The Killing of a Chinese Bookie Page #3

I got more to offer than that.

- A lot more.

- Yeah, yeah. Okay. Let's go.

- Sure, I do.

- Let's go. Let's go.

I'm ready for this. I'm ready.

I'm ready to go.

You bet a dollar, I'll raise you 99.

Yeah.

A pair of jacks, you win.

Hey, where are the chairs?

The girls go to the john,

they take away the chairs?

Chair.

- Come on! The girls are standing here.

- You gotta wait a minute, Vittelli.

Commodore, chairs.

Yo.

I'm sorry, boys.

- I'll start it.

- He's got jacks.

Ten dollars.

- Ten dollars. Up to you. Ten dollars.

- I'll call 10. I'm in.

- I play.

- He plays, I pass.

I need more chips.

I pass.

- Hey.

- Cost you $50.

Yo. What's your name?

- Vic.

- Yeah, will you tell the commodore to come over here, please?

- Sure.

- Cost you $50 if you care to play.

Cost you $50.

He raised you $50. He did.

$50. I'm in.

I'm in.

Fifty and 400.

He raised it 400. 400 to

you if you care to play.

- Costs $800.

- No, no, no. Wait a minute.

- 450 it costs me.

- No, no, no.

He was in for the original $50. Fifty-dollar bet.

He called, and then he jacked it up over there.

- Oh, that's right. Listen...

- Plus $400.

I'm gonna need more credit.

I'm sorry, Mr. Vittelli. No more credit.

- Cost you $800.

- I know it costs 800!

Wait a minute, will ya? What

are you trying to do, embarrass me?

I'm sorry. No.

- Well, can I have the credit, or can't I?

- I'm sorry. There's no more.

Well, then let me see Mr. Weil.

Go get him, will ya?

The man said I could

have unlimited credit.

Unlimited credit? I never heard of such a thing.

What do you mean, "unlimited credit"?

Well, then, cash a check.

I'll cash a check for $2,000.

- No way.

- You got my checkbook?

No way, Mr. Vittelli.

I can't cash a check.

I got it right here.

What are you telling me

you can't cash my check?

Man, I'm telling ya I can't cash

a check. It means my ass if I do.

Well, how about credit cards? I got

gold credit cards, silver credit cards...

orange credit cards, green credit cards!

- Is that all right?

- All right. With credit cards I'll take a check. All right?

What does it say on your watch?

What's the name of this place?

- The Ship... ship...

- Ship Ahoy. Ship Ahoy.

Darling, don't do that.

It irritates me, will ya?

It's all right. It's only money.

This entourage of biscuits

follow you wherever you go?

Mr. Vittelli. Gentlemen,

this is Cosmo Vittelli.

- Care for a drink?

- No, thanks.

May I see your credit cards, please?

Andy our driver's license?

It's there.

Excuse me, Mort.

Who gave this gentleman credit?

Mr. Vittelli...

do you plan to pay your debt by check?

Well, I don't usually carry

that kind of money in my bank.

You know, all the money I make...

I put back into the business.

And it's paying off handsomely.

Now, look, I intend to pay.

I'm not one of those guys who consider

a gambling debt just a piece of paper.

I'm sure.

And as you'll see there...

there's a... there's a...

triple-A credit rating.

Oh, yeah. There's a gold gas card.

Why don't we have that drink, girls?

I... I'd... I'd be willing to

pay for it. A round for everybody.

No, no, no. Ladies,

excuse me. I'm sorry.

Please be seated. Just

make yourselves comfortable.

$23,000 is a lot of money.

- Eddie let me have a Form 223 and a Form 17.

- All right. Okay.

And a pen. No, no, no.

You've got two Form 17s.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

- Can I have a pen?

Yes. I'll get one to

you in just a minute.

All right.

- And that's 17.

- And a pen.

Thank you.

Okay. Mr. Vittelli, right here, please.

Okay. And here.

Okay. Again right here.

Very good. Great.

Thank you very much. I'm

sorry about all this...

but you're welcome back anytime.

- Thank you.

- Ladies, please come again.

- Good day.

- See ya, champ.

Thanks.

Well, does this mean we

all look for a new job?

Are you gonna start a cutback or what?

You know, the only reason I ask,

Cosmo, is because I'm only 5'2"...

and that's a couple

inches under the limit.

I just don't know too

many places who'd hire me.

You know what I mean?

Oh, my orchid. Where's my orchid?

Here.

- Thank you.

- Get a good night's sleep.

- Good day's sleep.

- See you.

Thank you. Good night.

Good morning.

- Thank you.

- Why don't I walk you to your door?

Yes, please. Thank you.

So, what are we gonna do?

It's all paper.

- Certainly has been a depressing evening all the way around, hasn't it?

- Yes.

Be right back.

Aren't you gonna come in?

I feel sexual.

I don't know what the hell I feel.

I think the thing to do is to get

some cash and go back down there.

- Want me to come with you?

- Nah.

All right.

- Let's go to the club.

- Okay.

Thank you, Lamarr.

Thank you.

All dressed up and no place to go?

- I'll have a coffee.

- How you doin' over there?

- Okay.

- You gonna let me audition for you?

You don't wanna do that.

Get me the coffee, will ya?

Nice and hot. You want

me to fix it for you?

You've got a good body.

And I can dance too.

- How old are you?

- I've been there.

- No.

- You going back to the place?

- Yeah.

- You want me to audition for you?

I can get Abe to sit in form.

There's not much oaf turnover

at this hour of the morning.

Let me close this door.

Find the switch here.

Damn thing never works.

- Do you have a dressing room?

- There it is.

- I need a costume.

- Yeah, wait a second.

Follow me.

There's costumes over here.

This batch. Try on anything.

I'm okay now. Thanks.

Do you have any music?

Yeah, we got music.

Rainy fields of frost and magic

Morning dew

In late afternoon

Alone I sit

For a moment

Lost in thought from

when all the moon

And the twilight skies

Bring silent cries

And tonight's moon rise

Fills my eyes

I think I'll step

inside to build a fire

Hang up my coat and clothes

Loving all change

Winter desire

To be one with the lady I love

And the amber light

From the cabin side

That's very good. You

took... what, ballet?

- Yes.

- Hey, what is that jump called?

A tour jete?

- Do that again.

- An understanding that we share

Okay, just walk up and down, will

ya, so I can take a look at ya.

No, you don't have to jump anymore,

sweetheart. Just walk up and down.

And still knowing this

We really care

And when the time is right

Oh, it's almost mine

So completely like

A wanton night

- Hey.

- Rainy fields of frost

- Come on over.

- And magic

Flowin' through a thought

That I just had

Cut it out, will ya?

You stop it. Cut it out!

Goddamn it! Will you stop!

Cool it! Cut it out!

Just auditioning a

girl, for Christ's sake!

Cut it out now!

Goddamn it!

Will you stop! What's

the matter with you?

Son of a b*tch!

Open your mouth.

Here it comes. Open your mouth.

Open your mouth.

As you live

So do I live

As you walk

- Now come on.

- So do I smile

As you are

This is bullshit.

Who

Who but you

I'm a club owner.

Could know

- I deal in girls.

- You're someone to me

Yeah!

The owl and the pussycat went to sea...

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