Original subtitles

Around the country, the bookies pay off winners at track odds.

It's dangerous when a long shot comes in...

unless you have somebody at the tracks to lower those odds.

Bet you can't do that with a quarter.

Are you kidding? Sure, I can.

I'll give you a dime for every quarter you can lay on end.

It's a bet. Hey, you got any quarters?

Sir!

- How you doing? - Hi. Can I get, uh, a Miller, please?

You got it.

Out of 20.

Three, four, five, five is ten, ten is 20.

Thanks. Next!

Okay, Ace, ten in a row.

Yep. You're right.

That's a dollar I owe you.

Hey!

That was the deal. A dime for every quarter.

These are the figures.

Running time of six furlongs one minute, ten and 1/5th seconds.

In the winner's circle, number one, Magical Flight,

owned by Frank and Melanie McDonald.

Trained by Melanie McDonald.

Ridden to the green by Orlando Torino.

Number seven, Telescope second.

Number five, Free To Go, third.

Number three, Minced Meat Pie, coming in fourth.

Five thousand on the three horse to win, please.

Two, three, four and five. Thanks. Good luck.

Thank you.

Winning exacta combination nine and seven.

Returns 118 dollars 80 cents. 118.80.

The nine-seven exacta combination.

The winning quinella combination

seven and nine, 54 dollar 54 even.

The seven-nine quinella combination.

Post time in three minutes.

In the winner's circle, number nine, Ray's Parmesan.

Owned and trained by Anthony Martinez...

Two thousand on the three horse to win.

Running time for the six furlongs

is one minute 11 and 1/5th seconds.

They're in the gate.

- They're off.

Full Force from the outside racing right out for the lead,

with Vital Contact moving up...

Mmm. Mrs. Langtry, I'm sorry.

Why? What's wrong?

You are a valued customer, as you know.

But what's wrong?

I can't understand this. It's something you almost never see.

What is?

This is some of the finest filigree platinum

- I've ever seen.

But the stones--

No. They're not diamonds, Mrs. Langtry.

But they must be. They-- They cut glass.

Glass will cut glass, Mrs. Langtry.

Almost anything will.

Come with me.

Let me show you a positive test for diamonds.

Yeah.

Take this.

Do you see...

how the water splashes over them?

How it slides off in a sheet?

With real diamonds, it won't do that.

It clings to the surface in tiny droplets.

- I see it.

I hope you're not too badly disappointed with us, Mrs. Langtry.

It's not your fault.

You'll give us an opportunity to serve you again, I hope,

if there's anything you think we might be interested in.

Well, I have only one thing now.

Are you interested?

Well, I would have to see it, of course.

You are seeing it.

You're looking right at it.

Mrs. Langtry...

something like this very rarely happens.

A fine setting and workmanship usually means precious stones.

It always hurts me when I find they're not.

I always hope...

I'm mistaken.

Can I get a Miller, please?

- One too many, mister? - What?

Step away from the car.

Never mind. Let's see your driver's license.

You seem pretty sick, Mr. Dillon.

Well, it's a bad shrimp, I think.

Didn't quite taste right when I was eating it.

I'm getting over it though.

- Want us to take you to the doctor? - No. I'm fine now. Thanks.

I still got a lot of clients to see.

- Take it easy now. - I will. Thank you.

Have a good day now.

Hi, Lilly. Pat,

I'm about done here. Do I come back to Baltimore?

No, no. Bobo wants you to go on to La Jolla.

La Jolla? I never go to California. It's a 1000 miles from here.

Come on. You don't argue with Bobo.

He needs somebody to handle playback there.

Maybe I'll swing around Los Angeles on the way.

Take two or three days. Call when you get there.

Yeah. Okay.

Put it this way. Say I rent to a woman.

Well, she has to have a room with a bath

because otherwise she's got the whole bath tied up all the time,

washing her goddang hair and her clothes and--

I had my first hotel 37 years ago in Wichita Falls, Texas.

And that's when I learned about women.

They don't make the money, see, for a place like this.

Not regular, they don't.

There's only way they can get it, by selling theirself.

Tapping them cute, little piggy banks they all got.

- Mr. Dillon. - Mr. Simms.

- Here's a potential neighbor of yours. - Uh-huh.

- Mrs. Langtry may drop by. - I'll send her right up.

That's the fine type of person

I have in mind for here, like yourself, I'm sure.

- Don't you wanna see me? - Of course. I'm at the spas.

- Oh, honey, I can't go there. - Well, what'd you have in mind?

- Well, you could be here in 20 minutes. - Oh, I don't know, Roy.

I gotta get through traffic downtown.

That's about an hour at least.

In a minute.

Smack.

Heads.

Smack.

Tails.

What do you want, kid?

- Show me how you did that other one. - Scram. Go home.

I can't. I just left home.

Too young. You ought to be in school.

I am in school.

Five of spades. Five of spades.

Where's the five? In your other hand.

Good. You learned something, huh?

Goodbye.

I want to learn everything.

You want to be a grifter?

Grifter? Yes.

Not partners. That's your first lesson.

Cut your score in half, right down the middle.

Worse than that, you take a partner, you put an apple on your head

and hand the other guy a shotgun.

Grifters, huh?

You're one, all right.

