Daily Dialogue — July 15, 2012

ALVIN: When my kids were young I played a game with them. I’d give each of them a stick. One for each of ’em, and I’d tell them to break it. They’d do that easy. Then I’d tell them to make one bundle of all the sticks and try to break that. A course they couldn’t. I used to say that was family, that bundle.

Crystal listens in silence.

ALVIN: Sleep in the trailer if you want. I’ll be just fine here in my chair.

CRYSTAL: No, I’ll be fine sleeping out here. Looking at the stars helps me think.

Alvin nods. He begins to struggle to his feet. Crystal stands to help him. After a moment of hesitation Alvin accepts her arm. He stands, nods, smiles and moves slowly to the trailer. Crystal sits down alone to watch the fire. We hear the sounds of Alvin settling into the trailer. A bit of silence.

ALVIN: (from offscreen) Sweet dreams.

CUT TO:

EXT.–NIGHT ALVIN’S TRAILER

Alvin’s trailer door is open to the night air. We slowly push into the dark rectangular opening of the trailer.

FADE IN:

EXT.–SUNRISE

A wide establishing shot of the Iowa landscape at sunrise.

CUT TO:

EXT.–SUNRISE ALVIN’S CAMPSITE

Alvin crawls out of the trailer. Crystal’s gone. Next to the cold campfire is a bundle of sticks bound with a tiger-striped shoelace.

— Alvin (Richard Farnsworth), Crystal (Anastasia Webb), The Straight Story (1999), written by John Roach and Mary Sweeney

The Daily Dialogue theme this week is departure, suggested by MatchesMalone. Today’s suggestion by Teddy Pasternak.

Trivia: The movie is based on a true story. The real Alvin Straight lived 1920–1996, living three further years after he took the journey.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Teddy Pasternak offers this observation: “Here’s an example where the actual departure is silent, or unspoken, rather. It’s the dialogue leading up to the departure that matters together with the terrific visual storytelling. I love this film. There’s such beauty and honesty to it. Not a hint of cynicism which could have easily happened in the wrong filmmaker’s hands.” Let me add, I love this movie as well. Amazing that David Lynch directed this movie. And that it is rated G. 

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