Salome

[Norma]
Now go.

[Joe]
Next time i'll bring my autograph album.

[Norma]
Just a minute, you.
Did you say you were a writer?

[Joe]
That's what it says on my guild card.

[Norma]
And you're written pictures?

[Joe]
Sure have. Would you like to see my credits?

[Norma]
Come over here. I want to ask you something.
Just what sort of length is a movie script these days?

[Joe]
Depends.

[Norma]
I wrote this. It's a very important picture.

[Joe]
Look like six very important pictures.

[Norma]
It's for demille to direct.

[Joe]
Oh, yeah? And will you be in it?

[Norma]
Of course. What do you think?

[Joe]
Just asking. I didn't know you were planning a comeback.

[Norma]
I hate that word. It's a return.

[Joe]
Well...fair enough.

[Norma]
I want you to read it.

[Joe]
You shouldn't let another writer read your stuff. He may steal it.

[Norma]
I'm not afraid. Sit down. [Max]!
Bring something to drink.

[Max]
Yes, madame.

[Norma]
I said sit down!
It's about salome.
Salome: the story of a woman. The woman who was all women.

Salome, what a woman, what a part!
Innocent body and a sinful heart
Inflaming herod's lust
But secretly loving a holy man
No one could play her like i can

[Joe]
Well, i had nothing urgent coming up
I thought i might as well skim it
It's fun to see how bad bad writing can be
This promised to go to the limit

[Norma]
There's so many great scenes, i can't wait
A boiling cauldron of love and hate
She toys with herod
'Til he's putty in her hands
He reels tormented through the desert sands

[Joe]
It sure was a real cheery set-up
The wind wheezing through that organ
[Max] shuffling around and a dead ape dumped on a shelf
And her staring like a gorgon

[Norma]
They drag the baptist up from the jails
She dances the dance of the seven veils
Herod says: i'll give you anything

[Joe]
Now it was time for some comedy relief
The guy with the baby casket
Must have seen a thing or two, that chimp
Shame it was too late to ask it

[Norma]
Have you got to the scene where asks for his head?
If she can't have him living
She'll take him dead
They bring in his head on a silver tray
She kisses his mouth. It's a great screenplay!

[Joe]
It got to be eleven, i was feeling ill
What the hell was i doing?
Melodrama and sweet champagne
And a garbled plot from a scrambled brain
But i had my own plot brewing

Just how old is salome?

[Norma]
Sixteen.

[Joe]
I see.

[Norma]
Well?

[Joe]
It's fascinating.

[Norma]
Of course it is.

[Joe]
Could be it's a little long
Maybe the opening's wrong
But it's extremely good for a beginner

[Norma]
No, it's a perfect start
I wrote that with my heart
The river-bank, the baptist and the sinner

[Joe]
Shouldn't there be some dialogue?

[Norma]
I can say anything i want with my eyes

[Joe]
It could use a few cuts

[Norma]
I will not have it butchered!

[Joe]
I'm not talking limb from limb
I just mean a little trim
All you need is someone who can edit

[Norma]
I want someone with a knack
Not just any studio hack
And don't think for a moment i'd share credit!

When were you born?

[Joe]
December 21st, why?

[Norma]
I like sagittarians. You can trust them.

[Joe]
Thanks.

[Norma]
I want you to do this work.

[Joe]
Me? Gee, i don't know, i'm busy. I just finished one script and i'm about to start a new assignment.

[Norma]
I don't care.

[Joe]
I'm pretty expensive. I get five hundred a week.

[Norma]
Don't you worry about money. I'll make it worth your while.

[Joe]
Well, it's getting kind of late.

[Norma]
Are you married, mr...?

[Joe]
The name is gillis. Single.

[Norma]
Where do you live?

[Joe]
Hollywood. Alto nido apartments.

[Norma]
You'll stay here.

[Joe]
I'll come back early tomorrow.

[Norma]
Nonsense, there's a room over the garage. [Max] will take you there. [Max]!

[Max]
Yes, madame.

[Norma]
Take mr. Gillis to the guest room.
We'll begin a nine sharp.

[Joe]
Now this is more like it.

[Max]
I made up the bed this afternoon.

[Joe]
Thanks.
How did you know i was going to stay?

[Max]
There's soap and a toothbrush in the bathroom.

[Joe]
She's quite a character, isn't she, that [Norma] desmond?