Grifters got an irresistible urge to beat a guy who's wise.

There's nothing to whipping a fool. Hell, fools are made to be whipped.

But to take another pro, even your partner,

who knows you and has his eye on you...

that's a score.

No matter what happens.

So you wanna learn a few tricks? I'll teach you a few tricks.

But your hand does not get into my pocket.

It's a deal.

- Roy.

All right, forget the long con. If the fool tips, you're caught.

You'll do time. Never do time.

And don't go dressing like that. Showing off.

- Why? - Showing off.

Any blind man can spot you.

Yeah. Give me 20 dollars.

Come around tomorrow. I'll take you again.

Well, that's fine.

Two months we know each other, you're already so bored,

you fall asleep before I get here.

When you're not here,

then all I can do is dream about you, Myra.

You stink. I hate you.

Mmm. The twins seem to be very restless.

- Maybe we ought to put them to bed, huh? - You know what I'm gonna do?

I'm gonna smother you.

Death, where is thy sting?

You smell good, Myra. Like a bitch in a hothouse.

Oh, darling. What a beautiful thing to say.

Mmm. Maybe you don't smell so good.

- I do too. You just said so. - It could be your clothes.

It's me.

- Do I have to prove it? - Naturally.

What?

Simms, Mr. Dillon.

Sure, Mr. Simms. What can I do for you?

A visitor, Mr. Dillon.

A very attractive young lady.

She says she's your mother.

Send her up.

Come on in, Lilly.

Hi, Lilly.

Roy.

Long time no see.

Eight years.

I'm just making some coffee. You want some? Just instant.

Be nice.

Here we are.

Come on. Sit down, Lilly.

So, what are we up to these days?

Still handling playback money at the track.

I'll be going back to Baltimore

as soon as the races at La Jolla are finished.

So you're working for that same bookmaker?

Yeah.

An easy life.

Usually.

Got a great view, Roy.

I guess you've been getting my Christmas cards.

You always did have a sense of humor.

I'm glad to see you, Lilly.

I'd have been hurt if you hadn't have dropped by.

I'm glad to see you too, Roy.

Though I'm not sure what you're up to.

Up to? I'm not up to anything, Lilly.

Come on, Roy. You can't kid me.

You got so much more on the ball than I ever did.

And you know what it does to a person--

Lilly, why don't you mind your own goddamn business?

Roy, what is it?

It's no sweat.

God, you're ice-cold.

- Don't laugh at me. - Laugh? I'm not laughing at you, honey.

Did somebody hurt you, Roy?

Got hit in the stomach a couple days ago.

- Let me see. - Oh, no.

- Let me see. - No.

Dr. Mitchell? It's Lilly Dillon, doctor.

I work for Justus Amusement Company out of Baltimore.

What?

Don't you brush me off, buster.

If I have to get Bobo Justus to call you...

Mrs. Dillon, I'm sorry about our little disagreement on the phone.

And I'm really sorry ab-- About your son.

It's hard to believe that such a strapping young man is your son.

Never mind that. Just take care of him.

Yeah, well, he's had-- He's had an internal hemorrhage.

- He's bleeding to death. - Well, make it stop.

His blood pressure is under 100.

- I don't think he's gonna make it to the-- - You know who I work for.

- There's just so much I can do. - My son is gonna be all right.

If not, I'll have you killed.

No, really? You're Roy's mother?

- Mm-hmm. - That's impossible.

Not quite.

But I'm not sure who you are, Mrs., uh, Langtry, was it?

I'm Roy's friend.

Yes. I imagine you're lots of people's friend.

Oh. Oh, of course.

Now that I see you in the light,

you're plenty old enough to be Roy's mother.

- Aren't we all? - Play nice. Don't fight.

- Darling. - Roy.

- You're gonna be all right. - Sure, I am.

What am I doing here?

You were bleeding inside, honey. Remember that bruise you had?

You called the doctor, huh?

Well, no, Roy. Your mother did.

Oh, yeah?

Thanks.

How long do they say till I can get out of here?

Roy, your mom saved your life.

Yeah.

Second time I gave it to you.

I was kind of...

inconvenient for Lilly.

I mean, she was only 14 when I came along.

In fact, I used to be her kid brother, well, or so she'd say.

Well, you're all right now, I guess.

It's a two-hour drive. I'm late. I have to go down to the track.

- Thanks, uh, Lilly. - Don't mention it.

- l guess I owe you my life. - You always did.

Down to the track?

La Jolla.

Her job.

I want to know everything about you.

Damn it.

Number seven, Troubadour, rank outsider,

stays unchanged at 70-to-1.

Seventy-to-one.

Now at the start, Blue Bay, 5-to-2.

Celadon Star, the favorite, moves in at 2-to-1.

Now Troubadour goes into the gate, still running high odds at 70-to-1.

And they're off.

From the start, it's Fertile Crescent, Troubadour,

Otis Blue, Buckmeister, Uncle Louie.

Down the back stretch,

Celadon Star has the lead by two lengths,

with Call Me Half second.

Six Streams goes along in third.

- Now Troubadour moving on the far outside. - No, Troubadour. No.

Rounding the far turn,

Celadon Star in front, Call Me Half second.

Blues Bay now begins to drop back a little bit

as Six Streams moves up.

Now Troubadour making a bold move on the outside.

They round the turn into the homestretch, and it's Celadon Star in front.

On the outside, Troubadour now coming strong

with Call Me Half along the rail.

Those two vying for second position, but it's Celadon Star in front.

Now Troubadour begins to pick up the pace.

Celadon Star holding the lead, Troubadour coming on.

Celadon Star and Troubadour

driving up on the outside with a strong finish.

Celadon Star, Troubadour.

It's Troubadour on the outside now going by to get the lead.

Troubadour winning it by half a length.

Finishing odds were as follows,

today's amazing success story Troubadour, outsider,

at 70-to-1, in first place. Second place--

- Roy?

What happens when you get out of here?

Uh, ticker tape parade,

a key to the city, sex with my baby.

Ah, the usual, I guess.

- And that's it? - What else?

Well, that's what I want to know.

Is--? Is this all we have, Roy, "Sex with my baby"?

Not that I'm knocking it, but is that all?

What are you driving at, Myra? Marriage?

- I didn't say that. - Ah, but that's what I asked.

I don't think so.

I'm a very practical little girl,

and I don't believe in giving any more than I get.

And that may be pretty awkward

for a matchbook salesman or whatever you are.

Everybody needs matches.

- What do you sell anyway? - Self-confidence.

God knows you have it to spare.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Hey.

No kiss?

- Hello, Mrs. Langtry. - Hi.

Time to rest.

Well, I'll leave you in Carol's good hands.

...

You're looking much better today.

But you're not. You're looking very bad today.

I am?

You belong in bed, Miss Flynn.

Here. I'll give you part of mine.

- You will not. - But-- But you must.

I've seen girls with this look before. Bed is the only thing that'll cure them.

Bed without dinner might cure you.

You'd better behave,

or I won't kiss you good night, and then you'll be sorry.

You'd better behave or I'll tell your mother.

Well, we wouldn't want that now, would we?

Oh, hi, Myra. I didn't recognize you.

No, I'm sure you didn't.

Myra's been here.

And what's your objection to Myra?

Same as anybody's.

I stopped by your place, picked up your mail.

Just bills. I'll take care of them.

I can take care of my own bills, Lilly.

Whatever you say.

The manager at your place said your boss called.

Really pulled the wool over everyone's eyes, huh?

What are you talking about? So I got a job? So what?

Stop kidding me.

Four years in a town like Los Angeles,

and a peanut-selling job is the best you can do?

You expect me to believe that?

Well, it's there. The boss called. You said so yourself.

That dump you live in with those clown pictures on the walls?

- I like those. - You do not.

Roy Dillon, corn-ball clown pictures,

commission salesman, it's all a front.

You're working some angle.

And don't tell me you're not because I wrote the book.

You're one to talk. You still running playback money for the mob?

That's me. That's who I am.

- You were never cut out for the rackets. - How come?

You aren't tough enough.

Not as tough as you, huh?

How'd you get that punch in the stomach, Roy?

I tripped on a chair.

Get off the grift, Roy.

Why?

You haven't got the stomach for it.

Oh, good, Carol. Come in.

Dr. Mitchell says you can get out of here Friday.

But that you should have someone to look in on you, so I hired Carol.

- You hired? - You'll pay me back. I know that.

Lilly, I make my own decisions for a long time now.

Roy, you couldn't possibly object

to a pretty young lady coming to visit you.

Carol.

Do you know why my mother hired you?

Heh. Why, yes.

I'll come in every afternoon and make sure you--

She hired you for me to fuck.

To keep me away from bad influences.

Isn't that right, Lilly?

It is not.

Uh, Mrs. Dillon, perhaps I--

Go wait in the hall. Don't go away.

You didn't have to do that.

I thought I did.

So you won't take a thing from me, is that it?

Sex?

I'm not offering you sex, you little punk.

That's not what I meant.

For Christ's sake, Lilly,

you're just throwing that wallflower at me ‘cause you don't like Myra.

Myra's nothing. She's less than nothing.

Then why does she bug you?

You jealous?

Of what? You wanna lie down with dogs?

Then I'll pick the dog.

Go ahead, Roy.

Thanks, Mom.

That's right. I just give you your life. What you do with it is up to you.

That's right!

Myra here. Sorry you missed me.

Tell me how to reach you and I will.

Baby, I'm getting out of here today. That's it.

Listen, let's go down to La Jolla this afternoon.

We'll hit the beach. Have some fun, huh? Take some time off.

Forget all this other stuff.

Myra.

Don't tell me.

You're Addison Simms of Seattle.

And we had lunch together in the fall of 1902.

Myra, listen. Myra, damn it.

Listen. Myra.

Joe. How's your wiry zone?

Are hidden germs lurking in your nooks and crannies?

All right, this is your final warning. You've got to settle your bill today.

Joe, don't I always pay my bills?

Huh? One way or another?

Yeah, well, this time it's just one way.

Stop getting up nights, men. You too could learn to dance.

All you need is a magic step. Simple as one, two, three.

Here's your bill.

It's a lot of money, Joe.

- You wouldn't have padded it? - You owe every damn cent of that.

Maybe I could get the dough from your wife, you suppose?

Maybe your kids would crack their piggy banks?

You take one step towards my family and I promise you--

Oh, oh. Don't wet your pants, for Christ's sake.

Come in, Joe.

The money.

There it is.

The automatic clutch, Joe.

It comes with a deluxe upholstery...

and a high-speed wiry zone.

Myra, please.

I've let you-- I've been very good to you.

I've let you stay here month after month--

Can't be done, Joe.

All passengers must pay as they enter.

No free passes or rebates.

That's a strict rule of the intercourse commerce commission.

Oh, God.

Only one choice to a customer, the lady...

or the loot.

What's it gonna be?

The difference between your folded towel

and your clean towel is a trip to the laundry.

When you're cleaning those bathrooms,

what you do is, you pick up the towel,

and you give it a good shake and a good look,

and you say to yourself, "Would I dry myself on this towel?"

- If the answer is "yes," you fold it. - What if it's wet?

Mr. Dillon, welcome back.

You're looking fine. Just fine.

- Thank you, Mr. Simms. I'm feeling fine. - I'm glad you're better.

- Sickness comes to us all, Mr. Dillon. - That's true, Mr. Simms.

We never know when, we never know why, we never know how.

The only blessed thing we know is it'll come

at the most inconvenient, unexpected time.

Just when you've got tickets to the World Series.

And that's the way the permanent waves.

Well...

That fellow could be a congressman.

If it's wet, you don't fold it.

You shake it and hang it neatly on the rod provided.

Yes, sir.

- What are you laughing at? - Oh, nothing.

Nothing. Nothing. No. Never mind, Joe.

It's just, I was remembering, at lunch,

on the menu it said:

"Today's special...

broiled hothouse tomato...

under a generous slice of ripe cheese."

Hi, Bobo.

Did I buy you that dress, you piece of shit?

Well, I guess so. You're the guy I work for.

- I'm the guy you work for, huh? - Yeah.

Then, in that case, I may just flush you down the toilet.

Take me to my hotel.

Troubadour.

How'd you figure you were gonna get away with that?

I'm not getting away with anything, Bobo.

You're fucking right, you're not.

How much did your pals cut you in for on that nag,

or are they giving you the same kind of screwing you gave me?

I was down on that horse, Bobo. Maybe not as much as I should've been.

- There was a lot of action-- - One question.

You wanna stick to that story, or you wanna keep your teeth?

I want to keep my teeth.

All right. I'll ask you another. You think I got no contacts out here?

That nag paid off at almost the opening price.

There wasn't hardly a flutter on the tote board

from the time the first odds were posted.

There ain't enough action to tickle the tote board

and you claim a 10-grand win.

You send me 10,000 dollar like I'm a fucking mark you can rip off.

- No, Bobo-- - You gonna talk to me straight up?

My son.

- Your what? - My son was in the hospital.

What the fuck are you doing with a son?

He left home a long time ago.

He was in the hospital up in Los Angeles. He was real sick.

Motherhood.

I never fucked up before, Bobo.

You got any kind of long coat in the car?

Something you could wear home over your dress?

No.

I'll loan you a raincoat.

You guys take a walk.

Will you go in the bathroom and bring me a towel?

You ever hear about the oranges, Lilly?

You mean, the insurance frammis?

Tell me about the oranges, Lilly...

while you put those in the towel.

You hit a person with the oranges wrapped in a towel,

they get big, ugly-looking bruises,

but they don't really get hurt, not if you do it right.

It's for working scams against insurance companies.

And if you do it wrong?

It can louse up your insides.

You can get pe--

- What? - Permanent damage.

You never shit right again.

Bring me the towel.

Oh, no! No! No! No!

- Oh, no! - Come on. Get up.

You go clean yourself. Coat's on the bed.

Oh, I almost forgot.

Ten grand. It's yours.

Troubadour, huh?

You want a drink?

Gee. Uh, I'd better not, if that's okay?

I still gotta drive up to Los Angeles.

See your son, huh? That's nice, Lilly. Side of you I never knew.

He's a good kid. Salesman.

- On the square, huh? - Yeah.

How are you making out these days? Stealing much?

From you? My folks didn't raise no stupid kids.

You're not skimming a thing, Lilly?

Oh, well, you know, clip a buck here and a buck there.

Not enough to notice.

That's right. Take a little, leave a little.

A person who don't look out for himself's too dumb to look out for anybody else.

He's a liability, right, Bobo?

That's a thousand percent right, Lilly.

Or else he's working an angle.

If he's not stealing a little, he's stealing a lot.

You know it, Lilly.

You know, I-- I like that suit, Bobo.

I don't know what there is about it, but...

somehow it makes you look taller.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

- Hey, you really think so? - Yeah.

A lot of people have been telling me that.

Well...

you can tell them from me they're right.

Well, I'd best be going.

Roy will wonder where I am.

- Worries about his mother, does he? - Yeah.

You give him a hug from me.

I will.

Thanks, Bobo.

So long, Bobo.

I don't see-- I don't see why we have to take the train.

What if we wanna drive somewhere while we're there?

Well, then we'll rent a car.

- Big spender. - You ain't seen nothing yet.

Hey, why so many people?

Race season at La Jolla.

Where your mother is?

- You don't want to see her, do you? - Nope.

Hit the beach, eat well, that's good enough for me.

Gonna stretch my legs. You wanna come along?

