The Cincinnati Kid Page #2

---

without cheating.

So what?

Look, you're just cheating yourself.

Don't you understand?

You'll be the loser,

no one else but yourself.

You've ruined the puzzle.

Now, that doesn't go in there.

It does now.

Why should I answer?

- Hello.

- You only get steamed if it's for me.

Oh, yes. Lancey.

Yes, I heard you were in town.

Hey, what are you up to?

A little action, maybe?

But I keep forgetting.

You like to steam, don't you, Shooter?

William Jefferson Slade.

Local celebrity, I understand.

Comes from one of

the richest families in the state.

Yeah, that's right, Lancey.

Seems that your reputation

is one of the few...

...stable things in a world

of crumbling values.

I'll be there.

Would you really wear a thing like that?

Why not? I got nothing to hide.

Hey, I bet you'd look good in one too.

Oh, no, I couldn't.

I just couldn't wear that.

Come on.

Well, now where are you going?

You ever been to the Turkish bath?

Turkish baths? French movies?

I don't know about you, Melba.

Well, then, come on and find out.

The Turkish bath leaves nothing

to the imagination.

But I wouldn't know what to do

in a Turkish bath.

But that's what's so marvelous.

You don't do anything.

They do it to you.

- Come on.

- They do it to you?

Well, you and the Shooter are married.

Now, that's something.

It's nothing.

Believe you me, honey, it's nothing.

You know you got somebody that wants

to spend the rest of his life with you too.

How'd you like to spend

the rest of your life with Shooter?

Least you know how much

you mean to somebody.

Last card.

Possible flush.

Pair of eights.

Nothing there. Pair of queens.

Possible flush.

Queens check to the possibles.

Two thousand.

Two and up two.

Fold.

Fold.

I fold.

This Cincinnati Kid,

he wants a game, huh?

- He does.

- Is he any good?

Come on. You know he is.

That's the biggest pot yet.

Call the two thou.

Queen high.

- Jack high. Can you beat that?

- He just did.

Hello. Just a moment.

- Charlie, it's your office.

- Dallas or Tulsa?

Probably both.

How the hell did you know I didn't

have the king or the ace?

I recollect a young man putting

the same question to Eddie the Dude.

"Son," Eddie told him,

"all you paid was the looking price.

Lessons are extra."

- Here, Lancey.

- Thank you.

You gonna play the Kid?

- There's always a Kid, isn't there?

- Yes, there is.

But I think you'll enjoy his game.

I may admire it...

...but if what I heard is true,

I doubt I'll enjoy it.

Come on, the tougher the competition,

the better you used to like it.

Well, what are we waiting for, Shooter?

Come on. Let's go. Deal them up.

Well, I do declare, Christian.

It's that three-river gambling man,

the Cincinnati Kid...

...getting himself all shined up.

How they running, Kid?

Fine. How they running for you?

You'll never guess

where we've just been.

Stag movies?

We went to Turkish baths, and we had

rubdowns and everything.

- Yeah. You should have been there.

- Yeah.

Listen, I heard the big news.

Big news?

Yeah. Everybody says the Kid's

gonna sit down with Lancey Howard.

Some say he's gonna be the man.

Or didn't you know, Christian?

See you around.

- Double or nothing.

- Call it.

Heads.

You're just not ready for me yet.

Come on. Let's get something to eat.

I didn't know you were

thinking about going home.

When are you going?

There's a bus that leaves tonight.

Unless you wanted me to stay.

Until morning, that is.

Well, are you coming back?

Well, you never even asked me

why I was going.

Well, why are you going?

You don't want me...

...around your neck. Not now, anyways.

Well, I never said that.

You never said anything.

About us.

Listen, Christian...

...after the game...

...I'll be the man.

I'll be the best there is.

People will sit down

at the table with you.

Just so they can say

they played with the man.

And that's what I'm gonna be, Christian.

I know.

What is it? Marriage?

I'm all packed.

Six stacks. Is that right, Shooter?

Six.

Well...

...we've been playing 30 hours.

That rate, 6000, that makes roughly...

...two hundred dollars an hour.

Thanks for the entertainment, gentlemen.

- Thank you.

- Good night.

I'm particularly grateful

to Lancey here. It's been...

...a rewarding experience

to watch a great artist at work.

Thank you for the privilege, sir.

Well, you're quite welcome, son.

A pleasure to meet someone who

understands that to the true gambler...

...money is never an end in itself but

simply a tool, as language is to thought.

Good evening...

...Mr. Slade.

Good evening, Mr. Howard.

Old Shooter.

I wanna see you tonight, my house.

In about 30 minutes.

Now, look, Slade...

...I can't make it tonight.

I promised my wife...

You can make it, boy.

I'll see you tonight.

Good evening, gentlemen.

Quincy-6859, please.

- Good night, Lancey.

- Night.

- Night, Shooter.

- Hi, Kid. Shooter.

Listen, I told Melba I'd take her

with us to the fights tonight, but...

Well, something's come up.

How about if she'd go

with you and Christian?

Christian isn't here. She's with

her folks for a couple of days.

Did Lancey go for it as a game setup?

Yeah. Just about.

Is it okay if Melba goes with you?

- Look, Shooter...

- I promised her. You know how it is.

Well, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks, Kid.

I'll meet you at my place

after the fight.

Well, Lancey, are we all set

for Monday night?

I can get Lady Fingers to come.

Lady Fingers?

I haven't seen that old b*tch...

Oh, it must be at least 10 years.

Long enough to think of her

almost fondly.

- How's she doing?

- She's down.

She busted out in a Vegas faro game.

And...

...I'd like to use her as a relief dealer,

if that's okay with you.

- Oh, sure. Sure.

- Well, I guess that's it, then, huh?

Eight o'clock Monday.

Apartment 2A at the old Lafayette.

- Yes.

- And may the best man win.

That's how it usually comes out

in the long run.

Oh, Shooter...

...tell me...

...is this young man of yours

gonna give me any trouble?

Yeah. He's gonna give you trouble.

Well, I hope it isn't gonna be

one of those marathon games.

- Not anymore.

- Like the session we had in St. Louis?

- Remember?

- Sure, sure.

With those hoods from South Chicago?

The longest game I ever played was

on the maiden voyage of the Mauretania.

Bishop's Rock to Ambrose Light

without a stop.

Six days.

Lancey...

...you have been the man

for a long time.

That is undoubtedly true.

But don't let that fool you.

I'm not ready to retire yet.

Thank you.

Hello, Kid. How are you?

Hey, kids.

Hey, Kid.

Over here!

I got two seats for you...

Do we have to sit with them?

Sit where you want to.

Come on, Jessie, move yourself.

Come on there, boy. Hey, hey.

- Hello, Hoban.

- Where's the Shooter?

He's working.

Sokal.

- Hello, Jessie.

- Where's Christian, honey?

She went home to mama.

Didn't she, Kid?

Can't live with them

and can't live without them, huh?

Yeah, that's right, Pig.

Don't lose no sweat, Kid.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes