND
ABOUT HER, SAMUEL.

- YOU GOT US CURIOUS.
- WHAT'D YOU DO WITH RYAN?

- WE LET HIM WALK.
- YOU DID?

SWELL, I THINK
I'LL DO THE SAME.

SAMUEL.

YOU WANT A NIP
BEFORE YOU GO?

I COULD USE A SNIFTER AFTER THAT.

[ sighs ]

MR. HAMMETT,
YOU LOOK TERRIBLE.

BEAT IT, SALT.

I'M TIRED.

I HEARD YOU AND RYAN
GOT PICKED UP.

DID HE TELL 'EM
ANYTHING AT ALL
ABOUT CRYSTAL?

WHAT WOULD HE TELL
THEM ABOUT CRYSTAL?

FOR THAT MATTER,
WHAT WOULD YOUTELL THEM
ABOUT CRYSTAL?

FOR PETE'S SAKE,
MR. HAMMETT,

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

Hammett:
HEY, LOOK AT THAT.
IT'S GOING TO BE

THE LONGEST SUSPENSION BRIDGE
IN THE WORLD.

THE GRAFT'LL PROBABLY
SET A WORLD RECORD TOO.

BEAUTIFUL.

YEAH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

I JUST HOPE
I LIVE TO SEE IT.

LOOK, SALT, I'M GETTING
TIRED OF BEING TREATED
LIKE A VILLAGE IDIOT!

LET'S JUST PRETEND--
LET'S JUST PRETEND

I'M GONNA SLAP YOU
TO SLEEP

UNLESS I GET SOME
STRAIGHT ANSWERS.

IT WAS YOU THAT
TOOK CRYSTAL AWAY FROM
THE CAMERON DAME, WASN'T IT?

- NO.
- SHE WAS ON THE RUN,

BUT IT WASN'T SOME
PENNY ANTE BULLSHIT,
WAS IT?!

NOW CRYSTAL'S DEAD, SALT.

SHE'S DOWN THERE ON A SLAB
WITH A SHEET OVER HER HEAD!

GO ASK THE COPS!

[ coughing ]

HELLO, HANK,
WHAT'S COOKING?

WHERE YOU BEEN
HANGING OUT, SON?

GOOD GOD, SAM,

YOU LOOK LIKE SOMETHING
THE CAT DRAGGED IN.

- WHAT HAPPENED?
- NEVER MIND.

YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE ME
IF I TOLD YOU.

- WOULD YOU LIKE A SNORT?
- I'D LIKE SOMETHING
TO TAKE HOME, POPS.

I'M OUT.

THE BLUE PLATE SPECIAL.

I'VE BEEN SAVING IT
FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY.

FAT CHANCE.

OH, MR. HAMMETT,

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?

SLIPPED ON
A BANANA PEEL, ROSE.

OH, I'M SORRY.

[ Rose speaks Chinese ]

Boy:
...45, 50, 55, 60,

65, 70, 75, 80,

85, 90, 95, 100.

READY OR NOT,
HERE I COME!

[ softly ]
ARE THEY UP THERE?

[ silent ]

[ chuckles ]

[ door closes ]

GOOD GOD.

[ sighs ]
I DON'T KNOW WHICH
LOOKS WORSE--

YOU OR THIS.

DON'T WORRY
ABOUT THE BLOOD.

IT PROBABLY BELONGED
TO A CHICKEN.

- A WHAT?
- OR A DUCK.

MAYBE IT'S JUST ANOTHER
CASE OF SUICIDE.

IN ANY CASE,
IT'S A JUST WARNING--
MAYBE THE THIRD OR FOURTH,

I CAN'T REMEMBER
EXACTLY.

WARNING TO DO WHAT?

LAY OFF.

IT ALL STARTED
WITH RYAN.

AFTER RYAN CAME
GARY SALT,

AFTER SALT, THE COPS.
AFTER THE COPS,
CRYSTAL LING.

ALMOST ONE, TWO, THREE.
NOW RYAN'S GONE,

AND CRYSTAL LING'S
ABOUT TO BE BURIED
BY THE COPS.

THAT LEAVES ONLY
GARY SALT, DOESN'T IT?

WHO'S GARY SALT?

GARY SALT'S A GUY
WHO LAST THURSDAY

PUT 50¢ DOWN
ON 777.

- NUMBERS.
- RIGHT, OKAY.

YOU FIGURED OUT
HE PLAYS THE NUMBERS.
WHAT DO THE NAMES MEAN?

HERSON, CHAMBLERS, NORSETTE,
CREEL, MICHAELSON, DORN.

