Fever Pitch (1985) Movie Script
1
NUMBER 24.
NUMBER 24.
OK!
I DID IT, CHARLIE!
YAY! YAY!
SPORTS REPORTER,
THAT'S MY JOB.
I'VE BEEN AT IT
FOR 19 YEARS,
THE MOST EXCITING YEARS
OF MY LIFE.
NEXT TO BREAKING
A WORLD'S RECORD YOURSELF,
ORTS IN ACTION.
BUT TODAY, THE SPORT PLAYED
BY MORE PEOPLE,
THAT'S BECOME
A NATIONAL EPIDEMIC,
THAT SPORT IS GAMBLING.
GAMBLING HAS BEEN MY STORY
FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
I'VE RESEARCHED,
WRITTEN, LIVED IT,
IN CASINOS, PRIVATE CARD GAMES,
FLOATING CRAP GAMES.
TO WRITE ABOUT GAMBLERS
WITH THE FEVER,
I HAD TO KNOW THEM,
HOW IT FEELS
LIVING ON THE EDGE,
TO BET EVERYTHING
ON ONE CARD, ONE RACE,
ONE THROW OF THE DICE,
TO FEEL THAT,
I HAD TO KNOW THESE GAMBLERS,
LIVE INSIDE THEM.
THIS LAST YEAR,
I LOST A LOT OF MONEY
AND A FEW FRIENDS.
I LOST MY WIFE,
THE ONLY WOMAN
I EVER LOVED.
TOMORROW, LAS VEGAS.
IT STARTED HERE
500 DAYS AGO.
VEGAS, OPEN 24 HOURS,
EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.
ONE MORE NIGHT
IN THE PUPPET THEATER
AND I'M DANCING
ON A STRING
ONE MORE PAWN
FOR THE PUPPET MASTER
CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE
FLIGHT 158 FROM MIAMI
ARRIVING AT GATE 81.
STEVE,
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I KNOW WHY
YOU'RE HERE.
GET ME FRANK SWEENEY
AT THE MGM GRAND HOTEL.
DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY
THAT DOESN'T GAMBLE?
EVERYBODY GAMBLES.
EVERYBODY BUYS
AN INSURANCE POLICY.
YOU BET
YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.
THEY PAY OFF
WHEN YOU DIE.
YOU LIKE THEM ODDS?
OUR MORGUE IS A HISTORY
OF 40 YEARS OF GAMBLING.
[RING]
FRANK, HE'S HERE.
IT'S OK.
OPEN ALL DOORS.
HA HA HA!
BRING IT OUT!
COME ON!
HEY, HEY, HEY!
HO!
COME ON!
COME ON! YEAH!
EXCUSE ME.
SPORTSWRITER,
SYNDICATED COLUMNIST,
PUBLISHER PRIZE WINNER,
INCOME, 70,000 TO 90,000.
34,000 AFTER TAXES.
CHANGE YOUR TAX MAN.
WHAT'S THIS STORY
YOU'RE DOING?
GAMBLING.
HOW MANY
PEOPLE GAMBLE?
WHO? WHY?
OLD STUFF.
SO IS SEX,
MONEY, AND MURDER.
$100 BILLION IS GAMBLED
IN AMERICA ANNUALLY.
MORE.
100 BILLION,
WITH A "B".
MORE. ASK AROUND.
I DID. MIAMI,
NEW ORLEANS, RENO.
BIG, LITTLE GUYS.
THEY SAID WHAT?
"ASK FRANK SWEENEY."
YOU GOT ANYTHING
AGAINST DRINKING?
LESS EVERY MINUTE.
PHONE CALL
FOR MR. TAGGART.
URGENT.
NASTY MOUTH,
TOO.
HELLO, THIS IS--
I WANT TAGGART.
WHO WANTS HIM?
NONE OF YOUR FUCKING
BUSINESS, WOP.
HAPPENS I'M IRISH.
YEAH?
IT'S THE DUTCHMAN.
GO AHEAD.
YOU'RE LATE.
I'LL SEE YOU MONDAY.
NOPE.
TOMORROW I'M HERE,
SUNDAY,
FAMILY BUSINESS,
MONDAY, IT'S YOU
AND ME.
YOUR FAMILY
CAN FUCKING WELL WAIT.
SUNDAY, 8 A.M.
BE HERE.
MORE.
HOW MUCH MORE?
200 BILLION
BET IN ONE YEAR?
LEGALIZED RACING,
LEGALIZED BETTING,
THE TAKE...
12 BILLION.
BUT OFF-TRACK
BETTING?
SEVEN TIMES MORE.
$84 BILLION
BET WITH BOOKIES.
TOTAL, 96 BILLION.
HORSES, DOGS, AND HEARTS.
CRAP GAMES, BALL GAMES,
FOOTBALL,
BASKETBALL, BASEBALL.
OF ALL
THE MONEYMAKING RACKETS,
THE BIGGEST ARE WAR,
MARRIAGE, AND GAMBLING.
INCLUDE BINGO,
IRISH SWEEPSTAKES,
STATE LOTTERIES,
STOCK MARKET.
THREE OUT OF FOUR PEOPLE
BET EVENTUALLY.
IN VEGAS.
IN AMERICA.
NO RESTRICTIONS
ON SEX, RACE, RELIGION.
ALL YOU NEED IS MONEY.
SURE.
DO THEY?
SOMETIMES.
THE ODDS
WILL BEAT THEM.
ALWAYS?
IF THEY PLAY
LONG ENOUGH.
GOOD NIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT.
TOO MANY UNPAID BILLS?
GAMBLE.
GETTING DIVORCED?
GAMBLE.
GOT A MISTRESS?
ME DON'T NEED A REASON.
IT KILLS TIME, IT'S FUN,
IT'S PLEASURE.
COMPLIMENTS
OF THE MAN.
MR. SWEENEY.
I COME WITH THE WINE,
SORT OF A LATE SNACK.
I NEVER KNEW
A FAMOUS WRITER.
WE BETTER GET TO IT.
I HOPE YOU
DON'T MIND MUSIC.
HERE OR
IN THE BEDROOM?
WHAT DO YOU GET?
OH, IT'S ALL
TAKEN CARE OF.
PART OF THE JOB?
THE MAN SAID
YOU WANTED TO TALK.
JUST TALK.
ABOUT WHAT?
A WAITRESS?
HER LIFE, HER JOB.
DOES SHE GAMBLE?
WELL, WHO DOESN'T?
ARE YOU LUCKY?
WELL, IT DEPENDS.
IF YOU GOT
THE FEELING.
WHAT'S
THIS FEELING LIKE?
HOW DO YOU KNOW
YOU'VE GOT IT?
IT HAPPENS SUDDENLY.
SUDDENLY
YOU KNOW IT,
DEEP DOWN,
GUT FEELING.
"THIS IS THE DAY.
I CAN'T LOSE."
HORSES, BLACKJACK,
CRAPS, FOOTBALL.
GIVE THE POINTS,
TAKE THE POINTS,
BUST THE BOOKIES!
POWER, RIGHT?
I GOT IT.
I AM IT.
A WINNER.
HOW ABOUT NOW?
YOU MEAN IT?
BUT HOW ABOUT...
THERE'S ALWAYS THAT.
$800.
WHATEVER WE WIN,
PARTNERS 50-50, OK?
OK,
BUT NO COMPLAINTS.
WIN, LOSE, OR BUSTED,
I'M ON THIS RIDE
AS YOUR LUCKY PIECE.
RIDE'S OVER, IT ENDS.
NO QUESTIONS,
NO FAVORS, NO CRYING.
SO HAVE A GOOD TIME,
DON'T BUST
THE FURNITURE,
AND DON'T
BEAT UP ON ME.
NUMBER 12 OVER THERE.
THAT PAYS 35 TO 1.
DOUBLE O.
BRING IT IN.
BLACK.
PARTY TIME.
HERE WE GO.
WE NEED THE 8.
BRING IT IN!
GET THEM ALL DOWN.
GET THE 8 IN.
WINNER, 8!
I LOVE IT!
HMMM...
BEAUTIFUL.
LET IT RIDE.
GET THAT MONEY.
THAT'S IT.
LET'S GET THIS.
35 TO 1.
COME ON, BALL.
ROLL!
COME ON IN THERE!
YAY!
HA HA!
UP WE GO!
YAY!
ROLL AGAIN.
LET ME GET
THIS NUMBER.
WE NEED A WINNER.
WE'RE GOING TO GO!
WINNER, 24 BLACK.
YAHOO!
GOOD ONE.
WE'LL COVER IT UP.
GET THEM ALL DOWN.
PARTY TIME.
DOES GOD
REALLY CARE?
YOU BET.
BUT YOU
GOT TO BELIEVE.
LET'S GET
THIS IN, GIRLS.
WALK IT IN.
HEY, COME ON!
YEAH!
HA HA HA!
WE DID IT!
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
WE GOT TO
HAVE A WINNER.
WINNER, 27 RED.
YEAH!
YAY!
WE GOT RED,
TOO, BABY.
YOU GOT
MORE PARTY TIME.
SIR?
4,000.
THANK YOU.
WE'RE $4,000 AHEAD.
WHAT WILL IT BE--
BLACKJACK, CRAPS?
I'M QUITTING.
IT'S GONE.
THE FEELING,
IT'S GONE.
WE'RE PLAYING
WITH THEIR MONEY.
WITHOUT ME.
THE MIDNIGHT SHOW'S
BREAKING.
2,000 AND CHANGE.
NO HARD FEELINGS.
HOW COULD YOU
QUIT NOW?
SEE YOU.
YOU GAMBLE?
SWEAR OFF IT
EVERY SUNDAY,
BACK EVERY MONDAY.
AT FEELING
EVERY NIGHT.
BET ONE
OR BET 'EM ALL.
NOW GET 'EM DOWN.
SOME DO, SOME DON'T.
WINNER, 7.
FRONT-LINE WINNER.
PAY, PAY, PAY.
PAY EVERYBODY.
COMING OUT
AGAIN NOW.
MAKE YOUR BETS.
HEY!
YOU OK?
HE'S LOST IT ALL,
EVERYTHING.
HOW CAN YOU TELL?
LOSERS ARE
LOUSY LOVERS.
OH! I WON!
OH! I CAN'T
BELIEVE IT.
HE'S IN
A GAMBLING JOINT.
ARE YOU WINNING?
WE'LL NEVER GET RICH
THAT WAY.
PAPA...
I LOVE YOU MADLY.
HE'S COMING
FOR MY BIRTHDAY.
ISN'T HE WONDERFUL?
WONDERFUL.
HE'S A TRUE CHAMPION.
SEE YOU.
IN ALL THESE JOINTS,
THEY'RE ALL HERE
FOR THE SAME THING--
GAMBLING.
JEWELS AND BRASS,
MACHO MUSCLES
AND BAGGY BELLIES.
KNOW WHAT
A REAL GAMBLER IS?
THE DUMBBELL THAT WOULD
RATHER HAVE LUCK THAN FUCK,
AND THAT INCLUDES ME.
WHICH ONE IS TAGGART?
WHO WANTS TO KNOW?
THIS IS
FROM THE DUTCHMAN.
OW!
YOU'RE BOOKED
OUT OF HERE TONIGHT,
5:00,
FLIGHT 58.
BE ON IT!
OW!
CASH MY CHECK?
IT'S FOR 600.
YOU'RE GOOD FOR IT.
THANKS.
THANKS FOR THE CHAMPAGNE
AND FOR THE LADY.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP
ON MY STORY.
WILL YOUR STORY
BE FRIENDLY?
YOU KNOW,
TO THE BUSINESS?
SOMETHING YOU'RE
TRYING TO TELL ME?
I'LL LAY 3 TO 1
YOU GIVE US A BUM RAP.
IF I'M WNG,
YOU GET AN EASY 15 Gs,
TAX FREE.
IT'S A VERY SAFE BET.
I'M NOT A GAMBLER.
THAT'S GOOD
BECAUSE GAMBLERS
ARE ALL THE SAME
IN ONE THING.
THEY'RE ALL
TERRIBLE LIARS.
HE'S GONE.
MOST PEOPLE DO IT, REGARDLESS
OF AGE, SEX, CREED, OR COLOR.
MOST LIKE IT,
EVEN WHEN IT HURTS.
SOMETIMES IT'S LEGAL,
MOSTLY NOT.
IT CAN BURN LIKE A FEVER,
CONTAGIOUS, EVEN DEADLY.
GAMBLING. IT'S DONE
ALL OVER THE WORLD,
WARLORDS IN ANCIENT CHINA
GAMBLED FOR WIVES,
CONCUBINES, LAND,
AND ANIMALS.
IN PHARAOH'S EGYPT,
HUMAN SACRIFICE WAS DECIDED
BY CASTING LOTS.
ROMAN SOLDIERS GAMBLED
FOR THE ROBE OF JESUS CHRIST.
WE GOT THE GREEN LIGHT
FOR SYNDICATION.
HOW MANY PIECES
WILL THERE BE?
THIS LEAD
AND TWO MORE.
FROM MY END--
STYLE, CONTENT,
READER INTEREST--
GOT TO BE CHECKED
FOR LIBEL.
WHAT'S THIS VIG, V-I-G?
VIGORISH,
INTEREST CHARGED
BY A SHY.
WHAT'S THAT?
SHYLOCK, MONEYLENDER,
LOAN SHARK.
WHAT IS
THE INTEREST?
5%.
THAT'S NOT BAD.
A WEEK!
EVERY WEEK.
BUT THAT'S
260% A YEAR!
RIGHT.
I'D PAY $500 A WEEK
FOR INTEREST!
IN 20 WEEKS,
I'D PAY $10,000
AND STILL OWE
THE PRINCIPAL.
THAT'S ILLEGAL.
RIGHT!
WHY NOT WRITE
ABOUT THAT?
COMING UP!
NEXT INSTALLMENT.
YOU SAY THAT $200 BILLION
WAS GAMBLED LAST YEAR?
WHAT'S YOUR SOURCE,
GAMBLERS?
HALF THE PEOPLE
IN AMERICA GAMBLE.
80% OF IT IS LEGAL--
WORLD SERIES,
STATE LOTTERY...
A REAL TARGET
IS SPORTS.
WHY?
THEY MADE
MILLION-DOLLAR SUPERSTARS
OUT OF DELINQUENTS
WHO CAN THROW A FOOTBALL,
WHO STUDY THE STOCK MARKET,
WHO MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS
EVERY SIX MONTHS.
THAT'S GOOD OLD AMERICAN
FREE ENTERPRISE.
IT'S ALSO TODAY'S
HOLY TRINITY--
HARVARD LAW SCHOOL,
RIGHT?
OF COURSE.
HARVARD WAS BUILT
WITH LOTTERY WINNINGS.
