Sunset Boulevard Page #27

BETTY:

Was I? I'm sorry.

GILLIS:

What's wrong with you tonight?

What is it, Betty?

BETTY:

Something came up. I don't want

to talk about it.

GILLIS:

Why not?

BETTY:

I just don't.

GILLIS:

What is it you've heard. Come

on, let's have it.

Betty gets up.

GILLIS:

Is it about me?

Betty doesn't answer, walks out on

E-18 THE BALCONY

She leans against a post, crying. Gillis comes out

after her.

GILLIS:

Betty, there's no use running

out on it. Let's face it, what-

ever it is.

BETTY:

It's nothing. I got a telegram

from Artie.

GILLIS:

From Artie. What's wrong?

BETTY:

He wants me to come on to Arizona.

He says it only oosts two dollars

to get married there. It would

kind of save us a honeymoon.

GILLIS:

Why don't you? We can finish the

script by Thursday.

Betty stands crying silently.

GILLIS:

Stop crying. You're getting

married. That's what you've

always wanted.

BETTY:

I don't want it now.

GILLIS:

Why not? Don't you love Artie?

BETTY:

Of course I love him. I always

will. I'm just not in love

with him any more.

GILLIS:

What happened?

BETTY:

You did.

There is a moment's pause before he takes her in

his arms. THE CAMERA MOVES AWAY.

DISSOLVE TO:

E-19 HALL AND STAIRCASE GILLIS' VOICE

DESMOND HOME- (NIGHT) It wasn' t until I got

back to that peculiar

Gillis enters, closes prison of mine that I

the door as quietly as started facing the facts.

he can, and goes up There it was -- Betty

the stairs. Schaefer's future right

in the palm of my hand.

E-20 GILLIS' ROOM Betty Schaefer engaged

to Artie Green, as nice

He enters and turns on the a guy as ever lived.

light. He sinks down on And she was in love with

the chaise longue,thinking. me. Me ! She was a fool

His eyes wander to the not to sense that there

door of Norma's room. was something phony in

Through the gouged-out key- my set-up. And I was a

hole he sees the light. heel not to have told

her. But you just can't

say those things to

somebody you're crazy

about. Maybe I'd never

have to. Maybe I could

get away with it, get

away from Norma. Maybe

I could wipe the whole

nasty mess right out of

my life...

From Norma's room comes the sound of a telephone

being dialled. Gillis enters the shot and stands

listening.

NORMA'S VOICE

Is this Gladstone 0858?

E-21 NORMA'S BEDROOM

Norma lies in bed, dialing a number. She has the

beauty patches at the corners of her eyes and over

her nose.

NORMA:

Can I speak to Miss Betty

Schaefer? She must be home by

now.

E-22 A BEDROOM IN BETTY'S FLAT

Connie, a girl of Betty's age with whom she shares

the flat, is on the phone. Betty, in a dressing-

gown, comes from the bathroom, toothbrush in hand.

CONNIE:

(Hand over mouthpiece)

Betty, here's that weird-sounding

woman again.

BETTY:

What is this anyway?

(Taking the phone)

This is Betty Schaefer.

E-23 NORMA AT IHE PHONE

NORMA:

Miss Schaefer, you must forgive

me for calling you so late, but

I really feel it's my duty. It's

about Mr. Gillis. You do know Mr.

Gillis? ...Exactly how much do you

know about him? Do you know where

he lives? Do you know how he lives?

Do you know what he lives on?

E-24 BETTY AT THE PHONE

BETTY:

Who are you? What do you want?

What business is it of yours

anyway?

E-25 NORMA ON THE PHONE

NORMA:

Miss Schaefer, I'm trying to do

you a favor. I'm trying to spare

you a great deal of misery. Of

course you may be too young to even

suspect there are men of his sort...

NORMA (Cont'd)

I don't know what he's told you, but

he does not live with relatives, nor

with friends, in the usual sense of

the word. Ask him ... Ask him again.

During the latter part of her call, the doors from

Gillis' room have been pushed open and Gillis has

walked towards her. Suddenly Norma senses his pre-

sence and turns around. The telephone freezes in her

hand. She tries to hang it up. Very calmly Gillis

takes the receiver from her hand.

GILLIS:

(Into phone)

That's right, Betty, ask me again.

This is Joe.

E-26 BETTY ON THE PHONE

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