Reindeer Games Page #30

MERLIN (O.S.)

Somebody better give me something

with some goddamn bacon --

As they continue chow dispersal, Rudy stares over the lake.

Distant. Not even aware Ashley's there.

RUDY:

This time right now... Dad's stacking

wood out back, getting ready for

tomorrow. Little blaze in the

fireplace. Mom's setting out the

good silver, hanging her cinammon

sticks, up in the doorways. Getting

out her scratchy old records...

singing along...

Rudy smiles to himself. He's got a faraway look.

RUDY:

I don't know where you're going.

But I'm going home.

ASHLEY:

We go together, Nick. Wherever... we

go together. Remember?

RUDY:

Well. I'm going home.

GABRIEL:

sits by the water, staring over the lake too. With a white

cotton Santa beard resting on his chin. He unwraps his roast

beef sandwich, pulls his beard down to his neck, and takes a

savage bite.

Munches away, stares to Rudy and Ashley. She meets his eyes.

Gabriel smiles. And looks again to the water.

ON FULL SCENE:

The snowy rest stop, the glistening lake. And the six figures

scattered, watching day turn to night...

CUT TO:

EXT. TOMAHAWK CASINO - NIGHT

The neon axe lit up in full regalia, with Christmas lights

now strung along the building's roof. There are fewer than a

dozen cars in the parking lot.

INT. TOMAHAWK - NIGHT

Filled with the JINGLING, JANGLING slots, but there's only

two FAT WOMEN sitting at them. Three INDIANS at a poker table.

An OLD TIMER in his 90's playing blackjack.

INT. SECURITY LEVEL

A ragged headquarters, looking down to the casino level

through smoked glass. Desks, file cabinets, pin-up

centerfolds. A room with video monitors to one side. Stairs

to a camera catwalk that rings the casino.

Jack Bangs is at a table of wassail and cookies. He opens a

battle of brandy, pours a bit into the punch, and takes the

bottle for himself. Walks over to his HEAD OF SECURITY,

watching the lack of activity below:

JACK BANGS:

And all through the house... not a

creature was stirring...

(sighs)

Why don't you go ahead and send most

of your guys home, Ed.

SECURITY BOSS:

Thanks, Jack. Merry X-mas.

The boss smiles, heads off. Jack Bangs swigs his brandy,

eyes his high-tech security gear glumly:

JACK BANGS:

Hell. Nobody even comes here to

cheat...

EXT. TOMAHAWK - NIGHT

The Nova pulls into the lot and parks. Merlin, Pug and Ashley

inside. On the road, the Motor City Monster slows to an idling

stop. In the cab, Gabriel turns to Rudy and Jumpy:

GABRIEL:

Go.

Rudy gives Gabriel a withering look. He and Jumpy climb out.

Gabriel's rig rumbles up the road.

[NOTE:
All five men, save Ashley, from now till story's end,

are in their Santa Claus suits.]

RUDY AND JUMPY:

make their way across the lot, heading for the entrance.

RUDY:

Hey Jumpy, I want to ask you

something. You have any problem with

the fact that we're on our way to

take millions of dollars from an

Indian casino?

The Native American considers. As they walk:

JUMPY:

Nick. It's true that Indian gaming's

gone a long way toward restoring

wealth and pride to communities who've

been economically isolated and

enslaved for centuries. Stronger

infrastructure, better schools, higher

employment... they're all the results

of reservation casino success stories.

Still, many natives believe that

these are temples to a godless

materialism and greed that will only

infect the souls of indigenous peoples

until their love of money has

destroyed the spiritual values their

ancestors died to protect and their

homelands have become no different

from any United States suburb,

satellite city or industrial park.

Destroying the Indian legacy once

and for all and leaving behind a

nation of selfish, angry natives, of

which I, it's true, am one --

-- as they hit the Tomahawk's doors --

INT. TOKAHAWK - NIGHT

-- and SLAM inside, stumbling into each other, suddenly

LAUGHING and slapping backs. Surveying the casino:

RUDY:

Hey-hey, egg nog for everybody!

Rudy spreads his Santa arms wide and whoops. Jumpy laughs

with him, steadying his balance. Drunken and slurred:

RUDY:

Let's win some MONEY! MONEY-MONEY-

MONEY!

The few gamblers inside look up at the commotion. Bear the

Bartender. Two CASHIERS and one WAITRESS. Ed the Security

Boss strides over, smiling tightly:

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes