All language subtitles for The Malte eng

Yes, sweetheart?

A girl wants to see you.
Her name's Wonderly.

A customer?

I guess so. You'll want to see her, anyway.
She's a knockout.

Shoo her in, Effie, darling. Shoo her in!

Will you come in, Miss Wonderly?

Thank you.

- Won't you sit down, Miss Wonderly?
- Thank you.

I inquired at the hotel
for a reliable private detective.

They mentioned you.

Suppose you tell me about it
from the very beginning.

I'm from New York.

I'm trying to find my sister.

I believe she's here in San Francisco...

with a man by the name of Thursby,
Floyd Thursby.

I don't know where she met him.

We've never been as close
as sisters ought to be.

If we had, Corinne would have told me
she was running away with him.

Our parents are in Honolulu.
I must find her before they return.

- They'll be back on the first.
- You've had word of your sister?

A letter from her about two weeks ago.

It said nothing except
that she was all right.

I sent a telegram begging her
to come home.

I sent it to a general delivery address,
the one she gave.

I waited a week and no answer came
so I decided to come out here myself.

I wrote her that I was coming.
I shouldn't have, should I?

It's not always easy to know what to do.

You haven't found her?

No. I wrote in my letter that I'd be at
the St. Mark and for her to meet me there.

I waited three days. She didn't come.
She didn't even send a message.

It was horrible. Waiting.

I sent her another letter.

Yesterday afternoon
I went to the post office.

Corinne didn't call for her mail,
but Floyd Thursby did.

He wouldn't tell me where Corinne was.

He said she didn't want to see me.

I can't believe that.

He promised to bring her to the hotel
if she'd come.

He said he knew she wouldn't.
He promised to come if she didn't.

Excuse me.

It's all right, Miles. Come in.

Miss Wonderly, my partner, Miles Archer.

Miss Wonderly's sister ran away
with a fellow named Thursby.

They're here in San Francisco.

Miss Wonderly has a date
with Thursby tonight.

Maybe he'll bring the sister.
The chances are he won't.

Miss Wonderly wants us to find the sister,
get her away from him and back home.

- Right?
- Yes.

Now it's simply a matter of having a man
at the hotel tonight...

to shadow him when he leads us
to your sister.

If, after we've found her,
she still won't leave him...

well, we have ways of managing that.

You must be careful.

I'm deathly afraid of him,
of what he might do.

She's young, and his bringing her here
is a serious...

Mightn't he do something to her?

Just leave that to us.
We'll know how to handle him.

But I want you to know
he's a dangerous man.

I honestly don't think
he'd stop at anything.

I don't think he'd hesitate to kill Corinne
if it would save him.

Could he cover up by marrying her?

He has a wife and three children
in England.

They usually do, though not always
in England. What does he look like?

He has dark hair
and thick, bushy eyebrows.

He talks in a loud, blustery manner.
He gives the impression of being violent.

He was wearing a light gray suit and
a gray hat when I saw him this morning.

What does he do?

I haven't the faintest idea.

- What time's he comin' to see you?
- After 8:00.

All right, Miss Wonderly.
We'll have a man there.

I'll look after it myself.

Thank you.

Oh, yes.

Will that be enough?

- Thank you.
- Not at all.

It'll help some if you meet Thursby
in the lobby.

You don't have to look for me.
I'll see you all right.

Thank you.

- Thank you so much.
- Good-bye.

They're right enough.

They have brothers in her bag.

- What do you think of her?
- She's sweet.

Maybe you saw her first, Sam,
but I spoke first.

You've got brains.

Yes, you have.

Hello.

Yeah. Speaking.

Miles Archer dead?

Where?

Bush and Stockton?

Yeah.

In 15 minutes.

Thanks.

Hello, Effie?

It's me.

Now, listen, precious.

Miles has been shot.

Yeah, dead.

Now, don't get excited.

Yeah.

You'll have to break the news to Iva.
I'd fry first.

And keep her away from me.

That's a good girl.

Now, get right over there.

You're an angel.

Good-bye.

- What do you want here?
- I'm Sam Spade. Tom Polhaus phoned.

I didn't know you at first.
They're back there.

Hello, Sam. I figured you'd want to see it
before we took him away.

Thanks, Tom. What happened?

Got him right through the pump with this.

It's a Webley.

English, ain't it?

A Webley-Forsby.45 automatic, 8-shot.
They don't make 'em anymore.

- How many gone out of it?
- Just one.

Let's see. Shot up here, huh?

Standing like you,
with his back to the fence.

The man who shot him stood here.

Went backwards down the hill, takin'
the fence with him, got caught on the rock.

That's it. The blast burnt his coat.

- Who found him?
- Man on the beat.

- Anybody hear the shot?
- Somebody must've. We just got here.

You want to look at him
before we take him away?

No, you've seen everything I could.

His gun was still on his hip.
Hadn't been fired.

His overcoat was buttoned.

I found a $100 bill in his vest pocket
and about $30 in his pants.

Was he workin', Sam?

Well?

- He was tailing a guy named Thursby.
- What for?

What for?

We wanted to find out where he lived.
Don't crowd me, Tom.

I'm goin' on down to break the news
to Miles' wife.

It's tough, him gettin'
it like that, ain't it?

Miles had his faults like any of us,
but he must've had some good points, too.

I guess so.

Miss Wonderly, please.

Checked out? What time?

Any forwarding address?

Thanks.

Hello, Tom. Hello, Lieutenant. Come in.

Sit down.

Sit down.

Drink?

You break the news to Miles' wife, Sam?

How'd she take it?

- I don't know anything about women.
- Since when?

What kind of gun do you carry?

None. I don't like 'em.
There are some at the office.

You don't have one here?
You sure about that?

Look around. Turn the dump upside down.
I won't squawk if you got a search warrant.

We don't want to make-

Why are you suckin' around here?
Tell me or get out!

You can't treat us like that. It ain't right.
We got our work to do.

Why were you tailin' Thursby?

I wasn't. Miles was
'cause we had a client-

- Who's the client?
- Sorry, I can't tell you that.

Be reasonable, Sam.
Give us a break, will you?

How can we turn up anything
if you don't tell us what you got?

Tom says you were in too much of a hurry
to stop and look at your dead partner.

You didn't go to Archer's house
to tell his wife.

We called your office and the girl there
said you told her to do it.

I'll give you 10 minutes to get to a phone
and talk to her.

I'll give you 10 minutes
to get to Thursby's joint.

You could do it easily in that time.

What's your boyfriend gettin' at?

Just this: Thursby was shot down
in front of his hotel...

half an hour after you left Bush Street.

Keep your paws off me.

What time did you get home?

A few minutes ago.
I was walkin' and thinkin' things over.

We know. We tried to call you.

- Where'd you walk?
- Bush Street.

- Did you see anybody-
- No. No witnesses.

Well, I know where I stand now.

Sorry I got up on my hind legs, but
you tryin' to rope me made me nervous.

Miles gettin' killed upset me,
then you birds crackin' foxy.

It's all right now that I know
what it's all about.

Forget it, Sam.

- Thursby die?
- Yep.

How'd I kill him? I forget.

He was shot in the back four times
with a.44 or.45 from across the street.

Nobody saw it, but that's how it figures.

- Hotel people know anything?
- Just that he lived there a week.

- Alone?
- Yeah, alone.

Did you find out who he was?
What his game was? Well, did you?

- We thought you could tell us that.
- I've never seen Thursby, dead or alive.

You know me, Spade.

If you did it, or if you didn't, you'll get
a square deal and most of the breaks.

Don't know if I'd blame you,
a man that killed your partner...

but that won't stop me from nailin' you.

Fair enough.

But I'd feel better about it
if you'd have a drink with me.

Success to crime!

She's in there.

- I told you to keep her away from me.
- Yes, but you didn't tell me how.

Don't be cranky with me.
I've had her all night.

Sorry, angel. I didn't mean-

Hello, Iva.

Sam!

Darling.

Effie take care of everything?

I think so.

Sam, did you kill him?

Who put that bright idea in your head?

Well, I thought you said
if it wasn't for Miles, you'd...

Be kind to me, Sam.

"You killed my husband, Sam.
Be kind to me!"

Don't, Iva, don't.

You shouldn't have come here today,
darling. You ought to be home.

You'll come soon?

Soon as I can.

Good-bye, Iva.

Well...

how did you and the widow make out?

She thinks I shot Miles.

- So you could marry her?
- The cops think I killed Thursby...

the guy Miles was tailing
for that Wonderly dame.

Who do you think I shot?

Are you going to marry Iva?

Don't be silly.
I wish I'd never laid eyes on her.

Do you suppose she could have killed him?

You're an angel.
A nice, rattlebrained, little angel.

- Oh, am I?
- Thanks, honey.

Suppose I told you that your Iva
hadn't been home long...

when I arrived to break the news
at 3:00 this morning?

Are you telling me?

She kept me waiting at the door
as she undressed.

Her clothes were on a chair
where she'd dumped them.

Her slip, on top, was still warm.

She'd wrinkled the bed,
but they weren't mashed down.

You're a detective, darling,
but she didn't kill him.

Do the police really think
you shot this what's his name?

Do they?

Look at me, Sam.

You worry me.

You think you know what you're doing,
but you're too slick for your own good.

Someday you're going to find it out.
Spade and Archer.

Yes, Miss Wonderly.

Hello.

Yeah, this is Sam Spade.

Where?

Coronet Apartments, California Avenue,
Apartment 1001.

What's the name?

Miss LeBlanc.

Okay, I'll be right over.

Have Miles' desk moved out of the office...

and have "Spade and Archer" taken off
the doors and windows, and...

have "Samuel Spade" put on.

Come in, Mr. Spade.

Everything's upside down.
I haven't finished unpacking. Sit down.

Mr. Spade, I...

I have a terrible,
terrible confession to make.

That story I told you yesterday...

was just a story.

Oh, that. Well, we didn't exactly
believe your story, Miss...

What is your name, Wonderly or LeBlanc?

It's O'Shaughnessy. Brigid O'Shaughnessy.

We didn't exactly believe your story.

We believed your $200.

You mean-

You paid us more
than if you'd told the truth...

and enough more to make it all right.

Tell me, Mr. Spade,
am I to blame for last night?

You warned us that Thursby
was dangerous.

You lied to us about your sister
and all that, but we didn't believe you.

No, I wouldn't say that you were at fault.

Thank you.

Mr. Archer was so alive yesterday...

- ...so solid and hearty, and-
- Stop it.

He knew what he was doing.
Those are the chances we take.

Was he married?

Yeah, with $10,000 insurance, no children,
and a wife that didn't like him.

- Please don't.
- That's the way it was.

Anyway, there's no time for worrying
about that now.

Out there's a flock of policemen
and assistant DAs...

running around with their noses
to the ground.

Mr. Spade, do they know about me?

Not yet. I've been stalling 'em
until I could see you.

Do they have to know?

Can't you shield me so I won't have
to answer their questions?

Maybe, but I gotta know
what it's all about.

I can't tell you.

I can't tell you now.

I will later, when I can.

You've got to trust me, Mr. Spade.

I'm so alone and afraid.

I've got nobody to help me
if you won't help me.

Be generous, Mr. Spade.

You're brave. You're strong.

You can spare me some
of that courage and strength, surely.

Help me, Mr. Spade. I need help so badly.

I've no right to ask you, I know I haven't,
but I do ask you.

Help me.

You won't need much of anybody's help.
You're good.

It's chiefly your eyes,
and that throb you got in your voice...

when you say things like,
"Be generous, Mr. Spade."

I deserve that.

But the lie was in the way I said it,
not at all in what I said.

It's my own fault
if you can't believe me now.

Now, you are dangerous.

I'm afraid I won't be able
to be of much help to you...

without some idea of what it's about.

For instance, I've gotta have some sort
of a line on your Floyd Thursby.

I met him in the Orient.

We came from Hong Kong last week.
He promised to help me.

He took advantage of my dependence
on him to betray me.

Betray you? How?
Why did you want him shadowed?

To find out how far he'd gone,
whom he'd met, things like that.

- Did he kill Archer?
- Certainly.

He had a Luger in his shoulder holster.
Archer wasn't shot with a Luger.

Mr. Spade, you don't think I had anything
to do with the death of Mr. Archer?

- Did you?
- No.

That's good.

Floyd always carried an extra revolver
in his coat pocket.

Why all the guns?

He lived by them.

The story is that he first came
to the Orient...

as bodyguard to a gambler
who'd had to leave the States.

The gambler had since disappeared
and Floyd knew about it. I don't know.

I do know he always went heavily armed,
and he never went to sleep...

without covering the floor
around his bed with newspapers...

so that nobody could come silently
into his room.

You picked a nice sort of playmate.

Only that sort could have helped me,
if he'd been loyal.

How bad a spot are you actually in?

Bad as could be.

Physical danger?

I'm not heroic. I don't think
there's anything worse than death.

- Then, it's that?
- It's that, as surely as we're sitting here.

Unless you help me.

Who killed Thursby, your enemies or his?

I don't know.

His, I suppose.

I'm afraid... I don't know.

This is hopeless!
I don't know what you want done...

or if you know what you want.

Will you go to the police?

I just got to stand still,
and they'll be all over me.

I'll tell 'em all I know,
and you must take your chances.

You've been patient with me
and tried to help me.

It's useless and hopeless, I suppose.

I do thank you for what you've done.
I'll have to take my chances.

How much money have you got?

I've got about $500 left.

Give it to me.

- There's only $400 here.
- I had to keep some to live on.

- Can't you get some more?
- No.

You got anything you can raise money on?

- I've got some furs and a little jewelry.
- You'll have to hock 'em.

There you are.

I'll be back soon with the best news I can.

I'll ring four times:
Long, short, long, short.

You needn't bother to come to the door.
I'll let myself in.

Anything stirring?

Did you send the flowers?

You're invaluable, darling.
Get my lawyer on the phone, will you?

Hello, Sid?

I think I'm going to have to tell a coroner
to go to blazes, Sid.

Can I hide behind the sanctity
of my client's identity...

secrets and whatnot's all the same,
priest or lawyer?

But Dundy's getting a little rambunctious,
and maybe it is a bit thick this time.

What'll it cost to be on the safe side?

Maybe it's worth it.

Okay, go ahead.

Gardenia.

Quick, darling, in with him!

Will you come in, Mr. Cairo?

Will you sit down, Mr. Cairo?

Thank you, sir.

Now, what can I do for you, Mr. Cairo?

May a stranger offer condolences
for your partner's unfortunate death?

Thanks.

Is there, as the newspapers imply...

a certain relationship between
that unfortunate happening and...

the death a little later
of the man Thursby?

I beg your pardon. No.

More than idle curiosity prompted
my question.

See, Mr. Spade, I'm trying to recover...

an ornament that, shall we say,
has been mislaid.

I thought and hoped you could assist me.

The ornament is a statuette...

a black figure of a bird.

I am prepared to pay, on behalf of...

the figure's rightful owner,
the sum of $5,000 for its recovery.

I am prepared to promise that,
what is the phrase...

"No questions will be asked."

$5,000 is a lot of money.

Yes, Effie?

No, that'll be all. Just be sure
to lock the door on your way out.

Good night.

