The Biggest Game III – a screenplay

Continued from Part II. Part IV

INT. DEBOARDE HOME – LIVING ROOM – NEXT MORNING

Solitaire stumbles into the room and rubs her eyes as a yawn escapes. Diamond searches through papers in the desk.

SOLITAIRE

WHAT are you doing?

Diamond hesitates after a look at Solitaire and continues her search.

DIAMOND

Looking for some papers.

SOLITAIRE

That’s Mom’s stuff. Get out of it!

DIAMOND

I have to take care of some things for her.

SOLITAIRE

Put the papers back NOW! If you don’t, I’m calling Mom in here.

Diamond drops the papers into the drawer and closes it.

DIAMOND

Ok. Calm down. I have to go anyway.

Diamond grabs her handbag and slips out of the house.

INT. DEBOARDE HOME – KITCHEN – a few hours later

Solitaire and Treyanne sit at the table.

TREYANNE

King stopped by last night for a visit.

SOLITAIRE

He came in to work for a minute.

TREYANNE

I wish Diamond had more time to get to know him.

Solitaire rips and chops the salad vegetables at a bowl on the table.

SOLITAIRE

Can we stay away from Diamond today?

Treyanne stares out the window. Her sigh matches the wind as it blows swirling snow flakes through the barren branches of the trees.

SOLITAIRE

Damn it! I have to get out of here!

Treyanne laughs.

TREYANNE

That sounds just like Diamond fifteen years ago.

SOLITAIRE

God! PUH-LEASE don’t compare me to her.

Solitaire slams salad into their bowls and forks bushels of it into her mouth. She chomps and swallows.

TREYANNE

This game between you and your sister…I wanted my girls to love each other…

SOLITAIRE

Sisters by Decree, not by choice.

TREYANNE

It’s not like you to be so cruel.

Treyanne picks at her salad and watches Solitaire.

SOLITAIRE

I’m cruel? What is she?

And what was she doing going through the papers in your desk this morning?

TREYANNE

She wouldn’t do that!

Solitaire turns a stony stare to the window.

Int. Red lion restaurant – A FEW HOURS LATER

Solitaire finds King and Diamond seated, heads together in conversation.

SOLITAIRE

(mumbles)

Well that’s one way to ruin a perfectly good lunch.

Diamond spots Solitaire.

DIAMOND

How are we today?

SOLITAIRE

We? “We”, are fine. As in I am. How the hell are you?

DIAMOND

Never been better. Thanks for asking.

The WAITRESS arrives.

DIAMOND

I’ll have coffee, black and make sure it’s fresh and hot.

Solitaire stares at the menu.

KING

Coffee for me too, please. Solitaire what do you want?

SOLITAIRE

Just coffee. I had lunch with Mom a few hours ago.

Diamond and King place their orders.

KING

How’s the job, Diamond?

Diamond fluffs her hair and smiles.

DIAMOND

Fantastic! I’ve just been offered a partnership with the law firm.

King lifts his water glass in a toast and smiles.

KING

Good for you…you deserve it.

Diamond eyes Solitaire.

DIAMOND

At least one of us recognizes the value of having a career.

Solitaire’s eyes narrow into a hard stare at Diamond.

SOLITAIRE

Really? Does having a “career” turn one into a slut that picks up little unsuspecting boys?

KING

Jesus! Where did that come from?

SOLITAIRE

Ask her. She has everything arranged in neat little rows.

Diamond laughs and touches up her lips.

KING

Come on you two. Settle down. Been a long time since you visited Missoula…right, Diamond?

DIAMOND

Yes. Mom called a week ago and said she’s not feeling well. I plan to put her into a nursing home where she’ll have proper care.

SOLITAIRE

GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE WITH THAT!

DIAMOND

She’s going to need full time care soon…

(to Solitaire)

And you’re leaving. What do you care?

SOLITAIRE

You can’t be serious with that question! If you are, you’re an over inflated bitch that needs to be put out of her misery.

King slaps the table with both hands.

KING

Stop it! We came here to talk, not go to war. Trey wants her own space and time.

SOLITAIRE

(to Diamond)

Don’t even think about it!

DIAMOND

Think about it! I’ve already taken care of it. The Petition for Guardianship was filed today.

SOLITAIRE

Fuck, fucking you! We’ll never speak again if you follow through with it.

DIAMOND

Then let this be goodbye! You aren’t smart enough or wise enough to handle issues like this.

Solitaire jumps up and slaps her water glass at Diamond. She runs from the restaurant.

KING

That really was uncalled for.

DIAMOND

I know it. Can you believe she tried to spill her water on me?

KING

She should have picked it up and dumped it on you. What are you thinking?

(shakes head)

Step back into reality, Girl.

Diamond picks up her handbag, stands up and smoothes her dress.

DIAMOND

Girl? I’m not a GIRL. And I don’t need a 65 year old, long haul truck driver, with a stripper for a girl friend, making a judgment call on anything I do.

KING

Really? Who died and made you God?

DIAMOND

God doesn’t rule the system, the courts do.

Diamond saunters out of the restaurant.

KING

What goes around comes around…buckle up, Baby, you aren’t going to like it.

INT. oxford – POKER ROOM – a few hours later

Solitaire waits at the empty table with Gary. Dave walks through the door. Solitaire bites her lip and turns away.

GARY

What is your game?

Dave smirks at Gary.

DAVE

Whatever you want to play, Old Man.

Gary laughs and spreads the deck in a smooth slide.

GARY

Oh…you thought I was talking about poker. You really are stupid.

DAVE

Be very careful, Old Man.

GARY

You want to be a pro…you’re going to Vegas to play for a living, right?

DAVE

What took you so long?

Gary watches Dave like a hawk watches a mouse run across the field.

GARY

You’re the prey, Sonny.

DAVE

WHAT?

GARY

Even if the deck runs over you, you don’t stand a chance.

SOLITAIRE

What he said!

DAVE

YEAH?

SOLITAIRE

Yeah!

DAVE

Yeah? Well you’re never getting another tip from me.

Solitaire covers her ears.

SOLITAIRE

NO! NO! Not the dreaded Stiff List. Oh my God! My monthly income is going to decrease by fifty cents.

Gary stifles a laugh. He strikes a farmer’s match; it burns almost to his fingers before he sucks fire into the cigarette.

GARY

You just don’t get it do you?

(shakes head)

The game isn’t about you. It isn’t about me.

Gary blows cascading smoke rings at the ceiling. Dave folds his arms across his chest and sits back in his chair. Solitaire stares at the wall.

Int. Deboarde home – kitchen – next morning

Solitaire enters to King and Treyanne sharing coffee.

KING

Aren’t you up w-a-y too early?

SOLITAIRE

Couldn’t sleep. Didn’t even get a game going last night.

TREYANNE

All the more reason to make that audition in Vegas.

SOLITAIRE

How can I leave you?

KING

I come through town once a week now and I’ll check on her every trip.

TREYANNE

Besides, I have friends here and remember that new fangled invention…the telephone?

KING

I have to go, the truck’s unloaded and waiting. See you next week, Sis.

King hugs Treyanne and goes to Solitaire for a quick hug.

KING

See you in a few days in Vegas, Kid.

King leaves.

SOLITAIRE

Damn it! I just don’t know about leaving you. Have you talked to Diamond today?

TREYANNE

She’s coming for lunch. It’ll be like old times.

SOLITAIRE

We never had old times. She was fifteen when you brought me home. I was still making mud pies and riding stick horses when she was in college.

TREYANNE

Well…that’s true. But in my heart and thoughts, you are together with me. My babies.

Solitaire goes to the cupboard for a coffee cup and mumbles.

SOLITAIRE

Do you know what your “baby” plans to do to you?

TREYANNE

What honey?

SOLITAIRE

Nothing…just thinking out loud.

TREYANNE

What about?

SOLITAIRE

(whispers)

Shit…busted!

(to Treyanne)

Umhhh…just wondered why you never got married.

Treyanne laughs.

TREYANNE

You know the answer to that one. I never wanted anyone telling me what to do. I wanted children so I picked them from a field of beautiful flowers that needed a garden of love to grow in.

SOLITAIRE

But why so far apart?

TREYANNE

Diamond was growing up and I wanted another baby…and you needed love and a home.

(pauses)

Why are we going through this again?

SOLITAIRE

Just thinking. I don’t even want kids.

TREYANNE

No? What do you want?

SOLITAIRE

I want to be the first woman to win the World Series of Poker.

Diamond steps through the door with several bags and fresh flowers.

Diamond

(to Solitaire)

That’s a real goal! I thought you’d still be asleep.

(to Treyanne)

And just the two of us would have lunch.

