The Big Sleep Page #7

to like another Sternwood?

- I wish you'd show it.

- That should be awful easy.

I liked that.

I'd like more.

That's even better.

All right.

Now that's settled.

What's Eddie Mars got on you?

- So that's the way it is.

- That's the way it is.

I kissing you is all right.

I'd like to do more of it.

But first I want to find out

what Eddie Mars has on you.

- Lf you say that again...

- I'll keep saying it till I find out.

I told Eddie Mars

I was coming up to see him.

When I arrived, you were there.

You two staged an act.

He let you win a lot of money...

...and then sent a man

to take it away from you...

...to prove there was

nothing between you.

You're shaking again.

Take me home.

Sure I will.

But first, open that bag.

If there's 28 grand in it,

I'll eat every word I've said.

Open it and make a sap out of me

or else stop playing me for one.

Take me home.

All right, but that's as far

as I'll carry you.

From now on, you can

take care of yourself.

What does the hat check girl

get for a tip?

I'm trying to think of something

appropriate. How'd you get in here?

Bet you can't guess.

I'll bet I can.

You came in through the keyhole,

like Peter Pan.

Who's he?

A guy I used to know

around a poolroom.

You're cute.

I'm getting cuter every minute.

How did you get in?

I showed the manager your card.

I stole it from Vivian.

I told him you said

to come up and wait.

I want...

See, I remembered.

What do you remember about Shawn Regan?

- I didn't like him.

- Yeah, why?

He didn't pay any more attention

to me than you do.

Treated me like a baby all the time.

How's Eddie Mars treat you?

I don't know him.

You sure?

You know who he is, don't you?

He's always calling Vivian up.

Why? Is he cute?

I think you're telling the

truth, for a change.

Is he as cute as you are?

Nobody is.

I've had a long day.

You'd better be going.

- Come on, Carmen.

- I don't want to.

- You can't...

- Shut up!

Hello, Phil?

Hello, Bernie. What's up?

I want to see you down here,

right away.

I just woke up.

I haven't had breakfast.

It's 2:
00.

If you're not here in 30 minutes

you'll be eating on the county.

I'd rather buy my own.

I know that food the county puts out.

All right, I'll be there.

Don't you know better than to wake

a man at 2 p.m.?

- What's up?

- I got some orders for you.

You're to lay off the Sternwood case.

- Who says so?

- The DA

The DA, huh?

He must have changed his mind.

Who changed it for him?

- General Sternwood.

- Personally?

All right. Between you and me,

he didn't talk to the general.

He talked to the daughter,

Mrs. Rutledge.

- Any reason given?

- Not that I know of.

There's no law says a man can't

work on a case without a client.

You know, just to keep his hand in.

I'm just supposed to

tell you to lay off.

I know, you just work here.

Put yourself in my shoes

for a minute.

A nice old guy has two daughters.

One of them is "wonderful."

The other is not so wonderful.

As a result, somebody gets

something on her.

The father hires me to pay off...

...but before I can,

the family chauffeur kills him.

But that didn't stop things.

It just starts them.

And two murders later, I find out

somebody's got something on "Wonderful."

Who's somebody?

- I think it's Eddie Mars.

- Why?

For one thing, he owns the house

Geiger was killed in.

He did. The day after the murder,

he transfers the deed to a dummy.

What have you got that hooks

Mars up with Mrs. Rutledge?

Last night, the two of them...

...I don't want to bore you

with the whole story...

...but they went to the moon to prove

there was nothing between them.

I think there is, and it's got

something to do with Shawn Regan.

Who's missing and supposed to have

run off with Eddie Mars' wife?

What does the general

think about all this?

I don't know.

"Wonderful" won't let me get to him.

You still want me to lay off?

The DA does, but you do all

right following your own hunches.

Thanks, Bernie.

I'm going out to get breakfast.

You want a cup of coffee?

I can't afford to be seen with you.

So long, Bernie.

Sternwood residence.

Hello, Norris? This is Marlowe.

Yes, Mr. Marlowe. L...

I'd like to come out

and see General Sternwood.

I don't think it

would be possible tonight.

- Why not?

- I've been trying to call you.

Mrs. Rutledge is very anxious

to talk to you.

If you'll wait just a minute,

I'll put her on.

Hey, sugar, you got a match?

Sure thing.

Hello, Marlowe?

Thanks.

Hello, Mrs. Rutledge.

I wanted to tell you

you can stop worrying...

... and call off your bloodhounds.

We found Shawn.

What's that?

You've found Shawn?

Yes. He's been in Mexico.

He hasn't been very well.

What happened?

An accident of some kind.

We didn't get all the details.

I'm leaving at once to meet him.

I see.

I suppose the general's quite pleased.

We haven't told him yet.

We thought it best to wait.

Thanks for telling me.

Have a nice trip.

I will. Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Say, mister...

...would you please...

This is just our way

of saying, "Lay off."

You the guy that's been tailing me?

Yeah. My name's Jones.

Harry Jones.

I want to see you.

Swell!

Did you want to see those guys jump me?

I didn't care one way or the other.

You could've yelled for help.

A guy's playing a hand, I let him

play it. I'm no kibitzer.

You got brains.

Get my hat, will you?

Help me up to my office.

That working over they gave you

was the best I've seen.

And I've been around too.

Used to run a little liquor.

Rode the scout car

with a Tommy gun in my lap.

- Tough racket.

- Terrible!

Sit down. You make me nervous.

Maybe you don't believe me.

What do you want?

That's better.

I've got something to sell, cheap.

For a couple of C's.

Don't let me stop you.

- Don't you want to even know who I am?

- I already know.

You're not a cop.

You don't belong to Eddie Mars,

because I asked him.

So you must be one of Brody's friends.

So Agnes is loose again, huh?

How'd you know that?

She's a nice girl.

We're talking about getting married.

She's too big for you.

That's a dirty crack, brother.

I suppose you're right.

Maybe I've been running around

with the wrong people.

Cut the babble.

What do you want?

If you're looking for something,

will you pay for it?

- Lf it does what?

- Helps you find Regan.

This is getting funny.

I'm supposed to pay you two C's for

telling me I'm looking for Regan.

People have been

telling me that for days.

I don't even pass out cigars anymore.

Do you want to know what I've got,

or don't you?

I don't know.

information in my circle.

Would you pay it to know

where Eddie Mars' wife is?

Would you pay $ 200 for that, shamus?

I think I might.

- Where?

- Agnes found her.

She'll tell you, when she has

the dough in her hand.

You might tell the cops for nothing.

I ain't so brittle.

Agnes must have something

I didn't notice.

I ain't tried to pull anything.

I came here with a straight

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