Daily Dialogue — June 17, 2015
The Schofield Kid: Was that what it was like in the old days Will? Everybody riding out, shooting, smoke all over the place, folks yelling, bullets whizzing by?
Will Munny: I guess so.
The Schofield Kid: Shit, I thought they was going to get us. I was even scared a little, just for a minute. Was you ever scared in them days?
Will Munny: I can’t remember, I was drunk most the time.
The Schofield Kid: I shot that fucker three times. He’s taking a shit, he went for his pistol and I blazed away. First shot… I got him right in the chest. Say Will…
Will Munny: Yeah?
The Schofield Kid: That was the first one.
Will Munny: First one what?
The Schofield Kid: First one I ever killed.
Will Munny: Yeah?
The Schofield Kid: You know how I said I shot five men? It weren’t true. That Mexican that come at me with a knife, I just busted his leg with a shovel. I didn’t kill him or nothing, neither.
Will Munny: Well, you sure killed the hell outta that fella today.
The Schofield Kid: Hell yeah, I killed the hell out of him didn’t I? Three shots and he was taking a shit.
Will Munny: Take a drink kid.
The Schofield Kid: Jesus Christ. It don’t seem real… how he ain’t gonna never breathe again, ever… how he’s dead. And the other one too. All on account of pulling a trigger.
Will Munny: It’s a hell of a thing, killing a man. Take away all he’s got and all he’s ever gonna have.
The Schofield Kid: Yeah, well, I guess they had it coming.
Will Munny: We all have it coming, kid.
— Unforgiven (1992), written by David Webb Peoples
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Wisdom. Today’s suggestion by James Schramm.
Trivia: The script floated around Hollywood for nearly 20 years, during which time Gene Hackman read and rejected it, only to be later convinced by Clint Eastwood (who had owned the rights to the script for some time) to play a role.
Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by James: “The wisdom of an experienced killer to the novice who realizes he doesn’t have the stomach for the profession. Great movie.”