Marlowe Page #5

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.

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 for your long-lost brother?

Officer, I believe this

man knows about a murder.

This a joke? -My brother's

been killed 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 643 295.

Okay, Lieutenant, it's

all yours. -Alright.

Now you just start to talk.

Let it flow. You know what I mean.

Want me to make a statement?

-Yes, full statement.

A voluntary and without coercion.

Everything you know, alright?

Then ask. If you don't

like the answers book me.

And if you book me I

get to make a phone call.

Wait. Don't tell me that you've been

strictly legal in this... -Case? -Yes

No. -I suppose you have

a client to protect?

Maybe. -He did. She dropped...

Ask the questions, please. -What

happened at Klausen's place?

I went out there

looking for her brother.

His sister told me she got a call

from him at the Lagardie clinic...

... and I went out there.

Care to see my

back? -Wait a minute.

Why would he try to pick you? You

were his pal, come to save him.

I was just something between him

and the light. Something that moved.

Maybe he thought I was

the person who shot him.

A man in his condition

acts from instinct.

He does not invent new techniques.

So I believe Orrin Quest

killed both Klausen and Hicks.

What about Lagardie?

You got anything on him?

We checked on him.

He could have 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.

That's pretty wild, Marlowe.

That's tenacious, you know.

Would I do myself any good if I

went out and tried to tighten it up?

I won't leave town.

Thanks.

I don't want to run

this into the ground

One more little favour? -Yes, what?

Orfamay Quest.

Could you arrange to keep her

around town for a day or two?

On what grounds?

Well, I don't know...

Tell her you've decided to draw and quarter

me and you want her to whip the horses.

She won't be able to pass that up.

Is the party over?

Trying to break a lease, right?

Speak softly, please.

Sorry.

Tough day at the office?

Tough day? An average

day in a detective's life.

I've been,...

stabbed......

mugged... and 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 say that's an average day.

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.

I'll wait a minute.

I think you can service her.

All my clients have troubles.

That's why they come to me.

Why do you bother with them?

Why don't 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 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 waaay back.

What are friends for?

Something like that.

The Steelgrave place. -Yes

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.

I only suffer. Every winner

has to be a loser, right?

Be careful in there.

I'll wait.

No, go on home, Dolores.

Miss Wald...

I got word you tried to call me.

Mavis?

Come on!

Hear, drink it. Come on.

More.

Where's yours?

-Someone has to drive.

You're rather nice for what you are.

Well, it could be the brandy,

the altitude, or shock...

... You're stalling for time.

For someone to get here

or get away from here.

Where is Steelgrave?

I liked him.

I liked him a lot.

Going to wrap it in a handkerchief?

Where'd you leave him?

Behind 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 that it

was your brother blackmailing you?

Of course I didn't.

Somebody did.

He did not 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 pressing.

It will 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.

Tell me:
did you mean

to kill him! -Why not?

I thought I meant something

to him. I guess I was vain.

Fool.

Go home, Miss Wald. -What?

Go on home. -You say!

You're my client. Do as you're told.

Go on! Get out! -I'm going, okay?

Homicide, please.

Yes, this baby's been working.

What is the story, Marlowe?

A girl came to my office to tell me

that a client of mine was in danger.

Drove me up here, dropped

me off and went home.

The girl's name?

Dolores Gonzales. -Your client?

Another party altogether.

-Your client's name?

Not yet, Lieutenant.

Your rules, right?

You here when he got it?

No. -Who was?

He was. -Who else?

I won't lie, 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 have to worry about you too.

Do you know how I spend my days?

Turning over dirty underwear.

And my nights?

Spent snooping rotten

teeth. -Alright.

I go up a dark stairway after some

gun punk with a skin full of horse

Maybe tomorrow I don't

get up the stairs.

Or I get a confession

from some guy...

they swear I beat it

out of the bastard.

Nothing I do is

right. Never. Not once.

If I make one mistake,...

I'm back in uniform, out in the

streets with the hookers yelling at me.

I taking tire chains away from

tough kids. But that's not enough...

... I have you. I got to have me

a shark with a private license...

... suppressing information.

Concealing evidence,

framing set-ups that

wouldn't fool a baby.

impossible to believe.

You wouldn't mind if I call you a

cheap double-crossing keyhole peeper!

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

I'd love it. -Okay, then I mind.

Your license is dead as of now!

-When the commissioner says it's dead!

Let's get one thing straight!

-I'm doing this my way!

I'm waiting for this bird to crack

wise. He hasn't cracked wise yet.

The price of practice!

Not as fast. -Come on...

Not so good tonight are you

lieutenant? -Shut the hell up!

Lieutenant, calm down. -I

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