Daily Dialogue — August 11, 2015

Cass: Straighten up a bit for me will you, Tex?
Joe Buck: Say Cass, sure have enjoyed being here. I believe this is as fine a time I’ve ever had in my damn life.
Cass: Me too, lover.
Joe Buck: Well that’s good it is, cause..uh, well the way you make me feel so damn at home here…I almost hate to bring up business.
Cass: Yeah it’s murder isn’t it? What line are you in sweetie? [finishing dressing] Zip me up will you Tex? Maury’s always complaining about his ulcers.
Joe Buck: Yeah, well I don’t what line Maury is in…but myself now, I’m kind of a hustler.
Cass: [putting on lipstick] Well a person’s gotta make a living.
Joe Buck: Uh, pardon me ma’am?
Cass: [more clear] I said a person’s gotta make a living.
Joe Buck: Are you sure you heard what I said?
Cass: Sorry Tex, my mind isn’t all here. I don’t want to be late for my date with Maury. Listen sweetie, why don’t you run along and uh take the number and we were get touch with each other real soon, aren’t we? [she looks at her empty coin purse] Would you believe that? I forgot to get to the bank and now it’s too late. Listen, I have to take a taxi, I need a few bucks. I hate to ask you but you’re such a doll.
Joe Buck: You know, Cass, that’s a funny thing you mentioning money…’cause I was just about to ask you for some.
Cass: You were gonna ask me for money? Huh?
Joe Buck: Well hell, why did you think I come all the up here from Texas for?
Cass: You were going to ask me for money? Who the hell do you think you’re dealing with, some old slut on 42nd Street? In case you didn’t happen to notice it, ya big Texas longhorn bull, I’m one helluva gorgeous chick!
Joe Buck: Well now, Cass, take it easy now.
Cass: You heard it. At 28 years old, you think you can come up here and pull this kind of crap up here? Well you’re out of your mind.
Joe Buck: Cass, come on now.
Cass: I could just kill you with my bare hands. Will you get out of here? Will you get out of here?
Joe Buck: Ah Cass, honey. Cass, come on now.

— Midnight Cowboy (1969), screenplay by Waldo Salt, novel by James Leo Herlihy

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Adultery. Today’s suggestion by James Schramm.

Trivia: Waldo Salt is credited as the screenwriter for the film. Apparently a happy coincidence, 1975 saw the release of The Great Waldo Pepper (1975). Hollywood’s history now claims a Waldo Salt and Pepper set.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by James: “I love how the hustler is hustled by the older wiser woman. Not her first rodeo so to speak.”