Salome

[NORMA, spoken]
Now go

[JOE, spoken]
Next time I'll bring my autograph album

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

[JOE, spoken]
That's what it says on my guild card

[NORMA, spoken]
And you've written pictures?

[JOE, spoken]
Sure have. Would you like to see my credits?

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

[JOE, spoken]
Depends

[NORMA, spoken]
I wrote this. It's a very important picture

[JOE, spoken]
Look like six very important pictures

[NORMA, spoken]
It's for DeMille to direct

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

[NORMA, spoken]
Of course. What do you think?

[JOE, spoken]
Just asking. I didn't know you were planning a comeback

[NORMA, spoken]
I hate that word. It's a return

[JOE, spoken]
Well...fair enough

[NORMA, spoken]
I want you to read it

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

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

[MAX, spoken]
Yes, Madame

[NORMA, spoken]
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, spoken]
Just how old is Salome?

[NORMA]
Sixteen

[JOE, spoken]
I see

[NORMA]
Well?

[JOE, spoken]
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, spoken]
When were you born?

[JOE, spoken]
December 21st, why?

[NORMA, spoken]
I like Sagittarians. You can trust them

[JOE, spoken]
Thanks

[NORMA, spoken]
I want you to do this work

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

[NORMA, spoken]
I don't care

[JOE, spoken]
I'm pretty expensive. I get five hundred a week

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

[JOE, spoken]
Well, it's getting kind of late

[NORMA, spoken]
Are you married, Mr. -

[JOE, spoken]
The name is Gillis. Single

[NORMA, spoken]
Where do you live?

[JOE, spoken]
Hollywood. Alto Nido Apartments

[NORMA, spoken]
You'll stay here

[JOE, spoken]
I'll come back early tomorrow

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

[MAX, spoken]
Yes, Madame

[NORMA, spoken]
Take Mr. Gillis to the guest room. We'll begin at nine sharp

[JOE, spoken]
Now this is more like it

[MAX, spoken]
I made up the bed this afternoon

[JOE, spoken]
Thanks. How did you know I was going to stay?

[MAX, spoken]
There's soap and a toothbrush in the bathroom

[JOE, spoken]
She's quite a character, isn't she, that Norma Desmond?