Original subtitles

Most people like to think

they have some degree of control over their lives.

The truth is,

we're all subject to the influence of others.

Those who appreciate this

can make a lot of money from those who don't.

But any small-time grifter

who ever dealt off the bottom of a deck can tell you that.

I can tell you about the price one pays for peddling confidence,

how every Mark you fleece takes away another piece of your soul

and what happens when you try to pick up the pieces.

I'm risking 50 grand here!

50 grand for $500,000 worth.

You having second thoughts?

You give me the word,

I'll turn this car around.

I work for you.

If you got a bad feeling about this, let's just go home.

Hey.

I'm a big shot, see?

I can chance it.

You're the man.

The beginning of the end started out normally enough.

I was in the middle of a deal,

trustworthy as ever.

My pop used to say I was the best loyalty man he'd ever seen.

I played the all-American boy.

People thought they could pull the wool over my eyes.

Well, that was my con, and it never failed.

Ahem. Let's see it.

Give me a break, will ya?

Here. O.K.?

O.k.?

Yo!

I feel like a fucking piece of bait in here!

Before you give him the money,

tell him I want a taste.

What, what?

He wants a taste.

Sure, he does.

I'm seein' angels.

Do it. Do it!

He's wired! It's a setup!

Oh...oh! Aah!

Police! Drop it!

Freeze! Hold it right there!

Drop your weapon!

Go on! Get out of here!

Uh...ahh.

All right, everybody. Porky is out of here.

Whoo!

All right!

Got me right in the heart.

Hey, Joey!

All right, Mikey. Show's over.

Mikey.

Mike.

Like you.

That was great.

Hey, pop, it's all here...

Every last dollar!

Yo!

You shot him!

What?

He's really been shot.

There's real bullets in here, man.

I had the blanks.

I had the b-- I had the--

I had the blanks in my gun!

What the hell are you trying to pull, Joe?

Get that gun.

Joe.

Son...get the cake.

My brother took the cake.

My brother took the cake.

Your brother?

You go get it.

Bring it, bring it, bring it, bring it.

Go get it for me.

Pop!

Pop?

Pop! Come on, let's go.

Pop!come on, Joe, Joe, Joe.

Come on, Joe. Got to go.

[Siren]

I didn't do it! I had the blanks!

Pop!

We'd always been a team.

Pop called the shots, and I carried the ball.

Without him, I went numb.

We're burying your father in Potter's field.

He's already in the box.

Wouldn't want the cops snooping, would we?

I remember loading blanks.

There's no way I would ever make a mistake like that!

You were in charge of the guns.

There's no way

I would make a mistake like that.

Take it.

Take a look.

Go on.

It's huey's gun.

It's got the blanks.

God...

Damn.

Tell me this is a dream I'm gonna wake up from.

I feel real bad, Joey.

Maybe I should have double-checked the chambers.

Sorry.

Here's your cut.

Got to get out of town, set yourself up.

Fast, like the rest of US.

Pete!

Pete!

Pete, did you see the woman on my--

what was that?

I almost forgot.

This is all your father had on him.

See ya.

Bus 59 leaving gate 5 in 15 minutes.

Bus 59 leaving gate 5...

I told myself the woman at the grave wasn't really there,

my scattered mind had just dredged up a memory.

"Leave the past to them who's stuck there,"

is what pop would've told me.

"There ain't no money in a memory."

The man was never short on advice.

With his last breath,

he was still telling me what to do.

He hadn't said what the cake was,

but his address book said where to start looking--

out west, where his brother Lou would be.

I always remembered being alone.

Pop and I spent a lot of time on buses

moving from town to town,

waiting for the heat to pass.

Pop was the teacher. I was the student.

That was our relationship.

So it was a surprise to me

when I found the letter he wrote to his brother Lou--

the brother I never even knew he had.

Most of it was about how much pop hated him.

Something had gone down between the two brothers.

Looked like a woman was the cause.

But the real shock was that he said he was proud of me

and that he loved me.

[Chuckles]

Now, that's not the pop that I remembered.

Maybe it was the way he used to be

before all he cared about was turning a buck.

Maybe it was Lou who had changed him.

That's what I wanted to believe--

the big secret I swore I'd uncover.

The coast was alive,

but I had no time for the sights.

I was looking for something to tip me off,

a break in the routine,

a place to start the hunt.

Appreciate it.

Mm-hmm.

What it is, my man. What it is.

Hey, how you doing?

Do you have a nice hot one?

Salted or unsalted?

I don't care... Long as it's lucky.

Hope that's hot enough for you.

