Page "Sunset Boulevard (film)" Paragraph 5

Joe is put up in her guest room.

The next morning he objects when he sees that Max has moved his belongings to the mansion on Norma's orders, and that she has paid his overdue rent.

Though he hates being dependent on her, he accepts the situation and begins living at the mansion, first in a room over the garage, then in the mansion itself.

As he works on Norma's script, he comes to see how unaware she is of how her fame has died.

She refuses to hear any criticism of her work, and makes him watch her old films in the evenings.

Although she still receives fan mail, Joe later learns that Max feeds into Norma's fantasy by sending the letters himself.

He explains that Norma's state of mind is fragile, and she has attempted suicide in the past.