That’s the title of my one and only screen play. I wrote this baby with the intention of it being a pilot for a weekly show on HBO. Certainly it’s about poker. Since it’s a full length screen play, I’ll post it in a bunch of different posts. It’s formatted in Final Draft which means it doesn’t appear as it should in WordPress, you just have to manage. All I need is a few serious writers to help me iron out the wrinkles. I already know the #1 flaw with it, I just haven’t sat down to figure out how to correct it.
THE BIGGEST GAME
By Linda R. Geenen
INT. Oxford – poker room – NIGHT
One wall of the room displays a sign which reads, “The best poker games in Missoula, Montana are spread here”. Light spills through the bars on the top half of a door with “Cashier” above it. A low hanging light illuminates a poker table, an island of life in the bare, dark room.
GLORIA, aging and still looking for a life, deals poker to six PLAYERS.
GLORIA
Must be a Bus Man’s Holiday, huh Solitaire?
SOLITAIRE DEBOARDE, an old soul in a twenty-something body, shrugs.
SOLITAIRE
Her Royal Highness, Queen Diamond…
Solitaire opens her mouth, points her finger into it, and fake gags.
SolITAIRE
…is lowering herself to hold Court with Mom. This peon revolted and ran away.
GLORIA
WHAT?
GARY BALLINGER, older than dirt, chuckles.
GARY
Translation…her sister is spending the evening with Mom. Honestly, Gloria, you’ve got to get out of your cage more often.
GLORIA
Well…if Solitaire took more days off in a week, I would.
DAVE SPRINGER, an immature twenty-something, enters the room.
The Players all wave to him.
GLORIA
Dave! Long time no see. Back for good?
Dave slides into a seat and digs for money.
DAVE
No! Just tying up a few loose ends.
(eyes on Solitaire)
SolITAIRE
You mean a year passed already?
DAVE
Don’t be mean. I did think about calling you.
SOLITAIRE
I never thought about you once after the first twelve months.
DAVE
Thanks, Buddy. I knew you weren’t really mad at me.
Solitaire smiles and lifts her coffee cup in a toast.
SOLITAIRE
When did you get in?
DAVE
About an hour ago.
SOLITAIRE
At least your priorities are in order.
Everyone laughs as Gloria sells Dave chips and deals Holdem.
Dave shoves out a stack of chips when the action comes to him.
DAVE
Raise blind.
GLORIA
Come on, Dave…you know this is three and six.
Gloria cuts off six $1 chips and pushes the rest of the stack back to Dave.
Solitaire peeks at the SEVEN OF CLUBS, EIGHT OF CLUBS.
Solitaire raises.
Dave peeks at the TEN OF SPADES, NINE OF HEARTS.
Dave slams out a raise.
The other Players fold.
Solitaire raises.
Dave flips out a raise.
Solitaire shrugs and calls.
SolITAIRE
You must hate your chips.
The Players wake up, intent on the action.
Gloria burns a card and puts the KING OF DIAMONDS, SIX OF SPADES, TREY OF SPADES on the table.
DAVE
You’re not going to like it.
Solitaire checks.
Dave sends out a bet.
Solitaire raises.
Dave slides a raise at Solitaire’s raise.
Solitaire raises.
Dave peers intently at Solitaire. He calls.
DAVE
Guess I ran into a set of Kings…
Gloria burns a card and puts up the TREY OF DIAMONDS.
DAVE
Just in case you had Pocket Rockets, I’d better maximize this pot.
Dave fires a bet at the pot.
Solitaire slams out a raise as she watches Dave.
Dave peeks at his hole cards and calls the raise.
DAVE
Must be Kings Full.
Solitaire blows a kiss at Dave.
SOLITAIRE
Come on, Buddy…the rent’s due.
Gloria burns a card and puts up the TREY OF HEARTS.
Dave peeks at his hole cards and taps the table.
SOLITAIRE
(to Gary)
Christ! His cards must change every time he looks at them.
Solitaire shuffles her chips and watches Dave.
SOLITAIRE
You’re checking now?
Solitaire bets.
DAVE
Just a little pot builder.
Dave raises.
SOLITAIRE
(thinks)
You have to have the Six – Trey of Clubs…that’s all you could have.
Solitaire pitches her hand, face down, into the muck.
Dave throws the TEN OF SPADES, NINE OF HEARTS face up on the table.
DAVE
CHRIST! Go figure that one…what did you have? Nothing…right?
Gary erupts in laughter.
SOLITAIRE
You definitely out-played me, Ex-buddy.
