Original subtitles

How do I get in to see the manager?

Thank you.

Hello?

Who the hell are you?

Orrin Quest's mother. I want my little boy back.

Cop?

Man, I'm unhappy.

Gotta get out more.

Dance in the streets. Take a cop to lunch.

I got friends.

You got a passkey?

Hello?

Let me speak to Doc. Yeah, it's Clausen.

Doc.

Key.

- I run a legit hotel here. We're clean. - Come on. The key!

Lousy private fuzz!

- You ought to be ashamed of yourself. - I'm just too proud to show it.

Excuse me. The manager said Orrin Quest was here.

Huh?

The manager said Orrin Quest was in here.

Sloppy that way, ain't he?

He's still registered.

So, what am I doing here?

You ask the questions.

Close the case.

I got a permit for the gun.

Let me see it.

Huh?

Let me see it!

Quest left ten days ago.

I lived across the hall, in 215.

It was a better room, so I switched. You satisfied?

I'll sleep like a winner.

You're Hicks, huh?

The register. Grant W. Hicks, 215.

Did Quest leave any forwarding address?

These kids, you know. They freak out, disappear.

You, um... narco squad?

- Thanks. - Huh?

For not spitting on it.

Going up?

Oh, the little one, darling. The little one, not a big roller.

Oh, my God. Pay attention, would you?

Anything for me, Chuck?

She's back... the one from Kansas.

- Hi. - Well?

Hold it just a minute, will you?

- Well? - Shh.

Well, what happened? I've been waiting here...

...for hours and hours.

All shadow, no substance.

Not even a trace?

No satisfaction, no charge.

'Dr. Lagardie's office."

I'd like to speak to the Doc, please.

'May I say who's calling, please?'

Er... just tell him it's about Mr. Clausen.

- 'Will you hold, please?' - Yes, I'll hold.

No wonder you haven't found my brother. You've been working on other cases.

Oh, that's me, just buried alive in success.

You've noticed the luxurious appointments,

the sexy secretary, the electronic devices?

Drink?

I don't like you, Mr. Marlowe.

The minute I walked into this grubby little office,

I knew I should have never employed you.

Well, there's your retainer, all 50 fat dollars.

Now, some people would keep it, but I get just a little shaky

running around with that much loose money in my pocket.

Well, you didn't really try to find Orrin!

'It's Dr. Lagardie.'

Yeah... Doc?

Doc, this morning a Mr. Haven Clausen tried to talk to you.

He got cut off.

Haven Clausen?

I'm afraid I don't know a Haven Clausen.

Well, there's nothing to be afraid of,

unless it was your ice pick.

Who is this?

Hicks, Grant Hicks.

A former tenant in Mr. Clausen's rooming house.

I was... I was just checking out when he tried to call you.

But that was before somebody mistook him for an ice block.

"Yeah. I just thought you ought to know

"before somebody wanted to know why he tried to call you."

Look, Doc?

Doc, don't get me wrong. This ain't no shakedown.

I'm just a cat looking for a connection, you know.

Please, feel free to consult me... anytime.

Goodbye.

'Bye.

Uh... do you mind?

Filthy habit.

My father used to smoke a pipe.

Mama never let him smoke it in the house.

Even the last two years after he had the stroke,

he'd sit out on the porch with an empty pipe in his mouth.

Mama didn't like that, either.

We owed a lot of money.

We couldn't afford useless things like tobacco.

Well, you put the 50 back in your bag and forget you ever met me.

The town's full of detectives.

Fine!

Uh... I've used up my vacation time looking for him,

and most of my money, too, and I've got to go back home Saturday.

Oh, I know something's happened to him! I just feel it, Mr. Marlowe.

Look, I found a boarding house.

He slept there ten days ago. Now, out here, that's just last minute.

Now, you go home, Miss Quest.

Sooner or later, he'll...

...shuck his sandals and cut his hair.

Ten years from now, you won't know him...

from anyone else in Manhattan, Kansas.

- Marlowe. - 'Grant Hicks, Marlowe.

"You in the market for a quick hundred?"

Sure. How quick?

Fifteen minutes quick enough?

'Is that panel-to-panel pay?'

Marlowe, I'm in the Alvarado Hotel

just five minutes from your place.

'All I need's a couple minutes of your time,'

'and you're home free, okay?'

Maybe.

I'm in room 22. But hurry, huh!

It's the two minutes with you where your story breaks down.

Look, I-I give you something to hold and the hundred.

Tomorrow, next day, give it back to me.

Strictly legit, nothing hot.

Look, gotta hang up.

I'm counting on you, Marlowe. Now, get over here right now.

Fifty dollars is all I've got.

Um... but I guess that's not enough to keep you interested, is it?

Well, it's not the money that bothers me.

It's ice picks.

Um...

If you won't take my money, what will you take?

A simple goodbye.

Um... does it bother you if the girl makes the first overture?

I have a low threshold of boredom, so it usually helps.

Does that mean you want me to?

It means, Miss Quest, that...

...I keep thinking about your old man...

...sitting out on the porch with an empty pipe.

Goodbye, Miss Quest.

But if you won't help me find Orrin, who will?

Please try the Missing Persons Bureau, the FBI...

But, Mr. Marlowe...

Excuse me.

