Croupier Page #9

The WAITRESS goes. The other PLAYERS at the table look at

MR TCHAI, wondering who he is.

INT. CASINO - NIGHT

REYNOLDS walks with JACK across the casino.

REYNOLDS:

Mr Tchai always likes to play at

that table, and only with Bella.

JACK:

Does he win?

REYNOLDS:

(smiles)

He's a good customer.

JACK'S VOICE

A good customer is a consistent

loser. Was that what Mr Reynolds

meant?

INT. CASINO - CHANGING ROOM - NIGHT

JACK is changing into his street clothes. The young croupier

MATT comes up to him.

MATT:

Where do you live, Jack?

JACK:

Over the river.

MATT:

Have you got transport?

JACK shakes his head.

MATT:

I'm going over the river. I'll

give you a lift if you like.

JACK:

Thanks.

INT. BMW - NIGHT

MATT puts the car into gear, drives off, JACK sitting beside

him.

MATT:

So how do you feel, your first

night? I'll bet you're on a high.

JACK:

Nice car.

MATT:

She's my baby.

JACK:

How long have you worked at the

casino?

MATT:

Coming up to two years now.

(mysteriously)

But I was away for six months.

JACK:

You've done pretty well.

MATT:

(smugly)

Not bad. I have other interests,

of course.

MATT spins the car round a corner.

MATT:

I'm off to a little watering hole.

Why don't you join me? Relax.

JACK:

No thanks, Matt. I need my eight

hours.

MATT:

I'll lay you five to one you won't

sleep. In this job you have to

unwind. Otherwise it'll kill you.

I mean that.

JACK:

Some other time.

INT. FLAT - KITCHEN - NIGHT

JACK pours himself a vodka, smoking a cigarette.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

JACK starts to take his clothes off. MARION is asleep in

bed. She wakes.

MARION:

What's the time?

JACK:

I don't know.

Clock beside the bed reads 4.30.

MARION:

How did it go?

JACK:

Fine.

He gets into bed beside her. She takes him in her arms.

MARION:

You're shaking. What is it?

JACK:

Tension. It'll go.

MARION:

Poor baby. This'll relax you.

She starts to massage his neck, his hair.

MARION:

I loved it blond.

JACK:

It's only hair. I haven't changed.

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

MARION is dressed in a suit, preparing to leave. She throws

her nightgown into a laundry basket. JACK is asleep. She

bends to kiss him. He wakes.

MARION:

When you get home, I'm asleep.

When I leave home, you're asleep.

JACK:

(dreamily)

I'll see you in my dreams.

INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY

MARION drops a set of keys into her bag, glances at JACK'S

covered computer. She draws the curtain back. Daylight

illuminates the old etching of Cape Town.

INT. CASINO - NIGHT

JANI DE VILLIERS is 30-something, blonde, tanned,

expensively dressed in designer clothes. She gives JACK

ten £50 notes.

JANI:

In 20s, please...

He slots the cash into the "bank" beneath the table, then

counts out £500 in £20 chips. He slides the chips towards

her, looks at her. She smiles.

There are ten other PEOPLE at the roulette table. An ARABIC-

LOOKING MAN with a moustache behind JANI is looking down

the front of her dress.

JACK:

(frowns)

Place your bets.

Around the table the PUNTERS move their chips onto numbers,

lines, colours. JANI throws three chips to JACK and calls

the numbers:

JANI:

5...8...11.

JACK places them for her.

JACK'S VOICE

Jack could see this woman was an

experienced gambler. Professionals

always place their bets through

the croupier. That way there are

no comebacks.

The wheel spins, 11 is the number. JACK calls the number

and puts the 'dolly' on 11. JANI smiles faintly. JACK pays

out across the table. JANI leaves two chips on 11 The MAN

behind JANI puts his chips on 11. JANI glances up at him.

She sees the MAN is betting with her. JACK spins the wheel

again. 33 comes up.

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