Croupier Page #15

JACK:

Not like Matt, you mean.

BELLA:

Now he's a real sh*t. Don't get

friendly with him. I'm sure he's

got his hand in the till. You know

what he said to me once? "I want

to f*** the whole world over. That's

my mission." The sh*t!

BELLA touches a bruise on JACK'S body.

JACK:

Ouch.

BELLA:

Sorry.

She kisses the bruised skin, pulls him to her. BELLA simply

wants to be held.

JACK'S VOICE

Jack could hear Matt saying it...

INT. JACK'S FLAT - DAY

JACK is at his desk typing intently. There is a pile of

new pages in the sunlight.

JACK'S VOICE

"I want to f*** the whole world

over. It's my mission."

MARION passes in the foreground. She kisses him on the

back of his head and leaves. JACK'S fingers move across

the keyboard, dancing.

JACK'S VOICE

At last he had found what he'd

been looking for. A clear and simple

theme. And a hero to act it out.

Little Matt...

(Pause)

...Chapter One.

INT. CASINO - WASHROOM - NIGHT

MATT is shaving.

MATT:

I look like sh*t.

JACK is scrubbing his nails at a basin.

JACK:

Rough day?

MATT:

Rough life, Jack.

A YOUNG WOMAN appears in the mirror behind the two MEN.

Her name is PAT. She is dressed like BELLA.

PAT:

Hi. I'm Pat.

MATT and JACK say 'Hello'. MATT appraises PAT'S appearance,

winks approval at JACK.

JACK:

(to Matt)

What happened to Bella?

MATT:

I'll tell you later.

JACK is mystified.

INT. CASINO - BLACKJACK TABLE - NIGHT

JACK is dealing to MR TCHAI and three OTHER MEN. One chair

at the table is empty.

MR TCHAI:

What happened to Bella?

JACK:

She was re-assigned.

JACK shows 13. He turns over his third card, a King. The

bank busts. JACK pays out.

JANI sits down in the vacant chair. JACK conceals his

surprise, a hint of nervousness.

JACK:

(formally)

Good evening.

JANI nods impassively.

JACK'S VOICE

Jack knew this was no coincidence.

Why had she come?

The MEN look at the glamorous woman. MR TCHAI doesn't

register her presence. He is as inscrutable as his BODYGUARD

who hands him an envelope. JANI takes out money from her

purse. JACK counts it.

JANI:

One thousand even. In fifties.

JACK slots the money down, counts out 20 £50 chips. JACK

deals. Bets are placed. 100 from JANI. The cards turn. MR

TCHAI splits two aces. JANI has a 6 and 7. MR TCHAI receives

two los and wins big. JANI gets a 10 and busts.

JACK'S VOICE

He wondered if she believed he

would bring her luck...

JANI'S face is impassive. She receives her cards...

INT. CASINO - NIGHT

JANI busts again. JACK sweeps away the chips, the cards.

JANI reaches into her bag, takes out another thousand

pounds.

JANI:

In fifties.

The MEN at the table look at JANI.

JACK'S VOICE

Or did she think he would help her

win?

INT. CASINO - BLACKJACK TABLE - NIGHT

JANI loses again. She is down to 4 chips. She looks up at

JACK. Their eyes meet, hers desperate, his helpless. MR

TCHAI picks up on the look.

JACK'S VOICE

He knew how to fix it for her. His

father had taught him the trick.

Switch the sequence. Bust the bank.

The casino wouldn't spot it. But

Jack was wary of the punters...

JACK glances at the MEN at the table.

JACK'S VOICE

He could see Mr Tchai was counting.

He couldn't risk it.

JANI places her last bet, glances at the mountain of chips

in front of MR TCHAI. JACK catches her look. He deals.

JANI reaches for her next card. JACK observes her left

hand.

JACK'S VOICE

He noticed she wasn't wearing her

ring. Why not? Odds on she'd sold

it.

JACK plays out the hand. JANI loses. She immediately gets

up. She is crushed.

JANI:

Good night. Thank you.

She walks away from the table.

JACK:

Good night.

JACK'S VOICE

Thank you, she said. For what,

Jack thought. Jani de Villiers

knew the odds.

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