Casino Page #14

ACE:

(Brushing cigarette

ash off his dressing

gown)

I - I - I...

GINGER:

Understand?

(Pause)

I'm sorry.

ACE:

No, I - I... mean... that can grow

as I - as long as there's a mutual

respect... that kind of thing can

grow. I'm realistic. I can accept

that. But, you know, what is...

What is love anyway? It's a... it's

a mutual respect. It's - it's a

devotion. It's a... it's a caring

from one person to another. And if

we could set up some kind of

foundation... based on that mutual

respect... I feel that eventually

you would care enough about me...

that I could live with that.

GINGER:

If it doesn't work out. You know, if

it doesn't play out, then what happens

to me?

ACE:

You know I'm doin' well now. And I'm

gonna do even better. And so, whatever

happens, if it doesn't work out

between us, I'm gonna make sure you're

okay for the rest of your life. And

if there are kids, especially, you

know, I'll take care of you better

than you'd ever imagine.

GINGER:

(Interrupts)

What're you... what're you pitching

me, here?

ACE:

Just what I said. You'll be set up

for the rest of your life. That I

can promise you.

(Pause)

Want to take a chance?

She looks at him. ACE is holding her hand tightly.

INT. RIVIERA BALLROOM MARRIAGE - NIGHT

ACE and GINGER are seated at a banquet table with various

guests, drinking champagne. AMY, their six-month-old child

is in a cradle. NICKY and JENNIFER are hovering around the

baby with LITTLE NICKY and are blissfully happy. It is an

elegant affair. City Officials, politicians and gaming

officials are there, plus, SHERBERT and Ace's boss, PHILIP

GREEN. A photographer takes pictures of the guests.

ACE (V.O.)

When I married Ginger I knew all the

stories, but I didn't give a f***.

'I'm Sam Rothstein,' I said. 'I can

change her.'

NICKY (V.O.)

It was typical Ace. He invited the

biggest people in town and he knew

they'd show. Because he knew they

all wanted somethin' from him. With

Ace, nobody ever got a free ride.

Even Ginger. With her -

We see AMY in the cradle.

NICKY (V.O.)

- he still covered his bets. They

had to have the baby first, before

they got married. Even made Jennie

and me watch Amy for a few days when

they went on their honeymoon. But I

didn't mind, we loved the kid.

IN SLOW MOTION CAMERA MOVES IN ON ACE AND GINGER, STANDING

NEXT TO A LARGE WEDDING CAKE. THEY ARE KISSING. NICKY,

SHERBERT AND OTHER GUESTS LOOK ON.

CAMERA MOVES IN CLOSER AS THEY KISS, THEN PAST THEM TO THE

BRIDE AND GROOM FIGURINES ON THE CAKE.

LESTER's and GINGER's telephone conversation is heard in

voice-over this scene.

LESTER:

(Over telephone)

Can you feel my eyes on you? Can you

feel me look into your heart? Can

you feel me in the pit of your

stomach? Can you feel me in you? In

your heart?

We see a wide view of the elaborate wedding, guests mill

about the banquet hall.

LESTER:

Don't make me come there. Answer me.

GINGER:

(Over telephone,

sobbing)

I love you.

INT. LESTER DIAMOND'S LOS ANGELES APARTMENT - NIGHT

LESTER DIAMOND is talking on the phone softly, cutting up

cocaine on a piece of glass.

LESTER:

(Into telephone)

Bub-ut, baby, do you know that I

love you too?

GINGER:

(Over telephone)

No, Lester.

LESTER:

(Into telephone)

Do you know that?

GINGER:

(Over telephone)

Yeah. This is the best thing I can

do for my life right now.

LESTER:

(Into telephone)

That's right.

INT. RIVIERA BALLROOM CORRIDOR - NIGHT

GINGER is sitting alone on the phone. She's crying.

LESTER:

(Over telephone)

So, it's gonna be okay, isn't it?

GINGER:

(Sobbing, into

telephone)

Promise?

LESTER:

(Over telephone)

God... I wish you...

INT. LESTER DIAMOND'S LOS ANGELES APARTMENT - NIGHT

There is a beautiful scantily dressed blonde girl in the

apartment with him. She bends down to the table in front of

him, snorts some cocaine, then walks away.

LESTER:

(Into telephone)

...all the luck in the world.

GINGER:

(Over telephone)

You do?

LESTER:

(Into telephone)

Yeah, I do. I mean, it's - it's the -

it's the best thing you can do right

now. I mean this. And you'll have

real security. Sweetheart... you're

gonna be situated just right in Vegas.

INT. RIVIERA BALLROOM CORRIDOR - NIGHT

ACE enters from the ballroom and sees GINGER on the phone.

He walks towards her, listening to her conversation.

LESTER:

(Over telephone)

Come on, this is great for us. You

know I'm gonna be here for you. I

ain't going no place. Huh? I'm

lookin' at you right now. I'm seein'

you for the very first time, right

this minute. I'm seein' you, and I

can feel my heart click. I see you

fourteen years old. I see you the

first second I ever saw you. I see

you, long-legged little colt -

GINGER notices ACE behind her.

LESTER:

- with stupid braces on your teeth.

GINGER:

(Into telephone,

sniffing, trying to

cut him off)

Okay, then.

LESTER:

(Over telephone)

Every time I ever see you, that's

what I see.

GINGER:

(Into telephone)

Uh, talk to you later. Bye.

(She hangs up the

phone quickly.)

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