- No. - You want a drink?

No.

See you in a minute.

A drink for you, a drink for Gunderson's dead grandmother.

- Right, right. - But junior gets milk.

- Milk. - I'd like one milk, please.

In a minute.

Shit! Ah!

- Oh, I'm sorry. - You okay, fella?

Yeah. Look, I spilled all your drinks.

Don't worry about it.

- Are you sure you're okay? - What, are those beers?

- Don't worry about it. - Watch this. I'll be right back.

Four Millers.

Well, he-- He jumped right in. He jumped right in.

"Don't worry about it, Sarge. I'll drive him. He's too distraught."

You said "distraught"?

He never used it before.

You guys could've got into a lot of trouble.

No way! Are you kidding?

Hey! One of you guys drop this?

- No. - No. It's not mine.

I don't know. I wouldn't have taken a chance.

- To us. - Here we go.

- Another round. I'm buying. - No. You can't buy every round.

- It's, like, our turn. - We've got plenty of cash.

- Give us a shot here. - Tell you what. We'll roll for it.

- All right. - Low number buys.

- Very good. - You roll first.

- Okay, let's go, Junior. - Here goes.

- That's a four. - All right, we're in.

- I told you I'd buy. - That just doesn't seem fair.

Give me a chance to get even when I get back.

- You got it. - Make sure they're cold.

Let's go! Let's go! Come on!

- Let's split up our money. - He's got 20. Come on. Come on.

- Here we go. Here we go. - All right, I want my 20 back.

- I don't know what to say. - Jesus!

- Take it away, my friend. - Yeah.

- You're getting better at this, man. - You wanna go one more time?

- One more time. - I got four. Cover me for four?

- Yeah. - I got three. Spot me on this one.

- I'm not spotting you. - Come on, you guys!

- Four bucks. - You shut up, man.

Come on! Let's go, let's go!

We're doing-- Somebody put a hex on it.

- One or two? - Come on. Come on!

Didn't have a chance.

It's getting worse and worse, man.

- Tell you what. - Take that away. Here. It's yours.

It's great to get away, isn't it? Take some time off?

- Next week, I'll be back to work. - You already went back to work.

- What? - I watched you.

Working the tat on those sailor boys.

- Working the what? - Oh, come on, Roy. The tat.

What you do for a living.

I'm a salesman.

You're on the grift.

- Same as me. - Myra, I'm not following this.

Roy, you're a short-con operator. And a good one, I think.

Don't talk to me like I'm another square.

You talk the lingo. What's your pitch?

- The long end. Big con. - Nobody does that single out.

I was teamed ten years with the best in the business.

Cole Langley.

- I've heard the name. - It was beautiful,

and getting better all the time.

- Is that right? - It is, Roy. It's where you should be.

What do you bring in, 300, 400 a week?

We use money like that for tips.

- Wow. - And now, right now,

it's the perfect time.

The best time since I've been in the game.

All over the southwest you've got these businessmen.

They were making money when everybody was making money.

They think that means they're smart.

And now they're hurting.

When the price of oil fell, so did they.

They still got money, but they need more money.

- Good morning. - Go right in.

When the oil money was good, they put up all these office buildings.

Now they're half empty.

They'll give you anything to move in,

first two months free, redecoration, whatever you want.

They help you set up the store.

I'm the roper.

I go out and find them and bring them in.

Morning, gentlemen.

Gloucester Hebbing, may I present

my fine stockbroker, Henry Fellows.

Gloucester.

What we have here today, Mary Beth, is strictly between--

Oh, I told Mr. Hebbing all about it.

How brilliant you are at making money for your special clients.

Well, I certainly hope

that you're not spreading the news a little too widely, huh?

Well, of course not.

But I'd trust Mr. Hebbing with anything.

Wouldn't I, darling?

I guess I'll just have to take your word for that.

Won't I?

Here's the money.

Goody.

Please, let me help you.

Once they saw that money, they were hooked.

And I made sure they saw it.

Oh, isn't that just beautiful?

Then all Cole had to do was tell the story.

Gloucester...

...we are talking about breaking the law here.

I just wanna make sure you understand that.

No one is gonna get hurt, but the law is going to be broken.

Laws are made to be broken, aren't they?

Loose talk is the thing I worry most about.

I can keep my mouth shut.

Gloucester, come on over here and sit down.

Now...

Tokyo exchange is nine hours behind us.

The New York exchange is one hour ahead of us.

There is never one hour in which both exchanges are open.

Information moves, but it has to wait.

Now, I have a fellow working for me. Do you know what a hacker is, uh...?

Yeah. Sure. That's like a computer expert or genius.

Very good. And what this boy has been able to do

is tap into that main link between Tokyo and New York.

And when we really need it,

he's been able to give us a seven-second delay

in the transfer of that information.

Do you know what that means?

Well, I can see that you get your information ahead of New York.

Every once in a while, a major change happens,

and we have a seven-second advantage

to put a buy order or a sell order into that computer in New York,

just before that data from Tokyo comes pulling in right behind it.

- Not much time. - No. We have to be ready.

We have to have the money, we have to know what that information means,

and we have to be able to move like greased lightning.

But, boy, when it works, it is beautiful.

Seven seconds, huh?

I don't see how you can do it.

