Original subtitles

Thank you.

This is station KOLA TV, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Where's Pretty Boy?

He knows what time we pay a collector.

He's carrying my money.

Selling football cards is business.

I'm sorry, Mr. Emmons. He must still be up at the club.

Feel the earth that burns beneath our feet.

Oh, I imagine things are long to be.

In reality, it comes on strong.

A long road to Texas gonna take me home.

A long road to Texas gonna take me home.

I never felt so down and all alone.

People make you feel like you don't belong.

Long road to Texas gonna take me on.

Sorry I'm late, Mr. Evans.

Been tied up.

But I just cut myself loose.

First rule of business is always be on time when someone

owes you money.

Bullshit walks, but money talks.

And you remember that boy.

That's good, Mr. Rimmins.

That's good. Bullshit walks.

Speaking of which, Mr. Rimmins, money, I mean?

We have a little transaction that we'd like to transact with you, Mr. Rimmins.

Trans-what?

A bet, Mr. Rimmins.

We'd like to make a bet.

I never bet on anything or anyone.

I've been bookmaking for over 30 years and I've never made a play.

Only suckers gamble.

The only thing I bet on is myself.

My lady.

Pinball's what we're talking about.

It's a game, Mr. Remmings.

You want to play me?

Again?

Boy, I spotted you 5,000 points a bowl.

Or was it 10?

It's like making a fool of yourself, boy.

Well, it's been a long time since the last time, Mr. Remmings.

You've been practicing.

Right, Neil?

It'll be it.

I don't play for 20s no more. I wouldn't get out of this chair for three times

that.

Well, how about for $400?

What are we talking about? Whip out.

Cash, money.

Who are you pointing at, boy?

Gambling's an easy habit to get into.

And a hard one to get out of.

I can beat you, Mr. Remitz.

And I don't need any points either.

I play even.

But just give me some odds, okay?

How about five to one?

You're $2,000 against my $400.

You're crazy, boy.

If I gave you a million to one, you couldn't beat me playing even.

You'd taken a wist of it.

Well... As you always say...

Bullshit walks.

You've got yourself a bit, pretty boy.

Not tonight, Mr. Rembrandt.

He's been working.

He's got to get some rest.

What happened, French?

Three o'clock tomorrow okay with you, Mr. Rembrandt?

Okay with me.

Boy.

$330. You were late.

As usual.

25 minutes.

Damn you, this is it, man.

We are on our way.

$400 already. Spit it out, boy.

Where's my lady?

Texans never fool around with another man's woman.

Where's Gottlieb?

Right here.

Right.

Okay.

You're betting 400 to win 2,000. Okay.

You sure you want to go ahead, boy?

To tails.

Yeah.

You don't know nothing, huh?

Where's my mechanic?

Michael Pimbaugh!

You're going to tell me it was his idea, huh?

No.

No, it was my idea.

And I nearly had you, didn't I?

I really thought you might turn out different from the rest of them, but

you're like putting spats on a pig.

You're disappointing me, boy.

You've got no balls.

You must have lost your head trying to cheat me.

Don't ever lose your head, boy.

Because your ass always goes with it.

I want this punk to remember what I just told him.

He said goodbye in front of a ten-cent store.

He said he had to go, there had to be more.

Gone to New York and then to L.A.

Hung out with all the guys.

Listening to others' ideas of what he should be.

Put his own ideas aside.

Lips each line of every song.

Slipping out all its fantasies. Letting everyone else come along.

the best that he can.

Nobody says this town is ice cream and strawberries, darling.

And Rome wasn't built today.

We've only been here a year and a half, and it says right here in Hank Grant's

column that it took Neil Diamond five years to make it, okay?

But Neil Diamond never had to lift any 500-pound pianos, either.

Hey, I got you an interview with Blaze St. John today.

I mean, he and I are like this.

Do you know who Blaze St. John is?

He knows everybody in show business. He's a pro.

He's got a gig for you.

So what?

It's probably just another Hollywood phony.

And we've been going backwards.

This town's full of bullshit.

Yeah, but so is my garden.

And that's what makes it gross. Spare me.

Look at this.

Read it.

Blaze St.

John.

You got it. Music productions.

Entertainment attorney.

Personal management.

Promotions.

Representing everybody in the entertainment world.

Leave her alone. She's just crazy.

She's not going to come anyway.

She's stupid.

Why don't you just leave her alone?

This is KMEL, Santa Cruz, California, where last night three youths were

arrested for growing marijuana in the chief of police's backyard.

The youths claim it was an experimentation for medical purposes.

Damn kids, don't even respect the police.

You don't look old enough to be a hitchhiker.

I'm 18.

That's old enough.

You ever been to L.A.?

Sunset Boulevard?

Nope.

Well, it's a mess.

I'll tell you, this whole country's going right down the drain.

Everything's getting all screwed up, and it's the kids. The kids are the ones

who's doing it.

Girls walking around without no brassieres on.

Drugs and perverts and sex maniacs.

And these thick boys dressing up like girls with high heels and pantyhose.

I tell you, they ain't got no morals.

One thing, though, there ain't too many of us real Americans left.

Where are you from?

Oklahoma.

But I'm living down in San Diego now.

Can I ask you something personal?

Listen, honey, don't worry about it.

I always keep protected.

Trucker dots.

A lot of VD around.

A man can't be too careful.

I cannot believe this.

Got any dope?

Dope?

You mean you take dope?

You mean you don't?

Sure.

Sure I do. I take it all the time.

You better not be lying.

Now, wait a minute.

Not lying. Where is it? Here.

Take a look at that. You know what that is?

Bennett. Illegal non-prescription drug.

Us truck drivers were the first dopers in America. Don't forget that.

Now listen, honey.

There's a little place up here we can turn off and we can...

That's okay.

I'll go home with you.

Go home with me? No, no, you can't do that.

Why not?

I don't care if you're married.

Well... You do.

Oh, no.

Matter of fact, I think it's beautiful.

You can both make it with your wife, okay?

My wife?

Make it with my wife?

The mother of my children?

She...

Throw him in on the field for 300 bucks.

I'm sorry.

Dr. Kedler on the rocks.

You've got it. On the house.

Excuse me.

How'd the raiders do?

Raiders do terrific.

Keep the steelers 35 to nothing.

Hey, hey, hey, hey. Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on. Let me fix

you some ham and eggs.

Eggs? They gave me pimples.

I like junk food.

She's too young to be in here. Not even a thank you?

You still want a game?

You're a sucker, Mickey.

You still want a game?

I thought you were too busy. Oh, no, no, not me. I'm not good enough to play the

big man who just won $80 in Monterey. Now you're going to play her.

That little broad?

You're going to bet $20 on her?

Against you, Philly?

I'd like to make it $40.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Would you like to make it more?

Yeah, Mickey, I'd like to make it a thousand, but I had a bad day at the

track. Forty's okay.

Hey, Tilt, I got a live one.

Tilt, warm up the quality.

Tilt, where are we getting away? Tilt.

Now, look, Tilt, come on. Let's get it organized. How are we going to play?

Alternate balls or mine?

No, I think I'll shoot him straight.

Good luck.

Hold this, man.

What is the matter with this man?

Maybe you ought to go take a nap. This is going to take a while.

Watch it, kid. I'm an expert.

Settle in, baby.

There we go. See that, kid?

Give this one a hand.

There you go.

Look at that. Watch it, kid.

Hey, Mickey, come here. Look at this.

Next mission.

That's what I'm looking for, nothing less.

Next of all, I'm Beth.

Okay.

Okay. In,

battle in.

I'm going back to crack.

80 bucks.

Over 86,000? Beat that, shrimp.

All right, that enough.

Mickey, bourbon on the rocks. I'll be there in a minute.

All right. Pretty lucky.

Pretty lucky.

Good one.

What?

You're going to tell some shame.

Everybody want her to toot, ma'am, but she never does.

That's why they call her toot.

Makes a hell of a lot of sense.

Nothing in this world makes sense, ma'am.

Go ahead.

What, you think you lose the ball, you lose it?

guys get a job and get off welfare.

