The Final Scene lyrics - Sunset Boulevard

Originally posted on All The Lyrics

Joe

Come on in

Betty

What's going on, Joe?
Why am I so scared?
What was that woman saying?
She sounds 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 the 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
Meet 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 luxuarious 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

I can't look at you any more, Joe.

Norma

Thank you, thank you, Joe,
Thank you....thank you
What are you doing, Joe?
You're not leaving me?

Joe

Yes, I am, Norma

Norma

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-mails?

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

I am the greatest star of them all

Joe

Goodbye, Norma

Norma

No one ever leaves a star.

Reporter

And as dawn breaks over the murder house,
Norma Desmond, famed star of yesteryear,
Is in a state of completely 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...
Mad about the boy!
They'll say Norma's back at last!

Max

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're the greatest star of all!

Light!
Camera!
Action!

Norma

When he scorn me I knew he'd have to die
Let me kiss his severed head
Compromise or death, he fought to his last breath
He never had it in him to surrender
Just like me, he never could surrender
I can't go on with the scene; I'm too happy.
May I say a few words, Mr. De Mille?
I can't tell you how wonderful it is
To be back in the studio making the picture.
I promise you I'll never desert you again.
This is my life. It's always will be. There's nothing else.
Just us and the cameras
And all you wonderful people out there in the dark.
And now, Mr. De Mille, I'm ready for my close-up

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.