Room 22? Who's registered, please?

Around here, the concession for transom peeking

has been given to Oliver J. Hady.

Well, that little concession ought to bring a fortune at auction.

Past the stairs on your left.

- Hady? - Huh?

So?

I wanna get a line on one of your customers.

What name?

Could be Nasser for all I know. Room 22.

So?

- He wants to see me. - Don't let me keep you.

Do you mind holding your finger there for a minute, please?

Look, Ollie, a man in my business makes enemies.

You know that.

Now, this party calls me, asks me to come over,

wants something done, and neglects to give his name.

Do you think I'm wrong to check it out?

It could be a way to get me into a room, and zap!

The party checks out,

you're left with me on the floor in room 22.

You wouldn't want a case of rigor in your hotel, would you, Ollie?

- Hand me the box. - Would you hold this a minute?

Mm.

Checked in 5:47. One local phone call.

No room service.

Dr. G. W. Hamilton. El Centro.

What does he look like?

That's right, I stand out there with a Brownie...

...and snap them when they register.

Turn around.

Well, now, if that were a .45, I wouldn't argue with you.

With a .32, I can get in a couple of words.

I've said them all.

Oh, don't forget you're a lady.

I like the perfume. What is it?

Whoever did this is a performer.

Got the spinal cord first try.

They developed the technique in Brooklyn.

You don't say.

Sonny Steelgrave's boys specialize in it.

You aren't trying to connect Steelgrave with this?

- That's pretty fragile, isn't it? - Yeah.

Well, anyway, he definitely...

wasn't the last of the big spenders.

Fourteen dollars in change, seven master keys.

Maybe he was figuring to clean out the hotel.

Hady, do any of these fit this dump?

You can unlock our doors with your little finger.

Well, he knew somebody was after him, probably getting close.

So, he calls Marlowe, offers him 100 dollars to come over here

and safe keep something for him. Is that your story, Marlowe?

- That's it. - Yeah.

Only he hasn't got 100 dollars on him.

But then maybe he was figuring on getting you

to gamble along with him on something.

Hady, could the desk give us a run-down on any other possible visitors

that might have come up here?

You don't have to pass the desk to go in or out.

No wonder he checked in here. That and the homey atmosphere.

Well, alright.

I guess that just about does it for the first run-through.

Well, not quite.

What do you know?

Mileaway Must.

Used to be a runner for Ace Devore.

How you been, Mileaway?

Gonna miss you at the morning lineup.

Well, that takes the pressure off.

This punk won't be a 24-hour-a-day job.

Uh... how'd you know about that toupee?

I'm a trained detective.

That's your exit line, Marlowe. Follow it out.

And don't leave town, you hear me?

Go on, Hady. You, too.

- What's bugging you? - The 150.

Don't get funny in the wrong place.

Ollie, when I searched him, he had 164 dollars on him.

- Now there's only 14 left. - So?

So, where were you while I was calling the lieutenant?

- You accusing me? - Just checking for conscience.

Fifty-fifty?

Okay, buddy. I'll remember you.

Ollie.

I don't want the money. I want something else.

- What? - I want the girl.

When she went outta here, she used these stairs,

she went by your room.

She would have been running, you would have been following.

- What makes you so wonderful? - I'm a trained detective.

Alright. I followed her, and she got in the car.

How do I know this isn't some license number you already had?

- Just take my word for it. - Describe the car.

Jag, convertible, XK-E, yellow.

Describe the girl.

You want a lot for your bread, don't you?

Grant Hicks's bread.

Wide, black, felt hat with a black patent-leather band.

Dark glasses.

Black coat with black patent-leather buttons and trimmings.

White gloves.

Height 5'6", 5'6 and a half. Built like a model.

Enjoy your stay.

Five, six, seven, eight. Look alive.

Five, six, seven, eight.

Alright, everybody take a break.

Hi. How are you? Hi, baby.

Thank you. You're right, you're right.

Could you get me the name and address to go with this license number

by tomorrow morning?

Sure. I'll be through in a half-hour.

Julie, tonight I couldn't lead a kindergarten marching band.

What if I lead? You follow.

Good night, girls.

And then we apply the color along the part.

And notice the way I help it with my thumb. See?

Good morning, Chuck.

Hold it a minute, girls. Good morning, Philip.

Morning, girls.

Special delivery for you, Alvarado Hotel.

Really, Philip?

- Hey. Are those new? - Yeah. You dig?

- Really. - They really turn the chicks on.

Well, another day, another dollar. Coming, girls.

- Benson's Camera Shop. - Yes. Good morning.

This is Grant Hicks. Is my order ready?

It's claim check A for "able", 1654.

Hold on, sir.

- Marlowe. - I figured it had to be a girl.

- Why? - Mr. Hicks?

- "Why"? - Yes, this is Mr. Hicks.

- Your order's ready, sir. - Who's Mr. Hicks?

Something I've been working on. Why did you figure it had be a girl?

- Beg your pardon? - Are you kidding?

I'm sorry. I'm talking on the other line.

Shall I call back?

No, no, no, no. I need the information now.

- Sir, are you speaking to me? - Yes, I'll be in before noon.

- That will be fine. - I don't get off till...

...one, but I can try...

- Hello? - How's twelve?

