let's all talk about mary.
milt arbogast, private investigator. where is she, miss crane?
wouldn't have been able to tail you if you did.
money.
your girl friend stole forty thousand dollars.
must've needed it.
someone has seen her. someone always sees a girl with forty thousand dollars. she is your girl friend, isn't she?
casharoonie!
you came up here on a hunch, miss crane? nothing more? no phone call.  from him, or from your sister herself?
with a little checking, i could get to believe you.
she was seen leaving town in her car. seen by her very victims, i might add.
we're always quickest to doubt people who have a record for being honest. i think she's here, miss crane. where there's a boyfriend.  she won't be back there among the nuts and bolts.  but she'll be in this town.  somewhere. i'll find her.
in the past two days i've been to so many motels, my eyes are bleary with neon. this is the first one that looked like it was hiding from the world at large.
sit down. i don't want to trouble you, just want to ask.
no.
i'm looking for a missing person. my name's arbogast, private investigator.  trying to trace a young girl who's been missing almost a week. from phoenix. it's a private matter.  family wants to forgive her.  she isn't in trouble.
i'm not the police.
we have reason to believe she came this way.  might have stopped in this area.  did she stop here?
mind looking at the picture before committing yourself?
look at the picture. please.
she might have used an alias. mary crane's the real name, but she might've registered.
now there's a couple even remarking about your sign, and see how easily you forgot them?
you thought no one has stopped here in weeks. now, try to remember if this girl.
maybe she even signed the register.  because habits die hard. let's check it, huh?
yes sir! marie samuels. interesting alias.
don't know where she got "marie," but "samuels" figures. her boy friend's name is sam. was she in disguise? or do you want to check the picture again?
tell me all about her.
how early?
of which morning?
no one met her?
or arrived with her.
she didn't call anyone? even locally?
you didn't spend the whole night with her did you?
how do you know she didn't make a call?
back where?
you said she was sitting "back there," or standing rather.
how did she pay you?
cash or check? for the cabin.
and when she left, she never came back.
i do mind. if it don't jell, it ain't aspic! this ain't jelling.
she isn't still here, is she?
suppose i wanted to search the cabins, all twelve.  would i need a warrant?
anyone at home?
someone is sitting in that window.
if this girl mary crane were here, you'd have no reason to hide her would you?
if she paid you well?
or if she had you say.  gallantly protecting her.  you wouldn't be fooled.  you'd know she was just using you. wouldn't you?
i didn't mean that as a slur on your manhood. i'm sorry.
your mother met her? can i talk to your mother?
just for a moment. she might have picked up a hint you'd miss.
sick old women are sharp. come on, i won't disturb.
all right! might save me a lot of leg-work if i could just talk to your mother. but i'd need a warrant for that, won't i?
miss crane, please. she leave a number? thanks. lila there, mr. loomis? arbogast. lila? look, this isn't much, but it might make you feel a little better. mary was up here. spent last saturday night at bates' motel, out here on the old highway. young fellow runs it, said mary spent the night, left, period! i did question him, believe me. i think i got all there was to get. just have to try to pick up the scent from here. well.  maybe that's because i don't feel entirely satisfied. he's got a sick old mother, confined type, and i think she saw mary and talked to her. shame, too.  confined old women love to talk to strangers. i was, but i think i'll go back to the motel, first. no, you stay put, lila. with loomis. i should be back in an hour. all right. and lila.  you'll be happy to know what i think. i think our friend sam loomis didn't even know mary was here. see you in an hour. or less.
bates!