The Sunset Limited(4)

White No. It isnt.

Black Well you the one suggested it.

White I didnt suggest any such thing. You’re the one put in the stuff about angels. I never said anything about angels. I dont believe in angels.

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.