The Hustler Page #4

EDDIE:

Hey, mister.

BERT:

The name's Gordon. Bert Gordon.

EDDIE:

Mister. You been sittin' in that spot for

hours. Would you mind moving? It bothers me.

Bert rises, moves his chair about six inches, and sits down again.

EDDIE:

Five ball.

It sinks.

SAUSAGE:

That's game.

Eddie goes over to the water cooler for a drink while Fats doles out

his losings on the table.

EDDIE:

(to Charlie)

How much we got?

CHARLIE:

Eleven thousand four hundred, cash. Here in my

pocket.

EDDIE:

Preacher, go on down and get me some breakfast,

will ya? Egg sandwich and a cup of coffee. You

want something, Charlie?

CHARLIE:

Now wait a minute. You're coming with me. You're

gonna eat breakfast at the hotel. Pool game

is over.

EDDIE:

No, it isn't, Charlie.

CHARLIE:

Eddie ...

EDDIE:

The pool game is over when Fats says it's over.

CHARLIE:

You wanted ten thousand? You got ten thousand.

EDDIE:

Ah, get with it, will ya, Charlie?

CHARLIE:

Get with what?

EDDIE:

You can't see it, can you, Charlie? I mean,

you've never been able to see it. I came after

him. And I'm gonna get him. I'm goin' with him

all the way. The pool game is not over until

Minnesota Fats says it's over. Is it over,

Fats?

He stands before Fats and Bert Gordon, waiting for an answer. Fats and

Bert exchange glances but nothing is said.

EDDIE:

(to Bert)

I'm gonna beat him, mister. I beat him all

night and I'm gonna beat him all day.

Still no reply, no sign of giving in. Eddie starts to go back to his

chair, suddenly turns, a weary, clowning smile on his face.

EDDIE:

I'm the best you ever seen, Fats. I'm the best

there is. Now even if you beat me, I'm still

the best.

Eddie walks over to the water cooler.

BERT:

(quietly, to Fats)

Stay with this kid. He's a loser.

EDDIE:

(turns to Charlie, off Bert)

What did he say?

Charlie doesn't know and shakes his head.

DISSOLVE TO:

22INT. THE GAME AT AMES - TIME LAPSE - NIGHT

Eddie's face buried in his lap as Charlie massages his back. Behind

him, in the washroom, is Fats, washing his face and hands.

CHARLIE:

Twenty-five hours, Eddie. Twenty-five hours you

been playin' straight.

EDDIE:

Give me a drink, will ya?

CHARLIE:

You don't need a drink.

EDDIE:

Will you shut up ... Just give me a drink.

Charlie gets Eddie a bottle. Bert and Henry watch Eddie coldly.

CHARLIE:

Eighteen thousand, Eddie. We're ahead eighteen

thousand.

A drunken, exhausted Eddie nods, looks up at Bert, grins maliciously,

and takes a drink. Charlie starts to put away Eddie's cue stick.

BERT:

I thought you said this game was over when

Minnesota Fats said it was.

CHARLIE:

Now, it's over now.

Fats emerges from the washroom, dries his hands, looks at Eddie and

then at Bert who nods. Henry helps Fats into the jacket with the

carnation still in the lapel. Eddie grins at this. So does Bert. Fats

opens his palms for the sprinkling of the talcum powder. Fats rubs his

hands together, then takes out his cigarette case.

FATS:

Fast Eddie, let's play some pool.

Bert smiles in appreciation.

CHARLIE:

Let's go, Eddie.

Eddie grabs the leather case out of Charlie's hands. Eddie rises and

confronts Fats almost scornfully.

EDDIE:

You look beautiful, Fats. Just like a baby ...

all pink, and powdered up.

Eddie looks down at his own dirty, disheveled shirt. He and a smiling

Bert exchange glances. Eddie moves to put on his jacket. Charlie

confronts him.

CHARLIE:

What are you trying to do, Eddie? You beat him.

You beat him bad. You wanna kill yourself?

EDDIE:

What are ya, chicken, Charlie?

CHARLIE:

Well, maybe that's it. I'm chicken.

