Complete summary of Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon. Determined to steal the bird from Kemidov, Gutman and Cairo leave the apartment with plans to return to Constantinople. They also refer to Mr. G as the man who had Thursby killed. Calm and steady, Spade puts his hands behind his head. He searches Spade's pockets for any concealed weapon, but this turns out to be a mistake. Although she provides no further details, Spade agrees to continue working for her. When he arrives at the crime scene, Spade talks with the police officer Tom Polhaus about the possibility that Thursby killed Archer. In San Francisco during the late 1920s, the beautiful Miss Wonderly arrives at Samuel Spade and Miles Archer’s detective agency. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class.”, LitCharts uses cookies to personalize our services. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Here, the novel portrays Spade as the epitome of masculinity. Joel Cairo, the Levantine, checks Spade for a gun. Some slips of Hotel Belvedere writing paper with Spade's name and addresses on them. Twelve hours later, Spade wakes and searches Cairo’s hotel room for more clues, discovering that the statue of the bird was on a ship called La Paloma that had arrived in San Francisco while he was unconscious. They enter the apartment together and find Cairo, Wilmer, and Gutman waiting for them. At his office the following day, Spade and Archer’s wife, Iva Archer, discuss the secret affair they’ve been having behind Archer’s back. Spade elbows Cairo in the face, and after a brief struggle, Cairo is knocked unconscious. That night they sleep together. At the meeting, Gutman reveals the bird’s long history and its priceless value. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Now we know why Spade doesn’t carry a gun: he can just take one from the person sticking him up. Now it's Spade's turn to go through Cairo's pockets. Although she pleads for mercy and tells Spade she loves him, Spade turns her over to the police when they arrive because he wants justice for his dead partner. Three colorful silk handkerchiefs. Effie arrives with the bird and Gutman quickly realizes that it’s a fake and that Kemidov is in possession of the real statue. Later, Spade and Brigid meet again, and Spade mentions his run in with Cairo and his acceptance of the offer. That evening, Spade awakes to a phone call telling him that his partner has been killed. At this point, Spade realizes the drink that Gutman gave him is drugged and he falls to the floor unconscious. Spade searches through Cairo's pockets, finding a news clipping about the murders of Miles and Thursby and a ticket for the Geary Theatre for that evening. At the meeting, Cairo offers to pay Brigid for the bird, but she claims she doesn’t have it in her possession yet. Spade finally agrees to look into the matter. After Gutman pays Spade $10,000 for the bird, Spade calls his secretary, Effie Perine, to have her drop the bird off at his apartment. The next morning at the office, Effie cannot face Spade after he let the police arrest the woman who loved him. Chapter 5: Joel Cairo, the Levantine, checks Spade for a gun. A few minutes after Spade returns to his office, Captain Jacobi of La Paloma bursts through the door, hands Spade a package, and then collapses and dies. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our. (including. Cairo refuses to state who he's working for, but again offers to pay Spade $5000 for the return of the bird. With the police arriving soon, Spade convinces Brigid to tell him the whole truth. Our, “Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Gutman says she betrayed him and is hiding the bird somewhere in San Francisco. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class.”, LitCharts uses cookies to personalize our services. Cairo declares his intention to search Spade's office for the black bird. Movies. “Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. He’s so masculine he doesn’t need a gun. When Cairo finally comes to, Spade tries to obtain more information about the black bird. Struggling with distance learning? An hour after Spade returns to his apartment, Polhaus and Lieutenant Dundy, an arrogant and brash cop, show up at his door with questions about the murder. Spade gives the police the thousand dollars as evidence of Gutman trying to bribe him, but the police inform Spade that Wilmer has already killed Gutman in revenge for agreeing to betray him. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Spade calls Polhaus and tells him that Wilmer killed Jacobi and Thursby at Gutman’s orders. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Now it's Spade's turn to go through Cairo's pockets. A leather wallet containing $365. Back at his office, Spade meets Joel Cairo who offers him $5,000 if he can retrieve a statue of a falcon. Gutman tells Spade that he employed Brigid to steal it from a Russian general Kemidov in Constantinople. Cairo declares his intention to search Spade's office for the black bird. A newspaper clipping detailing Archer's and Thursby's murders. ... and is really involved in something to do with the 'Maltese Falcon', a gold-encrusted life-sized statue of a falcon, the only one of its kind. He can be tricked and bested, which only increases the tension of the novel. The The Maltese Falcon Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. In the process Spade lifts his elbow and strikes Cairo in the face, knocking him unconscious and taking his gun. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett. Although Spade is suspicious of Cairo, he is willing to risk involving himself with the man. As they wait, Spade convinces Gutman to betray Wilmer and make him the “fall-guy” for all the murders so that the police will stop investigating. A ticket for a performance at the Geary Theatre that evening. In the process Spade lifts his … By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Shmoop and verify that you are over the age of 13. Teachers and parents! As he settles in at his desk, Iva Archer arrives and Spade reluctantly lets her in. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!”, “This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. She admits to killing Archer in order to frame Thursby for the murder so that she could keep the profits from selling the bird for herself. The cops reveal that Thursby has also been killed, thirty minutes after Spade left the site of Archer’s murder, and its clear they think it is possible that Spade killed Thursby in revenge. A leather wallet containing $365. Summary. After Gutman pulls out a gun and demands that Spade return the $10,000, Spade gives him the money but first takes one thousand dollar bill as a bribe for not calling the police. And various other odds and ends. As Cairo searches Spade for a weapon, Spade elbows Cairo in the cheek, tripping him and taking his gun. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Instant downloads of all 1372 LitChart PDFs Yet when Cairo tricks Spade and does end up searching the room it establishes the fact that Spade is not all-knowing. Summary. © 2020 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. She asks the detectives to follow a man named Floyd Thursby, who she claims has run off with her younger sister Corinne. After the meeting, Spade asks Brigid about her relationship to Cairo and the falcon, but she sidetracks the conversation by seducing him. Brigid, who appears to know Cairo, asks if Spade could arrange a … A Greek passport. Instant downloads of all 1372 LitChart PDFs From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Brigid, who appears to know Cairo, asks if Spade could arrange a meeting so she can talk with Cairo. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our. The next day, Spade arrives at Cairo’s hotel and has a verbal confrontation with a young man named Wilmer Cook who works for Mr. G. When Spade returns to his office, Mr. G, now identified as Casper Gutman, calls to set up a meeting. When Cairo is on the floor, Spade strikes him again in the face, knocking him unconscious. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Teachers and parents! Menu. The Maltese Falcon Summary. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. He searches Spade's pockets for any concealed weapon, but this turns out to be a mistake. He is levelheaded despite the gun pointed at him and easily disarms Cairo in a feat of strength and athleticism. eNotes plot summaries cover all the significant action of The Maltese Falcon. Eager to get closer with Wonderly, Archer agrees to do the job while Spade, suspicious of the woman, mocks his partner’s rashness. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of.