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.
 Look, 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.