Something funny?

Let me fix you something to eat.

You brought a pro in here, Mickey. What kind of pro?

A little 14-year-old girl. What are you talking about?

You got candy on your face, midget. You're just not as good as you think you

are, Felix, my boy. Good?

You want to talk about good?

You got minors in here, Mickey. And something else? The DA's cousin is one

of my best clients.

I'm going to close you.

And your koala machine sucks.

Thanks.

Your eggs were getting cold fried.

Why do people have to get so gross over a game?

Now, here.

It's five bucks for you.

Put the rest of this.

More trouble at home?

Home? I live in a place called Trouble.

It's really crammed in there. Hey, one thing, when I get enough money in that

bank, I split.

Hang in there, Tilt.

Hey, why don't you check into school?

Once in a while, huh?

School? I go twice a week and I'm getting all A's.

can't shoot a mean game of pinball.

Thanks.

Hey, are you here for the rock concert?

Yeah, I'm auditioning tomorrow.

Excuse me.

He is the rock concert.

This here's Neil Gallagher. He's going to be a star, a big star.

I'm associated with Blaze St. John Enterprises, the man behind this

concert. I'm his manager.

Come on, we've got to go back to the motel, we've got to rehearse, we've got

to rest.

I'm auditioning tomorrow.

10.30.

It's right.

Eva, what's the problem? How could you stop these guys at a time like this?

It's just starting to get hot.

They sound great. This crazy guy isn't part of the act. He's a lunatic. The

band just got him crazy. Eva, relax.

We'll get some coke. We'll get some broads. Take it easy. What are you being

so tight about? Wait a minute. All right, next room. Let's go.

Get out there, you.

Come on, let's go, man.

That was nice.

Let's go. We haven't got much time.

We've got eight bands to go before... Testing one, two.

Yeah. Come on, now. I got Neil Gallagher here, boy.

Who's that?

Neil something.

Beaver, you booked him.

Where's your group?

Hey, he don't need a group, Beaver. This is Neil Gallagher. Come on, man, keep

going, keep going.

Long road to Texas is gonna take me home.

Keep going, my ass. Keep going right off my stage.

Hey, Beaver, I'm doing you the biggest favor of your life.

My boy here's a great artist. I mean, how do you think a star is born? In a

group, they're born.

Listen, man, we got 50,000 kids coming in here.

Smoking, drugging, snorting, freaking out.

You think they're going to sit still for a hit on a guitar?

Not unless his name's Dillon. Go, go.

Is your name Dillon, boy?

I think all the plumbers of Hollywood must be on strike.

Hollywood's really full of crap.

I mean, that Blaise St. John really had me bullshitting.

He doesn't know anybody and nobody knows him.

It's a good thing we didn't sign a 20-year contract with him.

You know something, Henry?

You turned a little Hollywood yourself.

Hey.

I know you've been busting your ass, man, but you saw what we're up against.

Even that poor imitation of the Who. They would spend $2,000, $3,000 just on

a goddamn wardrobe.

We... We got nothing.

Except maybe that gold mine we found the other morning.

Gold mine? What gold mine?

A little pinball freak.

You don't mean that... That?

Oh, come on, man. She's ready to split any time. You heard her.

I'll tell you, we don't take her. Someone else will.

She's money in the bank. You can't do that. She's in school.

School shit. She's in that saloon all day.

Listen. I tell you, there's thousands of kids run away from school every day.

That's statistics, okay? That's also ten years in San Quentin. That's what that

is. Can't I get one thing through your sick skull?

I ain't after a damn little ass.

I'm talking business.

I'm talking gambling.

Gambling?

Listen, this ain't Texas. Around here, all you're going to win is nickels and

dimes. Henry, I ain't talking about nickels and dimes. This ain't Corpus

Christi. Damn right.

But that's where we take her.

You're crazy.

I'm talking about the whale, baby.

I'm talking about that fat pile of blubber, that fat.

Oh, no.

No, you count me out. I wouldn't be caught in a 500-mile radius. Will you

shut up for a minute?

Now, look, there's only one thing I need more money, man, and that's to see the

whale get beat.