MONEY-- POTS OF MONEY.
SIX OF THE RICHEST MEN
IN SAN FRANCISCO.

RIGHT AGAIN.
WOULD YOU BE
A DIPPY ENOUGH ANGEL

- TO SPEND A LITTLE
SHOE LEATHER?
- DOING WHAT?

LOOKING
FOR GARY SALT.

WHO THE HELL
ARE YOU NOW,

HAMMETT THE WRITER
OR HAMMETT THE DETECTIVE?

I THINK YOU LEFT OUT
HAMMETT THE FOOL.

WHAT A WASTE.

KIT, THIS IS ELI,

THE LAST OF THE I.W.W.
ORGANIZERS.

ARE YOU REALLY
A WOBBLY?

NO, THAT'S JUST
HAMMETT TALKING.

WHAT I AM NOW IS
SORT OF AN ANARCHIST

WITH CYNICALIST
TENDENCIES.

ELI,

WHO USES
PINK NUMBER SLIPS?

OH, PROBABLY
FRANK NESTER OVER IN
THE OLD MISSION DISTRICT.

HE RUNS A NEWSSTAND.

LET'S GO HAVE
A WORD WITH HIM.

I THOUGHT YOU TOLD ME
YOU WERE A STRIKEBREAKER

WHEN YOU WORKED
FOR THE PINKERTONS?

I WAS.
THAT'S WHY I QUIT.

♪ JUST DOING MY JOB,
IF YOU PLEASE. ♪

Eli:
FILL 'ER UP.

626.

THANK YOU.

YOU LOST, PAL.

LOOKING FOR THE GUY
WHO BOUGHT IT.

YEAH, SURE YOU ARE.

- YOU A COP?
- WHAT ABOUT HER?

WELL, YOU CAN'T
FORGET HER EVER.

THAT STUDIO
UP THE STAIRS--

SHE USED TO COME AND GO,
IN AND OUT.

THANKS.

- SHE IN TROUBLE?
- Hammett: MAYBE.

- Man: DAMES LIKE HER...
- Hammett: STICK AROUND, ELI.

...THEY LIVE ON TROUBLE.

[ lock clicks ]

WHAT A GRAND DUMP.

WHAT ARE
WE LOOKING FOR?

WISH I KNEW.

MAYBE WE'LL FIND
YOUR MANUSCRIPT.

I KNOW WHERE
THAT IS.

TOO BAD YOU DIDN'T
GET TO READ IT.

SOMEBODY IN IT YOU MIGHT
BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH.

A GIRL?

MAYBE.

SHE HAD EYES TOO CLOSE
FOR TRUSTING,

YET WIDE ENOUGH
FOR BEAUTY.

HOW'D YOU GUESS?

BECAUSE ALL YOUR WOMEN
ARE LIKE THAT.

HOW COME YOU NEVER
WRITE ABOUT WOMEN

WITH EYES
LIKE LOST LAKES?

BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE
DOES, PRECIOUS.

LOOK AT THIS--
JAMES RYAN,

$100 RETAINER.

IT'S DATED
THE 27th.

THAT'S A WEEK AGO.

JIMMY RYAN'S
BIG TIME CLIENT--
GARY SALT.

BOUGHT RYAN
FOR 100 BUCKS.

THIS MUST BE
THE BEDROOM.

Hammett:
GUESS AGAIN.

MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO HAVE A BRASS BED JUST LIKE THIS.

OH, SHE USED TO HIDE
HER OLD LOVE LETTERS IN HERE.

SHE THOUGHT IT WAS
A BIG SECRET,

BUT MY BROTHERS AND I
USED TO READ THEM.

YOUR GRANDMOTHER--
HOW IS OLD LIZZY?

I HAVE TO WRITE HER.

- OH LOOK, THERE IS
SOMETHING IN HERE.
- [ soft thud ]

YEAH?
WHAT IS IT?

SHH!

[ man speaking hoarsely ]
KEEP MOVING, SWEETIE.

WE'RE ALMOST THERE.

Salt:
I KEEP TELLING YOU,
I HAVEN'T GOT 'EM.

I SWEAR I HAVEN'T.

Man:
HAGEDORN SAYS
YOU GOT 'EM.

THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH
FOR ME.

Salt:
HAGEDORN'S WRONG.

Man:
HAGEDORN'S NEVER WRONG,
SWEETIE. NEVER.

Salt:
LOOK, CAN'T WE
MAKE A DEAL?

- [ door opens, closes ]
- Man: I DON'T MAKE DEALS,
SWEETIE.

YOU OUGHTA KNOW
THAT BY NOW.

- Salt: I CAN CUT YOU IN.
- Man: NO.

YOU CAN HAVE MY END
OF THE SPLIT.

Man:
I SAID NO.

I JUST WANT
WHAT I'M SENT FOR.

BUT I HAVEN'T
GOT 'EM!

THEN YOU BETTER
FIND 'EM.

PLEASE, LET'S TALK
ABOUT IT.

WE'VE JUST RUN OUT
OF TALK.

GET IN THE BEDROOM,
YOU SQUIRM.

I WANT 'EM NOW,
PALLY.

- NOT TOMORROW,
NOT THE NEXT DAY.
- [ gun cocks ]

NOW.

I HAVEN'T GOT 'EM
ANYMORE.

I SWEAR TO GOD,
I HAVEN'T GOT 'EM.

WHAT YOU'VE GOT
IS FIVE SECONDS.

ONE, TWO...

- DON'T.
- FOUR.

FOR GOD'S SAKE.

LOOK, I--

FIVE.

[ whistling ]

[ glass clinks ]

[ Kit screams ]

DON'T BE A CHUMP.
LET HER GO.

JUST ONE MORE STEP,
SWEETIE, AND SHE GOES,

BUT SHE GOES SLOW.

REAL SLOW.

I SAID LET HER GO!

COME ON,
THAT OLD WHEEZE?

YEAH.

- CALL IT.
- REAL SOON.

I'M GONNA TAKE YOU
RIGHT OFF THE COUNT
REAL SOON.

HOW 'BOUT RIGHT NOW,
GOD DAMN IT?!

[ heavy thud ]

[ gasps ]

WHAT THE HELL?!

JOHNNY ON THE SPOT.

WHERE'D YOU GET
THE ARTILLERY, ELI?

YOU SHOULD PUT
WHEELS ON IT.

YOU NEED A LITTLE PROTECTION
WHEN YOU DRIVE A HACK
IN FRISCO.

[ laughs ]

SAN FRANCISCO.

I HACK HERE, LADY.
I CALL IT FRISCO.

THE ENVELOPE--
WHAT WAS IN THAT
ENVELOPE, KIT?

OH, I DON'T KNOW.

I DIDN'T LOOK.

YOU'RE A SWELL
DETECTIVE, SWEETHEART.

RECOGNIZE HIM?

SIX ON THE LIST?

YEAH,
AND SALT'S DEAD.

OHH.

SHOULDN'T WE CALL
THE POLICE?

SHOULDN'T WE DO
SOMETHING LEGAL?

FIRST WE'LL DROP
YOU OFF, ANGEL.

YOU CALL THE COPS
AND I'LL GO SEE HAGEDORN.

WHAT SHOULD
I TELL THE POLICE?

TELL THEM YOU KNOW
WHERE THEY CAN FIND
ANOTHER BODY...

THAT WE KNOW
WASN'T A SUICIDE.

AND NO NAMES. HERE,

TUCK THESE AWAY
SOMEPLACE SAFE.

YOU KNOW
THE NICEST PEOPLE.

[ chuckles ]

WHERE'S YOUR GUN?

IN THE TOP DRAWER
OF MY DESK.

OHH.

NEED A GOOD
MONKEY WRENCH, ELI?

PRETTY FANCY.

Eli: YEAH.

HEY, ARE YOU GONNA
BE A LONG TIME?

NEVER EARLY,
NEVER LATE.

- WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
- THAT'S WHAT THEY ALL SAY.

I'M ONLY HUMAN.
I JUST WANNA KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON.

SURE SURE,
I DON'T BLAME YOU.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON.

PIDDLE AROUND
HERE FOR A WHILE,
THEN WE'LL GO HOME.

- DEAL?
- YEAH, DEAL.

[ footsteps approaching ]

[ hoarsely ]
WHO'S THERE?

YOU DON'T WANT
A BELLYFUL OF DAYLIGHT.

[ bird squawks ]

COME OUT
WITH YOUR HANDS UP.

[ squeaks ]

Bird:
YOU'VE GOT
SHIFTY EYES.

[ squawks ]

HOLD IT, SON.

YOU GOT SHIFTY EYES.

LET'S GO.
IT LOOKS LIKE EDDIE'S
GONNA NEED A NEW BOY.

[ bird squawks ]

A LITTLE KID TOOK THIS
AWAY FROM HIM,

BUT I MADE HIM
GIVE IT BACK.

YOU SON OF A BITCH.
I'LL STRANGLE YOU
WITH YOUR OWN GUTS.

PEOPLE LOSE TEETH
TALKING LIKE THAT.

WHAT'S IN THERE?
GET IN, OPEN IT.

HOW DO YOU DO,
MR. HAGEDORN?

I THOUGHT WE SHOULD
HAVE A LITTLE CHAT.

INDEED, SIR.

I FEAR YOU HAVE
THE ADVANTAGE OF ME.

TRULY, SIR, I DO.

WHAT'S THE STORY
ON YOU AND JIMMY RYAN?

MY GOD, SIR, I THINK
YOU AND I ARE

GOING TO
GET ALONG PERFECTLY.

I LIKE A MAN WHO FAVORS
THE FORTHRIGHT APPROACH.

YOU HAVE A UNIQUE
PERSUASIVE STYLE, SIR.

PERHAPS A LITTLE LACKING
IN FINESSE,

BUT THEN POLISH
ISN'T EVERYTHING.

WHOM HAVE I THE HONOR
OF ADDRESSING?

SAM HAMMETT.

[ steam hissing ]

SAMUEL DASHIELL HAMMETT,

FORMER PINKERTON MAN.

NOW WHAT?

MASTER OF THE PENNY
DREADFUL.

- GETTING RICH?
- SCRAPING BY.

AREN'T WE ALL?

WELL, SIR,
NOW WHAT SHALL
WE TALK ABOUT?

FIRST OFF, HIM,
YOUR GUNSEL.

WHY'S HE TAILING ME
ALL OVER TOWN?!

DOES HE THINK
I'M PRETTY OR WHAT?!

GUNSEL?

MY WORD, SIR,
WHAT A PRECISE USE
OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

YOU KNOW THE SYNONYM
OF GUNSEL, OF COURSE?

CATAMITE, NANCE,
FAIRY, PUNK.

BY THE WAY, YOU SHOULDN'T
LET HIM CARRY THIS.

SMACKS OF ILL WILL.
AGAIN, WHY IS HE
TAILING ME?!

WE'RE LOOKING
FOR YOUR MR. RYAN, ACTUALLY,

WHO WE FEEL MIGHT BE
IN POSSESSION

OF CERTAIN INFORMATION
USEFUL TO MY CLIENT.

MRS. CALLAGHAN,
WHOSE LATE HUSBAND
KILLED HIMSELF SORT OF.

WHY DID CALLAGHAN
KILL HIMSELF?
IF HE DID.

SIR, HE WAS RUINED--
FINANCIALLY, I MEAN.

WHAT WAS IT--
LIQUOR, WOMEN, GAMBLING?

HE GUESSED WRONG
ON THE COMMODITY MARKET.

THE MARKET ROSE
AND HE COULDN'T COVER
HIS SHORT POSITION.

I SEE. WHAT ABOUT
CALLAGHAN AND CRYSTAL LING?

THE LATE CRYSTAL LING.
[ laughing ]

WHAT ABOUT THEM?

I UNDERSTAND HE
BOUGHT HER FROM FONG.

MY WORD, SIR,

YOU HAVE BEEN
AMONGST LIARS.

I'LL SAY.

CRYSTAL WAS ALMOST LIKE
A DAUGHTER TO THE CALLAGHANS.

OH, I'M SURE THEY HAD
SOME SWELL SUNDAY DINNERS.

ANYWAY, THEY'RE BOTH
DEAD NOW.

ONE MURDERED
AND ONE A SUICIDE--

ACCORDING TO THE COPS,
THAT IS.

NOW THERE'S A THIRD BODY
IN THE MORGUE YOU MIGHT
BE INTERESTED IN.

NOT A SUICIDE,
VERY MURDERED--

WITH A WITNESS.

MIGHT I ASK WHOM?

GARY SALT.

- SALT?
- A SHORT PORNOGRAPHER.

MURDERED, YOU SAY?

AS IN BUMPED OFF
BY YOUR LITTLE ROOMIE.

SEEMS HE GOT IMPATIENT
WHEN HE WENT AFTER
THE DIRTY PICTURES.

MAYBE HE JUST LIKES
HIS WORK.

ALL I KNOW IS HE
BLEW A HOLE THROUGH
SALT'S CHEST!

OH DEAR.

[ groans ]

[ snoring ]

[ groans ]

I HAD TO SEARCH YOU,
MR. HAMMETT.

MY CLIENTS WOULD NEVER
HAVE FORGIVEN ME
IF I HADN'T.

YOU DO UNDERSTAND?

OF COURSE.

I SHALL MISS
MY WINSTON, MR. HAMMETT.