I can't make it.

- Well, any time before six. - Why can't you make it?

We close at six.

- I'll definitely pick them up by noon. - "Them"?

- They'll be here. - Alright, goodbye.

- Don't hang up. Phil? Hello? - Yeah, honey?

Honey, I'm sorry I can't make it for lunch,

but... who is the girl, anyway?

Mavis Wald.

What... the Mavis Wald?

- 'My luck.' - What's the address?

2720 Neilson Way, in the penthouse.

I hope she flips you off her balcony.

'Goodbye.'

Your change, Mr. Hicks.

I'll tell you what you do. Why don't you keep the change

and mail these photographs to me at this address?

Alright, Mr. Hicks.

Uh... Marlowe.

Alright, Mr. Marlowe.

I have some stills for Miss Wald.

- You can leave them with me. - No, not these.

I'll phone. Wait a minute.

You can tell her it's the ones we shot at the Alvarado Hotel last night.

Alright.

Hello.

There's somebody down here with some stills for Miss Wald

taken at the Alvarado Hotel.

Yes, ma'am.

Sir, you can go right up.

Penthouse.

- Hi! - Mavis Wald?

Uh-uh.

She's busy making panic calls.

You really shook her. What's up?

I'm the father of her triplets.

Mm-hmm. Do you have a name?

It wouldn't do anything for you.

- Sugar? - Please.

I'm Dolores...

With an O. Dolores Gonzales.

Isn't that Spanish for pain?

Mm.

You sure picked a nice place to suffer.

And you jump to nice conclusions, but it's Mavis's pad, not mine.

Which makes you...

Something you don't see every day... an old friend.

My friend asked me to keep you occupied.

- Are you hard to occupy? - As hard to get as a haircut.

Hey, has anybody ever told you that you have a sensuous underlip?

Everybody mentions it.

Do nice, fleshy, uncomplicated girls turn you on?

I come all unglued. Are you looking for something?

I just don't wanna see Mavis get hurt. Now, who are you?

Its name is Philip Marlowe.

It's private heat.

Well, I hope you'll be very happy. Ciao.

Philip Marlowe... what can I buy you with?

- Money helps. - How much?

Oh, say, uh... 100 to start.

Is 100 dollars money to you?

You make it 200, and I'll retire.

Well, I work for my money. What am I buying?

Well, I don't think you killed him,

but it would help to have some reason...

...for not telling the police you were there.

My goodness. Am I supposed to have killed somebody?

You're going to find this hard to believe,

but I came up here with the quaint idea you might need some help.

I figured you went to the hotel room to make some sort of payoff.

You went there alone and took a chance on being recognized.

That made me think you might be in a king-size jam.

I said a king-size jam. That's a cue.

Alright.

You're good, Miss Wald.

You're so good,

you could act your way out of a safety-deposit box.

Good day.

You're out of work again, Philip.

Car.

Oh... beep-beep.

Car.

For a man with a limited vocabulary, you do make your point.

Car.

They tell me there was a disturbance upstairs in Miss Wald's apartment.

They tell you wrong.

We were bobbing for apples.

Where are the pictures?

Who makes your ice picks these days, Mr. Steelgrave?

Too bad.

Does your mother know what you do for a living?

- Mr. Marlowe? - Yes.

What can I do for you?

Good grief, Philip! What are you boys up to?

Just renovating, Chuck.

Yes? Well, it's about time.

Oh, come on, girls. Don't stand around looking.

Back to work, please, quickly.

You won't need that.

The word is you are a cool cat.

Well, the word is wrong. I go all to pieces over nothing.

Take that coat rack, for instance. Been in my family for years.

How would you like it if your granny's coat rack...

...was chopped up for kindling?

Please. I have a nice little proposition.

May I reach to my pocket?

It would give me great pleasure to see you do something foolish.

Five hundred dollars.

- For that, you can kick the ceiling in. - It's yours.

- For what? - You are not looking for anybody.

You cannot find anybody.

You do not have time to work for anybody.

You have not heard a thing, nor seen a thing.

- And what do I do for an encore? - Nothing.

Keep on doing nothing for a reasonable length of time.

I will come back and place five more like these on your desk side by side.

And for whom am I doing all this nothing?

Winslow Wong.

That is I.

I like aman who uses good grammar.

You impress me, Mr. Wong.

Whom sent you?

A man who would rather spill money than blood.

But... also a man who would not mind...

...spilling blood if he has no other choice.

You take this back to your leader, Mr. Wong.

Tell him you met the last of a dying dynasty...

...King of the Fools,

unassailably virtuous...

...invariably broke.

Okay.

Come on, everybody! Break it up. Let me in there.

Termites, Lieutenant.

- Won't you come in, sit down? - We better go for a walk.

Why?

Well, because I say we better take a walk, alright?

Well... let's take a walk.

- This, uh... - Be my guest, Lieutenant.

Alright.

- Ever read the Bay City paper? - All that rape and homicide?

There's an item in there about a party named Clausen.

Ice pick case, Marlowe.

That's two in a row. A trend, maybe?

What do you hear from that hotel cop, Hady?

We lacked rapport.

Alright, let's get off Hady and concentrate on you for a while.

Hicks was dead when you got there, right?

Well, as we trained detectives say, he was terminal.