The kid can get him.

She can take his chunks.

Look, and we're through with him.

We can take her to New Orleans, where the weasel's at, right?

Hey, that's pinball heaven, man. Big money there.

You know you're really nuts. Give me a cigarette, will you?

What about your career?

Hey, what career, man? That was the last of the smokes.

Look, I knew it hadn't always worked out.

Has it?

Hey, how about never?

Well, look, this time we're going to do what I want to do.

My way.

Okay?

We're working for about six months. We come back, we have 20, 30 grand in our

pockets. Who knows how much?

Then I'll start my career the right way. She won't go.

She will.

She digs me.

You silver-tongued devil.

Okay. Okay, I got an idea.

Here's how we're working.

You and I are going to stage this fake fight, see?

Gave you what?

The drugs.

You get out of here before I bust your ass. You little hippie son of a bitch.

Where did Brenda get the drugs? How could Brenda get the drugs?

You hippie son of a bitch.

Listen,

don't come back anymore. Get out of here.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

David.

Oh, wow.

Well, we sent the lutes and I was too heavy for your sister.

She got totaled. David, you yo-yo. You're such an idiot. I can't believe

you.

What's he yelling about me for? How do I know? Because he's crazy.

Because they're all crazy in there.

You live in a nut house. I'm splitting.

I told you.

speed or downs or any of that stuff.

You've gone too far by selling your sister those drugs. I never did that.

That's a lie.

All right, tell me where these are getting the money from. Huh?

Huh? I know how much them damn albums cost.

You little dope pusher.

That's a bunch of crap. How do you expect me to respect you if you don't

respect me?

Brenda, you listen to me now.

You're going to be accounted for every minute, every second you're out of this

house. You're going to be accounted for. You hear me, you little tramp?

This is a house of love, damn it! Now stay out of your sister's room, you drug

addict!

As the summer shower traces Teardrops on your

windowpane You're a disillusioned lady

Wondering why it has to rain Because he lets you

down

You think you...

Like a seagull.

The more you feed it, the more it dumps on you.

I know what you mean.

I just had the worst head on with my folks.

It's always been easier for me to say things in song.

You started lying to me.

Wish I knew the words to say.

Let my lady know I need her.

I would sing the song forever.

If only she would just remember.

What are you doing sitting on your ass?

Are my bags on the bus yet? No.

You're sitting there singing those dumb songs to some stupid groupie whore. I'm

not a groupie. Shut up, groupie. Now, listen. I just talked to Blaze.

He said, you want us to pay for the record demo? You sign the contract,

okay?

70% of everything he earns for 10 years. What a bunch of bloodsuckers.

70%?

That's exclamation. Listen, when I want to talk business with teeny-bopping

smart-ass groupies, I'll let you know, okay?

You're not a groupie. Okay, just keep it. hands off the lady, okay? Lady? This

scruffy little star-banging peanut?

Dang.

You yellow-livered rat.

Taking advantage, huh? Okay.

You double-crossing fink.

Wait a minute.

You're killing me. Not a bad idea.

Now you've done it.

Now you've really done it. You just laid hands.

of the music industry.

When work gets out what you've done to me, when work gets out what you've done,

you are through in L.A., you understand, boy? The blazer owns the music business,

you understand?

He owns it.

Send it around?

So that way, you don't have to do your dog act every time you go to audition.

Maybe you can get a deal from a big record company once they listen to it.

Right?

Costs a lot of money for a demo.

About... $2,000.

I don't take money from women.

I'm made of clean pinball.

I can make 2,000 easy.

Hold it, hold it.

You mean gambling?

Yeah.

We can hit all the truck stops and pinball arcades in the country.

Mickey says there's a lot of people back to pinball.

There's only one thing, Tilton.

See, I gotta go to Nashville to cut my demo.

Nashville through Texas.

I've got to pick up my musicians.

My sound's a Texas sound.

Okay?

Great.

I always wanted to go to Texas.

There's a lot of pinball machines on the way.

You can't just take off like that.

What about your school?

Folks? I don't got no folks anymore, honestly.

