Mississippi Grind (2015) Movie Script
Number eleven.
Some players increase their
chatter when nervous or anxious.
This usually happens with
extroverts who find great
comfort in babbling
to reduce tension.
Number twelve.
Furrowing of the forehead.
Furrowing of the forehead is a
good indicator that something is
amiss or the person is insecure.
It is also seen when people
are concentrating or trying
to make sense of something.
It is usually associated with
doubt, weakness or concern.
Number thirteen.
Sneaking a nose touch.
Sneaking a passifying touch by
ever so slightly rubbing the
nose with the index finger...
Hello.
Hey Gerry.
How's the knee?
Ughhh.
It's getting there.
Good luck.
Hey Gerry.
That was
you on Saturday.
Parking ticket.
What for?
They said the cops...
Anyone know the
spread on the hawkeyes game?
Six points.
Gettin'
warm out there.
It's just weather.
What does that
mean, "it's just weather?"
Warm, cold...
It's just weather, baby.
I like that.
"It's just weather, baby."
Yeah, well,
it's just poker, baby.
How's that?
You like that one?
Anybody see that
rainbow yesterday?
Table seven,
looks like heaven.
How's everybody feeling tonight?
That's okay by me.
Let's play some cards, huh?
Iowa.
Hit me with some Iowa trivia.
Tell me something I don't know.
Like what?
Aces are good right?
Raise.
Six-hundred total.
Call.
Call.
Heads up.
Aces, huh?
Fold.
Thank you very much.
Anybody over
here need any drinks?
Bloody Mary.
Bourbon.
What is the bourbon?
It's just
the cheap stuff.
Make mine a woodford.
Umm, I'm not sure
we have that...
Hey, friend,
you want a woodford?
Aww, no, no no.
Bring him a woodford too.
Uh, no no no.
Cheap stuff's fine with me.
It's fine.
I got it. I got it.
Great.
My old buddy, Tony Roundtree,
does anybody know Tony?
Hosts a high rollers game every
other month in new Orleans.
Anyway, I knew him
up in Detroit...
Are you from Detroit?
Me? Naww.
I'm from all over but I knew
Tony Roundtree in Detroit.
This guy he loved to play
poker but he kept dodging my
invitations to play in the
casinos. Apparently Tony, he
had a little bit of a gambling
problem before I met him.
You guys know about the
disassociated persons list?
You have that in Iowa?
Okay, well in some states you
can put yourself on this list if
you're trying to quit gambling,
which means that you are legally
banned from all
casinos in the state...
- for life.
For life. So you know what
I'm talking about, right,
makes sense. Right? Well, pfft.
Not to Tony.
He puts himself on this list to
show his girlfriend that he's
serious about changing his ways.
Well, a couple
months go by and...
Of course...
She dumps him.
For a guitar player.
It's always a guitar player.
It is always a
guitar player, isn't it?
Why is that?
Nice hands.
- So he's lonely.
- He's depressed.
And he starts getting the
itch to play poker again.
Walks into mgm,
"sorry buddy."
Goes over to Greek
town, "no can do amigo."
Motor city, "no dice pal."
What does he do?
Disguise.
Yes! He puts on
a disguise. Yeah.
Sunglasses, fake
mustache, a wig.
C'mon. A wig?
He walks right through
the doors, blows past security,
sits down at the poker
table and he is in heaven.
He is brand...
- we didn't have woodford,
so sorry about that.
But that is our top shelf.
It's bulleit bourbon.
- Alright.
- I'm not paying for his though.
Excuse me?
Well I said his woodford is on
me and that's not a woodford...
I'm just kidding. I'm
kidding lady. I'm joking.
Here c'mon. Thank you.
Keep the change.
Very cute.
Alright, good
luck to you my friend.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Better than
the cheap shit right?
Yeah, not bad.
Placed third.
Congrats.
What's the payoff on that?
Nine-hundred dollars.
What's the score?
Not sure.
Have a seat.
The usual for ya?
Actually, have you got woodford?
- We have that.
- Yeah.
C'mon. Let's get one of those.
Let's get a woodford.
Okay, Oregon's up by six.
That's not so bad. That's okay.
- How much you got on this?
- Uhhh, nine-hundred.
- It's a woodford kindof night.
- What's that mean?
The guy back there shooting
darts, he likes it too.
Hey woodford man!
Next one on me!
Poker man!
I'm Curtis.
Curtis. Nice, like, uh, Toby.
No. Like Mayfield.
Curtis Mayfield.
Okay. I'm Gerry.
- Like Lewis.
- Nope.
Jerry Lewis.
Nope. Gerry, "G" Gerald.
Like Ford I guess.
How'd it go for you tonight?
- Not bad.
- What's not bad?
Second.
Get outta here that's
great. Second.
Coulda been first. Coulda
been first if you didn't
bully me outta that
Mountain before you left.
I can never last in
those tournaments. I...
Why'd you buy in?
I like people.
Yeah?
You shouldda stuck around.
You're a good player.
For a few hours maybe,
but I-I-I don't have
the stamina for poker.
- Yeah?
- Restless.
What's your game.
What do you like?
- Darts.
- Darts? Any good?
I can hit the board. Sure.
I gotta ask you, what...
- What was I holding?
- Yeah.
Pair a deuces.
- Really?
- That's it.
- That's all?
- That's all.
Shit. Cause I'm usually
good at readin' people but
you were all over the map.
I can't spot your tell.
- You wanna know why?
- Yeah.
I don't care about winning.
- Oh that's bullshit.
- I really don't.
I just like to play.
I really do.
Did you see that
rainbow yesterday?
Oh. Yeah. That was beautiful.
Gorgeous.
Wasn't that the most
fucking-amazing-I mean that
- rainbow was beautiful.
- Best rainbow ever.
How come I've
never seen you before?
- Just passin' through.
- Where you headed?
New Orleans.
Awww, man. Man
I love new Orleans!
Me too.
Ohh. You're going to your
friend's home game right?
Who? Tony Roundtree? No, I
don't have that kinda money.
- Then why?
- What do you mean?
What, you just head down to
new Orleans for the hell of it?
Pretty much.
That sounds alright.
That's alright with me.
Dale! Dale.
He just sits
there starin' at me.
Okay buddy, pick a card.
I'll let you see
either of these cards.
Whichever card he
turns over he's gonna think
it's a full boat.
Aw that's beautiful.
Yeah, it really was. Ha.
Okay umm, heads or tails.
Tails.
Yeah. Again. Hold on.
Aaand, call it.
Tails.
Where did you come from?
Noo! Noo!
Hey, Denise, do
you have any coconut oil?
I have lotion.
So, umm, your his, uh...
Just friends.
Thanks for the couch.
You want breakfast?
Dog races start at one.
What time is it?
Nine-thirty.
Aww, shit.
Oh, shit.
- What's wrong?
- I have work.
You have a job?
Yeah, where did I park the car?
Hey, look at this.
See that?
Look who's running the sixth
race: Dynamic Rainbow.
Is that not our dog?
Look me in the eye and
tell me that's not our dog.
- That's a good name.
- That's a great name.
Umm.
Here.
Go on, count it.
Oh no, that's ok.
Naw, that's alright.
Thrusting a stranger, Gerry.
It's just one of those things.
I think that I'm finally
starting to understand what
you guys are after and
I think you're going to
find this is a real winner.
Really.
I am on my way.
Aww, that's beautiful.
That's beautiful.
You want me to place a
bet for you? They're saying
that dynamic rainbow's
got forty-eight to one odds.
That's terrible.
That is what
makes it fun, Gerry.
I'm laying fifty to win.
What do you want to do?
Forty-eight to one,
geez. I don't know.
Don't stress baby,
it's just dogs.
You know what, put me
down for two hundred to place.
Okay, you got it.
Dynamic Rainbow.
Heeeere comes Casey.
And the greyhounds
are on the race track.
Which one
is number four?
Dynamic Rainbow number
four in the green. There we go.
C'mon Rainbow! C'mon Rainbow!
Go go go! Go Dynamic Rainbow!
Around the first turn...
- yeah! Rainbow!
Beautiful.
Look look look look look!
Let's go Rainbow! C'mon.
Yeah! Oh yeah!
He's bringing it up!
- C'mon Rainbow!
- Go Rainbow! Go Rainbow!
Dynamic Rainbow.
Around the turn and down the
home stretch to the wire. It's-
yeah!
Dynamic Rainbow at the wire.
We won!
Of course we won.
Your damn right we won.
Ahhh. Fuck! I'm an idiot.
I'm an idiot!
I bet to place.
I should have listened to you.
Aww, easy.
You still won big buddy.
C'mon we just won a
whole bunch of money.
Let's go celebrate,
we'll have some drinks.
We'll meet some ladies.
We'll go to a show.
Oh, no no no.
Look at this place.
We can get drinks here. We
can meet ladies here. I'm sure.
Gerry, come on. It don't
get any better than this.
C'mon. Let's go. Let's
go have some fun. Alright?
Hold on. Hold on. Wait.
Next guy that comes
out of the bathroom,
if... he's wearing glasses-
we stay.
If he's wearing glasses-
just, just.
You're on.
Yes!
I'll tell you what Gerry,
never bet on a dog named
after a disabled president.
I thought it was Teddy.
Rollin' Roosevelt?
It's a good name.
No. No, it was not a good name.
Next time you quit when
I tell you it's time.
I used to know this guy back
in Kansas City, Archie Headdy.
Never knew when to quit.
Oh, yeah, yeah, I think
I know where this story is
going, but you don't...
Hey, listen, listen, Gerry.
Okay.
Archie, he owed every
poker player in town at least
three hundred bucks. Minimum.
It got to point where he was
asking his little nephews for
change out of their piggy banks.
I see him at O'Hara's poker room
one day and I walk over to say
hello. I see he's got a handsome
pile of chips in front of him,
over five grand. Archie
starts bragging that he started
the night with just sixty bucks.
Sixty bucks that he borrowed
from some new chump by the way.
So I pulled him aside and say,
"hey, listen. Cash. Out. Now."
He's got enough there to pay
back everybody he owes and
still get a slab at
Oklahoma Joes, right?
"You're right.
You're right."
He says, "I'll stop as soon
as the blind come throught."
- Did he talk like that?
- Like a balloon with helium.
Yeah. So I feel good
about myself, right.
I'm smiling,
I go back to my table.
Think I've done
a good deed here.
The next thing I hear is
Archie's high-pitched screaming
voice saying, "I'm all in."
And he lost everything right?
Of course he
lost everything. Yeah.
But you know
what he says to me?
Says, "don't worry, it
was just sixty bucks."
Some guys are born to lose.
You play? Hmm?
Pool. You play?
Aww, not in a long time.
Hey. Hey. Hey.
Twenty bucks on my buddy here.
- Alright?
- What are you doing?
I'm gonna watch you play
this big winner right here.
You said you played.
Yeah, but not in a long time.
- So you'll lose.
- No, you'll lose.
No, I'm not gonna lose,
I'm spending twenty bucks to
watch you watch you
make a food of yourself.
That's that's not losing.
That's entertainment.
We gonna play or what?
We're gonna play. Oh, we're
gonna we're gonna play.
You want to be entertained?
Fifty bucks let's play
for fifty bucks, huh?
Hey, hey, hey, Gerry.
Play nice now.
Okay? Fifty bucks.
You like that?
Five hundred.
Thousand. Let's
play for a thousand dollars.
That's enough.
You fellas don't
belong here do you?
I'm really, I'm not very good.
Okay. Hey, hey, hey,
hey. Easy. Easy.
We're good.
We're good. We're good.
What are you doing tomorrow?
What are you doing tomorrow?
Aww, I think it's
Machu Picchu time for me.
Time, time for me
to hit the road.
Oh, okay.
Okay, well, it was
great to meet you.
You too, ger.
Hey, do you
want a ride some place.
Naw, I'm gonna steal a bike.
Hey.
Hey.
Can you, uhh, you got a light?
Uhh, no.
What's that for?
Give me the money.
I don't have any money.
Bull shit. Thousand dollar bets?
Yeah, I heard you back there.
- No, no.
- Just give it to me.
Hey, I told ya,
I don't have any money.
Okay, I lost it all
on rollin Roosevelt.
- Don't make me cut you.
- Take it easy, buddy. Okay.
Take it easy.
I'm gonna show you.
Hurry up.
Here, here, here.
See, I don't have any money.
What? Do I look stupid?
Ahhh!
Damnit.
Damnit.
Shit.
Hey you forgot
your knife asshole.
Heyy.
Gerry! Hey!
It's great to see you, man.
How long has it been?
I don't know,
a couple months.
- Too long.
- Mmm.
- It's been too long.
- Yeah, I know Sam.
Have you been avoiding me Gerry?
No. No way.
Can I bring
you something to drink?
Uhhh, yeah,
I'll take a coffee.
Oh, forgive me
but I got here early.
I ordered a salad. Order
whatever you want. It's on me.
No, it's fine.
Yeah, I know it's fine.
I insist.
Okay, sure. I'll take a burger,
medium-rare, fries.
Alright.
Hey, how are you?
You know, same old grind.
I would like to retire soon,
but doesn't seem to be
heading in that direction.
How's your real estate?
Uhh, slow and low.
I'm sure it'll pick up soon.
Yeah, eventually.
Don't make me ask Gerry.
Sooo last night I had
eight hundred dollars,
I go out into the parking lot,
fucking guy robs me.
Meth-head with a knife.
He stabs me in the gut. See?
Oh God, Gerry. Put that down.
Honestly.
You need to have
somebody look at that.
Are you okay?
Yeah, yeah. I'm fine.
- I can't imagine.
- It was pretty scary.
At least you're okay.
Yes. Just a scratch.
It could have been
a lot worse you know?
Mm.
Gotta take it.
Hey.
Awgh. Jesus. Lord. No.
I'm not bringing
it to the school.
I'm in a meeting.
Ask you dad.
I don't know where it is.
Well you know it's not my
fault that you forgot it.
Teenagers.
Hey.
Okay. I will.
I'm I'm gonna bring it.
This is the last time though.
Alright baby I'll be
there in half an hour.
Do not keep me
waiting out front.
You are so lucky you don't
have to deal with that shit.
Gerry, I tell ya.
Huhh.
So, what do you
have for me today.
It's about eighty dollars.
I had the rest...
- Meth-head.
- Fucking meth-head.
- Dead beat.
- The worst.
- Things will look up.
- They always do.
Well, not always.
Couple weeks. Couple of weeks.
Don't worry about it.
- Tomorrow.
- Mmn-
tomorrow. Gerry, I'll
send Ted to drop you a visit.
Oh, no no there's no
need to bring him into all this.
Couple of days I'll
have a commission and...
- Get it together.
- I had the money.
- Yeah.
- This time is wasn't my fault.
I understand.
Take care.
- Gerry.
- Heyyy.
Curtis, I know you're probably
half way to New Orleans...
Crazy day, Gerry!
I ended up in Chicago.
I w-won a ticket to the bulls
game shootin' dice this mornin'
so I went. Now I'm back
in your neck of the woods.
You are? Where?
Same uh, same place
we met the other night.
No.
Gerry.
Gerry, would you be so fine
as to order me a woodford?
A woodford.
Two woodfords!
You ever seen an
NBA game up close?
Those guys are tall.
Hey man.
- It's a sign.
- What is?
It's a sign. You walking in
the door when I'm calling you
on the telephone is a sign.
I'm telling you it's a sign.
Alright.
Okay, look what happened
to me after you left last night.
What is that?
In the parking lot,
some guy cut me.
Are you okay?
It's not, it's
not, s-so serious.
Did you know the guy?
Yeah, yeah,
I knew him, yeah,
w-we played some softball
on the weekends...
That's a fair question.
- No it's not a...
- Does that hurt?
- He was mugging...
- That's gotta hurt like hell.
It stings a little
bit but what I'm getting at...
Shhhhh. Hey, Curtis what I'm
trying to get at here is that
good things happen when you're
around and when you're gone.
When you leave...
- you get stabbed.
Yeah.
I've been thinking.
You know that home game,
New Orleans, dissasociated guy.
- Tony Roundtree.
- Boom. I want in.
That game has a twenty-five
thousand dollar buy-in, Gerry.
- Which is a lot.
- Yup.
- I got a plan.
- I'm listening.
We go down the Mississippi.
Okay.
Yeah, we go,
down the Mississippi.
Like huck-fuckin'-fin and Jim...
On a raft?
No, we take my car.
Okay.
Okay, but we
hit up all the action.
Everything along the way. Cause
I know some weekly home games.
Yeah.
- Casinos.
- Sure.
Then we got
the gambling towns.
Memphis Tennessee.
Tunica.
Absolutely, Tunica.
Now, I'm gonna be
straight with you.
I'm in a little bit
of a hole right now,
but I'm working my way back
out so all I need is for you to
stake me fife hundred
out the gate-hey, look.
It's not it's not,
I-it's an investment.
Okay because I'll play,
you'll be my lucky charm.
We split the winnings
even-Stevens.
- What about your job?
- They won't miss me.
Can I ask you
a personal question?
Uhh, yeah.
How much do you owe?
A lot.
To who?
Everyone.
I'll stake you two thousand
dollars. Your car, my cash.
Hot damn. That's what I'm
talkin' about.
- That's what I'm talking about.
- Come here.
Easy.
Easy with that.
Oh shit.
Wish me luck.
Heyyyy.
- Let's go!
- Go, go, go, go.
Is everything okay?
Tony Roundtree he,
he once had a pet tiger.
Won it playing baccarat
with an Arab prince.
Cleans the guy out, the prince
wants to keep playing so
he puts his tiger on the
table-not literally but...
Yeah.
Yeah, you know
jokes on Tony, though.
Didn't' know he'd be
hemorrhaging money on this
thing. He's got to register it
with the federal government,
get a special permit.
First time I met him was on a on
a bar car on an amtrack train
from Denver to Albuquerque and
remember he was wearing this
blue velvet smoking jacket and
drank from a copper flask.
And the tiger?
It was tranquilized.
Checked with the other cargo.
He checked a
tiger on an amtrack train?
Apparently,
they have a policy.
Hey. Hey. You wan-you
wanna know what it costs
to check a six-hundred
pound animal?
Yeah. Yeah.
Hold on a sec,
wh-what-what are
we listening to here?
Oh, this? Two-hundred poker
tells by Joe Navarro.
- Are you serious?
- Yeah.
How, how often do
you listen to this Gerry?
Whenever I drive.
Are you gonna make me
listen to this the whole way
to New Orleans?
We don't have to listen to it.
Hey there Gerry.
Missed you at the office
today, hope everything's okay.
Umm, anyway, it's all a bit
awkward but I feel I need to
mention some of the petty cash
seems to have gone missing.
Not that I'm accusing you of
taking it but Jenna says that
when she left last night there
was over two-hundred in the box.
Also, a friend of yours
named Tim stopped by,
said he's looking for ya.
...Fear.
These soft areas will
quiver or twitch,
revealing the persons
negative, emotional state.
Sudden changes
in fortune triggers...
Who's that?
Nobody.
You got any snacks?
Yeah, I have
some jerky back there.
Can you grab some for me too?
Yep.
Nice!
You brought cigars?
- Oh no, that's not...
- What's all this?
An emergency fund.
Just in case.
- In case of what?
- Emergency.
A lot of watches Gerry.
You collect baseball cards?
That a wedding ring?
Yeah.
Get outta here.
You were married?
Hard to believe, huh?
I don't mean it like
that, just... What happened?
She left.
Wanna get any of that
jerky back there?
Yeah. Yeah.
There it is.
Jackpot.
Yessir. That's what
I'm talking about.
Well, hello.
Hi.
Can I help you with something?
- I'm Curtis.
- Simone.
- That's a nice name.
- Thanks.
I'm uhh, I'm
looking for a for a woman.
Sure what sorta
woman you looking for?
She's about uhhh that tall.
She's got cinnamon hair
and soft pale skin,
devastating blue eyes.
Funny but I think I've seen just
the woman you're looking for.
- You have?
- Yeah.
I've been tracking
her scent for Miles.
Well. They say that
working class hound dogs
have the best sense of smell.
Woof. Woof.
Woof, woof, woof, woof.
Don't just stand there
you barking little doggie,
come inside get
yourself a treat.
Simone, this is Gerry.
Gerry, Simone.
Hey.
Alright, these were
the best that I could do.
Did I ever tell
you how amazing you are?
To often to feel sincere.
Thank you.
Don't be shy, Gerry,
we're all friends.
So you guys play poker?
No, we just work here, honey.
What is it you do?
We get paid for...
Our companionship.
Oh yeah. Yeah.
Hi.
What happened there?
Oh, it's nothing serious.
Doesn't look like nothing.
Gerry saved my
life in a knife fight.
That's not true.
Hey Curtis, how was Peru?
Not yet, sweetie,
but soon. I promise.
You can change in
there if you want to.
Yeah, okay.
Looking good, Mr. Bond.
I tell
ya something Ger,
first thing we do when we get to
New Orleans, we buy new suits.
Aw, I don't really wear suits.
Well, yeah,
your gonna have to.
We're going to Tony Roundtree's
we can't go dressed like this.
Well, in that case, I've
always wanted a white suit.
You know like Glen Campbell.
Mental note.
Next trip, open sea.
Hey, what's up with Peru?
I heard you talking to Vanessa,
what's that all about?
I've been joking, you know.
When I'm done with a person or a
place or it's time to move on,
I'll say it's Machu Picchu time.
Machu Picchu time?
You might say it's,
it's kinda like the end of my
rainbow, you know. Mysterious
and exotic, a place you just
get lost and never come back
from. Plus it's fun to say,
lotta fun to say. Machu Picchu.
Try it.
- Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu.
Machu.
Picchu.
I'll be at
the bar if you need me.
Excuse me.
Scuse me.
Hey.
Tell me something I
don't know about St. Louis.
I've only been
here a few months.
That's no excuse. I was
only in Iowa for a few days.
I can tell you that Marion
Robert Morrison was born in
Winterset, Iowa, 1907.
Am I supposed
to know who that is?
You might know him by
his stage name, John Wayne.
John Wayne.
I can also tell you
that Iowa is the only state
in the country that
begins with two vowels.
And that the national balloon
museum in Indianola Chronicles
over two-hundred years
of-guess what-right.
Ballooning history.
Okay.
Okay fine so-
I don't know if this is true.
I don't care.
But, you know when you're
in a hotel room and they
put the little chocolate
on the pillows?
That was started
in St. Louis by...
You have nice legs.
You're supposed to guess.
Okay. Ben Franklin.
Close.
Cary Grant.
He was staying in the
Mayfair and wooing a certain
lady friend by putting
chocolate on her pillow.
Who told you that?
A friend.
Who?
I don't remember.
Take a guess.
What are you getting at?
Were you in a hotel room when
this friend told you about...
I don't remember.
...Cary Grant's
chocolate seduction technique?
So what if I was?
Six months is a
long time Curtis.
Six months.
It hasn't Ben six months.
Six months. September,
October, November,
December, January, February,
march. Seven months.
Seven months.
Tell me something
else about St. Louis.
Heads up.
Five-hundred is the bet.
Raised to one-thousand.
Called.
Heads up.
Check.
One-thousand
is the bet.
Call.
Heads up.
Check.
He's all in.
How do you get a sweet
little old lady to yell,
"go fuck yourself"?
You get another sweet little
old lady to yell "bingooo."
Bingo.
Yeah, call.
Call.
Take it.
It'a a trust gesture.
I love that story.
Back in in in England
there was you know, Earls.
Yeah.
Okay. There was an Earl of
sandwich. He was a gambler.
He was standing at the
tables all day long.
Aww, I'm a bit hungry. What
am I going to do? Uhh, I know.
Hey, you know, buddy go put some
meat between a couple a bread.
- Earl of sandwiches...
- There it is.
The dumbest
name I've ever heard.
What are you talking about
he came-he came up with it.
You boys just
gonna sit there all night?
Come dance.
S... seeing. Seeing.
I didn't know
that that meant Gails.
First word.
- Pitch.
- Throw.
I'm gonna smoke a cigarette.