Machines! Machines, Gloucester.

I have got a whole room full of machines back here.

You wanna see them? Come here.

- Oh, Henry, no. - Come on. Take a look.

I got a whole suite full of mainframe computers

- back here. - We're not interested, Henry.

They are so beautiful.

No, Henry.

Oh, you got a minute. Come on, Gloucester. Listen to them hum.

Henry, don't try Mr. Hebbing's patience.

You sure?

Well, okay, then.

- Cole liked to take risks, huh? - He didn't think they were risks.

He was so good, Roy. He could just play with a mark.

He was so crooked, he could eat soup with a corkscrew.

And when he got serious?

He'd explain that he had to have cash,

so there wouldn't be any paper trail for the SEC.

And a lot of cash or it wasn't worthwhile.

The least we ever took was 40,000,

and the most was 185,000 dollars.

From one sucker.

I thought these people were broke.

No, no, Roy. Just cash-poor.

They had savings accounts, stocks to sell,

houses to mortgage, sell their wives' jewelry.

Oh, they had plenty of money when they put their minds to it.

Or when I put their minds to it.

And a month later, the sucker calls the cops,

- and you're on the run. - No, no.

He never calls the cops.

Not after we give him the blow-off.

- This is it. Oh... - The money.

- Oh, I think you're gonna be pleased. - Oh, yeah!

Come on. Let me have one.

FBI. Everybody hold what you got.

- Hey, wait a minute. - Back off!

I didn't have anything to do with this.

It's right here.

- It's you, isn't it? - No! I swear to God, I didn't!

You and your goddamned big mouth!

- No! - Calm down!

- I didn't say anything. - Hold it!

- I didn't! No! - I'll fix your loud mouth.

You, don't move. Get back there.

You don't-- Nobody moves.

Stay there.

Oh, God. Come on with me now.

- No! - Nobody moves. Nobody.

Come on, Dan. Let's go.

Let's go, let's go, let's go.

Oh, Jesus Christ.

They never came back.

Yeah.

We were rolling in dough, lived wherever we wanted.

- Mmm. - Only pulled two or three scams a year.

It was great. Great.

Great.

What happened to Cole?

- He retired. - Retired?

Where?

Upstate.

Upstate where?

Atascadero.

It's all hollow.

- Oh, baby. - You're hollow.

- Not again. - I can't move. All hollow.

- l can't move. - Cole?

All hollow, all hollow. I can't move. I can't move. I can't move.

- It'll be all right, honey. - I can't move. I can't move.

It's just the stress again. We'll take a vacation.

I can't move. I can't move.

Cole, you scare me when this happens.

- You make me-- - No! You-- You traitor!

Traitor!

Oh, Cole, please. Please.

That's where they keep the criminally insane, isn't it?

He retired, and that's it.

But I didn't.

I'm still the best long-con roper

- you'll ever see. - I bet you are too.

And now you're trying to rope me.

Join up with you.

- All right. Here we go. - Oh, no.

- Oh, come on. - Straight for it.

Oh. A beautiful woman like you?

You shouldn't eat alone.

Go away.

What do you want to eat alone for?

- Could I have more coffee, please? - Coming up.

All right. We could have coffee together.

My name's Kenning.

Your pal wants you.

Let him find his own pretty woman.

- This fella bothering you? - Yes.

Why don't you go back there and just go sit down?

I'll sit here.

Oh! Oh.

Oh, man. Now you've done it.

- He all right? - You didn't need to do that.

I thought I did.

You should take better care of your friend.

- Get out of here. - Okay.

I'm sorry a lady can't eat in here without being bothered.

It'll never happen again, miss.

See you later.

Why do we have to have separate rooms? Expect your father to come through?

Separate bathrooms, darling.

I will not lay out all my cosmetics for you to knock over.

Things a man isn't supposed to know.

Well, you don't mind, really, do you, Roy?

It's been such a wonderful evening.

Guess I just wore myself out.

Sure.

I'm pretty tired myself.

Forget the long con.

'Cause I'm the one who's being conned.

Screw this noise.

- Yeah. - Open your door.

- What for? - Open it and find out.

Gangway.

I hope you don't mind, sir.

I just washed my clothes and I couldn't do a thing with them.

If you could've seen the look on your face when-- When I told you good night.

You looked so--

Roy.

Can I come in?

Sure.

What are you doing in La Jolla?

Me and Myra came down yesterday. We're leaving tonight.

If you come out to the track, don't know me.

We won't hit the track.

- What's that? - Four grand.

It's for the hospital. Is it enough?

- Roy, I don't want your money. - I pay my debts.

- Oh, you do? - Yeah.

Expecting somebody?

No. That was the point.

- Where'd you get that? - An accident.

Roy, take that money back. I don't want it.

No.

I thought...

I was hoping we could play it straight with one another.

I guess not.

I guess you won't be getting a straight job either.

Not this week.

- Not ever. - It's up to me.

I'm strictly short con.

It's nothing but small-time stuff.

I can walk away from it anytime I want.

- Where have I heard that before? - Yeah, but I'm in control.

Sure.

You're only 25 years old.

Already you can lay down 4 grand without even turning a hair.

Grift's like anything else, Roy.

You don't stand still.

You either go up or down, usually down, sooner or later.

