Sunset Boulevard Page #11

B-1O NORMA AND GILLIS

GILLIS' VOICE

They sit on a couch,facing "So much nicer than going

the screen. On a table in out," she'd say. The

front of them are champagne, plain fact was that she

cigarettes and coffee. was afraid of that world

Above their heads are the outside. Afraid it

typical openings for a pro- would remind her that

jector. The lights go off. time had passed.

From the opening above

their heads shoots the wide

beam of light.

B-11 MAX, IN THE PROJECTION They were silent movies,

BOOTH BEHIND THE ROOM and Max would run the

projection machine, which

The light of the machine was just as well -- it

flickering over his face, kept him from giving us

which is frozen, a somber an accompaniment on

enigma. that wheezing organ.

B-12 NORMA AND GILLIS

She'd sit very close to

watching the screen. me, and she'd smell of

Gillis looks down and sees tuberoses, which is not

that Norma's hand is clasp- my favorite perfume, not

ing his ann tight. He by a long shot. Sometines

doesn't like it much but as we watched, she'd c

he can't do anything about lutch my arm or my hand

it. However. when she for forgetting she was my

a second lets go his arm employer becoming just a

to pick up a glass of fan, excited about that

champagne, he gently with- actress up there on the

draws his arm, leans away screen....I guess I don't

from her and crosses his have to tell you who the

arms to discourage any star was. They were

resumption of her approach. always her pictures --

Norma puts the glass down that's all she wanted

doesn't find his arn, but to see.

is not aware of any signifi-

cance in his maneuver. They

both watch the screen.

B-13 THE OTHER END OF THE BIG ROOM. WITH THE SCREEN

On it flickers a famous scene from one of Norma's old

silent pictures. It is not to be a funny scene. It

is old-fashioned, but shows her incredible beauty

and the screen presence which made her the great star

of her day.

B-14 NORMA AND GILLIS ON THE COUCH

NORMA:

Still wonderful, isn't it? And

no dialogue. We didn't need

dialogue. We had faces. There

just aren't any faces like that

any more. Well, maybe one --

Garbo.

In a sudden flareup she jumps to her feet and stands

in the flickering beam of light.

NORMA:

Those idiot producers! Those

imbeciles! Haven't they got any

eyes? Have they forgotten what

a star looks like? I'll show them.

I'll be up there again. So help me!

DISSOLVE TO:

B-15 THE BIG ROOM - (NIGHT)

It is apparently empty. GILLIS' VOICE

The elaborate lamps Sometimes there'd be a

make pools of light. little bridge game in the

house, at a twentieth-of-

THE CAMERA PULLS BACK a cent a point. I'd get

AND PANS to reveal a half her winnings. Once

card table around they ran up to seventy

which sit Norma and cents, which was about

three friends - three the only cash money I

actors of her period. ever got. The others

They sit erect and play around the table would

with grim seriousness. be actor friends - dim

figures you may still

Beside Norma sits remember from the silent

Gillis, kibitzing on a days. I used to think of

game which bores him them as her Wax Works.

extremely. An ashtray

on the card table is

full and Norma holds

it out for Gillis to

take away. He crosses

the room to the fire-

place. but his eyes

fall on the entrance

door and he stops.

B-16 THE ENTRANCE HALL - (FROM GILLIS' POINT OF VIEW)

Max stands in the open door. Outside are the two

men who came to the apartment for Gillis' car.

B-17 GILLIS

He steps back so that he cannot be seen from the

door. A second later Max appears, looking for him.

MAX:

(Quietly)

Some men are here. They asked

for you.

GILLIS:

I'm not here.

MAX:

That's what I told them.

GILLIS:

Good.

MAX:

They found your car in the

garage. They are going to tow

it away.

Gillis doesn't know what to do. From offstage

comes:

NORMA'S VOICE

The ashtray, Joe dear! Can we

have the ashtray?

Gillis dumps the cigarette butts into the cold fire-

place, crosses to the bridge table, puts the

ashtray down, leans over and speaks into Norma's ear.

GILLIS:

I want to talk to you for a

minute.

NORMA:

Not now, my dear. I'm playing

three no trump.

GILLIS:

They've come for my car.

NORMA:

Please. Now I've forgotten how

many spades are out.

GILLIS:

I need some money right now.

NORMA:

Can't you wait till I'm dummy?

3.22.49 GILLIS

No.

NORMA:

(Angry by now)

Please!

Gillis stands frustrated, hideously embarrassed

by the stares of the waxworks. He turns away

and hurries to the door.

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