Sunset Boulevard Page #24

1ST ASSISTANT

Yes, Mr. De Mille.

They turn back into Stage 18.

D-23 THE ISOTTA

Gillis seated in the rear. Max is helping Norma

in and putting the robe over her.

GILLIS:

(Apprehensively)

How did it go?

NORMA:

It couldn't have gone better.

It's practically set. Of course,

he has to finish this picture

first, but mine will be his next.

There is an exchange of looks between Max and Gillis.

GILLIS:

He must be quite a guy.

NORMA:

He'a a shrewd old fox. He can

smell box office. Only I'm going

to outfox him a litt1e. This isn't

going to be C. B. deMille's Salome.

It's going to be Norma Desmond's

Salome, a Norma Desmond Production,

starring Norma Desmond...Home, Max.

MAX:

Yes, Miss Desmond.

As he says the words, he and Gillis exchange a glance

in the rear view mirror.

SLOW DISSOLVE:

END OF SEQUENCE "D"

SEQUENCE "E"

DISSOLVE IN ON:

E-1 CLOSEUP OF NORMA'S FACE

GILLIS' VOICE

Absolutely no makeup. A After that, an army of

hand with a strong small beauty experts invaded

flashlight comes into the her house on Sunset

picture. The beam of the Boulevard. She went

flashlight travels over the through a merciless

face, exploring it merci- series of treatments,

lessly. While the light is massages, sweat cabinets,

still on it, two pairs of mud baths, ice compres-

creamed hands come into the ses, electric devices.

shot and start to massage it. She lived on vegetable

juices and went to bed

DISSOLVE TO:
at nine. She was deter-

mined to be ready --

ready for those cameras

E-2 A SHORT MONTAGE of various that would never turn.

beauty treatments applied

to Norma.

DISSOLVE TO:

E-3 NORMA BEFORE THE MIRROR

IN HER BEDROOM:

It is nine o'clock in the evening. She is in night

gown and negligee and has put triangular patches on

the saddle of her nose and at the outer corner of

each eye. She is rubbing lotion on her hands.

She gets up and crosses to the door of Gillis' room

and opens it a crack.

NORMA:

Joe darling, are you there?

E-4 GILLIS' ROOM

It is dark except for a lamp over the chaise longue.

Gillis lies on it, fully clothed, reading a book.

GILLIS:

Yes, Norma.

Through the slit in the door there is a suggestion

of Norma.

NORMA:

Don't turn around. Keep your

eyes on the book.

GILLIS:

Yes, Norma.

Norma pushes the door open and comes in.

NORMA:

I just came to say good night.

I don't want you to see me --

I'm not very attractive.

GILLIS:

Good night.

NORMA:

I've lost half a pound since

Tuesday.

GILLIS:

Good.

NORMA:

I was a little worried about the

line of my throat. This woman

has done wonders with it.

GILLIS:

Good.

NORMA:

You'd better get to bed yourself.

GILLIS:

I think I'll read a little.

NORMA:

You went out last night, didn't

you, Joe?

GILLIS:

Why do you say that?

NORMA:

I just happen to know it. I had

a nightmare and I screamed for

you. You weren't here. Where

were you?

GILLIS:

I went for a walk.

NORMA:

No you didn't. You took the

car.

GILLIS:

All right, I drove to the beach.

Norma, you don't want me to feel

I'm locked up in this house?

NORMA:

Of course not, Joe. It's just

that I don't want to be left alone.

Not now, while I'm under this

terrible strain. My nerves are

being torn apart. All I ask is

for you to be a little patient and a

little kind.

GILLIS:

I haven't done anything, Norma.

NORMA:

Of course you haven't. I wouldn't

let you.

She bends and kisses the top of his head.

NORMA:

Good night, my darling.

She goes into her room, shutting the door behind her.

Gillis puts his book down and looks at her door.

E-5 THE DOOR TO NORMA'S ROOM

The light can be seen through the gouged-out

keyhole. It goes out.

DISSOLVE TO:

E-6 UPPER LANDING STAIRWAY

AND HALL BELOW (NIGHT) GILLIS' VOICE

Gillis, with his coat on by Yes, I was playing hooky

now, comes cautiously to

the upper railing and looks every evening along in

down into the lighted hall

below. there. It made me think I

Max is just extinguishing of when I was twelve and

the lights. Max exits in,

the direction of the liv- used to sneak out on the

ing room.

folks to see a gangster

After a moment Gillis starts

silently down the stairs. picture. This time it

wasn't to see a picture,

E-7 LIVING ROOM

it was to try and write

(Lighted only by the last

flicker of a fire on the one. That story of mine

hearth). Max is putting a

fire screen in front of Betty Schaerer had dug

the fire. He hears some

steps and the creak or the up kept going through

main door being opened.

He looks out and sees my head like a dozen

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