ABOUT MR. GREEN...
THE GAMBLER
IN ARTICLES
TWO AND THREE.
CAN'T WIN,
CAN'T QUIT.
TROUBLE WITH BOOKIES,
SHARKS, FAMILY, FRIENDS.
PUNCHED OUT
AND STILL HOPING
FOR A BIG WIN.
FASCINATING.
WHY?
IT COULD BE
ANY OF US.
WHAT HAPPENS TO HIM?
WHERE'S HE LIVE?
HE DRIFTS.
HE'S WORTH A FOLLOW-UP.
IT WOULD BE GREAT
IF HE WINS.
EVERYBODY
LOVES A WINNER.
CAN HE WIN?
HE THINKS SO.
I HOPE SO.
SO DO I.
NICE SHOT,
DUTCHMAN.
18-14.
OH!
STUPID.
KILL ME,
YOU'D BE OUT...WHAT?
190,000?
IT MIGHT
BE WORTH IT.
COME ON.
AH!
GAME.
TO MAKE
A MILLION BUCKS,
DUMB ENOUGH
TO LOSE IT BETTING.
THIS GAME
COST 1,000 CLAMS.
ADD IT
TO THE REST.
YOU SAID WE'D
PLAY FOR CASH.
I HAVEN'T GOT IT.
HEY!
AH!
GET AWAY FROM ME!
HUH!
COME ON!
COME ON.
DON'T DO IT.
IF THEY FIND OUT
YOU OWE HIM,
YOU'RE FINISHED.
HE OWES ME $190,000
AND SOMEBODY ELSE
TWICE THAT.
YOU CAN'T WAIT
TO BLOW THE WHISTLE.
HE CAN'T.
HE'S IN THE SAME BOAT.
DID I SEND FOR YOU?
NO, YOU CAME TO ME.
YOU NEEDED CASH.
YOU GOT IT.
$31,000 OF MY MONEY.
NO COLLATERAL,
NO COSIGNERS,
NO QUESTIONS.
STOP THAT, DUMMY.
YOU GUYS,
YOU HATE MY GUTS.
SO WHY COME TO ME?
BECAUSE I'M
YOUR LAST HOPE.
I DELIVER,
AND I'M THE BAD GUY.
I NEED MORE TIME.
TWO WEEKS' VIG,
3,100 BUCKS.
YOU'LL GET IT LATER.
NO.
WOULD I LIE?
WHEN?
YOU NEVER TOLD ME
ABOUT YOUR KID.
WHAT'S SHE GOT
TO DO WITH YOU?
SHE'S THE ONLY
COLLATERAL YOU GOT.
HA HA HA!
OH!
[BELL RINGS]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
I CAN'T RIDE.
WE'RE GOING
TO KNOTT'S BERRY FARM!
TO KNOTT'S BERRY FARM!
AAH!
YOU WRITE STUFF
ABOUT PITCHERS.
WHY CAN'T YOU PITCH?
[BELL DINGS]
YIPPEE!
PAPA! HOME RUN!
HAVING FUN?
OH, YES.
I THINK IT'S BEEN
A GREAT BIRTHDAY.
IS IT OVER?
THAT'S OK.
WE UNDERSTAND.
OK. LET'S GO.
NOW AS THE FIELD
STRAIGHTENS AWAY,
THAT'S POLYTEST
DOWN THE RAIL.
DOC SIMON
IS RIGHT ALONGSIDE IN SECOND.
CAN I MAKE
A BET, TOO?
S SIXTH.
AND AROUND
THE FINAL TURN...
AMY!
FLIPPIN DILL MOUNTS A BID
FROM THE OUTSIDE.
THEY RACE DOWN THE STRETCH.
FLIPPIN DILL IS COMING ON
TO CHALLENGE ON THE OUTSIDE,
BUT IT'S POLYTEST
HOLDING ON.
POLYTEST WINS
BY HALF A LENGTH.
UNAPPRECIATED,
UNDERPAID,
UNABLE
TO BEAT THE RACES.
TODAY'S
HER 11th BIRTHDAY.
HEY, KID.
GOT A LIVE ONE
IN THE NEXT RACE?
$100 ON NUMBER 5
TO WIN.
$60, PICK 6.
[CALL TO POST]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
THANK YOU.
KID, I HOPE YOU
PICKED A WINNER.
IT IS SENIOR SENATOR
GRADUALLY DRAWING AWAY.
COME ON, 7!
RUN, BABY, RUN!
RUN! COME ON, 7!
COME ON, 7!
...ON HIS OWN
BY SOME FOUR LENGTHS.
HOWIE'S BABY WAS RUNNER-UP,
AND DEMONIC QUEEN THIRD.
FIND ANY WINNERS?
NO.
EVER FIND ANY?
HA HA!
NO.
4, 5, 6, 7, 20.
700 TO WIN.
NUMBER 3.
WHO YOU LIKE,
MR. TAGGART?
HOW IS IT, EDDIE?
HURTING BAD.
NOTHING BUT STIFF.
YOU OUGHT TO QUIT.
GRAY FOX
FORGING TO THE FRONT...
COME ON!
COME ON!
IT'S ROSE O'SHARON.
I WON!
I WON!
I WON THE EXACTA!
WE ALL WON.
I PICKED BOTH WINNERS.
YOU PICKED THEM
ONE, TWO.
PICKS GRAY FOX
BECAUSE IT'S GRAY.
PAY DIRT!
264 BUCKS FOR 5.
I'M RICH!
LET'S DO IT AGAIN.
THAT WAS FUN.
THAT WAS
MY FIRST BET.
DID YOU TAKE
MOMMY RACING?
SOMETIMES.
DID SHE WIN?
SOMETIMES.
CAN SHE SEE US
FROM HEAVEN?
WILL I EVER
LOOK LIKE HER?
PAPA...
CAN I COME
STAY WITH YOU?
I'M NEAT AND TIDY,
AND I CAN FRY EGGS.
AREN'T YOU HAPPY
IN SCHOOL?
YES, BUT DON'T
YOU WANT ME?
OF COURSE.
WHEN?
SOON.
VERY SOON NOW.
HOLD THIS FOR ME.
SHE PLAYS BINGO.
SHE SAYS GOD
DOESN'T MIND BINGO.
[SIREN]
WHAT HAPPENED, PAPA?
WHY DID MOMMY DIE?
WHY, PAPA, WHY?
[HONK]
AAH!
[CRASH]
WHERE IS SHE?
IT'S RAINING,
THE TRAFFIC...
ONE HOUR LATE?
WITH THE $5,000?
ALL 5...CASH?
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S NIGHT.
THE BANKS AREN'T OPEN.
YOU COVERED
AT THE BANK?
SHE'S COMING.
MAYBE SHE'S TIRED
OF BAILING YOU OUT.
WIVES ARE LIKE THAT.
HEY, YOU!
YOU'RE
A RESPECTABLE MAN.
IT'S A CASH GAME!
YES.
IT'S A 5,000
BUY-IN.
YES.
THE TROUBLE WITH YOU...
YOU DON'T TAKE LIFE
SERIOUS ENOUGH.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
TALK.
THE POLICE.
DON'T SAY
WHERE YOU'RE AT.
T.
WHAT?
WHERE?
IT'S MY WIFE.
IT'S ROSE.
SHE'S HURT.
SHE'S HURT!
SHE'S HURT!
[SIREN]
I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY.
DID THEY HURT YOU?
THE MONEY...
THE MONEY, THE MONEY.
SARAH MARCUS, TABLE 94.
SARAH MARCUS, TABLE 94.
YOU'LL PUT MY NAME
IN THE PAPER?
MAYBE.
I'D RATHER BE
ON TELEVISION.
YOU COME HERE A LOT?
EVERY NIGHT.
YOU LIKE POKER
THAT MUCH?
I'M A WIDOW
FOUR YEARS.
I CAN'T STAND
MY CHILDREN.
OUT THERE,
OVER 50 IS VERY OLD.
OLD IS OUT.
YOU'RE IN.
MRS. APPLEBAUM, TABLE 64.
OH, THAT'S ME.
HOW DO YOU MAKE OUT?
I NEVER WON A NICKEL...
TILL TONIGHT.
TONIGHT I GRAB THEM!
CHIPS, TABLE 21.
I WATCHED MR. GREEN
BUY $250 IN CHIPS
WITH HIS DAUGHTER'S MONEY.
HE WAS GOING TO
SHOW ME
CALL.
FOLD.
I'LL CALL HIS RAISE.
CALL.
ONE, PLEASE.
THAT KICKED OFF
HIS LUCKY STREAK.
HE PLAYED THE ODDS.
HE PLAYED THE CARDS.
HE PLAYED
HIS MONEY SMART.
THEN...
LL ME BABS.
BILL.
DAVID.
JOHNNY.
BILLY.
MA'AM.
SHE HAD LOTS OF FLASH
AND DIDN'T MIND SHOWING IT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
CALL, AND RAISE $10.
DAVID, HONEY.
YOU SAY RAISED?
THE CARDS TURNED
AGAINST MR. GREEN.
WHAT DID YOU DRAW?
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
SHOW ME YOURS,
I'LL SHOW YOU MINE.
I'VE SEEN YOURS.
I'LL STAY.
YOU SWEET THINGS.
I'LL RAISE 150.
CHECK.
YOUR BET.
I'LL BET 100
YOU GOT TWO PAIR.
ONLY A BOOB RAISES
TO FILL A FLUSH.
THAT'S ME, SUGAR,
BOOBIE BABS.
CALL YOUR 100,
AND RAISE--
WHAT DO YOU
GOT THERE?
400?
RAISE 400.
YOU'RE BLUFFING.
ACES AND 8s.
DEAD MAN'S HAND.
DEAD AND BURIED
BY FIVE SPADES.
IT'S A GREAT NIGHT
FOR BOOBS.
SAID MR. GREEN,
"THAT WOMAN...
"MINUTE SHE SAT DOWN,
I WAS A GONER.
"KNEW RIGHT OFF
I WOULD LOSE.
"INSTEAD OF POKER,
I PLAYED THE WOMAN.
BROKE POKER'S FIRST RULE."
THAT MR. GREEN,
ER.
HE'S PROBABLY
BROKE AGAIN, HMM?
PROBABLY.
I'D LIKE
TO SEE HIM WIN.
CAN'T BUCK THE TIGER
WITHOUT A TALL STACK
OF CHIPS.
HOW TALL?
8,000.
8?
WHY NOT 5 OR 10?
LOAN SHARK.
3,000 BRINGS HIM
NEW LIFE,
LEAVES 5
FOR A NEW START.
MAKE OUT A VOUCHER.
8,000. CASH?
CASH.
TAGGART'S GAMBLING
STORY, EXPENSES.
GET A PICTURE
OF MR. GREEN IN ACTION.
I'LL TRY.
NO PICTURE,
NO MONEY.
RIGHT.
7, 8, 9, 10, 8,000.
THANK YOU.
THANKS.
PEOPLE WHO HAD HIS CHECKS,
POSTDATED CHECKS,
DUE TOMORROW
AND NO FUNDS
TO COVER THEM.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
SPORT CLUB SPECIAL.
GO AHEAD.
HE SAID NO CREDIT.
I'LL ASK HIM
IF HE'S HERE.
COUNT IT.
TWO WEEKS' INTEREST,
THREE DIMES
AND A DOLLAR.
IT'S ME.
NO, YOU LISTEN, PUTZ!
YOU OWE $9,000.
WHAT'S ALL
IN THE FAMILY?
FUCK MY DUMB SISTER,
NOT ME!
MONEY AIN'T
HERE TOMORROW,
I'LL TELL YOUR BOSS.
ON THAT YOU GET
1,000 TO 1.
YOU?
LAYING A BET,
BASKETBALL,
THREE-TEAM PARLAY.
WITH WHAT?
10 FRANKLINS.
6 T0 1, RIGHT?
ALL THREE
GOT TO WIN.
YOU'RE A LOSER
AND DON'T KNOW IT.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT
BETTING A LONG SHOT?
I BET ONE EVERY TIME
I LEND TO BUMS LIKE YOU.
GUYS WHO WON'T PAY
I CAN HANDLE.
YS
TO GET UP $31,000.
WHAT IF YOU DON'T?
I OUGHT TO
KILL YOU, RIGHT?
WHY SHOULD
I HELP YOU?
YOU'VE DONE
NOTHING FOR ME.
SO FUCK YOU!
LIVE AND SUFFER.
HE COULD HAVE FLOWN
TO VEGAS.
INSTEAD HE DROVE
FIVE HOURS.
WIN OR LOSE...ALONE.
GET IT! GET IT!
TWO GAMES, TWO WINNERS.
IF HE WON
THE LAKER GAME TOMORROW,
HE'D BE $6,000 IN FRONT.
MR. GREEN DIDN'T GET THERE
TILL AFTER MIDNIGHT.
NO MATTER.
IN CASINOS, THERE'S NO DAY,
NO NIGHT, NO CLOCKS.
TIME IS SUSPENDED.
HE FELT POWERFUL,
INVINCIBLE, IN ACTION.
HOW'S THE PROJECT
COMING?
MORE RESEARCH.
TOURIST GAMBLING,
HIGH ROLLERS...
OH, YEAH...
600 BIG ONES
I OWE YOU.
NOW?
A SPECIAL CUSTOMER
COMING IN.
I GOT TO
WATCH HIS ACTION
WITHOUT HIM KNOWING.
EVER BEEN
IN THE EAGLE'S NEST?
WE'RE LOOKING
AT ALICE IN VEGAS LAND.
LOOKING FOR WHAT?
ALWAYS A NEW SCAM.
DEALERS OR PLAYERS?
BOTH.
THAT'S HIM.
NOW, THERE'S
A HIGH ROLLER.
CHARLEY PERUE.
THE CHARLEY PERUE?
YES.
THE BODYGUARDS?
HIS.
THE LADY? HIS.
THE WHOLE TABLE?
HIS.
HE'LL PLAY
ALL SEVEN CHAIRS,
IN THE NEXT HOUR,
HE COULD WIN OR LOSE
A MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT CARD JUST
WON CHARLEY $35,000.
HEY!
WHAT'S IT THIS TIME,
BUSINESS OR PLEASURE?
MY BUSINESS
IS PLEASURE.
GOOD LUCK.
DOOR IS OPEN.
ANY ADVICE?
DON'T TRIP
OVER YOUR MOUTH.
DON'T DO THAT.
NOT AT MY TABLE.
I'M DOING A STORY.
FRANKIE TOLD ME.
YOU'RE TAPING THIS?
NOT WITHOUT
YOUR PERMISSION.
NO PERMISSION.
THEY SAY YOU HAVE
LOTS OF JUICE,
GOT GOOD CONNECTIONS,
THAT YOU'RE LUCKY.
