The Right Side of Zero

A True Story

Christopher Faber
"There’s no such thing as a lucky gambler,
there’s just winners and losers.
The winners are those who control the game.

All the rest are suckers.”

- Meyer Lansky
FADE IN:

INT. CASINO - EARLY 1980’S - NIGHT

Images, fragmentary and in slow motion, like a dream. Lights

flash on a slot machine. A MAN with sideburns leaning to get a
better look at something. A small CROWD pressing forward.

A TALL STACK OF BLACK $100 CHIPS is pushed onto the felt of a

blackjack table, arriving at another stack to make a pair.

DARRYL PURPOSE (O.S.)

And double down on this one.

Now we see the whole table. Whoever this is, he’s got big bets
on every circle, plus five split hands and six doubles; the
table is full of chips, many thousands riding on a single play.

REVERSE TO GET A LOOK AT HIM: innocent-faced. Calm.

Collected. He looks too young to be doing this.

The dealer turns over her bottom card: a five. With a 6 up,
that’s 11. The crowd reacts; it doesn’t look good for the kid.

DARRYL (VOICE OVER)

Life...

As the dealer starts to deal herself a decisive card --

DARRYL (VOICE OVER)

... is chance.

-- we cut --

EXT. TRAILER PARK - 1950’S - NIGHT

A permanent trailer home, thin strand of Christmas lights

framing a window. A muffled argument within.

DARRYL (V.O., CONT’D)

We’re born into a set of conditions.

INT. TRAILER HOME

TWO GIRLS, four and five, sit on the floor. The youngest
holds a tattered doll and cries.

DARRYL (V.O.)
A particular family. A moment in
history.

We’re closer to the argument here. It’s coming from behind

the door they’re looking at.

WOMAN (O.S.)
You bastard, how can you do this --

MAN (O.S.)
Give it a fucking rest, will you?
 2.

DARRYL (V.O.)
And there’s only so much we can do
to affect the outcome.

INT. TINY BEDROOM

The man packs a bag as the woman watches, in tears. This is

Darryl’s father and his mother MAGGIE.

MAGGIE (WOMAN)
I’m pregnant.

He nods. No shit. Grabbing his bag, he opens the door and

heads for the exit. Maggie follows. Through her tears, we feel
her strength. Her dignity.

MAGGIE
I won’t take you back this time. I
mean it!

He walks out. The youngest cries louder. Maggie picks her up.

INT. HOSPITAL DELIVERY ROOM - NIGHT

Maggie in the throes of delivery. Pain, sweat, pushing. A

CLOCK ON THE WALL, the second hand running toward 11:21.

DARRYL (V.O.)
I was born in August, 1956, at the
same time an idea was born.

INT. ACADEMIC’S UNIVERSITY OFFICE - NIGHT

A CLOCK says 11:22. A MATHEMATICIAN writes on a blackboard.

The crew cut hair, the glasses, he’s every bit the stereotype.

Until his hand rises into frame with a martini, which he sips.

A WIDER ANGLE shows three colleagues in a late-night party of

blackjack, alcohol and pizza. A WOMAN sits on one guy’s lap.

MATHEMATICIAN #2
Roger, you playing or you working?

DARRYL (V.O.)
Baldwin, Cantey, Maisel and McDermott.

MCDERMOTT
Hit me.

Cantey hits him. Bust. Disgusted, McDermott throws down his

cards. Baldwin, at the board, has a eureka look in his eyes.

BALDWIN (MATHEMATICIAN)
Hey guys...

CUT TO:
 3.

AN ARTICLE FLOATS ACROSS BLACK: “OPTIMUM STRATEGY IN BLACKJACK.”

DARRYL (V.O.)
Their paper in the Journal of the
American Statistical Association
caused a lot of excitement in
academic circles.
(beat)
And in Vegas.

INT. FLAMINGO HOTEL AND CASINO - BLACKJACK TABLES - DAY

Gamblers hold a chart from the article: optimum plays for every
hand vs. a dealer’s up card. Pit bosses huddle in conversation.

DARRYL (V.O.)
It became known as basic strategy.
Today cards summarizing it are sold in
every casino gift shop in Vegas.

EXT. LAS VEGAS STRIP, CIRCA 1956 - DAY

The Strip then: a handful of tiny casinos in a huge desert. The

casinos disappear AND A NATIVE AMERICAN VILLAGE APPEARS.

DARRYL (V.O.)
Throughout history, people have
played games of chance where the
only hope of affecting the outcome
was prayer to indifferent gods.

Moving in, we find some PAIUTE INDIANS tossing colored sticks.

Some laugh, others frown. Items change hands.

INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - DAY

Darryl’s father walks along the hospital hallway. In his hand

he holds a gift: a toddler's baseball mitt.

DARRYL (V.O.)
But here Baldwin et al. had shown that
for any given set of circumstances...

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM

Baby Darryl is surrounded by women: Maggie holding him, his two

sisters -- Dori and Deanna -- and his GRAN. Everyone’s happy.

DARRYL (V.O.)
... there was a right play.

Darryl’s father walks in. The women’s smiles fade. Maggie

looks at him. At the baseball mitt in his hand.

DARRYL (V.O.)
A play to minimize your chances of
losing and maximize your chances of
winning.
 4.

DARRYL’S FATHER
I’m here to take you home.

DARRYL (V.O.)
They’d shown that sometimes there
are things we can do to affect the
outcome.

Everyone is watching Maggie -- who makes her play.

MAGGIE
Three strikes. You’re out.

Darryl’s father is emotionless. He looks at the four women. At

the baby. Then turns and walks out. Maggie kisses baby Darryl
and crosses herself in silent prayer.

DARRYL (V.O.)
But the only problem with basic
strategy is it still leaves the
house with the advantage.

INT. DODGER STADIUM - DAY

A bat swings, misses -- THWACK -- the ball hits the catcher’s

mitt. At first base the runner takes off, stealing second.

IN THE STANDS, eight-year-old Darryl jumps up and cheers with

the fans. A beat behind, Maggie does too. She has no idea why.

DARRYL
Wow! Against a left-hander! Davis
is only forty-six percent against
left-handers. He’s eighty-nine
percent against right-handers.

MAGGIE
(hugs him, happy he’s happy)
That’s great honey.

INT. MAGGIE’S MOTHER’S HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Darryl realizes something as he and Maggie walk into the house.

DARRYL
Hey, you know what? We scored 6
runs, we’re 6 over 500 for the
season and Ron Fairly, number 6,
scored the winning run.

MAGGIE
And two years ago you were six.

Darryl scrunches his face, trying to see her point, then stops
short when he sees A MAN, cigarette in one hand, drink in the
other. Gran and his sisters are all seated, dressed nicely.

MAN
There you are.
 5.

Darryl watches the man kiss his mom on the cheek while touching
her shoulder. Maggie looks at the drink in the man’s hand.

MAN
Just thought I’d have one while I
was waiting. Hope that’s okay.

MAGGIE
(forced)
Of course.

DARRYL
Who are you?

This was loud. Everyone looks at him.

MAGGIE
Darryl honey, this is Mr. Purpus.

MR. PURPUS (MAN)

Put ‘er there mister.

He shifts the drink to his cigarette hand and holds out the
other with exaggerated friendliness. Darryl shakes.

DARRYL
Purpose isn’t a name. It’s a word.
It means “aim” or “goal.”

MR. PURPUS
It’s P-U-R-P-U-S. The first part’s
the same, but the last part is P-U-
S.

DARRYL
Pus?

MAGGIE
Darryl! Don’t be rude.

He didn’t realize he was. She turns to Mr. Purpus.

MAGGIE
I’ll change and be right out.

She walks out, leaving behind an awkward silence. Deanna picks

at her fingernails. Dori pulls her hand down to stop her.
Darryl stares at Mr. Purpus. Mr. Purpus smirks back.

INT. MAGGIE’S MOTHER’S HOME - FRONT DOOR - NIGHT

Dressed for her night out, Maggie crouches in front of Darryl

and gives him a present. IT’S A PUZZLE BOOK. Darryl smiles.

MAGGIE
Are you going to eat everything on
your plate and do your homework?
(he nods, she whispers)
It’s important to mommy that you be
nice to Mr. Purpus, Darryl.
(MORE)
 6.
MAGGIE (cont'd)
I know you’re not happy, but can
you pretend to be happy? For
mommy?
(a beat and he nods)
You’re a good boy.

She kisses him and walks out. Mr. Purpus winks at Darryl and
walks out after her, shutting the door. Darryl stares at it.

DARRYL (V.O.)
I was a good boy.

INT. PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY

Darryl and his class face the flag, pledging allegiance and
getting the words wrong.
DARRYL
I studied hard.
INT. PUBLIC SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY

Darryl tries to herd rowdy public school kids into a line.

DARRYL (V.O.)
Made hall monitor every year.
EXT. STREET - DAY

Walking home from school, Maggie points out a police officer.

MAGGIE
If you ever need help what do you
do?
DARRYL
Go to the nice policeman.
Darryl smiles at the nice policeman, who winks back.
INT. DARRYL’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Darryl lies in bed, smiling as his mother tucks him in.

DARRYL (V.O.)
My room was organized, my teeth
brushed, my fingernails spotless.
She takes his baseball cap off, kisses his head and goes to
the door. He loses his smile when he sees Mr. Purpus there as
she closes it. A beat and he puts his hat back on.
DARRYL (V.O.)
I was as innocent as the saints.
INT. CHURCH - DAY

Darryl carries a ring on a cushion up the aisle to his mom and

Mr. Purpus at the altar. He spots JESUS ON THE CROSS, bleeding
from his crown of thorns and side wound. Disturbed, he veers
off course, into the pews, where adults push him back on track.
 7.

EXT. CHURCH - DAY

Darryl watches the happy couple get into a car with cans tied to
the back. The priest notices Darryl, hands him a brochure.
INSERT - “The Health Dangers of Sinning Against the Body”
Darryl opens it curiously, looks inside, his mouth drops open.
INT. PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY

A teacher hands out tests. Darryl sharpens his pencil.

DARRYL (V.O.)
And when I was nine I was rewarded with
the knowledge that I was a genius.
INT. PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE - DAY

All smiles, the Principal, Darryl’s teacher and the test

interpreter sit with Maggie and Mr. Purpus. Darryl’s not here.
DARRYL’S TEACHER
He did especially well on the math.
TEST INTERPRETER
His scores say he’s going to be a
scientist or a musician.
DARRYL’S TEACHER
A virtuoso!
MAGGIE
Well that’s really something, isn’t
it? Should we tell him?
INT. ANTEROOM OUTSIDE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE

Darryl sits in a chair. Their voices are muffled but audible

behind the closed door.
MR. PURPUS (O.S.)
Just give him a swelled head if you
ask me.
MAGGIE (O.S.)
And maybe interfere with his
future? Influence it somehow?
TEST INTERPRETER (O.S.)
No, no, it’s all here and numbers
don’t lie. He has a promising future.
Tell him, don’t tell him, it won’t
make any difference.
INT. PURPUS HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

A larger, more comfortable house. Ever-present drink in his

hand, Mr. Purpus looks at Darryl warily. Jealously.
 8.

MAGGIE
We talked it over and we both think
it’s a good idea. It’ll be fun.
MR. PURPUS
It’ll toughen you up. Your problem
is you think all the time about
baseball and whatever but you don’t
do anything.
Dori and Deanna are watching TV. The news cuts to police
firing water canons and setting dogs on black protesters.
NEWS ANCHOR (ON TV)
Police clashed with protestors in
Alabama today in the largest protest --
Maggie gets up and quickly turns it off. She smiles brightly
and grabs a board game off a shelf.
MAGGIE
How about a nice game of Parcheesi?
EXT. BASEBALL DIAMOND - DAY

Little League tryouts. A kid WHACKS a pitch and runs to first

base. COACHES nod, jot notes on pads. Darryl is next. He
crowds the plate, leaning too far over. There’s the pitch.
Darryl swings wildly -- AND GETS HIT IN THE HEAD AND DROPS.
INT. A COACH’S LIVING ROOM - DAY

The coaches take turns choosing kids for teams, writing names on
a board. Toward the bottom “Darryl Purpus” goes on.
DARRYL (V.O.)
My first little league season I was
chosen second to last. Robbie
Erenberg was chosen last.
EXT. DODGER STADIUM - STANDS - DAY

A small kid, patch covering a lazy eye, watches the game with
his parents, eating a hot dog too fast. He starts to choke.
DARRYL (V.O.)
At a Dodgers game later that year
Robbie choked on a hot dog and died.
The following season I was chosen last.
EXT. BASEBALL DIAMOND - DAY

Darryl at the plate -- as he’s hit in the head again.

CUT TO:
An older Darryl, maybe thirteen, steps up to the plate. He taps
the bat against it, all business. He grins at the pitcher.
 9.

DARRYL (V.O.)
But as I grew older I improved to
where I could hit pretty good.
Maggie, in the dugout, wears a “Team Mom” shirt and baseball
cap. She cheers for her son. Darryl puts the bat back over
his shoulder. His stance is solid. His confidence high.
DARRYL (V.O)
But I was always a bit rigid at the
plate and every year ...
WHACK! He’s hit in the head again.
DARRYL (V.O.)
... I held the record for getting
hit with the ball.
CUT TO:
The umpire helps him off as Darryl tries to clear his head. In
the bleachers, Mr. Purpus turns to another dad with a smirk.
MR. PURPUS
At least he holds a record for
something.
They laugh. Darryl sees them laughing as he goes by. At the
dugout, as she hugs Darryl, Maggie sees it too.
INT. PURPUS HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

Maggie stirs a soup, a BABY GIRL on her hip. AN EVEN YOUNGER

SISTER sits in a high chair by Darryl, who watches Mr. Purpus
read the paper. Darryl is thoughtful. Considering action.
MR. PURPUS
Nixon’s gonna kick Humphrey’s ass
and we’ll finally restore some
integrity to the White House.
He’s gleeful. Reacting to the word “ass”, Maggie glances at
Darryl then at her husband sourly. He’s oblivious.
DARRYL
I don’t want to play baseball anymore.
MR. PURPUS
Don’t be ridiculous. You’re just
getting halfway decent.
DARRYL
I don’t like it. So I’m quitting.
Mr. Purpus looks at Darryl surprised. When did this kid get
himself a backbone?
 10.

MR. PURPUS
No. You’re not.
(points a finger at him)
Only quitters quit.
MAGGIE
Is that what you really want?
Maggie is looking at Darryl from the stove. Darryl nods. It
is. Maggie nods. Okay. She puts on a happy tone.
MAGGIE
I think Mrs. Gowan would enjoy being
team mom, don’t you?
Undermined, Mr. Purpus shoves his chair back, goes to a cupboard
and grabs a bottle of gin. He looks at Maggie, challenging her
to say something. She just stirs the soup harder.
MR. PURPUS
You let him get away with
everything! How’s he going to make
something of himself in life if he
doesn’t learn to take some
responsibility?
Dori barrels through and out the back, 17 now.
MR. PURPUS
Where the hell do you think you’re
going?
DORI
Drop dead.
MAGGIE
(slams ladle down)
You’re one to talk when you can’t even
treat people with basic respect!
MR. PURPUS
Don’t go bad-mouthing me in front of
the kids! I’m just trying to keep him
from ending up a total disaster like
his father-- !
DARRYL
(loud, interrupting)
Can I have a guitar?
They look at him in surprise.
DARRYL
There’s something inside me that
makes me feel, I don’t know, like
I’m supposed to be a musician.
Maggie and Mr. Purpus look at each other meaningfully. It’s
the test interpreter’s prediction coming to pass.
 11.

DARRYL (V.O.)
Now this was genius.
INT. DARRYL’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Posters of 60’s bands compete for space with singer-songwriters.

The Beach Boys “In My Room” plays softly on the stereo. Darryl
plays along on his guitar, enjoying himself. There’s a knock on
the door and Maggie comes in.
MAGGIE
Honey, you want to come downstairs?
The family’s watching television.
DARRYL
I really think I should practice, mom.
Maggie nods -- she understands -- and closes the door. Darryl
can hear an argument start between her and Mr. Purpus and
escalate as it moves downstairs. Darryl drops a new 45 on the
turntable: Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction.”
He cranks it, drowning them out, and plays along. THE MUSIC
PULLS US THROUGH A
CROSS FADE TO:
INT. PURPUS HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Three elderly grandparents in birthday hats and shocked

expressions watch the family TV, where President Nixon is giving
a speech. MUSIC UNDER.
DARRYL (V.O.)
August 8th, 1974. My 18th
birthday.
NIXON (ON TV)
... and prosperity without inflation at
home. Therefore, I shall resign the
Presidency effective noon tomorrow.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Things were good or at least
trending in the right direction.
The party has been aborted mid-stream, candles on the cake
melted down. Darryl isn’t waiting. He’s eating and opening
gifts. One is a book: “BEAT THE DEALER,” with a note:
“More puzzles to solve. Love, mom.”
IN THE HALLWAY, Maggie is peeking into one room after another.
She finds Mr. Purpus asleep in a lounge chair outside, empty
beer can in his hand. Her face says it all: she’s had it.
DARRYL (V.O.)
My mother and stepfather divorced.
 12.

EXT. PURPUS HOME - DAY

Mr. Purpus hugs Darryl’s sisters, then shakes Darryl’s hand

awkwardly. He gets in his van. Drives off.
DARRYL (V.O.)
He was my father for ten years and
all I really got out of it was a
weird last name. So I changed it.
INT. SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE - DAY

He hands over his Social Security card, “Darryl Purpus” on it.

CUT TO:
He’s handed a new card, his last name changed to: “PURPOSE.”
INT. NORTHRIDGE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - DAY

Darryl happily walks campus, carrying his guitar.

DARRYL (V.O.)
I’d found mine, after all. Life
was making sense.
INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

Darryl plays a classical piece in front of the class. He’s

fantastic -- but suddenly stops, a sharp pain in his wrist.
MUSIC TEACHER
You okay?
DARRYL
I don’t know.
MUSIC TEACHER
Take a break.
Darryl sits, flexing his hand to ease the pain. He notices a
pretty girl smiling at him flirtatiously. Darryl stares at
her, then looks away. He doesn’t know what to do.
The bell rings. Everyone gets up to go except the girl. She
hesitates, waiting for him to say something or come over.
Darryl is frozen. He doesn’t leave, but he doesn’t go over.
Disappointed but amused, she gets up, trails the others out.
INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE - DAY

The doctor places Darryl’s right hand in a soft cast.

DARRYL (V.O.)
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome. The doctor
said nobody really knew what caused it.
 13.

INT. DARRYL’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Darryl’s right arm is above the sheets in the cast. His left
arm is under the sheets moving rhythmically. He’s masturbating.
DARRYL (V.O.)
But I couldn’t help thinking that I
knew what it was.
INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE - DAY

Now the doctor puts a soft cast on Darryl’s left hand.

DARRYL (V.O.)
Whatever the cause, all of sudden
it was over. I’d lost my purpose.
INT. DARRYL’S BEDROOM - DAY

Darryl in bed in his underwear in the middle of the day, deeply

depressed. Both hands in casts. His guitar in its stand.
Flies buzz around an old, untouched plate of food.
EXT. PURPUS HOME - BACK PATIO - DAY

Darryl -- unshaven, hair long and unkempt, beer in a soft-casted

hand -- lies in the lounge chair last occupied by Mr. Purpose,
in his exact same position.
His two younger sisters -- now six and seven -- play ‘tea party’
and try to involve him. He doesn’t resist but he doesn’t play
along either. The youngest primly hands him a cup and saucer.
His older sister Dori shoos the girls inside as Maggie sits on
the edge of Darryl’s chair.
MAGGIE
Darryl, everybody is worried about
you. Dori, Deanna. Your father.
Darryl’s eyes shift to: A NEW STEPFATHER attempting to project
a combination of “stern” and “caring” but just alternating
between them. Maggie’s voice cracks. She’s really worried.
MAGGIE
You can’t sit here forever and do
nothing. What would happen to you?
Darryl is silent. Maggie looks to the new stepfather, who nods:
get on with it. Maggie steels herself.
MAGGIE
We’ve talked it over and Dan and I
agree. You need to pull yourself
together. I want you to start by
pitching in around the house. If
you can’t even do that...
(glance at new stepfather)
I’m going to have to ask you to leave.
 14.

Darryl looks at her, then at his new stepfather.

MAGGIE
This is for your own good. Here’s the
list. You can start with the pool.
The pool is brackish. Cleaning supplies collect dust at one end.
MAGGIE
The girls are going to stay with
Dori over the weekend. When Dan
and I get back Sunday I expect you
to have these things taken care of.
Darryl.
He reaches up and takes the list. Maggie sighs, relieved. She
kisses his forehead, gets up and goes. Darryl glances at the
list, then lets his hand fall to his side. A gust of wind pulls
it from his feeble grip. He makes no effort to go after it.
ANGLE ON THE POOL. It looks the same.
REVERSE ON MAGGIE AND THE NEW STEPFATHER staring at it. WE’VE
TIME CUT. They’ve just gotten back. A noise draws them inside.
INT. HALLWAY

It’s Darryl -- lugging a duffle bag down the stairs.

DARRYL
Before you say anything, mom, I
want you know this is my decision.
You’re not kicking me out.
Maggie bursts into tears. She runs over and hugs him. He looks
over her shoulder to see the new stepfather in the kitchen,
grabbing leftover chicken from the fridge as he watches them.
MAGGIE
Don’t go. It’s okay. I didn’t
mean it. We’ll work it out.
He pulls out of the hug, looks her in the eye, and musters a
tone of determination he’s nowhere close to feeling.
DARRYL
You were right. I can’t just sit
here forever and do nothing.
EXT. PURPUS HOME

Maggie and the new stepfather follow him out, the stepfather
munching on a chicken leg. Darryl tosses his bag into his ratty
‘62 Ford. Other stuff, not much, is already inside.
MAGGIE
But where will you go? Darryl,
don’t do this.
He gets in, starts the car. She runs to the driver’s side.
 15.

MAGGIE
Wait! Let me give you some money.
(pulls money from her purse)
For gas.
He looks at her. And takes it. She touches his cheek, pouring
all her love into him through her fingertips. He pulls out.
MAGGIE
Call me!
INT./EXT. DARRYL’S CAR - DAY

Stopped by highway 5, he watches cars go by in both directions.

DARRYL (V.O.)
I wandered off into the world, no
game plan at all.
Darryl notices the book “Beat the Dealer” in a milk crate of
his stuff on the passenger seat. His mom’s birthday present.
DARRYL (V.O.)
But life is chance.
He pulls onto the highway.
DARRYL (V.O.)
And the choices we make nothing but
a decision to spin the wheel or
deal the cards.
INT. FLAMINGO - NIGHT

At the roulette table, a croupier spins the wheel.

At the craps table, a player at the line throws the dice.
Darryl walks through, his senses assaulted by the lights and
noise, the movement of the people and the money.
Elderly women sit at a line of one-armed bandits, cigarettes
dangling from permanent frowns. Pull. Pull. Pull. One of
them rubs a sore arm muscle.
And then he sees A BLACKJACK TABLE. The pretty dealer. The
green felt. The cards in a shoe. Everything crisp and fresh.
He pulls two fives from the money his mom gave him. The pretty
dealer takes them and puts two red chips in a betting circle.
About to protest, Darryl sees the limit sign: “$10 to $200”.
Too late, she deals face up. He reaches for his cards.
PRETTY DEALER
No hon, we don’t touch the cards.
If you want a hit, scratch the felt
with your finger or say “hit.” You
want to stay, say “stay” or do
this.
 16.

She waves her hand back and forth. He has a jack and a four.
He looks at her up card. A six. He has no clue.
PRETTY DEALER
It’s the simplest game in the
world. Whoever gets closest to
twenty-one without going over wins.
The dealer has to hit everything up
to and including sixteen. Paint
cards are worth ten, so you’ve got
fourteen. A blackjack is the best
hand, any ten plus an ace. It pays
you one and a half times. That’s
most of it. Now I’ve got a six
showing and a ten’s the most common
card, so...
Darryl waves his hand back and forth. She turns over her hole
card, a ten, for sixteen. Then deals herself a ten. Bust.
PRETTY DEALER
Look at that. You know what I
think? I think you’re one of the
lucky ones.
Darryl smiles -- and bets again.
INT.\EXT. DARRYL’S CAR - DAWN

Darryl asleep in his clothes in back seat of his car. A hard

rap at the window wakes him. He sits up to see two policemen
outside. He rolls down the window.
DARRYL
It’s alright officer. I’m fine.
COP
(to his PARTNER)
It’s alright, Mike, he’s fine.
The partner laughs. The cop GRABS DARRYL BY THE HAIR AND PULLS
HIM OUT THROUGH THE WINDOW, ignoring his yelps of pain. The
partner thinks this is even funnier. Darryl is shoved face
down, arm twisted back. The partner turns Darryl’s pockets out.
COP
Let me be clear as you seem to be
something of a moron. Nobody comes to
Vegas to see some asshole sleeping in
his car. They come for excitement,
maybe to see a show. You’re ruining
the ambiance, you understand?
DARRYL
Yes!
PARTNER
Grand total of two bucks.
He gives one dollar to the Cop and pockets the other.
 17.

COP
Figures. Here’s an idea. Why
don’t you take a drive up to Hoover
dam, think about your pathetic life
and do the world a favor? I see
you again, I break this.
He gives Darryl’s arm a final twist. On the way back to their
car, the cop says something and his partner laughs again.
INT. DARRYL’S CAR - MOVING - DAY

Sidewalk dust on his face, crying, Darryl drives. A sign

ahead says: “Hoover Dam: 2 miles. No stopping.”
Thorp’s book lies on the floor in the back, the author smiling
out from his photo in suit and tie.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Ed Thorp picked up where Baldwin,
Cantey, Maisel and McDermott left off.
INT. SMALL, WELL-ORDERED APARTMENT - 1960’S - NIGHT

ED THORP, just as square as his photo, sits on a couch doing

calculations, his wife next to him, smiling and hopeful.
DARRYL (V.O.)
A statistician, Ed did the math and
determined that a Florida vacation
would be too expensive.
Thorp looks as his wife. Her smile fades.
DARRYL (V.O.)
So he took his wife to Vegas.
INT. LAS VEGAS CASINO - 1960’S - NIGHT

Thorp plays single-deck blackjack, using a copy of basic

strategy robotically, no sense of fun at all. Two pit bosses
watch, amused. His wife is bored.
Ed watches a dealer PUT CARDS IN THE DISCARD TRAY. Time slows.
DARRYL (V.O.)
And Ed then saw something that blew
basic strategy out of the water: he
saw that blackjack had a memory.
Thorp’s head turns to look at a craps table and a man throwing
dice. They tumble in SLOW MOTION.
DARRYL (V.O.)
You can toss dice a million times
and no toss will ever affect
another. But the composition of
the deck in a blackjack game is
ever-changing...
 18.

Thorp looks at the DISCARDS again. SFX: each card’s value is

briefly revealed to us, from the bottom of the stack to the
top, as if temporarily transparent: a lot of small cards.
DARRYL (V.O.)
... affected constantly by the
absence of cards already played.
Thorp looks at the DECK in the dealer’s hand. SFX: each
card’s value is again briefly revealed: all tens and aces.
Thorp bets. The dealer deals. Thorp gets a blackjack.
INT. M.I.T. COMPUTATION CENTER - DAY
Thorp reads numbers amidst a sea of computer printouts.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Ed ran millions of simulations. It
took him a year, but what he found
changed everything.
The no-nonsense Thorp breaks into an enormous smile.
Thorpe sits, writing up his work.
DARRYL
He found that little cards were
good for the house and big cards
and aces good for you and me. And
he found a way to keep track, a
mathematical system to legally
wrest the advantage away from the
house. Card counting was born.
EXT. HOOVER DAM - DAY

Darryl has parked his car in the middle of the bridge and left
the driver’s door open. He’s walking to the edge, still crying.
He looks over. WATER GUSHES 700 FEET TO BEDROCK. He touches
the low wall. It would be so easy to just slip over it.
DARRYL (V.O.)
But to beat the house you had to
have the guts to face it ...
Darryl wipes tears and snot off his face with his sleeve.
DARRYL (V.O.)
... to stand up to that place where
the odds seem stacked against you
and make your plays anyway.
As Darryl stands there, he calms down. He stops crying.
DARRYL (V.O.)
You had to choose to get in the
game.
 19.

He turns and looks behind him: at beautiful Lake Mead, nestled

amidst stark, magnificent mountains.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Because life is more than chance.
INT. TROPICANA BATHROOM - DAY

A large casino bathroom. Darryl cleans his face at a sink. An

attendant hands him a towel. Darryl looks at the attendant’s
table. Combs. Toothbrushes. Tiny soaps. Cologne.
Darryl looks at that table, thinking, and WE CUT TO SCENES OF
HIM LIVING OFF THE UNWITTING LARGESSE OF THE CASINOS:
EXT. SANDS CASINO - POOL AREA - DAY

In shorts, bathroom towel over a shoulder, hair neatly combed,

Darryl enters the pool area nods to a security guard as if he
belongs -- the guard nods back -- then dives in the pool.
He floats at one corner and uses a tiny soap to wash himself.
INT. STRIP JOINT/CASINO - DAY

A free breakfast buffet. Darryl piles eggs onto a plate from a

metal tray.
A fly is stuck in the crust at one corner.
The strippers start to dance. Darryl forgets to chew.
INT. STARDUST HOTEL - DAY

He grabs a newspaper from in front of a hotel room door...

EXT. STARDUST - POOL AREA - DAY

... and lies on a lounge chair in the sun, circling want ads.
INT. DARRYL’S CAR - NIGHT

Lying in the back of his car in an out-of-the-way alley, covered

by a blanket with a Tropicana logo, he reads “Beat the Dealer.”
He finds Maggie’s note: “More puzzles to solve. Love, mom.”
INT. CENTERFOLD CASINO - MORNING

He spoons eggs onto a plate from the same warming tray, big
smile on his face now as he watches the strippers. He goes to
spoon some eggs into his mouth and stops when he notices:
The same fly in the same spot in the corner of the tray.
INT. CASINO CAFE - DAY

Finished eating, he writes a room number on the check.

 20.

WAITER
Room three seventy-eight?
Darryl nods and rises as a nearby couple looks up.
MAN
Three seventy-eight? That’s our
room.
Darryl and the waiter lock eyes -- and Darryl bolts out of the
cafe. The waiter watches him through the window as he run off.
INT. OFFICES OF DONOVAN BURKE ENTERPRISES - DAY
MR. BURKE, owner and manager, reviews Darryl’s job application.
BURKE
Let me get this straight. You went
to college for a semester which
means you dropped out. You’ve
never had a sales job. You’ve
never had any job. Is that a fair
reading of this?
Darryl shrugs. He guesses so. Burke gestures at his men on
the telemarketing floor. Boxes of pens are everywhere.
BURKE
I can pretty much guarantee you
that every one of my staff lied to
me on their job application, but if
anyone ever needed to, it’s you.
Darryl nods. He should have thought of that.
DARRYL
I’m a fast learner, sir.
BURKE
Kid, you better be. This is Vegas.
INT. TELELEMARKETERS’ FLOOR - DAY

Moving through, we pass a telemarketer on the phone.

TELEMARKETER
... “Helmer.” Is that German?
Norwegian, no kidding. I’m half
Norwegian myself.
We come to Darryl, cold calling, a yellow pages for Iowa City
open to the carpeting section, “Joe’s Carpeting” circled.
DARRYL (INTO PHONE)
... Joe’s Carpeting up here in Des
Moines is one of our biggest
customers. Yeah, that’s it
exactly, they’ve got the same name
as you, which is why I’m calling.
(MORE)
 21.
DARRYL (INTO PHONE) (cont'd)
Joe called the other day and asked
me to print up a thousand of our
deluxe Write-O-Graph pens, you know
those beautiful pens with the
bright silver tops? Well Henrieta,
my secretary, I guess she put an
extra zero on the order and now I’m
stuck with nine thousand pens that
say “Joe’s Carpeting” on them, so
I’m calling up other Joe’s --
(laughs with customer)
Yeah I know, but I love Henrieta.
Burke is watching Darryl, nodding approvingly.
THE SAME TELEMARKETER is on another call:
TELEMARKETER
“Zmatlik?” What’s that, Transylvanian?
Czechoslovakian? No kidding. I’m half
Czechoslovakian myself.
BACK TO DARRYL
DARRYL
Twenty cents each? Are you joking?
These retail for a buck twenty-
nine. No, you’re right, I don’t
have much choice, do I? I am stuck
with all these pens. How many do
you want?
Darryl uses a Write-O-Graph to write up the order but the pen
doesn’t work. Burke shakes his head at the boy’s naiveté and
snatches it away, then hands him a decent pen.
INT. DARRYL’S CRAPPY ONE-ROOM APARTMENT - NIGHT

A mattress. A chair. No lamp, Darryl reads a new book on

blackjack to flashlight.
Lying by his bed is A PILE OF OTHER DOG-EARED BLACKJACK BOOKS.
INT. HORSESHOE CASINO - BLACKJACK TABLE - NIGHT

Darryl bets red $5 chips and watches every card go by, his lips
moving occasionally as he keeps the count. Suddenly, he smiles
and jumps to two hands of multiple reds.
A BEEFY PIT BOSS is watching him, not amused.
Also watching Darryl is a fellow player: a neatly dressed young
man in a red turtleneck, a pile of green $25 chips in front of
him. He’s noticed the pit boss’s interest.
TURTLENECK
Hey friend, maybe you should look
for a place a little less warm.
Darryl looks up toward the pit boss. Too late.
 22.

EXT. HORSESHOE CASINO - NIGHT

The pit boss drags Darryl out, a security guard backing him up.
DARRYL
It’s completely legal!
BEEFY PIT BOSS
Let me share my opinion on that.
(slaps Darryl’s head hard)
And don’t come back unless you want
to find yourself in the desert!
He tosses Darryl onto the ground, goes back inside. Darryl
and the security guard look at each other a beat, then Darryl
gets up and walks off. But as he goes he notices:
The guy in the red turtleneck entering the Four Queens casino.
INT. THE FOUR QUEENS - NIGHT

Darryl comes in, looks around, but doesn’t see turtleneck.

INT. FOUR QUEENS BATHROOM - NIGHT

Darryl comes out of a stall, washes his hands. There’s a

mirror on the ground leaning against the wall, a replacement
for a broken one above a sink. In it, Darryl sees somebody
passing cash from under one stall to another. Voices whisper.
GUY GIVING CASH (O.S.)
Three even. You writing it down?
GUY RECEIVING CASH (O.S.)
You write it down for both of us.
GUY GIVING CASH
Conditions are good next door right
now, so let’s go over there.
A stall opens. The man who received the cash comes out.
Early 40’s, unsteady, drink in hand. Top buttons on his
polyester shirt open to expose chest hair and a diamond-
studded medallion on a gold chain.
Out of the other stall steps the young man in the red
turtleneck. As he washes up, he notices Darryl.
TURTLENECK
Hey friend.
Darryl nods hello. Turtleneck dries his hands and walks out.
INT. HORSESHOE - DAY

A LARGE CROWD watches a HIGH ROLLER at a blackjack table.

It’s the same guy from the Four Queens bathroom. The cavalier
attitude, the raw display of wealth, the drink in his hand.
The man exudes an over the top, 70’s male sex appeal.
 23.

THIS IS KEN USTON.

Darryl is here too, watching. He glances over at the Beefy
Pit Boss who through him out a little while ago and shifts
position to keep a support beam between them.
Ken’s got hundreds in black chips on two unplayed hands but
doesn’t seem to care as he leers at a cocktail waitress.
PIT BOSS
Ken?
KEN
What? Oh. I thought I won these
already.
This gets a nervous laugh from the crowd. He hits his first
hand, stands, then stands on the second. The dealer turns
over his hole card. He’s got thirteen, reaches for a card --
FAN IN CROWD
C’mon, break --
-- and the hand does. The crowd cheers! As the dealer pulls
out a dozen black chips to pay off Ken, a waitress arrives
with another drink for him.
KEN
Hey there missey, what do you say
after I clean up this town, you and
I go wild west on each other?
WAITRESS
Why waste time cleaning up the town
if we’re just going to get it dirty
again?
The crowd eats this up. The pit bosses chuckle. What a guy.
Ken tosses a green chip onto her tray. Darryl smiles too, but
his attention shifts to:
A GUY AT KEN’S TABLE IN A BASEBALL CAP
After Ken loses a hand, Baseball Cap unstacks some chips. Ken
looks around, bored, his eyes light on something.
Darryl turns to see TURTLENECK at another table, a hand on his
cheek. Ken gets up and wanders over there.
PIT BOSS
Uh, Kenny, Mr. Uston, your chips...
(gives up, to dealer)
Get me a rack.
The crowd follows. Darryl goes with them. Ken puts a bet
down at Turtleneck’s table. He and turtleneck act like they
don’t know each other. Turtleneck stakes more chips. Ken
bets more money. Darryl smiles. He’s got it figured out.
CUT TO:
 24.

Turtleneck at the bar, nursing a drink. Darryl goes to tap his

shoulder -- but gets a tap on his own shoulder instead. He
turns. It’s a TALL MAN in his mid 40’s in a dark suit.
TALL MAN
Sir, come with me.
Darryl glances at the beefy pit boss who threatened him
earlier -- now looking in his general direction. Oh shit.
EXT. HORSESHOE CASINO - NIGHT

Darryl steps outside, expecting serious trouble. But the tall

man just looks him over. A beat and Turtleneck comes out.
TALL MAN
This is the guy?
Turtleneck nods. The tall man looks Darryl over doubtfully as
Turtleneck waits for his verdict. The tall man nods. Then goes
back inside. Turtleneck writes on a paper, hands it to Darryl.
TURTLENECK
Midnight.
INT. SAHARA HOTEL HALLWAY - OUTSIDE A ROOM - NIGHT

Darryl is knocking on a door impatiently, but no one answers.

He knocks again. He seems to have been at it a while. He looks
at the paper, confused. Turtleneck emerges from an elevator.
TURTLENECK
No one home, huh?
He raps on the door. Twice. Then once. Twenty-one. A beat
and the guy in the baseball cap from Ken’s table opens it.
Turtleneck grins, gestures. Darryl goes in, Turtleneck follows.
INT. SAHARA HOTEL ROOM
TURTLENECK
Are we first?
BASEBALL CAP
Last.
The tall man exits the bathroom. A guy pops up from behind the
bed. A guy in an Evel Knievel T-shirt steps out of a closet.
TURTLENECK
What did you guys think -- casino
security was politely knocking?
KNIEVEL T-SHIRT
We didn’t know what to think. He
knocked but he didn’t say anything.
Freaked us all out.
TURTLENECK
Down three hundred.
 25.

He hands cash to the tall man, who sits on the bed and counts
piles of money, jotting notes in a well-worn notebook.
GUY BEHIND THE BED
New rule: invite a guy to a team
meeting, tell him the team knock.
ANOTHER KNOCK AT THE DOOR -- not a team knock. A beat and
everybody scatters. Darryl follows suit, jumps into a closet.
VOICE (O.S., BEHIND DOOR)
Room service!
Baseball Cap opens it. Waiters roll in three tables overflowing
with food. Baseball Cap tips them and they go. Everyone comes
out. Darryl looks like he thinks this is all rather strange.
BASEBALL CAP
I’m comped for my action here. You
don’t want people working for the
casino to see a bunch of people in
your room. You just never know.
DARRYL
But then who do they think all the food
is for?
Baseball Cap shrugs. That’s more analysis than he cares to
give the situation. Knievel T-shirt munches a carrot.
KNIEVEL T-SHIRT
We gotta eat, right?
TURTLENECK
Everybody, this is...
(realizes he doesn’t know)
DARRYL
Darryl.
TURTLENECK
Darryl picked us off. Spotted me
giving Ken some cash, then put us
all together at the Horseshoe.
Everyone stops and looks at him.
GUY BEHIND THE BED
What did you see?
DARRYL
These two touched their cheeks
before... Ken? sat down at their
tables. You guys were counting on
other tables. You were all using
piles of chips to signal the count.
Everyone stares. Holy shit. Darryl smiles.
 26.

TALL MAN
We need a review of practices.
GUY BEHIND BED
Meanwhile, what do we do with this guy?
BASEBALL CAP
Kill him I guess.
They all nod. It’s unfortunate, but there it is. Darryl’s
smile fades.
TURTLENECK
Christ. Remember the trouble we had
getting rid of the body last time.
They all groan and nod. What a pain in the ass that was.
GUY BEHIND THE BED
We’ll have to eat him.
BASEBALL CAP
You eat him. I’m having the
lobster.
Everyone laughs, reaches for food. Knievel T-shirt hands a
relieved Darryl a plate. The tall man didn’t join in with any
of this and doesn’t laugh now. He takes the plate away from
Darryl before he can put anything on it.
TALL MAN
Let’s go see Ken.
INT. KEN USTON’S JOCKEY CLUB APARTMENT - NIGHT
A piano. A bar. The latest in high-tech 8-track stereo.
Darryl and Turtleneck play “Pong”, the world’s first video game,
on Ken’s TV. They control crudely drawn sticks, knocking a
circular blob very slowly back and forth.
TURTLENECK
This is amazing.
Darryl nods. They’re riveted. The tall man does team
bookkeeping in his black book. Ken comes out of the bedroom,
showered and energetic in a plush white robe. He tosses the
tall man a wad of cash.
KEN
Walter. Up ninety six hundred.
Walter (tall man) catches it and starts counting. Every time we
see Walter he’s counting money or going over finances.
KEN
Is this him? Ken Uston. Kenny.
(shakes Darryl’s hand)
DARRYL
Darryl.
 27.

KEN
Pat says you can count and that you
showed some guts going back into
the Horseshoe after they threatened
you.
PAT is Turtleneck. Darryl looks at him and realizes he was
being watched.
DARRYL
Young, smart and brave. What were
the gods thinking, Walter?
WALTER (TALL MAN)
Maybe they sent him to remind you
you’re mortal, Ken.
Ken laughs, pours himself a drink, holds the bottle up for
Darryl’s consideration. Darryl nods, nonchalant. Ken pours.
KEN
Or maybe it’s a warning that this style
of play isn’t so perfect after all.
WALTER
It’s your style of transferring
money that’s not perfect.
Ken gives Darryl his drink with a wink, sits at the piano and
plays. Jazz. He’s not bad.
KEN
You like blackjack, Darryl?
Darryl starts to nod, but stops himself. He tells the truth.
DARRYL
I want to be good at something. I
think I could be very good at this.
Ken smiles and nods as if that were the only right answer. He
looks at Walter. Walter shrugs. Ken stops playing. He’s
made a decision. He gets up, excited.
KEN
What do you think? You want to
join our little team?
WALTER
What Ken means is do a little
counting for us --
KEN
We’ll make you rich.
WALTER
We’ll give you $20 an hour to start
--
 28.

KEN
The sky’s the limit!
WALTER
If it works out, you could
eventually earn a player’s share.
If not, we part ways, no hard
feelings.
Before Walter finishes talking, Ken puts out his hand, imbuing
the gesture with import. With a big smile, Darryl shakes it.
KEN
A team is about trust, Darryl.
About watching each others’ backs.
Darryl nods. Ken pulls him in for a sideways hug and laughs.
KEN
Outta sight!
The doorbell rings. Walter shoves money and records into a bag.
As Ken heads for the door, he nods at Pat.
KEN
Pat will train you. Come by the team
house tomorrow, we’re getting together.
Ken opens the door. It’s the waitress he flirted with earlier.
She looks at him in his robe as Darryl follows the others out.
WAITRESS
Kind of presumptuous, aren’t you?
KEN
I think of myself as optimistic.
He pulls her in. Darryl watches them kiss as the door closes --
INT.\EXT. TEAM HOUSE - DAY

Everywhere is evidence of where they spend their time: casino

chips, table limit signs, cards. Pat escorts Darryl past:
KNIEVEL T-SHIRT
on the couch reading a magazine. He’s the youngest.
PAT
This is Lyle. He’s an Evel fool.
Get your disgusting feet off my
couch.
Lyle pulls his feet off the couch, but otherwise ignores him.
He greets Darryl by turning his magazine to show him a photo.
LYLE (KNIEVEL T-SHIRT)
Here he is jumping over the Snake
River Canyon. He almost made it.
 29.

It’s a fanzine. Evel Knieval parachuting toward a river.

