One more installment after this –
INT. BELLAGIO – PRIME – A FEW MINUTES LATER
King stands in the entrance of the restaurant. He sports dress attire without jacket or tie.
SOLITAIRE
Wow! You look great!
King’s eyes devour Meredith.
KING
Not as great as she does though!
King pulls Meredith into his arms and bites her neck.
SOLITAIRE
Should you two get a room instead of a table for three?
Meredith wraps around King and licks his face.
MEREDITH
Not a bad idea. Honey, what do you think?
All three of them laugh.
CUT TO:
All three of them laugh as they pick up menus from the table.
SOLITAIRE
The strangest thing…when I was in the poker room…I could swear I saw Diamond on the rail.
King sets his menu down.
KING
You may have!
SOLITAIRE
What the hell?
KING
No…I didn’t invite her here.
The last attempt I made to get you two together failed miserably.
(laughs)
She called and wanted to know where you were going to work. I told her.
SOLITAIRE
I just lost my appetite.
Meredith sips her wine and rubs King’s stomach and groin.
MEREDITH
Sure hope our waiter is on the ball…I’m starving.
SOLITAIRE
(to no one)
How in the hell does one deal with Diamond?
King wraps his hands around Meredith’s hands and kisses them and whispers to her.
KING
Easy baby…we’ve got all night!
Meredith leans into him and moans. King holds Meredith’s hands and speaks to Solitaire.
KING
Very carefully…she’s been buried in the legal system for years. The real world has to be pretty painful.
SOLITAIRE
GOD! Why can’t she just go home?
The candle’s flame draws Solitaire’s cold stare.
SOLITAIRE
I want to kick her in the throat right now.
KING
Let the past go…for your own good.
King lifts his glass.
KING
To the celebration of life and your new job.
MEREDITH
Great idea!
Meredith lifts her glass and wraps herself around King. King sings “Celebrate” by Kool and The Gang.
KING
There’s a party going on right here – a celebration to last throughout the years. So bring your good times and your laughter too. We’re gonna celebrate your party with you! Come on now – celebration – let’s all celebrate and have a good time.
A smile tugs at Solitaire’s mouth.
SOLITAIRE
You’re right, damn it! A celebration it is.
Solitaire lifts her glass.
Int. PARIS – DIAMOND’S HOTEL ROOM – NIGHT.
The Urn sits on the table. Diamond stares out the window at Bellagio and the dancing Fountains.
DIAMOND
She’s so fucking smug and righteous.
The Fountains erupt in a burst of water and light and send drifts of shadow across her face.
DIAMOND
She’s going to help me save myself or I’m going to kill her.
She falls to the floor and beats the carpet with her fists. She bursts into angry sobs.
FADE TO:
Diamond wakes up, on the floor, with the glare of the sun in her face. She tries to stand.
DIAMOND
Ouch! I have to make her sleep on the floor before I kill her.
She dials a number.
DIAMOND
I’m not leaving town until you settle the issue of our mother’s last request. If you don’t call me back, I’ll be waiting for you at work, on your first shift. I’m at the Paris.
INT. BELLAGIO – POKER TOURNAMENT AREA – A FEW HOURS LATER
Diamond stands at the edge of the Tournament Tables. She spots Dave and watches him and the other players before she puts her hand on his shoulder.
DIAMOND
Let’s talk.
DAVE
What are you doing here?
PLAYER11
BUSTED!
PLAYER12
That’s not the same girl that was here a few minutes ago.
PLAYERS laugh and twitter.
DIAMOND
NOW!
Dave is the Big Blind and peeks at the ACE OF DIAMONDS, KING OF DIAMONDS.
Dave turns to Diamond.
DAVE
I’m playing in a Satellite for a seat in the $25,000 World Poker Tour Championship and if I leave, I get blinded off.
(shakes head)
There’s too much at stake.
PLAYER13 pushes out all of his chips.
PLAYER13
All-in for forty-six hundred.
Dave counts and recounts his chips as he watches Player13.
DAVE
I call.
DEALER4
Turn them over.
Dave turns up the ACE OF DIAMONDS, KING OF DIAMONDS. Player13 turns up the TREY OF SPADES, TREY OF HEARTS.
