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 Schaeffer, 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 Schaeffer, I don'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 yo 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 Schaeffer; I give it to you.

Betty

What do you mean?

Joe

It's 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 evening? 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 guy don't break the law.

Girl meets boy, she give herself completely

And though she loves him

Joe/Betty

She keep 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 party.

Joe

Last year it got out of hand

Artie

Guaranteed bad behavior

Joe

See you then

Betty

Don't give up, you're too good.

Joe

Thanks.