So do I.

Ah, so do I.

I hope that we get there in time.

Hello. Can I help you?

Um...coffee, please.

Regular or decaf?

Regular.

Hey...hey.

75 cents for the coffee, please.

Here you go.

Keep it.

You come here often?

No. It's the first time.

Why do you ask?

I don't know.

Would you like a nice maple spiral doughnut

with your coffee? They're heavenly.

Maybe some other time.

Thanks.

Hey, kid. What's your name?

Mitch.

Want to make an easy 20 bucks, Mitch?

For what?

I'm looking for Lou donan.

Who's asking?

His nephew.

Pick a card.

I don't think so.

You don't think so. Ha.

That's not very sociable behavior.

Go on, pick a card.

Look, I'm a little busy right now.

Take your game someplace else.

Busy at the market.

Tell you what.

If it's a high card, I'll tell you who I am,

and if it's a low card,

I'll tell you who you are.

Is that a deal?

Sure.

Joker.

Joker.

Hallelujah.

Praise the lord.

It's a hell of a card trick.

Why don't you get lost?

So you're Lou's nephew, huh?

Yeah. That's right.

Yeah. That's right.

I didn't know Lou had a nephew.

Well, you know it now.

Come on. Let's take a walk, friend.

Get comfortable.

Damn, I love watching people.

Damn! Business really booming out there, huh?

Look at all those happy people. Ha ha ha!

You can learn a lot from...

Just watching people.

So...god, it's been...

30, 30 some-odd years

since I've... Seen my nephew.

What's the matter, cat got your fuckin' tongue?

All this time, I...

I didn't even know I had an uncle.

Well, then there's a lot you don't know.

What did you want to see me about, Joe?

Well, I, uh...

I've got some bad news about my father.

He's, um...

He's dead.

Yes, I know.

Oh...

It must be kind of a shock, huh?

Looks like you've just seen a ghost, friend.

Eddie, will you put the gun down, please,

and get Joe a glass of water?

[Telephone rings]

Yeah?

Yeah.

Yeah.

You're down.

All right.

Good luck.

Bye-bye.

So...how'd you find me?

Um...i had to go through some of my father's stuff.

Your name was in his address book,

so I hopped on a bus to come out and see you.

Ah.

How did you know about him?

Friend told me.

Didn't know much. Said that, uh...

Mike had been killed in some kind of con.

Maybe you can fill me in. What happened?

I don't really know what happened.

He was off doing his own thing.

Pop always had a few irons of his own in the fire.

I just, uh...

I wished I could have been there, you know?

Mike, Mike, Mike.

Never learned.

Even as kids, he was always going out on his own,

getting his hands dirty.

Tsk.

Hell, I'm sorry, Joe.

Yeah, well, thanks.

We were, uh...

We were a team.

There's not really much left back there for me now.

[Telephone rings]

Eddie, would you get that, please?

[Ring]

Yeah.

Depends. Who's calling?

Yeah. The doctor's in.

How you fixed for bread?

I'm all right.

You got a place to crash?

Yeah, I got a... Motel.

It's just up the road.

Nice?

It's comfortable.

By god.

Listen, Joe, uh...

Why don't you go out with Eddie tonight, huh?

[Eddie] All right.

Yeah. Do a little bar hopping.

He'll show you around.

What do you think?

Uh, yeah. That sounds like a lot of fun...

Uncle Lou.

Uncle Lou?

Ho ho ho ho. Uncle Lou.

I like it. I like it!

First-rate.

It's really good to see you, kid.

Yeah. Ha ha ha.

Lord, I'm free!

How long you been working for Lou?

Couple of years, friend.

Couple of beautiful years.

Pretty nifty bookie operation he's got going there.

I set that up.

Wow.

That was a real tough one for me to spot.

Well, I guess I'm just a real shrewd guy, huh?

Yeah, I guess you are.

You and Lou run the whole market?

You know, for a guy that's just come into town,

you're sure asking an awful lot of questions.

What are we doing?

My girl's coming along.

You don't mind, do you, friend?

I don't mind.

Diane, this is Joe. Joe, this is Diane.

Pleased to meet you, Joe.

Pleased to meet you, Diane.

I--I'm kind of feeling all tongue-tied.

I just don't know what to--

aw, shucks. Here.

Eddie.

Now that we're all one big happy family,

what do you say we have some fun-time family fun?

Sure.

What's the scheme?

Little pigeon dropping.

You think you can handle that, friend?

Just tell me what I have to do.

You pick up the dropping.

It looked like I had to pay my dues

by wilding with uncle Lou's flunky.

[Car won't start]

This fucking fucker's fucked!

Well, at least he was a lively fellow.

O.k., what'll you have?

I'd like de bottle of your best champagne.

We only have shots and beer, honey.

Well, I'll have two shots of your finest whiskey.

"Shape the con, or it'll shape you," pop would say.

Wise words my new friend Eddie never learned.

He was the type of bad-ass bluff man

that was stuck on the high you get from the con,

and that's bad news.

Well, lovebirds, here you go.

Ooh...

Gorgeous bracelet.

Great.

I got to tell ya, this just keeps coming.

Diane I couldn't read beyond her sexy front,

which meant she was good.

Hey!

Handsome, what'll you have?

Uh, I'll have a beer, please.

Ah, shit!

Let's blow this joint.

You call it, baby.

I'm slain.

Bottoms up.

Pay phone?

Sure. Right back there, honey.

Maybe you left it at the restaurant.

I'm sure I had it in here.

[Bartender] Did you lose something?

No, we're fine.

Maybe I did leave it in the restaurant.

I just said that before. What's the matter?

Fuck, honey!

Listen...

[Clears throat]

My wife, uh...Ahem...

My wife's a little drunk,

and it's kind of embarrassing,

but she's lost a very special bracelet tonight,

and, um...

And it's worth a lot to me,

so if you should find it...

If you could call me at this number...

Uh-huh.

Could we hurry up?

And, uh...

I'll give you $500.

Oh...sure.

Come on.

Where'd you find that?

I found it on the floor in the phone booth.

That's my bracelet. I lost it.

No, it's not.

I'll give you $50 for that bracelet.

50 bucks for this?

All right. 100?

200.

O.k.

Whoo!

Thank you, lady.

Yeah.

You take care of yourself.

What the hell was that all about, Sam?

I just made myself $300. That's what that's about.

Oh, boy!

Ooh, boy!

Ooh!

[Telephone ringing]

It's ringing. It's ringing.

[Beeping]

We're sorry.

You have reached a number that has been disconnected

or is no longer in service.

Great night.

Great fucking night.

I got to get some gum.

Would you like a piece of gum?

No. Thank you.

Are you sure? No chiclets?

Maybe I don't have the same cravings as you, Eddie.

Ooh.

Ooh.

Look, come here, you.

Oh.

Mmm...

Mommy...

Mommy...

We'll go home soon, mommy.

We'll go home soon.

What a guy.

Helps pass the time.

There's more to life than just passing time,

isn't there, Diane?

Maybe we're both just running around in circles...

And just happen to touch.

The sun and the moon do that.

They call it an eclipse.

Well, if you think he's up to it...

I think he's a little soft.

O.k.

O.k.

Well, we'll throw him a knuckle ball. Why not?

All right.

Hello?

♪ They play their drums and things ♪

♪ they know you want to hear ♪

♪ and treat you like their closest friend ♪

♪ they take your hopes and dreams ♪

♪ with plans that aren't too clear ♪

♪ so they can screw you in the end ♪

♪ and when they're through with you... ♪

Hey, Eddie.

Hey, darlin'.

How about a bottle of suds for me

and my friend here?

Classy joint.

Yeah. Ha ha ha.

Valley of the vixens.

So what's the scoop?

Is the baby here tonight?

Baby's over in the corner.

Looks rugged.

Hmm...

Looks rugged. He is rugged.

The baby's about three months behind on his payments.

He owes Lou 1,500.

Is that right?

Yeah, that's right. And you're going to get it from him.

Excuse me?

Lou thinks you might be hard.

Time to kiss the baby, friend.

Waaaah.

♪ Suspicion rises with the sun ♪

♪ those friends of happiness ♪

♪ have turned into illusion ♪

♪ but then again you start to believe in someone ♪

♪ how many times before you come to understand ♪

♪ you can't fool no one

♪ you better cover your shoulder... ♪

You're in my light, cuz.

You must be the baby.

Give me a lollipop, baby.

Cherry?

You know me.

I hear you owe Lou donan $1,500.

So?

So I'm here for it.

Who the hell are you?

Where's Joe?

He's mincemeat.

Baby's going to put his head on a platter.

What are you up to, Eddie?

[Snorting]

I'm not getting off.

I'm not getting off.

Jesus Christ!

You know, you're disgusting with that shit.

I'm not getting off.

[Coughs]

Baby.

All right.

Yeah.

Where to now, Eddie?

Where's the money?

I think I'll give it to Lou myself.

Good night, Joe.

Good night, Diane.

Eddie was kid stuff.

