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Jane Miller, Arthur’s elder daughter, was born on September 7, 1944; therefore, this note must have been written in 1956.

for life

It is rather a determination not to be overwhelmed.

for work

The truth can only be recalled, never invented

Note: This short prose piece and the variation on it on the following page were very likely written on the occasion of Norman Rosten’s birthday. “She gave herself pretty names. One day, she signed a note with Noodle, Sam, Max, Clump, Sugar Finny, Pussy, and so on. An identity name, the little funny imp. It was a very attractive aspect of her personality: she had a great sense of humor” (Norman Rosten, Marilyn Among Friends).

It’s time for

sentiment

I know how sentimental we feel

instrumental

sentimental

merely incidental

coincidental

Not a tear you’ll see

Forgive me if I’m

influence by tender feelings

affecting the emotions

meaning—sentimental is a influenced for

tender

feelings

ourselves or myself

sense

sensible—sensitive

Happy birthday and love (we all love you)

Noodle

Sam

Max

Clump

Sugar Finny

Pussy

and all the rest of us—

Starts dream—

262

263

Feb 28

Dec 11

See in older journal—

always admired men who had many women.

It must be that to a child of a dissatisfied woman

the idea of monogamy is hollow

Note: The numbers 262 and 263 probably refer to the same collection of song standards as those shown here (the Waldorf-Astoria series). The titles these correspond to are “While We’re Young” (262) and “Wonderful Guy” (263).

Pardon me—I’m sorry to wake you

But I wonder if you could help

me

I’m being abducted

you know—kidnapped—by him

I thought maybe as soon as

we got some place I’d ask the

driver to stop and let me off

But we been driving for hours

and we still don’t seem to be

nowhere at all—not only that

but I’m freezing to death—I

ain’t got much on under

my coat

Sleeping prince—for Paula

don’t stop myself

Name tasks—1 - 2 - 3 - 4 etc.

T—weariness

write out part—copying it

work on exercises

1—cold

learn—lines logically

—I can’t do more than

one thing at a time

make map tonight

take my time to think—

Note: The Sleeping Prince was the first title for The Prince and the Showgirl, which was filmed in London in 1956. This note must have been written the same year.

He said that

I’ve become so deified

as a sex symbol

that public never accept me as

a virgin and as a nineteen/twenty year old

he wants to

feel he discovers reality

and he alone is is better

responsible

Eli

g—his lose

tennessee—wants me

tells Eli—

new ending

I don’t want anybody else

Note: Marilyn wanted to play the title role in Elia Kazan’s 1956 film Baby Doll, written by Tennessee Williams and starring Eli Wallach. However, Carroll Baker got the part.

I feel the camera has got

to look through Gay’s

eyes whenever he is in a

scene and even when he is

not there still has to be a sense of

him

He is the center and the

rest move around him

but I guess Houston will

see to that

He is both subtle and

overt in his leading them

and in his cruelty and his tenderness

(when he reaches out of himself

for her—R.)

Notes:

John Huston’s (here spelled “Houston”) film The Misfits was shot in Nevada, in the summer of 1960. Arthur Miller adapted the script from his own short story, the role of Roslyn having been inspired by his wife. The atmosphere was extremely tense, especially between the couple, whose marriage was foundering. Marilyn, a perfectionist, was frequently late—very late—frightened of not being ready for the challenge, and often groggy from the barbiturates she had begun to depend on. She was awestruck to be acting with Clark Gable, who was a lifelong idol and whom she had sometimes thought of, or dreamed of, as her own father. Marilyn had already been directed by John Huston in The Asphalt Jungle, the film that, in spite of a minor role, had put her name in lights. In a sense, in The Misfits