IT HELPS TO BE LUCKY.
HOW MUCH IS MULTI?
$30 MILLION
OR $40 MILLION.
WELL, EVERYTHING
IN MODERATION.
I'VE BEEN ACCUSED
OF MURDER,
ARSON, ROBBERY,
BURGLARY,
SMUGGLING,
TRESPASSING,
EVEN DOUBLE-PARKING.
HEY!
THIS IS HIM.
WHERE?
I'D LIKE PERMISSION
TO SPEAK TO YOU.
CAN IT WAIT?
NO.
OK, NOW.
WE'LL HAVE TO
PICK THIS UP
TOMORROW MORNING.
YOU'RE OK.
SWEENEY SAYS
YOU GOT CLASS.
WHEN A BOXER, A LOVER,
A GAMBLER LOSES
AND HE DON'T CRY OR BEG.
THAT'S CLASS.
AND WHEN HE WINS,
HE DON'T
LAUGH TOO LOUD.
THAT'S CLASS, TOO.
GOOD NIGHT.
"THE LORD
IS MY SHEPHERD..."
[SOB]
"...VALLEY OF
THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL."
"SURELY GOODNESS...
"AND MERCY...
AND I WILL LIVE IN THE HOUSE
OF THE LORD FOREVER."
DEAR GOD...
FORGIVE ME.
GOD, FORGIVE ME!
NO!
EASY, EASY.
EASY.
HE SERVED A THREE-YEAR HITCH
IN THE MARINES,
SIGNED UP WITH HIS BROTHER,
WENT THROUGH BOOT TOGETHER,
FOUGHT SIDE BY SIDE
TOGETHER.
TOGETHER TILL NOW.
NO FAMILY?
MOM'S DEAD.
PA'S IN A HOME
FOR OLD FOLKS,
CRIPPLED
WITH THE ARTHRITIS.
ME AND BOBBY,
THE OTHER WOULD
LOOK AFTER PA.
SO WHEN
BOBBY BOUGHT IT,
I'M ON MY WAY HOME
TO BUY A HOUSE FOR PA
WITH THE INSURANCE MONEY.
I COME HERE
FOR A FEW DAYS
FOR A LITTLE FUN.
I LOOK UP...
AND SO IS
THE INSURANCE MONEY.
SO I THOUGHT IF I...
YOU KNOW,
PULLED THE PLUG,
I THOUGHT PA
COULD HAVE MY INSURANCE.
THEY DON'T PAY OFF
ON SUICIDE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
A ONE-WAY
TICKET TO...
SEATTLE.
$254.
AIR SERVICE
NONSTOP FOR SEATTLE
NOW READY AT GATE 16.
ALL ABOARD.
YEAH!
SOMEBODY'S HOT.
WINNER, 10.
YAY!
THAT GUY MADE
EIGHT STRAIGHT PASSES!
IT'S $500!
5!
ON THE LINE!
COME ON!
ALL SET.
ROLL!
5, 4!
5, 4!
5, 4!
5, 4!
5, 4!
5, 4!
9, CENTER FIELD, 9.
PAY THEM OFF TO 9.
I CASHED IN
THE PLANE TICKET.
IT WAS LUCKY MONEY.
IT HAD TO BE!
BOBBY'S INSURANCE,
THE 11,000?
I WON IT ALL BACK.
MORE!
YOUR 300 BUCKS.
STILL GOING HOME?
THE NEXT PLANE.
YOU GOT
THE LUCKY TOUCH,
MISTER.
HA!
WHAT'S YOUR BUSINESS
WITH MR. PERUE?
THE DUTCHMAN?
IS IT ME?
OW!
DAY AFTER TOMORROW,
I GET TO COLLECT
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I HOPE YOU
CAN'T GET IT UP.
THERE'S NOTHING
I LIKE BETTER
THAN COLLECTING
FROM A PUNK!
OW!
AH!
PAIN PILLS.
TAKE TWO.
YOU LIKE WESTERNS?
SURE. YOU CAN TELL
THE GOOD GUYS
FROM THE BAD GUYS.
YOU DIDN'T ASK
WHY HE DID THIS.
I AIN'T BEEN SURPRISED
SINCE I WAS 18.
NOW, HE WAS PROBABLY
THE LAST OF THE GOOD GUYS.
GOOD NIGHT.
MAYBE WE OUGHT TO
CALL A DOCTOR.
NO.
HE'S GOT WHAT HE NEEDS.
YOUR 1, AND 2 MORE.
SOMEBODY WITH ALL
YOUR MONEY,
WHY DO YOU GAMBLE?
I DON'T COME HERE
TO MAKE MONEY.
TO PLAY
AGAINST THE BEST,
THE BIGGEST,
THE SMARTEST.
GAMBLING TO ME
IS LIKE EASTER TO THE POPE--
RESURRECTION...
GLORY...
PLEASURE.
THAT'S PLEASURE.
OH.
LAST NIGHT
THEY SAY SOMEBODY TRIED
TO KICK YOU AROUND.
HE DID
A GOOD JOB.
YOU DIDN'T DO
SO BAD YOURSELF.
IF THE GONZO COMES BACK,
CALL ME.
MR. GREEN BEGAN HIS COMEBACK.
FOR A GAMBLING SHOOT-OUT,
HE MIGHT AS WELL LOOK THE PART.
MR. PERUE?
TAGGART.
I GOT A PROBLEM.
YEAH.
SAME GUY.
OK, NOW.
[HONK]
[SIREN]
FILL IT UP, PLEASE.
UNLEADED.
CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID,
BRAKE FLUID.
CHECK THE WATER, BATTERY.
HEY.
TAKE A WALK.
WHAT?
COME BACK
IN 10 MINUTES.
WHAT?
GO EAT SOME CANDY.
YES, SIR.
YES, SIR.
YOU'RE MAKING
A BIG MISTAKE.
BUTT OUT.
MR. PERUE WANTS YOU
TO LAY OFF.
FUCK HIM, TOO.
BEHAVE YOURSELF.
PULL IT, AND I'LL BUST
YOUR FRIGGING ARM.
GO AHEAD!
I WOULDN'T DO THAT!
DROP IT.
DROP IT EASY.
AHH!
NO!
WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?
HAD A FLAT TIRE.
PRO FOOTBALL,
1981,
LEFTY'S FIX.
ND ME.
A PERFECT SCORE.
IF IT'S PERFECT,
WHY COME TO ME?
HEAR YOU GOT
ONE OF THE KEYS,
GOT THEM
IN YOUR POCKET.
GET OUT OF HERE.
NEWSPAPER FELLA,
TAGGART.
BROUGHT THE PAPER.
YOU THINK IT'S BRIGHT
THAT SOME UGLY PLUG
TRIES TO KILL
NICE PEOPLE
IN THIS FAMILY TOWN?
MMM.
SOMEBODY I KNOW?
A GUY
IN A PANAMA HAT.
HE MAKES THE KNOCKOFF,
YOU LOSE WHAT HE OWES.
THIS PANAMA HAT
SAYS THE GUY
BROKE HIS JAW.
NOW IT'S
A PERSONAL THING.
SINCE WHEN DOES PERSONAL
COME BEFORE BUSINESS?
MR. GREEN HAD 17 HOURS
TO WIN $31,000.
TELEPHONE FOR MR. TAGGART.
WE JUST NEED
GOLDEN BOY.
UNLESS HE'S FIXED,
THERE IS NO FIX.
TROUBLE IS,
HE'S A BOY SCOUT,
BUT HE'LL DO WHAT
THE WRITER TELLS HIM.
WHY SHOULD THE WRITER
DO WHAT YOU TELL HIM?
HE'LL DO IT.
NO.
$100,000.
MR. GREEN PLAYED
ONLY THE NUMBERS.
HE HAD TO.
HE NEEDED THE BIG WIN.
OH, I WON!
OH, I CAN'T
BELIEVE IT!
I WON!
[BELL RINGS]
LADY!
WHAT HAPPENED?
WHERE?
DON'T TOUCH HER!
YOU COULD BE SUED,
BY HER.
PROBABLY GOT
SLOT MACHINE BLADDER.
FORGOT TO GO
TO THE TOILET.
WHO WON?
THE LAKERS GAME.
DID THE LAKERS WIN
BY 4 POINTS?
THEY LOST BY 9.
WELL, WHEN I'M
DOWN IN VEGAS
BY DOESN'T LIKE IT
LEAVING HER BEHIND
THANK YOU.
GOT TO GET CRACKING,
CLEAN UP THE ACT.
GO SHOPPING,
8 YEARS OLD.
ALREADY HE'S A GORGEOUS MAN.
MAKE HIS BREAKFAST,
DRIVE HIM TO SCHOOL.
HE'S NEVER SEEN ME
IN THAT OUTFIT.
TO HIM, I'M JUST MAMA,
ROCK OF GIBRALTAR.
WHAT TIME IS IT?
ROUGH NIGHT, HUH?
HA HA.
THAT BAD?
HOW MUCH YOU LOSE?
THAT MUCH.
FLAT BROKE.
JUST A SMALL LOAN,
RIGHT?
WHICH I'LL GET BACK
IN THE MORNING, RIGHT?
YOU'LL EVEN PAY
5% INTEREST,
EVEN 10%, RIGHT?
1,100 FOR 1,000,
RIGHT?
DO YOU KNOW
WHO I SEE HERE?
I SEE MY SECOND
EX-HUSBAND,
ALWAYS LOOKING
FOR THE BIG WIN,
I HATE TO THINK
OF THE TIMES
THAT I BAILED
HIM OUT.
DOWN ON HIS KNEES,
BEGGING, CRYING,
SWEARING!
"NO MORE, HON!
NEVER MAKE
ANOTHER BET."
AND ME, DUMBBELL,
BELIEVED HIM
EVERY TIME.
NO, NO.
SORRY, NO MONEY!
NOT FOR ONE
OF YOU GUYS!
NOT FOR WHAT
YOU WANT IT!
I NEED 1,000.
NO.
BUT I LOVE YOU.
HURT YOU?
I'M SORRY.
MONEY WAS THE ANSWER.
TO GET BIG MONEY,
HE NEEDED MONEY.
HE'D SELL HIS CAR.
WITH $2,000,
HE'D WIN 31,000, GUARANTEED.
[ALARM]
[GUNSHOT]
OK.
10, QUEEN,
KING, 8.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO
RAISE YOU TWO.
I'M GOING TO
HAVE TO CALL YOU.
WHAT ABOUT YOU,
BIG MAN?
BIG MAN FOLDS.
OK, EVERYBODY STRAIGHT?
ACE.
A TREY AIN'T NO HELP.
HEARTS
AND A PAIR OF 6s.
I'LL STAY.
YOU'RE BRAVE,
BIG ACE.
THAT WILL TO BE GOOD
FOR TWO MORE.
TAGGART!
YO!
WHO CALLS?
HERE.
HA HA HA!
THIS HERE'S MR. BERNSTEIN,
YOUR LAWYER.
WHAT'S YOUR VERSION?
I WAS TRYING
TO SELL MY CAR.
AT 3 A.M.?
THAT'S WHEN I NEEDED
THE MONEY.
I'LL TAKE CARE
OF THE FINE
AND GET HIS CAR.
THANKS.
THANK CHARLEY PERUE.
NO.
I GUESS
YOU'LL TELL ME
WHO, WHAT, WHERE,
WHEN, AND WHY.
I BOUGHT YOUR PAPER,
WHICH YOU SIGNED
WHEN YOU WANTED MONEY
FROM THE DUTCHMAN.
HOW MUCH?
31K,
WHICH YOU STILL OWE
TO ME.
WHICH I HAVEN'T GOT.
I KNOW.
WELL, YOU BOUGHA LOUSY DEAL!
THE RACE AIN'T OVER.
CAN I TRUST YOU?
NO.
CAN YOU BE BOUGHT?
EVERY MAN'S
GOT HIS PRICE.
GOOD.
I DON'T TRUST A MAN
WHO CAN'T BE BOUGHT.
LET'S SAY YOUR PRICE
IS 31K.
YOU DO A LITTLE FAVOR,
YOU'RE HOME FREE,
OFF THE HOOK.
YOU DON'T OWE NOTHIN',
WE'RE TALKING HERE
$31,000,
NOT JUICYFRUIT
GUM BALLS.
THIS LITTLE FAVOR,
WHAT DOES IT ENTAIL?
A FOOTBALL GAME.
TOM SCANLON.
THIS YEAR'S
MILLION-DOLLAR BABY.
HUT.
YOU NAMED HIM,
GOLDEN BOY
OF PRO FOOTBALL,
SUNDAY, HIS TEAM,
THE FAVORITE,
GIVING 8 POINTS.
SOMEBODY GOES
TALK TO SCANLON,
SOMEBODY LIKE YOU,
A MAN OF HONOR,
SOMEBODY
SCANLON RESPECTS.
MY WHOLE LIFE,
I NEVER THREW A GAME.
NEVER!
DO IT ONCE,
THEY OWN YOU.
YOU KNOW THAT.
YOU'LL GET
THE MONEY TONIGHT,
CASH.
WHY DID THEY
SEND YOU?
YOU BELONG TO THEM?
DO YOU?
IF YOU PLAY
THEIR WAY,
YOU'RE FREE,
OUT OF HOCK.
WHAT YOU OWE,
MORE THAN $600,000,
YOU CALL IT,
MR. TAGGART.
TELL ME WHAT TO DO.
SAVE YOURSELF.
FORGET THE CHEERS.
FORGET THE HEADLINES
AND THE TROPHIES
AND THE REST OF IT.
SAVE YOURSELF.
HOW?
NO.
NO, CALL ME LATER.
PROOF SHEET.
TOMORROW'S SPORTS PAGE.
500 PAPERS.
YOU TURNED HIM AROUND.
KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?
WHAT YOU DID?
YOU BLEW IT.
WE'LL BE THERE.
ALL CASH.
COUNT IT.
COUNT IT!
WHAT HAPPENED?
IT WAS A PERFECT SETUP.
YOU.
YOU TURNED HIM AROUND.
HE SANG TO THE FBI.
THAT'S REAL CUTE.
AND ME, I BUY IT.
SUCKERED BY A SHILL
AND A CHUMP.
15 AND 8.
WHAT'S THAT
ALL ABOUT?
SIR.
I BET HIM $100,000
YOU WOULDN'T GO THROUGH
WITH THE FIX.
THIS, WHAT YOU OWE,
COST ME 31,000.
YOU WIN A NEW DEAL.
I WIN 69,000.
NOT BAD ACTION
FOR A COUPLE OF CHUMPS.
HEY, STEVE,
PRETTY GREAT STORY.
HELL OF A PIECE,
STEVE.
THAT PICTURE
OF MR. GREEN.
PERFECT!
THE SEGMENT ON GREEN--
WHAT THE HELL?
WHICH GUY IS YOU?
BOTH.
WHAT?
I NEED HELP.
A PSYCHIATRIST?
FOR IT?
MY RESIGNATION.
YOU OWE THE PAPER
$8,000.
YOU'LL GET IT.
SO WILL EVERYONE ELSE.
WHO ELSE?
BANKS, BOOKIES, FAMILY,
FRIENDS, ENEMIES.
HOW MUCH?
YOU OWE $89,000?
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE
THE $31,000 I PAID.
WITH WHAT?
THIS.
YOU GOING TO MAKE IT?
I MEAN, THE MONEY?
I HAVE A MONTH
OF CREDIT-CARD LIVING.
THEN?
END OF THE LINE.
IF I DON'T PAY,
NO JOB.
I CAN'T PAY
WITHOUT A JOB.
WHAT YOU NEED IS...
WHAT YOU NEED
IS A HOLY MIRACLE.
YEAH.
IN A WAY, I'M SORRY
TO LOSE MR. GREEN.
IF ONLY HE'D BEEN
A WINNER.
YEAH.
PAPA?
WHY DOES EVERYONE HAVE
A LITTLE HOLLOW HERE?
BEFORE YOU'RE BORN,
AN ANGEL TOUCHES YOU
AND SAYS, "SHH,"
SO YOU DON'T TELL
LIFE'S SECRETS
TILL YOU LIVE THEM.
A SMART ANGEL.
"GOD, GRANT ME SERENITY
"AND WISDOM
TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
AMEN."
KEEP COMING BACK.
KEEP COMING BACK.
KEEP COMING BACK.
MY NAME IS SANDY.
HI, SANDY.
SICKEST OF
COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS.
GAMBLED COMPULSIVELY
FOR 40 YEARS.
NEVER HAD A GOOD YEAR.
ALWAYS WAS A LOSER.
I NEVER BELIEVED IN GOD.
WHEN I GOT LOSERS,
I'D CURSE GOD.
I REMEMBER MY WIFE
BEING ILL.
I WANTED TO MAKE HER
FEEL GOOD.
I HANDED HER
$50 FOR SHOPPING,
BUT I HAD $20,000
IN MY POCKET.
I COULDN'T GIVE THAGAMBLING MONEY AWAY.
IFE.
I'M MARK.
HI, MARK.
I'M A COMPULSIVE GAMBLER.
I DID FOUR YEARS
IN THE JUG,
AND I GAMBLED EVERY DAY
THAT I WAS SERVING TIME.
IN 15 YEARS, I'VE LOST
OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
LOST EVERY NICKEL I HAD,
ALL MY WIFE'S MONEY.
LOST MY WIFE AND SON,
LAST NIGHT, MY WIFE AND BOY
CAME BACK.
I'M THE WORLD'S
LUCKIEST MAN.
I HATE THAT BASTARD,
WHAT HE DID TO MY MOM.
I SHOULD HAVE
KILLED HIM THEN,
TWO YEARS AGO
WHEN WE SPLIT.
LAST NIGHT WE CAME BACK,
HUGS AND KISSES,
LIES, PROMISES.
NO MORE GAMBLING, RIGHT?
LIES.
IN LITTLE LEAGUE
WORLD SERIES,
HE WAS SHOOTING CRAPS
IN RENO.
HE'S MY FATHER,
AND I HATE HIM.
I'LL ALWAYS HATE HIM.
ONE OF THESE DAYS,
I'LL KILL HIM!
NORA M.
HI, MY NAME IS NORA.
HI, NORA.
I'M SORRY.
HOW DO YOU
RECRUIT THEM?
WE DON'T.
THEY HAVE TO
WANT HELP.
THEY MENTION GOD.
WE GET ATHEISTS,
TOO.
S, NO POLITICS.
WE'VE GOT ONE PURPOSE,
TO HELP GAMBLERS
WHO LOST CONTROL.
ARE YOU
A CURED GAMBLER?
NEVER CURED.
I LIVE ONE DAY
AT A TIME.
WE PAY BACK
WHAT WE OWE.
WE STAY AWAY
FROM GAMBLING PLACES.
BEER.
YOUR FINAL PROGRAM CHANGES
IN THIS AFTERNOON'S
THIRD RACE.
$5.00 EXACTA WAGERING
IS OFFERED ON THIS RACE,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
NEXT ON
OUR TELEVISION MONITORS
WILL BE A REPLAY
OF THE $500,000
LINCOLN MEMORIAL HANDICAP.
THAT'S A MILE
AND A QUARTER.
[BELL RINGS]
AND THEY'RE OFF!
IT'S SWEET ASTRO
GOING FOR THE EARLY LEAD.
DOWN AND UNDER
IS IN SECOND.
HEY, KID.
THEY SAY
YOU SWORE OFF.
FOR THREE WINNERS,
I'D SWEAR TO ANYTHING.
YOU'RE NOT BETTING
THIS DOG?
I'M NOT BETTING.
THREE WINNERS.
YOU OK, PAPA?
DO YOU WANT TO SIT?
YOU OK?
WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS.
I THOUGHT
THEY LOCKED YOU AWAY
FOR THE RACING SEASON.
4OO BUCKS.
NOT NOW, HUH?
IT'S BEEN A YEAR.
WE'RE FRIENDS.
YOU HAVEN'T GOT FRIENDS.
I NEED THE $400.
I HAVEN'T GOT IT.
YOU GOT IT
FOR PONIES.
STOP IT!
STOP IT!
DON'T TOUCH HER!
THE STORY WOULDN'T
LET GO OF HIM.
HE COULDN'T STAY AWAY
FROM THE SIGHT,
THE SMELL OF THE ACTION,
FROM WRITING ABOUT IT.
THERE ARE 11 MILLION
MR. GREENS
IN EVERY SHAPE,
SIZE, AND AGE.
BEGAN STEALING,
I WAS 13, 14.
FOR FUN OR MONEY?
HORSES.
RUN OF BAD LUCK,
OWE 2,500.
BOOKIE.
COULDN'T PAY.
HAD TO PAY.
SHOWED YOU
HOW TO PAY.
WAREHOUSE.
HE SET IT UP.
CLEAN, FAST.
I GOT 1,100.
I RAN IT UP
TO 4,000 BUCKS, POKER.
WHEN WAS
YOUR FIRST BET?
SCHOOL?
SIXTH GRADE,
PITCHING PENNIES.
GAMBLING
PUT YOU HERE.
HELL, NO!
NOT GAMBLING.
IT WAS THE LOSING.
IF I'D HAVE WON...
HA HA.
IT WAS THE LOSING
THAT DONE IT.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS,
WITH A CHAPTER
EVEN IN LAS VEGAS.
MY NAME IS STEVE.
HI, STEVE.
I'VE BEEN
TO LOTS OF MEETINGS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
I CAN SAY
I'M A COMPULSIVE GAMBLER.
I CAME HERE
TO WRITE ABOUT GAMBLERS.
BETTING EVERYTHING
ON ONE RACE, ONE CARD,
BETTING MORE
THAN YOU'VE GOT.
GAMBLERS WITH A FEVER.
TO WRITE ABOUT THEM,
I HAD TO BECOME ONE,
PURELY FOR RESEARCH,
OF COURSE.
I WAS LYING.
GAMBLERS MAKE
TERRIFIC LIARS.
WE LIE TO EVERYBODY,
ESPECIALLY OURSELVES.
IN AMERICA,
ABOUT 100 MILLION PEOPLE GAMBLE.
THE WIFE'S JEWELRY.
3% MAKE A LIVING AT IT.
10 MILLION CAN'T HACK IT.
WE'RE OUT OF CONTROL.
WE NEED HELP.
I'M GETTING IT.
I STILL OWE $89,000.
$30,000
BELONGS TO MY DAUGHTER.
TONIGHT'S SPECIAL.
TONIGHT'S 100 DAYS
IN WHICH
I HAVEN'T MADE A BET,
HOW ABOUT THAT?
I HAD A MIGHTY HARD TIME
LORD,
BUT I'M ON MY WAY
YEAH, HARD TIMES
BUT I'M ON MY WAY, YEAH
HAD A MIGHTY HARD TIME
[TRUMPETS]
STAND UP, STAND UP
FOR JESUS
THE TRUMPET CALL OBEY...
SIR, YOU HIT
THE 7-11 FOR GOD,
IF YOU PLAYED $5,
YOU WOULD HAVE WON $11,000.
HOW DOES IT FEEL
TO WIN $7,00O?
A BLESSING, MISS.
A BLESSING.
HOW MUCH IS
YOUR CONTRIBUTION?
GOD EXPECTS
AT LEAST 10%.
I DIDN'T KNOW
GOD WAS AN AGENT.
DARLING.
YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE.
PAN AM FLIGHT 846
TO LOS ANGELES
IS NOW READY FOR BOARDING
AT GATE A14.
DON'T DO IT.
SUPPOSE THIS 7,000
IS A MESSAGE FROM GOD?
SUPPOSE IT ISN'T?
EVEN IF YOU WIN,
THEN WHAT?
PAY BACK EVERYTHING.
EXPECT TO?
GOING TO.
HERE?
IN THESE PLACES?
MISS.
A 10?
KEEP THE CHANGE.
EVEN TO CHECK IN,
YOU GO THROUGH
THE CASINO.
YOU CAN'T PAY,
OTHERWISE.
THREE YEARS AGO,
I GET IN A HOTEL,
AIN'T EVEN
CHECKED IN.
THERE'S
A LADY DEALER,
LIKE THIS ONE.
I GOT 400 BUCKS.
BEFORE
GETTING THE ROOM,
I DROP THE 400.
DON'T EVER TRUSA LADY DEALER.
HE WON?
$800.
26,
29,
LAST NUMBER, 52.
KINO, THE BIGGEST
SUCKER'S GAME INVENTED.
MIGHT AS WELL
FLUSH THEIR MONEY AWAY.
HE WON?
YES, SIR.
TIMMY.
THE BANK LOSES.
$7,000, ONE HAND,
DOUBLE OR NOTHING.
HELLO.
MEET RAFAEL,
PURE IN HEART.
HE DOES NOT GAMBLE.
ANYMORE.
ARE YOU
MY LUCKY CHARM?
TURN ON YOUR ESP.
MMM, I GET
VERY STRONG VIBES.
QUIT.
IF YOU NEED
ANYTHING, CALL.
GOOD SEEING YOU.
HOW ARE YOU PLAYING?
AGAINST THE BEST.
THE SHOE MOVES
TO CHAIR ONE.
BANCO PLAYERS.
$15,000 ON THE BANK.
DON'T FIGHT HIM.
ON THE BANK.
$15,000 IN THE BANK.
IT ALL GOES.
IT'S TERRIBLE
IF HE LOSES.
$11,000 CASH,
1,000 IN CHECKS,
TOTAL OF $12,000.
IT'S ALL AGAINST HIM.
$12,O00
ON THE PLAYERS' SIDE.
IT'S A BET.
CARDS.
PLAYERS.
A NATURAL 9.
THERE WILL BE NO DRAW.
AND THE BANK?
A NATURAL 9, ALSO.
PICTURE CARDS
ARE ZERO.
IT'S A TIE HAND.
YOU MAY PRESS, CHANGE,
OR WITHDRAW BETS.
LET IT RIDE.
MAKE YOUR BETS, PLEASE.
ANY OTHER BETS?
LOSER, FOR SURE.
CARDS, PLEASE.
THE PLAYERS SHOW A 5,
AND THE BANK...
THE BANK SHOWS 4.
PLAYERS MUST DRAW.
CARD FOR THE PLAYERS.
THE PLAYERS SHOW 7.
CARD FOR THE BANK.
CARD.
THE BANK LOSES.
PLAYERS WIN.
PAY THE PLAYERS.
PAY HIM $12,000.
$12,000.
NOW WALK AWAY.
QUIT!
HE HAD TO WIN
MORE THAN $60,000
TO BREAK EVEN.
I'M ON MY WAY
TO CANAAN LAND
BASKETBALL, HAWAII,
$9,000 ON THE HOME DOG.
$1,000.
1,000.
$1,000 ON BLACK.
BLACKJACK!
BLACK.
ON MY WAY,
GLORY HALLELUJAH
I'M ON MY WAY
WE'VE GOT $51,000.
WITH THE BASKETBALL
MONEY,
TOTAL 61,000.
WE NEED $28,000 MORE.
YOU COULD PAY MOST
OF WHAT YOU OWE.
I WAS THINKING,
FINISH AT CRAPS.
LUCK TURNS,
YOU KNOW.
YOU WANT ME
TO QUIT?
YES!
COME ON.
COUNT THEM.
TELL ME
WHEN WE'RE HOME.
1,100 ACROSS.
100 ACROSS.
SAME FOR ME.
10 THE HARD WAY.
$100.
HE'LL NEVER QUIT NOW.
YOU GOT IT!
I BELIEVE, BROTHER!
5! 5!
A WINNER.
THAT DOES IT!
ONE MORE PASS!
EIGHT STRAIGHT PASSES.
I BELIEVE, BROTHER!
YOU GOT
THE LUCKY TOUCH.
QUIT, QUIT, QUIT!
NOBODY WALKS OUT
ON A WINNING STREAK.
NOBODY EXCEPT
A REAL WINNER...
EXCEPT A REAL WINNER.
DID YOU
TAKE CARE OF IT?
$30,000 TRUST FUND,
NAME OF AMY TAGGART.
DAUGHTER OF, AGE OF,
ET CETERA.
NOBODY CAN TOUCH
THE MONEY,
NOT EVEN ME.
ESPECIALLY NOT YOU!
I WAS WONDERING...
MR. PERUE'S FLYING US
TO MEXICO
FOR THE JAI ALAI
AND BIG-MONEY GOLF.
PLEASURE, YOU KNOW?
CAN'T WIN THEM ALL.
BE HAPPY.
LUCKY MAN.
THEY SAY
YOU TOOK THE CURE.
NO MORE
FUN AND GAMES?
NO MORE GAMBLING?
I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
BELIEVE IT.
YOU'LL BE BACK.
I HAD A MIGHTY HARD TIME
LORD, BUT I'M ON MY WAY
HAD HARD TIMES
BUT I'M ON MY WAY, YEAH
HAD A MIGHTY HARD TIME
GLORY HALLELUJAH
YES, I'M ON MY WAY
NOW, IF YOU WON'T GO
DON'T YOU HINDER ME
IF YOU WON'T GO
DON'T YOU HINDER ME
ARE HINDER ME
I'M ON MY WAY
GLORY HALLELUJAH,
I'M ON MY WAY
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
CBS/FOX VIDEO
MGM/UA ENTERTAINMENT CO.
