{2470}{2531}My name is Marlowe. Phillip Marlowe. {2550}{2598}Occupation: private detective. {2600}{2689}Somebody says, "Follow that guy,"|so I follow him. {2690}{2772}Somebody says, "Find that female,"|so I find her. {2774}{2813}And what do I get out of it? {2815}{2855}$10 a day and expenses. {2857}{2959}And if you think that buys a lot of|fancy groceries these days, you're crazy. {2961}{3049}Right now, you're reading in newspapers|and hearing over your radios... {3050}{3088}about a murder. {3101}{3171}They call it|"The Case of the Lady in the Lake." {3173}{3229}It's a good title. It fits. {3245}{3307}What you've read and what you've heard|is one thing. {3309}{3357}The real thing is something else. {3359}{3434}There's only one guy who knows that.|I know it. {3468}{3554}This "Lady in the Lake" business started|just three days before Christmas. {3556}{3632}I was tired of being pushed around|for nickels and dimes... {3634}{3708}so I decided I'd write about murder.|It's safer. {3727}{3788}And besides,|they tell me the profits are good. {3790}{3857}So I pounded out a story on that... {3882}{3959}and I sent it up to the|Kingsby Publications, Incorporated... {3961}{4004}specialists in gore. {4010}{4057}You know, they turn out that kind of thing. {4096}{4168}I got a letter from them|asking me to see them about it. {4170}{4232}The letter was signed "A. Fromsett... {4246}{4321}"Room 950, Meadson Building." {4344}{4380}Make a note of that. {4398}{4478}Some cases of murder start when|that door there behind you opens up... {4480}{4555}and a fellow rushes in all covered|with sweat and confusion... {4557}{4614}and fills you full of bad dope|about the setup. {4615}{4656}But some cases, like this one... {4658}{4726}kind of creep up on you|on their hands and knees. {4727}{4799}And the first thing you know,|you're in it up to your neck. {4801}{4835}You'll see it just as I saw it. {4837}{4897}You'll meet the people,|you'll find the clues... {4899}{4977}and maybe you'll solve it quick,|and maybe you won't. {4998}{5106}You think you will? Okay, you're smart.|But let me give you a tip. {5134}{5176}You've got to watch them. {5180}{5235}You've got to watch them all the time. {5251}{5318}Because things happen|when you least expect them. {5360}{5413}"Kingsby Publications, Incorporated. {5438}{5531}"Room 950, Meadson Building. {5586}{5658}"Signed, A. Fromsett." {5738}{5819}Three days before Christmas|and I haven't done a bit of shopping yet. {5821}{5863}Well, you'd better hurry up. {6442}{6513}- Yes?|- I'm Phillip Marlowe. {6533}{6606}I got a letter asking me|to come up here about a story. {6677}{6722}A Mr. Marlowe to see you. {6750}{6781}You may go in. {7106}{7211}No, Dick, it won't do. Not enough gore.|Not nearly enough gore. {7213}{7266}Well, that's because|you don't see it in color. {7268}{7322}Color or no color,|there's not enough blood. {7324}{7425}Take it out and put more blood in.|As soon as you finish, let me see it again. {7526}{7596}Mr. Marlowe? Oh, Mr. Marlowe. {7616}{7676}You're here about some kind of a story,|aren't you? {7678}{7776}Yeah, I got a letter about it|from somebody named A. Fromsett. {7778}{7853}I'm A. Fromsett.|Adrienne Fromsett, to be precise. {7862}{7898}Won't you sit down? {7938}{7962}Thanks. {7974}{8046}- Let me see, I had your story...|- You still have it. {8048}{8113}It's underneath the magazine there|on the desk. {8120}{8146}Thank you. {8184}{8285}{y:i}"If I Should Die Before I Live."|That's a nice title. {8301}{8367}"By Phillip Marlowe." Nice name. {8390}{8460}Tell me, Mr. Marlowe,|have you done much writing before? {8462}{8505}- That much.|- Really? {8506}{8590}- You do very well for a beginner.|- Well, it's based on an authentic case. {8592}{8624}Is it really? {8626}{8720}Of course, we get hundreds of authentic|cases submitted to us every week. {8722}{8769}Why don't you print a few? {8786}{8841}They aren't all as emotional as yours. {8869}{8931}- Cigarette?|- Thanks. {8975}{8999}Light. {9034}{9061}Thank you. {9078}{9114}Besides, you see... {9147}{9214}people who write|usually don't know the facts... {9216}{9284}and people who know the facts|usually can't write. {9290}{9351}Authenticity has very little to do with it. {9366}{9453}If people who read our magazines|knew the facts of life, Mr. Marlowe... {9455}{9512}they wouldn't be reading our magazines. {9529}{9582}- Oh, Mr. Marlowe?|- Yeah? {9655}{9684}Thank you. {9703}{9763}Have you been marooned|on a desert island... {9765}{9818}or do you just find it|difficult to concentrate? {9820}{9861}- A little of both.