분야
hwp by Craig Bolotin & Warren Lewis
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A BLACK SCREEN:
Various voices: "Big six"... "Thats six the hard way"...
"Seven or eleven"... "Play two"...
FADE IN:
EXT. UPPER EAST SIDE - NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT
One of the pristine blocks of brownstones where even the
garbage seems gift wrapped. The VOICES continue over as
we move in on a particular building where a DOORMAN is
holding open the door for a dowager and her poodle.
The voices continue: "Hit me"... "Double down"... "Let it
ride"... "Hit me"... "Anymore for the come out"...
"Card"...
In contrast to the outside of this sedate, quiet
brownstone, we go inside to find...
??
INT. BROWNSTONE APARTMENT
... a miniature Las Vegas, complete with music, drinks,
tuxedoed dealers and croupiers: roulette, craps, Black
Jack. Wall to wall people. The fact that casino gambling
happens to be illegal in New York doesnt stop these
Connecticut slummers, hollow-cheek nightlifers, and junior
wiseguys from having a good time.
AT THE CARD TABLE
NICK CONKLIN, holding a dollar cigar, is trying to pull a
winning hand. In his late thirties, Nick has the sort of
quiet good looks that takes an extra glance to appreciate.
His Moe Ginsburg rent-a-tux is too tight, his ruffled
shirt, out of date; Nick could care less.
Two other players are still in the game. One of them is a
lithe DEBUTANTE surrounded by an entourage of giggling
friends and tuxedoed men. The pot is huge.
Nick flips two one hundred dollar chips onto the pot.
NICK
One, and one on top.
DEALER
House sees.
PLAYER ONE
(hesitates)
Im out.
Disgusted, he throws down his cards.
Its down to Nick and the debutante. The cocky deb gives
Nick a long look, confident she can win.
DEBUTANTE
(her eyes still on
Nick)
I see the deuce, and one to chase
them home.
She throws her chips on the pot. Nick hesitates, then
decides to match it.
NICK
Call.
DEBUTANTE
(showing her hand)
Ladies, aces wired. Sorry sport.
Nick turns over his cards, Jacks and tens, not good enough
to win. Elated, the deb gets up from the table and joins
her giggling friends. Nick walks over to her.
NICK
Very nice, Barbie.
(pointing toward her
boyfriend)
Now, Id take Ken over there and go
home.
DEBUTANTE
Whys that?
NICK
Its time. Thats all.
BOYFRIEND
The lady wants to play. Someone
should teach you to be a better
loser, loser.
NICK
Listen, Ken --
BOYFRIEND
My name is not Ken --
NICK
-- Im offering you the benefit of
my experience.
DEBUTANTE
Looks like you have a lot of
experience in places like this. It
was nice of them to relax the dress
code for you.
That draws a laugh from her friends. The entourage heads
for the bar.
CHARLIE SKLOARIS, twenty-three, steps in front of the
debutante, blocking her path.
She steps to the side. Charlie steps with her. Charlies
pushing it, hes always pushing it. Shes not amused.
Finally, Charlie lets her pass. He comes up to Nick.
CHARLIE
Typical New York woman, big
attitude, small apartment, no tits.
Only two things count to Charlie: his job and his women,
but not necessarily in that order.
CHARLIE
I think she got to you, pappy.
NICK
(checking his watch)
You want a popsicle, go to Good
Humor. And dont call me pappy.
CHARLIE
(glancing at the
door)
Still, you gotta wonder how shed
look in handcuffs.
Nick, wary, eyes this kid. Charlie shrugs, spreads his
arms defensively. The SOUND of pounding on the front
door.
THE DOOR
splinters. The bouncer steps back as four helmeted
emergency service officers -- the first members of the
raiding party -- rush in.
Pandemonium. People rush for the exit -- any exit.
AT THE BAR
Nick and Charlie hold up their glasses.
NICK
(calmly)
Alley oop.
They down their drinks, then set them down.
Charlie pulls out the Binaca, offering Nick a spritz, but
Nick is already pulling out his POLICE BADGE and hanging
it around his neck. Charlie quickly follows suit.
A HALF DOZEN COPS
line the patrons up against the wall. The Asst. D.A.,
PATTY ZACHARA, climbs onto the crap table. A petite,
nervous woman, Patty has dressed in a Channel suit for the
occasion.
ZACHARA
Settle down. Hey, quiet... Please.
Not a prayer.
NICK
SHUT THE HELL UP, GODDAMNIT!
That quiets them.
NICK
My name is Conklin. Lets do this
fast so I can go home.
Zachara, annoyed, looks at Nick.
NICK
(softer)
Its all yours.
ZACHARA
(reads)
Under section 216 of the New York
State Penal code, I serve notice
that this premise and its
occupants...
NICK
catches the Debutantes eye across the room. She smiles
at him, he was right. He shrugs, spreads his hands.
Thats life.
A well groomed middle aged man, who well come to know as
CAVELLO, suddenly bolts from the crowd lined up against
the wall.
Charlie spins around to stop him --
CHARLIE
Whoa -- where do you think youre
going, hotdog.
Cavello butts him with his head, sending Charlie to the
floor. Then, crosses his arms in front of his face and
plunges through the WINDOW.
Nick, not missing a beat, gives a small sigh as he
follows.
NICK
(sighs)
Fabulous...
He takes off after him.
??
EXT. STREET UPPER EAST SIDE - NIGHT
Nick, short
