by

                                      James M. Cain

                

               CHARACTERS

               WALTER NEFF
               PHYLLIS DIETRICHSON
               BARTON KEYES
               LOLA DIETRICHSON
               MR. DIETRICHSON
               NINO ZACHETTI
               MR. NORTON
               MR. JACKSON
               SAM GORLOPIS

                

                                       SEQUENCE "A"

               FADE IN: