The Sunset Limited(12)

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.