WELL, I WON'T.

WE WERE TOGETHER
FOR A LONG TIME.
A VERY LONG TIME.

WE... UNDERSTOOD
EACH OTHER.

BUT AS AN OFFICER
OF THE COURT,

I HAVE MY SWORN DUTY.

WHO ARE YOU CALLING?

WHY, THE PROPER
AUTHORITIES OF COURSE.

WHO'LL DO WHAT?

TIDY THINGS UP,
NATURALLY.

- JUST LIKE THAT?
- YES, MR. HAMMETT,
JUST LIKE THAT.

YOU'RE AN ORIGINAL,
HAGEDORN.

THE FRONT DOOR
IS TO THE LEFT.

THANK YOU.

- [ knocking ]
- Bradford: OPEN UP, SAMUEL.

I'M ON THE PHONE!

MAKE IT SNAPPY!

[ whispers ]
KIT!

- WHAT?
- MY LAWYER'S JIM WELCH.

HE'S IN THE BOOK.
CALL HIM AS SOON AS
I GO THROUGH THE DOOR.

I DON'T THINK I LIKE
THIS NEW CAREER OF YOURS.

IT ALMOST GOT ME
KILLED TONIGHT.

AND FOR WHAT?
ANSWER ME THAT,
SMART GUY.

WHAT WAS IN IT
FOR ME?

A PEEP IN THE CESSPOOL?
A ROLL IN THE HAY?

A ROLL IN THE HAY
AT LEAST.

I'M SERIOUS.

YOU WENT BECAUSE
I ASKED YOU TO.

BECAUSE YOU KNEW
THERE WAS NOBODY ELSE
I COULD ASK.

[ pounding ]

TAKE IT EASY, TOM.

HELLO, TOM,
WHAT'S THE GOOD WORD?

I TOLD YOU TO STAY
OUT OF IT, SAMUEL.

- SO YOU DID.
- SO LET'S GO.

DON'T ASK ME WHERE
AND DON'T ARGUE.

BECAUSE IF YOU ARGUE,
I'M GONNA PUT THE CUFFS ON.

I GUESS YOU BETTER
DAMN WELL DO THAT.

HOW'S THAT?

[ foghorn blows ]

Bradford:
SAMUEL, FROM NOW ON
YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

AND GOD HELP YOU.

THANKS.

WELL, I'LL BE DAMNED.

WELCOME, MR. HAMMETT,
WELCOME.

WE HAVE GREAT NEED
OF YOU, SIR.
GREAT NEED.

YOU KNOW MR. FONG
AND LIEUTENANT O'MARA,
OF COURSE.

THE OTHER GENTLEMEN--

I CAN MAKE MY OWN
INTRODUCTIONS, HAGEDORN,
THANK YOU.

LET'S SEE,
SHIPPING, ISN'T IT?

AND YOU GO FOR LITTLE
MISS MUFFET, RIGHT?

BIG INSURANCE.

AND YOUR PREFERENCE--

LITTLE BO PEEP.

RAILROADS.
GRANDPA'S RAILROADS
IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.

CINDERELLA.
LITTLE OLD, WASN'T SHE?

WHY, YOU OLD DOG.

AND YOU'RE SUGAR--

MAYBE HALF
THE WORLD'S SUGAR.

LET'S SEE...

DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL,
I'D SAY,

BUT I COULD BE WRONG.

AND YOU'RE OIL.

USED TO BE
MR. ROCKEFELLER'S OIL,
BUT NOW IT'S YOURS.

QUEEN OF THE SIXTH GRADE,
OR FIFTH.

FOURTH, MAYBE.

WHAT THE HELL. YOU'RE JUST
THE IDLE RICH, RIGHT?

GOOD WORKS, CHARITIES,

ALWAYS A BIG POWER
IN THE REFORM MOVEMENT.

AND YOU LIKE,
WELL, LET'S SEE...

LOOKS SORTA LIKE
THE POOR LITTLE MATCH GIRL.

- Hagedorn:
MR. HAMMETT, I MUST--
- SHUT UP, HAGEDORN!

LET ME SEE IF I CAN
FIGURE OUT THE REST.

- IT MUST'VE STARTED--
- MR. HAMMETT, I MUST
ADVISE YOU--

- LET HIM SPEAK.
- YOU TWO MAKE A SWELL PAIR.

IT MUST'VE ALL STARTED
AT A PARTY-- A STAG PARTY.

NEW YEAR'S EVE, MAYBE?

ANYWAY, A BLUE FILM WAS
THE NIGHT'S MAIN EVENT, RIGHT?

