All language subtitles for partali

How do I get in
to see the manager?

Thank you.

Hello?

Who the hell are you?

Orrin Quest's mother.

I want my little boy back.

Cop?

Man, I'm unhappy.

Got to get out more.

Dance in the streets.
Take a cop to lunch.

I got friends.

You got a passkey?

Hello?

Let me speak to doc.

Yeah. It's Klaussen.

Doc.

Key.

I run a legit hotel.
We're clean.

Come on. The key!

Lousy private fuzz!

You ought to be
ashamed of yourself.

I'm just too proud to show it.

Excuse me. The manager
said Orrin Quest was here.

Huh?

The manager said
Orrin Quest was in here.

Sloppy that way, ain't he?

He's still registered.

So, what am I doing here?

You asked the question.

Close the case.

I got a permit for the gun.

Let me see it.

Huh?

Let me see it!

Quest left 10 days ago.

I lived across the hall in 215.

It was a better room,
so I switched.

You satisfied?

I'll sleep like a winner.

You're Hicks, huh?

The register.
Grant W. Hicks, 215.

Did Quest leave any
forwarding address?

These kids, you know.

They freak out, disappear.

You, um... narco squad?

Thanks.

Huh?

For not spitting on it.

Going up?

The little one, darling.
Not a big roller.

Oh, my god. Pay
attention, would you?

Anything for me, chuck?

She's back...
The one from Kansas.

- Hi.
- Well?

Hold it just a minute, will you?

Well?

Shh.

Well, what happened?

I've been waiting here
for hours and hours.

All shadow, no substance.

Not even a trace?

No satisfaction, no charge.

Woman: Dr. Lagardie's office.

I'd like to speak
to doc, please.

Woman: May I say
who's calling, please?

Just tell him it's
about Mr. Klaussen.

Will you hold, please?

Yes, I'll hold.

No wonder you haven't
found my brother.

You've been working
on other case.

That's me. Just buried
alive in success.

You've noticed the
luxurious appointments,

the sexy secretary,

the electronic devices?

Drink?

I don't like you, Mr. Marlowe.

The minute I walked into
this grubby little office,

I knew I should have
never employed you.

Well, there's your retainer.

All 50 fat dollars.

Now, some people would keep it,

but I get a little
shaky running around

with that much loose
money in my pocket.

You didn't really try
to find Orrin!

Man: Dr. Lagardie.

Doc?

Doc, this morning
a Mr. Haven Klaussen

tried to talk to you.

He got cut off.

Haven Klaussen.

I'm afraid I don't know
a Haven Klaussen.

Marlowe: There's nothing
to be afraid of,

unless it was your ice pick.

Who is this?

Hicks. Grant Hicks,

a former tenant
in Mr. Klaussen's rooming house.

I was checking out
when he tried to call you...

But that was before somebody
mistook him for an ice block,

and I just thought
you ought to know

before somebody wanted to know
why he tried to call you.

Look, doc?

Doc, don't get me wrong.
This ain't no shakedown.

I'm just a cat looking
for a connection, you know.

Please, feel free
to consult me...

anytime.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Uh, do you mind?

Filthy habit.

My father used to smoke a pipe.

Mama never let him
smoke it in the house.

Even the last 2 years
after his stroke,

he'd sit out on the porch
with an empty pipe in his mouth.

Mama didn't like that, either.

We owed a lot of money.

We couldn't afford
useless things like tobacco.

Well, you put the 50
back in your bag

and forget you ever met me.

The town's full of detectives.

Fine!

Uh... I've used up
my vacation time

looking for him,

and most of my money, too,

and I've got to
go back home Saturday.

I know something's
happened to him!

I just feel it, Mr. Marlowe.

I found a boarding house.

He slept there 10 days ago.

Now, out here, that's
just last minute.

Now you go home, Miss Quest.

Sooner or later,
he'll shuck his sandals

and cut his hair.

10 years from now, you won't...

Know him from anyone
else in Manhattan, Kansas.

Marlowe.

Man: Grant Hicks, Marlowe.

You in the market
for a quick hundred?

How quick?

15 minutes quick enough?

Is that panel-to-panel pay?

Marlowe, I'm in
the Alvarado hotel

just 5 minutes from your place.

All I need's a couple
minutes of your time,

- and you're home free. OK?
- Maybe.

I'm in room 22. But hurry, huh!

It's the 2 minutes with you

where your story breaks down.

Look, I give you something
to hold and a 100.

Tomorrow, next day,
give it back to me.

Strictly legit. Nothing hot.

Look, got to hang up.

I'm counting on you, Marlowe.
Now get over here right now.

$50 is all I've got.

Um, but I guess
that's not enough

to keep you interested, is it?

It's not the money
that bothers me.

It's ice picks.

Um...

if you won't take my money,

what will you take?

A simple goodbye.

Um... does it bother you

if the girl makes
the first overture?

I have a low
threshold of boredom,

so it usually helps.

Does that mean you want me to?

It means, Miss Quest,

that I keep thinking
about your old man

sitting out on the porch
with an empty pipe.

Goodbye, Miss Quest.

But if you won't help
me find Orrin, who will?

Please try the missing persons
bureau, the FBI.

But, Mr. Marlowe...

excuse me.

Room 22... who's
registered, please?

Around here, the concession
for transom peeking

has been given
to Oliver J. Hady.

That little concession ought
to bring a fortune at auction.

Past the stairs on your left.

Hady?

Huh?

So?

I want to get a line
on one of your customers.

What name?

Could be Nasser for all
I know. Room 22.

So?

He wants to see me.

Don't let me keep you.

You mind holding
your finger there

for a minute, please?

Look, Ollie, a man in
my business makes enemies.

You know that.

Now, this party calls me,
asks me to come over,

wants something done,

and neglects to give his name.

Do you think I'm wrong
to check it out?

It could be a way to get
me into a room, and zap!

Party checks out,
you're left with me

on the floor in room 22.

You wouldn't want
a case of rigor

in your hotel, would you, Ollie?

Hand me the box.

Would you hold this a minute?

Mmm.

Checked in 5:47.
One local phone call.

No room service.

Dr. J.W. Hamilton. El Centro.

What does he look like?

That's right, I stand
out there with a brownie

and snap them
when they register.

Turn around.

Well, now, if that were a .45,

I wouldn't argue with you.

.32, I can get in
a couple of words.

I've said them all.

Oh, don't forget, you're a lady.

I like the perfume. What is it?

Man: Whoever did
this is a performer.

Got the spinal cord first try.

They developed the
technique in Brooklyn.

You don't say.

Sonny Steelgrave's boys
specialize in it.

You aren't trying to connect
Steelgrave with this?

That's pretty fragile, isn't it?

Yeah.

Anyway, he definitely wasn't
the last of the big spenders.

$14 in change, 7 master keys.

Maybe he was figuring
to clean out the hotel.

Hady, do any of these
fit this dump?

You can unlock our doors
with your little finger.

Well, he knew somebody
was after him.

Probably getting close.

So he calls Marlowe,

offers him $100
to come over here

and safekeep something for him.

Is that your story, Marlowe?

- That's it.
- Yeah.

Only he hasn't got $100 on him.

But then maybe he was
figuring on getting you

to gamble along with him
on something.

Hady, could the desk
give us a run-down

on any other possible visitors

that might have come up here?

You don't have to pass
the desk to go in or out.

No wonder he checked in here...

That and the homey atmosphere.

Well, alright.

I guess that just about does it

for the first run-through.

Well, not quite.

What do you know? Mileaway must.

Used to be a runner
for Ace Devore.

How you been, mileaway?

Gonna miss you
at the morning lineup.

Well, that takes
the pressure off.

This punk won't be
a 24-hour-a-day job.

Uh, how'd you know
about that toupee?

I'm a trained detective.

That's your exit line, Marlowe.
Follow it out.

And don't leave town,
you hear me?

Go on, hady. You, too.

What's bugging you?

The 150.

Don't get funny
in the wrong place.

Ollie, when I searched him,
he had $164 on him.

Now there's only $14 left.

So?

So where were you while I
was calling the lieutenant?

You accusing me?

Just checking for conscience.

50/50?

OK, buddy. I'll remember you.

Ollie.

I don't want the money.
I want something else.

- What?
- I want the girl.

When she went out,
she used these stairs

she went by your room.

She would have been running,
you would have been following.

What makes you so wonderful?

I'm a trained detective.

Alright. I followed her,
and she got in the car.

How do I know this isn't
some license number

you already had?

- Just take my word for it.
- Describe the car.

Jag, convertible, XKE, yellow.

Describe the girl.

You want a lot for
your bread, don't you?

Grant Hicks' bread.

Wide, black, felt hat

with a black
patent-leather band.

Dark glasses.

Black coat with black
patent-leather buttons

and trimming.

White gloves.

Height 5'6", 5'6 and a half.
Built like a model.

Enjoy.

5, 6, 7, 8.

Look alive.

5, 6, 7, 8. Alright.
Everybody take a break.

Hi. How are you?

Hi, baby.

Thank you. You're
right. You're right.

Could you get me
the name and address

to go with this license
number by tomorrow morning?

Sure. I'll be through
in a half-hour.

Julie, tonight, I couldn't lead

a kindergarten marching band.

What if I lead? You follow.

Goodnight, girls.

And then we apply
the color along the part.

And notice the way I help
it with my thumb. See?

Good morning, chuck.

Hold it a minute, girls.
Good morning, Philip.

Good morning, girls.

Special delivery for you.
Alvarado hotel.

- Really, Philip.
- Hey. Are those new?

Yeah. You dig?

They really turn the chicks on.

Well, another day,
another dollar.

Coming, girls.

Benson's camera shop.

Yes. Good morning.
This is Grant Hicks.

Is my order ready?

It's claim check
"a" for able 1654.

Hold on, sir.

Marlowe.

- I figured it had to be a girl.
- Why?

- Mr. Hicks.
- Yes, this is Mr. Hicks.

- Your order's ready, sir.
- Who's Mr. Hicks?

