The Biggest Game VII – a screenplay

Next….

CUT TO:

INT. DEBOARDE HOME – LIVING ROOM

Diamond sits with a phone jammed to her ear and stares at the Urn on the coffee table.

CUT TO:

INT. SOLITAIRE’S APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM

The phone rings.

DAVE

Aren’t you going to answer the phone?

SOLITAIRE

No.

The ANSWERING MACHINE kicks in.

ANSWERING MACHINE

Hi! You’ve reached 702-499-5768. Leave a message.

DIAMOND (V.O.)

Pick up the phone.

(pauses)

We still have to settle our mom’s last request.

(pauses)

Then how about Dave? Maybe you want to talk about him. CALL ME!

Solitaire spins around and stares at Dave.

SOLITAIRE

What the hell…

Dave grabs her arm. The Answering Machine clicks off.

SOLITAIRE

You just went out for a walk, huh?

DAVE

You’d better take me to my car. I have to get started on today’s income.

SOLITAIRE

(mumbles)

Maybe she wants to warn me about your feet.

They leave the apartment, stiff and apart.

CUT TO:

INT. DEBOARDE HOME – LIVING ROOM

Diamond holds a copy of the handwritten letter from Treyanne. Tears run down her face. She carefully lifts the Urn and slides the copy underneath it.

DIAMOND

I’m so sorry. I spent all those years chasing a career and running away from here. I never thought you’d leave before I got to know you.

She buries her face in her hands and weeps.

DIAMOND

I let you down in more ways than one.

(looks at Urn)

No…I didn’t let you down, I let myself down…I’m the one that lost.

She sobs.

CUT TO:

INT. SOLITAIRE’S truck – MIRAGE VALET

Dave reaches for Solitaire and tries to pull her to him. She shrugs him off.

SOLITAIRE

Just go.

DAVE

You’re going to let a phone message, from someone you can’t stand, ruin our morning?

Solitaire stares straight ahead.

SOLITAIRE

It’s from her, about you…that’s enough to make my skin crawl.

Dave jumps out of the truck.

DAVE

If you change your mind, you can call me.

Dave struts off. Solitaire hits the gas and speeds away.

SOLITAIRE

Where would I call you? At your office, Any Poker Room, Nevada? And who would I ask for? Please page Mr. Face! Yes…Jerk is his first name.

INT. SOLITAIRE’S APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM – LATER

Solitaire walks through the door and throws her bag on the floor.

SOLITAIRE

Jesus H. Christ! Drug test, fingerprints, aghhhh! Nice to be back in the real world.

She kicks off her shoes and lands on the couch and starts sorting through the papers on the floor. She spies the Envelope. She sits back on the couch and stares at it. She picks it up and turns it over and over.

SOLITAIRE

Christ!

She throws it back on the floor and goes to the refrigerator. She pours a glass of wine and returns to the couch. She stares at the Envelope.

SOLITAIRE

Damn it to hell!

She grabs the Envelope and rips it open. The original, handwritten instructions from Treyanne are inside.

TREYANNE (V.O.)

My beautiful daughters. Having you and growing up with you has been the best part of my life. Until the last breath I take escapes into eternity, I love you.

(beat)

It is my wish that you both will take my ashes to a quiet mountain valley or a high desert peak, a place that no man lives and the spirit wanders unchecked and free.

(beat)

Throw me to the wind, to life, to eternity, share the bond of my existence and your time with me.

(beat)

Let my end be your beginning.

Tears stream down Solitaire’s face.

SOLITAIRE

Mom…my mom…I love you so much.

INT. WHISPERING SANDS – Casino – LATER THAT NIGHT

Diamond stands by the roped off area of the Poker Room and reads a sign at the entrance, POKER WORKS Opens April 30th, 200?.

SECURITY GUARD walks by.

DIAMOND

Excuse me…

SECURITY GUARD

Yes…can I help you?

DIAMOND

If I wanted to play poker tonight, where would I go?

SECURITY GUARD

Bellagio is the place. They have a big tournament going on right now.

Diamond is on the move.

DIAMOND

Thank you!

SECURITY GUARD

(Calls after her)

Our room opens in two weeks. Come back and see us!

INT. BELLAGIO – POKER ROOM – AN HOUR LATER

Dave and Solitaire face off, heads-up in a poker game. Dave motions to DEALER3 as he watches Solitaire.

DAVE

Wait! Now that we got it heads-up, want to make a deal?

SOLITAIRE

Nope, no deals.

DAVE

Come on!

(laughs)

When I beat you in this Satellite, I get a seat in the No Limit Holdem Super Satellite. That means I’ll be playing for a seat in the $25,000 Buy-in World Poker Tour Championship…right?

SOLITAIRE

When you beat me? Get real!

DAVE

Even if I didn’t win the next Super Satellite, there’s a chance I’d place and it might be worth a chunk of change.

SOLITAIRE

Cut the chase…what’s your point?

DAVE

If you just quit now, I’ll give you 20% of whatever I win.

SOLITAIRE

(grimace)

How come so much?

DAVE

Because we’re ex-buddies.

SOLITAIRE

Or because you’re afraid you’ll get beat by a little girl? NO! No deals, but a toast is in order.