Darryl nods. Pat leads him on.
Ken is at a grill out by the pool and waves a spatula. Darryl
waves back. Walter is outside too, doing calculations on his
notepad. Both of them are in the shade to avoid the heat.
PAT
That’s Victor.
VICTOR is also out by the pool, but lying in the sun. He’s the
one who was hiding behind the bed last night. Victor picks up a
reflector to get even more sun.
PAT
Victor’s indestructible. When he was
three, his father dropped him from a
fourth-story window of their apartment
building. Accelerating at 9.8 meters
per second squared he must have hit at
thirty miles an hour. Bounced half a
story. But not a scratch on him.
Darryl looks at him doubtfully. Pat shrugs -- you’ll see -- and
leads him to a regulation blackjack table, on the way passing:
BASEBALL CAP
In his early 30’s, he’s older than the others. Athletic-
looking, handsome and aware of it. He’s on the sofa with a
woman who’s fending him off as he tries to kiss her.
PAT
Joe and the wife.
JOE’S WIFE
... you’ve been saying for years
we’d have the money for a house and
meanwhile they’re building new
casinos and we’re still living by a
waste burning plant.
Joe (baseball cap) keeps trying to kiss her.
JOE’S WIFE
Stop kissing and answer me!
Joe starts kissing her neck. She pushes him off forcefully.
Joe pulls back and looks at her. A beat. Then starts trying to
kiss her again. She sighs, gives up -- and kisses him.
Darryl sits on the second seat at a regulation blackjack table.

PAT
No. Sit at third base. You’ll see
more people’s cards that way. But you
want to train yourself to use your
peripheral vision so you don’t look
like you’re looking. Show me how you
practice counting.
 30.

Pat removes a single card from a deck, sets it aside face

down, hands the deck to Darryl. Ken leans in from the patio.
KEN
How do you like your burger,
Darryl?
DARRYL
Medium rare, sir.
Everyone chuckles at the “sir.”
KEN
“Ken,” “Kenny,” “shithead,” never
“sir.” My daddy was “sir.”
VICTOR
Yeah, as in “move along sir.”
JOE
Or “sir, I said please keep your
hands to yourself.”
Everyone laughs. Pat taps the deck in Darryl’s hand, impatient.
Darryl flips cards over in a pile one by one and recites his
running count as it rises at every small card, falls with every
big card and stays the same for every 7, 8, and 9.
DARRYL
Plus one, plus two, plus three,
plus two, plus two, plus one, plus
two --
PAT
Stop. Learn to count in pairs or
groups, to visually cancel out.
Pat takes the deck and fans through it fast, counting silently,
as Lyle sits next to Darryl and shows him another photo.
LYLE
Here’s the famous jump over the
fountain at Caesars when he broke
his pelvis. Man, I wish I’d been
there.
PAT
Minus one. Small card.
Pat turns over the card he removed: a four. Darryl nods. Nice.
PAT
Look away for a sec.
Pat spreads about twenty cards face up on the table as Darryl
turns away and sees Joe and his wife still making out. They
come up for air.
JOE’S WIFE
When are you coming home?
 31.

JOE
I’m seeing George later. But not
too late.
JOE’S WIFE
(grabs purse to go)
Say hi to George. When am I going
to meet him. We should have a
dinner or something.
ON PAT
PAT
Okay, now, pairing them, look at
all the cards and see how fast you
can --
DARRYL
Minus three.
Now Pat looks. It takes him a longer.
PAT
Minus three.
They look at each other, Pat raising an eyebrow.
KEN
C’mon, get your asses out here!
EXT. PATIO - DAY

The patio. A THERMOMETER IN THE SHADE SAYS 111 DEGREES.

Everyone is suffering in the shade. In front of them, Victor
squeezes out some baby oil and rubs it on his skin. Holds the
reflector up again. Joe, sweating the worst, is incredulous.
JOE
How can you stand it?
VICTOR
Stand what?
Ken serves a burger and some onion onto Darryl’s plate.
KEN
The key to a great burger
experience is a sweet onion, sliced
razor thin. And nothing rounds out
a barbecue like a bottle of Cordon
Bleu -- compliments of the Sahara.
He pulls out a bottle and everybody cheers. Ken hands it to
Darryl to uncork -- AS A SEXY WOMAN ARRIVES. She waves hi.
VICTOR
Hey George.
There’s a chorus of hellos for ‘George.’ GEORGE IS JOE’S
MISTRESS. He kisses her. She notices Darryl popping the cork.
 32.

GEORGE
Who’s this?
JOE
More fodder.
KEN
No. No. Our latest cannon aimed
at the heart of the casinos. A
patriotic young soldier at the
front lines in our tiny nation’s
holy war against legalized
thievery.
The teammates share wry looks over Ken’s earnestness -- but
smile too. Ken pours for everyone and raises his glass.
KEN
To our new brother-in-arms.
Everyone raises their glass. Darryl beams.
INT. WALTER’S CADILLAC - MOVING - NIGHT

Walter drives, the team packed in like well-dressed sardines.

Pat tests Darryl on team signals as Ken peppers him with advice.
DARRYL
Take a break -- follow me --
Pat rubs an eye -- grabs a shoulder --
KEN
It’s a twenty-five minimum table so
you’ll be flatbetting green
chips...
DARRYL
Hot shoe -- meet me in the bathroom --
Pat touches a cheek -- grabs his crotch --
KEN
... You’re not a high roller but
the pit bosses will still notice
you, so try not to make them
suspicious...
DARRYL
Danger -- leave the club immediately --
KEN
... They’re looking for silent, sober
collegiate types, so look like you’re
having fun. Better yet, have some
fun. Have a drink. Tip the dealer.
VICTOR AND LYLE
are squeezed into the passenger seat, in mid-conversation.
 33.

LYLE
I can still be a major league pitcher.
VICTOR
No you can’t.
LYLE
I’m only eighteen.
VICTOR
You don’t even play baseball.
LYLE
But I could. I could still do
anything. I could be the next Evel
Knievel if I wanted to. He's got
to retire sometime, right?
EXT. SANDS HOTEL AND CASINO - PARKING LOT - NIGHT

The car pulls into a spot far from the casino entrance.
INT. WALTER’S CADILLAC

Walter turns and looks at Darryl. Then hands him some cash.
WALTER
Three thousand. Team money in one
pocket, personal money in the
other. That way there’s no...
mistakes.
(lets that sink in)
We have a standing policy of random
polygraphs and anyone can ask
anyone else to take one at any
time.
(to everyone)
We’re sixty-two thousand away from
doubling the bank. Remember: minimize
errors and you’ll maximize profits.
KEN
Something’s missing. Joe, give him
your watch.
As Joe hands it over, he looks at Darryl and touches his nose.
DARRYL
Change tables.
JOE
No -- you’ve got a booger there.
Everyone looks at everyone as Darryl wipes his nose.
KEN
He’ll be fine.
 34.

EXT. SANDS HOTEL AND CASINO - PARKING LOT - NIGHT

Everyone starts to spread out to circle in on the casino

separately -- leaving Darryl alone. He’s nervous.
DARRYL
Pat.
Pat comes back over to him.
DARRYL
Betting twenty-five a hand. That’s
a lot of money for me.
PAT
Flatbetting green is the least of your
worries. You want something to worry
about? The moment you walk in there
you’re subject to total surveillance.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. SANDS - CASINO FLOOR - MINUTES LATER

PAT’S WORDS CONTINUE OVER THIS SCENE as Darryl walks in, now
totally freaked. He passes a security guard talking to a cop.
PAT (O.S., CONT’D)
Vegas cops, security -- undercover
security -- all looking for the
casino’s enemies. Looking for you.
Darryl looks at the FACES OF PEOPLE he passes. All of them
seem to be sizing him up, seem to know what he’s up to.
ONE OF THEM IS A MAN WITH SALT AND PEPPER HAIR. We linger on
him long enough to not forget him.
PAT (O.S.)
Every mirror is one-way glass. And
over tables, the Eye In The Sky.
Darryl looks in a mirror he passes, then looks up. A mirror
runs the length of the ceiling.
THE CAMERA RISES from Darryl and goes through the ceiling...
INT. EYE IN THE SKY CATWALK

... where casino personnel walk a catwalk, looking down on

players with binoculars and cameras with telephoto lenses.
Among them is the five-foot-two-inch tall WILL VICKMAN.
PAT (O.S.)
Sands’ head of security is Will
Vickman, a very short, very serious
man who uses the latest in
surveillance technology.
 35.

Vickman moves to an unwieldy video camera on a tripod as a

technician ejects a video tape and hands it to him.
PAT (O.S.)
V.H.S. Video Home System. That’s
right. Now they can record your every
move and play it back immediately.
Vickman puts the tape in a VCR. DARRYL APPEARS ON A MONITOR
LOOKING UP AT THE CAMERA. THE IMAGE ZOOMS IN ON HIM.
PAT (O.S.)
These people look at you the way they
look at a cheat or a thief and if they
catch you taking off big money, that’s
exactly how they’ll treat you.
INT. SANDS - CASINO FLOOR

Darryl swallows. He walks to a blackjack table and sits.

PAT (O.S.)
So if you want something to worry
about, worry about that.
DEALER
Would you like to play, sir?
But Darryl’s frozen. He can’t speak, can’t move. Then he
spots Joe at a table, an amused look on his face. He looks
around. All his teammates have amused looks. Chuckling, Pat
scratches his head. What’s up? Darryl gives a signal of his
own: he rubs his temple with his middle finger. Fuck you.
Pat laughs to himself. Darryl relaxes, puts out some cash.
DEALER
Changing three hundred!
A pit boss with a large pompadour watches, unconcerned.
CUT TO:
As Darryl plays, a streak of small cards pour out. He stacks
chips and puts a hand to his cheek. Ken abandons the table next
door to put a bet down at Darryl’s table. He’s drunk.
KEN
Let me get some of this action over
here. Hi beautiful.
(woman dealer smiles, he
places a tip bet for her)
Let’s make some money honey. Hey --
that rhymes!
YOUNG PIT BOSS
Uh Ken, you still got a hand over
here.
 36.

KEN
Play it for me, Mike. Whatever you
want to do.
The crowd watching Ken shakes their heads. This guy is nuts.
The Young Pit Boss laughs and sits to play Ken’s hand. A
JOVIAL PIT BOSS and a PIT BOSS WITH A POMPADOUR are amused too.
Ken decides to have some fun. He looks right at Darryl.
KEN
Kinda young to be at a high stakes
table aren’t you? What do you do?
Darryl is stunned. All eyes go to him. The crowd, the bosses.
KEN
What do you do?
Darryl recovers.
DARRYL
I’m a musician.
KEN
Yeah? What do you play?
DARRYL
Guitar.
At the other table, the young pit boss gets an 18 and the dealer
a 17. The crowd laughs, claps.
YOUNG PIT BOSS
You win Kenny.
The pit bosses are all smiles. Baseball Cap, sitting at that
table, stacks more chips. Ken bounces over and puts out two
more bets for the pit boss to play for him. More laughter.
Darryl is relieved for the reprieve.
But the count is up here too. He stacks chips. Ken bounces
back. He spreads to four hands of $500.
KEN
So you in some kinda band? I mean,
how do you make money playing
guitar?
Darryl can’t believe it. Ken looks at him with a mischievous
grin. The pit bosses are watching. Listening. Waiting.
DARRYL
Jingles.
KEN
Jingles. You write jingles?
Darryl nods, pleased with himself. Ken laughs.
 37.

KEN
Sing me one! Sing me one of your
jingles!
Bastard. Darryl thinks. Then sings:
DARRYL
Meow meow meow meow
Meow meow meow meow...
At first everyone stares, but as he continues they get it.
The Meow Mix ad. Ken starts laughing. The pit bosses laugh
too -- but they’re impressed. They know that jingle.
JOVIAL PIT BOSS
“Tastes so good -- ”
JOVIAL & POMPADOUR TOGETHER
“-- cats ask for it by name.”
POMPADOUR
Some serious money in jingles.
He looks jealous. Darryl shrugs. The beautiful dealer smiles
at him. Ken is laughing so hard he can’t play his hand -- as
the young pit boss leaps up happy.
YOUNG PIT BOSS
Blackjack! I got a blackjack!
INT. BIG BUDDHA RESTAURANT - NIGHT

A raucous late-night dinner at a fusion Japanese/Chinese

restaurant. Joe gets the attention of the sushi chef, points to
his Unagi and gives him the thumbs up. The chef waves back.
SUSHI CHEF
Okay for you, okay for me!
Joe watches incredulous as Victor eats those Chinese peppers
you should never eat, one after another like popcorn.
Ken weaves drunkenly in his seat. Walter is tight-jawed.
KEN
Jingles. Brilliant.
Lyle tries to get the Japanese waitress’s attention but she
sails on by. Pat lifts a finger and she comes over. He
grins at Darryl.
PAT
Nobody sees Lyle. It’s like he’s
invisible. It’s great for
blackjack, but when he goes home for
Christmas he has to persuade his
mother she actually had a son before
he can get any ham.
 38.

LYLE
That’s not true. She’s just very
old.
Ken drapes an arm around Darryl’s neck.
KEN
Jingles! You could bet the money
with that cover-- Hey! What about
it? Want to be a big player like
me?
WALTER
Maybe he’d be better than you. Maybe
he wouldn’t drink so much then tip
away our profits and blow so many
plays.
KEN
(beat, focuses on him)
Are you insinuating something?
WALTER
(rolls his eyes)
C’mon, I’ll take you home.
Darryl rises to help, but Walter puts a hand on Darryl’s
shoulder and pushes him back down.
WALTER
I got it.
Walter helps Ken outside, Ken humming the Meow Mix jingle.
DARRYL
What’s his problem?
PAT
Walter? Let’s see. Maybe it’s
that he invented what we’re doing
but he can’t do it himself so he
has to rely on Ken?
VICTOR
Dieppe, France.
Everyone nods. Darryl looks at them. Victor leans forward.
VICTOR
Nineteen-seventy-two. Walter’s in
Dieppe playing this casino. In
France they’re owned by individuals
with a licence from the state --
JOE
-- It’s just a few years after
Thorp, the guy’s got no clue about
card counting, conditions are
incredible, he’s letting Walter bet
down to the last few cards--
 39.

PAT
And still -- Walter’s losing.
INT. FRENCH CASINO - 1972 - NIGHT

A washed-out vision of events as the team narrates it, actions

and moments exaggerated as befits the telling of a legend.
VICTOR (O.S.)
That’s how it goes. You hit a bad
streak and it feels like you’ll
never win again.
QUICK CUTS of Walter losing hand after hand, an ARROGANT, AMUSED
FRENCHMAN laughing silently. Walter digs out more money.
PAT (O.S.)
You start to doubt everything.
Maybe you’re not playing right,
maybe you’re being cheated.
JOE (O.S.)
And the guy’s like...
The Frenchman’s mouth moves but it’s Joe’s voice with an accent:
FRENCHMAN (WITH JOE’S VOICE)
You know vat I am going to do with all
zis money? Renovate my new villa!
PAT (O.S.)
Walter keeps dumping more and more,
but does he give up? No.
FRENCHMAN (WITH JOE’S VOICE)
And zen I use your money to take my
wife to Las Vegas, eh? We go see
Wayne Newton! Ha ha ha.
LYLE (O.S.)
But he wins it all back, right?
VICTOR (O.S.)
Shut up man --
PAT (O.S.)
You’re ruining the fucking story.
More cuts. Walter wins a hand. He wins a series of hands.
PAT (O.S.)
Okay, so the long run kicks in and
money starts coming across the
table in the other direction.
JOE (O.S.)
The French guy’s not concerned.
The house has the advantage, right?
 40.

Cuts of Walter’s pile of chips growing higher and higher and

the Frenchman’s smile getting smaller and smaller.
VICTOR (O.S.)
The man just won’t give up on his
dream of seeing Wayne Newton. He
lets it go on -- for four days.
JOE (O.S.)
Walter doesn’t just win his money back.
At the Villa, the sobbing Frenchman hands a deed to Walter --
PAT (O.S.)
He wins the Frenchman’s villa.
VICTOR (O.S.)
And his casino.
BACK TO SCENE

DARRYL
Holy shit.
VICTOR
The holiest.
Everybody loves this tale.
LYLE
He lost it all later though, didn’t he?
VICTOR
You really know how to tell a story
man. You’re the master.
DARRYL
How’d he lose it?
They all look at each other. Nobody knows.
PAT
We just figure he had to. All that
money, you could retire.
JOE
So six months he gets this idea, so
beautiful, how nobody ever thought
of it before --
VICTOR
Split the betting from the
counting. Let the money attract
the attention while other people do
the work --
PAT
All he needed was a front man.
Somebody with money credentials.
Conservative. Straight-laced.
 41.

LYLE
Ken Uston. Graduate of Yale and
Harvard Business School. Vice
President of the San Francisco
Stock Exchange.
DARRYL
What?
INT. SAN FRANCISCO STOCK EXCHANGE OFFICE - DAY

A straight-laced Ken Uston sits in a leather chair in a suit.

Short hair parted firmly at the side. He sharpens a pencil.
He pushes a button on a multi-button phone. Swivels his high
back chair to look out on the skyline of 1970’s San Francisco.
BACK TO SCENE

They’re all laughing and talking over each other.

PAT VICTOR
And then Ken goes native -- -- He invents this act of his,
turns into a gold mine --
LYLE JOE
-- Nobody gets away with I bet half what he does when I
betting the money like Ken -- B.P.? They totally sweat it --
PAT
But he does get a little carried
away with himself.
They laugh at the understatement.
PAT
So you gotta understand where Walter’s
coming from. He wants to get what he
can before team play is blown. Because
once it’s blown, it’s blown forever.
Nobody will ever do it again.
They all nod and look at each other soberly.
DARRYL
So then I guess we better kick
their asses while we can.
Their smiles come back. They raise their beers and toast to
Darryl’s words. Darryl watches them as they drink.
DARRYL (V.O.)
For the first time I was living
among men. I would finally learn
what it was to be a man, how a man
was supposed to live and act and be.
Joe decides to eat one of those peppers. If Victor can do it,
so can he. The pain makes him wish he were dead. He gulps
water. Darryl is concerned -- but everyone else just laughs.
 42.

So Darryl laughs too. As Pat tops off his beer, WE CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY

A BONG and a BAG OF WHITE PILLS -- quaaludes -- lie on a

coffee table by a half-finished game of Risk, the board game
of world domination.
KEN (O.S.)
Wake up sleepyhead.
Darryl, asleep on the couch, is shaken awake by Ken. His tongue
is a dead furry animal. Disoriented, he tries to spit it out.
KEN
The guys dropped nine on the last
shift. We’re going back out.
PAT (O.S.)
The smart thing would be to leave
the losers home this time.
JOE (O.S.)
Oh hey Pat? Fuck you.
Pat chuckles. Darryl sits up.
DARRYL
I played all night myself. I need
some breakfast at least.
Victor goes to the curtains. There’s sunlight at the crack
where they meet. Darryl holds up a hand to shield his eyes --
-- as Victor slides the curtains open, revealing it’s not
daytime; it’s nighttime. The light at the crack between the
curtains wasn’t the sun, it was the bright lights of the Strip.
KEN
Try dinner. C’mon, get up. Swing
shift’s in an hour. We heard the
Barbary put in single deck. We
want to take a quick look in there
first.
Darryl nods, but his head lolls back. In a beat he’s snoring.
The guys share looks, mischief in their eyes. ‘George’ is
putting on makeup. Pat takes her lipstick. Joe her mascara.
Victor her powder. They approach Darryl as Ken watches, amused.
EXT. BARBARY COAST - NIGHT

The team waits outside. Darryl comes out, having just scouted
the place. HIS FACE IS PAINTED WITH MAKEUP.
PAT
So what’s it look like in there?
 43.

DARRYL
I don’t know. I got the feeling
they were watching me.
They all nod, deadpan. Then break up, laughing.
DARRYL (V.O.)
It wasn’t a family. It was better
than a family.
EXT. FREMONT STREET - NIGHT

Downtown Vegas in December, decorated with Christmas lights.

The team converges on the Golden Nugget.
DARRYL (V.O.)
It was a team. Fighting for a
common cause, loyal to a fault.
At the Horseshoe across the street, two pit bosses are ejecting
a homeless guy. One is the beefy pit boss we met earlier.
The team slows down and watches.
BEEFY PIT BOSS
I told you to stay out!
The beefy pit boss tosses a bucket of ice water onto the
homeless guy. Both pit bosses laugh and go back in. The
teammates share looks -- and wordlessly switch gears, heading
for the Horseshoe instead. Darryl follows them.
DARRYL (V.O.)
And I was a part of it.
Passing the homeless man on their way in, Ken hands him a
fifty. Darryl gives him his jacket.
INT. HORSESHOE - MORNING
Crowded. Christmas decorations. The beefy pit boss gladhands
a happy couple arriving from the Midwest, all sweetness and
light. Darryl wears a baseball cap and keeps his head down.
DARRYL (V.O.)
And while the tourists dozed in the
American dream, assured of their
good fortune...
Darryl watches another couple, a twin of the first, on their
way out -- wearing strained smiles.
DARRYL (V.O.)
... often waking to the taste of
sugarplums gone sour...
Moving around the circular pit, each team member at a table...
 44.

DARRYL (V.O.)
... we were the knights of the oval
tables, out slaying dragons.
The other pit boss watches, unhappy, as Ken wins another hand.
Ken notices Darryl watching him and winks. Darryl smiles.
DARRYL (V.O.)
We kicked their asses.
INT. LARGE HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

TWO HANDS GRIP A “BRICK”: a bundle of shrinkwrapped money. The

label says: “Fifty Thousand Dollars” and “The Horseshoe.”
VICTOR (O.S.)
Twenty-one. Seven. Eleven. Hut, hut!
Victor fades back. They’re playing football with it in the
large hotel room. Darryl goes long, Lyle covering. Walter is
doing calculations on his pad.
WALTER
Guys, cut it out. That’s real
money. It deserves some respect.
KEN
Oh, let them play.
Joe is on the hotel room phone, talking to his wife.
JOE
Don’t wait up, I’m going out to
celebrate with George.
(listens, turns to ‘George’)
Carla says hi.
‘George’ looks at him deadpan. Joe goes back to the phone.
JOE
George says hi.
Two raps, then one, at the door. Ken opens it. It’s Pat. Pat
looks at the thousands in cash and chips lying on the bed.
PAT
We broke the bank?
KEN
We broke the bank.
Darryl watches as Ken and Pat shake hands firmly and grip each
other’s shoulders. Victor fades back to pass to Lyle, throws --
Darryl goes to block, tips it -- and it flies into the bathroom
AND LANDS IN THE TOILET. Walter glares at all of them.
WALTER
What did I say?!
 45.

