How we cite our quotes: In consultation with my editor, we decided (against standard practice) to go with page numbers—since The Sunset Limited is one long act and it would be unwieldy and impractical to number all the lines.
Quote #1
BLACK: I done told you. This aint none of my doin. I left out of here this mornin to go to work you wasn't no part of my plans at all. But here you is.
WHITE: It doesn't mean anything. Everything that happens doesnt mean something else. (3)
Right away, the two establish their worldviews, getting to the most basic aspect of the matter: Black thinks things happen for a reason, and White doesn't. It could be the difference between life and death…
Quote #2
BLACK: […] The first thing you've got to understand is that I aint got a original thought in my head. If it aint got the lingerin scent of divinity to it then I aint interested. (13)
If something has the "lingerin scent of divinity," it means it wasn't inspired or generated purely by worldly or natural means. Some part of it was infused with revelation—it's reaching human beings on that higher level.
Quote #3
WHITE: Probably I dont believe in a lot of things that I used to believe in but that doesn't mean that I dont believe in anything.
BLACK: Well give me a for instance.
WHITE: Mostly the value of things. […] Lots of things. Cultural things, for instance. Books and music and art. Things like that. (24-25)
White later admits he's lost faith in these things as well, but at one time, he must have found solace in them—they liberated him from the pain of being in the world, allowing his attention to go somewhere else.