The Maltese Falcon : plausibility problem

Why does Brigid confess to Spade at the end? Yes, she's kind of in love with him but she's also a very devious individual who lies very easily. It didn't make any sense. And for that matter why does Gutman give Spade a blow by blow account of what happened at the pier and how Jacoby got shot. Why implicate himself in all that?

Gutman broke his own rule: He distrusts a man who talks too much.

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Gutman broke his own rule: He distrusts a man who talks too much. []

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No, it's the other way around: Gutman distrusts a "closed mouthed" man. When they do decide to talk, they generally say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Talking is not something that one can do judiciously unless one keeps in practice.

;-)

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Why does Brigid confess to Spade at the end?

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Because, at that point, the jig was up - the cops were on their way to Sam's apartment, she wasn't able to run away, and no amount of lies (nor any individual lie so great or convincing) would change Sam's mind or get her out of paying the piper for killing Miles.

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And for that matter why does Gutman give Spade a blow by blow account

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Because he had given Sam the $1000 bill for his "time and expenses" (Sam's words), and so figured that Sam would keep his mouth shut about him (Gutman) & Cairo & the Falcon, and focus his attention on Brigid thereafter. He didn't count on Sam being straight and going to the cops (paraphrasing Sam: "Here's the thousand-dollar bill I was supposedly bribed with").

Hope this helps a bit

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"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

thank you for your responses.