$5,000 is-

You will clasp your hands together
at the back of your neck.

I intend to search your offices, Mr. Spade.

I warn you, if you attempt to prevent me,
I shall certainly shoot you.

Go ahead and search.

Please come to the center of the room.

I have to make certain
that you are not armed.

Look what you did to my shirt!

Sorry.

But imagine my embarrassment
at discovering that $5,000 offer...

was just hooey.

Mr. Spade, my offer is genuine.

I am prepared to pay $5,000
for the figure's return.

- You have it?
- No.

If it isn't here...

why did you risk serious injury
to prevent my searching?

Why should I sit here
and let people come in and stick me up?

Certainly it is only natural
that I try to save the owner...

such a considerable expense if possible.

Who is he?

Mr. Spade, you'll forgive
my not answering that question.

I think we'd be better off all around
if we'd put our cards on the table.

No, I do not think it would be better.

You see, if you know more than I do,
then I shall profit by your knowledge.

So will you, to the extent of $5,000.

There's nothing like $5,000 here.

You want some assurance of my sincerity?

- A retainer? Would that do?
- It might.

You will take, say, $100?

No. I will take, say, $200.

Your first guess was that I had the bird.
There's nothing to that.

What's your second guess?

That you know where it is, or at least
you know it is where you can get it.

You're not hiring me to do murders
or burglaries...

but simply to get it back if possible,
in an honest, lawful way?

If possible. But...

in any case, with discretion.

When you wish to contact me, sir,
I'm staying at the Hotel Belvedere...

Room 635.

I sincerely expect
the greatest mutual benefit...

from our association, Mr. Spade.

May I please have my gun now?

Oh, sure. I'd forgotten all about it.

You will please clasp your hands together
at the back of your neck.

I intend to search your offices.

Well, I'll be...

Why, sure.

Go ahead. I won't stop you.

- Turn right and go up the hill, driver.
- Okay.

Mr. Spade!

Do you bring me any news?

Did you manage it so the police
won't have to know about me?

They won't for a while, anyway.

You are wonderful!

You won't get into trouble?

I don't mind a reasonable amount
of trouble.

Do sit down.

You aren't exactly the sort of a person
you pretend to be, are you?

Why, I'm not sure I know exactly
what you mean.

The schoolgirl manner. You know,
blushing, stammering and all that.

I haven't lived a good life. I've been bad.

Worse than you could know.

Good, because if you actually were
as innocent as you pretend to be...

we'd never get anywhere.

I won't be innocent.

Good.

By the way, I saw Joel Cairo tonight.

Do you know him?

Only slightly.

You're good. You're very good.

- What did he say?
- About what?

- About me.
- Nothing.

- What did you talk about then?
- He offered me $5,000 for the black bird.

You won't go around straightening things
and poking the fire again, will you?

No, I'm not.

- What did you say?
- I said $5,000 was a lot of money.

It is.

It's more than I can ever offer you
if I have to bid for your loyalty.

That's good coming from you.

What have you ever given me
besides money?

Have you ever given me
any of your confidence, any truth?

Haven't you tried to buy my loyalty
with only money?

What else is there I can buy you with?

I don't care what your secrets are.

But I can't go ahead without
more confidence in you than I've got now.

You have to convince me
you aren't just fiddling around...

hoping it'll all come
out right in the end.

Trust me a little longer?

How much is a little?
What are you waiting for?

I've got to talk to Joel Cairo.

You can see him tonight.
He's at the theater. It'll be out soon.

- I'll leave a message at his hotel.
- But he can't come here.

I'm afraid to let him know where I am.

My place, then.

Hello?

I want to leave a message for Joel Cairo.

I never would've placed myself
in this position...

if I didn't trust you completely.

That again?

You know that's true, though.

You don't have to trust me as long
as you can persuade me to trust you.

But don't worry about that now.

He'll be along any minute.

You get your business with Cairo over with
then we'll see how we stand.

You'll let me go about it with him...

in my own way?

Sure.

You are a godsend.

Now, don't overdo it.

Mr. Spade! There is a boy outside.
He seems to be watching the house.

I know. I spotted him.

What? What's that? What boy?

A kid. He's been trailing me all evening.

- Did he follow you to my apartment?
- I shook him before that.

Come in, Mr. Cairo.

- I'm delighted to see you again, madam.
- I was sure you would be, Joel.

Mr. Spade told me about your offer
for the falcon.

- When will the money be ready?
- It is ready.

- In cash?
- Yes.

You're ready to pay $5,000
if we turn over the falcon to you?

Excuse me, please.
I must have expressed myself badly.

I did not mean that I have the money
in my pocket...

but I am ready to get it for you
on a few minutes' notice...

anytime during banking hours.

That's probably true.
He only had a couple hundred...

when I searched him this afternoon
at my office.

I shall be able to have the money for you
at, say, 10:30 in the morning.

But I haven't got the falcon.

I'll have it in another week
at the most, though.

Then, where is it?

Where Floyd hid it.

Floyd?

You know where he hid it?
Then why do we have to wait a week?

Perhaps not a whole week.

And why, if I may ask another question,
are you willing to sell it to me?

Because I'm afraid.

After Floyd, I'm afraid to touch it
except to turn it over to somebody else.

What exactly did happen to Floyd?

The fat man.

The fat man? Is he here?

I don't know. I suppose so.

What difference does it make?

It might make a world of difference.

Or you or me.

Precisely. But, shall we add,
more certainly...

the boy outside?

Yes. But you might be able
to get around him, Joel...

as you did the one in Istanbul.

What was his name?

You mean the one you couldn't get
to come to-

This is the second time
that you have laid hands on me!

When you're slapped
you'll take it and like it.

Who's that?

I don't know. Keep quiet.

Hello.

You guys pick swell hours
to do your visiting in.

- What now?
- We want to talk to you.

- Go ahead and talk.
- Do we have to do it out in the hall?

- You can't come in.
- Come off it now, Sam.

You aren't tryin' to strong arm me, are you?

Why don't you be reasonable?

It would pay you to play along with us.

You got away with this and that,
but you can't keep it up forever.

- Stop me when you can.
- That's what I intend to do.

There's talk about you and Archer's wife.

- Is there anything to it?
- Not a thing.

She tried to get a divorce from him
to put in with you...

but he wouldn't give it to her.
Anything to that?

Talk is that's why he was put on the spot.

Don't be a hog, Dundy.

Your idea I killed Thursby
because he killed Miles...

falls to pieces if I'm blamed
for killing Miles.

You haven't heard me say
you killed anybody.

You keep bringing that up.

Haven't you anything better to do
than to pop in here...

early every morning asking
fool questions?

- And gettin' a lot of lyin' answers.
- Take it easy.

If you say there's nothin' between you
and Archer's wife, you're a liar.

Is that the hot tip that brought
you up here at this ungodly hour?

That's one of 'em.

And the other?

Let us in!

All right, Spade, we'll go.

Maybe you're right in buckin' us.
Think it over.

Help!

- I guess we're goin' in.
- I guess you are.

What's goin' on in here?

Look, Officer! Look what she did!

- Did you do that?
- I had to.

I was alone with him.
He tried to attack me.

I had to keep him off.
I couldn't shoot him!

You dirty, filthy liar! It isn't true!

I came up here in good faith,
then both of them attacked me.

Then when he went out to talk to you
he left her here with a pistol.

She said as soon as you leave
they'll kill me...

so I called for help. I didn't want you
to leave me to be murdered.

And then she struck me with the pistol!

Why don't you make him tell the truth?

Wait a minute!

That's no way to act!

I don't guess we'll be wrong
runnin' the lot of 'em in.

Don't be in a hurry.
Everything can be explained.

I'll bet.