Yeah, so he could hardly have reached up

and taken one of your business cards, now, could he?

Stop trying to scare me to death, Lieutenant.

No, no, no. Tell me about this.

You found my card on Hicks' body?

Yeah, that's one of your cards, isn't it?

"Philip Marlowe, Private Investigator."

We missed it the first time.

It was folded and stuffed in his pants watch pocket.

Well, I gave one of my cards to Hady.

We went upstairs.

While I was calling you, he searched the body.

Do you figure that he could have...

...taken the money and slipped my card onto Hicks's body

while my back was turned?

Well, it's a possibility.

Lieutenant, would you know Sonny Steelgrave if you saw him?

Yeah. Why?

Well, was he dark, late 30s, er... oh, slick, something for the girls?

Still putzing around with that ice pick theory?

Are you trying to tie Steelgrave into Clausen and Hicks?

- Does he get out in public much? - No, not much.

When he does, where does he go?

Well, he owns a place called The Dancers.

Steelgrave sometimes takes a little chicken broth up there,

booth number one.

- Marlowe. - Oh, yes, Mr. Marlowe.

Your table's ready. This way, please.

- Mr. Marlowe. - What's this?

Compliments of Mr. Steelgrave.

Thank you.

Friends in high places. Who is he? Looks rich.

Oh, he is.

Even his tax bracket is unlisted.

That's impertinent.

You might say baroque.

- To a late breakfast. - I'll drink to that.

Or am I penciled in for the eight to twelve shift?

I have a few trial balloons going up.

If no one shoots them down, I'll make the coffee.

Mr. Marlowe, there's a phone call for you.

Well, thank you.

Did you tell anyone we were coming here?

- No. - That makes two of us.

It's just a way to get you alone.

I didn't come here for the cherries jubilee.

Take care. I don't like going home by myself.

Winslow, you suckered me out here, you devil.

Take the money, Marlowe.

Not a chance. Any more messages?

You can hardly refuse him this time.

You watch me closely.

Can you remember the alternatives, Mr. Marlowe?

You're a paper tiger, Winslow.

You can't do anything in your boss's restaurant.

Mr. Marlowe, I have my instructions.

Well, that's just exactly what I'm counting on, Winslow.

What now, what are you gonna do, break another coat rack?

Well, you're very impressive, Winslow,

but I've seen dogs do better on television.

Hey, you're light on your feet, Winslow.

Are you just a little gay, huh?

Don't worry. I didn't come to seduce you.

Good.

- May I come in? - Mm-hmm.

I had to walk miles the other night.

All steps in the right direction.

I don't think I've ever detested anybody...

...quite so much.

Care for coffee?

No, thank you. I have a taxicab outside. His meter's running.

I've heard from Orrin.

Did he decide to rejoin the establishment?

He's staying with a doctor.

- Mother ought to be happy to hear that. - A Dr. Vincent Lagardie.

Alright, so he's staying with a Dr. Lagardie.

Some gangsters are after him.

Come on, they're all busy working in the movies.

Please, Mr. Marlowe, you've gotta go over there...

...right now and help him.

He's afraid to leave.

- After all, I did pay you! - I gave it back.

Well, I-I offered it to you again!

And, uh...

...a lot more besides.

You'd never have forgiven me.

Look, I know you don't care anything about me,

but when a man rejects a girl when she's willing,

he owes her something.

- An old Kansas proverb? - Philip, I'm frantic.

- "Philip"? - They're going to kill him.

Look, I've got the address right here. Could you just...

I already have the address.

Now, you have a taxi waiting outside, and the meter is running.

Philip... you don't know me,

but then that's your loss, isn't it?

What was that scene?

I'm sort of glad she did that.

Noticed your left jab was a little slow in coming.

She reminded me of somebody.

Don't we all?

Care for some breakfast?

All I see is two people.

Hardly disastrous to Miss Wald's reputation.

And therefore nothing for me or the sponsors or the network

- to be concerned about. - Then why are you talking to me?

I come out of research, Mr. Marlowe.

I still enjoy talking to the man in the street.

So, then you won't mind if I show these to Homicide.

Why should they be interested?

I don't think we're going to do any business, Mr. Crowell,

- but thanks for taking my pulse. - Now, wait a minute.

Now, what might happen if you were to show those pictures to the police?

Well, first of all,

I'd have to connect it up with something they've been working on,

something that happened a couple of nights ago

in one of the chic "in" spots, in town...

the Alvarado Hotel.

I'd connect it up through the girl.

- Miss Wald. - She won't talk to me.

That's why I'm talking to you.

She called me about it.

Told me you tried to force her into hiring you

on the ground that she'd been seen inconveniently close

to where a murder was done.

Did she say how close?

She didn't say.

- What? - '11:30, Mr. Crowell.'

Yeah, thanks.

You amuse the hell out of me, Marlowe. You really do.

Trying to use me as a shovel to dig yourself out of a jam.

The jam I'm in is nothing to the jam your star and your show would be in

if I hadn't done the thing that put me in the jam in the first place.

What are you doing in the next hour?

Re-counting my trumps.

Well, let's count them together.

Alright, we got to where you were thinking about going downtown

with those pictures. What then?

We didn't get that far. We only got to her calling you.

Did she tell you she also called the man in the picture?

She neglected to mention it.

He and some of his, uh...

soldiers were waiting outside when I left her.

You know who he is?

Don't you?

Oh, you're making me unhappier by the minute, Mr. Marlowe.

Hold it down, guys! Please!

Look, Jim, I can't do anything till I get back from London, alright?

London?

You were saying?

Yeah, her boyfriend tried to buy me first and then bury me.

I resent both overtures.

Where does it stand right now?

You tell me.

She was great, wasn't she?

On, uh... film.

'But he must answer.

"Ring, ring, ring!

Oh, yeah, that's...

"Why don't you answer the phone?'

The show we're doing is out there.

Yeah. Good.

'Yes. Ring. Ring!

'Earl... where are you?'

Well, the darling of millions has got herself and the rest of us

who put her where she is in one hell of a mess, huh?

If it were any actress in any run-of-the-mill series,

it would be bad enough.

But in this series, the part she plays...

- You ever see the show? - No, no, I haven't.

It's the top-rated sitcom in the country.

Situation comedy.

Can you imagine what would happen

if it got out that our pure little Mary

was shacking up with public enemy number one?

Whenever you're set, Mr. Crowell.

You don't really want the cops to have those pictures, do you?

No, Marlowe, that's the last thing I...

Win, lose, or draw, the public would chew her to pieces,

not to mention the sponsor and the network.

They'd tag her a gangster's girl,

the number one gangster, no less.

What do you want?

The same thing I've wanted from the beginning,

what she wouldn't give me, the right to act in her best interests.

- By suppressing evidence? - If it is evidence.

The police can't determine that without smearing her.

Maybe I can.

They don't have time to worry about reputation.

You do? Now, come on, why are you really doing this?

Steelgrave's boys tore up the coat to my best suit.

Now, where'd I be if I didn't put a stop to things like that?

- What's your price? - A hundred a day and expenses,

and a letter employing me to investigate...

...an attempt to blackmail one of your stars.

You know, one of these days, Marlowe, I'm gonna make the mistake

that a man in my spot dreads above all other mistakes.

I'm gonna find myself doing business with somebody I should trust,

and I'm gonna be just too damn smart to trust him.

Nona, take this letter to Mr. Philip Marlowe.

He'll give you his address. "Dear Mr. Marlowe,

"this agency herewith employs you to investigate,

"on behalf of one of its television personalities,

"a certain matter,

"the particulars of which have been given to you verbally.

"Your fee is to be 100 dollars a day plus expenses,

"with a retainer of 500 dollars.

"Sincerely, et cetera."

My driver will take you back to the office.

I'm just gonna have to trust you, Marlowe.

I hate making mistakes.

Alright, lunch, everybody.

Forty-two minutes for the crew, an hour for the cast and makeup people.

First shot after lunch will be that of Miss Wald.

Please be back promptly.

- Who let you in? - Mr. Crowell.

I don't want you working for me.

I go to ridiculous extremes to attract clients,

even collect rare photos.

- Would you like a drink? - No, thanks.

Alright, so you know.

Could have happened to any red-blooded girl.

- Do you love him? - You mean, will I give him up?

Something like that.

Well, I don't know that I can or that I want to.

Anyway, what good would that do now?

- Who took the pictures? - I don't know.

Alright, who's trying to blackmail you?

I don't know.

Look, Mr. Marlowe, could you be persuaded...

...to give those negatives to me?

Mr. Crowell hired me to decide what's in your best interest.

I know what's in my best interest.

Just tear that letter up and forget this job.

Go away, Mr. Marlowe. You can't win 'em all.

Did Steelgrave have Hicks killed?

You remember Hicks.

He was stretched out on the bed in the Alvarado Hotel.

Sonny didn't even know there was a picture of us together,

not till you came to my place and I called him.

Then that leaves the blackmailer and whoever else was in it with him.

You don't really think he's going to let you off the easy way, do you?

You just can't take advice, can you?

That's me, in one ear, and out the other.

What?

- Your lunch, Miss Wald. - Thank you.

Thank you very much for coming by.

- You know, Miss Wald... - Excuse me.

You could make life easier for all of us just by laying your cards on the table.

Goodbye, Mr. Marlowe.

I'll be around.

Yes.

I'll be right there.

Stay with it.

- Hello. I'm Dr. Lagardie. - How do you do?

I'm looking for a Mr. Quest, Mr. Orrin Quest.

- Who? - Quest.

Q as in "quintessential",

U as in “uninhibited",

E as in "“extrasensory'",

S as in "subliminal", T as in "toots".

We chatted on the phone about a Mr. Clausen.

Please, come along.

There is no Orrin Quest among our patients.

You don't know him at all, huh?

The name is completely unfamiliar to me.

- Well, sit down. - Thank you.

Well, that's funny. His sister says he's here, hiding out.

From what?

Well, you tell me.

Oh, I could be wrong,

but smelling all that pot smoke in Clausen's place,

and him calling you... a man jumps to conclusions, you know.

I told you, I don't know a Haven Clausen or an Orrin Quest.

I think you're wasting your time.

You don't mind if I call you a liar, do you, Doc?

I should call the police and have them run you out,

but my field is special children, unusual children.

