Scopone scientifico, Lo (The Scientific Cardplayer) Page #3

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This one...

Here, it's 5 million dollars.

That's 3 billion lire!

- Plus 200,000 you gave her before.

Yes, in Germany

something is happening.

Ciao, "piccolo stronzo"!

George...

Please, let's not waste any time.

She says "piccolo stronzo",

she learnt...

Madam what's happening in Germany,

any danger of war?

No, it's just a question of dollars.

How much do we want to bet this time?

- Do we want to bet 300 billion?

- Are you crazy?

- Sorry, but with all these figures...

I meant 300,000 lire.

- Let's do... 500,000?

Yes!

Anto', do we want to bet it all?

I feel I can win!

Let's hope she can feel it too,

but of losing, madam.

This is going to be a very

interesting card game...

No more roses, now.

Come on, hand it!

Peppi', that card is worth

- So what?

- Antonia, no advice.

No worries, with this card

I need no advice.

Anto'... Take this, enjoy!

One million...

plus 50,000...

One million and 50,000.

- Minus 200,000.

- Minus 200,000,

Plus 500,000...

Here it is, 1 million 350,000...

it's correct.

- And if we play double?

- Then it's 2 million 700.

I threw it down on purpose

because I was dealing.

You had two cards in your

hands only, you couldn't miss it!

Then you did it on purpose!

- What were you thinking about?

- It's the oldie who tricked me.

- But if I leave the 4 on the table,

you cannot throw down the 3,

so they get the "settebello"!

I thought you had it, the settebello,

how could I guess the oldie had it?

But when I look at you and

twist my mouth, what does it mean?

What does it mean?

That you have a nervous twitch!

No! It means the settebello is over there!

Who cares where it was,

I didn't have the cards!

You had the cards,

you haven't got the memory!

So what?! 1 million and 350,000

lire, it's nothing.

We have a whole month to play,

we can take away from her...

What can we take away from her?!

And you go to sleep, it's late!

Tomorrow there is a funeral,

the dead don't wait.

It's past midnight!

We are working here,

we are not playing!

Hey, what's with these insults?

These long faces?

Children there's no point

in criticizing,

we live illegally in a hut,

full of rats,

when it rains, we are carried away

by firemen on a boat,

your papa has an injury from war

and cannot work more than this,

otherwise, he would be a great worker.

Look at this, he is asleep on his feet.

He can't work this late at night.

Our only hope is to be able

to win some money from the oldie.

For 8 years she's been giving you a million

a night which she wins back.

Children... come over here.

Come here, children,

gather around papa.

You must have a lot of trust

in your parents!

Papa and mama do everything for you,

for many years we haven't been lucky,

but sooner or later it will change,

we will grab from this oldie

We'll buy a large flat

and we'll send you to university.

I'll strike it big...

Take over Maroccan's warehouse,

barn included, the garage

and his big pile of rags.

Do you like Maroccan's factory?

The factory yes, but not the Maroccan!

We'll get rid of him.

Cleopa', have a smile,

because if everything goes well,

papa is going to take you to Switzerland

and let you have surgery on your leg

by a famous doctor.

Are you happy?

- Yes.

With that one around,

there is nothing to do!

It's what I've been telling you for 8 years.

Don't deceive yourself, because

the oldie is unbeatable, like death.

Nobody has ever beaten her

and nobody will be able to beat her!

I know who can beat the oldie,

but no one is brave enough to

pronounce that name.

Say it, the name...

You need Richetto...

Richetto the cardsharp!

Can you move the car from here in front?

- You placed your hand on my shoulder?

- So what?

Listen, did you have a good look at this face?

- Who is it?

No need to know who I am,

you cannot place your hand on the shoulder of

someone with a face like this one.

I heard that you played

and you lost, as always.

I'm not talking with you, you understand?

Antonia, don't treat me so...

You know I have many women

and they still run around me.

But only one has stayed in my heart

and that woman is you!

You start again; I am married!

What a big mistake you have made,

marrying that boneless fellow.

If you married me, you would be

revered like a signora now!

You never know, I might be able

to strike it lucky?!

What luck...

You've been playing for 8 years

and you have not won a lira.

It means we can't play!

No, no. You are good,

I've known you since you were a kid

playing with your granddad,

you were unbeatable.

But that idiot of your husband

is not up to the task!

Hey, aren't you going to leave?

Anyhow, I'm always ready

to couple up with you.

What?

On the card table, I meant.

If you and I go to the oldie,

we'll empty her safe!

And see her weeping!

Cleopa', do you want to marry me?

Money tempts you, right?

Go and play a game!

- 150 lire, lady. - Write it down,

I'll pay you at the end of the month.

I wish someone would be mistaken and

pay cash for once.

Cleopa', what would you like?

A kilogram of pasta, 2 kilograms

of bread, 300 grams of "mortadella".

And a box of poison.

- A box of poison?

- Yes, to kill the rats.

Ah, to kill the rats!

Why do they always send you shopping?

Because mama is ashamed

buying on credit.

But here there is almost

a half million debt.

Papa said that, when he wins,

he'll pay you the bill

and he'll lend you a million too, so you

can buy a real shop, all right?

Give me the poison!

Did they play last night?

No, the lady hasn't called

them again,

we all have been waiting for a week.

Peppino made the mistake!

If the oldie leaves a 2 on the table,

what do you do, put down a 5?

Hey, why don't you stop it? You've

been banging on about this for 2 weeks.

- Good evening, father.

- 'Evening.

You know what? If I win 7 million,

I ain't gonna take them.

Don't always talk about

the same stuff,

don't have dreams, you will get upset.

Hey, they don't play even today?

No, the oldie is having a party

tonight too,

all foreigners, ambassadors,

generals.

Here, you see?

It's 9:
15.

Blast...

Papa, there's no point staring at the

clock; she is not going to call you.

What has happened?

Maybe we annoyed her?!

If she is offended?

It cannot be,

when she waved us good-bye, she said:

"See you, I'll call you at the trattoria."

Yes, she said it!

Come in!

Here she is!

Good evening.

Look who he is, the Professor.

I brought you the pan back,

your soup was delicious.

- I made it tonight too,

would you like some? - Thanks.

Look at what I found in a stall.

Where is it? Three years I've

been looking for it for you!

- Professor, can you move?

- Certainly.

Here!

Lts a very rare book.

- Take a seat, Professor.

- The scopone scientifico!

- Let me see.

This book explains all the rules

and secrets of the game...

Who wrote it?

Count Valentino Maestrelli,

a great theorist from the 1800's.

Delicious!

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