The Maltese Falcon (1941) 1
DISSOLVE TO:2
17. INT. HALLWAY - CORONET APARTMENTS - CLOSE SHOT - SPADE3
pressing the buzzer of Apartment 1001. Miss Wonderly, in a4
belted green crepe dress, opens the door immediately. Her5
face is flushed. Her hair parted on the left side sweeping6
back in loose waves over her right temple, is somewhat7
tousled.8
SPADE9
(taking off his hat)10
Good morning.11
MISS WONDERLY12
(lowers her head13
-- then in a hushed14
timid voice)15
Come in, Mr. Spade.16
18. INT. LIVING ROOM17
Several bags stand open on the floor. Miss Wonderly and18
Spade enter from the hall.19
MISS WONDERLY20
Everything is upside-down. I haven't21
even finished unpacking.22
She lays his hat on a table, sits down on a walnut settee.23
Spade sits on a brocaded oval-backed chair, facing her.24
She looks at her fingers, working them together. Then:25
Come in, Mr. Spade. Everything's upside down. I haven't finished unpacking. 26
27.27
MISS WONDERLY28
Mr. Spade, I've a terrible, terrible29
confession to make.30
He makes a polite smile.31
MISS WONDERLY32
That -- that story I told you33
yesterday was all -- a story.34
(she stammers,35
looks at him36
with miserable37
frightened eyes)38
SPADE39
Oh, that...40
(lightly)41
We didn't exactly believe your story,42
Miss -- Miss -- is your name Wonderly43
or Leblanc?44
MISS WONDERLY45
(working her fingers again)46
It's really O'Shaughnessy -- Brigid47
O'Shaughnessy.48
SPADE49
We didn't exactly believe your story,50
Miss O'Shaughnessy. We believed your51
two hundred dollars.52
BRIGID53
You mean...54
SPADE55
I mean, that you paid us more than56
if you had been telling us the57
truth...58
(blandly)59
...and enough more to make it all60
right.61
BRIGID62
(bites her lip)63
Mr. Spade, tell me...64
(her face becomes65
haggard, eyes66
desperate)67
Am I to blame -- for last night?68
BRIGID69
(her voice thin70
and tremulous)71
Mr. Spade, do they know about me?72
SPADE73
Not yet. I've been stalling them74
until I could see you.75
BRIGID76
Must they know about me at all,77
Mr. Spade? Couldn't you somehow78
manage to shield me from them?79
So I won't have to answer their80
questions?81
SPADE82
Maybe. But I'll have to know what83
it's all about.84
She rises, puts a timid hand to his coat sleeve.85
BRIGID86
I can't tell you -- I can't tell87
you now -- later I will -- when I88
can. You must trust me Mr. Spade.89
Oh, I'm so alone and afraid!90
I've got nobody to help me if91
you won't help me.92
(begging)93
Be generous, Mr. Spade. You're94
strong. You're brave. You can95
spare me some of that strength96
and courage, surely.97
(she drops to her98
knees, her hand99
touching his, clings100
pitifully)101
Help me, Mr. Spade! I need help102
so badly. I've no right to ask103
you but I do ask you. Help me!104
Spade empties his lungs with a long sighing exhalation.105
SPADE106
You won't need much of anybody's107
help. You're good. It's chiefly108
your eyes, I think, and that throb109
you get in your voice when you110
say things like "Be generous,111
Mr. Spade."112
She jumps to her feet. Her face blanching painfully, but113
she holds her head erect and she looks Spade straight in114
the eye.115
BRIGID116
(voice chilled)117
I deserve that. But -- Oh -- the118
lie was in the way I said it and119
not at all in what I said.120
(lips trembling121
slightly, but122
head still erect)123
It's my own fault that you can't124
believe me now.125
Spade's face darkens. He looks down at the floor.126
SPADE127
(muttering)128
Now you are dangerous.129
Brigid O'Shaughnessy goes to the table, picks up his hat.130
She comes back and stands in front of him, holding the hat131
for him to take if he wishes. Her face is thin, haggard.132
SPADE133
(looking at his hat)134
I've got nothing against trusting135
you blindly except that I won't136
be able to do you much good if I137
haven't some idea of what it's all138
about139
She puts his hat on the table, slips down onto the settee140
again. Brigid O'Shaughnessy shakes her head and says nothing.141
