Musicals – Sunset Boulevard - Girl Meet Boy lyrics

JOE
Girl meets boy
That's a safe beginning

BETTY
It's nearly closing
I thought you weren't going to show

JOE
So did I
I felt it might be kinder

BETTY
What are you saying?

JOE
Come on, Miss Schaefer, you know

BETTY
What?

JOE
Every time I see some young kid
Dreaming they'll produce a masterpiece
I just want to throw them on the next train home

BETTY
Never thought
You'd be so condescending

JOE
Sorry, Miss Schaefer
I didn't come here to fight

BETTY
Girl meets boy
If that's how you want it
She's a young teacher
He's a reporter
It's hate at first sight

JOE
It won't sell
These days they want glamour
Fabulous heiress meets handsome Hollywood heel
The problem is
She thinks he's a burglar
Would you believe it?
A wedding in the last reel

BETTY
It doesn't have to be so mindless
You should write from your experience
Give us something really moving;
Something true

JOE
Who wants true?
Who the hell wants moving?
Moving means starving
And true means holes in your shoe

BETTY
No, you're wrong
They still make good pictures
Stick to your story
It's a good story

JOE
O.K., Miss Schaefer:
I give it to you

BETTY
What do you mean?

JOE
Just what I said. I've given up writing myself. So you write it.

BETTY
Oh, I'm not good enough to do it on my own.
But I thought we could write it together.

JOE
I can't. I'm all tied up.

BETTY
Couldn't we work evenings? Six o'clock in the morning? I'd come to your place.

JOE
Look, Betty, it can't be done. It's out.
Let's keep in touch through Artie.
That way if you get stuck, we can at least talk.

Write this down
I'll give you some ground rules
Plenty of conflict
But nice guys don't break the law
Girl meets boy
She gives herself completely
And though she loves him

JOE/BETTY
She keeps one foot on the floor

BETTY
No one dies except the best friend
No one ever mentions communists
No one takes a black friend to a restaurant

JOE
Very good.
Nothing I can teach you.
We could have had fun
Fighting the studio

BETTY
Yes, Mr. Gillis
That's just what I want.

ARTIE
What a nightmare
Good to see you
Come to my new year's party

JOE
Last year it got out of hand

ARTIE
Guaranteed bad behaviour

JOE
See you then

BETTY
Don't give up
You're too good

JOE
Thanks.