NUMBER 24.
NUMBER 24.
OK!
I DID IT, CHARLIE!
YAY! YAY!
SPORTS REPORTER,
THAT'S MY JOB.
I'VE BEEN AT IT
FOR 19 YEARS,
THE MOST EXCITING YEARS
OF MY LIFE.
NEXT TO BREAKING
A WORLD'S RECORD YOURSELF,
ORTS IN ACTION.
BUT TODAY, THE SPORT PLAYED
BY MORE PEOPLE,
THAT'S BECOME
A NATIONAL EPIDEMIC,
THAT SPORT IS GAMBLING.
GAMBLING HAS BEEN MY STORY
FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
I'VE RESEARCHED,
WRITTEN, LIVED IT,
IN CASINOS, PRIVATE CARD GAMES,
FLOATING CRAP GAMES.
TO WRITE ABOUT GAMBLERS
WITH THE FEVER,
I HAD TO KNOW THEM,
HOW IT FEELS
LIVING ON THE EDGE,
TO BET EVERYTHING
ON ONE CARD, ONE RACE,
ONE THROW OF THE DICE,
TO FEEL THAT,
I HAD TO KNOW THESE GAMBLERS,
LIVE INSIDE THEM.
THIS LAST YEAR,
I LOST A LOT OF MONEY
AND A FEW FRIENDS.
I LOST MY WIFE,
THE ONLY WOMAN
I EVER LOVED.
TOMORROW, LAS VEGAS.
IT STARTED HERE
500 DAYS AGO.
VEGAS, OPEN 24 HOURS,
EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.
ONE MORE NIGHT
IN THE PUPPET THEATER
AND I'M DANCING
ON A STRING
ONE MORE PAWN
FOR THE PUPPET MASTER
CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE
FLIGHT 158 FROM MIAMI
ARRIVING AT GATE 81.
STEVE,
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I KNOW WHY
YOU'RE HERE.
GET ME FRANK SWEENEY
AT THE MGM GRAND HOTEL.
DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY
THAT DOESN'T GAMBLE?
EVERYBODY GAMBLES.
EVERYBODY BUYS
AN INSURANCE POLICY.
YOU BET
YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.
THEY PAY OFF
WHEN YOU DIE.
YOU LIKE THEM ODDS?
OUR MORGUE IS A HISTORY
OF 40 YEARS OF GAMBLING.
[RING]
FRANK, HE'S HERE.
IT'S OK.
OPEN ALL DOORS.
HA HA HA!
BRING IT OUT!
COME ON!
HEY, HEY, HEY!
HO!
COME ON!
COME ON! YEAH!
EXCUSE ME.
SPORTSWRITER,
SYNDICATED COLUMNIST,
PUBLISHER PRIZE WINNER,
INCOME, 70,000 TO 90,000.
34,000 AFTER TAXES.
CHANGE YOUR TAX MAN.
WHAT'S THIS STORY
YOU'RE DOING?
GAMBLING.
HOW MANY
PEOPLE GAMBLE?
WHO? WHY?
OLD STUFF.
SO IS SEX,
MONEY, AND MURDER.
$100 BILLION IS GAMBLED
IN AMERICA ANNUALLY.
MORE.
100 BILLION,
WITH A "B".
MORE. ASK AROUND.
I DID. MIAMI,
NEW ORLEANS, RENO.
BIG, LITTLE GUYS.
THEY SAID WHAT?
"ASK FRANK SWEENEY."
YOU GOT ANYTHING
AGAINST DRINKING?
LESS EVERY MINUTE.
PHONE CALL
FOR MR. TAGGART.
URGENT.
NASTY MOUTH,
TOO.
HELLO, THIS IS--
I WANT TAGGART.
WHO WANTS HIM?
NONE OF YOUR FUCKING
BUSINESS, WOP.
HAPPENS I'M IRISH.
YEAH?
IT'S THE DUTCHMAN.
GO AHEAD.
YOU'RE LATE.
I'LL SEE YOU MONDAY.
NOPE.
TOMORROW I'M HERE,
SUNDAY,
FAMILY BUSINESS,
MONDAY, IT'S YOU
AND ME.
YOUR FAMILY
CAN FUCKING WELL WAIT.
SUNDAY, 8 A.M.
BE HERE.
MORE.
HOW MUCH MORE?
200 BILLION
BET IN ONE YEAR?
LEGALIZED RACING,
LEGALIZED BETTING,
THE TAKE...
12 BILLION.
BUT OFF-TRACK
BETTING?
SEVEN TIMES MORE.
$84 BILLION
BET WITH BOOKIES.
TOTAL, 96 BILLION.
HORSES, DOGS, AND HEARTS.
CRAP GAMES, BALL GAMES,
FOOTBALL,
BASKETBALL, BASEBALL.
OF ALL
THE MONEYMAKING RACKETS,
THE BIGGEST ARE WAR,
MARRIAGE, AND GAMBLING.
INCLUDE BINGO,
IRISH SWEEPSTAKES,
STATE LOTTERIES,
STOCK MARKET.
THREE OUT OF FOUR PEOPLE
BET EVENTUALLY.
IN VEGAS.
IN AMERICA.
NO RESTRICTIONS
ON SEX, RACE, RELIGION.
ALL YOU NEED IS MONEY.
SURE.
DO THEY?
SOMETIMES.
THE ODDS
WILL BEAT THEM.
ALWAYS?
IF THEY PLAY
LONG ENOUGH.
GOOD NIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT.
TOO MANY UNPAID BILLS?
GAMBLE.
GETTING DIVORCED?
GAMBLE.
GOT A MISTRESS?
ME DON'T NEED A REASON.
IT KILLS TIME, IT'S FUN,
IT'S PLEASURE.
COMPLIMENTS
OF THE MAN.
MR. SWEENEY.
I COME WITH THE WINE,
SORT OF A LATE SNACK.
I NEVER KNEW
A FAMOUS WRITER.
WE BETTER GET TO IT.
I HOPE YOU
DON'T MIND MUSIC.
HERE OR
IN THE BEDROOM?
WHAT DO YOU GET?
OH, IT'S ALL
TAKEN CARE OF.
PART OF THE JOB?
THE MAN SAID
YOU WANTED TO TALK.
JUST TALK.
ABOUT WHAT?
A WAITRESS?
HER LIFE, HER JOB.
DOES SHE GAMBLE?
WELL, WHO DOESN'T?
ARE YOU LUCKY?
WELL, IT DEPENDS.
IF YOU GOT
THE FEELING.
WHAT'S
THIS FEELING LIKE?
HOW DO YOU KNOW
YOU'VE GOT IT?
IT HAPPENS SUDDENLY.
SUDDENLY
YOU KNOW IT,
DEEP DOWN,
GUT FEELING.
"THIS IS THE DAY.
I CAN'T LOSE."
HORSES, BLACKJACK,
CRAPS, FOOTBALL.
GIVE THE POINTS,
TAKE THE POINTS,
BUST THE BOOKIES!
POWER, RIGHT?
I GOT IT.
I AM IT.
A WINNER.
HOW ABOUT NOW?
YOU MEAN IT?
BUT HOW ABOUT...
THERE'S ALWAYS THAT.
$800.
WHATEVER WE WIN,
PARTNERS 50-50, OK?
OK,
BUT NO COMPLAINTS.
WIN, LOSE, OR BUSTED,
I'M ON THIS RIDE
AS YOUR LUCKY PIECE.
RIDE'S OVER, IT ENDS.
NO QUESTIONS,
NO FAVORS, NO CRYING.
SO HAVE A GOOD TIME,
DON'T BUST
THE FURNITURE,
AND DON'T
BEAT UP ON ME.
NUMBER 12 OVER THERE.
THAT PAYS 35 TO 1.
DOUBLE O.
BRING IT IN.
BLACK.
PARTY TIME.
HERE WE GO.
WE NEED THE 8.
BRING IT IN!
GET THEM ALL DOWN.
GET THE 8 IN.
WINNER, 8!
I LOVE IT!
HMMM...
BEAUTIFUL.
LET IT RIDE.
GET THAT MONEY.
THAT'S IT.
LET'S GET THIS.
35 TO 1.
COME ON, BALL.
ROLL!
COME ON IN THERE!
YAY!
HA HA!
UP WE GO!
YAY!
ROLL AGAIN.
LET ME GET
THIS NUMBER.
WE NEED A WINNER.
WE'RE GOING TO GO!
WINNER, 24 BLACK.
YAHOO!
GOOD ONE.
WE'LL COVER IT UP.
GET THEM ALL DOWN.
PARTY TIME.
DOES GOD
REALLY CARE?
YOU BET.
BUT YOU
GOT TO BELIEVE.
LET'S GET
THIS IN, GIRLS.
WALK IT IN.
HEY, COME ON!
YEAH!
HA HA HA!
WE DID IT!
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
WE GOT TO
HAVE A WINNER.
WINNER, 27 RED.
YEAH!
YAY!
WE GOT RED,
TOO, BABY.
YOU GOT
MORE PARTY TIME.
SIR?
4,000.
THANK YOU.
WE'RE $4,000 AHEAD.
WHAT WILL IT BE--
BLACKJACK, CRAPS?
I'M QUITTING.
IT'S GONE.
THE FEELING,
IT'S GONE.
WE'RE PLAYING
WITH THEIR MONEY.
WITHOUT ME.
THE MIDNIGHT SHOW'S
BREAKING.
2,000 AND CHANGE.
NO HARD FEELINGS.
HOW COULD YOU
QUIT NOW?
SEE YOU.
YOU GAMBLE?
SWEAR OFF IT
EVERY SUNDAY,
BACK EVERY MONDAY.
AT FEELING
EVERY NIGHT.
BET ONE
OR BET 'EM ALL.
NOW GET 'EM DOWN.
SOME DO, SOME DON'T.
WINNER, 7.
FRONT-LINE WINNER.
PAY, PAY, PAY.
PAY EVERYBODY.
COMING OUT
AGAIN NOW.
MAKE YOUR BETS.
HEY!
YOU OK?
HE'S LOST IT ALL,
EVERYTHING.
HOW CAN YOU TELL?
LOSERS ARE
LOUSY LOVERS.
OH! I WON!
OH! I CAN'T
BELIEVE IT.
HE'S IN
A GAMBLING JOINT.
ARE YOU WINNING?
WE'LL NEVER GET RICH
THAT WAY.
PAPA...
I LOVE YOU MADLY.
HE'S COMING
FOR MY BIRTHDAY.
ISN'T HE WONDERFUL?
WONDERFUL.
HE'S A TRUE CHAMPION.
SEE YOU.
IN ALL THESE JOINTS,
THEY'RE ALL HERE
FOR THE SAME THING--
GAMBLING.
JEWELS AND BRASS,
MACHO MUSCLES
AND BAGGY BELLIES.
KNOW WHAT
A REAL GAMBLER IS?
THE DUMBBELL THAT WOULD
RATHER HAVE LUCK THAN FUCK,
AND THAT INCLUDES ME.
WHICH ONE IS TAGGART?
WHO WANTS TO KNOW?
THIS IS
FROM THE DUTCHMAN.
OW!
YOU'RE BOOKED
OUT OF HERE TONIGHT,
5:00,
FLIGHT 58.
BE ON IT!
OW!
CASH MY CHECK?
IT'S FOR 600.
YOU'RE GOOD FOR IT.
THANKS.
THANKS FOR THE CHAMPAGNE
AND FOR THE LADY.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP
ON MY STORY.
WILL YOUR STORY
BE FRIENDLY?
YOU KNOW,
TO THE BUSINESS?
SOMETHING YOU'RE
TRYING TO TELL ME?
I'LL LAY 3 TO 1
YOU GIVE US A BUM RAP.
IF I'M WNG,
YOU GET AN EASY 15 Gs,
TAX FREE.
IT'S A VERY SAFE BET.
I'M NOT A GAMBLER.
THAT'S GOOD
BECAUSE GAMBLERS
ARE ALL THE SAME
IN ONE THING.
THEY'RE ALL
TERRIBLE LIARS.
HE'S GONE.
MOST PEOPLE DO IT, REGARDLESS
OF AGE, SEX, CREED, OR COLOR.
MOST LIKE IT,
EVEN WHEN IT HURTS.
SOMETIMES IT'S LEGAL,
MOSTLY NOT.
IT CAN BURN LIKE A FEVER,
CONTAGIOUS, EVEN DEADLY.
GAMBLING. IT'S DONE
ALL OVER THE WORLD,
WARLORDS IN ANCIENT CHINA
GAMBLED FOR WIVES,
CONCUBINES, LAND,
AND ANIMALS.
IN PHARAOH'S EGYPT,
HUMAN SACRIFICE WAS DECIDED
BY CASTING LOTS.
ROMAN SOLDIERS GAMBLED
FOR THE ROBE OF JESUS CHRIST.
WE GOT THE GREEN LIGHT
FOR SYNDICATION.
HOW MANY PIECES
WILL THERE BE?
THIS LEAD
AND TWO MORE.
FROM MY END--
STYLE, CONTENT,
READER INTEREST--
GOT TO BE CHECKED
FOR LIBEL.
WHAT'S THIS VIG, V-I-G?
VIGORISH,
INTEREST CHARGED
BY A SHY.
WHAT'S THAT?
SHYLOCK, MONEYLENDER,
LOAN SHARK.
WHAT IS
THE INTEREST?
5%.
THAT'S NOT BAD.
A WEEK!
EVERY WEEK.
BUT THAT'S
260% A YEAR!
RIGHT.
I'D PAY $500 A WEEK
FOR INTEREST!
IN 20 WEEKS,
I'D PAY $10,000
AND STILL OWE
THE PRINCIPAL.
THAT'S ILLEGAL.
RIGHT!
WHY NOT WRITE
ABOUT THAT?
COMING UP!
NEXT INSTALLMENT.
YOU SAY THAT $200 BILLION
WAS GAMBLED LAST YEAR?
WHAT'S YOUR SOURCE,
GAMBLERS?
HALF THE PEOPLE
IN AMERICA GAMBLE.
80% OF IT IS LEGAL--
WORLD SERIES,
STATE LOTTERY...
A REAL TARGET
IS SPORTS.
WHY?
THEY MADE
MILLION-DOLLAR SUPERSTARS
OUT OF DELINQUENTS
WHO CAN THROW A FOOTBALL,
WHO STUDY THE STOCK MARKET,
WHO MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS
EVERY SIX MONTHS.
THAT'S GOOD OLD AMERICAN
FREE ENTERPRISE.
IT'S ALSO TODAY'S
HOLY TRINITY--
HARVARD LAW SCHOOL,
RIGHT?
OF COURSE.