DIAMOND
You couldn’t wait to “CUM” before…
Diamond licks her finger and slides it across Dave’s mouth.
DIAMOND
Remember?
DAVE
Stop it!
The Players oooh and ahhhh!
Dealer4 burns a card and puts the NINE OF HEARTS, QUEEN OF SPADES, FIVE OF CLUBS on the table.
PLAYER13
Holdem, Dealer! Holdem!
Dealer4 burns a card and puts the SIX OF CLUBS on the table.
Dave’s jaw tightens as he glares at Dealer4.
Dealer4 burns a card and puts the FIVE OF SPADES on the table.
PLAYER13
Now we’re playing the game, Baby! Rock and Roll!
Dave flips his cards at Dealer4. He counts out Forty-six hundred and slaps them towards the pot.
Dealer4 pushes the pot to Player13, shuffles, and deals.
Dave’s fists clench, his eyes kill Dealer4. Diamond leans into Dave’s shoulder. Dave glares at her.
DAVE
Are you still here? Can’t you see I’m busy?
DIAMOND
Does Solitaire know about us?
DAVE
Why should she?
(looks at his cards)
I’m done with her too…she can’t figure out where the line is.
PLAYER12
Wow! You’ve got women in line?
Players laugh.
DAVE
Yeah! I can give you the stats on the “sisters” later. But right now I’m busy taking your chips.
DIAMOND
Before I’m finished with you, you’ll know you’ve been rode hard and put away wet!
Diamond spins around and leaves. The Players twitter and laugh.
DAVE
Come on guys, you can quit now or play it out…what do you say?
The Players all boo him and laugh.
INT. BELLAGIO – POKER ROOM – DAY
Solitaire, Helen, (Hazel sits behind her) and seven PLAYERS fill the game.
SOLITAIRE
How funny when we met, neither of you knew how to play poker.
HELEN
Yes…and of all places to meet, Nowhere, Montana.
SOLITAIRE
But you both play now?
HELEN
Yes…we take turns and we love it. The hell with Pan.
PLAYER14
Montana? I heard those games are tough.
SOLITAIRE
They’re so tough that security checks to see if you have a gun…and if you don’t, they give you one.
Everyone laughs.
PLAYER14
Seriously though…
SOLITAIRE
Well figure that they’ve been fighting over the same $100 for the last twenty years.
HELEN
She’s right.
HAZEL
Absolutely right. We were there.
Hazel, Helen, and Solitaire explode laughing. From his seat in the High Limit Section, Dave hears the laughter and spies Solitaire. He struts to her table.
DAVE
Well…hello Ladies.
(look covers Helen, Hazel, Solitaire)
What are we playing?
Dave scans the Game Plaque.
DAVE
Four and eight…nice little L-O-W limit game.
HAZEL
What are you playing? How to be a loser at life?
Dave laughs and waves at the High Limit Section.
DAVE
I’m right where I belong. I won over $22,000 yesterday.
(nod at Solitaire)
And she could have had some of it
but…women, what else needs to be said.
Hazel waves him off with her kerchief.
HAZEL
Take a hike you little deadbeat. Do your talking walking.
Players and Dealer5 laugh.
DAVE
Screw you, you old bat!
Helen flips him off by pushing her glasses up on her nose with her middle finger.
HELEN
What goes around comes around, you little creep.
Dave escapes.
HAZEL
(to Solitaire)
You don’t date him do you?
SOLITAIRE
No…long story, short ending.
DEALER5
I’ve dealt to him lots of times and he’s a fuel injected asshole!
Everyone roars.
INT. SOLITAIRE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Solitaire dials a number.
SOLITAIRE
Ok…I give up.
(listens)
I’ll pick you up tomorrow at Valet at 8 a.m. Wear some hiking clothes.
INT. SOLITAIRE’S TRUCK – PARIS VALET – DAY
Diamond jumps into the truck and carefully places the bag between her feet.
DIAMOND
Jesus. Why can’t you drive a car like a normal woman?
SOLITAIRE
Get off it already. Where we’re going, a car wouldn’t make it.
(mumbles)
You couldn’t walk out of it either.
DIAMOND
WHAT? Did you say something?