Lou was the real deal.

He was as clever as pop,

a true pro of the high con.

I saw that right away.

And he had something big in the works

that was going down soon.

You pick up on these things

when you're in the game long enough.

I had to find a clue

that would lead me to the cake

or at least tell me what the hell the cake was.

What's he up to?

I thought about the two brothers

and what could have driven them apart.

Then I found the picture I saw in my father's bag.

This time it wasn't ripped.

There was my mother standing between pop and uncle Lou,

both holding her like bookends.

I got to tell you, it gave me a chill.

Get the cake. My brother took the cake.

Did my mother have something to do with all this?

Was that why Lou was torn away from my pop's photo?

I didn't know it then,

but that photo was the hook

that would send me deeper into the shadows,

squinting for the truth.

Open your eyes, Joe.

You might find what you've been looking for.

Who says I'm looking?

I do.

Unless you've been out late being a naughty boy.

Need a naughty girl for that.

How about her?

That's different.

That's an old girlfriend.

Oh.

Romantic...

Living in the past.

Not really.

Of course not.

Eyes on tomorrow.

Looking to score big.

Break a young girl's heart.

You have a way with words.

Are you going to drink that,

or are you going to let it evaporate?

You think you know me, Diane?

I want to.

What about your friend Eddie?

Make me forget him.

How long until you forget me?

Treat me right, maybe never.

Tempting words...

If I were a sucker.

I'm playing you straight, Joe.

Drop it, Diane.

I know what you are.

The question is, why are you here? What do you want?

You're hurting me.

Well, the truth can be painful.

I'm sorry.

It's just the way I operate, you know?

Took a dozen Eddies.

You're different...

Stronger. You're...

I shouldn't have played it that way.

It was a mistake.

Just don't tell Eddie I was here, o.K.?

Diane...

You don't have to hook people.

You don't know me.

I don't have anyone.

I don't have any uncle Lou.

I don't have any back home.

I got me alone, and that's it.

I do what I got to do to survive.

All right. Listen.

I'm sorry.

Maybe I made a mistake.

I know what it feels like to be alone.

I don't sleep with Eddie.

That's nice to know.

What was she like,

the girl in the locket?

I barely remember her.

So why do you carry it then?

It's just kind of a reminder, I guess.

Of what?

Things we're still looking for.

Like?

Like, um...

Like I lied to you.

It's not an old girlfriend.

It's my mother.

She died when I was a baby.

You...

You are so sweet.

I could get used to you.

I got to go.

Why?

Eddie would kill US if he found out.

I'm not ready for that.

I'm not sure...

That I'm ready...

For you.

Sleep on it.

You'll get used to it.

The next day was uncle Lou's birthday.

I took advantage of it to get in closer.

I had a mission to complete for pop.

You know, I don't remember

ever having a better ham than this one.

Really.

Now I really see the family resemblance.

He's just like a donan--

so polite and handsome, too.

I don't think I can take it

with two donans in one room.

I'm getting all woozy.

Well, listen, before you pass out, baby,

how about getting US some fresh coffee?

Oh, o.K., Louie.

Ha ha ha ha ha!

She is something.

Yeah. She sure is.

I found her slinging hash

at one of those truck stops

out on the interstate.

She really filled that little uniform out.

She was so fine. Oh...

She poured me a cup of coffee.

Best damn coffee I've ever tasted.

She said she made it herself.

That was the clincher.

Been together ever since.

♪ You get another candle on your birthday cake ♪

Oh, blanche, what is this?

♪ You're another year older ♪

What are you doing?

You know how i-- what's all the fuss?

My god.

Make a wish.

Hey, come on. You know i--

make a wish.

Listen, blanche, I don't like--

this is terrible. I mean--

just make a wish.

You know I hate this.

It's your birthday, Lou.

Yeah. Well, o.K.

Now look--

if Joe helps me,

because it's Mike's birthday, too. O.K.?

Sure. Love to.

Ahh...

Yay!

Beautiful.

Well, it's sure as hell a pretty cake

you made there, blanche.

Thank you, Louie.

Oh, boy. Your favorite.

Nice little horsies on there, too, huh?

Of course I put the horsies on there.

I'm sorry about your father, Joe.

Crazy broad.

But I love her. I do love her.

Happy birthday, uncle Lou.

What's this?

The baby sends his regards.

Eddie's been trying to get that money from him

for months,

and--and you...

Eddie's not a donan.

You bet he's not a donan.

[Heavy metal music plays]

Mommy. Mommy.

Where's the Sam fucking peckinpah?

Mommy...

I'll be damned.

All fucking summer long, sugar.

All summer long.

What's your problem, boy?

I thought we were settled.

We are with that, baby.

There's nothing to worry about.

What the hell you bothering me for?

The baby's a little cranky tonight, huh?

Yeah. I don't dig looking at your ugly face.

Now your partner,

he was a cool dude.

Cool enough to get the baby

to burp up 1,500?

I didn't pay him Jack shit.

What are you talking about?

You cleared your debt.

He told me all I had to do

was walk outside and shake his hand,

and I was even.

Are you telling me that was his fucking money?

Somebody's after your job, boy.

I bet he even stole your woman!

What the fuck are you talking about?

Sit down.

Fuckers! Fuckers!

What the fuck are you looking at?

Hey, man!

[Glass breaks]

Fuck!

Watch it, pal.

You want to fuck, huh? Huh?

Fucker!

Hi-fucking-yaah!

Fuck!

Hey, Mr. Rock 'n' roll.

Let's wiggle and dance.

First you turn blue,

and then you shit in your pants.

Aah!

Hey!

Let's fuck! Let's fuck, huh? Nice and hard! Aah!

Get up, bitch!

Come on, bitch!

All right! All right!

O.k., baby girl, who sent ya?

Who sent ya?

Sam... Fucking peckinpah.

Aah!

Rrr-aah!

Someone tried to kill me, man! Uhhn!

Who'd try to kill you, Eddie?

The fucking hangers!

Let me get you a drink.

[Babbling]

I didn't know you smoked cigars, babe,

particularly this brand.

Eddie, it's really not what you think.

Shut up! Shut the fuck up, man!

[Sniffing]

[Sobbing]

Who you been fucking now, man?

Aah! I'm here! I'm here! Aah! Aah! Aah! Aah!

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! No! No! No!

Aah! Aah! Aah!

[Sobbing]

What am I, a fucking retard, man?

Am I a fucking retard, huh?

I know what this is!

Lou tried to snuff me out

because of his crazy little nephew being around!

Well, vive la fucking France, man!

I bet I was the last person

you were planning on seeing tonight. Aah!

Get out.

I'd really love a reason to blow you away,

so get out.

[Door closes]

6 of spades...

Ace of clubs...

Queen of diamonds...

Ace of hearts.

Shit!

[Knock on door]

Joe!

Diane?

What?

Joe, we're in trouble.

Eddie thinks I'm sleeping with Lou.

Why? What happened?

I don't know.

He tried to kill me,

and now he's gone after your uncle.

Damn.

You wait here.

And lock the door.

It's a crazy fucking world we live in,

captain Jack!

Eddie, what the hell is this?

You filthy double-crossing

little fucking filthy double-crossing

filthy fucking goddamn fucking filthy little prick!

What the hell has gotten into you, man?

"What the hell's gotten into you?"

Oh, that's really good.

That's like a poker face.

Pick a card!

Are you cracking up? What is it?

What the hell?

Pick the fucking card!

Eddie, I don't know what's gotten into you.

In a couple of days,

you and I are going to make a bundle of money.

Eddie, come on. Don't blow it now.

Put the gun down.

Show me the joker.

Come on. Put the gun down.

Just show me the fucking joker.

Well, Halle- fucking-lujah, man!

The joker's wild!

You're trying to trick me out of the game

and squeeze in your nephew!

Well, who's sitting behind your desk now?

I'm behind your fucking desk! Me!

This is about Joe?

Oh...god, Eddie, af--

after all we've been through together? Come on.

Bullshit. Bullshit.

Jesus god, you stupid fucking hothead!

Come on. What is this?

What the hell is this?

I'll show you a fucking hothead, man!

I'll show you a hothead!

Put the gun down, Eddie.

[Babbling]

Asshole!

[Muffled]

You want to fuck?

You want to fuck?

Huh?

We fuck now! We fuck now!

Motherfucker.

Hey.

Joe.

Joe.

Joe, come here.

God damn it, get me out of here.

Jesus Christ.

Eddie was a key player

in a job I've been planning for six months.

He was supposed to bring in the Mark.

Dangerous con,

but a hell of a lot of money involved.

Son of a bitch.

Here. We can just leave him.

That son of a bitch.

We got to get out of here.

Joe, god damn it.

Listen, you might have to help me on this one, kid.

Uh...

What do you need?

I need somebody to bring in the Mark.

It's the classic possum trap, man.

You'll have to kill me-- well, fake my death.

You know the game.

But, uh...

What do you think?

I don't know, Lou.

I think you better find one of your other guys.