STARRING CRYSTAL LING
AND THE WOLFMAN.

THEN WHAT? A WEEK LATER,
TWO WEEKS LATER,

SOMEBODY-- MAYBE SOMEBODY
LIKE GARY SALT--

COMES AND WHISPERS IN YOUR EAR
THAT YOU TOO, FOR A SMALL FEE,

CAN TAKE A TURN
IN THE HAY WITH CRYSTAL.

SO ONE BY ONE YOU SNEAK UP
INTO THAT BACK ROOM

AT THE FRIENDLY
PORNOGRAPHER'S

AND BINGO,
IT'S "ARABIAN NIGHTS"--

NO FANTASY TOO WILD,
NO TASTE TOO BIZARRE,

EXCEPT THAT ALL THE TIME
THE CAMERA'S CLICKING AWAY.

THEN SOMEBODY GRABS
THE NEGATIVES AWAY
FROM SALT, RIGHT?

CRYSTAL MAYBE.
AND YOU TURN SAN FRANCISCO
INSIDE OUT LOOK FOR HER.

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN
CRYSTAL'S DEAD

AND THERE'S A BODY
IN THE MORGUE TO PROVE IT,

BUT NOW THE BLACKMAILER
LANDS ON YOU.

YOU EITHER PAY UP OR PRINTS
OF YOU AND CRYSTAL

WILL BE SENT TO EVERY RITZY CLUB
BETWEEN HERE AND NEW YORK,

NOT TO MENTION YOUR WIVES.
AM I RIGHT SO FAR, HAGEDORN?

YOU ARE SUBSTANTIALLY
CORRECT, SIR.

I'VE LIVED IN
THIS TOWN FOR WHAT?
SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS NOW.

IT'S NOT A BAD TOWN.
CERTAINLY MORE FUN THAN MOST.

STREETS GET SWEPT,
THE GARBAGE GETS PICKED UP

AND THE GRAFT
GETS PAID.

BUT THE POLITICIANS
DON'T REALLY RUN THIS TOWN.

THEY NEVER HAVE.
THEY RAN IT BECAUSE
THEY HAD THE MONEY.

NOW YOU RUN IT
BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT
THE MONEY.

YOU RUN IT TO SUIT YOURSELVES.
AM I LOSING ANYONE?
GOING TOO FAST?

YOU BUY THE POWER,
YOU TRADE IT, YOU SELL IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT?

WHEN YOU DIE YOUR PICTURES
WILL GO UP ON THAT WALL
WITH THE OTHERS.

NOT ONE OF YOU--
NOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOU

EVER HAD TO SCRAMBLE
FOR ONE LOUSY VOTE.

MAYBE THAT'S WHY I DON'T
SEE THE MAYOR HERE OR THE D.A.

JUST THE COPS, THE CROOKS
AND THE BIG RICH.

AND ME. THAT'S WHAT
I WANNA KNOW. WHY ME?

BECAUSE, SIR,
THE PERSON WHO HAS
WHAT WE WISH TO BUY

INSISTS UPON YOU.

SO WHAT IF I DO MAKE
YOUR BUY-BACK FOR YOU?

WHAT THEN?
WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

NOW, MR. HAMMETT, WE FINALLY
COME TO THE ESSENCE OF THINGS.

YOU WILL FIND US, SIR,
MOST GENEROUS.

- MONEY, HUH?
- INDEED, SIR.

TO HELL WITH YOUR MONEY!
I WANT TWO THINGS.

FIRST I WANT MY STORY BACK.
IT MIGHT NOT BE MUCH,

BUT IT'S MINE.
IT'S WHAT I DO
AND I WANT IT BACK.

SECOND, THIS IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING--

I WANT TO BE LET ALONE.

SO WHAT'S
THE BLACKMAILER ASKING,
A MILLION?

Hagedorn:
$1 MILLION.

[ chuckles ]

THAT'S A LOT OF DOUGH.
WHERE AND WHEN?

IN ONE HOUR'S
TIME, SIR.

YOUR AUTHORIZATION,
CREDENTIALS

AND COMPLETE INSTRUCTION
ARE IN THIS ENVELOPE.

ONLY ONE OTHER THING--

AFTER I GET
THE MILLION BUCKS,

WHAT'S TO PREVENT ME
FROM TAKING THE NEXT
BOAT OUT?

YOUR GOOD JUDGMENT
AND THE HIGH VALUE

YOU PLACE
ON YOUR OWN LIFE.

THAT'S WHAT
I FIGURED.

