The Story: There are two versions of The Big Sleep—that is, two versions of the 1946 film of the The Big Sleep, excluding Michael Winner's version from 1978, featuring Robert Mitchum as L. A. detective Philip Marlowe (for some reason—budget and funding being the prime suspects—working in London). There was the version that was shown to G.I.'s during World War II and the tinkered version released after the War amidst a lot of stock-piled Warner Bros. films awaiting release to a post-War audience.The changes involved a scene at police headquarters where audiences are allowed to catch up with the intricacies of the plot. That was excised and replaced with the famous flirtation scene between Marlowe and Vivian Sternwood at Eddie Mars' nightclub/casino. In fact, most of the scenes replaced involved Lauren Bacall—there's a picture of her first meeting with Marlowe at the Sternwood residence in a different costume and with her hair styled differently from the current version.
This scene may be different, as well. It's certainly different from Chandler's novel where the meeting in Marlowe's office is so contentious that she curses him going out the door. And it's different from the Shooting draft of the script (by Faulker, Furthman and Brackett*) which contains many of the elements, but none of the flair of the final version. The Shooting draft seems to be some middle ground for there to be a romantic entanglement between Marlowe and Mrs. Sternwood and pushed it early into the script.
It's pushed, alright. Pushed like an old lady on the subway. It's clumsy and hasty and awkward and damn-near unplayable. The final version (tweaked by Julius Epstein and no doubt by Hawks—who rewrote everything the night before shooting) leaves it at a prickly flirtation, right in the comfort zone of "Bogey and Baby" (as the Warner publicity department labeled them), a distraction from the tawdry going's-on in The Big Sleep.
PHILIP MARLOWE: Good morning. 
VIVIAN RUTLEDGE: So, you do get up.
I was thinking you worked in bed,
like Marcel Proust.
- 
MARLOWE: Who's he?
- 
MARLOWE: Come into my boudoir. 
VIVIAN: You don't put on much of a front, do you? 
MARLOWE: Well, there isn't much money in this business if you're honest. 
VIVIAN: Are you honest?
MARLOWE: Are we going to start that again?
- 
VIVIAN: I'm sorry. Also, about yesterday.
- Perhaps I was rude.
- 
MARLOWE:We were both rude.
MARLOWE: You want to see me about Taylor? 
VIVIAN: So you know about that?
Poor Owen. 
MARLOWE: Yeah. The DA's man took me down to Lido last night.
Turned out he knew more about him than I did. 
MARLOWE: For instance, he knew Owen Taylor wanted
to marry your sister once. 
VIVIAN: Perhaps it wouldn't
have been such a bad idea.
You see, he was in love with her. 
VIVIAN: But I didn't come here about Owen. I -- Do you still feel you can't tell me
what my father wants you to do? 
MARLOWE: Not without his permission. 
VIVIAN: You can't even tell me
if it was about Carmen? 
VIVIAN: A messenger brought it this morning. 
MARLOWE: "Eight thirty-five." 
VIVIAN: That's right. 
MARLOWE: She takes a nice picture. 
VIVIAN: They want $5000 for
the negative and the rest of the prints. 
MARLOWE: The demand came how? 
MARLOWE: Well, this thing isn't
worth $5000 to anybody.
- 
VIVIAN: She said there was a police jam
connected with it. 
MARLOWE: You know where this picture
was taken?
MARLOWE: Or when?
MARLOWE: Figure out a story?
VIVIAN: She was in all evening.
Police already checked when
they called about Owen. 
MARLOWE: Go ahead and scratch. 
MARLOWE: What was Owen doing
with your car last night? 
MARLOWE: That he knew about this picture?
I don't rule him out. 
MARLOWE: And outside of what the woman said you don't know why
they want $5000 for it? 
VIVIAN: That's why I came to you. 
MARLOWE: There's usually five fingers on any glove. Why didn't you go to the police? 
VIVIAN: May I use your phone, Mr. Marlowe? 
VIVIAN: Police headquarters, please. 
VIVIAN: Hello, this is Mrs... 
MARLOWE: Hello. What do you want, please? What?
I called you? Say, who is this? 
MARLOWE: Sergeant Reilly?
Well, there isn't any Sergeant Reilly here. 
MARLOWE: Wait a minute.
You'd better talk to my mother. 
VIVIAN: Hello. Who's this?
The police?
Well, this isn't a police station.
Well, if you know it, why did...
Look, this is not a police station! 
VIVIAN: What was that you said?
My father should hear this. 
MARLOWE: Hello. Who is this?
Yeah, but she just told you that... 
MARLOWE: You're the police! Oh, he's the police. Oh well, that's different. 
