Reindeer Games Page #17

Rudy watches as a Chevy Blazer parks and two drunk FISHERMEN

get out. The truck's bumper sticker reads "Ice Fishermen Do

It All Year Long."

Rudy watches the good ol' boys stumble toward the hotel. He

turns back, surveys his new prison cell

RUDY:

They've never done a robbery...

(nods)

Christmas is looking up.

INT. RUDY'S ROOM - MORNING

The bed has been dragged to the door to the bathroom, the

comforter and pillow are on the floor, "Miracle on 34th St."

is on the TV, and Rudy lies asleep on the ground, ankle still

cuffed.

Two SHADOWS fall across him.

INT. HALLWAY - MORNING

Rudy is brusquely dragged out by Jumpy and Merlin, passing

Ashley, who lies asleep in the hall, head on a pillow.

MERLIN:

Having romance problems, Romeo?

RUDY:

Not with you.

They march him onward. Rudy glances over his shoulder at

Ashley.

Who spent the night at his door.

INT. GAME ROOM - MORNING

A wood-panelled room adjacent to a small indoor pool, with

arcade games and a dart board. Gabriel's with Pug, tossing

darts, as Jumpy and a chain-smoking Merlin haul Rudy in.

PUG:

Goddamn, Merlin. There any part of

the day you don't smoke?

MERLIN:

There anytime you don't got a mouthful

of sh*t?

PUG:

Cancer-sucker.

MERLIN:

Acid-chewer.

Gabriel THWAPS a dart into the board, to shut them up.

GABRIEL:

Take a look what Pug's bought for

ya.

Pug empties a shopping bag on a pinball machine. Cowboy boots,

spurs, a black cowboy hat, a black rhinestone jacket and a

longhaired wig tumbles out.

RUDY:

A cowboy. You're going to send me

into an Indian casino disguised as a

cowboy. Have you thought this entirely

through?

GABRIEL:

Put it on.

Merlin and Jumpy shove Rudy toward the merchandise. Gabriel

slams another dart into the board, then turns:

GABRIEL:

You're a country-western singer up

from Nashville for the the holidays.

Visiting your Grandma on the lake,

driving into the Tomahawk for some

scotch and slots. You only play the

slots, you got that? Don't want no

dealer friend of yours recognizing

you, you sidle up to shoot some craps.

RUDY:

What kind of half-ass cowboy plays

the slots?

GABRIEL:

You do.

RUDY:

At least gimme video poker.

GABRIEL:

Shut the f*** up. You play what your

girlfriend plays. Ashley's going in

with you. You talk to her, otherwise

you don't talk to nobody. You walk

the room as many times as you want,

but the second you come out, I want

to know the run of the place.

Rudy examines his new hair and cowboy gear.

RUDY:

Do I get a country-western name?

GABRIEL:

You get recognized, convict, You get

a country-western funeral.

EXT. TOMAHAWK CASINO - DAY

The Chevy Nova crunches into the parking lot in the shadow

of the gaudy neon axe.

INT. NOVA - DAY

Rudy's in "disguise": paste-on goatee, tinted shades and

black cowboy gear. Very Nashville Network.

He's wedged between Jumpy and Merlin, wearing handcuffs.

Gabriel, Ashley and Pug in the back.

RUDY:

Y'know what, guys? I woke up this

morning, I got a really lucky feeling

going on. I mean it, I'm feeling

that good. I wouldn't be surprised

if I walk in there, pull a handle

and hit jackpot. Hell, we wouldn't

even have to --

GABRIEL:

Get out.

EXT. PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS

Rudy stamps feet, shivering in the cold, as Merlin unlocks

his cuffs. Gabriel reaches to help Ashley out --

ASHLEY:

Get your goddamn hands off me --

She edges toward Rudy, then stops. A chill still there.

GABRIEL:

You got one hour.

RUDY:

I'm gonna need some money.

Gabriel hands a bill.

RUDY:

Ten dollars? What do I do with ten

dollars?

GABRIEL:

Don't tip.

RUDY:

Monster. If we're working together

here, we gotta be working together.

I can't walk in there looking like

the Lone F***ing Ranger with ten

bucks to throw down. You don't want

me getting noticed, right? Not getting

noticed costs a guy at least a couple

hundred.

Gabriel glares, turns to his crew. Mutters, rubs his fingers

together. Merlin, Pug and Jumpy reach for their wallets,

grumbling. Gabriel takes a few twenties from each.

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