HAVE A NICE
EVENING, GENTS.

[ sighs ]

[ chuckling ]

Man:
100 TIMES $10,000.

SIGN HERE.

FIRST DAY?

Hammett:
HERE I AM,
34 YEARS OLD

AND THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE
I CAN TRUST IN THE WORLD

ARE A LIBRARIAN
WITH A SMART MOUTH

AND A WOULD-BE
BOMB THROWER.

YOU GOT TWO YOU CAN TRUST,
YOU GOT TWO MORE THAN MOST
PEOPLE, HAMMETT.

WHAT DO YOU GOT
IN THE BAG THERE, HUH?

- MONEY, AND A LOT OF IT.
- OH?

WHAT ARE WE DOING?
A BUY-BACK?

- THAT'S RIGHT.
- HOW MUCH?

A MILLION.

YOU SHITTIN' ME?

- PARDON ME, LADY.
- ELI.

- PARDON ME.
- WATCH THE ROAD, ELI.

RICH PEOPLE.

WHAT ARE THE RICH GONNA BUY BACK FOR A MILLION BUCKS?

THEIR REPUTATIONS.

[ foghorn blows ]

I GET TO COME?

YOU STAY PUT.

I'LL WAIT THERE.
IF I HEAR A SHOT OR A YELL--

OR EVEN A SPLASH.

--OR EVEN A SPLASH,

I YELL FOR THE OPERATOR,

SCREAM FOR THE D.A.
AND GET THE HELL OUT
OF HERE.

I HOPE YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

DON'T WE ALL?

[ laughing ]

HELLO, CRYSTAL.

[ no accent ]
STOP RIGHT THERE, HAMMETT.

PUT THE VALISE DOWN
AND OPEN IT.

I HOPE I HAVEN'T
KEPT YOU WAITING.

NOW MOVE BACKWARD
FIVE STEPS AND PUT
YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR NECK.

- THE NEGATIVES.
- THE WIDOW CALLAGHAN,

SHE REALLY DID KILL
HER HUSBAND, DIDN'T SHE?

- JUST LIKE YOU SAID.
- DASHIELL HAMMETT,

STILL THE "ONE FLOOR UP"
AND SAME DETECTIVE.

YES, SHE KILLED HIM.
I MADE HER JEALOUS.

VERY JEALOUS.
IT WASN'T DIFFICULT.

YOU AND HE WERE SORTA
STUCK ON EACH OTHER, HUH?

WE WERE LOVERS.

THE BLACKMAIL SCHEME
WAS CALLAGHAN'S.

HE WAS BROKE, SO HE AND I COOKED IT UP.

AND SALT. NICE ALIBI
YOU GOT FOR YOURSELF
AT THE MISSION HOUSE.

I ALSO LIKED THE WAY
YOU FIXED THE COPS.
YOU'RE GOOD.

BY THE TIME
CALLAGHAN WAS KILLED
I'D ALREADY ACQUIRED SOME...

INFLUENCE, LET'S SAY.

THE DEAD CHINESE GIRL
WITH THE THICK ANKLES

THEY TRIED TO PALM OFF
ON ME AT THE MORGUE--

YOU DID THAT TOO,
DIDN'T YOU?

I NEEDED A DAY OR SO
WITH NO INTERRUPTIONS.

SHE WAS A USEFUL PAWN,
I SUPPOSE.

THERE ARE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS
MORE LIKE HER IN CHINA--

- AND ME.
- I WOULDN'T BET ON IT.

I THINK YOU'RE
ONE OF A KIND.

I'LL TAKE THOSE NEGATIVES,
IF YOU DON'T MIND.

CLOSE THE VALISE
AS YOU DO SO.

YOU ARE BAD,
AREN'T YOU, SISTER?

EVIL CLEAN THROUGH.
HOW DOES IT FEEL?

- REALLY FEEL?
- EVIL?

WHAT IS EVIL?

SHOW IT TO ME.

MY PARENTS SOLD ME
WHEN I WAS NINE FOR $5,000.

I TURNED MY FIRST TRICK WITH A CAUCASIAN AT 11.

AT 17 I AM A MILLIONAIRE.

I WONDER WHAT I'LL BE
WHEN I'M 21.

- [ footsteps approaching ]
- DEAD.

YOU THINK SO?

POSITIVELY.

YOU WERE ALMOST LATE,
MR. RYAN.

I THOUGHT I WAS
RIGHT ON TIME.

HOW ARE YA, KID?

HELLO, RYAN.
WHAT ARE YOU,
HER NEW PIMP?

