The sound of heavy rain. It's day-time but dull enough to need the lights on. JOE's typewriter is no longer on the table, but closed and standing on end on the floor. HE's alone in the great room, playing solitaire. MAX is at the organ, wearing his white gloves, playing. HE looks up at the audience, breaks off from his game.

JOE
In December, the rains came. One great big package, over-sized, like everything else in California; and it came right through the roof of my room above the garage. So she had me moved into the main house. Into what Max called " The room of the husbands." And on a clear day, the theory was, you could see Catalina. And little by little I worked through to the end of the script. At which point I might have left; Only by then those two boys from the finance company had traced my car and towed it away; and I hadn't seen one single dollar of cash money since I arrived.

(HE resumes his game; all of a sudden NORMA sweeps out of her room and down the stairs. SHE's holding a fat typescript in her hand. SHE snaps at MAX.)

NORMA
Stop that!

(MAX stops playing.)

Today's the day.

JOE
What do you mean?

NORMA
Max is going to deliver the script to Paramount.

JOE
You're really going to give it to De Mille?

NORMA
I've just spoken with my astrologer. She read De Millle's horoscope; she read mine.

JOE
Did she read the script?

NORMA
De Mille is Leo; I'm Scorpio. Mars is transiting Jupiter, and today is the day of closest conjunction.

JOE
Oh, well, that's all right, then.

NORMA
Max

MAX
Yes, Madame

(SHE hands the typescript to MAX.)

NORMA
Make sure it goes to Mr. De Mille in person.

(HE leaves the house by the front door. There's a silence; NORMA moves up and down in a state of heightened emotion; JOE is steeling himself to broach a difficult subject.)

JOE
Well....

NORMA
Great day.

JOE
It's been real interesting.

NORMA
Yes... hasn't it?

JOE
I want to thank you for trusting me with your baby.

NORMA
Not at all, it is I who should thank you.

JOE
Will you call and let me know as soon as you have some news?

(NORMA frowns; SHE turns to him, her expression bewildered.)

NORMA
Call? Where?

JOE
My apartment.

NORMA
Oh, but, you couldn't possibly think of leaving now, Joe.

JOE
Norma, the script is finished.

NORMA
No, Joe. No. It's just the beginning, it's just the first draft: I couldn't dream of letting you go, I need your support.

JOE
Well, I can't stay.

NORMA
You'll stay on with full salary, of course...

JOE
Oh, Norma, it's not the money.

(NORMA now has a look of genuine panic on her face, and JOE sees that some reassurance is essential.)

Yes, of course, I'll stay until we get some sort of news back from Paramount.

(HE's on his feet now, and NORMA grips his hand tightly for a moment.)

NORMA
Thank you, thank you, Joe.

(SHE releases his hand and moves off leaving him a little shaken by this turn of events, his expression rueful. HE turns to the audience.)

JOE
So, Max wheeled out that foreign bus
brushed the leopardskin upholstery.
He trundled along to Paramount
to hand Cecil B. our hopeless opus.
My work was over
I was feeling no pain
locked up like John the Baptist.