Gloria shoves the pot to Dave.
GARY
(to Solitaire)
It ain’t no fun when the rabbit’s got the gun.
DIAMOND DEBOARDE, a thirty-something classy but suggestive, dominatrix struts into the room.
SOLITAIRE
What are you doing here?
Diamond scans the room and Players.
DIAMOND
(spots Solitaire)
So THIS is the flea infested hovel you work in.
Dave jumps up.
DAVE
WOW!
DIAMOND
Leaving this stink hole town must be the only thing we have in common.
SOLITAIRE
Your evening with Mom?
Dave
Hey, isn’t anyone going to introduce me?
Diamond
I’ll take care of Mom. Just don’t get in my way.
Dave takes a step towards Diamond.
DAVE
Hi, I’m Dave.
DIAMOND
My…my…my. You are a healthy specimen. But not tonight, Sweet Cheeks.
Diamond leaves and Dave follows her.
Solitaire smashes her chips together and mumbles.
SOLITAIRE
CHRIST! That didn’t just happen…did it?
GaRY
Easy…deep breath…deep breath.
SOLITAIRE
DAMN IT! GIVE ME A CIGARETTE.
GARY
What? You don’t even smoke.
SOLITAIRE
Right now I do.
Gary flips a cigarette out of his pocket and strikes a farmer’s match.
Solitaire sucks flame into the cigarette and explodes in a cloud of cough and smoke.
SOLITAIRE
Is he an asshole or is she a bitch? Wait! Don’t answer that one.
Gary chuckles as he racks his chips.
GARY
Love’s bloom just died on the vine.
SOLITAIRE
WHAT?
Gary
You’re buddy just left with your sister.
SOLITAIRE
You’re nuts if you think I have any feelings for him other than friendship.
GARY
You’re the one you have to convince.
SOLITAIRE
GOD! Stop it!
The game breaks up.
KING DEBOARDE, a mid-sixties, never wore a suit or worried about a haircut kind of guy, ambles into the room.
King
Hey kid, time for coffee?
SOLITAIRE
Hell yes!
INT. oxford – BAR/RESTAURANT – a minute later
Big open room with grease stained walls and uneven floors. PATRONS sit at mismatched tables and chairs, the food counter, and the bar. The KENO CALLER announces winning numbers over a microphone.
Solitaire leans over the food counter, grabs the pot, and pours her own coffee. She motions to the pay phone on the wall.
SOLITAIRE
Any messages come in for me, Cooky?
COOKY, the king of cooking with grease, waddles to the counter.
Cooky
Honey, you know I always watch out for you. Even if you’re dealing. You need something, you call Cooky.
King croons, “I Drove All Night” by Cyndi Lauper.
KinG
“I drove all night to get to you.”
King pulls Solitaire into a hug and slides his thermos down the counter to Cooky.
KING
See if you can’t load this baby with Everclear and coffee so I can make it to Vegas tonight.
Solitaire’s shoulders droop with her frown.
SOLITAIRE
Did you see Diamond?
KING
What? The Queen was here?
SOLITAIRE
Unbelievable…Unfucking believable.
KING
In here? That really is unbelievable.
SOLITAIRE
And Dave left with her.
KING
Dave? He’s back too?
SOLITAIRE
Fuck both of them…who cares anyway?
KING
Hey…there’s no need for that.
Cooky delivers a steaming plate of food.
Cooky
Thought you were here once a month, weren’t you in a week ago?
King eats.
KinG
I was, Cooky. I couldn’t live without your fabulous grease so I asked for a different schedule.
Cooky
No shit? They gave it to you!
King erupts with laughter.
Cooky
Shucks, King. That’s mean.
KING
I’m on a temporary route for two months. And your grease is the best of all the places I hit…no shit!
Cooky
Thanks, King.
Cooky smiles and pads back to work.
KING
Diamond, what’s she here for? She hasn’t been back in four or five years.
SOLITAIRE
Mom called her last week. She knows I’m leaving for Vegas.
KING
So?
SOLITAIRE
She hinted at a nursing home.
KING
No way in hell!
SOLITAIRE
Yeah, sick.
KING
When are you leaving?
SOLITAIRE
In about ten days. If I don’t make that audition, I’ll be here the rest of my life.
Solitaire grabs King’s knife and chops off a piece of omelet.
SOLITAIRE
I’d have no choice but to kill them…
(nods at people)
or myself.
Solitaire frowns and nibbles from the knife.
King chuckles and eats.
KING
Quit it!
SOLITAIRE
Yeah? Well if I get to Vegas and have to deal to my “Ex-buddy”, I may throw up.
(pauses)
God! He left with HER! I think I will throw up!
KING
Dave? I think you’ve got a thing for him.
(chuckles)
Solitaire slaps him on the arm.
SOLITAIRE
Ridiculous! He had a crush on me while he was playing ‘Mr. I make a living playing poker’ before he moved to Vegas a year ago.
King crushes his napkins into a ball and throws them at Solitaire.
KING
Dave’s heading back to Vegas?
Solitaire bats the napkins and laughs.
SOLITAIRE
So he says. They should film a ‘Survivor Series’ on Dave playing poker in Vegas for a living. It would be the laugh of the century.
Solitaire sips coffee and frowns.
SOLITAIRE
On the real down side of things…Mom won’t go with me.
King’s laugh dies.
KING
Nothing is going to change where she’s at in life.
Solitaire turns away and wipes at her eyes.
KING
Stop it! Time to get on with your life.
SOLITAIRE
Jesus H. Christ! How can you be so cold about it? She’s your sister.
KING
And she has a right to decide what she wants to do.
SOLITAIRE
She can’t stay here alone!
KING
Why can’t she? Just because you want a change doesn’t mean she does.
King jumps up and gives her shoulder a squeeze.
KING
Meredith has the spare room ready for you…call her before you leave here.
King grabs his thermos and throws money on the counter. He laughs.
KING
And don’t forget to spend some quality time with your sister….
Solitaire’s head snaps up. Her smile disappears into a snarl. King escapes through the door with a wave.
INT. DEBOARDE HOME – LIVING ROOM – an hour later
A collection of Kodak memories cover the walls. The furniture, older than Solitaire, overruns the floor plan.
TREYANNE DEBOARDE, a mom in the truest sense, brought her first child home after 40, naps on the couch.
Treyanne jumps as Solitaire slams into the room.
SOLITAIRE
Mommy…I’m so sorry. I thought you’d be in bed.
Treyanne yawns and pats the couch beside her.
TREYANNE
What’s wrong, Honey?
Solitaire drops to the floor. Treyanne gently strokes Solitaire’s arms and massages her hands.
SOLITAIRE
Diamond waltzed through the door like she owned the place.
Treyanne stops stroking Solitaire’s arm.
SOLITAIRE
She said I work in a flea infested hovel.
TREYANNE
She came into the Oxford?
SOLITAIRE
And Dave jumped up to meet her and followed her out. He never came back.
Treyanne’s gaze searches Solitaire’s face.
TREYANNE
Honey, are you jealous?
Solitaire pulls away from Treyanne and sulks at the floor.
SOLITAIRE
NO! Hell no! Of her? NEVER!
Treyanne attempts to stand and Solitaire helps her. Solitaire supports Treyanne as they move to the kitchen.
SOLITAIRE
Say you’ll come with me to Vegas.
TREYANNE
I’m staying here.
INT. DEBOARDE HOME – KITCHEN – A MOMENT LATER
Treyanne sits at the table. Solitaire makes coffee and breakfast.
SOLITAIRE
You can’t stay here alone.
TREYANNE
I raised you two girls alone.
Solitaire crushes a just cracked egg in her hand.
SOLITAIRE
Mom…
TREYANNE
Diamond wants to put me in a home and you want to drag me to the desert.
Treyanne stares through the window as daylight spreads across the sky.
SOLITAIRE
We’d have a home there. Better than this one.
TREYANNE
What about what I want?
SOLITAIRE
If you just made the decision to come with me, Diamond wouldn’t pull any of her legal bullshit to force you into a home.
Solitaire dumps the food onto plates and half drops them on the table. They eat.
TREYANNE
She wouldn’t do that.
SOLITAIRE
Really? She hasn’t been here in four years. She doesn’t even know us anymore. When she walks into our home, she looks at everything like it had mold growing on it…that includes me and you. We’ve never been sisters…
TREYANNE
Stop it! You’re not going to make life any better for anyone by acting that way.
SOLITAIRE
Well, look at her. She booked a room at the Red Lion and won’t even stay here with us.
TREYANNE
She just likes her own space.
SOLITAIRE
Stop making excuses for her for God’s sake.
TREYANNE
Stop it!
Solitaire takes a long drink of coffee and pushes her plate away.
SOLITAIRE
When does she stop?
TREYANNE
Damn it! That’s enough.
SOLITAIRE
No it isn’t. She’s up to something.
They both stare out the window