A scene from The Big Sleep 1946
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?

Mars

You mean she didn't tell ya?

Marlowe

I asked ya how it happened.

Mars

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.

Mars

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.

Mars

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.

Mars

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

Marlowe

Sure I have, have you?

Mars

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.

Mars

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.

In this scene

More from The Big Sleep

The Big Sleep (1946) poster
The Big Sleep 1946 · 54 quotes · 7 characters All The Big Sleep quotes →
All The Big Sleep quotes →