Off the players looking sheepish --

CUT TO:
Walter handing out two rounds of wet cash to everyone.
WALTER
Fifty percent share for players,
fifty percent share to investors.
Except Darryl, who he gives a small wad to. Darryl looks at
it -- and beams. Wow.
LYLE
Picture!
Everyone poses with the cash. Lyle snaps a Polaroid.
EXT. MAGGIE AND STEPFATHER’S HOME - NIGHT

Maggie answers the ringing phone.

MAGGIE
Hello? ... Darryl! It’s Darryl!
Darryl’s sisters run over and huddle around her. The
stepfather -- Dan -- stays on the couch watching TV.
MAGGIE
How are you honey?
INTERCUT WITH DARRYL IN HIS CRAPPY ONE-ROOM APARTMENT - NIGHT

DARRYL
I’m good, mom. You get my
postcards?
They’re up on the fridge. She touches them.
MAGGIE
They don’t say much. Is everything
okay? Do you want to come home?
DARRYL
I’m fine, mom. Really.
MAGGIE
Well, what are you doing with yourself?
DARRYL
Well, I had a job selling pens...
MAGGIE
(to the girls)
He was selling pens.
DARRYL
But now I’ve got a new job working
with this team...
 46.

MAGGIE
A team? Like a baseball team?
DARRYL
More like a team of investors.
MAGGIE
Oh! He’s working with investors.
(girls like sound of that)
Investing in what?
DARRYL
In playing cards. Blackjack.
Against the casinos.
The girls wait for the next tidbit, but Maggie moves off to
whisper into the phone so they can’t hear.
MAGGIE
... You’re working with gamblers?
DARRYL
The guys are great mom, I think
you’d really like them, and this
isn’t gambling, it’s card counting,
which is something that gives us
the advantage, so I’m using my math
skills to make money. That’s good
right?
He stops, not sure what to say so she’ll feel okay about it.
Maggie decides it’s time to put on her happy tone.
MAGGIE
I think that’s great.
DARRYL
You do.
MAGGIE
You’ve met a group of friends.
You’re using your math skills.
It’s not gambling, it’s card...
DARRYL
Counting.
MAGGIE
Counting. And I think it’s great.
He thinks a beat about what she’s doing.
DARRYL
I am going to make something of myself
in life.
MAGGIE
Well honey, of course you are.
A knock at the door. Two raps, then a third. He goes to it.
 47.

MAGGIE
When are you coming home, Darryl?
The girls miss you. I miss you.
You don’t know Dan very well, but I
think if you both spent some time
together you’d really like each
other.
WE SEE DAN. He’s grown a beer belly since last we saw him.
Pat, Victor, Lyle and Joe walk in. Pat frowns at Darryl’s
crappy place as they unceremoniously start grabbing Darryl’s
stuff and walking out the door with it.
DARRYL
I don’t know, mom. I gotta go.
MAGGIE
Okay. I love you, Darryl. Darryl.
(hard to let go)
Good luck.
Darryl starts to say something back, but Pat yanks the phone
cord from the wall and takes the phone with him on his way out --
INT. TEAM HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT

Darryl is moving in. Victor and Lyle watch, amused, as Pat

points to a hand-made chart he’s got on the fridge.
PAT
House chores rotate every week.
Dishes are washed when you use
them. Rent is a hundred and sixty-
two dollars and fifty cents each.
(looks at Lyle)
Not a hundred and sixty.
(Lyle nods in mock
seriousness)
And people, can we please turn off
the lights when we’re not using
them?
Victor reaches over and turns off the light above Pat’s head
plunging them into darkness.
INT. SANDS - CASINO RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Passing the casino restaurant, Darryl sees something and stops:

Sand’s head of security, Will Vickman -- and his wife -- at a
table WITH KEN AND A DATE, a redhead we’ve never seen before and
never will again. The four talk and laugh like best friends.
Darryl watches, amazed and amused. Now two Pit Bosses drop by.
KEN
Frank -- how’s the golf swing?
 48.

PIT BOSS
Not as good as yours.
KEN
That’s true.
They all laugh as if this were actually funny.
Ken spots Darryl watching. He smiles -- and scratches his
head in greeting. Darryl scratches his head in return.
INT. SANDS - BAR - MOMENTS LATER

Still amused, Darryl walks up to the bar, where he spots a

woman in a low-cut dress, hanging out with a friend -- and
looking right at him. She smiles. Continues to look at him.
PAT (O.S.)
Go for it, man.
Pat is stepping up to the bar. He keeps his distance and
talks low, pretending not to know Darryl. Darryl looks at the
woman in the dress and thinks about going for it.
PAT
Reward lies in the house of risk.
Darryl can’t bring himself to move. Pat shakes his head.
PAT
You may be the only virgin in
Vegas.
Darryl looks caught. Pat chuckles -- then goes over to the
woman himself. At first she ignores him and looks at Darryl.
Then Pat says something that makes her laugh, she looks at him --
INT. TEAM HOUSE - NIGHT

A party. Men and women dancing to the disco beat. Joe with
‘George.’ Victor with a date. Ken with two women.
Darryl is in a chair, watching them all. He shifts attention to
the chair next to him, where the woman from the bar is sitting
in Pat’s lap, their faces close, their conversation intimate.
Pat plays with her necklace, which is her name in silver: SUSAN.
Lyle is sitting on Darryl’s other side -- both are dateless.
LYLE
According to the Guiness Book of
World Records, he broke 35 bones.
(beat)
He was in a coma for 30 days once.
(sips a beer)
He says it’s all about having a
positive mental attitude.
 49.

DARRYL
You know what? I don’t get it.
LYLE
You don’t get what?
DARRYL
What’s the point? Why do what he
does? Why should anybody do that?
LYLE
What do you mean?
(to Pat)
What does he mean?
But Pat is busy kissing the woman. Lyle turns back to Darryl.
LYLE
He risks his life. His life. In
death-defying stunts.
DARRYL
Ghandi, Martin Luther King, they
risked their lives, but for a
reason. Why not worship somebody
like that?
Lyle just looks at him.
LYLE
Thirty. Five. Bones.
INT. LARGER HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

The team is breaking a bigger bank, everyone happy -- BUT

SUDDENLY THERE’S A POUNDING AT THE DOOR.
VOICE (O.S.)
Security! Open up!
Everybody freaks. They scramble like headless chickens, some
grabbing money, others hiding behind the bed or in the closet.
VOICE (O.S.)
We know you’re in there!
MORE POUNDING. Then Darryl steps out from behind the bathroom
door, laughing. He’s pounding -- on that door.
DARRYL (VOICE)
Come out with your hands up!
PAT
You cocksucker.
They all start cursing him, but the more they do, the funnier
he finds it. He can’t stop laughing. In the end, they all
crack smiles. Ken drapes an arm over Darryl’s shoulder.
 50.

KEN
We all talked it over. Well, we
didn’t, but I think everyone will
agree that you should have a full
player’s share in this bank.
PAT
I don’t. Less for me.
Everyone laughs, then aren’t sure if he’s kidding or not. The
rest are in agreement. Walter hands Darryl a full share.
Darryl looks at all of them, nearly moved to tears. This makes
them uncomfortable. They look away, focus on other things.
LYLE
Picture!
They pose around the bed. It’s a bigger pile of money than
last time. Darryl -- big smile -- holds up A LOT OF CASH.
OFF THE CAMERA FLASH WE CUT TO:
SILENT MONTAGE - THE TEAM LIVING LARGE, PLAYING, BREAKING BANKS:

INT. HONDA MOTORCYCLE DEALER - DAY

Everyone but Walter is here laying out cash to buy a motorcycle.

EXT. HONDA MOTORCYCLE DEALER - PARKING LOT - DAY

Ken circles the lot on a motorcycle, showing off as SALESMEN

gives instructions to the others. Darryl jerks forward and
starts slowly circling.
Suddenly victor shoots forward -- out of control -- and slams
into a car. HE FLIES OFF THE BIKE, UP OVER IT, DISAPPEARING ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR, WE HEAR AN AWFUL THUD.
Everyone freezes. But he just stands and brushes himself off.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

On their new motorcycles, they race each other on Route 66.

EXT. THE STRIP - NIGHT

The Sahara clock flashes between 3 a.m. and 100 degrees.

INT. SAHARA

MOS SHOTS of the team at various tables.

Pat tips a waitress a dollar. She starts off, but he says
something -- and she reluctantly gives him 50 cents change.
WE MOVE OVER
Joe betting the big money at Walter’s table, ‘George’ on his
arm. She shifts from one sexy pose to another, distracting the
pit boss -- as Joe ogles a woman going by in a short skirt.
 51.

'George' hits him. WE KEEP MOVING -- OVER TO:

Lyle talking animatedly to a woman. We don’t hear what he’s
saying, but when he moves his hand like a bike taking off --
we know. His hand “crashes.” It tumbles over and over.
Never once looking at him, the woman gets up and walks away.
AND WE MOVE TO:
Ken, at Darryl’s table, winning three hands at once. A crowd
applauds. Ken goes into a Mohammed Ali thing, floating like a
butterfly and stinging like a bee. Pit Bosses Jovial and
Pompadour share a look. Uston sure wins a lot.
Will Vickman walks by. Will pats Ken on the back and Ken says
something that makes him laugh.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY

They gather around the bed, breaking their biggest bank yet.
Lyle takes a picture. OFF THE FLASH --
INSERT A PHOTO OF THEM BREAKING A DIFFERENT, EVEN LARGER BANK.
INT. TEAM HOUSE - NIGHT

A SHEET COVERS A REFRIGERATOR-SIZED OBJECT. It’s pulled off

to reveal an ARCADE SPACE INVADERS GAME.
A WIDER SHOT reveals it’s Pat birthday party and this is
Darryl’s gift. Pat is so moved he almost hugs him. They do an
awkward dance of “should we hug or shake” and end up shaking
firmly, as men do.
CUT TO:
Still at the party, we come in on the finals of a CARD
COUNTING CONTEST. Darryl vs. Ken. Surrounded by excited
partiers, Pat has a stop watch -- Darryl and Ken ready to fan
through their decks as fast as they can. Pat clicks it.
And they’re off. It’s over in eight seconds.
DARRYL
Low!
Darryl finishes first by a hair to turn over the removed card.
He’s right. It’s a 2. A cheer goes up. Joe raises Darryl’s
arm. ‘George’ pours a beer over his head.
Ken smiles and nods, the very image of the proud mentor.
Darryl basks in Ken’s esteem. It’s the kind of moment he’s
always wanted to experience.
END THE MONTAGE AS WE COME IN ON:
 52.

INT. GINGERMILL BREAKFAST JOINT - DAY

The team at breakfast, Walter reviewing his notepad.

WALTER
You’re overplayed at the Sands.
KEN
They love me at the Sands. Any day
they’re gonna put me in Sammy
Davis’s suite for a night.
LYLE
That would be so cool.
WALTER
You can’t win there forever. Same
with Joe. At some point they’ll
get suspicious. We don’t want to
risk security deciding to keep an
eye you. We should lay off for a
while.
DARRYL
Or throw someone new at them.
Somebody, say, like me.
Conversation stops. Darryl glances at Ken for his reaction.
Ken grins and nods, thinking about it. Darryl smiles.
WALTER
They’d never buy you as a B.P.
You’re too young. And if I were
going to let somebody try, there’s
plenty of people ahead of you.
(looks at Pat)
PAT
I prefer the shadows to the limelight.
Victor nods, agreeing. Walter glances at Lyle -- who smiles.
He’d do it. Walter frowns, discarding that idea immediately.
Darryl smiles wider. He knew all this.
KEN
It’s not about age. It’s about
attitude. About confidence. You
said you wanted to be good?
(off Darryl’s nod)
I think you could be great.

INT. MEN’S STORE - DAY

Ken has Darryl trying on jackets, rejecting one after another.

KEN
Jingles writer by day, by night you’re
in an underground rock band.
(MORE)
 53.
KEN (cont'd)
Your fans aren’t many -- yet -- but
they’re loyal. This Jekyll and Hyde
existence makes you dark. Ironic.
DARRYL
Can I be a singer-songwriter
instead?
KEN
Okay, but an artist. Let the hair
grow. Take fewer showers. They don’t
care if you smell as long as they
don’t think you’re smart. Every word,
every gesture has to express this
character. They want to get into your
head, but you get into theirs first.
QUICK CUTAWAYS OF KEN AS A B.P. AS HE CONTINUES TO TALK:
At a table, Ken abruptly shoves out a bet --
KEN (O.S.)
They love it when they think they
see a steamer chasing his losses.
Losing a hand, Ken turns beet red. He bets up --
KEN (O.S.)
But it’s not about the money. You
don’t care about the money as much sa
about losing or winning. So mostly
you’re distracted, even careless.
Ken is asleep at a table, snoring. Nobody knows what to do.
He really seems asleep. He really is asleep.
KEN (O.S.)
If they suspect you of something,
they’ll try to fuck with your head.
Put the pressure on.
It’s early in Ken’s career. He’s in a suit. A pit boss
stares daggers at him as another takes the discards and fans
through them, counting them down the way we saw Pat do it.
KEN (O.S.)
They’re just trying to see how you
react. They think they can read
you. But they can’t if you don’t
let them.
Instead of being intimidated, Ken makes a point of leaning
over to try to get a look at the discards the Pit Boss is
scanning. That gets a chuckle from the other pit boss.
KEN (O.S.)
You’re a high roller, the lifeblood
of the casinos, so ask for comps
and act like you deserve them.
A female pit boss hands Ken show tickets. Ken nods his thanks.
 54.

KEN (O.S.)
And when you’re comfortable with
it, cultivate relationships with
the pit bosses. Show them some
consideration, a gift certificate,
a box of cigars. Something.
Ken is having sex with the female pit boss in his hotel room --
BACK TO SCENE

Darryl has on a new jacket. Ken nods. Perfect.

KEN
It’s the details that really
matter. I want you to have this.
He pulls out an antique gold watch. It’s beautiful.
KEN
My grandfather’s watch. My
grandmother gave it to him on their
25th wedding anniversary.
DARRYL
Ken. I, I don’t know what to say.
KEN
What? No. No, I picked this up
at a flea market. No, that’s what
you say, you say “this my
grandfather’s watch. My
grandmother gave to him.” Maybe he
was a musician too. That kind of
detail.
DARRYL
Right. Okay.
INT. TEAM HOUSE - DAY

Walter grimly observes as Pat uses flash cards to drill Darryl

on decision rules for the count. Pat holds up: “Ace-6 v. 4”.
DARRYL
Double at minus six.
(Pat shows another)
Stand at plus one.
Right again. Ken smiles at Walter, who still seems skeptical.
DARRYL
Except I don’t think that’s right.
Everyone looks at him.
WALTER
What do you mean?
 55.

DARRYL
It feels weird, I don’t know why.
I just don’t think there can a
number where you’d stand on soft
eighteen with downtown rules.
WALTER
You feel that, do you? And what
makes you think your hunch has a
leg up on Julian Braun and an IBM
609? Braun ran these numbers
himself.
Ken’s eyes urge Darryl to shut up. He does. Everyone awaits
Walter’s verdict.
WALTER
Just use the numbers. All of them.
(to Ken)
Same as Joe: his top bet is twenty-
five percent of yours. Five hundred a
hand. We need to stay under the radar
as long as we can.
INT. WALTER’S CADDY - MOVING - NIGHT

The team packed in, Pat flashing Darryl the study cards. Ken
gives him advice as he takes pulls from a whiskey bottle.
DARRYL
Minus two... Plus five... Plus
six...
KEN
Don’t give your real name. Don’t
give any two casinos the same name.
You’re like a super hero with a
secret identity. In fact, never use
your real name at all in this town,
ever. Would Superman take out his
Superman American Express card to
pay for his groceries? No. Why?
Because Lex Luthor could be in line
behind him.
EXT. SANDS CASINO - NIGHT

Darryl paces nervously outside, his guitar strapped to his back.

PAT
You know, betting the big money is
the least of your worries --
Darryl shoots him a look that shuts Pat up. Then goes inside.
INT. SANDS CASINO

Victor’s already got a hand to a cheek. Darryl hurries, then

shifts to “nonchalant.” Pompadour spots the change-up. He
watches Darryl put down some money and the dealer count it.
 56.

DEALER
Changing a thousand!
Pompadour gives Darryl a long look designed to make him nervous.
POMPADOUR
What’s your name?
DARRYL
Jack Baker.
POMPADOUR
Can I see some identification?
Darryl looks at him, surprised. Quick cutaways to Victor, Lyle,
Joe and Walter at nearby tables -- all of them surprised.
DARRYL
You want identification?
Pompadour looks Darryl straight in the eye, waiting. Darryl
takes a wad of ten grand from one pocket -- and a wad of ten
grand from another pocket. He slams them on the felt.
DARRYL
Here’s your goddamn identification.
Pompadour looks at the money. Then at Darryl.
DARRYL
Can’t a guy get a goddamn game in
this town without a hassle?
Victor stares at Darryl, mouth open. Darryl looks right at him.
DARRYL
You got a problem mister? Maybe
you’d like to take it up with me?
POMPADOUR
Easy, take it easy, there’s no need
to get all...
(recognition dawns)
Hey -- jingles, right? Hey Phil!
It’s Mr. Jingles!
The Jovial Pit Boss waves. Pompadour gladhands Darryl.
POMPADOUR
Alright. Okay. Good to see you.
Pull up a chair and relax, okay?
(laughs, pats his back)
It’s always good to see you. Susie,
get this man a cocktail.
Darryl sits. He puts out a bet, hand shaking ever so slightly.
 57.

A SERIES OF CUTS AS DARRYL PLAYS:

The dealer pays him off on two hands of five hundred. Lyle
stacks chips. The count is up. Darryl bets three hands.
Another payoff. His pile is growing.
Now he has four hands of five hundred out. His cards are tucked
as the dealer turns over her hole card, for 16. Darryl smiles.
But she pulls a five -- for 21 -- and scoops up all his chips.
Another cut: a new table. Darryl’s pile is almost gone. Walter
is sitting at this table with him, chips stacked, the count
high. Darryl bets all he’s got left.
The dealer gets a blackjack. Darryl pulls out more cash.
CUT TO:
Hours later. Darryl is tired -- but his pile is huge again.
He looks at Pompadour and Jovial. They’re watching him and
whispering. It makes him nervous.
CLOSE ON POMPADOUR AND JOVIAL
JOVIAL
You should have gone into jingles.
POMPADOUR
I could have, that’s what I’m
saying.
MORE CUTS:
Victor stacks chips, the count up. Darryl bets up. He wins.
Victor stacks more chips. Darryl bets multiple hands. Wins.
Victor stacks even more. Darryl scratches his head. Victor
shrugs. Darryl spreads to every open circle on the table,
betting five hundred a hand. Victor pulls his own bet off.
VICTOR
Mister, if you’re crazy enough to
bet every hand, be my guest.
But the guy in the seventh spot stubbornly refuses to yield --
betting his lone $25 chip. The dealer deals --
-- and busts. He pays off. AND STILL VICTOR STACKS MORE
CHIPS. Darryl pauses. Thinks. A crowd has gathered.
Darryl stacks the payoffs to let them ride. That’s a thousand
a hand. Then he puts out a thousand more on each of the six
spots on the table. He’s betting two thousand a hand.
DEALER
Checks play two thousand, table
max!
 58.

Darryl’s teammates watch in shock. Walter looks grim. Darryl

looks at the guy in the corner, wanting that spot too. The guy
stubbornly bets his $25. The dealer deals --
CUT TO:
The same hand, a minute later. The dealer has a five face up.
We move across the felt to find the table filled with double
downs and split hands, each with another two thousand attached
to it. Darryl is on the last: a pair of eights. He splits
them, putting out another two thousand. He gets a ten on one
and a three on the other. He puts out another two thousand.
DARRYL
And double down on this one.
The dealer trembles as she carefully deals the card face down.
A wide angle on the table shows it covered in black chips. This
moment reminds us of the opening of the film -- but it’s not the
opening of the film. The dealer is a man, not a woman. And the
stubborn guy on third has a bet on that circle.
The guy on third is nervous and regrets his choice. He
gestures to Darryl that he’d like to stand. Darryl nods
The crowd whispers. It’s the play of the century. Pat, in
with them, turns to a spectator -- but for Darryl’s benefit:
PAT
Six splits, five doubles. That’s
thirty-four grand out there. On
one play. If it were my money, I’d
be shitting bricks.
Darryl chuckles. But he’s sweating. The dealer turns over
her hole card. A six. Oh no. She’s got eleven. The crowd
gasps. She pulls a... two. Thirteen. Then an ace --
Then a king. She busts. The crowd cheers!
AND IN THE CROWD THE MAN WITH SALT AND PEPPER HAIR WATCHES.
INT. SANDS GRAND SUITE - NIGHT

Everything is bright white, from the marble floors to the

grand piano, to the roses in the ivory vase. Champagne
bottles line the counter at the bar. Pompadour escorts Darryl
in, having taken a paternal interest in the young high roller.
POMPADOUR
This is Sammy Davis Jr.’s suite
when he’s in town. Generally we
don’t let other people stay here.
That was your first time betting
THE big money, wasn’t it?
(off Darryl’s look, laughs)
Well, you did good kid. You need
anything, anything at all, call me.
(MORE)
 59.
POMPADOUR (cont'd)
(hands him a card, pats his
back, heads for door)
Check out the tub. It’s something.
INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT

Darryl does laps in the tub. The tub phone rings. He answers.
WALTER (OVER PHONE)
We’re coming up.
Click.
INT. GRAND SUITE - MINUTES LATER
Victor glances back into the hall to make sure they weren’t seen
as he closes the door. Darryl is in a plush white robe.
Walter advances on him, furious. Darryl backs up -- but holds
his ground emotionally.
WALTER
Your top bet was five hundred!
DARRYL
The count was thirty-two with a
deck and a quarter left, Walter.
Everyone looks at Victor, astounded. Victor nods, confirming.
DARRYL
That’s an advantage of 12.4 percent
with a variance of just 9.4.
(stops backing up, forcing
Walter to stop)
With our bankroll, I should have
been betting six thousand a hand.
WALTER
And the five hundred I saw you put
out at the top of a shoe? What was
the advantage on that?!
DARRYL WALTER
Negative point four percent. Negative point four percent!
DARRYL
Will Vickman was watching. It was a
cover bet. That move cost exactly two
dollars over the long run. We tip
waitresses more than that. They were
the right plays. Both of them.
Walter looks at him. There’s a long beat. Broken by the sound
of a champagne cork popping. It’s Ken, opening a bottle.
KEN
You ever have a running count of
thirty-two, Walter?
 60.

WALTER
Once. Along time ago. In France.
Without another word he goes to the table where the money is
and starts counting it. The others pat Darryl on the back.
Ken drapes an arm over Darryl’s shoulder.
KEN
Sammy’s suite. You bastard.
INT. SAMMY’S SUITE - MORNING

Darryl is alone, packing to go, the place a mess of empty food

tables and wine bottles. The champagne bottles are gone.
A disembodied conversation begins here and carries over the next
few scenes. From the sounds accompanying it (eating and
drinking noises) the conversation is probably from the party the
night before, though it could be from any celebration.
DARRYL (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
What would you do if you had a
million dollars?
JOE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
You mean when we each get to a
million dollars -- what will we do?
Now we see the champagne bottles. They’re in a suitcase,
wrapped in towels. More items are dropped in with them.
Soaps. Shampoos. The shower cap. The plush white robe.
PAT (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
First of all, a million isn’t
enough to live the rest of your
life on...
THE PHONE GOES IN. Darryl shuts the bag.
INT. TROPICANA’S PREMIERE RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Darryl approaches the Maitre d’, passing in front of the

waiting crowds. The disembodied party conversation continues.
PAT (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
... You'd have to invest it or
you’d spend it down to nothing
eventually.
DARRYL
(to Maitre D’)
Johnny Mitchell.
MAITRE D’
Of course Mr. Mitchell, right this way.
JOE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
You’re not getting into the spirit
of the question.
 61.

MAITRE D’
You’re dining alone this evening
sir? Very good.
JOE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
What money buys you is freedom.
The Freedom to do whatever you
want.
CUT TO:
Darryl at a table alone, but filled to the edges with delicious
foods: Roast duck, shrimp cocktail, lobster, caviar --
LYLE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
I'd go into professional sports.
INT. TEAM HOUSE - MORNING

Darryl opens the fridge in the team house, Lyle looking over
his shoulder.
LYLE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
Not pitching, something else. Or
else become a famous actor.
The only thing inside is a box of oatmeal and a rotting onion.
PAT (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
That’s absurd. You can’t buy fame
or an acting career.
LYLE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
Pia Zadora did it.
VICTOR (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
You want to be the next Pia Zadora?
LYLE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
I could be. Why not?
Lyle takes the oatmeal box and shakes it. It’s empty.
JOE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
You’re a moron, you know that?
DARRYL (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
Leave him alone. We’re dreaming here.
INT. STARDUST - NIGHT

Sitting at a blackjack table pretending not to know each

other, Victor watches a host greet Darryl.
HOST
Mr. Garfunkle, how are you?
DARRYL
Simon, please.
 62.

DARRYL (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)

Victor, what about you?
HOST
Nancy taking good care of you,
Simon?
DARRYL
Absolutely.
VICTOR (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
I don’t know. Doesn’t matter to
me.
INT. HILTON - DAY

The same woman pit boss Ken had sex with hands Darryl two
tickets to a show. Darryl bows graciously.
JOE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
If you don’t want anything, why are
you even doing what we’re doing?
WOMAN PIT BOSS
Here’s two tickets to the show, Mr.
Lennon. I thought you might like
to take someone with you.
She smiles flirtatiously. Darryl looks at her.
VICTOR (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
I don’t know. Why not?
INT. HILTON SHOWROOM - NIGHT
Elvis is on stage. The Obese, On-Drugs Elvis. Mumbling ‘Love
me Tender.’ Darryl watches, an empty seat next to him.
JOE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
You make no sense to me at all.
VICTOR (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
Okay, so what about you?
INT. DRY CLEANERS - DAY

Joe and Darryl are together at the dry cleaners. The guy
behind the counter is giving Darryl a weird look.
DARRYL
Steven Nicks?
The man looks for the name on the receipts board, then looks
at Darryl and shakes his head. No. Darryl thinks.
JOE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
Me? What do I want? Just your
basic American dream.
 63.

DARRYL
Jack Browne?
The guy looks for the name, then at Darryl. Shakes his head.
JOE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
A house for my wife and a condo for
my mistress.
IN THE V.O. party conversation, everyone laughs.
Here at the dry cleaners, Darryl tries to think. He has no
idea-- wait a sec.
DARRYL
Darryl Purpose?
The guy looks for the receipt. Here it is. He yanks it out.
INT. SANDS - NIGHT

Darryl is stopped and gladhanded by a pit boss. Pat passes.

Not looking at each other, they scratch their heads in greeting.
PAT (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
What you guys don’t get is that the
American dream requires scrimping,
some saving and some smart investing.
INT./EXT. BUS - DAY

Pat and Darryl get off a bus.

PAT (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
I’ll take half my million and
invest in micro computers. The
micro computer thing is set to
explode.
JOE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
Who the fuck needs their own
computer?
Everyone in the V.O. voices their agreement with that.
Here on the street, Pat points to Darryl’s back as they both
realize something. The bus pulls out. They chase after it.
PAT (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
(talking over them)
Then, when it’s two million, I buy
my dream house on a beach in
Hawaii.
INT. BUS

Bus riders have opened up a knapsack and discovered thousands in

cash inside. Darryl and Pat get back on and start arguing and
cajoling and collecting it all back.
 64.

PAT (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)

The kind of house that would
attract beautiful women.
DARRYL (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
Who you can stay up all night doing
the chores with.
In the V.O., everyone laughs.
INT. WALTER’S CADILLAC - STOPPED AT A LIGHT - DAY

Darryl is in the back seat, sandwiched in with the team.

PAT (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
Okay dickhead, what about you?
LYLE (V.O., PARTY CONVERSATION)
Yeah, Darryl, what do you want?
The ambient sounds of the disembodied conversation fades out
as Darryl looks out the car window and sees:
A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN
stopped at the light in a car right next to him. They’re no
more than five feet away. She notices him and smiles. She
seems sweet and accessible. Darryl smiles back.
The light changes. Walter takes the turn as she goes straight,
a playful look of disappointment on her face. Darryl watches
her go, a “Save the Whales” sticker on her bumper.
INT. SANDS - HOTEL AREA - NIGHT
Darryl walks in. A beat and A MAN walks in behind him.
Following him. Darryl sees Pat and scratches his head hello --
PAT GRABS HIM AND PULLS HIM DOWN A HALL. The guy gives chase.
DARRYL
What--?
PAT
Ken’s here playing.
DARRYL
I thought Ken was laying low!
(Pat just looks at him)
Shit.
PAT
He’s been coming with Victor and
Lyle. The whole place is on fire.
There’s heat everywhere.
There’s an exit. They make for it. Two security guards move
to block their way. Fuck. Darryl pulls Pat a different way.
 65.

MAIN CASINO AREA

Ken is surrounded by a crowd. He’s winning. A lot. A jazz

trio plays at the nearby cocktail bar. Ken snaps his fingers
and taps his feet. He’s in his element. Happy.
And oblivious. You can feel the heat. Salt and Pepper stands
next to Will Vickman, both watching Ken. Every pit boss looks
grim. Lyle is signalling “end of play.” Ken doesn’t notice
or doesn’t want to.
A phone rings. The Jovial pit boss answers, none too jovial.
JOVIAL
(anger barely contained)
It’s for you. Your table’s ready.
KEN
I’m on a streak. Tell them to
bring me a bottle of Cordon Bleu in
the meantime.
A beat and the pit boss talks into the phone. Victor puts a
hand to his cheek and Ken moves over there. Salt and Pepper
looks at Vickman, who nods. He saw it. Lyle signals “heat”
and “end of play.” Vickman looks right at him.
KEN
C’mon, gimme a blackjack!
His prayer is answered -- and the crowd cheers. As the dealer
pays off a laughing Ken, the heat rises twenty degrees.
PAT AND DARRYL
are corralled into the main casino area by security. Their way
through is blocked, too. Deciding what the hell, they go to the
bar. Security looks to Vickman for instructions. Vickman holds
up his hand to them -- wait.
PAT
Scotch, neat. Same for my friend.
DARRYL
(watching Ken play)
He knows it’s over. He just refuses to
go quietly. He wants to go out with
style.
PAT
Yeah. Or he’s drunk.
Darryl nods. A headwaiter in formal attire hurries to Ken
with a bucket and a towel over his arm. He uncorks the wine.
Ken sniffs the cork, approves it and the waiter pours.

Ken looks at Vickman as if noticing him for the first time. He

raises his glass to him and sips. Vickman’s had enough. He
nods to the pit boss, who taps the dealer, who refuses to deal.
 66.

KEN
What’s up, Mike? You guys run out
of money? Can’t cover my bet?
The crowd watches, confused. The Young Pit Boss stares at
Ken, hatred in his eyes. Joe gets up and heads out. Lyle
too, in a different direction. Both find their way blocked by
security. Victor sips his soda, unconcerned.
KEN
It’s okay. I need a break anyway.
(takes wine to bandstand)
Mind if I sit in boys?
They don’t. Ken’s fans are charmed as he sits at the piano.
KEN
This one’s for you, Will.
Vickman just watches him. Ken plays, the band accompanying.
Around the pit, all play stops as people watch Ken. All eyes on
him, security moves in on the others, who are strong-armed
across the casino floor to a back door.
Darryl is manhandled through it.
INT. CASINO OFFICES

Behind the curtain is a stark contrast to the casino. They’re

pulled along chipped linoleum floors, past file cabinets and
trash cans that look like they haven’t been cleaned in years.
Darryl’s security guard is twisting his arm.
DARRYL
Not mean enough to get a job as a
Vegas cop, huh?
He twists it more.
INT. SANDS CASINO MAIN FLOOR

Ken finishes playing. Impressed, players, dealers -- even a

few pit bosses -- applaud. Ken stands and takes a bow.
INT. BACK ROOM - NIGHT

Darryl and the others sit in chairs across from a smug Salt
and Pepper. Darryl looks to the corner -- AT POMPADOUR --
whose paternal inklings have been replaced by a dark look.
They hear Ken being dragged through the hallway.
KEN (O.S.)
Phil, man, how’s it going? Julie,
hey, how’s things? We should get
together.
This last is to the pit boss who Ken slept with, passing the
open door as Vickman pulls Ken into the room -- in handcuffs.
 67.

VICKMAN
Now tell me you don’t know them.
KEN
I’ve never seen them before. Will,
come on, you know me. We’re
friends.
Salt and Pepper tosses photos onto the desk one by one. They
start with the least damning: them playing at the same tables.
They get worse: Pat handing money to Darryl in a parking lot.
All of them having dinner at Big Buddha restaurant.
LYLE
(points to himself in photo)
That doesn’t even look like me.
More photos come down. Having breakfast at the diner.
Leaving the team house. Vickman shoves a photo in Ken’s face.
KEN
Touché Will. But I think you know
there’s fault on both sides here.
I may have been less than honest
but only because of the absurd
policy of barring expert players
like myself. No hard feelings?
Ken reaches around with a handcuffed hand to try to shake, but
Vickman gives him an ugly glare and walks out.
CUT TO:
Ken against a wall as a security guard takes two Polaroids.
He hands one to Pompadour, the other to Salt and Pepper.
QUICK CUTS of each teammates having a Polaroid taken, then
CUT TO:
A security guard uncuffing Ken. The team gathers to go.
KEN
You can be sure I’ll be contacting
my lawyer about this treatment.
JOVIAL
Yeah? I’m sure you two will have
plenty to talk about...
He opens the door. Cops come in. They handcuff everyone again.
COP
Gentlemen, you’re under arrest for
cheat at play.
 68.

JOVIAL
... but since it’s Friday night, it
might be hard to reach him ‘til Monday.
Pompadour whispers to one of the cops while looking at Darryl.
INT. PRECINCT JAIL - MONDAY MORNING

Worse for wear after a weekend in jail, Darryl retrieves his

belongings at a counter, including the gold watch Ken gave him.
As he heads for the exit, the cop from Friday night steps up.
COP
Oh, yeah, message from a friend.
(thinks)
I forget what he said. But there
was also this.
He punches Darryl. Another cop catches him as he falls back.
EXT. PRECINCT JAIL

The team is waiting outside as the two cops shove Darryl out.
Darryl falls down the steps, landing hard on one shoulder. The
team rushes over to him. Ken starts up the stairs.
KEN
Pigs! You goddamn pigs!
The cops feint toward Ken -- who runs away. They laugh.
INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - DAY

Darryl sits on a bed, shirt off, big bruise on his shoulder.

DOCTOR
Hairline fracture. We’ll need to
immobilize it.
He walks off to get the materials -- REVEALING A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG
WOMAN ON THE BED BEHIND HIM, HAVING HER VITALS CHECKED. It’s
the woman Darryl saw in the car. They recognize each other
immediately and smile -- as Lyle, Joe, Pat and Victor walk in.
PAT
How’re you feeling?
Darryl shrugs -- which hurts his shoulder.
PAT
That sucks.
VICTOR
The good news is the charges won’t
stick. The bad news is bad. Salt
and Pepper isn’t Sands security.
He belongs to something called the
Griffin Detective agency.
 69.

JOE
They’re using us to sign up clients
all over town, giving them copies of
our photos and a thick report on
team play, and all of us.
VICTOR
Everywhere we try to walk in, we’re
barred immediately.
PAT
It’s over. Team play has been
blown. And we’re shy of our
million bucks.
They all look at each other, bummed.
CUT TO:
Arm in a sling, Darryl heads out with his teammates. But he
stop by the woman. Pat smiles as he and the others wait.
DARRYL
You okay?
WOMAN
Just routine. You?
DARRYL
Got thrown down some stairs by a
cop.
WOMAN
My cousin’s a cop here.
Oh no. Did he just put his foot in it?
WOMAN
He’s a real asshole. Maybe it was him.
They laugh. There’s a spark here. They both feel it.
WOMAN
Helen.
DARRYL
Darryl.

INT. HELEN’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Political posters and books fill the walls. Nuclear Freeze

movement. Equal Rights Amendment. Greenpeace. A.S.P.C.A.
Darryl and Helen make out on the couch, working around his arm.
They’ve moved past foreplay toward pulling each other’s clothes
off. Darryl notices a medical alert tag around her neck.
DARRYL
What’s this?
 70.

HELEN
(having trouble with bra)
Nothing, forget it. Help me.
DARRYL
It says to dial 911 in an
emergency.
She yanks off the medical alert tag and throws it across the
room. He tries to help with the bra with his one hand.
DARRYL
What kind of emergency? I thought
your visit was routine.
HELEN
Routine for me.
As it comes off, he’s amazed at the revelation of her beauty.
She loves the look on his face.
HELEN
The odds are really small, okay?
She kisses him, he kisses her back. Then registers her words.
DARRYL
Odds of what?
She pushes him down, climbs on him, takes his hand and puts it
on her breast. All thought of his question disappears.
HELEN
That I’ll die while having sex.
That gives Darryl pause. He looks at her a beat.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Helen was so beautiful, so alive.
She’d been born with an ‘atrial
septal defect,’ basically a hole in
her heart, the last living person
not to have it corrected at birth.
Every time she ran up a flight of
stairs or went for a swim or chose
to make love to a man, she risked
her life.
(beat)
What a turn-on.
They lock lips, continue pulling each other’s pants off.
CUT TO:
They’ve ended up on the floor between coffee table and couch.
HELEN
Seventeen. Give or take.
 71.

DARRYL
Okay.
HELEN
You?
DARRYL
I don’t think I can count myself as
ever actually having had sex. Per
se.
HELEN
Oh my God.
(laughs -- then stops,
awesome responsibility)
I deflowered you. I never would have
known. Never. I’d have said... third
time.
They laugh, but he’s embarrassed.
HELEN
Hey. Inexperience has its remedy.
She kisses him sweetly -- and they move to make love again.
MONTAGE OF DARRYL AND HELEN HAVING SEX IN VARIOUS PLACES

IN THE DESERT, putting suntan lotion on each other --

DARRYL (V.O.)
We made love everywhere, three times
a day for two weeks. Helen lived
every moment as if it were her last
and it was intoxicating.
IN THE DEEP END OF A HOTEL POOL, people around them oblivious --
DARRYL (V.O.)
The doctors had said she wouldn’t
make it out of childhood.
ON A BUILDING’S ROOF. CRANE DOWN. It’s the police station --
DARRYL (V.O.)
Then that she’d never make it to
her twenties.
IN HER BED, while eating birthday cake. Helium balloons cover
the ceiling. He pops a cork on champagne from Sammy’s suite.
DARRYL (V.O.)
And the week after we met, we
celebrated her 20th with a big fuck
you to that kind of negative
thinking.
EXT. VEGAS STREET - DAY

Darryl walks with Helen, holding her hand. Happy.

 72.

DARRYL
The guys are gonna love you.
He stops. Goes back. He’s looking at a bookstore window, the
display filled with ONE BOOK:
“THE BIG PLAYER,” subtitle: “HOW A TEAM OF BLACKJACK PLAYERS
MADE A MILLION DOLLARS.”
BY KEN USTON
EXT. TEAM HOUSE - DAY

Victor is walking out with a small suitcase as Darryl runs up.

DARRYL
Victor?
VICTOR
Team split up, so I’ll catch you
later.
He walks off, completely unaffected. Darryl watches him go.
INT. TEAM HOUSE

A bare space, unwanted detritus all that’s left. Everyone is

gone. Darryl can’t believe it. Then Pat comes out of a room
with a bag, giving the place a final once over.
PAT
Where the hell have you been?
DARRYL
I was... where is everybody?
PAT
Victor’s going back to his
underwater welding job, Lyle’s on
the road looking for Evel, Joe’s on
an extended vacation with his wife -
- and George. How, I don’t know.
I see you’ve got a copy of the
great man’s work. Have you read
it?
(takes book from Darryl)
Here, this is typical: ‘Other
players loved his grand
showmanship, which was quickly
building his reputation as the most
daring and successful blackjack
player ever to hit Las Vegas.’
DARRYL
Walter.
QUICK CUT-AWAY TO THE SAME LOCATION, A FEW DAYS EARLIER:

Walter holds the book, in shock, as Ken arrives -- drunk.

 73.

PAT (O.S.)
He’d just seen it when Ken shows
up.
Walter holds the book out at Ken accusatorially. Ken takes
it, then AUTOGRAPHS IT and hands it back. Walter lunges at
him. The team has to restrain him.
PAT (O.S.)
We had to talk him out of killing
Ken. I’m still not sure that was
the right thing to do.
BACK TO SCENE
PAT
He must have had it ready to go to
press, just waiting for the bust.
Or maybe he got tired of waiting
and got us busted on purpose.
Pat hands the book back, zips up his bag.
DARRYL
So that’s it? It’s over? We just let
them run us out of town?
PAT
Death, taxes and casino profits.
(heads for the door)
Our faces are all over Nevada and
Nevada’s the only show in town.
DARRYL
Well. Good-bye. I guess.
PAT
I guess.
(opens door to go, stops,
turns back)
Then again, America’s not the only
town in town.
DARRYL
Where are you thinking?
PAT
Korea. Flight 602 out of L.A. on
Friday. You wanna come?
DARRYL
Sure.
PAT
Good. Then you might as well use
the ticket I left for you on your
bed.
He grins at Darryl -- and walks out.
 74.

INT. KEN USTON’S APARTMENT - DAY

Darryl walks in on a hubbub of activity. Ken’s PUBLICIST is

on the phone. His AGENT is on the couch.
PUBLICIST (INTO PHONE)
... he’ll only be in L.A. a few
days. You can interview him or
not, nobody’s twisting your arm...
A PERSONAL ASSISTANT hovers. A TAILOR fits Ken for a jacket.
Darryl watches Ken with a mix of feelings.
KEN’S AGENT
That’s good, very Hollywood. You
want to try to blend in.
(laughs)
Look who I’m talking to. The
master.
Ken spots Darryl and is genuinely happy to see him.
KEN
Darryl! Can you believe it? The
best seller list! Hollywood
chomping at the bit to make a movie
of my life? People love me! Is
this crazy or what?
DARRYL
Crazy.
Ken laughs, then pulls Darryl aside. He’s sober. Thoughtful.
KEN
I know how you feel. Nobody cared
about the team more than you. But
team play was blown, Darryl. We
knew it was going to happen
sometime. Everything I put in my
book the casinos already had.
Darryl nods. That’s true. He wants to forgive Ken.
KEN
C’mon, is it really so wrong for me
to write about the experience from
my point of view?
DARRYL
I guess not.
KEN
You may not realize it now, but
this is a good thing for you. It’s
time for you to broaden your
experiences, do something new.
 75.

DARRYL
Pat suggested an international
play.
KEN
Yes! See the world! There’s a lot
more to this life than Vegas!
Ken is making sense. It makes Darryl feel like sharing.
DARRYL
I met a girl.
KEN
Yeah? The way you say that, it
sounds like she’s special.
(Darryl nods shyly)
Look at you! That’s great.
(pours them both drinks)
Be careful, though. Guys like us
aren’t meant to be tied down. When
she starts making you fold napkins
cornerwise or wash the cat, it’s time
to hit the road. Cats don’t need to
be washed. They wash themselves.
Ken shakes his head. Women. Darryl laughs and nods: no need
to worry about me. Ken grips his shoulder affectionately.
KEN
I want you to do something for me.
I’m worried about Walter. Can you
talk to him, make sure he’s okay?
He won’t talk to me. Tell him...
he can have half the money from the
book. Shit, half from the movie, I
don’t care, it’s not about the
money. And tell him I’m suing the
fuckers. The Sands. See that guy?
My lawyer.
A guy with comb-over hair picks at a catering spread.
KEN
They can’t kick us out because we win.
It’s goddamn un-American and I’m not
letting them get away with it.
(sips his drink)
You tell him that.

EXT. RUN-DOWN VEGAS HOUSE - DAY

Darryl knocks at a run-down Vegas house. He tries the team

knock. He peeks in a window.
There’s a light deep inside.
 76.

INT. BACK OF RUN-DOWN VEGAS HOUSE - SUN ROOM - DAY

Darryl comes in through a sun room where the windows have been
blackened. Piles of dusty chips are stacked on a rusty desk.
INT. LIVING ROOM

The house is dark, dank, neglected. Walter sits in a ratty

armchair with a glass of something amber, bottle on the table.
Neat piles of cash and chips collect dust on various surfaces.
DARRYL
Walter?
WALTER
(looks up, focuses on him)
You were right.
Darryl doesn’t know what he means.
WALTER
There is no number you’d ever stand
on soft eighteen with downtown
rules. Braun published a corrected
set of numbers. I have the paper
somewhere...
DARRYL
That’s okay. I can see it later.
WALTER
You want to sit? Have a drink?
DARRYL
(surprised by the invitation)
Sure.
WALTER
I think there’s ice in the fridge.
INT. WALTER’S KITCHEN - DAY

Darryl opens the freezer. There’s ice -- but mostly it’s

filled with casino chips. Darryl picks one up, “$1,000”
printed on it. He opens the fridge. It’s filled with cash.
He opens a kitchen cabinet. Then another and another. All of
them are filled with $50,000 bricks and casino chips.
CUT TO:
On his way back, ice in his glass, Darryl passes a closet. He
stops. Opens it. IT’S FILLED TO THE TOP WITH MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS FROM YEARS OF PLAYING, layers of dust over most of it.
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Walter is in his chair. Darryl sits across from him. Each sips
their drink. Darryl doesn’t say anything.
 77.

Neither does Walter.

FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. NEW CAR - DAY

Darryl and Helen get out of his new BMW. In an expensive suit
and shoes and a new haircut, Darryl looks sharp. More mature.
DARRYL
How do I look?
She unbuttons a button on his shirt. There. Perfect.
EXT. MAGGIE AND NEW STEPFATHER’S HOME - DAY

MAGGIE OPENS THE DOOR on Darryl and Helen.

DARRYL
Mom. This is Hel--
Maggie pulls him in for a smothering hug, happy tears in her
eyes. Then pushes him back to get a good look at him.
MAGGIE
Look at you in that suit.
He looks great, except... she buttons the button we saw Helen
unbutton, then pats his chest. There. Perfect. She
remembers her manners, taking Helen’s hand warmly.
MAGGIE
I’m sorry. Maggie.
HELEN
Helen, hi.
INT. MAGGIE’S AND NEW STEPFATHER’S HOUSE - DAY

Helen and Darryl are on the couch, the center of the family’s
attention. Maggie pours tea. The older of his two younger
sisters is next to Darryl, holding his hand -- and patting the
couch next to her trying to get the youngest to come over.
The youngest -- eight years old -- shakes her head, looking at
Darryl as if he were a stranger.
His older sisters are here too. Deanna holds up a New York
Times Magazine, the cover a photo of Ken playing piano, the
title: “Winning (Habitually) in Vegas”.
DEANNA
This is him, right? He’s really
cute.
Dori has a copy of “The Big Player” open, leafing through it.
 78.

DORI
So which of these guys is you?
DARRYL
Jack Baker.
DEANNA
This is so cool. You’re
practically famous.
MAGGIE
Of course he is. He’s a big
success.
The sister holding Darryl’s hand pats the couch hard and loud to
get the youngest to come over, but she still shakes her head.
MAGGIE
It’s alright, she’ll come around
eventually. Dan’s coming from the
office for lunch. We’re having pot
roast.
DARRYL
Mom, I told you when I called, we
can’t stay. We just stopped by to
say hello.
MAGGIE
Not even for lunch?
Maggie is deeply disappointed.
DARRYL
Well, the thing is, we have a plane
to catch. ... I’m sorry.
Dori and Deanna watch Maggie. The rejection she feels is
palpable to Helen, too. Maggie and Darryl are looking at each
other, unresolved emotions charging the air.
Maggie puts on her happy face.
MAGGIE
Well, it was certainly good of you
to stop by on your way. More tea?
Darryl holds out his cup. She pours.

EXT. MAGGIE’S HOUSE - DAY

Darryl and Helen are leaving. Helen darts back, hugs Maggie.
HELEN
Don’t worry. Things will get
better.
Maggie looks at her gratefully. Helen catches up to Darryl.
 79.

DARRYL
Well. That wasn’t so bad.
HELEN
You know, she just wants to be a
part of your life. What’s wrong
with that?
Darryl looks at her, then at Maggie, who’s waving goodbye from
the doorway. He thinks about it as they get into the car.
INT. LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - GATE 9 - DAY

Pat smiles when he sees Darryl walk up with Helen. Both are
lugging large suitcases. Pat has a tiny travel bag.
DARRYL
That’s all you’re bringing?
PAT
You’ll find it helps to travel
light.
INT. PLANE - DAY

Like a child with a new toy, Darryl plays with buttons on his
armrest. He turns the light on and off. He lowers and raises
the tray. He pushes a button. Bing! It’s the call light.
He looks at Pat and Helen in wonder. They look back deadpan.
INT. WALKER HILL CASINO - KOREA - NIGHT

A playground for the world’s elite. Asians. Arabs. Indians.

A Latin American dictator with bodyguards. Darryl and Pat
play at a table, Helen hugging Darryl from behind.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Walker Hill in Seoul, the largest,
most profitable casino in the
history of the world. So much cash
flowed in, there was a time they
didn’t care about counters and we
came from all over the world to
play.
Darryl notices a group of contemptuous-looking players with
bad teeth and unwashed hair, holding cigarettes in the eastern
European manner. The leader sneers at him.
DARRYL
They’d take all the action we gave
them and smile.
DARRYL’S POV of a smiling Korean pit boss -- AS ANOTHER PIT
BOSS STEPS INTO FRAME -- NOT SMILING. HE HOLDS UP A GRIFFIN
AGENCY ADVISORY WITH DARRYL’S FACE ON IT.
DARRYL (V.O.)
But that time had come and gone.
 80.

INT. CRAPPY KOREAN HOTEL ROOM - DAY

PAN the hotel room. Wires run outside the walls. The cold
winter wind whistles in through a cracked window.
DARRYL (V.O.)
But we’d come this far and were
determined to make the most of it.
The PAN comes to Darryl and Helen making love in the bed.
DARRYL (V.O.)
We went looking for new games.
EXT. AIRPORT - DAY

Hurrying to catch a plane, Pat moves comfortably with his small

bag as Helen and Darryl look tired dragging their luggage.
DARRYL (V.O.)
We got a cheap flight and a
fantastic deal on a hotel in Sri
Lanka.
INT. AIRPLANE - DAY

Reading a travel book, Darryl sits next to a Sri Lankan man.

DARRYL
It says here that in Sri Lanka when
people shake their heads side to
side it means yes. Is that true?
The man shakes his head side to side.
DARRYL
Yeah I didn’t think so.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Ken was right. There was a whole
world out there, and not all of it
was like Vegas.
EXT. POOL AREA - SRI LANKAN LUXURY HOTEL - DAY

Darryl sits down to relax in the deserted pool area with a cup
of coffee and an English paper, which he opens to the middle.
We see the paper’s headline: “REBELS APPROACH CITY!”
In the hills behind him there’s an explosion! He jumps up --
INT. GAMBLING BOAT - DAY

Darryl has his guitar with him. At a nearby table, those same
Eastern European players smoke and sneer. Darryl, Pat and
Helen flatbet ten dollars at their table.
 81.

DARRYL (V.O.)
We played a boat between Singapore
and Thailand where the Chinese
owners believed only in luck. They
let us do whatever we wanted.
Darryl, Helen and Pat jump their bets from $10 to $500.
DARRYL (V.O.)
And they had a special way of
dealing with what they thought were
unlucky tables.
CUT TO:
THE DECK -- as two workers throw a blackjack table overboard.
DOLLY BACK. Another two workers throw another table over.
KEEP DOLLYING BACK -- as another table is tossed over.
DARRYL (V.O.)
In Poland, we won 92 Billion
Zloties.
INT. POLISH CASINO CAGE - NIGHT

Darryl, Pat and Helen are amazed as stacks and stacks of

currency -- their winnings -- are piled in front of them.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Or about four thousand dollars.
INT. MONTE CARLO - NIGHT

In a tux, Darryl walks down marble steps under crystal

chandeliers, Helen’s arm in his. Pat is also in a tux.
DARRYL (V.O.)
In Monte Carlo, I had a martini,
shaken not stirred.
CUT TO:
Slipping cooly into a blackjack table, martini in hand, Darryl
goes to make a bet --
-- as a pit boss shoves the Griffin advisory on him into his
face. And one on Pat into his. They both sigh, bummed out.
Helen grabs the advisories and with great dignity rips them up.
She tosses the pieces into the snooty european pit boss’s face.
Pat and Darryl smile, their moods much improved. She takes
their arms and leads them out, their heads all held high,
patrons watching, the pit boss actually embarrassed.
DARRYL (V.O.)
But in all our travels it was
through Helen’s eyes that I saw
most clearly.
 82.

EXT. VARIOUS SPOTS AROUND PRAGUE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA - DAY

Helen drags Darryl through the streets of the city of the

"hundred turns,” overwhelmed by its beauty. She’s exhausted,
but refuses to stop -- pulling him across the Charles bridge.
EXT. NICE, FRANCE - THE MEDITERRANEAN - DAY

Darryl chases her into the Mediterranean as she tosses her

clothes off. She dives in naked -- Darryl right behind her.
INT. TAXI - INDONESIA - DAY

Beggars surround their taxi, slowing it down, touching the

windows with empty palms. Afraid for the money, Pat moves his
bag safely toward the middle of the seat, away from the window.
Helen puts her palm to the window glass, a beggar on the other
side putting his palm to her.
She turns to look at Pat’s bag, now right next to her --
EXT. TAXI

The window rolls down. A burst of money comes flying out.

PAT (O.S., IN TAXI)
Hey!
The beggars scramble to pick it up, happy. What a gift!
EXT. RIO DE JANEIRO STREETS - NIGHT

Darryl tries to keep up with Helen as she dances through the

streets in the midst of Carnival. They laugh and kiss.
Pat watches them, enviously. He feels alone.
CUT TO:
Pat at a pay phone, yelling into it, Carnival all around him.
PAT
Susan! Hi, it’s Pat! ... Pat! I’m
in Rio. Yeah. So. How are you?
CUT TO:
Helen and Darryl move onto a less-crowded side street where
they suddenly find themselves face to face with:
THE EASTERN EUROPEANS.
The Leader sneers. His men await orders. He stamps out a
cigarette and motions with his head. Nothing happens. Darryl
realizes he’s gesturing to the guitar he’s got on his back.
One of them holds up a Balalaika. Another pulls out a flute.
Another a violin. They want to jam.
 83.

EXT. RIO DE JANEIRO PARK - NIGHT

Darryl plays music with the Eastern Europeans. Helen holds

the Balalaika, taking a lesson from one of them. Their Leader
still seems to sneer, but it’s just the way he looks. He has
his own dog-eared copy of ‘The Big Player’ open to a page.
DARRYL
‘Jack Baker.’ That’s me.
EASTERN EUROPEAN LEADER
(pointing to him)
Big Player! Big Player!
EASTERN EUROPEAN TEAM
Ah! Big player!
Darryl shakes his head, but it’s too late. Helen laughs.
DARRYL (V.O.)
For all the fun we had, travel was
starting to become a drag.
INT. ST. MARTIN ISLAND - CASINO - NIGHT

In a St. Martin casino, a pair of hard-looking Italian mobsters

with unhappy expressions watch Darryl winning.
INT. ST. MARTIN ISLAND - HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Darryl, Pat and Helen scramble to drop their suitcases over

the balcony, then go over themselves as --
BAM! THE DOOR BURSTS OPEN. It’s the police and the mobsters.
ONE CARRIES A GRIFFIN ADVISORY WITH DARRYL’S FACE ON IT. They
look around. One goes out to the balcony and looks out.
EXT. HOTEL - UNDER THE BALCONY

They’re hiding under the balcony. The guy above goes back in.
EXT. BEACH - MINUTES LATER

Pat easily carries his travel bag as Darryl and Helen struggle
to drag their luggage across the sand.
DARRYL (V.O.)
It was time to go home.
INT. L.A. AIRPORT - DAY

Susan -- the woman Pat stole out from under Darryl at the bar --
is waiting at the gate as Pat, Darryl and Helen come off the
plane. She and Pat embrace as Darryl and Helen watch, smiling.
Pat turns and looks at them. He hugs Helen goodbye. Then
shakes Darryl’s hand. Darryl pulls him in for a hug. Pat looks
at them fondly -- then walks off, his arm around Susan.
 84.

DARRYL (V.O.)
I was nineteen, I had two hundred
and sixty thousand dollars in my
pocket and I was in love.
Darryl turns to Helen. She smiles and they kiss.
DARRYL (V.O.)
We had six more months together.
INT. BEAUTIFUL HOUSE ON LAKE TAHOE HILLSIDE - DAY

They look out on a breathtaking view of Lake Tahoe. Helen

nods. Darryl hands a $50,000 brick to the real estate agent.
DARRYL (V.O.)
We hung out, made love, spent
money.
A love song, a guitar ballad, plays over CROSS FADES:
Movers set down a queen size bed...
Helen puts down a rug...
A dog appears. A cat appears. The dog chases the cat.
Darryl and Helen make love -- He knows exactly what to do to
make her happy. She nods; that’s it --
They eat a fancy meal in an expensive restaurant. Darryl pops
the cork on a bottle of Cordon Bleu --
On the street, Darryl hands a wad of cash to a poor street
musician who protests it’s too much, but Darryl insists --
Darryl buys a boat, handing the owner another wad of cash --
Helen pilots it across the lake, laughing as she pushes them
faster and faster, her novice abilities threatening to
overturn them. Darryl grips the rail, his knuckles white --
The last cut is to Darryl, on the house’s deck, guitar on his
lap. He’s been singing the ballad for Helen. He stops.
DARRYL
That’s all I’ve got so far.
She sits next to him, rests her hand softly on his neck and
whispers in his ear:
HELEN
I love it.
INT. LAKE TAHOE HOUSE - DAY

Darryl comes in to find Helen crying and goes to her, concerned.

HELEN
I went to the doctor.
 85.

DARRYL
What... what did he say?
HELEN
He said I was going to live.
She cries harder. She’s disconsolate.
DARRYL
He said you’re going to live? That
you’re not going to die? That’s
what he said?
She nods, bawling. Darryl laughs, relieved. He hugs her.
INT. LAKE TAHOE HOUSE - NIGHT

Lying in bed, after making love, Helen lost in thought as

Darryl strokes her hair.
DARRYL
So now you start thinking about the
long run. What’s wrong with that?
She sighs and relaxes deeply into him. A new look begins to
appear on Darryl’s face. A thoughtful look.
DARRYL
It’ll just take some getting used
to.
MOVE IN ON Darryl as he holds her and thinks about that himself.
INT. LAKE TAHOE HOUSE - NIGHT
Darryl sits on the couch. Helen brings teas for them, then sits
and snuggles against him. The dog goes onto his lap. The cat
into hers. He uses the bulky remote to turn on the TV.
HELEN
I think Lulu needs a bath.
Darryl’s not listening. He’s distracted as he turns up the
sound on the TV
AS A TALK SHOW COMES ON
Ken is on, debating WILL VICKMAN and SALT AND PEPPER. A woman
is sitting on the edge of Ken’s chair, playing with his hair.
The MODERATOR is amused as he looks from her to the camera.
MODERATOR (ON TV)
Good morning. We’re live at the
state capitol with Ken Uston, world
champion blackjack player --
recently featured in Playboy and
the October People Magazine.
(MORE)
 86.
MODERATOR (ON TV) (cont'd)
And two members of the gaming
industry: the Sands’ Will Vickman
and Steven Stevenson of the Griffin
Detective Agency. Ken, you’re
suing for the right to play.
What’s the basis of the suit?
KEN (ON TV)
The casinos offer a game of skill to
the public but only let the unskilled,
drunk or compulsive play, while
arbitrarily excluding the skilled. So
basically you can play, but only if
you lose.
MODERATOR (ON TV)
What about it, gentlemen? If he’s
not cheating, or doing anything
illegal, why can’t he play?
The woman picks up Ken’s drink and hands it to him.
HELEN
Look at that, she’s like his pet.
Darryl nods, smiling. Helen looks at him. He drops the smile.
VICKMAN (ON TV)
(overlapping)
It’s a state law. As a private
establishment, we can ask anybody to
leave. We’re a business. We have the
right to protect our bottom line --
KEN (ON TV)
That’s bull.
The moderator starts at the use of that word. He shoots Ken a
look. Ken nods; he’ll cool it. He leans forward, all business.
KEN
Card counting’s been good for the
casinos, Jim. People know the game
can be beaten, but most don’t have
the skills. Our existence has made
them millions. But the real point
is: they say anyone can win, then
they bar people who win.
MODERATOR (ON TV)
Doesn’t exactly seem fair, does it?
Salt and Pepper leans forward. We finally get to hear from him.
SALT AND PEPPER (ON TV)
And what about Tommy over here from
Kokomo Indiana with his ten
dollars?
(MORE)
 87.
SALT AND PEPPER (ON TV) (cont'd)
Is it fair that Mr. Uston goes into
a casino and wins when Tommy, just
because he’s not as good as him in
math, is it fair for him to win but
not Tommy? You think that’s fair.
That's what you think -- correct or
incorrect?
KEN (ON TV)
Of course. I don’t play against Tommy
or take his money. You do.
SALT AND PEPPER (ON TV)
So Tommy’s not as smart as you, so
therefore does not deserve to win.
That’s what you’re saying --
correct or incorrect?
Ken and the moderator just look at him.
HELEN
This is the guy who caught you?
Darryl can’t believe it either.
SALT AND PEPPER (ON TV)
Well we say it is not fair and
therefore we say you cannot play.
He gives Ken a triumphant, got-you-now smirk.
KEN (ON TV)
Jim, I think I know what we’ve got
here.
MODERATOR (ON TV)
Yes? Please, explain it to me.
KEN (ON TV)
A bunch of greedy fucking morons.
Salt and Pepper’s back goes up. Somebody off camera says ‘shit,
Jesus, did he just say Fuck?’ The camera is jostled. It cuts
to nothing. Then to a commercial.
INT. LAKE TAHOE HOUSE - NIGHT

Darryl lies in bed awake, thinking, Helen asleep beside him.

DARRYL (V.O.)
Since I was a child I’d always felt
there are hidden patterns in the
universe.
He closes his eyes AND FINDS HIMSELF IN A DREAM OR VISION:
INT. CASINO - DAY

He’s in a casino in Australia. Outside a wall of windows, a

kangaroo hops by. He watches as a dealer shuffles multiple
decks of cards:
 88.

The dealer grabs sections of cards and combines them. SFX: THE
COMBINED SECTIONS GLOW IN DISTINCT COLORS. THE FINAL ASSEMBLED
SHOE ENDS UP WITH A BLUE SECTION, RED SECTION, GREEN SECTION...
DARRYL (V.O.)
... patterns that exist just beyond
our conscious mind’s ability to grasp.
A pit boss walks up and holds up a Griffin Advisory with
Darryl’s face. THE CASINO DISSOLVES AROUND DARRYL -- AND IS
REPLACED BY ANOTHER CASINO.
DARRYL
And when I played blackjack I felt
that way even more...
This new casino is exactly the same except for the color scheme
and the signs, which are now in Finnish. Outside, the sun has
been replaced by a blizzard. Darryl is in the same spot. The
shoe of cards is the same. The dealer offers Darryl the cut
card. He cuts where one section ends and another begins.
DARRYL
I felt sometimes that I could see
them.
The dealer moves the green glowing section to the front. Then
deals. Darryl gets a blackjack on all seven spots --
INT. LAKE TAHOE HOUSE - MORNING

His eyes pop open. He sits up, thinking about the dream.
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
Darryl has multiple decks out, and paper and pen. He takes
sections of the decks and combines and recombines them as a
dealer would in a shuffle.
DARRYL (V.O.)
But if there are hidden patterns in
the universe, patterns we only
glimpse from the corner of an
eye...
In the b.g., Helen is on the phone.
HELEN
... We’d love to have you over.
How’s Thursday night?
DARRYL (V.O.)
... are they patterns that have been
crafted for us by an unseen hand? ...
INT. LAKE TAHOE HOUSE - NIGHT

Darryl is still at it, drawing diagrams at the table. He’s

unshaven, unwashed.
 89.

DARRYL (V.O.)
... or are they webs woven in the
toss of some universal dice?
Helen comes from the kitchen where she’s making a big meal and
puts some silverware down on the dining table.
HELEN
Darryl?
He looks up from his trance and nods to her silent request.
CUT TO:
Darryl, still thinking about his puzzle as he sets the table.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Or perhaps what we glimpse are just
the patterns we weave for ourselves
deep within our own subconscious
minds.
He’s folding napkins edge to edge. Helen comes by and corrects
him, taking a napkin and folding it corner to corner. He nods
and starts to do it that way as she kisses his cheek and goes.
Then he freezes, realizing what he’s doing. HOLD ON HIS FACE.
INT. LAKE TAHOE HOUSE - NIGHT

The dinner party. Helen and the invited couple laugh and
talk, MOS. Darryl nods, pretends to smile, but he’s lost in
his own world, wheels turning in his mind.
The woman smiles at him flirtatiously as Helen and her man
talk, oblivious. She sips her wine, lightly licks her lips.
INT. LAKE TAHOE HOUSE - DAY

Darryl packs as Helen watches. Everything reminds us of his

father leaving Maggie: how they stand, the position of the
dresser. His suitcase. Her dignity.
HELEN
Why can’t I go with you?
DARRYL
This isn’t travelling around the
world. It’ll be hard work, long
hours. It’ll be boring.
HELEN
I just want to be with you.
He tries not to look at her as he packs, but can’t help himself.
She looks so sad. He goes to her and hugs her. WE HOLD ON
THEM HUGGING TIGHTLY, THEN CUT TO:
 90.

