The Big Sleep Page #5

Sit down, sugar.

Now where were we?

Oh, yes, you were just about

to get something.

There better not be

any more prints.

There won't be.

Can I have my picture now?

Can I have my gun?

Later.

You're cute. I like you.

This is nothing. I got a Balinese

dancing girl tattooed on my chest.

You better take her home.

I suppose I should thank you.

No, just don't lie to me next time.

Come on, Carmen.

Hold it, Joe.

You got off easy, Joe.

What's the matter, sugar?

- He gives me a pain...

- Goes for me too.

You got your pictures.

Get out.

- Where's the pain?

- In my...

Get out!

Not yet. We got a few things

to straighten out.

I told you to get out.

What difference does it make now?

Why'd you put the bee

on Mrs. Rutledge?

I tapped the old man six months ago.

I figured it might not work twice.

What made you think

Mrs. Rutledge wouldn't tell him?

- How well do you know her?

- We'll pass that.

I figured she might have a thing

or two she wouldn't want him to know.

That's a little weak,

but we'll pass that too.

Say, Joe, how'd you get that picture?

You got what you came for,

and you got it cheap.

I don't know anything about it.

Do I, Agnes?

- But you just gave it to me.

- A half-smart guy.

That's what I always draw.

Never once a man who's smart all the way

around the course. Never once.

Did I hurt you much?

You and every other man.

Where'd you get that picture?

It fell out of somebody's pocket.

- Got an alibi for last night?

- I was here with Agnes.

That's a great witness.

You can only die once,

even for a couple of murders.

A couple of murders?

I mean two murders. Where were you

about 7:
30 last night?

Where were you?

All right, I was watching

Geiger's place.

Why?

- To get something on him.

- Look at me while you're talking.

It was raining hard

and I was in my car.

There was a car out front and another

down the hill. I was in back.

- Who else was back there?

- Nobody.

There was a big Packard near

where I was, so I took a look.

It was registered to the Sternwoods.

Nothing happened, so I got tired

of waiting and I went home.

IKnow where that Packard is now?

It's in the sheriff's garage.

It was fished out of 12 feet of water

off Lido Pier this morning.

There was a dead man in it.

It was pointed toward the end of

the pier and the throttle pulled out.

- You can't pin that on me.

- I can try.

Sit down, Joe.

The dead man was Owen Taylor,

Sternwood's chauffeur.

He went up to Geiger's

because he was sweet on Carmen.

He didn't like the games

Geiger was playing.

He let himself in the back

with a jimmy and he had a gun.

The gun went off, as guns will,

and Geiger fell down dead.

Owen ran with the film.

You went after him and got it.

All right, you're right.

I heard the shots...

...and saw him run out and

enter the Packard and away.

I followed him.

He turned west on Sunset.

And beyond Beverly...

...he skidded off the road

and came to a stop.

So I came up and played copper.

He had a gun. He was rattled,

so I sapped him down.

I figured the film might be

worth something, so I took it.

That's the last I saw of him.

So you left an unconscious man

in a car way out near Beverly.

And you want me to believe

somebody came along...

...ran that car to the ocean,

pushed it off the pier...

...then hid Geiger's body?

- Well, I didn't...

- Somebody did.

You wanted time to take over.

You can't prove I did it.

I don't particularly want to.

All I want to do is find out

what Geiger had on the Sternwoods.

Maybe you and I can make

a little deal.

Go ahead.

Maybe she's back.

If she is, she hasn't got her gun.

You got a match, bud?

What will it be, kid?

Me or the cops?

What do you want?

Sit in that car,

back of the wheel. You drive.

As soon as this police car goes by,

we're going to Geiger's house.

By the way, Carol,

you shot the wrong guy.

Brody didn't kill Geiger.

All right, let's go.

- You got a key. Let's go in.

- Who said I got a key?

All right, come on!

Maybe you need this.

- Hello.

- Hello, Bernie?

Is this who I think it is?

It's Marlowe.

How are you fixed for red points?

I haven't got any.

Who has?

I got some cold meat set out,

might interest you.

What are you talking about?

You boys find a gun on Owen Taylor...

...when they fished him out of

the drink last night?

That's police business.

I know it's police business.

But if they did,

it had three empty shells in it.

You come up to

...off Laurel Canyon Road, and

I'll show you where the slugs went.

- I'll be right out.

- I'll be waiting for you.

What did you hide Geiger's body for?

Do you admit shooting Brody?

Take a jump, Jack.

He doesn't have to admit it.

Here's his gun.

I'm late. I'm sorry.

How are you today?

Better than last night.

I can agree on that.

- Hello, Max.

- Good afternoon.

- Got a table for us?

- Certainly, madam. This way, please.

I'll have a scotch, mixed.

A scotch and plain water.

How'd you happen to

pick out this place?

Maybe I wanted to hold your hand.

That can be arranged.

Why'd you want to see me?

My father was very pleased when

he saw the morning papers. So was I.

We were lucky. I managed to keep

the Sternwoods out of it.

He hopes you didn't

involve yourself too deeply.

You tell him it was

no fault of yours?

No. He asked me to give you a check.

I don't need any money yet.

He considers the case closed.

It is, isn't it?

As far as Geiger is concerned, yes.

Then it's completely closed.

I hope this is satisfactory.

Five hundred!

It's a lot more than I expected,

but welcome just the same.

We're very grateful to you,

Mr. Marlowe, and...

...I'm very glad it's all over.

Tell me, what do you do

when you're not working?

Play the horses, fool around.

No women?

I'm generally working on

something, most of the time.

Could that be stretched to include me?

I like you.

I told you that before.

I liked hearing you say it.

But you didn't do much about it.

Neither did you.

Speaking of horses, I like to

play them myself.

But I like to see them work out

a little first.

See if they're front-runners

or come from behind.

Find out what their whole card is.

What makes them run.

Find out mine?

I think so.

Go ahead.

I'd say you don't like to be rated.

You like to get out in front...

...open up a lead...

...take a little breather in

the backstretch...

...and then come home free.

You don't like to be rated yourself.

I haven't met anyone yet

that could do it.

Any suggestions?

I can't tell till I've seen you

over a distance of ground.

You got a touch of class,

but I don't know how far you can go.

A lot depends on who's in the saddle.

Go ahead, Marlowe,

I like the way you work.

In case you don't know it,

you're doing all right.

There's one thing I can't figure out.

What makes me run?

I'll give you a little hint.

Sugar won't work. It's been tried.

What did you try it on me for?

Who told you to sugar me off this case?

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