SOLITAIRE
No…and I wish you wouldn’t either.
They hit I-15 North and exit on Lake Mead East. Vegas disappears behind them. They turn left on Lake Shore Drive.
Diamond
Where the hell are we going? We’ve been driving for almost an hour.
SOLITAIRE
“A quiet mountain valley or a high desert peak, a place that no man lives and the spirit wanders unchecked and free.”
They leave Lake Shore Drive and four wheel over rough terrain.
DIAMOND
How did you find this place?
SOLITAIRE
I visit Vegas now and then. We have an uncle that lives here, remember?
They park near the edge of a wash.
DIAMOND
(mumbles)
Righteous little bitch!
SOLITAIRE
What?
They stomp to the rim.
DIAMOND
You heard me. You’re a righteous little Bitch. Just like the day Mom died.
SOLITAIRE
Yeah…and you? You couldn’t even call and tell me Mom was in a coma when it first happened.
DIAMOND
WHAT? You called back hours after I left the message.
SOLITAIRE
LIAR!
Solitaire grabs at the bag. They struggle. The Urn rolls free of the bag and stops against a small rock at the edge of the wash. They stop, stare at the Urn, each other.
Solitaire roundhouses Diamond. They fight as one or the other tries to grab the Urn. They punch, scratch, kick, bite at each other for several minutes.
Diamond knocks Solitaire to the ground and jumps on her, pushing her head over the rim. Solitaire struggles for a hand hold. As Diamond grabs at Solitaire’s hand, they hit the Urn.
The lid pops off just before the Urn flies out over the edge.
The fight stops. They stare, open mouthed, as the wind catches the ashes.
They slowly separate themselves from each other and stand in silence at the edge of the wash.
SOLITAIRE
Let my end be your beginning.
DIAMOND
Let my end be your beginning.
SOLITAIRE
(across the wash)
G-O-D! THAT FELT GOOD!
They both dust off and check for cuts and bruises.
DIAMOND
Yes it did, Sis. Yes it did.
SOLITAIRE
Don’t “Sis” me. I think I seriously hate you but I feel better about it right now.
DIAMOND
We could learn to be friends. That might be better than being sisters.
SOLITAIRE
Don’t push your luck.
INT. SOLITAIRE’S TRUCK – A SHORT TIME LATER
Diamond and Solitaire retrace their route back to Vegas.
DIAMOND
Well…where do we go from here?
Solitaire drives in silence.
DIAMOND
Come on…help me with this.
SOLITAIRE
What do you like to eat? I’m starved.
They talk.
INT. SOLITAIRE’S APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM
Solitaire and Diamond lounge on the couch. They share wine, conversation, food, laughter, smiles, tears as daylight fades to night and night fades to day.
INT. PALMS – POKER ROOM – NIGHT.
Diamond sits behind Solitaire at a poker table.
SOLITAIRE
(to Diamond)
The Big Blind has to open the bet for $4.
DIAMOND
I did watch some of the World Poker Tour and I was always curious about it.
(elbows Solitaire)
But since you were in the business, I didn’t want anything to do with it. You know how it goes.
SOLITAIRE
Yeah, I hate lawyers too, just because you’re in the business.
Solitaire and Diamond laugh.
Solitaire is in the two seat and has the Button. She peeks at the FIVE OF HEARTS, SEVEN OF HEARTS.
PLAYER17, in the five seat, raises.
Everyone calls.
PLAYER15, in the three seat and the Small Blind, calls.
PLAYER16, in the four seat and the Big Blind, raises.
All Players in front of Solitaire call.
SOLITAIRE
What the hell, I’m not playing this hand like a little boy. I raise.
Solitaire raises. Diamond sticks her fingers in Solitaire’s rib cage.
DIAMOND
(whispers)
What are you doing?
Player15 waves at Solitaire and goes ballistic.
PLAYER15
She can’t tell you what to do…DEALER pay attention here. She can’t tell her what to do.
SOLITAIRE
WHAT? Who’s telling me what to do?
PLAYER15
Your friend behind you. She can’t tell you how to play.
Solitaire and Diamond both laugh.
DEALER6
Sorry, Ladies. We have a “one player to a hand” rule. No conversation when you have cards.
