Peter McVries #23
I stopped thinkin' I had any real chance around 11 last night. You know, I had an idea that when the first guy fell off, the soldiers were pointing their guns and when they pulled the triggers, little pieces of paper with the word "Bang!" would pop out. The Major would go "April Fools!" and we'll all go home. [...] Yeah, it took me a while to realize the real gut truth of this: This is walk or die. Simple as that. Not survival of the physically fittest; if it was, I'd have a good chance, but... There are mothers who would lift a ****in' car if their kid was pinned underneath. The brain, Garraty. Not man or God, there's something in the **** brain. I don't have that. I don't wanna beat people that badly. And I think, when the time comes and I'm tired enough, I think I'll just sit down.
HO Hank Olson #46
There are three great truths in the world. A good meal, a good screw, and a good shit. And that's all.
Raymond Garraty #47
Olson's a smart man. You keep saying "crap", though. What's up with that?
Arthur Baker #6
It's always sounded a little less vulgar to me than the... than the s-word.
Peter McVries #23
Well, I ain't never heard of the Bible forbidding the word "shit".
Peter McVries #23
[Discussing Ray's plan to kill the Major if he wins]
Garraty, do you have any idea how ****in' hard it is to kill a man? I'll kill a deer and that's hard enough. Like, killing a man is only easy for...for a certain kind of person.
Raymond Garraty #47
I'll become that kind of person.
Peter McVries #23
That'd be ****in' sad. Those kind of people can't see the beauty in this world.
Raymond Garraty #47
What ****in' beauty?
Peter McVries #23
The sky! The trees, the birds! ****, man, everything! You know what else is beautiful? Us. 'Cause we're...we're real friends, aren't we?
Raymond Garraty #47
Pete, what does it matter?
Peter McVries #23
Whether we have three hours, three days, or three decades, this moment? This ****in' moment? It matters, man. Say it.
Raymond Garraty #47
This matters. This moment matters.
Peter McVries #23
Yeah. Goddamn right. Let's continue.
Raymond Garraty #47
But it doesn't really matter, does it, Pete? 'Cause when this moment's over... [whispering] ...I'm still gonna go ****in' kill him.
Peter McVries #23
Fair enough. But realize, even if you pull it off, they'll ****in' kill you.
Raymond Garraty #47
You don't know that shit. I'll be the winner. That's uncharted territory.
Peter McVries #23
But what about your mom?
Raymond Garraty #47
Oh, don't ****in' bring up my mom, Pete!
Peter McVries #23
What about your mom? Does she know?
Raymond Garraty #47
No, she doesn't. This thing's bigger than me and my mom.
BS Billy Stebbins #38
I'm the rabbit.
Raymond Garraty #47
Huh?
BS Billy Stebbins #38
I'm the **** rabbit. You've seen them. Those little grey mechanical rabbits that the greyhounds chase at the dog races. 'Cause no matter how fast the dogs run, they never can quite catch up to the rabbit, because the rabbit isn’t flesh and blood. And maybe you're right, Garraty. Maybe we should stop being rabbits and pigs and goats and sheep and just be people. Real people... who bleed. You wanna know how I know so much about the Long Walk? Because the Major's my father. I'm his bastard. I didn't think he knew I was his son; that's where I made my mistake. He's got dozens of us. For my wish, I was gonna ask to be taken into my father's home. To be invited for tea. But I guess this rabbit is flesh and blood, and this flesh and blood is failing me now. I can feel my liver going. My lungs filling with fluid. And I'd like to end this shit with my head held high, instead of falling on my belly like a reptile choking on my own mucus. Think it'll rain tonight, boys?
Raymond Garraty #47
I don't know. But it looks that way.
BS Billy Stebbins #38
I always loved the rain.
Peter McVries #23
Hey. I'm sorry.
BS Billy Stebbins #38
There's gonna be crowds. They allow them when there's two. The real die-hards, the ones who will walk with you. The ones that wanna see the Major do the final kill. Just keep walking, okay? I'm glad it's you two...
Raymond Garraty #47
Nice walking with you, Stebbins.
BS Billy Stebbins #38
An honor. Good luck.
The Major
[Pete has just won the Long Walk and collapsed to his knees, having watched the Major execute Ray]
Congratulations, Mr. McVries. The cash prize is yours. So tell me, son. What's your wish?
The Major
[Pete struggles to speak]
The whole nation is watching, son. What's your wish?
Peter McVries #23
I want... [stands up] ...I want a carbine.
The Major
You'll have one.
Peter McVries #23
No. [points to rifle held by a soldier] I want that carbine. To give to my kids one day.
The Major
Give him his wish. He won't shoot anyone, boys. He's won too much, and remember. This one wants to make the world a better place. Isn't that right, son?
Peter McVries #23
[soldier hands over his rifle; Pete points it at the Major]
Hold your fire or I'll ****in' shoot!
The Major
Hold your fire, boys!
Peter McVries #23
I'll ****in' shoot!
The Major
That's all right, son. No harm done...not yet. Put the gun down. The whole world is waitin' for you. There's more riches than you can possibly imagine. Put the gun down. The prize is yours for the takin'. Don't throw it away.
Peter McVries #23
[long pause]
This is for Ray.
[shoots and kills the Major, sees the street now silent and empty, then drops the rifle and walks away]
