Croupier Page #13

JANI:

I loved the atmosphere. But it

destroyed my poor mother.

JACK:

The debts.

JANI:

And the lies. Gamblers are born

liars.

JACK:

(nods)

And superstitious too. It's like

witchcraft.

JANI:

That's Africa. There's an African

in all of us, isn't there?

JACK:

We all came from Africa, supposedly.

JANI:

Do you believe in astrology?

JACK:

Absolutely not. But then, I'm a

Gemini and Geminis don't believe

in astrology.

JANI laughs out loud.

JANI:

You know, you don't strike me as a

typical croupier.

JANI drinks. JACK notices her wedding ring. JANI catches

the look.

JANI:

I'm not married. I wear it to keep

the flies off.

(looks at her watch)

I must go. Let me pay for this.

JACK:

Absolutely not.

JANI:

Toss you for it.

JACK:

I don't gamble.

JANI nods, stands up, takes out a notepad and pen. She

looks round feigning conspiracy.

JANI:

(low voice)

I know this is verboten, but if

you feel like a chat or maybe

dinner, give me a call.

She scribbles her name and phone number on the pad, tears

off the page, gives it to him.

JANI:

I'll understand if you don't.

(smiles)

But I hope you do.

She leaves. JACK watches her go, looks at the page she's

given him.

INT. JACK'S FLAT - NIGHT

In front of a mirror JACK trims his hair with nail scissors.

He is dressed in his croupier's uniform. He straightens

his bow tie.

JACK'S VOICE

He didn't know why, but he'd started

to dress for the casino at home...

INT. UNDERGROUND COMPARTMENT - NIGHT

JACK sits in the compartment.

JACK'S VOICE

... like a musician in his tuxedo,

going to the concert hall on public

transport...

INT. CASINO - ROULETTE TABLE - NIGHT

An ARAB at the end of the table kisses all his £50 chips

and sets them out on the table. The wheel spins. JACK looks

round at the PUNTERS.

The ball bounces, falls on zero. Everybody loses. Many

groans.

A MEDITERRANEAN-LOOKING MAN with a gold bracelet coughs. A

gob of phlegm from his mouth lands on a pile of chips that

JACK is raking away. A WOMAN in her mid-thirties is

appalled.

WOMAN:

Animal!

JACK:

Would you mind being more careful,

sir.

MAN:

I've got 'flu.

He coughs again, but into a handkerchief.

WOMAN:

Then go back home. To the zoo!

JACK clears the piles of chips to one side. He signals to

a SUPERVISOR. The SUPERVISOR hurries over.

JACK:

This gentleman accidentally coughed

onto these chips. I don't think it

would be hygienic to stack them...

The SUPERVISOR signals a WAITRESS over.

SUPERVISOR:

Agnes. These chips have to be

counted and put into the steamer.

AGNES:

Yuck.

She looks at JACK, grimaces, and takes the chips away.

INT. CASINO - NIGHT

The last PUNTERS are leaving. The overhead lights come on.

A CROUPIER is wheeling away a trolley with thousands of

chips. TWO MEN are covering the tables with shrouds.

INT. CASINO - STRONG ROOM - NIGHT

REYNOLDS watches as JACK and MATT count the thousands of

pounds, putting them in piles. Behind them is a large open

safe.

MATT:

I can't give you a lift back

tonight.

JACK:

Don't worry.

REYNOLDS places the notes in steel boxes.

EXT. CASINO - NIGHT

JACK, comes out. BELLA hurries after him, following him

round the corner.

BELLA:

(calling)

Jack. Do you need a ride?

JACK:

No. Thanks.

BELLA:

My car's in the garage.

JACK:

Maybe another time.

BELLA:

I'll take you up on that.

JACK:

(pleasantly)

Goodnight.

He straightens his hat and walks off. BELLA walks the other

way.

EXT. STREET. NIGHT

A MAN lurks in the shadows ahead of JACK. JACK doesn't see

him. But as he comes past, the MAN steps out blocking JACK'S

way. He is the Arabic-looking MAN JACK earlier caught

cheating at the casino with JANI.

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