Ch.1 - Spade and Archer
- Strong, bony jaw that comes to a firm v shape
- Yellow-gray eyes that sit horizontally on his face
- Thick brows, hooked nose, pale brown hair
Where and when was Archer's body discovered?
In the middle of the night, on Stockton Street.
"Where Bush Street roofed Stockton before slipping downhill into Chinatown..." (pg. 9)
Who are we introduced to at the start of chapter 3?
Iva, Archer's widow
What does Ms. Wonderly confess to Sam in the start of chapter 4?
Ms. Wonderly admits that the story she told the Spade and Archer about her missing sister was just that -- a story.
"That -- that story I told you yesterday was all -- a story." (pg.27)
Who held Spade at gunpoint?
Joel Cairo
Who is Effie Perine to Sam? How is she important to him?
His assistant; someone he cares deeply about and values her opinion and presence in his life
Who called Spade to alert him of his partners death as well as discussed the details surrounding Archer's death?
Tom Polhaus, police detective and partner to Lieutenant Dundy.
Describe the relationship between Sam and Iva.
They were having a secret affair behind Archer's back.
What is Ms. Wonderly's real name (as far as we know)?
Brigid O'Shaughnessy
What were the contents of Cairo's wallet?
$365, three 5-pound notes, a greek passport, five folded sheets of pinkish paper with arabic writing, a postcard-photograph of a woman, etc.
What concern does Ms. Wonderly come to Sam about?
Ms. Wonderly asks the detective to find her missing sister, who she believes to have run off with a man named Floyd Thursby.
What does Spade instruct Effie to do?
He tells her Miles has been shot, and that she needs to break the news to Iva.
What question does Iva ask Spade that makes him laugh? (Hint: pg. 21)
"Oh Sam, did you kill him?"
How did Sam know Ms. Wonderly was lying?
Ms. Wonderly paid the pair $200 -- what Sam believes to be too much for someone telling the truth.
"I mean that you paid us more than if you'd been telling the truth." (pg.27)
5,000 dollars to find and deliver the Maltese Falcon
Describe Archer's behavior towards Ms. Wonderly
Archer is intrigued by - and attracted to - Ms. Wonderly.
"His little brown eyes ran their bold appraising gaze from her lowered face to her feet and up to her face again. Then he looked up at Spade and made as ilent whistling mouth of appreciation." (pg. 5)
Why is Lieutenant Dundy suspicious of Spade?
- Spade keeps much of what he knows about Archer's movements that night to himself
- Dundy knows Thursby was shot down the same night, and believes Spade would have had enough time to hit both of them
On pages 24-25, who does Sam meet with and why?
He meets with Mr Freed, the manager of the St. Mark's Hotel, and asks about Archer's movements the night he was killed.
"No. He was sitting in the lobby when I came in early in the evening." (pg.25)
According to Brigid O'Shaughnessy, who killed Miles Archer?
Floyd Thursby
How much did Cairo give Spade as a retainer?
two hundred dollars
How much did Ms. Wonderly pay Miles and Sam to track down her sister? Why is this significant?
Ms. Wonderly paid the pair $200, an amount that convinced him to work for her, despite his own suspicions regarding her questionable story.
How many times was Thursby shot, and with what weapon?
Who stopped by Sam's office while he was out, and why?
Dundy stopped by while Spade was at the hotel, hoping to take a look at his guns
Who convinces Spade to help Brigid?
Effie Perine
"I don't care if she's got all the names in the phone-book. That girl is all right, and you know it." (pg.36)
What is the last thing Cairo does before leaving Spade?