The Lady Gambles Page #4

After all, there's nothing

very funny about the name.

Thank you, Ruth. I knew you

were sweet the minute I saw you.

Shall we have this dance?

I'd love it.

That is if...

Oh, I'm sure Joan won't mind.

Will you, Joan?

No. Of course not.

Are you sure?

Certainly.

Isn't this funny?

I stayed out here

to chaperone Joan,

and here she is

chaperoning me.

Not funny at all.

It's exactly as it should be.

Oh, that's nonsense,

just plain nonsense.

Why?

What if I did

only meet him tonight?

I like him very much.

And he liked me.

Oh, Ruth.

Don't "Oh, Ruth" me.

Heaven knows you've got no need

to be jealous. You've got David.

You're not making very much sense,

darling. You drank too much brandy.

I wanted to go,

and now look at us.

Instead of a wonderful

boat ride on Lake Mead,

we have to go to bed

at 9:
30.

Oh, cut it out, Ruth.

You can't stand it,

can you,

if a man shows the slightest

interest in me, can you?

Shall I tell you what he said

to me while we were dancing?

No, please.

He said I danced

beautifully.

And he refused to believe that

I was eight years older than you.

And that I raised you

from when you were a baby

because mother died

when you were born...

Stop it, Ruth. Stop it.

And I won't tell you

the other things he said.

'Cause I don't think I should.

I don't remember when I've

had a lovelier evening.

Ruthie...

You're not getting a crush

on Mr. Corrigan, are you?

What if I am? What business is it of yours?

Oh, believe me, darling.

I'm not being jealous.

It's just that I... Well, I

don't want you to get hurt again.

I knew it. I knew that's

what you were thinking.

What makes you so sure

I'll be hurt?

Maybe he does

find me attractive.

Is that so impossible?

Is it? Is it?

I didn't say that.

Just because

I never got married.

You think I didn't have

any chances?

What about Joe Matthews? He was dying

to marry me, and I was only 18 years old.

Yes. I know. I know.

But I had you on my hands,

a nasty, skinny little brat.

If I'd had any sense, I would

have put you in a home somewhere.

Please, darling...

Then I wouldn't have to

stand here like a fool

and be laughed at

by my own sister.

Ruth, open the door.

I want to talk to you.

Ruth, please. Answer me.

Deal me out.

Well, slumming,

Mrs. Boothe?

May I come in?

How far in?

I'm accepting

your invitation.

Can you afford it?

It's a pretty steep buy-in.

That's your problem,

isn't it?

Think you can stand the

noise, confusion and dirt?

I apologize.

Hmm.

Put these in your purse.

Hello?

Hello, Ruth. It's David.

Just outside Salt Lake.

Spent the night here.

Say, wake up Joan, will you?

I want to talk to her.

All right.

She's not here, David.

I don't know where she is.

Now, look, Ruth, don't

start up that stuff again.

I want to talk to her.

No, it's true. Her bed hasn't

been slept in. What time is it?

Hello? David? Hello?

Your deal.

Daylight.

I didn't realize.

Your deal, Mrs. Boothe.

I'm sorry. I'm too tired

to even see the cards.

Now, wait a minute...

Listen, fellas. It's 5:30

and I'm a working man.

You gentlemen know where to find

me if you want another session.

But I have dropped

over 10,000.

And if you keep playing,

you'll drop another 10.

I'm sorry.

I can't oblige you.

I hate to do this while you

still got some money left.

425. The lady's ready to fall.

Wait a minute,

Mrs. Boothe.

I'll settle up with you as

soon as I show the boys out.

You're a great little

poker player, Joan.

Anytime you want to work

it full-time, let me know.

The cards did seem to come

my way, didn't they?

Tired?

Mmm-hmm. A little.

But nice tired.

Here's your cut. You came

out nearly 4 grand ahead.

We'll make it an even 800.

Not a bad night's work.

Care for a drink?

At 5:
45 in the morning? What

kind of a girl do you think I am?

Why don't you stop

sparring with me, Joan?

I haven't been sparring.

You're nicer like this.

Look at you now.

Easy, relaxed, tired,

but like you say, nice tired.

This is a pleasant room

in the morning.

It's a lot more than that.

It's what's in the room.

The game,

the fight, the fear.

And the peace that comes

after you've licked that fear.

When you win.

Nah, even when you lose.

It's different, but there's

a kind of peace in that, too.

Like when you were a kid and you took

your punishment, you knew it was over.

I never thought of it

that way.

You may be right.

I'm right, all right. I'm

right about a lot of things.

I know you, Joan.

I know what you need.

You'll get them with me.

I'm right for you

and you're right for me.

I think I'd better go.

Don't... Don't fight me,

Joan. This is where you belong.

I'm not fighting you.

It's just that... Well...

It's my own fault. I'm sorry.

I really am.

Okay, Joan. Skip it.

How about that drink later?

Like this afternoon?

If you like.

It's a date then?

It's a date.

Quitting, Mrs. Boothe?

Yes.

Write it down, Joe.

Dames.

Oh, David,

why doesn't he look up?

That man's working down there.

He won't look up.

Hey!

Well, he ought to.

He ought to know how I feel.

Why?

What's wrong, David?

They tell me there's never

been a single suicide off here.

Yet, back in Chicago, they drop

off those high buildings like flies.

Something's been wrong

ever since you came back.

Where were you

at 5:
00 this morning?

5:
00 this morning?

Yeah, when I called.

I didn't know you called.

Didn't Ruth tell you?

She didn't say a word.

Well, I'm saying it now.

Where were you?

In the casino. Now, put your arm around me.

Don't you

believe me, David?

I believe you.

Then what...

What's the matter?

A fellow could spit

pretty near half a mile.

It's quite a feeling.

What's a roulette wheel got

can compare to that?

What do you mean?

What is all this

with the casino, anyway?

All night last night and the night

before. Most of the days, too.

Nothing. It's nothing.

Just lack of something

better to do.

Spitting

half a mile's better.

Lying in the sun's better.

So is a two-inch steak.

Last week, you would have thought so, too.

I think so now.

Darling, are you worried about me?

A little. Yes.

Well, don't be. Oh, the

casino was exciting, of course,

but let's face it,

I'm just a hick from Chicago

who found a bright,

new shiny toy.

It's the deep end, Joan,

for people

with no talent for living.

They're not big enough

to take the plunge here,

so they do it

back in the gambling joints.

That's your bright,

new shiny toy?

Well, it's not new anymore

and it's not shiny.

I can take it

or leave it alone.

I'll leave it alone.

And if I ever go near

one of those joints again,

you can take away my two-inch

steaks for one solid year.

Scout's honor.

Speaking of steaks, what

time is it getting to be?

There's no time like the

present, to coin a phrase.

Hey, Joan.

Mmm?

That man's looking up here.

Don't you want to wave?

Do you know

what I really want to do?

What?

Spit half a mile.

Ruth, look what I...

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