Norma Now go. Joe Next time I'll bring my autograph album. Norma Just a minute, you. Did you say you were a writer? Joe That's what it says on my guild card. Norma And you've written pictures? Joe Sure have. Would you like to see my credits? Norma Come over here, I want to ask you something. Just what sort of length is a movie script these days? Joe Depends. Norma I wrote this, it's a very important picture. Joe Looks like six very important pictures. Norma It's for De Mille to direct. Joe Oh, yeah? And will you be in it? Norma Of course. What do you think? Joe Just asking. I didn't know you were planning a come back. Norma I hate the word. It's a return. Joe Well...fair enough. Norma I want you to read it. Joe You shouldn't let another writer read your stuff. He may steal it. Norma I am not afraid. Sit down. Max! Bring something to drink. Max Yes, Madame. Norma I said sit down! It's about Salome. Salome: the story of a woman. The woman who was all women. Salome, what a woman, what a part! Innocent body and a sinful heart, Inflaming Herods' lust, But secretly loving a holy man. No one could play her like I can. Joe Well, I have 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 'Till he putty in her hands He reels tormented through the desert sand. Joe It sure was a real cheery set-up The wind wheezing through that organ Max shuffling around and a dead ape dumped on a shelf And her staring like 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. Joe Now it was time for some comedy relief The guy with the baby casket. Must have seen a thing or two, that chimp, Shame it was too late to ask it. Norma 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. Just how old is Salome? Norma Sixteen. Joe I see. Norma Well? Joe It's fascinating. Norma Of course it is. Joe Could be it's a little long Maybe the opening's wrong But it's extremely good for the beginner. Norma No, it's a perfect start, I wrote that with my heart The river-bank, the Baptist and the sinner. Joe Shouldn't there be some dialogues? 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! When were you born? Joe December twenty-first, why? Norma I like Sagittarians. You can trust them. Joe Thanks. Norma I want you to do this work. Joe Me? Gee, I don't know, I'm busy. I just finished one script and I'm about to start a new assignment. Norma I don't care. Joe I'm pretty expensive. I get five hundred a week. Norma Don't you worry about money. I'll make it worth your while. Joe Well. It's getting kind of late. Norma Are you married, Mr...? Joe The name is Gillis. Single. Norma Where do you live? Joe Hollywood. Alto Nido A