Miss O'Shaughnessy, Lieutenant Dundy
and Detective Sergeant Polhaus.

Miss O'Shaughnessy is an operative
in my employ since yesterday.

That's a lie, too!

That is Mr. Joel Cairo.

Cairo was an acquaintance of Thursby's.
He came to my office late this afternoon...

and hired me to find something Thursby
had on him when he was bumped off.

It looked funny to me the way he put it,
so I wouldn't touch it.

Then he pulled a gun on me.
That's neither here nor there...

unless we start preferring charges
against each other.

Miss O'Shaughnessy and I discussed
the matter and decided to find out...

exactly how much he knew
about Miles' and Thursby's killings...

so we asked him to come here.

Now, maybe we did put the questions
to him a little roughly...

You know how that is, Lieutenant?

But we didn't hurt him enough
to make him cry for help.

- What have you got to say to that?
- I don't know what to say.

Try tellin' the facts.

- What? Facts?
- Quit stallin'.

Just swear out a complaint they took a
poke at you and I'll throw 'em in the can.

Go ahead, Cairo. Tell him you'll do it.

Then we'll swear out a complaint
against you and he'll have the lot of us.

Get your hats.

Well, boys and girls,
we put it over nicely!

Go on, get your hats!

Don't you know when you're bein' kidded?

No, but that can wait till we get
to the Hall.

Wake up, Dundy, you're being kidded!

When I heard the buzzer, I said:

"There's the police again.
They're getting to be a nuisance!

"When you hear them, scream.

"Then we'll see how far we can string 'em
till they tumble."

Stop it, Sam!

How'd that cut on his head get there?

- Ask him. Maybe he cut himself shaving.
- The cut? No.

When we pretended to be struggling for
the gun, I fell over the carpet. I fell.

Horse feathers!

- Take him along, anyway, for packin' a gun.
- Don't be a sap.

That gun was a plant, it's one of mine.

Too bad it's only a.25,
or you could prove it was the gun...

that Miles and Thursby were shot with.

- No, Sam! No!
- Then get him out of here!

- Get their names and addresses.
- My name is Joel Cairo, Hotel Belvedere.

Miss O'Shaughnessy's address is my office.

- Where do you live?
- Get him out!

Take it easy!
Is that all you want, Lieutenant?

I think I'll be going now.

What's the hurry, Cairo?

There is no hurry.
It's getting quite late, and...

Tell him to leave the gun.

I hope you know what you're doin', Sam.

You're absolutely the wildest,
most unpredictable person I ever knew.

Do you always carry on so highhanded?

Well, you've had your talk with Cairo.

Now you can talk to me.

Yes, of course.

I'm listening.

I'm still listening.

- Look at the time! I must be going.
- No. Not till you've told me all about it.

Am I a prisoner?

Maybe the boy outside
hasn't gone home yet.

Do you suppose he's still there?

Likely.

You can start now.

You are the most insistent person.

And wild and unpredictable, huh?

Say, what's this bird, this falcon,
that everybody's all steamed up about?

Supposing I wouldn't tell you anything
about it?

Would you do something
wild and unpredictable?

I might.

It's a black figure, as you know,
smooth and shiny...

of a bird, a hawk or falcon,
about that high.

Here.

- What makes it so important?
- I don't know. They wouldn't tell me.

They offered me $500 if I'd help get
it away from the man who had it.

That was in Istanbul?

Marmara.

Go ahead.

But that's all.

They promised me $500
if I'd help them, and I did.

Then we found out that Joel Cairo intended
to desert us...

taking the falcon with him
and leaving Floyd and me nothing...

so we did exactly that to him.

But, I wasn't any better off than before.

Floyd had no intention
of keeping his promise...

about sharing equally.
I'd learned that when we got here.

What's the bird made of?

Porcelain or black stone. I don't know.
I only saw it once for a few minutes.

Floyd showed it to me
when we first got hold of it.

You are a liar!

I am.

I've always been a liar.

Don't brag about it.

Was there any truth at all in that yarn?

Some.

Not very much.

Well, we got all night.

Coffee'll be ready soon.
We'll have a cup and try again.

I'm so tired...

so tired of lying and making up lies.

Not knowing what is a lie
and what's the truth.

I want to talk to Mr. Cairo. Joel Cairo.

Thanks.

Where is he?

What?

Where is he?

Who?

Cairo.

What do you think you're doin', kiddin' me?

I'll tell you when I am.

New York, aren't you?

Shove off.

You'll have to talk to me
before you're through.

Some of you will,
and you can tell the fat man I said so.

Keep askin' for it
and you're gonna get it, plenty.

I told you to shove off.

Shove off!

People lose teeth talkin' like that.

If you want to hang around,
you'll be polite.

Luke.

- Hello, Sam.
- Hello, Luke.

Say, that was too bad about Miles.

Yeah. It was a tough break.

I want to show you somethin'.

Why do you let these cheap gunmen
hang around the lobby...

with their heaters bulging
in their clothes?

What do you want here?

If you don't want anything, beat it...

and don't come back!

I won't forget you guys.

- What is it?
- I don't know. I just spotted him.

- Say, what about Miles?
- I'll see you, Luke.

- 603.
- Yes, sir.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Let's go where we can talk.

Our private conversations have not been
such that I'm anxious to continue them.

Forgive my speaking so bluntly
but it is the truth.

Last night? What could I do?
I had to. I don't know where the bird is.

Neither do you. She does.
How'll we get it if I don't play along?

You always have a very smooth
explanation ready, huh?

Should I learn to stutter?

Did Dundy take you to the station?
For how long?

Till a little while ago.

- What'd they shake out of you?
- Shake out? Not one thing.

I adhered to the course you indicated
earlier in your room...

but I wish you would have invented
a more reasonable story.

I felt distinctly like
an idiot repeating it.

Don't worry about the story's goofiness.

A sensible one would have had us all
in the cooler.

- You sure you didn't tell 'em anything?
- I did not.

You'll want sleep, if you've been standing
up under a police grilling all night.

I'll see you later.

No, not yet.

Yes, I'll have him call you
the minute he comes in.

That's the third time she's called
this morning.

Miss O'Shaughnessy's in there.

Anything else?

The DA's office called.
Bryan would like to see you.

And a Mr. Gutman called.

I said you weren't in.
He said, "Please tell him...

"... the young man gave me his message,
and that I phoned, and will phone again."

Gutman, huh?

Thanks, darling.

Darling! Somebody's been
in my apartment!

It's all upside down!
I changed as fast as I could and came over.

Did that boy follow you?

No, angel. I shook him off
long before I ever went to your place.

It might have been Cairo.
He wasn't at the hotel last night.

He told me he'd been standing up
under a police grilling. I wonder.

- You saw Joel this morning?
- Yeah.

Why?

Because, true love,
I need to keep in touch...

with all the loose ends of this dizzy affair
if I'm ever to make heads or tails of it.

Now, we've got to find a new home
for you.

I won't go back there!

I got an idea. Wait a minute.

What's your woman's intuition say
about her?

She's all right. Maybe it's her own fault
for the trouble...

but she's all right.

That's what I mean.

Are you strong enough to put her up
for a bit?

- You mean at home?
- Yeah.

- Is she in any danger, Sam?
- I think she is.

Gee, that'd scare Mom
into a green hemorrhage.

I'll say she's a surprise witness
you're keeping undercover.

You're a darling.

Brigid.

Effie has offered to put you up.

That's very kind.

Start now. Go out the back entrance.

There's usually a cab parked
by the alleyway.

Ride partway with her.
Be sure you're not followed.

You better change cabs a few times
to be safe.

I'll call Mom.

There's time enough for that
when you get back.

I'll call you later.

Hello.

This is Samuel Spade.

Say, my secretary tells me
Mr. Bryan wants to see me.

Yeah. Ask him what time's
most convenient for him.

Spade. S-p-a-d-e.

Hello, honey.

Yeah.

2:30. All right. Thanks.

Sam, forgive me. Please forgive me.

I sent those policemen to your place.

I was mad, crazy with jealousy.
I phoned that if they went there...

they'd learn something
about Miles' murder.

- What made you think of that?
- I was mad, Sam. I wanted to hurt you.

- Did you tell 'em who you were?
- No. Sam, dearest, I-

Where'd you phone from?

The drugstore across from your place.

Better hurry home and think
what to tell the police.

You'll hear from them.

By the way...

where were you the night Miles
was murdered?

Home.

- I was.
- No!

But if that's your story,
it's all right with me.

Now, you run along.

Hello.

Yeah, this is Spade.

Yes, Mr. Gutman, I got it.
I've been waitin' to hear from you.

Well, now? The sooner, the better.
Say 15 minutes. Right.

12C.

12C to your left, sir.

Mr. Spade!

How do you do, Mr. Gutman?

You begin well, sir.

I distrust a man who says "when."

He's got to be careful
not to drink too much...

because he's not to be trusted
when he does.

Well, sir...

here's to plain speaking
and clear understanding.

You're a close-mouthed man?

No, I like to talk.

Better and better.
I distrust a close-mouthed man.

He generally picks the wrong time to talk
and says the wrong things.

Talking's something you can't do
judiciously unless you keep in practice.

Now, sir. We'll talk, if you like.

I'll tell you right out. I'm a man who
likes talking to a man who likes to talk.

Swell!

Will we talk about the black bird?

You're the man for me, sir.

No beating about the bush.
Right to the point.

Let's talk about the black bird,
by all means.

First, answer me a question.

Are you here
as Miss O'Shaughnessy's representative?

There's nothing certain either way.
It depends.

It depends on?

Maybe it depends on Joel Cairo.

Maybe.

The question is which do you represent?
It'll be one or the other.

I didn't say so.

- Who else is it?
- There's me.

That's wonderful, sir, wonderful.

I do like a man who tells you right out
he's lookin' out for himself.

Don't we all?

I don't trust a man who says he's not.

Now, let's talk about the black bird.

Let's.

Mr. Spade, have you any conception...

of how much money can be got
for that black bird?

No.

Well, sir, if I told you,
if I told you half, you'd call me a liar.

No, not even if I thought so.

But you tell me what it is,
and I'll figure out the profit.

You mean, you don't know
what that bird is?

I know what it's supposed to look like...

and I know the value in human life
you people put on it.

She didn't tell you what it is?

- Cairo didn't either?
- He offered me $10,000 for it.

$10,000!

Dollars, mind you, not even pounds!

Do they know what that bird is?
What is your impression?

There's not much to go by.
Cairo didn't say he did or he didn't.

She said she didn't but I took
it for granted she was lying.

Not an injudicious thing to do.

If they don't know, I'm the only one
in the whole wide sweet world who does.

Swell! When you've told me,
that'll make two of us.

Mathematically correct, but I don't know
for certain that I'm going to tell you.

Don't be foolish. You know what it is.
I know where it is.

Well, sir, where is it?

You see, I must tell you what I know,
but you won't tell me what you know.

It's hardly equitable, sir.

No, no. I don't think we can do business
along those lines.

Well, think again, and think fast!

I told that gunsel of yours
you'd have to talk to me!

You'll talk to me today,
or you are through!

Why are you wasting my time?
I can get along without you!

And another thing:

Keep that gunsel out of my way
while you decide.

I'll kill him, if you don't!

Well, sir, I must say you have
a most violent temper.

Think it over. You've got till 5:00.

Then you're either in or out, for keeps!

- Who killed Thursby?
- I don't know.

But you could make an excellent guess.

My guess might be excellent or crummy...

but Mrs. Spade didn't raise children
dippy enough to guess...

in front of a DA, an assistant DA
and a stenographer.

Why not, if you've nothing to conceal?

Everybody has something to conceal.

I'm a sworn officer of the law
24 hours a day...

and neither formality nor informality
justifies you withholding...

the evidence of crime from me
except on constitutional grounds.

You and the police have as much
as accused me...

of being mixed up in the murders.

I've had trouble with both of you before,
and as far as I can see...

my best chance of clearing myself
of the trouble...

is by bringing in the murderers
all tied up.

The only chance I have of catching them
and bringing them in...

is by staying away from you
because you'd only gum up the works.

You getting this or am I goin' too fast?

- No, sir. I'm getting it all right.
- Good work.

If you want to tell the board
I'm obstructing justice...

and ask them to revoke my license,
hop to it.

You tried it before and it didn't get you
anything but a good laugh.

I don't want any more informal talks.

I've nothing to say to you,
and I'm tired of being called things...

by every crackpot on the city payroll.
If you want to see me...

pinch me or subpoena me.
I'll come down with my lawyer.

I'll see you at the inquest, maybe!

Come on. He wants to see you.

I didn't expect you till 5:25.
I hope I haven't kept you waiting.

Keep on ridin' me...

they're gonna be pickin' iron
out of your liver.

The cheaper the crook,
the gaudier the patter, huh?

Well, let's go.

Come on. This'll put you in solid
with your boss.

Come in, sir. Thank you for coming.
Come in.

You shouldn't let him go around
with these on him.

He might get himself hurt.

Well, what's this?

A crippled newsy took 'em away from him.
I made him give 'em back.

By gad, sir, you're a chap worth knowing.
An amazing character. Give me your hat.

Sit down.

- I owe you an apology, sir.
- Never mind that.

Let's talk about the black bird.

All right, sir, let's.

Let's.

This is going to be the most astounding
thing you've ever heard of.

I say this knowing a man
of your caliber and your profession...

must have known
some astounding things in his time.

What do you know of the Order of
the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem...

later known as the Knights of Rhodes?

- Crusaders or something, weren't they?
- Very good. Sit down.

In 1539, these crusading Knights...

persuaded Emperor Charles V
to give them the Island of Malta.

He made but one condition:

That they pay him yearly
the tribute of a falcon...

in acknowledgement that Malta
was still under Spain.

Do you follow me?

Have you any conception of the extreme...

the immeasurable wealth
of the Order of that time?

They were pretty well fixed.

"Pretty well" is putting it mildly.
They were rolling in wealth, sir.

For years they'd taken from the East
nobody knows what spoils of gems...

precious metals, silks, ivory, sir.

We all know the Holy Wars to them
were largely a matter of loot.

The Knights were profoundly grateful
to the Emperor Charles...

for his generosity toward them.

They hit upon the thought of sending...

for his first year's tribute,
not an insignificant live bird...

but a glorious golden falcon...

crusted from head to foot...

with the finest jewels in their coffers.

Well, sir...

- ...what do you think of that?
- I don't know.

These are facts, historical facts...

not schoolbook history, not Mr. Wells'
history, but history, nevertheless.

They sent the foot-high jeweled bird
to Charles in Spain.

They sent it in a galley commanded
by a member of the Order.

It never reached Spain.

A famous admiral of buccaneers...

took the Knights' galley and the bird.

In 1713 it turned up in Sicily.

In 1840 it appeared in Paris.

It had, by that time,
acquired a coat of black enamel...

so that it looked nothing more
than a fairly interesting black statuette.

In that disguise, sir, it was,
as you may say, kicked around Paris...

for over three score years
by private owners too stupid...

to see what it was under the skin.

Then...

in 1923 a Greek dealer...

named Charilaos Konstantinides found it
in an obscure shop.

No thickness of enamel could conceal value
from his eyes.

- You begin to believe me a little?
- I haven't said I didn't.

Well, sir, to hold it safe while pursuing
his researches into its history...

Charilaos re-enameled the bird.

Despite this precaution, however,
I got wind of his find.

If I'd only known a few days sooner.

I was in London when I heard.

I packed a bag,
got on the boat train immediately.

On the train I read in the Times,
that Charilaos's establishment...

had been burglarized and him murdered.

Sure enough, on arriving there
I discovered the bird was gone.

That was 17 years ago.

Well, sir, it took me 17 years
to locate that bird, but I did.

I wanted it!

I'm a man not easily discouraged
when I want something.

I traced it to the home
of a Russian general...

one Kemidov, in an Istanbul suburb.
He didn't know a thing about it.

It was only a black enameled figure
to him...

but his contrariness kept him
from selling it to me...

when I made him an offer.
So I sent him some agents to get it.

Well, sir...

they got it and I haven't got it...

but I'm going to get it.

Your glass.

Then, the bird doesn't really belong
to any of you, but to a General Kemidov?

Well, sir, you might as well say
it belonged to the King of Spain.

I don't see how you can honestly grant
anyone else a clear title to it...

except by right of possession.

And now, sir...

before we start to talk prices,
how soon can you...

or how soon are you willing
to produce the falcon?

- A couple of days.
- That is satisfactory.

Well, sir, here's to a fair bargain!
Profits large enough for both of us!

What's your idea of a fair bargain?

I will give you $25,000 when you deliver
the falcon to me...

and another $25,000 later on.

Or I will give you one quarter
of what I realize on the falcon.

That would amount to a much greater sum.

- How much greater?
- Who knows? Shall we say $100,000?

Will you believe me if I name
the probable minimum?

Why not?

What would you say
to a quarter of a million?

Then you think
the dingus is worth a million?

In your own words, why not?

- That's a lot of dough.
- A lot of dough.

The minimum? What's the maximum?

The maximum, I refuse to guess.

You'd think me crazy.

I don't know.

There's no telling how
high it could go, sir.

That is the one and only truth about it.

Wilmer!

Hello, Effie. It's me.

Let me talk to Miss O'Shaughnessy.

She isn't there?

What? She didn't show up?

You get back to the office and
wait there till I come or you hear from me.

Yeah, let's do something right
for a change.

It started in the hold aft,
in the rear basement.

What insurance was she carrying?

- Anybody burn?
- No.

Only the harbor watch was aboard.

- Someone I know came-
- What?

Someone I know came aboard
this afternoon.

I haven't seen her since. I'm worried.

No reason to be, mister.
Everybody got off all right.

I wonder if you saw her.
She's kind of small, about 5-foot-

I couldn't tell you, mister. But if she
came aboard she got off all right.

Only the harbor watch was aboard
when the fire started.

Now you know as much about it
as I do, precious.

Maybe they went down to the ship.
Maybe they didn't.

The part about the bird is thrilling.

Or ridiculous.

You know...

Falcon.

Lock that door.

Is he...

- Is he...
- Yeah.

He couldn't have come far
with those holes in him.

Why couldn't he have stayed alive
long enough to tell us something?

Here, here, here, none of that now.
Come on.

You can't pass out on me now.

All right, Sam.

Do you really think...

- We've got it, angel, we've got it.
- You're hurting me.

Answer the phone.

Hello.

Yes?

Who?

Oh, yes.

Where?

Yes, yes.

Hello! Hello! Hello!

It was Miss O'Shaughnessy!
She wants you! She's in danger!

- Where is she?
- Burlingame, 26 Ancho.

Her voice, it was awful!

Something happened
before she could finish. Go help her!

You've got to go to her!
He was helping her and they killed him...

You've got to go, Sam!

All right, I'll go!

After I've gone, you phone the police.

Tell 'em how it happened,
but don't say any names!

I got the call and told you I had to go,
but I didn't say where.

Forget about this.
Tell 'em how it happened, but without this.

Get that straight.
Everything happened exactly as it did...

but without the bundle,
and I got the phone call, not you.

Yes, Sam.

Okay.

Shut this door and lock it
and don't open it till the police come.

Do you know who he is?

Yeah! Yeah, he's Captain Jacoby,
master of the La Paloma.

You're a good man, sister!

- May I borrow your pencil?
- Sure.

- Say, Frank?
- Hello, Mr. Spade.

- You got plenty of gas?
- Sure thing.

Do you know where Ancho Street
is in Burlingame?

No, but we'll find her.

Well, 26 is the number
and the sooner the better.

Keep your motor running.

- Bum steer, Mr. Spade?
- Yeah.

Let's get to a phone booth.

Hello, Mrs. Perine? Is Effie there?

Yes, please.

Hello, precious! What's the good news?

No, no. It was a bum steer.
Are you sure that was her voice?

Well, it was hooey.

Everything go all right?
Nothing said about the bundle, huh?

That's swell.

Did they take you down to the Hall?

All right, precious.

You'd better hit the hay and get
a good night's rest. You sound all in.

No. Save it till tomorrow.
I'm going on home.

- Thanks. Good night, Frank.
- Good night, Mr. Spade.

I've been hiding in a
doorway up the street.

I thought you'd never come.

Can you make it or shall I carry you?

I'll be all right as soon as I can
get some place where I can lie down.

Well, we're all here.

Let's come in and sit down
and be comfortable and talk.

Sure.

- Get away! You're not gonna frisk me.
- Stand still! Shut up!

Take your paws off me
or I'll make you use that gun.

Ask your boss if he wants me shot up
before we talk.

Never mind, Wilmer.

You certainly are
a most headstrong individual.

Well, let's be seated.

Are you ready to make the first payment
and take the falcon off my hands?

Well, sir, as to that...

As to that...

$10,000? We were talkin' about
a lot more money than this.

Yes, sir, we were.
But this is genuine coin of the realm.

With a dollar of this
you can buy $10 of talk.

There are more of us
to be taken care of now.

That may be, but I've got the falcon!

I shouldn't think it necessary
to remind you...

that you may have the falcon,
but we certainly have you.

I'm trying not to let that worry me.
We'll get back to the money later on.

There's something else
to be discussed first.

We've got to have a fall guy.

The police need a victim, somebody
they can pin those three murders on.

Three? There's only two, because
Thursby certainly killed your partner.

Only two then. What's the difference?
We have to give the police-

Come, Mr. Spade, you can't
expect us to believe at this late date...

that you're afraid of the police,
or that you're not quite able to handle-

I'm in this up to my neck.

I've got to find somebody, a victim when
the time comes. If I don't, I'll be it.

Let's give them the gunsel.

He actually did shoot
Thursby and Jacoby, didn't he?

Anyway, he's made to order for the part.
Look at him!

Let's give him to them.

By gad, sir, you are a character.
That you are!

There's never any telling
what you'll say or do next...

but it's bound to be astonishing.

It's our best bet. With him in their hands-

But, my dear man, can't you see
that if I even for a moment...

thought of doing such a thing...
That's ridiculous.

I feel towards Wilmer here just exactly
as if he were my own son.

Really, I do.

But if I even for a moment thought
of doing what you propose...

what in the world would keep Wilmer
from telling the police...

every last detail about
the falcon and all-

Let him talk his head off.

I'll guarantee you
nobody'll do anything about it.

Well, what do you think of this, Wilmer?
Mighty funny, eh?

Mighty funny.

How do you feel now?
Any better, precious?

Much better.

But I'm frightened.

Don't be. Nothing very bad's
going to happen here.

Do you want a drink, angel?

Be careful, Sam.

Well?

If you're really serious, the least we can
do in common politeness is to hear you out.

Now, how would you be able to fix it
so that Wilmer couldn't do us any harm?