Something I'm working on.
Why figure it'd be a girl?

- Beg your pardon?
- You kidding?

I'm sorry. I'm talking
on the other line.

Shall I call back?

No, no, no, no. I need
the information now.

- Sir, are you speaking to me?
- I'll be in before noon.

- That's fine.
- Don't get off till 1:00.

- How's 12:00?
- Hello?

I can't make it.

- Well, anytime before 6:00.
- Why can't you make it?

I'll definitely
pick them up by noon.

- Them?
- They'll be here.

Alright. Goodbye.

Don't hang up. Phil? Hello?

Honey, I'm sorry I can't
make it for lunch,

but, uh, who is
the girl, anyway?

Mavis Wald.

What... the Mavis Wald?

My luck.

What's the address?

2720 Neilson way
in the penthouse.

I hope she flips you
off her balcony.

Goodbye.

Your change, Mr. Hicks.

I'll tell you what to do.

Why don't you keep the change

and mail these photographs

to me at this address?

Alright, Mr. Hicks.

Uh, Marlowe.

Alright, Mr. Marlowe.

I have some stills
for miss Wald.

You can leave them with me.

No, not these.

I'll phone. Wait a minute.

You can tell her
it's the ones we shot

at the Alvarado
hotel last night.

Alright.

Hello.

There's somebody down here
with some stills

for miss Wald taken
at the Alvarado hotel.

Yes, ma'am.

Sir, you can go right up.

Penthouse.

Hi!

Mavis Wald?

Uh-uh.

She's busy making panic calls.

You really shook her.

What's up?

I'm the father of her triplets.

Mm-hmm.

Do you have a name?

It wouldn't do anything for you.

Sugar?

Please.

I'm Dolores...

with an "O."

Dolores Gonzales.

Isn't that Spanish for pain?

Mmm.

You sure picked a
nice place to suffer.

And you jump
to nice conclusions,

but it's Mavis' pad, not mine.

Which makes you...

something you don't see
every day...

An old friend.

My friend asked me
to keep you occupied.

Are you hard to occupy?

As hard to get as a haircut.

Hey, has anybody ever told you

that you have
a sensuous underlip?

Everybody mentions it.

Do nice, fleshy,

uncomplicated girls turn you on?

I come all unglued.

Are you looking for something?

I just don't want
to see Mavis get hurt.

Now, who are you?

Its name is Philip Marlowe.

It's private heat.

Well, I hope
you'll be very happy.

Ciao.

Philip Marlowe...

what can I buy you with?

Money helps.

How much?

Oh, say, uh, 100 to start.

Is $100 money to you?

You make it 200,
and I'll retire.

Well, I work for my money.

What am I buying?

Well, I don't think
you killed him,

but it would help
to have some reason

for not telling the police
you were there.

My goodness,

am I supposed to
have killed somebody?

You'll find this
hard to believe,

but I came up here

with the quaint idea
you might need some help.

I figured you went
to the hotel room

to make some sort of payoff.

You went there alone

and took a chance
on being recognized.

That made me think

you might be in a king-size jam.

I said a king-size jam.
That's a cue.

Alright.

You're good, miss Wald.

You're so good,
you could act your way

out of a safety-deposit box.

Good day.

You're out of work
again, Philip.

Car.

Beep beep.

Car.

For a man
with a limited vocabulary,

you do make your point.

Car.

They tell me there was
a disturbance upstairs

in Miss Wald's apartment.

They tell you wrong.

We were bobbing for apples.

Where are the pictures?

Who makes your ice picks

these days, Mr. Steelgrave?

Too bad.

Does your mother know
what you do for a living?

Mr. Marlowe.

Yes.

What can I do for you?

Good grief, Philip!

What are you boys up to?

Just renovating, chuck.

Chuck: Yes? Well,
it's about time.

Oh, come on, girls.

Don't stand around looking.

Back to work... please, quickly.

You know Marlowe.

You won't need that.

The word is you are a cool cat.

Well, the word is wrong.

I go all to pieces over nothing.

Take that coatrack,
for instance.

Been in my family for years.

How would you like it

if your granny's coatrack

was chopped up for kindling?

Please. I have a nice
little proposition.

May I reach to my pocket?

Ha! It would give me
great pleasure

to see you do something foolish.

$500.

For that, you can
kick the ceiling in.

It's yours.

For what?

You are not looking for anybody.

You cannot find anybody.

You do not have time
to work for anybody.

You have not heard a thing
nor seen a thing.

And what do I do for an encore?

Nothing.

Keep on doing nothing

for a reasonable length of time.

I will come back and
place 5 more like these

on your desk side by side.

And for whom am I doing
all this nothing?

Winslow Wong.

That is I.

I like a man who
uses good grammar.

You impress me, Mr. Wong.

Whom sent you?

A man who would rather
spill money than blood,

but...

also a man who would not
mind spilling blood

if he has no other choice.

You take this back to
your leader, Mr. Wong.

Tell him you met the
last of a dying dynasty...

King of the fools...

Unassailably virtuous...

invariably broke.

OK.

Hyah!

Hyah! Whoa!

Hyah! Oh!

Hyah!

Come on, everybody!

Break it up. Let me in there.

Termites, lieutenant.

Won't you come in, sit down?

We better go for a walk.

Why?

Well, because I say
we'd better take a walk. Right?

Oh, well...

let's take a walk.

This, uh...

be my guest, lieutenant.

Alright.

Ever read the bay city paper?

All that rape and homicide?

There's an item in there

about a party named Klaussen.

Ice-pick case, Marlowe.

That's 2 in a row.
A trend, maybe?

What do you hear from
that hotel cop hady?

We lacked rapport.

Alright, let's get off hady

and concentrate on you
for a while.

Hicks was dead when
you got there, right?

Well, as we trained
detectives say,

he was terminal.

Yeah, so he could hardly
have reached up

and taken one of your
business cards, could he?

Stop trying to scare me
to death, lieutenant.

No, no, no. Tell me about this.

You found my card
on Hicks' body?

Yeah, that's one of your cards,
isn't it?

"Philip Marlowe,
private investigator."

we missed it the first time.

It was folded and stuffed

in his pants watch pocket.

Well, I gave one
of my cards to hady.

We went upstairs.

While I was calling you,
he searched the body.

Do you figure
that he could have...

taken the money

and slipped my card
onto Hicks' body...

while my back was turned?

Well, it's a possibility.

Lieutenant, would you
know Sonny Steelgrave

if you saw him?

Yeah. Why?

Well, was he dark, late 30s,

uh... oh, slick,
something for the girls?

Still putzing around with
that ice pick theory?

Are you trying
to tie Steelgrave in

to Klaussen and Hicks?

Does he get out in public much?

No, not much.

When he does, where does he go?

Well, he owns a place
called the dancers.

Steelgrave sometimes takes

a little chicken broth
up there...

Booth number one.

[jazz playing]

- Marlowe.
- Oh, yes, Mr. Marlowe.

Your table's ready.
This way, please.

Mr. Marlowe.

What's this?

Compliments of Mr. Steelgrave.

Thank you.

Friends in high places.

Who is he? Looks rich.

Oh, he is.

Even his tax bracket
is unlisted.

That's impertinent.

You might say baroque.

- To a late breakfast.
- I'll drink to that.

Or am I penciled in
for 8:00 to 12:00?

I've a few
trial balloons going up.

If no one shoots them down,
I'll make the coffee.

Mr. Marlowe, there's
a phone call for you.

Well, thank you.

Did you tell anyone
we were coming here?

- No.
- That makes two of us.

It's just a way
to get you alone.

I didn't come here for
the cherries jubilee.

Take care. I don't like
going home by myself.

Winslow, you suckered me
out here, you devil.

Take the money, Marlowe.

Not a chance. Any more messages?

You can hardly
refuse him this time.

You watch me closely.

Can you remember
the alternatives,

Mr. Marlowe?

You're a paper tiger, winslow.

You can't do anything
in your boss' restaurant.

Mr. Marlowe, I have
my instructions.

Well, that's just exactly what
I'm counting on, winslow.

What are you going to do,
break another coatrack?

Hyah! Hyah!

Well, you're very
impressive, winslow,

but I've seen dogs
do better on television.

Hyah! Hyah!

Hey, you're light
on your feet, winslow.

Are you just a little gay, huh?

Hyah!

Hyah!

Aah!

Don't worry. I didn't
come to seduce you.

Good.

May I come in?

Mm-hmm.

I had to walk miles
the other night.

All steps
in the right direction.

I don't think I've ever
detested anybody...

Quite so much.

Care for coffee?

No, thank you. I have
a taxicab outside.

His meter's running.

I've heard from Orrin.

Did he decide to rejoin
the establishment?

He's staying with a doctor.

Mother ought to be
happy to hear that.

A Dr. Vincent lagardie.

Alright, so he's staying

with a Dr. Lagardie.

Some gangsters are after him.

Come on, they're all busy
working in the movies.

Please, you've gotta go
there right now and help him.

He's afraid to leave.

After all, I did pay you!

I gave it back.

Well, I offered it to you again!

And, uh...

a lot more besides.

You'd never have forgiven me.

Look, I know you don't
care anything about me,

but when a man rejects
a girl when she's willing,

he owes her something.

An old Kansas proverb?

Philip, I'm frantic.
They're going to kill him.

Look, I've got
the address right here.

- Could you just...
- I already have the address.

Now, you have a taxi
waiting outside,

and the meter is running.

Philip...

you don't know me,

but then that's
your loss, isn't it?

What was that scene?

Sort of glad she did that.

Noticed your left jab was
a little slow in coming.

She reminded me of somebody.

Don't we all?

Care for some breakfast?

All I see is 2 people...

Hardly disastrous
to miss Wald’s reputation

and therefore nothing
for me or the sponsors

or the network
to be concerned about.

Then why are you talking to me?

I come out of research,
Mr. Marlowe.

I still enjoy talking
to the man on the street.

So then you won't mind

if I show these to homicide.

Why should they be interested?

I don't think we're going to do

any business, Mr. Crowell,

but thanks for taking my pulse.

