Christopher Hampton - The Final Scene lyrics

[NORMA, spoken] Joe! Joe! [JOE, spoken] Come on in [BETTY] What's going on, Joe? Why am I so scared? What was that woman saying? She sounded so weird I don't understand Please, can you tell me what's happening? You said you loved me tonight Shall I just go? Say something, Joe [JOE] Have some pink champagne and caviar When you go visit with a star The hospitality is stellar [BETTY] So this is where you're living? [JOE] Yes, it's quite a place, sleeps seventeen Eight sunken tubs, a movie screen A bowling alley in the cellar [BETTY] I didn't come to see a house, Joe [JOE] Sunset Boulevard Cruise the Boulevard Win yourself a Hollywood palazzo Sunset Boulevard Mythic Boulevard Valentino danced on that terrazzo [BETTY] Who's it belong to? [JOE] Just look around you [BETTY] That's Norma Desmond [JOE] Right on the money That's Norma Desmond That's Norma Desmond That's Norma Desmond That's Norma Desmond [BETTY] Why did she call me? [JOE] Give you three guesses It's the oldest story in the book Come see the taker being took The world is full of Joes and Normas Older woman, very well-to-do Meets younger man, the standard cue For two mechanical performers [BETTY] Just pack your things and let's go [JOE] You mean all my things? Have you gone mad? Leave all these things I've never had? Leave this luxurious existence? You want me to face that one-room hell That Murphy bed, that rancid smell Go back to living on subsistence? It's no time to begin a new life Now I've finally made a perfect landing I'm afraid there's no room for a wife Not unless she's uniquely understanding You should go back to Artie and marry the fool And you'll always be welcome to swim in my pool [BETTY, spoken] I can't look at you any more, Joe (BETTY leaves) [NORMA, spoken] Thank you. Thank you, Joe! Thank you! Thank you! What are you doing, Joe? You're not leaving me? [JOE, spoken] Yes, I am, Norma [NORMA, spoken] You can't! Max! [JOE] It's been a bundle of laughs And thanks for the use of the trinkets A little ritzy for the copy desk back in Dayton And there's something you ought to know I want to do you this favor They'll never shoot that hopeless script of yours They only wanted your car [NORMA] That's a lie! They still want me! What about all my fan-mail? [JOE] It's Max who writes you letters Your audience has vanished They left when you weren't looking Nothing's wrong with being fifty Unless you're acting twenty [NORMA, spoken] I am the greatest star of them all [JOE, spoken] Goodbye, Norma [NORMA] No one ever leaves a star [NORMA shoots JOE.] [REPORTER, spoken] And as dawn breaks over the murder house, Norma Desmond, famed star of yesteryear, is in a state of complete mental shock [NORMA] This was dawn - I don't know why I'm frightened - Silent music starts to play - Happy New Year, darling If you're with me, next year will be - Next year will be - They bring in his head on a silver tray She kisses his mouth She kisses his mouth She kisses his mouth - Mad about the boy - They'll say Norma's back at last [MAX, spoken] Madame, the cameras have arrived [NORMA] Max! Where am I? [MAX] This is the staircase of the palace And they're waiting for your dance [NORMA] Of course Now I remember I was so frightened I might fall [MAX] You are the greatest star of all! [MAX, spoken] Lights! Cameras! Action! [NORMA] When he scorned me I Knew he'd have to die Let me kiss his severed head Compromise or d**h He fought to his last d**h He never had in him to surrender Just like me, he never could Surrender [NORMA, spoken] I can't go on with the scene! I'm too happy! May I say a few words, Mister DeMille? I can't tell you how wonderful it is to back in this studio making a picture. I promise you - I will never desert you again. This is my life. It always will be. There's nothing else. Just us. And the cameras. And all you wonderful people, out there in the dark. And now, Mister DeMille, I am ready for my close-up [NORMA] This time I'm staying I'm staying for good I'll be back where I was born to be With one look I'll be me