The Law’s Convenient Story

The Big Sleep

Police officials and Marlowe negotiate a public account that solves visible murders while suppressing the Sternwood connections.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Ohls Investigates the Pier Ohls Investigates the Pier from "The Big Sleep". Ohls Investigates the Pier A body recovered Bernie Ohls examines Owen Taylor’s Buick at Lido Fish Pier and confirms that the driver is dead.

Ohls Investigates the Pier from "The Big Sleep". Ohls Investigates the Pier A body recovered Bernie Ohls examines Owen Taylor’s Buick at Lido Fish Pier and confirms that the driver is dead.

Ohls Investigates the Pier A body recovered Bernie Ohls examines Owen Taylor’s Buick at Lido Fish Pier and confirms that the driver is dead. The evidence suggests both a car plunge and a blow to the head. A limited inquiry Ohls asks Philip Marlowe about the Sternwood family and Regan. Marlowe conceals his knowledge of Taylor’s connection to Geiger’s house.

A Jurisdictional Clash A Jurisdictional Clash from "The Big Sleep". A Jurisdictional Clash Two police offices meet At Taggart Wilde’s home, Bernie Ohls brings Carol Lundgren to a meeting with Captain Cronjager.

A Jurisdictional Clash from "The Big Sleep". A Jurisdictional Clash Two police offices meet At Taggart Wilde’s home, Bernie Ohls brings Carol Lundgren to a meeting with Captain Cronjager.

A Jurisdictional Clash Two police offices meet At Taggart Wilde’s home, Bernie Ohls brings Carol Lundgren to a meeting with Captain Cronjager. The two jurisdictions dispute who knew what and when. Blame and responsibility Cronjager accuses Marlowe of withholding a murder and enabling a second. The argument exposes how procedure and personal judgment collide.

The Narrow Disclosure The Narrow Disclosure from "The Big Sleep". The Narrow Disclosure A partial confession Philip Marlowe recounts the killings but omits Carmen Sternwood’s visit to Brody and Eddie Mars’s visit to Geiger.

The Narrow Disclosure from "The Big Sleep". The Narrow Disclosure A partial confession Philip Marlowe recounts the killings but omits Carmen Sternwood’s visit to Brody and Eddie Mars’s visit to Geiger.

The Narrow Disclosure A partial confession Philip Marlowe recounts the killings but omits Carmen Sternwood’s visit to Brody and Eddie Mars’s visit to Geiger. He does not claim that his account is complete. A contested duty Marlowe argues that client confidentiality matters, while Cronjager sees a failure to report murder. Their competing standards remain unresolved.

The Smut Book Bargain The Smut Book Bargain from "The Big Sleep". The Smut Book Bargain Evidence changes hands Philip Marlowe displays Geiger’s illicit book stock and points out that the police tolerated the storefront.

The Smut Book Bargain from "The Big Sleep". The Smut Book Bargain Evidence changes hands Philip Marlowe displays Geiger’s illicit book stock and points out that the police tolerated the storefront.

The Smut Book Bargain Evidence changes hands Philip Marlowe displays Geiger’s illicit book stock and points out that the police tolerated the storefront. He uses the risk of a grand-jury inquiry as leverage. A public compromise The officials accept a restrained account of the murders. Protecting the Sternwoods also protects the authorities from questions about their own conduct.

Newspaper Closure Newspaper Closure from "The Big Sleep". Newspaper Closure An official success story Newspapers credit Captain Cronjager with solving the Geiger and Brody murders.

Newspaper Closure from "The Big Sleep". Newspaper Closure An official success story Newspapers credit Captain Cronjager with solving the Geiger and Brody murders.

Newspaper Closure An official success story Newspapers credit Captain Cronjager with solving the Geiger and Brody murders. They describe Brody as Geiger’s killer and Carol Lundgren as the avenger. The missing truth Owen Taylor’s death appears separately as suicide, and the Sternwoods are never named. The public story is neat because the most consequential facts are absent.

the morning after Geiger’s death

the second evening

during the same conference

later during the conference

the following morning