Well, I'll let it be a surprise then.

You gonna head east from here?

After the meet.

Back to Baltimore.

It's nice to see you again.

You little prick.

- Okay? - No. I see him. Just wait. Hold it.

That's the guy we're following.

Just wait.

Ah.

Excuse me. Can I borrow your binoculars?

Thanks.

In a race to the finish, Lightning Telescope on the outside.

Excuse me.

Nine-seven exacta combination.

Winning for another combination of seven and nine, 54 dollar.

The judges have opened...

What'd you do with yourself all afternoon?

I went out to the track.

What were you doing at the track?

- Did you run into my mother? - No. How could 1?

I was in the clubhouse.

Lilly wouldn't be in the clubhouse, would she?

- How did you know that? - Okay. I saw her.

She didn't see you, in other words?

I saw her out there and I was curious.

You know, she's always so nasty to me.

And I know she's knocking me to you every chance she gets.

So I called a friend of mine in Baltimore, so now I know who she is.

You must have some very knowledgeable friends.

I'm well connected, Roy.

Cole introduced me to a lot of people. Very valuable.

Valuable for us.

Running your broker scam, you mean?

What a team we'll make.

- You won't regret this, Roy. - Regret what?

I didn't say I was coming aboard.

But why not?

- I thought it was settled. - Nothing was ever settled.

Oh. It's your mother talking against me, isn't it?

She's got nothing to do with this. I make my own decisions.

- That's not what Lilly thinks. - Who cares what she thinks?

I don't care what she thinks.

I left home when I was 17

with nothing but stuff I bought and paid for myself.

Nothing from Lilly.

Darling, guess what. I had to tell you right away.

I called a fellow I know in Tulsa, the-- The one who plays my chauffeur?

He says that there's a sucker there that's made for us,

and a broker that just shut down.

We can use their office, not change a thing.

Now, I can scrape up 10 grand if I try.

I got a couple of aces in the hole.

Some markers I could call on for something real.

That leaves 15 or 20 for your end.

We can start this weekend. Get the sucker into position--

Hold it.

You're talking pretty tall figures.

What makes you think I got that kind of money?

Why, you must have.

Now, you know you do, Roy.

Maybe I like it where I am.

Well, maybe I don't.

I had ten good years with Cole and I want 'em back.

I gotta have a partner.

I looked and I looked, and believe me, brother,

I kissed a lot of fucking frogs.

And you're my prince.

- Do I get any say in this? - No. Because--

That's what I say.

What I say is no. We don't do partners.

What is it?

What's going on? Why don't you wanna team up?

The best reason I can think of is that you scare the hell out of me.

I have seen women like you before, baby.

You're double tough, and you are sharp as a razor,

and you get what you want or else.

But you don't make it work forever.

Sooner or later, the lightning hits,

and I'm not gonna be around when it hits you.

By God.

It's your mother.

- It's Lilly. - What?

Sure, it is.

That's why you act so funny around each other.

What's that?

Oh, don't act so goddamned innocent.

You and your own mother?

You like to go back where you've been, huh?

- Watch your mouth. - Yeah, I'm wise to you.

I should've seen it before, you rotten son of a bitch.

How is it, huh?

How do you like it when--?

Ow!

Don't. No. Stop. Stop!

That's not like me.

I don't do this.

That's why we wouldn't work together.

You're disgusting.

Your mind is so filthy, it's hard to look at you.

Goodbye.

And you don't even know it.

Mama. Mama. She's the one. I'll get you his mama. Oh, yes.

- Yeah? - Lilly, it's Roy.

Lilly, I was wondering if, um...

I was wondering if we could just talk. You know, like have a conversation.

Maybe we've both grown up.

Maybe we can just talk.

Well, sure, Roy.

You want me to drive up?

- No. - Okay.

I'll come there tonight.

Fine. Come on down.

Won't be a home-cooked meal, you know.

Well, that's good news.

Who's a boy gonna talk to if not his mother?

- Roy? - Lilly, listen. It's Irv.

You've always been decent with me. I'm taking a hell of a chance here.

Somebody blew you out with Bobo. The carful of money, he's--

Lilly? Lilly.

Lilly, come on.

Lilly!

Bobo knows about all the money in the car.

The money you stole from him.

A black and gold Cadillac.

Fuck!

Hi. Hi.

Welcome to Phoenix.

I'd like a single room for tonight.

Everything's the same size, same price.

I'm a very light sleeper.

Traffic noise keeps me wide awake all night.

And the trucks. I know what you mean.

Do you have something around back facing away from the road?

Oh, I can put you into 19.

Very quiet. Faces the desert.

Sounds perfect. Can I park my car back there?

Right in front of the room.

Something wrong?

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were the other lady.

No, I'm me.

I'll give you number six. Very nice room. Very handy.

In the front right by the pool.

Oh, don't you have something round back...

where it's quieter?

Everybody wants the back tonight.

I guess everybody wants privacy.

Roy Dillon?

Lieutenant Pierson, Phoenix Police.

I have a car here.

There was a bunch of money hidden in your mother's car.

- Yeah? - A lot of money.

- Would you know anything about that? - No.

I realize this is a shock.

- Mostly, I don't believe it. - Well, that's natural.

No. I mean, I don't believe it.

