Prompt: You shouldn't mess with me. I'll ruin everything you are. (David Bowie, Iggy Pop)
"You shouldn't mess with me."
"Oh yeah? Why not?"
"I'll ruin everything you are."
"And what exactly am I?"
"Respected. Responsible. The son of the great Ben Cartwright."
"I'll be Ben Cartwright's son whether anybody sees us together or not. Nothing you can do to ruin that."
"People look up to you. If you waste your time with me ..."
"The girl I remember would never—"
"Look at me! The girl you remember is gone!"
"I am looking at you, and whatever you seem to think, I don't see a waste of time."
"Our school days are over, Cartwright. You don't know anything about me anymore! You don't know what I've—"
"Been through?"
"Done."
Sigh. "Cathy ... what happened?"
"I just ... Tom was no good for me. You ... you knew he wouldn't be, didn't you?"
"I guessed. But I hoped I was wrong. I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be, it's not your fault. But ... things were bad. I did things to ... to survive, and I don't deserve anything better anymore than—"
"Not true. Whatever you did, whatever you had to do, you will always deserve better than this. You've got other choices."
"No. Nobody will ..."
"Cathy. Come on, darlin'. We were friends once. Do this for me, if not for yourself. Get yourself out of this place and let me help you."
"People will see ..."
"I don't care. Your life's more important than my reputation. Besides, people will find something new to talk about eventually."
"I don't ... how can you say that? Nobody's said anything like that to me for a ... a really long time."
"Doesn't make it any less true."
"You know what, Cartwright? I guess one thing hasn't changed. I really have never met anybody else quite like you."
"I don't know about that. But I do know, darlin', that you couldn't ruin me even if you tried. Who I am has never been based on what they think. Now come on. Let's get you out of here."