The Sunset Limited

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?

White: No. I cant.

Black: Well bless you, brother. Bless you and keep you. Cause it’s there.

They sit.

White: When were you in the penitentiary?

Black: Long time ago.

White: What were you in for?

Black: Murder.

White: Really?

Black: Now who would claim to be a murderer that wasnt one?