Now, wait a minute.

What might happen
if you were to show

those pictures to the police?

Well, first of all,
I'd have to connect it up

with something
they've been working on,

something that happened
a couple of nights ago

in one of the chic
"in" spots in town...

The Alvarado hotel.

I'd connect it up
through the girl.

Miss Wald.

She won't talk to me.

That's why I'm talking to you.

She called me about it.

Told me you tried to
force her into hiring you

on the ground
that she'd been seen

inconveniently close to
where a murder was done.

Did she say how close?

She didn't say.

What?

Woman: 11:30, Mr. Crowell.

Yeah, thanks.

You amuse the hell
out of me, Marlowe.

You really do. Trying to use me

as a shovel to dig
yourself out of a jam.

The jam I'm in is nothing

to the jam your star
and show'd be in

if I hadn't done the thing
that put me in the jam

in the first place.

What are you doing
in the next hour?

Re-counting my trumps.

Well, let's count them together.

Alright, we got to where
you were thinking

about going downtown with
those pictures. What then?

We didn't get that far.

We only got to her calling you.

Did she tell you she also called

the man in the picture?

She neglected to mention it.

He and some of his, uh, soldiers

were waiting outside
when I left her.

You know who he is?

Don't you?

Oh, you're making me
unhappier by the minute,

Mr. Marlowe.

Hold it down, guys! Please!

Look, Jim, I can't do anything

till I get back
from London, alright?

London?

You were saying?

Yeah, her boyfriend
tried to buy me first

and then bury me.

I resent both overtures.

Where does it stand right now?

You tell me.

She was great, wasn't she?

On, uh, film.

But he must answer.

Ring, ring, ring!

Oh, yeah. That's...

woman:
Why don't you answer the phone?

The show we're doing
is out there.

Yeah. Good.

Yes. Ring. Ring!

Earl...

where are you?

Well, the darling of
millions has got herself

and the rest of us
who put her where she is

in one hell of a mess, huh?

If it were any actress

in any run-of-the-mill series,

it would be bad enough,

but in this series...
The part she plays...

- You ever see the show?
- No, no, I haven't.

It's the top-rated sitcom
in the country.

Situation comedy.

Can you imagine
what would happen

if it got out
that our pure little Mary

was shacking up with
public enemy number one?

[airplane engine]

Whenever you're set,
Mr. Crowell.

You don't really want the cops

to have those pictures, do you?

No, Marlowe, that's
the last thing I...

Win, lose, or draw,

the public would
chew her to pieces,

not to mention the sponsor
and the network.

They'd tag her
a gangster's girl...

The number one
gangster, no less.

What do you want?

The same thing I've wanted
from the beginning,

what she wouldn't give me

the right to act
in her best interests.

By suppressing evidence?

If it is evidence.

The police can't determine that

without smearing her.

Maybe I can.

They don't have time to
worry about reputation.

You do? Now, come on.

Why are you really doing this?

Steelgrave's boys tore up

the coat to my best suit.

Now, where'd I be if
I didn't put a stop

to things like that?

What's your price?

100 a day and expenses...

and a letter employing
me to investigate

an attempt to blackmail
one of your stars.

You know, one of
these days, Marlowe,

I'm going to make the mistake

that a man in my spot dreads
above all other mistakes.

I'm going to find myself

doing business with
somebody I should trust,

and I'm gonna be just too
damn smart to trust him.

Norma, take this letter
to Mr. Philip Marlowe.

He'll give you his address.

"Dear Mr. Marlowe,

"this agency herewith
employs you to investigate,

"on behalf of one of its
television personalities,

"a certain matter,

"the particulars of which

"have been given
to you verbally.

"Your fee is to be
$100 a day plus expenses,

"with a retainer of $500.

"Sincerely," et cetera.

My driver will take you
back to the office.

I'm just going to have
to trust you, Marlowe.

I hate making mistakes.

Man: Alright, lunch, everybody...

42 minutes for the crew,

hour for the cast
and makeup people.

First shot after lunch
will be that of miss Wald.

Please be back promptly.

Who let you in?

Mr. crowell.

I don't want you working for me.

I go to ridiculous extremes
to attract clients,

even collect rare photos.

- Would you like a drink?
- No, thanks.

Alright, so you know.

Could have happened
to any red-blooded girl.

Do you love him?

You mean, will I give him up?

Something like that.

Well, I don't know that I can

or that I want to.

Anyway, what good
would that do now?

Who took the pictures?

I don't know.

Alright, who's trying
to blackmail you?

I don't know.

Look, Mr. Marlowe,
could you be persuaded

to give those negatives to me?

Mr. crowell hired me

to decide what's
in your best interest.

I know what's
in my best interest.

Just tear that letter up
and forget this job.

Go away, Mr. Marlowe.

You can't win them all.

Did Steelgrave
have Hicks killed?

You remember Hicks.

He was stretched out on the
bed in the Alvarado hotel.

Sonny didn't know there was
a picture of us together,

not till you came to my
place and I called him.

Then that leaves the blackmailer

and whoever else
was in it with him.

