Daniel Plainview monologue from There Will Be Blood

Daniel Plainview’s monologue

Daniel Plainview confronts Eli Sunday, boasting about his ruthlessness and how he has drained a competitor’s oil field.

Daniel Plainview

Those areas, they've been drilled...Yes, it's called drainage, Eli. See, I own everything around it, so, of course, I get what's underneath it...Do you understand, Eli? That's more to the point. Do you understand? I drink your water. I drink it up every day. I drink the blood of Lamb from Bandy's tract...Because you're not the chosen brother, Eli. 'Twas Paul who was chosen. He found me and told me about your land. You're just a fool...I did what your brother couldn't...I broke you and beat you. It was Paul told me about you. He's the prophet. He's the smart one. He knew what was there and he found me to take it out of the ground. Know what the funny thing is? Listen, listen, listen. I paid him $10,000 cash in hand. Just like that. He has his own company now. Prosperous little business. Three wells producing, $5,000 a week. Stop crying, you sniveling ass. Stop your nonsense. You're just the afterbirth, Eli...that slithered out on your mother's filth...They should have put you in a glass jar on the mantelpiece. Where were you when Paul was suckling at his mother's teat? Where were you? Who was nursing you, poor Eli? One of Bandy's sows? That land has been had. Nothing you can do about it. It's gone. It's had. You lose....Drainage! Drainage, Eli, you boy. Drained dry. I'm so sorry. Here, if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake, and I have a straw. There it is, that's the straw, you see? (He held his finger up) Watch it. (He walked back a few steps) Now my straw reaches acroo-oo-oo-oss the room, and starts to drink your milkshake. I... drink... your... milkshake! (Slurping sound) I drink it up!

Eli Sunday

Don't bully me, Daniel!",

Daniel throws him down the bowling alley, while shouting after him

Daniel Plainview

Did you think your song and dance and your superstition would help you, Eli? I am the Third Revelation! I am who the Lord has chosen. Because I'm smarter than you. I'm older...I'm not a false prophet, you sniveling boy! I am the Third Revelation! I am the Third Revelation! I told you I would eat you...I told you I would eat you up! (Plainview then bloodily murders Eli with bludgeoning blows from a bowling pin, leaving him to die on the alley, as he tells his butler): I'm finished

Excerpt for study and audition practice. Read the full play for context.