|- Really? {9863}{9921}In that case, I must be losing my touch. {9930}{10024}You see, editorial work is so unglamorous,|sometimes... {10026}{10071}You run this business all by yourself? {10073}{10158}No, Mr. Derace Kingsby|is president of the company. {10172}{10216}I'm his principal assistant. {10248}{10291}Tell me, Mr. Marlowe... {10293}{10365}are there really detectives|like the one in your story... {10366}{10445}who never lie, cheat,|or double-cross a client... {10447}{10544}who are loyal, honest,|and never betray a confidence? {10546}{10600}Yeah, there are a couple of dopes like that. {10602}{10713}Good. Then your story is autobiographical.|You were writing about yourself. {10734}{10802}You don't really want to buy my story,|do you, Miss Fromsett? {10804}{10874}- I was about to offer you $200 for it.|- Oh, no, you weren't. {10876}{10929}Why don't you quit being cute,|Miss Fromsett? {10930}{10981}The real reason you had me up here|is because... {10983}{11058}you're looking for a smooth operator|who keeps his mouth shut. {11060}{11140}And when you read the story,|you said, "Yeah, that's my boy. {11142}{11218}"He's dumb, he's brave, and he's cheap."|Am I right? {11226}{11284}Well, I was about to offer you|a commission... {11286}{11371}on a rather delicate|and confidential matter. {11373}{11437}Why didn't you pick up the telephone|and call me... {11438}{11489}instead of all this Mickey Mouse|about a story? {11490}{11541}What I want you to do is this: {11542}{11598}I want you to find Mr. Kingsby's wife... {11600}{11660}without his knowing|you're looking for her. {11678}{11726}She's run off with another man. {11735}{11830}She's a vicious woman.|A liar, a cheat, and a thief. {11838}{11903}She may even end up|in the hands of the police. {11907}{11982}- He's had 10 years...|- Pardon me if I'm nosey, Miss Fromsett. {11984}{12034}What makes this any of your business? {12036}{12101}I handle all of Mr. Kingsby's affairs. {12122}{12164}He wishes to divorce her. {12166}{12244}She must be found|before she can be served with the papers. {12252}{12298}Nice job you have here. {12310}{12373}You think I'm pretty cold-blooded|about this, don't you? {12375}{12417}I'd have used a shorter word. {12418}{12478}- I don't like your manner.|- I'm not selling it. {12479}{12561}I'm not selling the story, either, to you.|I'm not selling anything. {12562}{12636}I have an allergy against getting mixed up|with tricky females... {12638}{12714}who want to knock off the boss's wife|and marry him for themselves. {12716}{12766}People don't talk to me like that,|Mr. Marlowe. {12768}{12810}Maybe that's what's the matter with you. {12812}{12877}Somebody should talk to you|like that sometime. {12959}{13029}I'm leaving for the day, Adrienne.|Is there anything I can do? {13030}{13110}Come in, Derry.|I'd like you to meet Phillip Marlowe. {13112}{13197}Mr. Marlowe and I have been having|a little talk about a story he sent in. {13198}{13273}This is Mr. Derace Kingsby,|president of our company. {13275}{13299}Hi. {13310}{13375}It's always nice to see|one of our writers, Mr. Marlowe. {13377}{13447}Up to this point, Derry,|Mr. Marlowe isn't one of our writers. {13449}{13555}He has just violently and indignantly|turned down an offer of $200 for his story. {13557}{13656}The boys are writing these days|for a penny a word, and $200 is... {13658}{13727}But this isn't the ordinary|blood and thunder yarn, Derry. {13729}{13794}This has part of Mr. Marlowe's soul in it. {13805}{13889}I would say it was worth $500,|as souls go these days. {13918}{13993}- Well, if you say so, it's up to you.|- Thank you, Derry. {13997}{14073}I congratulate you, Mr. Marlowe.|A writer who is also a businessman. {14075}{14132}And a very well-known private detective. {14186}{14258}- Detective?|- That's what makes the stuff so authentic. {14266}{14378}So full of life and vigor and heart.|So full of... {14380}{14476}- What would you say it was full of?|- Short sentences. {14552}{14576}I see. {14640}{14707}Is there anything you want|to take up with me before I go? {14709}{14741}I don't believe so, Derry. {14743}{14809}- Then I'll say good night, darling.|- Good night. {14894}{14969}Mr. Marlowe, I'm glad to have met you. {15062}{15164}I noticed you didn't do much talking|while the boss was in the office, did you? {15171}{15240}When I made a quick $300|by keeping quiet? {15249}{15321}We have a nasty little motto around here: {15332}{15388}"Every man has his price." {15428}{15518}Let us say we paid $200 for your story... {15522}{15601}and the $300 you just made... {15603}{15683}is a down payment|on your helping me find Mrs. Kingsby. {15687}{15772}You don't need any help there, "darling."|Not you. {15794}{15817}No? {15839}{15883}Your lipstick's on crooked. {16138}{16178}Vain female, aren't you? {16256}{16336}Please don't be so difficult|to get along with. I need help. {16338}{16386}Like I need four thumbs. {16442}{16530}I wonder how it would be|to discuss this over a couple of ice cubes. {16542}{16581}Would you care to try? {16610}{16663}lmagine you needing ice cubes. {16903}{16995}My, my, cozy little place you've got her...
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