Lady in the Lake

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My name is Marlowe. Phillip Marlowe.

Occupation:
private detective.

Somebody says, "Follow that guy,"|so I follow him.

Somebody says, "Find that female,"|so I find her.

And what do I get out of it?

$10 a day and expenses.

And if you think that buys a lot of|fancy groceries these days, you're crazy.

Right now, you're reading in newspapers|and hearing over your radios...

about a murder.

They call it|"The Case of the Lady in the Lake."

It's a good title. It fits.

What you've read and what you've heard|is one thing.

The real thing is something else.

There's only one guy who knows that.|I know it.

This "Lady in the Lake" business started|just three days before Christmas.

I was tired of being pushed around|for nickels and dimes...

so I decided I'd write about murder.|It's safer.

And besides,|they tell me the profits are good.

So I pounded out a story on that...

and I sent it up to the|Kingsby Publications, Incorporated...

specialists in gore.

You know, they turn out that kind of thing.

I got a letter from them|asking me to see them about it.

The letter was signed "A. Fromsett...

"Room 950, Meadson Building."

Make a note of that.

Some cases of murder start when|that door there behind you opens up...

and a fellow rushes in all covered|with sweat and confusion...

and fills you full of bad dope|about the setup.

But some cases, like this one...

kind of creep up on you|on their hands and knees.

And the first thing you know,|you're in it up to your neck.

You'll see it just as I saw it.

You'll meet the people,|you'll find the clues...

and maybe you'll solve it quick,|and maybe you won't.

You think you will? Okay, you're smart.|But let me give you a tip.

You've got to watch them.

You've got to watch them all the time.

Because things happen|when you least expect them.

"Kingsby Publications, Incorporated.

"Room 950, Meadson Building.

"Signed, A. Fromsett."

Three days before Christmas|and I haven't done a bit of shopping yet.

Well, you'd better hurry up.

- Yes?|- I'm Phillip Marlowe.

I got a letter asking me|to come up here about a story.

A Mr. Marlowe to see you.

You may go in.

No, Dick, it won't do. Not enough gore.|Not nearly enough gore.

Well, that's because|you don't see it in color.

Color or no color,|there's not enough blood.

Take it out and put more blood in.|As soon as you finish, let me see it again.

Mr. Marlowe? Oh, Mr. Marlowe.

You're here about some kind of a story,|aren't you?

Yeah, I got a letter about it|from somebody named A. Fromsett.

I'm A. Fromsett.|Adrienne Fromsett, to be precise.

Won't you sit down?

Thanks.

- Let me see, I had your story...|- You still have it.

It's underneath the magazine there|on the desk.

Thank you.

"If I Should Die Before I Live."|That's a nice title.

"By Phillip Marlowe." Nice name.

Tell me, Mr. Marlowe,|have you done much writing before?

- That much.|- Really?

- You do very well for a beginner.|- Well, it's based on an authentic case.

Is it really?

Of course, we get hundreds of authentic|cases submitted to us every week.

Why don't you print a few?

They aren't all as emotional as yours.

- Cigarette?|- Thanks.

Light.

Thank you.

Besides, you see...

people who write|usually don't know the facts...

and people who know the facts|usually can't write.

Authenticity has very little to do with it.

If people who read our magazines|knew the facts of life, Mr. Marlowe...

they wouldn't be reading our magazines.

- Oh, Mr. Marlowe?|- Yeah?

Thank you.

Have you been marooned|on a desert island...

or do you just find it|difficult to concentrate?

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