I know my mother. Lilly is not a suicide.

Nothing would make her check out.

Well, I'm sorry. It was her, all right. It's her gun even.

- A gun?

There is one thing I have to caution you.

Normally we don't do a next-of-kin ID unless there's no other choice.

In this case, there's no fingerprints on file,

and the dental records don't help because of the location of the wound.

She ate the gun.

I'm sorry.

This is going to be a shock.

Not many laughs in this room, huh?

Not many.

Remove that. We'll want a full identification.

Jesus.

No question, huh?

No.

Well...

that's that, then.

Yeah.

That's that.

Mom.

The last modern thing I liked was the miniskirt.

The technology now, nobody understands it,

and that's a simple fact of the situation.

Evening, Miss, uh...

Langtry.

Hello, Lilly.

Oh. Roy.

You scared me.

You going somewhere?

- Somewhere else, that's for sure. - l just came back from Phoenix.

Oh, yeah?

Is the frame holding?

- It looks very solid, Lilly. - Good.

- Take a minute. Tell me about it. - I've really got to go.

You're dead, Lilly. It worked.

Yeah, but not for long.

Cops may buy it, but Bobo will spend money to make sure--

Even so, relax a minute. Sit down.

Just for a minute.

Put that down.

- Myra followed you, huh? - Yeah.

I guess she must've been the one that blew me off with Bobo.

Get me running.

Did you tell her about my stash?

No.

That's what she was after though.

- What happened in Phoenix? - Oh, Roy.

It was terrible.

You read about people killing people and all that...

but when it happens...

My God.

She was in her nightgown, you know?

The old grifter's dodge.

Nightgown and the ice bucket,

and she just got in the wrong room by mistake.

I sat in there with her.

I thought, "What do I do now?"

"Run. I've got Bobo and the law after me."

- "Stay. How do I explain?" - This way's perfect.

It is, isn't it?

I've wanted out of the rackets for years, and now I'm out.

- I can make a clean break and-- - You've already made a break.

I don't know how clean it is.

I'm sorry, Roy.

- l hated to take your money. - You're not taking it.

Roy, I need this money.

I can't run without money, and if I can't run, I'm dead.

- You must have some money. - Just a few bucks.

- Myra's stuff? - Her credit cards.

- How far am I gonna get with that? - Far enough.

San Francisco. St. Louis. Someplace new. Start over.

- At what? - You're smart. You're good-looking.

You won't have any trouble finding a job.

A job? I've never had a legit job in my life.

You're gonna start if you wanna live through this.

You're gonna get a square job and lead a quiet life.

You start showing up at the tracks or any of the hot spots,

Bobo's boys are gonna be all over you.

Roy, don't tell me what to do with myself.

- It's a big world out there. - Not anymore.

Listen to me. It's good advice.

- I'm following it myself. - What?

You want me out of the rackets? You want me off the grift?

- I think I'm gonna get out. - Roy, that's fine,

but I don't have time for this. Bobo's after my ass!

I thought you'd be happy for me, you're telling me what to do with my life.

Bobo's not after you, he's after me. And he's goddamn good, but so am I.

What makes you think I'm gonna let you get out of here with my money?

And to survive my way, I need money, and that leaves this.

No.

You want a drink?

No.

You probably shouldn't have one either.

No, but I'm goddamn thirsty.

Ice water?

Sure. That sounds nice.

I'll get it.

Take whichever one you want.

You wouldn't do that.

You don't know what I'd do.

You have no idea...

to live.

You'll live, Lilly.

I know what's bugging you, of course.

Oh, I didn't know anything was.

I wasn't a very good mother to you when you were a kid.

It was pretty lousy of me, I guess.

To be a child at the same time you were.

Oh, for God's sake, Lilly.

I gave you your life twice.

I'm asking you to give me mine once.

I need the money, Roy.

No.

So you're getting off the grift, huh?

I might.

That's good.

You don't really belong on this side of the fence, you know?

- l don't? - If you stayed a crook,

you think you'd live to be my ripe age?

Well, I don't see why not.

Hmm. I guess I got it wrong, then.

Seems to me I heard about a guy just your age

who got hit so hard in the guts, it almost killed him.

- Well... - Oh. That's different.

- That doesn't count. - It doesn't matter if I'm getting out.

You're getting out? You're on the level?

You don't need the money.

So why the hell can't I take it?!

Lilly, my money wouldn't last forever. And then what?

You'd be stuck in some other part of the rackets

with another Bobo Justus to slap you around

and burn holes in your hand.

If you can't change your life now while you're still relatively young,

how could you do it when you were, say,

crowding 507?

This way, you gotta go the square route.

Send me a card when you get settled. I can maybe help you out sometimes.

Roy...

what if I told you that I wasn't really your mother?

That we weren't related.

What?

You'd like that, wouldn't you?

Sure, you would.

You don't have to tell me.

Now, why would you like that, Roy?

What are you talking about? Of course you're my mother.

Roy.

- Roy. - There's nothing more to talk about.

I want that money, Roy.

I need it.

Now, what do I have to do to get it?

You mean, you won't give it to me, Roy?

Will you?

Won't you?

What can I do to get it?

Is there nothing I can do?

Lilly, Jesus, what are you doing?

Nothing at all. Nothing at all.

No, no, no.