Daily Dialogue — April 2, 2014

Luke: Anybody here? Hey, Old Man. You home tonight? Can You spare a minute. It’s about time we had a little talk. I know I’m a pretty evil fellow… killed people in the war and got drunk… and chewed up municipal property and the like. I know I got no call to ask for much… but even so, You’ve got to admit You ain’t dealt me no cards in a long time. It’s beginning to look like You got things fixed so I can’t never win out. Inside, outside, all of them… rules and regulations and bosses. You made me like I am. Now just where am I supposed to fit in? Old Man, I gotta tell You. I started out pretty strong and fast. But it’s beginning to get to me. When does it end? What do You got in mind for me? What do I do now? Right. All right.

Gets on knees, closes eyes and begins to pray.

Luke: On my knees, asking.

Peeks up with one eye, waits. Then opens eyes and crosses arms.

Luke: Yeah, that’s what I thought. I guess I’m pretty tough to deal with, huh? A hard case. Yeah. I guess I gotta find my own way.

Headlights shine through windows, backs up.

Dragline: Luke?
Luke: [Shakes head and smiles] Is that Your answer, Old Man? I guess You’re a hard case, too.

— Cool Hand Luke (1967), screenplay by Donn Pearce and Frank Pierson, novel by Donn Pearce

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is prayer.

Trivia: Luke’s prison number (37) is a reference to the Bible — Luke 1:37. (“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”)

Dialogue On Dialogue: In moments of desperation, hardened characters can turn to who or what they think God is, even if they don’t have much of a prior relationship with the Divine. 

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