In Cold Blood (Part 1): Pages 36-44

Summary

The script covers a reading from 'In Cold Blood,' focusing on two characters, Perry and Dick, as they prepare for a crime, discussing gloves, stockings, and rope for the operation. It then shifts perspective to Kenyon, a young boy working on projects in his home, reflecting on relationships, personal losses, and his solitary nature. The script further delves into Perry's psychological complexities, his relationship with an ex-cellmate, and his inner turmoil, as highlighted by a thoughtful letter about his character flaws and emotional struggles.

Takeaways

• 📖 The reading session begins with a continuation of 'In Cold Blood' from page 36, focusing on the story of Perry and Dick's criminal plans.
• 🚗 Perry and Dick shop for items needed for their crime, including gloves and rope, showcasing their different approaches to planning.
• 🧠 Perry expresses doubt about Dick's confidence that no witnesses will be left, revealing tension and uncertainty between the two.
• 🔧 The narrative switches to Kenyon, a character working on a hope chest for his sister in the basement, highlighting his carpentry skills.
• 🏡 Kenyon and his sister Nancy take pride in their efforts to brighten up the basement, turning it into a den for friends and family.
• 🐕 The scene shows Kenyon’s bond with his sister and the family pets, demonstrating a contrast to Perry and Dick’s darker activities.
• 🏞️ Kenyon reflects on his adventures with his friend Bob, including coyote chasing and rabbit hunting, portraying his rural Kansas lifestyle.
• 💔 Kenyon feels distant from Bob as Bob has started dating, marking a shift in their friendship as Kenyon remains focused on hobbies and independence.
• 💀 Perry's relationship with Dick is explored further, emphasizing Perry's deep insecurities, superstitions, and inner conflicts regarding the murder plan.
• 📜 Perry reflects on his past friendship with Willie Jay, a former inmate, whose psychological insights still haunt Perry, deepening his inner turmoil.

Q & A

What is the context of the scene being read from *In Cold Blood*?

The scene describes Dick and Perry, two criminals, planning a robbery and murder. They stop in Emporia, Kansas to purchase supplies, including gloves and rope, which are essential for their plan. The narrative also shifts to Kenyon Clutter, one of the eventual murder victims, who is working on carpentry in the basement of his home.

Why does Perry become irritated with Dick during their conversation?

Perry becomes irritated because Dick repeatedly insists that there will be no witnesses to their crime, which Perry finds naive. Perry believes that unforeseen circumstances, or 'the ineffable,' can happen and that it's foolish to think there won't be any witnesses.

Why is Perry interested in buying black stockings from a nun?

Perry suggests buying black stockings from a nun because he assumes that nuns would have them readily available. However, Perry also believes nuns and anything related to them are bad luck, which makes the situation ironic.

What personal philosophy does Perry hold regarding fate and his current actions?

Perry believes that his current actions are dictated by fate, not personal desire. He feels that fate has arranged the situation, and despite not wanting to be involved, he accepts his role in the crime as inevitable.

What is the significance of Willie-Jay in Perry’s life?

Willie-Jay is Perry’s only real friend and a former cellmate. Willie-Jay believed in Perry's potential for redemption and tried to lead him toward spiritual salvation. Perry admired Willie-Jay’s intelligence and saw him as someone who truly understood him, despite Perry’s lack of belief in God.

How does Kenyon Clutter's personality differ from his father’s?

Kenyon is described as sensitive and reserved, traits he shares with his mother, Bonnie, rather than his father, Herb Clutter. He is depicted as a thoughtful and introspective boy, more interested in solitary activities like carpentry and inventions than socializing or sports.

Why has the friendship between Kenyon and Bob Jones changed recently?

The friendship between Kenyon and Bob has changed because Bob has started dating a girl, leaving Kenyon feeling somewhat left out. Kenyon, being a year younger and uninterested in romantic relationships, finds it difficult to relate to Bob’s new focus on girls.

What is the significance of the mahogany hope chest Kenyon is working on?

Kenyon is building a mahogany hope chest as a wedding gift for his sister, Beverly. The chest symbolizes Kenyon’s craftsmanship and his desire to contribute something meaningful to his sister’s future life.

How does Kenyon feel about his horse, Skeeter?

