The Two Sisters’ Secret

The Big Sleep

Vivian’s decision to conceal Carmen’s crime protects their father temporarily while allowing the danger to continue.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Family Already Strained A Family Already Strained from "The Big Sleep". A Family Already Strained Separate lives General Guy Sternwood describes Vivian Regan and Carmen Sternwood as moving along different paths.

A Family Already Strained from "The Big Sleep". A Family Already Strained Separate lives General Guy Sternwood describes Vivian Regan and Carmen Sternwood as moving along different paths.

A Family Already Strained Separate lives General Guy Sternwood describes Vivian Regan and Carmen Sternwood as moving along different paths. He admits that neither daughter has much moral sense. A fragile household The General’s illness limits his ability to intervene, while family wealth masks the consequences of neglect. The sisters inherit both privilege and a burden of secrecy.

Vivian’s First Evasion Vivian’s First Evasion from "The Big Sleep". Vivian’s First Evasion Questions about Regan Vivian questions Philip Marlowe about Terence Regan and tries to draw out the General’s purpose.

Vivian’s First Evasion from "The Big Sleep". Vivian’s First Evasion Questions about Regan Vivian questions Philip Marlowe about Terence Regan and tries to draw out the General’s purpose.

Vivian’s First Evasion Questions about Regan Vivian questions Philip Marlowe about Terence Regan and tries to draw out the General’s purpose. She hints that she knows where Regan’s car was found. Suspicion grows Her evasions suggest the family already knows more than it admits. Marlowe leaves without accepting her version of the investigation.

Carmen’s Crime Confessed Carmen’s Crime Confessed from "The Big Sleep". Carmen’s Crime Confessed The concealed murder Philip Marlowe tells Vivian that Carmen Sternwood shot Terence Regan at the old oil wells.

Carmen’s Crime Confessed from "The Big Sleep". Carmen’s Crime Confessed The concealed murder Philip Marlowe tells Vivian that Carmen Sternwood shot Terence Regan at the old oil wells.

Carmen’s Crime Confessed The concealed murder Philip Marlowe tells Vivian that Carmen Sternwood shot Terence Regan at the old oil wells. Vivian recognizes that her sister’s fits may have caused the death. The earlier cover-up Vivian admits that she took Carmen to Eddie Mars rather than report the crime. She feared the truth would kill their already frail father.

The Price of Silence The Price of Silence from "The Big Sleep". The Price of Silence Mars’s assistance Vivian says Eddie Mars helped dispose of Terence Regan’s body.

The Price of Silence from "The Big Sleep". The Price of Silence Mars’s assistance Vivian says Eddie Mars helped dispose of Terence Regan’s body.

The Price of Silence Mars’s assistance Vivian says Eddie Mars helped dispose of Terence Regan’s body. The arrangement bought time but placed the sisters under a racketeer’s influence. Moral injury Vivian insists that preserving their father’s peace motivated her. Marlowe points out that leaving Carmen at liberty exposed the family to further danger.

Three Days to Act Three Days to Act from "The Big Sleep". Three Days to Act A demand for care Philip Marlowe refuses Vivian’s money and orders her to take Carmen somewhere capable of managing her condition.

Three Days to Act from "The Big Sleep". Three Days to Act A demand for care Philip Marlowe refuses Vivian’s money and orders her to take Carmen somewhere capable of managing her condition.

Three Days to Act A demand for care Philip Marlowe refuses Vivian’s money and orders her to take Carmen somewhere capable of managing her condition. He sets a three-day limit. A conditional silence Marlowe promises to keep quiet if Vivian acts, but warns that he will expose the truth otherwise. The sisters’ secret remains dependent on a future decision.

before the investigation begins

the first afternoon

near the ending

during the same conversation

at the end of the final interview