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Yes, this is Sunset Boulevard,
Los Angeles, California.
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It; s about five o; clock in the morning.
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That; s the homicide squad, complete
with detectives and newspapermen.
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A murder; s been reported from one
of those houses in the 10000 block.
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You; ll read about it
in the late editions.
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You; ll get it over your radio
and on television,
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because an old-time star is involved,
one of the biggest.
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But before you hear it all distorted
and blown out of proportion,
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before those Hollywood
columnists get their hands on it,
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maybe you; d like to hear the facts,
the whole truth.
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If so, you; ve come to the right party.
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The body of a young man was found
in the pool of her mansion,
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with two shots in his back and one
in his stomach. Nobody important.
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Just a writer with a couple
of B-pictures to his credit.
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The poor dope!
He always wanted a pool.
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In the end, he got himself a pool,
only the price turned out a little high.
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Let; s go back about six months
and find the day when it all started.
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I was living in an apartment house
above Franklin and lvar.
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Things were tough at the moment.
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I hadn; t worked
in a studio for a long time.
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So I sat there grinding out
original stories, two a week.
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Only I seemed to have lost my touch.
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Maybe they weren; t original enough,
maybe they were too original.
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All I know is,
they didn; t sell.
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Yep?
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- Joseph C Gillis?
- That's right.
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- We've come for the car.
- What car?
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1946 Plymouth convertible,
California licence 40 R 116.
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- Where are the keys?
- Why should I give you them?
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The company's played ball long
enough, you're three payments behind.
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And we've got a court order.
The keys.
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- Or do you want us to haul it away?
- The car isn't here.
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- Is that so?
- I loaned it to a friend.
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- He took it to Palm Springs.
- Gone away for his health?
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- If you don't believe me, look.
- We believe you, now believe us.
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That car better be here by noon
tomorrow or there'll be fireworks.
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You say the cutest things.
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I needed about $290 and I needed
it real quick, or l; d lose my car.
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It wasn; t in Palm Springs,
and it wasn; t in the garage.
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I was way ahead
of the finance company.
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I knew they; d come
and I wasn; t taking chances.
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So I kept it across the street
behind Rudy; s shoeshine parlour.
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Rudy never asked any questions
about your finances,
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he; d just look at your heels
and know the score.
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I had an original story
kicking around Paramount.
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My agent said it was dead,
but I knew a bigshot who liked me.
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The time had come to take advantage
of it. His name was Sheldrake.
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00:05:07,007 --> 00:05:12,365
He was a smart producer
with a set of ulcers to prove it.
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You've got five minutes.
What's your story about?
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A baseball player, a rookie shortstop
that's batting 347, once did a hold-up,
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but he's trying to go straight,
except some gamblers won't let him.
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They tell him
he's got to throw the World Series?
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More or less. I've got a gimmick.
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- Got a title?
- "Bases Loaded". There's an outline.
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Call readers department, find out
what they have on "Bases Loaded".
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They're pretty hot about it
at Twentieth, except Zanuck's all wet.
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Can you see
Ty Power as the shortstop?
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00:05:45,207 --> 00:05:47,767
You've got the best man, Alan Ladd.
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00:05:47,927 --> 00:05:51,397
It'd be a change of pace for Ladd.
And simple to shoot.
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Lots of outdoors stuff. I bet you
could make it for under a million.
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- Excuse me.
- There's a great part for Bill Demarest.
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An old trainer got beaned,
goes out of his head sometimes.
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Hello, Mr Sheldrake. "Bases Loaded",
I covered it with a two-page synopsis.
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00:06:07,087 --> 00:06:09,362
- Thanks.
- But I wouldn't bother.
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- What's wrong?
- It's from hunger.
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Nothing for Ladd?
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It's a rehash of something
not very good.
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You'll be glad to meet Mr Gillis,
he wrote it. This is Miss Kramer.
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The name's Schaefer, Betty Schaefer.
I wish I could crawl in a hole with it.
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- If I could be of any help.
- Sorry, I just didn't think it was good.
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I found it flat and trite.
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What kind of material do you
recommend? Joyce, Dostoyevsky?
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I think pictures should say something.
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Just a story won't do. You'd have
turned down "Gone with the Wind".
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No, that was me. I said,
"Who wants to see a Civil War picture?"
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I hated "Bases Loaded" because I knew
your name. I'd heard you had talent.
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This year, I'm trying to earn a living.
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So you take plot 27 A,
make it glossy and slick?
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Those are dirty words.
You sound like New York critics.
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- That'll be all Miss Kramer... Schaefer.
- Goodbye, Mr Gillis.
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Next time, I'll write you
"The Naked and the Dead".
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Well, seems like Zanuck
has got himself a baseball picture.
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Don't think I thought
this would win an Academy Award.
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We're looking for a Betty Hutton.
Do you see it as a Betty Hutton?
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- Frankly, no.
- Wait a minute.
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If we made it a girls' softball team,
put in a few numbers,
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might be a musical: "It Happened in
the Bullpen: The Story of a Woman".
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Are you trying to be funny, because
I'm out of laughs. I need a job.
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- I haven't got a thing.
- Any assignment, additional dialogue.
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Nothing, honest.
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Mr Sheldrake, could you let me have
300 bucks as a personal loan?
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Could I? Gillis...
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00:08:01,367 --> 00:08:03,961
Last year, somebody talked me
into buying a ranch,
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so I borrowed the money.
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This year, I had to mortgage the
ranch to keep up my life insurance...
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After that,
I drove down to headquarters.
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That; s how a lot of us
think about Schwab; s drugstore.
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Kind of a combination office,
Kaffeeklatsch and waiting room.
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Waiting... Waiting for the gravy train.
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I got myself ten nickels and started
sending out a general SOS.
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I couldn; t get hold of my agent,
naturally.
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So I called a pal of mine,
Artie Green.
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An awful nice guy,
an assistant director.
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He could let me have twenty,
but twenty wouldn; t do.
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Then I talked to a couple of yes-men
at Metro. To me, they said no.
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Finally, I located that agent of mine.
The big faker!
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Was he out digging up
a job for poor Joe Gillis?
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He was hard at work in Bel Air,
making with the golf sticks.
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You need $300? Of course I could
give you $300, only I'm not going to.
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- No?
- I'm not just your agent.
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- It's not the 10%. I'm your friend.
- You are?
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The finest things have been
written on an empty stomach.
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Once your talent gets into that
Mocambo-Romanoff rut, you're through.
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Forget that! It's a car I'm talking
about. Losing it is like losing my legs.
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Greatest thing that could happen.
Now you'll have to sit down and write.
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What do you think I've been doing?
I need $300.
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Sweetheart, maybe what
you need is another agent.
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As I drove back towards town,
I took inventory of my prospects.
120
00:10:01,207 --> 00:10:03,596
They now added up to exactly zero.
121
00:10:03,767 --> 00:10:06,839
Apparently,
I just didn; t have what it takes.
122
00:10:07,007 --> 00:10:10,886
The time had come to wrap up
the Hollywood deal and go home.
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Maybe if I hocked all my junk, there; d
be enough for a ticket back to Ohio,
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to that $35-a-week job at the copy
desk of the; ; Dayton Evening Post; ;,
125
00:10:20,527 --> 00:10:25,282
if it was still open, back
to the smirking delight of the office.
126
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All right, why don; t you
take a crack at Hollywood?
127
00:10:29,287 --> 00:10:31,084
Maybe you think you could...
128
00:10:32,487 --> 00:10:34,159
Uh-oh!
129
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l; d landed in the driveway
of some big mansion
130
00:11:30,927 --> 00:11:33,646
that looked rundown and deserted.
131
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At the end of the drive
was a lovely sight.
132
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A great big empty garage,
just standing there going to waste.
133
00:11:41,647 --> 00:11:47,244
If ever there was a place to stash
a car with a hot licence number.
134
00:11:55,167 --> 00:11:57,840
There was another
occupant in that garage.
135
00:11:58,007 --> 00:12:00,919
An enormous
foreign-built automobile.
136
00:12:01,087 --> 00:12:04,397
It must; ve burned up
ten gallons to a mile.
137
00:12:04,567 --> 00:12:10,483
It had a 1932 licence. I figured that; s
when the owners had moved out.
138
00:12:11,207 --> 00:12:16,406
I couldn; t go back to my apartment
now those bloodhounds were on to me.
139
00:12:16,567 --> 00:12:21,436
The idea was to stay at Artie Green; s
until I could make that bus for Ohio.
140
00:12:21,607 --> 00:12:24,883
Once in Dayton,
l; d drop the credit boys a postcard
141
00:12:25,047 --> 00:12:28,801
telling them
where to pick up the jalopy.
142
00:12:30,487 --> 00:12:33,684
It was a great big
white elephant of a place.
143
00:12:33,847 --> 00:12:37,522
The kind crazy movie people
built in the crazy twenties.
144
00:12:37,687 --> 00:12:40,963
A neglected house
gets an unhappy look.
145
00:12:41,127 --> 00:12:43,516
This one had it in spades.
146
00:12:43,687 --> 00:12:46,918
It was like that old woman
in; ; Great Expectations; ;,
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00:12:47,087 --> 00:12:51,285
that Miss Havisham in her rotting
wedding dress and her torn veil,
148
00:12:51,447 --> 00:12:55,804
taking it out on the world
because she; d been given the go-by.
149
00:13:01,167 --> 00:13:04,398
You there, why are you so late?
150
00:13:05,527 --> 00:13:09,839
Why have you kept me
waiting so long?
151
00:13:17,647 --> 00:13:18,966
In here.
152
00:13:26,207 --> 00:13:28,926
I just put my car in the garage.
I had a blowout. I thought...
153
00:13:29,087 --> 00:13:32,602
- Go on in.
- Maybe I'd better take my car...
154
00:13:32,767 --> 00:13:35,235
Wipe your feet.
155
00:13:37,527 --> 00:13:39,279
Go on.
156
00:13:43,287 --> 00:13:46,518
You're not properly
dressed for the occasion.
157
00:13:46,687 --> 00:13:50,521
- What's the occasion?
- Have him come up, Max.
158
00:13:50,687 --> 00:13:53,599
- Up the stairs.
- Listen for a minute...
159
00:13:53,767 --> 00:13:57,442
- Madame is waiting.
- For me?
160
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OK.
161
00:14:06,807 --> 00:14:09,799
If you need help
with the coffin, call me.
162
00:14:28,487 --> 00:14:30,000
This way.
163
00:14:36,287 --> 00:14:37,845
In here.
164
00:14:38,367 --> 00:14:41,200
I put him on my massage table
by the fire.
165
00:14:41,367 --> 00:14:45,918
He always liked fires
and poking at them with a stick.
166
00:14:50,487 --> 00:14:54,196
We'll bury him in the garden.
Any city laws against that?
167
00:14:55,567 --> 00:14:57,523
- I wouldn't know.
- I don't care, anyway.
168
00:14:57,687 --> 00:15:01,805
I want the coffin to be white
and specially lined with satin,
169
00:15:01,967 --> 00:15:05,357
white or deep pink.
170
00:15:07,447 --> 00:15:11,599
Maybe red, bright, flaming red.
Let's make it gay.
171
00:15:20,287 --> 00:15:24,678
How much? Don't give me
a fancy price just because I'm rich.
172
00:15:26,407 --> 00:15:30,958
Lady, you've got the wrong man.
I had some trouble with a flat tyre.
173
00:15:31,127 --> 00:15:35,962
I pulled in till I could get a spare.
I thought the house was empty.
174
00:15:36,127 --> 00:15:40,757
- It is not. Get out.
- I'm sorry.
175
00:15:40,927 --> 00:15:46,206
I'm sorry you lost your friend.
I don't think red is the right colour.
176
00:15:46,367 --> 00:15:51,282
- Haven't I seen you before?
- Get out, or shall I call my servant?
177
00:15:51,927 --> 00:15:55,397
You're Norma Desmond.
You were big in silent pictures.
178
00:15:57,247 --> 00:16:02,002
I am big. It's the pictures
that got small.
179
00:16:02,487 --> 00:16:05,763
I knew there was
something wrong with them.
180
00:16:05,927 --> 00:16:08,157
They're dead, they're finished.
181
00:16:08,327 --> 00:16:12,161
There was a time
when they had the eyes of the world.
182
00:16:12,327 --> 00:16:16,639
But that wasn't good enough.
They had to have the ears, too.
183
00:16:16,807 --> 00:16:21,358
So they opened their big mouths
and out came talk, talk, talk!
184
00:16:21,527 --> 00:16:25,679
That's where the popcorn business
comes in. Buy it to plug your ears.
185
00:16:25,847 --> 00:16:29,396
Look at them in the front offices,
the masterminds!
186
00:16:29,567 --> 00:16:31,558
They smashed the idols!
187
00:16:31,727 --> 00:16:34,321
The Fairbankses,
the Gilberts, the Valentinos!
188
00:16:34,487 --> 00:16:37,001
Who've we got now? Some nobody.
189
00:16:37,167 --> 00:16:39,920
Don't blame me. I'm just a writer.
190
00:16:40,607 --> 00:16:43,963
You are? Writing words,
words, more words.
191
00:16:44,127 --> 00:16:46,960
You've made a rope of words
and strangled this business.
192
00:16:47,127 --> 00:16:49,925
But there's a microphone
to catch the last gurgles,
193
00:16:50,087 --> 00:16:52,726
and Technicolor to photograph
the swollen tongue.
194
00:16:52,887 --> 00:16:57,563
- Sh! You'll wake up the monkey.
- Get out! Max.
195
00:16:57,727 --> 00:17:00,116
Next time
I'll bring my autograph album.
196
00:17:00,287 --> 00:17:03,996
Or maybe some cement
and ask for your footprint.
