Murder, My Sweet Page #5

- The smoke strikes you funny?

- Where am I?

- You like also to know where you're at.

Anything else, pally?

The doors are too small.

The stairs are made of dough.

I think this guy's nuts.

Do you think he's nuts?

Skip it.

- I think I'll take myself a nap again.

- Better make it just that, pally.

My throat felt sore...

but the fingers feeling it

didn't feel anything.

They were just a bunch of bananas

that looked like fingers.

I wondered what I was shot full of.

Something to keep me quiet

or something to make me talk.

Maybe both.

Okay, Marlowe, I said to myself,

you're a tough guy.

You've been sapped twice, choked,

beaten silly with a gun...

shot in the arm until you're

as crazy as a couple of waltzing mice.

Now let's see you

do something really tough...

like putting your pants on.

Okay, you cuckoo, walk and talk.

What about? Anything. Everything.

Just talk and keep walking.

You're getting out of here.

That's a beautiful bed.

Stay off it!

Walk!

I walked. I don't know how long.

I didn't have a watch.

They don't make that kind of time

in watches, anyway.

I was ready to talk to somebody.

Help! Help!

That'll quiet your nerves, pally.

The buzzer won't

buy you anything tonight, doc.

I just gave nursey a sleeping tablet.

For three days, you've been

a sick man, sir, a very sick man.

I cannot recommend

your being up and about.

I had a nightmare. A lot of crazy things.

I slept.

I woke up,

and the room was full of smoke.

I was a sick man.

Instead of pink snakes, I got smoke.

Here I am, all cured.

- What were you saying?

- I made no remark.

Remarks want you to make them.

They got their tongues hanging out

waiting to be said.

I'm Dr. Sonderborg.

You've been suffering

from narcotic poisoning.

On account of you pumped me

full of this poisoning, doc?

Speak up, Dr. Jekyll!

I'm in a wild mood tonight!

I want to go dance in the foam.

I hear the banshees calling.

I haven't shot a man in a week.

You very nearly died, sir.

I had to give you digitalis.

Also a little something to make me talk?

What was I supposed to talk about?

Maybe about a jade necklace

I haven't got?

Was I good telling you

about what I don't have?

Did the customers like me?

Or will Amthor be disappointed in you?

Never disappoint Mr. Amthor.

It depresses him.

You're not well, Mr. Marlowe.

You may collapse at any time.

I must insist upon you going back to bed.

Please give me this.

Now the gun, please.

The gun, please.

I strongly advise...

Tie a ribbon on the one

to the front door, doc.

When you got a gun, people are

supposed to do what you tell them.

I'm afraid you're going

to faint, Mr. Marlowe.

Tie a ribbon on it!

The girls must have a great time with you.

- I'm booked, captain.

- Look, pal, l...

I'm booked, captain.

You ain't in good shape.

You shouldn't ought to fight with me.

- I'll murder you.

- I don't like fighting.

- Maybe you were just making love to me.

- I like you to keep looking for Velma.

You're nuts. You're crazy as a rabbit.

- He sent after me.

- Who? The smart thinker Amthor?

- He was kidding with me.

- He was kidding the pants off of you, son.

He was waving a fish in front of your nose,

so you wouldn't find your gal.

Nobody's supposed to find her.

I think he's got other plans for her.

- You ain't in good shape. I better help you.

- Then get me a cab, you dopey ape.

- Listen!

- I'd like you to take my friend.

Look, I got a fare and I'm on waiting time.

Can't you see the flag is down?

- I'd like you to take my friend.

- Sure.

I said something wrong there. I knew it.

The big stir-bug was

too anxious to get rid of me.

His brain was working.

I don't know what happened to it,

but it was working... at the wrong time.

I wanted to sleep

a couple of hundred years...

but I couldn't.

Nulty was watching my apartment.

So I decided to call on Ann

to find out why she was living alone...

and if she really liked it.

- What do you want?

- Black coffee, eggs, and a scotch and soda.

- Go away.

- Excuse me.

This is a nice place.

But why?

Isn't there room for you in the palace?

An old ballroom or something

you could sleep in?

Or don't you like it out there?

I'm all broke up with cops, honey.

They're hanging all over my place

and at the office.

They may just want to chat,

but I'm not ready for them yet.

- I'll have to live here a couple of days.

- You're drunk. Get out.

That's no way to talk to your loved one...

when he comes home to you

from the brink of the grave.

Helen fixed me a blind date with Amthor

and a couple of his whipping boys.

- What happened? Are you all right?

- He gave me a cute time for three days.

I don't think I'm supposed to be alive...

- Say that again.

- Say what again?

The last thing you said.

I said, "What happened?

Are you all right?"

What's the matter?

Why do you keep looking at me

as if I had a hole in my head?

What were you doing in the canyon

the night Marriott was killed?

I just remember how it happened.

I was lying on my face

because I'd been banged on the head.

Somebody threw a flashlight on me

and asked me, was I all right.

And then she said, "What happened?"

Yeah, it was a girl.

A girl with red hair, a crooked nose,

and a nice figure.

- I didn't kill Marriott.

- You weren't just taking a hike.

You found out

something would happen out there.

Knowing you, I'd say you overheard

Marriott and Helen...

making some sort of arrangements

about the jade.

You knew they had been holding hands.

- You didn't like that.

- I didn't kill him.

You don't like anybody

that has anything to do with Helen.

- Are you trying to reform her?

- I hate her!

That doesn't make sense.

I hate her, but she's married to my father

and she means a great deal to him.

I'm fond of my father.

It's more than being fond...

It's not something you'd understand,

because it doesn't involve money.

I just don't want anything to hurt him.

A guy playing around with his wife...

a guy like Marriott: That would hurt him.

If he killed Marriott, you'd protect him.

It's been done before.

- There's no age limit on jealous husbands.

- Not Father!

I don't buy it, either... yet.

I was just trying it on for size.

A lot of things still don't fit.

I don't know how you showed up at my

office the next day, making like a reporter.

- Whose handwriting is this?

- I found it on Marriott.

You went through his pockets?

That took a strong stomach.

- How'd you like to work for me?

- I'm flattered.

I'm also tired of you.

And I've got a date. Go home.

I can't. There's a little bundle

on my doorstep named Nulty...

who's playing at not looking like a cop.

But he's terrible at it.

Get rid of him.

Tell him you decided

to have a quiet little supper here with me.

- Yes?

- I'd like a word with your boyfriend.

- Well, I really don't...

- Come in, Lieutenant.

Excuse me.

Thanks to you guys,

my love life's going to pieces.

I've been looking for you for three days.

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