SOLITAIRE
No problem.
Dealer6 burns a card and puts the TREY OF HEARTS, FOUR OF DIAMONDS, ACE OF CLUBS on the table.
Player15 and Player16 check.
Player17 bets.
All Players call to Solitaire. She raises.
All Players call to Player17, he raises.
All Players call to Solitaire, she raises.
All Players call.
Dealer6 burns a card and puts the SIX OF SPADES on the table.
Player15 and Player16 check.
Player17 bets.
All Players call to Solitaire. She raises.
All Players call to Player17, he raises.
All Players call to Solitaire, she raises.
All Players call.
Dealer6 burns a card and puts the QUEEN OF CLUBS on the table.
Player15 bets.
Player16 folds.
Player17 raises.
All Players fold to Solitaire, she raises.
Player15 raises.
Player17 and Solitaire call.
Player15 slams down the DEUCE OF HEARTS, FIVE OF CLUBS.
PLAYER15
Read ’em and weep!
Player17 turns up the ACE OF SPADES, ACE OF HEARTS.
PLAYER16
Yeah…well at least you didn’t have to go very far to beat this hand.
Player17 zips his cards into the muck, face up, and glares at Dealer6 and mumbles.
PLAYER17
Fucking no dealing piece of shit!
DEALER6
What? Did you say something?
PLAYER17
Just shut up and deal.
SOLITAIRE
(to Player15)
Get it fixed!
Solitaire turns up the FIVE OF HEARTS, SEVEN OF HEARTS.
Player15 stands up and looks over the table at Solitaire’s cards.
PLAYER15
You raised with that?
SOLITAIRE
I warned all of you. I told you I wasn’t going to play this hand like a little boy.
Some of the Players and Dealer6 laugh. Dealer6 shoves a mountain of chips to Solitaire. Solitaire throws ten chips to Dealer6.
SOLITAIRE
Thank you.
DEALER6
No…thank you! You made my night.
PLAYER15
YOU MADE MY LIST! Good thing I didn’t win. You won’t ever get a tip from me.
DEALER5
Ooooh! “Tip Suspension List” alert.
Everyone laughs.
DIAMOND
(whispers)
Are they all this mean to dealers? God! How can you stand it?
PLAYER15
See, DEALER, her friend’s telling her what to do again.
SOLITAIRE
I don’t even have cards.
DEALER6
(to Player15)
You’re out of line, Sir. They can talk when she doesn’t have cards.
Solitaire stands up and stretches.
SOLITAIRE
(to Diamond)
I need a break. Want to play for a few minutes.
DIAMOND
Yes! I thought you’d never ask.
Diamond jumps into Solitaire’s chair
SOLITAIRE
Don’t go crazy. Wait for a hand.
(to Dealer6)
Deal her in.
PLAYER15
(to Solitaire)
I don’t care if YOU sit behind her and talk. You have no idea what you’re doing.
Everyone laughs. Solitaire takes a walk.
CUT TO:
INT. BELLAGIO – POKER ROOM
The Game Limit Plaque reads ‘$400-$800 Mixed Games’. The Game Plaque reads ‘Deuce to 7 Triple Draw’.
Dave has the Button and raises. PLAYER18 raises.
DAVE
Got a wheel?
PLAYER18
Just call or fold.
(smirks)
Or you can raise.
Dave calls.
Player18 taps the table.
Dave discards one.
DEALER7
Pat and one.
Dealer7 burns a card and gives Dave one.
Dave peeks at the DEUCE SPADES, TREY OF SPADES, FOUR OF SPADES, FIVE OF SPADES, SIX OF SPADES.
DAVE
Fuck! Couldn’t make this hand in a Holdem game.
Player18 bets.
Dave calls and shows the SIX OF SPADES as he pitches it to the muck.
Player18 taps the table.
DEALER7
Pat and one.
Dealer7 burns a card and gives Dave one.
Dave peeks at the EIGHT OF SPADES.
DAVE
Fuck!
(glares at Dealer7)
This is bullshit! Learn to deal!
DEALER7
Or what?
PLAYER18
Just deal. Leave it alone.
Dave pitches the EIGHT OF SPADES face up to the muck.
Player18 taps the table.
DEALER7
Pat and one.
Dealer7 burns a card and gives Dave one.
Dave peeks at the SEVEN OF HEARTS.
Player18 checks.
Dave bets.
Player18 raises.
Dave raises.
Player18 calls.
DAVE
Just a wheel!
Dave spreads his cards face up on the table.
Player18 looks at his own cards for a moment before he folds.
PLAYER18
(to Dealer7)
Amazing how fast you learned to deal in that hand.
Dealer7 laughs and pushes the pot to Dave.
DAVE
I’d tip you but I’m stuck.
DEALER7
Gee…wonder how that could ever happen.
Dave checks his watch, it reads 11:30 p.m.
DAVE
Wow! I’ve been here eight hours already. I’m starved.
PLAYER18
Let’s order food from Room Service.
DAVE
Great idea. I didn’t know we could do that.
PLAYER18
Only when you play high limit.
(waves at room)
Not for those down there.
DAVE
(surveys room)
What a bunch of fish…look at them, trying to eat each other.
(pauses)
Think anyone else will come in?
PLAYER18
Probably. We started with six remember? Some of them go home for the evening. Others come in.
Player18 and Dave look at menus.
CUT TO:
Int. Palms – POKER ROOM
Solitaire walks up to the table as Diamond gets in the last raise. Diamond has loose piles of chips under her arms and around her racks and stacks of chips.
DIAMOND
I’ve won almost every pot since you left.
SOLITAIRE
It looks like it. Good job!
Solitaire stands behind Diamond.
Diamond, Player15 and Player 17 have cards. The cards in the middle of the table are KING OF HEARTS, TREY OF CLUBS, SIX OF CLUBS, and FIVE OF CLUBS.
Dealer8 burns a card and puts up the FOUR OF CLUBS.
Player15 bets.
Player17 raises.
Diamond raises.
Player15 raises.
Player17 calls.
DIAMOND
Can I raise?
DEALER8
No!
Diamond calls.
Player15 turns over the ACE OF CLUBS – KING OF DIAMONDS and nails them to the table with his fingers.
Player17 tosses his cards into the muck.
Diamond turns up the NINE OF HEARTS – DEUCE OF CLUBS.
DEALER8
Straight Flush.
SOLITAIRE
(shock)
Oh my God!
DIAMOND
(claps)
I know. it’s my first straight flush!
Player15 folds his cards in half and throws them on the floor.
DEAlER8
DECISION, TABLE FOUR!
CUT TO:
INT. BELLAGIO – POKER ROOM
The remnants of a meal are in the chairs around Dave and Player18. The Game Plaque reads “Omaha 8 or Better”. All of Dave’s chips are in play with a matched amount in front of Player18.
The Board Cards are ACE OF SPADES, FIVE OF HEARTS, KING OF CLUBS, QUEEN OF CLUBS, KING OF DIAMONDS.
Player18 turns up the ACE OF DIAMONDS, ACE OF CLUBS, NINE OF SPADES, TEN OF CLUBS.
DEALER9
Aces full of Kings.
DAVE
(glares)
Good job, Dealer, good job!
Dave lofts the cards at Dealer9’s chest. Dealer9 bats them out of the air and pushes Dave’s chips to Player18.
DAVE
You got me. You got fucking lucky.
Player18 stacks chips, nods without looking up.
PLAYER18
Thanks. If you’re coming in tonight, let’s have a drink.
Dave squeezes the leftover, buttered bread on his plate until it oozes between his fingers. He throws the bread at the floor. He stumbles away from the table and wipes his hands on the drapes hanging from the windowed rail. He storms into the Casino.
CUT TO:
INT. PALMS – POKER ROOM
Solitaire sits behind Diamond and checks her watch. Diamond has a mountain of chips in front of her and the dealer pushes her another pot.
DIAMOND
You’re not tired are you? What time is it?
SOLITAIRE
Play one more round. I’m too tired to be alive.
DIAMOND
Ok. I love this game. Can we come back tonight?
SOLITAIRE
Let me just get a sleeping bag.
DIAMOND
(laughs)
I’ll buy!
Solitaire snorts.