I split this morning.

And all my stuff's at Mickey's.

I was gonna leave anyway.

Gotta get out of this dump.

You know?

I'm glad we met.

Now I got a reason to go.

Hey.

How old are you?

Fifteen.

you what I'm going to do.

I want you to have 50% of the whole package.

You deserve it.

You manage my career.

You get 25% of everything I make.

I manage your pinball games. You get another 25% of everything you win.

Okay?

A 25 plus 25 makes 50%. Okay?

Deal?

Not you.

You ever heard of the con man song and dance, have you?

Don't be silly, Mickey.

It's a business deal. You know, 50-50 like you and me.

Look, ten years behind this bar, I got instincts.

He's a punk. He's a no-good punk.

You little dummy, he's gonna use you.

Well, maybe.

But you'd use me too, Mickey.

It's okay to use people if you throw in a little love.

Well, I know one thing.

He needs me. I need him.

Okay.

Okay, puppy.

But don't forget.

People sometimes mistake kindness for weakness.

I haven't been down with anybody.

I'm a virgin.

This is strictly business, right?

Right.

It's Indian, huh?

Patchy. It's pretty.

Keep it.

I got another.

Really? Sure.

It's our contract.

Okay? Okay.

Hit Flagstaff tomorrow.

Let's name that place again.

You know what Mickey told you about?

I think it's called Wadjacks.

You mean Warjacks.

I guess that's it.

Sleep tight.

When you walked in the room There was something in the air

I could see in your eyes There was something you had

to share

When this whole thing started, we never met so before.

We were stealing time for a moment in the back of a friend's car.

Now I know it's wrong.

We just can't go on.

Hey, brother, you don't mind if I fire you back a minute, do you?

Hey, put that thing away, cowboy.

You've got five years around here.

Laszlo, the best buddy, Barney.

And a lady from Vegas over there. She was my boss, Rupi.

Right, darling?

She loved my talent.

Hey, uh, how'd you like to play a little game with me?

Hey, you crazy?

You got no chance against her.

Well, pinball wasn't a game I had in mind, cowboy.

But if you want to put your money where your mouth is, I'll teach this little

lady how the big boys play pinball.

50. Five balls, okay?

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Excuse me, dear.

I said excuse me.

Around here, you see, we bet on every ball.

You lose faster that way.

You don't mind if I bet 20 on my friend Casey now, do you? All right, Garrett.

You got it.

See you again.

$25,000.

I'm not used to this.

You can be me, baby.

You sure yourself ain't going home, girl?

Hey, $1,000 on the next buck. Okay, Casey.

$1,000.

$1,000?

You're crazy.

Hey, look, cowboy.

You're a loser, huh?

And I just don't have the heart to rob you.

Because $1,000 is a lot of money, cowboy.

You sure you got it?

A jet?

Hey, don't be stupid, cowboy, huh?

We play whip out around here. Catch.

Hey, Pally.

I'll put it up for you.

Well, I'm back.

You're down.

Yeah, sure.

Hey, uh, Mr. Lenny?

My credit good for another 500?

Sure, Pally.

There's something about you that I really trust.

and just enough to win.

You could have suck at him for another bit.

Hey, Henry.

Neil.

Hey, listen, Henry. This is my idea.

I don't need you to screw it up.

The world's a big pond, darling.

You better start learning to...

like churches.

Lenny!

How are you grooving?

How now?

Work with it, baby. You know, when I was just about your age, my daddy said, son,

there are three things in life I want you to remember. Number one, no matter

how stupid the dealer looks, always cut the car.

Number two, don't ever eat yellow snow. And number three, pay as you go and you

will never owe.

Decorate me.

Would you like to play her for 300?

Play her?

Is there a D in Dallas?

You tell him, sweet smell.

Be my guest.

You want my three bills? Then beat my... Come on.

Man,

give me some air.

Cut me some slack, girl. What are you doing?

your daddy said about pay as you go and you will never owe?

Don't even want to hear that trash, girl.

Don't even want to hear it.

Cute.

You got a big game coming up.

Corpus Christi.

That's where we're going to make the real money. Big bread.