MARLOWE: What can I do for you?
I can do what?
Where?
Oh, no! I wouldn't like that,
and neither would my daughter. 
MARLOWE: I hope the sergeant
never traces that call. 
VIVIAN: You like to play games, don't you? 
MARLOWE: Or because I think I'm beginning to
like another one of the Sternwoods. 
VIVIAN:I prefer the second reason. 
MARLOWE: Well, let's get back to business.
Have you got $5000 in cash?
MARLOWE: Can you get it?
- 
MARLOWE: Where from, your father?
- 
VIVIAN: Well, from Eddie Mars. 
VIVIAN: I like gambling.
- 
VIVIAN: Oh, I can get the money.
I've been a good customer
of Eddie Mars'.
Another reason:
There's a bond between
Mr. Mars and the Sternwoods. 
VIVIAN: You see, Shawn Regan ran off
with Eddie's wife.
That doesn't interest you? 
MARLOWE: It might make it easier
for me to find him. 
MARLOWE: That is, if I were looking for him. 
MARLOWE: Is Regan mixed up in this? 
MARLOWE: I'm glad you said that.
Do you want to tell me now?
-
VIVIAN: Tell you what?
- 
MARLOWE: What it is you're trying to find out. You know, it's a funny thing.
You're trying to find out why I was hired.
And I'm trying to find out... 
VIVIAN: Anyway, it'll give us something
to talk about next time we meet. 
MARLOWE: Among other things. Oh, Mrs. Rutledge... 
MARLOWE: You wanted me to do something
about this, didn't you?
VIVIAN: She's to call me back at 6 this evening with instructions. 
MARLOWE: As long as you're going
to pay $5000 for the rest of these you'd better take this one with you.
VIVIAN: Goodbye, Mr. Marlowe. 
MARLOWE: Well, it wasn't intentional. 
VIVIAN: Try it sometime.
INT. BUILDING - HALLWAY AT MARLOWE'S OFFICE DOOR
Marlowe opens the door, which has Philip Marlowe in gilt letters on the upper glass.
The Set-Up: Private dick Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) has been hired by old General Sternwood to look into some issues involving blackmail--and incidentally, what might have happened to the fellow who used to handle things for the old man, Shawn Regan. Shawn, it seems, was married to Sternwood's oldest daughter, Vivian (Lauren Bacall) but he's taken a flier, possibly something having to do with the wife of gambler Eddie Mars, but that's just a rumor.
Action.
INT. BUILDING - HALLWAY AT MARLOWE'S OFFICE DOOR
Marlowe opens the door, which has Philip Marlowe in gilt letters on the upper glass.
Marlowe opens the door, which has Philip Marlowe in gilt letters on the upper glass.
INT. MARLOWE'S OFFICE - THE WAITING ROOM
A small room, cheaply furnished, with a closed door in one wall. Vivian sits waiting for him, beautifully but simply dressed, quite at ease. She seems in a better humor this morning, smiling at the surprised Marlowe.
A small room, cheaply furnished, with a closed door in one wall. Vivian sits waiting for him, beautifully but simply dressed, quite at ease. She seems in a better humor this morning, smiling at the surprised Marlowe.
VIVIAN: You wouldn't know him. A French writer.
INT. MARLOWE'S OFFICE
Like the waiting room, it's shabby and not large. The usual desk, chairs, and filing cabinets.
Like the waiting room, it's shabby and not large. The usual desk, chairs, and filing cabinets.
MARLOWE: Nope.
VIVIAN: You better look at this.
VIVIAN: A woman telephoned me shortly after
this thing was delivered.
MARLOWE: What else was there?
VIVIAN: Does there have to be something else?
VIVIAN: Well, they think it is.
-
MARLOWE: Why? 
VIVIAN: The woman said if they didn't
get the money today I'd be talking to my sister
through a wire screen.
MARLOWE: What kind of a jam?
VIVIAN: I don't know.
VIVIAN: I haven't the slightest idea.
VIVIAN: No.
MARLOWE: Talk to Carmen about it?
-
VIVIAN: She was asleep when I left.
VIVIAN: Norris fixed that.
MARLOWE: How?
<Vivian begins to nervously rub her knee.>
VIVIAN: Nobody knows.
He took it without permission.
Why? Do you think that...
<Vivian begins to nervously play with her gloves>
VIVIAN: 'Cause I thought that you...
MARLOWE: You were afraid they'd find
something that I couldn't sit on.
Then where would the Sternwoods be? Isn't that right?
<Reluctantly, he passes her his office phone. She dials>
MARLOWE: Uh-huh.
VIVIAN: Why did you stop me phoning?
MARLOWE: Because I'm working for your father.
VIVIAN: Oh..
VIVIAN: No.
VIVIAN: I think so.
-
VIVIAN: I'd rather not.
MARLOWE: Where would you get it?
MARLOWE: The gambler?
That explains why you
haven't got $5000 in cash.
-
MARLOWE: So do I.
How do you know he'll
give it to you?
VIVIAN: No. No, Shawn's not in any
cheap blackmailing scheme.
MARLOWE: ...why you want to find out...
VIVIAN: You could go on forever,
couldn't you?
VIVIAN: Mm-hm.
MARLOWE: That woman who called, how'd you leave it?
MARLOWE: Alright, you phone me as soon as you've heard from her.
VIVIAN: Alright... (she reaches for the door)
MARLOWE: Oh, and Mrs. Rutledge...
Now, she really wants to leave. She reaches for the door knob.
Finding the door won't open, she pauses, reaches to the upper lock and turns the latch.
The door finally opens for her.
Words by Raymond Chandler, William Faulkner, Jules Furthman, Leigh Brackett and Julius Epstein
Pictures by Sidney Hickox and Howard Hawks
The Big Sleep (both versions!) is available on DVD and Blu-Ray from Warner Home Entertainment.
* The original shooting script (by Faulkner, Brackett and Furthman) of the scene:
Marlowe opens the door, which has Philip Marlowe in gilt letters on the upper glass.
INT. MARLOWE'S OFFICE - THE WAITING ROOM
A small room, cheaply furnished, with a closed door in one wall. Vivian sits waiting for him, beautifully but simply dressed, quite at ease. She seems in a better humor this morning, smiling at the surprised Marlowe.
A small room, cheaply furnished, with a closed door in one wall. Vivian sits waiting for him, beautifully but simply dressed, quite at ease. She seems in a better humor this morning, smiling at the surprised Marlowe.
VIVIAN: Well, you do exist, after all. I'd begun to think I dreamed you out of a bottle of bad gin. (with underlying hint of seriousness) I've been trying to get you on the phone all morning.
MARLOWE: You can insult me just as well face to face. I don't bite -- much.
VIVIAN: (apologetically) I was rather rude.
MARLOWE: (smiling) An apology from a Sternwood? (unlocking the connecting door, holding it for her) Come into my boudoir.
MARLOWE: You can insult me just as well face to face. I don't bite -- much.
VIVIAN: (apologetically) I was rather rude.
MARLOWE: (smiling) An apology from a Sternwood? (unlocking the connecting door, holding it for her) Come into my boudoir.
INT. MARLOWE'S OFFICE
Like the waiting room, it's shabby and not large. The usual desk, chairs, and filing cabinets.
VIVIAN: (sitting) You don't put on much of a front.
MARLOWE: You can't make much money at this trade, if you're honest. If you have a front, you're making money or expect to.
VIVIAN: Oh -- are you honest?
MARLOWE: Painfully.
VIVIAN: (taking out a cigarette) How did you get into this slimy business, then?
MARLOWE: (giving her a look as he lights it for her) Because people like you pay good money to have the slime cleaned up.
She looks away from him, angry but not able to say anything. Marlowe sits down behind the desk.
MARLOWE: What did you want to see me about? Taylor?
VIVIAN: (softly) Poor Owen. So you know about that.
MARLOWE: A D.A.'s man took me down to Lido. Turned out he knew more about it than I did. He knew Owen Taylor wanted to marry your sister -- once.
VIVIAN: (quietly) Perhaps it wouldn't have been a bad idea. He was in love with her. We don't find much of that in our circle (changing her tone) But I didn't come to see you about Owen. Do you feel yet that you can tell me what my father wants you to do?
MARLOWE: Not without his permission.
VIVIAN: Was it about Carmen?
MARLOWE: I can't even say that.
Vivian watches him for a moment, then gives in. She takes a thick white envelope from her bag and tosses it on the desk.
VIVIAN: You'd better look at this anyway.
Marlowe examines the envelope.
VIVIAN: A messenger brought it this morning.
MARLOWE: Eight-thirty-five it says -- for you or your father.
He opens the envelope, takes out a medium-sized photograph. We do not see the subject of the picture, but Marlowe's reaction is significant. He whistles softly.
MARLOWE: So that's what Carmen looks like! (to Vivian) How much do they want for this?
VIVIAN: Five thousand -- for the negative and the rest of the prints. The deal has to be closed tonight, or they give the picture to some scandal sheet.
MARLOWE: The demand came how?
VIVIAN: A woman telephoned me, shortly after this thing was delivered.
MARLOWE: There's nothing in the scandal sheet angle. Juries convict on that racket without leaving the box. What else is there?
VIVIAN: Does there have to be something else?
Marlowe nods -- his face is uncompromising.
VIVIAN: (giving in again) The woman said there was a police jam connected with it, and I'd better lay it on the line fast or I'd be talking to my little sister through a wire screen.
MARLOWE: (deadpan, nodding) What kind of a jam?
VIVIAN: I don't know.
MARLOWE: Where's Carmen now?
VIVIAN: She's at home -- still in bed, I think. She was sick last night.
MARLOWE She go out at all?
VIVIAN: The servants say she didn't. I was up at Los Olindas across the stse line playing at Eddie Mars' Cypress Club. I lost my shirt. (taking another cigarette -- laughing wryly)
MARLOWE: (getting up to hold the match for her) So you like roulette. You would.
VIVIAN: Yes, the Sternwoods all like losing games. The Sternwoods can afford to. The Sternwoods have money. (bitterly) All it's bought them is a raincheck.
MARLOWE What was Owen doing with your car last night?
VIVIAN: Nobody knows. He took it without permission. Do you think...?
MARLOWE: He knew about this photo? (shrugging) I don't rule him out...Can you get five thousand in cash right away?
VIVIAN: I can borrow it -- probably from Eddie Mars. (sardonically) There's a bond between us, you see. Shawn Reagan ran away with Eddie's blonde wife.
MARLOWE: (turning away -- leaving a pause) You may need the money in a hurry.
VIVIAN: How about telling the police?
MARLOWE: You know better than that. The police might turn up something they couldn't sit on -- and then where would the Sternwoods be? (after a pause) How was it left?
VIVIAN: The woman said she's call me back with instructions at five.
MARLOWE: Okay -- call me here as soon as you've heard from her.
VIVIAN: Can you do anything?
MARLOWE: I think so. But I can't tell you how -- or why.
VIVIAN: I like you. You believe in miracles.
MARLOWE: (laughing) I believe in people believing they're smarter than they are -- if that's a miracle. Have a drink?
He reaches down into the desk drawer.
VIVIAN: I'll have two drinks.
Marlowe grins at her. He comes up with a bottle and two glasses, fills them, and takes one to her. They salute, start to drink and find that their eyes have met over the glass rims and refuse to come apart. Vivian breaks it, not because she is shy or coy, but because suddenly there is a sadness in her face. Her gaze drops briefly, then returns to Marlowe, clear, steady, and sad.
VIVIAN: You're a lot like Shawn Reagan.
Marlowe looks at her, almost with tenderness and understanding.
MARLOWE You want to tell me now or later?
VIVIAN: What?
MARLOWE: What you're anxious to find out.
VIVIAN: It couldn't be -- you.
MARLOWE: Let's do one thing at a time.
VIVIAN: (rising) I think we've done enough for one day...
MARLOWE (gently) Want that other drink?
VIVIAN: (going towards door) No...
Marlowe sets his glass down on the desk and picks up the envelope.
MARLOWE: You forgot this.
She turns by the door as he approaches, holding out her hand for the envelope. Marlowe give is to her, but doesn't let go of it.
They are not thinking about the envelope. Slowly he bends to her -- she leans back against the wall, her lips parted, her eyes soft, misted with tears. Marlowe's mouth covers hers. Presently they break -- Vivian puts her hand on Marlowe's cheek.
VIVIAN: (softly) Your face is like Shawn's too -- Clean and thin, with hard bones under it...
She turns, neither slowly or fast, away from him, opens the door, and goes out.
Like the waiting room, it's shabby and not large. The usual desk, chairs, and filing cabinets.
VIVIAN: (sitting) You don't put on much of a front.
MARLOWE: You can't make much money at this trade, if you're honest. If you have a front, you're making money or expect to.
VIVIAN: Oh -- are you honest?
MARLOWE: Painfully.
VIVIAN: (taking out a cigarette) How did you get into this slimy business, then?
MARLOWE: (giving her a look as he lights it for her) Because people like you pay good money to have the slime cleaned up.
She looks away from him, angry but not able to say anything. Marlowe sits down behind the desk.
MARLOWE: What did you want to see me about? Taylor?
VIVIAN: (softly) Poor Owen. So you know about that.
MARLOWE: A D.A.'s man took me down to Lido. Turned out he knew more about it than I did. He knew Owen Taylor wanted to marry your sister -- once.
VIVIAN: (quietly) Perhaps it wouldn't have been a bad idea. He was in love with her. We don't find much of that in our circle (changing her tone) But I didn't come to see you about Owen. Do you feel yet that you can tell me what my father wants you to do?
MARLOWE: Not without his permission.
VIVIAN: Was it about Carmen?
MARLOWE: I can't even say that.
Vivian watches him for a moment, then gives in. She takes a thick white envelope from her bag and tosses it on the desk.
VIVIAN: You'd better look at this anyway.
Marlowe examines the envelope.
VIVIAN: A messenger brought it this morning.
MARLOWE: Eight-thirty-five it says -- for you or your father.
He opens the envelope, takes out a medium-sized photograph. We do not see the subject of the picture, but Marlowe's reaction is significant. He whistles softly.
MARLOWE: So that's what Carmen looks like! (to Vivian) How much do they want for this?
VIVIAN: Five thousand -- for the negative and the rest of the prints. The deal has to be closed tonight, or they give the picture to some scandal sheet.
MARLOWE: The demand came how?
VIVIAN: A woman telephoned me, shortly after this thing was delivered.
MARLOWE: There's nothing in the scandal sheet angle. Juries convict on that racket without leaving the box. What else is there?
VIVIAN: Does there have to be something else?
Marlowe nods -- his face is uncompromising.
VIVIAN: (giving in again) The woman said there was a police jam connected with it, and I'd better lay it on the line fast or I'd be talking to my little sister through a wire screen.
MARLOWE: (deadpan, nodding) What kind of a jam?
VIVIAN: I don't know.
MARLOWE: Where's Carmen now?
VIVIAN: She's at home -- still in bed, I think. She was sick last night.
MARLOWE She go out at all?
VIVIAN: The servants say she didn't. I was up at Los Olindas across the stse line playing at Eddie Mars' Cypress Club. I lost my shirt. (taking another cigarette -- laughing wryly)
MARLOWE: (getting up to hold the match for her) So you like roulette. You would.
VIVIAN: Yes, the Sternwoods all like losing games. The Sternwoods can afford to. The Sternwoods have money. (bitterly) All it's bought them is a raincheck.
MARLOWE What was Owen doing with your car last night?
VIVIAN: Nobody knows. He took it without permission. Do you think...?
MARLOWE: He knew about this photo? (shrugging) I don't rule him out...Can you get five thousand in cash right away?
VIVIAN: I can borrow it -- probably from Eddie Mars. (sardonically) There's a bond between us, you see. Shawn Reagan ran away with Eddie's blonde wife.
MARLOWE: (turning away -- leaving a pause) You may need the money in a hurry.
VIVIAN: How about telling the police?
MARLOWE: You know better than that. The police might turn up something they couldn't sit on -- and then where would the Sternwoods be? (after a pause) How was it left?
VIVIAN: The woman said she's call me back with instructions at five.
MARLOWE: Okay -- call me here as soon as you've heard from her.
VIVIAN: Can you do anything?
MARLOWE: I think so. But I can't tell you how -- or why.
VIVIAN: I like you. You believe in miracles.
MARLOWE: (laughing) I believe in people believing they're smarter than they are -- if that's a miracle. Have a drink?
He reaches down into the desk drawer.
VIVIAN: I'll have two drinks.
Marlowe grins at her. He comes up with a bottle and two glasses, fills them, and takes one to her. They salute, start to drink and find that their eyes have met over the glass rims and refuse to come apart. Vivian breaks it, not because she is shy or coy, but because suddenly there is a sadness in her face. Her gaze drops briefly, then returns to Marlowe, clear, steady, and sad.
VIVIAN: You're a lot like Shawn Reagan.
Marlowe looks at her, almost with tenderness and understanding.
MARLOWE You want to tell me now or later?
VIVIAN: What?
MARLOWE: What you're anxious to find out.
VIVIAN: It couldn't be -- you.
MARLOWE: Let's do one thing at a time.
VIVIAN: (rising) I think we've done enough for one day...
MARLOWE (gently) Want that other drink?
VIVIAN: (going towards door) No...
Marlowe sets his glass down on the desk and picks up the envelope.
MARLOWE: You forgot this.
She turns by the door as he approaches, holding out her hand for the envelope. Marlowe give is to her, but doesn't let go of it.
They are not thinking about the envelope. Slowly he bends to her -- she leans back against the wall, her lips parted, her eyes soft, misted with tears. Marlowe's mouth covers hers. Presently they break -- Vivian puts her hand on Marlowe's cheek.
VIVIAN: (softly) Your face is like Shawn's too -- Clean and thin, with hard bones under it...
She turns, neither slowly or fast, away from him, opens the door, and goes out.
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