Cormac McCarthy: The Sunset Limited

Black: What is it you believe in?

White: A lot of things.

Black: All right.

White: All right what?

Black: All right what things.

White: I believe in things.

Black: You said that.

White: Probably I dont believe in a lot of things that I used to believe in but that doesnt mean I dont believe in anything.

Black: Well give me a for instance.

White: Mostly the value of things.

Black: Value of things.

White: Yes.

Black: Okay. What things.

White: Lots of things. Cultural things, for instance. Books and music and art. Things like that.

Black: All right.

White: Those are the kinds of things that have value to me. They’re the foundations of civilization. Or they used to have value. I suppose they dont have so much any more.

Black: What happened to em?

White: People stopped valuing them. I stopped valuing them. To a certain extent. I’m not sure I could tell you why. That world is largely gone. Soon it will be wholly gone.

Black: I aint sure I’m followin you, Professor.

White: There’s nothing to follow. It’s all right. The things that I loved were very frail. Very fragile. I didnt know that. I thought they were indestructible. They werent.

Black: And that’s what sent you off the edge of the platform. It wasnt nothin personal.

White: It is personal. That’s what an education does. It makes the world personal.

Black: Hm.

White: Hm what.

Black: Well. I was just thinkin that them is some pretty powerful words. I dont know that I got a answer about any of that and it might be that they aint no answer. But still I got to ask what is the use of notions such as them if it wont keep you glued down to the platform when the Sunset Limited comes through at eighty mile a hour.

White: Good question.

Black: I thought so.

White: I dont have an answer to any of that either. Maybe it’s not logical. I dont know. I dont care. I’ve been asked didnt I think it odd that I should be present to witness the death of everything and I do think it’s odd but that doesnt mean it’s not so. Someone has to be here.

Black: But you dont intend to stick around for it.

White: No. I dont.

Black: So let me see if I got this straight. You sayin that all this culture stuff is all they ever was tween you and the Sunset Limited.

White: It’s a lot.

Black: But it busted out on you.

White: Yes.

Black: You a culture junky.

White: If you like. Or I was. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I have no beliefs. I believe in the Sunset Limited.

Black: Damn, Professor.

White: Damn indeed.

Black: No beliefs.

White: The things I believed in dont exist any more. It’s foolish to pretend that they do. Western Civilization finally went up in smoke in the chimneys at Dachau but I was too infatuated to see it. I see it now.

Black: You a challenge, Professor. Did you know that?

White: Well, there’s no reason for you to become involved in my problems. I should go.

Black: You got any friends?

White: No.

Black: You aint got even one friend?

White: No.

Black: You got to be kiddin me, Professor. Not one?

White: Not really. No.

Black: Well tell me about that one.

White: What one?

Black: The not really one.

White: I have a friend at the university. Not a close friend. We have lunch from time to time.

Black: But that’s about as good as it gets.

White: What do you mean?

Black: That’s about all you got in the way of friends.

White: Yes.

Black: Mm. Well. If that’s the best friend you got then I reckon that’s your best friend. Aint it?

White: I dont know.

Black: What did you do to him.

White: What did I do to him?

Black: Yeah.

White: I didnt do anything to him.

Black: Mm hm.

White: I didnt do anything to him. What makes you think I did something to him?

Black: I dont know. Did you?

White: No. What is it you think I did to him?

Black: I dont know. I’m waitin on you to tell me.

White: Well there’s nothing to tell.

Black: But you didnt leave him no note or nothin. When you decided to take the train.

White: No.

Black: Your best friend?

White: He’s not my best friend.

Black: I thought we just got done decidin that he was.

White: You just got done deciding.

Black: You ever tell him you was thinkin about this?

White: No.

Black: Damn, Professor.

White: Why should I?

Black: I dont know. Maybe cause he’s your best friend?

White: I told you. We’re not all that close.

Black: Not all that close.

White: No.

Black: He’s your best friend only you aint all that close.

White: If you like.

Black: Not to where you’d want to bother him about a little thing like dyin.

White: (Looking around the room) Look. Suppose I were to give you my word that I would just go home and that I wouldnt try to kill myself en route.

Black: Suppose I was to give you my word that I wouldnt listen to none of your bullshit.

White: So what am I, a prisoner here?

Black: You know bettern that. Anyway, you was a prisoner fore you got here. Death Row prisoner. What did your daddy do?

White: What?

Black: I said what did your daddy do. What kind of work.

White: He was a lawyer.

Black: Lawyer.

White: Yes.

Black: What kind of law did he do?

White: He was a government lawyer. He didnt do criminal law or things like that.

Black: Mm hm. What would be a thing like criminal law?

White: I dont know. Divorce law, maybe.

Black: Yeah. Maybe you got a point. What did he die of?

White: Who said he was dead?

Black: Is he dead?

White: Yes.

Black: What did he die of?

White: Cancer.

Black: Cancer. So he was sick for a while.

White: Yes. He was.

Black: Did you go see him?

White: No.

Black: How come?

White: I didnt want to.

Black: Well how come you didnt want to?

White: I dont know. I just didnt. Maybe I didnt want to remember him that way.

Black: Bullshit. Did he ask you to come?

White: No.

Black: But your mama did.

White: She may have. I dont remember.

Black: Come on, Professor. She asked you to come.

White: Okay. Yes.

Black: And what did you tell her?

White: I told her I would.

Black: But you didnt.

White: No.

Black: How come?

White: He died.

Black: Yeah, but that aint it. You had time to go see him and you didnt do it.

White: I suppose.

Black: You waited till he was dead.

White: Okay. So I didnt go and see my father.

Black: Your daddy is layin on his deathbed dyin of cancer. Your mama settin there with him. Holdin his hand. He in all kinds of pain. And they ask you to come see him one last time fore he dies and you tell em no. You aint comin. Please tell me I got some part of this wrong.

White: If that’s the way you want to put it.

Black: Well how would you put it?

White: I dont know.

Black: That’s the way it is. Aint it?

White: I suppose.

Black: No you dont suppose. Is it or aint it?

White: Yes.

Black: Well. Let me see if I can find my train schedule.

He opens the table drawer and rummages through it.

Black: See when that next uptown express is due.

White: I’m not sure I see the humor.

Black: I’m glad to hear you say that, Professor. Cause I aint sure either. I just get more amazed by the minute, that’s all. How come you cant see yourself, honey? You plain as glass. I can see the wheels turnin in there. The gears. And I can see the light too. Good light. True light. Cant you see it?