You don't think he'll let you
off the easy way, do you?

You can't take advice, can you?

That's me... in one ear,
out the other.

- What?

- Man: Your lunch, miss Wald.
- Thank you.

Thank you very much
for coming by.

- You know, miss Wald...
- Excuse me.

You could make life
easier for all of us

just by laying your
cards on the table.

Goodbye, Mr. Marlowe.

I'll be around.

Yes.

I'll be right there.

Stay with it.

Hello.

- I'm Dr. Lagardie.
- How do you do?

I'm looking for
a Mr. Orrin Quest.

Who?

Quest. "Q" as in quintessential,

"U" as in uninhibited,

"E" as in extrasensory,

"S" as in subliminal,

"T" as in toots.

We chatted on the phone

about a Mr. Klaussen.

Please, come along.

There is no Orrin Quest
among our patients.

You don't know him at all, huh?

The name is completely
unfamiliar to me.

Well, sit down.

Thank you. Well, that's funny.

His sister says he's here,

hiding out.

From what?

Well, you tell me.

Oh, I could be wrong,

but smelling all that pot
smoke in Klaussen's place,

and him calling you...

A man jumps
to conclusions, you know.

I told you, I don't know
a Haven Klaussen

or an Orrin Quest.

I think you're
wasting your time.

You don't mind if I call
you a liar, do you, doc?

I should call the police
and have them run you out,

but my field
is special children,

unusual children.

Sometimes it's better

to let them paint on walls
and scream their heads off

until they're prepared
to be reasonable.

So scream away, Mr. Marlowe.

Alright.

A fellow named Klaussen
and a grifter named Hicks,

both killed by the same man,

but not necessarily
for the same reason...

Hicks because he muscled in
on somebody else's shtick

and Klaussen because
he was a babbling junkie,

not exactly a master
of the zipped lip.

Any good so far?

What has all this to do with me?

Question... what was the shtick?

Answer... some photographs.

A good man could make a fortune

out of these
particular photographs.

Question...
Who took the photographs?

Presumption... Orrin Quest,
the boy I'm looking for.

So why these
particular subjects,

without their knowing
they were being photographed?

Well, let's take a flier.
Let's say, uh...

let's say quest knew the girl.

Let's even say that, uh,
the girl was his sister.

Pretty well screamed out by now?

Well, not quite.

These, uh, these ice-pick jobs...

They say the Steelgrave gang

was taught the technique

by a young, uh...
Young intern in Brooklyn.

He... he worked, uh...

yeah.

Uh, what happens to a bright,
young medic like that?

Does he come west when they do?

Does he...

open up a...

legitimate clinic
for kids to, uh...

cover... illegal activities?

Don't worry, Marlowe.
It's not fatal.

And I need a little more time,

not much, just a little more.

What's the matter?

Have you got a band-aid?

Ooh, you better take that off.

In here?

Off! Honey, first-aid...

Rubbing alcohol, band-aids...

you should get a tetanus shot.

That looks deep.

You know where
I could find Mavis?

Mavis?

She's not at her place.

Why should I turn
you over to her?

Because underneath your pasties,

there's a size-40 heart.

And I thought you liked Mavis.

I do like her,

but why should she
get all the goodies?

- She's a star.
- Yeah.

Give me that.

Would you believe
that Mavis and I

studied with Lee Strasberg?

Hee!

Thank you, nurse.

You're wanted in maternity.

Will you... come back tonight?

Am I under oath?

Sure.

Probably not.

She'll be shooting
late at the studio.

Well, I sure want
to thank you, doctor.

My pleasure.

And you, too, nurse.

Anytime.

Honey... that is a no-no.

Man: OK, kids, that's fine.

Give me a minute, huh?
How long does it take?

Miss Wald...

your brother...

don't you have
anything else to do?

He took the pictures
of you and Steelgrave,

didn't he?

He's dead.

Someone shot him
a couple of hours ago.

You're making that up.

I have to tell Orfamay, too.

Do you wanna come along?

Man: All set, miss Wald.

Where's Steelgrave tonight?

Don't try and blame sonny.

I talked to him
more than an hour ago,

up at his place at mount Wilson.

That's one thing
about Steelgrave...

He's never around
when the shooting starts.

Maybe that's because
he always knows

when it's going to start.

Man: Please, miss Wald.

[women shouting and clapping]

Orfamay Quest.

Checked out.

To where? Did she say?

She asked for
a train schedule to Kansas,

if that's any help.

Every little bit helps. Thanks.

Anytime.

Your attention, please.

The rock island train,
inbound from Peoria,

train number 502
now arriving on track 10.

Are you going to leave town
without saying goodbye

after all we've
meant to each other?

I told you I was
leaving Saturday.

You told me Friday.

Well, I ran out of money
and out of friends.

I'm going home.
My train leaves in an hour

I can do fine without
your company in the meantime.

- Here. I'll help you.
- No, thank you.

Orfamay. Orfamay.

What do you want?

Thought we could go
to my place and have a drink.

I'll give you
a shoulder to cry on.

Oh...

excuse me. Sorry.

