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've 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
NORMA: 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 she 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
JOE: 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!
NORMA: 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 at 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?