SOLITAIRE

W-e-l-l Hell! Hey! I can leave.

DIAMOND

OK!

TREYANNE

Nonsense. We’re all having lunch.

SOLITAIRE

I’m tired.

Solitaire stomps out of the room.

Solitaire

(mumbles)

Really tired of you.

Treyanne pats the chair next to her.

TREYANNE

Come on and sit down, Diamond. She’ll get over it in a few minutes. Everything will be ok.

Diamond starts unloading take-out boxes from the bags.

DIAMOND

Not with her it won’t. Nothing’s ever been ok since the day you brought her home. She’s fighting with me now.

TREYANNE

What’s the problem?

DIAMOND

I don’t see it as a problem. I see it as a solution. I filed a form yesterday with the Court.

TREYANNE

What? For what?

DIAMOND

To have myself appointed your guardian.

Treyanne grabs the edge of the table.

TREYANNE

Why? How could you even think about doing that?

DIAMOND

You’ll have better care in a nursing home…you can’t stay here alone.

TREYANNE

I raised two children here alone.

DIAMOND

You were much younger then.

TREYANNE

Two children that obviously don’t give a damn about what I want or think anymore.

DIAMOND

I’m only doing it for your own good.

TREYANNE

Please leave. I don’t want to have lunch with someone that wants to put me where I don’t want to be.

Diamond stands up and picks up her bag.

DIAMOND

I’m sorry you feel that way.

TREYANNE

Button up your blouse, Honey, your heart’s falling out.

Diamond slams the door on her way out of the house. Solitaire rushes into the kitchen. Treyanne weeps with her head in her hands.

SoLITAIRE

Mommy…what happened? What happened?

She runs to Treyanne and falls to her knees.

SOLITAIRE

What happened? Did she tell you?

TrEYANNE

You knew?

SOLITAIRE

I was going to talk to you today but she came in before I could.

Solitaire pulls Treyanne to her. They both cry.

SOLITAIRE

We argued with her at lunch yesterday…

(pauses)

She doesn’t want to hear anything from me.

Int. Red lion – diamond’s hotel room – later that night

Diamond’s attire screams that she expects to have sex; champagne sits in a bucket of ice. A hesitant knock sends her to the door.

DAVE

Oh my God! You’re incredible.

DIAMOND

The other night was just a teaser…

Diamond grabs Dave’s crotch and pulls him into the room. She runs the whole show and dominates their sexual activities.

Cut TO:

INT. HOSPITAL – TREYANNE’S ROOM

Solitaire sits next to Treyanne’s sleeping form. She wipes a continuous stream of tears from her face. She digs through her bag and finds her cell phone. She dials a number.

Cut TO:

Int. RED LION – DIAMOND’S HOTEL ROOM

The cell phone rings. Dave’s face is buried between Diamond’s thighs, as she looks at the incoming number.

DIAMOND

Not now, Little Bitch.

DAVE

(groans)

Ok. So I’m a little bitch. I’ll play your game.

Diamond throws the phone on the floor.

Cut TO:

INT. HOSPITAL – TREYANNE’S ROOM.

Solitaire listens to the phone.

SOLITAIRE

How can you not answer? Mom’s in the hospital. She’s resting. She’s ok…right now anyway. Call back ASAP.

CUT TO:

Int. RED LION – DIAMOND’S HOTEL ROOM.

Diamond grabs Dave’s head with both hands. She shudders through a noisy climax.

Cut TO:

INT. HOSPITAL – TREYANNE’S ROOM

Crying, Solitaire strokes Treyanne’s hand and whispers.

SoLITAIRE

Mommy, I just wish you’d stay with me. I’m so lost…

Cut TO:

Int. RED LION – DIAMOND’S HOTEL ROOM

First light filters through the draped window as Diamond and Dave moan and claw through the end of a climax.

Diamond jumps up.

DIAMOND

Time to go.

Dave

Don’t you ever run down? Jesus Christ…all night long. I’m beat. Let’s sleep a few hours and have breakfast.

DIAMOND

Get the hell out of here. I have work to do today.

DAVE

Are you serious? That’s it?

DIAMOND

If I want you here before I leave town, you’ll hear from me.

Dave scrambles to get his clothes on and leave. Diamond sorts through papers in a briefcase and ignores him.

DAVE

(in the doorway)

I’m just a chunk of meat?

The door closes behind him. Dave speaks to the door.

DAVE

I’m OK with that. Call me!