Sometimes it's better to let them paint on walls and scream their heads off

until they're prepared to be reasonable.

- Scream away, Mr. Marlowe. - Alright.

A fellow named Clausen and a grifter named Hicks,

both killed by the same man,

but not necessarily for the same reason.

Hicks because he muscled in on somebody else's shtick

and Clausen because he was a babbling junkie,

not exactly a master of the zipped lip. Any good so far?

What has all this to do with me?

Question: What was the shtick?

Answer: Some photographs.

A good man could make a fortune out of these particular photographs.

Question: Who took the photographs?

Presumption: Orrin Quest, the boy I'm looking for.

Er... why these particular subjects,

without their knowing they were being photographed?

Well, let's take a flyer. Let's say, uh...

let's say Quest knew the girl.

Let's even say that, uh... the girl was his sister.

Pretty well screamed out by now?

Well, not quite.

These, uh... these ice pick jobs...

They say the Steelgrave gang was taught the technique

by a young, uh... young intern in Brooklyn.

He... he worked, uh...

Yeah. Uh, what happens to a bright, young medic like that?

Does he come west when they do?

Does he...

...open up a... legitimate clinic for kids to, uh...

...cover... his illegal activities?

Don't worry, Marlowe. It's not fatal.

And I need a little more time... not much, just a little more.

- What's the matter? - Have you got a Band-Aid?

- Ooh, you better take that off. - In here?

Off! Honey, first-aid, rubbing alcohol, Band-Aids...

You should get a tetanus shot, that looks deep.

You know where I could find Mavis?

- Mavis? - She's not at her place.

Why should I turn you over to her?

Because underneath your pasties, there's a size-40 heart.

And I thought you liked Mavis.

I do like her, but why should she get all the goodies?

- She's a star. - Yeah.

Give me that.

Would you believe that Mavis and I studied with Lee Strasberg?

Thank you, Nurse. You're wanted in maternity.

Will you... come back tonight?

Am I under oath?

Sure.

Probably not.

She'll be shooting late at the studio.

Well, I sure want to thank you, Doctor.

- My pleasure. - And you, too, Nurse.

Anytime.

Honey... that is a no-no.

Okay, kids, that's fine. Give me a minute, huh?

How long does it take?

Miss Wald.

- Your brother... - Don't you have anything else to do?

He took the pictures of you and Steelgrave, didn't he?

He's dead.

Someone shot him a couple of hours ago.

You're making that up.

I have to tell Orfamay, too. You wanna come along?

All set, Miss Wald.

Where's Steelgrave tonight?

Don't try and blame Sonny.

I talked to him on the phone more than an hour ago,

up at his place at Mount Wilson.

That's one thing about Steelgrave...

he's never around when the shooting starts.

Maybe that's because he always knows when it's going to start.

Please, Miss Wald.

Orfamay Quest.

Checked out.

To where? Did she say?

She asked for a train schedule to Kansas,

if that's any help.

Every little bit helps, thanks.

Anytime.

'Your attention, please.

"The Rock Island train, inbound from Peoria Rocket,

'train number 502 now arriving on track 10.'

Are you gonna leave town without saying goodbye,

after all we've meant to each other?

I told you I was leaving Saturday.

You told me Friday.

Well, I ran out of money and out of friends.

I'm going home. My train leaves in an hour,

and I can do very well without your company in the meantime.

- Here. I'll help you. - No, thank you.

Orfamay.

Orfamay.

What do you want?

Oh, I thought we could go to my place and have a drink.

- I'll give you a shoulder to cry on. - Oh...

Excuse me. Sorry.

Miss. Miss!

- Can I have some hot chocolate, please? - Coffee, please.

I'm sick of this stupid city.

It can be a meat grinder.

How come you're being so nice to me all of a sudden?

I get an attack of the nices every now and then.

You're getting ready to tell me something.

That's it, isn't it?

Yeah.

It's about Orrin, isn't it?

Yeah.

They killed him, didn't they?

Yeah.

When?

Tonight. Lagardie's clinic.

And you could've saved him...

...if you'd gone right over there when I told you to,

but you had that girl in your place.

Oh, no, you couldn't bother to save a fellow human being.

Not when it might interfere with your animal pleasures.

He was alive when I got there, with an ice pick in his hand.

Now, doesn't that tell you anything?

- Are you accusing my brother? - You know about those ice pick murders?

Why shouldn't I? They're all over the papers.

When do the tears start to flow, Orfamay, for your long-lost brother?

Officer! Officer. This man knows about a murder.

Is this a gag?

My brother's been killed, and-and he was there.

Is she putting me on?

I was just about to call Homicide.

Oh, you were, were you?

I hope they lock you up forever.

License 643295.

- Okay, Lieutenant, it's all yours. - Alright.

Now, you just start at the top. Let it flow.

You know what I mean? I'll sort it out.

- You want me to make a statement? - Yeah, a full statement.

It's to be voluntary and without coercion?

Yeah, sure. They all are.

Then ask the questions. If you don't like the answers, book me.

If you book me, I get to make a phone call.

Now wait a minute, Marlowe. You're not trying to tell me

that you've been strictly legal in this, uh...

- Case? - Yeah.

No.

I suppose you got a client to protect.

- Maybe. - He did. She dropped him.

