Salome

[NORMA, spoken]

Salome. Salome — the story of a woman. The woman who was all women

(sung)

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 apе dumped on a shelf

And her staring likе 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"

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, spoken]

Sixteen

[JOE, spoken]

I see

[NORMA, spoken]

Well?

[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 riverbank, 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

(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? Oh 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]

Well, 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, honey...

[JOE, spoken]

Well, it's getting kind of late

[NORMA, spoken]

Are you married, Mister...?

[JOE, spoken]

The name is Gillis. Single

[NORMA, spoken]

Where do you live?

[JOE, spoken]

Hollywood. Alto Nido Apartments

[NORMA, spoken]

Oh, 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?