Neil, we've got more than enough to cut three demos. Can't we just get you a

musician?

There's just got to be one man.

One old, fat man.

They say he's the greatest pinball player in the whole wide world.

I've seen guys fly in from Chicago, Vegas, L.A.

I've seen them in 2000.

Five thousand on the game.

He's trying to beat that mountain of fat.

People call him the whale.

He must weigh a ton.

You beat him?

You beat a chain?

Then we'd make some real bread, baby. All the big gamblers would be looking to

play us.

He's really happy because you're going to be going back home again.

You can meet your family and all your friends.

They're going to be really surprised to see you, aren't they?

Yeah.

They'll be surprised.

Really surprised.

Hey, Fat Man.

Mr.

Fat Man.

There's $10,000.

Says that you can't beat my score.

$168,000 and some change.

Just like a little dog, we never die.

Rock and roll cowboy seemed to always survive.

Spend my Christmas with strangers.

Replay.

as Christy, Texas, the sunshine spot of the Southwest.

Man, it's hot. It must be 98 degrees and 100% humidity.

It's so hot, even the Gulf of Mexico is sweating.

But I'm gonna get you off. I'm gonna cool you off with Bill Ray's pinball.

Replay it.

Turn that up, boy.

Thank you.

of Texas?

London, England.

Oh, yeah.

Well, what were you doing there, Neil?

Oh, just finished the show.

Rolling Stones.

Oh, shit.

Yep.

Had to come back, though.

Had to do the Carson show next week.

You lost weight, Mr. Raymond.

Give me a turkey sandwich replay.

Right away, Mr.

Raymond.

There's a potato salad and onions.

Turn it to the guy.

Yes, yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

So you came back, huh, boy?

Came back?

I never left here.

I'm here to play you one more game of pinball.

must love some of your marbles, boy.

I don't play cheats.

Hey, where did you steal that?

Out of some circus?

It is $3,500.

I got a player who's gonna whip your ass, man.

So you turn to hustle, huh?

Well, that makes sense.

Cheating.

Lying.

Hustling.

Leave it, leave it.

That too. Do some work over there, boy.

You gotta be hustling weasels from New Orleans or fast eddies from New

York.

Don't you ever hurt a man?

But you will.

Say about three o'clock tomorrow.

Get your feet off my furniture.

What's his name?

Davenport.

Tilt Davenport.

Tilt Davenport.

That's a fancy name.

Where's he from?

What's the difference?

It's your machine.

You want the bat?

Betting is an honorable business.

And I don't do business with cheats.

It's a nice move, fat man.

It figures you won't play my player.

Because you're fat.

No.

thinking you're the pinball champ.

Well, I've been around the country lately.

I've seen a lot of players better than you.

You're not the champ.

You're a fat chump.

I should have known better and come back to this flat store.

Give me my money back, replay.

Leave it alone!

bullshit. I'm going to keep that money in escrow, punk, just in case you don't

show up.

That money's mine.

Now you be here tomorrow at three.

That money replay.

But that punk's a cheat.

You remember?

Hey, sir, I'm late.

Couldn't find my bass player anywhere.

What are you doing sitting there in the dark?

Hey.

What's the matter, baby?

Hey, Jill!

Jill!

Jill?

Hey, come on, listen to me now. Get away from me, you liar!

Mickey was right about you. Everyone was right about you.

There was never going to be any demo. You used me. It was just another con.

You don't care about your singing or your music or anything. All you care

about is your shirts and cars and money.

Money is sick. Hey, you don't think I care about you? No, get away from me.

Okay, okay. Listen.

You don't believe what Henry said?

Let me tell you something about Henry.

Henry's elite, okay?

But he's always messed up in my life.

Oh, stop lying. Just stop it.

All right.

Okay, look.

I might not have started out totally straight.

But now I'm being straight with you.

I never said this before to anyone.

I really care about you.

Teal, you're so lovely.

Hey, you're a special kind of person to me.

I'm not hidden.

Only a crap on me.

You know, it's funny.

When someone's got something you want, you love them, right?

Honey, please.

