Farewell, My Lovely

Private detective Philip Marlowe is involved in an unproductive missing person case, which sets the stage for his ongoing troubles. As he navigates the complications of his current investigation, he unexpectedly encounters Moose Malloy, a notorious felon looking for his ex-girlfriend.

Moose Malloy bursts into Florian's nightclub, desperately searching for Velma Valento, his ex-girlfriend. In a tragic turn of events, Moose kills the club's owner during his frantic search, prompting a murder investigation led by Lt. Nulty.

Lt. Nulty takes charge of the murder case but shows little interest, indicating that he views it as a low-priority matter. Instead of pursuing Moose, he essentially delegates the investigation to Marlowe, expecting him to do the legwork.

Marlowe visits Mrs. Jessie Florian, the widow of the nightclub's previous owner, where he discreetly offers her bourbon to loosen her tongue. Through their conversation, he learns that Velma is deceased and secures a photo of her, which could aid in his search.

Marlowe receives a call from Lindsay Marriott, who requests his help in delivering ransom money for stolen jewelry. Later that night, while meeting Marriott in a deserted canyon, Marlowe is assaulted and discovers Marriott has been murdered.

After being attacked, Marlowe is saved by a passerby named Anne Riordan. She takes him back to safety, and during their interaction, she shares her background, suggesting she may have insight into the ongoing crimes in Bay City.

Anne informs Marlowe that the stolen necklace belongs to Mrs. Lewin Lockridge Grayle, a young spouse of a wealthy magnate. She hints at Mrs. Grayle's secretive past and expresses her desire to see Marlowe recover the necklace, giving him a new lead.

Curious about a card found on Marriott's body, Marlowe visits psychic Jules Amthor. During this visit, Marlowe begins to connect the dots between the various criminal elements, realizing that the situation is far more tangled than he anticipated.

Marlowe learns that Mrs. Florian has a connection to Marriott and suspects her involvement in blackmail. As his investigation deepens, he faces arrests and hostile confrontations that reveal the pervasive corruption within the Bay City police.

Teaming up with honest cop Red Norgaard, who was unfairly dismissed, Marlowe sneaks aboard a gambling boat linked to local criminals. They aim to find Moose and uncover the details behind Marriott’s murder and the stolen necklace.

As Marlowe prepares to confront Mrs. Grayle, he learns the shocking truth about her identity as Velma. She had manipulated the murder of Marriott to cover her tracks, revealing the core of the deception related to the case.

In a tense confrontation, Moose confronts Velma in Marlowe's apartment after her deception is revealed. The chaotic scene culminates in Velma fatally shooting Moose, adding another layer of tragedy to the unfolding drama.

In the aftermath of these events, Marlowe works to expose the collusion between Amthor, Sonderborg, and corrupt police officials. His determination brings hidden truths to light, paving the way for justice in a deeply flawed system.

Velma manages to evade the authorities for a time, but her story doesn't end well. She is eventually tracked down in Baltimore, where she tragically kills a detective and takes her own life when cornered, bringing the cycle of violence to a harrowing close.