Mars quotes from The Big Sleep (1946)

Convenient the door being open when you didn't have a key.

Marlowe

Yeah, wasn't it? By the way, how did you happen to have one?

Is it any of your business?

Marlowe

I could make it my business.

I could make your business mine.

Marlowe

But you wouldn't like it. The pay's too small.

All right, I own this house. Geiger's my tenant. Now what do you think of me?

Marlowe

You know some nice people.

I take it as they come.

Got any good ideas, soldier?

Marlowe

One or two. Somebody gunned Geiger, or somebody got gunned by Geiger who ran away, or he had meat for dinner and likes to do his butchering in the parlor. No, I don't like it either. Maybe you'd better call your friends downtown.

I don't get it. I don't get your game here.

Marlowe

Don't you, Mr. Mars?

I wondered why you didn't ask me who I was. You seem to be telling me Geiger was in a racket of some kind. What racket?

Marlowe

I wouldn't know. I'm not his landlord. But I'll tell you something you missed. Somebody cleaned out the back of Geiger's store today.

You know, you talk too much.

Marlowe

By the way, how's Mrs. Mars these days?

You take chances, Marlowe.

Marlowe

I get paid to.

Marlowe

I want some information - about Sean Regan.

I heard you got that already from the Bureau of Missing Persons.

Marlowe

You get around.

My boys do.

Marlowe

Where is he?

I haven't any idea.

Marlowe

You didn't bump him off, did ya?

No. You think I did?

Marlowe

Well, that's what I came up here to ask ya.

You're kidding.

Marlowe

All right. I'm kidding. You didn't do it yourself and none of your boys are good enough to do it. I used to know Regan.

I thought you told me you weren't looking for Regan?

Marlowe

I wasn't then. Maybe I just got curious. You see, I finally got it through my thick skull that half the General's worries were that Regan might be mixed up in this blackmail business.

Well, Sternwood can turn over now and go back to sleep. It was Geiger's own racket. I did some inquiring myself today. When Geiger and Brody got gunned, that washed the whole thing up - that, I'm sure of it.

Marlowe

It's finished then.

She's not very popular around here. When she loses, she doubles, and I wind up with a fistful of paper. If she wins, she takes my money home with her.

Marlowe

You get it back next time, don't you?

She'll spend it somewhere else by then.

Marlowe

Keep her out of here then.

Marlowe

You don't seem in much of a hurry to find that wife of yours. From what I hear, she's not the kind of a wife a guy wants to lose. Could it be you know where she is - and maybe Regan too?

Better stop being curious, soldier. What's between me and my wife is between us.

Marlowe

Sorry. Oh Eddie, uh, you don't have anybody watching me, do ya? Tailing me in a gray Plymouth coupe maybe?

No, why should I?

Marlowe

Well I can't imagine unless you're worried about where I am all the time.

I don't like you that well.

Marlowe

Leave her [Vivian] out of it. She's alright Eddie. She made a deal with you and she kept it. She didn't tell me a thing except that she killed Regan but I didn't believe that. Regan's dead all right, but she didn't do it. It was Carmen, wasn't it? How'd it happen, Eddie?

You mean she didn't tell ya?

Marlowe

I asked ya how it happened.

Well, Carmen liked Regan but...

Marlowe

But he liked your wife. He said no to Carmen. She gets mad when anybody says that. I've seen her that way. Go on.

She was pretty high. By the time it was over, she couldn't remember much about it.

Marlowe

Yeah, I've seen her that way too. Then you hid the body.

You can't prove that!

Marlowe

It would be just as bad for you if I prove it to myself. Then you started to blackmail Mrs. Rutledge by telling her what Carmen had done. How did you prove to her that Carmen had done it? Go ahead, prove it to me.

You've seen Carmen when she's that way.

Marlowe

Sure I have, have you?

Well, how do you suppose...?

Marlowe

Then why didn't you know her when you walked in that day? Tell me that. You're pretty smart, Eddie, but I've been waiting for this one.

What are you gonna do about it?

Marlowe

I told you you were smart. You walked in here without a gun. You were gonna sit there and agree to everything just like you're doing now. When I went out that door, things were gonna be different. That's what those boys are doing out there. But everything's changed now, Eddie, because I got here first.

Marlowe

What do you think's gonna happen now? Now what are your boys gonna think? What'll they do to the first one that goes out that door? Who's it gonna be Eddie? You or me?

Now look, Marlowe.

Marlowe

You look at this. What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a gun before? What do you want me to do? Count three like they do in the movies? That's what Canino said to little Jonesy.

Now don't go crazy.

Marlowe

And Jonesy took it better than you're taking it.