Look, it's you and me together, huh?

I need you. Like we always played. I'm so talented. Be so messed up. I'm split.

Hey, Till.

For crying out loud.

Okay.

Okay, I admit it. I'm all messed up.

Hey, don't you want to know why?

You know what this is?

It's a poor man's country club.

You know what it's like growing up in a place like this where you come from

nothing?

Huh? The people won't even talk to you.

That damn rich people are cheaters and the politicians work for them.

What do rich think? If you owe money or you're poor, it means you're a thief.

And they keep you poor so they can use you.

Poor people.

Hell, we gotta steal.

You steal just to survive, man. Forget death and pie.

That's the truth.

You know something?

I stole from my own mother.

Yeah. Yeah, me.

To get out of here.

One guy in this whole town.

You had Mickey?

There's one guy I looked up to.

Respected. Baby, he's rich.

He always had a pocket full of cash, but he never helped me.

He's tighter than a tick.

He's so stingy, he wouldn't pay ten cents to see the Statue of Liberty have

twins.

And a whale couldn't.

He should have made me his partner.

He didn't give me a choice.

I had to rip him off and he taught me.

One needs mud around here, Till.

You got to clean it up for me.

You got to beat him.

You beat him for me, baby, and I'll do anything you ask me to.

Anything.

You just beat him for me.

Anyway, I put up all our money.

All of it?

Yeah.

Now I know what Mickey meant when he used to say, you can swallow an elephant

and choke on its tail.

Huh?

Never mind.

Don't call a whale.

It's closing time, little lady. We don't allow little girls in here. Please, it's

very important.

All right, let her in.

Mr. Rummins?

Rummins, honey.

Rummins.

My name is Tilt.

I'm the guy who's going to play tomorrow. $3,500?

I see.

So what can I do for you, Miss Chilton?

I've heard an awful lot about you from Neil.

Neil?

Does he know you're here?

No.

He's sleeping at the Seaside Motel.

Sleeping?

You don't mind I don't believe you?

Can we talk alone?

We are alone.

I'll lock up.

Don't forget the cat,

boss.

What cat?

Talk about me, Henry.

Mr. Well, I mean Mr. Evans.

Yeah, I know you and Neil have had your differences and all.

But he has a lot of respect for you.

Yeah, I bet he does.

So I'm going to ask you to help him.

Help him?

You've got to be kidding.

Oh, come on. Neil's a fine musician.

I mean, in all my life, I've bought over 300 albums with my own money.

He's the best singer I've ever heard.

He seems pretty, uh... He's great.

Thing is, he's never had a break.

He's all mixed up.

all he thinks about is gambling and money and, you know, me, Tilt, the human

pinball machine.

Well, the point is, no matter who wins tomorrow, you or me,

Neil's the loser either way.

If you win, we lose the money for his demo.

And if I win, you want me to go on with him from town to town, gambling, see?

Now, just a minute, little lady. Please, Mr. Remmits.

I'm going to have to leave him soon. I know it.

If you give me back the money now, I'll let you beat me.

Beat me?

I'll throw the game.

It'll teach me a lesson.

I'll tell him you gave me the money back because you felt sorry for him.

Which I'll be anyway.

And then I'll know.

You'll be saving yourself $3,500.

And you can still be the champ.

First, the bet is in.

And with all due respect, Miss Tilt, second, I am the champ.

I've never lost a game.

Tomorrow, I'm about to win $3,500.

Oh, yeah?

With all due respect, you have never seen me play.

I have never lost a game.

I am a pinball genius.

Well, Miss Tilt, there's only one way to find out, huh?

I'll see you at three. Come on, let's go.

What about now?

What do you mean, now?

Let's play some pinball, mister.

If you beat me for the five,

the bet's still on for tomorrow.

If I win, I'm offering you an insurance policy, right?

Yeah, that good, huh?

You bet your ass.

Uh-uh.

Five dollars is enough.

My ass is worth more.

You gotta play a lucky tune.

I know you're doing this for Neil.

And not the insurance policy.

Neil?

I didn't take him to race.

Play that tune, because I love it.

Puts me in the mood.

