Lyrics Paramount Conversations/Surrender (Reprise) - Andrew Lloyd Webber, Original Broadway Cast Of Sunset Boulevard, Alan Campbell

Paramount Conversations/Surrender (Reprise)

Well
Hello, Mr. Gillis
Where have you been
Keeping yourself?
Someone’s
Been doing it for me
And meanwhile «Blind Windows»
Is stuck on the shelf
You said
We’d work together
New Year’s crisis
What can I say?
Always
Full of excuses
Promise I’ll call you
Later today
You said that last time
Betty, I won’t let you down
I guess I’ll just have to trust you
(BETTY smiles at him and hurries on. During this exchange, SHELDRAKE has
entered.
HE stops having caught sight of the Isotta.
HE tries to catch MAX’s
attention, but MAX deliberately ignores him.
Finally, SHELDRAKE plants himself
unavoidably in front of him.)
You’re Miss Desmond’s German shepherd.
I’m the one who’s been calling.
The name is Sheldrake, A couple of weeks ago, I was looking out of my office
window and I saw you driving on to the lot.
And I said, «that's exactly the car
I’ve been looking for».
Great for my new Crosby picture.
So, I made some
inquiries and I’ve been calling for two weeks.
Doesn’t she ever answer the
phone?
It’s so perfect.
You can’t find that kind of quality outside of a museum.
We’re willing to pay a hundred dollars a week
It’s outrageous
You insult her
How can you be so cruel?
I forbid you to approach her
You’re insane
Go away.
Go away!
(SHELDRAKE hurries off. In the studio, DEMILLE has been attempting to set up
his shot.
Now, however, unable to ignore the crowd surrounding NORMA,
he steps down and approaches her;
NORMA turns to him, radiant.)
Did you see
How they all came
Crowding around?
They still love me
And soon we’ll be
Breaking new ground
Brave pioneers
Those were the days
Just like before
We had such fun
We gave the world
New ways to dream
We always found
New ways to dream
(The red light goes on and the studio bell shrills. VICTOR MATURE and HEDY
LAMARR arrive to take the place of their identically costumed STAND-INS.)
Let’s have a good long talk one day
The old team will be back in business
Sorry, my next shot’s ready
Mr. Gillis!
What’s the matter, Max?
I just found out the reason for all those phone calls from Paramount.
It’s not Madame they want.
It’s her car
Oh, my God
(DEMILLE and NORMA have reached the doorway of the studio.)
Now, you remember, don’t you?
I don’t work before 10 or after 4:
30 in the afternoon
It isn’t entirely my decision, Norma, New York must be consulted
That’s fine.
You ask any exhibitor in the country.
I’m not forgotten
Of course you’re not
(DEMILLE and NORMA embrace)
Goodbye, young fellow.
We’ll see what we can do
I’m not worried.
It’s so wonderful to be back
(SHE turns and sweeps regally away towards her car, the door of which MAX is
holding open.
DEMILLE waves goodbye to her;
then, as the Isotta drives off,
he shakes his head, disturbed, and moves, preoccupied, back towards the studio
doorway.
HEATHER is waiting for him.
BETTY rushes out of the soundstage.)
Was that really Norma Desmond?
It was
She must be about a million years old
I hate to think where that puts me.
I could be her father
Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. DeMille
(The shot is ready, and everyone is waiting on DEMILLE’s orders,
but he pauses for a moment, in pensive mood, his hand on the back of his chair.
If you could have seen
Her at seventeen
When all of her dreams were new
Beautiful and strong
Before it all went wrong
She’s never known the meaning of
Surrender
Never known the meaning of
Surrender