Album: Sunset BoulevardBetty Office & The Back Lot At ParamountIt is night on the Paramount lot and BETTY is once again at her typewriter, but this time there is some light on the standing New York street set, which is being dressed for action the following day. JOE watches as BETTY finishes typing.
BETTY
T-H-E E-N-D! I can't believe it, I've finished my first script!
JOE
Stop it, you're making me feel old.
BETTY
It's exciting, though, isn't it?
JOE
How old are you, anyway?
BETTY
Twenty-two.
JOE
Smart girl.
BETTY
Shouldn't we open some champagne?
JOE
Best I can offer is a stroll to the water cooler at the end of the lot.
BETTY
Sounds good to me.
(Pause)
I love the back lot here. All cardboard, all hollow, all phoney, all done with mirrors; I think I love it better than any street in the world. I spent my childhood here.
JOE
What were you, a child actress?
BETTY
No, but my family always expected me to become a great star. I had ten years of dramatic lessons, diction, dancing, everything you can think of; then the studio made a test.
JOE (Laughing)
That's the saddest story I ever heard.
BETTY
Not at all. Come on.
(Pause)
BETTY
I was born two blocks from here. My father was head electrician at the studio until he died, and Mother still works in wardrobe.
JOE
Second generation, huh?
BETTY
Third. Grandma did stunt work for Pearl White.
(As THEY walk down the Manhattan street, the stage begins to revolve slowly, so that THEY end up walking Downstage; and the flimsy struts holding up the substantial sets are gradually revealed.
JOE and BETTY walk in silence for a while; BETTY's expression is deeply preoccupied. They come to a halt in front of the water cooler.)
JOE
I guess it is kind of exciting, at that, finishing a script.
(HE fixes a couple of paper cups of water, and hands one to BETTY, who's miles away and comes to with a start when he touches her arm.)
BETTY
What?
JOE
Are you all right?
BETTY
Sure.
JOE
Something's the matter, isn't it?
(Pause. Then BETTY blurts out.)
BETTY
I had a telegram from Artie.
JOE
Is something wrong?
BETTY
He wants me to come out to Tennessee. He says it would only cost 2 dollars to get married in Clinch.
JOE
Well, what's stopping you! Now we've finished the script...
(He breaks off, amazed to see that SHE's crying.)
JOE
Why are you crying? You're getting married, isn't that what you wanted?
BETTY
Not any more.
JOE
Don't you love Artie?
BETTY
Of course I do. I'm just not in love with him any more, that's all.
JOE
Why not? What happened?
BETTY
You did.
(Suddenly, THEY're in each other's arms. A long kiss.)
BETTY
When I was a kid,
I played on this street,
I always loved illusion.
I thought make-believe
Was truer than life
But now it's all confusion.
Please can you tell me what's happening?
I just don't know any more.
If this is real,
How should I feel?
What should I look for?
JOE
If you were smart,
You would keep on walking
Out of my life,
As fast as you can.
I'm not the one
You should pin your hopes on,
You're falling for
The wrong kind of man.
This is crazy.
You know we should call it a day.
Sound advice, great advice,
Let's throw it away.
I can't control
All the things I'm feeling,
I haven't got a prayer.
If I'm a fool,
Well, I'm too much in love to care.
I knew where I was,
I'd given up hope,
Made friends with disillusion.
No one in my life,
But I look at you,
And now it's all confusion.
BETTY
Please can you tell me what's happening?
I just don't know any more.
If this is real,
How should I feel?
What should I look for?
I thought I had
Everything I needed.
My life was set,
My dreams were in place.
My heart could see
Way into the future.
All of that goes
When I see your face.
I should hate you,
There I was, the world in my hand.
Can one kiss kiss away
Everything I planned?
I can't control
All the things I'm feeling,
I'm floating in mid-air.
I know it's wrong,
But I'm too much in love to care.
JOE AND BETTY
I thought I had
Everything I needed.
My life was set,
My dreams were in place.
My heart could see
Way into the future.
All of that goes
When I see your face.
This is crazy.
You know we should call it a day.
JOE
Sound advice
BETTY
Great advice
JOE AND BETTY
Let's throw it away.
I can't control
All the things I'm feeling.
We're floating in mid-air.
If we are fools,
Well, we're too much in love to care.
If we are fools,
Well, we're too much in love to care!
(They fall into each other's arms and embrace passionately. Then JOE leads BETTY by the hand back into the office. They kiss again and it is obvious that THEY're about to make love.)
