How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
"Little practice. Gotta stay in practice these days. There's kids out there ropin' calves in six seconds dead. Can you believe that? Six and no change. Flyin' off the saddle on the right hand side like a bunch a' Spider Monkeys. I'm tellin' ya', they got it down to a science." (218)
It doesn't seem like an accident that Eddie—who's a big control freak—is into roping things. Just as he tries to keep a tight grip on reality, so he also likes to tie things up with his lassos. There seems to be a metaphor there…
Quote #2
"I'm not leavin'. I don't care what you think anymore. I don't care what you feel. None a' that matters. I'm not leavin'. I'm stayin' right here. I don't care if a hundred "dates" walk through that door—I'll take every one of 'em on. I don't care if you hate my guts. I don't care if you can't stand the sight of me or the sound of me or the smell of me. I'm never leavin'. You'll never get rid of me. You'll never escape me either. I'll track you down no matter where you go. I know exactly how your mind works. I've been right every time. Every single time." (322)
May and Eddie have competing versions of reality, and they're also vying for control over this whole situation. At the moment, since May wants him to leave, he's refusing to do so. You might think that's sweet, since it seems to mean that he won't abandon her again, but knowing Eddie, it's more about his desire just to have control over everything. That means being "right every time," too—having control over reality is also very big for him.
Quote #3
MARTIN: (as he goes with EDDIE) Uh—do you think she's okay in there?
EDDIE: Sure she's okay. She's always okay. She just likes to take her time. Just to torture you. (454-455)
Eddie seems to think that May plays her own power games—for example, in this case, he thinks she's hiding out in the bathroom to "torture" the men while waiting for her. We're not sure if he's right or if that's just sheer projection on his part.