How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Sunset Boulevard.
Quote #1
JOE: Hey, you, Max—whatever-your-name-is—what are my things doing here?
(No answer.)
JOE: I'm talking to you. My clothes and things are up in the room.
MAX: Naturally. I brought them myself.
JOE: Is that so?!
MAX: Why are you so upset? Is there anything missing?
Max plays innocent, when it's clear what he's trying to do—he's trying to corner Joe into staying at the mansion and devoting his time to Norma. But why does Max, personally, want him to do this? It's almost like he's preparing a new lover to take the place once occupied by himself—looking on with a mixture of pity and terror. Yet, at the same time, he's the one making it happen. Maybe he's afraid of the alternative.
Quote #2
NORMA: You can't work in an apartment where you owe three months' rent.
JOE: I'll take care of that.
NORMA: It's all taken care of. It's all paid for.
JOE: I'm used to paying my own bills.
NORMA: You proud boy, why didn't you tell me you were having difficulties?
Norma is extending generosity—but it's not true generosity, because she wants something in return. She's setting Joe up to feel dependent on her, and then pressure him into becoming her lover.
Quote #3
NORMA: Why don't you just say thank you and go, go, go—
JOE: Not until you promise to act like a sensible human being.
NORMA: I'll do it again, I'll do it again, I'll do it again!
Norma tells Joe to go, but by repeating her suicide threat she makes it clear that he can't. He'll stay there out of guilt and the sense that he owes her for helping him. Yeah, this is one unhealthy relationship.
Quote #4
JOE: I went for a walk.
NORMA: No you didn't. You took the car.
JOE: All right, I drove to the beach. Norma, you don't want me to feel I'm locked up in this house?
NORMA: Of course not, Joe. It's just that I don't want to be left alone. Not now, while I'm under this terrible strain. My nerves are being torn apart. All I ask is for you to be a little patient and a little kind.
Norma is acting like Joe can't do anything because she needs his help—but, in reality, she's probably just restricting his movements out of suspicion and jealousy.
Quote #5
JOE: And we're not helping her any, feeding her lies and more lies. Getting herself ready for a picture ... What happens when she finds out?
MAX: She never will. That is my job. It has been for a long time. You must understand I discovered her when she was eighteen. I made her a star. I cannot let her be destroyed.
Max doesn't want Norma to be destroyed by the truth—but, as Joe points out, it's the lies that are making her so crazy in the first place. It's kind of a catch-22: You can take away the lies and risk Norma committing suicide, or you can keep telling them and make her condition even worse.
Quote #6
NORMA: Miss Schaefer, you must forgive me for calling you so late, but I really feel it's my duty. It's about Mr. Gillis. You do know Mr. Gillis? ...Exactly how much do you know about him? Do you know where he lives? Do you know how he lives? Do you know what he lives on?
BETTY: Who are you? What do you want? What business is it of yours anyway?
NORMA: Miss Schaefer, I'm trying to do you a favor. I'm trying to spare you a great deal of misery. Of course you may be too young to even suspect there are men of his sort... I don't know what he's told you, but he does not live with relatives, nor with friends, in the usual sense of the word. Ask him ... Ask him again.
Norma, overcome by jealousy, tries to destroy Betty's relationship with Joe. However, her plan backfires when Joe intentionally tells Betty the truth about his relationship with Norma and then leaves Norma anyway (although she kills him before he gets very far).