INT./EXT. CAR - OUTSIDE AIRPORT - DAY

Helen is crying as she pulls over to the curb to drop Darryl

off. He opens his mouth to speak, but can’t find the words.
DARRYL (V.O.)
I was too young for commitment.
That’s what I I told myself. She
was my first love, there would be
others and if not, if this was
right, then we would find each
other again.
In the car, Darryl looks at her face. Memorizing her.
DARRYL (V.O.)
I didn’t know.
HELEN
I love you.
Tears well up in Darryl’s eyes. He struggles not to cry. She
reaches out to him -- but he grabs his bag and gets out. As he
starts off, she pops her head out of the window.
HELEN
Hey! You have to play.
(he nods, points to
airport, he’s going...)
No stupid. Music. For people, in
front of audiences. Reward lies in
the house of risk. You wouldn’t
really be much of a gambler if you
don’t try, now would you?
She throws something. He catches it and looks at it.
IT’S HER MEDICAL ALERT TAG.
She blasts a smile at him through her tears, ducks back in and
pulls recklessly into traffic, nearly colliding with a car.
Darryl watches her go.
INT. WALTER’S HOUSE - DAY

Darryl walks through Walter’s house. It’s empty. No

belongings. No furniture. He opens the closet. Empty.
In the kitchen, the cabinets are open and bare. So is the
fridge. He starts out and stops. Something peeks from under
the stove. He crouches and flicks it out with a finger.
It’s a $5,000 casino chip.
INT. KEN’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

CLOSE ON A TV AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO PLAYS: Ken at a

blackjack table, flanked by two sexy women in tight shirts.
 91.

KEN (ON INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO)

And with the Uston Advanced Point
Count, you can increase your
advantage even more ...
Ken is showing it to Darryl. His apartment is full of Ken
Uston mail-order paraphernalia. A woman from the video comes
out of the bedroom in her underwear and a Ken Uston T-shirt.
KEN
Inga, this is Darryl.
She says something in Swedish as they shake. She kisses Ken,
fills her coffee cup and goes back into the bedroom.
KEN
Isn’t she amazing? And I can’t
have sex with her. It’s driving me
nuts.
(off his look)
The clap. Which means I’m taking
penicillin, so I’m totally out of
it. I can’t drink, I can’t screw
and I can’t play blackjack.
DARRYL
Well I think I can solve at least
one of your problems.
He hands Ken the papers with the diagrams we saw him make.
KEN
What’s this?
DARRYL
A new way to play.
CUT TO DARRYL AND KEN ROUNDING UP A COUPLE OF TEAM MEMBERS:
EXT. JOE’S HOUSE - DAY

Joe leaving his house, kissing his wife on the cheek. The
waste burning plant looms over them. Joe’s wife waves to a
man in a car at the curb in a fedora.
The man waves back.
INT. THE CAR - MOMENTS LATER

Joe gets into the car. The man in the hat is George. Joe
looks up to see: Ken and Darryl across the street.
Darryl scratches his head. Joe smiles and does the same.
EXT. STADIUM - DAY

Now a member of Evel Knievel’s crew, LYLE pumps air into the
back tire of Evel’s motorcycle, Evel’s American-flag-clad leg
next to his face.
 92.

The audience in the stadium is cheering.

Lyle sees Ken and Darryl down front of the stands. They
scratch their heads at him. Lyle stands and waves.
Evel -- thinking Lyle is done -- takes off. AND THE TIRE’S
INFLATION VALVE SNAPS OFF. Air leaks out as Evel accelerates
toward a row of 25 buses. The crowd roars!
ON LYLE’S FACE as he realizes. WE HEAR the bike fly into the
air... a hush... and a crash. Off Lyle flinching --
INT. KEN USTON’S APARTMENT - DAY
The whole team is here now, sans Walter, supposedly listening to
Darryl explain his method -- he has a drawing of a shoe of cards
on a whiteboard -- but instead they’re distracted by:
INGA -- who’s in her underwear, dancing to music she’s got on
headphones as she cooks for them.
DARRYL
Casinos introduced multiple decks to
defeat counters, but to get the cards
into play fast they’re not shuffling
enough, not randomizing the cards...
He sees them looking at Inga, not him. He looks at Inga, too.
DARRYL
... You can count ... a shoe in
sections then track them through the
shuffle ... and combine counts of the
sections that get shuffled together.
KEN
We call it shuffle tracking.
They make impressed noises, but aren’t paying attention. Pat
glances at the board -- and now it grabs him. He leans forward.
PAT
... that’s brilliant.
VICTOR
So it’s brilliant. There’s only one
problem. None of us can play. We’re
still getting picked off just walking
into the casinos. We’ll never get
near a big-money play.
PAT
He’s right. I hate to say it, but
you guys don’t want us, what you
need are fresh faces.
DARRYL
Funny, that’s what Ken said.
They look at Ken nervously. Ken smiles.
 93.

INT. HOLLYWOOD MAKUP STUDIO - DAY

Movie stills on the wall. Brando as the aged Godfather.

Sissy Spacek covered in pig’s blood. Linda Blair possessed.
A Hollywood make-up artist and assistants work on the team:
Joe is becoming a bohemian with thick beard and glasses.
Lyle is in a fat suit and an Art Garfunkle afro wig.
Victor, blonde hair now brown, learns to put on a fake nose.
Ken’s AGENT and a PRODUCER hover.
PRODUCER
This’ll be great in the movie. The
studio loves this project. They’re
thinking October to shoot. We’re
already talking to actors.
AGENT
Great. How’s the script coming?
PRODUCER
(shrugs)
We’ll get to it.
Darryl is fitted with a wig and big teeth as Ken is transformed
into a distinguished gentleman. They talk privately.
KEN
Betting black used to take heat
off. Now anytime the casinos see
black they think it’s a counter.
DARRYL
Can we bet purple?
KEN
Five hundred minimum?
(whistles)
No counter has ever bet at that
level before. We’d have to raise a
huge bank. Couple of million at
least.
A beat. Then they look over at the same time to the Producer
and the Agent.
KEN
I am the world’s greatest blackjack
player, after all.
DARRYL
And who wouldn’t want a piece of that?
 94.

INT. BIG BUDDHA RESTAURANT - DAY

The team walks into their old haunt in disguise. Ken has a
cane. Lyle waddles in his fat suit. Darryl uses an accent.
DARRYL
Five for dinner please.
JAPANESE WAITRESS
Long time no see. Usual table?
They all look at each other, concerned.
The sushi chef waves hello from behind the counter and holds
up the Unagi for Joe’s approval along with a thumbs up.
CUT TO:
The guys at the usual table.
DARRYL
The disguises might still work if
we’re just counting and betting
low, but none of us can B.P.
Ken frowns. He doesn’t like the sound of that.
PAT
And whoever B.P.’s can’t hop tables
either. They’re onto that.
DARRYL
What if we seat civilians at first
base who we signal everything to?
What to bet. How to play the hand.
JOE
They wouldn’t need to know
anything.
DARRYL
Just how to follow instructions.
Everyone nods. They like it. Except Ken.
KEN
But... the B.P.’s the quarterback
of the whole operation. He’s got
to know the game, have an act --
DARRYL
Not in this scenario.
KEN
So what, now the B.P.’s just a
trained monkey?
They all nod, the idea growing on them more.
 95.

DARRYL
This way we can use anybody,
even...
Darryl points randomly at the 50-ish sushi chef -- then
freezes, staring at him. Off Darryl’s staring --
INT. CAESARS PALACE - NIGHT

The sushi chef walks purposefully through Caesars in an

expensive suit and haircut, a bellhop carrying his bag.
CASINO HOST
Mr. Tashigi? Guy Linden, Caesars’
host services.
The sushi chef doesn’t acknowledge him or speak. He just
keeping walking -- an arrow on path to its target.
CASINO HOST
My card. If you need anything...
(sushi chef pockets
card, says nothing)
We got your bank transfer. Just
ask for a marker at the table.
(sushi chef just walks)
Well. Good luck.
(offers hand)
SUSHI CHEF
(shakes it)
Okay for you, okay for me.
The sushi chef walks on. The befuddled host watches him go.
INT. CAESARS PALACE - BLACKJACK TABLE - NIGHT

The sushi chef has a $500 chip bet. In disguise, Darryl bets low
and signals him. All Pit Boss eyes are on sushi chef. Darryl
moves his arm. Sushi chef takes a hit. Darryl closes his fist.
Sushi chef tucks his cards.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Our rich, inscrutable Japanese
businessman played perfectly off
casino prejudices and expectations.
Darryl puts a chip in his circle -- off center. Sushi chef
jumps to two hands of a thousand. The bosses don’t even flinch.
DARRYL (V.O.)
This became our operational
strategy.
INT. THE NEW TEAM HOUSE - DAY

A dinner party. Inga and Ken introduces Inga’s brother SVEN --

who looks a lot like her -- to the team. Darryl introduces
Burke, his supervisor from the telemarketing company...
 96.

DARRYL (V.O.)
We showed them the oil man from
Texas...
INT. HILTON - DAY

Burke in a cowboy hat plays, cowboy-boot-clad feet up on the

table. Ken signals him in his gentleman disguise. And watches
jealously as he charms a waitress.
BURKE
‘Wovoka,’ what’s that? Polish?
WAITRESS
Native American, actually.
BURKE
No kidding? I’m a quarter Cherokee
myself.
DARRYL (V.O.)
... the spoiled daughter of a
famous thoracic surgeon...
INT. RIVIERA - NIGHT

Pat’s girlfriend Susan, wearing long false nails and an attitude

of privilege. She drops her compact. A pit boss picks it up.
She smiles a thank you.
DARRYL (V.O.)
... the European from a country of
unspecified origin...
INT. FLAMINGO - NIGHT
Inga’s brother Sven, in dark sunglasses, scruffy and unwashed.
He holds a cigarette in the Eastern European fashion.
DARRYL (V.O.)
... with an endless supply of cash
of unspecified origin.
A small canister hangs around his neck on a chain. He touches
his nose and sniffs, as if getting some powder remaining there.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Team play was back in business and
business was better than ever.
EXT. THE SANDS - NIGHT

Ken, Pat and Darryl, Victor and Lyle stare at the Sands.
PAT
Okay, but if we really want to
whack ‘em, we need one more B.P.
VICTOR
Maybe an older woman this time?
 97.

KEN
I like it, a cheerful matronly
type.
PAT
But crafty. She’s got to be able
to handle people and to keep the
mask up no matter what’s going on
around her.
Darryl looks thoughtful. He smiles.
KEN
What? You know somebody?
INT. TROPICANA - REGISTRATION DESK - DAY

A host approaches a woman from behind. She turns. It’s MAGGIE.

CASINO HOST #2
Mrs. Cruthers? Tom Goddard.
MAGGIE
You’re the nice man I talked to on
the phone.
CASINO HOST #2
Yes ma’am, welcome to --
MAGGIE
I love your casino! It’s so
colorful. So fruity. It makes me
feel like I’m on a tropical island.
(takes his arm, they walk)
They tell me I have a nice room.
CASINO HOST #2
Yes, ma’am, it’s --
MAGGIE
But not a suite.
CASINO HOST #2
Well... let me see...
(checks clipboard)
You’ve put a lot of money on
account, but haven’t actually
played yet.
MAGGIE
I see. I didn’t realize just how
businesslike you all are about
this.
CASINO HOST #2
Mrs. Cruthers --
MAGGIE
Maggie, please.
 98.

CASINO HOST #2
I want you to feel at home, Maggie.
Tropicana Resorts wants you to feel
at home. Let me put you in a
suite.
MAGGIE
Tom, that is so nice of you.
She notices something O.S.: DARRYL, across the casino. He
scratches his head hello. She smiles and scratches hers.
INT. NEW TEAM HOUSE - DAY
Darryl introduces his mother to the team.
MAGGIE
I recognize you from your picture
in New York Times magazine last
year, Mr. Uston. It didn’t do you
justice.
KEN
Ken, please. I see now where
Darryl gets his charm and his
charisma.
MAGGIE
You’re something of a charmer
yourself, aren’t you?
KEN
Darryl, why have you kept this woman
hidden from us for so long? Explain
yourself.
MAGGIE
You never said he was so sweet,
dear.
Darryl looks back and forth between them, unnerved.
TIME CUT TO:
Darryl trains Maggie at the blackjack table. She’s clueless.
DARRYL
When I go like this, you stand.
He does the gesture -- and she gets off her chair, standing.
DARRYL
No, mom, ‘stand’ means you don’t
take another card, you just tuck
them.
He tucks her cards under her chips. She laughs at herself.
MAGGIE
Of course.
 99.

DARRYL
Okay. And if I go like this, that
means you take a hit.
She looks at him nervously.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Mom was hopeless at blackjack but she
took to Vegas like she’d invented the
place.
INT. THE SANDS - NIGHT

WILL VICKMAN strolls through his kingdom. Confident. In

charge. Puffed up as much as the man’s five foot, two-inch
frame allows. He passes a series of blackjack tables.
At every one, a team member in disguise calls plays for a B.P.
Pat for Burke, Victor for Sven, Ken for the sushi chef.
Darryl watches Vickman go by. He’s calling plays for Maggie,
who’s chatting with the Young Pit Boss.
MAGGIE
There’s nothing like a tailored
suit to really bring out the man.
YOUNG PIT BOSS
You really think it makes me look
older?
MAGGIE
Definitely. But you’re, what, 30?
YOUNG PIT BOSS
Twenty-six.
MAGGIE
No! I don’t believe you.
YOUNG PIT BOSS
It’s true.
Darryl signals. She starts to double down.
YOUNG PIT BOSS
You don’t want to do that. It’s a
bad bet.
Maggie pulls back her cards. Darryl insists with his signal.
MAGGIE
I have a philosophy, Mike. Go with
your instincts. Like with you. I
knew you’d be an interesting person
to talk to the moment I saw you.
He straightens at the compliment. She doubles. The dealer
busts and pays the table.
 100.

THE JOVIAL PIT BOSS WALKS UP with two tickets to a show.

YOUNG PIT BOSS
Oh thanks. They’re for Mrs. Cruthers.
JOVIAL
They’re not easy to come by. Mike
here must like you.
He smiles and gives them to her as he glances at everyone at
the table. He pauses a second when he sees Darryl. Darryl
grins at his cards REVEALING THOSE BIG, CROOKED TEETH.
Jovial moves on.
DARRYL (V.O.)
As any magician will tell you: we
don’t believe what we see. We see
what we believe...
INT. BIG BUDDHA RESTAURANT - DAY

It’s a celebration. Everyone holds up their champagne

glasses, clinks them and drinks. They whacked the Sands.
DARRYL (V.O.)
I believed that we were one big
happy family and that’s what I saw.
Darryl is content as he watches everyone talking and laughing.
Joe and Victor are teaching Inga to use “fucking” as an
adjective. She points to a tall man.
INGA
Fucking tall. Fucking good wine.
They nod. She’s got it. Maggie pretends not to hear.
Inga’s brother, into his persona, still wears the sunglasses
and holds a cigarette between thumb and forefinger. Inga
takes the cigarette away from him and ruffles his hair.
INGA
Fucking ridiculous.
Everyone laughs. Even Maggie, though she tries to hide it.
DARRYL
Hey. Where’s Ken?
Everyone looks at everyone. Nobody knows.
INT. NEW TEAM HOUSE - DARRYL’S BEDROOM - MORNING

A ringing phone wakes Darryl. He answers it.

KEN (OVER PHONE)
Time to get up lazybones!
 101.

DARRYL
Ken, where are you? You were
supposed to call plays last night.
KEN (OVER PHONE)
How’d we do?
DARRYL
We won ten thousand.
KEN (OVER PHONE)
Right on! Up ten thousand!
(to somebody there)
I made a grand last night and I
didn’t even step into a casino!
DARRYL
Ken, who are you talking to?
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. KZ104.5 - RADIO STUDIO

Ken in an interview with two wide-eyed radio hosts. He’s drunk.

KEN
Tim and Lisa on the morning show!
Giving the listeners a little
update on what’s happening with me.
TIM
So you’re actually out there now
with a team, playing right under
the casinos’ noses? How do you do
that?
DARRYL (OVER SPEAKERS)
Ken, I don’t think this is a good --
Ken flips a switch on the console, hanging up on Darryl.
KEN
Disguises. Pit bosses who know me,
standing as close to me as you are
now and they don’t have a clue!
LISA
That is so cool.
Ken smiles at her flirtatiously. She blushes. Tim notices.
Darryl turns on the radio as the team -- just up -- opens his
door and walk in with a radio of their own. They just now
starting hearing this and they’re pissed.
KEN (OVER THE RADIO)
I can’t really say any more. It’s top
secret stuff. Okay, one thing: we
don’t even have to hop tables, so it
looks really great to the pit bosses!
 102.

PAT
What the fuck is he doing? Darryl --
TIM (OVER RADIO)
You’re on the air.
CALLER (OVER RADIO)
My question is are you going to
play yourself in the movie?
KEN (OVER RADIO)
No, they need a star like Hoffman
or Pacino to so people will go see
it. I could though. I mean,
nobody knows the part better than
me, right? Who knows? Maybe for
this role I’d be better than
Pacino.
TIM (ON RADIO)
Alright... that was Ken Uston, the
world’s greatest blackjack
player...
They stare at Darryl.
DARRYL
It’s okay. I think we’re fine.
I’ll talk to him.
JOE
You better talk to him.
PAT
Put a leash on him. Christ.
DARRYL
I’ll talk to him.
They look at each other, still unhappy. But Darryl’s word is
enough for them. They nod and file out.
INT. SAMMY’S SUITE - NIGHT

The marble floors. The bottles of champagne. The white roses

in the ivory vase. MAGGIE STEPS INTO FRAME and adjusts them.
A WIDER ANGLE reveals that Darryl’s whole family is here.
His youngest sister -- who stared at him as if he were a
stranger -- plays the piano. Darryl sits down to play with her.
She smiles at him. He smiles back. Maggie watches them, happy.
Deanna runs in.
DEANNA
He’s coming!
She runs out again. Dori and Maggie run out after her.
 103.

INT. SANDS LOBBY - NIGHT

Maggie and her daughters are in a crowd by the entrance.

Photographers start snapping pictures as a man walks into the
hotel, his face obscured by one or another member of the crowd.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Mr. Sinatra, over here!
MAGGIE
We love you blue eyes!
FRANK SINATRA (O.S.)
Thank you honey.
Dori and Deanna squeal. He spoke to Maggie! A short black
man whose face we also never quite get to see is with Sinatra.
CASINO HOST
I’m sorry, sir, we didn’t know you
were coming to town today --
SAMMY DAVIS’S VOICE
It’s alright Larry, just get me
something nice, okay?
INT. SANDS CASINO - NIGHT

The team calls plays at various tables. All is quiet. Until

we see Lyle’s face registering something wrong.
CLOSE ON THE ELASTIC BAND OF HIS WIG INCHING UP HIS SCALP.
Lyle reaches up -- too late -- THE WIG POPS OFF, FLIES UP, AND
LANDS ON THE TABLE.
He grabs it, expecting to be caught.
But no one notices. The dealer continues shuffling. The pit
boss is writing a note. Fellow players fiddle with chips. A
cocktail waitress brings him a coffee, sets it down and goes.
Lyle puts the wig back on.
AT ANOTHER TABLE
In wig and false teeth, Darryl calls plays for Maggie. He
signals and she puts out a big bet of six chips -- $3,000.
DEALER
Betting table max!
The Young Pit Boss nods, watching the action as
A COUPLE WALKS UP
They’re friends of Maggie’s. They’re surprised to see her.
WOMAN
Maggie! Hi!
 104.

MAN
We didn’t know you come to Vegas!
MAGGIE
Sheryl. Jim.
SHERYL’S jaw drops as she sees the bet Maggie has out.
JIM (MAN)
Darryl! I didn’t see you there.
You look different. You gain
weight or something?
Maggie, who’s trying to keep it together, watches in horror as
Darryl gets up with his chips and goes, leaving her alone at the
table. The Young Pit Boss is watching Maggie and her friends.
JIM
What’s with him?
MAGGIE
That wasn’t anyone I know. How are
you two?
JIM
That wasn’t Darryl?
(sees Maggie’s bet now)
Jesus! Wow! Since when do you
have that kind of dough?
The young pit boss shifts uncomfortably. This is weird.
SHERYL (WOMAN)
Jim.
JIM
What? I’m impressed, that’s all.
Is it okay if we watch?
MAGGIE
Of course.
Maggie has never played a hand by herself and has no idea what
to do. But everyone is watching and that’s $3,000 out there.
She looks down at her hand.
MAGGIE
Let’s see... I have one red lady
with a Q here in the corner. And
one is a black seven with these
clovers.
(looks at dealer for clue)
And... I’m going to hit it.
DEALER
You want to hit your hard
seventeen?
MAGGIE
No, no. I’ll double down.
 105.

The dealer smiles at her joke. Maggie takes the smile as

confirmation and puts out another three thousand. Maggie’s
friends are in shock. So is the dealer.
DEALER
Doubling hard seventeen, table max!
The head of every Pit Boss in earshot whips around. Uh oh.
They converge. Pompadour is the head pit boss. He looks at
the bet, then at Maggie.
A beat and he nods.
The dealer deals her... A FOUR! The friends gasp. Twenty-
one. The dealer turns over his hole card. He’s got twenty.
The pit bosses all stare at Maggie.
YOUNG PIT BOSS
Those are some instincts.
Pompadour’s stare is the hardest of them all. Maggie swallows.
INT. SAMMY’S SUITE - NIGHT

Maggie pushes furniture in front of the door as her daughters

watch, not sure if they should help or talk her out of it.
There’s a knock. Two raps. Then a third.
TIME CUT TO:
Darryl and Maggie sit on the bed. Darryl is laughing.
DARRYL
I’m sorry. It’s just funny.
MAGGIE
It is not funny. They stared at
me.
He’s still laughing. She sighs, then gives in to laughter
too. After a few moments they stop.
DARRYL
You want to go home now? It’s
okay.
She nods. Darryl nods. They hug, comfortable with each other.
INT. NEW TEAM HOUSE - NIGHT

Lyle eats pizza and watches TV as the others play backgammon.

A ticking stopwatch appears on the TV. It’s “60 Minutes.”
Archival footage of the actual show. HARRY REASONER comes on, a
large picture of a blackjack table behind him.
 106.