EDDIE:

Go on home. Just leave me the money.

CHARLIE:

Go to hell.

EDDIE:

(enraged)

Charlie, boy, you better give me that money.

C'mon now, give it to me. It's mine.

CHARLIE:

Okay, here ...

(slaps money into Eddie's hand)

Be a damn fool.

Eddie puts a bottle into the pocket of his jacket and returns to the

table to screw together his cue stick. The sight of Fats makes him

laugh again.

EDDIE:

You know, you really look beautiful, Fats.

Everyone stares at Eddie as he scratches his head, alone with his

private joke. Eddie abruptly tosses his cue case away.

EDDIE:

(casually)

I'll break.

A worried Charlie picks up the case and stands by mutely, watching

Eddie disintegrate. Eddie leans over to shoot, then turns away,

laughing loudly to himself. Fats watches him, soberly, patiently.

DISSOLVE TO:

23INT. THE GAME AT AMES - TIME LAPSE

A high angle. Fats is shooting. No one is really watching any more.

Eddie is asleep on a stool against a wall. Even Bert is dozing.

FATS:

Nine ball ... fifteen.

The shots go in.

SAUSAGE:

That's one twenty-five.

CHARLIE:

Eddie. Wake up, Eddie ...

(Eddie awakens slowly)

We lose again.

Eddie bangs his head against the wall. He knocks over a bottle as he

tries to get up off the stool. The noise startles him. Charlie watches

sadly. Eddie gropes through his pockets and comes up with a few

crumpled bills.

EDDIE:

Is this all we got left?

CHARLIE:

If that's all you got, that's all we got left.

Fats rises and tosses his cue on the table.

FATS:

Willie, give me the stake money.

Willie gives him the stake money. Fats confronts Eddie.

EDDIE:

Fats, I got about two hundred dollars here.

FATS:

Game's over, Eddie.

EDDIE:

Fats, look, I got about two hundred dollars

here. You can't run out on me.

FATS:

You watch me.

Fats steps by Eddie and heads for the coat rack, slapping the stake

money into Bert's hand as he goes by. Bert returns the money to his

billfold, wordlessly. The blinds are drawn and the light strikes Eddie

in the eyes, but still he stumbles after Fats, holding his money out

before him, pleading.

EDDIE:

Fats, c'mon. C'mon. Hey, Fats?

He bangs against the corner of the table and falls onto the floor. Fats

hears him go down and pauses, turning to see Charlie rush to Eddie's

side. After a moment, Fats continues on toward the door. Charlie slaps

Eddie's cheeks.

CHARLIE:

Eddie ... Eddie... Eddie ... Eddie...

Bert, Sausage, Willie, Preach step around the body on their way out.

FADE OUT:

24INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

FADE IN:

Eddie is lying on his bed staring at the ceiling, the crashing of pool

balls sounding in his head. He looks over at Charlie, asleep in the

next bed. He rolls out of bed and goes to the window. We see a neon

sign flashing across the street. It reads AMES BILLIARDS. Then Eddie

returns to his bed, leaves the keys to the Packard and some money on

the night table next to Charlie. He picks up his valise, his hanging

bag, and his leather cue case.

EDDIE:

(softly)

I'm sorry, Charlie.

Eddie goes toward the door.

DISSOLVE TO:

25INT. BUS STATION - EARLY MORNING

As Eddie enters, carrying his bags, a few early morning travelers --

some soldiers and a man in a Stetson hat -- pass him by. He has been up

all night. He rubs his grimy face, then heads for the door marked

"Gentlemen."

CUT TO:

26 INT. WASHROOM - EARLY MORNING

It is a typical bus station washroom at that time of the morning. The

residue of a full day's traveling is in evidence: crumpled paper

towels, cigarette butts, etc. Part of the residue is a drunk who sits

on the shoeshine seat, fast asleep. Eddie looks at him, shaking his

head. A wizened old attendant sits nearby. A sign on the wall reads IS

THIS YOUR LUCKY DAY? Eddie laughs to himself, puts his hanging bag and

cue case on a chair, then turns to face his image in the mirror.

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