Michael Stuhlbarg credited as playing...
Lew Wasserman
- Lew Wasserman: We are about to propose a re-structured deal for "Psycho."
- Barney Balaban: I'm listening.
- Lew Wasserman: We finance it, independently. Hitch waives his directorial fee. Paramount *only* distributes it, in exchange for 40% of the profits.
- Barney Balaban: Interesting. But what exactly is Paramount distributing? Is this still a picture about a queer killing people in his mother's dress?
- Lew Wasserman: What this picture is about is the reputation of Alfred Hitchcock.
- Barney Balaban: No one is arguing that.
- Lew Wasserman: Barney, it's very simple. This is Mr Hitchcock's next film. Are you in - or are you out?
- Barney Balaban: Fine. We'll take that deal. If you can get the money.
- Alfred Hitchcock: We already *have* the money, Barney.
- [pulls out his checkbook]
- Alfred Hitchcock: Who do I make it out to?
- [Wasserman comes to Hitchcock with news after Paramount screens "Psycho"]
- Alfred Hitchcock: Well, what's the verdict?
- Lew Wasserman: Let's just say it was a four-letter review and it wasn't "good". Screw him! It's too late for Paramount to back out, no matter what Balaban says. You know, the other option is to recut it as a two-parter for the TV series. Because of the budget and the Hitchcock name, we stand a good chance of breaking even. Look, I made Jimmy Stewart a millionaire on "Winchester '73". And that was a dog. At least I could sit through your picture.