- White says this isn't what he believes—he believes in "the primacy of the intellect," the idea that reason comes first. He also believes in the primacy of the Sunset Limited, in the importance of dying, not existing.
- But, under Black's questioning, White says he doesn't believe in the primacy of his fellow humans.
- Black sets the table for dinner, bringing plates and a loaf of bread, and noting that White's a tough case.
- He says that White will be okay if he can stick to the quest of his own life, the road he's set for himself (beyond committing suicide). But White doesn't get it.
- Black says grace and thanks God for keeping White among the living.
- They start to eat and White says he really likes the food. It's like chili, but it has bananas, mangos, rutabagas, and molasses in it. Yum. Black explains he learned to cook it here in New York's ghettoes and that it's influenced by numerous cultures.
- As they eat, Black talks about how French chefs like to cook with all the things nobody likes—tripe, brains, etc.—because it's a challenge. Poor people do the same thing, just instead of for fun, because they can't afford the stuff people typically want.
- White takes seconds and they banter a bit about drinking. Black isn't averse to drinking, say, one glass of wine on occasion, but he's not really a drinker. White points out that Jesus drank wine and Black says that's true, but he wasn't hiding it in any toilets.
- White asks Black what the worst thing he's ever done is. Black says he won't tell him, though, since he'd run out the door hollering—it's worse than bludgeoning that dude. He confessed it once to a friend of his, who was a "Man of God."
- White wonders if Black is curious about the worst thing White's ever done, but Black says he was there when White was doing it (trying to die).