:18:01
This is to be a very important picture.
I've written it myself. Took me years.
:18:07
Looks like enough
for six important pictures.
:18:09
It's Salome's story.
I'll have DeMille direct.
:18:12
- DeMille?
- We made a lot of pictures together.
:18:16
- And you'll play Salome.
- Who else?
:18:21
I didn't know
you were planning a comeback.
:18:24
I hate that word. It's a return.
:18:27
A return to the millions who've never
forgiven me for deserting the screen.
:18:31
- Fair enough.
- Salome. What a woman.
:18:35
What a part. The princess
in love with a holy man.
:18:39
She dances the dance
of the seven veils.
:18:41
He rejects her, so she demands
his head on a golden tray.
:18:45
Kissing his cold, dead lips.
:18:49
- They'll love it in Pomona.
- They'll love it everyplace.
:18:53
Read the scene
just before she has him killed.
:18:55
Another writer
may steal your material.
:18:58
I'm not afraid. Read it.
:19:00
Bring something to drink.
Sit down. Is there enough light?
:19:05
- I've got 20-20 vision.
- I said sit down.
:19:13
Well, I had no
pressing engagement.
:19:16
Except with those boys
from the finance office.
:19:19
And she'd mentioned
something to drink. Why not?
:19:23
Sometimes it's interesting to see
just how bad bad writing can be.
:19:28
This promised to go the limit.
:19:31
What would a handwriting expert
make of her childish scrawl?
:19:38
Max wheeled in
some champagne and caviar.
:19:42
Later I found out Max was the only
other person in that grim castle.
:19:47
And I found out
a few other things about him.
:19:51
As for her, she sat coiled up
like a watch-spring,
:19:55
her cigarette clamped
in a curious holder.
:19:57
I could sense her watching me
through those dark glasses,