Croupier

(Man) 'Now he had become

'the still centre of that

spinning wheel of misfortune.

'The world turned round him,

leaving him miraculously untouched.

'The croupier had reached his goal.

'He no longer heard

the sound of the ball.'

(Thunderbolt)

'To begin with, he was Jack Manfred.'

- Now, then.

- I want a job, Giles.

I see. Well...

let me tell you

a little about our operation.

We like personality authors.

People the public recognises.

Celebrity's what sells books.

You can always find somebody

to do the writing.

What we need is the face.

Then the concept.

Right now I'm looking

for a soccer novel.

Something where a tycoon buys a

lousy team, takes it to the top.

Seven-figure transfer fees.

Corruption all down the line.

Violence on and off the pitch.

Steroids.

You got any concepts?

It could be a thug story.

I'll tell you what,

why don't you think about it?

Couple of pages.

With plenty of sex, of course.

Fiona!

Interesting, Giles.

I will think about it.

Let me give you

three words of advice, Jack.

Don't give up. Stick with it.

Who persists, wins. That's my motto.

Write, write, write.

'And Jack had three words for Giles.

'Go f*** yourself.

'Jack knew something was wrong.

'He'd forgotten Giles' advice,

Giles said three words.'

(Phone)

(Answerphone clicks on)

(Jack) 'Nobody around.

Leave a message after the beep.'

(Beep)

(Man) 'Jacko,

if you're there, pick up.

'I want to talk to you.

It's important.

'Jacko,

I've got some news for you.

'Come on, Jacko.'

- Yeah, Dad, it's me.

- 'How's it going? '

- Good, yeah.

- 'Found a job yet? '

- No.

- 'I've got something for you.'

In London.

I've been chatting with some friends.

Now, do you know

the Golden Lion casino?

'They're looking for a dealer.'

Yeah, that's not

what I wanna do, Dad.

I know you don't like

taking my advice...

No, it's not that.

'Listen, I've set this up for you.'

You call the Golden Lion

and ask to speak to Mr Reynolds.

That's the manager.

I don't know him personally

but I have spoken to his boss.

'Now, don't say no, Jacko.

Give yourself a break.'

All right, Dad.

Yeah, I'll think about it.

Reynolds at the Golden Lion.

Yeah. All right, Dad.

Yes. I'll call him.

'You do that. That's my boy.'

So how are you doing, Dad?

Great. Just started a new company.

(Fruit machines beeping)

Solid financing. It's good.

'Jacko,

you know I love you, don't you? '

- Yeah. I know that.

- 'Don't let yourself down.'

- I won't.

- 'I'll keep in touch.'

(Dialling tone)

Goodbye, Dad.

(Bird squawks)

(Woman) It was unbelievable.

I was in the room.

Uh-huh. Blackjack.

See you then, bye.

Sorry to have kept you.

What'll you have?

'No. Jack knew

it still wasn't quite right.'

(Taps keyboard)

(Man bawling outside)

(Man) I wanna f***

the whole world over!

Ha!

(Can clatters down stairs)

'He had just one word for Giles.'

(Buzzer)

(Scottish accent)

David Reynolds. The manager.

- Sit down, John.

- Jack.

You've been recommended

by the management here.

They knew your father.

He's a bit of a reputation,

hasn't he?

- Has he?

- In any case, I understand

you've had previous experience

in South Africa.

You'll find the rules here

a little different.

Before we start,

have got a police record?

- No.

- What school did you go to?

- I was at Bedales.

- Oh.

I don't think I know that one.

Private, I suppose.

There's three types of casino

in the UK.

High volume, small action

and middle of the road.

That's us. OK, Charlie.

- Do you have a salon prive?

- We tried.

Wasn't enough business.

Punters like company.

'Welcome back, Jack.

'To the house of addiction.'

Thanks, Charlie.

Right. Let's see you

handle the chips.

I assume the serial numbers on

the bowl and wheel correspond.

- We check every two days.

- Why not every day?

Procedure here.

Right, sort the chips.

Go.

(Watch ticking)

Good.

Right. Now pay me out 1800 in 25s.

Very good.

OK. Let's have a look

at your Blackjack.

14. Too many.

19, 16.

Too many.

18,14.

19. 20.

(Deals)

What's the count?

Minus nine.

I make it minus eight.

Minus nine.

What makes you so sure?

It's the rule.

Always stand by your first count.

The odds are you're right.

Good call.

- You want me to check?

- I said, good call.

'It had taken him...

'45 minutes, but Jack

now had Mr Reynolds' number.

'The man couldn't count.'

Right. Just let me

run through a few things.

As a dealer, you never gamble.

Not anywhere.

And we'll need your picture.

- What for?

- For the database.

It's accessed by every

casino in the country.

It's the same system for punters.

- I don't gamble.

- Ever?.

I don't gamble, Mr Reynolds.

Huh. Next point.

Friendships between croupiers

inside or outside the casino

are discouraged.

Relationships with

females working here

are expressly forbidden.

We had the same rule in Sun City

but it was impossible to check.

This isn't South Africa.

We'd know, because someone

would report it.

- Believe me, someone always does.

- Does know, or does report?.

What if I knew something like

that and didn't report it?.

We'd know. There are

no secrets in this casino.

- And you'd be punished.

- How?

First offence, verbal warning.

Second offence, written warning.

That one's filed and sometimes

copied to the Gaming Board.

My discretion.

Third offence,

you'd be sacked on the spot.

You'd never work in a casino

in this country again.

And there's another rule.

You're forbidden to talk

to or recognise a punter

outside the casino.

If you see someone

who's gambled here,

even casually on the street,

you must ignore him or her.

Not married, are you?

- Girlfriend?

- Yeah.

She's not in the...

not in the gaming business, is she?

- No.

- Good.

This is our crow's nest.

I'm showing you it now,

but you'll never see it again.

Very impressive.

We have tapes here

that go back six months.

Here, let me show you something.

(Wheel spinning)

See that?.

Six weeks ago.

Dealer missed it.

Guy up here missed it.

I watch these tapes after hours.

Nothing gets by me.

Lady's in jail now.

It's easier to take ten million

pounds from a bank

than to take one penny

from this casino.

Right. Well, as soon as you get

your licence, you can start.

- Fine.

- So...

Are you planning to make

a career in casino work?

'And end up like you? '

I... I just want a job.

You're not the usual type

we get in here.

'Mr Reynolds was right. It was true.'

- (Phone)

- Excuse me.

'Jack was up above the world.

'A writer looking down

on his subject.

'A detached...'

I can't talk about that just now.

'..voyeur.'

I'm with somebody. They can wait.

I'll be home at the usual time.

Don't get married, Jack.

Casino work doesn't mix

with house and garden.

- Any questions?

- Yeah. What's the salary?

'The casino paid its staff

monthly in arrears.

'He would have to wait six weeks

for his first cheque.

'He needed money now.'

So, what kind of deal

are you looking for?.

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