Ask the questions, please.

Now, what happened at Clausen's place?

Well, I went out there looking for her brother.

His sister told me she got a call from him from the Lagardie clinic.

I went out there. Would you care to see my back?

Wait a minute, wait a minute. Why would he try to stick you?

You're his pal. You were down there to keep him safe.

I was just something between him and the light.

Something that moved.

Maybe he thought I was the person that shot him, I don't know.

The point is, a man in his condition acts from instinct.

He does not invent new techniques.

So I believe Orrin Quest killed both Clausen and Hicks.

Well, what about Lagardie? You got anything on him?

We're checking.

Well, he could've killed me, and he didn't,

so he probably hasn't killed anybody,

but finding an ice pick in his place made me think of Steelgrave.

Oh, now, that's pretty wild, Marlowe, that connection, you know.

Would I do myself any good if I went out...

...and tried to tighten it up?

I won't leave town.

Thanks.

Oh. I don't wanna run this into the ground,

but, uh... one more little favor?

- Yeah, what? - Orfamay Quest.

Could you arrange to keep her around town for a day or so?

On what grounds?

I don't know. Tell her...

tell her you've decided to draw and quarter me,

and she's invited to whip the horses.

She won't be able to pass that up.

Party over?

Trying to break a lease, right?

Talk softly, please.

I'm sorry.

Rough day at the office?

About the same.

Average day in a detective's life.

I've been...

...stabbed, snubbed...

...generally snookered.

I ache all over.

My office qualifies for urban renewal.

The cops envy my successes.

They're trying to take my license away. I'd... I'd say that's an average day.

Mm.

I'm almost afraid to ask why you're here.

I'm almost afraid to tell you.

Mavis?

She tried to call you.

Couldn't find you, and she got me.

Now, wait a minute.

Mm.

I think she's in trouble, Philip.

All my clients are in trouble. That's why they come to me.

Well, why do you bother with them?

What do you get out of it?

Stock options. Pension plan.

What kind of trouble is Mavis in?

I don't know. I was on stage when she called.

The message was, "Get Philip Marlowe. I need him now."

You do a lot of fetching and carrying for Mavis, don't you?

Why not? We go way back.

What are friends for, huh?

Something like that.

- Steelgrave's place? - Yeah.

She's not alone in there.

He's there, too.

It's not like Steelgrave to leave the gate unlatched.

Where are all his troops?

Now and then, he likes to be alone.

Speaking from experience?

Once upon a time, he was mine.

Until Mavis took him.

You know?

I'm great between the lines.

Call me a schlepper.

For every winner, there has to be a loser, right?

Be careful in there.

I'll wait.

No. You go on home, Dolores.

Miss Wald, I got word you were trying to call me.

Mavis?

Come here.

Here's...

Here. Drink this.

Come on, go ahead.

More. Go on.

Where's yours?

Someone has to drive.

You're rather nice, for what you are.

Well, it could be the brandy, the altitude or a case of shock, but...

...you're vamping, Miss Wald, stalling for time,

time for someone to get here or to get away from here.

Where's Steelgrave?

I liked him.

I liked him a lot.

Aren't you gonna wrap it in a handkerchief or something?

Where did you leave him?

Try that chair in the corner.

Well, it's been one hell of a day.

What did you expect? He killed my brother.

- Your brother was pushing too hard. - But to kill him?

Did you tell Steelgrave it was your brother...

...who was blackmailing you?

Of course I didn't.

Well, somebody did.

He didn't care about those pictures except for your sake.

He was only trying to protect you.

- Well, he certainly proved that. - Yes, he did, in his own way.

The same way he came after me

when he thought I was putting the pressure on you.

It's gonna cost a lot to fix this.

I'm not worth it.

Tell me why you had the gun with you.

The gun?

Don't stop to think, just tell me. Did you mean to kill him?

Why not? I thought I meant something to him.

I guess I was a little vain. He fooled me.

- Go on home, Miss Wald. - What?

- Go on home. - I killed him.

You're my client. Just do as you're told.

- Now go on! Get out. - I'm not gonna get away with this.

Homicide, please.

Oh, yeah, this baby's been working.

What's the story, Marlowe?

Girl came up to my office,

told me a client of mine was in danger up here,

drove me up here, dropped me off, she went home.

What's the girl's name?

- Dolores Gonzales. - Your client?

- Another party altogether. - What's your client's name?

Not yet, Lieutenant.

Your rules, huh?

Were you here when he got it?

- Nope. - Who was?

- He was. - Who else?

I won't lie to you, Lieutenant.

I don't know who was here when he got it.

Who was here when you got here?

He was.

Alright, Fred.

Put the cuffs on this guy... behind.

Alright, Marlowe.

Let's go.

If I didn't have enough trouble, I gotta worry about you, too.

You know how I spend my days?

Turning over dirty underwear.

My nights... I spend sniffing rotten teeth.

Or I-I go up a dark stairway

after some gun punk with a skin full of horse.

Maybe tomorrow I don't get all the way up the stairs.

Or I get a confession from some guy, they swear I beat it out of the bastard.

See, nothing I do is right, never, not once!

And I make one mistake, I'm back in uniform.

I'm out on the streets with the hookers yelling at me.

I'm taking tire chains away from tough kids.

