Croupier Page #5

I'll stick to bluffing.

That's what I'm best at.

- 'Stick.'

- Stick.

I don't know.

- 'Two cards.'

- Two cards.

- 'Two cards.'

- Two cards.

- 'One card. '

- One card.

- 'Three cards. '

- Three.

I'll start with a tenner.

I'll see your ten

and I'll raise you ten.

I'll see your 20

and raise you ten.

30, raise ten.

40. Raise you by 20.

I'll match that

and raise you a tenner.

I'm in.

Yes. That's it.

I haven't got any more cash.

Yeah.

I call.

See you.

A straight.

Beat that.

A flush.

Sh*t.

Not so fast, darling. Full house.

(Man) Hang on, chaps.

That's impossible.

How's about this for impossible?

Four of a kind.

(Laughter)

(Man) What's going on?

(Woman) No.

Straight flush.

What are the odds of this happening?

Thousands to one.

42,300,000 to one.

Approximately.

Could have won

if I'd been able to bluff.

I get it.

Get what?.

Are you accusing me of cheating?

Good, God. No.

With a skill like that,

why do you want a job?

You don't need to work.

(Toilet flushes)

'Here was an interesting question.

'Was writing work?

'Or play? '

What happened?

Remember that guy

who cheated at the table?

You don't like cheats, do you?

So, which side do you like?

You choose.

That trick tonight.

I don't think I've ever

seen that done before.

It can only work with amateurs.

A pro would have spotted it.

- I didn't.

- Then you're not a pro.

Goodnight.

Jack.

Jack, I need your help.

I'm in a lot of trouble.

What kind of trouble?

I owe a lot of money.

Was that why you did that two grand?

- I couldn't help you.

- I know that.

But you can now.

I'm sorry. I don't have any money.

Some people I know.

They're planning

to rob the Golden Lion.

- You don't mean that.

- They mean it.

- Who's they?

- My creditors.

One night, around 3 am,

they'll come to the casino...

Forget it. It'll never work.

The point is,

they want a man inside.

I took you for a bright woman.

Just listen. You don't have

to do anything criminal.

- Robbery's not criminal?.

- You don't have to be criminal.

A guy'll deliberately

cheat at your table.

You'll see him, stop him.

The guy'll make a big scene

and that's when it'll happen.

You're serious.

You won't be committing a crime.

The man'll cheat, you'll just

be doing your job. That's all.

Sh*t.

And I thought you were

only after my body.

I've come to know you.

You're honest. I can trust you.

So what will you do

when it all goes wrong?

- It won't.

- If it does.

You'll keep the 10,000 pounds.

What 10,000 pounds?

These people will pay you

10,000 before

and 10,000 after.

They want someone

they can be sure of.

An honest dealer.

That's the point.

Not all dealers are honest.

Mr Reynolds will never suspect you.

Reynolds. You've done your research.

There was nothing else I could do.

You're my last chance.

Next time it'll be my neck.

What about my neck?

I want to go back to Cape Town.

I want to start again. Clean.

Can't do it, Jani.

I'm asking you as a friend.

(Sobs) You'd be saving

the life of a friend.

(Couple having sex)

'Jack wondered why

he was even considering it.

'Ten grand. In cash.

'That was why.

'But Jack didn't need the money.

'His father would have

taken it like a shot,

'but his father was a gambler.

'He was always broke.

'Jack suddenly realised

'it was Jake who was considering it.'

How much do you owe?

Let it go.

Did they tell you to sleep with me?

I told you, all bets are off.

I'm sorry.

What for?.

I have to take the car.

'Hang on tightly, let go lightly.

'Chapter five...'

(Door opens)

- Good night?.

- Not particularly.

And your lady?

She had to leave early.

She asked me to thank you.

- Bit unexpected, wasn't it?.

- Not really.

How's that soccer story coming along?

You said it was gonna be social,

Giles. No business.

'He was overcome

with a sense of urgency.

'He had to get it down.

Get on with the writing.'

(Door closes)

(Thunder)

It's beautiful. Thank you.

- I hope it brings you luck.

- It will.

I haven't brought you

much luck, have I?

That girl who worked at the casino...

I don't care about her.

I was wrong what I said

about the book.

I hurt you, didn't I?

I'm gonna leave

the casino soon, I promise.

- You will?.

- Within a month.

Believe me.

I'm gonna quit.

Then you can dye

your hair blonde again.

(Phone)

(Answerphone clicks on)

(Jack) 'Nobody around.

Leave a message after the beep.'

(Beep)

(Jani) 'I need to see you.

I've moved.

'I have a new number. It's 4753275.

'Please call me.'

'Chapter seven.

Jake had decided to see her.

'The challenge was essential.'

(Voices arguing down the hall)

Come in.

It's not the Ritz, I'm afraid.

Is it yes?

Yes.

Thank you.

It doesn't seem fair.

You're offering me ten grand in cash.

You can't afford a decent place.

Life's not fair. We both know that.

It's all relative. I need money, too.

- Do you?

- Yes.

Look, the date's not set yet.

But I'll call you. One last thing.

The man you're going to catch

cheating, he may get violent.

But you know how to deal with cheats.

That bruise has cleared up nicely.

Bruise?

Yes. Yes, it's better.

I've still got mine.

And your hand, too.

I took the bandage off yesterday.

- You want a drink?

- No, thank you.

I don't think

we should meet again.

(Train passes)

It's a shame there aren't more

men in the world like you.

'Question:
Was he gambling,

taking Jani's money?

'Answer, no.

'Because he wasn't betting

with his own money.

'He was being paid

in advance for a service.

'In reality,

there were two clear elements

'of risk in this exchange.

'One, the possibility

the cash was counterfeit.

'Two, Jani or her creditors

'might want the money back

if the plan failed.

'To begin with, he put the odds

at two against, seven for.

'He checked a random selection

of bills at the bank.

'They were all good.

'Bring me some luck, darling.

'So now his odds were decidedly

better. Eight to one.

'The good notes gave one

less negative -two minus one.

'Mathematically, he had one more

positive - seven plus one.

'Next stage.

'He had to be secure at eight to one

'against having to

give the money back,

'so he wouldn't spend it.

'Lf after one month

no one had approached him,

'he calculated the odds of

keeping it at 20 to one.'

No more bets. Thank you.

'After three months

he figured 100 to one

'no one would turn up.'

(Wheel spins)

(Ball drops)

36, red.

80 pound.

(Mouths)

Cash me in.

How about a little drink

to celebrate?

'Jake's experiment with the man

would prove his point.

'People don't change.'

Damn.

(Jack) Money down.

'Chapter ten.

He watched their faces as they lost.

'Hour after hour, night after night.

'Relentlessly.

'He questioned

the conventional wisdom

'that gamblers are self-destructive.

'He had come to believe

that in reality

'they want to destroy everyone else.

'Their families,

loved ones, everyone.

'F*** over the whole world.

'Without emotion, he watched them go.

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