They're in another class altogether, man.

You can do it.

Hey, Joe...

You're all I got.

Why'd I leave it open?

Why didn't I say no right there?

'Cause I remembered pop

setting up the same damn con

and telling me my part.

He'd never let me say no.

O.k.

Take it easy.

Joe?

Diane?

What the hell is this?

You point a gun at me?

I thought Eddie might come back.

Eddie's dead.

What?

Eddie's dead, and Lou owns me.

What happened?

I don't know.

What do you mean, you don't know?

I don't know!

Something's going down. I can feel it.

It's too easy.

I just got to figure out what.

Figure what?

Enough with the questions!

We're in this together!

In what together?

You know something I don't know?

You're paranoid.

'Cause you pointed a gun at me.

Don't push me, Joe.

Why did you point a gun at me?

You're scaring me.

I'm sorry, Diane.

Lou's got a con straight out of my past.

I don't know whether to face it or bolt.

Why not both?

What do you mean?

Take care of business and then start over,

like me now that Eddie's gone.

A new beginning.

Yeah.

A new beginning.

Leave the past to the people who are stuck there.

[Airplane propeller starting]

[Footsteps]

[Woman] Joey...

Ha ha ha ha!

Joey, where are you going?

Ha ha ha!

Joey, I love you.

Joey...

I love you...

Joey...

Leave the past to people who are stuck there.

When Lou filled me in

on the mystery of the cake,

I couldn't find it in my heart

to take it from him.

I had this made for your mother.

I was in love with her.

We were going to be married.

But I never gave it to her

because...

My brother... Your father...

Well...well, he was kind of stuck

between the two of US, and...

And he stole her away from me,

so, uh...

God, I loved your mother.

More than anyone I have ever known.

Certainly more than my brother.

I guess we were kind of like Cain and Abel.

Anyway, I, uh, want you to have this.

It, uh...

Well, maybe you'll find some girl

as pretty as your mother was,

and you can give it to her.

Huh?

I'll tell you what.

Why don't you keep it for me?

Sure.

Anytime you want it.

You know...

If things had been different, you could have been...

You could have been my boy.

You know, when this is all over...

Why don't you come with blanche and me?

We're going down to Tahiti.

We'll get to know each other a little better.

Sure. I'd like that.

Yeah. I'd like that, too.

Sit down. Let's get down to business.

Who's the Mark?

A man named Dr. Lyme.

He deals in hot diamonds, solo.

He was hipped to me

by my old friend Harry Shaw.

I've heard of Harry.

Yeah?

Harry was in on the game,

except his old heart gave out, and--

anyway...

Here's the bait.

Watch. Wear that.

Some bread.

Here's the kicker.

Wow. It's a beauty.

Now, that is real, man.

Boy, that is beautiful.

How's your pool game?

Not too good.

Aha. Perfect. Perfect.

On the way over,

I went through the reasons for turning back,

and I almost did.

But the moment I heard the crack of the cue balls,

I was committed.

The job was up to me,

just like the old days.

Like it or not, I was home.

Billiards.

$1,000.

Is that per game or per point?

Whatever.

Per point would be fine.

25 to win?

Sure.

I prefer playing on this table,

if that's all right with you.

And, uh, why is that?

A little more private,

it's the right temperature,

and...

It's a corsair.

Sausage, set it up.

One of the rare occasions

in which 1...Plus 1...

Equals 1.

Shall we lag?

Sure.

I didn't catch your name, Mr., uh...

Joe.

My pleasure, Mr. Joe.

The name's Morgan gripp.

But people call me fats.

This was Sam's game.

Samuel langhorne clemens.

You know, Mark twain.

The genius behind huck Finn,

Tom Sawyer,

a personal favorite of mine--

a Connecticut yankee in king Arthur's court.

He used to play whenever he had writer's block.

Said it was good for the brain.

I don't think I've seen you around here before.

No. I'm not from around here.

That makes sense.

Welcome to paradise, Mr. Joe.

It's all geometry, really--

isosceles triangles,

Pentagons,

octagons,

et cetera,

et cetera.

But that,

that, my friend...

Is poetry.

Let's see.

That's...

24.

1 more would be 25.

Ah-choo!

Your turn now, Mr. Joe.

Very nice.

Whoo.

Tough break.

Must have been the pressure.

You bring a good man to his knees, you know?

If there were a fat lady in here,

I think she'd be clearing her throat

right...

About...

Now.

Score that...

25 to 1.

Let's see. At a thousand a point,

that would be, uh...

Oh, yes,

$24,000 you owe me, Mr. Joe.

I, um...

I, uh, I don't have it.

Well, this adds a new wrinkle to our relationship.

Ahem. I'm good for it.

A classic line.

However, it just won't do.

Uh, listen, uh, here...

It's worth 25,000 easy.

I'm not a harlequin, Joe.

Look at it.

Those are real diamonds.

Real diamonds.

Fortunately, I have a way to check this out.

If it isn't worth what you claim,

then I'm afraid you're not going to be worth much.

I think you should join these two gentlemen now.

It was nice...

Playing with you.

[Chuckles]

Goddamn.

I'm good.

[Mechanical buzzing]

I see you're fond of fine jewelry.

This is an exquisite watch.

How did you happen to acquire it?

Would you believe I won that in a card game?

Took it off a guy named Harry Shaw.

My good friend Harry?

Yes, I just spoke with him last week.

Really?

That's interesting.

He's been dead for over a year.

Major faux pas indeed.

Would you like a drink, Mr...

Thompson.

Joe Thompson.

Yeah. I think I could use a drink.

Davida, a whiskey for Mr. Thompson

and a small Espresso for me, please.

Your man Mr. Gripp, he's a hell of a billiards player.

Yes, a true virtuoso of the game.

I fear that you didn't give him quite a fair challenge.

Didn't I?

So,

what can I do for you, Mr. Thompson?

Well, for starters...

Take a look at that.

Let me see that diamond.

"D"...

Flawless.

Yep.

5 carats.

In many lands it is believed

that a spirit lives inside the diamond.

That is why it has such...

Sparkle.

There are a lot more spirits where that one came from.

29 more, to be exact.

I'm listening, Mr. Thompson.

After our card game,

Harry and I became pretty good friends.

He said if I ever fell into anything big,

you were the man to see.

A texan I'd done some business with,

he's got some ice just...Way too hot for him.

A texan?

I think I can get all 30 for 2.

$2 million is a tidy sum.

And what, pray tell,

will you gain from this, Mr. Thompson?

Whatever you think is fair.

Joie de vivre.

I haven't seen quality like this for...Ages.

60 grand a carat.

That's $9 million worth for the price of 2.

You have seduced me.

You have a deal.

Shake.

[Buzz]

How did you know

I wasn't going to snip off your fingers?

I didn't.

Never cross the line, Joe.

Never cross the line.

What do you think?

It's inspiring.

Yeah?

Well, don't get too used to it,

'cause the minute we get up the coast, it's coming off...

Fast.

Not fast enough.

First there's the job.

Second thoughts?

I was in this con once before.

It backfired...

Bad.

But Lou's counting on you.

Yeah, there's Lou,

there's a second chance at the con,

there's a whole mess of things you don't know anything about

pushing me into this job.

Then there's you.

I'm falling in love with you.

You better be careful throwing around words like that.

Why?

I might want you to take me away right now.

I will.

In the morning.

Let's go now.

Mmm. You're tempting me.

Let's go.

In the morning.

I'm in too far now to fold.

I love you, Joe.

I'll see you soon.

[Door closes]

Hello.

Hello.

What have you been up to?

Not much.

Would you like some coffee and doughnuts-- on the house?

Maybe some other time.

O.k. Well, stop by anytime.

Hey, patsy.

Hey, Joe.

How you doing?

I'm a little nervous.

It's a big night tonight.

Are you ready?

Yeah.

Of course I'm ready.

Good.

Let's go.

What is it with her anyway?

Holly? The doughnut girl?

Between you and me,

I think she's got a crush on you.

So do me a favor.

Stay away from her, o.K.?

I really like her.

I mean...

They don't come any sweeter than that.

Sure, patsy.

Thanks, Joe.

The hook was in.

Dr. Lyme was ripe for the taking.

The biggest job of my life,

and all I could think about was getting it over with

and then getting out.

O.k.

Joe, you pick 'em.

Ha ha ha ha!

First-rate, kid. First-rate.

Now, these were a gift

from old Harry Shaw.

Now, I don't want to let him down.

Why don't we sell them and forget the whole thing?

Be quiet and pay attention. This is important.

You have to show money to make money.

And tonight's haul, gentlemen,

is $2 million.

Yeah. I like the sound of that.

Me, too.

Joe hooked the claw.

Now we're going to reel him in

and throw him in the frying pan.

Everything o.K. At your end, patsy?

I'm all set, Lou.

After the first shot,

you have to be on the scene.

You'll cover our behinds.

Everybody takes their cue from Joe.

Joe, as soon as you get your hands on that cash,

you have to move fast.

