The Long Goodbye Page #8

especially if I don't have a choice.

The boys should sit down.

You just stand here.

You remember Harry, of course,

and you know Pepe at the bar,

and Vince, and of course

you know Jack really well.

What about that little lady

who you gave a Coke bottle to for a nose?

That supposed to be

some kind of smart remark?

I didn't mean nothing smart by it.

He doesn't think I'm smart.

Didn't we do this before?

Yes, we did. But I'm glad

you asked me about Jo Ann.

- Vince, be so kind.

- Yes, sir.

What we have

is a problem with communication.

I knew it. I don't hear from you any more.

I don't get a phone call,

not so much as a postcard.

What's the matter? Where's the money?

I don't got it. That's the truth.

Jo Ann.

Jo Ann.

Come here.

You remember Philip Marlowe.

- Augustine, I get the point.

- No, you don't.

- I get the point.

- The point is money!

- Tell me where the money is.

- I don't know where it is.

I don't like getting excited like this.

I really don't like it.

Get up, get up, up!

Sit down.

Marlowe...

You remember the night Jo Ann became

ill and we had to take her to the hospital?

As you can see,

she's had extensive treatment.

The finest surgeons, had nurses

around the clock, the best attention,

because, as you know,

she's very near and dear to me.

And the prognosis is excellent.

Excellent. She's going to be fine.

Now...

I left the hospital that night

and I was... really upset.

- I was... What was I?

- Haunted.

- What?

- Haunted.

That's it. I was haunted with the idea

that somehow I'd not been fair to her.

No matter how many times I would go

over it, I realised I had not been fair to her.

Sit down over there, far away.

What had she done? Absolutely nothing.

You were the one I was angry with.

I was taking out on her

what I should have been giving you!

So I knew at that moment

that I had to apologise.

I had to apologise in a very special way.

It had to be total and it had to be honest.

After all, I had caused the girl

considerable discomfort.

I went to the hospital, to her room.

Nobody was there. It was dark.

I took off all my clothes, undressed

completely, and stood before her naked.

And I said to her "Jo Ann, I apologise. "

"You see a man standing before you

with nothing to hide. " Is that right?

Yes, Marty.

- So what do you want me to do?

- I want you to take off your clothes.

I have nothing to hide either,

but I'm not gonna take my clothes off.

Get naked and tell me the truth

about my money.

- You wanna take your clothes off?

- It's a pleasure.

As a matter of fact,

everybody take off their clothes.

I have too many scars.

I understand. Go on inside

and take care of the telephone.

In the meantime everybody takes off

their clothes. Harry, take off your clothes.

- George Raft never took his clothes off.

- Help him.

One second. I don't need any help.

Jo Ann, I want you to wait right here.

I'd like you to see what goes on.

This is what I owe you.

I owe this much to you.

I understand you're nervous.

You're nervous like I was.

When I was a kid, in high school,

I used to dread gym class.

Absolutely dread it. Because I didn't have

any pubic hair till I was 15 years old.

You must have looked like

one of the Three Little Pigs.

Take it easy. It's very simple.

The man is nerv...

Just a minute. Look at this.

- What's that?

- A picture of James Madison.

It's a $5,000 bill. See? You take off your

clothes, everything comes out honest.

You know how many of these there are

in this country? Very few.

Three were in the suitcase Terry Lennox

was supposed to take to Mexico.

- Where'd you get this?

- Box of Cracker Jacks.

- Bullshit! Where did you get it?

- A client sent it to me.

A client is bullshit.

Are you laughing at me?

I see you're laughing.

I wouldn't laugh if I were you.

Is Terry Lennox alive?

Did you have a deal with Terry Lennox?

Do you think it's funny to steal

$355,000 from Marty Augustine?

- Jack, let me see that knife.

- With pleasure, Marty.

Give it to me.

Harry.

Your father was a mohel. Cut him.

- What?

- Cut him.

- Where?

- Cut it off.

- Cut "it" off?

- That's what I said. Cut it off.

Marty, come here.

Gotta tell you something.

- Can't you see that I'm busy?

- Marty, this is important. Come on.

Excuse me, will you, please?

What is it? What is it?

Everybody out.

Jack, bring me my clothes.

- What about our wallets?

- Never mind the wallets, Harry.

A lot of entertainment for five grand.

- Cigarette?

- No, thank you.

It's OK with me.

Hey, where are you going?

I had a terrific time but I'm going home.

Here. Why don't you keep this

for your trouble?

You told the truth

and I admire that in a man.

- If you're in the neighbourhood, stop by.

- Thanks a lot.

Especially since my fairy godmother

dropped your $350,000 back in your lap.

Hey! Mrs Wade!

Mrs Wade.

Hey, Mrs Wade!

Hey, come on!

Mrs Wade!

Pull over! Sh*t!

Mrs Wade, come on!

How?

Right. Chasing after that car,

I got hit by a car and I'm in the hospital.

Gotta get outta here.

Nothing broke, nothing broke. OK, OK.

You're gonna be OK.

I've seen all your pictures too.

Hey, hey.

- I just gotta get outta here.

- Hey.

You tell that guy

it don't hurt to die.

- Here.

- That's the smallest one I ever seen.

- Here.

- I can't. I got a tin ear. Here you go.

It's for me? OK, I'll practise. See you later.

- You shouldn't be out of bed, Mr Marlowe.

- I'm not Mr Marlowe. This is.

- How long has he been in here?

- I don't know. I've been off for three days.

- What's wrong?

- I've had the flu.

Don't breathe near his mouth.

Take care of him. He's important.

- Are you checking in or out?

- Out.

Charlie, give me a hand with this.

- You're helpless. Can't do anything.

- I'm dropping it, Charlie.

Here's a real bird's nest. Fake bird.

Excuse me, ladies. I'm looking for Mrs...

Mrs Tooksbury's upstairs.

She's the lady in charge.

Mr Katz, I'm Sybil Tooksbury.

How do you do? You're an hour early.

I was getting all this stuff cleaned out so

you can see the house as it should look.

I'm looking for the lady

who lives here - Mrs Wade.

I'm not Mr Katz.

- Who are you?

- Marlowe. I'm looking for Mrs Wade.

- You're not Mr Katz?

- No.

I can't give you any information.

I work for Surfside Realty. Call them.

They'll give you any information you'd like

to know. If you'll excuse me, I'm busy.

Mrs Tooks, where's Mrs Eileen Wade?

That's who I'm looking for.

Mrs Wade? I think she's gone to Europe.

I'm not allowed to tell you. I'm sorry, sir.

You'll just have to call

the real-estate office.

- Ladies, it's OK with me.

- Goodbye, Mr Katz. Nice to have met you.

We're dancing in the sand

and our bodies are in ecstasy.

We're seeing colours, all the most

beautiful colours you can imagine.

And we're holding hands

because we're one,

and our breasts become full

and our arms become free

and our bodies become free.

And we are now beautiful.

We are now beautiful and we are now one.

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