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.