Daily Dialogue — July 20, 2016

JACK: Jess, it’s okay, Jess. It’s okay, son, it’s okay.
JESS: It’s all gone. Is it like the Bible says? Is she going to Hell?
JACK: I don’t know everything about God, but I do know He’s not going to send that little girl to Hell.
JESS: Then I’m going to Hell, because it’s all my fault.
JACK: Don’t you think that, even for a minute.
JESS: But it is. I didn’t invite her to go to the museum with me. I didn’t want to invite her. I wasn’t there to go with her. It’s my fault.
JACK: No. No, no, no. It’s not your fault. None of that makes it so. It’s a terrible thing. It doesn’t make any sense, but it’s not your fault, Jess. She brought you something special when she came here, didn’t she? That’s what you hold on to. That’s how you keep her alive.

— Bridge to Terabithia (2007), screenplay by Jeff Stockwell and David Paterson, based on the book by Katherine Paterson

For the actual scene, go here.

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Accusation. Today’s suggestion by Will King.

Trivia: Katherine Paterson wrote her novel in 1977 as a way of helping her 8-year-old son recover from a traumatic incident — his best friend was struck by lightning and killed. The son — David Paterson — grew up to become the film’s producer.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by Will: “Not all accusation is focused outward. A friend dies in an accident, and Jess accuses himself, holds himself responsible for the tragedy.”