$3,500 is $3,500.

Should lock it up.

Help me uncover my lady.

His mother should have named him Sneaky.

You got a point.

I want you to do something for me, replay.

You know this machine?

What is that?

Bonus of ten thousand when you drop all ten targets in sequence.

Plus an extra ball if you do it inside the time limit. Three minutes instead

of, okay?

But, if one target out of sequence, you blow it.

Well, a good football team can play on any field.

By all means, Mr. Phillips.

watching too damn much TV.

people call me the lab.

What do you mean stop?

Some people need beer.

And some people need whiskey.

And some people around here need

marijuana.

I hear them jet centers need cocaine.

Everybody needs to have some kind of prop.

To get him off the ground.

This is my problem.

You know what I mean?

Let's take a little ham here.

Can I fix anything for you? You hungry?

No, thank you.

Well, maybe a Butterfinger, if you have some.

Well, that's fine.

I think I got some of them somewhere.

Nestlings.

Babe Ruth.

All right, here we are.

May I offer you a soft drink?

Dr. Pepper, please.

You ready?

time ago.

That's where I drink tap.

Spinball. Spinball.

Spinball.

Spinball. Spinball. Spinball. Spinball.

Spinball.

Get my music and my TV.

It's the life of Las Vegas. It is the land of me.

When it pushes back to the wall.

I can't believe what I just saw.

Do you believe I beat my own record?

On a good machine, I mean.

There's some lady.

I ran up 802,000 once in Birmingham against some hustler on a high deal.

Here's Richard.

Don't you go spoiling the c-c-c-concentration.

You better make the ball.

Lucky.

Good shooting, little lady.

Nobody ever hit it twice.

Careful,

you've got to be strong through that.

You're strong like me. I see my tilt.

Tilt?

I mean, never. No.

Not that zipper.

An angsty shot.

Oh, what?

No!

He had me worried there for a minute.

Still.

Toughest game I ever played since I beat the Weasels back in 51.

That was in New Orleans, little lady.

I'm not a little lady.

Leo, I was just trying... It's okay.

I know.

You little dummy.

Don't worry, you nearly beat him.

Look, I... I'm sorry.

Boy, what a pain in the ass I must have been.

You really do believe in me, don't you?

What a difference is there?

I lost.

Can't be, though.

I lost your money.

Hey, don't worry.

And then she's wiped out.

Now look what time it is.

It's past two o'clock in the morning.

She's dead in her feet.

She's wiped out and dead on her little feet.

Because I put her there.

Let me tell you something, honey.

I.E.

Pinball geniuses for breakfast.

Now, you may be one of the best I ever played, but if you played me for a

thousand years, you ain't never gonna beat me. You wanna know why?

Because you really don't care about pinball anymore.

Not the way I care.

Take a look around you.

Take a good look.

You want to end up like me?

You tell me he's a great singer.

What do I... An old man like me know about singing?

I'll tell you what I do know.

I know about you.

And if you tell me he's good, then

I got a bet on you.

You know, you remind me of somebody, Miss Jill, a long time ago.

Very special.

The word is out.

So what?

So the kid left the games off, okay?

And you keep your trap shut, sneaky.

You keep his mind on his singing, Mr.

He's a little dumb.

Looks like your luck has changed, boy.

You got yourself some kind of manager.

Oh, yeah, and by the way, come here. I want to talk to you.

What's the matter with you?

She can't wear your balls.

Come on, I'll replay.

Bye, Mr. Evans.

Good night, Mr. Till.

Hey, that was nice.

It was really nice.

I won't forget this.

You take care.

Okay?

Some boy.

Come here.

Come here.

I suppose you're right.

You just, uh... I suppose I'd become a big star.

You got a contract with me?

It's our contract, partner.

You're the manager. You handle the money.

Okay?

Let's go call Henry.

I never felt so down and all alone.

People make you feel like you don't belong.

Long road to Texas gonna take me.

The earth, it burns beneath my feet.

And I've imagined things I long to be.

In reality, it comes on strong.

Long road to Texas, but I'm finally home.

Long road to Texas gonna take me home.