Miss. Miss!

Can I have some hot
chocolate, please?

Coffee, please.

I'm sick of this stupid city.

It can be a meat grinder.

How come you're being
nice to me suddenly?

I get an attack of the
nices every now and then.

You're getting ready
to tell me something.

That's it, isn't it?

Yeah.

It's about Orrin, isn't it?

Yeah.

They killed him, didn't they?

Yeah.

When?

Tonight. Lagardie's clinic.

You could've saved him if
you'd gone over when I told you,

but you had that girl
in your place.

You couldn't bother
saving 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.

Now, 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,

orfamay, for your
long-lost brother?

Officer! Officer,

this man knows about a murder.

Is this a gag?

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.

Man: License 643295.

OK, lieutenant, it's all yours.

Now, you just start at
the top. Let it flow.

You know what I mean?
I'll sort it out.

- Want me to make a statement?
- A full statement.

It's to be voluntary
and without coercion?

Yeah, sure. They all are.

Ask the questions, if you don't
like the answers, book me.

If you do, I get a phone call.

Wait a minute. You're telling me

you've been strictly
legal in this, uh...

- case?
- Yeah.

No.

Suppose you got
a client to protect.

Maybe.

He did. She dropped him.

Ask the questions, please.

Now, what happened
at Klaussen's place?

Well, I went out there
looking for her brother.

His sister told me
she got a call

from him
from the Lagardie clinic.

I went out there.
Would you care to see my back?

Wait a minute.
Why would he try to stick you?

You're his pal. You were
there to keep him safe.

I was between him and the light.

Something that moved.
Maybe he thought I'd shot him.

I don't know. The point is,

a man in his condition
acts from instinct.

He does not invent
new techniques.

So I believe

Orrin Quest killed
both Klaussen and Hicks.

Well, what about Lagardie?
You got anything on him?

We're checking.

But he could've
killed me, and didn't,

he probably
hasn't killed anybody,

but finding an ice pick
in his place

made me think of Steelgrave.

Oh, now, that's
pretty wild, Marlowe,

that connection, you know.

Would I do myself any good

if I went out and tried
to tighten it up?

I won't leave town.

Thanks.

Oh. I don't want
to run this into the ground,

but, uh, one more little favor?

Yeah, what?

Orfamay Quest...
Could you arrange

to keep her around town
for a day or so?

On what grounds?

I don't know. Tell her...

tell her you've decided
to draw and quarter me,

and she's invited
to whip the horses.

She won't be able
to pass that up.

Party over?

Trying to break a lease, right?

Talk softly, please.

I'm sorry.

Rough day at the office?

About the same.

Average day
in a detective's life.

I've been... stabbed, snubbed,

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.

Oh.

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.

Now wait a minute.

Mmm.

I think she's
in trouble, Philip.

All my clients are in trouble.

That's why they come to me.

Well, why do you
bother with them?

What do 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 she 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 way back.

What are friends for, huh?

Something like that.

Marlowe: Steelgrave's place?

Yeah.

He's not alone in there.

She'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 great between the lines.

Color me schlepper.
For every winner,

there has to be a loser, right?

Be careful in there.

I'll wait.

No. You go on home, Dolores.

Miss Wald, I got word
you were trying to call me.

Mavis?

Come here.

Easy.

Here. Drink this.

Come on, go ahead.

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 a case of shock.

You're vamping, miss Wald,
stalling for time,

waiting for someone to get here

or to get away from here.

Where's Steelgrave?

I liked him.

I liked him a lot.

Aren't you going to wrap it

in a handkerchief or something?

Where did you leave him?

Try 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
it was your brother

who was blackmailing you?

Of course I didn't.

Somebody did.

He didn't 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
putting the pressure on you.

It will cost a lot to fix this.

I'm not worth it.

Tell me why you had
the gun with you.

Gun?

Don't stop to think. Just tell
me. Did you mean to kill him?

Why not?

I thought I meant
something to him.

I guess I was a little
vain. He fooled me.

Oh, no, miss Wald.

What?

Go on home.

You're my client.
Just do as you're told.

Now go on! Get out.

Homicide, please.

Oh, yeah, this baby's
been working.

What's the story, Marlowe?

Girl came up to my office,

told me a client of mine
was in danger up here,

drove me up here,

dropped me off, she went home.

French: What's the girl's name?

Dolores Gonzales.

Your client?

Another party altogether.

What's your client's name?

Not yet, lieutenant.

Your rules, huh?

Were you here when he got it?

Nope.

Who was?

He was.

Who else?

I won't lie to you, lieutenant.

I don't know who was here.

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 got to worry about you, too.

Know how I spend my days?

Turning over dirty underwear.

My nights...

sniffing rotten teeth.

Or I go up a dark stairway

after some gun punk with
a skin full of horse.

Maybe tomorrow I don't get
all the way up the stairs.

I get a confession
from some guy...

- They swear I beat.
- The bastard.

Nothing I do is right... never!

Not once, and I make one
mistake, back in uniform.

I'm on the streets with
hookers yelling at me.

I'm taking tire chains
away from tough kids.

