More drama – Part IV
INT. WHISPERING SANDS CASINO – POKER ROOM – A FEW HOURS LATER
The card room is still under construction and closed off from the rest of the casino. Casino music floats through the area. Wannabe DEALERS mill around ten tables. One table hosts a rack full of chips and four PLAYERS with chips in front of them.
TONY DEVRON, plain suit and non-personality tie, sits in the five seat.
TONY
Hello…everyone.
Tony stands up with a loud clap.
TONY
HEY, EVERYONE! I’m Tony Devron, the card room manager. The people seated around this table are shift supervisors. We’re going down the list in alphabetical order and this may take awhile so please take a seat until your name is called.
Tony scans the roster in front of him.
TONY
Solitaire…DeBoarde is it?
Solitaire raises her hand.
TONY
Please join us.
Solitaire slides into the Dealer’s Chair.
TONY
Tell us a little about your background and why you want to be here.
SOLITAIRE
I’ve been dealing poker in Montana for the last three years. I can deal all games and if there’s something I don’t know, I’m willing to learn.
(clears throat)
As to why I’m here? If I’m going to deal poker for a living, I need to live where poker is a life style…not a part-time event.
TONY
Good answer. Now you have to show us your mechanical skills and ability to handle a game. Deal a few hands of Omaha 8 or Better, please. The limit is four and eight.
PlAYER1 is in the four seat.
PLAYER1
(leers)
Montana, huh? What do women do in Montana?
Solitaire deadpans right at Player1 as she scrambles the deck and shuffles.
SOLITAIRE
We stay away from guys that can’t figure out what women do.
Player1 flushes.
TONY
Good answer!
PLAYER1
(recovers)
I just wanted to see how you would handle an ‘interested’ customer.
Solitaire deals.
PLAYER4, in the seven seat, is the Button.
PLAYER2, in the one seat, is the Small Blind.
PLAYER3, in the two seat, is the Big Blind.
PLAYER1 raises.
PLAYER4 raises.
PLAYER2 raises.
PLAYER3, PLAYER1, PLAYER4 call.
Solitaire burns a card and puts up the ACE OF HEARTS, FOUR OF HEARTS, FIVE OF CLUBS. Solitaire stacks the pot as the Players bet and raise.
PLAYER2 bets.
PLAYER3 raises.
PLAYER1 raises.
PLAYER4 raises.
PLAYER2, PLAYER3, PLAYER1 call.
Solitaire burns a card and puts up the SIX OF CLUBS. Solitaire stacks the pot as the Players bet and raise.
PLAYER2 bets.
PLAYER3 raises.
PLAYER1 raises.
PLAYER4 raises.
PLAYER2, PLAYER3, PLAYER1 call.
Solitaire burns a card and puts up the TREY OF DIAMONDS. She drops the deck and stacks the pot.
Player2 turns over the DEUCE OF DIAMONDS, ACE OF SPADES, KING OF HEARTS, QUEEN OF HEARTS.
Player3 turns over the DEUCE OF CLUBS, FOUR OF SPADES, ACE OF CLUBS, SEVEN OF SPADES.
Player1 turns over the DEUCE OF HEARTS, TREY OF SPADES, FIVE OF HEARTS, SIX OF SPADES.
Player4 turns over the ACE OF DIAMONDS, DEUCE OF SPADES, FOUR OF DIAMONDS, TREY OF CLUBS.
PLAYER1
I get half of the high and one quarter of the low.
SoLITAIRE
No Sir! You get a quarter of the low.
Solitaire pushes out Player3’s FOUR and SEVEN OF SPADES.
SOLITAIRE
He has a Seven High Straight. Yours is only to the six.
Solitaire breaks the pot into half and slides one half to Player3 and breaks the remaining half into four equal stacks and pushes one each to Player2, Player3, Player1, and Player4.
She scrambles and pulls the deck together.
Tony
Don’t bother…do you have any problem with different shifts?
SOLITAIRE
No. I’d prefer to work swing shift.
Tony hands a piece of paper to Solitaire and motions to a table by the entry.
TONY
See Sandra on your way out. She’ll give you all the details.
Solitaire gives SANDRA the paper without looking at it.
Sandra checks the paper and peels pages from different stacks on the table.
SANDRA
You’ll need to go through each of these. One of them is your application for your Gaming Card and the fees. Pay close attention to that one. There’s a drug test form and the other one is the date of orientation…you are expected to be there or you won’t be hired.
Solitaire stares at Sandra.
SOLITAIRE
I’m hired. Just like that?
SANDRA
You’re in kid! As long as you pass all these tests. Don’t miss the dates on your papers.
INT. KING’S HOME – KITCHEN – AN HOUR LATER
Solitaire jumps through the door with a big grin.
SOLITAIRE
I got the job!
King and Meredith are where Solitaire left them a few hours before.
KING
Honey…sit down.
SoLITAIRE
I did it! I got the job!
Grim faced, Meredith pats a chair by her. Solitaire runs to the table and drops into the chair.
SOLITAIRE
What happened? Mommy?
KING
She’s in a coma.
Solitaire jumps up.
SOLITAIRE
Then I have to leave, call the airport and see how fast I can get out of here.
KING
Call her and tell her you’re ok!
King pushes the phone and the number towards Solitaire.
SOLITAIRE
I’m not ok. I have to go…
KING
Damn it! You don’t want her to leave without saying goodbye.
Solitaire bursts into tears.
SOLITAIRE
I can’t say goodbye!
King slaps the table.
KING
Death is a part of life.
Solitaire falls back into the chair. Meredith pats Solitaire’s hand.
MEREDITH
King, come on…
King takes a long drink of coffee and looks out the window.
KING
You’re right, Mere. The heart cries…even when the mind knows what’s best.
(to Solitaire)
Call her.
Solitaire slowly dials the number.
SOLITAIRE
Could I have Treyanne DeBoarde please? Yes…I’ll speak to anyone in the room.
Solitaire coughs and tries to clear her throat.
SOLITAIRE
Diamond? I want to talk to Mom.
(listens)
Let me talk to her.
(listens)
Either put the phone to her ear or I’ll call back and ask a nurse to do it.
Tears stream down Solitaire’s face.
SOLITAIRE
Mom…my best friend…and companion…
Solitaire swallows and wipes at tears with her arm.
SOLITAIRE
But always my mom…I love you so much. Everything will be alright…it’s ok, Mommy. I’m here…I’m in Vegas.
She chokes on tears.
SOLITAIRE
Diamond? Yes, that’s all I had to say.
Solitaire hangs up.
Cut TO:
INT. HOSPITAL – TREYANNE’S ROOM
Diamond slowly places the phone on the cradle. Tears start.
DIAMOND
Mom…I’m so sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing. Please don’t go…I need to tell you…
Treyanne’s eyes open for a brief second and focus on Diamond.
DIAMOND
I need to tell you I love you.
(bursts into tears)
The heart monitor hits a flat line.
DIAMOND
HELP! HELP! ANYONE…PLEASE HELP!
Diamond wraps Treyanne in her arms and cries.