I can show Bryan, our DA,
that if he goes around...

tryin' to collect everybody
he'll have a tangled case...

but if he sticks to Wilmer here,
he can get a conviction...

standing on his head.

Get up on your feet.

I've taken all the riding from you
I'm gonna take.

Get up and shoot it out!

Young Wild West!

You should tell him shootin' me
before you get the falcon...

will be bad for business.

Now, now, Wilmer.
We can't have any of that.

You shouldn't attach such importance
to these things.

Tell him to lay off me then.

Now, Wilmer...

Your plan is, not at all satisfactory, sir.
Let's not say anything more about it.

All right. I've got another suggestion.

Maybe not as good as the first,
but it's better than nothing.

Want to hear it?

Most assuredly.

Give them Cairo.

Well, by gad, sir-

Suppose we give them
you or Miss O'Shaughnessy?

You want the falcon. I've got it.

The fall guy's part of the price I'm asking.
As for Miss O'Shaughnessy...

if you think she can be rigged for the
part I'm willing to discuss it with you.

You seem to forget that you are not
in a position to insist upon anything.

Now, come, gentlemen.

Let's keep our discussion
on a friendly basis.

There certainly is something
in what Mr. Cairo said...

If you kill me,
how are you gonna get the bird?

If I know you can't afford to kill me,
how'll you scare me into giving it to you?

Sir, there are other means of persuasion
besides killing and threatening to kill.

Yes, that's...

That's true.

But none of them are any good
unless the threat of death is behind them.

You see what I mean?

If you start something, I'll make it a matter
of your having to kill me or call it off.

That's an attitude, sir, that calls for
the most delicate judgement on both sides.

Because, as you know,
in the heat of action...

men are likely to forget where
their best interests lie...

and let their emotions carry them away.

And the trick from my angle is
to make my play strong enough...

to tie you up, not make you mad enough
to bump me off...

against your better judgement.

By gad, sir, you are a character.

They're selling you out, sonny.

I hope you're not influenced by the guns...

these pocket-edition desperadoes
are waving around.

Because I've practiced taking guns away
from these boys before...

so we'll have no trouble there.

- Wilmer, here-
- All right.

Wilmer!

There's our fall guy.

Either say yes right now
or I'll turn the falcon and all of you in.

I don't like that, sir.

Well, you won't like it. Well?

You can have him.

I won't be able to get the falcon
till daylight, maybe later.

It'd be best for us all
if we didn't leave each other's sight...

until our business has been transacted.
You have the envelope?

Miss O'Shaughnessy has it. Hang on to it.

We won't lose sight of each other.
The dingus'll be brought to us here.

Excellent, sir, excellent!

Then in exchange for
the $10,000 and Wilmer...

you'll give us the falcon
and an hour or two of grace.

Now, let's get the details fixed, first.

Why did he shoot Thursby and why, where
and how did he shoot Captain Jacoby?

I've got to know all that happened
so the parts that don't fit are covered up.

I shall be candid with you, sir.

Thursby was Miss O'Shaughnessy's ally.

We believed that disposing of him
as we did...

would cause Miss O'Shaughnessy to stop
and think that it would be best...

to patch up her differences with us
regarding the falcon.

You didn't try to make a deal
before giving him the works?

We did. Yes, sir. We most certainly did.

I talked to him myself that very night,
but I could do nothing with him.

He was quite determinedly loyal
to Miss O'Shaughnessy.

So Wilmer followed him back to the hotel
and did what he did.

That sounds all right.

Now, Jacoby.

Captain Jacoby's death was entirely
Miss O'Shaughnessy's fault.

Tell me what happened.

Cairo, as you must have surmised,
contacted me...

after he left police headquarters
last night or morning.

He recognized the mutual advantage
of pooling forces.

Mr. Cairo is a man of nice judgement.

The Paloma was his thought.
He read of its arrival in the papers...

and remembered he had heard
in Hong Kong...

that Jacoby and Miss O'Shaughnessy
were seen together...

Well, sir, he saw that notice and...

putting two and two together
guessed the truth.

She had given the bird to Jacoby
to bring here for her.

And at that juncture you decided
to slip me a Mickey.

There's no place for you in our plan, sir.

So we decided to spare ourselves
any possible embarrassment.

Mr. Cairo and Wilmer and I went
to call on Captain Jacoby.

We were lucky enough to arrive
while Miss O'Shaughnessy was there.

In many ways, the conference was difficult,
but we finally persuaded...

Miss O'Shaughnessy to come to terms,
or so we thought.

We then left the boat and set out
for my hotel...

where I was to pay Miss O'Shaughnessy
and receive the bird.

Well, sir, we mere men
should have known better.

En route, she, Captain Jacoby
and the falcon...

slipped completely through our fingers.

It was neatly done, sir. Indeed, it was.

You touched off the boat before you left?

No, not intentionally.

Though, we, or Wilmer at least,
were responsible for the fire.

While the rest of us were talking
in the cabin, Wilmer went about the boat...

trying to find the falcon.

No doubt, he was careless with matches.

And how about the shooting?

We caught up with Miss O'Shaughnessy
and Jacoby at her apartment.

I sent Wilmer downstairs to cover
the fire escape before ringing the bell.

And, sure enough, while she was asking us
who we were through the door...

and we were telling her,
we heard a window go up.

Wilmer shot Jacoby as he was coming
down the fire escape...

shot him more than once, but Jacoby
was too tough to fall or drop the falcon.

He climbed down the rest of the way,
knocked Wilmer over, and ran off.

We persuaded, that is the word, sir,
we persuaded Miss O'Shaughnessy...

to tell us where she told Captain Jacoby
to take the falcon.

We further persuaded her
to phone your office...

in an attempt to draw you away,
before Jacoby got there...

but unfortunately for us...

it had taken us too long
to persuade Miss O'Shaughnessy.

You had the falcon
before we could reach you.

Wilmer, I'm sorry to lose you,
but I want you to know...

I couldn't be fonder of you
if you were my own son.

Well, if you lose a son,
it's possible to get another.

There's only one Maltese Falcon.

When you're young,
you simply don't understand these things.

How about some coffee?

Put the pot on, will you?

I don't like to leave our guests.

Surely.

Just a moment, my dear. Hadn't you
better leave the envelope in here?

- Sit on it, if you're afraid of losing it.
- You misunderstand me. It's not that.

But business should be transacted
in a businesslike manner.

For instance,
there are only nine bills here now.

There were 10 when I handed them to you,
as you very well know.

Well?

I want to know about this.

You palmed it.

- I palmed it?
- Yes.

Do you want to say so,
or stand for a frisk?

You'll admit it, or I'll search you.
There's no third way.

I believe you would. I really do.

You're a character,
if you don't mind my saying so.

You palmed it.

Yes, sir, that I did.

I must have my little joke now and then.

I was curious to know what you'd do
in a situation like this.

I must say you passed the test
with flying colors.

That's something I'd expect
from someone Wilmer's age.

This will soon be yours.
You might as well take it.

I ought to have more than $10,000.

You understand this is the first payment.
Later.

Oh, yes. Later you'll give me millions,
but...

how's about $15,000 now?

Frankly and candidly,
upon my word of honor as a gentleman...

$10,000 is all the money I can raise.

But you didn't say positively.

Positively.

I'd like to give you a word of advice.

Go ahead.

You'll give her some money...

but if you don't give her what she
thinks she should have, be careful.

Dangerous?

Very.

- How's the coffee coming, angel?
- In a few minutes.

It's almost daylight, Mr. Spade.

Can you start getting it now?

I guess so.

Hello.

Hello, precious.
I'm sorry to get you up so early.

Now, listen carefully. Here's the plot:

In the Holland box, at the post office
there's an envelope with my scrawl.