HARRY REASONER (ON TV)

When it comes to gambling,
everybody wants to beat the house.
There are thousands of gamblers in
this country who think they have a
sure-fire system to beat the
system, and the casinos love them
because they know the systems don’t
work.
THE TV CUTS TO KEN USTON PLAYING AT A TABLE. This grainy
video footage matches the archival footage of Reasoner. Lyle
stops chewing. The others remain oblivious.
HARRY REASONER (O.S., ON TV)
But we found one man with a system
so good the casinos won’t let him
play. His name is Ken Uston...
Hearing Ken’s name, the others look over.
HARRY REASONER (O.S., ON TV)
... and he’s made a fortune playing
blackjack with an almost complete
certainty of winning. He is what
is known as a card counter.
TIME CUT TO:
The whole team in front of the TV, eating Lyle’s pizza. The
TV cuts to hidden camera footage in a casino.
REASONER (V.O., ON TV)
This film, shot with a hidden
camera, shows what usually happens
when Ken tries to play blackjack in
Las Vegas.
PIT BOSS (ON TV)
We do not want your business!
KEN (ON TV)
Okay. Thank you. Good night.
HARRY REASONER (V.O., ON TV)
Ken has sued for the right to play,
but the wheels of Nevada justice
turn slowly. So Ken has resorted
to using a disguise.
The TV cuts to Ken putting on his distinguished gentleman
disguise. ON NATIONAL TV. The guys can’t believe it.
HARRY REASONER (V.O., ON TV)
One night he took 60 minutes
producer Lucy Spiegel -- who had
never played before -- into several
casinos.
On TV, Ken calls plays for the woman producer in a casino.
 107.

HARRY REASONER (V.O., ON TV)

Lucy won about a thousand dollars.
LUCY (ON TV)
(laughs, enjoying herself)
I’m going to double again!
HARRY REASONER (V.O., ON TV)
She played with his money and he
took her winnings because before
they started out he taught her
signals.
It cuts to Ken training her in the team signals. The guys
curse, put their heads in their hands. Only Victor keeps
eating, as unaffected as always.
KEN (ON TV)
Now If I go like this, that means
you should take a hit. If I go
like this you should stand, and if
I do this you should double down or
split.
INT. CASINO HOTEL HALLWAY - DAY

Darryl and Ken walk toward a hotel room. Ken can’t help
smiling. Darryl is seething.
DARRYL
At least try to be conciliatory.
The guys are very upset.
KEN
Are you upset?
DARRYL
Of course I’m upset! Jesus Ken,
what were you thinking?!
Darryl does the team knock on a hotel room door.
KEN
C’mon, how often do you get a
chance to go on national
television? Do you know what my
Nielsens were? Twenty two points.
Twenty two million people watching
me. They loved me!
Before Darryl can respond, Lyle opens the door on a serious
situation unfolding inside.
JOE (O.S.)
Just sit there! Don’t fucking
move!
 108.

INT. HOTEL ROOM

The core of the team is here, PLUS SVEN, who’s slouched in a

chair. There are piles of cash and chips on a table.
KEN
What’s going on?
JOE
He’s been stealing.
KEN
What do you mean? How do you know?
PAT
We kept having to remind him to
stack chips before leaving the
table so we could see what he had.
We thought he was just lazy...
VICTOR
... but we started paying
attention. There were
discrepancies in his reported wins.
A few hundred to start --
KEN
You could have make the mistake at
those amounts. You’re doing your
own thing. You’re distracted.
JOE
And he knows that!
KEN
Sven, did you steal from the team?
(Sven shakes his head)
That’s good enough for me.
VICTOR
You haven’t heard the whole story.
KEN
I’ve made my decision.
PAT
Ken, you need to hear it.
He motions for Ken and Darryl to follow. They step into the
closet for privacy.

INT. CLOSET

PAT
I know he’s your girlfriend’s
brother, but he’s been stealing.
KEN
Where’s your proof?
 109.

Pat leans out, motions for Victor, who steps inside.

VICTOR
He walked from his table tonight with
four thousand and change. I followed.
He stopped at casino services --
PAT
He’s got a safety deposit box. And
when he got here, he reported
three.
Darryl is pissed now. Ken is shaking his head, resisting.
IN THE ROOM
Joe is looking at Sven, who’s sweating. Clammy. Shaky. Joe
looks at that small cocaine canister around Sven’s neck.
IN THE CLOSET
KEN
He’s a good kid. We let him go and
forget about it.
PAT
This isn’t your decision to make,
Ken. Who knows how much he stole?
We need to give him a polygraph.
Joe steps into the closet.
JOE
This fucking guy’s taken his role
seriously. He’s feeding a habit on
our dime.
KEN
Stop jumping to conclusions!
PAT
This is a team decision!
Lyle peeks in to see what the arguing is about. Victor
motions and he steps inside, sliding the door shut. To Lyle:
PAT
Here’s the situation. Everyone but
Ken thinks ...
He trails off as they realize they’re ALL in the closet.
IN THE ROOM
Sven is already running out the door with as much cash and chips
as he can carry. The team tumbles out and goes after him.
 110.

INT. HALLWAY

Sven makes it out the door, but Pat and Lyle barrel into him.
The money goes flying. A couple in the hall stop and watch.
Joe hits Sven in the face. Sven screams.
JOE
I’ll fucking kill you!
Ken tries to grab Joe, but Pat pushes him up against the wall.
Victor and Lyle grab Sven and Joe hits him again.
DARRYL
Stop it Joe! Stop!
Darryl tries to hold Joe back, but Joe hits Sven again. We hear
a crack. Sven screams again as blood pours from his nose. Joe
pulls back to hit him again, but Darryl grabs him in a half-
Nelson. Joe looks at Darryl, face red, murder in his eyes.
DARRYL
Enough.
The moment extends. Lyle and Victor holding Sven. Pat pinning
Ken against the wall. Darryl and Joe facing off. Sven crying.
DARRYL
It’s not worth it. It’s just
money.
JOE
Just money!
(tries to struggle free so
he can hit Sven again)
DARRYL
We’ll go over his records! Get an
estimate. Then Ken will make good
on the money. Ken invited Sven to
B.P. Ken’s responsible.
Darryl looks at Ken. A beat and Ken nods. A long beat. Joe
really wants to hit Sven again, but he looks at Darryl. He
nods. Pat lets go of Ken. Victor and Lyle let go of Sven.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Darryl stares out the window. Joe, Lyle, Pat and Victor sit
behind him, talking to his back.
PAT
You’re the reason we’re here, not
him, Darryl.
VICTOR
He’s brought this on himself. We
know he’s your friend, but he’s got
to go.
 111.

DARRYL
He’s all of our friend. He’s more
than our friend.
LYLE
But you know we’re right.
Darryl nods. He does.
INT. KEN USTON’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

The door is open, dance music blasting. Darryl walks in to

find Ken dancing with Inga and another woman, both with their
shirts off. Cocaine and quaaludes lie on top of the piano.
KEN
Darryl! Join the party!
DARRYL
Ken, we need to talk.
Ken cups his ear. He can’t hear him. Darryl practically yells.
DARRYL
We need to talk!
Ken waves him over to dance with them, his attention returning
to the women. Darryl’s anger -- combined with the distraction
of the half-naked women -- bring him to a boil.
DARRYL
You selfish fucking infant! You’re
not dancing your way out of this!
The women look at Darryl. Inga giggles.
INGA
Fucking infant.
Ken looks at Darryl, his expression neutral as he dances.
DARRYL
You’re off the team Ken! We voted!
Ken turns away, keeps dancing.
DARRYL
That’s it, huh? Tell me something:
What happened to “watching each
others’ backs,” huh Ken? We
trusted you and you sold us out!
You sell everything out -- and for
what? Your name in the paper?!
Some woman you don’t really give a
shit about?!
Darryl positions himself in front of Ken.
 112.

DARRYL
For once I want an answer to this
question! Tell me why this
(points back and forth
between himself and Ken)
doesn’t matter to you at all.
Darryl is near tears. Ken holds up a finger. He stumbles
drunkenly to the stereo. He turns it off AND TAKES THE
EARPLUGS OUT OF HIS EARS.
KEN
I get the feeling you want to talk.
Darryl can’t believe it. Ken didn’t hear a word. We see now
how fucked up Ken is as he shoos the women toward the bedroom.
KEN
Shoo!
He laughs, then puts on a serious face for Darryl and pulls him
unsteadily to the couch. They sit. Darryl just shakes his head
and sighs. He can’t do it again.
KEN
I’m thinking of marrying Inga. Do
you think I should?
Darryl looks at him, then toward the bedroom, where Inga and
the woman are dancing -- and kissing.
DARRYL
Do you love her?
KEN
I don’t know. She loves me. She
says she loves me. Do you think
she loves me? Because I don’t
know if she really loves me.
Ken sips his drink, his eyes filled with tears. Some roll down
his cheeks, but he doesn’t even seem to notice. All vestiges of
Darryl’s anger dissipate.
DARRYL
Maybe you should wait. Think about
it a little more.
Ken nods. He seems profoundly sad.
DARRYL
Ken, about the team, the thing is--
KEN
The thing is, and I hope you’re not
offended, but I’ve decided to form
a new team. I’m going to leave you
in charge here. I think you’re
ready.
(MORE)
 113.
KEN (cont'd)
And that means I need to step aside
and give you the room to lead.
DARRYL
(a beat)
Okay. Thanks Ken.
KEN
You’re welcome. Glad that’s
settled.
DARRYL
There’s still the issue of the
money. We think it’s about 16 K.
Ken takes money from his pockets in thousand dollar folds.
He hands them to Darryl. Ken is looking at Darryl as he
counts the folds -- finds two too many -- and hands some back.
KEN
It’s you, you know.
DARRYL
What’s me?
KEN
The man you’ve been looking for
your whole life. You are that man.
We hold on them a moment, then CUT TO:
INT. DINER - MORNING

Maggie and Darryl have stopped on the way to the airport.

Darryl looks deeply disappointed. He isn’t eating his food.
MAGGIE
It’s not the bad things we do that
define us you know.
(he looks at her)
It’s the good things, our better
selves, that make us who we are.
That’s what I like to think anyway.
This isn’t just about Ken.
DARRYL
You were a good mom.
MAGGIE
Thank you for making me a part of
your team, Darryl. You’re a good
man.
DARRYL (V.O.)
That seemed to be the general
consensus.
 114.

INT. NEW TEAM HOUSE - NIGHT

A family demonstrates a tiny computer you wear on your leg.

It’s an older man, a middle-aged man, and a young woman.
OLDER MAN
... You input every card you see
using your toes on this pedal here
in your right shoe...
DARRYL (V.O.)
(overlapping)
The team looked to me to make
decisions now, so I made them.
OLDER MAN
... then this pedal in your left
shoe tells you how to play the
hand. One tap for hit, two for
stand, three for double or split...
DARRYL (V.O.)
We met with the Krafts, a family of
technical geniuses known for their
card-counting computers...
The team looks to Darryl -- who does his best to look confident
as he holds out his hand. The older man shakes it.
DARRYL (V.O.)
... and for their religious
devotion.
MIDDLE-AGED MAN
Every dollar we take will help
undermine the evils of gambling.
God willing, we will make a
difference.
JOE
Amen to that.
Joe clearly couldn’t care less. The young woman shows Lyle a
Watchtower magazine.
YOUNG WOMAN
Do you know the true Jesus?
EXT. NEW TEAM HOUSE - BACK PATIO - DAY

Darryl is cooking at the barbecue, wielding Ken’s spatula. In

a moment reminiscent of Ken, he serves a sliced onion with a
burger to Lyle -- who’s engrossed in a Watchtower Magazine.
LYLE
Did you know Jesus wasn’t crucified
on the cross at all? He was
crucified on a stake.
 115.

Darryl is concerned about him, but just nods, humoring him.

Lyle walks off reading the magazine.
DARRYL (V.O.)
But I wasn’t a man at all and had
no business pretending to be one.
INT. TEAM HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

It’s the middle of the night, Darryl sitting at the kitchen

table, AN UNFOLDED NAPKIN lying there in front of him.
Somewhere a PHONE RINGS.
EXT. CEMETARY - DAY

A funeral as A CASKET is lowered into the ground. Darryl is

among the mourners as the service breaks up.
A WOMAN -- an older version of Helen -- notices him and stops.
WOMAN
Are you Darryl? I’m Helen’s
mother.
Here it comes. Ugly words. Recrimination. He’s ready. He
deserves it. But she kisses his cheek. Hugs him.
HELEN’S MOTHER
Thank you.
He doesn’t understand. He’s racked with guilt.
HELEN’S MOTHER
Helen told me that because of you
she knew what love was. I’m so
glad she felt that before she died.
He starts to cry. So does she. They hug.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Darryl lies on a hotel room bed, alone. He holds Helen’s

medical alert tag in his hand, looking at it.
DARRYL (V.O.)
I left Helen, but she never left
me.
He puts her tag around his neck, lies there quietly.
DARRYL (V.O.)
I hear her in the silence of the
room.
INT. AIRPLANE - DAY

He sits in his seat as the plane flies him back to Vegas.

 116.

DARRYL (V.O.)
And behind the noise of the
engines. Talking to me.
EXT. BALBOA STREET HOUSE - DAY

He steps out of a taxi with his small travel bag. On the way
toward the front door, a cat watches him silently.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Looking at me with her quiet
insistence.
INT. TEAM HOUSE - DAY
Darryl pulls out his guitar case, takes out the guitar.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Urging me to embrace my life every
day, to love as deeply as she did.
He pulls out the lyrics to the song he started for her, sits
with a pen and tries to work on it. He closes his eyes.
DARRYL (V.O.)
She whispers in my ear: Take
risks, because life is chance. But
take them for the things that
matter.
Darryl opens his eyes, sees:
LYLE, lying on the couch reading Watchtower Magazine.
Lyle notices him looking and turns the magazine to show Darryl
a picture of Jesus -- the same exact gesture he made with the
Evel Knievel fanzine when they first met.
Darryl goes over, snatches the magazine from Lyle and tosses it
away. He reaches down and yanks a startled Lyle to his feet--
INT. MEN’S STORE - DAY

Darryl helps Lyle try on new clothes.

DARRYL (V.O.)
I told Lyle that a purpose in life
isn’t something we look to others
to provide for us.
Lyle holds up a shirt for Darryl’s approval. Darryl looks
back, noncommittal. Lyle looks at himself in the mirror,
holding up the shirt. He smiles. He likes it.
INT. HAIR STYLIST - DAY

Lyle gets a haircut, giving instructions to the barber. He

looks to Darryl, but then continues on his own with the barber.
 117.

DARRYL (V.O.)
That we have no chose but to make
our own path. And maybe if he did
a little of that, if he become a
bit more of himself ...
The barber looks at Darryl as he points to a chair. Darryl
nods and sits. The barber lathers up his stubble.
EXT. HOOVER DAM - DAY

MOS -- Darryl and Lyle look out at the beauty of the lake and
the hills, Lyle talking and Darryl listening.
DARRYL
... whatever that was...
INT. BIG BUDDHA RESTAURANT - NIGHT

The team out drinking, eating, laughing. Lyle says something

and everyone laughs. Darryl drapes an arm over his shoulder.
DARRYL
... maybe the world would notice.
Lyle motions to the waitress -- who comes right over. Pat
looks surprised. Lyle orders another round for the table.
DARRYL (V.O.)
For a while, we continued more or
less as we had before...
INT. TEAM HOUSE - DAY

Everyone carves out bottoms of shoes to put the switches in.

Victor holds a shoe against his chest, using a knife to dig.
THE KNIFE SLIPS AND PLUNGES INTO HIS CHEST. He frowns. The
others panic, yelling, scrambling for a phone to call 911.
Victor is calm. Unaffected.
VICTOR
It’s okay. I’ll just drive to the
hospital and take care of it, you
guys keep working.
He zips up his jacket to where the knife is embedded and walks
out before anyone can react.
DARRYL (V.O.)
We had our successes...
INT. HILTON CASINO - DAY

AN ANKLE -- a wire running from the shoe into the pants leg.
It’s Darryl at the table, calling plays for the sushi chef,
whose pile of purple chips is the largest we’ve ever seen.
 118.

INT. HARRAH’S LAKE TAHOE - DAY

Darryl is placing a stack of TEN $100 CHIPS out onto a TABLE

FILLED WITH STACKS OF $100 CHIPS.
He’s got a bet on every circle, many splits and doubles,
thousands in black all riding on one play, the dealer a woman.
This is the moment that opened the film.
DARRYL (V.O.)
And we had our failures.
DARRYL
And double down on this one.
The dealer carefully tucks a card under his last stack, turns
over her hole card, A FICE, FOR ELEVEN, reaches for a card --
-- AND PULLS A TEN. Twenty-one. She scoops up all of Darryl’s
chips. It takes a while. Darryl frowns. How the hell...?
Then notices that
SMOKE IS POURING OUT HIS PANTS FROM THE COMPUTER ON HIS LEG --
The pit bosses notice --
EXT. HILTON CASINO - DAY

Darryl is ejected -- barefoot.

DARRYL (V.O.)
As time went on, it did get harder to
play.
EXT. GAMBLERS BOOK SHOP - DAY

The team, outside, staring at something.

DARRYL (V.O.)
Information about computers and play
calling managed to spread and casinos
took countermeasures.
It’s a bookstore window display filled with ONE BOOK: “MILLION
DOLLAR BLACKJACK” By Ken Uston.
INT. SAHARA - NIGHT

Lyle, in disguise, calls plays for Burke.

DARRYL (V.O.)
But mostly we just became too well-
known.
A pit boss walks up -- looks right at Lyle and pushes his bet
off the circle. Lyle looks around. Who, me?
Two beefy guys grab him and drag him toward an exit.
 119.

INT. TEAM HOUSE - DAY

Pat has a bag packed. He shows Darryl a ledger. Pages of

meticulous entries, earnings in one column, expenses in the
other. We move across the page to a total: “$1,000,026.24”
DARRYL (V.O.)
Pat made his million and retired.
Susan steps into frame with two small travel bags.
DARRYL (V.O.)
He and Susan settled in her home
town in Ohio someplace.
Darryl shakes Pat’s hand. Pat pulls him in for a hug.
EXT. HOUSE - BY A POOL - DAY

Joe’s wife has a bandage on her head. She lies in a lounge

chair, a far off look in her eyes. Joe brings her a sandwich.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Joe finally got that new house for his
wife. The week they moved in she
slipped on the Italian tile and
suffered a head injury. Joe stayed
close to home to take care of her.
She doesn’t seem to recognize Joe. He kisses her forehead.
George comes out of the house with the drinks.
DARRYL (V.O.)
George stayed too.
George hands the wife a drink and pats her arm affectionately.
DARRYL (V.O.)
We moved on.
EXT. MOVIE SET - HOLLYWOOD - DAY

The Producer from earlier watches a scene as a film crew rolls

camera. A gasoline tanker is parked by the side of a road...
DARRYL (V.O.)
Last I heard, Victor was in Hollywood
trying his luck as a stunt man.
A PLANE CRASHES INTO THE GASOLINE TRUCK. BOTH EXPLODE IN A
FIREBALL. Victor stumbles out of the wreckage in flames --
INT. AUDITORIUM - DAY

A thin, nervous man practices a speech at a podium.

THIN, NERVOUS MAN
... earnings this year, while not
as large as projected, are still
...
 120.

DARRYL (V.O.)
While Lyle started a consulting
business.
LYLE (O.S.)
No, no, stop!
The only person watching is Lyle, in suite and tie.
LYLE
Mr. Tanner, is your life in danger?
THIN, NERVOUS MAN
Well, no...
LYLE
Are you travelling at a hundred
miles an hour on a motorcycle
toward a ramp to jump a row of
buses, where there’s a good chance
you will break most of your bones
or even lose your life?
He shakes his head.
LYLE
Then relax, take some risks. What
have you got to lose?
The thin, nervous man nods and smiles. Yeah. He’s right.
DARRYL (V.O.)
As for me, I took Helen’s -- and
Lyle’s -- advice.
INT. GREEN ROOM - NIGHT

Darryl is in a green room, backstage at a theatre, with his

guitar. It’s a folk music contest. Other contestants wait
their turn, tuning instruments, munching on finger food.
CONTEST MANAGER
You’re up.
We follow Darryl as he moves out of the room and down a long,
narrow hallway... the sounds of a crowd builds... and up onto:
A STAGE

The lights are near blinding, but he can see there are a COUPLE
THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THIS AUDIENCE.
They all go quiet as Darryl sits on a stool. In the expectant
silence, he adjusts his microphone, he clears his throat.
DARRYL (V.O.)
But before we went our separate
ways, we did have one last play
together.
 121.

EXT. ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY - DAY

A hotel/casino -- RESORTS INTERNATIONAL -- on the boardwalk.

DARRYL (V.O.)
Atlantic City, at the opening of
the first casino in the U.S.
outside of Nevada.
INT. RESORTS INTERNATIONAL - DAY

The place is packed. Long lines to get a seat at every table.

DARRYL (V.O.)
The New Jersey gambling commission,
in a temporary fit of
fairmindedness, decreed that the
casino could not bar counters, that
it wasn’t fair.
We see a group of Chinese players at a table.
DARRYL (V.O.)
We descended on them from all over
the world. The Czechs were there.
The Eastern Europeans sneer at the camera. We see the Krafts,
and people we’ve never seen before. Smart-looking people.
DARRYL (V.O.)
... The Krafts, Chuck Stone...
... and a group of smug college kids...
DARRYL (V.O.)
... the beginnings of the M.I.T.
team. Late to the game, already
they thought they’d invented it.
Ken walks through. Patrons whisper his name. Card counters
nudge each other. Pit Bosses come over and shake his hand.
DARRYL (V.O.)
And there was Ken, at the center of
it all, with a new team.
Ken drapes an arm over the shoulder of a young man. He says
something -- and the young man laughs.
DARRYL (V.O.)
For a few short days, Ken’s vision
came true. We didn’t have to hide.
We didn’t have to act like
criminals.
Darryl and Pat greet the Czechs out in the open.
DARRYL (V.O.)
We were experts engaged openly in a
game of skill for fun and profit.
 122.

Darryl and Ken run into each other. They greet warmly.
DARRYL (V.O.)
Free men deserving of respect.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CONTEST STAGE - NIGHT

Darryl plays and sings. It’s Helen’s song. He’s finished it.
WHITE LETTERS APPEAR ON SCREEN:
Ken Uston continued to play
blackjack and write books. His suit
to prevent the casinos from barring
counters lost in the Nevada Supreme
Court.
And also:
A suit Ken filed in New Jersey
prevailed and today casinos in that
state cannot bar card counters,
relying on unfavorable rules to
protect their earnings.
THESE WORDS ALL DISAPPEAR AND ARE REPLACED BY:
Darryl and Ken remained friends
until Ken’s death of a drug overdose
in Paris in 1987. Ken was 52.
THESE WORDS DISAPPEAR AND ARE REPLACED BY:
Darryl Purpose became a singer-
songwriter and retired from
blackjack.
THEN:
Or so he says. But that house in
Colorado wasn’t bought with singer-
songwriter money.
As the song ends, audience applause for Darryl takes us out...

THE END