Daily Dialogue — August 5, 2018

Gordie: Maybe you could come into the college courses with me.
Chris: Yeah right, that’ll be the day.
Gordie: Why not? You’re smart enough.
Chris: They won’t let me.
Gordie: What do you mean?
Chris: It’s what everyone thinks of my family in this town. It’s what they think of me. I’m just one of those low-life Chambers kids.
Gordie: That’s not true.
Chris: Oh wait, it is. No one even asked me if I took the milk money that time. I just got a three day vacation.
Gordie: Did you take it?
Chris: Yeah, I took it! I mean, you knew I took it. Teddy knew I took it. Everyone knew I took it. Even Vern knew it, I think. But maybe I was sorry and I tried to give it back.
Gordie: You tried to give it back?
Chris: Maybe. Just maybe. And maybe I took it to Old Lady Simmons and told her, and the money was all there. But I still got a three day vacation because it never showed up. And maybe the next week, Old Lady Simmons had this new suit on when she came to school.
Gordie: Yeah, yeah! It was brown and it had dots on it.
Chris: Yeah. So let’s just say that I stole the milk money, but Old Lady Simmons stole it back from me. Just say that I told this story. Me, Chris Chambers. Kid brother to Eyeball Chambers. Do you think that anyone would’ve believed it?
Gordie: No.
Chris: And do you think that that bitch would have dared try something like that if it had been one of those douchebags from up on the view, if they had taken the money?
Gordie: No way!
Chris: Hell no! But with me?… I’m sure she had her eye on that skirt for a long time. Anyway, she saw her chance, and she took it. I was the stupid one for even trying to give it back. [begins to cry] I just never thought a teacher… Oh, who gives a fuck anyway? I just wish… that I could go some place… where nobody knows me. I guess I’m just a pussy, huh?
Gordie: [comforting] No way. No way.

— Stand By Me (1986), screenplay by Raynold Gideon & Bruce A. Evans, novel by Stephen King

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Stephen King

Trivia: After director Rob Reiner screened the movie for Stephen King, he noticed that King was visibly shaking and wasn’t speaking. He left the room and upon his return, told Reiner that the movie was the best adaptation of his work he had ever seen.

Dialogue On Dialogue: We can’t leave Stephen King week without honoring Stand By Me, perhaps his most evocative drama.