Vivian Sternwood Rutledge Marlowe, you're ruining everything, yes you are.
2nd most-quoted character in The Big Sleep (1946): in 20 of its 54 quotes
Most scenes with: Philip Marlowe (18), Sternwood (3)
You can stop worrying and call off the bloodhounds. We found Sean....he's been in Mexico. He hasn't been very well...an accident of some kind. We didn't get all the details. I'm leaving at once to meet him...We haven't told him [the General] yet. We thought it best to wait.
More lines from Vivian Sternwood Rutledge
1 quote Vivian Sternwood Rutledge Scenes with Vivian Sternwood Rutledge
18 scenesHow do you like your brandy, sir?
In a glass.
I used to like mine with champagne. Champagne cold as Valley Forge and with about three ponies of brandy under it...I like to see people drink...You may take off your coat, sir...Too hot in here for any man who has any blood in his veins. You may smoke, too. I can still enjoy the smell of it. Nice state of affairs when a man has to indulge his vices by proxy.
You are looking, sir, at a very dull survival of a very gaudy life - crippled, paralyzed in both legs, very little I can eat, and my sleep is so near waking that it's hardly worth the name. I seem to exist largely on heat, like a newborn spider. The orchids are an excuse for the heat. Do you like orchids?
Not particularly.
Nasty things! Their flesh is too much like the flesh of men, and their perfume has the rotten sweetness of corruption.
Yes, in the old days, when he used to run rum out of Mexico and I was on the other side. We used to swap shots between drinks, or drinks between shots, whichever you like.
My respects to you, sir. Few men ever swapped more than one shot with Sean Regan. He commanded a brigade in the Irish-Republican Army - you knew that.
No I didn't...I know he was a good man at whatever he did. No one was more pleased than I when I heard you had taken him on as your...whatever he was.
My friend, my son almost.
[about talking to Carmen about her debts]
If I did, she'd just suck her thumb and look coy.
I met her in the hall and she did that to me. Then she tried to sit in my lap while I was standing up.
[about his daughters]
They're alike only in having the same corrupt blood. Vivian is spoilt, exacting, smart and ruthless. Carmen is still a little child who likes to pull the wings off flies. I assume they have all the usual vices, besides those they've invented for themselves. If I seem a bit cynical as a parent, Mr. Marlowe, it's because my hold on life is too slight to include any Victorian hypocrisy. I need hardly add that any man who has lived as I have and who indulges for the first time in parenthood at my age deserves all he gets.
I guess you want me to take this Geiger off your back. Thanks for the drink, General.
I enjoyed your drink as much as you did, sir.
Vivian So you're a private detective. I didn't know they existed, except in books. Or else they were greasy little men snooping around hotel corridors. My, you're a mess, aren't you?
I'm not very tall either. Next time, I'll come on stilts, wear a white tie and carry a tennis racket.
Vivian I doubt if even that would help. Now this business of Dad's. You think you can handle it for him?
It shouldn't be too tough.
Vivian Really? I would have thought a case like that took a little effort.
Not too much.
Vivian What will your first step be?
The usual one.
Vivian I didn't know there was a usual one.
Oh sure there is. It comes complete with diagrams on page forty-seven of 'How to Be a Detective in Ten Easy Lessons' correspondence school textbook. And, uh, your father offered me a drink.
Vivian You must have read another one on how to be a comedian.
Did you hear what I said about the drink?
Vivian I'm quite serious, Mr. Marlowe, my father...
I said your father...
Vivian Help yourself! Now look, Mr. Marlowe. My father's not well, and I want this case handled with the least possible worry to him.
That's just the way I was going to handle it.
Vivian I see. No professional secrets?
Nope.
Vivian I thought you wanted a drink.
I've changed my mind.
Vivian Then what - ? How did you like Dad?
I liked him.
Vivian He liked Sean, Sean Regan. I suppose you know who he is.
Uh, huh.
Vivian You don't have to play poker with me, Mr. Marlowe. Dad wants to find him, doesn't he?
Do you?
Vivian Of course I do. It wasn't right for him to go off like that. He broke Dad's heart, although he won't say much about it. Or did he?
Why don't you ask him?
Vivian You know, I don't see what there is to be cagey about, Mr. Marlowe. And I don't like your manners.
I'm not crazy about yours. I didn't ask to see you. I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them long winter evenings. And I don't mind your ritzing me, or drinking your lunch out of a bottle, but don't waste your time trying to cross-examine me.
Vivian People don't talk to me like that.
Ohhh.
Vivian Do you always think you can handle people like, uh, trained seals?
Uh, huh. I usually get away with it, too.
Vivian How nice for you.
Just what is it you're afraid of?
Vivian Dad didn't want to talk to you about Sean at all, did he?
Didn't he?
Vivian Would you find him if Dad wanted you to?
Maybe...I'm wasting your time. Goodbye, Mrs. Rutledge.
She'll be all right in the morning.
Vivian Did you do this?
That! Oh yes, that's a little special service I always provide all my clients.
Vivian Including being insolent. Where did you find her?
I didn't find her...
Vivian Well then, how did you...?
I haven't been here, you haven't seen me, and she hasn't been out of this house all evening.
Vivian That bad.
Hmm, hmm.
Vivian Just what did happen, Mr. Marlowe?
You're pretty fond of your sister, aren't you?
Vivian Yes, I am.
You'd do anything for her, wouldn't you?
Vivian Anything.
Then drop this whole thing.
Vivian But I still think I should know what...
Unh, unh. Don't even ask her.
Vivian She never remembers anyway.
Just what did she forget about Sean Regan?
Vivian What did she tell you?
Not half as much as you just did. [He grabs her fists that are poised to strike] Take it easy. I don't slap so good around this time of the evening.
Vivian You go too far, Marlowe.
Those are harsh words to throw at a man, especially when he's walking out of your bedroom.
Vivian Hello. Police Headquarters, please. Hello, this is Mrs...
Marlowe
[He grabs the phone and stops her call]
Hello. What do you want, please?
Police
I don't want a thing.
Marlow
What?
Police
You called me.
Marlowe
I called you? Say, who is this?
Police
This is Sergeant Riley at headquarters.
Marlowe
Sergeant Riley? Well, there isn't any Sergeant Riley here.
Police
I know that! Now look brother...
Marlowe
Wait a minute. You'd better talk to my mother.
Police
I don't want to talk to your mother. Why should I want to talk to your mother...
Vivian Hello. Who is this?
Police
This is the police.
Vivian The police! Well, this is no police station.
Police
I know that!
Vivian Well if you know it, then why don't ya...Look, this is not a police station.
Police
This is silly...
Vivian What was that you said?...My father should hear this.
Police
I don't want to talk to your father...
Marlowe
Hello. Who is this?
Police
This is the police talking.
Marlowe
Yeah, but she just told you that...
Police
She just rang the police!
Marlowe
Oh, you're the police. Oh, well that's different. What can I do for you?
Police
You can...
Marlowe
I can do what? Where? Oh, no. I wouldn't like that, neither would my daughter. [Hangs up the phone] I hope the sergeant never traces that call.
Vivian You like to play games, don't you?
Marlowe
Mmm hmm.
Vivian Why did you stop me phoning?
Marlowe
'Cause I'm working for your father or because I think I'm beginning to like another one of the Sternwoods.
Vivian I prefer the second reason.
You want to tell me now...what it is you're trying to find out. You know it's a funny thing. You're trying to find out what your father hired me to find out, and I'm trying to find out why you want to find out.
Vivian You could go on forever, couldn't you? Anyway, it'll give us something to talk about next time we meet.
What are you up here for?
To keep her [Vivian] from paying you off and to take the cops off your neck.
What cops?
The cops who want to find out where all that lead in Geiger's body came from. Look Joe, you shot Geiger.
Vivian I didn't know that...
The cops don't yet. The trouble is he wasn't alone when you shot him. Either you didn't notice that, and I think you did, or you got scared and ran away. But you had nerve enough to take the film out of the camera. And you had nerve enough to come back later and hide the body...
Shut up.
So you could clean out Geiger's store before the law knew there was a murder to investigate.
You take chances, mister. It's lucky for you I didn't shoot Geiger.
Yeah, but you can step off for it just the same, Joe. You're made to order for the rap.
You think you've got me framed?
Positive.
How come?
Because somebody will tell it that way. I told ya there was a witness. Now don't go simple on me, Joe.
You mean Carmen, she would. She'd say anything.
So you have got that picture!
I guess you think I'm dumb.
Just average for a grafter. You see Joe, either you were there last night, or you got the picture from somebody who was there. You knew Carmen was there because you had your girlfriend here threaten Mrs. Rutledge with the police. Now the only way you could have known enough to do that was by being there and seeing what happened or having the picture and knowing when and where it was taken. That makes sense, doesn't it?
How did you happen to pick out this place?
Vivian Maybe I wanted to hold your hand.
Oh, that can be arranged.
Vivian Tell me: What do you usually do when you're not working?
Oh, play the horses, fool around.
Vivian No women?
I'm generally working on something most of the time.
Vivian Could that be stretched to include me?
Well I like you. I've told you that before.
Vivian I like hearing you say it. But you didn't do much about it.
Well, neither did you.
Vivian Well, speaking of horses, I like to play them myself. But I like to see them work out a little first, see if they're front-runners or come from behind, find out what their hole-card is. What makes them run.
Find out mine?
Vivian I think so.
Go ahead.
Vivian I'd say you don't like to be rated. You like to get out in front, open up a lead, take a little breather in the backstretch, and then come home free.
You don't like to be rated yourself.
Vivian I haven't met anyone yet that can do it. Any suggestions?
Well, I can't tell till I've seen you over a distance of ground. You've got a touch of class, but, uh...I don't know how - how far you can go.
Vivian A lot depends on who's in the saddle. Go ahead Marlowe, I like the way you work. In case you don't know it, you're doing all right.
There's one thing I can't figure out.
Vivian What makes me run?
Uh-huh.
Vivian I'll give you a little hint. Sugar won't work. It's been tried.
What did you try it on me for? Who told you to sugar me off this case? Was it Eddie Mars? All right, don't answer me, but somebody put you up to it and it wasn't your father. He didn't tell you to pay me off, did he?
...
What's Eddie Mars got to do with this case?
Vivian Nothing. He runs a gambling house. I play horses. I play the wheel.
Playing something else too...Never mind talking. Let me do it. Do you know it was Eddie Mars' blonde wife Sean Regan was supposed to run off with?
Vivian Who doesn't?
Did you know he owned the house Geiger operated in and he was mixed up in that racket too?
Vivian No, I don't believe it.
Then why does it bother you so much? What's Eddie Mars got on you? Oh come now, angel, stop shaking. I don't want to hurt you. I'm trying to help ya. Well, you'd better run along, 'cause you made a deal and you're gonna stick to it, right or wrong. We'll take up the question of you and I when the race is over.
Vivian Well, I'm glad I asked you to take me home.
So am I....What are you trembling for? Don't tell me you were scared because I won't believe that.
Vivian I'm not used to being hijacked. Give me a little time.
Hijacked? Is that what it was?
Vivian What else?
Let's begin with what Eddie Mars has on you.
Vivian If he had anything, would it be any of your business? You've already been paid, haven't you?
Yeah, by you.
Vivian Are you after more money?
Well, I guess you got a right to ask that. No I'm not after more money. I've already been well paid. I've got another reason.
Vivian You like my father, don't you?
Mmm hmm.
Vivian Then why don't you stop?
Remember I told you I was beginning to like another one of the Sternwoods?
Vivian I wish you'd show it.
I should be awful easy. [He kisses her]
Vivian I like that. I'd like more. [They kiss again] That's even better.
All right, now that's settled. What's Eddie Mars got on you?
Vivian So that's the way...
That's the way it is. Kissing is all right. It's nice. I'd like to do more of it. First, I want to find out what Eddie Mars has on you.
The boys don't take any chances, do they? Where are they - out digging a grave?
Vivian You had to go on with this, didn't you?
Where are they?
Vivian They've gone down the road to telephone.
To call up Eddie Mars and to find out what to do with me. I could have told them that.
Vivian Why did you have to go on?
Too many people told me to stop.
If Eddie Mars' wife gets my car fixed and he finds out what happened, there's gonna be plenty of trouble, and you'll be in it just as much as I will.
Vivian I don't mind as long as you're around.
I didn't have a chance to thank you for what you did back there. You looked good, awful good. I didn't know they made 'em like that anymore.
Vivian I guess I'm in love with you.
Vivian You're the one who's shaking now.
I'm scared, angel. I'm sore too. Mars has been ahead of me all the way, way ahead. But I've got the jump on him this time, or we're cooked.
It won't take 'em long.
Vivian What are you gonna...?
Wait a minute. Let me do the talking, angel. I don't know yet what I'm gonna tell 'em, but it will be pretty close to the truth. And you'll have to send Carmen away from a lot of things. They have places for that. Maybe they can cure her - it's been done before. And we'll have to tell your father about Regan. I think he can take it.
Vivian You've forgotten one thing...Me.
Vivian Nothing you can't fix.