Kenyon is deeply attached to his horse, Skeeter, who died of heart failure while being ridden. Even a year after the horse's death, Kenyon continues to mourn him, despite his father’s promise to give him another horse.

What does Willie-Jay's letter to Perry suggest about Perry’s inner struggles?

Willie-Jay’s letter highlights Perry’s emotional instability and inner conflicts. He describes Perry as a man of extreme passion who is torn between self-expression and self-destruction. Willie-Jay warns that unless Perry learns to control his emotional outbursts and his resentment towards others, these flaws will ultimately defeat him.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Introduction to 'In Cold Blood' and Setting the Scene

The speaker introduces the continuation of the reading of *In Cold Blood*, starting at page 36, and provides behind-the-scenes details about a costume change due to changing weather. They describe a scene where two characters, Dick and Perry, shop for gloves and discuss the need for items such as stockings and rope, with Dick downplaying potential witnesses to their crimes. Perry, however, is more cautious, aware of the unpredictability of circumstances.

05:02

🏀 Kenyon's Personality and Adventures

Kenyon, a reserved boy, is described as physically strong but uncoordinated and reliant on glasses. Despite his limitations, he enjoys outdoor adventures, such as coyote hunting and rabbit roundups with his close friend Bob. However, their friendship is strained as Bob begins dating, leaving Kenyon feeling isolated. The passage emphasizes Kenyon’s preference for solitude, machines, and hobbies over romantic relationships.

10:02

🌸 Kenyon's Bond with His Family and Sense of Loss

Kenyon’s close relationship with his family is explored, particularly with his sister Nancy and their shared moments of tending to the garden. There is also a discussion of his feelings about becoming an uncle. His memory of his horse Skeeter, who died unexpectedly, evokes a sense of loss that still lingers with him. Kenyon's preference for practical activities over emotional connections is highlighted.

15:03

🚗 Perry's Superstitions and Motives

The scene shifts to Perry waiting in the car while Dick attempts to buy stockings from a nun. Perry's belief in fate and various superstitions, such as his discomfort around the number 15 and nuns, is explored. Perry reflects on his deeper reasons for returning to Kansas, not for Dick's plan but to reunite with Willie Jay, a friend and spiritual guide who had a significant influence on him during his time in prison.

💌 Perry and Willie Jay's Friendship and Perry's Inner Conflict

The relationship between Perry and Willie Jay is further elaborated. Willie Jay, a former cellmate and religious figure in the prison, saw potential in Perry and tried to guide him spiritually. Despite his respect for Willie Jay, Perry ultimately rejects religion, causing a rift in their friendship. Willie Jay's farewell letter to Perry is full of insight, warning him about his self-destructive tendencies and emotional volatility, which Perry struggles to control.

Keywords

💡Black Chevrolet

The Black Chevrolet is a vehicle central to the narrative as Dick and Perry travel to Emporia, Kansas. It symbolizes the mobility of the characters as they prepare for their criminal activities. In the script, the Black Chevrolet appears multiple times as the two men drive around planning their actions, reflecting the ominous nature of their journey.

💡Rubber Gloves

The rubber gloves symbolize the premeditation of the crime. Perry purchases these gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints, showing the meticulousness with which he approaches the plan. The mention of rubber gloves indicates their intent to ensure there are 'no witnesses' as they commit the crime.

💡No Witnesses

The phrase 'no witnesses' is repeatedly emphasized by Dick, highlighting the callousness of the characters' mindset toward human life. Dick’s constant reminder that no one should survive the encounter is central to the cold and calculated nature of the impending crime, reinforcing the moral darkness of the narrative.

💡Mahogany Hope Chest

The mahogany hope chest represents craftsmanship and familial ties. Kenyon, a member of the Clutter family, is seen building this chest as a wedding present for his sister. This contrasts sharply with the violence planned by Dick and Perry, emphasizing the loss of innocence and the tragedy that will befall the family.

💡Emporia, Kansas

Emporia, Kansas is a key setting in the script, where the two criminals stop to do some shopping as part of their preparations. It is described as a 'large town almost a city,' marking a significant moment in their journey toward their final crime destination. This setting highlights the contrast between everyday life and the looming violence.

💡Rope

The purchase of the white nylon rope symbolizes the violent intent of the characters. Perry, who is skilled with knots due to his time in the merchant marine, selects the rope, knowing it will be used in their criminal act. The rope also evokes a sense of foreboding as they plan to restrain their victims.

