The Sunset Limited

White: And then put me in the what was it? The trick bag?

Black: Yeah.

White: Right.

Black: You got to remember this is a jailhouse story.

White: All right.

Black: Which you specifically asked for.

White: All right.

Black: The point is, Professor, that I aint got the first notion in the world about what makes God tick. I dont know why he spoke to me. I wouldnt of.

White: But you listened.

Black: Well what choice would you have?

White: I dont know. Not listen?

Black: How you goin to do that?

White: Just dont listen.

Black: Do you think he goes around talkin to people that he knows aint goin to listen in the first place? You think he’s got that kind of free time?

White: I see your point.

Black: If he didnt know I was ready to listen he wouldnt of said a word.

White: He’s an opportunist.

Black: Meanin I guess that he seen somebody in a place low enough to where he ought to be ready to take a pretty big step.

White: Something like that.

Black: And you think that maybe I think that you might be in somethin like that kind of a place you own self.

White: Could be.

Black: Well I can dig that. I can dig it. Of course they is one small problem.

White: And that is.

Black: I aint God.

White: I’m glad to hear you say that.

Black: It come as a relief to me too.

White: Did you used to think you were God?

Black: No. I didnt. I didnt know what I was. But I thought I was in charge. I never knowed what that burden weighed till I put it down. That might of been the sweetest thing of all. To just hand over the keys.

White: Let me ask you something.

Black: Ask it.

White: Why cant you people just accept it that some people dont even want to believe in God.

Black: I accept that.

White: You do?

Black: Sure I do. Meanin that I believe it to be a fact. I’m lookin at it ever day. I better accept it.

White: Then why cant you leave us alone?

Black: To do your own thing.

White: Yes.

Black: Hangin from them steampipes and all.

White: If that’s what we want to do, yes.

Black: Cause he said not to. It’s in here. (Holding up the book)

The professor shakes his head.

Black: I guess you dont want to be happy.

White: Happy?

Black: Yeah. What’s wrong with happy?

White: God help us.

Black: What. We done opened a can of worms here? What you got against bein happy?

White: It’s contrary to the human condition. Black.: Well. It’s contrary to your condition. I got to agree with that.

White: Happy. This is ridiculous.

Black: Like they aint no such a thing.

White: No.

Black: Not for nobody.

White: No.

Black: Mm. How’d we get in such a fix as this?

White: We were born in such a fix as this. Suffering and human destiny are the same thing. Each is a description of the other.

Black: We aint talkin about sufferin. We talkin about bein happy.

White: Well you cant be happy if you’re in pain.

Black: Why not?

White: You’re not making any sense.

The black falls back clutching his chest.

Black: Oh them is some hard words from the professor. The preacher has fell back. He’s clutchin his heart. Eyes is rolled back in his head. Wait a minute. Wait a minute folks. His eyes is blinkin. I think he’s comin back. I think he’s comin back.

The black sits up and leans forward.

Black: The point, Professor, is that if you didnt have no pain in your life then how would you even know you was happy? As compared to what?

White: You dont have anything to drink around here do you?

Black: No, Professor, I aint. You a drinkin man?

White: Are we about to get a temperance lecture?

Black: Not from me.

White: It’s been a difficult day. I take it you dont drink.

Black: I dont. I have done my share of it in my time.

White: Are you in AA?

Black: No. No AA. I just quit. I’ve had a lots of friends was drinkers. Most of em, for that matter. Most of em dead, too.

White: From drinking.

Black: Well. From drinkin or from reasons that dont get too far from drinkin. Not too long ago I had a friend to get run down by a taxicab. Now where do you reckon he was goin? Drunk.

White: I dont know. Where was he going?

Black: Goin after more whiskey. Had plenty at the house. But a drunk is always afraid of runnin out.

White: Was he killed?

Black: I hope so. We buried him.

White: I suppose there’s a moral to this story.

Black: Well, it’s just a story about what you want and what you get. Pain and happiness. I’ll tell you another one.

White: All right.

Black: One Sunday they’s a bunch of us settin around at my house drinkin. Sunday mornin. Favorite time for