197
00:17:07,287 --> 00:17:09,164
It's OK, OK. I'm going.
198
00:17:09,327 --> 00:17:13,036
Just a minute, you.
You're a writer, you said.
199
00:17:13,207 --> 00:17:15,926
- Why?
- Are you or not?
200
00:17:16,087 --> 00:17:21,366
- That's what's on my Guild card.
- And you have written pictures?
201
00:17:21,527 --> 00:17:24,325
I sure have. Want a list of my credits?
202
00:17:24,487 --> 00:17:27,160
I want to ask you something.
Come in here.
203
00:17:27,327 --> 00:17:29,887
Last one was about
Okies in the Dust Bowl.
204
00:17:30,047 --> 00:17:32,003
You'd never know
because on screen
205
00:17:32,167 --> 00:17:35,443
the whole thing
played on a torpedo boat.
206
00:17:43,247 --> 00:17:45,636
Intimate, isn't it?
207
00:17:47,647 --> 00:17:51,037
The wind gets in that pipe organ.
I ought to take it out.
208
00:17:51,207 --> 00:17:53,277
I'd teach it a better tune.
209
00:17:53,447 --> 00:17:55,517
Young man, tell me something.
210
00:17:55,687 --> 00:17:59,362
How long is a movie script
these days? How many pages?
211
00:17:59,527 --> 00:18:01,563
Depends whether
it's "Donald Duck" or "Joan of Arc".
212
00:18:01,727 --> 00:18:07,085
This is to be a very important picture.
I've written it myself. Took me years.
213
00:18:07,247 --> 00:18:09,203
Looks like enough
for six important pictures.
214
00:18:09,367 --> 00:18:12,086
It's Salome's story.
I'll have DeMille direct.
215
00:18:12,567 --> 00:18:16,799
- DeMille?
- We made a lot of pictures together.
216
00:18:16,967 --> 00:18:20,926
- And you'll play Salome.
- Who else?
217
00:18:21,847 --> 00:18:24,122
I didn't know
you were planning a comeback.
218
00:18:24,287 --> 00:18:27,199
I hate that word. It's a return.
219
00:18:27,367 --> 00:18:31,645
A return to the millions who've never
forgiven me for deserting the screen.
220
00:18:31,807 --> 00:18:35,561
- Fair enough.
- Salome. What a woman.
221
00:18:35,727 --> 00:18:39,436
What a part. The princess
in love with a holy man.
222
00:18:39,607 --> 00:18:41,643
She dances the dance
of the seven veils.
223
00:18:41,807 --> 00:18:45,163
He rejects her, so she demands
his head on a golden tray.
224
00:18:45,327 --> 00:18:48,717
Kissing his cold, dead lips.
225
00:18:49,367 --> 00:18:52,882
- They'll love it in Pomona.
- They'll love it everyplace.
226
00:18:53,047 --> 00:18:55,481
Read the scene
just before she has him killed.
227
00:18:55,647 --> 00:18:57,842
Another writer
may steal your material.
228
00:18:58,007 --> 00:19:00,362
I'm not afraid. Read it.
229
00:19:00,527 --> 00:19:04,918
Bring something to drink.
Sit down. Is there enough light?
230
00:19:05,087 --> 00:19:09,638
- I've got 20-20 vision.
- I said sit down.
231
00:19:13,167 --> 00:19:15,920
Well, I had no
pressing engagement.
232
00:19:16,087 --> 00:19:18,965
Except with those boys
from the finance office.
233
00:19:19,127 --> 00:19:23,439
And she; d mentioned
something to drink. Why not?
234
00:19:23,607 --> 00:19:28,806
Sometimes it; s interesting to see
just how bad bad writing can be.
235
00:19:28,967 --> 00:19:31,640
This promised to go the limit.
236
00:19:31,807 --> 00:19:37,359
What would a handwriting expert
make of her childish scrawl?
237
00:19:38,727 --> 00:19:42,117
Max wheeled in
some champagne and caviar.
238
00:19:42,287 --> 00:19:47,486
Later I found out Max was the only
other person in that grim castle.
239
00:19:47,647 --> 00:19:51,162
And I found out
a few other things about him.
240
00:19:51,327 --> 00:19:54,842
As for her, she sat coiled up
like a watch-spring,
241
00:19:55,007 --> 00:19:57,760
her cigarette clamped
in a curious holder.
242
00:19:57,927 --> 00:20:00,885
I could sense her watching me
through those dark glasses,
243
00:20:01,047 --> 00:20:03,800
defying me not to like what I read,
244
00:20:03,967 --> 00:20:07,926
or maybe begging me
in her own proud way to like it.
245
00:20:08,087 --> 00:20:11,124
It meant so much to her.
246
00:20:16,607 --> 00:20:18,837
It sure was a cosy set-up.
247
00:20:19,007 --> 00:20:24,081
That bundle of raw nerves and Max
and a dead monkey upstairs,
248
00:20:24,247 --> 00:20:28,718
and the wind wheezing through
that organ once in a while.
249
00:20:34,967 --> 00:20:38,164
Later on, just for comedy relief,
250
00:20:38,327 --> 00:20:42,036
the real guy arrived
with the baby coffin.
251
00:20:42,207 --> 00:20:45,517
It was all done with great dignity.
252
00:20:45,687 --> 00:20:48,759
He must have been
a very important chimp.
253
00:20:48,927 --> 00:20:52,715
The great-grandson
of King Kong maybe.
254
00:20:55,047 --> 00:20:59,723
It got to be eleven, and I felt
a little sick at my stomach,
255
00:20:59,887 --> 00:21:03,766
what with that sweet champagne
and that tripe l; d been reading,
256
00:21:03,927 --> 00:21:08,079
that silly hodgepodge
of melodramatic plots.
257
00:21:08,247 --> 00:21:14,482
However, by then, l; d started
concocting a little plot of my own.
258
00:21:14,647 --> 00:21:18,845
- Well?
- This is fascinating.
259
00:21:19,007 --> 00:21:21,362
Of course it is.
260
00:21:22,407 --> 00:21:27,356
Maybe it's a little long and repetitious,
but you're not a professional writer.
261
00:21:27,527 --> 00:21:32,521
- I wrote that with my heart.
- Sure you did.
262
00:21:32,687 --> 00:21:34,803
That's what makes it great.
263
00:21:36,087 --> 00:21:40,603
- But it needs a little more dialogue.
- What for?
264
00:21:40,767 --> 00:21:44,919
- My eyes can say anything I want.
- It could use some shears.
265
00:21:45,087 --> 00:21:48,875
- I will not have it butchered.
- Of course not.
266
00:21:49,047 --> 00:21:53,325
But it ought to be organised, edited.
You can find somebody.
267
00:21:53,487 --> 00:21:57,241
Who? I'd have
to have somebody I could trust.
268
00:21:57,407 --> 00:21:59,921
When were you born?
What zodiac sign?
269
00:22:00,087 --> 00:22:03,124
- I don't know.
- What month?
270
00:22:03,287 --> 00:22:05,164
December, 21 st.
271
00:22:05,327 --> 00:22:08,717
Sagittarius. I like Sagittarians,
you can trust them.
272
00:22:09,607 --> 00:22:12,519
- Thank you.
- I want you to do this work.
273
00:22:12,687 --> 00:22:18,478
Me? I'm busy. I just finished a script
and I'm doing another assignment.
274
00:22:18,647 --> 00:22:20,877
I don't care.
275
00:22:21,327 --> 00:22:25,479
You know, I'm pretty expensive.
I get $500 a week.
276
00:22:25,647 --> 00:22:29,845
I wouldn't worry about money.
I'll make it worth your while.
277
00:22:30,007 --> 00:22:33,920
- I'll read the rest at home.
- I couldn't let it out of my house.
278
00:22:34,087 --> 00:22:37,921
- Finish it here.
- It's getting kind of late.
279
00:22:39,047 --> 00:22:42,084
- Are you married, Mr?
- Gillis. Single.
280
00:22:42,247 --> 00:22:45,523
- Where do you live?
- Hollywood. Alto Nido apartments.
281
00:22:45,687 --> 00:22:49,441
- Something's wrong with your car?
- There sure is.
282
00:22:49,607 --> 00:22:53,043
- Why not stay here?
- I'll come back early tomorrow.
283
00:22:53,207 --> 00:22:56,643
Nonsense.
There's a room over the garage.
284
00:22:56,807 --> 00:23:00,846
Max will take you there.
Max!
285
00:23:03,727 --> 00:23:07,766
I felt kind of pleased
with the way l; d handled the situation.
286
00:23:07,927 --> 00:23:11,078
I dropped the hook,
and she snapped at it.
287
00:23:11,247 --> 00:23:15,286
My car would be safe down below
while I patched up the script.
288
00:23:16,247 --> 00:23:19,637
And there should be
plenty of money in it.
289
00:23:23,807 --> 00:23:26,367
This room hasn't been
used for a long time.
290
00:23:26,527 --> 00:23:30,156
It'll never make "House Beautiful",
but it's OK for one night.
291
00:23:30,327 --> 00:23:36,323
- I made your bed this afternoon.
- How did you know I'd stay?
292
00:23:36,487 --> 00:23:41,607
The bathroom's there. I put in some
towels, soap and a toothbrush.
293
00:23:44,527 --> 00:23:48,725
Say, she's quite a character
that Norma Desmond.
294
00:23:48,887 --> 00:23:52,516
She was the greatest.
You wouldn't know, you're too young.
295
00:23:52,687 --> 00:23:56,157
In one week,
she received 17,000 fan letters.
296
00:23:56,327 --> 00:23:59,603
Men bribed the hairdresser
for a lock of her hair.
297
00:23:59,767 --> 00:24:04,682
There was an Indian maharajah who
came to beg one of her stockings.
298
00:24:04,847 --> 00:24:07,998
Later he strangled himself with it.
299
00:24:08,167 --> 00:24:11,603
Well, I sure turned
into an interesting driveway.
300
00:24:11,767 --> 00:24:14,964
You did, sir. Goodnight, sir.
301
00:24:20,207 --> 00:24:23,597
I pegged him as slightly cuckoo, too.
302
00:24:24,087 --> 00:24:26,601
A stroke maybe.
303
00:24:26,847 --> 00:24:32,763
The whole place seemed stricken
with a creeping paralysis,
304
00:24:32,927 --> 00:24:37,842
out of beat with the rest of the world,
crumbling apart in slow motion.
305
00:24:38,887 --> 00:24:43,756
There was a tennis court,
or rather the ghost of a tennis court,
306
00:24:43,927 --> 00:24:47,476
with faded markings
and a sagging net.
307
00:24:50,887 --> 00:24:55,403
And, of course, she had a pool.
Who didn; t then?
308
00:24:55,567 --> 00:25:00,721
Mabel Normand and John Gilbert
swam in it 10,000 midnights ago.
309
00:25:00,887 --> 00:25:04,516
And Vilma Banky
and Rod La Rocque.
310
00:25:04,687 --> 00:25:08,566
It was empty now. Or was it?
311
00:25:14,487 --> 00:25:21,279
There was something else going on:
the last rites for that hairy old chimp,
312
00:25:21,447 --> 00:25:24,757
performed
with the utmost seriousness,
313
00:25:24,927 --> 00:25:28,886
as if she were laying to rest
an only child.
314
00:25:29,607 --> 00:25:33,566
Was her life really as empty as that?
315
00:25:41,527 --> 00:25:46,555
It was all very queer,
but queerer things were yet to come.
316
00:25:54,527 --> 00:26:00,045
That night I had a mixed-up dream.
In it there was an organ grinder.
317
00:26:00,207 --> 00:26:03,916
I couldn; t see his face,
but the organ was draped in black.
318
00:26:04,087 --> 00:26:07,557
And a chimp
was dancing for pennies.
319
00:26:07,727 --> 00:26:11,925
When I opened my eyes,
the music was still there.
320
00:26:12,087 --> 00:26:14,043
Where was I?
321
00:26:15,487 --> 00:26:20,561
Oh, yes, in that empty room
over her garage.
322
00:26:20,727 --> 00:26:26,040
Only it wasn; t empty any more.
l; d had a visitor.
323
00:26:26,207 --> 00:26:30,997
Someone had brought in my belongings,
my books, typewriter and clothes.
324
00:26:32,487 --> 00:26:34,921
What was going on?
325
00:26:51,847 --> 00:26:57,126
Hey, you! Max, whatever your name
is, what are my things doing here?
326
00:26:57,287 --> 00:27:01,360
I'm talking to you. My clothes
and things are up in the room.
327
00:27:01,527 --> 00:27:05,406
Naturally. I brought them myself.
328
00:27:05,567 --> 00:27:10,118
- Is that so?
- What's the matter? Anything missing?
329
00:27:10,287 --> 00:27:14,075
- Who asked you to?
- I did.
330
00:27:14,247 --> 00:27:17,842
I don't know why you're so upset.
Stop that playing, Max.
331
00:27:18,007 --> 00:27:22,159
It seemed like a good idea
if we are to work together.
332
00:27:22,807 --> 00:27:26,686
I'm to fix your script. There's nothing
in the deal about staying here.
333
00:27:26,847 --> 00:27:29,964
- You'll like it here.
- I've my own apartment.
334
00:27:30,127 --> 00:27:32,402
You owe three months' rent.
335
00:27:32,567 --> 00:27:36,401
- I'll take care of that.
- It's all taken care of, all paid for.
336
00:27:38,767 --> 00:27:40,917
We'll deduct it from my salary.
337
00:27:41,607 --> 00:27:45,202
Let's not be small about such matters.
We won't keep books.
338
00:27:45,687 --> 00:27:50,317
- Unpack Mr Gillis's things.
- It is done, Madame.
339
00:27:50,487 --> 00:27:54,799
- Pack 'em up again. I'm not staying!
- Make up your mind.
340
00:27:54,967 --> 00:27:58,084
Do you want this job or don't you?
341
00:27:59,887 --> 00:28:03,562
I wanted the job and the dough
and to get out of there quickly.
342
00:28:05,687 --> 00:28:09,680
I thought if I got going
I could finish it in a couple of weeks.
343
00:28:09,847 --> 00:28:14,967
But it wasn; t so simple getting
coherence into her wild hallucinations.
344
00:28:15,127 --> 00:28:19,917
It was made tougher with her
around all the time, hovering over me,
345
00:28:20,087 --> 00:28:25,241
afraid l; d do injury
to that precious brainchild of hers.
346
00:28:29,967 --> 00:28:31,923
What's that?
347
00:28:32,087 --> 00:28:35,079
- Just a scene I threw out.
- Which scene?
348
00:28:35,247 --> 00:28:38,159
The slave market.
It's better to cut directly to...
349
00:28:38,327 --> 00:28:40,636
Cut away from me?
350
00:28:40,807 --> 00:28:44,163
It's too much of you.
They don't want you in every scene.
351
00:28:44,327 --> 00:28:49,162
Then why do they still write me fan
letters and beg for my photographs?
352
00:28:49,327 --> 00:28:53,115
Because they want to see me -
me, Norma Desmond.
353
00:28:53,287 --> 00:28:55,403
Put it back.
354
00:28:55,567 --> 00:28:58,320
OK.
355
00:29:10,167 --> 00:29:11,964
I didn; t argue with her.
356
00:29:12,127 --> 00:29:16,564
You don; t yell at a sleepwalker.
He may fall and break his neck.
357
00:29:16,727 --> 00:29:21,642
That; s it. She was still sleepwalking
along the giddy heights of a lost career.
358
00:29:21,807 --> 00:29:26,483
Plain crazy when it came
to that one subject: her celluloid self.
359
00:29:26,647 --> 00:29:28,956
The great Norma Desmond.
360
00:29:29,127 --> 00:29:33,439
How could she breathe in that house
so crowded with Norma Desmonds?
361
00:29:33,607 --> 00:29:39,762
More Norma Desmonds
and still more Norma Desmonds.
362
00:29:41,047 --> 00:29:43,277
It wasn; t all work, of course.
363
00:29:43,447 --> 00:29:46,883
Three times a week,
Max hauled up that painting
364
00:29:47,047 --> 00:29:50,005
presented to her by some
Nevada chamber of commerce.
365
00:29:50,807 --> 00:29:54,595
And we; d see a movie,
right in her living room.
366
00:29:54,767 --> 00:29:58,123
So much nicer than going out,
she; d say.
367
00:29:58,287 --> 00:30:02,166
The plain fact was
she was afraid of that world outside,
368
00:30:02,327 --> 00:30:06,320
afraid it would remind her
that time had passed.
369
00:30:07,447 --> 00:30:11,963
They were silent movies, and Max
would run the projection machine.
370
00:30:12,127 --> 00:30:13,879
Just as well.
371
00:30:14,047 --> 00:30:18,563
It kept him from giving us
an accompaniment on that organ.
372
00:30:20,167 --> 00:30:23,796
She; d sit very close to me,
and she; d smell of tuberoses.
373
00:30:23,967 --> 00:30:27,437
Not my favourite perfume,
not by a long shot.
374
00:30:27,607 --> 00:30:31,600
Sometimes as we watched,
she; d clutch my arm or my hand,
375
00:30:31,767 --> 00:30:33,837
forgetting she was my employer,
376
00:30:34,007 --> 00:30:39,923
just becoming a fan, excited about
that actress up there on the screen.
377
00:30:40,567 --> 00:30:44,003
I don; t have to tell you
who the star was.
378
00:30:44,167 --> 00:30:49,480
They were always her pictures.
That; s all she wanted to see.
379
00:31:13,727 --> 00:31:18,596
Still wonderful, isn't it?
And no dialogue.
380
00:31:18,767 --> 00:31:22,646
We didn't need dialogue.
We had faces.
381
00:31:22,807 --> 00:31:28,677
There just aren't any faces like
that any more. Maybe one, Garbo.
382
00:31:29,647 --> 00:31:34,437
Those idiot producers, those imbeciles!
Haven't they got eyes?
383
00:31:34,607 --> 00:31:37,201
Have they forgotten
what a star looks like?
384
00:31:37,367 --> 00:31:40,040
I'll be up there again, so help me!
385
00:31:49,887 --> 00:31:52,879
Sometimes there; d be
a little bridge game.
386
00:31:53,047 --> 00:31:57,165
With a twentieth of a cent a point.
l; d get half her winnings.
387
00:31:57,327 --> 00:32:02,799
Once they ran up to 70 cents, which
was about the only cash I ever got.
388
00:32:02,967 --> 00:32:05,720
The other players
would be actor friends,
389
00:32:05,887 --> 00:32:09,516
dim figures you may still remember
from the silent days.
390
00:32:09,687 --> 00:32:12,247
I thought of them as her waxworks.
391
00:32:12,407 --> 00:32:15,604
- One diamond.
- One heart.
392
00:32:17,367 --> 00:32:21,042
- A spade.
- Pass.
393
00:32:21,207 --> 00:32:24,324
- Three no trump.
- Pass.
394
00:32:24,487 --> 00:32:28,878
- Pass.
- Empty the ashtray, Joe, dear.
395
00:32:55,207 --> 00:32:57,801
- Some men outside ask for you.
- I'm not here.
396
00:32:57,967 --> 00:32:59,844
- That's what I said.
- Good.
397
00:33:00,007 --> 00:33:03,920
But they found your car and
they're going to tow it away.
398
00:33:04,087 --> 00:33:09,605
Where's the ashtray?
Joe, can't we have the ashtray?
399
00:33:14,967 --> 00:33:18,482
- I want to talk to you.
- Not now, I'm playing three no trump.
400
00:33:18,647 --> 00:33:20,638
They've come for my car.
401
00:33:20,807 --> 00:33:23,446
I've forgotten
how many spades are out!
402
00:33:23,607 --> 00:33:26,917
- I need money now.
- Can't you wait until I'm dummy?
403
00:33:27,087 --> 00:33:29,840
- No.
- Please.
404
00:34:03,047 --> 00:34:06,801
- Now, what is it? Where's the fire?
- I've lost my car.
405
00:34:06,967 --> 00:34:09,197
I thought it
was a matter of life and death.
406
00:34:09,367 --> 00:34:14,236
It is, to me. That's why I came to this
house and took this job, ghost-writing.
407
00:34:14,407 --> 00:34:17,922
You're being silly. We don't need
two cars, we have one.
408
00:34:18,087 --> 00:34:22,558
Not a cheap thing made of chromium
and spit: an Isotta Fraschini.
409
00:34:22,727 --> 00:34:25,195
Ever heard of Isotta Fraschinis?
410
00:34:25,367 --> 00:34:29,485
All handmade. Cost me $28,000.
411
00:34:31,607 --> 00:34:36,681
So Max got that old bus
off its blocks and polished it up.
412
00:34:36,847 --> 00:34:40,556
She; d take me for rides
in the hills above Sunset.
413
00:34:40,727 --> 00:34:43,605
The whole thing
was upholstered in leopard skin,
414
00:34:43,767 --> 00:34:47,396
and had one of those car phones,
all gold-plated.
415
00:34:49,567 --> 00:34:52,923
- That's a dreadful shirt.
- What's wrong with it?
416
00:34:53,087 --> 00:34:59,356
Nothing, for work in a filling station.
I'm bored with that jacket and pants.
417
00:35:00,887 --> 00:35:04,277
Max, what's the very best
man's shop in town?
418
00:35:04,447 --> 00:35:08,486
I don't need any clothes and
I don't want you buying them for me.
419
00:35:08,647 --> 00:35:12,879
Why begrudge me a little fun?
I just want you to look nice.
420
00:35:13,047 --> 00:35:16,244
And must you chew gum?
421
00:35:21,487 --> 00:35:24,638
There's nothing like
blue flannel for a man.
422
00:35:24,807 --> 00:35:26,604
This one, single-breasted.
423
00:35:26,767 --> 00:35:30,316
Now we need a topcoat.
Show me your camel's hair.
424
00:35:30,487 --> 00:35:33,081
- Evening clothes?
- I don't need a tuxedo.
425
00:35:33,247 --> 00:35:37,798
Of course you do. A tuxedo, tails
and, if you aren't careful, a cut-away.
426
00:35:37,967 --> 00:35:41,516
- Tails, that's ridiculous!
- For parties and New Year's Eve.
427
00:35:41,687 --> 00:35:45,362
- Where are your evening clothes?
- This way, madam.
428
00:35:48,247 --> 00:35:51,876
Here are some camel's hair,
but feel this, it's vicuņa.
429
00:35:52,047 --> 00:35:56,484
- It's a little more expensive.
- The camel's hair will do.
430
00:35:57,487 --> 00:36:02,322
Well, as long as the lady's paying
for it, why not take the vicuņa?
431
00:36:11,447 --> 00:36:14,803
The last week in December,
the rains came.
432
00:36:14,967 --> 00:36:21,281
A great package of rain. Oversized
like everything else in California.
433
00:36:21,447 --> 00:36:26,316
It came right through the old roof
of my room above the garage.
434
00:36:26,847 --> 00:36:29,805
She had Max move me
to the main house.
435
00:36:29,967 --> 00:36:32,356
I didn; t much like the idea.
436
00:36:32,527 --> 00:36:36,236
The only time
I had to myself was in that room.
437
00:36:36,407 --> 00:36:40,878
But, it was better than sleeping
in a raincoat and galoshes.
438
00:37:15,607 --> 00:37:19,680
- Whose room was this?
- The room of the husband.
439
00:37:19,847 --> 00:37:25,205
The husbands, I should say.
Madame's been married three times.
440
00:37:29,327 --> 00:37:35,084
I guess that's the one you can see
Catalina from, only this isn't the day.
441
00:37:46,967 --> 00:37:50,926
What's with the door?
There's no lock.
442
00:37:51,087 --> 00:37:55,399
There are no locks
anywhere in this house, sir.
443
00:37:59,647 --> 00:38:02,878
How come? There must be a reason.
444
00:38:03,047 --> 00:38:05,607
- The doctor suggested it.
- What doctor?
445
00:38:05,767 --> 00:38:10,716
Madame's doctor. Madame
has moments of melancholy.
446
00:38:10,887 --> 00:38:14,436
There have been
some attempts at suicide.
447
00:38:14,607 --> 00:38:18,316
We have to be very careful.
No sleeping pills, no razor blades.
448
00:38:18,487 --> 00:38:22,002
We shut off the gas
in Madame's bedroom.
449
00:38:22,167 --> 00:38:25,842
Why? Her career? She got enough
out of it. She's not forgotten.
450
00:38:26,007 --> 00:38:32,401
- She still gets those fan letters.
- Don't look closely at the postmarks.
451
00:38:33,607 --> 00:38:36,883
You send them. Is that it, Max?
452
00:38:37,047 --> 00:38:39,641
I'd better press
your evening clothes, sir.
453
00:38:39,807 --> 00:38:44,085
Mr Gillis has not forgotten
Madame's New Year's party?
454
00:38:44,247 --> 00:38:48,445
No, I haven't. I suppose
all the waxworks are coming?
455
00:38:48,607 --> 00:38:53,442
I wouldn't know, sir.
Madame made the arrangements.
456
00:39:10,807 --> 00:39:12,638
There it was again.
457
00:39:12,807 --> 00:39:17,005
That room of hers.
All satin and ruffles.
458
00:39:17,167 --> 00:39:19,761
And that bed like a gilded rowboat.
459
00:39:19,927 --> 00:39:25,638
The perfect setting
for a silent movie queen. Poor devil.
460
00:39:25,807 --> 00:39:30,801
Still waving proudly to a parade
which had long since passed her by.
461
00:39:33,807 --> 00:39:38,198
It was at her New Year; s party that
I found out how she felt about me.
462
00:39:38,367 --> 00:39:41,962
Maybe l; d been an idiot
not to have sensed it was coming.
463
00:39:42,127 --> 00:39:45,722
That sad, embarrassing revelation.
464
00:39:49,847 --> 00:39:52,156
Joe!
465
00:39:56,447 --> 00:40:00,406
You look absolutely divine.
Turn around.
466
00:40:00,567 --> 00:40:02,364
- Please!
- Come on.
467
00:40:02,527 --> 00:40:06,315
Perfect! Wonderful shoulders,
and I love that line.
468
00:40:06,487 --> 00:40:08,842
- It's padding, don't be fooled.
- Here.
469
00:40:09,527 --> 00:40:12,439
Dressing up was always
just wearing my dark blue suit.
470
00:40:12,607 --> 00:40:16,156
I don't like the stud.
I want you to have a luscious pearl.
471
00:40:16,327 --> 00:40:18,443
I'm not going to wear earrings.
472
00:40:19,647 --> 00:40:22,844
- Let's have a drink.
- Shouldn't we wait for the others?
473
00:40:23,007 --> 00:40:24,440
Max, champagne.
474
00:40:25,527 --> 00:40:28,439
Careful, it's slippery. I had it waxed.
475
00:40:30,247 --> 00:40:35,879
Here's to us! This floor
used to be wood, but I had it changed.
476
00:40:36,047 --> 00:40:41,724
Valentino said, "There's nothing
like tile for a tango." Come on.
477
00:40:41,887 --> 00:40:46,324
- Not on the same floor with Valentino.
- Just follow me.
478
00:41:02,807 --> 00:41:06,846
- Don't bend back like that.
- It's that thing, it tickles.
479
00:41:07,007 --> 00:41:08,998
It does?
480
00:41:32,567 --> 00:41:36,242
- It's 10.15. What time will they arrive?
- Who?
481
00:41:36,407 --> 00:41:38,602
- The other guests.
- There aren't any.
482
00:41:38,767 --> 00:41:43,283
We don't want to share this night
with others. This is for you and me.
483
00:41:43,447 --> 00:41:46,200
- Oh?
- Hold me tighter.
484
00:41:46,367 --> 00:41:47,686
OK.
485
00:41:49,127 --> 00:41:54,485
Come midnight, how about
smashing glasses over Max's head?
486
00:41:54,647 --> 00:41:58,162
- You think this is funny.
- A little.
487
00:42:05,367 --> 00:42:08,279
An hour dragged by.
488
00:42:08,447 --> 00:42:13,726
I felt caught like the cigarette
in that contraption on her finger.
489
00:42:17,167 --> 00:42:22,161
What a wonderful next year
it's going to be. What fun we'll have.
490
00:42:22,327 --> 00:42:27,003
I'll fill the pool or open my Malibu
house and you can have the ocean.
491
00:42:27,167 --> 00:42:31,763
When our picture's finished, I'll buy
you a boat and we'll sail to Hawaii...
492
00:42:31,927 --> 00:42:33,838
You won't buy me anything more.
493
00:42:34,007 --> 00:42:39,240
Don't be silly. Here. I was going
to give it to you at midnight.
494
00:42:41,367 --> 00:42:43,403
I can't take it.
You've bought me enough.
495
00:42:43,567 --> 00:42:48,561
Shut up! I'm rich, richer than
all this new Hollywood trash.
496
00:42:48,727 --> 00:42:50,445
I've got $1 million.
497
00:42:50,607 --> 00:42:57,922
I own three blocks downtown, I've got
oil in Bakersfield pumping, pumping.
498
00:42:58,087 --> 00:43:00,396
It's for buying us anything we want.
499
00:43:00,567 --> 00:43:04,560
- Cut out that "us" business.
- What's the matter with you?
500
00:43:04,727 --> 00:43:08,117
What right do you have
to take me for granted?
501
00:43:08,287 --> 00:43:11,120
What right? You want me to tell you?
502
00:43:13,047 --> 00:43:18,326
Have you thought I may have a life
of my own, a girl I'm crazy about?
503
00:43:19,127 --> 00:43:22,642
Who? Some car-hop or dress extra?
504
00:43:22,807 --> 00:43:25,241
I'm all wrong for you.
505
00:43:25,407 --> 00:43:29,002
You want a Valentino, somebody
with polo ponies, a big shot.
506
00:43:29,167 --> 00:43:35,606
What you're trying to say is you
don't want me to love you. Say it.
507
00:44:48,487 --> 00:44:52,924
I didn; t know where I was going.
I just had to get out of there.
508
00:44:53,087 --> 00:44:58,957
I had to be with people my own age.
I had to hear somebody laugh again.
509
00:45:00,167 --> 00:45:01,964
I thought of Artie Green.
510
00:45:02,127 --> 00:45:06,518
There had to be a New Year; s
shindig in his apartment.
511
00:45:06,687 --> 00:45:10,396
Writers without a job,
composers without a publisher,
512
00:45:10,567 --> 00:45:14,560
actresses so young they still
believed the guys in the casting office.
513
00:45:14,727 --> 00:45:19,721
A bunch of kids who didn; t give a hoot,
so long as they had a yuck to share.
514
00:45:21,127 --> 00:45:25,200
Hollywood for us ain; t been so good
Got no swimming pool
515
00:45:25,367 --> 00:45:32,079
Very few clothes
All we earn are buttons and bows
516
00:45:33,407 --> 00:45:34,965
- Hello, Joe.
- Tom.
517
00:45:35,127 --> 00:45:38,199
- How are you?
- Hi, Joe.
518
00:45:40,087 --> 00:45:42,726
- Whaddya know, Joe Gillis!
- Hi, Artie.
519
00:45:42,887 --> 00:45:47,915
Where you been keeping that gorgeous
face? I almost reported you missing.
520
00:45:48,087 --> 00:45:51,796
You all know Joe Gillis, the famous
screenwriter, uranium smuggler,
521
00:45:51,967 --> 00:45:54,276
and Black Dahlia suspect.
522
00:45:55,247 --> 00:45:57,522
- Give me your coat.
- Let it ride.
523
00:45:57,687 --> 00:45:59,917
- You are going to stay?
- Yes.
524
00:46:00,087 --> 00:46:03,796
Then come on. What is this, mink?
525
00:46:05,447 --> 00:46:10,362
Judas H Priest, who'd you borrow
that from? Adolphe Menjou?
526
00:46:10,527 --> 00:46:13,678
- Close, but no cigar.
- You're not really a smuggler?
527
00:46:13,847 --> 00:46:16,361
- Where's the bar?
- Come on.
528
00:46:19,127 --> 00:46:20,640
- Good party.
- The greatest.
529
00:46:20,807 --> 00:46:23,446
They call me the Elsa Maxwell
of the assistant directors.
530
00:46:23,607 --> 00:46:28,237
Go easy on that punchbowl. Budget
only calls for three drinks per extra.
531
00:46:28,407 --> 00:46:31,524
- Fake the rest.
- Can I stick around a while?
532
00:46:31,687 --> 00:46:35,316
- Sure. This'll go on all night.
- No, I mean a couple of weeks?
533
00:46:35,487 --> 00:46:38,160
- We've a vacancy on the couch.
- I'll take it.
534
00:46:38,327 --> 00:46:43,606
I'll have the bellhop take care
of your luggage. Just register it here.
535
00:46:45,007 --> 00:46:46,963
- Hello, Mr Gillis.
- Hello.
536
00:46:47,127 --> 00:46:50,802
- You know each other?
- Betty Schaefer, Sheldrake's office.
537
00:46:50,967 --> 00:46:53,527
- Sure, "Bases Loaded".
- Wait.
538
00:46:53,687 --> 00:46:56,440
This is the woman I love.
What's going on?
539
00:46:56,607 --> 00:46:58,916
She's a fan for my literary output.
540
00:46:59,087 --> 00:47:01,647
- Hurt feelings department.
- Where's the phone?
541
00:47:01,807 --> 00:47:04,196
Over by the rainbow room.
542
00:47:12,967 --> 00:47:16,676
When you're through
with that thing, can I have it?
543
00:47:19,607 --> 00:47:22,804
- Hey, you forgot this.
- Thanks.
544
00:47:22,967 --> 00:47:27,802
- I've been hoping to run into you.
- To recover your knife in my back?
545
00:47:27,967 --> 00:47:30,959
I felt guilty, so I got out
some of your old stories.
546
00:47:31,127 --> 00:47:35,245
- You sweet kid.
- One's called something "Window".
547
00:47:35,407 --> 00:47:40,162
- "Dark Windows". How'd you like it?
- I didn't, except for about six pages.
548
00:47:40,327 --> 00:47:42,795
You've got a flashback there...
549
00:47:42,967 --> 00:47:45,527
Is there someplace we can talk?
550
00:47:45,687 --> 00:47:48,281
How about the rainbow room?
551
00:47:48,807 --> 00:47:52,686
Joe, I said you could
have my couch, not my girl.
552
00:47:52,847 --> 00:47:54,758
This is shop talk.
553
00:47:55,727 --> 00:47:59,720
There's a short stretch of my fiction
you found worthy of notice?
554
00:47:59,887 --> 00:48:02,959
The flashback scene when she tells
about being a schoolteacher.
555
00:48:03,127 --> 00:48:06,483
- I had a teacher like that.
- Maybe that's why it's good.
556
00:48:06,647 --> 00:48:10,481
- It's true and moving. Why not?
- Who wants true and moving?
557
00:48:10,647 --> 00:48:13,320
Drop that attitude.
It's something worthwhile.
558
00:48:13,487 --> 00:48:16,718
- Shall I start now?
- Seriously. I've got ideas.
559
00:48:16,887 --> 00:48:21,244
I've got some, too.
This is New Year's Eve, let's live it up.
560
00:48:21,407 --> 00:48:25,685
For instance? We could make some
paper boats and have a regatta.
561
00:48:25,847 --> 00:48:29,806
- Or turn on the shower full blast.
- Or capture the kitchen.
562
00:48:29,967 --> 00:48:32,401
- Are you hungry?
- Hungry?
563
00:48:32,567 --> 00:48:36,640
After twelve years in the Burmese
jungle, I'm starving, Lady Agatha...
564
00:48:36,807 --> 00:48:40,402
...starving for a white shoulder.
- Phillip, you're mad.
565
00:48:40,567 --> 00:48:44,606
Thirsting for the coolness of your lips.
566
00:48:45,047 --> 00:48:48,084
You can have the phone now.
567
00:48:48,647 --> 00:48:50,842
No, Phillip, we must be strong.
568
00:48:51,007 --> 00:48:53,077
You're still wearing
the Coldstream Guards uniform,
569
00:48:53,247 --> 00:48:56,045
furthermore,
you can have the phone now.
570
00:48:56,207 --> 00:48:58,323
OK.
571
00:48:58,487 --> 00:49:00,876
Suddenly
I'm terribly afraid of losing you.
572
00:49:01,047 --> 00:49:04,437
You won't. I'll get us a refill
of this horrible liquid.
573
00:49:04,607 --> 00:49:08,395
- You'll be waiting for me?
- With a wildly beating heart.
574
00:49:08,567 --> 00:49:12,446
Life can be beautiful.
575
00:49:30,407 --> 00:49:33,046
Hello, Max. I need a favour.
576
00:49:33,807 --> 00:49:36,367
I'm sorry, I cannot talk now.
577
00:49:36,527 --> 00:49:42,124
Yes, you can. Put my old clothes
and my typewriter in my suitcase.
578
00:49:42,287 --> 00:49:47,486
- I'll have somebody pick them up.
- I've no time. The doctor is here.
579
00:49:48,607 --> 00:49:50,484
What doctor? What's going on?
580
00:49:50,647 --> 00:49:54,799
Madame got the razor
from your room and cut her wrists.
581
00:49:54,967 --> 00:49:58,482
What? Max! Max!
582
00:50:08,887 --> 00:50:10,320
I got the recipe.
583
00:50:10,487 --> 00:50:15,561
Two packages of cough drops
dissolved in warm grape juice...
584
00:50:21,847 --> 00:50:23,485
Hey, Joe!
585
00:50:31,207 --> 00:50:33,323
Happy New Year!
586
00:50:37,367 --> 00:50:40,245
- How is she?
- She's in her room.
587
00:50:40,407 --> 00:50:45,527
Be careful, don't race upstairs.
The musicians mustn't know.
588
00:51:27,807 --> 00:51:29,923
Go away.
589
00:51:38,927 --> 00:51:41,202
What silly thing was that to do?
590
00:51:41,367 --> 00:51:45,326
To fall in love
with you was the idiotic thing.
591
00:51:46,487 --> 00:51:49,240
Sure would've
made attractive headlines.
592
00:51:49,407 --> 00:51:51,762
"Great star kills herself
for unknown writer."
593
00:51:52,567 --> 00:51:56,799
Great stars have great pride.
594
00:52:01,087 --> 00:52:05,399
Go away. Go to that girl of yours.
595
00:52:09,487 --> 00:52:12,160
Look, I was making that up,
596
00:52:12,327 --> 00:52:16,002
because I thought
the whole thing was a mistake.
597
00:52:16,247 --> 00:52:19,956
I didn't want to hurt you.
You've been good to me.
598
00:52:20,127 --> 00:52:23,802
You're the only person
in this stinking town that has.
599
00:52:23,967 --> 00:52:27,198
Just say thank you and go.
Go, go!
600
00:52:27,367 --> 00:52:31,758
Not until you promise to act
like a sensible human being.
601
00:52:31,927 --> 00:52:34,999
I'll do it again. I'll do it again!
602
00:52:37,047 --> 00:52:40,084
I'll do it again.
603
00:53:29,007 --> 00:53:31,282
Happy New Year, Norma.
604
00:53:41,327 --> 00:53:44,637
Happy New Year, darling.
605
00:54:00,727 --> 00:54:05,278
- Hello.
- Is this Crest View 51733?
606
00:54:05,447 --> 00:54:09,645
I'm sorry to bother you again,
but I must speak to Mr Gillis.
607
00:54:09,807 --> 00:54:13,004
- He's not here.
- Where can I reach him?
608
00:54:13,167 --> 00:54:17,922
- Maybe somebody else could tell me.
- Nobody can give you any information.
609
00:54:18,087 --> 00:54:21,875
And you will please not call again.
610
00:54:22,847 --> 00:54:25,202
Max!
611
00:54:26,487 --> 00:54:29,957
Who was it, Max? What is it?
612
00:54:30,927 --> 00:54:35,842
Nothing, Madame. Somebody
enquiring about a stray dog.
613
00:54:36,007 --> 00:54:39,636
Our number must be similar
to the number of the pound.
614
00:54:40,407 --> 00:54:44,605
Wait. Get the car out
and take the script to Paramount.
615
00:54:44,767 --> 00:54:48,362
- Deliver it to Mr DeMille in person.
- Very good.
616
00:54:53,967 --> 00:54:57,516
- You're sending it to DeMille?
- Yes. This is the day.
617
00:54:57,687 --> 00:55:00,759
My astrologer read
DeMille's horoscope and mine.
618
00:55:00,927 --> 00:55:03,441
- She read the script?
- DeMille's Leo, I'm Scorpio.