💡Willie-Jay

Willie-Jay is a former cellmate of Perry's, described as his 'real and only friend.' He is portrayed as an intellectual figure, someone who once tried to guide Perry spiritually. Willie-Jay's influence over Perry adds complexity to Perry's character, as it shows his inner conflict and desire for redemption, despite his current path.

💡Superstition

Perry’s superstitions play a role in his thought process throughout the narrative. He believes that encountering certain signs, such as the number 15, red hair, and nuns, brings bad luck. His respect for these superstitions reflects his belief in fate, which influences his decision to return to Kansas for reasons beyond just Dick’s plan.

💡The Clutter Family

The Clutter family, although only mentioned briefly in the script, represents the victims of the planned crime. Their lives, particularly Kenyon and Nancy’s, are described in detail to contrast the innocence and normalcy of their existence with the violent intentions of Dick and Perry. The impending tragedy that will strike the family adds emotional weight to the narrative.

💡Kenyon's Inventions

Kenyon’s inventions, such as his electric deep-dish frying pan, highlight his creativity and individuality. These details about his hobbies and personality serve to humanize him, making the reader feel a deeper sense of loss when considering the crime. Kenyon is portrayed as an innocent, young, and intelligent person whose life will be tragically cut short.

Highlights

The reading starts in the middle of page 36, discussing the journey of a black Chevrolet and its occupants reaching Emporia, Kansas.

The occupants of the car decide to do some shopping, starting with purchasing rubber gloves for Perry.

Perry and Dick debate the necessity of wearing stockings to conceal themselves, with Perry concerned about hiding his eye injury.

Dick emphasizes there will be no witnesses to their crime, a sentiment that irritates Perry.

Perry demonstrates his expertise with ropes by selecting a strong white nylon cord for their operation.

The perspective shifts to Kenyon, who is working on a chest as a wedding present for his sister Beverly.

Kenyon is portrayed as a sensitive, creative boy who excels at carpentry and enjoys inventing things in his home workshop.

The relationship between Kenyon and his close friend Bob has changed due to Bob's interest in girls, while Kenyon remains focused on his hobbies.

Kenyon and Bob used to hunt coyotes together, racing them in an old truck they called the 'Coyote Wagon.'

Kenyon reflects on the loss of his horse Skeeter, which died of heart failure while running.

Perry's deep respect for superstitions is highlighted, including his belief that nuns, the number 15, and red hair bring bad luck.

Perry's return to Kansas is motivated by a desire to reunite with his old cellmate, Willie Jay, whom he greatly admired.

Willie Jay is described as a spiritual and intellectual influence on Perry, although Perry ultimately rejects his religious guidance.

Willie Jay's farewell letter to Perry reveals deep insights into Perry's character, describing him as a man torn between self-expression and self-destruction.

The letter emphasizes Perry's internal struggle with anger and resentment toward others, which Willie Jay believes will ultimately defeat him.

Transcripts

hello and welcome back to in cold blood

part one we will be starting kind of in

the middle a little lower down from the

middle on page 36.

i have had a costume change because i

thought it was warm outside but now i'm

a little cold because it's the evening

just a little behind the scenes i'm sure

you guys were just dying for

alrighty we are going to be on

the line that says by mid-afternoon the

black chevrolet

by mid-afternoon the black chevrolet had

reached emporia kansas

a large town almost a city and a safe

place so the occupants of the car had

decided to do a bit of shopping

they parked on a side street then

wandered about until a suitable crowd

crowded variety store presented itself

the first purchase was a pair of rubber

gloves

those were for perry who unlike dick had

neglected to bring old gloves of his own

they moved on to a counter displaying

women's hosiery

after a spell of indecisive quibbling

perry said

i'm for it dick was not what about my

eye

they're all too light-colored to hide

that

miss said perry attracting a sales

girl's attention

you got any black stockings when she

told him no he proposed that they try

another school

school store black's foolproof

but dick had made up his mind stockings

of any shade were unnecessary an

encumbrance a useless

expense i've already invested enough

money in this operation

and after all anyone they encountered

would not live to bear witness

no witnesses he reminded perry for what

seemed to perry like the millionth time

it wrankled in him the way perry mouthed

those two or the the way dick mouthed

those two words

as though they solved every problem it

was stupid not to admit that there might

be a witness they hadn't seen

the ineffable happens they do take a

turn he said

but dick smiling boastfully boyishly did

not agree

get the bubbles out of your blood

nothing can go wrong no

because the plan was dicks and from the

first footfall to the final silence

flawlessly devised next they were

interested in rope

perry studied the stock tested it having

once served in the merchant marine he

understood rope and was clever with

knots

he chose a white nylon cord as strong as

wire and not much thicker

they discussed how many yards of that

they required the question

irritated dick for it was part of a

greater quandary

he could not despite the alleged

perfection of his overall design be

certain of the answer

eventually he said christ how the hell

should i know you damn well better

dick tried there's him her the kid and

the girl

and maybe the other two but it's

saturday they might have guests

let's count on eight or even 12. the

only sure thing

is every one of them has got to go seems

like a lot of it

to be so sure about ain't that what i

promised you honey

plenty of hair on them those walls perry

shrugged

then we better buy the whole roll it was

100 yards long

quite long enough for 12. kenyan had

built the chest himself so we're doing a

perspective switch here

a mahogany hope chest lined with cedar

which he intended to give beverly as a

wedding present

now working on it in the so-called den

in the basement he applied a last coat

of varnish

the furniture of the den a cement

floored room that ran the length of the

house

consisted almost entirely of exam of

examples of his carpentry

shelves tables stools a ping pong table

and nancy's needle roll

work chin slip covers that rejuvenated a

degree couch

curtains pillows bearing legends happy

and don't have to be crazy to live here

but it helps

together kenyon and nancy had made a

paint splattered attempt to deprive the

pace basement room of its unremovable

dowerness

and neither was aware of failure in fact

they both thought their den a triumph

and a blessing

nancy because it was a place where she

could entertain the gang without

disturbing her mother

and kenyon because he could be alone

free to bang saul

mess with his inventions the newest of

which was an electric deep dish frying

pan

adjoining the den was a furnace room

which contained a tool littered table

piled with some of his other works in

progress an amplifying unit

an elderly wind-up victrola that he was

restoring to service

i'm cold i gotta go inside welcome to

the dining room

i didn't pick these drapes they came

with the house i'm going to change them

all right so we are down uh talking

about kenyans and the um

inventions kind of on the the bottom

paragraph of page 38.

ken resembled neither his parents

physically his crew cut hair was hemp

colored

and he was six feet tall and lanky

though hefty enough to have once rescued

a pair of full-grown sheep by carrying

them

two miles through a blizzard sturdy

strong but cursed with a lanky boy's

lack of muscular coordination

this defect aggregated by an inability

to function without glasses

prevented him from taking more than a

token part in those sports teams

basketball and baseball that were the

main occupation of most boys

who might have been his friends had only

one close friend

bob jones the son of taylor jones whose

ranch was a mile west of the clutter

home

out in rural kansas boy star driving

cars very young

kenyon was 11 when his father allowed

him to buy with money he had earned

raising sheep

an old truck with a model a engine the

coyote wagon he and bob called it

not far from river valley farm there is

a mysterious stretch of countryside

known as

the sand hills it is like a beach

without an ocean

and at night coyotes slink among the

dunes assembling in hordes to howl

on moonlit evenings the boys would

descend upon them set them running and

try to outrace them in the wagon

they seldom dead for the scrawniest

coyote can hit 50 miles an hour

whereas the wagon's top speed was 35 but

it was a wild and beautiful kind of fun

the wagons getting across the sand and

fleeing coyotes framed against the moon

as bob said

it sure made your heart hurry equally

intoxicating and more profitable where

the rabbit round off ups the boy

two boys conducted

kenyan was a good shot and his friend a

better one and between them they

sometimes delivered half a hundred

rabbits to the rabbit factory

a garden city processing plant that paid

10 cents ahead for the animals

which were then quick frozen and shipped

to mink growers

but what meant most to kenyan and bob

too was their weekend

overnight hunting hikes along the shores

of the river wandering wrapping up in

blankets

listening at sunrise for the noise of

wings moving toward the sound on tiptoe

and then

sweetest of all swaggering homeward with

a dozen duck dinners swinging from their

belts

but lately things had changed between

kenyan and his friend

they had not quarreled there had not

there had not been

an overt falling out nothing had

happened except bob

who was 16 had started going with a girl

which meant that kenyan

a year younger and still very much the

adolescent bachelor

could no longer count on his

companionship bob told him

when you're my age you'll feel different

i used to think the same as you

women so what then you get to talking to

some woman

and it's mighty nice you'll see kenyan

doubted it

he could not conceive of ever wanting to

waste an hour on any girl that might be

spent with guns horses tools machinery

even a book

if bob was unavailable then he would

rather be alone for in temperament he

was not in the least mr clutter's son

but rather bonnie's child

a sensitive and reticent boy his

contemporaries thought him stand office

office yet forgave him saying oh kenyon

it's just that he lives in a world of

his own

leaving the varnish to dry he went on to

another chore one that took him out of

doors

he wanted to tidy up his mother's flower

garden a treasured patch of disheveled

foliage that grew beneath her bedroom

window

when he got there he found one of the

hired men loosening the earth with a

spade

paul helm the husband of the of the

housekeeper

seeing that car mr helmast yes kenyan

had seen the car in the driveway

a grey buick standing outside the

entrance of his father's office

thought you might know who it was not

unless it's mr johnson

dad said he was expecting him mr helm

the late mr helm he died of a stroke the

following march

was a somber man in his late 50s whose

withdrawn manner veiled in nature

keenly curious and watchful he liked to

know what was going on

which johnson the insurance fellow

mr helm grunted your dad must be laying

in a stack of it that car's been here

i'd say three hours

the chill of oncoming dust shivered

through the air and though the sky was

still deep blue

lengthening shadows emanated from the

gardens tall

chrysanthemum stalks nancy's cat

frolicked among them

catching its paws in the twine with

which kenyan and the old man were now

tying plants

suddenly nancy herself came jolly across

the fields aboard fat babe

babe returning from her saturday treat a

bath in the river

teddy the dog accompanied them and all

three were water splashed and shining

you'll catch cold mr helm said nancy

laughed she had never been ill

not once sliding off babe she sprawled

on the grass at the edge of the garden

and seized her cat

dangled him above her and kissed his

nose and whiskers kenyan was disgusted

kissing animals on the mouth you used to

kiss the

skeeter she reminded him skeeter was a

horse

a beautiful horse a strawberry stallion

that he had raised from a foal

how that skeeter could take offense use

a horse too hard

his father cautioned him one day you'll

run the life out of skeeter

and he had while skeeter was streaking

down the road with his master of stride

and his heart failed

he stumbled and was dead it's a really

bleak story to share

now a year later kenyon still mourned

him even though his father taking pity

on him had promised him the pick of next

spring's fall fools kenyon

nancy said do you think tracy will be

able to talk by thanksgiving

tracy not yet a year old was her nephew

the son of evianna and the sister to

whom she felt particularly close

beverly was kenyon's favorite it would

throw me to pieces to hear him say aunt

nancy or uncle kenyon

would you like to hear him say that i

mean don't you love being an

uncle kenyan good grief why can't you

ever answer me

because you're silly he said tossing her

the hair the head of a flower

a wilted dahlia which she jammed into

her hair

mr helm picked up a spade crows called

sundown was near but his home was not

the lane of chinese elms had turned into

a tunnel of darkening green

and he lived at the end of it half a

mile away evening

he said and started his journey journey

but once he looked back