And that's not enough on my plate, so I gotta have you!

I gotta have me a Sharpie with a private license

suppressing information, concealing evidence,

framing setups that wouldn't fool a baby!

You wouldn't mind, Marlowe,

if I call you a cheap double-crossing keyhole peeper, would ya?

- You want me to mind? - I'd love it, I'd love it.

- Okay, then, I mind. - Your license is dead as of now.

My license is dead when the commissioner says so.

I'm dealing with it my way! I'm waiting for this bird to crack wise.

He hasn't cracked wise yet. The bright repartee.

- This isn't doing any good. - You're a man-eater tonight.

- Will you shut the hell up! - Any excuse to break me in half!

I don't need any excuse!

I'll take care of this comedian!

Well, yeah, it's a new type of third degree.

The police beat the hell out of each other,

and the suspect cracks up from the agony of watching.

It never fails.

Was it you I hit, Fred?

Nobody hit me, Christy, nobody I can remember.

- Fred. - Hmm?

Tell this character to get outta here. He's on a short rope.

Tell him to get his ass home, directly home.

And tell him I'll be in touch with him, very close touch.

You get outta here, baby. Get out now.

How? I haven't got any transportation.

Try hitchhiking. Don't press your luck.

L'chaim.

Now, who do you suppose is gonna clean up this mess?

- Where are they? - You looking for something?

- Oh, you know what I'm looking for. - The pictures, huh?

Now that your brother's dead, you're gonna grab the pictures

and blackmail your own sister, right?

Well, I burned the pictures and the negative,

- and they made a lovely flame. - You what?

Give me your purse, little sister.

Don't come any closer, Mavis.

Stay away from me! Stay away from me, Mavis!

That's my purse! That's mine! That's mine, Mavis!

Mavis, that's mine! That's mine!

That's mine! It's mine!

- Sonny gave you that money, didn't he? - I don't know any Sonny.

The smell of lilac in his place the other night,

that little-girl smell!

You went up there to tell him where Orrin was hiding.

How much did he pay you to tell?

About an even thousand.

Well, it was Orrin's own fault.

He took those pictures of you with that gangster,

and he promised me some of the money.

And I didn't hear from him anymore, so I came here to find him.

Sister, you got our brother killed!

Oh, Mavis, that's not true. I warned Orrin.

I said, "Orrin, if you don't take care of me,

"I'll tell Mr. Steelgrave where you're hiding."

Well, he pretended he'd lost the pictures and I didn't believe him.

So, I took a taxicab all the way up to see Mr. Steelgrave.

You know how expensive that is?

And then I told Philip here to get right over to the clinic to protect Orrin,

even though he didn't deserve it.

It's not my fault your boyfriend got there before Philip did!

- Our own brother! How could you? - Oh, don't you go blaming me!

You had no business going off and leaving us!

Orfamay, when did I ever forget about you or Mama or even poor Orrin?

Haven't I always come to see you whenever I could?

- Oh, sure! - Sent you money?

- Oh, sure! - Tried to take care of you?

Oh, and hasn't it made you feel important, though?

I was stupid enough to try to take the blame for you...

...last night after you shot Sonny.

After I what?

He gave me that gun to keep in my apartment,

and after you came to see me, it was missing.

Well, I didn't take it.

I hope you and Mother will be very happy.

And anyway, who's to prove it, huh? Who's left to prove it?

- You? Who are you? - Nobody.

That's right! A nobody, a cheap nobody!

I said it first.

Why, 50 dollars even buys you.

Oh! You! You!

Get away from me!

You! I hate you!

I hate you! I hate you!

- Get off of me! - Come on.

Get away from me!

You!

Enough, come on.

Now, stay there.

Here. Kansas is due east.

Hey, come here.

I always tried to make things better for her.

I used to tell her how pretty she was.

You really thought little sister killed Steelgrave?

So, you went out on stage and played the big guilty scene,

trying to cover for her.

Well, those little .32s kick out a lot of graphite.

And last night your hand was as pure as Snow White's.

Well, if Orfamay didn't kill him, then who did?

Forget it, Mavis. Forget it.

You got plenty of time. You got, oh... bullfighters to meet,

jets to fly, magazine covers to pose for.

Use it. Make it work for you.

You're something else, Philip Marlowe.

Reservations. No, she's not here tonight.

- Hi, Joe. Dolores is expecting me. - Hi. Go right in.

- Our night? - All ours.

There's one piece still missing... Lagardie.

It would help if he used to be your husband.

Say, back in Brooklyn, young doctor with the mob,

a wife like you, and a man like Steelgrave...

It makes a tidy package.

The streets are paved with forgotten husbands.

You must have loved him a lot.

My husband?

Steelgrave.

It had to be somebody who knew both Steelgrave and Mavis,

somebody who could come and go in her apartment as they pleased,

who had access to the gun Steelgrave gave her.

It comes up you.

Like I said, Mavis Is a nice girl,

but why should she get all the goodies?

You went through a lot of trouble.

And there's nothing you can do about it, is there?

Unless you wanna destroy her,

and you wouldn't do that, would you?

You dream of those great big eyes of hers.

Police Department, please.

'Sheriffs Department. Sergeant Gevaris.'

"Hello. Hello.

Hello."