619
00:55:03,607 --> 00:55:05,677
Mars has been transiting
Jupiter for weeks.
620
00:55:05,847 --> 00:55:09,681
Today is the day
of the greatest conjunction.
621
00:55:09,847 --> 00:55:12,805
Turn around, darling. Let me dry you.
622
00:55:14,927 --> 00:55:18,317
I hope you realise scripts don't sell
on astrologers' charts.
623
00:55:18,487 --> 00:55:20,557
It's not the script, I'm selling me.
624
00:55:20,727 --> 00:55:23,400
DeMille always said
I was his greatest star.
625
00:55:23,567 --> 00:55:26,240
When did he say it, Norma?
626
00:55:26,407 --> 00:55:31,276
All right, it was quite a few years ago.
But I've never looked better in my life.
627
00:55:31,447 --> 00:55:36,840
You know why? Because
I've never been as happy in my life.
628
00:55:39,607 --> 00:55:44,556
A few evenings later, we were visiting
one of the waxworks for bridge.
629
00:55:44,727 --> 00:55:50,165
She; d taught me bridge by then, just
as she; d taught me fancy tango steps,
630
00:55:50,327 --> 00:55:54,320
and what wine to drink with what fish.
631
00:55:55,287 --> 00:55:58,643
That idiot! He forgot
to fill my cigarette case.
632
00:55:58,807 --> 00:56:03,278
- Have one of mine.
- They're dreadful and make me cough.
633
00:56:06,007 --> 00:56:09,079
Pull up at the drugstore.
I'll get you some.
634
00:56:09,247 --> 00:56:11,761
You're a darling.
635
00:56:31,847 --> 00:56:36,204
Give me a package of those
Turkish cigarettes... Abdullas.
636
00:56:37,607 --> 00:56:41,361
Stick 'em up, Gillis,
or I'll let you have it.
637
00:56:42,687 --> 00:56:44,439
Hi, Artie. Evening, Miss Schaefer.
638
00:56:44,607 --> 00:56:48,566
- I'm so glad to see you.
- You walked out on the mob?
639
00:56:48,727 --> 00:56:52,322
Sorry about New Year's. Would you
believe I stayed with a sick friend?
640
00:56:52,487 --> 00:56:55,684
Someone in the formal set,
with a ten-carat kidney stone?
641
00:56:55,847 --> 00:56:58,805
Stop it. Where've you been
keeping yourself?
642
00:56:58,967 --> 00:57:04,121
- I've got wonderful news for you.
- I haven't been keeping myself at all.
643
00:57:04,287 --> 00:57:06,755
I called your agent,
the Screenwriters' Guild.
644
00:57:06,927 --> 00:57:09,077
Your apartment gave me
a Crest View number.
645
00:57:09,247 --> 00:57:13,206
There was someone with an accent
growling: you weren't there,
646
00:57:13,367 --> 00:57:14,959
they never heard of you.
647
00:57:15,127 --> 00:57:17,800
Is that so?
What's the wonderful news?
648
00:57:17,967 --> 00:57:20,720
- Sheldrake likes the teacher angle.
- What teacher?
649
00:57:20,887 --> 00:57:24,402
"Dark Windows". He thinks
it could be made into something.
650
00:57:24,567 --> 00:57:27,479
- Where's the cash?
- Where's the story?
651
00:57:27,647 --> 00:57:30,320
I bluffed it out with a few notions.
652
00:57:30,487 --> 00:57:32,398
- But it needs work.
- I feared so.
653
00:57:32,567 --> 00:57:35,479
I've got 20 pages
and a good male character.
654
00:57:35,647 --> 00:57:38,684
Write plenty of background
so they'll need an extra director.
655
00:57:38,847 --> 00:57:42,157
Shut up.
If we could get a story...
656
00:57:42,327 --> 00:57:45,205
I've given up writing on spec.
657
00:57:45,367 --> 00:57:49,042
- But this is half sold.
- In fact, I've given up writing.
658
00:57:49,207 --> 00:57:54,804
- Mr Gillis, if you please?
- I'll be right there.
659
00:57:54,967 --> 00:57:58,277
The accent! This guy's in the pay
of a foreign government.
660
00:57:58,447 --> 00:58:01,359
- Check those studs and cufflinks.
- I must go.
661
00:58:01,527 --> 00:58:05,440
- Thanks for the interest in my career.
- It's not yours, it's mine.
662
00:58:05,607 --> 00:58:07,598
I'd hoped to get in on this deal.
663
00:58:07,767 --> 00:58:10,839
I don't want to be a reader.
I want to write.
664
00:58:11,007 --> 00:58:14,158
- I'm sorry if I crossed you up.
- You sure have.
665
00:58:14,327 --> 00:58:16,363
So long.
666
00:58:26,047 --> 00:58:30,040
- It took you hours.
- I ran into some people I know.
667
00:58:30,207 --> 00:58:33,961
- Where are my cigarettes?
- Where are your?
668
00:58:35,047 --> 00:58:37,607
Norma, you're smoking too much.
669
00:58:40,287 --> 00:58:43,120
Whenever she suspected
I was getting bored,
670
00:58:43,287 --> 00:58:45,721
she; d put on a live show for me.
671
00:58:45,887 --> 00:58:48,196
The Norma Desmond Follies.
672
00:58:48,367 --> 00:58:52,440
Her first number was always
the Mack Sennett Bathing Beauty.
673
00:59:00,327 --> 00:59:05,003
I can still see myself in the line:
Marie Prevost, Mabel Normand.
674
00:59:05,167 --> 00:59:07,556
Mabel was always
stepping on my feet.
675
00:59:07,727 --> 00:59:11,276
What's the matter?
Why are you so glum?
676
00:59:11,447 --> 00:59:15,281
Nothing's the matter. I'm having
a great time. Show me some more.
677
00:59:15,447 --> 00:59:21,886
All right. Give me this. I need it for
a moustache. Now, close your eyes.
678
00:59:27,807 --> 00:59:30,446
Something was the matter all right.
679
00:59:30,607 --> 00:59:35,123
I was thinking about that girl
of Artie; s, that Miss Schaefer.
680
00:59:35,287 --> 00:59:38,836
She was like all writers
when we first hit Hollywood,
681
00:59:39,007 --> 00:59:42,886
itching with ambition,
planning to get your names up there:
682
00:59:43,047 --> 00:59:47,245
; ; Screenplay by; ;, ; ; Original story by;; .
683
00:59:49,047 --> 00:59:52,926
Audiences don; t know somebody
sits down and writes a picture.
684
00:59:53,087 --> 00:59:56,477
They think the actors
make it up as they go.
685
00:59:56,647 --> 00:59:59,923
Open your eyes.
686
01:00:31,287 --> 01:00:34,802
- Madame's wanted on the telephone.
- Don't interrupt me.
687
01:00:34,967 --> 01:00:36,844
- Paramount's calling.
- Who?
688
01:00:37,007 --> 01:00:39,601
Paramount Studios.
689
01:00:39,767 --> 01:00:43,442
Now do you believe me?
I told you DeMille would jump at it.
690
01:00:43,607 --> 01:00:47,646
It is not Mr DeMille in person,
it's someone named Gordon Cole.
691
01:00:47,807 --> 01:00:50,560
- He says it's very important.
- Certainly it is.
692
01:00:50,727 --> 01:00:52,718
Important enough for Mr DeMille
to call me personally.
693
01:00:52,887 --> 01:00:57,517
The idea of having some assistant
call me! Say I'm busy and hang up.
694
01:00:57,687 --> 01:01:00,042
Very good, Madame.
695
01:01:05,247 --> 01:01:08,717
How do you like that?
We've made 12 pictures together.
696
01:01:08,887 --> 01:01:10,764
His greatest successes!
697
01:01:10,927 --> 01:01:13,999
- Maybe he's busy shooting.
- I know that trick!
698
01:01:14,167 --> 01:01:17,477
He's trying to belittle me,
to get my price down.
699
01:01:17,647 --> 01:01:23,119
I've waited 20 years for this.
DeMille can wait till I'm good and ready.
700
01:01:26,727 --> 01:01:29,958
About three days later,
she was good and ready.
701
01:01:30,127 --> 01:01:32,516
Incredibly, there; d been some more
702
01:01:32,687 --> 01:01:35,645
of those urgent calls
from Paramount.
703
01:01:35,807 --> 01:01:40,039
So she put on about half a pound
of make-up, fixed it up with a veil,
704
01:01:40,207 --> 01:01:43,597
and set forth
to see DeMille in person.
705
01:01:45,527 --> 01:01:51,124
Madame will pardon me, the shadow
over the left eye is not quite balanced.
706
01:01:51,287 --> 01:01:53,562
Thank you, Max.
707
01:02:07,087 --> 01:02:09,726
Hold that noise!
708
01:02:10,167 --> 01:02:13,876
- Hey!
- To see Mr DeMille, open the gate.
709
01:02:14,047 --> 01:02:16,402
He's shooting. Got an appointment?
710
01:02:16,567 --> 01:02:18,444
No appointment necessary.
711
01:02:18,607 --> 01:02:21,838
- I'm bringing Norma Desmond.
- Norma who?
712
01:02:22,007 --> 01:02:26,319
- Norma Desmond.
- Jonesy, hey, Jonesy.
713
01:02:26,487 --> 01:02:31,607
Yeah? Why, if it isn't Miss Desmond!
714
01:02:31,767 --> 01:02:34,804
- How've you been, Miss Desmond?
- Open the gate.
715
01:02:34,967 --> 01:02:39,040
- Sure, Miss Desmond. Come on.
- They can't enter without a pass.
716
01:02:39,207 --> 01:02:42,279
Miss Desmond can. Come on.
717
01:02:51,207 --> 01:02:53,675
- Where's Mr DeMille shooting?
- Stage 18.
718
01:02:53,847 --> 01:02:56,998
Thank you, Jonesy.
And teach your friend some manners.
719
01:02:57,167 --> 01:03:00,876
Without me he'd have no job,
because there'd be no Paramount.
720
01:03:01,047 --> 01:03:05,325
- You're right, Miss Desmond.
- Go on, Max.
721
01:03:12,247 --> 01:03:13,726
Stage 18.
722
01:03:14,647 --> 01:03:20,677
All right, notify Henry Wilcoxon.
Spread that out so I can see it.
723
01:03:22,407 --> 01:03:24,637
Keep quiet back there!
724
01:03:24,807 --> 01:03:27,640
Norma Desmond's
coming to see Mr DeMille.
725
01:03:27,807 --> 01:03:32,085
Hit that with a light, somebody,
so I can get a look at that scape.
726
01:03:32,247 --> 01:03:36,684
Back up a little. Get out of the way!
You fellow at the back.
727
01:03:36,847 --> 01:03:38,917
Norma Desmond's
coming to see Mr DeMille.
728
01:03:39,087 --> 01:03:41,476
Norma Desmond?
729
01:03:42,247 --> 01:03:44,966
- Wait a minute.
- Harry Wilcoxon?
730
01:03:45,127 --> 01:03:49,757
Draw your sword and raise that drape
with it. Samson's lying over here.
731
01:03:49,927 --> 01:03:53,317
Norma Desmond's coming in
to see you, Mr DeMille.
732
01:03:53,487 --> 01:03:57,036
- Norma Desmond?
- She must be a million years old.
733
01:03:57,207 --> 01:04:00,563
Where does that put me?
I could be her father.
734
01:04:00,727 --> 01:04:05,642
- Sorry, Mr DeMille.
- It must be about her awful script.
735
01:04:05,807 --> 01:04:07,957
What can I tell her?
736
01:04:08,127 --> 01:04:12,245
I can tell her you're in the projection
room, give her the brush.
737
01:04:12,407 --> 01:04:15,638
Thirty million fans gave her
the brush. Isn't that enough?
738
01:04:15,807 --> 01:04:18,002
- I didn't mean...
- Of course not.
739
01:04:18,167 --> 01:04:22,160
You didn't know Norma Desmond
as a lovely girl of 17,
740
01:04:22,327 --> 01:04:26,923
with more courage and wit and heart
than ever in one youngster.
741
01:04:27,087 --> 01:04:31,285
- I hear she was a terror to work with.
- Only toward the end.
742
01:04:31,447 --> 01:04:34,837
A dozen press agents
working overtime
743
01:04:35,007 --> 01:04:38,795
can do terrible things
to the human spirit.
744
01:04:39,767 --> 01:04:41,405
Hold it.
745
01:04:47,127 --> 01:04:50,961
- Don't you want to come along?
- It's your script, your show.
746
01:04:51,127 --> 01:04:54,005
- Good luck.
- Thank you, dearest.
747
01:04:56,967 --> 01:04:58,844
Well, hello, young fellow.
748
01:04:59,007 --> 01:05:01,965
- Hello, Mr DeMille.
- Good to see you.
749
01:05:02,127 --> 01:05:04,561
I saw you last someplace very gay.
750
01:05:04,727 --> 01:05:07,287
I remember I was dancing on a table.
751
01:05:07,447 --> 01:05:12,885
A lot of people were. Lindbergh
had just landed in Paris. Come on in.
752
01:05:14,767 --> 01:05:17,998
Norma, I must apologise
for not calling you.
753
01:05:18,167 --> 01:05:19,759
You'd better, I'm very angry.
754
01:05:19,927 --> 01:05:23,237
- You can see I'm terribly busy.
- That's no excuse.
755
01:05:23,407 --> 01:05:26,797
- You read the script, of course?
- Yes.
756
01:05:26,967 --> 01:05:31,119
You could've called me yourself,
instead of leaving it to an assistant.
757
01:05:31,287 --> 01:05:36,202
- What assistant?
- Don't play innocent. Gordon Cole.