HARVARD WAS BUILT
WITH LOTTERY WINNINGS.
ABOUT MR. GREEN...
THE GAMBLER
IN ARTICLES
TWO AND THREE.
CAN'T WIN,
CAN'T QUIT.
TROUBLE WITH BOOKIES,
SHARKS, FAMILY, FRIENDS.
PUNCHED OUT
AND STILL HOPING
FOR A BIG WIN.
FASCINATING.
WHY?
IT COULD BE
ANY OF US.
WHAT HAPPENS TO HIM?
WHERE'S HE LIVE?
HE DRIFTS.
HE'S WORTH A FOLLOW-UP.
IT WOULD BE GREAT
IF HE WINS.
EVERYBODY
LOVES A WINNER.
CAN HE WIN?
HE THINKS SO.
I HOPE SO.
SO DO I.
NICE SHOT,
DUTCHMAN.
18-14.
OH!
STUPID.
KILL ME,
YOU'D BE OUT...WHAT?
190,000?
IT MIGHT
BE WORTH IT.
COME ON.
AH!
GAME.
TO MAKE
A MILLION BUCKS,
DUMB ENOUGH
TO LOSE IT BETTING.
THIS GAME
COST 1,000 CLAMS.
ADD IT
TO THE REST.
YOU SAID WE'D
PLAY FOR CASH.
I HAVEN'T GOT IT.
HEY!
AH!
GET AWAY FROM ME!
HUH!
COME ON!
COME ON.
DON'T DO IT.
IF THEY FIND OUT
YOU OWE HIM,
YOU'RE FINISHED.
HE OWES ME $190,000
AND SOMEBODY ELSE
TWICE THAT.
YOU CAN'T WAIT
TO BLOW THE WHISTLE.
HE CAN'T.
HE'S IN THE SAME BOAT.
DID I SEND FOR YOU?
NO, YOU CAME TO ME.
YOU NEEDED CASH.
YOU GOT IT.
$31,000 OF MY MONEY.
NO COLLATERAL,
NO COSIGNERS,
NO QUESTIONS.
STOP THAT, DUMMY.
YOU GUYS,
YOU HATE MY GUTS.
SO WHY COME TO ME?
BECAUSE I'M
YOUR LAST HOPE.
I DELIVER,
AND I'M THE BAD GUY.
I NEED MORE TIME.
TWO WEEKS' VIG,
3,100 BUCKS.
YOU'LL GET IT LATER.
NO.
WOULD I LIE?
WHEN?
YOU NEVER TOLD ME
ABOUT YOUR KID.
WHAT'S SHE GOT
TO DO WITH YOU?
SHE'S THE ONLY
COLLATERAL YOU GOT.
HA HA HA!
OH!
[BELL RINGS]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
I CAN'T RIDE.
WE'RE GOING
TO KNOTT'S BERRY FARM!
TO KNOTT'S BERRY FARM!
AAH!
YOU WRITE STUFF
ABOUT PITCHERS.
WHY CAN'T YOU PITCH?
[BELL DINGS]
YIPPEE!
PAPA! HOME RUN!
HAVING FUN?
OH, YES.
I THINK IT'S BEEN
A GREAT BIRTHDAY.
IS IT OVER?
THAT'S OK.
WE UNDERSTAND.
OK. LET'S GO.
NOW AS THE FIELD
STRAIGHTENS AWAY,
THAT'S POLYTEST
DOWN THE RAIL.
DOC SIMON
IS RIGHT ALONGSIDE IN SECOND.
CAN I MAKE
A BET, TOO?
S SIXTH.
AND AROUND
THE FINAL TURN...
AMY!
FLIPPIN DILL MOUNTS A BID
FROM THE OUTSIDE.
THEY RACE DOWN THE STRETCH.
FLIPPIN DILL IS COMING ON
TO CHALLENGE ON THE OUTSIDE,
BUT IT'S POLYTEST
HOLDING ON.
POLYTEST WINS
BY HALF A LENGTH.
UNAPPRECIATED,
UNDERPAID,
UNABLE
TO BEAT THE RACES.
TODAY'S
HER 11th BIRTHDAY.
HEY, KID.
GOT A LIVE ONE
IN THE NEXT RACE?
$100 ON NUMBER 5
TO WIN.
$60, PICK 6.
[CALL TO POST]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
THANK YOU.
KID, I HOPE YOU
PICKED A WINNER.
IT IS SENIOR SENATOR
GRADUALLY DRAWING AWAY.
COME ON, 7!
RUN, BABY, RUN!
RUN! COME ON, 7!
COME ON, 7!
...ON HIS OWN
BY SOME FOUR LENGTHS.
HOWIE'S BABY WAS RUNNER-UP,
AND DEMONIC QUEEN THIRD.
FIND ANY WINNERS?
NO.
EVER FIND ANY?
HA HA!
NO.
4, 5, 6, 7, 20.
700 TO WIN.
NUMBER 3.
WHO YOU LIKE,
MR. TAGGART?
HOW IS IT, EDDIE?
HURTING BAD.
NOTHING BUT STIFF.
YOU OUGHT TO QUIT.
GRAY FOX
FORGING TO THE FRONT...
COME ON!
COME ON!
IT'S ROSE O'SHARON.
I WON!
I WON!
I WON THE EXACTA!
WE ALL WON.
I PICKED BOTH WINNERS.
YOU PICKED THEM
ONE, TWO.
PICKS GRAY FOX
BECAUSE IT'S GRAY.
PAY DIRT!
264 BUCKS FOR 5.
I'M RICH!
LET'S DO IT AGAIN.
THAT WAS FUN.
THAT WAS
MY FIRST BET.
DID YOU TAKE
MOMMY RACING?
SOMETIMES.
DID SHE WIN?
SOMETIMES.
CAN SHE SEE US
FROM HEAVEN?
WILL I EVER
LOOK LIKE HER?
PAPA...
CAN I COME
STAY WITH YOU?
I'M NEAT AND TIDY,
AND I CAN FRY EGGS.
AREN'T YOU HAPPY
IN SCHOOL?
YES, BUT DON'T
YOU WANT ME?
OF COURSE.
WHEN?
SOON.
VERY SOON NOW.
HOLD THIS FOR ME.
SHE PLAYS BINGO.
SHE SAYS GOD
DOESN'T MIND BINGO.
[SIREN]
WHAT HAPPENED, PAPA?
WHY DID MOMMY DIE?
WHY, PAPA, WHY?
[HONK]
AAH!
[CRASH]
WHERE IS SHE?
IT'S RAINING,
THE TRAFFIC...
ONE HOUR LATE?
WITH THE $5,000?
ALL 5...CASH?
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S NIGHT.
THE BANKS AREN'T OPEN.
YOU COVERED
AT THE BANK?
SHE'S COMING.
MAYBE SHE'S TIRED
OF BAILING YOU OUT.
WIVES ARE LIKE THAT.
HEY, YOU!
YOU'RE
A RESPECTABLE MAN.
IT'S A CASH GAME!
YES.
IT'S A 5,000
BUY-IN.
YES.
THE TROUBLE WITH YOU...
YOU DON'T TAKE LIFE
SERIOUS ENOUGH.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
TALK.
THE POLICE.
DON'T SAY
WHERE YOU'RE AT.
T.
WHAT?
WHERE?
IT'S MY WIFE.
IT'S ROSE.
SHE'S HURT.
SHE'S HURT!
SHE'S HURT!
[SIREN]
I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY.
DID THEY HURT YOU?
THE MONEY...
THE MONEY, THE MONEY.
SARAH MARCUS, TABLE 94.
SARAH MARCUS, TABLE 94.
YOU'LL PUT MY NAME
IN THE PAPER?
MAYBE.
I'D RATHER BE
ON TELEVISION.
YOU COME HERE A LOT?
EVERY NIGHT.
YOU LIKE POKER
THAT MUCH?
I'M A WIDOW
FOUR YEARS.
I CAN'T STAND
MY CHILDREN.
OUT THERE,
OVER 50 IS VERY OLD.
OLD IS OUT.
YOU'RE IN.
MRS. APPLEBAUM, TABLE 64.
OH, THAT'S ME.
HOW DO YOU MAKE OUT?
I NEVER WON A NICKEL...
TILL TONIGHT.
TONIGHT I GRAB THEM!
CHIPS, TABLE 21.
I WATCHED MR. GREEN
BUY $250 IN CHIPS
WITH HIS DAUGHTER'S MONEY.
HE WAS GOING TO
SHOW ME
CALL.
FOLD.
I'LL CALL HIS RAISE.
CALL.
ONE, PLEASE.
THAT KICKED OFF
HIS LUCKY STREAK.
HE PLAYED THE ODDS.
HE PLAYED THE CARDS.
HE PLAYED
HIS MONEY SMART.
THEN...
LL ME BABS.
BILL.
DAVID.
JOHNNY.
BILLY.
MA'AM.
SHE HAD LOTS OF FLASH
AND DIDN'T MIND SHOWING IT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
CALL, AND RAISE $10.
DAVID, HONEY.
YOU SAY RAISED?
THE CARDS TURNED
AGAINST MR. GREEN.
WHAT DID YOU DRAW?
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
SHOW ME YOURS,
I'LL SHOW YOU MINE.
I'VE SEEN YOURS.
I'LL STAY.
YOU SWEET THINGS.
I'LL RAISE 150.
CHECK.
YOUR BET.
I'LL BET 100
YOU GOT TWO PAIR.
ONLY A BOOB RAISES
TO FILL A FLUSH.
THAT'S ME, SUGAR,
BOOBIE BABS.
CALL YOUR 100,
AND RAISE--
WHAT DO YOU
GOT THERE?
400?
RAISE 400.
YOU'RE BLUFFING.
ACES AND 8s.
DEAD MAN'S HAND.
DEAD AND BURIED
BY FIVE SPADES.
IT'S A GREAT NIGHT
FOR BOOBS.
SAID MR. GREEN,
"THAT WOMAN...
"MINUTE SHE SAT DOWN,
I WAS A GONER.
"KNEW RIGHT OFF
I WOULD LOSE.
"INSTEAD OF POKER,
I PLAYED THE WOMAN.
BROKE POKER'S FIRST RULE."
THAT MR. GREEN,
ER.
HE'S PROBABLY
BROKE AGAIN, HMM?
PROBABLY.
I'D LIKE
TO SEE HIM WIN.
CAN'T BUCK THE TIGER
WITHOUT A TALL STACK
OF CHIPS.
HOW TALL?
8,000.
8?
WHY NOT 5 OR 10?
LOAN SHARK.
3,000 BRINGS HIM
NEW LIFE,
LEAVES 5
FOR A NEW START.
MAKE OUT A VOUCHER.
8,000. CASH?
CASH.
TAGGART'S GAMBLING
STORY, EXPENSES.
GET A PICTURE
OF MR. GREEN IN ACTION.
I'LL TRY.
NO PICTURE,
NO MONEY.
RIGHT.
7, 8, 9, 10, 8,000.
THANK YOU.
THANKS.
PEOPLE WHO HAD HIS CHECKS,
POSTDATED CHECKS,
DUE TOMORROW
AND NO FUNDS
TO COVER THEM.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
SPORT CLUB SPECIAL.
GO AHEAD.
HE SAID NO CREDIT.
I'LL ASK HIM
IF HE'S HERE.
COUNT IT.
TWO WEEKS' INTEREST,
THREE DIMES
AND A DOLLAR.
IT'S ME.
NO, YOU LISTEN, PUTZ!
YOU OWE $9,000.
WHAT'S ALL
IN THE FAMILY?
FUCK MY DUMB SISTER,
NOT ME!
MONEY AIN'T
HERE TOMORROW,
I'LL TELL YOUR BOSS.
ON THAT YOU GET
1,000 TO 1.
YOU?
LAYING A BET,
BASKETBALL,
THREE-TEAM PARLAY.
WITH WHAT?
10 FRANKLINS.
6 T0 1, RIGHT?
ALL THREE
GOT TO WIN.
YOU'RE A LOSER
AND DON'T KNOW IT.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT
BETTING A LONG SHOT?
I BET ONE EVERY TIME
I LEND TO BUMS LIKE YOU.
GUYS WHO WON'T PAY
I CAN HANDLE.
YS
TO GET UP $31,000.
WHAT IF YOU DON'T?
I OUGHT TO
KILL YOU, RIGHT?
WHY SHOULD
I HELP YOU?
YOU'VE DONE
NOTHING FOR ME.
SO FUCK YOU!
LIVE AND SUFFER.
HE COULD HAVE FLOWN
TO VEGAS.
INSTEAD HE DROVE
FIVE HOURS.
WIN OR LOSE...ALONE.
GET IT! GET IT!
TWO GAMES, TWO WINNERS.
IF HE WON
THE LAKER GAME TOMORROW,
HE'D BE $6,000 IN FRONT.
MR. GREEN DIDN'T GET THERE
TILL AFTER MIDNIGHT.
NO MATTER.
IN CASINOS, THERE'S NO DAY,
NO NIGHT, NO CLOCKS.
TIME IS SUSPENDED.
HE FELT POWERFUL,
INVINCIBLE, IN ACTION.
HOW'S THE PROJECT
COMING?
MORE RESEARCH.
TOURIST GAMBLING,
HIGH ROLLERS...
OH, YEAH...
600 BIG ONES
I OWE YOU.
NOW?
A SPECIAL CUSTOMER
COMING IN.
I GOT TO
WATCH HIS ACTION
WITHOUT HIM KNOWING.
EVER BEEN
IN THE EAGLE'S NEST?
WE'RE LOOKING
AT ALICE IN VEGAS LAND.
LOOKING FOR WHAT?
ALWAYS A NEW SCAM.
DEALERS OR PLAYERS?
BOTH.
THAT'S HIM.
NOW, THERE'S
A HIGH ROLLER.
CHARLEY PERUE.
THE CHARLEY PERUE?
YES.
THE BODYGUARDS?
HIS.
THE LADY? HIS.
THE WHOLE TABLE?
HIS.
HE'LL PLAY
ALL SEVEN CHAIRS,
IN THE NEXT HOUR,
HE COULD WIN OR LOSE
A MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT CARD JUST
WON CHARLEY $35,000.
HEY!
WHAT'S IT THIS TIME,
BUSINESS OR PLEASURE?
MY BUSINESS
IS PLEASURE.
GOOD LUCK.
DOOR IS OPEN.
ANY ADVICE?
DON'T TRIP
OVER YOUR MOUTH.
DON'T DO THAT.
NOT AT MY TABLE.
I'M DOING A STORY.
FRANKIE TOLD ME.
YOU'RE TAPING THIS?
NOT WITHOUT
YOUR PERMISSION.
NO PERMISSION.
