The Maltese Falcon

Spade and Archer are hired by Ruth Wonderly to shadow Floyd Thursby in San Francisco, chasing the rumor that he ran off with her sister. They begin the stakeout to uncover the truth behind the disappearance. The assignment sets the stage for a tense and dangerous pursuit.

That night, Archer is killed while tailing Thursby, and Spade quickly becomes the police suspect. The murder escalates the stakes and forces Spade to navigate a maze of suspects while proving his innocence.

The next day, Spade visits Wonderly to learn her real motives for hiring them. She offers little information but manages to keep him on the case. Spade senses there are secrets behind her story.

Dr. Joel Cairo visits Spade's office and offers 5,000 to retrieve an enamel figurine of a black bird, claiming it for the rightful owner. He signals a larger conspiracy and plays along to obtain the falcon. Spade agrees to try to recover it, pretending to cooperate.

That night, Spade tells Wonderly about his talk with Cairo, and she grows nervous. Polhaus and Lt. Dundy arrive and question Spade, but are interrupted when Wonderly holds Cairo at gunpoint; the police take Cairo away.

The next morning, Spade, using Wonderly's latchkey, thoroughly searches her apartment but finds nothing. The search deepens the intrigue surrounding her motives.

Casper Gutman invites Spade to his place to discuss the falcon and its value. Over drinks, Gutman explains the bird is priceless and that he is the mastermind. Cairo arrives privately and tells Gutman that Spade does not have the falcon, since Wonderly gave it to the captain; Gutman slips Spade knockout drops and leaves.

That night Captain Jacoby of the La Paloma staggers into Spade's office and dies, the suitcase containing the falcon in his possession. Spade has the bag checked at a baggage office and later mails himself the ticket to close the case. The murder raises the stakes and tightens the timeline.

Spade is summoned to the district attorney and given 24 hours to identify the killers and wrap up the case. The deadline forces him to sift through a tangle of alibis and motives with mounting pressure.

Wonderly lures Spade back to his apartment where Cairo and Gutman await with weapons. Gutman offers him 10,000 for the falcon, and Spade demands a fall guy who will go to jail for the murders, proposing Wilmer Cook. Gutman and Cairo agree to the plan.

The bag arrives the next morning, and Wilmer escapes as the conspirators open it and examine the bird. They discover the statuette is a fake, duped by the previous owner. Gutman retrieves his 10,000 from Spade at gunpoint and regroup to try again.

Spade calls Detective Polhaus and orders the arrest of Gutman, Cairo and Wilmer. He ensures the police move to close the circle and bring the conspirators in.

Spade confronts Wonderly with Archer's murder and she confesses that she killed him to frame Thursby and secure her escape. Spade tells her he plans to turn her in, despite their complicated feelings. The confession clarifies her role and shifts the investigation toward prosecution.

Dundy and Polhaus arrive and reveal that Wilmer killed Gutman and Cairo before being captured. Spade hands over Wilmer's guns and tells them that Wonderly killed Archer; she is taken away to face justice.

Spade visits Wonderly in prison and reveals that he has been named chief investigator for the district attorney's office. He tells the matron to treat Wonderly well and notes that the bill for special treatment should go to the D.A.'s office: I will OK it.