758
01:05:36,367 --> 01:05:37,686
Gordon Cole?
759
01:05:37,847 --> 01:05:40,236
If you hadn't been pretty interested,
760
01:05:40,407 --> 01:05:45,606
he wouldn't have tried to get me
on the telephone ten times.
761
01:05:45,767 --> 01:05:47,997
I'm in the middle of a rehearsal.
762
01:05:48,167 --> 01:05:52,399
Why don't you sit in my chair
and make yourself comfortable?
763
01:05:52,567 --> 01:05:57,357
- Thank you.
- That's the girl. I won't be a moment.
764
01:05:57,527 --> 01:06:01,520
Bring me a telephone
and get me Gordon Cole.
765
01:06:15,767 --> 01:06:18,964
Hey, Miss Desmond.
766
01:06:19,607 --> 01:06:26,445
- Miss Desmond, it's me, Hog-eye.
- Hello, Hog-eye.
767
01:06:29,127 --> 01:06:32,164
Let's get a good look at you.
768
01:06:34,207 --> 01:06:36,118
Look, there's Norma Desmond.
769
01:06:36,287 --> 01:06:38,926
Norma Desmond!
770
01:06:39,087 --> 01:06:41,521
- Norma Desmond!
- I thought she was dead.
771
01:06:41,687 --> 01:06:45,202
- How nice to see you!
- Welcome home. Remember me?
772
01:06:45,367 --> 01:06:48,677
Of course I do. Hello, Patsy.
773
01:06:48,847 --> 01:06:52,522
- Have you met Miss Desmond?
- It's a great pleasure.
774
01:06:52,687 --> 01:06:56,919
Gordon, this is C B DeMille. Have
you been calling Norma Desmond?
775
01:06:57,087 --> 01:07:01,205
Yes, Mr DeMille. It's that car of hers,
an old Isotta Fraschini.
776
01:07:01,367 --> 01:07:05,042
Her chauffeur drove it here the other
day. It's perfect for the Crosby picture.
777
01:07:05,207 --> 01:07:10,406
- We want to rent it for two weeks.
- Oh, I see.
778
01:07:10,567 --> 01:07:13,525
Well, thank you very much,
thank you.
779
01:07:28,127 --> 01:07:32,484
Hog-eye,
turn that light back where it belongs.
780
01:07:45,927 --> 01:07:49,203
Well, I got hold of Gordon Cole.
781
01:07:49,367 --> 01:07:51,801
Did you see how they came?
782
01:07:51,967 --> 01:07:56,597
You know, some crazy things
happen in this business, Norma.
783
01:07:56,767 --> 01:08:00,601
I hope you haven't lost
your sense of humour.
784
01:08:00,767 --> 01:08:03,281
- What's the matter?
- Nothing.
785
01:08:03,447 --> 01:08:07,281
I didn't realise what it would be like
coming back to the studio.
786
01:08:07,447 --> 01:08:11,122
- I'd no idea how much I missed it.
- We've missed you, too.
787
01:08:11,287 --> 01:08:14,279
We'll be working again.
We'll make our greatest picture.
788
01:08:14,447 --> 01:08:17,917
- I want to talk to you about that.
- Isn't it a good script?
789
01:08:18,087 --> 01:08:23,719
It has some good things in it, but
it would be a very expensive picture.
790
01:08:23,887 --> 01:08:25,684
I don't care.
791
01:08:25,847 --> 01:08:30,159
I want to work again. You don't know
what it means knowing you want me.
792
01:08:30,327 --> 01:08:34,115
Nothing would please me more
if it were possible.
793
01:08:34,287 --> 01:08:38,041
Remember, I don't work before
10 a.m. and never after 4.30 p.m.
794
01:08:38,847 --> 01:08:41,998
- We're ready, Mr DeMille.
- All right.
795
01:08:42,167 --> 01:08:49,164
Why don't you sit here and watch?
Pictures have changed quite a bit.
796
01:08:49,327 --> 01:08:51,397
All right, let's go.
797
01:08:51,767 --> 01:08:53,883
Hit 'em all.
798
01:08:55,167 --> 01:08:58,443
Roll 'em. Speed.
799
01:09:06,807 --> 01:09:10,004
You see those offices there, Mr Gillis?
800
01:09:11,127 --> 01:09:15,200
They used to be Madame's
dressing-room. The whole row.
801
01:09:15,447 --> 01:09:17,517
That didn't leave much
for Wallace Reid.
802
01:09:17,687 --> 01:09:20,599
He had a great
big bungalow on wheels.
803
01:09:20,767 --> 01:09:25,887
I had the upstairs. You see where it
says "Readers Department"?
804
01:09:26,047 --> 01:09:30,962
I remember my walls were
covered with black patent leather.
805
01:09:38,327 --> 01:09:41,080
I'll be with you in a minute.
806
01:09:52,287 --> 01:09:56,803
Here's that funny car Cole was
talking about. Can we look it over?
807
01:09:56,967 --> 01:09:59,640
What's so funny about it?
808
01:10:05,567 --> 01:10:10,277
If there's anything in "Dark Windows"
you can use, take it, it's all yours.
809
01:10:10,447 --> 01:10:13,325
For heaven's sakes!
Come in, have a chair.
810
01:10:13,487 --> 01:10:17,275
- I mean it. Help yourself.
- Why should you do that?
811
01:10:17,447 --> 01:10:21,565
You get $100,000, buy me chocolates;
an Oscar, I get the left foot.
812
01:10:21,727 --> 01:10:25,561
I would do that, but I'm not
good enough to do it alone.
813
01:10:25,727 --> 01:10:29,800
- What about those ideas you had?
- See if they make sense.
814
01:10:29,967 --> 01:10:34,324
First, throw out all that psychological
mess, exploring the killer's sick mind.
815
01:10:34,847 --> 01:10:36,565
Psychopaths sell like hot cakes.
816
01:10:36,727 --> 01:10:39,639
This is a story about teachers,
their threadbare lives.
817
01:10:39,807 --> 01:10:43,038
She teaches day classes
while he teaches night school.
818
01:10:43,207 --> 01:10:45,004
The first time they meet...
819
01:10:45,167 --> 01:10:48,045
- I haven't time to listen.
- I'll make it short.
820
01:10:48,207 --> 01:10:51,040
- It's your baby.
- Couldn't we work evenings?
821
01:10:51,207 --> 01:10:54,722
Six in the morning? This month
I'm completely at your disposal.
822
01:10:54,887 --> 01:10:57,845
- Artie's out of town.
- What's Artie to do with it?
823
01:10:58,007 --> 01:11:01,716
- We're engaged.
- Good for you.
824
01:11:01,887 --> 01:11:04,401
- You couldn't find a nicer guy.
- I agree.
825
01:11:04,567 --> 01:11:07,320
They're on location in Arizona
making a Western.
826
01:11:07,487 --> 01:11:12,515
I'm free every evening and weekend.
We could work at your place.
827
01:11:12,687 --> 01:11:16,885
It can't be done. Stop being
chicken-hearted and write that story.
828
01:11:17,047 --> 01:11:19,925
- I hate you.
- Don't make it too dreary.
829
01:11:20,087 --> 01:11:23,682
How about this? She teaches
daytimes, he teaches at night.
830
01:11:23,847 --> 01:11:27,476
They don't know each other
but share a room. It's cheaper.
831
01:11:27,647 --> 01:11:31,765
They sleep in the same bed.
In shifts, of course.
832
01:11:31,927 --> 01:11:34,760
Are you kidding? I think it's good.
833
01:11:34,927 --> 01:11:37,919
- So do I.
- Let me show you where it fits in.
834
01:11:38,087 --> 01:11:40,999
- So long.
- Oh, you...
835
01:11:46,127 --> 01:11:47,446
What?
836
01:11:47,607 --> 01:11:51,520
I found out the reason for those
telephone calls from Paramount.
837
01:11:51,687 --> 01:11:55,566
It's not Madame they want,
it's her car they want to rent.
838
01:11:55,727 --> 01:11:57,843
What?
839
01:12:00,007 --> 01:12:03,124
Goodbye, Norma.
We'll see what we can do.
840
01:12:03,287 --> 01:12:07,917
I'm not worried. The old team
together again. Nothing can stop us.
841
01:12:08,087 --> 01:12:11,124
The old team? Yeah.
842
01:12:12,167 --> 01:12:15,159
- Goodbye, dear.
- Goodbye, Mr DeMille.
843
01:12:23,287 --> 01:12:26,484
- How'd it go?
- It couldn't have gone better.
844
01:12:26,647 --> 01:12:30,162
He has to finish this picture first.
Mine will be next.
845
01:12:31,847 --> 01:12:36,125
Get Gordon Cole.
Tell him to forget about her car.
846
01:12:36,287 --> 01:12:39,006
Say he can get
another old car someplace.
847
01:12:39,167 --> 01:12:42,443
I'll buy him five old cars if necessary.
848
01:12:48,887 --> 01:12:51,355
After that, an army of beauty experts
849
01:12:51,527 --> 01:12:54,644
invaded her house
on Sunset Boulevard.
850
01:12:54,807 --> 01:12:57,765
She went through
a merciless series of treatments.
851
01:12:57,927 --> 01:13:01,681
Like an athlete training for the Olympics,
she counted every calorie,
852
01:13:01,847 --> 01:13:04,077
went to bed every night at nine.
853
01:13:04,247 --> 01:13:07,444
She was absolutely
determined to be ready,
854
01:13:07,607 --> 01:13:10,644
ready for those cameras
that would never turn.
855
01:13:45,687 --> 01:13:48,076
- Darling, are you there?
- Yes.
856
01:13:48,247 --> 01:13:52,638
Don't turn around.
Keep your eyes on the book.
857
01:13:53,527 --> 01:13:57,202
I just came to say goodnight.
You mustn't see me.
858
01:13:57,367 --> 01:14:00,245
- I'm not very attractive.
- Goodnight.
859
01:14:00,407 --> 01:14:03,160
- I've lost half a pound.
- Good.
860
01:14:03,327 --> 01:14:07,036
I was worried about my throat.
This woman's done wonders.
861
01:14:07,207 --> 01:14:11,803
- Good.
- You'd better get to bed yourself.
862
01:14:11,967 --> 01:14:17,803
- I think I'll read a little longer.
- You went out last night, didn't you?
863
01:14:17,967 --> 01:14:20,401
- Why do you say that?
- I know.
864
01:14:20,567 --> 01:14:24,799
I had a nightmare and screamed
for you. Where were you?
865
01:14:24,967 --> 01:14:29,438
- I went for a walk.
- No, you didn't. You took the car.
866
01:14:29,607 --> 01:14:34,635
I drove to the beach. You don't
want me to feel I'm locked up here?
867
01:14:34,807 --> 01:14:38,641
Of course not.
I just don't want to be left alone.
868
01:14:38,807 --> 01:14:42,800
Not while I'm under this strain.
My nerves are torn to shreds.
869
01:14:42,967 --> 01:14:47,643
All I ask is for you to be
a little patient and a little kind.
870
01:14:48,927 --> 01:14:53,205
- I haven't done anything.
- Of course you haven't.
871
01:14:53,367 --> 01:14:57,042
I wouldn't let you. Goodnight, darling.
872
01:15:24,967 --> 01:15:29,677
Yes, I was playing hookey
every evening along in there.
873
01:15:29,847 --> 01:15:35,604
It reminded me of being twelve,
sneaking out to see a gangster film.
874
01:15:35,767 --> 01:15:40,716
This time, it wasn; t to see a picture,
it was to try and write one.
875
01:15:40,887 --> 01:15:42,798
That story Betty Schaefer dug up
876
01:15:42,967 --> 01:15:46,960
kept going through my head
like a dozen locomotives.
877
01:15:47,127 --> 01:15:52,520
So we started working on it,
nights when the studio was deserted,
878
01:15:52,687 --> 01:15:55,759
up in her little cubby-hole of an office.
879
01:16:10,727 --> 01:16:13,002
I got the funniest letter from Artie.
880
01:16:13,167 --> 01:16:15,886
It's rained every day
since they got there.
881
01:16:16,047 --> 01:16:19,722
They rewrote the whole picture
for rain and shot half.
882
01:16:20,367 --> 01:16:23,359
Now the sun's out,
nobody knows when they'll get back.
883
01:16:23,527 --> 01:16:27,440
- Good.
- Why good? I miss him terribly.
884
01:16:27,607 --> 01:16:30,804
- I mean this good dialogue will play.
- It will?
885
01:16:30,967 --> 01:16:35,119
Sure, especially with lots of music
drowning it out.
886
01:16:35,287 --> 01:16:39,439
- Don't you sometimes hate yourself?
- Constantly.
887
01:16:39,607 --> 01:16:42,405
In all seriousness, this is really good.
888
01:16:42,567 --> 01:16:46,321
- It's fun writing with you.
- Oh, thanks.
889
01:16:59,647 --> 01:17:03,845
- Who's Norma?
- Who's who?
890
01:17:04,007 --> 01:17:07,238
I'm sorry, I don't usually read
private cigarette cases.
891
01:17:07,407 --> 01:17:11,764
Oh, that. It's from a friend of mine.
892
01:17:11,927 --> 01:17:15,283
A middle-aged lady,
very foolish and very generous.
893
01:17:15,447 --> 01:17:17,517
I'll say, this is solid gold.
894
01:17:17,687 --> 01:17:20,281
I gave her advice on an idiotic script.
895
01:17:20,447 --> 01:17:24,645
The old familiar story. You help
a timid soul across a crowded street.
896
01:17:24,807 --> 01:17:29,039
She turns out to be a multi-millionaire
and leaves you all her money.
897
01:17:29,207 --> 01:17:32,438
That's the trouble with you readers.
