Paramount lyrics
Soundtrack: Sunset Boulevard
The gates and open areas at the front of the Paramount lot, leading to the studios and the administration blocks. it is morning and a variety of YOUNG HOPEFULS are milling about in the forecourt, waiting for their interviews, assignments or auditions, and trying to impress one another. As this world gradually assembles before our eyes, JOE'S tone changes; HE continues to address the audience.
JOE (V.O.)
Let me take you back six months
I was at the bottom of the barrel
I'd had a contract down at Fox
but I'd fallen foul of Darryl.
Now I had a date at Paramount
along with about a thousand other writers,
if it didn't come up roses, I'd be covering funerals
back in Dayton, Ohio.
I'd hidden my car three blocks away,
turned out to be a smart move.
(Joe joins the young hopefuls; these include MYRON, a director; MARY, an actress, blonde and beautiful, artfully dishevelled; and JOANNA, a writer, dark and intense. THEY greet each other with air-kisses, casual waves and ritualized exchanges.)
JOE
Hi there, Myron
MYRON
How's it hanging?
JOE
I've got a date with Sheldrake
MYRON
I'm shooting a western down at Fox
JOE
How can you work with Darryl?
MYRON
We should talk
JOE
Gotta run
BOTH
Let's have lunch
MARY
Hi, Mr. Gillis
JOE
You look great
MARY
I'm up for an audition
JOE
Sheldrake is driving me insane
MARY
Don't forget me when you're casting
JOE
We should talk
MARY
Gotta run
BOTH
Let's have lunch
JOE
Morning, Joanna
MARY
Hi there, Myron
JOANNA
Who are you meeting
MYRON
You look great
JOE
Sheldrake, but do I need it?
MARY
I've spent the last month fasting
JOANNA
I'm handing in my second draft
MYRON
I'm shooting a western down at Fox
JOE
I'd really love to read it
MARY
Don't forget me when you're casting
JOANNA
We should talk
MYRON
We should talk
JOE
Gotta run
MARY
Gotta run
BOTH
Let's have lunch
BOTH
Let's have lunch
(JOE approaches the gate, where he's challenged by JONES, the elderly guard. Underscoring continues.)
JOE
Yeh, I have an appointment with Mr. Sheldrake
JONES
Name?
JOE
Gillis, Joseph Gillis
(JONES consults his clipboard.)
JONES
All right, sir, you know your way?
JOE
Yeah
(JOE is suddenly waylaid by two men in hats and bad suits: FINANCEMEN.)
1ST FIN.
We want the key to your car
2ND FIN.
You're way behind the payments
1ST FIN.
Don't give us any fancy footwork....
2ND FIN.
Give us the keys.
JOE
I only wish I could help.
I loaned it to my accountant
he has an important client down in Palm Springs
felt like shooting the breeze
1ST FIN.
Are you telling us you walked here?
JOE
I believe in self-denial
I'm in training for the priesthood
2ND FIN.
Okay wise guy, three hundred bucks
1ST FIN
Or we're taking the car
2ND FIN
We have a court order
JOE
I love it when you talk dirty
(The Paramount gates open. JOE slips away from the FINANCEMEN, back into the social whirl.)
Back to the Sunset Boulevard SoundtrackJOE (V.O.)
Let me take you back six months
I was at the bottom of the barrel
I'd had a contract down at Fox
but I'd fallen foul of Darryl.
Now I had a date at Paramount
along with about a thousand other writers,
if it didn't come up roses, I'd be covering funerals
back in Dayton, Ohio.
I'd hidden my car three blocks away,
turned out to be a smart move.
(Joe joins the young hopefuls; these include MYRON, a director; MARY, an actress, blonde and beautiful, artfully dishevelled; and JOANNA, a writer, dark and intense. THEY greet each other with air-kisses, casual waves and ritualized exchanges.)
JOE
Hi there, Myron
MYRON
How's it hanging?
JOE
I've got a date with Sheldrake
MYRON
I'm shooting a western down at Fox
JOE
How can you work with Darryl?
MYRON
We should talk
JOE
Gotta run
BOTH
Let's have lunch
MARY
Hi, Mr. Gillis
JOE
You look great
MARY
I'm up for an audition
JOE
Sheldrake is driving me insane
MARY
Don't forget me when you're casting
JOE
We should talk
MARY
Gotta run
BOTH
Let's have lunch
JOE
Morning, Joanna
MARY
Hi there, Myron
JOANNA
Who are you meeting
MYRON
You look great
JOE
Sheldrake, but do I need it?
MARY
I've spent the last month fasting
JOANNA
I'm handing in my second draft
MYRON
I'm shooting a western down at Fox
JOE
I'd really love to read it
MARY
Don't forget me when you're casting
JOANNA
We should talk
MYRON
We should talk
JOE
Gotta run
MARY
Gotta run
BOTH
Let's have lunch
BOTH
Let's have lunch
(JOE approaches the gate, where he's challenged by JONES, the elderly guard. Underscoring continues.)
JOE
Yeh, I have an appointment with Mr. Sheldrake
JONES
Name?
JOE
Gillis, Joseph Gillis
(JONES consults his clipboard.)
JONES
All right, sir, you know your way?
JOE
Yeah
(JOE is suddenly waylaid by two men in hats and bad suits: FINANCEMEN.)
1ST FIN.
We want the key to your car
2ND FIN.
You're way behind the payments
1ST FIN.
Don't give us any fancy footwork....
2ND FIN.
Give us the keys.
JOE
I only wish I could help.
I loaned it to my accountant
he has an important client down in Palm Springs
felt like shooting the breeze
1ST FIN.
Are you telling us you walked here?
JOE
I believe in self-denial
I'm in training for the priesthood
2ND FIN.
Okay wise guy, three hundred bucks
1ST FIN
Or we're taking the car
2ND FIN
We have a court order
JOE
I love it when you talk dirty
(The Paramount gates open. JOE slips away from the FINANCEMEN, back into the social whirl.)