If you don't kill me,

Dr. Lyme sure as hell will.

Yeah.

O.k., kid?

Yeah.

O.k.

Let's drink.

My last con.

Couldn't believe I was ready

to trade in the rackets for a chance with Diane.

Somehow I felt I was doing it for pop also,

making a break from the lifestyle

that had chased US all over the country

and sucked up all our time together.

Wealth...

Power...

God.

They all have a distinct...

[Sniff]

Aroma.

But none as sweet as death.

I hope your cowboy comes through for you, Mr. Thompson.

I work for you.

If it works for him,

that's just icing on the cake.

You humor me with your ingratiating enthusiasm.

For the sake of argument,

if by chance something did go wrong,

it would be...

Because I wanted it that way.

Harry.

We want to check them out.

Hell, yes, I'll show 'em a couple.

You come and pick 'em.

Nice.

I want those stones back...

Pronto.

Beautiful.

Beautiful.

Beautiful.

And the others.

We want to see the others.

Ho ho.

Come on. Let's just make this simple, shall we, now?

Show me the money.

I show you the diamonds.

Easy, huh?

You'll see the money

when we check out the rest of the diamonds.

Bull crap, man!

This game is off.

Give me my diamonds back.

Give me my goddamn diamonds back, now!

Come on! What the hell you doing?

Give them to me.

I know what I'm doing.

You want these back, huh?

Damn right!

I think I'll hold on to them for all our trouble.

You son of a bitch!

What the hell you trying to pull here?

I told you I'd deliver, and I did--

Mr. Thompson.

Open it.

All right.

Here's the deal.

I hold the money

until my boss tells me the goods are undamaged.

When he gives me the sign, you get paid.

All right. Come and get 'em.

Candy from a baby.

Anything goes wrong...

Kill them all.

He's wired! It's a setup!

Do it. Do it.

Aah!

No!

Hold it! FBI!

Joe, go down!

Jesus!

Get my bloody money!

Aah!

[Motor whirs]

When things fall apart

is when people stagger to whatever's familiar,

the same way a bull charges at a red cape

after being stabbed a dozen times or so.

Wait!

I'm sorry, Joe.

Diane!

Played him like a pro, doll.

Shut up!

Long time no see, Joe.

Glad you came.

Hello, Joe.

What do you know?

Pop?

Pete, get the cake.

You did good, Joe.

Aha!

Ah!

My god!

My, my, my.

Whoo!

Frank...

There's your taste.

Good con.

See you on the next trip.

Call me anytime.

Pete...

It's always a pleasure working with you.

The pleasure's mine, Mikey.

Ha ha! See you soon.

Real good, Joe.

And you, babe.

Here's your cut.

I don't want the money.

Strictly business, baby.

Take it...

And go.

The rest...

Is ours.

Your brother's dead.

Yeah?

Ha.

Well, well, well, well, well.

Why?

Well, I'm sorry, Joe. I couldn't fill you in.

You see, this is the only way it could work.

I did what I had to do.

It was just another Mark.

You pinpoint a Mark,

you take him for everything he has...

Any way you can.

We just made the biggest score of our lives, kid.

$2 fucking million, son.

Don't you ever call me that.

Hey, what the hell is that?

[Music plays]

Hey, now, don't point that goddamn thing at me!

Joe, just stop.

Just stop and think for a minute.

Isn't this the best goddamn con

you've ever seen in your life?

I mean, with your own eyes?

It's up there, man!

It was something special.

We did it together, kid.

We did it, man!

What'd you think of Diane, huh?

Wasn't that a nice touch?

I mean, she looked so much like your mother...

Wow!

It all just fell into place like magic.

There was no turning around.

He deserved every goddamn thing he got.

He took your mother away from you, man!

Jesus!

She didn't die when you were born.

He killed her!

He killed her with one of his goddamn cons!

Damn near killed me, too.

It's you and me now, Joe.

Come on!

It's you and me. US against them.

Put the goddamn gun down!

Put it down...

Please!

Are they blanks...

Or are they real?

Hell...

I love you, son.

Aah!

Goddamn!

Oh!

God...

Damn it!

Most people never feel the strings

that gently tug them day in and day out.

Mine had been jerked every which way

before I cut 'em loose and left a tangled mess

going around in circles

with my pop and all that cash I wanted no part of.

It was a colorful world I was walking away from,

but nothing in it was real--

not my pop,

not the bastards who'd helped dupe me,

not Diane, who almost broke my heart.

All I took from them were memories--

images, really.

They're worth more than any take from any con.

They keep me honest.