You know all the plots.
898
01:17:32,607 --> 01:17:36,316
Now suppose you proofread
page ten while the water boils, OK?
899
01:17:36,487 --> 01:17:38,842
OK.
900
01:18:00,327 --> 01:18:03,319
Sometimes when we got stuck,
901
01:18:03,487 --> 01:18:06,320
we; d make a little tour
of the drowsing lot.
902
01:18:06,487 --> 01:18:11,845
Not talking much, just wandering
down alleys between the stages,
903
01:18:12,007 --> 01:18:16,046
or through the sets they were getting
ready for the next day; s shooting.
904
01:18:16,207 --> 01:18:21,361
In fact, it was on one of those walks
when she told me about her nose.
905
01:18:21,527 --> 01:18:23,279
Look at this street.
906
01:18:23,447 --> 01:18:27,759
All cardboard, all hollow,
all phoney, all done with mirrors.
907
01:18:27,927 --> 01:18:31,761
I like it better
than any street in the world.
908
01:18:31,927 --> 01:18:35,761
Maybe because
I used to play here when I was a kid.
909
01:18:35,927 --> 01:18:37,963
Were you a child actress?
910
01:18:38,127 --> 01:18:42,803
No, I was born two blocks from
the studio, Lemon Grove Avenue.
911
01:18:42,967 --> 01:18:46,516
My father was head electrician here.
Mother still works in wardrobe.
912
01:18:46,687 --> 01:18:48,917
- Second generation, huh?
- Third.
913
01:18:49,087 --> 01:18:52,682
Grandma did stunt work for Pearl
White. I'm from a picture family.
914
01:18:52,847 --> 01:18:54,997
They expected me to become a star.
915
01:18:55,167 --> 01:18:59,285
So I had ten years of dramatic
lessons, diction, dancing.
916
01:18:59,447 --> 01:19:03,235
Then the studio made a test.
They didn't like my nose.
917
01:19:03,407 --> 01:19:06,797
Slanted this way a little.
So I had it fixed.
918
01:19:06,967 --> 01:19:10,926
Then they loved my nose,
only they didn't like my acting.
919
01:19:14,847 --> 01:19:18,806
- Nice job.
- It should be, it cost $300.
920
01:19:18,967 --> 01:19:21,197
- That's sad.
- Not at all.
921
01:19:21,367 --> 01:19:25,519
It taught me sense. I worked up
from the mail room to being reader.
922
01:19:25,687 --> 01:19:29,965
Come clean. At night you weep
for the lost close-ups, those galas.
923
01:19:30,127 --> 01:19:33,836
Not once. What's wrong with being
the other side of the cameras?
924
01:19:34,007 --> 01:19:37,841
- It's really more fun.
- Three cheers for Betty Schaefer.
925
01:19:38,007 --> 01:19:43,923
- I will now kiss that nose of yours.
- If you please.
926
01:19:45,687 --> 01:19:48,406
May I say that you smell real special?
927
01:19:48,567 --> 01:19:53,846
- Must be my new shampoo.
- That's no shampoo.
928
01:19:54,007 --> 01:19:57,204
It's more like freshly laundered
linen handkerchiefs,
929
01:19:57,367 --> 01:20:00,325
like a brand-new automobile.
930
01:20:00,487 --> 01:20:04,002
- How old are you?
- 22.
931
01:20:04,167 --> 01:20:09,195
Smart girl. Nothing like being 22.
932
01:20:09,367 --> 01:20:15,203
May I suggest, if we're ever to finish
this story, stay at least two feet away.
933
01:20:15,367 --> 01:20:18,325
The first time
you see me coming any closer,
934
01:20:18,487 --> 01:20:21,638
clunk me on the head with a shoe.
935
01:20:21,807 --> 01:20:27,279
Now, back to the typewriters,
by way of Washington Square.
936
01:21:10,207 --> 01:21:14,758
What is it, Max?
Want to wash the car?
937
01:21:14,927 --> 01:21:17,805
Or are you spying in your off hours?
938
01:21:17,967 --> 01:21:22,643
Be careful as you cross the patio.
Madame may be watching.
939
01:21:22,807 --> 01:21:26,766
How about going up the kitchen stairs
and undressing in the dark?
940
01:21:26,927 --> 01:21:29,680
I'm not enquiring
where Mr Gillis goes every night.
941
01:21:29,847 --> 01:21:35,444
Why don't you? I'm writing a script
and I'm going to finish it!
942
01:21:35,607 --> 01:21:39,759
It's just that I am greatly
worried about Madame.
943
01:21:39,927 --> 01:21:43,442
Sure you are.
And we're not helping her any.
944
01:21:43,607 --> 01:21:48,123
Feeding her lies and more lies,
getting herself ready for a picture.
945
01:21:48,287 --> 01:21:52,803
- What happens when she finds out?
- She never will.
946
01:21:52,967 --> 01:21:57,199
That is my job
and it has been for a long time.
947
01:21:57,367 --> 01:22:03,237
Understand, I discovered her when
she was sixteen. I made her a star.
948
01:22:03,407 --> 01:22:07,161
I cannot let her be destroyed.
949
01:22:07,327 --> 01:22:13,277
- You made her a star?
- Yes, I directed all her early films.
950
01:22:13,447 --> 01:22:17,201
There were three young directors
who showed promise in those days.
951
01:22:17,367 --> 01:22:22,646
D W Griffith, Cecil B DeMille
and Max Von Mayerling.
952
01:22:24,527 --> 01:22:26,677
And she's turned you into a servant.
953
01:22:26,847 --> 01:22:31,079
It was I who asked to come back,
humiliating as it may seem.
954
01:22:31,247 --> 01:22:33,841
I could've continued my career,
955
01:22:34,007 --> 01:22:38,956
only I found everything
unendurable after she'd left me.
956
01:22:39,127 --> 01:22:43,882
You see, I was her first husband.
957
01:23:09,847 --> 01:23:12,407
You're here, Joe.
958
01:23:13,127 --> 01:23:15,243
When did you come home?
959
01:23:19,367 --> 01:23:24,282
Oh, Joe, where were you?
Is it a woman?
960
01:23:24,447 --> 01:23:28,884
I know it's a woman. Who is she?
Why can't I ask you?
961
01:23:29,047 --> 01:23:32,039
I must know.
962
01:24:22,887 --> 01:24:25,196
What's the matter?
963
01:24:27,327 --> 01:24:32,242
Betty, wake up.
Why are you staring at me like that?
964
01:24:32,407 --> 01:24:35,319
Oh, was I? I'm sorry.
965
01:24:35,487 --> 01:24:37,955
What's wrong with you tonight?
966
01:24:38,127 --> 01:24:40,721
- What is it?
- Something came up.
967
01:24:40,887 --> 01:24:44,721
- I don't want to talk about it.
- Why not?
968
01:24:50,807 --> 01:24:53,321
I just don't.
969
01:25:00,407 --> 01:25:05,197
What have you heard?
Come on, let's have it.
970
01:25:05,367 --> 01:25:08,837
Is it about me?
971
01:25:19,687 --> 01:25:24,681
Betty, there's no use running out on it.
Let's face it, whatever it is.
972
01:25:24,847 --> 01:25:31,036
- I got a telegram from Artie.
- From Artie? What's wrong?
973
01:25:31,207 --> 01:25:33,960
He wants me to come on to Arizona.
974
01:25:34,127 --> 01:25:38,723
He says it only costs two dollars
to get married there.
975
01:25:38,887 --> 01:25:41,606
It would save us a honeymoon.
976
01:25:41,767 --> 01:25:47,125
Why don't you? We can finish
the script by Thursday.
977
01:25:47,287 --> 01:25:50,643
Stop crying. You're getting married.
That's what you wanted.
978
01:25:50,807 --> 01:25:53,765
I don't want it now.
979
01:25:53,927 --> 01:26:00,400
- Why not, don't you love Artie?
- Course I love him. I always will.
980
01:26:00,567 --> 01:26:05,402
I'm not in love with him
any more, that's all.
981
01:26:05,567 --> 01:26:07,637
What happened?
982
01:26:08,527 --> 01:26:11,041
You did.
983
01:26:22,807 --> 01:26:25,799
It wasn; t until I got back
to my peculiar prison
984
01:26:25,967 --> 01:26:29,118
that I started facing the facts.
985
01:26:30,287 --> 01:26:35,645
There it was. Betty Schaefer; s future
right in the palm of my hand.
986
01:26:35,807 --> 01:26:40,801
Betty Schaefer engaged to Artie
Green, as nice a guy as ever lived,
987
01:26:40,967 --> 01:26:45,040
and she was in love with me - me.
988
01:26:56,567 --> 01:27:00,719
She was a fool not to sense there
was something phoney in my set-up.
989
01:27:00,887 --> 01:27:03,959
I was a heel not to have told her.
990
01:27:04,127 --> 01:27:08,917
But you just can; t say those things
to somebody you; re crazy about.
991
01:27:09,087 --> 01:27:14,002
Maybe I could get away with it,
get away from Norma.
992
01:27:14,167 --> 01:27:18,797
Maybe I could wipe
the whole nasty mess out of my life.
993
01:27:26,207 --> 01:27:29,517
Hello, is this Gladstone 9281?
994
01:27:29,687 --> 01:27:33,839
May I speak to Miss Betty Schaefer?
She must be home by now.
995
01:27:34,407 --> 01:27:39,561
Hey, Betty, here's that
weird-sounding woman again.
996
01:27:39,727 --> 01:27:44,755
Well, what is this anyway?
This is Betty Schaefer.
997
01:27:44,927 --> 01:27:49,205
Forgive me for calling so late,
but I feel it's my duty.
998
01:27:49,367 --> 01:27:53,997
It's about Mr Gillis.
You do know Mr Gillis?
999
01:27:54,167 --> 01:27:58,001
Exactly how much
do you know about him?
1000
01:27:58,167 --> 01:28:04,720
Do you know where he lives,
how he lives, what he lives on?
1001
01:28:05,247 --> 01:28:09,206
Who are you? What do you want?
What business is it of yours?
1002
01:28:09,367 --> 01:28:13,406
Miss Schaefer,
I'm trying to do you a favour
1003
01:28:13,567 --> 01:28:17,003
and spare you a great deal of misery.
1004
01:28:17,167 --> 01:28:21,763
You may be too young to even
suspect there are men of his sort.
1005
01:28:21,927 --> 01:28:25,715
I don't know what he's said,
but he does not live with relatives,
1006
01:28:25,887 --> 01:28:30,039
nor with friends
in the usual sense of the word.
1007
01:28:30,207 --> 01:28:33,324
Ask him. Ask him again.
1008
01:28:38,007 --> 01:28:41,158
That's right, Betty,
ask me again. This is Joe.
1009
01:28:41,687 --> 01:28:45,805
Joe, where are you?
What is this all about?
1010
01:28:47,607 --> 01:28:51,077
Better yet,
come out and see for yourself.
1011
01:28:51,247 --> 01:28:56,480
The address is
10086 Sunset Boulevard.
1012
01:29:09,847 --> 01:29:13,556
Don't hate me, Joe.
I did it because I need you.
1013
01:29:13,727 --> 01:29:17,959
I need you as I've never needed
you before. Look at me.
1014
01:29:18,127 --> 01:29:22,439
Look at my hands,
my face, under my eyes.
1015
01:29:22,607 --> 01:29:25,519
How can I work if I'm wasting away
under this torment?
1016
01:29:25,687 --> 01:29:30,477
You don't know what I've been
through these last weeks.
1017
01:29:35,967 --> 01:29:40,882
I bought a revolver. I stood in front
of that mirror, but I couldn't do it.
1018
01:29:41,047 --> 01:29:43,436
Don't just stand there hating me.
1019
01:29:43,607 --> 01:29:48,123
Shout at me, strike me,
but don't hate me.
1020
01:29:48,287 --> 01:29:51,120
Say you don't hate me, Joe.
1021
01:30:04,727 --> 01:30:08,800
Here's 10079, Connie.
It must be over there.
1022
01:30:17,967 --> 01:30:22,995
- Betty, let me come with you.
- No, I'll be all right.
1023
01:30:29,087 --> 01:30:33,763
I love you, Joe.
I love you, Joe.
1024
01:30:33,927 --> 01:30:36,122
I love you.
1025
01:30:39,367 --> 01:30:43,155
What are you going to do, Joe?
What are you going to do?
1026
01:30:50,447 --> 01:30:54,156
It's all right, Max. I'll take it.
Hello, Betty.
1027
01:30:54,327 --> 01:30:57,046
I'm so scared.
Is there something awful?
1028
01:30:57,207 --> 01:30:59,596
Come on in.
1029
01:31:04,887 --> 01:31:07,959
Ever been in one of these
old Hollywood palazzos?
1030
01:31:08,127 --> 01:31:11,642
That's from when they were making
$18,000 a week tax-free.
1031
01:31:11,807 --> 01:31:16,085
Careful of these tiles, they're slippery.
Valentino used to dance here.
1032
01:31:16,247 --> 01:31:19,796
- Is this where you live?
- You bet.
1033
01:31:19,967 --> 01:31:23,004
- Whose house is it?
- Hers.
1034
01:31:23,167 --> 01:31:26,239
- Whose?
- Look around, there's a lot of her.
1035
01:31:26,407 --> 01:31:31,800
If you don't remember the face, you've
heard the name. Norma Desmond?
1036
01:31:31,967 --> 01:31:34,322
- That was her on the phone?
- Drink?
1037
01:31:34,487 --> 01:31:37,285
There's always champagne,
plenty of caviar.
1038
01:31:37,447 --> 01:31:41,281
- Why did she call me?
- Jealous.
