Lady in the Lake

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My name is Marlowe. Phillip Marlowe.

Occupation:
private detective.

Somebody says, "Follow that guy,"|so I follow him.

Somebody says, "Find that female,"|so I find her.

And what do I get out of it?

$10 a day and expenses.

And if you think that buys a lot of|fancy groceries these days, you're crazy.

Right now, you're reading in newspapers|and hearing over your radios...

about a murder.

They call it|"The Case of the Lady in the Lake."

It's a good title. It fits.

What you've read and what you've heard|is one thing.

The real thing is something else.

There's only one guy who knows that.|I know it.

This "Lady in the Lake" business started|just three days before Christmas.

I was tired of being pushed around|for nickels and dimes...

so I decided I'd write about murder.|It's safer.

And besides,|they tell me the profits are good.

So I pounded out a story on that...

and I sent it up to the|Kingsby Publications, Incorporated...

specialists in gore.

You know, they turn out that kind of thing.

I got a letter from them|asking me to see them about it.

The letter was signed "A. Fromsett...

"Room 950, Meadson Building."

Make a note of that.

Some cases of murder start when|that door there behind you opens up...

and a fellow rushes in all covered|with sweat and confusion...

and fills you full of bad dope|about the setup.

But some cases, like this one...

kind of creep up on you|on their hands and knees.

And the first thing you know,|you're in it up to your neck.

You'll see it just as I saw it.

You'll meet the people,|you'll find the clues...

and maybe you'll solve it quick,|and maybe you won't.

You think you will? Okay, you're smart.|But let me give you a tip.

You've got to watch them.

You've got to watch them all the time.

Because things happen|when you least expect them.

"Kingsby Publications, Incorporated.

"Room 950, Meadson Building.

"Signed, A. Fromsett."

Three days before Christmas|and I haven't done a bit of shopping yet.

Well, you'd better hurry up.

- Yes?|- I'm Phillip Marlowe.

I got a letter asking me|to come up here about a story.

A Mr. Marlowe to see you.

You may go in.

No, Dick, it won't do. Not enough gore.|Not nearly enough gore.

Well, that's because|you don't see it in color.

Color or no color,|there's not enough blood.

Take it out and put more blood in.|As soon as you finish, let me see it again.

Mr. Marlowe? Oh, Mr. Marlowe.

You're here about some kind of a story,|aren't you?

Yeah, I got a letter about it|from somebody named A. Fromsett.

I'm A. Fromsett.|Adrienne Fromsett, to be precise.

Won't you sit down?

Thanks.

- Let me see, I had your story...|- You still have it.

It's underneath the magazine there|on the desk.

Thank you.

"If I Should Die Before I Live."|That's a nice title.

"By Phillip Marlowe." Nice name.

Tell me, Mr. Marlowe,|have you done much writing before?

- That much.|- Really?

- You do very well for a beginner.|- Well, it's based on an authentic case.

Is it really?

Of course, we get hundreds of authentic|cases submitted to us every week.

Why don't you print a few?

They aren't all as emotional as yours.

- Cigarette?|- Thanks.

Light.

Thank you.

Besides, you see...

people who write|usually don't know the facts...

and people who know the facts|usually can't write.

Authenticity has very little to do with it.

If people who read our magazines|knew the facts of life, Mr. Marlowe...

they wouldn't be reading our magazines.

- Oh, Mr. Marlowe?|- Yeah?

Thank you.

Have you been marooned|on a desert island...

or do you just find it|difficult to concentrate?

- A little of both.|- Really?

In that case, I must be losing my touch.

You see, editorial work is so unglamorous,|sometimes...

You run this business all by yourself?

No, Mr. Derace Kingsby|is president of the company.

I'm his principal assistant.

Tell me, Mr. Marlowe...

are there really detectives|like the one in your story...

who never lie, cheat,|or double-cross a client...

who are loyal, honest,|and never betray a confidence?

Yeah, there are a couple of dopes like that.

Good. Then your story is autobiographical.|You were writing about yourself.

You don't really want to buy my story,|do you, Miss Fromsett?

- I was about to offer you $200 for it.|- Oh, no, you weren't.

Why don't you quit being cute,|Miss Fromsett?

The real reason you had me up here|is because...

you're looking for a smooth operator|who keeps his mouth shut.

And when you read the story,|you said, "Yeah, that's my boy.

"He's dumb, he's brave, and he's cheap."|Am I right?

Well, I was about to offer you|a commission...

on a rather delicate|and confidential matter.

Why didn't you pick up the telephone|and call me...

instead of all this Mickey Mouse|about a story?

What I want you to do is this:

I want you to find Mr. Kingsby's wife...

without his knowing|you're looking for her.

She's run off with another man.

She's a vicious woman.|A liar, a cheat, and a thief.

She may even end up|in the hands of the police.

- He's had 10 years...|- Pardon me if I'm nosey, Miss Fromsett.

What makes this any of your business?

I handle all of Mr. Kingsby's affairs.

He wishes to divorce her.

She must be found|before she can be served with the papers.

Nice job you have here.

You think I'm pretty cold-blooded|about this, don't you?

I'd have used a shorter word.

- I don't like your manner.|- I'm not selling it.

I'm not selling the story, either, to you.|I'm not selling anything.

I have an allergy against getting mixed up|with tricky females...

who want to knock off the boss's wife|and marry him for themselves.

People don't talk to me like that,|Mr. Marlowe.

Maybe that's what's the matter with you.

Somebody should talk to you|like that sometime.

I'm leaving for the day, Adrienne.|Is there anything I can do?

Come in, Derry.|I'd like you to meet Phillip Marlowe.

Mr. Marlowe and I have been having|a little talk about a story he sent in.

This is Mr. Derace Kingsby,|president of our company.

Hi.

It's always nice to see|one of our writers, Mr. Marlowe.

Up to this point, Derry,|Mr. Marlowe isn't one of our writers.

He has just violently and indignantly|turned down an offer of $200 for his story.

The boys are writing these days|for a penny a word, and $200 is...

But this isn't the ordinary|blood and thunder yarn, Derry.

This has part of Mr. Marlowe's soul in it.

I would say it was worth $500,|as souls go these days.

- Well, if you say so, it's up to you.|- Thank you, Derry.

I congratulate you, Mr. Marlowe.|A writer who is also a businessman.

And a very well-known private detective.

- Detective?|- That's what makes the stuff so authentic.

So full of life and vigor and heart.|So full of...

- What would you say it was full of?|- Short sentences.

I see.

Is there anything you want|to take up with me before I go?

I don't believe so, Derry.

- Then I'll say good night, darling.|- Good night.

Mr. Marlowe, I'm glad to have met you.

I noticed you didn't do much talking|while the boss was in the office, did you?

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