Album: Sunset Boulevard

Betty Office

Night on the Paramount lot. BETTY's office is a spartan affair, one of a row of wooden cubicles suspended at first-floor level, above the darkened streets of the back lot. BETTY sits behind her desk, staring at her typewriter, from which a piece of paper protrudes; JOE, in his shirt-sleeves, paces up and down, holding a pencil. Presently, as the silence extends, HE crosses to look down at the sheet of paper in his typewriter, frown,; then, his brow clears as an idea occurs to him.

JOE

How about

They don't know each other

He works the night shift,

And she takes classes all day?

Here's the thing

They both share the same room,

Sleep in the same bed

It works out cheaper that way.

BETTY

Well, I've a feeling you're just kidding,

But to me it sounds believable.

Makes a better opening than that car chase scene:

Girl finds boy

Borrowing her toothbrush

Or oversleeping

Or at her sewing-machine.

(She's got up as the excitement over her ideas has gripped her, and now JOE takes her place behind the typewriter.)

JOE

You know, it's not bad, there are some real possibilities...

(BETTY picks up JOE's cigarette case, helps herself to a cigarette and then notices the inscription.)

BETTY

Who's Norma?

JOE

Who's who?

BETTY

I'm sorry, I don't usually read private cigarette cases.

JOE

Norma’s a friend of mine, middle-aged lady, very foolish, very generous.

BETTY

I'll say: this is solid gold. ‘Mad about the boy’?

(JOE rises to his feet, thinks of a way to change the subject.)

JOE

So how's Artie?

BETTY

Stuck in Tennessee. It rains all the time, they're weeks behind. Nobody knows when they'll get back.

JOE

Good.

BETTY

What's good about it! I'm missing him something fierce.

JOE

No, I mean this idea we had is really pretty good.

(He picks up the notebook, scribbles a note, as BETTY moves back towards the desk.)

JOE

Back to work.

BETTY

What if he's a teacher?

JOE

Where does that get us?

Don't see what good it would do.

BETTY

No, it's great,

If they do the same job...

JOE

So much in common,

They fall in love, wouldn't you?

BETTY

Yes, but if he's just a teacher,

We lose those scenes in the factory.

JOE

Not if he's a champion for the working man.

Girl likes boy,

She respects his talent.

BETTY

Working with someone,

Can turn you into a fan.

JOE

This is fun,

Writing with a partner.

BETTY

Yes, and it could be...

JOE

A Helluva movie.

BETTY

Can we really do this?

JOE AND BETTY

I know that we can!

(Blackout.)