Croupier Page #3

I put it all together.

(Jack) I'm afraid not, sir.

(Cheat) Look...

Is there a problem?

This croupier is accusing me

of cheating.

Do you think I cheated?

(Foreign accent)

In my opinion, it was a late bet.

I think we should talk, sir,

away from the table.

No. I won. I want to be paid.

Pay the gentleman.

In full.

Now.

(Counts chips)

(Reynolds) We'd better talk

in my office.

- (Cheat) Why?

- We paid out this time,

but you won't be welcome here again.

- You bastard!

- On your way, please, sir.

I'm sorry, madam.

We're not allowed to accept

gratuities in the UK.

It's different in South Africa.

- You know where I'm from.

- I've lived there.

Well, thank you anyway.

'Bright woman, he thought.

She knew the rule of gold.'

Place your bets, please.

'Quit when you're ahead.'

(Ball drops)

(Loud music)

Matt, listen. There's something

I've got to say to you.

I saw you cheating.

What the f*** are you

talking about?.

That Greek guy at the end.

You paid him out 25s, not 10s.

You got it wrong, Jack.

I don't cheat.

I'm not gonna report it.

(Horn honks)

- What are you, a f***ing cop?

- If you do it again, I will.

I don't get you. Even if

it was true, which it isn't,

what the f*** difference

would it make to you?

If the supervisor knew I saw

and didn't report it,

I'd lose my job

and I can't afford that.

Oh, so it's Mr Clean.

Wise up, Jack.

This whole business is bent.

The casino's nothing but legal theft

and that's OK - it's the system.

Half the punters who come here

are using stolen money.

Drugs money.

They haven't even earned it.

We earn our money.

I'm on your side, Jack.

I don't need an enemy.

You're talking about complicity.

I don't even know what that means.

I'm talking about

not rocking the boat.

'Matt was an escape artist.

'Like Jack's father.'

OK. Now, let's unwind.

Hey, Andros.

(Speaks Greek)

This is Jack.

- Hello.

- How you doing?

(Greek music)

- Blackjack.

- One blackjack and...

- Drink?

- Vodka. Straight. On the rocks.

Vodka straight coming up.

- Who are these guys?

- A few drug dealers.

Mostly people that work

in the casino business.

- And the girls?

- Just girls.

Blackjack. Vodka straight.

- Does Bella come here?

- The b*tch? No.

(Man) Matt, you want in?

Yeah, why not?.

(Door creaks)

Jack, join us?

No thanks.

- I won't report you.

- I don't gamble.

You don't gamble. But do you smoke?

Sometimes.

How about now?

(Laughter)

- Same again, yeah?

- Coming up.

(Woman moaning)

'Marion, I'm on my way.'

All right, lads. Divvy up.

Listen, I'm gonna get off.

I need to sleep.

Loosen up. If you don't,

this job'll get to you.

Pressure's too much. Believe me.

- It'll break you.

- "The world breaks everyone.

"And afterwards many are strong

at the broken places."

Ernest Hemingway.

Wasn't he the one who shot himself?

(Church bell chimes)

Where have you been?

I've got to give evidence

in court at nine.

Don't play the policewoman

with me, Marion.

Take that back!

F***ing take that back!

Yeah, I take it back.

You're not in the police any more.

You're a store detective.

Are you drunk?

Probably.

This f***ing job's getting to you.

You haven't written

a f***ing word lately.

D'you have to swear all the time?

That's my poor upbringing.

I didn't go to private school.

I haven't got any class.

I wanna live with a writer.

Not a f***ing croupier.

I don't even know

what the word means.

Croupier.

Marion, stop this.

What do I mean to you?

I want to know.

Tell me.

You're my conscience.

Haven't you got a conscience

of your own?

(Door slams)

F***. Sh*t!

(Siren)

No. It's not the one. Thank you.

Fancy a drink after work?

What are you doing here?

You know the rules.

- I don't finish till nine.

- Sh*t. I'm on at nine.

That's our life now, isn't it?.

(Phone)

(Man in distance)

# Show me the way to go home

# I'm tired

and I want to go to bed

# I had a little drink

about an hour ago... #

Thinking of going back?

Oh, my God. Hello.

You know what?.

I'd like to buy you a drink.

It's against the rules.

Dealers are forbidden

to talk to punters.

What are the odds

of you being seen with me?

Impossible to calculate.

It's a coincidence.

You know, there's a casino

in this hotel.

I'm not really much of a gambler.

I just like this bar.

- First visit to London?

- No.

I come every couple of years.

I always plan to stay, but...

I'm from Cape Town originally.

I was born in the Transkei.

- On the Wild Coast.

- Near the casino.

In the casino.

(Laughs)

There's a coincidence -

my father used to gamble there.

Your father?.

I loved the atmosphere.

But it destroyed my mother.

- The debts?

- And the lies.

Gamblers are born liars.

And superstitious.

It's like witchcraft.

That's Africa.

There's an African

in all of us, isn't there?

We all came from Africa supposedly.

Do you believe in astrology?

Absolutely not.

But then I'm a Gemini.

Geminis don't believe in astrology.

You know, you don't strike me

as a typical croupier.

Ah, I'm not married.

I just wear it to keep the flies off.

(Pager)

Look, I have to go.

Let me pay for this.

- Absolutely not.

- Toss you for it.

I don't gamble.

(Piano)

I know this is verboten,

but if you feel like a chat,

or maybe dinner,

give me a call.

I'll understand if you don't.

But I hope that you do.

'Jack started to dress

for the casino at home.

'A man in love with his uniform.

'Like a musician in his tuxedo

'going to the concert hall

on public transport.

'Eager to perform.'

(Wheel spins)

No more bets. Thank you.

(Ball drops)

19 red.

(Man choking)

Animal!

'The croupier registered disgust.'

This gentleman's accidentally

coughed on the chips.

'The writer made a note.'

Agnes.

'Good scene for the book.'

Take these chips

off the table for me.

I can't give you a lift back tonight.

Don't worry about it.

(Man) See you, Jack.

(Jack) Yeah, see you.

Jack, d'you want a lift?.

No. I'm OK, thanks.

Maybe some other time.

I'll take you up on that.

Hey, you don't recognise me?

You had me barred, you little worm.

If I remember rightly,

you got yourself barred.

No, it was you, you sh*t.

(Groans)

(Loud music)

Jack!

Jack! Come on, leave him.

Jack, You don't want

the police here. Come on.

(Music stops)

(Bella) Jack!

He won't cheat again.

You're shaking.

It's nothing.

Just tension.

(Groans)

F***!

Oh, sh*t.

(Gasps)

It's funny, isn't it.

If that bloke hadn't come over,

you wouldn't be here now.

I hate cheats.

All men are cheats.

Are they?

Fools.

I spent a year on the game.

Don't worry. I'm clean as a whistle.

I only did S and M.

No blowj*bs. No screwing.

Why did you stop?

Got scared.

Yeah. I can imagine.

Can you?

Anyway, I'm happy being a dealer now.

At least the punters keep

their hands to themselves,

even if the other dealers don't.

You called the casino a cesspit.

Well, it is.

But at least I know where I am.

I've been watching you work.

You're good.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote