Butch Sampson Monologue Script

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Ben Coll

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Butch Sampson Monologue Script

Uploaded by

Ben Coll

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

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Butch Sampson Monologue Script

So you’re a nurse, huh? Well I don’t know…usually people are kind of scared to talk to
me and the ones who do are either cops or do-gooders. You can call me “Butch” if you
want. My full name? Bradley Leonard Sampson. Yaa, most of the time I camp out with a
couple of other guys down under the interstate. It’s close to downtown and we all kind of
look out for each other—ya’ know— share what we’ve got. I hate to go to the shelter
unless it is really cold. Course, I’ve tried a couple of those places the VA is always trying
to set up for me, but I either get the boot or just leave... There’s no freedom in a place
like that…they tell you when and where you can smoke and you can’t even have a beer.
The feeling of freedom…I guess that’s what keeps me moving around.

I came in today about my foot… I’m missing a few toes and now I expect they’ll want to
whittle off a hunk more. That’s what you get for being a patriot I suppose. Oh, I’m no
hero; just in the wrong place in the’60’s I guess. Ya see, when I got out of high school I
enlisted in the Navy. Most of my friends were getting drafted and being sent to Vietnam
with the Army or Marines—well, little did I know that the Navy had their own little party
going on in Vietnam. Next thing I know, I’m on a patrol boat in the brown water Navy on
the Mekong delta—go figure. Anyway seems like some of that Agent Orange stuff they
used to spray on the jungle causes diabetes and some bad cancers and stuff. Probably
why my toes came off although that really bad cold spell last winter didn’t help any.

I first came here to this downtown clinic with my friend Joe when he got real sick a
couple of months ago. I came with Joe in case they tried to pull a fast one on him and
stick him in a home or something. Even though Joe ended up in the hospital for a few
days, I think it was for the best. He was coughing pretty bad and we just couldn’t warm
him up. Anyway Joe told me today I should let someone look at my foot. Joe says most
everyone who works in this clinic is a veteran. Guess that’s why it’s called the
Healthcare for Homeless Vets office. Anyways, it’s better for me than going to the VA
hospital. That hospital might be nice, but it is a long way from downtown. Too far for me
to walk and I’d rather do something else with the bus money when I have some.

I keep to myself. I know most of these other homeless guys in here and sometimes you
can get crossways with some of them. I know who I can trust and who I can’t. When
things get bad, I just move on.

This week I noticed right there where my big toe came off there was some green pus. It
was hard to peel my sock off after it got dry again. Doesn’t hurt really now, but I tried to
doctor it a little. Joe had some kind of mouthwash stuff they gave him at the hospital that
he was saving for a sore throat. He poured that on so we could get the sock off. Joe’s
good about sharing but now I feel like I kind of owe him.

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Had to cut a piece out of my boot so I could still get it on. Hated to do that…I need these
boots. I can probably wrap a plastic bag around if I need to. Don’t know where I’ll get
more socks. Listen, you don’t need to tell anybody about that. I don’t want anyone to
think I can’t take care of things myself. I get by just fine and don’t need any do-gooders
poking around in my business. Unless you think you could get me a couple pair of socks
or something, I’m not asking, but if you hear of something you could leave word for me
here at the clinic.