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