That's not enough on my
plate. I got to have you!

I got to have a sharpie
with a private license

suppressing information,

concealing evidence,

framing setups that
wouldn't fool a baby!

You wouldn't mind,
Marlowe. If I call you

a cheap double-crossing
keyhole peeper, would you?

You want me to mind?

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

Your license is dead as of now.

My license is dead when
the commissioner says so.

I'm dealing with it my way!

I'm waiting for this
bird to crack wise.

He hasn't cracked wise
yet. The bright repartee.

This isn't doing any good.

You're a man-eater tonight.

Shut the hell up!

I don't need any excuse!

I'll take care of this comedian!

Well, yeah, it's a new
type of third degree...

The police beat the hell
out of each other,

and the suspect cracks
from the agony of watching.

It never fails.

Was it you I hit, Fred?

Nobody hit me, Christy,

nobody I can remember.

Fred.

Hmm?

Tell this character
to get out of here.

He's on short rope.

Tell him to get his ass
home. Directly home.

Tell him I'll be
in touch with him,

very close touch.

You get out of here,
baby. Get out now.

How? I haven't got
any transportation.

Try hitchhiking.
Don't press your luck.

L'chaim.

Who do you suppose is going
to clean up this mess?

Where are they?

You looking for something?

You know what I'm looking for.

The pictures, huh?

Now that your brother's dead,

you're gonna grab the pictures

and blackmail your
own sister, right?

Well, I burned the pictures
and the negative,

and they made a lovely flame.

You what?

Give me your purse,
little sister.

Don't come any closer, Mavis.

Stay away from me!

Stay away from me, Mavis!

That's my purse!

That's mine! That's mine, Mavis!

Mavis, that's mine! That's mine!

That's mine! That's mine!

Sonny gave you
that money, didn't he?

I don't know any sonny.

The smell of lilac in his place,

that little-girl smell!

You went up there to tell
him where Orrin was hiding.

How much did he pay you?

About an even thousand.

Well, it was Orrin's own fault.

He took those pictures
of you with that gangster,

and he promised me
some of the money.

And I didn't hear from him,
so I came to find him.

Sister, you got
our brother killed!

Oh, Mavis, that's not
true. I warned Orrin.

I said, "Orrin, if you
don't take care of me",

I'll tell Mr. Steelgrave
where you're hiding."

he pretended
he'd lost the pictures.

I didn't believe him,

so I took a taxicab
to see Mr. Steelgrave.

You know how expensive that is?

And then I sent Philip to
the clinic to protect Orrin,

even though
he didn't deserve it.

It's not my fault
your boyfriend got there

before Philip did!

Our own brother! How could you?

Oh, don't you go blaming me!

You had no business
going off and leaving us!

Orfamay, when did I
ever forget about you

or Mama or even poor Orrin?

Haven't I always come to
see you whenever I could,

sent you money,
tried to take care of you.

Oh, and hasn't it made you
feel important, though?

I was stupid to take the blame
for you after you shot sonny.

After I what?

He gave me that gun to keep,

and after you came to
see me, it was missing.

Well, I didn't take it.

I hope you and mother
will be very happy.

Anyway, who's to prove it, huh?

Who's left to prove it?

Ha ha! You? Who are you?

Nobody.

That's right!
A nobody, a cheap nobody!

I said it first.

Why, $50 even buys you.

Aah! You! You!

Get away from me!

You! I hate you!

I hate you!

I hate you!

Come on.

Get away from me!

You!

Now, come on.

Now, stay there.

Here. Kansas is due east.

Hey, come here.

I always tried to make
things better for her.

I used to tell her
how pretty she was.

You really thought little
sister killed Steelgrave?

So you went out on stage

and played the big guilty scene,

trying to cover for her.

Well, those little .32s
kick out a lot of graphite.

And last night your hand
was as pure as snow white's.

Well, if orfamay
didn't kill him,

then who did?

Forget it, Mavis. Forget it.

You got plenty of time.

You got, oh,
bullfighters to meet,

jets to fly,
magazine covers to pose for.

Use it. Make it work for you.

You're something else,
Philip Marlowe.

Reservations.
No, she's not here tonight.

Hi, Joe.
Dolores is expecting me.

Go right in.

Our night?

All ours.

There's one piece
still missing... lagardie.

It would help if he
used to be your husband.

Say, back in Brooklyn,
young doctor with the mob,

a wife like you,
and a man like Steelgrave...

It makes a tidy package.

The streets are paved
with forgotten husbands.

You must have loved him a lot.

My husband?

Steelgrave.

It had to be somebody

who knew both
steelgrave and Mavis,

somebody who could

come and go in her apartment
as they pleased,

who had access to the gun
Steelgrave gave her.

It comes up you.

Like I said, Mavis
is a nice girl,

but why should she
get all the goodies?

You went to a lot of trouble.

And there's nothing you
can do about it, is there?

Unless you want to destroy her,

and you wouldn't
do that, would you?

You dream of those
great big eyes of hers.

Police department, please.

Sheriff's department.
Sergeant Gevaris.

Hello. Hello.

Hello.