Croupier Page #4

Too f***ing good for that place.

I despise the job.

If you hate it so much,

why d'you do it?.

Jack suddenly had the feeling

that he was transparent.

That Bella could see through him.

- You've got a guilty look.

- We broke the rules.

'He hadn't meant to say that.

She'd caught him unawares.'

You're different from the others.

'Careful. This liaison, forbidden in

the casino family, was incest.'

Not like Matt, you mean.

Now there's a real sh*t.

Don't get friendly with him.

D'you know what he said to me once?

"I wanna f*** the whole world

over. That's my mission."

Stupid little sh*t.

'Thank you, Bella.

'Jack could hear Matt saying it.

'"I want to

f*** the whole world over.

'"It's my mission."

'Eureka. Jack had struck gold.

'He'd found a protagonist

for his book.

'Little Matt.

'Chapter one.'

I look like sh*t.

- Rough day?

- Rough life, Jack.

- Hi. I'm Pat.

- Hello.

See you, boys.

- What happened to Bella?

- I'll tell you later.

Change.

5,000.

What has happened to Bella?

What's happened to Bella?

She's been re-assigned.

'Not re-assigned.

Just written out of the story.'

Good evening.

Hundreds.

Change. 1,000.

'This was no coincidence.'

Too many.

20, 18, 19, 17...

'Did she think he'd bring her luck? '

Can I get anything for you?

'Why had she come? '

Too many.

'Did she want him to help her win? '

11 double. 21.

18, 17, 17...

13, 20.

Change.

'He knew how to fix it for her.'

1,000.

'His father had taught him the trick.

'The casino wouldn't spot it,

'but Jack was wary of the punters.'

11 double.

'He could see Mr Tchai was counting.

'He couldn't risk it.'

20. 18, 18, 17...

'She wasn't wearing her ring.

Odds on she'd sold it.'

Thank you. Goodnight.

Goodnight.

'Thank you, she said.

For what, Jack thought.

'He ought to thank her.'

Pretty woman.

'Jani de Villiers

had just entered his book.'

Place your bets, please.

(Opera)

(Rustling)

(Phone)

Yeah.

- How's it going, Jacko?

- 'Fine. I took that job.'

Good. I was wondering

what was happening.

I tried to call you but

your line was disconnected.

Ah, yes. I moved house.

I needed a bigger place.

'How's that book of yours coming on? '

Yeah. I'm getting there.

'It's a good job you've got

the job to fall back on.'

Huh? Oh, there's

my other line. Ciao.

I don't like it.

Why not?.

I don't like it at all.

It had a wonderful character before.

The gambler was so romantic.

He was a loser.

This guy's a croupier.

He can't lose.

People have shat on him all his

life and now he's in control.

He's a winner.

Is that your idea of a winner?.

He couldn't give a sh*t about anyone.

- He uses people...

- It's because of the sex.

You don't like the sex.

I couldn't give a f*** about the sex.

Most men'll f*** a lamppost.

He's just a miserable zombie.

Is that the way you feel now?

Is that what's happened to you?

- Marion, it's a book.

- Really?

Then why is he called Jake?

Why don't you come clean

and call him Jack?

There's no hope in it.

It's the truth.

Without hope,

there's no point to anything.

What is so f***ing hopeful

about your job?

Spending the day catching

poor people stealing?

You say the organised gangs

get away with it.

In the casino everyone

gets caught, rich or poor.

The odds are the same,

it's all relative.

Crap. It is not relative.

It's unfair. It's designed unfair.

Like your casino and your

croupier's a little sh*t

because he goes along with it.

Yeah, what about the lottery?

(Doorbell)

Look at this. You're like

all the other suckers out there.

14 million to one.

Is that your idea of hope?

- The door, Jack.

- Leave it.

No. Answer it.

Just called round to say

thanks for shopping me, Jack.

What are you talking about?.

Reynolds got a doctor in.

They forced me to do a dope test

which was positive, as you knew.

I don't know anything about it.

- Hiya.

- Hi.

Your boyfriend f***ed me,

smoked my dope then shopped me.

What do you think about that?.

I can't get a job now.

You're no different from Matt.

Pair of vicious shits,

that's what you are.

Bella, I don't know

anything about this.

- All men are scumbags.

- I agree.

Well, go on. Go after her.

'He was Jack and he was Jake.

'And he had discovered

there was a price to pay

'for this double life of his.

'He had no idea where Marion

was staying or with whom.

'He realised he knew little

about her life, but then...

'he had never asked about it.

'For the first time in a long while,

Jack thought about his mother.

'She'd left when she couldn't

take it any more.

'His father had said, "Don't

worry, she'll come back."

'She didn't.

'But Marion wasn't his mother.'

He's paying out twenty-fives,

not tens.

I see that.

Little sh*t, Matt.

'Chapter three,

'his existence was forming

a pattern of betrayals.

'Sometimes he was unsure whether

he was betrayer or betrayed.'

- Thanks for the information.

- Pleasure.

Pity about Bella.

She was a real asset.

What could I do?

Sorry, Jack. No smoking in the nest.

(Phone)

Thank you, sir.

Fantastic. Just down here.

Jack?

(Laughs)

I thought it was you. It's the hair.

Listen, I'm working on

that soccer story.

Right. Look,

I must get back to Habib.

- Habib?

- My author.

He's a terrorist.

He's written a kill-and-tell book.

Take care.

That's 4.99, sir. Thank you.

Jack, next weekend

I'm having a house party.

Here. It's just near Oxford.

Why don't you come?

It'll just be social, no business.

Bring a friend,

I've got plenty of room.

- I'll try and make it.

- Good. Looking forward.

Right!

- Your change, sir.

- Thanks.

'Books piled like chips.

'Stack 'em high, sell 'em fast,

make a killing.

'No dumb soccer novel for Jack.

'He would write about

the world he knew.

'From the inside.

'Chapter four.'

I don't know how you can drive

at night in those glasses.

How'd you hurt your hand?

It was just an accident.

It's nothing.

Should be the next on the right.

Jani, there's something I want

to say before we get there.

I don't know what the sleeping

arrangements are.

Giles probably expects us

to share a room.

That's fine.

(Voices and laughter)

Look, it's no use pretending

it was an accident.

I had a fight with someone.

That's all.

She's a dab hand with

the racket, your friend.

South African women are very sporty.

So I see.

(Man) Nice serve.

(Woman) 40-15.

How did she get that shiner?.

I found her in bed with someone.

Who was he?

She.

I say, you're a dark horse, Jack.

(Man) Lovely shot. Game.

- Come on, Jack.

- I don't gamble.

Don't be a spoil-sport.

It's only a few quid.

It's nothing to do with money.

I don't gamble.

He doesn't gamble.

- I'll watch.

- Jack likes to watch.

Does he like to watch?

One more remark

and I'll break your balls.

I bet she could.

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

Sure you know how?

'The hands of a conjurer.

'Or a cardsharp.'

OK. Last hand.

- I've got an idea.

- No, no stripping.

We're not having that again.

Although...

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