SPADE142
That's good -- coming from you.143
What have you given me besides144
money? Have you given me any of145
your confidence? Any of the truth?146
Haven't you tried to buy my loyalty147
with money and nothing else?148
BRIGID149
I've given you all the money I have.150
(tears glisten151
in her eyes,152
her voice is153
hoarse, vibrant)154
I've thrown myself on your mercy --155
told you that without your help I'm156
utterly lost.157
(she turns on158
him suddenly --159
cries in a160
vibrant voice)161
What else is there that I can buy162
you with?163
Spade takes her face between his hands, kisses her mouth164
roughly and contemptuously, then releasing her, he sits165
back. She sits, holding her face where his hands left it.166
Spade gets up, takes two steps towards the fireplace,167
halts. Brigid doesn't move. He turns to face her.168
SPADE169
I don't care what your secrets are170
-- but I can't go ahead without more171
confidence in you than I have now.172
You've got to convince me that you173
know what it's all about -- that you174
aren't simply fiddling along hoping175
it'll all come out right in the end.176
BRIGID177
Can't you trust me a little longer?178
SPADE179
How much is a little? And what are180
you waiting for?181
She bites her lip, looks down.182
71.183
BRIGID184
I don't know.185
SPADE186
(casually)187
Your are a liar.188
She gets up and stands at the end of the table looking189
down at him with dark abashed eyes.190
BRIGID191
I am a liar. I've always been a192
liar.193
SPADE194
(good-humoredly)195
Don't brag about it. Was there any196
truth at all in that yarn?197
BRIGID198
(lowers her head199
slightly -- whispers)200
Some... Not very much.201
Spade rises, crosses to her. He puts his hand under her202
chin, lifts her head. Her eyes are damp. He laughs into203
them.204
SPADE205
We've got all night before us. I'll206
put some coffee on and we'll try207
again.208
BRIGID209
(her eyelids droop)210
Oh -- I'm so tired.211
(then tremulously)212
So tired... of lying and thinking213
up lies and not knowing what is a214
lie and what is the truth. I wish215
I...216
She puts her hands up to Spade's cheeks, her mouth hard217
against his mouth -- her body flat against his body.218
Spade's arms go around her, holding her to him. Muscles219
bulge his sleeves as his hand cradles her head, his fingers220
lost among her hair.221
FADE OUT.222
146.223
SPADE (CONT'D)224
They just left here for the Alexandria225
Hotel, but they're blowing town so226
you'll have to move fast... I don't227
think they're expecting a pinch...228
Watch yourself when you go up229
against the kid... That's right,230
Tom... and good luck.231
Spade slowly replaces the receiver on the prong. He fills232
his chest with air and exhales. His eyes are glittering233
between narrowed lids. He turns, takes three swift steps234
toward Brigid O'Shaughnessy. The girl, startled by the235
suddenness of his approach, lets her breath out in a little236
gasp. Spade, face to face with Brigid, looks at her hard237
of jaw and eye.238
SPADE239
They'll talk when they're nailed --240
about us. We're sitting on dynamite.241
We've only got minutes to get set for242
the police. Give me all of it fast.243
She starts to speak, hesitates, bites her lip. Spade takes244
her by the shoulder, cries angrily:245
SPADE246
Talk.247
BRIGID248
(uncertainly)249
Where... shall... I... begin?250
SPADE251
The day you first came to my office...252
Why did you want Thursby shadowed?253
BRIGID254
I told you, Sam, I suspected him255
of betraying me and I wanted to256
find out.257
SPADE258
That's a lie! You had Thursby259
hooked and you knew it. You wanted260
to get him out of the way before261
Jacoby came with the loot. Isn't262
that so?263
Brigid lowers her eyes shame-facedly.264
SPADE265
What was your scheme?266
BRIGID267
S -- something -- like -- that.268
SPADE269
Right?270
She nods mutely.271
SPADE272
so you came back to me.273
She puts her hands up around the back of his neck pushing274
his head down until his mouth all but touches hers.275
BRIGID276
Yes, but -- Oh, sweetheart, it277
wasn't only that. I would have278
come back to you sooner or later.279
From the very first instant I saw280
you I knew...281
He puts his arms around her holding her tight to him.282
SPADE283
(tenderly)284
You Angel! Well, if you get a285
good break, you'll be out of San286
Quentin in twenty years and you287
can come back to me then.288
She draws away from him slightly, throws her head far back289
to stare up at him, uncomprehending.290
SPADE291
(tenderly)292
I hope they don't hang you, Precious,293
by that sweet neck.294
He puts his hand up and caresses her throat. In an instant295
she is out of his arms back against the table crouching,296
both hands spread over her throat. Her face is wild-eyed,297
haggard. Her mouth opens and closes.298
150.299
BRIGID300
(in a small,301
parched voice)302
You're not?...303
(she can get no304
other words out)305
Spade's face is damp with sweat now. His mouth smiles306
and there are smile wrinkles around his glittering eyes.307
SPADE308
(gently)309
I'm going to send you over. The310
chances are you'll get off with311
life. That means you'll be out312
again in twenty years. You're313
an angel! I'll wait for you.314
(he clears his315
throat)316
If they hang you, I'll always317
remember you.318
Brigid drops her hands, stands erect. Her face becomes319
smooth and untroubled except for the faintest of dubious320
glints in her eyes. She smiles back at him.321
BRIGID322
Don't, Sam. Don't say that -- even323
in fun. Oh, you frightened me for324
a moment. I really thought -- you325
do such wild and unpredictable326
things...327
She breaks off, thrusts her head forward and stares deep328
into his eyes. The flesh around her mouth shivers and fear329
comes back into her eyes. She puts her hands to her throat330
again. Spade laughs. His laugh is a croak.331
SPADE332
Don't be silly. You're taking333
the fall.334
BRIGID335
But -- but, Sam, you can't! Not336
after what we've been to each337
other. You can't!338
(she takes a long339
trembling breath)340
You've been playing with me -- only341
pretending you cared -- to trap me342
like this. You didn't -- care at343
all. You -- don't -- l -- love me.344
The muscles holding his smile stand out like walls.345
SPADE346
I think I do. What of it? I347
won't play the sap for you.348
BRIGID349
(tears come to her eyes)350
You know it is not like that! You351
can't say that!352
SPADE353
I am saying it. You've never played354
square with me for half an hour at355
a stretch since I've known you.356
Brigid blinks her tears away, takes a few steps backward,357
stands looking at him, straight and proud.358
BRIGID359
You know, down deep in your heart360
you know that in spite of anything361
I've done, I love you.362
He puts his hand back on her shoulder, the hand shakes and363
jerks.364
SPADE365
I don't care who loves who. I'm366
not going to play the sap for you.367
I won't walk in Thursby's -- and368
I don't know how many others --369
footsteps. You killed Miles and370
you're going over for it.371
She takes his hand from her shoulder, holds it close to her372
face.373
BRIGID374
Why must you do this to me, Sam?375
Surely Mr. Archer wasn't as much376
to you as --377
He is no longer smiling. He pulls his hand away from her.378
His wet face is set hard and deeply lined. His eyes burn379
madly.380
SPADE381
Listen... This won't do any good.382
You'll never understand me but I'll383
try once and then give it up.384
Listen... When a man's partner is385
killed, he's supposed to do386
something about it.387
(MORE)388
SPADE (CONT'D)389
It doesn't make any difference what390
you thought of him. He was your partner391
and you're supposed to do something392
about it. Then it happens we're in393
the detective business. Well, when394
one of your organization gets killed,395
it's bad business to let the killer396
get away with it -- bad all around397
-- bad for every detective398
everywhere.399
BRIGID400
You don't expect me to think that401
these things you're saying are402
sufficient reason for sending me to403
the...?404
SPADE405
Wait till I'm through. Then you can406
talk. Third. I've no earthly407
reason to think I can trust you and408
if I did this and got away with it,409
you'd have something on me you could410
use whenever you wanted to. Next:411
since I've got something on you, I412
couldn't be sure you wouldn't decide413
to put a hole in me some day.414
Fifth. I wouldn't even like the415
idea of thinking that there might be416
one chance in a hundred that you'd417
played me for a sucker. And sixth:418
But that's enough. All those are on419
one side. Maybe some of them are420
unimportant. I won't argue about421
that. But look at the number of422
them. Now, on the other side we've423
got what? All we've got is that424
maybe you love me and maybe I love425
you.426
BRIGID427
(whispers)428
You know whether you love me or not.429
SPADE430
Maybe I do.431
He looks hungrily from her hair to her feet and up to her432
eyes again.433
SPADE434
What of it? Maybe next month I won't.435
I've been through it before. I'll436
have some rotten nights after I've437
sent you over but that'll pass.438
(he takes her439
by the shoulders,440
bends her back441
leaning over her)442
If all I've said doesn't mean443
anything to you, forget it and we'll444
make it just this. I won't because445
all of me wants to -- regardless of446
consequences -- and because you've447
counted on that with me the same as448
you counted on that with the449
others...450
(he takes his451
hands from452
her shoulders,453
lets them fall454
to his side)455
She puts her hands up to his cheeks, draws his face down456
toward her again.457
BRIGID458
Look at me and tell me the truth.459
Would you have done this to me if460
the Falcon had been real and you461
had been paid your money?462
SPADE463
Don't be too sure I'm as crooked464
as I'm supposed to be. That kind465
of reputation might be good business466
bringing in high-priced jobs and467
making it easier to deal with the468
enemy.469
She looks at him, says nothing. Spade moves his shoulders470
a little.471
SPADE472
But a lot of money would have been473
at least one more item on your side474
of the scales.475
BRIGID476
(whispers)477
If you loved me, you'd need nothing478
more on that side.479
SPADE480
(his voice a481
hoarse creak)482
I won't play the sap for you.483
She puts her mouth to his slowly and is in his arms when484
the doorbell RINGS. Before he releases her he calls:485
SPADE486
Come in.487
123. MED. SHOT - ROOM - ANGLE ON DOOR488
Lieutenant Dundy, Tom Polhaus and two other detectives489
enter. They look back and forth from Spade to the girl.490
SPADE491
Hello, Tom... Got them?492
POLHAUS493
(nods)494
Got them.495
SPADE496
Swell... Here's another one for you.497
(he pushes Brigid forward)498
She killed Miles -- and I've got499
some exhibits.500
He goes to the closet, unlocks the door, steps into501
the closet.502
SPADE'S VOICE503
(from closet)504
The boy's guns and one of Cairo's505
-- and a thousand dollar bill I was506
supposed to be bribed with.507
He comes out of the closet, gives the guns to Polhaus.508
SPADE509
And that black statuette on the510
table there that all the fuss511
was about...512
He turns to Dundy, draws his brows together, leans forward513
to peer into the lieutenant's face, starts to laugh.514
SPADE515
What's the matter with your little516
playmate, Tom? He looks heart-broken.517
I bet when he heard Gutman's story518
he thought he had me at last.519
POLHAUS520
(grumbles)521
Cut it out, Sam.522
(he looks uneasily523
at his superior)524
SPADE525
(nods)526
Ought to have expected that.527
(picks up his528
hat, puts it on)529
Shall we be getting down to the530
Hall?531
Brigid's face and movements are like a sleepwalker's.532
SPADE533
Your Sam's a detective.534
It's heavy. What is it?535
The stuff that dreams are made of.536
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