He just won
seven thousand dollars,
give the man a cigarette.
Where did you find him?
Poker table.
It's a tournament with
a sixty dollar buy-in.
He had a collared shirt
and a missing button.
And you ordered him a woodford.
What's he need the money for?
He believes that
it will set him free.
He's a good guy.
That's what you
said about George.
You mean Jorge?
What do you have against Jorge?
His name was George and
he was a liar and a thief.
He was not.
Okay.
What's in this for you?
The journey is the
destination, sweetheart.
That's not an answer.
It'a bumper sticker.
There's nothing
in it for me this time.
Do you know
any magic tricks?
No. Do you?
Yeah?
- You wanna see?
- Yeah! Yeah.
Okay, but I'm just learning,
so you can't make fun of me.
Oh, I won't make fun of you.
Wait.
- What's next?
- What?
After new Orleans?
What then?
You should come with us.
Shut up.
It would be so much fun.
- I have school.
- Play hookie.
Curtis, I can't
just, you know, like you,
hit the road on a whim.
Didn't your momma ever tell you
you can do anything you want?
No she did not.
Well I'm saying it for her.
Okay.
I'll come with you.
Tell me what I need to pack
for this little mystery tour.
Whatever you want.
Should I bring a jacket?
Will I be cold?
No.
What about a bikini?
I love the beach.
Definitely bring the bikini.
Should I bring my running shoes?
Will there be a gym
where we are going?
We'll find one.
And dresses?
Should I bring a dress?
Will you help me
pick something out?
And my high-heeled shoes.
And what about condoms?
Am I going to have
to work on this journey
and cover my expenses?
- Okay.
- Mhmm.
That's good.
That's good.
What?
Wow!
That's amazing.
Where did it come from?
I hid him earlier so I could
show you guys my trick tonight.
Magicians not supposed
to reveal secrets, say...
I'm still learning I guess.
Hey, heyyy little buddy.
Oh, look at you.
Hello kitty.
Okay. Okay.
Yeah, you're okay.
Your turn.
I don't know any tricks though.
C'mon I showed you mine.
You have to show me yours.
Oh.
No, it can be anything.
Anything?
Okay.
Is that Vanessa?
No, it must be your friend.
I didn't know Gerry played.
He's pretty good.
I liked that.
You married?
Girlfriend?
I have a little girl.
That's cute.
Do you have a picture?
She lives with
her mom in little rock.
I have a problem with money.
Did I say anything about money?
I didn't mean it like that.
It's something I wanted
to tell you so I told you.
I'm gonna do
something with my life.
I might not have
that figured out yet but
I'm gonna do something.
Something I wanted to tell you.
So I did.
Hey, hey, J.P.
Can you put me down for five
tonight on Hawaii over Gonzaga?
That's bullshit.
No, bullshit.
I have it, I have the money.
I literally have the money
right here in my hand.
I'm looking at it.
Oh, hey?
J.P.?
J.P.?
Fucking asshole.
Number one eighteen.
Sitting lower and lower.
Players who slip lower and lower
in their chars during a hand,
are progressively
revealing their weakness.
Most players are not aware...
That's yours you know.
Huh?
You're a sloucher.
That's your tell.
- You slouch when you worry.
- Get out of here.
Hey, you're doing it right now.
Seemed like Vanessa
was really into ya.
Yeah, we had a great time.
- Did you sleep with her?
- No.
What?
Why not?
I just didn't-didn't-
didn't feel like there
was that... You know.
I thought you
knew how to read people.
She was sending you
signals all night.
Well, maybe I
didn't feel like it.
- You like women?
- Yeah.
- It's okay if you don't.
- Oh.
What about you and Simone.
What's going on there?
We had sex last night.
No, that's not what I'm asking.
Why are you
changing the subject?
You know your voice goes up
an octive when you talk to her?
All soft and dreamy.
You must really love that girl.
You're avoiding
the subject Gerry.
What are you doing?
What are you afraid of?
I'm not afraid of anything.
What-what do ya
talking about afraid?
- Your ex-wife.
- Mmmhmm.
Yeah, that's what this is about.
She she left you and
you want her back.
I shouldda known it
was about a woman.
It's not about-a woman.
Yeah, it is.
You know how I know?
You're slouching.
You don't know anything.
I've been on the road a long time.
I know what makes people tick.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're a regular Oprah.
Doctor Phil. Right?
I'm just sayin' that
that look, my experience has
given me certain insights
into the human condition.
Your experience.
How old are you?
Forget it.
- No, come on.
- No, forget it.
How old are you?
'Lright. Bullshit. I know what
you're doing, alright.
Age is not the only indication
of life experience.
See, I'm forty-four.
- I'm thrity-nine.
- Bullshit.
But I bet you for a hundred
bucks I can guess your age.
You are on.
Okay, take your glasses
off just for a second.
Let me have a look.
Let me have a look.
Oh, that's thirty-five.
You're thirty-five.
I am thirty-five.
How'd you know that?
I told ya, I'm good with ages.
My ass you're good with ages.
How'd you know that?
I read your drivers license.
When?
This morning.
You were in the bathroom...
Why?
I wanna know you
are who you say you are.
And what did you learn?
Curtis Vaughn.
Thrity-five.
Expired north Dakota
drivers license.
Well holy shit.
That it?
Well anything
else you wanna share?
Nah.
Muddy waters,
howlin' wolf, B.B. King,
Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes,
there's even some famous
white folk from Memphis
you might have heard of.
Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis,
Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash.
All those people from Memphis?
And don't forget
about Justin Timberlake.
Very impressive, my friend.
Hey.
- Hey.
- How we doing?
I'm gonna get a burger.
You want one?
Naww, I-I-I gotta get ready.
I gotta got to this game.
Alright.
...And bet
on midnight run, why? Why?
What happened?
How long
were you married?
Eight years.
That's a long time.
Supposed to be longer.
I like women
too much to marry one.
Hey, you married pops?
I've been married six
times but not at present.
Here's to lucky number seven.
- Thank you.
- If you want it.
Miss the married life?
Do I miss it?
Well, let me put it like this...
I just know it's
better to not be alone.
Amen.
Ohh, shit.
Ohhh,
Hawaii beat Gonzaga.
Big time upset.
I didn't even know
they had a basketball team.
Rainbow Warriors.
Re-raise.
Six-hundred.
Raise, six-hundred.
Call.
Heads up.
Fifteen-hundred.
Call.
I check.
All in.
She's all in at
ten-thousand, six-hundred.
I'll call.
She's got you covered.
Heads up.
Woahhh...
Wow.
That's a night.
I did not deserve that.
Sorry Gerry.
Let's go again.
Let's go again.
Gerry, call it a night.
Oh, come on, give me a,
just give me a thousand dollars.
Dennis tell her I'm good
for a thousand dollars.
It's a bad beat, Gerry.
Throw in the towel.
One-hundred-thousand
dollars, right?
The deal was that
slim had to get c-cup breast
implants and leave them
in for exactly one year.
Not only did he win the bet...
...he met a woman, a
straight woman who loved
his fake tits so much
that she married him.
Get the fuck outta here.
He's still got
'em. Perky as ever.
There's someone
out there for everyone.
Gerry, hey!
How'd it go?
Good.
I won seven thousand...
You sonuvabitch. That's great.
Come sit down with us, here.
Have a, have a, have a
drink lets celebrate.
And meet some
meet some people.
Actually, if I could just
take moment of your time,
and have a word with...
- Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
I'll be right back,
you beautiful losers.
I don't know what it means.
I don't know what it means.
What, what means.
Okay.
This is gonna sound crazy.
I was all-in, on this
monster pot, okay?
I was down in the river.
I was gone.
I mean I was wipped out and
all I needed was a queen.
A queen.
Only thing that could save me.
And I made myself a promise-
I know this sounds so stupid-
but I made myself a
promise that if I got a queen,
I'd go and I'd go and I'd go,
I'd go, I'd go to little rock.
I'd make things right.
Yeah, with my queen.
You know what I mean?
Your ex-wife.
You were right.
Course I'm right. A woman.
Whad I tell ya, huh?
It's always a woman.
But I don't know what to do.
I know what to do.
We go to little rock
that's what we do.
Noo, it's out of the way.
It just seems crazy.
Am I crazy?
Oh, you're a fucking
lunatic. But I love it.
You don't mind?
Gerry, I don't-a
beautiful woman, right in there,
asked me to go home
with her tonight.
- And?
- I turned her down.
You did?
- Yeah
- why?
When you come to a
fork in the road, you take it.
Let's go to little rock.
Gerry.
Hey, Dorothy.
What are you doing here?
I was just
driving through little rock.
Thought I'd stop by.
Oh, you were just
stopping through little rock.
Look, I don't
have to stay. I just-
thought it would be nice to
see you know just for a minute.
Come on in, I guess.
I was just making some tea.
- You want some?
- Yeah, sure. Sure.
Hey, darlin'.
Did I wake you? I'm sorry.
That's okay.
Where are you?
We're, uhh, we're on a
little detour, in little rock.
- Little rock?
- Yeah.
What happened to New Orleans?
No, I'm sitting in a
car right now outside Gerry's
ex-wife's house and he just
went in there to win her back.
And it got me
thinking about you.
And me.
And St. Louis.
Kansas City.
All kinds of places really.
Where is she?
School.
That's good.
How are things with Gary.
We got married.
Oh. Oh.
Congratulations.
Did you ever think
it was funny that you
traded me in for a Gary?
You know, Gerry, Gary.
Wh-where is he?
- Working.
- What's he do?
He's an electrician.
It's a good job.
Wait a minute. Wait.
I, that, that...
I used to be in this photograph.
That's my hand.
You cut me out of this picture.
Didn't want
you on my wall, Gerry.
Well, okay but you,
you have to cut me out of
my daughters life?
Is that a joke?
You cut yourself out years ago.
- No.
- Yeah.
When is the last
time you visited?
Or sent a present
on her birthday?
Well I have been having some
money difficulties, does that...
It's not about the money.
How about checking her homework
or making dinner, or, uhh,
calling... To say "hi."
You...
Thank you for the tea.
May I use the bathroom
on my way out please?
You know where it is.
Teach me something.
I'm tired, Curtis.
C'mon, I just want to hear
your voice. Sing me a song.
I'm not going to sing
you a song right now.
Please. Please? Pretty please?
Alright, how about this.
A, b, c, d e, f, g,
h, I, j,
k, l, m, n, o, p,
q, r, s, t, u,
v, w, x, y and z.
Now you know
your "a" "b" "c"s
next time won't
you sing with me?
Hello?
What if I came back?
Get out.
I, I, I was...
Gonna pay you back.
Leave it!!
Wanna talk about it?
No, it's fine.
I love this place Gerry.
The moe Greene of
Tunica, Mississippi.
We're gonna be comped for days.
I'm not gonna let
anyone stab you.
Welcome back
to players town.
Thank you, Dora.
I'm sorry, this expired
in two-thousand and nine.
- Mm-mnnn.
- I'm afraid so.
I don't see how that's possible.
Can you try that again.
Go easy now.
I'm sorry sir.
Well I have to say I am
very disappointed in you Dora.
Well, we do have some
suits available for
three ninety-five a night.
Can't you just, you
know, push the right buttons
down there and, uhh, comp us
a suite for old times sake?
Wadda ya say?
I'm sorry, sir.
What time do you get off?
I'll be here 'til eleven.
I want to meet you in the
players lounge at eleven fifteen
I gotta man.
What's your
man have to do with me?
That's a pretty ring.
Okay look.
I can get you the aarp discount.
That's ten percent off.
Gerry, hey.
What do ya say, huh?
We can do one night.
We can afford one night.
Let's just go someplace else.
Why?
Because...
How much is your regular room?
Ninety-nine dollars.
That's a little
steep don't you think?
C'mon, just give me the money.
Oh come, just one moment.
Do you realize this guy is
the Mel Greene of Tunica,
Mississippi? He has
a vip card so please can
you just comp us for
one night, that's all.
I'm sorry sir. I don't
have the authority to do that.
Oh, that's-okay.
No. No. I'm gonna need
to speak to a
manager. Right now.
- Please don't do that.
- A manager!
Hey! Gerry. Excuse us.
I'm sorry. One second.
Can I talk to you for a second?
Where's the money?
What money?
We're going to be fine.
Gerry, your lips are
telling me me that we're going
to be fine, but you're you're
slouching, like a kid who just
pissed his pants in the sandbox.
Where we at, huh?
Ger?
Ground zero.
I tried to tell you before...
Tried to tell me.
Fucking cunt! I was
nailing her all night and
she fucking turned
a queen on the...
You lost in Memphis.
What were we doing
in little rock?
I can win it back.
I can get it back.
I can get us all the
way to twenty-five.
It isn't about the money Gerry.
Yeah, of course
it's about the money.
C'mon, man what do you think
this is a vacation for me?
You're a piece
of work, you know that?
Hey, I did everthing right.
I played it right.
I just... I just can't catch
a break. I just can't win.
This story doesn't
have a happy ending, Gerry.
I think you should
go back home to Iowa.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
Can't do that.
Can't go back empty handed.
- I can't do that.
- You can't try to lose.
Oh, yeah, ye-yeah,
I'm tryin-yeah,
I'm trying to-
fuckin-ahhh! Fuck!
Ohhh. It's closed.
I'm not trying...
I'm-ohhhh.
What's up faggots.
What's up with these guys?
Let's go find some girls.
Dude! What the fuck!
Get off me bro.
What's your problem asshole?
Where you going pussy?
Oh you want some?
You want to go?
Where is she at?
I left something on her voicemail.
Just.
She with someone?
Don't say that you don't know.
I know that you know.
I'll tell
her that you called.
You know what, forget that
forget that I called. Okay?
- Curtis...
- I'm serious. Vanessa,
listen to me. Don't tell
her I called okay? Don't.
Okay.
Can you do that for me?
Don't tell her, okay? Okay?
- Okay.
- Are you gonna tell her?
No.
Alll-righty.
I'll talk to you later.
Hey buddy.
You know you're missing a pinky.
How'd you do that?
Some crazy bastard bit
if off in a bathroom brawl.
Okay.
When I was eight years
old, me and my sister, we went
to live with our grandparents
for a couple years.
It was this old house on a hill
and my job was to mow the lawn.
It was one of these old, umm,
you know these, rotary blade,
that you push it. And my little
sister she jumps out and she's,
uhh, well she's screwing
around making fun of me,
or whatever, you know
like little kids do.
And she won't move so I give
her to the count of three.
Fair warning.
I thought so.
But one, two, three goes
by and she doesn't move.
So I ran over her foot.
She lost three toes.
But what about your toe?
My grandfather's
brilliant idea of justice.
This morning my ex-wife
caught me stealing from her
sock drawer.
Not the first time. Purple sock.
Same sock she had
when we were married...
I'm not a good person.
I'm not.
I don't deserve you.
But you appeared.
Like a Leprechaun.
Like a big handsome Leprechaun
right there in Iowa,
there you were. Boom!
And I had to follow you.
I mean, boom! Magic.
Right there.
And...
I can't do it without you.
We're in it together.
I will tell you one thing,
I didn't follow you down
this damn river to lose.
Long way down ain't it Gerry.
This is the horse.
Toto's revenge.
Seven to one.
I don't know.
Hey, it's
Toto's fucking revenge.
Look, I saw we go with
the favorite here. Number one.
- Mississippi grind?
- Just feels right.
No, look. It's Toto.
Curtis, Toto.
Dorothy, Rainbows.
I mean this feels right.
You want to blow
it all on a long shot?
I want to win
it all on a long shot.
Alright. Good.
Toto's revenge.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I-I-I need you
to be with me on this.
I'm with ya.
No no, I-I, but I need you to
mean-I'm gonna ask you again,
is this our horse?
This is our horse.
Aw, Curtis.
Is this our horse, Curtis.
This is our horse Gerry.
Say it like you mean it.
Toto's revenge!
- That's our horse.
- Yes.
Yeah. And... and it is.
It's post time!
Here we go.
Go Toto!
Hot, damn!
Go! Go!
Go, that's it!
Go Toto that's it.
Yes!
Yes!
Yes! Yes!
C'mon, that's what
I'm talking about.
That's it. That's it.
Go, number three. Go Toto.
Run baby! Run baby! Run!
Run you fucking horse!
It had to end this way Gerry.
Here's a hundred bucks.
Get yourself a bus
ticket and go home.
You didn't bet it all?
I saved one-hundred
each, just in case.
So we got two-hundred.
- No.
- We got two-hundred.
You have a hundred
and I have a hundred.
Stop it Gerry.
You're not gonna believe this
but this is fucking amazing.
Thunderclap is running in the
next race she is forty-to-one.
- We're done.
- Forty-to-one. We bet that,
we're back.
It's over.
We're right back.
I'm seri-we are right back.
What about Tony Roundtree, huh?
W-wha? Hey.
What about my white suit.
Thank you for the ride.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry it didn't work out.
- Hey there.
- Hi.
Cash out.
Break number three.
Horse number one. Five-thousand.
One, two, three, four,
five, six, twenty, one.
Congratulations.
Everything okay sir?
What's up guys?
You on a meth break?
Yo, you
lost mother fucker?
New Orleans, Louisianna.
Last name Roundtree.
First name Tony.
You have an address?
Hey, any uh you fellas
know where a guy can play
some darts around here?
Darts?
I'll play your best
guy for one-hundred bucks.
C'mon man.
C'mon man.
Ball up.
Give me a break.
Lets go. C'mon.
Yeah!
Right into my trap!
Tony?
Tony Roundtree?
I'm Gerry.
You don't know me, I'm,
uhh, friend of Curtis'.
Curtis Vaughn.
Are you hosting a poker
game in here tonight?
Game!
Stealing from a baby.
Hundred bucks!
No we know why he
wanted to play darts.
Something funny?
I don't have it.
You don't have the money?
Uh, uh.
What are you gonna do abut it?
You're the Tony
Roundtree I'm looking for?
You met Curtis on
an amtrack train.
You were headed to Albuquerque.
You had on a blue velvet smoking
jacket, and you were traveling
with a tiger that you
won from an Arab prince.
You know Curtis?
Yeah. Yes. Yes.
I know Curtis.
He's a close personal friend of
mine. He's a great friend of...
Curtis with you?
No, couldn't make it, but he
wanted me to let you know
you really should let me in.
Let you in.
Yeah, okay. Full disclosure.
Yeah.
I'm a little short on
the buy-in. A little short.
You seem like a
good guy, I'm sure we can come
to some arrangement, you
know financial arrangement-
say sixty-forty...
Seventy-thirty?
What did you
say your name was?
I'm Gerry. I'm Gerry.
Ooo fuck!
Fucking...
What the fuck was that for?
Awww I had it comin'.
Shot B. You hit him quick.
There you go.
Bingo. Jackpot.
What's wrong whith you, man?
I have intimacy issues.
There a couple stacks in here.
You a crazy
sonofabitch, you know that?
Why didn't you take the rest?
Good game guys.
That's two-hundred free!
Hey.
How's it going?
Can I get you a drink?
What happened to ya?
You should see
the other guys' hand.
Get me a bourbon.
- What kind?
- Cheap stuff.
Ohh,
thanks Pete, cheers.
Cheers.
You have my smokes?
Thanks darlin'.
Happy Birthday, mom.
You a little late, aren't cha?
Just a day or two.
Are you playing sir?
Trade the one-hundred.
Good luck sir.
Sir are you sure you wanna
put that on double-zero?
Well, good luck to ya.
Where you
been hidin', darlin'?
Not hidin'.
Just traveling.
Travelers have a destination.
Oh, the journey is...
The journey is the destination.
The destination.
I think I know
where you heard that.
Anyway, it's good to see you.
You bring me anything?
Oh, I didn't have time to stop.
I know the feeling.
You came alone?
All by my lonesome.
You should find somebody, baby.
A man alone's half a man.
Ehh, I think I'm doin' alright.
Sure you are.
Listen.
This year's been
unkind to your momma.
That's a good tone.
I gotta get back to work.
Why don't you stick around
for the next set and
I'll buy you a drink. Alright?
Pete, take this for me.
Life's a long grind, innit?
Alright, this one's for
my little boy over there.
Pete.
Make sure she gets this.
Double-zero.
Change, one-hundred.
Bust.
Dealer bust.
Dealer bust.
Two woodfords.
Oooooo!
Okay, here we go, here
we go, here we go.
Hey, I got Simone.
I'm gonna take this.
Oh make it quick!
Hey baby. Listen to this.
Listen to this.
Hooo, baby did you hear that?
Did you hear that?
That right there is the
sweet sound of success.
We made it.
We made it okay.
Just pack your bags,
we're getting outta here.
We're gonna go I don't
care where we're gonna go.
W-w-we're going somewhere.
Pack your bikini, you pack
your boots, your dress, whatever
you want and we're outta here.
I'm sor-it's it's loud okay,
we can go, salt lake city.
We can go to fucking, Las Vegas.
We can go to fucking Monte
Carlo. I don't give a shit we'll
go wherever you want to go.
Okay? I want to tell you
something, I love you.
I love you.
You hear me?
Huh? I love you.
We'll talk tomorrow.
Alright, okay.
Call me tomorrow.
We can't lose.
No, we can't lose.
Let's bet it all.
Double or nothing.
Yeah.
Bet it all.
Wait. Wait. W-w-w-w.
N-n-no no no. It's okay.
It's okay. It's okay.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
We made it.
Hey, we made it.
I'm not afraid.
We're gonna bet it all.
Everything.
On the floor.
On the field,
everything on the field.
Everything.
Hundred-thousand.
A hundred and fifty thousand.
Two-hundred,
eighty-five thousand.
Two-hundred,
eighty-five thousand.
Okay.
Your roll.
I love this country.
I just bet two-hundred
and eighty-five thousand dollars
on the roll of a dice.
A hero is nothing more
than the guy who pulls off what
the rest of us are scared to do.
I was wrong about you Gerry.
I thought you were a sick pony,
I thought I was gonna
have to put you down, but no.
You're a hero.
A new American legend.
What's wrong?
Somethings not right with this.
- The steak?
- Yeah.
Here, try a little bit.
- Oh my God.
- Right?
No, that's delicious.
There's nothing off
about that steak Gerry.
Scuse me.
Gerry.
Can I get a cheeseburger?
I'm sorry, is
something wrong with your steak?
N-n-no. Don't worry about it.
It's perfect.
I'm gonna eat it.
Thank you very much.
- Okay. Cheeseburger?
- Yes, please.
- I'll be right back.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
What, I-I-it
didn't taste right.
What's the matter with you?
You just won half
a million dollars.
Cheer the fuck up.
You know what I'm
gonna do tomorrow?
First thing tomorrow
morning I'm gonna wake up and
I'm gonna go see the Cadillac
man and I'm gonna buy me
a shiny, new, white Caddy.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
What do you want, man?
You want a Cadillac?
After you pay off your
debts, your ex-wife.
Tell me whatchu want.
First thing that
pops in your head. Go.
What do you want Gerry.
Tell me. Hit, me.
One, two, three. Lay it on me.
Boom! What do you want.
Do something nice for Wendy.
Good. Great.
Who's Wendy?
Daughter. My daughter.
You have a-shit you never
told me that you had a kid.
I didn't?
Nooo. That's great. I-I-
wh-what-how old is she?
Aww, she's seven.
Six. I think.
She's six.
Well there you have it.
Tomorrow's a new day.
So's the next.
Gerry.
I had a dream that we were
on a steamboat and the river
bandits took all our money.
Ger?
Machu Picchu.
- Hello.
- Hi.
I'd like to check out of my
vip penthouse suite, Alice.
It looks like everything
has been comped Mr. Vaugh.
How was your trip?
Spectacular,
thank you very much.
Are you headed home today?
- Peru.
- Peru?
- I'm off to Peru.
- Wow. That sounds nice.
Yeah, yeah.
You wanna go with me?
I got lucky.
Number one ninty-nine.
Relaxed and squared.
Shoulders that are suddenly
relaxed and squared are saying,
"I am confident."
If someone goes from slumped
shoulders to squared relaxed
shoulders I would be concerned
as they are likely to be strong.
Number two hundred...
Some players increase their
chatter when nervous or anxious.
This usually happens with
extroverts who find great
comfort in babbling
to reduce tension.
Number twelve.
Furrowing of the forehead.
Furrowing of the forehead is a
good indicator that something is
amiss or the person is insecure.
It is also seen when people
are concentrating or trying
to make sense of something.
It is usually associated with
doubt, weakness or concern.
Number thirteen.
Sneaking a nose touch.
Sneaking a passifying touch by
ever so slightly rubbing the
nose with the index finger...
Hello.
Hey Gerry.
How's the knee?
Ughhh.
It's getting there.
Good luck.
Hey Gerry.
That was
you on Saturday.
Parking ticket.
What for?
They said the cops...
Anyone know the
spread on the hawkeyes game?
Six points.
Gettin'
warm out there.
It's just weather.
What does that
mean, "it's just weather?"
Warm, cold...
It's just weather, baby.
I like that.
"It's just weather, baby."
Yeah, well,
it's just poker, baby.
How's that?
You like that one?
Anybody see that
rainbow yesterday?
Table seven,
looks like heaven.
How's everybody feeling tonight?
That's okay by me.
Let's play some cards, huh?
Iowa.
Hit me with some Iowa trivia.
Tell me something I don't know.
Like what?
Aces are good right?
Raise.
Six-hundred total.
Call.
Call.
Heads up.
Aces, huh?
Fold.
Thank you very much.
Anybody over
here need any drinks?
Bloody Mary.
Bourbon.
What is the bourbon?
It's just
the cheap stuff.
Make mine a woodford.
Umm, I'm not sure
we have that...
Hey, friend,
you want a woodford?
Aww, no, no no.
Bring him a woodford too.
Uh, no no no.
Cheap stuff's fine with me.
It's fine.
I got it. I got it.
Great.
My old buddy, Tony Roundtree,
does anybody know Tony?
Hosts a high rollers game every
other month in new Orleans.
Anyway, I knew him
up in Detroit...
Are you from Detroit?
Me? Naww.
I'm from all over but I knew
Tony Roundtree in Detroit.
This guy he loved to play
poker but he kept dodging my
invitations to play in the
casinos. Apparently Tony, he
had a little bit of a gambling
problem before I met him.
You guys know about the
disassociated persons list?
You have that in Iowa?
Okay, well in some states you
can put yourself on this list if
you're trying to quit gambling,
which means that you are legally
banned from all
casinos in the state...
- for life.
For life. So you know what
I'm talking about, right,
makes sense. Right? Well, pfft.
Not to Tony.
He puts himself on this list to
show his girlfriend that he's
serious about changing his ways.
Well, a couple
months go by and...
Of course...
She dumps him.
For a guitar player.
It's always a guitar player.
It is always a
guitar player, isn't it?
Why is that?
Nice hands.
- So he's lonely.
- He's depressed.
And he starts getting the
itch to play poker again.
Walks into mgm,
"sorry buddy."
Goes over to Greek
town, "no can do amigo."
Motor city, "no dice pal."
What does he do?
Disguise.
Yes! He puts on
a disguise. Yeah.
Sunglasses, fake
mustache, a wig.
C'mon. A wig?
He walks right through
the doors, blows past security,
sits down at the poker
table and he is in heaven.
He is brand...
- we didn't have woodford,
so sorry about that.
But that is our top shelf.
It's bulleit bourbon.
- Alright.
- I'm not paying for his though.
Excuse me?
Well I said his woodford is on
me and that's not a woodford...
I'm just kidding. I'm
kidding lady. I'm joking.
Here c'mon. Thank you.
Keep the change.
Very cute.
Alright, good
luck to you my friend.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Better than
the cheap shit right?
Yeah, not bad.
Placed third.
Congrats.
What's the payoff on that?
Nine-hundred dollars.
What's the score?
Not sure.
Have a seat.
The usual for ya?
Actually, have you got woodford?
- We have that.
- Yeah.
C'mon. Let's get one of those.
Let's get a woodford.
Okay, Oregon's up by six.
That's not so bad. That's okay.
- How much you got on this?
- Uhhh, nine-hundred.
- It's a woodford kindof night.
- What's that mean?
The guy back there shooting
darts, he likes it too.
Hey woodford man!
Next one on me!
Poker man!
I'm Curtis.
Curtis. Nice, like, uh, Toby.
No. Like Mayfield.
Curtis Mayfield.
Okay. I'm Gerry.
- Like Lewis.
- Nope.
Jerry Lewis.
Nope. Gerry, "G" Gerald.
Like Ford I guess.
How'd it go for you tonight?
- Not bad.
- What's not bad?
Second.
Get outta here that's
great. Second.
Coulda been first. Coulda
been first if you didn't
bully me outta that
Mountain before you left.
I can never last in
those tournaments. I...
Why'd you buy in?
I like people.
Yeah?
You shouldda stuck around.
You're a good player.
For a few hours maybe,
but I-I-I don't have
the stamina for poker.
- Yeah?
- Restless.
What's your game.
What do you like?
- Darts.
- Darts? Any good?
I can hit the board. Sure.
I gotta ask you, what...
- What was I holding?
- Yeah.
Pair a deuces.
- Really?
- That's it.
- That's all?
- That's all.
Shit. Cause I'm usually
good at readin' people but
you were all over the map.
I can't spot your tell.
- You wanna know why?
- Yeah.
I don't care about winning.
- Oh that's bullshit.
- I really don't.
I just like to play.
I really do.
Did you see that
rainbow yesterday?
Oh. Yeah. That was beautiful.
Gorgeous.
Wasn't that the most
fucking-amazing-I mean that
- rainbow was beautiful.
- Best rainbow ever.
How come I've
never seen you before?
- Just passin' through.
- Where you headed?
New Orleans.
Awww, man. Man
I love new Orleans!
Me too.
Ohh. You're going to your
friend's home game right?
Who? Tony Roundtree? No, I
don't have that kinda money.
- Then why?
- What do you mean?
What, you just head down to
new Orleans for the hell of it?
Pretty much.
That sounds alright.
That's alright with me.
Dale! Dale.
He just sits
there starin' at me.
Okay buddy, pick a card.
I'll let you see
either of these cards.
Whichever card he
turns over he's gonna think
it's a full boat.
Aw that's beautiful.
Yeah, it really was. Ha.
Okay umm, heads or tails.
Tails.
Yeah. Again. Hold on.
Aaand, call it.
Tails.
Where did you come from?
Noo! Noo!
Hey, Denise, do
you have any coconut oil?
I have lotion.
So, umm, your his, uh...
Just friends.
Thanks for the couch.
You want breakfast?
Dog races start at one.
What time is it?
Nine-thirty.
Aww, shit.
Oh, shit.
- What's wrong?
- I have work.
You have a job?
Yeah, where did I park the car?
Hey, look at this.
See that?
Look who's running the sixth
race: Dynamic Rainbow.
Is that not our dog?
Look me in the eye and
tell me that's not our dog.
- That's a good name.
- That's a great name.
Umm.
Here.
Go on, count it.
Oh no, that's ok.
Naw, that's alright.
Thrusting a stranger, Gerry.
It's just one of those things.
I think that I'm finally
starting to understand what
you guys are after and
I think you're going to
find this is a real winner.
Really.
I am on my way.
Aww, that's beautiful.
That's beautiful.
You want me to place a
bet for you? They're saying
that dynamic rainbow's
got forty-eight to one odds.
That's terrible.
That is what
makes it fun, Gerry.
I'm laying fifty to win.
What do you want to do?
Forty-eight to one,
geez. I don't know.
Don't stress baby,
it's just dogs.
You know what, put me
down for two hundred to place.
Okay, you got it.
Dynamic Rainbow.
Heeeere comes Casey.
And the greyhounds
are on the race track.
Which one
is number four?
Dynamic Rainbow number
four in the green. There we go.
C'mon Rainbow! C'mon Rainbow!
Go go go! Go Dynamic Rainbow!
Around the first turn...
- yeah! Rainbow!
Beautiful.
Look look look look look!
Let's go Rainbow! C'mon.
Yeah! Oh yeah!
He's bringing it up!
- C'mon Rainbow!
- Go Rainbow! Go Rainbow!
Dynamic Rainbow.
Around the turn and down the
home stretch to the wire. It's-
yeah!
Dynamic Rainbow at the wire.
We won!
Of course we won.
Your damn right we won.
Ahhh. Fuck! I'm an idiot.
I'm an idiot!
I bet to place.
I should have listened to you.
Aww, easy.
You still won big buddy.
C'mon we just won a
whole bunch of money.
Let's go celebrate,
we'll have some drinks.
We'll meet some ladies.
We'll go to a show.
Oh, no no no.
Look at this place.
We can get drinks here. We
can meet ladies here. I'm sure.
Gerry, come on. It don't
get any better than this.
C'mon. Let's go. Let's
go have some fun. Alright?
Hold on. Hold on. Wait.
Next guy that comes
out of the bathroom,
if... he's wearing glasses-
we stay.
If he's wearing glasses-
just, just.
You're on.
Yes!
I'll tell you what Gerry,
never bet on a dog named
after a disabled president.
I thought it was Teddy.
Rollin' Roosevelt?
It's a good name.
No. No, it was not a good name.
Next time you quit when
I tell you it's time.
I used to know this guy back
in Kansas City, Archie Headdy.
Never knew when to quit.
Oh, yeah, yeah, I think
I know where this story is
going, but you don't...
Hey, listen, listen, Gerry.
Okay.
Archie, he owed every
poker player in town at least
three hundred bucks. Minimum.
It got to point where he was
asking his little nephews for
change out of their piggy banks.
I see him at O'Hara's poker room
one day and I walk over to say
hello. I see he's got a handsome
pile of chips in front of him,
over five grand. Archie
starts bragging that he started
the night with just sixty bucks.
Sixty bucks that he borrowed
from some new chump by the way.
So I pulled him aside and say,
"hey, listen. Cash. Out. Now."
He's got enough there to pay
back everybody he owes and
still get a slab at
Oklahoma Joes, right?
"You're right.
You're right."
He says, "I'll stop as soon
as the blind come throught."
- Did he talk like that?
- Like a balloon with helium.
Yeah. So I feel good
about myself, right.
I'm smiling,
I go back to my table.
Think I've done
a good deed here.
The next thing I hear is
Archie's high-pitched screaming
voice saying, "I'm all in."
And he lost everything right?
Of course he
lost everything. Yeah.
But you know
what he says to me?
Says, "don't worry, it
was just sixty bucks."
Some guys are born to lose.
You play? Hmm?
Pool. You play?
Aww, not in a long time.
Hey. Hey. Hey.
Twenty bucks on my buddy here.
- Alright?
- What are you doing?
I'm gonna watch you play
this big winner right here.
You said you played.
Yeah, but not in a long time.
- So you'll lose.
- No, you'll lose.
No, I'm not gonna lose,
I'm spending twenty bucks to
watch you watch you
make a food of yourself.
That's that's not losing.
That's entertainment.
We gonna play or what?
We're gonna play. Oh, we're
gonna we're gonna play.
You want to be entertained?
Fifty bucks let's play
for fifty bucks, huh?
Hey, hey, hey, Gerry.
Play nice now.
Okay? Fifty bucks.
You like that?
Five hundred.
Thousand. Let's
play for a thousand dollars.
That's enough.
You fellas don't
belong here do you?
I'm really, I'm not very good.
Okay. Hey, hey, hey,
hey. Easy. Easy.
We're good.
We're good. We're good.
What are you doing tomorrow?
What are you doing tomorrow?
Aww, I think it's
Machu Picchu time for me.
Time, time for me
to hit the road.
Oh, okay.
Okay, well, it was
great to meet you.
You too, ger.
Hey, do you
want a ride some place.
Naw, I'm gonna steal a bike.
Hey.
Hey.
Can you, uhh, you got a light?
Uhh, no.
What's that for?
Give me the money.
I don't have any money.
Bull shit. Thousand dollar bets?
Yeah, I heard you back there.
- No, no.
- Just give it to me.
Hey, I told ya,
I don't have any money.
Okay, I lost it all
on rollin Roosevelt.
- Don't make me cut you.
- Take it easy, buddy. Okay.
Take it easy.
I'm gonna show you.
Hurry up.
Here, here, here.
See, I don't have any money.
What? Do I look stupid?
Ahhh!
Damnit.
Damnit.
Shit.
Hey you forgot
your knife asshole.
Heyy.
Gerry! Hey!
It's great to see you, man.
How long has it been?
I don't know,
a couple months.
- Too long.
- Mmm.
- It's been too long.
- Yeah, I know Sam.
Have you been avoiding me Gerry?
No. No way.
Can I bring
you something to drink?
Uhhh, yeah,
I'll take a coffee.
Oh, forgive me
but I got here early.
I ordered a salad. Order
whatever you want. It's on me.
No, it's fine.
Yeah, I know it's fine.
I insist.
Okay, sure. I'll take a burger,
medium-rare, fries.
Alright.
Hey, how are you?
You know, same old grind.
I would like to retire soon,
but doesn't seem to be
heading in that direction.
How's your real estate?
Uhh, slow and low.
I'm sure it'll pick up soon.
Yeah, eventually.
Don't make me ask Gerry.
Sooo last night I had
eight hundred dollars,
I go out into the parking lot,
fucking guy robs me.
Meth-head with a knife.
He stabs me in the gut. See?
Oh God, Gerry. Put that down.
Honestly.
You need to have
somebody look at that.
Are you okay?
Yeah, yeah. I'm fine.
- I can't imagine.
- It was pretty scary.
At least you're okay.
Yes. Just a scratch.
It could have been
a lot worse you know?
Mm.
Gotta take it.
Hey.
Awgh. Jesus. Lord. No.
I'm not bringing
it to the school.
I'm in a meeting.
Ask you dad.
I don't know where it is.
Well you know it's not my
fault that you forgot it.
Teenagers.
Hey.
Okay. I will.
I'm I'm gonna bring it.
This is the last time though.
Alright baby I'll be
there in half an hour.
Do not keep me
waiting out front.
You are so lucky you don't
have to deal with that shit.
Gerry, I tell ya.
Huhh.
So, what do you
have for me today.
It's about eighty dollars.
I had the rest...
- Meth-head.
- Fucking meth-head.
- Dead beat.
- The worst.
- Things will look up.
- They always do.
Well, not always.
Couple weeks. Couple of weeks.
Don't worry about it.
- Tomorrow.
- Mmn-
tomorrow. Gerry, I'll
send Ted to drop you a visit.
Oh, no no there's no
need to bring him into all this.
Couple of days I'll
have a commission and...
- Get it together.
- I had the money.
- Yeah.
- This time is wasn't my fault.
I understand.
Take care.
- Gerry.
- Heyyy.
Curtis, I know you're probably
half way to New Orleans...
Crazy day, Gerry!
I ended up in Chicago.
I w-won a ticket to the bulls
game shootin' dice this mornin'
so I went. Now I'm back
in your neck of the woods.
You are? Where?
Same uh, same place
we met the other night.
No.
Gerry.
Gerry, would you be so fine
as to order me a woodford?
A woodford.
Two woodfords!
You ever seen an
NBA game up close?
Those guys are tall.
Hey man.
- It's a sign.
- What is?
It's a sign. You walking in
the door when I'm calling you
on the telephone is a sign.
I'm telling you it's a sign.
Alright.
Okay, look what happened
to me after you left last night.
What is that?
In the parking lot,
some guy cut me.
Are you okay?
It's not, it's
not, s-so serious.
Did you know the guy?
Yeah, yeah,
I knew him, yeah,
w-we played some softball
on the weekends...
That's a fair question.
- No it's not a...
- Does that hurt?
- He was mugging...
- That's gotta hurt like hell.
It stings a little
bit but what I'm getting at...
Shhhhh. Hey, Curtis what I'm
trying to get at here is that
good things happen when you're
around and when you're gone.
When you leave...
- you get stabbed.
Yeah.
I've been thinking.
You know that home game,
New Orleans, dissasociated guy.
- Tony Roundtree.
- Boom. I want in.
That game has a twenty-five
thousand dollar buy-in, Gerry.
- Which is a lot.
- Yup.
- I got a plan.
- I'm listening.
We go down the Mississippi.
Okay.
Yeah, we go,
down the Mississippi.
Like huck-fuckin'-fin and Jim...
On a raft?
No, we take my car.
Okay.
Okay, but we
hit up all the action.
Everything along the way. Cause
I know some weekly home games.
Yeah.
- Casinos.
- Sure.
Then we got
the gambling towns.
Memphis Tennessee.
Tunica.
Absolutely, Tunica.
Now, I'm gonna be
straight with you.
I'm in a little bit
of a hole right now,
but I'm working my way back
out so all I need is for you to
stake me fife hundred
out the gate-hey, look.
It's not it's not,
I-it's an investment.
Okay because I'll play,
you'll be my lucky charm.
We split the winnings
even-Stevens.
- What about your job?
- They won't miss me.
Can I ask you
a personal question?
Uhh, yeah.
How much do you owe?
A lot.
To who?
Everyone.
I'll stake you two thousand
dollars. Your car, my cash.
Hot damn. That's what I'm
talkin' about.
- That's what I'm talking about.
- Come here.
Easy.
Easy with that.
Oh shit.
Wish me luck.
Heyyyy.
- Let's go!
- Go, go, go, go.
Is everything okay?
Tony Roundtree he,
he once had a pet tiger.
Won it playing baccarat
with an Arab prince.
Cleans the guy out, the prince
wants to keep playing so
he puts his tiger on the
table-not literally but...
Yeah.
Yeah, you know
jokes on Tony, though.
Didn't' know he'd be
hemorrhaging money on this
thing. He's got to register it
with the federal government,
get a special permit.
First time I met him was on a on
a bar car on an amtrack train
from Denver to Albuquerque and
remember he was wearing this
blue velvet smoking jacket and
drank from a copper flask.
And the tiger?
It was tranquilized.
Checked with the other cargo.
He checked a
tiger on an amtrack train?
Apparently,
they have a policy.
Hey. Hey. You wan-you
wanna know what it costs
to check a six-hundred
pound animal?
Yeah. Yeah.
Hold on a sec,
wh-what-what are
we listening to here?
Oh, this? Two-hundred poker
tells by Joe Navarro.
- Are you serious?
- Yeah.
How, how often do
you listen to this Gerry?
Whenever I drive.
Are you gonna make me
listen to this the whole way
to New Orleans?
We don't have to listen to it.
Hey there Gerry.
Missed you at the office
today, hope everything's okay.
Umm, anyway, it's all a bit
awkward but I feel I need to
mention some of the petty cash
seems to have gone missing.
Not that I'm accusing you of
taking it but Jenna says that
when she left last night there
was over two-hundred in the box.
Also, a friend of yours
named Tim stopped by,
said he's looking for ya.
...Fear.
These soft areas will
quiver or twitch,
revealing the persons
negative, emotional state.
Sudden changes
in fortune triggers...
Who's that?
Nobody.
You got any snacks?
Yeah, I have
some jerky back there.
Can you grab some for me too?
Yep.
Nice!
You brought cigars?
- Oh no, that's not...
- What's all this?
An emergency fund.
Just in case.
- In case of what?
- Emergency.
A lot of watches Gerry.
You collect baseball cards?
That a wedding ring?
Yeah.
Get outta here.
You were married?
Hard to believe, huh?
I don't mean it like
that, just... What happened?
She left.
Wanna get any of that
jerky back there?
Yeah. Yeah.
There it is.
Jackpot.
Yessir. That's what
I'm talking about.
Well, hello.
Hi.
Can I help you with something?
- I'm Curtis.
- Simone.
- That's a nice name.
- Thanks.
I'm uhh, I'm
looking for a for a woman.
Sure what sorta
woman you looking for?
She's about uhhh that tall.
She's got cinnamon hair
and soft pale skin,
devastating blue eyes.
Funny but I think I've seen just
the woman you're looking for.
- You have?
- Yeah.
I've been tracking
her scent for Miles.
Well. They say that
working class hound dogs
have the best sense of smell.
Woof. Woof.
Woof, woof, woof, woof.
Don't just stand there
you barking little doggie,
come inside get
yourself a treat.
Simone, this is Gerry.
Gerry, Simone.
Hey.
Alright, these were
the best that I could do.
Did I ever tell
you how amazing you are?
To often to feel sincere.
Thank you.
Don't be shy, Gerry,
we're all friends.
So you guys play poker?
No, we just work here, honey.
What is it you do?
We get paid for...
Our companionship.
Oh yeah. Yeah.
Hi.
What happened there?
Oh, it's nothing serious.
Doesn't look like nothing.
Gerry saved my
life in a knife fight.
That's not true.
Hey Curtis, how was Peru?
Not yet, sweetie,
but soon. I promise.
You can change in
there if you want to.
Yeah, okay.
Looking good, Mr. Bond.
I tell
ya something Ger,
first thing we do when we get to
New Orleans, we buy new suits.
Aw, I don't really wear suits.
Well, yeah,
your gonna have to.
We're going to Tony Roundtree's
we can't go dressed like this.
Well, in that case, I've
always wanted a white suit.
You know like Glen Campbell.
Mental note.
Next trip, open sea.
Hey, what's up with Peru?
I heard you talking to Vanessa,
what's that all about?
I've been joking, you know.
When I'm done with a person or a
place or it's time to move on,
I'll say it's Machu Picchu time.
Machu Picchu time?
You might say it's,
it's kinda like the end of my
rainbow, you know. Mysterious
and exotic, a place you just
get lost and never come back
from. Plus it's fun to say,
lotta fun to say. Machu Picchu.
Try it.
- Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu.
Machu.
Picchu.
I'll be at
the bar if you need me.
Excuse me.
Scuse me.
Hey.
Tell me something I
don't know about St. Louis.
I've only been
here a few months.
That's no excuse. I was
only in Iowa for a few days.
I can tell you that Marion
Robert Morrison was born in
Winterset, Iowa, 1907.
Am I supposed
to know who that is?
You might know him by
his stage name, John Wayne.
John Wayne.
I can also tell you
that Iowa is the only state
in the country that
begins with two vowels.
And that the national balloon
museum in Indianola Chronicles
over two-hundred years
of-guess what-right.
Ballooning history.
Okay.
Okay fine so-
I don't know if this is true.
I don't care.
But, you know when you're
in a hotel room and they
put the little chocolate
on the pillows?
That was started
in St. Louis by...
You have nice legs.
You're supposed to guess.
Okay. Ben Franklin.
Close.
Cary Grant.
He was staying in the
Mayfair and wooing a certain
lady friend by putting
chocolate on her pillow.
Who told you that?
A friend.
Who?
I don't remember.
Take a guess.
What are you getting at?
Were you in a hotel room when
this friend told you about...
I don't remember.
...Cary Grant's
chocolate seduction technique?
So what if I was?
Six months is a
long time Curtis.
Six months.
It hasn't Ben six months.
Six months. September,
October, November,
December, January, February,
march. Seven months.
Seven months.
Tell me something
else about St. Louis.
Heads up.
Five-hundred is the bet.
Raised to one-thousand.
Called.
Heads up.
Check.
One-thousand
is the bet.
Call.
Heads up.
Check.
He's all in.
How do you get a sweet
little old lady to yell,
"go fuck yourself"?
You get another sweet little
old lady to yell "bingooo."
Bingo.
Yeah, call.
Call.
Take it.
It'a a trust gesture.
I love that story.
Back in in in England
there was you know, Earls.
Yeah.
Okay. There was an Earl of
sandwich. He was a gambler.
He was standing at the
tables all day long.
Aww, I'm a bit hungry. What
am I going to do? Uhh, I know.
Hey, you know, buddy go put some
meat between a couple a bread.
- Earl of sandwiches...
- There it is.
The dumbest
name I've ever heard.
What are you talking about
he came-he came up with it.
You boys just
gonna sit there all night?
Come dance.
S... seeing. Seeing.
I didn't know
that that meant Gails.
First word.
- Pitch.
- Throw.
I'm gonna smoke a cigarette.
He just won
seven thousand dollars,
give the man a cigarette.
Where did you find him?
Poker table.
It's a tournament with
a sixty dollar buy-in.
He had a collared shirt
and a missing button.
And you ordered him a woodford.
What's he need the money for?
He believes that
it will set him free.
He's a good guy.
That's what you
said about George.
You mean Jorge?
What do you have against Jorge?
His name was George and
he was a liar and a thief.
He was not.
Okay.
What's in this for you?
The journey is the
destination, sweetheart.
That's not an answer.
It'a bumper sticker.
There's nothing
in it for me this time.
Do you know
any magic tricks?
No. Do you?
Yeah?
- You wanna see?
- Yeah! Yeah.
Okay, but I'm just learning,
so you can't make fun of me.
Oh, I won't make fun of you.
Wait.
- What's next?
- What?
After new Orleans?
What then?
You should come with us.
Shut up.
It would be so much fun.
- I have school.
- Play hookie.
Curtis, I can't
just, you know, like you,
hit the road on a whim.
Didn't your momma ever tell you
you can do anything you want?
No she did not.
Well I'm saying it for her.
Okay.
I'll come with you.
Tell me what I need to pack
for this little mystery tour.
Whatever you want.
Should I bring a jacket?
Will I be cold?
No.
What about a bikini?
I love the beach.
Definitely bring the bikini.
Should I bring my running shoes?
Will there be a gym
where we are going?
We'll find one.
And dresses?
Should I bring a dress?
Will you help me
pick something out?
And my high-heeled shoes.
And what about condoms?
Am I going to have
to work on this journey
and cover my expenses?
- Okay.
- Mhmm.
That's good.
That's good.
What?
Wow!
That's amazing.
Where did it come from?
I hid him earlier so I could
show you guys my trick tonight.
Magicians not supposed
to reveal secrets, say...
I'm still learning I guess.
Hey, heyyy little buddy.
Oh, look at you.
Hello kitty.
Okay. Okay.
Yeah, you're okay.
Your turn.
I don't know any tricks though.
C'mon I showed you mine.
You have to show me yours.
Oh.
No, it can be anything.
Anything?
Okay.
Is that Vanessa?
No, it must be your friend.
I didn't know Gerry played.
He's pretty good.
I liked that.
You married?
Girlfriend?
I have a little girl.
That's cute.
Do you have a picture?
She lives with
her mom in little rock.
I have a problem with money.
Did I say anything about money?
I didn't mean it like that.
It's something I wanted
to tell you so I told you.
I'm gonna do
something with my life.
I might not have
that figured out yet but
I'm gonna do something.
Something I wanted to tell you.
So I did.
Hey, hey, J.P.
Can you put me down for five
tonight on Hawaii over Gonzaga?
That's bullshit.
No, bullshit.
I have it, I have the money.
I literally have the money
right here in my hand.
I'm looking at it.
Oh, hey?
J.P.?
J.P.?
Fucking asshole.
Number one eighteen.
Sitting lower and lower.
Players who slip lower and lower
in their chars during a hand,
are progressively
revealing their weakness.
Most players are not aware...
That's yours you know.
Huh?
You're a sloucher.
That's your tell.
- You slouch when you worry.
- Get out of here.
Hey, you're doing it right now.
Seemed like Vanessa
was really into ya.
Yeah, we had a great time.
- Did you sleep with her?
- No.
What?
Why not?
I just didn't-didn't-
didn't feel like there
was that... You know.
I thought you
knew how to read people.
She was sending you
signals all night.
Well, maybe I
didn't feel like it.
- You like women?
- Yeah.
- It's okay if you don't.
- Oh.
What about you and Simone.
What's going on there?
We had sex last night.
No, that's not what I'm asking.
Why are you
changing the subject?
You know your voice goes up
an octive when you talk to her?
All soft and dreamy.
You must really love that girl.
You're avoiding
the subject Gerry.
What are you doing?
What are you afraid of?
I'm not afraid of anything.
What-what do ya
talking about afraid?
- Your ex-wife.
- Mmmhmm.
Yeah, that's what this is about.
She she left you and
you want her back.
I shouldda known it
was about a woman.
It's not about-a woman.
Yeah, it is.
You know how I know?
You're slouching.
You don't know anything.
I've been on the road a long time.
I know what makes people tick.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're a regular Oprah.
Doctor Phil. Right?
I'm just sayin' that
that look, my experience has
given me certain insights
into the human condition.
Your experience.
How old are you?
Forget it.
- No, come on.
- No, forget it.
How old are you?
'Lright. Bullshit. I know what
you're doing, alright.
Age is not the only indication
of life experience.
See, I'm forty-four.
- I'm thrity-nine.
- Bullshit.
But I bet you for a hundred
bucks I can guess your age.
You are on.
Okay, take your glasses
off just for a second.
Let me have a look.
Let me have a look.
Oh, that's thirty-five.
You're thirty-five.
I am thirty-five.
How'd you know that?
I told ya, I'm good with ages.
My ass you're good with ages.
How'd you know that?
I read your drivers license.
When?
This morning.
You were in the bathroom...
Why?
I wanna know you
are who you say you are.
And what did you learn?
Curtis Vaughn.
Thrity-five.
Expired north Dakota
drivers license.
Well holy shit.
That it?
Well anything
else you wanna share?
Nah.
Muddy waters,
howlin' wolf, B.B. King,
Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes,
there's even some famous
white folk from Memphis
you might have heard of.
Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis,
Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash.
All those people from Memphis?
And don't forget
about Justin Timberlake.
Very impressive, my friend.
Hey.
- Hey.
- How we doing?
I'm gonna get a burger.
You want one?
Naww, I-I-I gotta get ready.
I gotta got to this game.
Alright.
...And bet
on midnight run, why? Why?
What happened?
How long
were you married?
Eight years.
That's a long time.
Supposed to be longer.
I like women
too much to marry one.
Hey, you married pops?
I've been married six
times but not at present.
Here's to lucky number seven.
- Thank you.
- If you want it.
Miss the married life?
Do I miss it?
Well, let me put it like this...
I just know it's
better to not be alone.
Amen.
Ohh, shit.
Ohhh,
Hawaii beat Gonzaga.
Big time upset.
I didn't even know
they had a basketball team.
Rainbow Warriors.
Re-raise.
Six-hundred.
Raise, six-hundred.
Call.
Heads up.
Fifteen-hundred.
Call.
I check.
All in.
She's all in at
ten-thousand, six-hundred.
I'll call.
She's got you covered.
Heads up.
Woahhh...
Wow.
That's a night.
I did not deserve that.
Sorry Gerry.
Let's go again.
Let's go again.
Gerry, call it a night.
Oh, come on, give me a,
just give me a thousand dollars.
Dennis tell her I'm good
for a thousand dollars.
It's a bad beat, Gerry.
Throw in the towel.
One-hundred-thousand
dollars, right?
The deal was that
slim had to get c-cup breast
implants and leave them
in for exactly one year.
Not only did he win the bet...
...he met a woman, a
straight woman who loved
his fake tits so much
that she married him.
Get the fuck outta here.
He's still got
'em. Perky as ever.
There's someone
out there for everyone.
Gerry, hey!
How'd it go?
Good.
I won seven thousand...
You sonuvabitch. That's great.
Come sit down with us, here.
Have a, have a, have a
drink lets celebrate.
And meet some
meet some people.
Actually, if I could just
take moment of your time,
and have a word with...
- Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
I'll be right back,
you beautiful losers.
I don't know what it means.
I don't know what it means.
What, what means.
Okay.
This is gonna sound crazy.
I was all-in, on this
monster pot, okay?
I was down in the river.
I was gone.
I mean I was wipped out and
all I needed was a queen.
A queen.
Only thing that could save me.
And I made myself a promise-
I know this sounds so stupid-
but I made myself a
promise that if I got a queen,
I'd go and I'd go and I'd go,
I'd go, I'd go to little rock.
I'd make things right.
Yeah, with my queen.
You know what I mean?
Your ex-wife.
You were right.
Course I'm right. A woman.
Whad I tell ya, huh?
It's always a woman.
But I don't know what to do.
I know what to do.
We go to little rock
that's what we do.
Noo, it's out of the way.
It just seems crazy.
Am I crazy?
Oh, you're a fucking
lunatic. But I love it.
You don't mind?
Gerry, I don't-a
beautiful woman, right in there,
asked me to go home
with her tonight.
- And?
- I turned her down.
You did?
- Yeah
- why?
When you come to a
fork in the road, you take it.
Let's go to little rock.
Gerry.
Hey, Dorothy.
What are you doing here?
I was just
driving through little rock.
Thought I'd stop by.
Oh, you were just
stopping through little rock.
Look, I don't
have to stay. I just-
thought it would be nice to
see you know just for a minute.
Come on in, I guess.
I was just making some tea.
- You want some?
- Yeah, sure. Sure.
Hey, darlin'.
Did I wake you? I'm sorry.
That's okay.
Where are you?
We're, uhh, we're on a
little detour, in little rock.
- Little rock?
- Yeah.
What happened to New Orleans?
No, I'm sitting in a
car right now outside Gerry's
ex-wife's house and he just
went in there to win her back.
And it got me
thinking about you.
And me.
And St. Louis.
Kansas City.
All kinds of places really.
Where is she?
School.
That's good.
How are things with Gary.
We got married.
Oh. Oh.
Congratulations.
Did you ever think
it was funny that you
traded me in for a Gary?
You know, Gerry, Gary.
Wh-where is he?
- Working.
- What's he do?
He's an electrician.
It's a good job.
Wait a minute. Wait.
I, that, that...
I used to be in this photograph.
That's my hand.
You cut me out of this picture.
Didn't want
you on my wall, Gerry.
Well, okay but you,
you have to cut me out of
my daughters life?
Is that a joke?
You cut yourself out years ago.
- No.
- Yeah.
When is the last
time you visited?
Or sent a present
on her birthday?
Well I have been having some
money difficulties, does that...
It's not about the money.
How about checking her homework
or making dinner, or, uhh,
calling... To say "hi."
You...
Thank you for the tea.
May I use the bathroom
on my way out please?
You know where it is.
Teach me something.
I'm tired, Curtis.
C'mon, I just want to hear
your voice. Sing me a song.
I'm not going to sing
you a song right now.
Please. Please? Pretty please?
Alright, how about this.
A, b, c, d e, f, g,
h, I, j,
k, l, m, n, o, p,
q, r, s, t, u,
v, w, x, y and z.
Now you know
your "a" "b" "c"s
next time won't
you sing with me?
Hello?
What if I came back?
Get out.
I, I, I was...
Gonna pay you back.
Leave it!!
Wanna talk about it?
No, it's fine.
I love this place Gerry.
The moe Greene of
Tunica, Mississippi.
We're gonna be comped for days.
I'm not gonna let
anyone stab you.
Welcome back
to players town.
Thank you, Dora.
I'm sorry, this expired
in two-thousand and nine.
- Mm-mnnn.
- I'm afraid so.
I don't see how that's possible.
Can you try that again.
Go easy now.
I'm sorry sir.
Well I have to say I am
very disappointed in you Dora.
Well, we do have some
suits available for
three ninety-five a night.
Can't you just, you
know, push the right buttons
down there and, uhh, comp us
a suite for old times sake?
Wadda ya say?
I'm sorry, sir.
What time do you get off?
I'll be here 'til eleven.
I want to meet you in the
players lounge at eleven fifteen
I gotta man.
What's your
man have to do with me?
That's a pretty ring.
Okay look.
I can get you the aarp discount.
That's ten percent off.
Gerry, hey.
What do ya say, huh?
We can do one night.
We can afford one night.
Let's just go someplace else.
Why?
Because...
How much is your regular room?
Ninety-nine dollars.
That's a little
steep don't you think?
C'mon, just give me the money.
Oh come, just one moment.
Do you realize this guy is
the Mel Greene of Tunica,
Mississippi? He has
a vip card so please can
you just comp us for
one night, that's all.
I'm sorry sir. I don't
have the authority to do that.
Oh, that's-okay.
No. No. I'm gonna need
to speak to a
manager. Right now.
- Please don't do that.
- A manager!
Hey! Gerry. Excuse us.
I'm sorry. One second.
