Croupier Page #19

JACK is getting angry. JANI is calm.

JANI:

(to Gordon)

One more remark like that and I'll

break your balls.

There is silence. GORDON is embarrassed. FIONA looks at

CHLOE, they're shocked and impressed. JACK smiles.

GILES:

(laughs)

I'll bet she could, too.

JACK defuses the atmosphere.

JACK:

I'll deal, but I won't play.

He sits down, picks up the cards.

GORDON:

You sure you know how?

JACK takes the pack of cards, splits it expertly into two,

shuffles by pressing the two halves together open-palmed.

There is a rattling noise as the cards fold mechanically

into one another, leaving the pack as if it hadn't been

shuffled. FIONA and CHLOE are fascinated.

FIONA:

Do that again.

JACK gives the cards to his right, GORDON cuts them. Another

immaculate professional shuffle, and out come the cards

from JACK'S right hand, flicking across the table.

As the cards land, they fall exactly next to one another

in front of each player.

CHLOE:

That's sexy.

At the end of the deal, five players are looking at a neat

fan of five cards before them.

FIONA:

Don't they look pretty.

They all pick up their cards.

GILES:

(frowns)

There's nothing pretty about this

hand.

CHLOE:

You're not supposed to talk, Giles.

FIONA:

He's probably lying. He does that.

JACK catches JANI's eye. She winks.

INT. COUNTRY HOUSE - DRAWING ROOM - NIGHT

Later. JACK deals the cards.

JACK:

Last hand.

GILES:

Hey. I've got an idea. Why don't

we...

FIONA:

(sharply)

No! No stripping.

CHLOE:

Right. We're not having that again!

(glances at Jack)

Although...

GORDON:

I'll stick to bluffing. That's

what I'm best at.

JANI smiles, says nothing. JACK slides the pack to JANI.

She looks up at him and cuts the cards. JACK deals the

cards deftly. The FIVE PLAYERS pick up their cards.

Before each player calls we hear Jack's voice. In the end

he correctly predicts their call. Is it telepathy? Or

something else?

GORDON:

I'll stick.

FIONA:

Two cards.

GILES:

One card.

CHLOE:

Oh I don't know...Er...two cards.

JANI:

Three cards.

The PLAYERS examine their hands. The WOMEN are pleased.

The MEN say nothing. JANI puts her cards together.

The betting begins. No one drops out. The raising goes

round three times.

FIONA:

That's it. I haven't got any more

cash.

The betting comes to an end. JACK watches as they turn

their hands over. GORDON turns over a Straight.

GORDON:

Beat that.

CHLOE turns over a Flush.

CHLOE:

Ha. Ha. Ha.

GORDON:

Sh*t.

FIONA turns over a Full House.

FIONA:

Not so fast, darling.

GORDON:

(disbelieving)

Hang on, chaps. That's impossible!

GILES turns over four of a kind.

GILES:

How's about that for impossible.

Laughter, cries of amazement.

GORDON:

What's going on?

JACK is impassive. They all look to JANI, who turns over,

one card at a time, a Straight Flush.

CHLOE:

Wow. What are the odds for this

happening?

More laughter, cries of amazement.

FIONA:

Thousands to one.

JACK:

42,300,000 to 1.

JANI:

Approximately.

GORDON:

I could've won if I'd been able to

bluff.

JANI leans forward and takes the pot. GILES looks at JACK,

then at JANI.

GILES:

I get it.

JACK:

Get what?

(smiles)

Are you accusing me of cheating?

GILES:

Good God, no. But with skill like

that, what do you want a job for?

You don't need to work.

INT. COUNTRY HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

JACK sits on the side of a four-poster bed and takes off

his shoes. On the other side of the bed JANI unzips her

skirt. She looks round the room.

JACK'S VOICE

Here was an interesting question.

Was writing work... or play?

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