Daily Dialogue — July 27, 2012

NT. GREYHOUND BUS — DAY

Ratso’s eyes squint in a dazed half-sleep. Joe leans across
to pull down the shade. He hesitates a moment, watching…

… past his reflection, a group of young men on their way to
work, carrying lunch pails, dressed exactly as Joe is now
dressed…

… then Joe lowers the blind and seats himself. Ratso nods
slightly, his voice practically inaudible.

RATSO
Thanks, Joe.

JOE
Shee-it, you know, I got this thing
all figured out, Ratso. I mean
Rico. When we get to Miami, what
I’ll do, I’ll go to work. I gotta
do that, ’cause see, I ain’t no
kind of a hustler. I ain’t even any
goddam good as a bum. I’m a
nothing, that’s what I am. So
reckon I’d better go to work and
get me a goddam job. Okay?

Joe glances at Ratso, but there is no response.

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is famous last words, suggested by Vic Tional. Today’s suggestion by Teddy Pasternak.

Trivia: One studio executive sent director John Schlesinger a memo stating, “If we could clean this up and add a few songs, it could be a great vehicle for Elvis Presley.” Presley wanted to be taken seriously as an actor, and was interested in the role of Joe Buck. Presley went on instead to do Change of Habit with Mary Tyler Moore, which bombed, and became his last theatrical movie.

Dialogue On Dialogue: More movies like this, please.