In that envelope, there's a parcel-room
check for the bundle we got yesterday.

Now, get that bundle
and bring it here, p. D.q.

That's a good girl. Now, hustle. Good-bye.

Thanks, lady.
Sorry to spoil your day of rest.

Not the first one you've spoiled.
Anything else?

No. No, thanks.

Bye-bye, then.

There you are.

Now, after 17 years!

It is it.

But we'll make sure.

Fake.

It's a phony! It's lead!

It's lead!

It's a fake!

You've had your little joke.
Now, tell us about it.

No, Sam! No!

That's the one I got from Kemidov.
I swear it!

You.

It's you who bungled it.

You and your stupid attempt to buy it!

Kemidov found out how valuable it was!

No wonder we had
such an easy time stealing it!

You... you imbecile!

You bloated idiot!

You stupid fathead, you!

Yes, it's the Russian's hand.
There's no doubt about it.

What do you suggest...

we stand here, shed tears
and call each other names...

or shall we go to Istanbul?

Are you going?

Seventeen years I've wanted that item,
and have been trying to get it.

If we must spend another year
on the quest...

well, sir, it will be an additional
expenditure in time of only...

five and fifteen-seventeenths percent.

I'm going with you.

Wilmer!

A swell lot of thieves.

We've little to boast about,
but the world hasn't come to an end...

just because we've run into a setback.

- I must ask for that envelope.
- I held up my end. You got your dingus.

It's your hard luck
it wasn't what you wanted.

Now, come, sir, we've all failed...

and there's no reason for expecting
any of us to bear the whole brunt.

In short, sir, I must
ask you for my $10,000.

This'll take care of my time and expenses.

Now, sir, we'll say goodbye to you...

unless you care to undertake
the Istanbul expedition with us.

You don't?

Frankly, sir, I'd like to have you along.

You're a man
of nice judgement and many resources.

Since there's no alternative, you'll
manage the police without a fall guy.

I'll make out all right.

Well, sir, the shortest farewells
are the best. Adieu.

And to you, Miss O'Shaughnessy,
I leave the rara avis on the table there...

as a little memento.

Hello. Sergeant Polhaus there?

Yeah. Put him on. This is Sam Spade.

Hello. Tom? Now, listen.
I've got something for you. Here it is:

Jacoby and Thursby were killed
by a kid named Wilmer Cook.

Yeah. He's about 20 years old, 5-foot-6,
wearing a gray overcoat.

He's working for a man named
Kasper Gutman.

You can't miss Gutman.
He must weigh 300 pounds.

That fellow Cairo's in with him, too.

They just left for the Alexandria Hotel.

You'll have to move fast.
They're blowing town.

Watch yourself when you go up
against the kid.

Yes, that's right. Very.

Well, good luck, Tom.

They'll talk when they're nailed about us.

We only have minutes to get set
for the police. Give me all of it fast!

When you first came to me,
why did you want Thursby shadowed?

I thought he betrayed me.
I wanted to find out.

A lie! You knew you had Thursby hooked!
You wanted to kill him...

before Jacoby came with the loot so you
wouldn't have to split it with him. Right?

If he knew someone was following him,
he'd be frightened away.

Miles wasn't clumsy enough
to be spotted the first night.

You told Thursby he was being followed.

I told him.

I told him.

Yes, but please believe me.

I wouldn't have if I thought
Floyd would kill him.

If you thought he wouldn't kill Miles,
you were right.

Miles hadn't many brains,
but too much experience...

as a detective to be caught
by a man he was shadowing...

up a blind alley with his gun
and his overcoat buttoned.

But he'd have gone up there
with you, angel.

He was just dumb enough for that.

He'd have looked you up and down,
licked his lips and gone...

grinning from ear to ear.

You could have stood
as close to him as you liked...

and shot him with a gun you got
from Thursby that night.

- Don't say that!
- The police'll be here any minute! Talk!

Why do you accuse me-

It's not the time for that schoolgirl act!
We're both sitting under the gallows!

Now, why did you shoot Miles?

I didn't mean to at
first, really, I didn't.

But when I found out
that Floyd couldn't be frightened...

I can't look at you and tell you this!

You thought Thursby would tackle Miles
and one would go down.

If Thursby died, you were rid of him.

If it was Miles,
you'd see Thursby was caught.

- Right?
- Something like that.

When Thursby wouldn't tackle him...

you took his gun
and did it yourself, right?

When you heard Thursby was shot,
you knew Gutman was here!

You knew you needed another protector...

somebody to fill Thursby's boots,
so you came back to me.

Yes! Sweetheart, it wasn't only that!

I'd have come back to you sooner or later.

From the very first instant I saw you,
I knew.

Well, if you get a good break,
you'll be out of Tehachapi in 20 years...

and you can come back to me then.

I hope they don't hang you, precious,
by that sweet neck.

- You're not-
- Yes, angel, I'm gonna send you over.

The chances are you'll get off with life.

If you're a good girl,
you'll be out in 20 years.

I'll be waiting for you.

If they hang you, I'll always remember you.

Don't, Sam!

Don't say that, even in fun!

I was frightened for a minute.
I really thought...

You do such wild and unpredictable things.

Now, don't be silly.

You're taking the fall.

You've been playing with me...

just pretending you cared
to trap me like this.

You didn't care at all!

You don't love me!

I won't play the sap for you!

You know it's not like that!

You never played square with me
since I've known you!

You know in your heart that
in spite of anything I've done, I love you.

I don't care who loves who!
I won't play the sap!

I won't walk in Thursby's, and I don't know
how many others' footsteps!

You killed Miles
and you're going over for it.

How can you do this to me, Sam?

Surely, Mr. Archer wasn't
as much to you as...

Listen.

This won't do any good.

You'll never understand me,
but I'll try once and then give it up.

When a man's partner is killed,
he's supposed to do something.

It makes no difference
what you thought of him.

He was your partner, and you're supposed
to do something about it...

and it happens we're
in the detective business.

Well, when one of your organization
gets killed, it's...

it's bad business to let the killer
get away with it...

bad all around,
bad for every detective everywhere.

You don't expect me to think that these
are sufficient reasons for sending me-

Wait'll I'm through. Then, you can talk.

I've no earthly reason to think
I can trust you.

If I do this and get away with it,
you'll have something on me...

that you can use whenever you want to.

Since I've got something on you...

I couldn't be sure that you wouldn't
put a hole in me someday.

All those are on one side.

Maybe some of them are unimportant.
I won't argue about that.

But look at the number of them.

What have we got on the other side?

All we've got is that maybe you love me
and maybe I love you.

You know whether you love me or not.

Maybe I do. I'll have some rotten nights
after I've sent you over, but that'll pass.

If all I've said doesn't mean anything
to you...

then forget it and
we'll make it just this:

I won't, because all of me wants to
regardless of consequences...

and because you've counted on it...

the same as you counted on it
with all the others.

Would you have done this if the falcon
were real and you got your money?

Don't be too sure I'm as crooked
as I'm supposed to be.

That sort of reputation might be
good business...

bringing high-priced jobs and making it
easier to deal with the enemy...

but a lot more money would have been
one more item on your side of the scales.

If you'd loved me, you wouldn't have
needed any more on that side.

Come in.

Hello, Tom. Got 'em?

Got 'em.

Swell! Here's another one for you.
She killed Miles.

Oh, and I've got some exhibits:
The boy's guns, one of Cairo's...

and a $1,000 bill I was supposed
to be bribed with...

and this black statuette here
that all the fuss was about.

What's the matter with your playmate?
He looks brokenhearted.

I bet when he heard Gutman's story,
he thought he had me.

Cut it out, Sam.

Well, shall we be getting down to the Hall?

It's heavy.

What is it?

The stuff that dreams are made of.