THEY SAY YOU HAVE
LOTS OF JUICE,
GOT GOOD CONNECTIONS,
THAT YOU'RE LUCKY.
IT HELPS TO BE LUCKY.
HOW MUCH IS MULTI?
$30 MILLION
OR $40 MILLION.
WELL, EVERYTHING
IN MODERATION.
I'VE BEEN ACCUSED
OF MURDER,
ARSON, ROBBERY,
BURGLARY,
SMUGGLING,
TRESPASSING,
EVEN DOUBLE-PARKING.
HEY!
THIS IS HIM.
WHERE?
I'D LIKE PERMISSION
TO SPEAK TO YOU.
CAN IT WAIT?
NO.
OK, NOW.
WE'LL HAVE TO
PICK THIS UP
TOMORROW MORNING.
YOU'RE OK.
SWEENEY SAYS
YOU GOT CLASS.
WHEN A BOXER, A LOVER,
A GAMBLER LOSES
AND HE DON'T CRY OR BEG.
THAT'S CLASS.
AND WHEN HE WINS,
HE DON'T
LAUGH TOO LOUD.
THAT'S CLASS, TOO.
GOOD NIGHT.
"THE LORD
IS MY SHEPHERD..."
[SOB]
"...VALLEY OF
THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL."
"SURELY GOODNESS...
"AND MERCY...
AND I WILL LIVE IN THE HOUSE
OF THE LORD FOREVER."
DEAR GOD...
FORGIVE ME.
GOD, FORGIVE ME!
NO!
EASY, EASY.
EASY.
HE SERVED A THREE-YEAR HITCH
IN THE MARINES,
SIGNED UP WITH HIS BROTHER,
WENT THROUGH BOOT TOGETHER,
FOUGHT SIDE BY SIDE
TOGETHER.
TOGETHER TILL NOW.
NO FAMILY?
MOM'S DEAD.
PA'S IN A HOME
FOR OLD FOLKS,
CRIPPLED
WITH THE ARTHRITIS.
ME AND BOBBY,
THE OTHER WOULD
LOOK AFTER PA.
SO WHEN
BOBBY BOUGHT IT,
I'M ON MY WAY HOME
TO BUY A HOUSE FOR PA
WITH THE INSURANCE MONEY.
I COME HERE
FOR A FEW DAYS
FOR A LITTLE FUN.
I LOOK UP...
AND SO IS
THE INSURANCE MONEY.
SO I THOUGHT IF I...
YOU KNOW,
PULLED THE PLUG,
I THOUGHT PA
COULD HAVE MY INSURANCE.
THEY DON'T PAY OFF
ON SUICIDE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
A ONE-WAY
TICKET TO...
SEATTLE.
$254.
AIR SERVICE
NONSTOP FOR SEATTLE
NOW READY AT GATE 16.
ALL ABOARD.
YEAH!
SOMEBODY'S HOT.
WINNER, 10.
YAY!
THAT GUY MADE
EIGHT STRAIGHT PASSES!
IT'S $500!
5!
ON THE LINE!
COME ON!
ALL SET.
ROLL!
5, 4!
5, 4!
5, 4!
5, 4!
5, 4!
5, 4!
9, CENTER FIELD, 9.
PAY THEM OFF TO 9.
I CASHED IN
THE PLANE TICKET.
IT WAS LUCKY MONEY.
IT HAD TO BE!
BOBBY'S INSURANCE,
THE 11,000?
I WON IT ALL BACK.
MORE!
YOUR 300 BUCKS.
STILL GOING HOME?
THE NEXT PLANE.
YOU GOT
THE LUCKY TOUCH,
MISTER.
HA!
WHAT'S YOUR BUSINESS
WITH MR. PERUE?
THE DUTCHMAN?
IS IT ME?
OW!
DAY AFTER TOMORROW,
I GET TO COLLECT
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I HOPE YOU
CAN'T GET IT UP.
THERE'S NOTHING
I LIKE BETTER
THAN COLLECTING
FROM A PUNK!
OW!
AH!
PAIN PILLS.
TAKE TWO.
YOU LIKE WESTERNS?
SURE. YOU CAN TELL
THE GOOD GUYS
FROM THE BAD GUYS.
YOU DIDN'T ASK
WHY HE DID THIS.
I AIN'T BEEN SURPRISED
SINCE I WAS 18.
NOW, HE WAS PROBABLY
THE LAST OF THE GOOD GUYS.
GOOD NIGHT.
MAYBE WE OUGHT TO
CALL A DOCTOR.
NO.
HE'S GOT WHAT HE NEEDS.
YOUR 1, AND 2 MORE.
SOMEBODY WITH ALL
YOUR MONEY,
WHY DO YOU GAMBLE?
I DON'T COME HERE
TO MAKE MONEY.
TO PLAY
AGAINST THE BEST,
THE BIGGEST,
THE SMARTEST.
GAMBLING TO ME
IS LIKE EASTER TO THE POPE--
RESURRECTION...
GLORY...
PLEASURE.
THAT'S PLEASURE.
OH.
LAST NIGHT
THEY SAY SOMEBODY TRIED
TO KICK YOU AROUND.
HE DID
A GOOD JOB.
YOU DIDN'T DO
SO BAD YOURSELF.
IF THE GONZO COMES BACK,
CALL ME.
MR. GREEN BEGAN HIS COMEBACK.
FOR A GAMBLING SHOOT-OUT,
HE MIGHT AS WELL LOOK THE PART.
MR. PERUE?
TAGGART.
I GOT A PROBLEM.
YEAH.
SAME GUY.
OK, NOW.
[HONK]
[SIREN]
FILL IT UP, PLEASE.
UNLEADED.
CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID,
BRAKE FLUID.
CHECK THE WATER, BATTERY.
HEY.
TAKE A WALK.
WHAT?
COME BACK
IN 10 MINUTES.
WHAT?
GO EAT SOME CANDY.
YES, SIR.
YES, SIR.
YOU'RE MAKING
A BIG MISTAKE.
BUTT OUT.
MR. PERUE WANTS YOU
TO LAY OFF.
FUCK HIM, TOO.
BEHAVE YOURSELF.
PULL IT, AND I'LL BUST
YOUR FRIGGING ARM.
GO AHEAD!
I WOULDN'T DO THAT!
DROP IT.
DROP IT EASY.
AHH!
NO!
WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?
HAD A FLAT TIRE.
PRO FOOTBALL,
1981,
LEFTY'S FIX.
ND ME.
A PERFECT SCORE.
IF IT'S PERFECT,
WHY COME TO ME?
HEAR YOU GOT
ONE OF THE KEYS,
GOT THEM
IN YOUR POCKET.
GET OUT OF HERE.
NEWSPAPER FELLA,
TAGGART.
BROUGHT THE PAPER.
YOU THINK IT'S BRIGHT
THAT SOME UGLY PLUG
TRIES TO KILL
NICE PEOPLE
IN THIS FAMILY TOWN?
MMM.
SOMEBODY I KNOW?
A GUY
IN A PANAMA HAT.
HE MAKES THE KNOCKOFF,
YOU LOSE WHAT HE OWES.
THIS PANAMA HAT
SAYS THE GUY
BROKE HIS JAW.
NOW IT'S
A PERSONAL THING.
SINCE WHEN DOES PERSONAL
COME BEFORE BUSINESS?
MR. GREEN HAD 17 HOURS
TO WIN $31,000.
TELEPHONE FOR MR. TAGGART.
WE JUST NEED
GOLDEN BOY.
UNLESS HE'S FIXED,
THERE IS NO FIX.
TROUBLE IS,
HE'S A BOY SCOUT,
BUT HE'LL DO WHAT
THE WRITER TELLS HIM.
WHY SHOULD THE WRITER
DO WHAT YOU TELL HIM?
HE'LL DO IT.
NO.
$100,000.
MR. GREEN PLAYED
ONLY THE NUMBERS.
HE HAD TO.
HE NEEDED THE BIG WIN.
OH, I WON!
OH, I CAN'T
BELIEVE IT!
I WON!
[BELL RINGS]
LADY!
WHAT HAPPENED?
WHERE?
DON'T TOUCH HER!
YOU COULD BE SUED,
BY HER.
PROBABLY GOT
SLOT MACHINE BLADDER.
FORGOT TO GO
TO THE TOILET.
WHO WON?
THE LAKERS GAME.
DID THE LAKERS WIN
BY 4 POINTS?
THEY LOST BY 9.
WELL, WHEN I'M
DOWN IN VEGAS
BY DOESN'T LIKE IT
LEAVING HER BEHIND
THANK YOU.
GOT TO GET CRACKING,
CLEAN UP THE ACT.
GO SHOPPING,
8 YEARS OLD.
ALREADY HE'S A GORGEOUS MAN.
MAKE HIS BREAKFAST,
DRIVE HIM TO SCHOOL.
HE'S NEVER SEEN ME
IN THAT OUTFIT.
TO HIM, I'M JUST MAMA,
ROCK OF GIBRALTAR.
WHAT TIME IS IT?
ROUGH NIGHT, HUH?
HA HA.
THAT BAD?
HOW MUCH YOU LOSE?
THAT MUCH.
FLAT BROKE.
JUST A SMALL LOAN,
RIGHT?
WHICH I'LL GET BACK
IN THE MORNING, RIGHT?
YOU'LL EVEN PAY
5% INTEREST,
EVEN 10%, RIGHT?
1,100 FOR 1,000,
RIGHT?
DO YOU KNOW
WHO I SEE HERE?
I SEE MY SECOND
EX-HUSBAND,
ALWAYS LOOKING
FOR THE BIG WIN,
I HATE TO THINK
OF THE TIMES
THAT I BAILED
HIM OUT.
DOWN ON HIS KNEES,
BEGGING, CRYING,
SWEARING!
"NO MORE, HON!
NEVER MAKE
ANOTHER BET."
AND ME, DUMBBELL,
BELIEVED HIM
EVERY TIME.
NO, NO.
SORRY, NO MONEY!
NOT FOR ONE
OF YOU GUYS!
NOT FOR WHAT
YOU WANT IT!
I NEED 1,000.
NO.
BUT I LOVE YOU.
HURT YOU?
I'M SORRY.
MONEY WAS THE ANSWER.
TO GET BIG MONEY,
HE NEEDED MONEY.
HE'D SELL HIS CAR.
WITH $2,000,
HE'D WIN 31,000, GUARANTEED.
[ALARM]
[GUNSHOT]
OK.
10, QUEEN,
KING, 8.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO
RAISE YOU TWO.
I'M GOING TO
HAVE TO CALL YOU.
WHAT ABOUT YOU,
BIG MAN?
BIG MAN FOLDS.
OK, EVERYBODY STRAIGHT?
ACE.
A TREY AIN'T NO HELP.
HEARTS
AND A PAIR OF 6s.
I'LL STAY.
YOU'RE BRAVE,
BIG ACE.
THAT WILL TO BE GOOD
FOR TWO MORE.
TAGGART!
YO!
WHO CALLS?
HERE.
HA HA HA!
THIS HERE'S MR. BERNSTEIN,
YOUR LAWYER.
WHAT'S YOUR VERSION?
I WAS TRYING
TO SELL MY CAR.
AT 3 A.M.?
THAT'S WHEN I NEEDED
THE MONEY.
I'LL TAKE CARE
OF THE FINE
AND GET HIS CAR.
THANKS.
THANK CHARLEY PERUE.
NO.
I GUESS
YOU'LL TELL ME
WHO, WHAT, WHERE,
WHEN, AND WHY.
I BOUGHT YOUR PAPER,
WHICH YOU SIGNED
WHEN YOU WANTED MONEY
FROM THE DUTCHMAN.
HOW MUCH?
31K,
WHICH YOU STILL OWE
TO ME.
WHICH I HAVEN'T GOT.
I KNOW.
WELL, YOU BOUGHA LOUSY DEAL!
THE RACE AIN'T OVER.
CAN I TRUST YOU?
NO.
CAN YOU BE BOUGHT?
EVERY MAN'S
GOT HIS PRICE.
GOOD.
I DON'T TRUST A MAN
WHO CAN'T BE BOUGHT.
LET'S SAY YOUR PRICE
IS 31K.
YOU DO A LITTLE FAVOR,
YOU'RE HOME FREE,
OFF THE HOOK.
YOU DON'T OWE NOTHIN',
WE'RE TALKING HERE
$31,000,
NOT JUICYFRUIT
GUM BALLS.
THIS LITTLE FAVOR,
WHAT DOES IT ENTAIL?
A FOOTBALL GAME.
TOM SCANLON.
THIS YEAR'S
MILLION-DOLLAR BABY.
HUT.
YOU NAMED HIM,
GOLDEN BOY
OF PRO FOOTBALL,
SUNDAY, HIS TEAM,
THE FAVORITE,
GIVING 8 POINTS.
SOMEBODY GOES
TALK TO SCANLON,
SOMEBODY LIKE YOU,
A MAN OF HONOR,
SOMEBODY
SCANLON RESPECTS.
MY WHOLE LIFE,
I NEVER THREW A GAME.
NEVER!
DO IT ONCE,
THEY OWN YOU.
YOU KNOW THAT.
YOU'LL GET
THE MONEY TONIGHT,
CASH.
WHY DID THEY
SEND YOU?
YOU BELONG TO THEM?
DO YOU?
IF YOU PLAY
THEIR WAY,
YOU'RE FREE,
OUT OF HOCK.
WHAT YOU OWE,
MORE THAN $600,000,
YOU CALL IT,
MR. TAGGART.
TELL ME WHAT TO DO.
SAVE YOURSELF.
FORGET THE CHEERS.
FORGET THE HEADLINES
AND THE TROPHIES
AND THE REST OF IT.
SAVE YOURSELF.
HOW?
NO.
NO, CALL ME LATER.
PROOF SHEET.
TOMORROW'S SPORTS PAGE.
500 PAPERS.
YOU TURNED HIM AROUND.
KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?
WHAT YOU DID?
YOU BLEW IT.
WE'LL BE THERE.
ALL CASH.
COUNT IT.
COUNT IT!
WHAT HAPPENED?
IT WAS A PERFECT SETUP.
YOU.
YOU TURNED HIM AROUND.
HE SANG TO THE FBI.
THAT'S REAL CUTE.
AND ME, I BUY IT.
SUCKERED BY A SHILL
AND A CHUMP.
15 AND 8.
WHAT'S THAT
ALL ABOUT?
SIR.
I BET HIM $100,000
YOU WOULDN'T GO THROUGH
WITH THE FIX.
THIS, WHAT YOU OWE,
COST ME 31,000.
YOU WIN A NEW DEAL.
I WIN 69,000.
NOT BAD ACTION
FOR A COUPLE OF CHUMPS.
HEY, STEVE,
PRETTY GREAT STORY.
