Great Scenes — Bull Durham
Bull Durham, written and directed by Ron Shelton, is such a quoteworthy movie, it’s hard to single out just one great scene. But if you just had to pick, the “I believe” scene has got to be it. Annie (Susan Sarandon) has invited two minor league baseball players, Ebby (Tim Robbins) and Crash (Kevin Costner), back to her place to explain what she has in mind — only Crash ain’t going for it:
INT. ANNIE'S LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT
THE SHRINE OF BASEBALL GLOWS -- Annie lights the candles.
EBBY AND CRASH SIT ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF HER COUCH -- Both men
look around the room with wonder. Ebby is clearly more
nervous than Crash, who's been in some strange rooms in his
minor league career.
ANNIE
These are the ground rules.
(beat)
I hook up with one guy a season--
I mean it takes me a couple of
weeks to pick the guy--kinda my
own spring training...
(beat)
And, well, you two are the most
promising prospects of the season
so far.
(beat)
So... I thought we should get to
know each other.
CRASH
Why do you get to choose? Why
don't I get to choose?
ANNIE
Actually none of us on this planet
ever really choose each other.
It's all Quantum Physics and
molecular attraction. There are
laws we don't understand that
bring us together and break us
apart.
EBBY
Is somebody gonna go to bed with
somebody or what?
ANNIE
You're a regular nuclear meltdown,
honey--slow down.
Crash rises to leave, and heads for the door.
CRASH
After 12 years in the minor
leagues, I don't tryout. Besides--
I don't believe in, Quantum Physics
when it comes to matters of the
heart...or loins.
ANNIE
(challenging him)
What do you believe in?
Crash at the door. Annie's question is slightly taunting.
He stops, and speaks with both aloofness and passion:
CRASH
I believe in the soul, the cock,
the pussy, the small of a woman's
back, the hanging curve ball,
high fiber, good scotch, long
foreplay, show tunes, and that
the novels of Thomas Pynchon are
self-indulgent, overrated crap.
(beat)
I believe that Lee Harvey Oswald
acted alone, I believe that there
oughtta be a constitutional
amendment outlawing astro-turf
and the designated hitter, I
believe in the "sweet spot", voting
every election, soft core
pornography, chocolate chip
cookies, opening your presents on
Christmas morning rather than
Christmas eve, and I believe in
long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses
that last for 7 days.
ANNIE
(breathless)
Oh my...
(softly)
Don't leave...
CRASH
G'night.
Crash heads out into the night. Annie hurries to the-door
while Ebby sits on the couch, bewildered.
EBBY
Hey--what's all this molecule
stuff?
ANNIE STANDS IN THE DOORWAY -- Crash is on the porch.
ANNIE
Wait, Crash--don't go--all I want
is a date. I'm not gonna fall in
love with you or nothin'.
CRASH
I'm not interested in a woman
who's interested in that boy.
ANNIE
I'm not interested yet.
Ebby appears in the door.
EBBY
Who you calling a "boy"?
CRASH
See ya at the yard, Meat.
Crash walks out into the Durham night. Ebby and Annie stand
in the doorway. She speaks softly to Ebby.
ANNIE
No ballplayer ever said "no" to a
date with me.
EBBY
Well shit, then, let's fuck.
CUT TO:
What an awesome rant and completely in keeping with Crash’s iconoclastic persona. Here’s the only video clip I could find — bad visuals. But it’s worth playing just to hear Kevin Costner deliver his bromide one more time:
What are your favorite lines of dialogue from Bull Durham?
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