The Last Picture Show
written by Peter Bogdanovich & Larry McMurtry, from the book by Larry McMurtry
(Sam the Lion and Sonny sit on a log by a fishing tank)
Sonny: I don't think there's anything in this tank 'cept turtles.
Sam: That's what I like about it, tell you the truth. (hands Sonny a lure) Want to try one?
Sonny (taking the lure): Sure.
Sam: I never liked to clean fish or eat em either. Spend half your time picking out bone. Yeah, just come out here to get a little scenery. Too pretty a day to spend in town. You wouldn't believe how this country's changed. First time I seen it, there wasn't a mesquite tree on it; or a prickly pear, neither. I used to own this land, you know. First time I watered a horse at this tank was more than forty years ago. I reckon the reason why I always drag you out here is probably I'm just as sentimental as the next feller when it comes to old times. (pause) Old times. I brought a young lady swimming out here once. More than twenty years ago. It was after my wife had lost her mind, and my boys was dead. Me and this young lady was pretty wild, I guess; in pretty deep. We used to come out here on horseback and go swimming without no bathing suits. One day, she wanted to swim the horses across this tank. Kind of a crazy thing to do, but we done it anyway. She bet me a silver dollar she could beat me across; she did. This old horse I was riding didn't want to take the water. But she was always looking for something to do like that. Something wild. I bet she's still got that silver dollar.
Sonny: Whatever happened to her?
Sam: Oh, she growed up. She was just a girl then, really. (takes the lure from Sonny) Here, lemme help you with that.
Sonny: Why didn't you ever marry her after your wife died?
Sam: She was already married. (hands the lure back to Sonny) Her and her husband was young and miserable with one another like so many young married folks are. I thought they'd change with some age, but...didn't turn out that way.
Sonny: Being married always so miserable?
Sam: No, not really. Bout eighty percent of the time, I guess. We ought to go to a real fishing tank next year. Naw, it don't do to think about things like that too much. She was here I'd probably be just as crazy now as I was then in about five minutes. (laughs) Ain't that ridiculous? Naw, it ain't really. Because being crazy about a woman like her is always the right thing to do. (laughs) Being a decrepit old bag of bones, that's what's ridiculous. Getting old.
Kudos and much thanks go to Brad for this monologue, it is very much appreciated.