JOE
Come to get your knife back?
It's still right there, right between my shoulder blades.
BETTY
I read
One of your stories
Wasn't it Scribner's
Some magazine.
Title -
Something with windows.
JOE
It was "Blind Windows"
If that's what you mean
BETTY
That's right
I really liked it
JOE
I'm all warm and runny inside
BETTY
Let me pitch it to Sheldrake
JOE
I may be broke
But I still have my pride
BETTY
Come on.
Get off your high horse
Writers with pride don't live in L.A.
Silence
Exile and cunning
Those are the only cards you can play
JOE
Sheldrake won't buy this story
He likes trash with fairy lights
Jesus, think of the effort
Trying to get him to heighten his sights
BETTY
Every movie's a circus
Can't we discuss this
Schwab's Thursday night?
JOE
What for?
Nothing will happen
I gotta go now
Fight the good fight
BETTY
What's the rush?
JOE
See those gorillas?
BETTY
Yes, what about them?
JOE
Do me a terrific favour
Keep them amused while I escape
BETTY
If you're at Schwab's on Thursday
JOE
Done. Look, those guys are after my car.
If I lose that in this town, it's like having my legs cut off.
BETTY
Let's duck into the soundstage.
1ST FINANCEMAN
Come on, Gillis, give us the keys.
BETTY
Shhh! Please be quiet, Mr. DeMille is shooting right over there.
1ST FINANCEMAN
So what?
BETTY
He's working on "Samson and Delilah": they're doing a red-hot scene with Hedy Lamarr.
You want to stay and watch?
1ST FINANCEMAN
No.
2ND FINANCEMAN
Relax, we got five minutes.
BOTH FINANCEMEN
Hey, hey, come back here...