Daily Dialogue — August 23, 2018

Matthew Poncelet: That boy? Walter?
Sister Helen Prejean: Yeah? What?
Matthew Poncelet: I killed him.
Sister Helen Prejean: And Hope? Did you rape her?
Matthew Poncelet: Yes, ma'am.
Sister Helen Prejean: Do you take responsibility for both of their deaths?
Matthew Poncelet: Yes, ma'am. [crying] When the lights dimmed last night, I kneeled and prayed for them kids. I never done that before.
Sister Helen Prejean: Oh, Matt. There are spaces of sorrow only God can touch. You did a terrible thing, Matt, a terrible thing. But you have a dignity now. Nobody can take that from you. You are a son of God, Matthew Poncelet.
Matthew Poncelet: Nobody ever called me no son of God before.

— Dead Man Walking (1995), screenplay by Tim Robbins, book by Sister Helen Prejean C.S.J.

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Confession.

Trivia: The title “Dead Man Walking” is a slang term used by prison guards when escorting death row prisoners from their cells to the execution chambers.

Dialogue On Dialogue: This is a dramatic moment when Matthew, who has steadfastly blamed another man for the murders for which he (Matthew) has been sentenced to die, finally takes responsibilities for his actions, confessing them to Sister Helen Prejean.