Dave and Solitaire stand up, at opposite ends of the table.

CUT TO:

INT. BELLAGIO – CASINO OUTSIDE POKER ROOM

Diamond clutches a bag to her chest and looks through the windowed rail. She spies Dave and Solitaire as they stand up.

Back TO:

DAVE

Little girls do cry when they lose.

Solitaire blows a kiss at Dave.

SoLITAIRE

May the best woman win!

They toast each other (with any beverage).

BACK TO:

Diamond’s face twists as she watches the exchange between Dave and Solitaire.

BACK TO:

Solitaire glances at the windowed rail and spots Diamond.

BACK TO:

Diamond catches Solitaire’s glance and escapes.

BACK TO:

SOLITAIRE

JESUS! That looked like Diamond…

(shakes head)

no, she’d never come here.

Dave and Solitaire sit back down. Solitaire motions to Dealer3.

SOLITAIRE

Deal. I’m almost late for a dinner date.

Dave peeks down to the FOUR OF SPADES, FIVE OF HEARTS.

DAVE

I’m all-in and if you call this, you’ll be on your way.

Solitaire peeks down to the KING OF CLUBS, QUEEN OF CLUBS.

SOLITAIRE

I call.

Dave and Solitaire both turn their hands face up on the table.

Dealer3 burns a card and puts the KING OF DIAMONDS, NINE OF HEARTS, DEUCE OF CLUBS on the table.

Solitaire stands up.

SOLITAIRE

Gotcha!

DAVE

It’s not over yet.

Dealer3 burns a card and puts the SIX OF CLUBS on the table.

DAVE

See…I have outs.

SOLITAIRE

(laughs)

Yeah, slim and none.

Dealer3 burns a card and puts the TREY OF SPADES on the table.

Dave whoops and jumps up.

DAVE

I knew you couldn’t outplay me. The cream always comes to the top.

Solitaire stares between her hand and Dave’s hand.

SOLITAIRE

Unbelievable. Talk about picking off Runner, Runner.

DeALER3

He’s got you covered.

Dealer3 pushes all of Solitaire’s chips to Dave.

SOLITAIRE

The Card Fairy must have sprinkled Luck Dust all over your ass today.

DAVE

See…I told you…you should have cut a deal.

Solitaire mouths ‘Fuck You’ to Dave.

DAVE

(laughs)

I know it bothers you.

SOLITAIRE

Like a flea on the dog in my neighbor’s yard…that’s how much it bothers me.

Solitaire grabs her purse and leaves the room.

INT. BELLAGIO – CASINO – A MINUTE LATER

Dave catches up to Solitaire.

DAVE

Hey…come on! Aren’t you even going to congratulate me?

SoLITAIRE

The square needle routine? Better get back there to collect your prize.

DAVE

Come on…don’t be mad at me just because I won…

SOLITAIRE

I’m mad at you because you are YOU, not because you won.

Dave’s eyes snap past Solitaire. Meredith saunters towards them, donned in attire that a man with a bad heart should never see. Everyone stops to stare at her.

DAVE

Oh my God! It’s Sting.

SOLITAIRE

WHAT?

Dave’s eyes are glued on Meredith.

Meredith stops behind Solitaire and smiles at Dave.

MEREDITH

Well…hello, Hot Stuff!

Solitaire spins around.

SOLITAIRE

Mere…you know Dave?

DAVE

You two know each other? No Way!

SOLITAIRE

How do you know him?

MEREDITH

What do I do for a living, Hon?

SOLITAIRE

Ouch! Maybe that’s more than I need to know.

DAVE

Remember the code, Sting! What happens at Crazy Horse II stays at Crazy Horse II.

MEREDITH

Take a hike, Hot Stuff. You’re not invited.

DAVE

Nice to see you too, Sting.

Laughs over his shoulder to Solitaire.

DAVE

Sorry I beat you! N-O-T!

MEREDITH

Come on. We’re going to be late if we don’t hustle.

Solitaire and Meredith wend their way through machines and the pit. Everyone stares at Meredith as she passes.

SOLITAIRE

What about Dave? Is he one of your customers?

MEREDITH

Why do you want to know?

SOLITAIRE

Because I’ve slept with him…some things get a little touchy.

MEREDITH

(chuckles)

Yes and no. He swamps when he’s broke.

SOLITAIRE

He what?

MEREDITH

Cleans…you know…swamps out the place.

Meredith busts into a laugh.

MEREDITH

One night he’d been drinking. He wanted to dance for the girls before they left for the night. They dubbed him Hot Stuff.

Solitaire stops and stares at Meredith.

SoLITAIRE

Did he?

MEREDITH

Not for me! Do you think I care about his sorry little ass when I’ve put up with all those wannabe pussy grabbers for hours?

Solitaire leans into Meredith and laughs.

SOLITAIRE

I THINK I’m glad to hear that.

Meredith elbows Solitaire.

MEREDITH

Figure that his first visit to the club was for another reason than asking for a job…right?

SOLITAIRE

Yeah! Along the lines of the Gentlemen’s Club…

(laughs)

I always wondered when “Gentlemen” started expecting women to take their clothes off in public.

MEREDITH

Now you’re getting the picture.