Cormac McCarthy - The Sunset Limited

Black: Dont know.

White: What sorts of insults?

Black: Oh, you might say somethin about the other man’s mama. That’s a sensitive area, you might say. And he might lose it and come after your ass but when he done that it’s like he’s sayin that what you just got done tellin about his mama was true. It’s like he sayin: You aint supposed to know that about my mama and you damn sure aint supposed to of told it and now I’m fixin to whip your ass. You see what I’m sayin?

White: I suppose.

Black: Well, probably not.

White: And is this something you do with your friends?

Black: Me? No. I dont play the dozens.

White: Tell me something.

Black: Sure.

White: Why are you here? What do you get out of this? You seem like a smart man.

Black: Me? I’m just a dumb country nigger from Louisiana. I done told you. I aint never had the first thought in my head. If it aint in here then I dont know it.

He holds the bible up off the table and lays it down again.

White: Half the time I think you’re having fun with me. I dont see how you can live here. I dont see how you can feel safe.

Black: Well you got a point, Professor. About bein safe anyways.

White: Have you ever stopped any of these people from taking drugs?

Black: Not that I know of.

White: Then what is the point? I dont get it. I mean, it’s hopeless. This place is just a moral leper colony.

Black: Damn, Professor. Moral leper colony? Where my pencil at?

He pretends to rummage through the kitchen table drawer.

White: Well it is.

Black: I aint never goin to want you to leave. Put that in my book.

White: In your book?

Black: In the Moral Leper Colony. Damn, I like the sound of that.

White: You’re kidding me.

Black: You know I aint writin no book.

White: Well I still dont get it. Why not go someplace where you might be able to do some good?

Black: As opposed to someplace where good was needed.

White: Even God gives up at some point. There’s no ministry in hell. That I ever heard of.

Black: No there aint. That’s well put. Ministry is for the livin. That’s why you responsible for your brother. Once he’s quit breathin you cant help him no more. After that he’s in the hands of other parties. So you got to look after him now. You might even want to monitor his train schedule.

White: You think you are your brother’s keeper.

Black: I dont believe think quite says it.

White: And Jesus is a part of this enterprise.

Black: Is that okay with your

White: And he’s interested in coming here to this cesspool and salvaging what everybody knows is unsalvageable. Why would he do that? You said he didnt have a lot of free time. Why would he come here? What would be the difference to him between a building that was morally and spiritually vacant and one that was just plain empty?

Black: Mm. Professor you a theologian here and I didnt even know it.

White: You’re being facetious.

Black: I dont know that word. Dont be afraid to talk down to me. You aint goin to hurt my feelins.

White: It means. I guess it means that you’re not being sincere. That you dont mean what you’re saying. In a cynical sort of way.

Black: Mm. You think I dont mean what I’m sayin.

White: Sometimes. I think you say things for effect.

Black: Mm. Well, let me say this for effect.

White: Go ahead.

Black: Suppose I was to tell you that if you could bring yourself to unlatch your hands from around your brother’s throat you could have life everlastin?

White: There’s no such thing. Everybody dies.

Black: That aint what he said. He said you could have life everlastin. Life. Have it today. Hold it in your hand. That you could see it. It gives off a light. It’s got a little weight to it. Not much. Warm to the touch. Just a little. And it’s forever. And you can have it. Now. Today. But you dont want it. You dont want it cause to get it you got to let you brother off the hook. You got to actually take him and hold him in your arms and it dont make no difference what color he is or what he smells like or even if he dont want to be held. And the reason you wont do it is because he dont deserve it. And about that there aint no argument. He dont deserve it. (He leans forward, slow and deliberate.) You wont do it because it aint just. Aint that so?

Silence.

Black: Aint it?

White: I dont believe in those sorts of things.

Black: Just answer the question Professor.

White: I dont think in those terms.

Black: I know you dont. Answer the question.

White: I suppose there’s some truth in what you say.

Black: But that’s all I’m goin to get.

White: Yes.

Black: Well. That’s all right. I’ll take it. Some is a lot. We down to breadcrumbs here.

White: I really have to go.

Black: Just stay. Just a little. We can talk bout somethin else. You like baseball? Tell you what. Why dont I fix us somethin to eat?

White: I’m not hungry.

Black: How about some coffee then?

White: All right. But then I’ve got to go.

Black: (Rising) All right. The man says all right.

He runs water in the kettle at the sink and pours the water into the percolator.

Black: You see I wouldnt be this rude under normal circumstances. Man come in my house and set at my table and me not offer him nothin? But with you I figure I got to strategize. Got to play my cards right. Keep you from slippin off into the night.

He spoons coffee from a can into the percolator and plugs the percolator in.

White: It’s not night.

Black: Depends on what kind of night we talkin bout.

He comes back to the table and sits.

Black: Let me ask you kindly a personal question.

White: This will be good.

Black: What do you think is wrong with you that has finally narrowed all your choices down to the Sunset Limited?

White: I dont think there’s anything wrong with me. I think I’ve just been driven to finally face the truth. If I’m different it doesnt mean I’m crazy.

Black: Different.

White: Yes.

Black: Different from who?

White: From anybody.

Black: What about them other folks tryin to off theyselves?

White: What about them?

Black: Well, maybe them is the folks that you is like. Maybe them folks is your natural kin. Only you all just dont get together all that much.

White: I dont think so.

Black: Dont think so.

White: No. I’ve been in group therapy with those people. I never found anyone there that I felt any kinship with.

Black: What about them other professors? They aint no kinship there?

White: (Disgustedly) Good god.

Black: I’m goin to take that for a no.

White: I loathe them and they loathe me.

Black: Well now wait a minute. Just cause you dont like em dont mean you aint like em. What was that word? Loathe?

White: Loathe.

Black: That’s a pretty powerful word, aint it?

White: Not powerful enough, I’m afraid.

Black: So how come you be loathin these other professors?

White: I know what you’re thinking.

Black: What am I thinkin?

White: You’re thinking that I loathe them because I’m like them and I loathe myself.

Black: (Sitting back in his chair) Damn, Professor. If I had your brains aint no tellin what all I might of done. I’d of been a drug king or somethin. Ride round in a Rolls Royce.

White: You’re being facetious again.

Black: No I aint. I wasnt the first time. Let me ask you this.

White: All right.

Black: Is you on any kind of medication?