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 #4
WHITE: Do most blacks call the penitentiary the jailhouse?
BLACK: Naw. Just us old country n*****s. We kind of make it a point to call things for what they is. I'd hate to guess how many names they is for the jailhouse. I'd hate to have to count em. (36)
Black uses the n-word to knock White off-balance at times. White seems uncomfortable with it—which you could argue shows that he still cares about humanity at least a little bit after all.
Quote #5
BLACK: You dont want to hear n***** but you about to bail out on me on account of I wont tell you some terrible s*** the n***** said. You sure about this?
WHITE: I just dont see why you have to say that word.
BLACK: Well it's my story aint it? Anyway I dont remember there bein no Afro-Americans or persons of color there. To the best of my recollection it was just a bunch of n*****s. (47)
Yeah, this is pretty rough talk. Black might think that if he can keep White off-balance, though, he may be able to get him in the "trick bag" by springing a good point on him out of nowhere.
Quote #6
BLACK: Well. Wonder what this crazy n***** fixin to do. He liable to put the mojo on me. Be speakin in tongues here directly. I better get my ass out of here. He's liable to try and steal my pocketbook. Need to get my ass down to the train depot fore somethin happen to me. What we goin to do with you, Professor? (64)
Black imagines White's internal monologue as a racist reflection on Black's religiosity. It's probably not what White's really thinking, but it's Black's way of joking around. He thinks White is worried he might actually get converted into wanting to live again—which is why he's so eager to leave.