Sunset Boulevard Page #14

NORMA:

I don't like those studs they've

sent. I want you to have pearls.

Nice big pearls.

GILLIS:

Now, I'm not going to wear ear-

rings, I can tell you that.

NORMA:

Cute. Let's have some drinks.

She leads him over to the buffet.

GILLIS:

Shouldn't we wait for the others?

NORMA:

(Pointing at the floor)

Careful, it's slippery. I

had it waxed.

They reach the buffet. Max is ready with two

glasses of champagne. Norma hands Gillis a glass.

NORMA:

Here's to us.

They drink.

NORMA:

You know, this floor used to

be wood but I had it changed.

Valentino said there is nothing

like tiles for a tango.

She opens her arms.

GILLIS:

Not on the same floor with

Valentino!

NORMA:

Just follow me.

They start to tango. After a moment --

NORMA:

Don't bend back like that.

GILLIS:

It's those feathers. They tickle.

Norma pulls the paradise feathers from her hair

and tosses them away.

C-7 THE ORCHESTRA

As they play the tango, the musicians eye the danc-

ing couple, take in the situation, exchange glances

and turn away with professional discretion.

C-8 NORMA AND GILLIS, TANGOING

Gillis glances at his wrist watch.

GILLIS:

It's a quarter past ten. What

time are they supposed to get

here?

NORMA:

Who?

GILLIS:

The other guests?

NORMA:

There are no other guests. We

don't want to share this night

with other people. This is for

you and me.

GILLIS:

I understand some rich guy bought

up all the tickets for a perfor-

mance at the Metropolitan and sat

there listening to La Traviata,

all by himself. He was afraid of

catching cold.

NORMA:

Hold me tighter.

GILLIS:

Come midnight, how about blind-

folding the orchestra and smash-

ing champagne glasses on Max's

head?

NORMA:

You think this is all very funny.

GILLIS:

A little.

NORMA:

Is it funny that I'm in love

with you?

GILLIS:

What's that?

NORMA:

I'm in love with you. Don't you

know that? I've been in love

with you all along.

They dance on. Gillis is acutely embarrassed.

THE CAMERA SLOWLY PULLS BACK, PANS past the faces

of the musicians, who play on with a rather overe-

mphasized lack of interest. Finally it winds up

on Max, behind the buffet. He stands watching Gillis,

a faint trace of pity in his eyes.

DISSOLVE TO:

C-9 NORMA'S FINGER, WITH THE

CIGARETTE GADGET, as she GILLIS' VOICE

inserts a cigarette. I'm sure a lot of you will

laugh about this. Ridicu-

lous situation, wasn't it?

-- a woman almost twice my

age ... It got to be about

a quarter of eleven. I

felt caught, like a cig-

arette in the prongs of

that contraption on her

finger.

PULL BACK TO:

NORMA AND GILLIS sitting on a couch in front of the

cavernous fireplace. Norma holds out her cigarette

to Gillis, who lights it.

NORMA.

What a wonderful next year it's

going to be. What fun we're going

to have. I'II fill the pool for

you. Or I'll open my house in

Malibu, and you can have the whole

ocean. Or I'll buy you a boat

and we'll sail to Hawaii.

GILLIS:

Stop it. You aren't going to buy

me anything more.

NORMA:

Don't be silly.

(She reaches under a

pillow of the couch

and brings out a

leather box)

Here. I was going to give it to

you at midniglht.

Gillis opens the box. It contains a matched gold

cigarette case and lighter.

NORMA:

Read what's inside.

Gillis snaps open the case. Engraved inside the

cover is:
TO JOE FROM NORMA, and two bars of

music.

GILLIS:

What are the notes?

NORMA:

"Mad about the boy."

GILLIS:

Norma, I can't take it. You've

bought me enough.

NORMA:

Shut up. I'm rich. I'm richer

than all this new Hollywood trash.

I've got a million dollars.

GILLIS:

Keep it.

NORMA:

I own three blocks downtown.

I have oil in Bakersfield --

pumping, pumping, pumping.

What's it for but to buy us

anything we want.

GILLIS:

Cut out that us business.

He rises.

NORMA:

What's the matter with you?

GILLIS:

What right do you have to take

me for granted?

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