The client ostensibly asks Spade for help in locating her sister, who vanished after writing that she was in San Francisco (she had left General Delivery as her only address).She was convulsing in her own bed, and experiencing a nightmare, as a 5.3 earthquake struck their home in Los Angeles.It was the fifth earthquake in three weeks in the area.After it subsided, Heather noticed and then questioned a cut on Chase's finger - the same one he had received in her dream.In the first instance of asking for a date in the tearoom, Philip requested: "I say, will you dine with me some time? We'll go to the theatre?" - Mildred responded: "I don't mind.Its opening in March of 1968 thereby qualified it for the 1968 Oscars.[Note: The film has often been considered a 1967 film release due to its original opening date.].Although certain elements are now tame and have lost some comedic shock value since the late 60s, the black comedy was still daring, non-PC, controversial, audacious and subversive.