[That "but"... That one single word sets him off. He's heard Richard make many excuses over the past week or so about this topic...]

But what? Richard, I know you've done things in the past you aren't proud of... But continuing to cling to them isn't going to make that pain and regret you feel go away. It'll only fester and grow worse... No one wants to live like that, and no one wants you to live like that!

...Please, Richard.