and that he was to testify the next day

was the last

i seen them nancy leading old babe off

to the barn

like i said nothing out of the ordinary

the black chevrolet was again parked

this time in front of a catholic

hospital on the outskirts of emporia

under continued needling that's your

trouble you think there's only one way

dick's way dick had surrendered while

perry waited in the car

he had gone in the hospital to try and

bear buy a pair of black stockings from

a nun

this rather unorthodox method of

obtaining them had been perry's

inspirations

nuns he argued were certain to have a

supply

the notion presented one drawback of

course nuns and anything pertaining to

them were bad luck

he and perry was mo and perry was most

most respectful of his superstitions

some others were the number 15 red hair

white flowers priests crossing a road

snakes appearing in a dream still it

couldn't be helped

the compulsively superstitious person is

often

a serious believer in fate that was the

case with perry

he was here and embarked on the present

errand not because he wished to be

but because fate had arranged the matter

he could prove it though he had no

intention of doing so

or at least within dick's hearing for

the proof would involve his confessing

the true and secret motive behind his

return to kansas

a piece of parole violation he had

decided upon for a reason quite

unrelated to dick's score

or dick's summoning lit letter so

basically

dick said do you want to come do this

murder with me

um and he sent it in a letter come on

guys

the reason was several weeks earlier he

has learned that on thursday november

12th

another of his former cell mates was

being released from kansas state

penitentiary at lansing

and more than anything in the world he

desired a reunion with his man

his man his real and only friend

the brilliant willie j during the first

of his three years in prison

perry had observed willy j from a

distance with interest

but with apprehension if one wished to

be thought a tough specimen

intimacy with willy jay seemed unwise he

was the chaplain's clerk a slender

irishman with prematurely gray hair

and gray melancholy eyes his tenor voice

was the glory of the prison's choir

even perry though he was contemptuous of

any exhibit

exhibition of piety felt upset when he

heard willy jay

sing the lord's prayer the hymns gave

grave language sung

so credulous a spirit moved him made him

wonder a little at the justice of his

contempt

eventually prodded by a slightly alerted

religious curiosity

he approached willy jay and the

chaplain's clerk at once responsive

thought he divined in the cripple-legged

bodybuilder with the misty gaze and the

prim's smokey voice

a poet something rare and savable

an ambition to bring this boy to god

involved engulfed him

his hopes of succeeding accelerated when

one day perry produced a pastel drawing

he had made

a large in no way technically naive

portrait of jesus

lansing's protestant chaplain the revlon

james

reverend james post so valued it that he

hung it in his office

where it hangs still a slick and pretty

savior

with willy jay's full lips and grieving

eyes

the picture was the client climax of

perry's nev

never very earnest spiritual quest and

ironically the termination of it he had

joined his jesus a piece of hypocrisy

an attempt to fool and betray willie j

for

he was as unconvinced of god as ever

yet should he admit this and risk

forfeiting the one friend who had ever

truly understood

him had joe jesse travelers

straying through a world where his last

names were cell where last names were

seldom exchanged

these had been his buddies never anyone

like willie j

who was in perry's opinion way above

average intelligent

intellectually perceptive as a

well-trained

psychologist how was it possible that so

gifted a man had wound up in lansing

that was what amazed perry the answer

which he knew but rejected

as an evasion of the deeper the human

question was plain to simpler minds

the chaplain's clerk then 38 was a thief

a small-scale robber who over a period

of 20 years had served sentences in five

different states

maybe you don't get your spiritual

advice from that person

maybe

perry decided to speak out he was sorry

but it was not for him

heaven hell saints divine mercy and if

willy jay's affection

was founded on the prospect of perry's

someday joining him at the foot of the

cross

then he was deceived and their

friendship false a counterfeit like the

portrait

as usual willy j understood disheartened

but not disenchanted

for he persisted in courting perry's

soul into the day of its possessor's

parole and departure

on the eve of which he wrote perry a

farewell letter whose last paragraph

ran you are a man of extreme passion a

hungry man

not quite sure where his appetite lies a

deeply frustrated man

striving to project his individuality

against a backdrop of rigid conformity

you exist in a half world suspended

between two superstructures

one self-expression and the other

self-destruction

you are strong but there is a flaw in

your strength and unless you learn to

control it

the flaw will prove stronger than your

strength and defeat you

the flaw explosive emotional reaction

out of all proportion to the occasion

why why this unreasonable anger at the

sight of

others who are happy or content this

growing contempt

for people and the desire to hurt them

all right

you think they're fools you despise them

because of their

morals their happiness is a source of

your frustration

and resentment but these are dreadful

enemies

you carry within yourself in time

destructive as bullets

mercifully a bullet kills its victim

this other bacteria permitted to age

does not kill a man

but leaves in its wake the hulk of a

creature torn and twisted

there is still fire within his being but

it is being kept alive

by casting upon it it's like um it's

actually a word for like sticks

or wood of scorn and hate

he may successfully accumulate but he

does not accumulate

success for he is his own enemy and is

kept from truly enjoying

his achievements we will stop there and

we're going to talk about that paragraph

in class for sure