HELL OF A PIECE,
STEVE.
THAT PICTURE
OF MR. GREEN.
PERFECT!
THE SEGMENT ON GREEN--
WHAT THE HELL?
WHICH GUY IS YOU?
BOTH.
WHAT?
I NEED HELP.
A PSYCHIATRIST?
FOR IT?
MY RESIGNATION.
YOU OWE THE PAPER
$8,000.
YOU'LL GET IT.
SO WILL EVERYONE ELSE.
WHO ELSE?
BANKS, BOOKIES, FAMILY,
FRIENDS, ENEMIES.
HOW MUCH?
YOU OWE $89,000?
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE
THE $31,000 I PAID.
WITH WHAT?
THIS.
YOU GOING TO MAKE IT?
I MEAN, THE MONEY?
I HAVE A MONTH
OF CREDIT-CARD LIVING.
THEN?
END OF THE LINE.
IF I DON'T PAY,
NO JOB.
I CAN'T PAY
WITHOUT A JOB.
WHAT YOU NEED IS...
WHAT YOU NEED
IS A HOLY MIRACLE.
YEAH.
IN A WAY, I'M SORRY
TO LOSE MR. GREEN.
IF ONLY HE'D BEEN
A WINNER.
YEAH.
PAPA?
WHY DOES EVERYONE HAVE
A LITTLE HOLLOW HERE?
BEFORE YOU'RE BORN,
AN ANGEL TOUCHES YOU
AND SAYS, "SHH,"
SO YOU DON'T TELL
LIFE'S SECRETS
TILL YOU LIVE THEM.
A SMART ANGEL.
"GOD, GRANT ME SERENITY
"AND WISDOM
TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
AMEN."
KEEP COMING BACK.
KEEP COMING BACK.
KEEP COMING BACK.
MY NAME IS SANDY.
HI, SANDY.
SICKEST OF
COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS.
GAMBLED COMPULSIVELY
FOR 40 YEARS.
NEVER HAD A GOOD YEAR.
ALWAYS WAS A LOSER.
I NEVER BELIEVED IN GOD.
WHEN I GOT LOSERS,
I'D CURSE GOD.
I REMEMBER MY WIFE
BEING ILL.
I WANTED TO MAKE HER
FEEL GOOD.
I HANDED HER
$50 FOR SHOPPING,
BUT I HAD $20,000
IN MY POCKET.
I COULDN'T GIVE THAGAMBLING MONEY AWAY.
IFE.
I'M MARK.
HI, MARK.
I'M A COMPULSIVE GAMBLER.
I DID FOUR YEARS
IN THE JUG,
AND I GAMBLED EVERY DAY
THAT I WAS SERVING TIME.
IN 15 YEARS, I'VE LOST
OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
LOST EVERY NICKEL I HAD,
ALL MY WIFE'S MONEY.
LOST MY WIFE AND SON,
LAST NIGHT, MY WIFE AND BOY
CAME BACK.
I'M THE WORLD'S
LUCKIEST MAN.
I HATE THAT BASTARD,
WHAT HE DID TO MY MOM.
I SHOULD HAVE
KILLED HIM THEN,
TWO YEARS AGO
WHEN WE SPLIT.
LAST NIGHT WE CAME BACK,
HUGS AND KISSES,
LIES, PROMISES.
NO MORE GAMBLING, RIGHT?
LIES.
IN LITTLE LEAGUE
WORLD SERIES,
HE WAS SHOOTING CRAPS
IN RENO.
HE'S MY FATHER,
AND I HATE HIM.
I'LL ALWAYS HATE HIM.
ONE OF THESE DAYS,
I'LL KILL HIM!
NORA M.
HI, MY NAME IS NORA.
HI, NORA.
I'M SORRY.
HOW DO YOU
RECRUIT THEM?
WE DON'T.
THEY HAVE TO
WANT HELP.
THEY MENTION GOD.
WE GET ATHEISTS,
TOO.
S, NO POLITICS.
WE'VE GOT ONE PURPOSE,
TO HELP GAMBLERS
WHO LOST CONTROL.
ARE YOU
A CURED GAMBLER?
NEVER CURED.
I LIVE ONE DAY
AT A TIME.
WE PAY BACK
WHAT WE OWE.
WE STAY AWAY
FROM GAMBLING PLACES.
BEER.
YOUR FINAL PROGRAM CHANGES
IN THIS AFTERNOON'S
THIRD RACE.
$5.00 EXACTA WAGERING
IS OFFERED ON THIS RACE,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
NEXT ON
OUR TELEVISION MONITORS
WILL BE A REPLAY
OF THE $500,000
LINCOLN MEMORIAL HANDICAP.
THAT'S A MILE
AND A QUARTER.
[BELL RINGS]
AND THEY'RE OFF!
IT'S SWEET ASTRO
GOING FOR THE EARLY LEAD.
DOWN AND UNDER
IS IN SECOND.
HEY, KID.
THEY SAY
YOU SWORE OFF.
FOR THREE WINNERS,
I'D SWEAR TO ANYTHING.
YOU'RE NOT BETTING
THIS DOG?
I'M NOT BETTING.
THREE WINNERS.
YOU OK, PAPA?
DO YOU WANT TO SIT?
YOU OK?
WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS.
I THOUGHT
THEY LOCKED YOU AWAY
FOR THE RACING SEASON.
4OO BUCKS.
NOT NOW, HUH?
IT'S BEEN A YEAR.
WE'RE FRIENDS.
YOU HAVEN'T GOT FRIENDS.
I NEED THE $400.
I HAVEN'T GOT IT.
YOU GOT IT
FOR PONIES.
STOP IT!
STOP IT!
DON'T TOUCH HER!
THE STORY WOULDN'T
LET GO OF HIM.
HE COULDN'T STAY AWAY
FROM THE SIGHT,
THE SMELL OF THE ACTION,
FROM WRITING ABOUT IT.
THERE ARE 11 MILLION
MR. GREENS
IN EVERY SHAPE,
SIZE, AND AGE.
BEGAN STEALING,
I WAS 13, 14.
FOR FUN OR MONEY?
HORSES.
RUN OF BAD LUCK,
OWE 2,500.
BOOKIE.
COULDN'T PAY.
HAD TO PAY.
SHOWED YOU
HOW TO PAY.
WAREHOUSE.
HE SET IT UP.
CLEAN, FAST.
I GOT 1,100.
I RAN IT UP
TO 4,000 BUCKS, POKER.
WHEN WAS
YOUR FIRST BET?
SCHOOL?
SIXTH GRADE,
PITCHING PENNIES.
GAMBLING
PUT YOU HERE.
HELL, NO!
NOT GAMBLING.
IT WAS THE LOSING.
IF I'D HAVE WON...
HA HA.
IT WAS THE LOSING
THAT DONE IT.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS,
WITH A CHAPTER
EVEN IN LAS VEGAS.
MY NAME IS STEVE.
HI, STEVE.
I'VE BEEN
TO LOTS OF MEETINGS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
I CAN SAY
I'M A COMPULSIVE GAMBLER.
I CAME HERE
TO WRITE ABOUT GAMBLERS.
BETTING EVERYTHING
ON ONE RACE, ONE CARD,
BETTING MORE
THAN YOU'VE GOT.
GAMBLERS WITH A FEVER.
TO WRITE ABOUT THEM,
I HAD TO BECOME ONE,
PURELY FOR RESEARCH,
OF COURSE.
I WAS LYING.
GAMBLERS MAKE
TERRIFIC LIARS.
WE LIE TO EVERYBODY,
ESPECIALLY OURSELVES.
IN AMERICA,
ABOUT 100 MILLION PEOPLE GAMBLE.
THE WIFE'S JEWELRY.
3% MAKE A LIVING AT IT.
10 MILLION CAN'T HACK IT.
WE'RE OUT OF CONTROL.
WE NEED HELP.
I'M GETTING IT.
I STILL OWE $89,000.
$30,000
BELONGS TO MY DAUGHTER.
TONIGHT'S SPECIAL.
TONIGHT'S 100 DAYS
IN WHICH
I HAVEN'T MADE A BET,
HOW ABOUT THAT?
I HAD A MIGHTY HARD TIME
LORD,
BUT I'M ON MY WAY
YEAH, HARD TIMES
BUT I'M ON MY WAY, YEAH
HAD A MIGHTY HARD TIME
[TRUMPETS]
STAND UP, STAND UP
FOR JESUS
THE TRUMPET CALL OBEY...
SIR, YOU HIT
THE 7-11 FOR GOD,
IF YOU PLAYED $5,
YOU WOULD HAVE WON $11,000.
HOW DOES IT FEEL
TO WIN $7,00O?
A BLESSING, MISS.
A BLESSING.
HOW MUCH IS
YOUR CONTRIBUTION?
GOD EXPECTS
AT LEAST 10%.
I DIDN'T KNOW
GOD WAS AN AGENT.
DARLING.
YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE.
PAN AM FLIGHT 846
TO LOS ANGELES
IS NOW READY FOR BOARDING
AT GATE A14.
DON'T DO IT.
SUPPOSE THIS 7,000
IS A MESSAGE FROM GOD?
SUPPOSE IT ISN'T?
EVEN IF YOU WIN,
THEN WHAT?
PAY BACK EVERYTHING.
EXPECT TO?
GOING TO.
HERE?
IN THESE PLACES?
MISS.
A 10?
KEEP THE CHANGE.
EVEN TO CHECK IN,
YOU GO THROUGH
THE CASINO.
YOU CAN'T PAY,
OTHERWISE.
THREE YEARS AGO,
I GET IN A HOTEL,
AIN'T EVEN
CHECKED IN.
THERE'S
A LADY DEALER,
LIKE THIS ONE.
I GOT 400 BUCKS.
BEFORE
GETTING THE ROOM,
I DROP THE 400.
DON'T EVER TRUSA LADY DEALER.
HE WON?
$800.
26,
29,
LAST NUMBER, 52.
KINO, THE BIGGEST
SUCKER'S GAME INVENTED.
MIGHT AS WELL
FLUSH THEIR MONEY AWAY.
HE WON?
YES, SIR.
TIMMY.
THE BANK LOSES.
$7,000, ONE HAND,
DOUBLE OR NOTHING.
HELLO.
MEET RAFAEL,
PURE IN HEART.
HE DOES NOT GAMBLE.
ANYMORE.
ARE YOU
MY LUCKY CHARM?
TURN ON YOUR ESP.
MMM, I GET
VERY STRONG VIBES.
QUIT.
IF YOU NEED
ANYTHING, CALL.
GOOD SEEING YOU.
HOW ARE YOU PLAYING?
AGAINST THE BEST.
THE SHOE MOVES
TO CHAIR ONE.
BANCO PLAYERS.
$15,000 ON THE BANK.
DON'T FIGHT HIM.
ON THE BANK.
$15,000 IN THE BANK.
IT ALL GOES.
IT'S TERRIBLE
IF HE LOSES.
$11,000 CASH,
1,000 IN CHECKS,
TOTAL OF $12,000.
IT'S ALL AGAINST HIM.
$12,O00
ON THE PLAYERS' SIDE.
IT'S A BET.
CARDS.
PLAYERS.
A NATURAL 9.
THERE WILL BE NO DRAW.
AND THE BANK?
A NATURAL 9, ALSO.
PICTURE CARDS
ARE ZERO.
IT'S A TIE HAND.
YOU MAY PRESS, CHANGE,
OR WITHDRAW BETS.
LET IT RIDE.
MAKE YOUR BETS, PLEASE.
ANY OTHER BETS?
LOSER, FOR SURE.
CARDS, PLEASE.
THE PLAYERS SHOW A 5,
AND THE BANK...
THE BANK SHOWS 4.
PLAYERS MUST DRAW.
CARD FOR THE PLAYERS.
THE PLAYERS SHOW 7.
CARD FOR THE BANK.
CARD.
THE BANK LOSES.
PLAYERS WIN.
PAY THE PLAYERS.
PAY HIM $12,000.
$12,000.
NOW WALK AWAY.
QUIT!
HE HAD TO WIN
MORE THAN $60,000
TO BREAK EVEN.
I'M ON MY WAY
TO CANAAN LAND
BASKETBALL, HAWAII,
$9,000 ON THE HOME DOG.
$1,000.
1,000.
$1,000 ON BLACK.
BLACKJACK!
BLACK.
ON MY WAY,
GLORY HALLELUJAH
I'M ON MY WAY
WE'VE GOT $51,000.
WITH THE BASKETBALL
MONEY,
TOTAL 61,000.
WE NEED $28,000 MORE.
YOU COULD PAY MOST
OF WHAT YOU OWE.
I WAS THINKING,
FINISH AT CRAPS.
LUCK TURNS,
YOU KNOW.
YOU WANT ME
TO QUIT?
YES!
COME ON.
COUNT THEM.
TELL ME
WHEN WE'RE HOME.
1,100 ACROSS.
100 ACROSS.
SAME FOR ME.
10 THE HARD WAY.
$100.
HE'LL NEVER QUIT NOW.
YOU GOT IT!
I BELIEVE, BROTHER!
5! 5!
A WINNER.
THAT DOES IT!
ONE MORE PASS!
EIGHT STRAIGHT PASSES.
I BELIEVE, BROTHER!
YOU GOT
THE LUCKY TOUCH.
QUIT, QUIT, QUIT!
NOBODY WALKS OUT
ON A WINNING STREAK.
NOBODY EXCEPT
A REAL WINNER...
EXCEPT A REAL WINNER.
DID YOU
TAKE CARE OF IT?
$30,000 TRUST FUND,
NAME OF AMY TAGGART.
DAUGHTER OF, AGE OF,
ET CETERA.
NOBODY CAN TOUCH
THE MONEY,
NOT EVEN ME.
ESPECIALLY NOT YOU!
I WAS WONDERING...
MR. PERUE'S FLYING US
TO MEXICO
FOR THE JAI ALAI
AND BIG-MONEY GOLF.
PLEASURE, YOU KNOW?
CAN'T WIN THEM ALL.
BE HAPPY.
LUCKY MAN.
THEY SAY
YOU TOOK THE CURE.
NO MORE
FUN AND GAMES?
NO MORE GAMBLING?
I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
BELIEVE IT.
YOU'LL BE BACK.
I HAD A MIGHTY HARD TIME
LORD, BUT I'M ON MY WAY
HAD HARD TIMES
BUT I'M ON MY WAY, YEAH
HAD A MIGHTY HARD TIME
GLORY HALLELUJAH
YES, I'M ON MY WAY
NOW, IF YOU WON'T GO
DON'T YOU HINDER ME
IF YOU WON'T GO
DON'T YOU HINDER ME
ARE HINDER ME
I'M ON MY WAY
GLORY HALLELUJAH,
I'M ON MY WAY
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