Croupier Page #12

MARION:

Where've you been? I've got to

give evidence in court at nine.

JACK:

Don't play the cop with me, Marion.

MARION:

Take that back!

(furious)

F***ing take that back. I'm not a

cop any more.

JACK:

I take it back. You're not a cop

any more. You're a store detective.

MARION:

Are you drunk?

JACK:

Probably.

MARION:

This f***ing job's getting to you.

You haven't written a f***ing word

since you started.

JACK:

Do you have to swear all the time?

MARION:

(hurt)

Well, that's my poor upbringing. I

didn't go to no private school. I

haven't got no class. I want to

live with a writer. Not a f***ing

croupier. I don't even know what

the word means. Croupier.

JACK:

Marion, stop this.

MARION:

(near to tears)

What do I mean to you? I want to

know. Tell me.

There is a pause.

JACK:

You're my conscience.

MARION:

Haven't you got a conscience of

your own?

JACK has no answer. He goes into the bathroom.

INT. JACK'S FLAT - DAY

The computer is still covered. JACK is standing at the

table dealing cards, practising. One card slips. He swears

silently. He flexes his fingers, cracks his knuckle joints.

He looks at a skirt, legs, high heels, Passing above the

barred window.

EXT. PICCADILLY - EVENING

JACK emerges from the Underground, one of the CROWD.

EXT. PICCADILLY - STORE - EVENING

JACK goes into a large Department Store.

INT. DEPARTMENT STORE - EVENING

MARION is store-walking in the women's underwear department.

It is Sale time. Baskets of tights and knickers on display.

CUSTOMERS are rummaging. She is on the look-out for thieves.

She jumps as JACK places his hand on her hip.

MARION:

What are you doing here?

(looks round

nervously)

You know the rules.

JACK:

What about a drink on the way home?

MARION:

I don't finish till eight. Make it

nine and you're on.

JACK:

I'm on at nine.

MARION:

Well, that's our life now, isn't

it?

EXT. PICCADILLY - EVENING

JACK pauses in front of an airline office. There is a large

picture of Cape Town, and a special ticket offer.

JANI comes out of the office. Her hair, tied back earlier

in the casino, is now glamorously fluffed out. She sees

JACK. He doesn't see her.

JANI:

Thinking of going back?

JACK is startled. He doesn't recognise her for a moment.

Then...

JACK:

Oh hello.

JANI:

(smiling)

You know what? I'd like to buy you

a drink.

JACK:

It's against the rules. Dealers

are forbidden to talk to punters.

JANI:

That's stupid. What are the odds

of you being seen with me?

JACK:

Impossible to calculate.

JACK'S VOICE

Jack knew that, in reality, all

odds are calculable.

INT. RITZ HOTEL - NIGHT

The Art Deco bar. Expensive PEOPLE around. JANI and JACK

are installed on a sofa. A WAITER puts down two Martinis.

JANI:

(raises her glass)

To coincidence.

JACK:

(drinks)

There's a casino in this hotel.

JANI:

I'm not much of a gambler really.

I just like this bar.

JACK:

So why did you come to my casino?

JANI:

I was at a loose end. A friend of

a friend gave me a courtesy

membership.

JACK:

First visit to London?

JANI:

No, no. I come every couple of

years. I always think I'm going to

stay. I'm from Cape Town originally

JACK:

I was born in the Transkei, on the

Wild Coast.

JANI:

Near the casino.

JACK:

In the casino.

JANI:

Now there's a coincidence. My father

used to gamble there.

JACK:

Your father?

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote