Scopone scientifico, Lo (The Scientific Cardplayer) Page #2

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No, she came back late because

she got a disease in her legs.

- Is she paralyzed?

- Yes, she uses a wheelchair.

Sometimes she is dizzy,

she has lost her memory.

- How does she play with no memory?

- That's better, give your best,

that you'll take her for lots of money,

let's go!

Let's attack her;

this is the right time. Let's go!

Entering here, it seems like a dream to me.

- I had given up on it!

Good evening, sir.

Madam, may I?

Too kind, don't bother.

Are you new here?

Yes, sir. This is the first

time I've worked at this place.

He's got a hook nose...

maybe it will bring me luck.

No, not the fur!

Would you like a drink?

- Maybe just...

- Thanks, we are fine.

- Yes...

- I go to call madam.

I just wanted a little French cognac...

- Come here!

- Tell me, love.

I told you so many times that

when they offer you a drink,

you must say no. You get dizzy

and you make mistakes.

Rest assured; a little drop

is not going to ruin me,

you can sleep peacefully, Anto'!

Let me have good cards...

That's our battle ground!

Our table...

with the usual unsteady leg.

Excuse me, do you have a wedge

to put under the table leg?

- Is a match all right?

- That's all I need.

Thanks a lot.

Here... Damn it, now it's the

other leg. I'm gonna saw you!

Peppino, Antonia,

where are my dear friends...

how nice to see you again.

- For us too, madam.

Can I give you a kiss?

- Certainly, my dear.

Can I give you a kiss too,

madam?

Bring the cup out, Anto',

let the lady see it.

George, damn you...

You lucky, always traveling...

but you didn't forget about us?

- No.

Madam and I always recall

our card games with you.

Also at our place!

Let's waste no time, I'm looking

forward to starting.

George, go and get the money.

Yes, madam.

Are you in top form?

Madam, this year we are going

to make it tough for you!

Look at the cup, madam.

Ah... Beautiful...

Where did you win this cup?

At the local tournament.

Did you improve since last year?

You won't believe it,

out of 12 games, 12 wins!

We won the parish tournament of

scopone scientifico.

What is it?

A truck isn't enough...

- Peppi', sit down.

- Yes.

Where did you spend the winter,

Madam?

In Papeete.

Temperature was really fine,

always like spring.

We played poker, every day,

with two Polynesian brothers.

Did those savages manage

to win any games?

They always lost,

because they are not rational.

Of course, they're savages...

Here madam.

That's 10 million.

Tell me Peppino,

how is your business going?

I get what you mean.

Have I got some million

to play cards with tonight?

Just that... madam, because you...

have arrived this afternoon.

If I had the money,

now banks are closed...

Now I don't have cash with me...

Anto', how much have you got?

Not a single lira, love.

You see... What can we do now?

Don't you worry, it does not matter.

We'll do as we have always done.

Here is a million for you!

- It's too much, madam.

- Thanks, madam.

No, you must take it.

I insist, Peppino.

I don't play for money...

I play for...

To dust my progress!

George, what did she say?

She said she plays to test her ability...

of asserting herself.

We too... We play just...

for fun, right?

Yes, for fun, we play.

Shall we make it 50,000 per game?

Madam, for me we can also do

Oh God... what is it?

- The cork!

Pardon me.

Haven't you ever served

champagne before?

- I thought he had a shot.

- It's your turn, Peppi'.

Here... 8 of "denari".

No.

No, thanks.

Here...

- Peppi'!

- Let's toast to a "scopa"...

Don't cheer, turn the card

and think of playing.

Afterwards, right?

Scopa!

Stay with me, Anto',

then we're going to crush them...

Who are the two guests?

Only two poor people who live

in a hut next to mine.

And the lady - how did she meet them?

Eight years ago, when she came to

to Rome for the first time, she asked me:

"Pasquali' do you know two people

who can play cards well?"

I called them and

introduced them to her.

Will they come every night?

No, from time to time...

When the lady gets bored.

Does she always give them one million?

Yes, she always gives it to them!

Think about it a bit more!

Anto'... there are 200,000 lire!

Ssshh!

You see...

Three points in a single move!

Scopa!

I'm kidding...

- Count it!

What to count? Three scopas,

four in the pack, all together 7 points!

- What's the score?

- Them 14 and us 18!

I am sorry madam; this year

is going to be tough for you.

George... Deal!

Hey, boys,

do we want to go to work!

Wake up!

- Watch the suitcase!

- What are you talking about?

I dreamt that papa and mama

had won a suitcase.

Inside there were 300 million.

Let's go to work!

You come too. - Why do we work,

tomorrow we'll have lots of money.

Tonight I'm not going to do anything.

Boys, let's do the job

for Uncle Osvaldo,

at least tomorrow we'll have

I am tired...

Who told you that?

- The radio. - The radio says

lots of bullshit!

Let me get it. How can this old

woman spend 20 million per day?

How? I tell you how!

- Say it!

- 3,000 lire per day for meat,

just to be on the safe side

and 10,000 lire per day

for car and driver!

But that's 18,000.

I want to stay even safer,

I'm going to allow the old lady 1 million

a day for eating, drinking and sleeping.

for the villa and for the driver.

But what about the other

Are you asking me?

Professor, what do you think

about all this money?

I think you are getting lost

in petty problems,

to spend 20 million a day...

what's so difficult!

I can even spend 40, if I wanted to...

if I could.

The real problem is about politics,

understood?

That involves the theory

of positive value.

But such problems have been analyzed

ad nauseam,

by the philosophers of

historical materialism.

Only in order to understand such matters,

you know what you have to do? Read!

How long I have been telling you

to read, read...

I'm going to have a pee,

sorry.

I answer!

Hello.

Pasquali', I'm the Professor,

tell me all.

Ah!

Thanks.

News?

Very good!

Peppino and Antonia

have already won 50,000 lire

and they bet 200 more!

Peppino laughs,

maybe he's getting lucky.

He always laughs!

and 3... 7!

What's wrong?

Yes.

Why?

Peppino, when you're playing,

you can't talk.

Scopa!

- That's one more gift we give them.

- No, maybe not.

No? Get this!

Scopa.

Anto', don't rebuke me,

I get confused.

We won.

Eh? How much?

This is 100 we had won...

and another 100 we lost.

Here madam that's 100...

Hello...

At once.

New York, madam.

Hello, Tony.

Let me talk and don't say stupid things.

- Is it possible that you always make mistakes?

- Yes, I know, I made a mistake,

but it's not only my fault, but also yours!

The more you stare at me,

the more tense I get.

- Read to me what's written.

- Yes madam.

What do I do?

- Read!

And what do I read? Here it's all zeros.

No, there is also a 2.

- No, further down, further down.

Where?

- No, that's London, further.

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