MORE LIKE A PARTNER.
RIGHT, SWEETHEART?

I KNEW YOU'D
GONE SOUR, RYAN,

BUT I DIDN'T THINK
YOU'D GONE SIMPLE.
SHE'LL EAT YOU ALIVE.

YOU'RE NOT REALLY
GONNA TRUST OUR LITTLE

MADEMOISELLE BUTTERFLY
HERE, ARE YOU?

WHO WOULDN'T TRUST
A FACE LIKE THAT?
WE'RE PARTNERS.

I ALWAYS TRUST
MY PARTNERS, REMEMBER?

- UP TO A POINT.
- [ laughs ]

DON'T DROP IT.
JUST TOSS IT OVER THE SIDE
SO I CAN HEAR THE SPLASH.

[ splashes ]

HERE'S YOUR STORY, KID--

MY PART
OF THE DEAL.

I HAD TO PAY A LOT
TO GET IT BACK FROM FONG.

MORE THAN IT'S WORTH.

I EVEN READ IT AGAIN.

I STILL DON'T LIKE IT.

NEEDS A BETTER ENDING.

HOW 'BOUT THIS?

THE OLD BIRD PULLS OFF
A GRAND SLAM

AND LEAVES TOWN
WITH A MILLION BUCKS.

[ laughing ]

YOU THOUGHT MY LIFE
WAS OVER, HAMMETT.

IT'S JUST BEGINNING.

YOU WANT SOMETHING
REAL TO WRITE ABOUT,

- WRITE ABOUT THIS!
- [ gunshots ]

[ coin jingling ]

OPERATOR, THIS IS
AN EMERGENCY.

GET ME THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

NOT JUST YET,
LITTLE LADY.

[ foghorn blows ]

HE NEEDED ONE HAND
FOR THE MONEY

AND THE OTHER FOR THE GUN.

HE WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH
TO HANDLE BOTH.

I READ IT TOO, HAMMETT.

I LIKED THE ENDING.

SWELL.

- WAS HE A FRIEND OR WHAT?
- YEAH, HE WAS A FRIEND.

HE WAS GOOD.

HE BROKE IN FROM NOWHERE,

TRACKED ME DOWN,
FIGURED IT ALL OUT

AND CUT HIMSELF IN.

- HE WAS GOOD.
- HE WAS THE BEST...

IN HIS HEYDAY.

MAYBE YOU DIDN'T
KNOW HIM TOO WELL.

MAYBE I DIDN'T
KNOW HIM AT ALL.

[ heavy accent ]
TAKE HIS PLACE, HAMMETT.
COME WITH ME.

YOU CAN BE MY BODYGUARD
AND BIOGRAPHER.

MY LOVER, MY LAPDOG.

DON'T BE A SIMP.

I'M GONNA GIVE IT
TO YOU STRAIGHT.

YOU DON'T REALLY THINK
THEY'RE GONNA LET YOU WALTZ?

YOU MIGHT GET TO BERLIN
OR CONSTANTINOPLE,

MAYBE EVEN HONG KONG--
WHEREVER YOU'RE GOING.

BUT ONE DAY YOU'LL TURN
THE WRONG CORNER AND WHAM!

CURTAINS. NO MORE CRYSTAL.
YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?!

YOU'RE GOING UP AGAINST
$100, $200, $300 MILLION.

YOU'RE GOING UP AGAINST
THE POWERHOUSE, ANGEL--

THE BIG STEAM.

I CAN BEAT THEM.

SURE.
LIKE HELL.

I'LL SHOW YOU
I CAN BEAT THEM.

[ footsteps
running away ]

NO GRAND SLAM,
JIMMY.

YOU LOST IT ALL.

EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING EXCEPT
YOUR NERVE.

[ seagull squawking ]

[ typewriter clicking ]

IT'S OKAY, ELI.

MESSENGER BOYS.

LET'S HAVE
THE NEGATIVES, HAMMETT.

NOW YOU
AND THE LITTLE LADY

CAN MAKE ALL
THE PHONE CALLS
YOU WANT TO.

RYAN'S LYING IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE DOCK, SHOT DEAD.

SHE GAVE HIM THE WORKS.

WE'LL GET SOMEBODY
TO SWEEP HIM UP.

I'LL TAKE CARE
OF HIM, SAMUEL.

IT'S NOT LIKE IN ONE
OF YOUR STORIES, IS IT?

NEVER IS LIKE A STORY.

- [ silent ]
- [ typewriter clicking ]

[ silence continuing ]

[ chuckles ]

MMM.

[ instrumental music
playing ]