Perfectly Marvellous

[SALLY, spoken]
This is your novel! It's in German. Mein Kampf.

[CLIFF, spoken]
It's not my novel.
I thought I should know something about German politics.

[SALLY, spoken]
Why? You're an American.
You know, I've never known a novelist.
Will I be allowed to watch you work?
I promise to be incredibly quiet.

[CLIFF, spoken]
I don't think I can write with someone else on the premises.

[SALLY, spoken]
Oh, but I'm hardly noticeable! Really!

[CLIFF, spoken]
And there's another thing. I'm not a prude. At least I don't think I'm a prude.
No, no, I've got work to do.
I could never explain this arrangement. It's too peculiar.

[SALLY, spoken]
Peculiar? No, not in the least.
I think people are people, I really do, Cliff. Don't you?
I don't think they should be made to apologize for anything they do.
For example, if I paint my fingernails green
And it happens that I do paint them green
Well, if someone should ask me why I think it's pretty
"I think it's pretty," that's what I reply.
So if anyone should ask you about me one day
You have two alternatives:
You can either say
"Yes, it's true, we are living in delicious sin"
Or you can simply tell them the truth and say:

[SALLY]
I met this perfectly marvelous girl
In this perfectly wonderful place
As I lifted a glass to the start of a marvelous year
Before you knew it she called on the phone, inviting
Next moment I was no longer alone
But sat reciting

Some perfectly beautiful verse
In my charming American style
How I dazzled her senses was truly no less than a crime
Now I've this perfectly marvelous girl
In my perfectly beautiful room
And we're living together and having a marvelous time

[CLIFF, spoken]
Sally, I'm afraid it wouldn't work. You're much too distracting.

[SALLY, spoken]
Distracting? No, inspiring!

[SALLY]
She tells me perfectly marvelous tales
Of her thrillingly scandalous life
Which I'll probably use as a chapter or two in my book
And since my stay in Berlin was to force creation
What luck to fall on a fabulous source of stimulation!

And perfectly marvelous too
Is her perfect agreement to be
Just as still as a mouse while I'm giving my novel a whirl
Yes, I've a highly agreeable life
In my perfectly beautiful room
With my nearly invisible, perfectly marvelous girl

[SALLY, spoken]
Oh, it's the taxi man. Hello, taxi man.
Just put them anywhere, I'll unpack later.
Oh, things do accumulate. I'll throw most of it away tomorrow, I promise.
One, two, three, four, five.
Oh, there's really not much point in counting.
I never remember how many they're supposed to be.
Could you let me have three marks? That includes the tip.
Thank you.
So quite seriously, Cliff. Please, may I stay?

[CLIFF, spoken]
Sally, I can't afford—

[SALLY, spoken]
Only for a day or two. Please?

[CLIFF]
I met this
Truly remarkable girl
In this really incredible town
And she skillfully managed to talk her way into my room

[SALLY, spoken]
Oh, Cliff!

[CLIFF]
I have a terrible feeling I've said
A dumb thing
Besides, I've only got one narrow bed

[SALLY]
We'll think of something

[CLIFF]
And now this wild, unpredictable girl

[SALLY]
And this perfectly beautiful man

[SALLY & CLIFF]
Will be living together and having a marvelous time!