Hammett Page #5

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the fallback...

even how to lie.

It took me years

to learn that...

and i taught it to you for free.

And you take it and sell it

on the street in a cheap magazine.

[Children shouting]

[Typewriter keys clicking]

- [Knocking]

- Oh. Now what?

[Knocking continues]

[Sighs]

- What do you want, salt?

- Can i come in for a minute?

Salt, i've got a story

that was due day before yesterday...

so whatever you've got to say,

make it snappy.

The truth is,

i'm really not a writer.

I just collect gossip for the papers...

for the post and call.

Look, i was trying to write

a real story for once...

about the slave racket

in chinatown...

twelve, thirteen-year-old girls coming

right off the boats and into the cribs.

Well, i met her there.

Crystal. Look.

Oh.

- Now, isn't she beautiful?

- Yeah, she is beautiful.

She's very beautiful.

- So what?

- Well, a lot of people

wanna talk to her.

I'd like to talk to her myself.

Why is everybody so interested

in this chinese dame anyway?

Just tell your friend ryan

i want her back!

- Back? What are you

trying to tell me, salt?

- That's all i can say.

Believe me.

I'm already out on such a limb.

You tell your friend ryan

if he doesn't watch his step,

he can wind up dead.

And you tell him i mean it!

Young wild west, eh?

[Chuckles]

[Phone ringing]

- Hello?

- [Ryan] sam, it's me.

- Ryan, where the hell are you?

- I'm in a jam.

Look in the dictionary,

your big dictionary.

I can't talk now.

I've got to find that girl.

[Dial tone]

Swell. Where do you

want me to start?

- Could i get another copy of

the chronicle forjanuary 3?

- [Man] comin'right up, sam.

Thanks, hank.

[Footsteps echoing]

Man alive,

this guy can write.

[Dumbwaiter rings]

[Footsteps continue echoing]

"Mr. Callaghan was prominent

in local business and civic circles.

"Recent financial reversal.

Despondent, according to

a spokesman for the family...

attorney e.l. Hagedorn."

English eddie hagedorn.

[Footsteps echoing]

[whistling]

i wish that i

[whistling]

[humming]

could write

a song about you

- hello.

- Hello.

- Remember me? Elizabeth.

- Ellen.

- Christmas eve, 1924.

- That's right.

- I'm married now.

- Oh.

- Congratulations.

- Thank you.

[whistling]

Lee, where would you

go in chinatown...

to find a girl

who's run away from the cribs?

There's only one place:

The mission house

on sacramento street.

[Horn honking]

- [Children chattering]

- Yes? May i help you?

How do you do? I'm peter collinson

from the chronicle.

I'd like to have a word

with miss cameron if i may.

A newspaper reporter?

Yes. I'm from the chronicle.

I've been working on a story

about the slave rackets here...

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