Circle of Iron (1978)
Jeff Cooper: Cord
Photos
Quotes
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[Cord repeatedly steps in a stream]
The Blind Man : It can't be done!
[after pausing, Cord continues to step in the stream]
The Blind Man : You can't do it!
Cord : Can't do what?
The Blind Man : You can't step on the same piece of water twice.
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Cord : How long have you been blind?
Blind Man : How long have you been blind?
Cord : I'm not blind.
Blind Man : Am I?
Cord : Do you answer every question with a question?
Blind Man : Do you question every answer?
Cord : Aww, talking to you is like talking to a wall.
Blind Man : Buddha once sat before a wall, and when he arose he was enlightened.
Cord : Do you compare yourself with Buddha?
Blind Man : (chuckles) No. Only to the wall.
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Cord : Oh, you are obviously mentally disturbed. You should have seen a doctor.
Man-in-Oil : I AM a doctor.
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[Cord finds a man in a barrel of oil, resting. He tries touching the man's hand, but the man swats it away. He shakes the man's hand and his eyes open]
Cord : Can I help you?
Man-in-Oil : To do what?
Cord : To get out of this...
Man-in-Oil : Why?
Cord : Who's torturing you this way?
Man-in-Oil : No-one.
[Cord peers over into the barrel]
Cord : Isn't that barrel filled with oil?
Man-in-Oil : Of course. I filled it myself.
Cord : You?
Man-in-Oil : I filled it myself and I got in it myself. I've been in here ten years.
Cord : But why?
Man-in-Oil : [candidly] To rid myself of the bottom half of me. There's very little left of it now.
Cord : Your legs look like seaweed.
Man-in-Oil : I hope so. Tha-that thing, that terrible thing between my legs? It's almost gone now, isn't it?
Cord : A mere pimple.
Man-in-Oil : Good
[His tone becomes anxious]
Man-in-Oil : It'll go altogether soon, I hope.
Cord : Ten years! How do you live without eating?
Man-in-Oil : My-my family! They bring me a little rice, a little water...
Cord : Your family? They know you're dissolving yourself in oil?
Man-in-Oil : They weren't too happy about it at first. Especially my wife. Now, she understands.
Cord : But why would you want to...? Ha! You could have taken a vow of chastity, like I have!
Man-in-Oil : I took a vow of chastity! I took ten vows, a hundred! How-how-how can a man be a holy man when that terrible thing attaches him to the Earth? I got rid of my money, I shed my clothes, I ate a spoonful of rice each day... and, my mind became to soar! I felt the Universe... I was the Universe! And then... that terrible thing summoned me! "Hello!", it cried. "Think of the pleasure!" Several times I grabbed a knife, I attempted to rid myself of it, once and for all!
[He buries his face in his hands and sobs]
Man-in-Oil : I-I-I was- I was a coward!
[He soon stops crying as he continues his story]
Man-in-Oil : Then... I felt a way. I would dissolve it away... and the legs that carried it along!
Cord : Well, you're obviously mentally disturbed.
[the man nods happily]
Cord : You should have seen a doctor.
Man-in-Oil : I am a doctor!
[pause]
Man-in-Oil : You took a vow of chastity.
Cord : Yes.
Man-in-Oil : [smugly] You won't keep it.
[He gestures desperately to the barrel]
Man-in-Oil : Come in here with me. The-there-there's plenty of room. We'll-we'll keep each other company.
Cord : I'm sorry, but I must go. I'm looking for someone.
Man-in-Oil : Who?
Cord : Zetan.
Man-in-Oil : Again, Zetan! They all come around asking about Zetan! There is no answer in Zetan!
[Cord laughs and walks away]
-
Chang-sha : Have you eaten? Where's your drink? Your hand is empty.
Cord : Peace.
Chang-sha : [laughs] Don't wish it on me. The whole world is in commotion and you wish me peace! I don't know what peace is, I don't want it. Don't you listen to the desert? Even when there's no wind the sand sings.
Cord : My name is Cord.
Chang-sha : Ha! You see? Cord!
[laughs]
Chang-sha : Play a Cord, strike a Cord? Even your name is a noise! What do you want, Cord? You want us to play on you? My wives can make your skin sing.
