Wilmer Cook’s Downfall

The Maltese Falcon

Wilmer Cook moves from armed enforcer to expendable scapegoat, only to escape briefly and kill Casper Gutman.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Shadow in Grey The Shadow in Grey from "The Maltese Falcon". The Shadow in Grey A concealed follower Wilmer Cook tails Sam Spade through San Francisco while posing as an unobtrusive young man in a grey cap.

The Shadow in Grey from "The Maltese Falcon". The Shadow in Grey A concealed follower Wilmer Cook tails Sam Spade through San Francisco while posing as an unobtrusive young man in a grey cap.

The Shadow in Grey A concealed follower Wilmer Cook tails Sam Spade through San Francisco while posing as an unobtrusive young man in a grey cap. Menace beneath youth His small frame and restrained manner conceal a willingness to threaten violence. Spade recognizes that the boy belongs to the group pursuing the falcon.

Two Hidden Pistols Two Hidden Pistols from "The Maltese Falcon". Two Hidden Pistols An attempted intimidation Wilmer walks Spade toward Casper Gutman’s suite with both hands concealed in his pockets, carrying weapons.

Two Hidden Pistols from "The Maltese Falcon". Two Hidden Pistols An attempted intimidation Wilmer walks Spade toward Casper Gutman’s suite with both hands concealed in his pockets, carrying weapons.

Two Hidden Pistols An attempted intimidation Wilmer walks Spade toward Casper Gutman’s suite with both hands concealed in his pockets, carrying weapons. Disarmed by Spade Spade traps the boy’s arms and takes the pistols. The reversal establishes that Wilmer’s apparent power depends on surprise and that Spade can physically counter him.

The Proposed Sacrifice The Proposed Sacrifice from "The Maltese Falcon". The Proposed Sacrifice A fall guy selected Spade proposes turning Wilmer over to the police as the convenient culprit for the murders, arguing that the boy is…

The Proposed Sacrifice from "The Maltese Falcon". The Proposed Sacrifice A fall guy selected Spade proposes turning Wilmer over to the police as the convenient culprit for the murders, arguing that the boy is…

The Proposed Sacrifice A fall guy selected Spade proposes turning Wilmer over to the police as the convenient culprit for the murders, arguing that the boy is suited to the role. Resistance erupts Wilmer turns on Spade and demands a gunfight. Gutman and Cairo restrain him, exposing that their loyalty to him has limits when the falcon is at stake.

The Arrest Arrangement The Arrest Arrangement from "The Maltese Falcon". The Arrest Arrangement A coerced outcome Spade knocks Wilmer unconscious while Gutman and Cairo hold him, then insists that Gutman hand the boy over as part of…

The Arrest Arrangement from "The Maltese Falcon". The Arrest Arrangement A coerced outcome Spade knocks Wilmer unconscious while Gutman and Cairo hold him, then insists that Gutman hand the boy over as part of…

The Arrest Arrangement A coerced outcome Spade knocks Wilmer unconscious while Gutman and Cairo hold him, then insists that Gutman hand the boy over as part of their bargain. A temporary captive Wilmer is left in the room as the planned scapegoat, but the arrangement depends on keeping him under control and getting the evidence to the police.

A Final Escape A Final Escape from "The Maltese Falcon". A Final Escape The boy disappears During the confusion following the counterfeit revelation, Wilmer slips out of Spade’s apartment before the others notice.

A Final Escape from "The Maltese Falcon". A Final Escape The boy disappears During the confusion following the counterfeit revelation, Wilmer slips out of Spade’s apartment before the others notice.

A Final Escape The boy disappears During the confusion following the counterfeit revelation, Wilmer slips out of Spade’s apartment before the others notice. Violence on the run Tom Polhaus later reports that Wilmer has shot Gutman. The boy escapes the immediate scapegoat plan only to commit another killing and remain a fugitive.

The evening after Cairo’s visit

The afternoon Spade returns to Gutman

The final night at Spade’s apartment

Early the following morning

After Gutman’s counterfeit is exposed