Can I talk to you for a second?
Where's the money?
What money?
We're going to be fine.
Gerry, your lips are
telling me me that we're going
to be fine, but you're you're
slouching, like a kid who just
pissed his pants in the sandbox.
Where we at, huh?
Ger?
Ground zero.
I tried to tell you before...
Tried to tell me.
Fucking cunt! I was
nailing her all night and
she fucking turned
a queen on the...
You lost in Memphis.
What were we doing
in little rock?
I can win it back.
I can get it back.
I can get us all the
way to twenty-five.
It isn't about the money Gerry.
Yeah, of course
it's about the money.
C'mon, man what do you think
this is a vacation for me?
You're a piece
of work, you know that?
Hey, I did everthing right.
I played it right.
I just... I just can't catch
a break. I just can't win.
This story doesn't
have a happy ending, Gerry.
I think you should
go back home to Iowa.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
Can't do that.
Can't go back empty handed.
- I can't do that.
- You can't try to lose.
Oh, yeah, ye-yeah,
I'm tryin-yeah,
I'm trying to-
fuckin-ahhh! Fuck!
Ohhh. It's closed.
I'm not trying...
I'm-ohhhh.
What's up faggots.
What's up with these guys?
Let's go find some girls.
Dude! What the fuck!
Get off me bro.
What's your problem asshole?
Where you going pussy?
Oh you want some?
You want to go?
Where is she at?
I left something on her voicemail.
Just.
She with someone?
Don't say that you don't know.
I know that you know.
I'll tell
her that you called.
You know what, forget that
forget that I called. Okay?
- Curtis...
- I'm serious. Vanessa,
listen to me. Don't tell
her I called okay? Don't.
Okay.
Can you do that for me?
Don't tell her, okay? Okay?
- Okay.
- Are you gonna tell her?
No.
Alll-righty.
I'll talk to you later.
Hey buddy.
You know you're missing a pinky.
How'd you do that?
Some crazy bastard bit
if off in a bathroom brawl.
Okay.
When I was eight years
old, me and my sister, we went
to live with our grandparents
for a couple years.
It was this old house on a hill
and my job was to mow the lawn.
It was one of these old, umm,
you know these, rotary blade,
that you push it. And my little
sister she jumps out and she's,
uhh, well she's screwing
around making fun of me,
or whatever, you know
like little kids do.
And she won't move so I give
her to the count of three.
Fair warning.
I thought so.
But one, two, three goes
by and she doesn't move.
So I ran over her foot.
She lost three toes.
But what about your toe?
My grandfather's
brilliant idea of justice.
This morning my ex-wife
caught me stealing from her
sock drawer.
Not the first time. Purple sock.
Same sock she had
when we were married...
I'm not a good person.
I'm not.
I don't deserve you.
But you appeared.
Like a Leprechaun.
Like a big handsome Leprechaun
right there in Iowa,
there you were. Boom!
And I had to follow you.
I mean, boom! Magic.
Right there.
And...
I can't do it without you.
We're in it together.
I will tell you one thing,
I didn't follow you down
this damn river to lose.
Long way down ain't it Gerry.
This is the horse.
Toto's revenge.
Seven to one.
I don't know.
Hey, it's
Toto's fucking revenge.
Look, I saw we go with
the favorite here. Number one.
- Mississippi grind?
- Just feels right.
No, look. It's Toto.
Curtis, Toto.
Dorothy, Rainbows.
I mean this feels right.
You want to blow
it all on a long shot?
I want to win
it all on a long shot.
Alright. Good.
Toto's revenge.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I-I-I need you
to be with me on this.
I'm with ya.
No no, I-I, but I need you to
mean-I'm gonna ask you again,
is this our horse?
This is our horse.
Aw, Curtis.
Is this our horse, Curtis.
This is our horse Gerry.
Say it like you mean it.
Toto's revenge!
- That's our horse.
- Yes.
Yeah. And... and it is.
It's post time!
Here we go.
Go Toto!
Hot, damn!
Go! Go!
Go, that's it!
Go Toto that's it.
Yes!
Yes!
Yes! Yes!
C'mon, that's what
I'm talking about.
That's it. That's it.
Go, number three. Go Toto.
Run baby! Run baby! Run!
Run you fucking horse!
It had to end this way Gerry.
Here's a hundred bucks.
Get yourself a bus
ticket and go home.
You didn't bet it all?
I saved one-hundred
each, just in case.
So we got two-hundred.
- No.
- We got two-hundred.
You have a hundred
and I have a hundred.
Stop it Gerry.
You're not gonna believe this
but this is fucking amazing.
Thunderclap is running in the
next race she is forty-to-one.
- We're done.
- Forty-to-one. We bet that,
we're back.
It's over.
We're right back.
I'm seri-we are right back.
What about Tony Roundtree, huh?
W-wha? Hey.
What about my white suit.
Thank you for the ride.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry it didn't work out.
- Hey there.
- Hi.
Cash out.
Break number three.
Horse number one. Five-thousand.
One, two, three, four,
five, six, twenty, one.
Congratulations.
Everything okay sir?
What's up guys?
You on a meth break?
Yo, you
lost mother fucker?
New Orleans, Louisianna.
Last name Roundtree.
First name Tony.
You have an address?
Hey, any uh you fellas
know where a guy can play
some darts around here?
Darts?
I'll play your best
guy for one-hundred bucks.
C'mon man.
C'mon man.
Ball up.
Give me a break.
Lets go. C'mon.
Yeah!
Right into my trap!
Tony?
Tony Roundtree?
I'm Gerry.
You don't know me, I'm,
uhh, friend of Curtis'.
Curtis Vaughn.
Are you hosting a poker
game in here tonight?
Game!
Stealing from a baby.
Hundred bucks!
No we know why he
wanted to play darts.
Something funny?
I don't have it.
You don't have the money?
Uh, uh.
What are you gonna do abut it?
You're the Tony
Roundtree I'm looking for?
You met Curtis on
an amtrack train.
You were headed to Albuquerque.
You had on a blue velvet smoking
jacket, and you were traveling
with a tiger that you
won from an Arab prince.
You know Curtis?
Yeah. Yes. Yes.
I know Curtis.
He's a close personal friend of
mine. He's a great friend of...
Curtis with you?
No, couldn't make it, but he
wanted me to let you know
you really should let me in.
Let you in.
Yeah, okay. Full disclosure.
Yeah.
I'm a little short on
the buy-in. A little short.
You seem like a
good guy, I'm sure we can come
to some arrangement, you
know financial arrangement-
say sixty-forty...
Seventy-thirty?
What did you
say your name was?
I'm Gerry. I'm Gerry.
Ooo fuck!
Fucking...
What the fuck was that for?
Awww I had it comin'.
Shot B. You hit him quick.
There you go.
Bingo. Jackpot.
What's wrong whith you, man?
I have intimacy issues.
There a couple stacks in here.
You a crazy
sonofabitch, you know that?
Why didn't you take the rest?
Good game guys.
That's two-hundred free!
Hey.
How's it going?
Can I get you a drink?
What happened to ya?
You should see
the other guys' hand.
Get me a bourbon.
- What kind?
- Cheap stuff.
Ohh,
thanks Pete, cheers.
Cheers.
You have my smokes?
Thanks darlin'.
Happy Birthday, mom.
You a little late, aren't cha?
Just a day or two.
Are you playing sir?
Trade the one-hundred.
Good luck sir.
Sir are you sure you wanna
put that on double-zero?
Well, good luck to ya.
Where you
been hidin', darlin'?
Not hidin'.
Just traveling.
Travelers have a destination.
Oh, the journey is...
The journey is the destination.
The destination.
I think I know
where you heard that.
Anyway, it's good to see you.
You bring me anything?
Oh, I didn't have time to stop.
I know the feeling.
You came alone?
All by my lonesome.
You should find somebody, baby.
A man alone's half a man.
Ehh, I think I'm doin' alright.
Sure you are.
Listen.
This year's been
unkind to your momma.
That's a good tone.
I gotta get back to work.
Why don't you stick around
for the next set and
I'll buy you a drink. Alright?
Pete, take this for me.
Life's a long grind, innit?
Alright, this one's for
my little boy over there.
Pete.
Make sure she gets this.
Double-zero.
Change, one-hundred.
Bust.
Dealer bust.
Dealer bust.
Two woodfords.
Oooooo!
Okay, here we go, here
we go, here we go.
Hey, I got Simone.
I'm gonna take this.
Oh make it quick!
Hey baby. Listen to this.
Listen to this.
Hooo, baby did you hear that?
Did you hear that?
That right there is the
sweet sound of success.
We made it.
We made it okay.
Just pack your bags,
we're getting outta here.
We're gonna go I don't
care where we're gonna go.
W-w-we're going somewhere.
Pack your bikini, you pack
your boots, your dress, whatever
you want and we're outta here.
I'm sor-it's it's loud okay,
we can go, salt lake city.
We can go to fucking, Las Vegas.
We can go to fucking Monte
Carlo. I don't give a shit we'll
go wherever you want to go.
Okay? I want to tell you
something, I love you.
I love you.
You hear me?
Huh? I love you.
We'll talk tomorrow.
Alright, okay.
Call me tomorrow.
We can't lose.
No, we can't lose.
Let's bet it all.
Double or nothing.
Yeah.
Bet it all.
Wait. Wait. W-w-w-w.
N-n-no no no. It's okay.
It's okay. It's okay.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
- We can't lose.
We made it.
Hey, we made it.
I'm not afraid.
We're gonna bet it all.
Everything.
On the floor.
On the field,
everything on the field.
Everything.
Hundred-thousand.
A hundred and fifty thousand.
Two-hundred,
eighty-five thousand.
Two-hundred,
eighty-five thousand.
Okay.
Your roll.
I love this country.
I just bet two-hundred
and eighty-five thousand dollars
on the roll of a dice.
A hero is nothing more
than the guy who pulls off what
the rest of us are scared to do.
I was wrong about you Gerry.
I thought you were a sick pony,
I thought I was gonna
have to put you down, but no.
You're a hero.
A new American legend.
What's wrong?
Somethings not right with this.
- The steak?
- Yeah.
Here, try a little bit.
- Oh my God.
- Right?
No, that's delicious.
There's nothing off
about that steak Gerry.
Scuse me.
Gerry.
Can I get a cheeseburger?
I'm sorry, is
something wrong with your steak?
N-n-no. Don't worry about it.
It's perfect.
I'm gonna eat it.
Thank you very much.
- Okay. Cheeseburger?
- Yes, please.
- I'll be right back.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
What, I-I-it
didn't taste right.
What's the matter with you?
You just won half
a million dollars.
Cheer the fuck up.
You know what I'm
gonna do tomorrow?
First thing tomorrow
morning I'm gonna wake up and
I'm gonna go see the Cadillac
man and I'm gonna buy me
a shiny, new, white Caddy.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
What do you want, man?
You want a Cadillac?
After you pay off your
debts, your ex-wife.
Tell me whatchu want.
First thing that
pops in your head. Go.
What do you want Gerry.
Tell me. Hit, me.
One, two, three. Lay it on me.
Boom! What do you want.
Do something nice for Wendy.
Good. Great.
Who's Wendy?
Daughter. My daughter.
You have a-shit you never
told me that you had a kid.
I didn't?
Nooo. That's great. I-I-
wh-what-how old is she?
Aww, she's seven.
Six. I think.
She's six.
Well there you have it.
Tomorrow's a new day.
So's the next.
Gerry.
I had a dream that we were
on a steamboat and the river
bandits took all our money.
Ger?
Machu Picchu.
- Hello.
- Hi.
I'd like to check out of my
vip penthouse suite, Alice.
It looks like everything
has been comped Mr. Vaugh.
How was your trip?
Spectacular,
thank you very much.
Are you headed home today?
- Peru.
- Peru?
- I'm off to Peru.
- Wow. That sounds nice.
Yeah, yeah.
You wanna go with me?
I got lucky.
Number one ninty-nine.
Relaxed and squared.
Shoulders that are suddenly
relaxed and squared are saying,
"I am confident."
If someone goes from slumped
shoulders to squared relaxed
shoulders I would be concerned
as they are likely to be strong.
Number two hundred...