The Long Goodbye

Marlowe and Spencer travel to the Wades’ house. On Eileen’s orders, an aggressive Candy allows them into the house. As Spencer examines Wade’s unfinished manuscript, Marlowe takes an interest in Eileen’s pendant. Although she claims it was given to her by her former lover in 1940, Marlowe explains how the pendant is a replica of a badge worn by specific military personnel. He believes that she knew Lennox when he was known as Paul Marston and that she and Lennox were romantic partners when he was captured by the German Army during a fast raid in Norway in 1942. Wade knew that Eileen was once married to Lennox, Marlowe explains. He provides evidence in the form of a copy of their marriage license. Marlowe reveals that Lennox survived the war and that “Paul Marston and Terry Lennox were the same man” (170).

Eileen admits that she saw Lennox only once but immediately recognized him, even after the surgery. Around that time, Lennox ran away from Sylvia before recovering enough from his problems to remarry her. Shortly after, she was killed, and Lennox escaped to Mexico with Marlowe’s help. Eileen was horrified that the man she once loved was married to Sylvia. Moreover, Eileen claims that Wade killed Sylvia in a drunken haze when he was “blacked out completely” (171). She witnessed “the whole nasty scene” (172); Wade and Sylvia were having an affair which ended in an argument. Wade, very drunk, beat her to death and returned home, where Eileen put him to bed and hid all the evidence. However, Marlowe pokes holes in her story. In his opinion, Eileen “killed both of them” (175).

Candy appears, holding a knife. Marlowe warns Candy that, if he does anything, the authorities will pin both murders on him. Candy is concerned about Eileen. Spencer wants to go to the police, but Marlowe does not. They leave the Wade residence. Marlowe stays up all night, ruminating about Eileen and the case. After a few hours’ sleep, he is woken up by a telephone call from Candy telling him that Eileen is dead from a medication overdose. Marlowe tells Candy to be honest with the police. A few hours later, Bernie Ohls summons Marlowe to the station.

At the station, Marlowe talks to Captain Hernandez, the Sheriff, Bernie Ohls, Dr. Weiss (the coroner), Lawford (from the district attorney’s office), and Dr. Loring (Linda’s husband). They agree that there will be “no formal investigation” (180). The police allow Marlowe to read through a copy of Eileen’s suicide note. In it, she describes Wade’s affair with Sylvia and admits to murdering both of them. Marlowe steals a copy for himself and slips out of the police station.

Marlowe goes home and thinks about the suicide note. In the note, Eileen discusses her feelings for the “empty shell” (184) of Lennox and her anger at her husband’s affair with Sylvia, which caused her to kill them both. Marlowe contacts the friendly journalist named Lonnie Morgan. He wants Morgan to publish Eileen’s confession in the newspaper. Morgan warns Marlowe that publishing this letter will make a lot of important people “sore” (186). Marlowe wants it published anyway.

Later, Marlowe reads the newspaper while sitting in the bar he frequented with Lennox. Bernie Ohls visits Marlowe’s home that evening. The district attorney’s office is “hopping mad” (189) that Eileen’s confession was published. Ohls is annoyed at Marlowe for not bringing what he knew to the authorities earlier. He warns Marlowe that some people might want to hurt him.

The next day, the district attorney’s office and the press publicly argue about the legitimacy of Eileen’s confession. Marlowe receives a telephone call from Linda Loring, who explains that she will soon divorce her husband with her father’s approval. She recommends that Marlowe leave town for a while. Later that night, Mendy Menendez appears at Marlowe’s home and, while threatening Marlowe with a gun, says that he wants to talk.

Mendy Menendez and his men hold Marlowe at gunpoint in Marlowe’s home. After receiving a beating from Menendez, Marlowe fights back. However, he is interrupted by the arrival of Ohls, who reveals that Marlowe is being used as bait to lure out the gangster. Menendez attacks Ohls with a knife, but Ohls beats him easily and sends Ohls away with his deputies. Marlowe nurses his wounds and argues with Ohls about cops and crime. After arranging to meet Linda Loring for a drink, Marlowe calls Randy Starr to discuss Lennox. He asks about Lennox’s death, but Starr claims to have “no idea at all” (198) about it.

Linda arrives at Marlowe’s house. She brings an overnight bag with her so that she can leave for Paris the next day. However, she resents the implication that the bag’s presence means that she wishes to sleep with Marlowe. They kiss.

An hour later, Marlowe and Linda lay in bed together. She talks about a possible marriage, but Marlowe dismisses any suggestion. They drink champagne, then go back to bed. In the morning, Linda leaves for Paris.

That evening, Marlowe meets Endicott. He reiterates his belief that something about the Lennox case still troubles him. A month later, he meets a well-dressed man on his doorstep. Marlowe believes the man is from Mexico or South America. The man carries a letter of introduction from Randy Starr and reveals that his name is Cisco Maioranos. Marlowe invites him inside.

Cisco Maioranos claims to have been present in the small Mexican town where Lennox died by suicide. He also claims to have seen and interacted with Lennox. However, Marlowe does not believe his story. He notices the scars around the man’s face and suggests that Cisco Maioranos is, in fact, Terry Lennox.

Marlowe guesses correctly. Lennox faked his suicide in Mexico with the help of Randy Starr and Mendy Menendez. Since then, he has undergone further cosmetic surgery to change his appearance, and he will soon become a Mexican citizen. Marlowe returns the $5,000, despite Lennox’s insistence that he has earned it. They bid a muted farewell to one another and, as Lennox walks away, Marlowe briefly holds out hope that he might “stop suddenly and turn and come back” (212), but he does not. Marlowe never again sees Lennox or any of the other people involved in the case.