1039
01:31:41,447 --> 01:31:45,565
Ever see so much junk? She had
the ceiling brought from Portugal.
1040
01:31:45,727 --> 01:31:47,843
And look at this.
1041
01:31:50,007 --> 01:31:51,725
Her own movie theatre.
1042
01:31:51,887 --> 01:31:57,200
I didn't come to see a house.
What about Norma Desmond?
1043
01:31:57,367 --> 01:32:01,997
That's what I'm trying to tell you.
This is an enormous place.
1044
01:32:02,167 --> 01:32:06,683
Eight master bedrooms.
A sunken tub in every bathroom.
1045
01:32:06,847 --> 01:32:10,203
There's a bowling alley in the cellar.
1046
01:32:11,727 --> 01:32:16,005
It's lonely here,
so she got herself a companion.
1047
01:32:16,167 --> 01:32:18,158
Very simple set-up.
1048
01:32:18,327 --> 01:32:21,603
Older woman who's well-to-do.
1049
01:32:21,767 --> 01:32:25,396
A younger man
who's not doing too well.
1050
01:32:25,567 --> 01:32:28,400
- Can you figure it out?
- No.
1051
01:32:28,567 --> 01:32:34,119
- I'll give you a few more clues.
- No, I haven't heard any of this.
1052
01:32:34,287 --> 01:32:38,246
I never got those telephone calls
and I've never been in this house.
1053
01:32:38,407 --> 01:32:40,398
Get your things and let's go.
1054
01:32:42,487 --> 01:32:44,125
All my things?
1055
01:32:44,287 --> 01:32:48,041
My 18 suits, my custom-made
shoes, the six dozen shirts,
1056
01:32:48,207 --> 01:32:52,723
the cufflinks, the platinum key-chains
and the cigarette cases?
1057
01:32:52,887 --> 01:32:56,516
- Come on, Joe.
- Come on where?
1058
01:32:56,687 --> 01:32:59,440
To a one-room apartment
I can't pay for,
1059
01:32:59,607 --> 01:33:02,679
to a story that may sell
and very possibly won't?
1060
01:33:02,847 --> 01:33:07,204
- If you love me, Joe.
- Look, sweetie, be practical.
1061
01:33:07,367 --> 01:33:11,406
I've got a good deal here.
A long-term contract with no options.
1062
01:33:11,567 --> 01:33:15,845
I like it that way.
Maybe it's not very admirable.
1063
01:33:18,487 --> 01:33:22,685
Well, you and Artie can be admirable.
1064
01:33:24,647 --> 01:33:28,720
I can't look at you any more, Joe.
1065
01:33:31,007 --> 01:33:36,161
How about looking for the exit?
This way, Betty.
1066
01:33:50,167 --> 01:33:56,436
Good luck, Betty. You can finish
that script on the way to Arizona.
1067
01:33:56,607 --> 01:34:00,520
When you and Artie get back,
if you ever want a swim...
1068
01:34:02,087 --> 01:34:04,647
...here's the pool.
1069
01:34:46,527 --> 01:34:49,519
Thank you, darling. Thank you, Joe.
1070
01:34:51,207 --> 01:34:53,163
Joe.
1071
01:35:16,767 --> 01:35:20,237
May I come in, Joe?
I've stopped crying.
1072
01:35:20,407 --> 01:35:24,002
I'm all right again.
Tell me you're not cross.
1073
01:35:24,167 --> 01:35:27,876
Tell me everything
is just as it was, Joe.
1074
01:35:30,047 --> 01:35:31,958
Joe.
1075
01:35:34,607 --> 01:35:37,201
What are you doing, Joe?
1076
01:35:42,287 --> 01:35:45,324
- What are you doing?
- I'm packing.
1077
01:35:48,007 --> 01:35:51,443
- You're leaving me?
- Yes, I am, Norma.
1078
01:35:51,607 --> 01:35:54,326
No, you're not. Max! Max!
1079
01:35:55,287 --> 01:36:01,203
Thanks for the handsome wardrobe
and for the use of all the trinkets.
1080
01:36:03,047 --> 01:36:05,880
- The rest's in the drawer.
- It's yours.
1081
01:36:06,047 --> 01:36:10,438
I'd take it, only it's too dressy
for a copy desk in Dayton, Ohio.
1082
01:36:11,007 --> 01:36:16,286
These are nothing. You can have
anything. What do you want?
1083
01:36:16,447 --> 01:36:18,165
Money?
1084
01:36:18,327 --> 01:36:22,320
You'd be throwing it away.
I don't qualify for the job any more.
1085
01:36:22,487 --> 01:36:27,242
You can't go. Max!
I can't face life without you.
1086
01:36:29,767 --> 01:36:33,840
- You know I'm not afraid to die.
- That's between you and yourself.
1087
01:36:34,007 --> 01:36:38,319
You think I made that up
about the gun, don't you? All right.
1088
01:36:46,327 --> 01:36:50,559
See? You didn't believe me.
You don't think I have the courage?
1089
01:36:50,727 --> 01:36:53,639
- Sure, if it makes a good scene.
- You don't care.
1090
01:36:53,807 --> 01:36:55,843
Hundreds of thousands will!
1091
01:36:56,007 --> 01:36:59,920
You'd be killing yourself to an empty
house. The audience left years ago.
1092
01:37:00,087 --> 01:37:03,602
- That's a lie. They still want me.
- No, they don't.
1093
01:37:03,767 --> 01:37:06,884
- What about DeMille?
- He was sparing your feelings.
1094
01:37:07,047 --> 01:37:10,039
- The studio only wanted your car.
- What?
1095
01:37:10,207 --> 01:37:13,677
DeMille didn't have
the heart to say. None of us has.
1096
01:37:13,847 --> 01:37:19,160
That's a lie. They want me.
I get letters every day.
1097
01:37:19,327 --> 01:37:24,082
You tell her, Max. Do her that favour.
Tell her there'll be no picture.
1098
01:37:24,247 --> 01:37:26,920
The only fan letters
are the ones you write.
1099
01:37:27,087 --> 01:37:30,318
That isn't true. Max!
1100
01:37:30,487 --> 01:37:34,036
Madame is the greatest star
of them all.
1101
01:37:34,207 --> 01:37:38,519
I will take Mr Gillis's bags to the car.
1102
01:37:43,167 --> 01:37:47,285
You heard him. I'm a star.
1103
01:37:47,447 --> 01:37:50,120
You're a woman of 50. Grow up.
1104
01:37:50,287 --> 01:37:54,599
There's nothing tragic about being 50,
unless you try to be 25.
1105
01:37:54,767 --> 01:37:58,123
The greatest star of them all.
1106
01:38:03,287 --> 01:38:05,596
Goodbye, Norma.
1107
01:38:06,967 --> 01:38:12,519
No one ever leaves a star.
That's what makes one a star.
1108
01:38:18,327 --> 01:38:21,558
Joe! Joe!
1109
01:38:22,927 --> 01:38:24,883
Joe!
1110
01:38:30,127 --> 01:38:32,357
Joe!
1111
01:39:03,687 --> 01:39:08,078
The stars are ageless, aren't they?
1112
01:39:14,487 --> 01:39:17,957
Well, this is where you came in.
1113
01:39:18,127 --> 01:39:22,723
Back at that pool again.
The one I always wanted.
1114
01:39:22,887 --> 01:39:26,960
It; s dawn now and they must; ve
photographed me a thousand times.
1115
01:39:27,127 --> 01:39:30,836
Then they got a couple
of pruning hooks and fished me out
1116
01:39:31,007 --> 01:39:33,237
ever so gently.
1117
01:39:33,407 --> 01:39:37,525
Funny how gentle people
get with you once you; re dead.
1118
01:39:38,247 --> 01:39:41,319
They beached me
like a harpooned baby whale.
1119
01:39:41,487 --> 01:39:47,164
And started to check
the damage, just for the record.
1120
01:39:47,727 --> 01:39:52,881
The whole joint was jumping, cops,
reporters, neighbours, passers-by.
1121
01:39:53,047 --> 01:39:56,722
As much whoop-de-do as we get
when they open a supermarket.
1122
01:39:56,887 --> 01:39:59,447
Even the newsreel guys
came roaring in.
1123
01:39:59,607 --> 01:40:03,725
Here was an item
everybody could have some fun with.
1124
01:40:03,887 --> 01:40:09,200
The heartless so-and-sos.
What would they do to Norma?
1125
01:40:09,367 --> 01:40:14,646
Even if she got away with it in court,
crime of passion, temporary insanity,
1126
01:40:14,807 --> 01:40:17,401
those headlines would kill her.
1127
01:40:17,567 --> 01:40:20,365
; ; Forgotten star a slayer. ; ;
1128
01:40:20,527 --> 01:40:24,884
; ; Ageing actress. ; ;
; ; Yesterday; s glamour queen. ; ;
1129
01:40:34,887 --> 01:40:38,800
Coroner's office.
I want to speak to the coroner.
1130
01:40:40,127 --> 01:40:43,278
- Who's on this phone?
- I am. Get off!
1131
01:40:43,447 --> 01:40:45,039
This is more important.
1132
01:40:45,207 --> 01:40:47,198
"Times" city desk?
Hedda Hopper speaking.
1133
01:40:47,367 --> 01:40:49,517
I'm talking from
Norma Desmond's bedroom.
1134
01:40:49,687 --> 01:40:53,316
Don't bother with a rewrite.
Take it direct. Ready?
1135
01:40:53,487 --> 01:40:56,001
As day breaks over
the murder house, Norma Desmond,
1136
01:40:56,167 --> 01:41:00,922
famous star of yesteryear, is
in a state of complete mental shock.
1137
01:41:01,087 --> 01:41:03,123
A curtain of silence surrounds her
1138
01:41:03,287 --> 01:41:06,165
in the boudoir of her house
on Sunset Boulevard...
1139
01:41:06,327 --> 01:41:10,036
Was it a sudden quarrel?
Had you had any trouble before?
1140
01:41:11,127 --> 01:41:14,039
How come this gun was right there?
1141
01:41:14,207 --> 01:41:18,837
This guy, where did you meet him?
Where did he come from?
1142
01:41:19,007 --> 01:41:23,125
Had you thought of doing
something like this before?
1143
01:41:23,287 --> 01:41:27,838
Was theft involved? Did you catch
him trying to steal something?
1144
01:41:28,007 --> 01:41:30,840
- The newsreel cameras are here.
- Tell them to go.
1145
01:41:31,007 --> 01:41:33,601
This is no time for cameras.
1146
01:41:33,767 --> 01:41:38,557
Now, Miss Desmond,
is there anything you want to tell us?
1147
01:41:38,727 --> 01:41:43,801
Cameras? What is it, Max?
1148
01:41:48,567 --> 01:41:52,082
- The cameras have arrived.
- They have?
1149
01:41:52,247 --> 01:41:56,525
- Tell Mr DeMille I'll be right on set.
- What is this?
1150
01:42:01,207 --> 01:42:05,041
It's one way to get her downstairs.
1151
01:42:05,207 --> 01:42:10,042
Let's have the car right outside. OK.
1152
01:42:11,367 --> 01:42:15,519
- Everything will be ready, Madame.
- Thank you, Max.
1153
01:42:15,687 --> 01:42:21,045
Pardon me, gentlemen,
but I must get ready for my scene.
1154
01:42:21,207 --> 01:42:23,357
- What's happening?
- Any statement?
1155
01:42:23,527 --> 01:42:25,882
Is there a confession?
1156
01:42:26,047 --> 01:42:28,686
- Everything set up?
- Just about.
1157
01:42:28,847 --> 01:42:31,441
- Lights ready?
- All set.
1158
01:42:42,927 --> 01:42:45,725
OK, fellas, hold it, hold it!
1159
01:42:48,407 --> 01:42:50,796
Quiet, everybody!
1160
01:42:53,087 --> 01:42:54,679
Lights.
1161
01:42:58,807 --> 01:43:00,365
Ready, Norma?
1162
01:43:02,647 --> 01:43:06,959
What is the scene? Where am I?
1163
01:43:09,447 --> 01:43:11,438
This is the palace staircase.
1164
01:43:14,167 --> 01:43:17,239
Oh, yes, yes.
1165
01:43:17,407 --> 01:43:21,525
Down below
they're waiting for the princess.
1166
01:43:23,247 --> 01:43:24,680
I'm ready.
1167
01:43:25,487 --> 01:43:30,003
All right. Cameras. Action!
1168
01:43:32,567 --> 01:43:37,687
So they were turning after all,
those cameras.
1169
01:43:37,847 --> 01:43:44,116
Life, which can be strangely merciful,
had taken pity on Norma Desmond.
1170
01:43:44,287 --> 01:43:49,884
The dream she had clung to
so desperately had enfolded her.
1171
01:44:16,727 --> 01:44:20,925
I can't go on with this scene,
I'm too happy.
1172
01:44:21,087 --> 01:44:25,683
Mr DeMille, do you mind
if I say a few words? Thank you.
1173
01:44:25,847 --> 01:44:30,796
I want to say how happy I am to be
in the studio making a picture again.
1174
01:44:30,967 --> 01:44:36,678
You don't know how I've missed you.
I'll never desert you again.
1175
01:44:36,847 --> 01:44:41,204
Because after "Salome" we'll make
another picture and another.
1176
01:44:41,367 --> 01:44:46,885
You see, this is my life.
It always will be. There's nothing else.
1177
01:44:47,047 --> 01:44:50,881
Just us and the cameras
1178
01:44:51,047 --> 01:44:55,598
and those wonderful people
out there in the dark.
1179
01:44:56,887 --> 01:44:59,242
All right, Mr DeMille,
I'm ready for my close-up.
1180
01:45:00,305 --> 01:45:06,860
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